China’s Coast Guard said the patrol would carry out what it described as “law enforcement patrols” in waters it considers under its jurisdiction. In a statement, the agency said it would strengthen such operations to safeguard what it called China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

The move marks the second deployment in roughly a month of Chinese coast guard vessels to waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast. Unlike the near-daily military activities conducted by the People’s Liberation Army around Taiwan, Beijing has increasingly relied on coast guard vessels to reinforce its territorial claims, a strategy Taiwanese officials describe as “lawfare” aimed at creating a legal basis for Chinese actions.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council rejected Beijing’s claims, saying China has neither sovereignty nor jurisdiction over waters east of Taiwan and that its coast guard has no law enforcement authority in the area. The council described the patrol as an illegal expansion of power that violates international law and undermines regional peace and stability.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said it was monitoring two Chinese coast guard vessels involved in the operation and had dispatched two Taiwanese ships to shadow them. By mid-morning, the Chinese vessels were about 54 nautical miles east of Hualien, home to one of Taiwan’s major air bases, but remained outside Taiwan’s restricted waters.

The coast guard said it would continue taking all necessary measures to monitor Chinese vessels and respond to any activities it considers harassment, while safeguarding Taiwan’s maritime security and sovereignty.

The latest operation follows a similar patrol conducted by China in June, which drew concern from the United States and several European partners, including France, Germany and Britain. Beijing said that deployment was a response to Japan and the Philippines announcing formal discussions on maritime boundaries, which China argued involved waters connected to its claims around Taiwan.

Earlier this week, Taiwan instructed commercial and civilian vessels operating off its eastern coast to refuse any boarding or inspection requests by the Chinese Coast Guard. Authorities said Taiwanese coast guard ships would intervene if necessary to prevent such actions.

The dispute reflects broader tensions across the Taiwan Strait, where China continues to increase military and coast guard activities while maintaining that Taiwan is part of its territory. Taiwan, which is democratically governed, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and insists only its own government has the authority to exercise jurisdiction over the island and its surrounding waters.

On Thursday, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources published an English-language legal opinion criticizing maritime boundary discussions between Japan and the Philippines. The ministry argued that any negotiations involving waters claimed by Beijing should include China rather than Taiwan and called on other countries not to support the bilateral talks.

The latest coast guard deployment is likely to add to regional tensions as China continues to expand the use of civilian maritime agencies alongside military operations to advance its territorial claims in the western Pacific.

Speaking at a defense conference hosted by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe Air Chief Marshal Sir Johnny Stringer said European militaries needed to shift from dependence on expensive, long-production weapons systems toward mass-produced drones, interceptors and other rapidly deployable capabilities.

Stringer said allied forces must also strengthen their ability to conduct deep precision strikes, expand electromagnetic warfare capabilities and reinforce air defenses against long-range missile threats. He warned that NATO faces security challenges across multiple directions, including increasing activity from Russia’s long-range aviation assets and the Northern Fleet.

“The threat we face is at 360 degrees,” Stringer told military leaders and defense industry representatives, urging allies to prepare for a broader spectrum of security risks.

The remarks come as several European officials have warned that Russia could rebuild enough military capability within the next few years to pose a direct threat to NATO territory, even as Moscow remains engaged in the war in Ukraine.

The debate over Europe’s defense posture has intensified amid uncertainty surrounding future U.S. military commitments. President Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly criticized European governments for underinvesting in defense while relying heavily on American security guarantees. Washington announced plans in May to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, while Trump has also threatened to reconsider U.S. participation in NATO. Alliance leaders are scheduled to meet at a summit in Ankara in July.

Military officials said lessons from the war in Ukraine and continuing instability in the Middle East have highlighted the need to modernize combat doctrine alongside expanding defense budgets.

Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, commander of the German Army, said modern land warfare is undergoing fundamental change and stressed that armed forces should prioritize equipment that can be fielded immediately instead of waiting years for next-generation systems.

Advances in artificial intelligence are also reshaping military planning and battlefield operations, according to British Army Chief of the General Staff General Sir Roly Walker. He said AI-enabled systems have dramatically accelerated operational planning and target identification, allowing commanders to process information and execute missions at a pace previously unattainable.

The meeting comes as Washington continues consultations with European allies following recent diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East and as NATO members coordinate positions ahead of the alliance’s summit in Ankara.

According to the spokesperson, Wadephul and Rubio will review developments in the Middle East, where regional security remains a key priority for both governments amid ongoing diplomatic initiatives and conflict-related challenges.

The ministers will also discuss continued Western support for Ukraine as Russia’s invasion enters its fifth year, alongside preparations for the NATO summit, where defense spending, deterrence and allied security cooperation are expected to dominate the agenda.

Following his visit to Washington, Wadephul will continue his diplomatic tour with stops in Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, the ministry said.

The Magdeburg court ruled that the crime was of “particular severity,” a legal designation that significantly reduces the possibility of early release under German law.

Al-Abdulmohsen, a 51-year-old psychiatrist, admitted during the trial that he drove the rented BMW X3 into the market but denied intentionally targeting pedestrians. Prosecutors rejected that account, arguing the evidence clearly demonstrated deliberate intent.

According to the indictment, Al-Abdulmohsen drove the vehicle at speeds of up to 48 kph (30 mph) through the crowded market on Dec. 20, 2024, killing a nine-year-old boy and five women aged between 45 and 75. He was convicted on six counts of murder and 338 counts of attempted murder.

A court-appointed psychiatric expert diagnosed Al-Abdulmohsen with narcissistic personality disorder but concluded that he was fully criminally responsible for his actions and continued to pose a danger.

The months-long trial required the construction of a temporary courtroom to accommodate hundreds of victims, relatives and legal representatives. More than 100 witnesses testified, while about 40 lawyers represented around 200 civil parties.

Prosecutor Matthias Boettcher described the attack as an act that “defies human comprehension,” saying it had inflicted immeasurable suffering on victims and their families. He also told the court that the defendant had shown no remorse or introspection throughout the proceedings.

Investigators said Al-Abdulmohsen, who moved to Germany in 2006, held anti-Islam views and expressed sympathy for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Prosecutors said his motive stemmed from resentment following an unsuccessful civil lawsuit against a refugee organization and failed criminal complaints, which they argued fueled a desire for revenge and public attention.

The attack intensified Germany’s debate over immigration and public security ahead of the country’s national elections, prompting authorities to introduce significantly tighter security measures at Christmas markets across the country.

Rodríguez announced the updated toll while welcoming foreign rescue crews arriving from several countries, saying emergency operations remain focused on locating people trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

“We are going to rescue the people who are trapped. We are working tirelessly on this task,” Rodríguez said, adding that the coastal state of La Guaira had suffered the most severe devastation from the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that struck on Wednesday evening. She said the area had been placed under military control to facilitate rescue operations and the distribution of food, water and emergency supplies.

The revised casualty figures marked a sharp increase from earlier official estimates as emergency workers gained access to more affected areas. Authorities said thousands of people remain unaccounted for, with rescue efforts continuing around the clock.

The International Organization for Migration estimated that up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the disaster, including about 2 million residents of Caracas. The International Red Cross said many survivors remained afraid to return to damaged homes because of continuing structural risks.

The earthquakes caused widespread destruction across northern Venezuela, flattening residential buildings, damaging critical infrastructure and forcing thousands of residents to spend nights in parks and open spaces. Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas remained closed after sustaining damage, complicating the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Rodríguez said the government had established a $200 million reconstruction fund to repair hospitals, homes and public infrastructure, while urging private companies to provide heavy machinery to support rescue operations.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said approximately 1,000 emergency responders from 25 international search-and-rescue teams were deploying to Venezuela.

The United States said it had mobilized a broad humanitarian response despite logistical challenges caused by the airport closure. Spain dispatched specialist rescue teams equipped with search dogs, rescue cameras and ground-penetrating radar, while Chile, Switzerland and Germany also sent personnel and relief supplies. Turkiye announced the deployment of rescue teams with trained search dogs, and China pledged assistance. Qatar, Brazil, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic also offered support or deployed aid teams.

The United States Geological Survey said the earthquakes struck near Morón on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers west of Caracas. Seismologists said the shallow depth and the rapid succession of the two powerful earthquakes significantly amplified the level of destruction across the affected region.

Venezuela lies near the boundary of the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates, although earthquakes of this magnitude are relatively uncommon in the country compared with other parts of Latin America.

National rail operator Deutsche Bahn said all trains had been immobilized at stations following a breakdown in critical communication infrastructure used to coordinate rail traffic across the network.

The company said technical teams were working to resolve the disruption but did not provide a timetable for restoring operations.

The outage affected services operated by Deutsche Bahn as well as regional and local transport providers, according to transport authorities and rail operators. Berlin’s public transport authority said the disruption extended across all categories of rail services nationwide.

In northern Germany, regional operator Metronom reported that rail traffic had come to a complete stop due to the large-scale communications failure. The company, which serves routes linking Hamburg, Bremen and Hanover and carries more than 120,000 passengers daily, advised travelers to avoid rail journeys and seek alternative means of transportation.

“We think that nothing else will be running tonight,” Metronom spokesman Simon Martens told AFP.

Authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, said rail traffic had been entirely suspended as a result of the outage.

The incident highlights the challenges facing Germany’s railway system as the government seeks to modernize infrastructure that has suffered from decades of underinvestment. The network has frequently faced criticism over delays, congestion and aging equipment, prompting Berlin to commit substantial public funding toward upgrades and expansion projects.

Railway radio systems are a critical component of train operations, enabling communication between dispatchers, control centers and train crews. Any widespread failure can force operators to suspend services for safety reasons until reliable communications are restored.

Officials have not indicated whether the disruption resulted from a technical malfunction, infrastructure failure or another cause. Deutsche Bahn said investigations into the outage were continuing while engineers worked to return the network to service.

The disruption affected one of Europe’s busiest rail systems, with thousands of passengers facing delays and cancellations during the evening travel period.

EU foreign ministers from the 27-member bloc will begin talks with Ukraine and neighboring Moldova on the first cluster of EU legislation, opening the next stage of their accession process.

Ukraine’s progress had been delayed for nearly two years after Hungary blocked further movement under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The path reopened after his rival Peter Magyar won elections in April.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said the move recognized the efforts and reforms undertaken by Ukraine and Moldova despite significant challenges.

The decision provides political support for Kyiv, which applied for EU membership after Russia’s invasion, but officials said major obstacles remain before accession can take place.

Ukraine must complete negotiations covering 35 chapters of EU law, including areas such as environment, agriculture, justice and security, organized into six major clusters.

A European diplomat said the process would be complicated by the ongoing war, institutional reforms and challenges including organized crime.

Hungary’s new leadership has suggested that even if negotiations are completed, membership could still take many years, while some EU officials have discussed alternative arrangements.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed the idea of Ukraine becoming an “associate member” without voting rights while it works toward full accession, a proposal that Kyiv has viewed with caution.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that Ukraine’s goal remains full EU membership with complete rights.

The broader debate comes as Ukraine, Moldova and other candidate countries seek closer ties with the bloc, raising questions about how the EU would function with more members.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said the EU should prepare itself to accept Ukraine by 2030 if Kyiv completes the required reforms and negotiations.

He stressed that the timeline would depend on Ukraine’s progress and the outcome of accession talks.

The meeting followed a summit in London earlier this week attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of Britain, France and Germany. During the gathering, the three European countries expressed support for Kyiv’s proposal for direct talks with Moscow aimed at ending more than four years of conflict.

French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere described the discussions at Russia’s Foreign Ministry as constructive and told reporters that a joint statement would be released later in the day.

Russia, however, characterized the talks differently, saying the ambassadors were informed of what Moscow described as the “destructive” Ukraine policies of their governments. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Britain, France and Germany of seeking to prolong the conflict at Europe’s expense.

The diplomatic contact comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a proposal by Zelensky this month for a face-to-face meeting intended to advance peace negotiations.

At the London summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz endorsed Zelensky’s initiative and said the current battlefield positions should serve as a starting point for future negotiations.

Western European diplomats have had limited direct engagement with Russian authorities since Moscow launched its full-scale offensive against Ukraine. Contacts have largely been confined to formal summonses and diplomatic exchanges through established channels.

The meeting also reflects growing discussion within parts of Europe about whether renewed dialogue with Moscow could help create conditions for ending the conflict, which remains Europe’s largest war since World War Two.

Efforts led by the United States to broker a settlement have so far failed to produce a breakthrough. Diplomatic attention has also been increasingly diverted by the conflict involving Iran, complicating international attempts to advance negotiations on Ukraine.

Russia has generally preferred discussing the war with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and has repeatedly signaled opposition to a larger European role in any future settlement process.

Britain, France and Germany remain among Ukraine’s principal military, financial and diplomatic supporters and have consistently backed Kyiv throughout the conflict.

Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said the meeting took place in the Kremlin in a tête-à-tête format but declined to provide details of the discussion.

Schroeder, who served as Germany’s chancellor from 1998 to 2005, has maintained close ties with Putin and later worked for Russian state energy companies, drawing criticism in Germany and across Europe.

The meeting comes weeks after Putin suggested Schroeder could serve as a partner in discussions on future European security arrangements. The proposal was swiftly rejected by European Union officials, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas arguing that Schroeder could not act as a neutral intermediary.

Ushakov also said Russia maintains numerous informal international contacts and disclosed that a future visit to Moscow by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner is being prepared, although no dates have been finalized.

The developments occur amid continuing diplomatic efforts related to the conflict in Ukraine and broader tensions between Russia and the West.

The study, commissioned by the Bertelsmann Foundation, found that nearly one-third of inventions developed in Germany are now owned by foreign organizations. U.S. entities hold the largest share, while Chinese owners account for a significant portion of foreign-held German patents.

The trend is particularly evident in Germany’s mechanical engineering sector, where patent applications increased to 4,300 in 2022 from 3,300 in 2000. Researchers said Chinese companies have been especially active in acquiring technologies linked to the industry.

IW expert Oliver Koppel said international ownership of patents is a normal feature of global competition but argued that China pursues acquisitions strategically while maintaining relatively limited access for foreign investors in its domestic market.

The study also highlighted concerns about Germany’s declining innovation capacity. Germany ranked third globally in research and development spending in 2000, when its investment levels were roughly double those of China. By 2021, Germany had fallen to sixth place, while China’s research spending had increased twentyfold over the same period.

The findings are likely to intensify debate in Europe over technological sovereignty, foreign investment screening and the protection of critical industrial know-how.