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Morning Brief: US Conducts 16th Strike on Alleged Drug Boat, UPS Cargo Plane Crashes, Russia Claims Ukrainian Troops Encircled

BY Guy D. McCardle

US expands Caribbean strikes, shutdown drags on, Russia claims new gains. Here’s your Wednesday Morning Brief rundown, November 5, 2025.

Aerial view of the crash site where UPS Flight 2976 exploded in flames after takeoff from Louisville, killing seven people. (Image via X)

Good morning — it’s Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The US ramps up its Caribbean military campaign as Congress demands answers, the record-breaking government shutdown grinds into day 36, and tragedy strikes Kentucky after a UPS cargo plane explodes on takeoff. Meanwhile, Russia claims major gains in Ukraine, NATO warns of rising Russian airspace incursions, and North Korea readies a possible nuclear test with Russian support.

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US Expands Anti-Drug Strikes as Aircraft Carrier Moves to Caribbean

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that a US strike destroyed a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific, killing two people.

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The attack marked the 16th such strike since September, with at least 66 people killed under President Donald Trump’s campaign to target what he calls “narco-terrorist” operations.

The announcement came as the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and the destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) transited the Strait of Gibraltar en route to the Caribbean, expanding the US military buildup in Latin America.

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Lawmakers from both parties have demanded details on the legal basis for the strikes, while United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk urged Washington to halt what he called “extrajudicial killings.”

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused the US of fabricating a pretext for war.

Trump said in a recent CBS interview that he doubted the US would go to war with Venezuela but added that Maduro’s “days were numbered.”

 

US Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington Arrives in South Korea for First Visit in a Decade

The USS George Washington (CVN-73) arrived at South Korea’s Busan Naval Base on Wednesday, marking its first visit to the Korean Peninsula since 2014, the South Korean navy said.

The carrier, accompanied by the destroyers USS Shoup (DDG-86) and USS Milius (DDG-69) and the cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), will rest, resupply, and participate in cooperation activities with South Korean forces.

The visit follows the carrier’s stop in Yokosuka, Japan, where President Donald Trump addressed US troops on October 28.

It is the first US carrier visit to South Korea since the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in March.

North Korea, which has previously criticized such deployments as “hostile acts,” had not commented on the arrival as of Wednesday.

 

US Government Shutdown Reaches Record 36 Days as Talks Stall Over Health Care Funding

The US government shutdown entered its 36th day, becoming the longest in history and disrupting essential services, federal paychecks, and travel nationwide.

President Donald Trump has refused to negotiate with Democrats on expiring health insurance subsidies until Congress votes to reopen the government, while Democrats demand assurances before agreeing to any deal.

Talks among centrist senators have intensified, but no breakthrough has been reached. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the shutdown “the most severe on record,” urging an end to the standoff. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of federal workers remain furloughed or unpaid, and food aid, childcare programs, and air traffic operations are under strain.

Trump has pushed to scrap the Senate filibuster to break the deadlock, but Republican senators have rejected the idea.

The White House continues to insist that Democrats must first fund the government before any negotiations on health care subsidies can begin.

 

UPS Cargo Plane Crashes and Explodes in Louisville, Killing at Least Seven

A UPS cargo plane bound for Honolulu crashed and exploded Tuesday evening while taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, killing at least seven people and injuring 11, officials said. Four of those killed were on the ground near the crash site.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 erupted into flames around 5:15 p.m. local time after struggling to gain altitude and hitting nearby buildings, including a petroleum recycling facility. Witnesses described a massive fireball and shockwave that “looked like a war zone.”

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said several of the injured have “very significant” wounds. The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a 28-person team to investigate.

The airport shut down until Wednesday, and UPS suspended operations at its massive Worldport hub, which employs thousands and sorts over 400,000 packages an hour.

Authorities said it may take time to secure the scene and identify victims. Louisville officials urged patience as families await word on missing loved ones.

 

Russia Claims Ukrainian Troops Encircled in Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, Urges Surrender

Russia said Wednesday that its forces had encircled Ukrainian troops in the contested eastern cities of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk and called on them to surrender, claiming they had “no chance of survival.”

Moscow’s Defense Ministry said Russian units had used pincer movements, drones, and small mobile groups to isolate Ukrainian positions and disrupt supply lines.

Pokrovsk, which Russia calls Krasnoarmeysk, has been a key target as Moscow seeks to capture the remaining 10 percent of Ukraine’s Donbas region still under Kyiv’s control. Battlefield maps indicate Russian troops are only a few kilometers from completing the encirclement of Pokrovsk and control much of Kupiansk.

The Russian statement contradicts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said earlier this week that only 60 Russian soldiers remained in Kupiansk.

Russia now claims control of more than 19 percent of Ukraine, or about 116,000 square kilometers (44,800 square miles), after gaining roughly 3,400 square kilometers (1,313 square miles) so far this year.

 

Russian Drone and Jet Incursions Surge Across Europe, Prompting NATO Alarm

European NATO members have reported a sharp rise in Russian drone incursions and airspace violations since September, including 20 drones entering Polish airspace and three Russian military jets breaching Estonia’s skies for 12 minutes.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the incidents part of Russia’s “hybrid warfare” aimed at sowing division in Europe.

Since the initial violations, drones — many of unidentified origin — have disrupted airports and military sites across the continent. Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and Lithuania have each temporarily shut airports or launched investigations after sightings near sensitive facilities. Poland and Romania scrambled fighter jets in response to airspace breaches linked to Russian activity.

Poland’s defense ministry said NATO deployed F-35s, F-16s, helicopters, and a Patriot air defense system after the September incursion. Denmark labeled the drone disruptions a “hybrid attack,” while Germany and Belgium have opened espionage and sabotage probes.

The wave of incidents marks one of the most widespread series of airspace violations in Europe in years, fueling fears of escalating Russian pressure on NATO’s eastern flank.

 

Israel Recovers Remains of Hostage from Gaza as US Pushes Plan for International Stabilization Force

The remains of Israeli Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, 19, were returned from Gaza on Wednesday under the ongoing US-brokered ceasefire, the Israeli military said.

Chen, abducted by Hamas during the October 2023 attack, is the latest hostage whose body has been recovered as part of the agreement that also sees Israel return the remains of Palestinians.

So far, 270 Palestinian bodies have been handed back, though fewer than half have been identified due to limited forensic capacity in Gaza.

The ceasefire, in place since October 10, aims to end the conflict that began with Hamas’s assault, which killed about 1,200 people and led to Israel’s military campaign that Gaza’s Health Ministry says has killed over 68,000.

Meanwhile, US officials confirmed that Washington has drafted a proposal for a UN-mandated international stabilization force in Gaza lasting at least two years. The plan is meant to encourage Arab and other nations to contribute troops once the fighting ends.

Aid agencies continue to struggle to deliver supplies, with the World Food Program reporting that only half of its planned shipments are entering Gaza due to limited border access.

 

South Korea Says North Korea Ready for Nuclear Test, Preparing New Spy Satellites with Russian Help

North Korea could conduct a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri test site at short notice if leader Kim Jong Un decides to do so, South Korea’s Defense Intelligence Agency said Wednesday, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The agency also reported signs that Pyongyang is preparing additional spy satellite launches with technical assistance from Russia.

The new satellites are expected to have higher-resolution imaging capabilities than North Korea’s existing systems.

The Defense Intelligence Agency did not immediately comment on the report.

 

Taiwan Accuses China of Breaking APEC Promises, Imposing New Restrictions on 2025 Summit

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister said Wednesday that China has added new conditions to Taiwan’s participation in next year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, violating a previous commitment to allow “equal participation” and ensure attendee safety.

Lin Chia-lung said Beijing made a written pledge at last year’s APEC meeting in Peru when it sought hosting rights, but has since backtracked.

China’s Foreign Ministry said Taiwan’s involvement must comply with the “one China” principle, under which Beijing claims sovereignty over the island. Taiwan rejected that stance, saying China has no authority to represent it internationally.

Taiwan attends APEC under the name “Chinese Taipei” and does not send its president to avoid political tension.

The dispute marks a further deterioration in cross-strait relations as Beijing intensifies military and diplomatic pressure on Taipei.

 

Sources: News Agencies

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