World News
Zelenskyy warns Ukraine faces ‘difficult choice’ as US peace plan hits major hurdle
A U.S.-backed framework to end the Ukraine war — assembled by special envoy Steve Witkoff, with input through both Kyiv and Moscow channels — is stirring unease among European allies and putting fresh pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy, who has ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over Ukrainian land, delivered one of his starkest public messages yet, warning that Kyiv is entering "one of the most difficult moments in our history."
In remarks released on Friday by Reuters, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is under intense pressure and may soon face what he called "a very difficult choice: either losing its dignity or risking the loss of a key partner. Either 28 difficult points or an extremely difficult winter — the most difficult one yet — and further risks. Life without freedom, without dignity, without justice. And we are expected to trust someone who has already attacked us twice."
Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to remain disciplined as negotiations continue with Washington. "We will not make any loud statements; we will work calmly with America and all our partners," he said. "I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will offer alternatives, but we will definitely not give the enemy any reason to say that Ukraine does not want peace, that it is disrupting the process, and that Ukraine is not ready for diplomacy. That will not happen."
Warning of intensified attempts to divide the country, he said Ukrainians should expect "a lot of pressure — political, informational and other kinds of pressure — to weaken us," but vowed that "we have no right to allow that," and insisted, "we will succeed."
According to multiple outlets, a working draft would require Kyiv to cede the eastern Donbas region to Russia, limit long-range Western strikes inside Russia, and cap Ukraine’s armed forces at roughly 600,000 troops.
The White House says Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been "quietly working" on the plan and engaging both sides. President Donald Trump has been briefed and supports pushing to finalize the framework by the holidays.
Zelenskyy is preparing calls with Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as European leaders scramble to assess the proposal’s implications, after he held a call with U.S. Vice President Vance, source says.
Ukraine has formally received the document. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United States would "work on the provisions of the plan," and that Kyiv is ready for "constructive, honest and swift work." He has repeatedly ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over any Ukrainian territory, saying earlier there can be "no reward for waging war."
"We are working to ensure that Ukraine’s national interests are taken into account at every level of our relations with partners," Zelenskyy posted Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
ZELENSKYY SEEKS 'STRONG REACTION' FROM US IF PUTIN IS NOT READY FOR BILATERAL MEETING
A Ukrainian source told Fox News Digital that Kyiv’s red lines include limits on NATO membership, territorial concessions and troop cuts. The former senior Ukrainian official called the draft’s terms "political suicide" that would leave Zelenskyy responsible "for the loss of about one-fifth of Ukraine."
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Washington and Moscow are not yet discussing the proposals in detail, but that contacts were taking place. "There are certain ideas on the American side, but nothing substantive is currently being discussed. We are completely open — we maintain our openness to peace negotiations," Peskov told reporters.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz pressed for urgency during a Security Council briefing Thursday, saying diplomacy is "the only path to a durable and just peace." Waltz said Washington has "proposed generous terms for Russia, including sanctions relief," and vowed that "under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will continue to pursue a path to peace in Ukraine."
Ukraine’s Deputy Representative to the United Nations, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, pushed back firmly during Thursday’s Security Council meeting, declaring that Kyiv would reject any settlement that compromises its sovereignty. "There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Our land is not for sale," she said. Hayovyshyn stressed that "Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join."
European leaders were caught off guard. The Associated Press reported that the leaders of Germany, France and the U.K. spoke with Zelenskyy Friday to reaffirm their "unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace" as diplomats scrambled to parse a U.S. proposal many first learned about through the media. Bild said Merz canceled a domestic appearance to hold crisis calls with both Zelenskyy and Trump.
Zelenskyy is expected to speak with Trump in the coming days to discuss the plan’s core points and Ukraine’s red lines.
Zelenskyy warns Ukraine faces ‘difficult choice’ as US peace plan hits major hurdle
A U.S.-backed framework to end the Ukraine war — assembled by special envoy Steve Witkoff, with input through both Kyiv and Moscow channels — is stirring unease among European allies and putting fresh pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy, who has ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over Ukrainian land, said he will work "calmly" with America." This is one of the most difficult moments in our history," Zelenskyy said in a video address to the nation. "Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner," he said, according to a report in the Associated Press
According to multiple outlets, a working draft would require Kyiv to cede the eastern Donbas region to Russia, limit long-range Western strikes inside Russia, and cap Ukraine’s armed forces at roughly 600,000 troops.
The White House says Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been "quietly working" on the plan and engaging both sides. President Donald Trump has been briefed and supports pushing to finalize the framework by the holidays.
Zelenskyy is preparing for a call with Trump and spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as European leaders scramble to assess the proposal’s implications, after he held a call with U.S. Vice President Vance, source says.
Ukraine has formally received the document. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United States would "work on the provisions of the plan," and that Kyiv is ready for "constructive, honest and swift work." He has repeatedly ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over any Ukrainian territory, saying earlier there can be "no reward for waging war."
"We are working to ensure that Ukraine’s national interests are taken into account at every level of our relations with partners," Zelenskyy posted Friday on X.
A Ukrainian source told Fox News Digital that Kyiv’s red lines include limits on NATO membership, territorial concessions and troop cuts. The former senior Ukrainian official called the draft’s terms "political suicide" that would leave Zelenskyy responsible "for the loss of about one-fifth of Ukraine."
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Washington and Moscow are not yet discussing the proposals in detail, but that contacts were taking place. "There are certain ideas on the American side, but nothing substantive is currently being discussed. We are completely open — we maintain our openness to peace negotiations," Peskov told reporters.
ZELENSKYY SEEKS 'STRONG REACTION' FROM US IF PUTIN IS NOT READY FOR BILATERAL MEETING
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz pressed for urgency during a Security Council briefing Thursday, saying diplomacy is "the only path to a durable and just peace." Waltz said Washington has "proposed generous terms for Russia, including sanctions relief," and vowed that "under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will continue to pursue a path to peace in Ukraine."
Ukraine’s Deputy Representative to the United Nations, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, pushed back firmly during Thursday’s Security Council meeting, declaring that Kyiv would reject any settlement that compromises its sovereignty. "There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Our land is not for sale," she said. Hayovyshyn stressed that "Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join."
European leaders were reportedly caught off guard by the proposals, with the Associated Press reporting the leaders of Germany, France and the U.K. spoke with Zelenskyy Friday to reaffirm their "unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace" as diplomats scrambled to parse a U.S. proposal many first learned about through the media. Bild said Merz canceled a domestic appearance to hold crisis calls with both Zelenskyy and Trump.
Zelenskyy is expected to speak with Trump in the coming days to discuss the plan’s core points and Ukraine’s red lines.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Israel-Hezbollah border tensions rise as terror group rearms, resists US- backed ceasefire
The Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist movement Hezbollah is rebuilding its military arsenal on Israel’s northern border, as experts warn that another war between the two sides could be on the horizon. The latest developments come a year after the U.S. helped broker a ceasefire between the parties.
On Wednesday, IDF spokesman Nadav Shoshani, said Hezbollah had engaged "in a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement." Shoshani also released a video showing the rearming, claiming the terror group was "operating to reestablish its assets in the village of Beit Lif."
Critics argue that the U.N. peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, is not fulfilling its mandate to disarm the terror group and the Lebanese Armed Forces are moving too slowly, which has led to continued Israeli actions against the terrorists. The IDF has been launching near-daily strikes against the group’s infrastructure and operatives inside Lebanon.
IRAN SMUGGLED $1B TO HEZBOLLAH THIS YEAR DESPITE US SANCTIONS, TREASURY OFFICIAL SAYS
Sarit Zehavi, a leading Israeli security expert on Hezbollah from the Israel Alma Research and Education Center, told Fox News Digital that Hezbollah does not currently "have the capability to carry out an October invasion. They had it prior to Oct. 7, 2023. They can send in a few terrorists. I want to believe it will take a few years to get those capabilities back."
Fox News Digital exclusively reported last year on Hezbollah’s war plan to invade northern Israel and carry out a scorched-earth campaign against the Jewish state.
A day after the Iran-backed Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and massacred over 1,200 people, Hezbollah launched missile attacks against Israel.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MIDDLE EAST'S HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS GROUPS?
Zehavi said, "Both the IDF and Hezbollah are very active. The IDF is very active to stop the rehabilitation of Hezbollah and Hezbollah is very active in rebuilding. Hezbollah learned lessons. It has been more problematic to smuggle weapons to Lebanon from Syria. It is happening. But the Syrians intercepted weapons."
She noted that the "Syrian regime is willing to fight Hezbollah to fight weapons smuggling. Hezbollah is relying more on manufacturing rockets."
Zehavi, who lives in northern Israel, said that "almost half of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah are south of the Litani river. We see a lot of investment from Hezbollah in drones, short-range rockets, mortars and anti-tank missiles."
On Tuesday in Germany, prosecutors started a trial against an alleged Hezbollah member running "an extensive drone program for some time."
The German Federal Prosecutor's Office said the suspected Hezbollah operative Fadel Z joined Hezbollah more than 10 years ago and worked as a "foreign operator" for the group's drone program in 2022 in Spain and Germany.
Zehavi said it suffered a defeat of its leadership via the Mossad pager attack on its commanders. However, she added, "Iran immediately provided oxygen to Hezbollah for treatment to help revive Hezbollah."
ISRAEL DEGRADES IRAN-BACKED HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS IN SPECTACULAR PAGER EXPLOSION OPERATION: EXPERTS
She outlined Israel’s main defense strategy against Hezbollah. First, the IDF has positions in Syria and Lebanon. "We cannot have civilians on the front line. The IDF is on top of hills in Israel and Lebanon and can see everything and can respond quickly to terrorist activities. This means when an Israeli woman opens her window and used to see a Hezbollah flag, she now sees an Israeli flag. This gives her a sense of security. This was not present before Oct. 7.
She estimates Hezbollah has 50,000 terrorists and 50,000 reservists. "We killed a few thousand terrorists."
The IDF made dramatic advances in eradicating Hezbollah’s missile arsenal. "We degraded 80%" of the rockets, Zehavi said, noting the elimination of sizable numbers of Hezbollah’s long-range and highly accurate missiles.
Edy Cohen, a Lebanese-born Israeli scholar of Hezbollah, said, "There is no lack of arms for Hezbollah in Beirut and Lebanon. Lately, we saw many reports that Hezbollah received arms from Syria and Iran is trying to send arms by civilian Iranian airplanes."
HEZBOLLAH'S NEIGHBORS: ISRAELI BORDER COMMUNITY UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK FROM TERROR GROUP
He said there is enormous pressure on Hezbollah and every week Israel is killing Hezbollah operative. The Shiite community in Lebanon wants Hezbollah to retaliate against Israel, said Cohen, adding, "For the Shiite community Hezbollah is the state."
Cohen said the IDF is gathering intelligence information about Hezbollah’s arsenal and attacking almost every day its leaders and operatives.
He warned that because "Hezbollah said it will not disarm its militia ... the big war will come."
Fox News Digital reported in early November that Trump’s U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, who also serves as envoy to Syria, said that Lebanon is a "failed state," because of its "paralyzed government."
He also noted that Hezbollah retains 40,000 fighters and between 15,000 and 20,000 rockets and missiles, noting the terror group pays its militia $2,200 per month, whereas the Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers earn $275 a month and have inferior equipment as well.
Fighter jet crashes at Dubai Air Show, pilot dead
An Indian fighter jet crashed Friday at the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates, killing the pilot onboard, officials said.
Videos circulating on social media showed the IAF Tejas aircraft bursting into flames as it struck the ground, drawing gasps from crowds gathered at the event.
"The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident," the Indian Air Force wrote on X, noting that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. "IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief."
"A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today’s flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot," added the Dubai Media Office. "Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site."
An SUV bearing diplomatic plates flying the Indian flag was seen at the crash site, along with police and emergency personnel.
The air show later resumed flight demonstrations, with the Russian Knights aerobatics team flying overhead as emergency crews still worked the crash site, the Associated Press reported.
Tejas is India’s indigenous fighter aircraft, built by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
SKIES AT STAKE: INSIDE THE U.S.–CHINA RACE FOR AIR DOMINANCE
The lightweight, single-engine jet is expected to bolster India’s depleted fighter fleet as China expands its military presence in South Asia, including by strengthening defense ties with India’s rival Pakistan, according to the AP.
In September, India’s Defense Ministry signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or HAL, to procure 97 Tejas jets for the air force. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.
A Tejas fighter jet crashed in the western Indian state of Rajasthan last year, but the pilot ejected safely in that incident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
52 Catholic school students in Nigeria kidnapped by gunmen in latest attack: report
Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped several students and staff from a Catholic school early Friday, marking the latest attack on a Christian institution.
Nigerian news outlet Arise TV said 52 children were abducted from St. Mary's School. The Catholic institution is in Agwara local government’s Papiri community, according to The Associated Press, which cited Abubakar Usman, the secretary to the Niger state government. The outlet added that Usman did not specify how many children were kidnapped in the attack.
The Niger State Police Command said military and security forces were deployed to the area where the attack took place in the early hours of Friday, the AP reported. Additionally, the Niger State Police Command said St. Mary's educates students ages 12–17.
A security staffer was "badly shot" in the attack, according to the AP which cited a statement issued by the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora.
GUNMEN ATTACK CHURCH IN NIGERIA, KILLING TWO AND KIDNAPPING OTHERS
Following the attack, Usman released a statement condemning the abductions and stating that St. Mary's made the decision to reopen despite prior security intelligence warning of increased threats, according to Arise TV.
"Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk," the statement read.
The attack at St. Mary's follows a similar incident earlier this week in which armed attackers kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in Nigeria’s Kebbi State and killed at least one staffer. The search for the abducted schoolgirls is still underway.
On Wednesday, gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church, killing at least two people and abducting the pastor and 38 worshippers, according to Reuters. In a video of the attack, which was reviewed and verified by Reuters, armed men are seen entering the church and taking worshippers' belongings as gunshots ring out. The outlet later reported that a church official said the gunmen demanded a ransom of 100 million naira (roughly $69,000) per worshipper.
RAP STAR NICKI MINAJ THANKS TRUMP FOR ADDRESSING PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA
Nigeria has seen a series of attacks on Christians, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a "country of particular concern" over the persecution of Christians. However, the Nigerian government has disputed the U.S.'s claims.
On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz held an event highlighting the ongoing violence in Nigeria. During the event, Waltz called the killings of Christians in Nigeria "genocide wearing the mask of chaos."
"Folks, we have an entire faith that is being erased, one bullet at a time, one torched Bible at a time," Waltz said.
Rap superstar Nicki Minaj, who has been vocal about her support for the Trump administration's efforts to combat the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, spoke at Waltz's event. Minaj lamented that "families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray."
Fox News Digital's Ashley Carnahan and Paul Tilsley contributed to this report.
Putin says health ‘fine’ after two-day checkup, refuses blood pressure test at AI event: report
Vladimir Putin said he is in good health after a two-day medical checkup despite backing out of a blood pressure test at an artificial intelligence conference, according to reports.
Appearing at the AI Journey forum in Moscow, Putin, 73, was invited to try a new AI-powered kiosk that measures users’ pulse and blood pressure through a fingertip scanner, according to Reuters.
The Russian president, who was surrounded by bodyguards, reportedly told the crowd, "I recently had my annual checkup. It took two and a half days, including an overnight stay at the clinic. Thank God, everything is fine," according to The Times.
Putin made the comments amid persistent rumors about his health.
MEDICAL EXPERT WEIGHS IN AFTER XI, PUTIN CAUGHT ON HOT MIC DISCUSSING ORGAN TRANSPLANTS, IMMORTALITY
At another event in Moscow Nov. 9, people noticed that the Russian president had a bruised or swollen hand.
Ukrainian presidential advisor Anton Gerashchenko posted a close-up photo of Putin’s hand on X, claiming his "veins are bulging" and adding, "There’s something wrong with Putin’s hands."
In March, Fox News Digital reported that President Zelenskyy had predicted Putin "will die soon" as speculation was mounting over him having cancer or suffering strokes.
TRUMP REVEALS HE HAD 'PERFECT' MRI DURING RECENT WALTER REED PHYSICAL
Video of Putin gripping a table during a meeting with defense officials in 2022 also led people to suggest he was suffering from Parkinson’s disease or chronic pain.
At the forum on Wednesday, Putin said he believed humans might eventually live to 150 years old, according to the Daily Express.
"It is probably possible to reach 150," he said. "But it will always be too few, just like with money — always."
PUTIN CALLS DANCING RUSSIAN ROBOT 'VERY BEAUTIFUL' IN AWKWARD AI CONFERENCE MOMENT
It’s not the first time the Russian leader has contemplated longevity.
During a hot mic exchange with China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at a summit in Beijing in September, he was overheard joking about biotechnology and organ transplants.
"The longer you live, the younger you become," he said. "Perhaps one day, we may even achieve immortality."
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kremlin for further comment.
Lawmakers sound alarm on ‘deadliest place on earth to be a Christian’ as Nigeria violence escalates
The U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa held a hearing Thursday on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria in what subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith, R-N.J., described as the "systematic and accelerating violence against predominantly Christian communities in Nigeria."
Members from both parties questioned administration officials and outside experts as witness after witness described the collapse of security, mass killings, kidnappings and the impunity that has turned Africa’s most populous country into what one lawmaker called "the deadliest place on Earth to be a Christian."
Smith, who has long been sounding the alarm about the persecution of Christians in the country, described the situation in vivid terms.
TRUMP’S WARNING TO NIGERIA OFFERS HOPE TO NATION'S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
"Nigeria is ground zero, the focal point of the most brutal and murderous anti-Christian persecution in the world today," he said.
He called the session "a very critical hearing," noting it was his 12th such hearing and that he has led three human rights trips to the country.
Quoting earlier testimony from Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Diocese, Smith cited militants who "kill and boast about it … kidnap and rape and enjoy total impunity from elected officials."
He highlighted a June 13 attack in Yola, saying reports showed "278 people — men, women and children — were killed in a manner too gory to describe by people shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ while slaughtering their victims."
"This is not random violence. It is deliberate persecution," Smith said. "There may be other factors, but religion is driving this."
Smith also noted that moderate Muslims who speak out against extremists are often murdered as well, underscoring the scope of Nigeria’s "culture of denial."
Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., the panel’s ranking member, agreed Nigeria faces devastating insecurity but warned against "oversimplistic narratives."
She cited overlapping drivers — extremist insurgencies, farmer-herder conflict and organized banditry — and said the 25 girls recently kidnapped in Kebbi state were all Muslim.
"Violence affects everyone," she said. "False narratives erase the real drivers of violence and make it harder to find solutions."
She condemned President Trump’s remarks about "going into Nigeria guns blazing," calling such rhetoric reckless and illegal and said unilateral U.S. military action would be "counterproductive."
Jacobs claimed the Trump administration cut peace-building and conflict-prevention tools that once helped reduce violence, programs, she said, "that proactively prevented and directly addressed the violence this administration is now concerned about."
CRUZ CLASHES WITH NIGERIA OVER HIS CLAIMS 50,000 CHRISTIANS KILLED SINCE 2009 IN RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE
Rep. John James, R-Mich., described Nigeria’s crisis in stark terms.
"This is one of the gravest religious freedom crises in the world," he said. "The deadliest place on earth to be a Christian."
He cited estimates that nearly 17,000 Christians have been killed since 2019, calling the murders "a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence, often ignored or even enabled by the Nigerian government."
Appearing on video from Benue state, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe detailed church burnings, mass displacement and priests targeted for abduction.
"Nigeria remains the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian," Anagbe said. "More believers are killed there annually than in the rest of the world combined."
He thanked Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations but urged that it be backed with sanctions and greater humanitarian support for displaced civilians.
Two senior state department officials, Jonathan Pratt and Jacob McGee, defended the administration’s approach while acknowledging the horror of the attacks.
Pratt called the situation "a very serious security problem," saying the U.S. seeks to "raise the protection of Christians to the top of the Nigerian government’s priorities."
McGee added, "The levels of violence and atrocities committed against Christians are appalling. … Nigerians are being attacked and killed because of their faith."
He pointed to blasphemy laws in 12 northern states that can carry the death penalty, calling them "unacceptable in a free and democratic society."
‘GENOCIDE CAN’T BE IGNORED’: GOP LAWMAKER BACKS TRUMP’S THREAT OF MILITARY ACTION IN NIGERIA
Both officials said the U.S. is developing a plan to "incentivize and compel" the Nigerian government to protect religious communities.
In one exchange between Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., and an expert on Nigeria, he asked bluntly, "Ma’am, are we frenemies? Are we — what are we?"
Oge Onubogu, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, replied, "We’re friends."
She added that U.S.–Nigeria engagement must be "from a place of honesty" and that Nigerians "acknowledge something must be done quickly about the levels of insecurity."
Onubogu warned, however, that a "narrow narrative that reduces Nigeria’s security situation to a single story" could deepen divisions.
Stutzman pressed her further, noting, "If Nigeria’s government cannot stop the violence, they should be willing to ask the international community for help."
As the hearing came to a close, Smith warned, "The Nigerian government has a constitutional obligation to protect its citizens. If it cannot stop the slaughter, then America — and the world — must not look away."
Putin calls dancing Russian robot 'very beautiful' in awkward AI conference moment
Russian President Vladimir Putin was caught on camera looking stony-faced as he watched a robot dance at a Moscow AI exhibition Wednesday.
Video of the display showed the humanoid robot trying to gyrate in front of him before the president remarked, "Very beautiful. Thanks," and wandered off.
The moment between Putin and the robot, called Green, became one of the day’s most replayed television moments, appearing on state TV, per Reuters.
The demonstration, staged by Sberbank took place at the AI Journey conference with Putin arriving with a gaggle of bodyguards.
THE NEW ROBOT THAT COULD MAKE CHORES A THING OF THE PAST
The video also shows the bodyguards moving toward the Russian leader when the robot stepped forward to introduce itself to Putin.
"My name is Green," it said in Russian. "I am the first Russian humanoid robot with embedded artificial intelligence. This means that I am not just a program on a screen but a physical embodiment of technology," Green added.
FOX NEWS AI NEWSLETTER: RUSSIAN ROBOT FACEPLANTS IN HUMILIATING DEBUT
The video shows Green going on to explain its capabilities, noting, "Over 40 motors and numerous sensors allow me to move smoothly, maintain my balance confidently and interact safely with people."
It requested a virtual assistant to play its favorite track before launching into a dance routine set to the folk-pop song The Sun Rose High, per Reuters.
At one point, a nervous bodyguard appeared to edge between the robot and Putin to make sure that the choreographed display didn’t go wrong.
AI VIDEO TECH FAST-TRACKS HUMANOID ROBOT TRAINING
The moment in Moscow contrasted to another video that went viral days earlier when a different AI-powered humanoid named Aidol fell over within seconds of walking on stage.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kremlin for comment.
Family of man who coined 'genocide' fights institute using his name to accuse Israel of war crimes
A growing coalition of prominent U.S. rabbis is urging Pennsylvania's Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and state officials to review the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, arguing that the group has distorted the legacy of Raphael Lemkin, the Polish Jewish jurist who coined the term "genocide" by using his name to accuse Israel of committing genocide.
Joseph Lemkin, a New Jersey attorney and nephew of Raphael Lemkin, said the family acted reluctantly but felt compelled after seeing how the institute’s materials were reaching younger audiences.
"A combination of factors led us to take formal steps against the Lemkin Institute," Lemkin told Fox News Digital. "I had heard about the Lemkin Institute’s disturbing position but initially thought it was best to let the institute continue in anonymity.
"However, when my 16-year-old son (at the time) asked me if I knew about the institute and what they were espousing on social media, I became more concerned about the impact the institution's conduct would have on the next generation.
"I knew I had to do something to let the public know that the Lemkin Institute was not supported by my family. It was taken to the next level when I was connected with Rabbi Margolin of the European Jewish Association. His communication with my family made us realize that this was a far-reaching concern that should be addressed more formally."
Raphael Lemkin coined the term "genocide" in 1944 after studying the destruction of European Jewry and helped inspire the 1948 U.N. Genocide Convention. His family says his name was never meant to be used to brand the Jewish state as genocidal, a claim they say inverts his life’s work.
The family’s complaint asks Pennsylvania officials to examine the nonprofit’s use of Lemkin’s name in public materials, including its Oct. 13, 2023, "active genocide alert," which labeled Israel as committing genocide just days after Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre.
Lemkin said the timing of that alert was a turning point. "
The active genocide alert is very concerning. It made us realize the horrible agenda of the Institute," he said. "Merely days after Israelis were killed, raped, tortured and taken hostage and with no action yet taken by Israel to defend itself, the alert was issued. This makes it clear that the institute has an anti-Israel agenda and (is) not genuinely concerned about human rights and certainly not concerned about attacks on Jews. Whether the institute considers its positions as anti-Semitic … it is clear that its agenda foments antisemitism."
In recent weeks, a series of letters from prominent rabbis have been submitted to state officials, reinforcing the concerns raised by the Lemkin family.
Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, urged the state to review whether the group’s use of "Lemkin" misleads the public about Raphael Lemkin’s historical mission. Rabbi Aryeh Ralbag, chief justice of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada, also weighed in, calling the "genocide" label applied to Israel a distortion of historical truth. Similar letters came from rabbis Yitzchak Lasry and Tal Peretz, along with additional submissions from Rabbis Dana, Ovadia and Tobali.
"In terms of rabbis taking a position, I think this is extremely important," Lemkin said. "If an organization uses Raphael's name to distort or invert his legacy, religious and moral leaders have a duty to defend historical truth. … When a revered public figure’s name such as Raphael, is misused, it becomes a form of false witness, which, as I understand it, is contrary to Jewish law and ethics."
HAMAS VICTIM MEMORIAL FEATURING SHIRI BIBAS AND SONS TARGETED BY VANDALS IN MILAN, ITALY
The rabbinic push comes as the Anti-Defamation League reports record-high antisemitic incidents in the U.S. Rabbis and family members argue that labeling Israel as "genocidal" under Lemkin’s name does more than distort history. It reinforces rhetoric that spills into real-world antisemitism.
Lemkin said the connection is clear to him.
"In terms of feeding narratives to help antisemitism spread, it seems obvious, and I believe it is supported by empirical evidence that spikes in accusations that Israel is committing genocide correlate with surges in antisemitic incidents in the U.S.," he wrote. "From my perspective, using the ‘genocide’ trope against Israel doesn’t advance peace or justice. It just brings back antisemitic patterns. It turns the memory of Jewish victimhood into an accusation against the Jewish people and corrupts a word coined to prevent another Holocaust.
"Candidly using the word genocide against Israel while ignoring Darfur, Rwanda and Syria and others erodes the moral credibility of human rights activists, spotlighting their true antisemitic motivations."
Lemkin also warned that antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric is becoming more mainstream.
"My view of this political moment – The recent anti-Zionist rhetoric is massively troubling and scary, not only from the streets and campuses but increasingly by elected officials," he said. "What we used to see confined to the fringe extremists is being heard in legislative chambers and political rallies."
He said he accepts criticism of Israeli policy but rejects efforts to delegitimize Israel’s existence.
"When political leaders adopt language condemning Zionism, it is denying Jewish peoplehood itself. Such language by politicians normalizes prejudice and puts our Jewish communities at risk."
Asked how his uncle would respond today, Lemkin said, "I think he would be truly pained to see his name or life’s work used to distort his mission. He stood for the protection of all people and especially understood the Jewish people’s right to live in safety and self-determination."
"To honor Raphael memory," he said, "would be to stay true to his moral clarity by calling out real injustice and to reject rhetoric that twists his legacy and turns his message of hate against those for whom he first spoke."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention for comment but did not receive a response.
US and Russia draft peace plan for Ukraine requiring major concessions from Kyiv
The United States and Russia have drawn up a plan to end the bitter fighting in Ukraine, which would require major concessions from Kyiv.
Exactly what all the concessions that would be made of Ukraine were not clear, but some include demands Moscow has repeatedly made since the start of the 2022 invasion of its neighbor, according to The Associated Press, citing a person familiar with the matter.
Included in the framework would be the halting of attacks from Russia.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff has been quietly working on the plan for a month, receiving input from both Ukrainians and Russians on terms that are acceptable to each side, a senior U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity told Fox News Digital.
ZELENSKYY SEEKS 'STRONG REACTION' FROM US IF PUTIN IS NOT READY FOR BILATERAL MEETING
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the plan and supports it, the person said. The official said both sides, not just Ukraine, would have to make concessions.
"President Trump has been clear since day one that he wants the war between Russia Ukraine to end, and he has grown frustrated with both sides for their refusal to commit to a peace agreement. Nevertheless, the President and his team never gives up, and the United States has been working on a detailed and acceptable plan for both sides to stop the killing and create a durable, lasting peace." said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Under the terms of the proposal, which could still be changed, Ukraine would cede territory to Russia and abandon certain weaponry, according to the person who had been briefed on the contours of the plan.
It would also include the rolling back of some U.S. military assistance.
Russia would take control of the entire eastern Donbas region. Russian President Vladimir Putin has listed the capture of the Donbas as the key goal of the invasion.
COULD TRUMP’S GAZA CEASEFIRE PLAN OFFER A BLUEPRINT FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out ceding territory to Russia.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials will "continue to develop a list of potential ideas" for ending the war based on input from both sides.
"Ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas," he wrote on X late Wednesday. "And achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions."
On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "there are no consultations per se currently underway" with the U.S. on ending the war in Ukraine.
"There are certainly contacts, but processes that could be called consultations are not underway," he told reporters.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mossad–European intelligence operation launches sweeping crackdown on Hamas global terror network
Coordinated counterterrorism raids across Europe have uncovered what Israeli authorities describe as a significant Hamas network preparing attacks against Israeli and Jewish civilians. The joint effort involved the Mossad and multiple European intelligence and law enforcement agencies working across several countries.
According to the statement released by Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office on behalf of the Mossad for Intelligence and Special Operations, the dismantled network was part of a broader effort by Hamas leadership to establish terror infrastructure across the continent. Israeli officials refer to the network as the "Hamas Octopus," describing operational cells, weapons hideouts and logistical channels intended to activate attacks "on command."
A senior Israeli intelligence official familiar with the details told Fox News Digital, "There are active cells across Europe right now, already on their way to targets, and the public — along with law-enforcement bodies in these countries — must be significantly more alert as this activity continues."
TRUMP FACES MIDDLE EAST TEST AS NETANYAHU BALKS AT ERDOGAN’S GAZA TROOP HOPES
One of the pivotal discoveries was made in Vienna this past September, when Austria’s security and intelligence service (DSN) located a weapons hideout containing pistols and explosive materials. Israeli authorities say the cache belonged to Hamas operative Muhammad Naim, the son of senior Hamas political bureau member in Gaza, Bassem Naim, who is described as close to Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya.
As European agencies coordinated their investigation, Israeli officials uncovered information linking the Vienna activity to developments outside Europe. Israel says a meeting took place in Qatar in September between Muhammad Naim and his father. The timing, according to Israel, suggests possible involvement by Hamas leadership abroad in advancing the network’s activities despite repeated public denials by senior movement figures. Israeli officials add that such denials may indicate a loss of control over "rogue operatives."
The senior Israeli intelligence official claimed, "It is no coincidence that one of the key suspects is the son of one of Hamas’ most senior leaders based in Qatar."
IDF STRIKES HAMAS 'TERRORIST TARGETS' ACROSS GAZA FOLLOWING REPORTED CEASEFIRE VIOLATION
The investigation widened further to Turkey, which Israeli authorities describe as "a convenient area of activity for Hamas operatives, both past and present." European intelligence services are examining possible Hamas-linked plots tied to operatives moving through Turkish territory. In November, German authorities arrested a prominent figure in the network, Burhan al-Khatib, after a stay in Turkey, "likely after completing his operational activity on European soil," according to Israel.
The senior Israeli intelligence official said that Turkey — despite its friendship with the White House and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s close ties with Washington — shows "unmistakable signs of involvement. This includes the arrest in Germany of a Hamas operative who arrived directly from Turkey. Some of the direction and operational guidance is being carried out from inside Turkey, and Turkey’s hosting of Hamas is directly fueling terror activity in Europe."
Israeli officials say the multinational cooperation reflects a growing recognition in Europe of the threat posed by Hamas activity beyond the Middle East. They note that European bodies have recently taken additional steps targeting Hamas’ incitement and recruitment networks, including charities and religious institutions used "to raise funds and recruit operatives," with Germany cited as a recent example.
The Mossad says it continues to work with partners worldwide to prevent attacks on Israeli, Jewish and civilian targets. Since the Oct. 7 massacre, Israel reports that Hamas has intensified efforts to build infrastructure abroad, and that Mossad is working to thwart "dozens of attack plots worldwide."
German Christmas market opens nearly one year after deadly attack
The Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, reopened nearly one year after six people — including a child — were killed in a car-ramming attack.
While there were rumors that the festivities were canceled due to security concerns following last year's tragedy, more than 140 merchants opened their stalls on Thursday morning. The merchants' goods include candles, wool hats, candied almonds and other Christmas treats, according to The Associated Press, which cited the German news agency dpa. In addition to the small shops, the market boasts an ice rink and a Ferris wheel.
"Expectations are hopeful, naturally with the utmost respect for what happened last year, and we simply hope that people will rediscover their Christmas market," Paul-Gerhard Stieger, the managing director of the Magdeburg Christmas Market GmbH, told RTL Television, according to the AP.
Following last year's attack, the city and organizers of the market invested just over $288,000 in new security systems, according to the AP, which cited dpa. The measures reportedly include concrete blocks that are meant to block vehicles from entering the market area.
On Dec. 20, 2024, five women and one boy were killed, and several others were injured in the car-ramming attack that lasted just over a minute. The suspected attacker has been identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 51-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia. He arrived in Germany in 2006 and received permanent residency, the AP reported.
During the attack, al-Abdulmohsen allegedly drove a rented BMW X3 at speeds of up to approximately 30 mph through the Christmas market.
Al-Abdulmohsen's trial began last week and, if convicted, he will face life in prison. He is charged with murder for the six who died and attempted murder in connection to the 338 others who were injured. Additionally, the BBC reported that he faces charges of causing grievous bodily harm to 309 people.
Prosecutor Matthias Böttcher reportedly told the court that al-Abdulmohsen acted out of "supposed personal frustration" and aimed to hit as many people as possible to get "attention," the AP reported, citing dpa.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Miss Universe contestant falls off stage as rigging allegations rock competition
The Miss Universe pageant was already in turmoil after two judges resigned, one over allegations the competition had been rigged and another for "unforeseen personal reasons." The chaos deepened when Jamaica’s contestant, Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage during the preliminary evening gown round.
Henry was seen walking along the stage in a sequined orange dress, looking at the audience before falling off the main stage during the 2025 competition in Thailand.
The Miss Universe Jamaica organization said Henry was rushed to the Paolo Rangsit Hospital, where medical professionals were attending to her. The organization said she was not suffering from any life-threatening injuries after the fall.
"I was there with her family and her, and thankfully, there are no broken bones and she is under good care. She will remain under observation for the rest of the night and we will remain in touch with her family to support her," Miss Universe pageant president Raul Rocha wrote on Instagram, saying he visited Henry in the hospital. "Our prayers go out for her prompt recovery."
'DANCING WITH THE STARS' CONTESTANT ELAINE HENDRIX RUSHED TO HOSPITAL ON STRETCHER DURING REHEARSALS
Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French composer and businessman, resigned from the eight-member judging panel earlier this week, claiming a "secret vote" was held to pre-select 30 contestants out of the 136.
"This vote was carried out by individuals who are not official members of the jury, myself included. To this day, no one knows who the selected 30 are, except one individual who holds the results," Harfouch said.
JORDAN CHILES ADDRESSES QUESTION OF WHETHER RACISM WAS RELATED TO RESCINDING OF OLYMPIC MEDAL
"I could not stand before the public and television cameras, pretending to legitimize a vote I never took part in. Some of the countries eliminated through this process could be at war, discriminated against, or geopolitically sensitive. Viewers would assume the jury made these decisions, and I cannot bear responsibility for a process I did not participate in. Pretending otherwise would be dishonest."
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) rejected Harfouch’s allegations in an Instagram post Tuesday, saying all of its judging procedures for the 74th Miss Universe competition remain "official, transparent, and fully governed by MUO protocols."
It added that no impromptu jury has been created, and no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists.
A second judge, former French soccer player Claude Makélélé, said he wouldn’t be attending the event "due to unforeseen personal reasons."
"This was a difficult decision, as I hold Miss Universe in the highest regard. The platform represents empowerment, diversity, and excellence — values I have always championed throughout my career," Makélélé wrote on his Instagram account. "I sincerely apologise to the organisation, the contestants, and everyone involved, and I hope to be able to contribute in the future under better circumstances."
The final day of the Miss Universe competition is Nov. 21.
Netanyahu backs Israel’s proposed death penalty for terrorists amid intense public debate
A controversial bill proposing the death penalty for Palestinian terrorists — backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — has ignited intense public and political debate.
While Netanyahu initially refrained from publicly supporting the legislation, reportedly over concerns that it could affect hostages held in Gaza, his spokesperson has since confirmed his endorsement.
"In terms of the death-penalty bill, it’s known that the prime minister supports this, of course, as a punishment after a fair trial in our judicial system. Anyone that harms the State of Israel and its citizens will face consequences," Shosh Bedrosian, spokesperson for foreign media at the Prime Minister’s Office, said.
ISRAEL’S COVERT CAMPAIGN TARGETS HAMAS TERRORISTS BEHIND OCT 7 MASSACRE
Coalition lawmaker and bill sponsor Limor Son Har-Melech told Fox News Digital, "Although the law is not yet fully drafted, we want to deal with the phenomenon of terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens, and therefore, on the basic principles, we have determined that the law will apply to those who carry out terrorist attacks against citizens of the State of Israel." Har-Melech's party, Otzma Yehudit, has pushed the bill.
A document outlining the law’s basic principles states that the sentence "will be imposed by a simple majority without discretion, without the ability to modify the type of sentence, without the ability to mitigate the sentence by offering a deal or through pardon (subject to existing law)."
To prevent delays, the document adds that the execution "will be carried out within 90 days" and that it will be administered by the Prison Service "by means of a poison injection."
The document highlights the bill’s intended deterrent effect, noting that Israel has repeatedly been targeted by terror groups seeking to kidnap Israelis for prisoner exchanges. A 2011 deal, for instance, saw 1,027 Palestinian prisoners released in return for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped in 2005. Assassinated Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar —widely viewed as the architect of the Oct. 7 massacre — was among those freed in that exchange.
Israeli National Security Minister and Otzma Yehudit Party chief Itamar Ben-Gvir told Fox News Digital, "The death penalty law for terrorists is necessary and extremely important. Whoever raped our daughters, murdered our elders, or slaughtered our children has no right to exist, no right to breathe air for a single second. His sentence is one: to put him on the gallows."
He added, "This law is moral and ethical, and it sends a very clear message to our enemies: don’t mess with us. I will continue to advance this law with all my might. I will not let up until we pass it, God willing."
HAMAS CO-FOUNDER SNAPS AFTER BEING QUESTIONED ON OCT. 7 AFTERMATH: ‘GO TO HELL’
Dr. Amir Fuchs, a senior researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, told Fox News Digital that research indicates capital punishment does not significantly deter ordinary murderers, and its effect on terrorists — who already risk their lives — may be even weaker.
He also noted that the law provides no discretion for the court or prosecution, effectively making the death penalty mandatory in certain cases.
"It’s extreme and, I believe, unconstitutional. It also would not apply to Jewish terrorists, which is discriminatory," Fuchs said.
"This assumption that we will execute tens of thousands of people is completely false. The law applies only to murderers. The idea that enacting the death penalty means all terrorists will be executed is simply not true," he added.
Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Israel’s minister for the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience told Fox News Digital that the death penalty law for terrorists is important as it is intended to put an end to the kidnappings of Israelis.
"The only way there will be no more kidnappings of Israelis is if there are no more terrorists to release in exchange for them," Wasserlauf said.
The death penalty has been used only twice in Israel’s history — most notably in the 1962 execution of SS officer Adolf Eichmann, a chief architect of the Holocaust.
United Torah Judaism lawmaker Yaakov Asher, who opposes the bill, told Fox News Digital that his objection is rooted in the principle of pikuach nefesh, a fundamental principle in Jewish law that prioritizes the preservation of human life above almost all other religious commandments.
"Rabbi Dov Lando instructed us to oppose it, warning that even raising the issue — let alone legislating it — could trigger a wave of terrorism against Jews," Asher said. "There is also the halakhic concern of ‘provoking the nations of the world,’ which requires weighing whether any measure would protect Jews or, God forbid, endanger even one."
The Hadash–Ta'al faction in the Knesset, led by MK Dr. Ahmed Tibi, issued an official statement denouncing the bill as discriminatory and incendiary.
"It is clear to us that the death penalty will not deter; on the contrary, it will produce the opposite effect and may increase attacks — something we oppose as a group. We want to advance a political process that will end the conflict," the statement said.
"All human rights values and norms fundamentally oppose the death penalty from a humane perspective," it continued. "We know from our parliamentary and political work that the proposed bill is nothing less than an act of vengeance that deepens hatred and fuels an atmosphere of incitement and extremism among both people," it added.
The bill still requires two additional readings in the Knesset plenum to pass and remains subject to possible amendments beforehand.
Britain says Russian spy ship is on edge of UK waters, as defense secretary issues warning to Putin
A Russian spy ship was on the edge of United Kingdom waters, British defense officials said.
John Healey, the defense secretary, said it was the second time that the ship, the Yantar, had been deployed to UK waters, SKY News reported.
US SCRAMBLES FIGHTER JETS TO TRACK 4TH RUSSIAN SPY PLANE NEAR ALASKA IN LESS THAN WEEK
"This is a vessel designed for gathering intelligence and mapping our undersea cables," he said during a news conference. "We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF planes to monitor and track this vessel's every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots.
Healey warned Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying: "we see you, we know what you're doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready."
The UK plans to build a number of factories to make munitions and military explosives. The first one is expected to break ground next year.
NATO SCRAMBLES WARPLANES AS RUSSIA HITS NEAR ROMANIAN BORDER IN UKRAINE
Healey's warning came following a report by the Commons Defence Committee, which said that the UK "lacks a plan for defending the homeland and overseas territories" as it urged the government to launch a "co-ordinated effort to communicate with the public on the level of threat we face," the news outlet reported.
The Yantar isn't just part of a naval operation but part of Moscow's Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research, or GUGI, which primarily works in surveillance in peacetime and sabotage during conflicts.
"That is why we've been determined, whenever the Yantar comes into British wider waters, we track it, we deter it and we say to Putin we are ready, and we do that alongside allies," said Healey.
IDF strikes Hamas 'terrorist targets' across Gaza following reported ceasefire violation
Israel’s military said it "began striking Hamas terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip" on Wednesday following the latest reported ceasefire violation.
"Earlier today, several terrorists opened fire toward the area where IDF soldiers are operating in Khan Younis. This action constitutes a violation of the ceasefire agreement," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
"In response, the IDF began striking Hamas terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip," it added, noting that no Israeli troops were injured in the incident.
"IDF troops in the Southern Command remain deployed in the area and will continue to operate to remove any imminent threat," Israel’s military said.
NETANYAHU CALLS ON NEIGHBORING NATIONS TO JOIN ISRAEL IN 'EXPELLING HAMAS' FROM REGION
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect on Oct. 10.
The IDF also said Monday that it struck "terrorists operating in a Hamas training compound in the Ain al-Hilweh area in southern Lebanon."
"The compound was used by Hamas terrorists for training and exercises in order to plan and carry out terrorist attacks against IDF troops and the State of Israel. Prior to the strike, several steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians," it added.
UN SECURITY COUNCIL BACKS TRUMP'S GAZA PEACE PLAN
The same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on neighboring nations to join in the Jewish state's fight to expel Hamas out of the region.
"Israel extends its hand in peace and prosperity to all of our neighbors and calls on them to normalize relations with Israel and join us in expelling Hamas and its supporters from the region," Netanyahu's office wrote on X.
The statement follows the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) endorsement of President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza. The council adopted the plan, which would end the war and deploy an international stabilization force, on Monday.
Fox News’ Rachel Wolf and Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report.
China formally arrests 18 leaders of underground Zion Church amid religious crackdown
Chinese authorities formally arrested 18 leaders of a major underground church, clearing the way for their prosecution and potential prison sentences of up to three years.
According to Reuters, which reported the arrests Wednesday citing a Christian NGO advocate, nearly 30 pastors and staff members belonging to Zion Church were detained by police in mid-October in the biggest crackdown on Chinese Christians in seven years.
ChinaAid, a Christian non-profit human rights organization, said in a statement that the leaders were arrested on "politically motivated charges."
"These pastors and co-workers are being treated as criminals simply because they faithfully shepherded a large, legally unregistered church that refused to submit to CCP control and surveillance," the statement read in part.
CHINA PROVINCE FORCES PEOPLE OF FAITH TO REGISTER ON 'SMART RELIGION' APP FOR WORSHIP
CHINESE UNDERGROUND CHURCH PASTOR, FATHER OF US CITIZENS, DETAINED BY AUTHORITIES, FAMILY SAYS
Dr. Bob Fu, the founder and president of the organization, called the arrests of the pastors and staff members a "chilling milestone in the CCP’s all-out war on Christianity in China."
"Their only ‘crime’ is preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shepherding God’s flock, and refusing to turn Christ’s church into a propaganda tool of the Communist Party," he added. "By turning pastors into political prisoners, the CCP is not only persecuting these individuals and their families—it is sending a warning to every independent church in China: submit to Party control or face destruction."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced the detentions of the Zion Church members in October and asked the Chinese government to release them.
Open Doors, an international organization that supports persecuted believers, estimates there are more than 96 million Christians in China.
Iran backs Maduro to keep Latin America foothold as Trump increases pressure on Venezuela
Iran is backing Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro just as the Trump administration steps up military pressure in the Caribbean and expands its crackdown on criminal networks tied to the regime in Caracas.
Earlier this week, Iran condemned U.S. actions and publicly tied itself to Maduro. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei warned of "dangerous repercussions" from U.S. military activity in the region, arguing the operations threaten "international peace and security," according to Iran’s official news agency, IRNA.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil Pinto immediately welcomed Tehran’s backing. In comments reported by the Tehran Times, he thanked Iran for its "solidarity with the Venezuelan people."
WAR ON CARTELS? WHITE HOUSE SAYS IT HAS AN IRON-CLAD CASE TO STRIKE NARCO-TERRORIST GROUPS
Isaias Medina III, a former Venezuelan diplomat at the U.N. Security Council who resigned in 2017 due to Maduro's human rights violations, told Fox News Digital that "Iran’s partnership with the rogue Venezuelan narco-dictatorship is far from a principled stand for ‘sovereign rights’ under the U.N. Charter. It is a calculated strategy serving mutual interests in criminal enterprise and asymmetric warfare, posing a direct and evolving threat to U.S. national security," he said.
"This is a partnership for power, not principles. Iran’s engagement centers on deepening military, criminal, and intelligence cooperation that blatantly disregards international norms," he said.
When asked on Monday whether he had ruled out anything, including U.S. troops on the ground, President Donald Trump told reporters, "No, I don’t rule out that, I don’t rule out anything. We just have to take care of Venezuela. They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons."
CARTEL CONNECTION: HEZBOLLAH AND IRAN EXPLOIT MADURO’S VENEZUELA FOR COCAINE CASH
Danny Citrinowicz, a senior fellow at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, told Fox News Digital that Iran’s public defense of Venezuela reflects deep strategic anxiety inside Tehran.
"Iran is extremely, extremely worried that it’s going to lose its main hub in Latin America," he said. "Losing Maduro will be a strategic loss for Iran, because Venezuela is a strategic hub, not only for the activity in Venezuela itself, but also activity in Latin America in general."
Citrinowicz pointed to the recently exposed assassination attempt on Israel’s ambassador in Mexico, which Mexican authorities linked to operatives with ties to Iran’s Quds Force. According to Citrinowicz, the operation illustrates how Iran uses Venezuelan territory as a staging ground.
TRUMP’S STRIKE ON CARTEL VESSEL OFF VENEZUELA SENDS WARNING TO MADURO: ‘NO SANCTUARY’
He said the Iranians "used their presence in Venezuela, mainly the Quds Force presence, in order to gather the right people that actually tried to commit this attack."
"It’s one example of many, how Iranians are using their presence in Venezuela as some sort of way to jump into the Latin American continent as a whole."
He added that Venezuela has long been Iran’s most important foothold in the region: "Losing Venezuela is not only losing the grip of Venezuela itself, but also the ability to use Venezuela in order to enhance their activity in Latin America in general, also including operational activity like we saw in Mexico."
Citrinowicz said that Iran has already lost one longtime ally in the region after recent elections in Bolivia. Remaining partners include Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, but "strategically and historically, Venezuela was the most important one because it gave them enough room to operate."
WATCH: COAST GUARD SEIZES COCAINE, SUSPECTED NARCO-TERRORISTS IN PACIFIC VIPER RAID
Asked whether Iran is aiding the Venezuelan military directly, he said: "They have advisors on the ground. They can help the Venezuelan army, and they can also send arms via Qeshm Fars Air flights flying from Tehran to Caracas. They did that in the past, and they can do that even today."
On Tuesday, American Families Against Cartel Terrorism (AmFACT) President Adriana Jones welcomed the U.S. State Department’s designation of Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Jones — whose sister Maria "Rhonita" LeBaron and four of her children were murdered in the 2019 Juárez cartel massacre — said the move demonstrates Washington’s resolve.
"The terrorist designation of the Cartel de los Soles is an important reminder that the Trump administration is willing to use Foreign Terrorist Organization designations to combat dangerous drug and human trafficking cartels," she said.
She urged policymakers to extend the same designation to the Juárez Cartel and its armed wing, La Línea, arguing that every day without it "allows them space to operate with impunity and heightens the likelihood that more American families will endure the same grief and devastation we have."
Since September, the U.S. has launched at least 21 fatal strikes on boats allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking off Central and South America, including one on Sunday, as part of what officials describe as a widening campaign to disrupt maritime routes tied to Venezuelan criminal networks.
Gunmen attack church in Nigeria, killing two and kidnapping others
Gunmen reportedly attacked a church in Nigeria, killing at least two people and kidnapping the pastor and some worshippers, according to Reuters, which cited police and witnesses.
The attack occurred on Tuesday evening in Eruku, a town in central Nigeria's Kwara State. Reuters said it reviewed and verified a video from a local news outlet showing gunfire interrupting a service at Christ Apostolic Church and forcing parishioners to take cover. The outlet noted that in the video, armed men are seen entering and taking worshippers' belongings as gunshots ring out.
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governor of Kwara State, Nigeria, reportedly asked for the immediate deployment of security operatives after the attack, Reuters reported citing the governor's spokesperson.
NICKI MINAJ TEAMS UP WITH TRUMP'S UN AMBASSADOR TO SPOTLIGHT 'GENOCIDE' OF CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA
The attack comes just days after gunmen kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in Nigeria’s Kebbi State and killed at least one staffer. Police spokesperson Nafi'u Abubakar Kotarkoshi told The Associated Press the gunmen had "sophisticated weapons" and exchanged fire with guards before abducting the girls.
"A combined team is currently combing suspected escape routes and surrounding forests in a coordinated search and rescue operation aimed at recovering the abducted students and arresting the perpetrators," he said, adding that one person was killed and another was injured.
President Donald Trump has designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern amid escalating violence against Christians in the West African nation.
ARMED ATTACKERS IN NIGERIA KIDNAP 25 GIRLS FROM BOARDING SCHOOL
On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz held an event highlighting the ongoing violence in Nigeria. During the event, Waltz called the killings of Christians in Nigeria "genocide wearing the mask of chaos."
"There is a body of evidence, and you are going to hear that from our experts today that paints a very grim picture of disproportionate suffering among Christians, where, again, families are torn apart, clergy is repeatedly assassinated, and entire congregations, church congregations," Waltz said.
"Folks, we have an entire faith that is being erased, one bullet at a time, one torched Bible at a time," he added.
Rap superstar Nicki Minaj, who has been vocal about her support for the Trump administration's efforts to combat the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, spoke at Waltz's event.
"In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed. Churches have been burned. Families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray," Minaj said.
"Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria, but also in so many other countries across the world, and it demands urgent action," the rap mogul said. "And I want to be clear, protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity."
Fox News Digital reached out to AbdulRazaq's office and the U.S. mission to the United Nations.
Fox News Digital's Ashley Carnahan and Paul Tilsley contributed to this report.
Russian attack on Ukraine leaves 25 dead in Ternopil after massive overnight strikes
A large-scale Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine rocked the western city of Ternopil Tuesday night, killing more than two dozen people, including three children.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said Wednesday that at least 25 people were killed and 73 injured in the strike that hit two nine-story residential buildings.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 470 drones and 48 missiles in the overnight assault. Emergency services were working to rescue people under the rubble and put out fires caused by the strikes.
Photos from the scene showed blown-out windows, the charred, blackened exterior of a residential building and smoke billowing as crews worked to clear the area.
RUSSIAN CRUISE MISSILES HIT US COMPANY IN MASSIVE UKRAINIAN STRIKE AMID TRUMP'S PEACE PUSH
Zelenskyy said nine other regions across Ukraine were also struck, including critical infrastructure and energy facilities in Lviv and civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv.
RUSSIAN CRUISE MISSILES HIT US COMPANY IN MASSIVE UKRAINE STRIKE AMID TRUMP’S PEACE PUSH
"Every brazen attack against ordinary life proves that the pressure on Russia is still insufficient. Effective sanctions and assistance for Ukraine can change this. The top priority is air defense missiles, additional systems, expanded capabilities for our combat aviation, and drone production to protect lives," he wrote on X.
ROMANIA AND LATVIA CONFIRM INCURSIONS BY RUSSIAN DRONES INTO NATO AIRSPACE
"Russia must be held accountable for its actions, and we must stay focused on everything that strengthens us and enables us to shoot down Russian missiles, neutralize Russian drones, and stop assaults."
Poland’s Operational Command said late Tuesday it had scrambled fighter jets and raised air defense readiness after Russia launched the missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, stressing the measures were preventive and aimed at protecting Polish airspace near the border.
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