Greta Thunberg flotilla won't be unloading anything on Gaza's beaches, warns expert

Humanitarian aid transported by Greta Thunberg’s second flotilla won’t even reach Gaza because of a lack of docking facilities and Israel’s "lawful" blockade, a maritime expert has said.

As the Swedish activist's boats left Barcelona Sunday, Thunberg was joined by figures, including Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of about 70 boats, is carrying aid including food, water and medicine and hoping to bring this to civilians in the Gaza Strip. 

The flotilla is expected to be joined by more boats before they reach Gaza around Sep. 14 or 15.

ISRAEL BLOCKS HUMANITARIAN AID INTO GAZA AFTER HAMAS REJECTS CEASEFIRE EXTENSION PROPOSAL

"The whole world knows that this is coming and the IDF is going to maintain a security perimeter out in the water to protect the beaches of Gaza," Professor James Kraska, S.J.D., told Fox News Digital.

"There aren't any port facilities in this area to unload anything and Gaza lacks a port sufficient to receive such a large flotilla. There's a small fishing port, but that's inadequate.

"The U.S. built a temporary port at considerable expense, about $200 million, and dismantled it because the weather and meteorology in the area made it unsustainable," the U.S. Naval War College professor confirmed.

Thunberg’s second attempt at leading a flotilla comes amid the ongoing war in Gaza City that has killed more than 63,000 people. 

GRETA THUNBERG DEPORTED FROM ISRAEL AFTER GAZA-BOUND 'SELFIE YACHT' WAS SEIZED

At a press conference in Barcelona before she left, Thunberg framed the mission as an act of survival.

"The story here is about Palestine. The story here is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive," Thunberg said, alleging that Israel was violating international law by "unlawfully intercepting boats in international waters" and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching civilians.

This is not Thunberg’s first attempt at delivering aid. In June, she was deported after her ship, the Madleen, was stopped by Israeli forces along with 11 others on board.

FOX NEWS ‘ANTISEMITISM EXPOSED’ NEWSLETTER: GRETA'S ANTI-ISRAEL STUNT GOES AWRY

Professor Kraska emphasized that having Israel's blockade is a lawful operation during an armed conflict to prevent vessels entering, but it must meet certain requirements, including notice, effectiveness, and impartial enforcement.

"Ultimately, there is authority for Israel to defend the blockade," Kraska said. "But it’s not just the law — politics and practical realities are involved as well. Both sides are weighing those dimensions.

"Israel, however, maintains that its maritime security operations, which look like a blockade, are a lawful measure of war and will act to prevent ships from docking.

"There is not one controlling narrative: there is international law, the political situation and the tactical dimension," he added.

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Israel eliminates Houthi prime minister in Yemen airstrike targeting senior government officials

The Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday that it had killed the Houthi prime minister and several other senior officials in a strike in Yemen. 

"Houthi Prime Minister, Ahmed Al-Rahawi, along with additional senior officials of the Houthi terrorist regime were eliminated during an IDF strike in Sanaa, Yemen," the IDF said in a social media post.

The IDF said it had targeted a Houthi site where officials responsible "for the use of force, the military buildup of the Houthi terror regime, and the advancement of terror actions against Israel. The IDF will continue to target all threats against Israeli civilians." 

The airstrike was conducted by the Israeli Air Force Thursday using intelligence gathered by the IDF. 

ISRAEL CONFIRMS STRIKE ON HOUTHIS IN YEMEN, MARKS SECOND TIME THIS WEEK

"The strike was made possible by seizing an intelligence opportunity and completing a rapid operational cycle, which took place within a few hours," the IDF said. 

A Houthi statement confirmed Al-Rahawi's death. 

It was Israel's second strike against the Houthis in Yemen in a week. 

On Sunday, Israel hit Yemen’s capital in response to missiles fired by the Houthis. The attack killed six people and wounded 86 others, according to Reuters, which cited a Houthi Health Ministry spokesperson.

"As we warned the Houthis in Yemen: 'After the plague of darkness comes the plague of the death,’" said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who was in the IDF central command during the attack. "Whoever raises a hand against Israel, their hand will be cut off."

ISRAEL HAMMERS HOUTHIS WITH AIRSTRIKES, REBELS RESPOND AMID RED SEA FLARE-UP

The IDF previously said the Houthis were operating under Iran’s direction to harm Israel and its allies. The IDF also blamed the Houthis for "undermining regional stability and disrupting global freedom of navigation." 

The strikes Thursday were launched after Israel intercepted two drones from Yemen and happened during a speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi, according to YNet. Additionally, the Israeli outlet reported that the speech went on without interruption.

The conflict between Israel and the Houthis has gone on for nearly two years. 

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The Iran-backed terror force threatened to strike Israel just days after Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre. Within weeks of Hamas’ attacks, the Houthis shot missiles and drones at Israel that were intercepted by U.S. forces aboard the USS Carney.

The Houthis have continued to attack Israel in support to Hamas. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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A year after Hamas tunnel executions, Israel honors 'Beautiful Six' as hostage debate intensifies

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israelis on Saturday marked one year since IDF soldiers recovered the bodies of six hostages executed by Hamas terrorists in a tunnel in the Gaza Strip.

Organizers estimated nearly 100,000 Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square to remember them as family members called on the government to make a deal to bring their loved ones home. A giant flag was unveiled calling on President Trump to "Make History."

The executions plunged Israel into mourning. The hostages were Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov and American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

"How do you sum up in a few words what you want to be remembered about your only son? He was a gift, a blessing, a talented listener, funny, respectful and a curious citizen of the world," Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh's parents, told Fox News Digital.

BODY OF ISRAELI HOSTAGE WHO WAS HELD FOR NEARLY 700 DAYS IN GAZA IS RECOVERED

"He will always be 23. He was not perfect, although most of us parents want to believe that about our children. But he was, indeed, the perfect son for us. We are blessed to have had Hersh in our life. We only wish it had been for longer. Rest peacefully, sweet boy," they added.

The anniversary coincides with Israel's new operation into Gaza City, which has led to a fierce debate on whether it could endanger the remaining hostages, given what happened to the "Beautiful Six."

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum warned that a deal to secure the hostages remains stalled as IDF operations advance, calling it "a painful reminder of last year’s lesson: military pressure kills hostages."

"This nightmare must end! For 694 days, our loved ones have endured hell, and we as a nation have lost all sense of direction. Escalating military pressure abandons the living hostages to their fate and leaves the bodies of those already dead buried forever in Gaza’s rubble," the statement added.

On Friday, the IDF announced that it had recovered the bodies of two hostages held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza.

Israeli estimates indicate that 48 captives remain in the Strip, 20 are believed to be alive.

The developments come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that only a comprehensive ceasefire—one that ensures the return of all hostages and ends the war on Israel’s terms—will be considered. 

"Most families want all hostages returned at once," said Tzvika Mor, father of hostage Eitan Mor and co-founder of the Tikva Forum, which advocates for a full deal contingent on the elimination of Hamas. 

BROTHER OF ISRAELI HOSTAGE URGES UN TO ACT AFTER VIDEO SHOWS HAMAS STARVING AND TORTURING CAPTIVES

"Here is where we are divided," Mor told Fox News Digital. "The Tikva Forum believes Hamas must be defeated and forced to surrender to Israel, while other families believe Israel must surrender to Hamas to rescue the hostages."

Mor pointed to the 1976 Entebbe rescue as an example, noting that while the outcome was uncertain at the time, Israelis widely believed the country had a duty to fight for its citizens rather than capitulate to terrorists. He argued that although military action carries risks, the far greater danger would be allowing Hamas to dictate terms after Oct. 7.

On Monday, Donald Trump suggested that the conflict would be wrapped up within weeks. Two days later, he chaired a meeting at the White House to discuss a comprehensive post-war plan for Gaza.

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told Fox News on Tuesday that the Trump administration is aligned with Jerusalem against a partial deal.

"There’s been a deal on the table for the last six or seven weeks that would have released 10 of the hostages out of the 20 that we think are alive and it was Hamas who slow-played that process, and it is Hamas now who is saying we accept that deal. And I think in large part they are saying that and changing their mind because the Israelis are putting some very intense pressure on them," Witkoff told Bret Baier on Fox News' "Special Report."

Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid told Fox News Digital that his Yesh Atid Party supports "a full comprehensive deal which will include the return of all the hostages and an end to the war.

"If that deal isn't possible," he continued, "then Israel should accept the partial deal that has been agreed to, which will give us time to achieve a full deal."

Netanyahu told visiting Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, on Monday that the decision to expand the military campaign was "unequivocal."

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Body of Israeli hostage who was held for nearly 700 days in Gaza is recovered

The remains of an Israeli hostage who spent nearly two years in captivity in the Gaza Strip were recovered Friday, the country’s military announced. 

"The body of Ilan Weiss, who was held hostage for 693 days in Gaza, has been recovered in a joint Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Security Agency military operation," the IDF said. 

"Ilan was from Kibbutz Be’eri and left his home on the morning of October 7 to join the kibbutz emergency response team. He was murdered and kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 Massacre," it added. "His wife Shiri, 54, and daughter Noga, 19, were taken hostage into Gaza and released during the ceasefire deal in November 2023." 

The body of a second Israeli was also recovered Friday and is now in the process of being identified, according to The Associated Press. 

ISRAEL ELIMINATES GAZA TERRORIST WHO TOOK PART IN OCT. ATTACK ON KIBBUTZ, TOOK YARDEN BIBAS HOSTAGE 

"It’s a bittersweet moment that the Weiss family is reunited with their loved one, even though he’s coming back not as they would have wanted," Rubi Chen, who believes his son is still in captivity in Gaza, was quoted by the AP as saying. 

Chen said his family had received intelligence that his son Itay did not survive the Oct. 7 attack, but Hamas has not provided any information about his son’s whereabouts. 

The Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum said "Ilan was a devoted family man – humble, principled, and a dedicated father to his daughters."

"He loved hosting guests, tending his garden, and enjoying a beer. On weekends, he would go mountain biking with his brother-in-law Gil Boyum, a fellow member of the kibbutz emergency team who was also killed on that Black Sabbath," it added.

ISRAEL RECOVERS REMAINS OF THREE MORE BODIES HELD BY HAMAS: 'NO VICTORY UNTIL LAST HOSTAGE RETURNS' 

As of Friday, there are 48 hostages left in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, according to The Times of Israel. 

"I offer my heartfelt condolences and support to the Weiss family and the community of Kibbutz Be’eri upon the recovery of the body of hostage Ilan Weiss, of blessed memory," Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote on X. 

"Ilan showed courage and noble spirit when he fought the terrorists on that dark day. In his death, he gave life. And ever since, his family has shown extraordinary strength in their struggle for his return," Herzog continued. 

"The horrors committed by Hamas, murder, torture, abduction, are crimes against humanity. The world must show moral clarity, apply pressure, and act for the immediate release of all the hostages. We will not rest until every one of them is brought home, the living to the loving embrace of their families, and the fallen to be laid to rest in dignity. Every last one," he added. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Mexican senators brawl on camera following debate over US targeting cartels

A Mexican Senate session descended into chaos on Wednesday when two senior politicians traded blows following a heated debate over the U.S.' involvement in the fight against drug cartels.

Video captured the explosive moment when Alejandro "Alito" Moreno, head of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), and Gerardo Fernández Noroña, the Senate president of the ruling Morena Party, violently shoved one another after lawmakers finished singing the national anthem to close the day’s session. 

The clash erupted after a tense debate, during which the Morena Party and its allies reportedly accused PRI and the conservative National Action Party lawmakers of calling for U.S. military intervention in Mexico, a claim the opposing parties denied, according to the New York Post. 

The issue has grown especially contentious following reports that President Donald Trump authorized U.S. military force against Latin American drug cartels designated as terrorist groups.

TRUMP APPROVES MILITARY ACTION AGAINST LATIN AMERICAN CARTELS CLASSIFIED AS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

Moreno, who claimed his party was denied the floor, was seen approaching Fernández Noroña, reportedly saying, "I’m asking you to let me speak," while clutching the Senate president by the arm.  

"Don’t touch me!" Fernández Noroña reportedly yelled back, as the two politicians violently shoved each other as colleagues scrambled to intervene. 

In the scuffle, Moreno also clashed with one of Fernández Noroña’s collaborators, cameraman Emiliano González González, who was knocked to the floor. Another lawmaker was seen yanking the Senate president’s suit jacket and taking a swing at him as he tried to escape the mayhem.

SENATE SHAKEN: BIPARTISAN WORRY ERUPTS AFTER INCIDENT INVOLVING CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT

Fernández Noroña accused Moreno of threatening to kill him, according to local reports.

"He hit me and told me ‘I'm going to break your mother, I'm going to kill you,'" Fernández Noroña said in a press conference, according to El Pais.

Moreno countered that the ruling party was silencing opposition voices and insisted Fernández Noroña had instigated the fight.

"Let it be clear: the first physical aggression came from Fernández Noroña," Moreno said in a post on X Wednesday. "There was an approved agenda. Minutes before reaching the corresponding point, Morena changed it to their convenience to silence us and prevent the opposition from speaking out. Their obligation was to give me the floor, and they didn't do it."

'SPECTACLE OF HIMSELF': SENATE REPUBLICANS BLAST ALEX PADILLA AFTER HIS FORCIBLE REMOVAL FROM DHS PRESSER

The Senate president said he plans on filing a criminal complaint against Moreno as well as three other PRI legislators involved, including Carlos Eduardo Gutierrez Mancilla, Alonso Erubiel Lorenzo and Ruben Moreira.

Fernández Noroña is also calling an emergency session Friday to propose expelling Moreno and the three other PRI lawmakers as a result of the scuffle, the New York Post reported.

Fernández Noroña and Alejandro Moreno did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

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Israel accuses UN-backed Gaza famine report of political manipulation, demands withdrawal

Israel rejected a United Nations-backed report that declared famine in Gaza, claiming it contained "gross forgeries." A foreign ministry official warned Jerusalem would lobby donor countries to cut funding unless the report is withdrawn.

In an Aug. 22 report, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said famine is already taking place in the Gaza Governorate and is likely to spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September. The report said about one-third of Gaza’s roughly 2 million residents — about 641,000 people — could soon face catastrophic starvation.

According to the IPC, 132,000 children under age 5 are projected to suffer acute malnutrition through 2026, including more than 41,000 severe cases. It said over 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women also require urgent nutrition support.

ISRAEL PUSHES BACK AT ‘TAILOR-MADE’ UN-BACKED REPORT CLAIMING GAZA FAMINE

The report blamed almost two years of war, the displacement of 1.9 million people, the collapse of local food production, and severe restrictions on aid. It noted that even when food enters Gaza, much of it fails to reach civilians. 

Israel flatly rejected the findings, with the Foreign Ministry Director General Eden Bar Tal telling reporters the IPC had committed "gross forgeries" and manipulated its own evidence to declare famine.

Bar Tal said the IPC fabricated 182 deaths to reach the famine threshold of 188. He accused the group of breaking its own rules by using a malnutrition measure barred in Gaza, relying on clinic-based samples that are prohibited, and cherry-picking surveys. He claimed that of 15,749 children surveyed, the IPC used only 7,519, enough to push results above famine levels.

"The IPC report is forged for political purposes. No doubt the IPC manipulated and ignored data, broke its own rules and hid contradictory evidence," Bar Tal said, saying the report was fabricated for the purpose of "supporting Hamas’s starvation campaign."

ISRAEL SAYS UN MISLEADS WORLD AS GAZA AID STOLEN AND DIVERTED FROM CIVILIANS

The Foreign Ministry issued a formal letter demanding the report’s withdrawal and warned that if it is not retracted, Israel will urge donor states to freeze funding to the IPC "until professional credibility is restored." It also distributed a PowerPoint presentation titled "The IPC Fraud," which described the process as "shooting the arrow and then drawing the target." One slide read: "The facts are clear: The IPC report is forged."

The IPC did not respond to Fox News Digital requests for comment.

At a Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Dorothy Shea, the acting U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said that hunger was a real issue and a priority for the U.S., but also took issue with the IPC report. 

"We can only solve problems with credibility and integrity. Unfortunately, the recent report from the IPC doesn't pass the test either. One of the report's key authors has a lengthy record of bias against Israel, including openly justifying the Houthi terrorist attacks on Israeli civilian targets. By his own measure, he ought to have recused himself. This helps explain why the normal standards were changed for this declaration, raising significant questions," she said.

In response to Fox News Digital’s questions, Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the U.N. Secretary General, defended the IPC process and rejected Israel’s claims: "The data that the IPC put out on famine in Gaza is robust. It is scientific and it is technical," Dujarric said. "IPC famine analysis uses a standard measurement … reviewed carefully by an independent group of experts who confirmed that a famine is taking place in Gaza Governorate."

He said the IPC relied on "recent and verified" U.N. agency data streams including WHO, UNICEF, UNRWA, and WFP, while also considering figures from Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).

On whether Hamas’s exploitation of aid factored in, Dujarric said the report "illustrates the constraints that hinder humanitarian organizations from distributing aid and stand in the way of allowing people to get the aid they need."

On Thursday, Secretary-General António Guterres claimed that "Famine is no longer a looming possibility — it is a present-day catastrophe. People are dying from hunger, families are being torn apart by displacement and despair," Guterres told reporters before briefing the Security Council.

 

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Israel confirms strike on Houthis in Yemen, marks second time this week

Israel confirmed on Thursday that it carried out an attack on a Houthi target in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, marking the second such strike in less than a week.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the Houthis were operating under Iran’s direction to harm Israel and its allies. The IDF also blamed the Houthis for "undermining regional stability and disrupting global freedom of navigation." 

TRUMP URGED TO AID YEMEN’S ANTI-HOUTHI FORCES AS TERROR GROUP ESCALATES ATTACKS ON SHIPPING

"As we warned the Houthis in Yemen: 'After the plague of darkness comes the plague of death.' Whoever raises a hand against Israel, their hand will be cut off," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said after Thursday’s strike.

The Thursday strikes, which were launched after Israel intercepted two drones from Yemen, occurred during a speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi, according to YNet. Additionally, the Israeli outlet reported that the speech went on without interruption.

ISRAEL HAMMERS HOUTHIS WITH AIRSTRIKES, REBELS RESPOND AMID RED SEA FLARE-UP

On Sunday, Israel hit Yemen’s capital in response to missiles fired by the Houthis. The attack killed six people and wounded 86 others, according to Reuters, which cited a Houthi Health Ministry spokesperson.

The conflict between Israel and the Houthis has gone on for nearly two years. The Iran-backed terror force threatened to strike Israel just days after Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre. Within weeks of Hamas’ attacks, the Houthis shot missiles and drones at Israel that were intercepted by U.S. forces aboard the U.S.S. Carney.

Since then, Israel has responded to missiles from the Houthis by attacking areas controlled by the terror organization in Yemen, including the Hodeidah port.

The Houthis have not ceased attacks on Israel in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. On Aug. 22, Reuters reported the Houthis said they had fired a ballistic missile at Israel in solidarity with Gaza.

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UK, France, Germany trigger UN sanctions on Iran over 'significant' nuclear program defiance

Europe’s powerhouse trio, the U.K., France, and Germany (E3), on Thursday initiated the process to reimpose sweeping sanctions against Iran over its "significant non-compliance" with international nuclear agreements. 

At 9 am EST, they submitted a letter to the president of the United Nations Security Council, Panama's Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba, notifying him of their intent to trigger the snapback sanctions mechanism enshrined under the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Fox News Digital confirmed ahead of the action on Thursday. 

"We the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, share the fundamental objective that Iran shall never seek, acquire or develop a nuclear weapon," the letter obtained by Fox News Digital said. "We will continue to strive to diplomatically resolve the issue of Iran's significant non-performance.

The letter concluded by noting that sanctions "will be restored" unless the U.N. Security Council unanimously decides otherwise.

IRAN SAYS IT HAS 'PLENTY OF SCIENTISTS' LEFT TO RESTART URANIUM ENRICHMENT, DESPITE US, ISRAELI STRIKES

Secretary of State Marco Rubio championed the move as "welcome" and said, "snapback does not contradict our earnest readiness for diplomacy, it only enhances it."

"I urge Iranian leaders to take the immediate steps necessary to ensure that their nation will never obtain a nuclear weapon; to walk the path of peace; and to, by extension, advance prosperity for the Iranian people," he added.

The action comes after months of warnings from European leaders, and years of calls from the U.S. dating back to the first Trump administration in 2018, flagging that Tehran was in violation of nuclear agreements made under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – though Iran's record of non-compliance did not initiate until 2019 per findings by international nuclear watchdogs. 

According to a U.K. official on Thursday, the decision to enforce snapback sanctions, which is expected to have severe consequences for Iran's already flagging economy, was not a decision that was made "lightly."

The official confirmed that there has been "very intense diplomacy" over the last "12-months, 6-months, 6-weeks" that ultimately led to this decision – including three major factors like Tehran's uranium stockpile levels, its operating of advanced centrifuges and its refusal to adhere to international inspection regulations – all of which are dictated under the JCPOA.

The official confirmed that in May Iran was found to have roughly 20,000 lbs of enriched uranium, including 900 lbs of near-weapons grade highly enriched uranium (HEU) – which is 45 times higher than the JCPOA limit of under 660 lbs of enriched uranium.

"Iran is the only non-nuclear weapons state producing highly enriched uranium," the official said, adding that those stockpiles remain unaccounted for. 

Thursday's actions mean that by the end of the 30-day period all 15 members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which includes Russia and China, could be legally bound to reimpose sanctions on Iran. 

But in speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, the head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said there is "still time" for Iran to prevent the sanctions from taking hold. 

"Iran will have to comply," IAEA Director General Raffael Grossi said. "I think there is a possibility. I'm not naively optimistic, but at the same time, there is no reason why we should not [have] a good outcome."

IRAN DOUBLES DOWN ON REFUSAL TO END NUCLEAR PROGRAM, READY FOR WAR WITH ISRAEL

The E3 and the U.S. have made clear there are specific steps that Tehran needs to do in order to avoid snapback sanctions, including giving the IAEA full access to all Iranian nuclear sites, direct negotiations with Washington, and accounting for roughly 900 lbs of highly enriched uranium (HEU).

But Grossi also noted that it would be "almost impossible" for Iran to get to a point of compliance with the JCPOA due to too many technical advances. 

Questions over the location of the HEU, which is estimated to be enough to make 10 nuclear warheads, mounted after the U.S. levied direct strikes at Iran’s nuclear program in June. Reports suggested that in the days leading up to the strikes, Iran may have moved and hidden some of its uranium based on satellite imagery that showed convoys leaving the Fordow and Isfahan nuclear sites.

But on Wednesday, Grossi countered these concerns and said the IAEA had no evidence that the uranium has been moved to a secret location. 

Though the stockpile of HEU is still not officially accounted for as the IAEA has not been granted access to Iran's top nuclear sites – though Grossi said he anticipated that access to come shortly as inspectors on Wednesday visited the Bushehr nuclear power plant after being re-granted access in Iran. 

When asked by reporters whether Iran was taking immediate action to begin meeting the E3 demands and avoid sanctions, Grossi said, "point blank…no."

"Our work hasn’t started. We are not yet where I would like us to be – I will not hide this," he said. "But at the same time I am a diplomat, I am always working towards peace."

IRAN SEEKS CHINA, RUSSIA HELP TO STALL UN SANCTIONS AHEAD OF NUCLEAR TALKS WITH EUROPEANS

Iran has threatened to retaliate if the sanctions are implemented, though how it will do so remains unclear.

Tehran in recent years has strengthened ties with powerful allies like Russia and China, who have rejected calls for snapback sanctions.

But even though Russia and China sit on the U.N. Security Council with veto powers, they will not be able to unilaterally stop the sanctions from going through.

In an unprecedented move in 2015, the sanctions mechanism was written in a way that reversed standard council procedure, which would traditionally require all five permanent members to approve of any action, meaning that just one veto could block the action.

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In the case of snapback sanctions on Iran, every permanent member, which includes the U.S., France, U.K., China and Russia, must veto the push to reimpose sanctions.

This means that, despite opposition from Russia and China, they cannot block the sanctions, as they have increasingly done when it comes to other security council actions in recent years – leading to what some have argued is a paralyzed state in the U.N.'s highest body.

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Is Trump considering bold Africa play to push back on China, Russia and Islamic terrorists?

President Donald Trump is reportedly working on a move that would give the U.S. a new military and economic foothold in Africa, counter China and Russia and strike a blow against Islamist terrorists in the region. And now a leading senator has told Fox News Digital this goal can be realized by recognizing the breakaway Somaliland as an independent state.

Somaliland, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden, broke away from Somalia in 1991. Its government is said to be offering the U.S. a new air and sea base close to the entrance of the Red Sea, and directly across from Yemen and the Houthis, if the U.S. formally recognizes it, 30% of the world’s container ship traffic is reported to pass through its waters en route to or from the Suez Canal.

In the Oval Office on Aug. 8, Trump told reporters, "We’re looking into that right now," when asked about the recognition of Somaliland and the possible resettlement of Gazans there, adding, "We’re working on that right now, Somaliland". 

TRUMP URGED TO AID YEMEN’S ANTI-HOUTHI FORCES AS TERROR GROUP ESCALATES ATTACKS ON SHIPPING

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas., told Fox News Digital, "There is a very real opportunity that President Trump will recognize Somaliland during this administration."

Cruz added, "President Trump is bringing a new era of clarity in American national security, after four years of the Biden administration rewarding our enemies and punishing our allies, and recognizing Somaliland should be part of this new era.

"Somaliland has been a reliable ally to the United States, is integrating itself with us and our allies globally, and is committed to helping us counter efforts by China to undermine the safety and prosperity of Americans," he said.

The White House did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.

Neighboring Somalia has been battling Islamist fundamentalist fighters for decades. U.S. Africa Command has increased the number of airstrikes against both ISIS and al-Shabab terrorists under the current administration.

But Somaliland, 99% Muslim, has allegedly eliminated radicalism and has aligned itself with the U.S. and Israel, leading Cruz to tell Fox News Digital, "They’re a Muslim country, in a very dangerous part of Africa, showing real courage. I will continue to push for deepening the U.S.-Somaliland partnership, including through the Africa Subcommittee in the Senate, and I expect that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will be receptive to doing so."

‘PEACEMAKER’ TRUMP CAN END AFRICA’S BIGGEST WAR, FORMER WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR SAYS

Earlier this month, Cruz wrote to President Trump about Somaliland, stating, "it requires the status of a state. I urge you to grant it that recognition."

Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi , is optimistic, telling the British Guardian newspaper on May 30, "Recognition is on the horizon." He added, "It’s a matter of time. Not if, but when".

Somaliland’s port at Berbera is the jewel in any Washington deal. Analysts say it is in such a strategic position that both Russia and China have tried to acquire it. Right next door to it is one of Africa’s five longest runways, offering the U.S. the possibility of both a sea and air base that can strike Houthi rebels to the north and Al Shabaab terrorists to the east. 

In his letter to the White House, Cruz wrote, "Somaliland has emerged as a critical security and diplomatic partner for the United States, helping America advance our national security interests in the Horn of Africa and beyond. It is strategically located along the

Gulf of Aden, putting it near one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors. It possesses capable armed forces and contributes to regional counterterrorism and piracy operations. It has proposed hosting a U.S. military presence near the Red Sea along the Gulf of Aden."

US AFRICA COMMANDER HIGHLIGHTS TERROR GROWTH IN SAHEL AND COMPETITION WITH CHINA FOR INFLUENCE

The U.S.’s largest military base in Africa is just up the coast in Djibouti. But there are security and surveillance issues at the Camp Lemonnier U.S. base where the Chinese and other nations have opened their own bases and monitoring stations nearby.

Somaliland is also offering the White House access to rare earth minerals essential for high-tech industries, such as lithium and silicon quartz.

The U.S. has described Somalia, with large numbers of both ISIS and al-Qaida-linked operatives, as a terrorist safe haven. Now the increasing presence of China and military forces from countries such as Turkey is reportedly leading some in Washington to be increasingly unhappy with its "one Somalia" policy, where Somaliland continues to be recognized only as a part of Somalia. 

For now, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital the official position: "The United States recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which includes the territory of Somaliland. The State Department is not in active discussions with Somaliland’s representatives about a deal to recognize Somaliland as a state."

But, Somaliland’s foreign minister worked Washington’s corridors and politicians in April, and several African sources, including the influential Horn Observer news outlet, have reported that President Abdullahi is expected to come to D.C. "soon". U.S. officials, including the U.S. ambassador to Somalia, Richard Riley, are said to have been to Somaliland to meet with the president at least three times this year.

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Russian attack kills 10, injures 38 others in Kyiv, Ukrainian officials say

Russia launched a large-scale attack on Kyiv overnight, killing 10 people, injuring at least 38 others and damaging buildings, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a child was killed in the drone and missile attack.

"Right now in Kyiv, first responders are clearing the rubble of an ordinary residential building after a Russian strike," Zelenskyy said on X.

"Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table. It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war. And this means that Russia still does not fear the consequences. Russia still takes advantage of the fact that at least part of the world turns a blind eye to murdered children and seeks excuses for Putin," he continued.

RUSSIA LAUNCHES LARGEST ATTACK ON UKRAINE THIS MONTH FOLLOWING TRUMP'S MEETINGS WITH PUTIN, ZELENSKYY

Zelenskyy added that it is "definitely time for new, tough sanctions against Russia for everything it is doing."

"All deadlines have already been broken, dozens of opportunities for diplomacy ruined. Russia must feel accountable for every strike, for every day of this war. Eternal memory to all victims of Russia," he said.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it knocked down 563 of 598 drones and 26 of 31 missiles launched by Russia in a country-wide attack. It said 13 locations were hit and debris fell at 26 locations.

"Unfortunately, the Russians' style is typical in their attacks," Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, wrote on Telegram.

"Combined strikes, from different directions. And systematic, targeting ordinary residential buildings," the post added.

Officials said numerous buildings had sustained damage, including several high-rise apartment blocks.

In the Darnytskyi district, a five-floor building was partly destroyed, and rescue teams were searching the rubble for trapped people, Tkachenko said.

He said emergency crews responded to the aftermath of the attacks at more than 20 locations in the city.

Fires have also broken out in areas throughout the city.

RUSSIA BOMBARDS UKRAINE HOURS BEFORE KEY MEETING ON TRUMP NATO WEAPONS DEAL

António Costa, president of the European Council, said he was "horrified by yet another night of deadly Russian missile attacks on Ukraine."

"My thoughts are with the Ukrainian victims and also with the staff of @EUDelegationUA, whose building was damaged in this deliberate Russian strike," he wrote on X.

"The EU will not be intimidated. Russia’s aggression only strengthens our resolve to stand with Ukraine and its people," he added.

Separately, Russia's Defense Ministry said that its air defense systems intercepted 102 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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White House demands all Gaza hostages return home 'this week' amid stalled talks

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff said he is pushing for all hostages held in the Gaza Strip to be returned this week, though negotiations with Hamas still appear to be at an impasse. 

"We adamantly want, and I'm following the president's direction here when I say this, all of those hostages home this week," Witkoff told Fox News’ Bret Baier on "Special Report" Tuesday night. 

"There’s been a deal on the table for the last six or seven weeks that would have released 10 of the hostages out of the 20 who we think are alive," he said, noting that he believes Hamas is "100%" to blame for the hold-up.

"It was Hamas who slow played that process, and it is Hamas now who is saying we accept that deal," Witkoff added.

NETANYAHU ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION INTO 'TRAGIC MISHAP' AFTER REPORTS OF JOURNALISTS KILLED IN GAZA STRIKE

Witkoff did not go into detail on what specifically is holding up the return of the hostages who have been held captive in the Gaza Strip for nearly two years following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. 

But reports on Tuesday suggested the Israeli security cabinet refused to review a deal that would see the partial release of hostages and Witkoff confirmed the "official position" of Jerusalem is a full return of hostages or no ceasefire deal as it pushes forward with its plans to take Gaza City. 

In a statement to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group that represents the families of the hostages, said it is "hopeful that with this deal on the table, we will finally see our loved ones return." 

"Time is running out, and we know that only by finalizing this deal can we bring all 50 hostages home – those who are alive to begin their healing journey, and those who were tragically lost to receive a dignified burial," it added.  "We have no time left – let’s make this deal happen now."

But the forum also issued a public statement on Tuesday after reports said Israel refused to review a partial return deal, and said, "It is deeply disappointing that on the very day when masses of Israelis take to the streets demanding the return of all hostages and an end to the war, the government continues to delay progress on the agreement, contrary to the people's will." 

ISRAEL SET TO LAUNCH GAZA CITY OFFENSIVE: HIGH STAKES, HIGH COSTS AHEAD

A demonstration of some 350,000 people took place in Israel’s Hostage Square in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night, according to the Forum, just days after another massive protest took to the streets of Tel Aviv, in which the families of the hostages and supporters again called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal with Hamas. 

Witkoff argued that there can be negotiations after the hostages are returned for "what next day… looks like in Gaza after this is all done and what the definition of Hamas is" – suggesting these issues remain major hurdles as Israel has repeatedly vowed the complete destruction of Hamas.

The special envoy said it wasn’t his "call" to say whether the terrorist network should be completely destroyed, but noted there was room for negotiations in returning the hostages as Palestinian prisoners would also be swapped in exchange. 

Fifty hostages continue to be held by Hamas, only 20 of whom are assessed to still be alive. 

President Donald Trump on Monday predicted there would be a "conclusive" end to the war in Gaza within the next "two to three weeks," though he did not say how this would be accomplished. 

The Forum responded to the pronouncement and said, "We pray this is true and that you gave a deadline to end our suffering. You have committed directly to released hostages that you will bring all of the hostages home – now is the time to make that happen." 

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Witkoff also said Trump would be hosting a meeting at the White House on Wednesday to discuss a "day after" plan for Gaza, though it is unclear who will take part in this meeting. 

When pressed for details on the meeting, a White House official told Fox News Digital, "President Trump has been clear that he wants the war to end, and he wants peace and prosperity for everyone in the region. The White House has nothing additional to share on the meeting at this time."

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Denmark summons US envoy over alleged covert Greenland interference operations

The top U.S. diplomat in Denmark was summoned by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen over intelligence reports that Americans had conducted covert influence operations in Greenland. 

Danish public broadcaster DR reported that at least three people with ties to the Trump administration were conducting the operations. The broadcaster cited unnamed security and government sources.

DENMARK PM SAYS 'YOU CANNOT SPY AGAINST AN ALLY' FOLLOWING REPORTS OF US SPYING ON GREENLAND

"We are aware that foreign actors continue to show an interest in Greenland and its position in the Kingdom of Denmark. It is therefore not surprising if we experience outside attempts to influence the future of the Kingdom in the time ahead," Rasmussen said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital. 

"Any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom will of course be unacceptable. In that light, I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the U.S. chargé d’affaires for a meeting at the ministry."

Rasmussen also emphasized that the ties between Denmark and Greenland are "close" and "based on mutual trust."

FROM GAZA TO GREENLAND, MACRON BREAKS WITH TRUMP ON GLOBAL FLASHPOINTS

Earlier in his second term, President Donald Trump repeatedly spoke about seeking U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, which is part of the Danish kingdom. In response to Trump’s remarks, both Denmark and Greenland have said that the island was not for sale.

The U.S. does not currently have an ambassador to Denmark, leaving American diplomat Mark Stroh to serve as the chargé d’affaires. Stroh was summoned to the Foreign Ministry.

One of the people suspected in the alleged influence operation reportedly compiled a list of U.S.-friendly Greenlanders, collected names of Trump opponents and allegedly encouraged locals to highlight cases portraying the Danish government negatively in U.S. media, according to the Associated Press. Additionally, two others are suspected of trying to create relationships with politicians, businesses and locals.

DR cited eight sources who believe the goal was to weaken ties between Denmark and Greenland, the Associated Press reported. The Danish Security and Intelligence Service allegedly told the outlet that it believes "particularly in the current situation, Greenland is a target for influence campaigns of various kinds."

In May, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said "you cannot spy against an ally" in response to reports that the U.S. was gathering intelligence on Greenland.

Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen and the government of Greenland but did not receive responses in time for publication.

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Reform UK proposes deporting 600,000 asylum seekers in sweeping new immigration crackdown

Reform UK said it's prepared to deport 600,000 asylum seekers from Britain to prevent "civil disorder."

Party leader Nigel Farage said the plan includes withdrawing Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), repealing the Human Rights Act, and scrapping international treaties that block forced deportations, Reuters reported.

The ECHR, a cornerstone of U.K. human rights law, has repeatedly been used to halt deportations of migrants deemed to be in the country illegally, the BBC reported.

TRUMP PRAISES STARMER ON TURNING AROUND MIGRANT BOATS: 'FANTASTIC THING'

"We are not far away from major civil disorder," Farage told a press conference. "It is an invasion, as these young men illegally break into our country."

Dubbed Operation Restoring Justice, the plan is the "only way" to stop small boats crossing the English Channel, Farage said, adding that migrants intercepted at sea should be detained and deported.

"If we do that, the boats will stop coming in days because there will be no incentive," he claimed.

Labour Party Chairwoman Ellie Reeves criticized the announcement, saying it lacked detail.

"Today, we got none of those things, nor a single answer to the practical, financial, or ethical questions about how their plan would work," she said.

FARAGE SLAMS SECRET AFGHAN REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT TO UK, CLAIMS SEX OFFENDERS AMONG ARRIVALS

The announcement followed weeks of small protests over mass migration and crimes committed by some asylum seekers.

Britain received a record 108,100 asylum applications in 2024, many from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Bangladesh.

Polling shows immigration has overtaken the economy as voters’ top concern. Reform UK, despite holding only four seats in Parliament, is leading in surveys of voting intentions, Reuters reported.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook dismissed the proposals as "a series of gimmicks" that would not work. Reform’s opponents and several charities said the plan would amount to Britain abandoning its human rights commitments.

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Russian software developer gets 15 years in prison for $500 donation to Ukraine defense fund

A Russian software developer in Moscow on Tuesday was sentenced to 15 years hard prison time for donating roughly $500 to a Ukrainian defense fund, reporting by East2West confirmed.  

Sergei Irin, 45, who at one point worked for Russian tech giant Yandex, apparently refused to stand in court as he was issued his sentence, but held up a sign that read, "Putin is a "s---head."

US-RUSSIAN BALLERINA REFLECTS ON RELEASE FROM RUSSIAN PENAL COLONY AFTER YEAR-LONG ORDEAL

Irin, according to footage given to Fox News Digital, was arrested on the suspicion of treason, and was handed a 15-year sentence in a maximum-security prison for his "act of defiance," according to the report. 

Though it is unclear if either his prison placement or the amount of time he was handed was affected by the sign he held while in court, or merely for donating to a Ukrainian defense fund. 

In the video, a man who is allegedly Irin those whose face is blurred out, is seen being tackled and handcuffed by masked police officers. 

Irin was apparently visiting his mother after having fled Russia sometime prior.

RUSSIA CLAIMS NAVALNY DIED FROM ARRHYTHMIA, COMBINATION OF DISEASES AS WIDOW ALLEGES ‘PATHETIC’ COVER UP

He is then questioned in a van by the men, at which point he admits that within days of Russian President Vladimir Putin launching his illegal and deadly invasion of Ukraine, Irin donated funds to Ukraine’s Come Back Alive charity, which supports Kyiv’s defense forces. 

The donation was made on Feb. 27, 2022, according to Irin.

The 45-year-old also said he feels "negatively" towards the Putin regime and admitted to having participated in opposition rallies.

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The report by East2West said he was later "interrogated with a stun gun and sent by plane to Moscow, to the Lefortovo [notorious pretrial detention center]."

Irin was also issued a roughly $62,000 fine by the Russian court on Tuesday. 

It is unclear which maximum-security prison he will be sent to, to carry out his sentence.  

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Russian protester jailed 15 years for $500 Ukraine donation, curses Putin in court

A Russian software developer in Moscow on Tuesday was sentenced to 15 years hard prison time for donating roughly $500 to a Ukrainian defense fund, reporting by East2West confirmed.  

Sergei Irin, 45, who at one point worked for Russian tech giant Yandex, apparently refused to stand in court as he was issued his sentence, but held up a sign that read, "Putin is a ****head."

US-RUSSIAN BALLERINA REFLECTS ON RELEASE FROM RUSSIAN PENAL COLONY AFTER YEAR-LONG ORDEAL

Irin, according to footage given to Fox News Digital, was arrested on the suspicion of treason, and was handed a 15-year sentence in a maximum-security prison for his "act of defiance," according to the report. 

Though it is unclear if either his prison placement or the amount of time he was handed was affected by the sign he held while in court, or merely for donating to a Ukrainian defense fund. 

In the video, a man who is allegedly Irin those whose face is blurred out, is seen being tackled and handcuffed by masked police officers. 

Irin was apparently visiting his mother after having fled Russia sometime prior.

RUSSIA CLAIMS NAVALNY DIED FROM ARRHYTHMIA, COMBINATION OF DISEASES AS WIDOW ALLEGES ‘PATHETIC’ COVER UP

He is then questioned in a van by the men, at which point he admits that within days of Russian President Vladimir Putin launching his illegal and deadly invasion of Ukraine, Irin donated funds to Ukraine’s Come Back Alive charity, which supports Kyiv’s defense forces. 

The donation was made on Feb. 27, 2022, according to Irin.

The 45-year-old also said he feels "negatively" towards the Putin regime and admitted to having participated in opposition rallies.

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The report by East2West said he was later "interrogated with a stun gun and sent by plane to Moscow, to the Lefortovo [notorious pretrial detention center]."

Irin was also issued a roughly $62,000 fine by the Russian court on Tuesday. 

It is unclear which maximum-security prison he will be sent to, to carry out his sentence.  

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Australia boots Iranian diplomats after alleging Islamic Republic behind recent antisemitic attacks

The Australian government says it is expelling two Iranian diplomats after alleging that the Islamic Republic was behind at least two antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. 

Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the country’s main domestic spy agency, ASIO, had "gathered enough credible intelligence to reach a deeply disturbing conclusion." 

"The Iranian government directed at least two of these attacks," Albanese said, referring to recent attacks on a Sydney restaurant and a Melbourne synagogue. "Iran has sought to disguise its involvement but ASIO assesses it was behind the attacks." 

The Australian government informed Iran's ambassador to Australia shortly before Albanese’s announcement that they would be expelled. It also withdrew Australian diplomats posted in Iran to a third country.

ANTISEMITIC ATTACKERS VIOLENTLY TARGET SYNAGOGUE, ISRAELI RESTAURANT IN AUSTRALIA

Antisemitic incidents in both Melbourne and Sydney rose steeply following the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in Israel that triggered Israel’s ongoing offensive on Gaza. 

The prime minister also said Australia plans to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.

The move comes after Australia announced earlier this month that it plans to recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September. 

The announcement triggered a scathing response from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who accused Australia of betraying Israel. 

"History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews," Netanyahu said.

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Netanyahu announces investigation into 'tragic mishap' after reports of journalists killed in Gaza strike

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that an investigation is underway after reports said Israel struck a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, killing at least 20 people on Monday, according to reports.

Netanyahu said Israel regretted the deadly incident and reiterated that Israel does not intentionally target civilians in its war with Hamas. Reports said among the dead were five journalists who worked for outlets such as Reuters, The Associated Press, and Al Jazeera.

"Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza," Netanyahu's office said in a statement. 

"Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff and all civilians. The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation. Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just goals are defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages home."

NY TIMES' ERRONEOUS COVER PHOTO OF GAZAN CHILD JOINS SERIES OF MEDIA BLUNDERS FRAMING STORIES AGAINST ISRAEL

Reports, citing medical officials, said two shells hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in quick succession. Israeli media reported that Israeli troops had fired the artillery rounds at the hospital to target a Hamas surveillance camera on the roof.

Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed near a live broadcasting position on an upper floor just below the roof in the first strike, Palestinian health officials said.

Israel then struck the site again, killing additional journalists as well as rescue workers and medics who had rushed in to help, hospital officials and witnesses told Reuters.

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin echoed Netanyahu’s comments, stressing that the military makes every effort to mitigate civilian harm while ensuring troop safety.

"We are operating in an extremely complex reality. Hamas terrorists deliberately use civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as shields," Defrin said in a video posted to social media. "They have even operated from the Nasser Hospital itself. Hamas began this war, created impossible fighting conditions and is preventing its end by still holding 50 of our hostages."

NEWS AGENCY SAYS ITS GAZA JOURNALISTS SUFFERING HEALTH WOES AS UNION WARNS THEY WILL DIE WITHOUT INTERVENTION

Defrin said Israel will abide by international obligations and "investigate the deadly incident thoroughly and professionally."

"Reporting from an active war zone carries immense risk, especially in a war with a terrorist organization such as Hamas, who cynically hides behind the civilian population," he added. 

The other journalists killed were identified as Mariam Abu Dagga, who freelanced for the Associated Press and other outlets; Mohammed Salama, who worked for Al Jazeera; Moaz Abu Taha, a freelancer who contributed to several news organizations, including Reuters; and Ahmed Abu Aziz.

Photographer Hatem Khaled, also a Reuters contractor, was wounded.

Fox News’ Yael Kuriel, Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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US ally summons Trump ambassador over 'unacceptable' antisemitism allegations

France has summoned American ambassador Charles Kushner to Paris, after the diplomat accused the country of not doing enough to combat antisemitism in a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron.

France's foreign ministry said in a statement issued Sunday that Kushner’s allegations "are unacceptable," and announced it had summoned the U.S. diplomat to appear Monday at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Kushner, who is Jewish, wrote in the letter that antisemitic incidents in France have been fueled by French government statements about recognizing a Palestinian state.

"Public statements haranguing Israel and gestures toward recognition of a Palestinian state embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France. In today's world, anti-Zionism is antisemitism - plain and simple," Kushner wrote.

TRUMP REJECTS MACRON MOVE AS US SKIPS UN SUMMIT ON PALESTINIAN STATE

Kushner further urged Macron "to act decisively: enforce hate-crime laws without exception, ensure the safety of Jewish schools, synagogues and businesses ... and abandon steps that give legitimacy to Hamas and its allies."

The French foreign ministry said in its statement that "France firmly rejects these allegations" from Kushner, adding that French authorities have "fully mobilized" to combat a rise in antisemitic acts since Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The ministry further deemed antisemitic acts "intolerable."

The ministry said Kushner’s allegations violate international law and the obligation not to interfere with the internal affairs of another country, adding that they "also fall short of the quality of the transatlantic partnership between France and the United States and of the trust that must prevail between allies."

FROM GAZA TO GREENLAND, MACRON BREAKS WITH TRUMP ON GLOBAL FLASHPOINTS

The U.S. State Department, however, said it backed Kushner and his comments, department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Sunday evening.

"Ambassador Kushner is our U.S. government representative in France and is doing a great job advancing our national interests in that role," Pigott said.

Macron has been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the war in Gaza continues, while President Donald Trump has been a staunch supporter of the Israeli leader.

Kushner, a real estate developer, is the father of Jared Kushner, who is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump.

At the end of his first presidential term, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, who pleaded guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Russia says Ukrainian drones hit nuclear power plant during Independence Day strikes

Russian officials said Ukrainian drones ignited an overnight fire at a nuclear plant in Russia’s Kursk region.

The strikes coincided with Ukraine’s 34th Independence Day, marking its 1991 break from the Soviet Union.

Russia said the strikes hit several power facilities. The plant fire was quickly extinguished. A transformer was damaged, but radiation levels remained normal, and no injuries were reported.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog said it was aware of media reports of a transformer fire "due to military activity," but had not independently confirmed them.

RUSSIAN DRONE CRASHES IN POLISH FIELD AS WARSAW PROTESTS AIRSPACE VIOLATION AND PLANS FORMAL COMPLAINT

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said "every nuclear facility must be protected at all times."

A fire also broke out at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s Leningrad region, home to a major fuel export terminal.

The regional governor said about 10 Ukrainian drones were shot down in the area and that debris sparked the blaze.

BATTLE OVER THE BLACK SEA: RUSSIA, UKRAINE STRIKE TOP RESORT CITIES

Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory Sunday.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 72 drones and decoys and a cruise missile overnight; 48 drones were shot down or jammed.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke in a video from Kyiv’s Independence Square.

NATO JETS SCRAMBLED AMID RUSSIA'S LARGEST DRONE ATTACK ON UKRAINE

"We are building a Ukraine that will have enough strength and power to live in security and peace," he said, calling for a "just peace."

"What our future will be is up to us alone," he said, while acknowledging the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska earlier this month, which many worried would sideline Ukrainian interests.

"And the world knows this. And the world respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine as an equal," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Thousands attend corgi competition featuring 120 teams from across Europe: 'He's really proud'

Thousands of people poured into Lithuania's capital this weekend for Corgi Race Vilnius, where 120 teams of furry competitors and their owners from around Europe went nose-to-nose.

Corgi Race Vilnius — a two-day event held in Lithuania's capital — allowed Welsh Pembroke and Cardigan corgis to show their skills in races, a solo sprint, puzzle and costume contests and a "mightiest voice" competition, according to the event's website.

Teams traveled from countries all across Europe — including Latvia, Poland, Austria, Italy and Germany — to take part in the event, The Associated Press reported.

"Vilnius will transform into the center of corgi universe, and we want every dog lover to be a part of it," as noted on Corgi Race Vilnius' website.

2 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS ACCUSED OF ETHIC VIOLATIONS IN NORWAY'S SKI SUIT CONTROVERSY

The event wrapped up on Sunday with the World Corgi Meetup, where Lithuanian corgis connected virtually with fellow pups in Ireland, the United States and Poland, according to the AP.

PGA STAR'S DAD SKIPPING 'UNWATCHABLE' RYDER CUP AT BETHPAGE BLACK: 'AFRAID OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN'

"This is so much fun and great emotion for the entire family, something bright that many people are craving for these days," Janina Stoniene, a retired teacher who brought her three grandchildren to the event, told AP.

A corgi named Amigo, who sported a factory-themed costume, claimed first place in the costume contest. Other four-legged competitors were dressed as a princess, Batman and even an airplane, according to AP.

MAN CONFRONTS WOMAN OVER LARGE DOG IN FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT, SPARKING ONLINE DEBATE

A corgi named Mango was the winner of the solo race, AP reported.

"So this is a mango, like a fruit mango, and we are participating (for the) second time in Corgi Race 2025," Ignas Klimaika, a Corgi lover from Vilnius, told AP. "Last year we didn’t manage to end the race perfectly. We had really good training. We had trained every day, but this year we decided we just go without training, just to participate, just to enjoy all the lots of corgis."

Klimaika added, "He knows what he did, and he’s really proud of himself."

Last year, Corgi Race Vilnius brought together 100 corgis from five countries and drew close to 7,000 fans, according to the event's website.

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Israel set to launch Gaza City offensive: High stakes, high costs ahead

On Saturday, Israeli tanks and troops began maneuvering ever closer to Gaza City’s outskirts in preparation for a full-scale offensive. Eyewitness accounts reported intensified shelling as Israel is moving toward what could be the defining battle of its war against Hamas terrorists: the capture of Gaza City.

Israel's security cabinet approved the operation, known as Gideon’s Chariots B, and has deployed up to five IDF divisions toward the city’s outskirts—a highly significant mobilization. Thousands of reservists—some 60,000—have been called up.

John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Madison Policy Forum and executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute, told Fox News Digital the scale of this operation is unprecedented. "This will be a bigger challenge than anything the IDF has faced, arguably ever. It is the densest location in Gaza, the heart of Hamas’s stronghold. And you don’t really know what the tunnels are until you get into them."

GRASSROOTS PUSH FOR FREEDOM GROWS IN GAZA AS HAMAS TIGHTENS ITS DEADLY GRIP

Spencer said that "Hamas built semi-circles of defenses oriented at Israel. But the IDF has shown creativity in maneuvering around obstacles." Israel plans to send more combat power into Gaza City than it has deployed across the entire Strip thus far. "If your goal is to clear Gaza City of Hamas’s military capabilities and search for hostages, you need that scale," he said.

Gadi Shamni, former commander of the Gaza Division and ex-head of IDF Central Command, told Fox News Digital, "It is a crowded city with refugee camps, dense neighborhoods, high-rises and a highly developed underground. People say the IDF controls above and below ground, but in the last campaign we saw that wasn’t always true. Even when you destroy tunnels, Hamas can rebuild them quickly. The longer you stay with more forces, the more opportunities you create for the other side to attack."

A former senior Israeli security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Fox News Digital, "The IDF can militarily conquer Gaza, but the costs will be immense on both sides. The IDF will fight with a method of ‘destroy everything first’—air force bombs, massive charges, detonating streets from afar, wiping out entire areas and advancing slowly.

ISRAEL, HAMAS TERRORISTS AND THE REOCCURRING BATTLES AROUND THE GAZA STRIP

"The IDF has gained enormous experience over the past two years and will use those tactics in this battle. … You are strong, the enemy is weak, and you have patience. Even the weather is on Israel’s side, with winter not arriving until January."

The tunnels remain the most formidable element of Hamas’s defense. Unlike ISIS terrorists in Mosul, Spencer said, Hamas has built an underground tunnel network that allows commanders and fighters to move between positions avoid strikes, and conceal hostages. "The IDF that will go into Gaza City is not the IDF of 2023," Spencer said, pointing to rapid adaptations in the use of drones, robots, and specialized units for tunnel warfare. "They’ve learned so much. But this will still be slow, very careful, and costly."

To illustrate the scale, Spencer pointed to the 2004 battle for Fallujah in Iraq. "It took the Marine Corps about two weeks to clear Fallujah—every single home, building, shop. About 68,000 structures were cleared, as if somebody physically looked in them," he said. "If all five of these [IDF] divisions were doing that, absolutely, you could get it done in a few months. But the enemy always gets a vote. You can’t rush to failure."

The former Israeli senior security official described the operation as "telescopic—very slow, with pistons working one by one. This pace also gives Hamas the chance at every stage to try to cut a deal."

NETANYAHU EXPANDS SCOPE OF PLANNED GAZA TAKEOVER, SAYS ISRAEL HAS 'NO CHOICE BUT TO FINISH THE JOB'

On the fate of hostages possibly held in Gaza City, the official was blunt: "Some of the hostages will die. I wouldn’t be surprised if more brigades are brought in—the IDF is using immense ground power to seize urban terrain."

Shamni also warned Hamas may relocate hostages, 50 hostages, of whom 20 are still believed to be alive, into combat zones to deter strikes—a tactic he said the IDF would be reluctant to engage for fear of harming captives, a conflict between military necessity and core values.

Shamni highlighted a particularly fraught dilemma: evacuating civilians. "You don’t know who will leave, how many will leave, how they’ll react—or whether Hamas will even allow them to leave," he said. "I assume many will not evacuate, and then you face the hard dilemma of fighting in a place full of noncombatants."

Spencer added that history shows around 10% of civilians stay behind. "Even 10% of a million is 100,000 people," he said.

Shamni forecast a protracted operation: "It could take months. Two months might seize the surface, but then you still have to clear tunnels. It will cost many lives—including civilians. The worst-case scenario is that no hostages are found alive or dead because of the destruction."

Shamni, who also served as Israel’s military attaché in Washington, warned that the dual goals of defeating Hamas and returning hostages are contradictory, risking years of drawn-out fighting. 

Spencer, however, called the decision to press forward a "calculated risk," explaining that while military action carries dangers, "you weigh the risk of Hamas killing the hostages against the certainty that they’re being starved and tortured. Military pressure is the last resort. Without conquering Gaza City, Hamas will continue to hold a sanctuary."

 

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Russia looks to update nuclear program amid ‘colossal threats’ from West

Russia’s top nuclear official this week said Moscow is facing "colossal threats" and needs to update its nuclear capabilities.

Without directly naming where Russia’s chief nuclear threat is coming from, Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev said, "the current geopolitical situation, is a time of colossal threats to the existence of our country."

"Therefore, the nuclear shield, which is also a sword, is a guarantee of our sovereignty," he added, according to Russian state news agency RIA. "We understand today that the nuclear shield must only be improved in the coming years."

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The comments came less than a week after Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump convened for a face-to-face meeting that marked the first time a U.S. leader has met with the Kremlin chief since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. 

While Trump and Putin appeared positive following the talks, little seemed to have been concretely accomplished in the meeting and hope surrounding a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire appeared to decline as the week progressed. 

It is unclear why Likhachev issued comments regarding Russia’s nuclear program at this time, and he did not detail what sort of updates he would be looking to make to Moscow’s "shield" program. 

Trump issued similar comments earlier this year when in May he announced his plans to develop the "Golden Dome" missile defense system — inspired by Israel’s "Iron Dome" defense system — and which is expected to cost at least $175 billion.

Though security experts have been sounding the alarm when it comes to China’s escalating nuclear development, together Russia and the U.S. continue to possess 90% of the world’s nuclear arsenal.

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Moscow continues to hold nearly 4,400 nuclear warheads, over 1,500 of which are "strategically deployed" while the U.S. possesses more than 3,700 warheads in its stockpiles with 1,400 deployed, according to the Arms Control Association. 

While nuclear disarmament was the standing international goal following the end of the Cold War, the trajectory of this policy remains dubious as relations between Washington and Moscow have once again turned precarious amid Putin’s war in Ukraine, and his burgeoning relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

The New Start Treaty remains the only bilateral nuclear arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia, and though it was extended in 2021, it is set to expire in February 2026. The future of the treaty – first signed in 2010 – also remains unclear as Moscow paused its participation in the agreement in 2023.

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Putin said that this suspension meant he would continue to abide by stockpile limits under the treaty, but he would not allow for continued U.S. inspections. 

Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for comment as nations increasingly look to expand their nuclear capabilities just six months ahead of when the New Start Treaty is set to expire. 

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British foreign secretary lands in hot water after fishing trip with JD Vance

Britain’s top diplomat found himself in some hot water recently after he went fishing with U.S. Vice President JD Vance – but it wasn’t over anything the politicians discussed. 

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy was given a written warning by the country’s Environment Agency for fishing without a license, the agency said Friday. 

Lammy had invited Vance and his family to his country estate south of London, where the pair had a photo op at a nearby river. 

The pair also held a bilateral meeting during the visit to discuss international issues. 

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The agency said that anyone over 13 is required to have a license to fish in freshwater in the country. The agency didn’t say whether Vance had a license, citing privacy issues. 

If he had been fined, the foreign secretary would have had to pay nearly $4,000. 

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Lammy belatedly purchased a fishing license and reported himself to the agency, with a spokesperson calling the incident an "administrative error."

Lammy previously told reporters that Vance gave him "Kentucky-style" fishing tips, but it still didn’t help him catch anything. 

"The one strain on the special relationship is that all of my kids caught fish, but the foreign secretary did not," Vance joked at the time. 

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Vance and the Environment Agency for comment. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Rescue effort halted for stuck climber on treacherous mountain after climber dies trying to help her: reports

The rescue of an experienced mountaineer has been called off in Kyrgyzstan nearly two weeks after Natasha Nagovitsina, 47, broke her leg not far from the summit of the country’s tallest mountain, according to reports. 

Nagovitsina, a Russian climber who garnered fame four years ago after she refused to leave her husband after he suffered a stroke, has been stuck at 22,965 feet on Victory Peak since Aug. 12, according to the Daily Mail. Despite her efforts, her husband died. 

The summit of Victory Peak, in the Tian Shan Mountain Range on the border with China, is 24,406 feet. Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak, is 29,032 feet. 

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The suspension of the rescue mission comes days after an Italian climber named Luca Sinigaglia died while attempting to help Nagovitsina, Italian newspaper, L’Unione Sarda, reported. 

Sinigaglia died of hypothermia on Aug. 15, after making it up to where Nagovitsina was stuck, giving her a tent, sleeping bag, food, water and a gas cooker, the Daily Mail reported. 

Other attempts to save her both via climbing and twice with a helicopter have failed, including an effort in a defense ministry helicopter that crashed. The crash left four injured, according to the London Times. 

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The final attempt to rescue Nagovitsina was abandoned some 3,000 feet below where she is after the weather took a turn for the worse.

Rescue leader Dmitry Grekov said he didn’t think Nagovitsina could still be alive, according to the Daily Mail. 

"I think not, because she has been there since 12 August - count how much time has passed," he said. "It is unrealistic. It is unrealistic to survive at such an altitude."

A drone that flew over where she was sheltering confirmed she was alive as of Tuesday, but there was no sign of life when the drone flew over on Thursday as temperatures sunk as low as minus 9 degrees Fahrenheit, The Times reported. 

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