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Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff to take up the highest seat in the Catholic Church, returned to the Sistine Chapel on Friday to deliver his first mass in an address to the more than 1.4 billion Catholics he now leads. 

The pontiff urged outreach and missionary work and warned that much of what the Church stands for, and the belief in Jesus Christ, has been lessened in the eyes of both believers and non-believers.

"Today, too, there are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman," he said in a homily translated from Italian, warning that this has led to even baptized Christians living in "a state of practical atheism."

FIRST AMERICAN ELECTED PONTIFF, GET TO KNOW POPE LEO XIV

"There are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure," the pope said. 

The new pontiff will face many challenges ahead as followers wait to see how he will lead the church and which issues he will choose to put great emphasis on. 

The pope has not said why he chose the name Leo to call himself, but papal names signify predecessors or values they admire, suggesting the newest pontiff will put great emphasis on social issues based on others in the papacy who have held that name. 

Like his predecessor, Pope Francis, Leo is expected to focus on humanity and kindness, particularly in the face of global migration and helping the poor. 

It remains unclear how this American pope will interact with the Trump administration, given apparent divisions over positions on the treatment of migrants and other issues involving human rights.

POPE LEO XIV, VILLANOVA GRAD, INTRODUCES HIMSELF ADORNED IN SYMBOLISM, PROVERBIAL RELIGIOUS DEVOTION

In his homily, the pope also pointed to a loss of faith and argued it has not only led to a loss in the meaning of life, but a loss in "human dignity."

"These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied," he said. 

Pope Leo went on to say that "A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society."

As silence and stillness calmed the eager world, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti, overlooking a sea of tens of thousands of teary-eyed viewers in St. Peter’s Square, introduced Catholics and non-faithful to the newest pontiff.

American Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, was elected to take the papal seat and succeed the deceased Pope Francis on May 8, 2025, after four rounds of conclave voting by 133 members of the College of Cardinals.

As the world explores both the tender and commanding qualities that make Pope Leo XIV papabile and worthy of the Vicar of Christ title, one place, a small place of around 10,000 people, is beaming with pride for the newly elected Chicago-native.

‘DIO BENEDICA IL PAPA’, OTHER WELL WISHES FOR THE NEW PONTIFF, POPE LEO XIV, IN ITALIAN

"It's a super-happy day for all Catholics to have a new pope," Patrick Brennan, chair of Catholic Legal Studies at Villanova University, told Fox News Digital.

"I was sitting in the studio when I discovered, as everyone else did, that it was a Villanova graduate who was now the pope."

Pope Leo XIV is a graduate of the Class of 1977.

Villanova University, a private Catholic university 12 miles outside of Philadelphia, enrolls just 6,700 undergraduate students and 3,100 graduate and law students, according to its website.

"It’s a hometown boy not just makes good but breaks all the molds," Brennan said. "We have an American pope."

FIRST AMERICAN ELECTED PONTIFF, GET TO KNOW POPE LEO XIV

Pope Leo XIV is the first pope to ever be elected from the United States.

Despite skepticism that the Sacred College would vote for an American pope, Brennan says he was "thrilled" to hear the announcement of Prevost.

"The people that I know who know him think that he's a wonderful priest," Brennan told Fox News Digital. "He's been a wonderful member of the Augustinian order, and we know that Pope Francis has entrusted him with great responsibilities. It’s a happy day."

Prevost was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023.

The Augustinian religious order, formerly known as the Order of Saint Augustine and deeply rooted in the beliefs and teachings of influential theologian Saint Augustine, bishop of Hippo, was established in the 13th century.

WORLD LEADERS CONGRATULATE POPE LEO XIV, FIRST AMERICAN PONTIFF

"The Augustinians are not as well-known in the United States as the Jesuits are an important part of the life of the American church," Brennan said.

Pope Francis, a Jesuit and the first to serve as a pontificate, made history as the first member of a religious order in centuries.

Pope Leo XIV has followed suit historically.

"Though they don't have the presence that the Jesuits do, they do an amazing job," Brennan said of the Augustinians. "This will give a huge vote of confidence for them about the work they're doing in the Church."

In 1842, the Augustinians founded Villanova University in downtown Philadelphia until later relocating to suburban Philly, where the college is surrounded by lush greenery and beautiful architecture.

POPE LEO XIV IS ESCORTED OUT OF SISTINE CHAPEL AFTER BECOMING 267TH POPE

"When [Pope Leo XIV] would have been in Villanova in the 1970s, it was a beautiful suburban campus of a small Catholic liberal arts college with high standards and a great love of the Catholic tradition and a whole lot of Villanova spirit," Brennan said. "When I came to Villanova, I was stunned, and I still am by the incredible enthusiasm Villanova students and alumni have for their experience and for the Villanova community."

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his electoral triumph by praying the prayer of the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with the world.

"I think that that was one of the ways he symbolized his traditional piety," Brennan said.

WHO IS POPE LEO XIV?

"His desire to signal to the world that he's a Catholic who prays the way that Catholics traditionally do. Pope Francis was known for his great devotion to the blessed Virgin Mary, which is part of the reason he made the unusual decision to be buried in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore."

Pope Francis, shortly after becoming the Bishop of Rome in 2013, revealed his burial plans.

"Choosing to pray the Hail Mary was a signal of continuity and piety," Brennan said of Pope Leo XIV.

Finally, for the namesake, Brennan says he envisions the selection was made as a symbolic gesture.

"He jumped over a whole century, back to the name of a pope who died in 1903 who left the Church a huge legacy of deep understanding of the place of a human person and the Catholic Church in the modern world," Brennan said.

"I think Pope Leo XIV, by choosing that name, is attaching himself to a legacy that he can, and I believe intends to, open for a world that's changed a great deal and needs new light and understanding of the kind he probably associates and finds in the world of Pope Leo XIII," Brennan said. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping was photographed standing next to Vladimir Putin on Friday as thousands of Russian troops and military vehicles rumbled through Moscow’s Red Square during the country’s annual Victory Day parade. 

The event, marking Russia’s 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, featured over 11,500 troops and more than 180 military vehicles, including tanks, armored infantry vehicles and artillery used on the battlefield in Ukraine. 

"We are proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual force that always has brought us victory," Putin said about the Russian troops fighting in the war. 

Russian flag carrier Aeroflot canceled more than 100 flights to and from Moscow and delayed over 140 others on Wednesday as the military were repelling repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on the capital. 

CHINA’S XI STANDS WITH PUTIN AGAINST ‘INTERNATIONAL BULLYING’ AMID TRUMP TRADE WAR 

Ukrainian authorities also reported scores of Russian strikes on Friday that killed at least two people in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and damaged buildings. 

The strikes in Ukraine came despite Putin declaring a three-day ceasefire with Ukraine last month ahead of the Victory Day celebrations. 

"All military actions are suspended for this period," the Kremlin said in a statement at the time, noting that the ceasefire would run through the end of Saturday, May 10. "Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example." 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with President Donald Trump on Thursday, who "confirmed that he wants this war to end, is ready to help, and supports the need for a ceasefire." 

Zelenskyy said he informed Trump that "Ukraine is ready for a 30-day ceasefire, starting even today. We are waiting for Russia to support this proposal. I also reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to engage in talks in any format. But for that, Russia must demonstrate the seriousness of its intentions to end the war, starting with a full unconditional ceasefire." 

BIDEN BLASTS TRUMP AS ‘FOOLISH’ APPEASER OF RUSSIA, SAYS FIRST 100 DAYS WERE NO TRIUMPH 

Prior to the parade, Putin and Xi held two rounds of talks and an informal chat about the conflict, the BBC reported, citing Chinese media.  

Among the other world leaders to attend Friday were Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was the only European Union leader to head to Moscow, according to the BBC. 

The outlet also reported that Chinese troops and contingents of soldiers from North Korea, Vietnam and Mongolia marched through Red Square. 

Afterward, Putin shook hands with Russian military officers who led the troops on Red Square and spoke to a group of senior North Korean officers who watched the parade, hugging one of them. 

Last month, Putin thanked North Korea for fighting alongside Russian troops against Ukrainian forces and hailed their sacrifices as Pyongyang confirmed its deployment for the first time. 

Fox News’ Stephen Sorace and the Associated Press contributed to this report. 

At least 119 Amtrak employees and doctors took the railroad company for a ride in a massive $12 million health fraud scheme, a watchdog found. 

Amtrak's Office of Inspector General (OIG) said employees based in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Connecticut and Washington, D.C., accepted cash kickbacks from three healthcare providers in exchange for the use of their insurance information and that of their dependents in a scheme from 2019 to 2022.

"The sheer volume of employees who cavalierly participated in this scheme to steal Amtrak’s funds suggests not only a serious lapse in basic ethics, but a troubling workforce culture, at least in the Northeast region, in which blatant criminal behavior was somehow normalized," said Amtrak Inspector General Kevin H. Winters. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Amtrak. 

AMTRAK APOLOGIZES AFTER STRANDING 110 PASSENGERS

The healthcare providers used that employee information to file fraudulent and questionable medical claims for services that were never provided or not medically necessary, the OIG said. Overall, the taxpayer-funded railroad carrier's health plan was billed more than $16 million and was bilked out of $12 million. 

Of the 119 employees implicated, 28 retired or resigned as a result of the OIG’s investigation, and 30 left the company for "other reasons." Another dozen employees have been criminally charged, and seven have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Sixty-one are still on the job. 

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Amtrak said it has taken "significant steps" to address medical insurance fraud. 

AFTER TRUMP SPEECH, AOC TELLS DEMOCRATS TO ORGANIZE IN GOP DISTRICTS AGAINST MEDICAID CUTS

"Like many employers, Amtrak calls on medical benefit providers and insurers to do more to identify suspicious activity and stop medical insurance fraud," the company said. "Amtrak strongly condemns this reprehensible act that occurred between 2019 and 2022 and is taking swift action with all active employees involved in the investigation. 

"While we continue to work closely with the OIG to identify and stamp out fraud, we also continue to work on other initiatives to address this issue," the statement added. "Amtrak has implemented various measures to enhance fraud prevention and empower employees to report suspected wrongdoing. These efforts include increasing oversight and strengthening efforts to eliminate fraudulent schemes."

The OIG launched a probe when an agent noticed unusual billing patterns in reports by data analysts. Three New York healthcare providers with "questionable" billings who shared a high number of Amtrak employees as patients were identified by investigators. 

An undercover agent posing as an Amtrak employee met with Punson Figueroa, aka "Susie," an acupuncturist from Long Island City, New York, June 16, 2021. During the visit, Figueroa told the agent to sign his name 30 times for service without dating the signatures, the OIG said. 

Figueroa then submitted alleged fraudulent claims to Amtrak’s healthcare plan, saying the agent had visited providers at least seven times in May 2021 for acupuncture and physical therapy. The agent visited Figueroa’s office again on July 29, 2021, where she allegedly handed him an envelope containing $1,000. 

Figueroa continued to use the agent’s insurance information to submit dozens of fraudulent claims to Amtrak’s healthcare plan, investigators said. 

Figueroa pleaded guilty to defrauding Amtrak’s healthcare plan, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution of $9.05 million. Two other healthcare providers and a medical biller have also pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme.

Michael DeNicola, a podiatrist from New York, pleaded guilty June 29, 2022, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a gun. He has not yet been sentenced. 

Regina Choi, a medical biller from Woodside, New York, who previously worked for Figueroa, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud June 11, 2024, for submitting false and fraudulent claims to the Amtrak health care plan and paying cash kickbacks to Amtrak employees. Her sentence is also pending. 

In 2018 and 2019, OIG auditors issued separate reports that said Amtrak could strengthen measures to identify fraudulent medical claims sooner. Both reports noted billing patterns indicative of potential fraud among hundreds of providers, the OIG said. 

The Vatican on Thursday announced that Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, will take up the highest authority in the Catholic Church after only two days of deliberation and voting by the papal conclave. 

Upon the announcement of the first American pontiff to be elected, world leaders began reacting with their own messages of support and good wishes. 

FIRST AMERICAN ELECTED PONTIFF, GET TO KNOW POPE LEO XIV

President Donald Trump took to his social media site to offer his "congratulations" and said, "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope.

"What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country," he added. "I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"

Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson, the current leader of Leo’s hometown, posted his excitement of the news on X and said, "Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! 

"We hope to welcome you back home soon," he added. 

Italy’s leader, President Giorgia Meloni, who was reportedly close with Pope Francis, extended her "most sincere wishes to Pope Leo XIV for the beginning of his pontificate."

"In a time marked by conflict and unrest, his words from the Loggia delle Benedizioni are a powerful call for peace, brotherhood and responsibility," she said in reference to the central balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica. "A spiritual legacy that follows the path traced by Pope Francis, and that Italy looks at with respect and hope."

DAVID MARCUS: POPE LEO XIV'S GREATEST CHALLENGE IS ALREADY CHANGING THE WORLD

The government of Peru – where Leo spent more than a decade serving in the Catholic Church and where he was appointed bishop in 2014 before getting his dual citizenship in 2015 – offered its congratulations from President Dina Boluarte, offering their "fraternal greetings" to the pontiff.

"He served our people with love and faith. In his first message as pontiff, he recalled with emotion his time in Chiclayo and his closeness to Peru," the statement highlighted. "May God bless him in his mission!"

"Congratulations to the entire Catholic Church for the election of the new Pope Leo XIV as [Pontiff]," the President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, the leader of the predominantly Catholic country, said on X. "May his pontificate contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defense of human rights in a world that needs hope and unity."

"A historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful," French President Emmanuel Macron said. "To Pope Leo XIV, and to all Catholics in France and around the world, I extend a message of fraternity. 

"On this May 8th, may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope," he added in apparent reference to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. 

CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIV

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wished Pope Leo congratulations along with "wisdom, inspiration, and strength—both spiritual and physical—in carrying out his noble mission."

"Ukraine deeply values the Holy See’s consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians," he continued.  "At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace."

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the appointment of the first American pontiff a "momentous moment" and said, "The election of Pope Leo XIV is a deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and around the world. 

"I look forward to meeting the Holy Father soon," he added. 

The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, wrote on X, "We congratulate His Holiness Leo XIV, elected by the College of Cardinals as Head of Vatican City State and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. 

"I reaffirm our humanist convergence for world peace and prosperity," she added. 

Pope Leo XIV, 69, was elected to take up the papal seat on Thursday, on the second day of the papal conclave’s deliberations. 

Born Robert Prevost on Sept. 14, 1955 in Chicago, Ill., he was a suspected front-runner to succeed Pope Francis after his passing late last month, though some reporting suggested his being an American could actually count against him due to concerns that the U.S. could further exert its geopolitical prowess through the religious leader. 

Leo XIV was first brought to the Vatican by Francis to serve as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in January 2023, which is one of the most important positions in the Catholic Church as it vets bishop nominations issued globally. 

LIVE UPDATES: CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIV

Francis then elevated him to the position of Cardinal in September 2023. 

Leo was reported to be closely aligned to Francis's teachings as leader of the Catholic Church, particularly when it came to his positions regarding the environment, outreach to the poor and migrants, and opening the Catholic Church to embrace more followers.

Before making it to the highest position afforded in the Catholic Church, he first entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in Saint Louis, in 1977, which essentially marked his period of training before he took his "holy orders."

In August 1981, he gave his solemn vows, and by 1982 he was ordained as a priest.

By 1985 he joined the Augustinian mission in Peru, where he served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas for one year.

CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIV

Between 1987 and 1988, he returned to the U.S., where he served as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago, before he returned to Peru for another 10 years to head the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and teach Cannon Law. 

Eventually, he made his way back to his hometown, where, in 1999, he was elected provincial prior of the "Mother of Good Counsel" in Chicago.

Leo would go on to be elected twice as leader of the Augustinian religious order, a 13th century order founded by St. Augustine.

He had caught the attention of Francis, who, after becoming pope in 2013, moved Leo back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and eventually archbishop of Chiclayo.

Leo got his Peruvian citizenship in 2015, where he remained until he was moved to the Vatican in 2023. 

During his final years in Peru, Leo also served as vice-president of the permanent council of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference from 2018 to 2023, which likely helped him secure his role as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Francis. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Catholics around the world are rejoicing at the election of a new pope.

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, is an American from Chicago, Illinois. He was created a cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis.

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the sequestered College of Cardinals selected the new Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV, the 267th successor to Saint Peter, after meeting for just over 24 hours and voting in four ballots. 

CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIV

The papal conclave is done entirely in secrecy at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City to prevent interference and distractions.

White smoke billowed from the chimney of the official residence of the pope to indicate to the faithful around the world that a new pope, the Vicar of Christ, was elected.

Thousands of people stood in St. Peter's Square as they waited in anticipation for voting to both commence and conclude. 

POPES WHO HAVE SERVED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR THE PAST 100 YEARS: CHAMPIONS OF TRUTH, FAITH AND LOVE

Crowds grew when white smoke amassed from the Sistine Chapel after a traditional and sacred process of burning votes, bound together with thread, was imposed. 

The Swiss Army lined the outside of the Vatican among clergy and people waving patriotic indicators from around the globe in celebration of the leader of the Catholic Church emerging from the balcony and beginning his papacy.

In celebration of Pope Leo XIV's election, here are congratulatory and prayer-filled phrases written out in Italian, according to Annamaria Militana of Torrenova, Sicily.

"God bless the pope."

Spoken in Italian: "Dio benedica il Papa."

"Welcome, Holy Father."

Spoken in Italian: "Benvenuto, Dio misericordioso."

"May the Holy Spirit guide you."

Spoken in Italian: "Che lo Spirito Santo possa guidarci."

"Congratulations to the new pope."

Spoken in Italian: "Congratulazioni al nuovo Papa."

"Our prayers are with you."

Spoken in Italian: "Le nostre preghiere sono con te."

"Long live the pope."

Spoken in Italian: "Lunga vita al Papa."

"A new era for the Church begins."

Spoken in Italian: "Una nuova era per la Chiesa sta per iniziare."

"The Church rejoices in your leadership."

Spoken in Italian: "La chiesa esulta nella tua guida."

"A shepherd for all God's people."

Spoken in Italian: "Un pastore per tutti i figli di Dio."

"Guided by faith."

Spoken in Italian: "Guidato dalla fede."

The Vatican announced the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, shortly after white smoke began pouring from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday.

Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announced Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's election as pope to the thousands of faithful who descended on St. Peter's Square.

The 133 voting cardinals deliberated in the Sistine Chapel for roughly 24 hours.

Pope Leo XIV succeeds the late Pope Francis, who died at age 88 on April 21 following health challenges.

This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.

White smoke was witnessed emerging from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, in a direct signal that a new pope has already been elected. 

The name of the pope has yet to be announced by the papal conclave, who met for the first time on Wednesday to deliberate on who would take up the seat as leader of the Catholic Church. 

THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS MEET TO ELECT THE NEXT POPE. WHO WILL IT BE?

Only one vote was intended to be held on the first day of the conclave’s gathering, while as many as four votes could be held in the following days, with two ballots collected in the morning followed by up to two in the afternoon.

The Thursday announcement means the holy body concluded their voting on the second day; both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict were elected on the second day of the Conclave.

The last time a conclave agreed on a pope on the first day, just hours after convening, was in 1503 with the election of Pope Julius II, according to the Associated Press. 

PAPAL PULSE: EVERYDAY CATHOLICS REVEAL THEIR HOPES FOR THE NEXT POPE

In recent years, the conclave has still been considered relatively quick in their decision as they reached a conclusion on the papacy in just a matter of days. 

Pope Francis was elected in 2013 on the fifth ballot, while Pope Benedict XVI won in 2005 on the fourth ballot, and Pope Pius XII, elected in 1939 won on the third ballot. 

A pope is decided after a man receives a two-thirds majority by the voting body, which comprises eligible voters in the College of Cardinals who are under the age of 80 at the time of the pope's passing.

Of the 252 members of the body, 133 of the cardinals voted.

Once the individual, who is traditionally selected from the College of Cardinals, is chosen as the next pope, he must accept the role with the Dean of the College.

He will then be asked by what name he would like to be called, and the conclave then concludes. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for formal talks on Thursday for the first time since President Donald Trump exacerbated the U.S.-China trade war last month. 

In a statement at the top of the meeting, Xi pledged to stand by his anti-Western ally against "power politics" and "bullying on the international stage."

"Eighty years ago, the peoples of China and Russia made tremendous sacrifices to secure a great victory, contributing an indelible chapter to the cause of world peace and human progress," Xi said, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

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"Today, in the face of unilateralist backflows and acts of power politics and bullying on the international stage, China will join Russia in shouldering our special responsibilities as major countries and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council," he added. 

The pair met on what is considered Victory Day in Europe, which marks the beginning of the end of World War II, when the Allied nations accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945, though Russia celebrates the anniversary one day later. 

Japan did not surrender until September 1945, though Xi and Putin convened for a joint celebration which will take place in Moscow’s Red Square on Friday and will include a large contingent of Chinese troops. Leaders from 20 nations, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva, will also reportedly be in attendance.

While Xi appeared to take direct aim at the U.S., which under Trump has slapped 145% tariffs on all Chinese exports, Putin’s language was more toned down when he said, "We are developing our ties in the interests of both our peoples and not aimed against anyone."

Putin and Xi first expanded their relationship just ahead of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in the West’s attempt to isolate Moscow in retaliation for the deadly war. 

US OFFICIALS TO MEET WITH CHINESE COUNTERPARTS IN SWITZERLAND AMID TRADE WAR

Russia, China, Iran and North Korea have since deepened ties in an alliance that has increasingly concerned Western partners, though the Trump administration has looked to step away from these divisions in what some have argued could weaken U.S. ties with Washington’s long-standing allies. 

Putin said the ties strengthened during its war years were "one of the fundamental foundations of modern Russian-Chinese relations".

"Together with our Chinese friends, we firmly stand guard over the historical truth, protect the memory of the events of the war years, and counteract modern manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism," he added in reference to one of his long-debunked claims used to justify his illegal invasion of Ukraine. 

According to Russian news outlet TASS, both Xi and Putin pledged to help play a role in the Trump administration’s push to form a new nuclear agreement with Iran. 

While both were key players in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump abandoned in 2018, it remains unclear how they intend to participate in this round of negotiations facilitated by Oman. 

"The parties intend to play an active creative role in the settlement around the Iranian nuclear program, emphasizing that it will contribute to maintaining the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, peace and stability in the Middle East," the readout said. 

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions regarding any potential China-Russia involvement in the talks.

Fox News has exclusively obtained satellite imagery revealing what an opposition group says is a previously undisclosed Iranian nuclear weapons facility – raising fresh concerns amid ongoing negotiations between Tehran and the Trump administration.

The newly identified site, located in Iran’s Semnan Province, is far from the regime's already-known nuclear facilities. According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), intelligence gathered from sources inside the country points to a sprawling compound covering nearly 2,500 acres.

Code-named the "Rainbow Site" by Iranian officials, the facility has reportedly been in operation for more than a decade, masked as a chemical production company known as Diba Energy Siba.

IRAN'S COVER NUCLEAR AGENCY FOUND OPERATING OUT OF TOP SPACE PROGRAM LAUNCH SITES

According to NCRI sources, the primary function of the Rainbow Site is the extraction of tritium – a radioactive isotope used to enhance nuclear weapons. Unlike uranium enrichment, tritium has virtually no peaceful or commercial applications, casting further doubt on Iran’s longstanding claims that its nuclear ambitions are solely for energy or civilian use.

The revelations come as the Trump administration navigates sensitive negotiations with Tehran. When asked about the U.S. position on whether Iran can maintain a nuclear enrichment program short of weapons development, President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday, "We haven’t made that decision yet. We will, but we haven’t made that decision yet."

Despite the bombshell intelligence, senior officials maintain optimism. Vice President JD Vance, speaking Tuesday, said the talks remain on track.

TRUMP HALTS MILITARY STRIKES ON HOUTHIS BUT EXPERT WARNS IRAN-BACKED TERRORIST GROUP REMAINS MAJOR THREAT

"Without prejudging the negotiation, I will say, so far so good," Vance told reporters. "We’ve been very happy with how the Iranians have responded to some of the points that we’ve made."

The discovery of the Rainbow Site could complicate the already delicate diplomacy surrounding Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the possibility of a renewed agreement.

Eighty years after the Holocaust, far too many people are either downplaying its severity or denying it altogether, warned Merrill Eisenhower Atwater, great-grandson of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

His remarks came as nations around the world on Thursday commemorated the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

On May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany formally surrendered to the Allied powers, bringing an end to the war in Europe—a conflict that claimed the lives of approximately 40 million people, including the extermination of 6 million Jews.

Last month, Eisenhower Atwater took part in the March of the Living on Holocaust Remembrance Day, walking alongside survivors and thousands of participants from around the world. The march traces the path from Auschwitz to Birkenau, the Nazi death camps in occupied Poland, in a solemn tribute to the victims and in honor of the survivors and their liberators.

"When you’re sitting with 80 Holocaust survivors and both you and they are crying because of how special the moment is—and they tell you, ‘Without your great-grandfather, this never would have happened’—I say, without your bravery, this never would have happened," Eisenhower Atwater told Fox News Digital on Wednesday,

ISRAEL PAUSES AS THE JEWISH STATE HONORS AND REMEMBERS VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST

"One person equals multiple lives that were saved. It wasn’t just the liberation of the camps—it was saving generations," he added.

Among the march’s participants was Israel Meir Lau, former chief rabbi of Israel and a child survivor of Buchenwald, who personally met Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the Allied offensive against the Nazis in Europe, during the camp’s liberation.

Also remembered was Chaim Herzog, father of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who was on hand for the march. A British army officer during World War II, Chaim Herzog played a role in liberating the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. His father, Yitzhak Isaac Halevi Herzog—who would also become a chief rabbi of Israel—met with Gen. Eisenhower in 1946 as part of a mission to aid Jewish survivors across postwar Europe.

Eisenhower Atwater called his inclusion "humbling" and said the march allowed him to "sit and talk with unsung heroes."

One survivor in particular, Eva Clarke, left a deep impression. "She’s one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met. Finding out that the gas ran out just a couple days before she was born—that’s divine intervention," he told Fox News Digital. "She led the way. Just an incredible woman with an incredible story. She should inspire everyone."

Clarke was born on April 29, 1945 at the gates of Mauthausen concentration camp, one of only three known babies to have survived birth there.

Clarke’s mother, Anka Kauderova, endured three and a half years in concentration camps: Theresienstadt in then-Czechoslovakia, Auschwitz, and the Freiberg slave labor camp and armament factory in Germany. She was eventually transported in open coal wagons, along with 2,000 other prisoners, on a grueling 17-day journey without food and with minimal water to Mauthausen.

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"My parents were in Theresienstadt for three years, which was unusually long. They were young, strong, and able to work. To some extent, it was a transit camp to a death camp," Clarke told Fox News Digital.

"At the end of September 1944, their luck ran out. My father was sent to Auschwitz, and incredibly, my mother volunteered to follow him the next day. She didn’t know where he was going and, ever the optimist, believed it couldn’t get worse and they’d survive," she said.

Anka never saw her husband again. An eyewitness later told her that he was shot and killed in the death march near Auschwitz on Jan. 18, 1945. Auschwitz was liberated by the Russian army on Jan. 27.

In 1943, Anka became pregnant. "It was dangerous, but she met my father secretly. Becoming pregnant in a concentration camp was considered a crime punishable by death," Clarke said.

Her brother was born in February 1944 but died of pneumonia two months later. "Had my mother arrived at Auschwitz with a baby in her arms, both would have been sent to the gas chamber. Nobody knew she was pregnant again—with me."

In April 1945, Anka was sent to Mauthausen. "It’s a beautiful village on the Danube in Austria, but the camp sits on a steep hill behind it. When my mother saw the name at the train station, she was shocked—she had heard how horrific it was. That shock likely triggered her labor, and she began giving birth to me," Clarke said.

She credits her survival to timing. "On April 28, the Nazis ran out of gas. I was born on April 29. Hitler committed suicide on April 30. On May 5, the American 11th Armored Division liberated the camp."

When the Americans arrived, they brought food and medicine—though many, weakened, died upon receiving them. Three weeks later, once Anka regained strength, U.S. forces repatriated her to Prague. There, Anka met her second husband, and the two left to avoid living under communism, eventually settling in the U.K.

"I feel Merrill is my new best friend," Clarke said of Eisenhower Atwater. "It was overwhelming to meet someone whose great-grandfather played such an important role in ending the war. I was delighted to reconnect with him again in Auschwitz a few weeks ago. Everyone wanted to thank him for what his great-grandfather did."

Clarke will return to Mauthausen this Sunday to mark the 80th anniversary of its liberation by U.S. forces. "I’ll be there with two other babies who were born under similar circumstances. We are so grateful, I can’t even express it," she told Fox News Digital.

Reflecting on the moral clarity his great-grandfather exemplified, Eisenhower Atwater underscored that we are all human beings first.

"We all know right from wrong. It is wrong to kill people, wrong to put babies in ovens, wrong to put people in gas chambers. That’s clear," he said.

He acknowledged that Holocaust denial often stems from disbelief. "It’s easy to say something didn’t happen because it’s hard to comprehend the death of that many people. I get that. But it did happen. Nazi Germans killed 10,000 people a day—it’s well-documented. They documented it themselves, and the Allied forces saw it first-hand.

"Nobody really wants to talk about the death of six million people over a five-to-six-year period," he added. "But it’s the truth."

President Donald Trump made the surprise announcement this week that the U.S., after weeks of intense strikes, will halt all bombing campaigns on the Houthis in Yemen – but experts have warned the Iran-backed group will not sit idle. 

In Trump’s Tuesday announcement from the Oval Office, he claimed the Houthis "just don't want to fight…and we will honor that. We will stop the bombings."

The president would not say who provided him with this confirmation by the terrorist network, which for years has attacked U.S. and allied ships in the Red Sea in a major threat to freedom of navigation, but in a laugh following the question, he replied that it came from a "very good source."

Less than two hours later, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, the foreign minister of Oman, took to X to say, "Following recent discussions and contacts conducted by the Sultanate of Oman with the United States and the relevant authorities in Sana'a, in the Republic of Yemen, with the aim of de-escalation, efforts have resulted in a ceasefire agreement between the two sides."

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"In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping," he added. 

The post suggests that Oman, which has also played an intermediary in the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, was heavily involved in securing the ceasefire.

However, a new report obtained by Fox News Digital ahead of the president’s surprise announcement warns that the Trump administration must remain vigilant against major security threats posed by the Houthis and the international actors supporting the terrorist network.

The report, dubbed "The Houthi Challenge: Forging a Strategy to Defeat the Iran-Backed Terror Group in Yemen" by Ari Heistein for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and research fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, highlighted that it is not only Iran that have helped facilitate the Houthi operational capabilities. 

While Tehran has backed the Houthis since at least 2014 – and possibly as early as 2009 during the war in Yemen – through training and advanced weapons like ballistic missiles, Oman has also played a role by allowing the group to operate from its territory and serving as a key smuggling route for Iranian arms.

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Jonathan Schanzer, a former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the current executive director of the FDD, called Oman's role in negotiations between Washington and Middle East adversaries "outrageous." 

"To hold them up as responsible intermediaries when they are in fact hosting the very group that we're trying to dismantle, there's very little logic [in] this position," he told Fox News Digital.

The report found that Iranian arms are smuggled into Yemen through the port of Hodeidah – which was targeted in a series of Israeli strikes on major infrastructure in and around the Houthi-controlled capital of Sana’a this week – but also through smaller ports or overland through Oman.

Omani private banking institutions and businesses are also reportedly known to be "servicing the Houthi economy and even supplying the group with arms." 

"More must be done to prevent bulk cash smuggling across the border between Oman and Yemen," Heistein found. "Muscat must begin to feel pressure from the international community to address a threat finance challenge that has gone unchecked for too long."

The report breaks down the varied steps that need to be taken to effectively undermine and counter the Houthis as repeated military strikes by first, Saudi Arabia starting in 2015, then recently by the U.S. and Israel, have not significantly degraded the terrorist group.

Those steps include continued military action – similar to Israel’s recent strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port and Sana’a International Airport, which are expected to have far-reaching economic impacts and increase internal pressure on the Houthis. But military action alone isn’t enough; economic, diplomatic, and other soft power strategies are also needed to weaken the group, according to the report. 

The report also highlighted that the Houthis have utilized previous lulls in fighting with nations like Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and Israel to regroup and rebuild. 

"Compelling the Houthis to halt attacks on shipping is a meaningful achievement only if it is part of a broader, long-term strategy," Heistein told Fox News Digital. "However, if a Red Sea ceasefire becomes the centerpiece and endpoint of U.S. policy toward the Houthis, it risks empowering an increasingly dangerous regime to escalate and de-escalate at will.

 "Without a comprehensive approach to addressing the Houthi threat, the U.S. and its allies could soon be confronting a more dangerous, better-armed terrorist group," Heinstein warned. 

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea Thursday in what South Korea is calling a "clear act of provocation." 

Lee Sung Joon, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the launches were possibly intended to test the performance of weapons that North Korea plans to export as it continues to send military equipment and troops to fuel Russia’s warfighting against Ukraine. 

The agency said multiple missiles were launched from an area around North Korea’s eastern port city of Wonsan from about 8:10 to 9:20 a.m. local time Thursday, with the farthest traveling about 497 miles. 

Lee said the tests likely involved a short-range ballistic missile system launched from vehicles — possibly modeled after Russia’s Iskander missile -- and also large-caliber rocket artillery systems. 

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The Joint Chiefs said South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities detected the launch preparations in advance and tracked the missiles after they were launched. 

It issued a statement denouncing the launches as a "clear act of provocation" that threatens peace and stability in the region, according to the Associated Press. South Korean military officials are now analyzing whether the tests were linked to the North’s weapons exports to Russia.

In early March, North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea just hours after South Korea and the United States kicked off their first major joint military exercise of President Donald Trump’s second term. 

"We are aware of the DPRK’s multiple ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea and Japan, as well as other regional allies and partners. The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts," the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement at the time. 

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Those launches come after South Korean and U.S. forces began their annual Freedom Shield exercise. 

After denying its war involvement for months, North Korea last month confirmed for the first time that it had sent combat troops to help Russia in recapturing parts of the Kursk region, which had fallen to a surprise Ukrainian incursion last year. Moscow also acknowledged the North Korean involvement, with Russian President Vladimir Putin issuing a statement thanking the North for sending troops to support his forces and promising not to forget their sacrifices. 

Recent South Korean intelligence assessments suggest that North Korea has sent about 15,000 soldiers to Russia, and that nearly 5,000 of them have been killed or injured while fighting against Ukrainian forces, the AP reported. Washington and Seoul have also accused North Korea of supplying Russia with various types of military equipment, including artillery systems and shells and ballistic missiles. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

India launched multiple Israeli-made Harop drones targeting Pakistan overnight and into Thursday, wounding at least four soldiers, Pakistan army officials said. 

Pakistani forces downed 25 of the drones, Pakistan army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif told The Associated Press. Debris from a downed drone that fell into the Sindh province killed one civilian and injured another.

A drone damaged a military site near the city of Lahore, injuring four soldiers, and another went down in Rawalpindi, which is near the capital, Sharif said.

INDIA LAUNCHES STRIKES ON TERRORIST CAMPS IN PAKISTAN

"The armed forces are neutralizing them as we speak," Sharif on the state-run Pakistan Television early on Thursday afternoon, the outlet reported.

Both India and Pakistan are among the handful of world powers that possess nuclear weapons, making tensions between the two nations particularly troublesome on the world stage.

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President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he wants the conflict between the two nations to "stop," noting, "if I can do anything to help … I will be there."

Some American lawmakers have also weighed in on India and Pakistan.

PAKISTAN CALLS INDIA'S STRIKES AN ‘ACT OF WAR’ AND CLAIMS IT SHOT DOWN INDIAN FIGHTER JETS

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said in a Wednesday post on X, "I urge Indian and Pakistani leaders to find a path towards de-escalation, and to ensure accountability for those responsible for the horrific April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir. For the sake of innocent civilians in India and Pakistan—now is the time to lean into diplomacy."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Once a new pope is voted in, the name he chooses could signal the direction the Catholic Church moves in the coming years.

The announcement "Habemus Papa," or, "We have a pope," will be made from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. It will then be followed by the pontiff’s baptismal name in Latin, along with his chosen papal name and meaning.

Should the pope choose to go with Pope Francis II, it could signify continuity with the late pontiff’s pastoral legacy, though Francis himself quipped that whoever succeeds him would be John XXIV, named after the Vatican II-era pope.

In the 20th century, the most popular name for popes was Pius, and if chosen, that could signal that a traditionalist is taking back the throne of St. Peter.

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"In the deepest recesses of their mind, when they start the conclave, everyone will walk in there with a name in their head," Natalia Imperatori-Lee, chair of religious studies at Manhattan University, told The Associated Press.

For the majority of the Church’s first 1,000 years, popes used their given names, though the first exception was Roman Mercurius in the 6th century, who was named for a pagan god and chose the name John II.

Adopting a name became common practice during the 11th century, a period of German popes who chose the names of early bishops out of a "desire to signify continuity," Rev. Roberto Regoli, a historian at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University, told the wire service.

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It was not until the mid-20th century that new popes began to choose names signaling the direction of their papacy, Regoli added.

"Even now, as we are waiting for the new pope, the name with which he will present himself will help us to understand the horizon towards which he wants to proceed," Regoli said.

Names like Urban and Innocent have not been used for centuries, and Imperatori-Lee said he did not think anyone would pick the latter, given the abuse and scandals that have rocked the church.

THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS MEET TO ELECT THE NEXT POPE. WHO WILL IT BE?

"I don’t think that would be the right choice," he said.

The most recent names chosen include Francis, Benedict and John Paul.

The AP said Francis signaled a papacy focused on those who are often seen as outsiders, including the poor, prisoners and the LGBTQ+ community, while promoting peace, brotherhood and care for the environment.

PAPAL PULSE: EVERYDAY CATHOLICS REVEAL THEIR HOPES FOR THE NEXT POPE

Benedict, who was elected in 2005, was chosen because he wanted to pay homage to Benedict XV, who led the Catholic Church during World War I and dedicated himself to healing the rifts of war.

John Paul chose his name, signaling a commitment to reforms, including the sidelining of the Latin Mass in favor of local languages and other faiths, most significantly Judaism.

But it is still a new pope’s choice to choose a name never used before.

"This would open a new season and could mean that his program is not in line with any of his predecessors, so an even more personalized program," Regoli said.

Imperatori-Lee suggested another name that might signal a continuation of Francis’ legacy: Ignatius, for the founder of Francis’ Jesuit order.

"It would be interesting," she said. "We’ve never had one of those."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A woman's head was reportedly severed Wednesday when a man began attacking people with an ax on a college campus in Poland.

Polish police said a man was detained after he killed one person with an ax at Warsaw University.

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"Police have detained a man who entered the University of Warsaw campus. One person died, another was taken to hospital with injuries," Warsaw Police said in a statement on X.

The incident happened at about 1:40 p.m. local time when the 22-year-old man entered the campus. 

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"One person died, the other was taken to hospital with serious injuries," Warsaw police said. "Prosecutors and police are working on site. Actions in progress."

Private broadcaster Polsat News reported that a woman's severed head and an ax had been found at the school, Reuters reported. 

A spokesperson for the district prosecutor's office told the news outlet that a female university administrative employee was killed at the scene and a security guard was injured and taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church does not get paid what many consider a traditional salary. Instead, the Vatican provides for the pontiff's needs, from housing, food, transportation and other expenses in the form of stipends and allowances.

The Vatican, referred to as "the world's smallest country," is sustained by "an economy that relies on a combination of donations, private enterprises, and investments to generate revenue," according to Investopedia.  

Pope Francis declined any sort of salary when he took office in 2013, The Economic Times reported back in February, adding that the pontiff at the time had a net worth of "around $16 million, which includes various assets provided to him as the pope."

The Vatican's financial situation has been in peril for years, with its annual operating deficit growing to over $90 million in 2023, according to reports. In November, Pope Francis warned that the Vatican's pension fund — which provides pensions to employees of the Holy See and Vatican City State — has been facing a "severe prospective imbalance" that "tends to grow over time in the absence of interventions," according to the Vatican News.

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The governing body of the Vatican, also known as the Holy See, doesn't provide exact numbers regarding its finances. However, the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook estimated its revenues and expenditures in 2013 notched $315 million and $348 million, respectively.  

It generates this money through various avenues. According to the Michigan Journal of Economics, the Holy See generates some of its revenue through Peter’s Pence, which is a term that describes donations collected from Catholics around the world and given to the Pope on an annual basis. This accounts for $27 million each year, with the largest contributions deriving from the United States, Germany and Italy, according to American Magazine.

WHAT IS THE PAPAL CONCLAVE: INSIDE THE ANCIENT PROCESS OF CHOOSING THE NEXT POPE

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Vatican and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for more information about how the pope gets paid, but did not immediately hear back. 

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has released its first-ever J7 Annual Report on Antisemitism as the world prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

The report details the rise in antisemitism seen in countries that have the largest Jewish populations outside Israel, including the U.S., the U.K., Argentina, Canada, France, Germany and Australia.

The J7 Task Force was founded in July 2023, just months before Hamas launched its deadly attacks on Israel. In the wake of the massacre, the ADL has noted an uptick in antisemitic incidents and sentiments around the world. 

ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS BREAK RECORD FOR 4TH STRAIGHT YEAR, ADL FINDS

From 2021 to 2023, antisemitic incidents increased by 11% in Australia, 23% in Argentina, 75% in Germany, 82% in the U.K., 83% in Canada, 185% in France and 227% in the U.S., according to the ADL’s report. Additionally, the organization noted a "troubling" pattern in antisemitic incidents per Jewish capita in the J7 countries, including more than 38 incidents per 1,000 Jewish residents in Germany in 2023. Additionally, in Australia, incidents per Jewish capita quadrupled from 2023 to 2024.

The J7 Task Force report reveals common themes across all nations, such as increases in violent attacks, spikes in antisemitic rhetoric online and growing feelings of fear and insecurity among Jews.

In the report, the rising antisemitism in each of the J7 countries was documented by the Jewish communities directly impacted.

The Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA) found that antisemitism had become deeply embedded in social media and academic institutions. Argentinian Jewish students are reportedly choosing schools "based on whether or not they will be a target of antisemitic incidents, both from their fellow students and from their professors," according to DAIA. The organization recommends more "work and engagement" in combatting antisemitism in academia.

In 2023, Argentina saw a 44% increase in antisemitic incidents compared to 2022. Like many other countries included in the report, the country saw a rise in antisemitism and anti-Zionism following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks.

Additionally, DAIA noted that Argentinian President Javier Milei’s strong support of Israel and the U.S. has led to "an increase in antisemitic and other conspiratorial rhetoric."

DAIA also found some bright spots in Argentina, noting that 60% of Argentinians, especially those aged 25-34, have a favorable view of Israel and just 7% favor boycotting Israeli products and businesses. This could be because Argentina has felt the impact of a terrorist organization that has also attacked Israel. Hezbollah carried out two deadly bombing attacks in Buenos Aires, one in 1992 at the Israeli Embassy and another in 1994 at the AMIA-DAIA Jewish Center.

AUSTRALIA'S JEWISH COMMUNITY ALARMED BY RISING ANTISEMITISM

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s (ECAJ) report, which covers Oct. 1, 2023-Sept. 30, 2024, showed a sizable 316% increase in antisemitic incidents. In the 12-month period the ECAJ studied, it found 2,062 antisemitic incidents compared to 495 incidents in the previous year. In the decade prior, the number of antisemitic incidents each year ranged from 190 to 495.

ECAJ cited Dr. Adina Bankier-Karp and Dr. David Graham’s survey, "Australian Jews in the Shadow of War," which found that 64% of Australian Jews felt that antisemitism was "very much" a big problem in the country. This, according to the report, is 10 times higher than the response in 2017.

The Australian federal government in 2024, as well as many state governments, banned hate symbols such as swastikas and the Nazi salute. Symbols of terrorist organizations were also banned. However, ECAJ said it does not believe these laws do enough to combat "post-Oct. 7 sources of antisemitism."

"While these laws are welcomed, they are not addressing the post-October 7 sources of antisemitism in Australia which makes up the majority of incidents, nor will the laws counter anti-Jewish attitudes and incidents," ECAJ wrote in the report.

The report on Canada was compiled by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). The organization said Canada’s main challenges include increased threats of violence and "anti- Israel actions taken by the federal government that display a double standard towards the Jewish state, such as the imposition of an arms embargo."

While the data for 2024 is not yet available, CIJA noted that the 2023 statistics show "disturbing trends." While Jews make up just 1% of the country’s population, 19% of reported hate crimes were motivated by antisemitism. Additionally, hate crimes against Jews increased by 71% from 2022 to 2023, according to CIJA.

In the report, CIJA called out the Canadian government’s "inaction" on antisemitism. The organization called for action and legal reform to help fight rising antisemitism.

Nearly all Canadian Jews, 98%, said antisemitism is a "serious or somewhat serious problem," according to CIJA. Additionally, 82% said "Canada has become less safe for Jews" since Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre.

Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF) found clear links between antisemitic incidents and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. According to CRIF, more than 30% of antisemitic incidents in 2024 included references to "Palestine." French schools also saw antisemitic incidents more than quadruple, reaching 1,670 in the 2023-2024 academic year, compared to 400 the year before.

CRIF found that antisemitic incidents became more violent in 2024. These incidents included the rape and assault of a 12-year-old Jewish girl because of her "bad words on Palestine" and the arson and antisemitic graffiti at the Rouen synagogue. 

The organization said it welcomed the French government’s adoption of a national plan to fight racism, antisemitism and discrimination. The plan was adopted in 2023 and is set to be implemented through 2026.

CRIF said in its report that many French Jews have stopped displaying or speaking about their religious identity out of fear. Even children steer clear of the topic to avoid harassment in school.

GLOBAL RISE IN ANTISEMITISM LEAVES JEWISH COMMUNITY ISOLATED, RABBI SAYS WORLD AT 'A TIPPING POINT'

Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland (ZJD) sounded the alarm over rising antisemitism, pointing out that "October 7, 2023, has massively accelerated a development that was already looming." Antisemitism in Germany is not unique to one side of the political aisle, though ZJD points out the rise of Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) "poses a major challenge." 

AfD holds multiple positions that, if turned into reality, would make life extremely difficult for observant German Jews, including the banning of religious slaughter of animals, which could effectively make kosher meat illegal.

German police found 3,200 crimes from Jan. 1, 2024, to Oct. 7, 2024, were motivated by antisemitism. This comes after the Office on Research and Information on Antisemitism in Hessen found 3,000 antisemitic incidents between Oct. 7, 2023, and the end of that same year.

A January 2025 study by the Claims Conference found that approximately 40% of 18- to 29-year-olds in Germany did not know that more than 6,000,000 Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. However, the ADL’s 2024 Global 100 survey shows Holocaust distortion and denial is lower in Germany compared to other Western European nations.

ZJD concluded that ongoing debates in Germany surrounding social issues have direct impacts on the Jewish community. 

The Board of Deputies of British Jews (the Board) said in its section of the report that antisemitism has dropped since Q4 2023 but still remains above pre-Oct. 7 levels. Meanwhile, British Jews are "finding everyday life in the U.K. an increasing challenge" with 25% of British Jews feeling unsafe in the country.

The Community Security Trust’s 2024 Antisemitic Incidents Report showed 3,528 antisemitic incidents in the U.K., representing an 18% decrease from the 4,296 incidents reported in 2023. 

"Posters of Israeli hostages are regularly torn down, and in major cities the UK has faced weekly hate marches calling for Israel’s destruction," the Board wrote. It also stated that the Institute of Jewish Policy Research called this phenomenon "ambient antisemitism."

The Board acknowledged the government’s actions to fight antisemitism but said that statistics showed that further action was needed. "Enhanced law enforcement, stricter regulations on online hate speech, and comprehensive educational programs are essential to effectively combat antisemitic attitudes and behaviors," the Board wrote.

Overall, the Board believes the U.K.’s three main areas of focus should be addressing antisemitic incidents, fighting online hate speech and restoring a sense of security among British Jews.

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The ADL and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations worked together to compile a report on rising antisemitism in the U.S., noting the "alarming rise" in antisemitic incidents and attitudes.

In its 2024 antisemitism audit, which was released last month, the ADL identified 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024, a 5% increase from 2023 and a staggering 926% increase since it began tracking in 1979.

"Let’s be clear, antisemitism is an irrational hatred of individuals or institutions just because they are Jewish," ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt told Fox News Digital upon the release of the audit. He also noted that "ADL has been conducting an annual audit of antisemitic incidents since the 1970s. And we've simply never seen numbers like this." 

The ADL and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations found that "the groundswell of antisemitism in the United States shows no signs of abating." In the report, both organizations said that the polarized political environment makes it hard to predict how antisemitism will develop.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has released its first-ever J7 Annual Report on Antisemitism as the world prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

The report details the rise in antisemitism seen in countries that have the largest Jewish populations outside Israel, including the U.S., the U.K., Argentina, Canada, France, Germany and Australia.

The J7 Task Force was founded in July 2023, just months before Hamas launched its deadly attacks on Israel. In the wake of the massacre, the ADL has noted an uptick in antisemitic incidents and sentiments around the world. 

ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS BREAK RECORD FOR 4TH STRAIGHT YEAR, ADL FINDS

From 2021 to 2023, antisemitic incidents increased by 11% in Australia, 23% in Argentina, 75% in Germany, 82% in the U.K., 83% in Canada, 185% in France and 227% in the U.S., according to the ADL’s report. Additionally, the organization noted a "troubling" pattern in antisemitic incidents per Jewish capita in the J7 countries, including more than 38 incidents per 1,000 Jewish residents in Germany in 2023. Additionally, in Australia, incidents per Jewish capita quadrupled from 2023 to 2024.

The J7 Task Force report reveals common themes across all nations, such as increases in violent attacks, spikes in antisemitic rhetoric online and growing feelings of fear and insecurity among Jews.

In the report, the rising antisemitism in each of the J7 countries was documented by the Jewish communities directly impacted.

The Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA) found that antisemitism had become deeply embedded in social media and academic institutions. Argentinian Jewish students are reportedly choosing schools "based on whether or not they will be a target of antisemitic incidents, both from their fellow students and from their professors," according to DAIA. The organization recommends more "work and engagement" in combatting antisemitism in academia.

In 2023, Argentina saw a 44% increase in antisemitic incidents compared to 2022. Like many other countries included in the report, the country saw a rise in antisemitism and anti-Zionism following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks.

Additionally, DAIA noted that Argentinian President Javier Milei’s strong support of Israel and the U.S. has led to "an increase in antisemitic and other conspiratorial rhetoric."

DAIA also found some bright spots in Argentina, noting that 60% of Argentinians, especially those aged 25-34, have a favorable view of Israel and just 7% favor boycotting Israeli products and businesses. This could be because Argentina has felt the impact of a terrorist organization that has also attacked Israel. Hezbollah carried out two deadly bombing attacks in Buenos Aires, one in 1992 at the Israeli Embassy and another in 1994 at the AMIA-DAIA Jewish Center.

AUSTRALIA'S JEWISH COMMUNITY ALARMED BY RISING ANTISEMITISM

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s (ECAJ) report, which covers Oct. 1, 2023-Sept. 30, 2024, showed a sizable 316% increase in antisemitic incidents. In the 12-month period the ECAJ studied, it found 2,062 antisemitic incidents compared to 495 incidents in the previous year. In the decade prior, the number of antisemitic incidents each year ranged from 190 to 495.

ECAJ cited Dr. Adina Bankier-Karp and Dr. David Graham’s survey, "Australian Jews in the Shadow of War," which found that 64% of Australian Jews felt that antisemitism was "very much" a big problem in the country. This, according to the report, is 10 times higher than the response in 2017.

The Australian federal government in 2024, as well as many state governments, banned hate symbols such as swastikas and the Nazi salute. Symbols of terrorist organizations were also banned. However, ECAJ said it does not believe these laws do enough to combat "post-Oct. 7 sources of antisemitism."

"While these laws are welcomed, they are not addressing the post-October 7 sources of antisemitism in Australia which makes up the majority of incidents, nor will the laws counter anti-Jewish attitudes and incidents," ECAJ wrote in the report.

The report on Canada was compiled by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). The organization said Canada’s main challenges include increased threats of violence and "anti- Israel actions taken by the federal government that display a double standard towards the Jewish state, such as the imposition of an arms embargo."

While the data for 2024 is not yet available, CIJA noted that the 2023 statistics show "disturbing trends." While Jews make up just 1% of the country’s population, 19% of reported hate crimes were motivated by antisemitism. Additionally, hate crimes against Jews increased by 71% from 2022 to 2023, according to CIJA.

In the report, CIJA called out the Canadian government’s "inaction" on antisemitism. The organization called for action and legal reform to help fight rising antisemitism.

Nearly all Canadian Jews, 98%, said antisemitism is a "serious or somewhat serious problem," according to CIJA. Additionally, 82% said "Canada has become less safe for Jews" since Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre.

Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF) found clear links between antisemitic incidents and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. According to CRIF, more than 30% of antisemitic incidents in 2024 included references to "Palestine." French schools also saw antisemitic incidents more than quadruple, reaching 1,670 in the 2023-2024 academic year, compared to 400 the year before.

CRIF found that antisemitic incidents became more violent in 2024. These incidents included the rape and assault of a 12-year-old Jewish girl because of her "bad words on Palestine" and the arson and antisemitic graffiti at the Rouen synagogue. 

The organization said it welcomed the French government’s adoption of a national plan to fight racism, antisemitism and discrimination. The plan was adopted in 2023 and is set to be implemented through 2026.

CRIF said in its report that many French Jews have stopped displaying or speaking about their religious identity out of fear. Even children steer clear of the topic to avoid harassment in school.

GLOBAL RISE IN ANTISEMITISM LEAVES JEWISH COMMUNITY ISOLATED, RABBI SAYS WORLD AT 'A TIPPING POINT'

Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland (ZJD) sounded the alarm over rising antisemitism, pointing out that "October 7, 2023, has massively accelerated a development that was already looming." Antisemitism in Germany is not unique to one side of the political aisle, though ZJD points out the rise of Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) "poses a major challenge." 

AfD holds multiple positions that, if turned into reality, would make life extremely difficult for observant German Jews, including the banning of religious slaughter of animals, which could effectively make kosher meat illegal.

German police found 3,200 crimes from Jan. 1, 2024, to Oct. 7, 2024, were motivated by antisemitism. This comes after the Office on Research and Information on Antisemitism in Hessen found 3,000 antisemitic incidents between Oct. 7, 2023, and the end of that same year.

A January 2025 study by the Claims Conference found that approximately 40% of 18- to 29-year-olds in Germany did not know that more than 6,000,000 Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. However, the ADL’s 2024 Global 100 survey shows Holocaust distortion and denial is lower in Germany compared to other Western European nations.

ZJD concluded that ongoing debates in Germany surrounding social issues have direct impacts on the Jewish community. 

The Board of Deputies of British Jews (the Board) said in its section of the report that antisemitism has dropped since Q4 2023 but still remains above pre-Oct. 7 levels. Meanwhile, British Jews are "finding everyday life in the U.K. an increasing challenge" with 25% of British Jews feeling unsafe in the country.

The Community Security Trust’s 2024 Antisemitic Incidents Report showed 3,528 antisemitic incidents in the U.K., representing an 18% decrease from the 4,296 incidents reported in 2023. 

"Posters of Israeli hostages are regularly torn down, and in major cities the UK has faced weekly hate marches calling for Israel’s destruction," the Board wrote. It also stated that the Institute of Jewish Policy Research called this phenomenon "ambient antisemitism."

The Board acknowledged the government’s actions to fight antisemitism but said that statistics showed that further action was needed. "Enhanced law enforcement, stricter regulations on online hate speech, and comprehensive educational programs are essential to effectively combat antisemitic attitudes and behaviors," the Board wrote.

Overall, the Board believes the U.K.’s three main areas of focus should be addressing antisemitic incidents, fighting online hate speech and restoring a sense of security among British Jews.

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The ADL and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations worked together to compile a report on rising antisemitism in the U.S., noting the "alarming rise" in antisemitic incidents and attitudes.

In its 2024 antisemitism audit, which was released last month, the ADL identified 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024, a 5% increase from 2023 and a staggering 926% increase since it began tracking in 1979.

"Let’s be clear, antisemitism is an irrational hatred of individuals or institutions just because they are Jewish," ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt told Fox News Digital upon the release of the audit. He also noted that "ADL has been conducting an annual audit of antisemitic incidents since the 1970s. And we've simply never seen numbers like this." 

The ADL and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations found that "the groundswell of antisemitism in the United States shows no signs of abating." In the report, both organizations said that the polarized political environment makes it hard to predict how antisemitism will develop.