World News
Two men caught with 81 monkeys stuffed in bags and meth in wildlife smuggling ring, authorities say
Two men suspected of being part of an international wildlife smuggling ring were caught with 81 monkeys and methamphetamine in Thailand over the weekend near the country's border with Cambodia, authorities said.
Thai rangers stopped a vehicle on Friday in the Sa Kaeo province, where the monkeys were found stuffed into blue net bags.
TEACHER CAPTURES IMAGES OF ‘VERY RARE' BIRD NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN US
The two suspects allegedly admitted to being involved in a trafficking ring moving macaques from Thailand into Cambodia, the 12th Ranger Forces Regiment said in a Facebook post.
Authorities took possession of the unspecified amount of drugs and the monkeys.
RARE WHITE MAGPIE THRILLS MAN IN WALES: 'WOW, WHAT A THING THAT WAS'
Thailand is a major transit point for wildlife smugglers, who often sell endangered animals for markets in China and parts of Southeast Asia.
In May 2025, a man was arrested in Thailand on suspicion of smuggling two baby orangutans into the country, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said at the time.
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The 47-year-old suspect was arrested at a gas station as he was allegedly preparing to hand the animals over to a buyer.
Pope Leo XIV calls out Christian persecution amid latest massacre of civilians in African nation
Pope Leo XIV called out the latest attack against Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), calling attention to what he described as a growing global pattern of violence against the faithful.
"In various parts of the world, Christians suffer discrimination and persecution. I think especially of Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and other countries from which we frequently hear of attacks on communities and places of worship. … I accompany in prayer the families of Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where in recent days there has been a massacre of civilians. Let us pray that all violence may cease and that believers may work together for the common good," the pope wrote in a statement published on his official X page.
His message came as authorities in the DRC confirmed that at least 17 people were killed, according to The Associated Press, when fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces, a militant group aligned with the Islamic State, stormed a church-run hospital in the village of Byambwe, North Kivu.
The attackers entered the diocesan health center late Friday night, killing patients in their beds and setting the facility ablaze. Col. Alain Kiwewa, the local administrator, told the Associated Press that "women who were breastfeeding were brutally slaughtered and found with their throats slit in their hospital beds," adding that 11 women and six men were killed.
Vatican News described the scene as "a terrorist attack on civilians," citing accounts from survivors and clergy. Rev. Giovanni Piumatti, an Italian missionary who served more than five decades in the Diocese of Butembo-Beni, told the publication that militants looted medical supplies, set fire to the hospital and destroyed 27 nearby homes.
"This is a typical ADF attack," he said in the Vatican News interview. He added that the ADF fighters "kill mothers as they are breastfeeding their babies," describing a pattern of brutality that he said has become common in the region.
AFRICAN UNION CHIEF DENIES GENOCIDE CLAIMS AGAINST CHRISTIANS AS CRUZ WARNS NIGERIAN OFFICIALS
The ADF, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019, has repeatedly targeted Christians, churches and religious facilities across eastern Congo.
An Aug. 6, 2025, Human Rights Watch report said the Allied Democratic Forces "killed more than 40 people, including several children, with guns and machetes during a nighttime church gathering" in Komanda, Ituri province, and noted that in recent years the group has been "implicated in scores of killings and abductions" across eastern Congo.
Vatican News reported that the hospital was operated by the Little Sisters of the Presentation, who provide maternal care and basic surgical services in a region with few functioning medical facilities. Several newborns are believed to have been kidnapped in the attack, according to the Associated Press.
Piumatti condemned what he called the "shameful silence" of the international community, saying that economic interests in North Kivu’s mineral-rich territory have allowed armed groups to flourish.
The Byambwe massacre is the latest in a series of Islamist-linked attacks on the continent, adding new urgency to the pope’s call for global attention to Christian persecution and protection of vulnerable communities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
UN staff in Haiti told to stay off streets after gang coalition flexes muscle, US Marines face gunfire
Threats from Haitian gangs reportedly prompted the United Nations (U.N.) and foreign embassies to advise staff to stay off the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince Monday.
U.N. security directed staff to work remotely and restrict travel in the West region, while Haiti’s National Police canceled all personnel leave until further notice, according to The Miami Herald.
Mathias Gillmann, a spokesperson with the U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti, confirmed to Fox News Digital in an email that staff were asked to work from home for the day.
Public threats from a powerful Haitian gang leader began circulating on social media in recent days following weekend security operations from the Haitian National Police, the Armed Forces of Haiti and the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), a multinational mission, authorized by the U.N. Security Council.
US MARINES EXCHANGED GUNFIRE WITH SUSPECTED GANG MEMBERS IN HAITI, OFFICIAL SAYS
Jimmy Chérizier, widely known as "Barbecue," appeared in a video shared Sunday by an independent Haitian media outlet, urging people to stay home on Nov. 17 so they wouldn’t "be a victim," according to a brief translation of his remarks.
"Those who don't need to, do not go out into the streets. Leave the streets to 'Viv Ansanm' and the police so that we can confront them," "Barbecue" is quoted as saying, according to HaitiLibre, an independent Haitian news site based in Port-au-Prince.
LEADER OR KILLER? A DAY WITH ‘BARBECUE’ IN HAITI'S CAPITAL
Viv Ansanm is a Haitian gang coalition that was designated by the U.S. State Department as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and Foreign Terrorist Organization in May.
It was formed in September 2023 through an alliance between the two main gang factions operating in Port-au-Prince, G-9 and G-Pép.
The GSF said in an X post on Sunday that, together with specialized units from the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti, it carried out a security operation against the leadership and members of the 400 Mawozo gang that led to the deaths of several gang members.
The Friday operation resulted in the seizure of multiple weapons, including an M50-caliber Barrett rifle, six assault rifles and three pistols, they said.
BLACKWATER FOUNDER ERIK PRINCE TEAMS WITH HAITIAN GOVERNMENT TO FIGHT GANG VIOLENCE
"This operation sends a clear and unequivocal message: the era of unchecked gang dominance is over. Haiti’s security institutions are mobilizing all available capabilities; on land, at sea, and in the air, to restore peace, protect communities, and ensure that every Haitian can exercise their basic human rights without fear of violence," read a statement from GSF. "Joint intelligence-driven operations and continuous security patrols will persist until these criminal groups are decisively defeated."
GSF said a Haitian National Police helicopter providing aerial support during the operation was forced to make an emergency landing due to a mechanical malfunction.
The team on board was evacuated by ground units, who came under heavy gang fire while conducting the rescue.
On Thursday, U.S. Marines protecting the American Embassy in Haiti exchanged gunfire with suspected gang members. No service members were injured in the incident.
Auction of Holocaust-related items in Germany called off amid outcry
Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski announced that an auction of items connected to the Holocaust has been called off.
The planned auction had been connected with the Felzmann auction house in Germany.
"I spoke with the German Foreign Minister @JoWadephul regarding the planned auction in Neuss of items from the time of German terror during the Second World War. We agreed that such a scandal must be prevented," Sikorski noted in a Polish-language post on X, according to a translation.
"Thank you, minister @JoWadephul, for the information that the offensive auction of Holocaust artifacts has now been cancelled. Respect for victims requires the dignity of silence, not the din of commerce," he noted in an English-language post.
Nazi Germany's horrific mass murder of Jews during World War II represents a major point in 20th century world history. Items that would have been up for auction included letters written by prisoners in concentration camps, as well as Gestapo index cards and other perpetrator documents, The Associated Press reported, citing German news agency dpa.
ARGENTINA REVEALS SECRET WWII FILES ON HITLER'S HENCHMEN WHO FLED BEFORE, AFTER THE WAR
There had been pushback against the plan for the auction.
For example, the Fritz Bauer Institute strongly objected to the Holocaust-related auction in a press release.
"The Fritz Bauer Institute protests against the planned auction by the Felzmann auction house and fundamentally opposes any commercial trade in documents relating to Nazi persecution and the Holocaust. No business should be conducted with such documents," a German-language press release declared, according to a translation.
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"For victims of Nazi persecution and Holocaust survivors, this auction is a cynical and shameless undertaking that leaves them outraged and speechless," Christoph Heubner of The International Auschwitz Committee declared in a statement, according to the AP. "We urge those responsible at the Felzmann auction house to show some basic decency and cancel the auction," he had noted in the statement, according to the outlet.
Ukrainian major urges US to send Tomahawks as clashes with Russian forces intensify
FIRST ON FOX: As intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops continues on the eastern frontline in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions, a senior Ukrainian commander involved in the fighting there has appealed to the Trump administration for Tomahawk missiles.
Maj. Oleh Shyriaiev, commander of the 225th Battalion in northern Ukraine, is holding the line and hoping for more U.S. support. "The main thing that we need is long-range missiles," Shyriaiev exclusively told Fox News Digital from an undisclosed location in the northeastern Sumy region of Ukraine’s front lines.
"This war is the biggest war in the world since World War II," Major Shyriaiev said. Ukraine’s fight, he stressed, is not just to free itself from Russian aggression.
Moscow has sought to keep Ukraine in its sphere of influence since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. In fending off Russia’s invasion, Ukraine is looking to fulfill their 30-year hope of gaining complete independence from Moscow’s grip.
"For the last 300 years, our confrontation, that is, the confrontation between Ukraine and Russia, has been our chance to gain independence. And I am sure that we will win this war," Shyriaiev said.
U.S. long-range Tomahawk missiles would provide a useful option for Ukrainian forces to hold back Russian advances and get a better bargaining position to negotiate an end to the war.
"Bolstering Kyiv's long-range strike capabilities can help the Ukrainians impose greater costs on Moscow and undermine Russian offensive operations. Ultimately, this will provide Ukraine and the United States greater leverage to achieve peace," John Hardie, deputy director of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Russia Program, told Fox News Digital.
President Donald Trump at one point hinted he might send Ukraine long-range missiles.
"If this war doesn’t get settled, I may send Tomahawks," Trump said in October when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House.
In a reversal of this sentiment, the president pulled back and told reporters aboard Air Force One on Nov. 2nd that the U.S. would not be sending Ukraine Tomahawk missiles for now.
Tomahawks have a range of about 1,550 miles, far enough to strike Russian territory. The long-range, subsonic cruise missiles are used to penetrate deep inside enemy territory and are launched from U. S. Navy surface ships and U.S. Navy submarines. Ukraine, for its war effort and lack of a navy, would need ground-based launchers.
So far in over three years of war, the U.S. during the Biden administration feared sending offensive weapons would be seen as an escalatory move by Putin. The Russian president even warned President Trump in a recent phone call against sending such weapons.
TRUMP WARNS RUSSIA: US HAS WORLD'S GREATEST NUCLEAR SUBMARINE 'RIGHT OFF THEIR SHORES'
Even if the U.S. doesn’t provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, Major Shyriaiev is resolute in the Ukrainian army’s ability to fend off the Russians.
"I am confident that our armed forces will continue to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty regardless of the type and number of weapons we receive. While I believe that Ukraine would greatly benefit from the distribution of Tomahawk missiles, given the proven precision capability of these weapons, we know there is a lot going on at the political level, and we will defend our nation with all the tools at our disposal," Shyriaiev said.
Shyriaiev is holed up in Sumy, a strategically important oblast that borders Russia, and has been the centerpiece of Ukrainian counteroffensives this fall.
While Russia continues to make steady but slow progress on the battlefield, Ukraine has stalled Russian advances in Sumy. Reclaiming territory held by Russia in Sumy will bolster Ukraine’s position in any negotiation to end the war, a key priority for President Trump.
Shyriaiev described Russia’s tactics across the front lines as meat assaults, possessing enough manpower to overwhelm Ukraine’s much smaller forces, equating the method of throwing Russian soldiers into a meat grinder, and it is achieving some successes.
Even if Russia succeeds in taking Pokrovsk, the major stressed that Russia will suffer heavy losses along the way.
"Every larger town or smaller city will be a serious battle to take, and the Russians will be losing a large number of manpower here in Pokrovsk. So Pokrovsk is one of those places where they will lose a lot of troops and their combat capability will suffer seriously from that," Shyriaiev said.
‘Golden toilet’ scandal: Zelenskyy faces deepest crisis yet as allies accused in $100M wartime scheme
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy is battling the deepest crisis of his presidency after a money-laundering probe named members of his inner circle, including an associate accused of living in "golden toilet" luxury, a former government official has claimed.
Their comments came as the president faces scrutiny over the investigation that agencies said Monday involves associates allegedly linked to a plot to siphon around $100 million from Ukraine’s energy sector during the war with Russia.
"Ukrainians don't have any motivation to fight now because of enormous human rights violations and also because of this corruption now exposed," the former official told Fox News Digital, under condition of anonymity.
FORMER ZELENSKYY ASSOCIATE ACCUSED IN $100 MILLION EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEME
"People inside the country are already seeing this corruption and this is just part of the corrupt swamp. Zelenskyy is part of the problem," they claimed.
Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s financial system has come under scrutiny and now some Ukrainians are accused of taking kickbacks from projects meant to protect energy plants during wartime, prompting public outrage and undermining faith in government.
"This money laundering appeared to have been going on since 2022 and there were a lot of people who tried to stop this," the former official said.
"Some say Zelenskyy was aware of these schemes and that he had approved them," they claimed.
"There was also suspicion that money ended up in accounts abroad that benefited Zelenskyy and his inner circle," they said.
FLASHBACK: WHAT HAPPENED THE PREVIOUS TIME ZELENSKYY MET WITH TRUMP IN THE OVAL OFFICE
Over 15 months, a sweeping investigation dubbed "Operation Midas" by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) uncovered the schemes.
In one major Energoatom probe targeting Ukraine’s state nuclear power company and its energy contracts, businessman Tymur Mindich was named.
Mindich co-owned the entertainment company Kvartal 95 with the president and, according to The Kyiv Independent, Mindich was alleged to be the ringleader of that network.
The Financial Times also reported that investigators found bags of cash and a gold-plated toilet in one of the bathrooms of his apartment.
"They were introduced many years ago and were running the business of 95 Kvartal, which includes film production and many other entertainment genres," the former official claimed.
"Tymur had an apartment with golden toilets that was in the same building as Zelenskyy's, and in 2021 Zelenskyy celebrated his birthday in Tymur's apartment," they said.
Another figure under investigation, Oleksiy Chernyshov, is a former deputy prime minister.
"He was also very close to the family, and he used to hold positions in the Zelenskyy government since 2019, and he has been accused of abuse of office," the former official alleged.
"Chernyshov started building big, three or four huge houses in their most luxury place in Kyiv."
So far, in his nightly address on Nov. 10, Zelenskyy said:
"Everyone who put together a corrupt scheme must receive a clear legal response. There must be criminal verdicts."
He stressed the importance of accountability in the energy sector and said that keeping Energoatom clean from graft is a priority.
ZELENSKYY MOVES TO 'CLEAN UP' UKRAINE'S ENERGY SECTOR AS CORRUPTION SCANDAL ROCKS LEADERSHIP
Zelenskyy also praised the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s efforts, saying,
"Any effective actions against corruption are very needed. The inevitability of punishment is necessary."
"Zelenskyy is using his extraordinary PR talent and will not step down in this probe," the former official claimed. "Zelenskyy is not the kind of person who feels shame even if there’s a corruption probe… Zelenskyy has got everything from this war. He had a vertical of power, an unbreakable image, all the attention of the media. To some, he really depends on this and money," they added.
"Many Ukrainians believe in Donald Trump now, because he's the only person who actually changed the narrative and changed the way this war is going," the official said. "If not [for] Donald Trump we would not be talking about peace today at all, and every day of war is destroying Ukraine."
Fox News Digital reached out to Zelenskyy's office for comment.
Charlie Kirk honored in Jerusalem as hundreds gather, including officials, clergy and Christians
A memorial in Jerusalem for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday became a declaration of purpose, as hundreds of Israelis and American visitors vowed to continue the work he began, according to a report.
The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL) reported that roughly 300 people, including Israeli officials, clergy and U.S. Christians, gathered Sunday to honor the Turning Point USA founder, who was shot and killed during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in September. Many said the event felt less like a memorial and more like a mandate.
Pastor Rob McCoy, one of Kirk’s closest confidants, described him in comments reported by TPS-IL as "faithful, humble, a wonderful husband and father," and revealed a personal discipline — a weekly Sabbath rest.
"He found unbelievable freedom in turning everything off. From Friday night to Saturday night, no one could reach him," McCoy said. "That rhythm grounded him."
AT CHARLIE KIRK'S MEMORIAL, WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST
McCoy also said Kirk saw politics as a way to strengthen society, not a route to power.
"He saw politics as an on-ramp to increased humanity," McCoy said. "If he could get young people rowing in the streams of liberty, he believed they would eventually reach its source."
Several attendees told TPS-IL that Kirk’s reach extended far beyond his audience.
Tammy Martin of California said, "I never met Charlie personally, but when he was killed, it felt like losing someone I knew."
She credited him with helping Christians understand the importance of supporting Israel. "Some people you only see through a screen, but the truth they speak goes straight through," she said. "Charlie was one of those people."
Robert Whitley, also from California, told the publication Kirk was unmatched in his ability to connect with young conservatives.
TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM CHARLIE KIRK'S MEMORIAL SERVICE IN ARIZONA
"He knew how to speak to young people in a way no one else could," Whitley said. "He helped them push back against indoctrination and see Israel and America with real clarity."
Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli praised Kirk’s discipline and resolve in comments to TPS-IL.
"Charlie embodied the deeper meaning of freedom — responsibility, clarity, discipline," Chikli said. "His death is a tremendous loss, not only to his family but to the conservative movement worldwide and to all those who saw him as a defender of truth."
RABBI HONORS CHARLIE KIRK'S ENDURING LEGACY OF DEFENDING ISRAEL 'WITH CLARITY AND COURAGE'
According to TPS-IL, American-born musician Nissim Black called Kirk "a giant — a real giant — and his legacy is a legacy you can’t shake."
He noted that Kirk’s moral conviction left a void. "He was unapologetic when it came to morality and unapologetic when it came to standing for what was right," Black said. "Even in his absence, you feel it — he held so many people together."
Speakers throughout the evening returned to one of Kirk’s final recorded statements: "In the absence of courage, truth is an orphan."
As the evening ended, attendees said the gathering left them determined to carry forward his mission.
"Charlie is gone, but the truth he fought for is not," one attendee said. "And it’s up to us now."
Maduro sings John Lennon's 'Imagine' at rally as US warships patrol Venezuelan waters
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro broke into song during a rally Saturday, singing John Lennon’s "Imagine" and calling for peace as the Trump administration bolsters a military presence off Venezuela’s coast in what it says is an effort to curb drug trafficking.
According to The Associated Press, Maduro invoked Lennon as he spoke about peace, calling the former member of The Beatles a poet and musician who left a "gift to humanity." He urged young people to read the lyrics, describing the song as an anthem for every generation.
In the video, Maduro paused mid-speech to recall Lennon’s song, singing a few words before reflecting on its meaning.
"What a beautiful song. The lyrics—young people, look up the lyrics," he said, according to a translation. "It’s an inspiration for all time. It’s an anthem for all eras and generations that John Lennon left as a gift to humanity. Long live the eternal memory of that great poet and musician, John Lennon."
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Maduro’s appeal for peace came as tensions with Washington escalate, with U.S. warships patrolling Caribbean waters near Venezuela.
The Trump administration says the operation is part of a broader effort to fight drug trafficking, while Maduro has denounced it as aggression meant to weaken his government.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier, entered the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, the AP reported.
VENEZUELA MOBILIZES TROOPS, WEAPONS IN RESPONSE TO US WARSHIP BUILDUP IN CARIBBEAN
The Pentagon said last month the carrier’s arrival, with more than 4,000 sailors and dozens of tactical aircraft, would "bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities." It added that the mission aims to "degrade and dismantle transnational criminal organizations."
Venezuela has also deployed troops and begun amassing weapons and equipment in response to the Trump administration’s deployment of U.S. warships in the Caribbean.
The buildup, which the government calls "prolonged resistance," involves small units at more than 280 sites carrying out sabotage and guerrilla tactics, according to sources and several-year-old planning documents reviewed by Reuters.
US NAVY DESTROYER ARRIVES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AS TRUMP TURNS SCREWS ON VENEZUELA
Maduro has accused the Trump administration of trying to oust him and pledged that Venezuelans will defend their country from what he calls U.S. aggression.
Meanwhile, the administration has ordered strikes targeting suspected drug-running vessels in the Caribbean to stem the flow of narcotics into the United States.
President Donald Trump has even floated the possibility of ground operations in Venezuela, saying "the land is going to be next."
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Niger fallout under Biden leaves US troops ‘blind’ in battle with terror groups
FIRST ON FOX: U.S. troops trying to combat al Qaeda and ISIS jihadist fighters in Niger and some other West African countries in the terror-ridden Sahel region are reportedly "completely blind," following what a former senior State Department official has told Fox News Digital was a policy proposal developed by the Biden administration.
A U.S. military source who spoke exclusively to Fox News Digital claimed that now the Pentagon, when trying to react to serious incidents such as the Oct. 21 kidnapping of a U.S. citizen, is faced with "a black hole."
The U.S. had two airbases in Niger until September of last year. American surveillance drones operated from the bases, using high-tech cameras to peer through thick forest to locate terror groups. The drones were thought to be involved in locating another American Niger resident who was kidnapped in 2020, during the first Trump administration. Washington sent in SEAL Team Six to successfully rescue that citizen.
According to the military source, Niger wanted Washington to keep its Niger bases. But in March last year, Niger complained about the "condescending attitude" of a U.S. delegation sent to Niger by the Biden administration, and ordered all American base personnel to leave.
AMERICAN MISSIONARY KIDNAPPED IN NIGER BY SUSPECTED ISLAMIST MILITANTS, SOURCES SAY
Niger’s government spokesperson, Amadou Adramane, went on national television following the meeting, on March 16, complaining that the former administration’s officials did not follow diplomatic protocol. "Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships," he said.
Adramane continued: "Also, the government of Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people."
Mary "Molly" Phee, then assistant secretary of state for the Biden administration, was tasked with leading the U.S. team in their meeting with Niger’s military leadership. Several sources reported that, as the delegation head, she demanded the country stop dealing with Russia and Iran, or face sanctions.
One source told Fox News Digital that she "flame sprayed" Niger’s leaders in the meeting, adding the "rant led us to being kicked out." The Washington Post also reported the Nigerien leaders took particular umbrage at her remarks.
On Saturday, Phee, now retired, told Fox News Digital, "It’s a classic case of blame the messenger if you don’t like the message."
EXPERT WARNS CRITICAL HOURS SLIPPING AWAY AS KIDNAPPERS LIKELY TO MOVE US MISSIONARY IN NIGER
Phee said she was following Biden administration policy, saying, "I’m a professional diplomat with more than 30 years of experience, and I was leading an interagency delegation dispatched to share a proposal developed and approved by the White House. The Nigerien junta rejected our offer and employed a misogynistic trope to deflect legitimate concerns about their conduct."
Within months of the Phee delegation’s meeting with Niger’s leaders, all U.S. personnel, and their drones, had gone from Niger, leaving Washington, the military source claimed, with "no eyes in the sky."
This led the then commander of the U.S. Africa Command, (AFRICOM), Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, to tell military chiefs at an African Chiefs of Defense Conference in May, "Since we’ve left Niger in September of last year, we’re observing a rise in attacks by violent extremist organizations, not only in Niger but across the Sahel to include Nigeria as well and emanating in – going into Burkina Faso and Mali."
The general added that terror groups have both increased their capability and "proliferation of weapons," concluding "unfortunately with our withdrawal from the region, we have lost our ability to monitor these terrorist groups closely."
RUSSIAN MERCENARIES REPLACE WESTERN FORCES AS ISIS SURGES ACROSS AFRICA'S SAHEL REGION
The U.S. military source told Fox News Digital that, "AFRICOM is severely resource constrained with only one base in Djibouti, and some smaller forces in Somalia and Kenya. The Biden administration kept cutting our budget… we are one of the largest land masses with all the problems — Russia, China, drugs and terrorism — but make up less than 1% of the Department of War’s budget."
"Since the previous administration lost us access to Niger, the Americans and Western powers are completely blind and unable to quickly react to anything."
The source agreed that SEAL Team Six could conceivably be sent in again to rescue this new American kidnap victim. But he said first, the rescue team needs to know where the victim is. "If we had stayed, right now… Niger would be much safer, and we would have eyes in the sky to help find the American missionary… now we have nothing in the way of resources."
Rescue, the source told us, is "difficult to impossible… first we have to find the guy."
Analysts agreed that, particularly in Sahel’s hot conditions, it’s difficult for Washington’s other "eyes" – satellites – to be effective in tracking the victim.
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The State Department has issued its highest possible travel advisory alert, stating, "Do not travel to Niger for any reason due to crime, unrest, terrorism, health, and kidnapping."
Fox News Digital reached out to AFRICOM, the Department of War and the State Department on several occasions, but at the time of publication there had been no response.
Chinese coast guard conducts patrol through disputed Senkaku Islands waters following Taiwan spat
Chinese coast guard ships sailed through the Senkaku Islands in what it called a "rights enforcement patrol" on Sunday, continuing to ramp up tensions with Japan.
The move is the latest sign of Beijing's displeasure with Japan, which administers the islands, after newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gave a full-throated defense of Taiwan's independence earlier this month. She vowed that any attack by Beijing on Taiwan would warrant a military response from Japan.
"China Coast Guard vessel 1307 formation conducted patrols within the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This was a lawful patrol operation conducted by the China Coast Guard to uphold its rights and interests," China's coast guard said in a statement.
In the days since Takaichi's Nov. 7 statement on Taiwan, Chinese officials have summoned Japan's ambassador and warned Chinese citizens against traveling to Japan. China's defense ministry also vowed that any Japanese intervention would be ineffective in protecting Taiwan.
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The most vicious response came from China's consul general in Osaka, who appeared to threaten to decapitate Takaichi in a now-deleted post on social media.
The official, Xue Jian, wrote, "That filthy neck that barged in on its own – I've got no choice but to cut it off without a moment's hesitation. Are you prepared for that?"
CHINA LAUNCHES THIRD AIRCRAFT CARRIER AS XI PUSHES MILITARY MODERNIZATION AGAINST US INFLUENCE
Japan’s government condemned the statement, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara calling it "extremely inappropriate" and confirming that Tokyo had lodged a formal protest with Beijing. Kihara said Xue had made "multiple" inflammatory remarks in the past and urged China to take disciplinary action.
China instead appeared to defend the diplomat. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters Monday that Xue’s words came in response to Takaichi’s "wrongful and dangerous" comments, which he said misrepresented China’s position on Taiwan. Lin accused Japan of "refusing to face up to its historical responsibilities" and warned Tokyo not to interfere in "internal Chinese affairs."
Taiwan's defense ministry says it has also detected ramped-up aggression from China in recent days. The self-governed island said it monitored 30 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval ships operating nearby, according to NBC News.
Fox News' Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
US Marines exchanged gunfire with suspected gang members in Haiti, official says
U.S. Marines protecting the American embassy in Haiti exchanged gunfire with suspected gang members last week, a Marine spokesman said.
Capt. Steven J. Keenan told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement Sunday that Marines supporting embassy security operations were fired upon by suspected gang members in the capital of Port-au-Prince and returned fire on the evening of Nov. 13.
"U.S. Marines are committed to the safety and security of U.S. embassies worldwide and respond to all threats with professionalism and swift, disciplined action," Keenan said.
No service members were injured in the incident, which was first reported over the weekend by The Washington Post.
US MILITARY BUILDUP IN CARIBBEAN SEES BOMBERS, MARINES AND WARSHIPS CONVERGE NEAR VENEZUELA
Neither the State Department nor the U.S. Embassy in Haiti immediately responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The Caribbean nation has been plagued by gang violence, with armed groups reportedly controlling up to 90% of Port-au-Prince, according to the United Nations. The groups block access roads, attack infrastructure, and terrorize civilians through kidnappings, rapes and killings.
There has been no elected government in Haiti since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
The UN said a Gang Suppression Force of 5,550 was set to begin operations in Haiti on Oct. 2, working alongside Haitian authorities to neutralize gangs, secure infrastructure and support humanitarian access.
The multinational mission, authorized by the UN Security Council, aims to "protect vulnerable populations from escalating violence and prevent the displacement that inevitably causes."
It remains unclear which countries will contribute personnel, though the force will be funded primarily through voluntary contributions from UN member states.
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The State Department has a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" warning for Haiti on its website due to the risks of kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity and civil unrest.
It ordered nonemergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave the country in July 2023 due to security risks. The country has been under a state of emergency since March 2024.
Investigation reveals Putin uses multiple matching offices in different locations to conceal whereabouts
Vladimir Putin is running Russia in hiding. A new investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Sistema project claims that the Russian president has been filmed in at least three nearly identical offices — one at Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow, another in Sochi, and a third in Valdai — allowing the Kremlin to conceal his real location the investigation claims.
Researchers analyzed more than 700 Kremlin videos and found that many appearances described as being at Novo-Ogaryovo were actually recorded at the Valdai residence, roughly 250 miles northwest of Moscow. They identified telltale clues such as thermostat shapes, door-handle placement, and decorative lines on the wall. Leaked itineraries of state TV crews confirmed travel to Sochi and Valdai on dates when official captions said "near Moscow."
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Independent sociologist Konstantin Gaaze told RFE/RL that Putin’s current pattern of secret locations and information control "most resembles Saddam Hussein’s," citing the creation of multiple identical rooms and hidden residences. Analysts noted that Valdai’s dense forest and isolation make it easier to protect with Pantsir-M air-defense systems than the Kremlin or Moscow suburbs.
Putin’s official estate, Novo-Ogaryovo, built in the 1950s, became his main workplace in the early 2000s. Satellite imagery shows it ringed by high walls, helipads, and underground shelters. But since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he has rarely been seen there. Instead, investigators and satellite images reviewed by Dagens and Charter97 indicate that he now spends most of his time at Valdai, a fortified lakeside complex hidden among forests between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
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His coastal residence, Bocharov Ruchey, in Sochi — once a preferred retreat — has been used less often since Ukrainian long-range drones reached Russia. Analysts say Valdai’s distance and cover make it a safer command center.
The Sistema report claimed that the three matching offices were built gradually: Novo-Ogaryovo’s original in about 2015, Valdai’s copy by 2018, and Sochi’s by 2020. Each features the same beige palette, identical furniture, and the Russian flag behind Putin’s desk. The duplication lets Kremlin media maintain the illusion of a single, stable seat of power.
Russian opposition politician Maxim Katz told Fox News Digital that the findings reflect an obsession with personal safety, "He thinks NATO or the Ukrainians could strike him. For someone with a KGB background, it makes sense to have multiple identical rooms. They just didn’t execute it perfectly — you can see the differences."
Katz said the same mentality governed Putin’s conduct during the pandemic.
"It’s well known that he’s obsessive about his security and health — it was most obvious during COVID. Even ministers and prime ministers had to isolate himself for a week or two before meeting him. That long table with French President Emmanuel Macron shows it perfectly — Macron refused a test, and Putin agreed to meet only at a very long table because he was afraid of infection."
He added that Putin "never comes close to the front, or anywhere Ukrainians might reach. He takes his safety seriously and avoids unnecessary risks."
Britain announces sweeping asylum policy shift to cut protections for refugees
Drastic changes are coming to Great Britain's asylum policy, including longer wait times for permanent residency and a forced return to the person's home country once it is deemed safe.
The shift represents the largest overhaul of policy on asylum seekers in modern times, inspired by Denmark, which has one of the toughest policies in Europe and has been widely scrutinized by rights groups.
Britain's Labour government has been toughening its stance on immigration, as it seeks to address the surging popularity of the populist Reform U.K. party, which has taken a strict approach to immigration and forced Labour to adopt a tougher position.
The new changes include revoking the statutory duty to provide housing and financial support to certain asylum seekers, the Home Office said in a statement.
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It also said refugees would have to wait 20 years to apply for permanent residency instead of the current five years, the period of initial refugee status would be cut from five years to two and a half years, rules around family reunions would be stricter and refugees would be encouraged or forced to return to their home country once it is considered safe.
The department said the measures would apply to asylum seekers who can work but choose not to, as well as those who break the law. Taxpayer-funded support would be prioritized for people contributing to the economy and local communities.
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The Home Office said the changes aim to make the U.K. less attractive to illegal migrants and make it easier to remove people whose claims are denied.
"This country has a proud tradition of welcoming those fleeing danger, but our generosity is drawing illegal migrants across the Channel," Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said. "The pace and scale of migration is placing immense pressure on communities."
More than 100 British charities called on Mahmood to "end the scapegoating of migrants and performative policies that only cause harm," arguing that the measures are fueling racism and violence.
Britain's Refugee Council said on X that refugees do not compare asylum systems when attempting to flee danger. It said that they aim for the U.K. because of family ties, some knowledge of English or connections that can help them start over safely.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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