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Who is Julius Malema, the South African politician behind 'kill the farmer' chant?
JOHANNESBURG - Julius Malema, the South African politician who President Donald Trump wants arrested for repeatedly chanting "kill the farmer," is reportedly a Rolex watch-wearing Gucci revolutionary, often seen in snazzy, expensive clothes, who champions the poor from a luxury mansion in what is said to be South Africa’s richest street.
He has also called for the further arming of the terror group Hamas and has been accused of stealing millions of dollars from the very pensioners he is trying to get to vote for him.
Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a video of Malema shouting "Shoot to kill, Kill the Boer (the Afrikaner), kill the farmer," when the South African president, a neighbor of Malema’s in Johannesburg, visited the Oval Office earlier this month.
Trump has offered Afrikaner farmers, descendants of mostly Dutch settlers, refuge in the U.S., citing controversial and disputed claims that they are facing White genocide and forced land seizures.
The self-styled commander in chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Party, Malema, a Marxist-Leninist, was the head of the Youth League of South Africa’s biggest party, the African National Congress (ANC), but he was kicked out for bad-mouthing its leadership.
In last year’s election, votes for the EFF slumped to under 10%, and both of Malema’s sidekicks, party co-founders and men he described as "brothers," left him and joined a competing party.
So it did not come as a surprise to many that, allegedly to spite President Trump, Malema just days later jumped up, literally, onto the stage at the very next rally he was due to appear at to yell "Kill the farmer, I repeat kill the farmer."
In 2022, South Africa’s Constitutional Court, the equivalent of the U.S. Supreme Court, ruled the chant is not hate speech, declaring it is only the words of a song. Malema sits on the Judicial Services Commission, a body which appoints the Court’s judges.
To Malema, critics say, the chant may be more than just song lyrics. At least twice he told reporters here, "We have not called for the killing of White people – at least for now." On another occasion, he demanded, "We will cut the throat of Whiteness."
TRUMP, SOUTH AFRICA IN GROWING ROW OVER HOTLY CONTESTED LAND LAW, COUNTRY'S DEALS WITH US FOES
Some say Malema is running two strategies - one which follows the mantra "There’s no such thing as bad publicity," and the other to act like a small child that makes a lot of noise, hoping to be noticed, but with little real effect.
Analyst J. Brooks Spector told Fox News Digital that Malema "has crafted a political reputation as the ‘bad boy’ of South African politics."
Spector, a former U.S. diplomat who lives in Johannesburg and is associate editor of the Daily Maverick, continued. "In a country with a third of its workforce unemployed, and higher among young people, and poverty still a fact of life for many more, his (Malema’s) populism initially drew significant support and enthusiasm among voters. However, his popularity as a political leader has faded somewhat."
Malema openly supports the terror group Hamas, telling a rally in 2023, shortly after the October 7 attack on Israel, "when you are oppressed, you only have one option, shoot to kill. There is nothing wrong with what Hamas is doing. The EFF is going to arm Hamas." He also shouted he intended to shut down the Israeli Embassy in South Africa. "We are going to remove this embassy," he yelled to loud cheers.
Allegations also suggest that Malema and his then right-hand man, Floyd Shivambu, benefitted from "dodgy" deals with the South African VBS bank, which subsequently collapsed, leading to people losing their pension savings.
"In 2018, the VBS scandal exposed widespread looting by bank officials and politicians, including senior leaders of the EFF, Floyd Shivambu and Julius Malema," the Opposition Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Baxolile Nodada stated last August.
On Friday, the DA’s federal executive member and national spokesperson, Willie Aucamp, told Fox News Digital the DA "isn’t letting the VBS scandal fade into the background. Not when over R2 billion ($111 million) was looted from pensioners, struggling municipalities, and poor communities. The DA has been leading the charge to expose those behind this daylight robbery, including Julius Malema, leader of the EFF."
He continued, "The DA laid criminal charges back in 2018, but six years later, not a single charge has been prosecuted by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Justice for the victims of VBS is long overdue. The DA will continue pushing for the arrest and prosecution of every single person involved - Malema included."
Speaking in Cape Town in July last year, Malema said "I will never be intimidated by VBS. No leader of the EFF received VBS money."
But now that Malema is on Donald Trump’s radar, the president might push back powerfully on Malema’s links to Hamas and the VBS saga, Max Meizlish, senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.
"Like the ANC that courts Iran and supports Hamas, Julius Malema would be wise to not provoke Donald Trump. After all, Malema was clearly implicated in the VBS scandal and has openly called to "arm Hamas." Malema could very well find himself the target of Global Magnitsky Act sanctions — a tool which President Trump can wield unilaterally and at a moment’s notice," Meizlish said.
Israel hostage deal in doubt as Hamas adds demands, US envoy calls terms ‘unacceptable’
Hamas has agreed to release 10 living hostages and return the bodies of 18 more, but the terms of the proposed deal have been deemed unacceptable by the U.S. and Israel.
The group, which has been on the State Department's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations since 1997, made the announcement in a statement Saturday and said it was being done on the condition that a number of Palestinian prisoners be returned in exchange as part of a means to achieve a permanent ceasefire.
Israeli media reported that Hamas added new demands to the proposal from U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, including a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and unrestricted humanitarian aid flow into the strip.
Witkoff's proposal did not include a full withdrawal or a ceasefire, the Jerusalem Post reported, and that Hamas added terms of its own.
In a statement posted to X on Saturday, Witkoff called Hamas' response to the American proposal "totally unacceptable" and warned it "only takes us backward." He urged the group to accept the original framework in order to begin proximity talks as early as next week, which could pave the way for a 60-day ceasefire and the return of both living and deceased hostages.
In a statement before Witkoff's response, Hamas wrote: "After conducting a round of national consultations, and based on our immense sense of responsibility towards our people and their suffering, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) today submitted its response to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's latest proposal to the mediating parties.
"This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip."
Reacting to the announcement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that while Israel had agreed to the updated Witkoff framework, "Hamas continues to cling to its refusal." The office emphasized that Israel remains committed to bringing its hostages home and defeating Hamas, citing Witkoff’s remarks as confirmation that Hamas' latest stance undermines progress.
Hamas is holding 58 hostages in Gaza. Of these, Israeli intelligence assesses that at least 34 are deceased, leaving approximately 24 believed to be alive. More than 250 people were captured during the Hamas terror attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
RETURN OF TRUMP GIVES FAMILIES OF GAZA HOSTAGES NEW HOPE
The latest proposal being negotiated involves the release of 10 living hostages and a number of bodies during a 60-day pause in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including 100 serving long sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks, The Associated Press reported Friday, citing a Hamas official and an Egyptian official speaking on condition of anonymity.
U.S. negotiators had not publicized the terms of the proposal.
Witkoff’s office reiterated on social media that the proposed deal could allow "half of the living hostages and half of those who are deceased" to return to their families if Hamas agrees to enter talks under the current terms.
The statement stressed that the window to finalize the deal is narrowing, and that major negotiations could begin "in good faith" within days if Hamas accepts.
"As stated by the U.S. President’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff: Hamas’ response is unacceptable and sets the situation back," the Prime Minister’s Office said.
President Donald Trump said Friday that negotiators were nearing a deal.
"They’re very close to an agreement on Gaza, and we’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow," Trump told reporters in Washington. Late in the evening, asked if he was confident Hamas would approve the deal, he told reporters: "They’re in a big mess. I think they want to get out of it."
Deep differences between Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March.
Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely, be dismantled as a military and governing force and return all hostages still held in Gaza before it agrees to end the war. Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the war.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Hamas agrees to release 10 more hostages
Hamas has said it has agreed to release ten living hostages being held captive by the terror group and return the bodies of 18 others.
The militant group made the announcement in a statement Saturday and said it was being done on the condition that a number of Palestinian prisoners be returned in exchange as part of a means to achieve a permanent ceasefire.
Hamas said the agreement comes after a proposal by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who has yet to comment publicly on the Hamas statement.
"After conducting a round of national consultations, and based on our immense sense of responsibility towards our people and their suffering, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) today submitted its response to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's latest proposal to the mediating parties," the Hamas statement reads.
"This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip."
RETURN OF TRUMP GIVES FAMILIES OF GAZA HOSTAGES NEW HOPE
Hamas is holding 58 hostages in Gaza. Of these, Israeli intelligence assesses that at least 34 are deceased, leaving approximately 24 believed to be alive. More than 250 people were captured during the Hamas terror attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The latest proposal being negotiated involves the release of 10 living hostages and a number of bodies during a 60-day pause in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including 100 serving long sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks, The Associated Press reported Friday, citing a Hamas official and an Egyptian official speaking on condition of anonymity.
U.S. negotiators had not publicized the terms of the proposal.
President Donald Trump said Friday that negotiators were nearing a deal.
"They’re very close to an agreement on Gaza, and we’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow," Trump told reporters in Washington. Late in the evening, asked if he was confident Hamas would approve the deal, he told reporters: "They’re in a big mess. I think they want to get out of it."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Huckabee slams French-backed Palestinian statehood push at UN, says US-Israel are 'inseparably' linked
EXCLUSIVE - The United States will not participate in a conference next month in New York City hosted by France and Saudi Arabia aimed at promoting the recognition of a Palestinian state, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview in Jerusalem earlier this week.
"It’s incredibly inappropriate in the midst of a war that Israel is dealing with to go out and present something that I think increasingly Israelis are steadfast against.
"Oct. 7 changed a lot of things. If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I have a suggestion for them–carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state they are welcome to do that, but they are not welcome to impose that kind of pressure on a sovereign nation. And I find it revolting that they think they have the right to do such a thing.
TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST TRIP HANDED ISRAEL A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY — IF IT CHOOSES TO ACT, EXPERTS SAY
"I hope they will reconsider but the U.S. will not participate. It simply will not be a part of such a ruse," he added.
Huckabee, commenting on recently reported tensions between the two close allies, noted there may be disagreements between the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, but there should be no fear of a rupture in bilateral ties.
"I don’t think pro-Israel Americans need to be concerned that there’s some rift between the United States and Israel. Are there sometimes differences of opinion on the next steps in the war in Gaza, getting the hostages home, or maybe to avoid an all-out war with Iran? Of course, that’s natural," he said.
"But as far as the relationship between Israel and the U.S., that is not in any way at risk, nor is it in any way splintered or fractured. It’s solid, it has to be. We don’t have a choice. It’s critically important that the United States maintains its partnership—and I use that word very deliberately—it’s not a friendship, it’s not an alliance, it’s a partnership, which means we are yoked together in our intelligence sharing, military — so many ways in which our nations are linked inseparably."
On talks between Washington and Tehran, the ambassador described the Islamic Republic as "one of the if not the greatest, threats to world peace," warning that it poses a serious and immediate existential threat not only to Israel, but also to several Gulf nations and ultimately to the United States.
"The Iranians have said Israel is the ‘Little Satan,’ but America is the ‘Great Satan.’ They’ve always treated Israel as the appetizer and the United States as the entrée," he said. "It’s just important when people tell you over and over for 46 years they plan to kill you, you might want to start taking them seriously."
Nevertheless, Huckabee expressed hope that ongoing nuclear negotiations between the two nations would be successful and avoid any kind of military conflict.
"But when diplomacy fails, the soldiers show up," he said.
"I find it hard to believe the Iranians, after all these years of pushing towards a nuclear device that is weaponized, would suddenly come to their senses and say we've changed. We don't want that anymore, but let’s hope they do. But if they don’t, the president has been incredibly clear that Iran is not going to have a nuclear weapon."
On Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, he emphasized that the suffering could end immediately—if Hamas chooses to act.
"All of us are hoping and praying that Hamas will finally give up all the hostages and release them, and then they will depart Gaza for good. If they do these two things, this is over," he said. "It could have been over on Oct. 8, 2023; it should have been. What they did was unthinkable, horrific, heinous, uncivilized, savage behavior."
He noted that President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that Hamas has no future in Gaza. "They can’t rule it, they can’t stay," said Huckabee.
"Israel has been clear that they are willing to put them on airplanes and fly them out in exile, they have a way out, but they don’t have a way in. They have to go, and all hostages living and dead have to be returned," he added.
Huckabee expressed hope that this would happen immediately.
Speaking to Fox News Digital on Thursday, he said of the hostages, "This pin that I wear on my lapel—one of the happiest days of my life will be when I can take this pin off and permanently put it away, never to wear it again, because that means all of the hostages have come home," he said.
He also expressed confidence in the prospect of expanding the Abraham Accords, forged during Trump’s first term, which normalized relations between Israel and four Arab states: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.
While not naming new countries considering joining, Huckabee said, "There are a number of nations that now realize that having enmity with Israel is meaningless," he said. "It is a delicate path for some countries; they can’t go faster than their people are willing to go and accept … but there is a great atmosphere and possibility that we will see some dramatic changes and big additions to the Abraham Accords."
Tessa Hoyos contributed to this report.
Hegseth says US will bolster defenses overseas to support Indo-Pacific allies against China
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday told allies in the Indo-Pacific that the U.S. has their back against increasing military and economic pressure from China, while insisting that they also contribute more to their own defense.
Hegseth said the U.S. will bolster its defenses overseas to counter what the Pentagon views as rapidly developing threats by China, particularly toward Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own. China has conducted numerous exercises to test what a blockade of the island would look like.
The Chinese army "is rehearsing for the real deal," Hegseth said in a keynote speech at a security conference in Singapore. "We are not going to sugarcoat it — the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent."
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WORKERS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO SUBMIT DOGE'S WEEKLY PRODUCTION REPORTS
China has said it wants its military to be in a position to take Taiwan by force if necessary by 2027.
China is no longer building up its military forces to take Taiwan, but it is "actively training for it, every day," Hegseth said on Saturday.
Not only has China created man-made islands in the South China Sea to support new military outposts, but it has also developed highly advanced hypersonic and space capabilities, prompting the U.S. to begin creating the "Golden Dome."
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In his speech, Hegseth called out China's ambitions in Latin America, specifically attempts to increase influence over the Panama Canal.
He also urged countries in the region to increase their defense spending to be in line with the percentage of gross domestic product that European nations are being pressed to contribute.
"We must all do our part," Hegseth said.
The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, pushed back against Hegseth after his speech for a comment he made about European countries putting focus on defending their own region while the U.S. mostly handles the Indo-Pacific.
Kallas said European and Asian security are "very much interlinked" at the moment as North Korean troops are fighting for Russia and China is supporting Moscow.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
China launches Tianwen-2 space probe to collect samples from asteroid near Mars
China has launched a space probe that will travel to an asteroid near Mars to collect samples and find potential "groundbreaking" results.
The Tianwen-2 probe launched Thursday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province aboard the workhorse Long March 3-B rocket, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
The target of the Tianwen-2 will be different from its predecessor, the Tianwen-1, which launched a year ago and landed on Mars.
Tianwen-2 will be aiming for the asteroid 2016 HO3, which is also known as 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, to bring back samples.
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The proposed 10-year plan would involve more than just this space mission as China continues to look to expand into space.
Zhang Rongqiao, chief designer of the Tianwen-1, told China Central Television he plans to implement the "Tianwen-3" Mars sampling return mission in 2028, while the "Tianwen-4" will head toward Jupiter.
According to The Associated Press, the asteroids, chosen for their relatively stable orbits, will hopefully offer clues about the formation of Earth, such as the origins of water.
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Samples from 2016HO3 are due to be returned in about two years.
Even if the CNSA is going to distribute these samples to international partners like they have on previous missions, NASA wouldn’t be able to receive any samples.
A law passed in 2011, known as the Wolf Amendment, restricts NASA from having any cooperation with the CNSA.
China also operates the three-person Tiangong, or "Heavenly Palace," space station.
This gives China a step in the right direction to become a major force in the exploration of space.
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Its permanent station was created after being excluded from the International Space Station over U.S. national security concerns.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
Macron chides Trump, China over trade, Ukraine, Gaza: policies 'will kill global order'
French President Emmanuel Macron struck a serious note on Friday in his address to a Shangri-La security forum in Singapore, in which he hit on some of the biggest crises spanning the globe and appeared to issue an indirect warning to President Donald Trump and China.
"I will be clear, France is a friend and an ally of the United States," Macron said. "And [France] is a friend, and we do cooperate - even if sometimes we disagree and compete - with China."
"The main risk today is the division of two super-powers," he warned.
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Macron’s speech was a warning to the U.S. and China that if they force nations to choose sides as tensions remain heightened following Trump’s triple-digit tariff threat, such a move would "kill the global order."
"We will destroy methodically, all the institutions we created after the Second World War in order to preserve peace and to have cooperation on health, on climate, on human rights and so on," he added.
"We are neither China nor the U.S., we don’t want to depend on any of them," he said. "We want to cooperate. But we don’t want to be instructed on a daily basis what is allowed, what is not allowed and how our life will change because of the decision of a single person."
But the French president didn’t limit his speech to trade concerns, and chided China for aiding Russia amid its illegal invasion of Ukraine, and its refusal to play a part in stopping North Korea from sending troops to fight in the war for Moscow.
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"If China doesn't want NATO being involved in Southeast Asia or in Asia, they should prevent DPRK to be engaged on European soil," Macron said in reference to the formal name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Ultimately, he warned that every conflict that is plaguing European, American, Middle Eastern and Asian partnerships -- including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza -- are interconnected and there is a "big risk" that the universal principles which connect these conflicts have been forgotten.
"If we consider that Russia could be allowed to take a part of the territory of Ukraine without any restriction, without any constraint, without any reaction of the global order...what could happen in Taiwan? What would you do the day something happened in [the] Philippines?" the French president asked.
"What is at stake in Ukraine is our common credibility to be sure that we are still able to preserve territorial integrity and sovereignty of people, no double standard," Macron said in a counterargument to claims that the war in Ukraine is a European issue.
This extended to the war in Gaza, and Macron argued that giving Israel "a free pass" for its military operations in Gaza that have led to a humanitarian crisis could "kill our own credibility in the rest of the world."
Ooh la law: France snuffs out smoking in parks, beaches, more
The French government is cracking down on cigarettes in public, announcing a sweeping outdoor smoking ban that aims to clear the air for the next generation of Parisians (and everyone else).
Beginning July 1, France will ban smoking in a wide range of outdoor public areas, including beaches, public parks, gardens, bus stops, sports venues and anywhere near schools, according to reporting from the BBC and Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"Tobacco must disappear where there are children," Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin told Ouest-France, a regional French newspaper, in an interview published Thursday.
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"The freedom to smoke must end where the freedom of children to breathe fresh air begins."
Under the new rules, lighting up in these designated areas could earn violators a fine of up to $153, as reported by AFP. Enforcement will primarily be handled by regular police, though Vautrin said she’s counting on a dose of "self-regulation" from the public.
There’s a carve-out for culture, though. France’s iconic "terrasses," the bustling outdoor café seating areas, are exempt from the ban.
Smokers can still enjoy a cigarette with their espresso and croissant, provided they’re seated at a café. The BBC confirmed that these social spaces, which are practically a national institution, won’t be affected.
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E-cigarettes are also currently excluded from the restrictions, but Vautrin told Ouest-France that her office is working on future limits to the nicotine levels allowed in vapes.
The move marks a significant expansion of France’s existing anti-smoking laws.
Smoking has already been banned in restaurants, nightclubs and indoor public places since 2008. Local efforts to restrict smoking in public spaces have been growing steadily. According to AFP, more than 1,500 French municipalities have already enacted their own outdoor smoking bans and hundreds of beaches have been smoke-free for years.
According to data from the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction cited by the BBC, just 23.1% of French adults smoke daily, the lowest level ever recorded and a drop of over five percentage points since 2014.
Still, tobacco-related illnesses remain a leading cause of death. France’s National Committee Against Smoking reports that more than 75,000 people die each year from smoking, around 13% of all annual deaths in the country.
Support for the new restrictions appears strong. A report from La Ligue Contre le Cancer, a prominent French cancer association, found that nearly 80% of French citizens favor smoke-free public areas like parks, beaches and woodlands.
But while many in France welcome the move, some have raised concerns over the balance between public health and personal liberty. Conservatives may see the ban as another example of top-down government overreach.
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Be careful lighting up on your summer vacations in France this year as it may just get you a fine.
Police investigate vessel with 11 decomposed bodies washed ashore in Caribbean
Police have launched an investigation into a vessel that washed ashore on an Eastern Caribbean island that contained human remains of at least 11 people in an advanced state of decomposition.
The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said it received a report at about 10:45 a.m. Monday that a suspicious vessel had been discovered along the coastline of the island of Canouan near Little Bay and Cherry Hill.
Officers from the Canouan police station responded and discovered the remains of 11 people on the boat.
Police said the boat measured 45 feet long, 12 feet wide and 6 feet deep, and it was found grounded in the area.
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The remains of the people onboard were in what police called an "advanced state of decomposition," and some of the remains were not fully intact.
Investigators recovered several passports from the boat, which appear to be from the West African country of the Republic of Mali.
While passports have been recovered, police have not officially identified any of the bodies, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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The RSVGPF said it is working closely with regional and international partners to confirm the origins of the boat and the identities of those onboard.
The human remains have since been transported to the island of St. Vincent, where they are being held at the Kingstown mortuary for further forensic and investigative procedures.
"This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public’s interest in the matter," police said. "We assure you that the RSVGPF is treating this investigation with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity."
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The department added that it is committed to pursuing every lead and ensuring all appropriate protocols are followed.
The U.S. State Department issued a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory for the country of Mali in July 2023.
The State Department’s reasoning for not traveling to the country is due to crime, terrorism and kidnapping.
"Violent crime, such as kidnapping and armed robbery, is common in Mali. Violent crime is a particular concern during local holidays and seasonal events in Bamako, its suburbs, and Mali’s southern regions," the advisory states.
"Terrorist and armed groups continue plotting kidnappings and attacks in Mali," the advisory on Mali adds. "They may attack with little or no warning, targeting nightclubs, hotels, restaurants, places of worship, international diplomatic missions, and other locations frequented by foreigners. Attacks may target Malian government offices and infrastructure, in addition to locations frequented by Westerners."
US Africa commander highlights terror growth in Sahel and competition with China for influence
A top United States military general warned Thursday that terror groups in Africa are ramping up their ability to conduct attacks in the U.S.
Gen. Michael Langley, the four-star Marine General who leads U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), said the Sahel region of the continent is now the "flashpoint of prolonged conflict and growing instability. It is the epicenter of terrorism on the globe."
Several terror groups have expanded drastically in the last three years. Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, is three times the size it was in 2022, he said, and has spread across Mali, Burkina Faso, and parts of Niger, which the U.S. military pulled out of last year.
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Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, a faction affiliated with Al-Qaeda, is now four times the size it was in 2022, expanding mainly in Burkina Faso.
"We're keeping a good eye on this because they could have the capacity to attack the homeland," Langley said in a call with reporters.
"Throughout my travels across West Africa and through dialog here at the conference, the concerns shared by my peers match my own," he added. "One of the terrorist's key goals now is access to the west coast of Africa. If they gain access to the vast coastline, they can diversify their revenue streams and evolve their tactics, more easily exporting terrorism to American shores."
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He noted that the terror groups engage in illicit activity like smuggling, human trafficking and arms trading, which fund their nefarious actions and destabilize the region.
U.S. forces over the weekend conducted an airstrike against the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab in Somalia. The East African country has been wracked for decades by attacks and insurgency from Islamist terrorists, both from ISIS and al-Shabab.
The U.S. is in a race with China and Russia to gain influence and trust with the local governments of several African nations to help protect citizens from terror groups.
Langley said there is an increasing concern about the number of African soldiers going to Beijing for military training and replicating a U.S. International Military Education and Training (IMET) program.
"They're trying to replicate what we do best in our IMET program," said Langley. "And then they also said they're going to increase security and training in a number of countries. So, they're trying to replicate what we do."
Israel agrees to Trump-backed ceasefire proposal to free Gaza hostages: White House
The White House on Thursday confirmed that Israel agreed to a ceasefire proposal submitted by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump in a move to return the 58 hostages who have been held in Gaza for more than 600 days.
"Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas," White House press secretary Karoline Levitt told reporters. "I can also confirm that those discussions are continuing, and we hope that a ceasefire in Gaza will take place so we can return all of the hostages home."
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Levitt would not comment further on the details of the proposal, and Hamas does not yet appear to have agreed to the proposal.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters Thursday there is a sense of "important optimism" but confirmed the Hamas position is "unknown at this point."
A statement released on Wednesday by the terrorist organization said, "The latest of these efforts was reaching an agreement with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on a general framework, which achieves a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the flow of humanitarian aid, and the formation of a professional committee to manage the affairs of Gaza upon the announcement of the agreement."
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Hamas also claimed the most recent proposal it had reviewed included the release of 10 Israeli hostages as well as "a number of bodies" in exchange for an unconfirmed number of Palestinian prisoners.
It is unclear if these details were also included in the proposal agreed to by Israel.
Following the release of Edan Alexander, the final American-Israeli hostage still alive in Hamas captivity this month, 58 hostages remain.
An estimated 24 of the hostages are assessed to be alive, though Israeli reporting has suggested this number could be less.
The bodies of four American Israelis taken on Oct. 7, 2023, continue to be held captive, including Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein Haggai.
Yonat Frilling contributed to this report.
Putin masses 50,000 troops on Ukraine's north front as Trump again agrees to meet Russian, Ukrainian leaders
Russian President Vladimir Putin has amassed some 50,000 troops on Ukraine’s northern border despite a united push by the U.S. and Ukraine to get Moscow to enter into "meaningful" ceasefire negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday warned that Putin is preparing a massive summer offensive in a move to push Ukraine’s troops out of Russia’s Kursk region, and to launch a new invasion into Ukraine’s Sumy region – a mere 200 miles from the capital city of Kyiv.
Zelenskyy reiterated this week that he is ready to hold direct negotiations with Putin and suggested that if the Kremlin chief is uncomfortable with a bilateral meeting, a trilateral meeting could be held with President Donald Trump.
TRUMP SAYS HE WILL MEET WITH PUTIN, ZELENSKYY 'IF NECESSARY' AMID NEGOTIATIONS TO END WAR
Trump on Wednesday said he would meet with both world leaders "if necessary" but the Kremlin again rejected the suggestion.
The U.S. president said he was "very disappointed" at Russia's continued bombardment of Ukraine during negotiation attempts, but he has refused to hit Putin with more sanctions, telling reporters "I think I'm close to getting a deal, I don't want to screw it up by doing that."
Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesman for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said during a live chat on X, Thursday, that since the May 16 meeting in Turkey, Russia had launched 120 missiles, more than 1,500 Shahed drones and more than 2,500 guided bombs on Ukrainian cities.
The Sumy regional governor confirmed on Monday that Russian forces had officially taken over four Ukrainian villages near the Ukraine-Russia border which were previously evacuated, and which sat in a "gray zone" that has long been militarily contested following Russia’s Feb. 2022 invasion.
The movement of Russian troops comes as Putin looks to create a roughly 6-mile wide "buffer zone," which Moscow reportedly has been attempting to carry out since 2024, but which was thwarted by Ukraine’s Kursk invasion.
Implementing a buffer zone on Ukraine’s northern territory will likely be used as a bargaining chip if Moscow engages in ceasefire negotiations, which Kyiv has said Russia has failed to do in good faith after delegations from both sides met in Istanbul earlier this month, but failed to advance peace talks.
Russia late on Wednesday suggested a second Istanbul meeting where it said it would present its "memorandum" of ceasefire terms.
Ukraine has thus far not accepted another meeting with Russia and on Thursday said Moscow "promised" to supply its memorandum ahead of any future talks.
"They are scared to share it because they filled the document with ultimatums and demands," Tykhyi said Thursday. "They understand this document is needed not to advance the peace process but to stall."
Tykhyi argued that "If they have nothing to hide, if this document is workable" then there "should be no problem in sharing the document," which he said is needed to ensure the negotiating parties can achieve a "meaningful result."
Ukraine has already submitted their ceasefire terms.
Hamas faces 'legitimacy crisis' as desperate Gazans flock to US-backed aid centers
The terrorist group known as Hamas has long plagued the Gaza Strip but is facing a point of crisis as its influence and support, which was already far from sweeping, continues to drop amid internal pressure to end the war and return the hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.
"Hamas’s current posture reveals a critical inflection point in its grip over the Gaza Strip," Joe Truzman, a senior research analyst and editor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies "Long War Journal" and an expert on Palestinian terrorist groups, told Fox News Digital. "By opposing the new aid distribution mechanism, one that is coordinated by the U.S. and Israel, Hamas is signaling that its primary concern is not the well-being of Palestinians but the preservation of its authority."
Despite the monthslong aid blockade on the Gaza Strip by Israel and the images of starvation, Hamas this week threatened any Palestinian civilians who accept food aid for their families and warned they "will pay the price, and we will take the necessary measures."
Despite the threats, Palestinians have flooded the aid sites erected by the U.S.-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), reportedly resulting in scenes of chaos as desperate civilians overran one distribution location on Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its "troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound," adding, "Control over the situation was established … and the safety of IDF troops was not compromised."
The U.N. Human Rights Office claimed some 47 people were injured during the gunfire, while the Hamas-run health ministry said one person was killed and 48 others were wounded, reported the BBC, though Fox News Digital could not independently verify the casualty count.
On Wednesday, GHF said in a statement that, contrary to reports, no Palestinians have been questioned or detained while receiving aid. Additionally, GHF said that no Palestinians had been shot or killed while trying to get aid.
"As we have repeatedly cautioned, there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail. Their goal is to force a return to the status quo, even if it means risking lifesaving aid to the people of Gaza," the GHF said in a statement. "Reports to the contrary originated from Hamas and are inaccurate."
Truzman explained that it is in Hamas interest to portray the aid delivery as negatively as possible, and to use the chaos to promote its return to power.
"Hamas had significant influence over aid flows, which it used not only for governance but also as leverage to reinforce loyalty, reward patronage networks, and maintain internal control," the expert explained. "The erosion of this influence poses both a symbolic and operational threat to the group.
"With Hamas becoming sidelined from the aid process, the group is facing a legitimacy crisis," Truzman added.
Despite the chaotic scenes that arose as aid finally returned to Gaza, the GHF said Tuesday that it had distributed about 8,000 food boxes totaling 462,000 meals so far.
On Wednesday, eight trucks worth of aid were delivered, which equates to some 378,262 meals.
"Operations will continue to scale up tomorrow," the GHF confirmed.
One Gazan told the Center for Peace Communications that the failure of Hamas, which serves as the local government, to secure affordable and accessible food has driven civilians to the American distribution site.
"In fact, they were good to us," he said. "They were handing out rations cards and started to tell us to take them. Unlike those ruling Gaza who don't do anything for us.
"We, as a people, are telling you that we need anyone, anyone who can provide us with these necessities," he added. "Otherwise, no one would be going to the American distribution point. If Hamas is listening to us, get off the people's backs.
"The people are dying," the man added.
ISRAELI AMBASSADOR SLAMS UN'S 'MAFIA-LIKE' TACTICS AGAINST US-BACKED GAZA FOUNDATION
In recent months, civilian populations have not only been turning to external actors for relief where possible, they have increasingly called on Hamas to return the hostages, stop the war and even leave the Gaza Strip.
"This shift undermines Hamas’s image as the authority in Gaza and exposes its weakened state," Truzman said.
"However, any assumption that Hamas might yield under these conditions must be tempered by the nature of its surviving leadership," he warned. "Those who remain at the helm are among the most ideologically entrenched and militarily committed members of the organization."
Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007 after it defeated its rival party, Fatah, which is part of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Despite the plurality vote nearly two decades ago, Hamas has struggled to maintain control and stability for years and its support – even in the lead up to the 2023 attacks that prompted the largest-ever war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza – was reportedly lacking and its leadership growing increasingly unpopular.
ISRAEL BLOCKS HUMANITARIAN AID INTO GAZA AFTER HAMAS REJECTS CEASEFIRE EXTENSION PROPOSAL
Israel and Egypt have limited the flow of goods into the Gaza Strip for the last two decades, and border crossing restrictions have been heavily enforced since the 1980s. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2025.
However, according to a report by the Wilson Center, only a fraction of the population prior to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks blamed food shortages on external factors like sanctions, while a third blamed the Hamas-run government for mismanagement, while another quarter of the population blamed inflation.
The report also found that nearly half of Palestinian civilians said they had no trust in Hamas' leadership, while roughly a third of the population threw their support behind the group.
Support is believed to have dropped in the nearly 600 days that followed the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks, and the subsequent devastation brought to the Gaza Strip.
"If the new aid mechanism succeeds in improving living conditions for Palestinians, surpassing what Hamas has been able to provide during wartime, it is unlikely to reverse the growing public dissatisfaction with the group," Truzman told Fox News Digital. "Even an imperfect but externally managed aid system may further expose Hamas’s governance failures, particularly its prioritization of power retention over the welfare of the population.
"While tangible improvements will take time to materialize, the mere perception that life can improve without Hamas may be enough to shift public attitudes further against the group," he added.
Franklin Graham meets with Zelenskyy in Berlin, offers prayer as Russia-Ukraine war escalates
Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, met Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin.
During their meeting, Graham offered prayers for Zelenskyy, Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump, seeking divine guidance for a path to peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
"Today I had the privilege to meet with President Zelenskyy and have prayer with him," Graham shared on social media. "I prayed for President Putin, I prayed for him [Zelenskyy], and I prayed for President Trump — that God would give them wisdom and that God would give them a path forward for peace."
ZELENSKY SHEDS DETAILS ON MEETING WITH VANCE, RUBIO IN ROME AFTER RUSSIA PEACE TALKS STALL
The meeting coincided with the European Congress on Evangelism, where Graham addressed over 1,000 Christian leaders from 55 countries.
He emphasized the complexities of the war, stating, "These are very difficult, and I believe only God can solve this."
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the humanitarian aid provided by Samaritan’s Purse, including support for Ukrainian children, displaced individuals and medical institutions.
"We are very grateful for the strong support from the American people, the White House and President Trump," Zelenskyy said. "Thank you for your prayers and for helping people."
The meeting took place against a backdrop of intensified Russian military action in Ukraine.
ON THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE INVASION, EUROPEAN LEADERS SHOW SUPPORT, EXPRESS UNEASE
Recent reports indicate escalating Russian air and ground assaults, with increased use of drones by both sides. Germany has announced plans to assist Ukraine in producing long-range missiles, marking a significant deepening of support for Ukraine's defense industry.
Zelenskyy has proposed a trilateral summit involving Trump and Putin to negotiate an end to the hostilities.
Graham’s visit coincided with the European Congress on Evangelism being held in Berlin for the first time in 25 years.
From Ukraine to the U.K. and Sweden to Spain, over 1,000 pastors and ministry leaders from across Europe have come to the city where Billy Graham once preached to declare that they are "unashamed of the Gospel," echoing the words of Romans 1:16.
"There hasn’t been a gathering of this kind since the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s congress in Amsterdam in 2000," Graham said. "What a moment for Europe, and what a time to boldly proclaim Christ."
The congress marks a return to the roots of BGEA’s global evangelistic mission.
In 1966, Billy Graham held the first World Congress on Evangelism in Berlin, declaring the city a platform to reach the world with the message of salvation.
More than 20 speakers from 13 nations are contributing to the 2025 congress, with worship led by Grammy winner Michael W. Smith, Charity Gayle and top Christian artists from across Europe. The event is being translated in 10 languages.
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Marc Van de Wouwer, a Belgian evangelist and retired federal investigator, reflected on his experience at the 2000 Amsterdam congress.
"At the time, there were very few evangelists in Belgium," he said. "That event reignited my passion, and now I’m coming back to help invest in the next generation."
Federal judge issues $20M verdict against Syria for torture of US citizen taken captive in 2019
A Washington, D.C.-based law firm secured a judgment of more than $20 million against the Syrian Arab Republic on behalf of Sam Goodwin, a St. Louis native held captive in the country’s notorious prison system for 63 days while on a trip to visit every country in the world.
U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly awarded Goodwin $20,201,620 in damages, about $10 million each in compensatory and punitive damages, in response to a lawsuit filed under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's "state sponsor of terrorism" exception.
Roughly half of the judgment is payable through the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which is financed by sanctions proceeds and other penalties. Depending on the amount of money in the fund, Goodwin could get a certain percentage of compensatory damages over several years.
FAMILY OF AMERICAN HOSTAGE TORTURED IN LEBANON WINS LANDMARK CASE AGAINST IRAN
"Nations that violate international human rights standards must face consequences, and courageous survivors like Sam help ensure the world does not ignore the atrocities perpetrated by the Assad regime," said Kirby Behre, a member of Miller & Chevalier's litigation department and lead counsel for Goodwin.
"While nothing can completely compensate for Sam's suffering, this represents yet another powerful step forward in the broader effort to confront those responsible for such grave injustices."
Goodwin entered war-torn Syria from Iraq in 2019 as part of a years-long quest to visit every country in the world.
He stayed in Qamishli, a city on the Turkey-Syria border, which he believed was under the control of the U.S.-backed Kurds.
SYRIA'S LIBERATED POLITICAL PRISONS REVEAL GRIM REALITY OF BASHAR ASSAD'S REGIME OF TORTURE
The former Division I collegiate hockey player was detained by men in military uniforms at a roundabout not far from his hotel while on FaceTime with his mother, Ann.
"I was taken into the basement of a facility that I now know is called Syria's Military Intelligence [Branch] number 215, a facility notoriously known for housing political prisoners, and I was held here in solitary confinement for 27 days," Goodwin told Fox News Digital last year ahead of the release of his book, "Saving Sam: The True Story of an American's Disappearance in Syria and His Family's Extraordinary Fight to Bring Him Home."
"The only human interaction I had was for a few seconds in the morning and evening when the guards who brought bread and boiled potatoes and water."
His lawyers said he was tortured at Branch 215 by the now-ousted regime of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and subjected to prolonged interrogation. At one point, Goodwin’s interrogator threatened to hand him over to ISIS after he refused to admit to accusations of being a spy.
US DIPLOMATS IN DAMASCUS FOR FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 10 YEARS FOLLOWING FALL OF ASSAD REGIME
His release was secured by General Abbas Ibrahim, then Lebanon’s top security official, who was put in contact with the family by Joseph Abbas, the uncle of Goodwin’s sister’s friend and former college roommate.
His family worked tirelessly to bring him home, collaborating with the FBI, CIA, State Department, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Vatican envoys, Middle East experts and others.
"This judgment is about far more than what happened to me. It's a stand for anyone who has suffered human rights abuses around the world. I hope it gives other victims the courage to speak up and, above all, serves as a warning that such crimes will not be tolerated or forgotten," Goodwin told Fox News Digital in a statement.
Miller & Chevalier has secured other judgments against the Syrian Arab Republic, including one for approximately $50 million in 2023 for Kevin Dawes, another American citizen who was illegally arrested, imprisoned and tortured in Syria.
In July, it filed a lawsuit on behalf of the family of Dr. Majd Kamalmaz, a psychotherapist and humanitarian who was detained at a government checkpoint in Damascus, Syria, in 2017, accusing the Syrian Arab Republic of abducting, torturing and killing him.
Prosecutors unveil rape and trafficking charges against controversial influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate
Social media influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate have been charged with a combined 21 crimes, including rape and human trafficking, in the United Kingdom, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
The Associated Press reported that the charges were authorized in January 2024, when warrants were issued for the arrests of the brothers, who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and U.K., though they moved to Romania in 2016.
While the warrants had been issued, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the charges announced on Wednesday marked the first time the two had been criminally charged in Britain.
The brothers face a total of 21 charges, with Andrew facing 10 charges related to three women. The charges against Andrew include rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain.
ANDREW TATE, BROTHER TRISTAN LEAVE FLORIDA TO RETURN TO ROMANIAN POLICE STATION IN TRAFFICKING CASE
Tristan faces 11 charges related to one woman, which include rape, human trafficking and actual bodily harm.
The Tates are social media influencers with a following of over 10 million. They describe themselves as entrepreneurs, and Andrew is a former kickboxer and MMA fighter.
Andrew is more well-known than his brother, having drawn a larger following with his unapologetic misogyny that has drawn young men to the luxurious lifestyle he projects.
The two have been accused of luring women to Romania for sexual exploitation in a 2022 case in which prosecutors suffered a major setback after a judge found there were too many problems to bring it to trial.
In a second criminal case opened in August 2024, they are also being investigated for allegedly trafficking underage girls.
In the U.K., they have also been accused of failure to pay taxes.
Andrew and Tristan have denied all the allegations in Romania.
Romanian courts have issued an order to extradite the two to the U.K. once their court case is concluded, British prosecutors said.
The warrant issued by Bedfordshire Police for the siblings dates back to between 2012 and 2015.
ANDREW AND TRISTAN TATE FACE FLORIDA CRIMINAL PROBE DAYS AFTER US HOMECOMING
The whereabouts of the brothers were not immediately clear.
They were photographed a week ago outside a police station in Voluntari, Romania, where they have to report regularly while facing charges there.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Israeli ambassador slams UN's 'mafia-like' tactics against US-backed Gaza foundation
UNITED NATIONS — Israeli United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon condemned what he called a "shakedown" by the U.N. to prevent Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) from working with the new U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
While addressing the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Danon claimed that the world body was using "threats, intimidation and retaliation" against NGOs that dared to defy the international body’s call to boycott GHF. The Israeli diplomat described the U.N.’s response to NGOs cooperating with GHF as "mafia-like."
"Without any discussion, without due process, the U.N. removed those NGOs from the shared aid database. That database is the central system for tracking aid deliveries into Gaza," Danon told the Security Council. "This is the gravest violation of the U.N.'s own principles. It is extortion of well-meaning NGOs that refuse to kiss the ring."
In the same Security Council meeting, Acting U.S. Alternate Representative John Kelley urged the U.N. to work with GHF and Israel "to reach agreements on how to operationalize this system in a way that works for all." Kelley also emphasized the need to ensure that Hamas cannot benefit from any humanitarian aid distribution system that is established.
NEW US-BACKED AID GROUP BEGINS DISTRIBUTING FOOD IN WAR-TORN GAZA
On Wednesday, GHF said in a statement that it had opened another secure aid distribution site "without incident." The organization also addressed some claims about its operations. GHF said that, contrary to reports, no Palestinians have been questioned or detained while receiving aid. Additionally, GHF said that no Palestinians had been shot or killed while trying to get aid.
GHF disputes reports that its sites were overrun on Tuesday: "GHF anticipated that the [safe distribution sites] may experience pressure due to acute hunger and Hamas-imposed blockades, which create dangerous conditions outside the gates.
"According to established protocol, for a brief moment the GHF team intentionally relaxed its security protocols to safeguard against crowd reactions to finally receiving food. No beneficiaries were injured, no lives were lost and all food available was distributed without interference. Order was restored without incident. As in all emergency response situations, particularly in conflict zones, this type of reaction from stressed beneficiary populations is expected and we remain prepared to continue providing lifesaving assistance should disruptions occur.
"Unfortunately, there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail. Conditions remain very difficult and the lives of both Gazans and aid workers are at stake," GHF said in a statement.
ISRAELI AMBASSADOR LASHES OUT AT UN OFFICIAL, CONDEMNS UK, FRANCE, CANADA STATEMENT ON AID
The international community has not relented in its push against GHF.
U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher — who once called the plan behind GHF a "fig leaf for further violence and displacement" of Palestinians in Gaza — has made his objections to the program clear. Fletcher made an appeal in a post on X to let the U.N. take control of aid distribution in Gaza.
"We have the supplies, plan, will, and networks to deliver massive amounts of lifesaving aid to civilians in Gaza, in line with humanitarian principles, as the world is demanding," Fletcher wrote.
ISRAEL TURNS TABLES ON UN OFFICIAL CLAIMING 'GENOCIDE' IN GAZA WITH BASIC QUESTIONS
Earlier this month, Fletcher urged the international community not to "waste time" with a new plan when the U.N. already had one in place.
On Wednesday, as Israel marked 600 days since the Oct. 7 massacre, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) noted that "121 trucks belonging to the U.N. and the international community" were allowed into the Gaza Strip. The IDF said that the trucks were carrying food and other aid.
Explosive new intelligence report reveals Iran's nuclear weapons program still active
FIRST ON FOX — A new intelligence report claims Iran is continuing with its active nuclear weapons program, which it says can be used to launch missiles over long distances.
The startling intelligence gathering of Austrian officials contradicts the assessment of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate Intelligence Committee in March that the American intelligence community "continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003."
Austria’s version of the FBI — the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution — wrote Monday in an intelligence report, "In order to assert and enforce its regional political power ambitions, the Islamic Republic of Iran is striving for comprehensive rearmament, with nuclear weapons to make the regime immune to attack and to expand and consolidate its dominance in the Middle East and beyond."
TRUMP CONFIRMS HE TOLD NETANYAHU TO BACK OFF IRAN STRIKES AMID NUCLEAR TALKS
The Austrian domestic intelligence agency report added, "The Iranian nuclear weapons development program is well advanced, and Iran possesses a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads over long distances."
According to an intelligence document obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital, "Iran has developed sophisticated sanctions-evasion networks, which has benefited Russia."
The Austrian intelligence findings could be an unwanted wrench in President Trump’s negotiation process to resolve the atomic crisis with Iran’s rulers because the data outlined in the report suggests the regime will not abandon its drive to secure a nuclear weapon.
In response to the Austrian intelligence, a White House official told Fox News Digital, "President Trump is committed to Iran never obtaining a nuclear weapon or the capacity to build one."
The danger of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism (and its illegal atomic weapons program) was cited 99 times in the 211-page report that covers pressing threats to Austria’s democracy.
"Vienna is home to one of the largest embassies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Europe, which disguises intelligence officers with diplomatic," the Austrian intelligence report noted.
"Iranian intelligence services are familiar with developing and implementing circumvention strategies for the procurement of military equipment, proliferation-sensitive technologies, and materials for weapons of mass destruction," the Austrian intelligence agency said.
In 2021, a Belgium court convicted Asadollah Asadi, a former Iranian diplomat based in Vienna, for planning to blow up a 2018 opposition meeting of tens of thousands of Iranian dissidents held outside Paris. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as President Trump’s personal lawyer at the time, attended the event in France.
IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER VOWS NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT WILL CONTINUE 'WITH OR WITHOUT A DEAL'
When asked about the differences in conclusions between the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Austrian intelligence report, David Albright, a physicist and founder and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital, "The ODNI report is stuck in the past, a remnant of the fallacious unclassified 2007 NIE [National Intelligence Estimate].
"The Austrian report in general is similar to German and British assessments. Both governments, by the way, made clear to (the) U.S. IC [intelligence community] in 2007 that they thought the U.S. assessment was wrong that the Iranian nuclear weapons program ended in 2003.
"The German assessment is from BND [Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service] station chief in D.C. at that time. The British info is from a senior British non-proliferation official I was having dinner with the day the 2007 NIE was made public. The German said the U.S. was misinterpreting data they all possessed."
The Austrian intelligence findings that Tehran is working on an active atomic weapons program "seems clear enough," said Albright.
In 2023, Fox News Digital revealed a fresh batch of European intelligence reports showed that Iran sought to bypass U.S. and EU sanctions to secure technology for its nuclear weapons program with a view toward testing an atomic bomb.
European intelligence agencies have documented prior to 2015 and after the Iran nuclear deal( JCPOA) was agreed upon that Tehran continued efforts to illegally secure technology for its atomic, biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction programs.
The Austrian intelligence report noted that Iran provides weapons to the U.S.-designated terrorist movements Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as to Syrian militias.
A spokesperson for ODNI declined to comment. The U.S. State Department and U.S. National Security Council did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital press queries.
Trump confirms he told Netanyahu to back off Iran strikes amid nuclear talks
President Donald Trump on Wednesday confirmed that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week to back off any moves to strike Iran as negotiations on its nuclear program remain ongoing.
"I'd like to be honest, yes, I did," he said in response to a reporter's question on the issue. "It's not a warning. I said I don't think it's appropriate."
Trump said he is pushing for a diplomatic agreement to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
US AND IRAN CLASH OVER URANIUM ENRICHMENT AS NUCLEAR TALKS RESUME IN ROME
The remarks came after reports this week suggested that Netanyahu threatened to upend the talks by striking Iran’s nuclear facilities, as reports have also suggested there is growing friction between the two world leaders.
Israel has received immense international and internal backlash over its aggressive military operations in the Gaza Strip in its pursuit to completely eradicate Hamas, which is backed by Iran, and it has threatened to take the fight to Iran's doorstep.
But it is unclear why it was considering hitting Tehran’s nuclear facilities last week as the U.S. prepared to meet with Omani and Iranian officials to negotiate terms.
4TH ROUND OF US-IRAN TALKS ENDS AS TRUMP SET TO EMBARK ON HISTORIC MIDDLE EAST TOUR
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, the Iranian foreign minister warned the U.N. Security Council on Thursday of "catastrophic consequences" should Israel strike its nuclear infrastructure, and warned the "government of the United States would bear legal responsibility – having been complicit therein."
Netanyahu’s office on Wednesday rejected a report by The New York Times which reported on Netanyahu’s alleged ambitions to hit Iran as "fake news."
Though the president’s comments to reporters just hours later could suggest otherwise.
The Trump administration described the most recent negotiations with Iran as positive and on Sunday the president told reporters, "We've had some very, very good talks with Iran."
"I don't know if I'll be telling you anything good or bad over the next two days, but I have a feeling I might be telling you something good," Trump added.
Yonat Frilling contributed to this report.
Iran hangs a man convicted of spying for Israel
Iran has hanged a man convicted of spying for Israel, Iranian state media reported on Wednesday.
According to the reports, Pedram Madani was hanged after Iran's supreme court upheld a death sentence issued by a lower court. The official IRNA news agency said Madani had visited Israel and met Mossad officers to convey classified information about buildings in Iran where "infrastructure" equipment was installed.
IRAN RAMPS UP STATE EXECUTIONS AMID NUCLEAR TALKS WITH US
The report did not elaborate but said Madani received foreign currency and cryptocurrency for the information. It said Madani also met Mossad officers at the Israeli Embassy in Belgium.
Israel’s security agency had no immediate comment.
Madani, 41, was arrested in 2020.
TWO BRITONS DETAINED IN IRAN CHARGED WITH SPYING, IRANIAN JUDICIARY SAYS
Executions in Iran have escalated in recent months. According to Iran Human Rights, a watchdog group based in Norway, at least 60 people have been executed in the past 10 days alone.
Madani was the third person this year executed on charges of "spying for Israel," which are often based on vague accusations, the organization said.
In April, Iran executed a man convicted of working with Mossad and of playing a role in the 2022 killing of a Revolutionary Guard colonel in Tehran.
