Scientists say pair of sandals discovered in Spanish bat cave are 6,000 years old, Europe's oldest shoes

Scientists have found what they believe are the oldest pair of sandals ever found in Europe, dating them at over 6,000 years old, among dozens of other items that were discovered in a bat cave system in southern Spain.

Researchers with the Universidad de Alcalá and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona said that the discoveries were the first direct evidence of basketry among hunter-gatherer societies and early farmers in Southern Europe. The objects were discovered in Cueva de los Murciélagos de Albuñol in Granada, Spain.

Among the discoveries were baskets, sandals and organic tools once associated with early Neolithic farming communities. By studying the raw materials and using technology, the researchers believe that the items from the cave were from the early and middle Holocene period, between 9,500 and 6,200 year ago.

Francisco Martínez Sevilla, a researcher in the Prehistory Department of the University of Alcalá, said in a press release that the discovered objects "makes us question the simplistic assumptions" about prehistoric communities.

ARCHEOLOGISTS IN NORTHERN PERU UNEARTH 3,000-YEAR-OLD TOMB BELIEVED TO HONOR PRIEST

"The quality and technological complexity of the basketry makes us question the simplistic assumptions we have about human communities prior to the arrival of agriculture in Southern Europe," Sevilla said.

According to the report, the pair of sandals represent the "earliest and widest-ranging assemblage of prehistoric footwear, both in the Iberian Peninsula and in Europe".

Scientists say they were well-preserved due to the low humidity levels in the caves.

"The unique conditions for the preservation of organic material in the cave are related to the null humidity resulting from the geological character of the cave," the report said.

According to the report, published in the Science Advance journal, the objects were first discovered by mining activities in the 19th century and were documented by Manuel de Góngora y Martínez.

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Whale capsizes boat leaving 1 person dead, another injured in ‘absolute freak accident’: officials

A breaching whale Saturday capsized a nearly 15-foot boat off the coast of Australia, leaving one man dead and another in the hospital, officials said. 

"At 6 this morning, police responded to reports of two people in the water," New South Wales Water Police Acting Superintendent Siobhan Munro said at a press conference of the incident that happened off the coast of La Perouse, about nine miles southeast of Sydney.

She said the two men who had been fishing were rescued, but one was unresponsive and was confirmed dead after attempts to revive him failed. 

VIDEO CAPTURES BREACHING HUMPBACK WHALE NEARLY LAND ON FISHING BOAT OFF JERSEY SHORE 

"Early reports are that a whale may have breached near the boat, or on to the boat" when it capsized, she added, saying the boat has been recovered and will undergo forensic testing "and then we’ll have more details" on what happened. 

SHARK BITES SOUTH CAROLINA SURFER'S FACE AT POPULAR FLORIDA BEACH, OFFICIALS SAY 

The victim was 61, and the survivor is 53, who is in stable condition, officials said, according to the BBC. 

"Right now there are lots of whales out there. It’s not unheard of these stories of whales breaching next to boats," Munro added, saying that she had never seen something like this before, according to the Guardian and BBC. 

She reportedly said the men may have been in the water for up to 45 minutes before they were rescued. 

"The skipper stayed as close as he could to the deceased and was doing all he could to keep him afloat until police arrived," she added.

The New South Wales minister for emergency services, Jihad Dib, called the incident said "an absolute freak accident."

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"But it also shows the dangers that do happen on waterways," he added. 

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UK home secretary says multiculturalism has ‘failed’ as Europe faces migrant crisis

U.K. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said this week multiculturalism has "failed" as she faced Europe’s migrant crisis head-on and called for a change to what she described as outdated asylum and refugee rules.

Braverman, the U.K.’s top immigration minister, spoke in Washington at the American Enterprise Institute, where she challenged multiculturalism as a "misguided dogma" that had failed to integrate foreign nationals in their new countries. 

She said uncontrolled immigration, "inadequate" integration and multiculturalism had been a "toxic combination" for Europe.

"Multiculturalism makes no demands of the incomer to integrate," Braverman said.

UK MOVES ASYLUM SEEKERS TO A BARGE TO CUT COSTS OF SHELTERING MIGRANTS

"It has failed because it allowed people to come to our society and live parallel lives in it," she said. "They could be in a society, but not of society and, in extreme cases, they could pursue lives aimed at undermining the stability and threatening the security of our society."

She said the consequences could be seen across Europe and in the U.K.

Europe has been struggling for years with a wave of migration that began in 2015, subsided during the COVID-19 era, but has again been on the rise over the last year.

While the U.K. is no longer part of the European Union, it has been struggling to deal with an increase in migrants arriving in small boats across the English Channel from France. It has passed legislation to detain and deport illegal immigrants who arrive on small boats and is battling to be able to deport illegal immigrants to Rwanda, a move facing a court challenge.

GREECE REBUKES EU BORDER AGENCY'S THREATS TO LEAVE COUNTRY OVER MIGRANT DEATHS: 'UNTHINKABLE'

Braverman also questioned whether the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention was fit for the modern age, arguing that migrants shouldn’t be given asylum based on sexuality or gender unless there was "a real risk of death, torture, oppression or violence."

"Where individuals are being persecuted, it is right that we offer sanctuary," Braverman said. "But we will not be able to sustain an asylum system if, in effect, simply being gay, or a woman or fearful of discrimination in your country of origin is sufficient to qualify for protection.

"We are living in a new world bound by outdated legal models," she added, calling the migration surges "an existential challenge" to the West.

It represents the latest push in the West for greater control and limits on migrant surges, when large numbers of migrants are allowed in to try to claim asylum, even when they have traveled through multiple safe countries.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for a naval blockade in the Mediterranean Sea to stop migrants coming into Europe through Italy.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., officials have again been overwhelmed by a fresh surge in migrants. Fox News reported Saturday there were more than 260,000 migrant encounters in September, a new monthly record.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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French government combats bedbug epidemic in Paris, urges calm

The French government is urging calm as it works to combat an outbreak of bedbugs in the capital city of Paris.

Recent videos from Paris residents showing bedbugs infesting public transportation, movie theaters and other areas of daily life have led to demands for government action.

"You have to understand that, in reality, no one is safe," Deputy Mayor of Paris Emmanuel Gregoire told French news station LCI.

AS PARIS OLYMPICS APPROACH, FRENCH AUTHORITIES LAUNCH EFFORTS TO ERADICATE BEDBUGS

"Obviously, there are risk factors, but in reality, you can catch bedbugs anywhere and bring them home," he continued.

Minister of Transportation Clement Beaune said Friday he will address the infestation and begin meeting with transportation operators in the coming days.

The insect problem is not a new one — the French government launched an initiative three years ago aimed at informing residents about the spread of bedbugs and offering resources for dealing with them at home.

DESPITE FBI TAKEDOWN, INFAMOUS RACCOON STEALER MALWARE RETURNS

The infestation is made more pressing due to the upcoming Olympic Games, set to take place in Paris next year.

Residents and foreigners wonder whether the bedbug problem will dampen interest in attending the international sporting event, but the deputy mayor is not worried.

"There is no threat to the Olympic Games," Gregoire told LCI. "Bedbugs existed before, and they will exist afterward."

Deputy Mayor Gregoire called on insurers to include bedbug coverage in house insurance policies, as low-income people rarely have the means to call in pest-control firms.

Bed bugs feed on blood, and while their bites are small and usually not threatening, exposure can cause skin irritation and rashes.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Russian Paralympians cannot use flag at Paris games

Russian athletes competing at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris will not be allowed to use their nation's flag. 

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) voted Friday on the eligibility of Russian athletes, allowing individuals to compete under neutral banners. 

Russia has been banned from the Olympic and Paralympic communities since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

The specific parameters for athletes from Russian ally Belarus are also yet to be decided. 

RUSSIA, BELARUS NOT OFFICIALLY INVITED TO 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS, IOC SAYS

The IPC voted Friday not to fully ban Belorussian athletes but has not yet decided if they can compete representing their country.

The Russian Olympic Committee is not boycotting the Paris games and has voiced support for athletes wishing to compete as neutral individuals.

INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE OVERTURNS SUSPENSION OF RUSSIA, BELARUS MEMBERSHIPS, ATHLETES STILL BARRED

"Boycotting the Games leads to nowhere," said Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov, according to The Moscow Times.

He added, "We live together in a free state. Every person can, if they so wish, take the path."

International bodies have struggled to accommodate Russian and Belorussian athletes' participation in the games since their ban was imposed.

In anticipation of the Olympic and Paralympic games, the Ukrainian government loosened restrictions on participating in sporting events with Russian athletes.

In a July decision, the Ukrainian government said it would be narrowing the focus of its ban on sports matches against Russian competitors.

Moving forward, Ukrainian athletes will be allowed to compete against Russian athletes not representing their home country.

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Married pilot snorts cocaine off topless woman in booze-fueled romp before flight: report

A British Airways pilot was suspended and eventually fired after he was reported for drinking and using cocaine the night before a return flight to London.

Mike Beaton, a pilot with British Airways, had a night off after a flight to Johannesburg last month that he used to indulge in large amounts of alcohol and snort cocaine off the chest of a topless woman, according to a report from the New York Post.

Beaton, a married father of one, according to the report, revealed his night of antics to a fellow crew member before a return flight to London, telling her that he had been a "very naughty boy" during an exchange of text messages.

BRITISH AIRWAYS INVESTIGATING REPORTS STEWARDESS IS OFFERING SEXUAL SERVICES BETWEEN FLIGHTS

The pilot reportedly told the flight attendant in the text exchange that he had met two local men, a Welsh woman and a "young Spanish bird" at a Johannesburg nightclub the night before, when they engaged in hours of drinking and eventually found themselves at one of the men's apartment.

"Welsh has decided that I should actually be her boyfriend — Spanish has hooked up with one of the two local lads and is having her t--s sucked on their sofa," Beaton told his fellow crew member. 

The pilot continued to boast that the "girls" were dancing topless when someone arrived with cocaine, leading him to take a "bump" of the drug himself.

"I’ve lost my shirt somewhere and one of the local lads produces a plate with a few lines of coke," Beaton said. "So then there’s a debate about whose chest is the best to do a bump off."

AMERICAN AIRLINES PLANE DAMAGED AFTER REPORTEDLY HITTING BIRD, RETURNS TO AIRPORT

"That’s the story of how I ended up snorting coke off a girl’s t--s in Joburg," he continued.

The pilot went on to explain that he "stayed the night with Welsh, sh– her for ages," speculating that his use of cocaine may have "played a part" in the activities, adding that he was then was so "f---ed I couldn’t even lift my head until gone 2."

When the pilot tried to fly the following day, the crew member reported his wild night out to the airline, causing British Airways to delay the 12-hour flight to Heathrow Airport in London and costing the airline a reported $120,000.

Speaking to the Sun, a British Airways source said that the behavior of the pilot stunned the airline.

"Of all the bad behavior that goes on downroute between flights, this incident is hard to believe," the source told the outlet. "A first officer is trained rigorously and knows the law inside out. Their remit is protecting the safety of passengers.

"The idea of sending details of his drink and drugs session to a stewardess between flights is extraordinarily dumb," the source added.

Beaton was reportedly suspended while still in Johannesburg and flown back to London as a passenger on another flight. Once there, he tested positive for the cocaine and was fired.

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"He will never fly again," the airline source told the Sun, who confirmed with the airline that the pilot no longer works with the company.

Reached for comment by Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for British Airways confirmed that the pilot no longer works for the airline while stressing that at not time was the safety of British Airways passengers at risk.

"Safety is always our top priority," the spokesperson said. "The matter was referred to the CAA [Civil Aviation Authority] and this individual no longer works for us."

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Libyan coast guard boat rams into migrant dinghy, throwing 50 into Mediterranean

A Libyan coast guard boat rammed into a dingy carrying some 50 migrants just off Libya's coast on Friday, partially sinking the vessel. Many of those onboard were thrown into the Mediterranean Sea and had to swim to another Libyan ship nearby for safety, a rescue group said.

It appeared to be the latest reckless sea interception of migrants by the Libyan coast guard, which is trained and financed by the European Union to stem the influx of migrants to Europe. Libya has in recent years emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants seeking a better life in Europe.

The German sea rescue group Sea-Watch released a video appearing to show the Libyan coast guard boat nearing the dinghy, after which most of those on the vessel fall into the water. Sea-Watch said the Libyan coast guard then took the migrants aboard another ship, a coast guard frigate.

EUROPE-BOUND MIGRANT BOAT SINKS OFF THE COAST OF LIBYA, LEADING TO AT LEAST 55 DEATHS

There were no immediate reports of any fatalities or of anyone missing.

Sea-Watch, which carries out rescue operations in the central Mediterranean, said the coast guard was chasing the rubber dingy since early Friday morning before slamming into its side.

From their twin-engine Seabird, Sea-Watch rescuers had repeatedly called on the Libyan coast guard to stop chasing the dingy, they said.

The Sea-Watch video, filmed from the Seabird, shows the migrants who were plunged into the sea swimming towards the nearby frigate and sailors throwing buoyance vests to them.

Those who remained on the sinking dingy were pulled towards the frigate and were also taken on board. A spokesman from Libyan coast guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Sea-Watch spokesperson Felix Wiess told The Associated Press by phone that the incident took place roughly 30 miles north of Libya's western city of Zuwara.

A civilian rescue ship Louise Michel arrived at the scene shortly afterward and asked to take the migrants, which the coast guard denied.

MIGRANTS TRAPPED ON TUNISIA-LIBYA BORDER TRANSFERRED BACK TO TUNISIA AFTER FACING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS

Since 2015, the EU has been funding the Libyan coast guard as part of efforts to stem the flow of migrants from the North African country towards Italian shores.

Another rescue group, SOS Mediterranee, said in March that the Libyan coast guard fired warning shots at it as it attempted to rescue migrants from a packed ship. In October 2022, Sea-Watch said the coast guard threatened to shoot down its plane used to monitor the sea for smugglers and migrant vessels.

Oil-rich Libya plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Human traffickers have benefited from the chaos in the North African country, smuggling migrants across Libya's vast borders, bringing them to the coast and packing them into ill-equipped rubber boats and other vessels that then set off on risky sea voyages.

Over recent months, rescue groups say Italy's hard-line government headed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has made it harder for humanitarian vessels to operate. They say the government often assigns their ships to ports further north after a single rescue, which the groups say limits their ability to save lives.

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Bombing in Pakistan kills dozens at Muslim celebration

A powerful bomb detonated near a mosque at an event celebrating the birthday of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad in southwestern Pakistan on Friday, killing at least 52 people and injuring nearly 70 others, authorities say.

The bombing occurred in Mastung, a district in Baluchistan province, where around 500 people had gathered for a procession to celebrate the birth anniversary of Muhammad. Muslims hold rallies and distribute free meals to people on the occasion, which is known as Mawlid an-Nabi.

TV footage and social media videos showed the aftermath of the bombing. An open area near the mosque was strewn with the shoes of the dead and wounded. People were seen rushing the injured to receive medical care, and a state of emergency has been declared at local hospitals, which have issued calls for blood donations, the Associated Press reported.

Several of those injured in the blast were taken to the hospital in critical condition, government administrator Atta Ullah said. Abdul Rasheed, the District Health Officer in Mastung, said 30 bodies were taken to one hospital and 22 others were counted at a second hospital. 

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes amid a surge in activity by militant groups in Pakistan. 

The Pakistan Taliban is known to target security forces, but it distanced itself from the attack. The terror group claims it does not target places of worship and civilians. 

Authorities had earlier asked police to remain on maximum alert, saying militants could target rallies commemorating the birthday of Muhammad. 

Another blast Friday hit a mosque located on the premises of a police station in Hangu, a district in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, injuring seven people, a local police officer told the Associated Press.

He said the mud-brick mosque collapsed due to the impact and rescuers were attempting to remove debris and pull worshipers out of the rubble. Police have not yet determined the cause of that blast. 

There were around 40 people worshiping inside the mosque, mostly police officers, when the blast went off.

Pakistan's President Arif Alvi has condemned the attack and requested that authorities provide all possible assistance to the wounded and the victims' families. 

In a statement, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti denounced the bombing and expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of lives. He said it was a "heinous act" to target people in the Mawlid an-Nabi procession.

This is a developing story and will be updated. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bermuda auditing 'very sophisticated' cyberattack against government

Bermuda’s premier said Thursday that the government is slowly restoring operations after being hit by a "very sophisticated" cyberattack a week ago.

An in-depth forensic audit is underway to determine how the attack occurred, and so far, experts have not uncovered evidence that sensitive data was stolen, Premier David Burt said.

He declined to say whether it was a ransomware attack.

HURRICANE FRANKLIN, A CATEGORY 2 STORM, APPROACHES BERMUDA

"This remains a very sensitive matter," he said.

Some email functionality has returned, Burt said, adding that he expects the government switchboard to be fully functional by Monday.

MASSIVE CYBERATTACK STRIKES MILLIONS: ARE YOU AT RISK?

Services like the government payroll system, however, are still not running properly.

"It’s been a challenge," he said of efforts to restore government operations affected by the attack that occurred late at night on Sept. 20.

Burt noted that while not all systems were affected, the government took everything offline out of precaution.

He said the government is building a new network with help from overseas experts that he expects will be stronger and more secure.

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Car bomb kills 6, wounds 14 at Somali meat market

A car bombing struck a meat market in central Somalia on Thursday, killing six people and wounding 14, local officials said, the third attack of the day in the volatile East African country.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack at the market in the town of Buloburde in Hiran region or the two earlier attacks on Thursday in the southern city of Dhusamareb, where no casualties were reported.

Somalia faced frequent attacks by the country's al-Qaida affiliate, the militant group al-Shabab.

EXTREMISTS ATTACK BEACHSIDE HOTEL IN SOMALIA'S CAPITAL, TRAPPING CIVILIANS INSIDE

Buloburde Deputy Commissioner Jaliil Isse Foodey, told The Associated Press that three soldiers were among those killed at the market as they had tried to stop the suspicious car.

Foodey said that authorities believe a government base located near the market that's the home of an army commander was the intended target.

On Saturday, an explosives-laden vehicle was detonated at a security checkpoint in the central city of Beledweyne, killing at least 18 people and wounding 40.

DEADLY SUICIDE BOMBING AT SOMALI MILITARY ACADEMY IN MOGADISHU CLAIMS LIVES OF 25 SOLDIERS

Somalia’s government last year launched "total war" on al-Shabab, which controls parts of rural central and southern Somalia and makes millions of dollars through "taxation" of residents and extortion of businesses.

The militant group numbers thousands of fighters and regularly carries out brazen attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, and elsewhere, holding back recovery attempts from decades of conflict in Somalia.

Somalia has appealed to the U.N Security Council requesting a three-month pause in the scheduled withdrawal of African Union peacekeepers, citing the need for its troops to regroup.

Earlier, the U.N approved a resolution to have the mission support the Somalis until its forces take full responsibility for the country’s security at the end of 2024.

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South African poultry producer culls 410,000 chickens amid avian flu outbreak, fears of shortages loom

South Africa's RCL Foods said on Thursday its poultry unit Rainbow has culled 410,000 chickens due to the country's worst outbreak of avian flu, heightening fears of chicken meat and egg shortages.

The outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), a bird flu which spreads rapidly in an infected flock causing a high death rate, has already impacted table egg supplies in the country and producers have warned of chicken meat shortages in the coming weeks.

Rainbow is one of South Africa's largest chicken producers, supplying retailers and fast food businesses.

"The outbreak has moved at a rapid pace, and the

Situation is constantly evolving. To date an estimated 410,000

GLOBAL RISE IN BIRD FLU OUTBREAKS RAISES CONCERN OVER VIRUS' ABILITY TO ADAPT

Birds have been culled, which has resulted in an estimated

Financial impact of $5.99 million," RCL Foods said in an update.

The company said it was taking steps to avert supply disruptions, but "there is tension in the supply chain."

On Wednesday, neighboring Namibia suspended poultry imports from South Africa, citing the bird flu outbreak. However, South Africa only exports between 1% and 2% of its production, according to the country's poultry producers' association.

Last week, RCL's peers, including the country's largest integrated poultry processor Astral Foods and Quantum Foods, said the bird flu outbreak was ravaging a sector that was already burdened by South Africa's electricity crisis and rising costs.

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Court orders Australian man compensate police after fake kidnapping to meet up with mistress

An Australian court is ordering a man who staged his own kidnapping to compensate police for the hassle of investigating the fake crime.

Paul Iera, 35, messaged his girlfriend on New Year's Eve 2022 from his own phone, pretending to be a group of Middle Eastern kidnappers. 

The man from Wollongong, New South Wales, was found to be lying in order to spend the night with another woman.

KIDNAPPING OF AMERICAN NURSE, HER DAUGHTER IN HAITI DEALS BLOW TO AID EFFORTS IN IMPOVERISHED NATION

Posing as the fictional abductors, Iera reportedly told his girlfriend that he would be held captive until morning – prompting her to call Lake Illawarra district police to investigate.

Iera contacted his father the next day, telling him he was being dropped off by kidnappers back at his car in Wollongong. 

Police pulled over Iera's van the same day, finding only him inside – Iera continued to play along with the false report, leading authorities on a wild goose chase for over 200 hours.

OLYMPIC BOXER CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING, KILLING PREGNANT LOVER WHO ALLEGEDLY REFUSED TO GET AN ABORTION

Iera was busted after security footage showed him with a prostitute on the night in question – separate footage showed him with his mistress not long after initially contacting his father about the kidnapping.

"You chose to send alarming, frightening messages to your partner so you could get some extra time with another partner," Magistrate Michael Ong told Iera, according to 9 News. "You thought that would be a great way to do it – any reasonable person would have gone to the public, and that is exactly what happened."

The judge continued, "You are at a point where you need to make a choice. You either take a step back, look at yourself and your circumstances and move toward furthering yourself, or alternatively you will move into a situation where imprisonment will be a very realistic option."

Iera was sentenced Tuesday to 350 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $16,000 in compensation.

"Since the commission of the offense, Mr. Iera has made tremendous rehabilitative progress, and today’s outcome is reflective of [the] Court’s attempt to promote that ongoing rehabilitation," attorney Abbas Soukie said in a statement.

He added, "Mr. Iera continues to enjoy the support of his family and partner, and wishes to move forward with life as a productive member of the community,"

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In Sweden, death toll caused by gun violence is rapidly escalating

Three people were killed overnight in separate incidents in Sweden as deadly violence linked to a feud between criminal gangs escalated.

Late Wednesday, an 18-year-old man was shot dead in a Stockholm suburb. Hours later, a man was killed and another was wounded in a shooting in Jordbro, south of the Swedish capital.

Early Thursday a woman in her 20s died in an explosion in Uppsala, west of Stockholm. The blast, which damaged five houses, is being treated by the police as a murder. Swedish media said the woman who died likely was not the target.

2 POWERFUL EXPLOSIONS RIP THROUGH SWEDEN, INJURING AT LEAST 3

Swedish broadcaster SVT noted that the two fatal shootings brings the death toll from gun violence in September to 11, making it the deadliest month for shootings since police started keeping statistics in 2016.

It was not known whether the shootings or the blast were related to each other but Swedish media said at least two of the three events were somehow connected to a feud between criminal gangs, a growing problem in Sweden with drive-by shootings and bombings.

Two gangs — one led by a Swedish-Turkish dual national who lives in Turkey, the other by his former lieutenant — are reportedly fighting over drugs and weapons.

Three people have been detained, suspected of complicity in the fatal shooting in Jordbro. Police said that two people have been arrested over the Uppsala explosion, which was so violent that the facades of two houses were blown away.

Earlier this week, two powerful explosions ripped through dwellings in central Sweden, injuring at least three people and damaging buildings, with bricks and window sections left spread outside.

Sweden’s center-right government has been tightening laws to tackle gang-related crime, while the head of Sweden’s police has said that warring gangs have brought an "unprecedented" wave of violence to the country.

Earlier this week, Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer reiterated that Sweden will increase the penalty from three years to five years for possessing explosives without a permit as of April 1 when a new legislation enters into force.

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Man who opened fire at Slovak police from apartment window fatally shot, according to report

A shooting incident early Thursday in the Slovak capital left one person dead and four others injured, officials said.

A 32-year-old man died and four other people were transported to hospitals with injuries, the rescue service in Bratislava said. The incident occurred in the Dubravka neighborhood after midnight on Thursday, police said.

Police spokesman Michal Szeiff told the local TASR news agency that officers arrived at the scene after receiving calls from people who reported gunshots and an explosion.

NJ SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PAY $9.1M SETTLEMENT TO FAMILY OF BULLIED GIRL, 12, WHO TOOK HER OWN LIFE

Police fired shots at one person, Szeiff said.

According to the news website aktuality.sk, a man opened fire from the window of an apartment building and was shot dead by police when he attacked them with a knife.

Police didn't immediately give more details about the incident but said they were investigating.

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Dozen bodies found near Monterrey, Mexico, with some body parts scattered in pieces

As many as a dozen bodies were found Tuesday scattered around the northern Mexico industrial hub of Monterrey and its suburbs, including some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country.

Prosecutors in the state of Nuevo Leon did not provide a final tally of the number of dead because some of the bodies had been found in pieces or were dumped in plastic bags.

But prosecutors confirmed at least seven bodies had been found, as well as five bags of body parts.

HOMELAND SECURITY REVEALS NEW 'INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN APPROACH' TO COMBAT OPIOID CRISIS

Gerardo Palacios, the head security official of Nuevo Leon state, said the killings appeared related to an internal dispute within a drug cartel based in the neighboring state of Tamaulipas. The Gulf and Northeast cartels operate there, but he did not specify which he was referring to.

"What we see here is an internal purge within an organized crime group based in Tamaulipas, because of some acts of disloyalty within the group," Palacios said.

Drug cartels in Mexico often leave dismembered bodies on streets, often with banners threatening officials or rival gangs.

The grisly discovery came the day after drug cartel banners had been left around the city. It contrasted with Monterrey’s recent reputation for success after it was chosen as the site of a new Tesla car plant.

Monterrey suffered waves of drug cartel violence in the 2010s, but had become more peaceful until Tuesday's events.

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Brazil’s Amazon rainforest faces severe drought, affecting food and water supplies for thousands

The Amazon rainforest in Brazil is facing a severe drought that may affect around 500,000 people by the end of the year, authorities said Tuesday.

Many are already struggling to access essential supplies such as food and water, because the principal means of transportation in the region is waterways, and river levels are historically low. Droughts also impact fishing, a means of subsistence for many riverside communities.

Amazonas state declared an environmental emergency two weeks ago in response to the prolonged drought and launched a response plan valued at $20 million. Authorities will also distribute food and water supplies as well as personal hygiene kits, the state’s civil defense agency said in a statement.

BRAZIL, OTHER AMAZON RAINFOREST COUNTRIES TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 14 YEARS OVER ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS

Gov. Wilson Lima was in Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, on Tuesday to meet with representatives of the federal government. Lima spoke with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to discuss the drought.f

The different levels of government will "coordinate measures in support of the people living in the affected municipalities," Lima said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday.

DEFORESTATION IN BRAZIL INCREASED 30% IN 12 MONTHS, AGENCY SAYS 

Fifteen municipalities were in a state of emergency on Tuesday, while 40 others were on a state of alert, the civil defense authority said.

According to the port of Manaus, which monitors water levels, the river stood at 55 feet on Tuesday, around 20 feet below the same day last year. The lowest level of water was recorded on Oct. 24, 2010, when the river dropped to about 45 feet.

The drought is forecast to last longer and be more intense because of El Niño climate phenomenon, which inhibits the formation of rain clouds, the civil defense authority said.

Climate change exacerbates droughts by making them more frequent, longer and more severe. Warmer temperatures enhance evaporation, which reduces surface water and dries out soils and vegetation.

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Canada's House speaker resigns after inviting a man who fought for the Nazis to Parliament: 'Profound regret'

Canada’s House of Commons speaker resigned Tuesday, just days after he welcomed a man who fought for a Nazi military to attend a speech by the Ukrainian president. During the address, the man was publicly introduced and received a standing ovation. 

On Tuesday, Speaker Anthony Rota addressed Canadian lawmakers, expressing his regret for inviting 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to the House of Commons on Friday.

"No one in this House is above any of us. Therefore, I must step down as your speaker," Rota said in Parliament on Tuesday. "I reiterate my profound regret for my error in recognizing an individual in the House during the joint address to Parliament of President Zelenskyy.

He added: "That public recognition has caused pain to individuals and communities, including to the Jewish community in Canada and around the world in addition to Nazi survivors in Poland among other nations. I accept full responsibility for my actions."

CANADA UNDER FIRE FOR APPLAUDING 'LITERAL NAZI' IN PARLIAMENT DURING ZELENSKYY VISIT

Rota, 62, faced calls to resign after it was made public that Hunka, introduced to Parliament on Friday as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division, actually served in a Nazi command unit. 

Over the weekend, as Zelenskyy’s remarks began to circulate online and additional attention was brought to Hunka’s presence at the event, people clarified that the First Ukrainian Division also was known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, or the SS 14th Waffen Division, a voluntary unit that was under the command of the Nazis.

House government leader Karina Gould said lawmakers had lost confidence in Rota over the mishap.

"This is something that has brought shame and embarrassment to all of Parliament and indeed all Canadians. The speaker did the honorable thing in resigning," Gould said.

Rota apologized on Sunday, saying he alone was responsible for inviting and recognizing Hunka, who is from the district that Rota represents. The speaker’s office said Hunka's son contacted Rota's local office to see if he could attend Zelenskyy’s speech.

THOUSANDS PROTEST 'GENDER IDEOLOGY' IN CANADA, TRUDEAU CONDEMNS 'TRANSPHOBIA, HOMOPHOBIA, AND BIPHOBIA'

Gould, 36, reiterated that Rota was solely responsible for inviting and recognizing Hunka without informing the government. She also said Rota did not adequately inform anyone or do his due diligence, breaking trust with lawmakers.

Members of Parliament from all parties rose to applaud Hunka on Friday, unaware of his past work for the Nazi regime.

"Never in my life would I have imagined that the speaker of the House would have asked us to stand and applaud someone who fought with the Nazis," Gould said.

The House leader added: "This is very emotional for me. My family are Jewish holocaust survivors. I would have never in a million of years stood and applauded someone who aided the Nazis."

Gould also said Rota should have resigned sooner: "He probably should have resigned as soon as he learned about it."

On X, Gould urged members of Parliament to "avoid politicizing this incident" as several lawmakers met with Hunka and took photos with him during Friday’s event, still unaware of his history.

"The Speaker has now made it clear that he was responsible for inviting this individual to the House. The government played no role. It did not know he would be there. The PM did not meet him. I am deeply troubled this happened," Gould wrote.

"Like all MPs, I had no further information than the Speaker provided. Exiting the Chamber I walked by the individual and took a photo. As a descendent of Jewish Holocaust survivors I would ask all parliamentarians to stop politicizing an issue troubling to many, myself included," she added.

Canadian Health Minister Mark Holland also called the incident as a whole "incredibly embarrassing."

Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre blamed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and said everyone in the House of Commons on Friday should have been properly vetted with Zelenskyy in attendance.

"Canada's reputation is broken. This is by far the biggest hit Canada's diplomatic reputation has ever taken in history and it happened under Justin Trudeau's watch," Poilievre said.

The prime minister's office said it was unaware that Hunka was invited until after the address. 

Rota has been speaker of the House of Commons since 2019.

Fox News’ Emma Colton and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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8 dead in southern Pakistan after rocket launcher shell accidentally explodes in village

A shell of a rocket launcher apparently accidentally exploded at a home in a remote village in southern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing at least eight people, including women and children, police said.

At least two people were also wounded in the blast in southern Sindh province, said regional police chief Rahil Khoso.

IMPRISONED FORMER PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER IMRAN KHAN ALLOWED BRIEF VISIT BY WIFE AT HIGH-SECURITY PRISON

Investigators believe that family members took the unexploded shell home after finding it at a nearby open farm field. Such blasts often happen when people try to dismantle unexploded ammunition to sell as scrap metal.

The city of Kandhkot, where the explosion took place, is known as a hideout of robbers and criminals who are well armed, including with rockets. Security forces have launched operations against criminals in the area.

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Conservative world leader torches Germany over migrant charities amid calls for naval blockade

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni penned a letter to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz slamming Berlin for helping to fund migrant charity groups operating off the coast of Italy.

"I have learned with astonishment that your administration — without coordinating with the Italian government — has allegedly decided to support with substantial funds non-governmental organisations engaged in the reception of irregular migrants on Italian territory and in rescues in the Mediterranean Sea," Meloni's letter stated, according to a report from Reuters Monday.

The letter comes as Meloni has pushed European leaders hard in recent weeks on the issue of migration. Italy has seen a recent surge in migrants that the country's leader believes will push the region to the breaking point. 

According to numbers compiled by Reuters, Italy has had 133,000 migrant arrivals on its shores in 2023. That number is up from about 69,800 at the same time last year, putting the country on pace to break its 2016 record of 160,000 migrants entering the country.

ITALY'S CALL FOR NAVAL BLOCKADE MAY BE ONLY WAY TO STEM EUROPE'S MIGRANT CRISIS, EXPERT SAYS

Meloni has called on European leaders to create a naval blockade in the Mediterranean Sea to help stem the flow of migrants, arguing such a move was the only "serious" way the continent could push back against the crisis.

"What is at stake is the future of Europe because the future of Europe depends on its capacity to deal with the huge challenges of our time," Meloni told reporters last week.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded by vowing support for Italy, which pledged a crackdown on the "brutal" migrant smuggling business.

"Italy can count on the European Union," von der Leyen said.

But Nile Gardiner, director of the Heritage Foundation's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, told Fox News Digital last week it is unlikely Italy will find much help from other European countries.

"The scale of the crisis is huge. … Meloni is one of the toughest leaders in Europe on illegal migration, but she is finding herself overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the crisis, and it's only going to get worse," Gardiner said.

TINY ITALIAN ISLAND OVERWHELMED WITH THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS WHO ARRIVED WITHIN 24 HOURS

Gardiner believes it will be up to Meloni to "take decisive action to defend Italian sovereignty," arguing it will be up to the Italian navy to police the seas around the country.

"That's the only thing that they can do. If they're going to wait for the European Union to do something, Italy is going to be facing vast numbers of illegal migrants flooding the country," Gardiner said. "The Italian Navy is not on par with the British Navy, or the French, but it still has the capability to block migrant vessels from coming over."

A spokesperson for the German foreign ministry told Reuters that helping to rescue people at sea is a "legal, humanitarian and moral duty."

But Meloni argued in the letter that financial efforts of European countries should be focused on supporting Italy and slowing the migrant crisis.

"I believe that the efforts, including financial, of EU nations interested in providing concrete support to Italy should rather focus on building structural solutions to the migration phenomenon," Meloni said.

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Russia weighs ban on Japanese seafood imports over Fukushima water release

Russia is considering joining China in banning Japanese seafood imports after Japan released treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea and is seeking talks with Japan over the matter, a Russian regulator said on Tuesday.

Japan started releasing the water from the plant into the ocean last month, drawing strong criticism from China. In retaliation, China imposed a blanket ban on all aquatic imports from Japan.

Russian food safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor on Tuesday said it had discussed Japanese food exports with its Chinese counterparts. Russia is one of the biggest marine product suppliers to China and is seeking to increase its market share.

"Taking into account the possible risks of radiation contamination of products, Rosselkhoznadzor is considering the possibility of joining with Chinese restrictions on supplies of fish products from Japan," Rosselkhoznadzor said in a statement. "The final decision will be made after negotiations with the Japanese side."

So far this year, Russia has imported 118 tonnes of Japanese seafood, the regulator said.

Rosselkhoznadzor said it had sent a letter to Japan on the need to hold talks and requesting information on Japan's radiological testing of exported fish products by Oct. 16, including tritium.

NORTH KOREAN BORDERS OPEN TO FOREIGN VISITORS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE COVID-19: REPORT

Japan says the water is safe after being treated to remove most radioactive elements except tritium, a radionuclide difficult to separate from water. It is then diluted to internationally accepted levels before being released.

Japan has said criticism from Russia and China was unsupported by scientific evidence.

On Monday, in its latest report on water testing, Japan's Ministry of Environment said analysis results of seawater, sampled on Sept. 19, showed the tritium concentrations were below the lower limit of detection at all 11 sampling points and would have no adverse impact on human health and the environment.

Russia has also detected no irregularities in marine samples used for tests in Russian regions that are relatively close to where the treated water was released, Rosselkhoznadzor's far eastern branch said on Tuesday, Interfax reported.

Russia exported 2.3 million metric tons of marine products last year worth about $6.1 billion, around half its overall catch, with China, South Korea and Japan being the biggest importers, according to Russia's fisheries agency.

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Ukrainian captain found guilty after cruise boat collides with another vessel in Hungary, causing 27 deaths

The captain of a river cruise boat that collided with another vessel in Hungary's capital in 2019, killing at least 27 people who were mostly tourists from South Korea, was found guilty on Tuesday of negligence leading to a fatal mass catastrophe and sentenced to five years and six months in prison.

Judge Leona Nemeth with the Pest Central District Court found that the negligence of the Ukrainian captain, 68-year-old Yuriy Chaplinsky, had led to his boat, the Viking Sigyn, colliding with the tourist boat Hableany (Mermaid) from behind on the Danube river, causing that boat to sink within seconds.

In its ruling, the court acquitted Chaplinsky of 35 counts of failure to render aid. Both Chaplinksy and the prosecution have appealed the court's decision, and the judge remanded the defendent to house arrest pending a new trial.

BIDEN TELLS ZELENSKYY US WILL SEND TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEMS TO UKRAINE

The collision occurred May 29, 2019, when the Hableany, carrying 35 people, sank after being struck beneath Budapest's Margit Bridge by the much larger Viking Sigyn.

Seven South Koreans were rescued from the water in the heavy rain following the collision, and 27 people were recovered dead including the two-member Hungarian crew. One South Korean woman is still unaccounted-for.

Some of the victims’ bodies were found weeks after the crash more than 60 miles downstream.

The Hableany spent more than 12 days underwater at the collision site near the neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament building, before being lifted from the river bed by a floating crane.

Chaplinsky, the captain of the Viking Sigyn, has been in police custody since the collision, including being remanded to house arrest in Hungary since 2020. The judge ordered the time Chaplinsky has already served to count toward his five-and-a-half-year sentence.

SOUTH KOREA FLEXES MILITARY MUSCLE WITH PARADE, ISSUES DIRE WARNING ABOUT NORTH'S NUCLEAR PURSUIT

In a final statement before the verdict Tuesday, Chaplinsky called the collision a "horrible tragedy," and said that the deaths of "so many innocent victims" kept him awake at night.

"This will stay with me for the rest of my life," he said.

Three staffers from the South Korean Embassy in Budapest were present for the reading of the verdict, but no South Korean family members of the victims attended the hearing.

After the proceedings, Zsolt Sogor, a lawyer with the prosecution, said the verdict was in line with legal requirements, but that prosecutors believed Chaplinsky was liable for failing to render aid to the Hableany after the collision.

"I feel sorry for this person. He really did commit (this act) negligently," Sogor said. "But our opinion differs from that of the court in that according to our perspective, the captain of a ship must act. It's not enough that his sailors go and perform a rescue. He should have coordinated the entire rescue to save human lives."

"We will see what happens during the appeal. It's possible (the sentence) will be harsher, but one thing is for sure: It won't be reduced," he said.

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Cholera, dengue outbreaks reported in Sudan as conflict between armed forces continue, UN says

Outbreaks of cholera and dengue fever have been reported in eastern Sudan, where thousands of people are sheltering as deadly fighting grinds on between the country's military and a rival paramilitary force, the U.N. health agency said on Tuesday.

According to the World Health Organization, there have been 162 suspected cholera cases admitted to hospitals in the province of Qadarif and other areas along the border with Ethiopia. Eighty cases have been confirmed and 10 people have died of cholera, a bacterial infection linked to contaminated food or water, WHO said.

Sudan was engulfed in chaos in mid-April, when simmering tensions between the military and a powerful paramilitary group exploded into open warfare in the capital of Khartoum and other areas across the east African nation.

ESCALATING CONFLICT IN SUDAN DISPLACES OVER 2M PEOPLE, UN WARNS OF POTENTIAL 'CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY' 

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders has set up two centers to treat cholera patients along with two mobile teams in Qadarif. The U.N. health and refugee agencies have renovated the isolation center for cholera at the Qadarif Teaching Hospital, the province's main medical facility.

Cholera outbreaks are not uncommon in impoverished Sudan. The disease left at least 700 dead and sickened about 22,000 in less two months in 2017, the latest major outbreak in the country.

WHO said more than 500 suspected cases of dengue were reported across Sudan, most of them in urban centers in Qadarif. Dengue is caused by the dengue virus transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

The reported figure was "the tip of the iceberg" as the actual number is much higher, given that most of the patients rely on home remedies and often do not go to hospitals, WHO said.

SUDAN CONFLICT DISPLACES OVER 1.3M, INCLUDING SOME 320K TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES

The Sudanese doctors union says "hundreds" of dengue patients have died in the east of the country, describing the outbreak as "a health crisis." It did not give a timeframe for those fatalities or elaborate further but it said that most hospitals in Qadarif have been overwhelmed by patients.

The conflict in Sudan has turned Khartoum and other urban areas into battlefields, wrecking civilian infrastructure and an already battered health care system. Without the basics, many hospitals and medical facilities have closed doors.

At least 5,000 people have been killed and more than 12,000 others wounded, according to the United Nations, though the actual numbers are likely higher. The U.N. refugee agency said last week that more than 1,200 children under the age of 5 have died in nine camps in Sudan in the past five months because of a deadly combination of measles and malnutrition.

More than 5.2 million people have fled their homes, including more than 1 million who crossed into Sudan’s neighboring countries. Half of the country’s population — around 25 million people — needs humanitarian assistance, including about 6.3 million who are "one step away from famine," according to U.N. humanitarian officials.

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South Korea flexes military muscle with parade, issues dire warning about North's nuclear pursuit

South Korea has vowed to immediately retaliate against any potential provocations by North Korea, as thousands of troops gathered in the South Korean capital city of Seoul Tuesday for an Armed Forces Day military parade.

"Based on battle-ready combat capabilities and a solid readiness posture, our military will immediately retaliate against any North Korean provocation," South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said at a ceremony commemorating the country's 75th Armed Forces Day.

He added: "If North Korea uses nuclear weapons, its regime will be brought to an end by an overwhelming response."

The show of force, the country's first military parade in 10 years, comes as North Korea and Russia have recently bolstered their relationship as the North seeks a nuclear arsenal and Moscow looks to resupply conventional arms exhausted by its war with Ukraine.

TRUMP SAYS US AVOIDED 'NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST' WHEN HE MADE 'DEAL WITH NORTH KOREA'

Yoon said Seoul is striving to build "a strong military that instills fear in the enemy."

The military parade Tuesday featured about 4,600 South Korean soldiers, accompanied by more than 300 U.S. combat troops, parading through the streets of Seoul. They were flanked by tanks, missiles and other weapons in a show of military preparedness and readiness.

BIDEN TELLS ZELENSKYY US WILL SEND TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEMS TO UKRAINE

South Korea last held a massive military parade in 2013.

Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin and military leaders. He also visited key military sites.

Pyongyang is reportedly seeking Russian technologies to help its development of spy satellites, nuclear-propelled submarines and long-range, ballistic missiles.

Experts have said such weapons would pose a major security threat to neighboring South Korea as well as the rest of the world, including the U.S.

Yoon did not mention North Korean-Russian ties in his speech Tuesday.

During an address to the U.N. General Assembly last week, however, he said South Korea "will not sit idly by" if North Korea and Russia agree to such weapons deals in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban all weapons trading with North Korea.

U.S. officials have also said that North Korea and Russia would face consequences if they proceed with materializing a deal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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US officials make multiple visits to China despite continued spying accusations against Beijing

High-level U.S. officials have made multiple trips to China over the summer despite continued reports of Chinese spying in the United States.

"Current policy is a mash-up of engagement and competition," Brent Sadler a senior research fellow for naval warfare and advanced technology at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital. "The result is a confusing set of signals sent to Beijing at best assumed to be U.S. confusion but at worst weakness and indecisiveness."

Sadler's comments come as the U.S. has continued to attempt to engage China with diplomacy, with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo meeting with Chinese officials in Beijing and Shanghai earlier this month. Raimondo was the fourth high-level official to visit China over the summer, following trips by special envoy for climate John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The visits come despite increased tensions with China, including multiple reports of the country spying in the United States. Earlier this year, a high-altitude balloon originating in China flew across North America and directly over the contiguous U.S. and was allowed to pass over large portions of the country before being shot down off the coast of South Carolina. The incident was condemned by the U.S., with Blinken canceling a planned trip to China at the time because of the balloon.

FBI TRACKS OVER 100 INCIDENTS OF CHINESE NATIONALS POSING AS TOURISTS TO BREACH US MILITARY SITES: REPORT

In another case earlier this month, the FBI released a report noting that it had tracked more than 100 incidents of Chinese nationals attempting to breach U.S. military installations while posing as tourists.

"The greatest long-term counterintelligence threat to our nation’s information and intellectual property is from China," an FBI spokesperson told Fox News Digital in response to the report. "The Chinese government is engaged in a broad, diverse campaign of theft and malign influence without regard to laws or international norms that the FBI will not tolerate."

Raimondo herself saw her email breached by Chinese hackers prior to her trip to the country. 

"They did hack me, which was unappreciated, to say the least. I brought it up clearly, put it right on the table," she said, according to a report in NBC News. "Didn’t pull any punches."

Yet Raimondo also argued that lines of communication need to remain open between the U.S. and China, arguing that cutting off talks could lead to miscommunications and an even further escalation of tensions.

BIDEN SAYS HE'S 'DISAPPOINTED' CHINA'S XI REPORTEDLY WILL SKIP UPCOMING G20 SUMMIT IN INDIA

"We are in a fierce competition with China at every level, and anyone who tells you differently is naive," Raimondo said. "All of that being said, we need to manage this competition. Conflict is in no one’s interest."

President Biden has also seemingly contributed to the confusion, bashing Chinese leadership shortly after Blinken's trip to the country was hailed a success, according to a report from NPR.

"China has real economic difficulties. And the reason why Xi Jinping got very upset in terms of when I shot that balloon down with two boxcars full of spy equipment in it, is he didn't know it was there," Biden said in June. "That's what's a great embarrassment for dictators, when they didn't know what happened. That wasn't supposed to be going where it was. It was blown off course up through Alaska and then down through the United States. And he didn't know about it."

The comments drew the immediate ire of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, with spokesperson Mao Ning accusing Biden of violating "diplomatic protocol."

"[President Biden's remarks] go totally against facts and seriously violate diplomatic protocol, and severely infringe on China's political dignity... It is a blatant political provocation," the spokesperson said, according to NPR.

CHINA MOBILIZES COUNTRY TO LOOK OUT FOR FOREIGN SPIES, OFFERS BIG CASH REWARDS

Nevertheless, Blinken met with China's Vice President Han Zheng last week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where according to a State Department spokesperson the two, "had a candid and constructive discussion, building on recent high-level engagements between the two countries to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage the U.S.-China relationship."

Blinken is also expected to host China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi before the end of the year while Biden is in talks to meet with President Xi in the U.S. at some point in the fall, according to a report from Reuters.

"As the president has said, he hopes to meet with President Xi sometime later this fall," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters earlier this month. "We believe there is no substitute for one-on-one conversations at the leader level, so we will continue to work toward the possibility of that."

According to Sadler, the diplomatic confusion is only compounded by a view that the U.S. military is not currently strong enough to fully confront a threat from China.

"Add to this the consensus in Congress that our defenses are too weak and must be rebuilt, this likely could lead the Chinese to view efforts at engagement and cooperation as subterfuge. With this in mind, better relations through dialogue alone is unlikely, and worse if U.S. engagement with China handled poorly and not backed by visible military presence which China could conclude as an opening for more aggressive actions," Sadler told Fox News Digital.

Sadler argued that a lot of the mixed signals stem from American cooperation with China economically, noting current negotiations over the construction of an electronic vehicle battery factory. But Sadler also pointed out that any Chinese company is going to be connected to the Communist Party, arguing political leaders will have to "acknowledge the CCP is not going to be a free and open market or society."

When it comes to combating Chinese spying, Sadler said it would be important to "educate the public" about the severity of the threat and "sensitize universities that sometimes have Chinese Communist Party members attending." Sadler also said it was important for the U.S. to give local and state police agencies the tools they need to be able to identify "illicit CCP activities."

"There also needs to be better efforts to safeguard our Chinese American citizens and those fleeing the CCP from its reach even here at home," Sadler said. "Case in point the numerous illegal overseas Chinese police stations used to intimidate people here in the United States."

The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to a Fox News request for comment.

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Security forces rescue 14 Nigerian students abducted by gunmen

Security forces rescued 14 out of at least 20 students abducted from a university in northwestern Nigeria and were searching for the remaining captives, school authorities said Monday.

Gunmen attacked the school in the hard-hit Zamfara state’s Bungudu district last week and fled with the students and some workers in the first mass school abduction in the West African nation since President Bola Tinubu took office in May.

Such abductions of students from schools are common in Nigeria’s northwest and central regions where armed groups often take people hostage in exchange for huge ransoms which analysts have said help them to buy guns and sustain their operations.

POWER IS RESTORED IN NIGERIA AFTER NATIONWIDE OUTAGE CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL GRID FAILURE

The 14 students from the Federal University Gusau were rescued alongside two other people, a statement from the university said, without further details about when they were freed or the nature of the rescue operation.

"The sad and unfortunate incident has indeed thrown the University community into serious tension and apprehension," the statement said, adding that security forces were "doing their best" to rescue the remaining students. It also said steps were being taken to boost security around the university.

BRUTAL ATTACK BY EXTREMIST REBELS KILLS 7 FARMERS IN NORTHEAST NIGERIA, HEIGHTENING FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS

The latest attack poses a new challenge to Tinubu who extended the ruling party’s reign with his election victory after promising to solve the country’s security crisis. It adds to growing pressure from the opposition and activists who have accused Tinubu of not doing enough to guarantee security.

Armed groups have been carrying out violent attacks in many remote communities, often taking advantage of the inadequate security presence in those areas.

While condemning the abduction in a statement issued by his office on Sunday, Tinubu said his government is "determined to ensure that educational institutions remain sanctuaries of knowledge, growth, and opportunity, and totally free from the menacing acts of terrorists."

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Ex-Albanian environment minister gets almost 7 years in bribery case

A former Albanian environment minister, seven other officials and four businessmen were sentenced Monday to prison terms in connection with bribery over a contract to build an incinerator in western Albania, court officials said.

The Special Court on Corruption and Organized Crime in the Albanian capital, Tirana, sentenced former Environment Minister Lefter Koka to six years and eight months imprisonment on charges of corruption, abuse of power and money laundering. He also was barred from holding public posts for five years.

RUSSIA ASSAILED BY ALBANIAN PM AFTER FAILED ATTEMPT TO PREVENT UKRAINE PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY FROM SPEAKING AT UN

Koka, 59, who was environment minister from 2013 to 2017, also served as a lawmaker and before that as mayor of the western port city of Durres, had been accused of accepting a bribe of 3.7 million euros (then $4.1 million) for the incinerator contract in the western city of Fier.

Koka will appeal the verdict.

ALBANIA, A EUROPEAN CROSSROADS FOR MARIJUANA TRAFFICKING, LEGALIZES MEDICINAL CANNABIS DESPITE HARD OPPOSITION

The court also sentenced seven other officials and four businessmen to prison terms ranging from two to eight years on similar charges.

All of the defendants played a role in the concession contract on the Fier incinerator. Criminal cases in the tiny Western Balkan country also have launched for two other recently built incinerators, which allegedly have turned into a corrupt source of income.

Corruption has long plagued Albania’s transition to democracy. A judicial reform, approved in 2016 with support from the United States and the European Union, created new institutions meant to address corruption, including the court that issued Monday's verdict.

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Thousands of Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh as Azerbaijan reclaims separatist region

Thousands of Armenians streamed out of Nagorno-Karabakh after the Azerbaijani military reclaimed full control of the breakaway region while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Azerbaijan Monday in a show of support to its ally.

The Azerbaijani military routed Armenian forces in a 24-hour blitz last week, forcing the separatist authorities to agree to lay down weapons and start talks on Nagorno-Karabakh's "reintegration" into Azerbaijan after three decades of separatist rule.

A second round of talks between Azerbaijani officials and separatist representatives began in Khojaly Tuesday following the opening meeting last week.

RUSSIA ACCUSES WEST OF FUELING CONFLICT, AVOIDS DISCUSSING UKRAINE IN SPEECH ON DAY 5 AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

While Azerbaijan pledged to respect the rights of ethnic Armenians in the region and restore supplies after a 10-month blockade, many local residents feared reprisals and said they were planning to leave for Armenia.

The Armenian government said that 4,850 Nagorno-Karabakh residents had fled to Armenia as of midday Monday.

"It was a nightmare. There are no words to describe. The village was heavily shelled. Almost no one is left in the village," said one of the evacuees who spoke to The Associated Press in the Armenian city of Kornidzor and refused to give her name for security reasons.

Moscow said that Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh were assisting the evacuation.

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said Monday that two of its soldiers were killed a day earlier when a military truck hit a land mine. It didn't name the area where the explosion occurred.

In an address to the nation Sunday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said his government was working with international partners to protect the rights and security of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"If these efforts do not produce concrete results, the government will welcome our sisters and brothers from Nagorno-Karabakh in the Republic of Armenia with every care," he said.

Demonstrators demanding Pashinyan's resignation continued blocking the Armenian capital's main avenues Monday, clashing occasionally with police.

Russian peacekeepers have been in the region since 2020, when a Russian-brokered armistice ended a six-week war between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinyan and many others in Armenia accused the peacekeepers of failing to prevent the hostilities and protect the Armenian population. Moscow rejected the accusations, arguing that its forces had no legal grounds to intervene, particularly after Pashinyan's recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.

"We are categorically against attempts to put the blame on the Russian side, especially the Russian peacekeepers, who have shown a true heroism," Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.

He demurred when asked whether the Russian peacekeepers would remain in the region, saying that "no one can really say anything for now."

NHL PLAYER NIKITA ZADAROV SPEAKS OUT AGAINST RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE 

Nagorno-Karabakh came under the control of ethnic Armenian forces, backed by the Armenian military, in separatist fighting that ended in 1994. During the war in 2020, Azerbaijan took back parts of Nagorno-Karabakh along with surrounding territory that Armenian forces had claimed during the earlier conflict.

In December, Azerbaijan imposed a blockade of the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, alleging that the Armenian government was using the road for mineral extraction and illicit weapons shipments to the region’s separatist forces.

Armenia charged that the closure denied basic food and fuel supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh’s approximately 120,000 people. Azerbaijan rejected the accusation, arguing the region could receive supplies through the Azerbaijani city of Aghdam — a solution long resisted by Nagorno-Karabakh authorities, who called it a strategy for Azerbaijan to gain control of the region.

On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged support for Armenia and Armenians, saying that France will mobilize food and medical aid for the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, and keep working toward a ‘’sustainable peace’’ in the region.

France, which has a big Armenian diaspora, has for decades played a mediating role in Nagorno-Karabakh. A few hundred people rallied outside the French Foreign Ministry over the weekend, demanding sanctions against Azerbaijan and accusing Paris of not doing enough to protect Armenian interests in the region.

"France is very vigilant about Armenia’s territorial integrity because that is what is at stake," Macron said in an interview with France-2 and TF1 television, accusing Russia of complicity with Azerbaijan and charging that Turkey threatens Armenia’s borders.

Russia has been the main ally and sponsor of Armenia and has a military base there, but it also has sought to maintain friendly ties with Azerbaijan. But Moscow's clout in the region has waned quickly amid the Russian war in Ukraine while the influence of Azerbaijan's top ally Turkey has increased.

Erdogan arrived in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave on Monday for talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss Turkey-Azerbaijan ties and regional and global issues. Nakhchivan is cut off from the rest of Azerbaijan by Armenian territory but forms a slim border with Turkey.

During his one-day trip to the region, Erdogan will also attend the opening of a gas pipeline and a modernized military base, his office added in a statement.

Asked about Erdogan's visit, Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, voiced hope that it will "contribute to the regional security and help normalize life in Karabakh."

Meanwhile, the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Samantha Power, visited Armenia Monday to "affirm U.S. support for Armenia’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and democracy and to help address humanitarian needs stemming from the recent violence in Nagorno-Karabakh," her office said in a statement. She was joined by U.S. Department of State Acting Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim.

"The United States is deeply concerned about reports on the humanitarian conditions in Nagorno-Karabakh and calls for unimpeded access for international humanitarian organizations and commercial traffic," USAID said.

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Thailand receives 1st wave of Chinese visitors under new tourism-booting visa-free policies

Top Thai officials welcomed hundreds of Chinese tourists at Bangkok’s international airport on Monday, the first day of a new visa-free entry program that officials say will boost the country's tourism industry that was badly damaged by the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin handed out gifts and posed for pictures as his tourism minister and other VIPs greeted about 300 travelers from Shanghai. The surprised tourists were entertained by Thai traditional dancers and drummers inside the arrivals area at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

"We are confident that this policy will greatly boost the economy," Srettha told reporters. He said that the government plans to promote Thailand’s smaller cities as destinations for Chinese tourists to encourage them to stay longer and spend more.

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Addressing safety concerns among tourists, Srettha said it was the top priority of the authorities. There have been reports and rumors widely circulating on Chinese social media about fraud and kidnapping in Thailand.

A tourist from Shanghai, who identified himself only as Dai, said he was impressed with the "very lively" welcome ceremony at the airport, though he noted that the immigration officer who checked his passport did not immediately know about the temporary visa exemption policy. He said he plans to stay for two weeks and visit other cities besides Bangkok, including Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Peng Chunyu and Wan Yi, who arrived on the same flight, said it was a great policy for Thailand to allow visa-free entry for Chinese. The process was "very smooth," said Peng. The two will stay for nine days and said they look forward to seeing Bangkok’s Grand Palace, Wat Arun temple and Chinatown.

The visa exemption, which also applies to visitors from the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan, will be effective until Feb. 29. Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said there has been about a 30% surge in accommodation and flight bookings since the policy was announced.

China more than a decade ago became a major source of tourists to Thailand, with almost 11 million visitors in 2019, accounting for 27.6% of all arrivals that year before the pandemic devastated the tourist market.

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The government proposed the visa exemption measure due to concern that the number of Chinese tourists might be lower than expected this year because of strict visa requirements. The target number of arrivals from China had been revised from 5 million to 3 million after a report from the state Tourism Authority of Thailand that around 1.4 million Chinese tourists came in the first six months.

Tourism Authority Director Thapanee Kiatphaibool said Monday that the authorities were confident the number of Chinese arrivals could hit 4 million-to-5 million after the visa-free program was introduced.

Thailand’s economy slumped during the pandemic as its huge tourism industry virtually collapsed. The country received about 40 million visitors in 2019, and the government estimated they spent $53.2 billion — an amount that plummeted by more than 99% by 2021, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Chai Wacharonke, a spokesperson for the prime minister, earlier said that Thailand received 15 million international visitors in the first seven months. He said the government aims to draw 28 million tourists and generate $39.2 billion in revenue in 2023.

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Workers uncover 8 mummies and pre-Inca objects while expanding gas network in Peru

Workers installing new gas lines outside Lima, Peru uncovered eight mummies and objects dating back to pre-Inca times last week.

Like an onion with several layers, the capital region of Peru has layers of history that sometimes get peeled when installing new infrastructure.

Last week, gas line workers on the installation of new lines uncovered eight pre-Inca funeral bales.

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"We are recovering those leaves of the lost history of Lima that is just hidden under the tracks and streets," Jesus Bahamonde, an archaeologist at Calidda, the company that distributes natural gas in the city of 10 million people, told the Associated Press on Friday.

Over the last 19 years, the company has been conducting excavations to upgrade and expand its gas line systems. In the process, crews uncovered over 1,900 archaeological finds, including textiles, pottery and mummies, which have mostly been connected to burial sites on flat ground.

More than 400 more archaeological sites, bigger than the burial sites, have also been dug up throughout the urban landscape.

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Adobe constructions on top of hills and considered sacred places are known as "huacas" in the Indigenous Quechua Language.

For an area that has been occupied for over 10,000 years by pre-Inca cultures, the Inca Empire and culture introduced by Spanish conquistadors starting in 1535, the number of finds is not surprising.

Last week’s finds included bales of ancient men in a seated position, wrapped in cotton cloth and tied with liana-braided ropes in trenches nearly a foot below the surface.

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Calidda archaeologists believe the bales are from the pre-Inca culture called Ichma, which developed in 1100 A.D. and spread through the valleys until it became part of the Inca Empire by the late 15th century.

One of the archaeologists, Roberto Quispe working in the trench said the uncovered funeral bundles can hold about two adults and six juveniles.

All eight burial sites were found near braised chicken restaurants and a road leading to the country’s only nuclear power station.

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Some of the other discoveries located over the years have been more recent. For instance, Quispe was working in the La Flor neighborhood in 2018 when he and other archaeologists came across wooden coffins with three Chinese immigrants who were buried there in the 19th century.

The Chinese bodies were found next to opium-smoking pipes, handmade cigarettes, shoes, Chinese playing cards, a Peruvian silver coin dated 1898 and a certificate of completion dated 1875.

"When the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, they found an entire population living in the three valleys that today occupy Lima ... what we have is a kind of historical continuation," Bahamonde said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Daredevil skydiver makes perfect landing on bizarre pool toy: 'Coming for ya'

A daredevil skydiver in the UK made an incredible landing on an inflatable unicorn pool toy, video shows. 

Jan Zackl was among a handful of skydivers who participated in an event in Langar, Nottinghamshire, who tried to land on the inflatable unicorn, which looks like it would normally be floating on a pool 

"It is safe and it's just a more slippery landing. It was only open to people who had done at least 200 jumps previously - they were the requirements," Hannah Parker of Skydive Langar said of the scene, according to the BBC. 

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"It goes very fast and takes a lot of accuracy."

The floatie was positioned on a slip-and-slide styled platform, and the video showed Zackl coming in at a high speed before making a turn and lining up with the makeshift landing strip. 

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Zackl could be heard shouting "I'm coming for ya" before executing a perfect landing. 

The crowd on the ground applauded and cheered as he made the landing, video shows. 

He added on Facebook that making the perfect landing "feels pretty damn good."

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"I'm not gonna lie, this feels pretty damn good! Sometimes life just gives you slip'n'slides and unicorns!!!" he wrote on Facebook, according to the Daily Mail. 

"Big up to Skydive Langar for being the absolute best!!!" 

Zackl is from Nottingham and works as a skydiving instructor. 

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