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Shootout near Israeli Embassy in Jordan leaves 3 police officers injured, gunman dead
A gunman is dead in Jordan after wounding three police officers in a shootout near Israel's embassy early Sunday, authorities said.
The gunman opened fire in the Rabiah neighborhood of the capital of Amman, Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said in a statement. Police pursued the gunman, shooting and killing him.
"He was chased and surrounded, so he started firing gunshots at the security force, which in turn applied the rules of engagement, which resulted in the killing of the perpetrator," the statement said.
Jordan's communications minister, Mohamed Momani, described the shooting to Reuters as a terrorist attack that targeted public security forces in the country.
ISRAEL CONFIRMS DEATH OF MISSING ABU DHABI RABBI: ‘ABHORRENT ACT OF ANTISEMITIC TERRORISM’
"Tampering with the security of the nation and attacking security personnel will be met with a firm response," Momani told the outlet.
While authorities did not immediately identify the shooter or a motive, Momani said the gunman had a criminal history of drug trafficking.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
CALL FOR US TO DO MORE AS ANTISEMITIC ACTS SKYROCKET IN EUROPE: ‘ENORMOUSLY PAINFUL’
Jordan is a close Western ally that made peace with Israel in 1994, though relations were strained amid Israel's war in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks.
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Jordan has a large Palestinian population and has seen repeated protests outside the Israeli Embassy, with demonstrators sometimes clashing with police.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Israel confirms death of missing Abu Dhabi rabbi: 'Abhorrent act of antisemitic terrorism’
Israeli officials on Sunday confirmed the death of an Abu Dhabi rabbi who had been missing since Thursday.
"The UAE intelligence and security authorities have located the body of Zvi Kogan, who has been missing since Thursday, 21 November 2024," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on X. "The Israeli mission in Abu Dhabi has been in contact with the family from the start of the event and is continuing to assist it at this difficult time; his family in Israel has also been updated."
"The murder of Zvi Kogan, of blessed memory, is an abhorrent act of antisemitic terrorism. The State of Israel will use all means and will deal with the criminals responsible for his death to the fullest extent of the law," the statement added.
RABBI FEARED KIDNAPPED, KILLED BY TERRORISTS AFTER GOING MISSING, PROMPTING INVESTIGATION
Rabbi Zvi Kogan was an emissary of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Hasidic Judaism based in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood in New York City.
The 28-year-old was a resident of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates when he went missing Thursday. He is a citizen of both Moldova and Israel.
According to his LinkedIn, Kogan worked as a recruiter and was "passionate about volunteering and serving [his] community."
'CHEERLEADING FOR TERRORISM': TWITCH STAR CALLED FOR NEW 9/11, DISMISSED HORROR OF OCT 7
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced its investigation into the unusual disappearance on Saturday. At the time, the statement said the disappearance appeared to be related to "a terrorist incident" but did not elaborate.
The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Interior had confirmed it was investigating Kogan's disappearance, but described his citizenship solely as a "Moldovan national."
Kogan’s wife, Rivky, is a U.S. citizen who lived with him in the UAE. She is the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Calls for US to do more as antisemitic acts skyrocket in Europe: 'enormously painful'
On Nov. 7, an anti-Israel mob set out on a "Jew hunt" through the streets of Amsterdam following a soccer game against a visiting Israeli team in what Israeli President Isaac Herzog termed an ‘antisemitic pogrom.’
When the angry mob was done hunting down and violently assaulting Jews and Israelis, five victims were hospitalized. Rioters continued to protest following the attacks setting a tram aflame on Nov. 11 and intensifying the spotlight on antisemitism throughout Europe.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, told Fox News Digital that his organization "put a travel advisory on Amsterdam in the immediate aftermath of what happened." Cooper explained that the Simon Wiesenthal Center only takes this action "very rarely" and after serious deliberation.
TRAM SET ON FIRE AS AMSTERDAM RIOTS RAGE ON
"Theoretically," Cooper added, "you can slap a travel advisory on almost every place in Western Europe." As Cooper explained, "the establishment has never stepped forward in any really major way across Europe to safeguard their Jews and guarantee their rights and their religious freedoms."
Following Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel, there has been a staggering increase in antisemitism across Europe. In May, citing data from the World Zionist Organization, Ynetnews reported an 800% increase in antisemitic incidents in Sweden over the previous year, as well as a 680% increase in Spain, a 450% increase in the Netherlands, a 442% increase in the UK and a 433% increase in France.
Events in Amsterdam appeared to be a flashpoint for further hate. On Nov. 10, Belgian authorities arrested five individuals after calls appeared on social media for a "Jew Hunt" in the Jewish Quarter of Antwerp, according to the Jerusalem Post.
In Greece in mid-November, protests featuring pro-Palestinian activists became so volatile that the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry advised Israelis to avoid the Embassy and certain other areas and to remove identifying symbols, the Jerusalem Post reported. Far from the first anti-Israel demonstration in Greece, in June, nine Europeans were under consideration for deportation following "disruptive anti-Israel demonstrations" at the University of Athens School of Law.
The Jerusalem Post reported that an under-17 youth soccer team in Berlin was "chased and assaulted" on Nov. 7 by a knife- and stick-wielding crowd screaming, "Free Palestine." The Times of Israel reported that fewer than two weeks later, the Berlin Chief of Police told Jewish and gay residents to "be careful" in neighborhoods with high populations of Arabs. "Unfortunately, there are certain neighborhoods where there are mostly Arab people who also have sympathy for terrorist groups," she explained.
The expansion of at-risk groups in Berlin echoes the warning words of Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal. As Cooper explained, his organization’s founder readily emphasized, "It often starts with the Jews. It never ends with the Jews."
In the atmosphere of tension and hate, Cooper noted that Jewish Europeans are engaging in "conditioning and self-censorship," removing yarmulkes, or taking the Jewish "chai" symbols from their necklaces. Cooper said that it has "probably been about 15 years since a Jewish person felt comfortable walking to synagogue wearing a kippah in Amsterdam."
Cooper’s concerns are borne out by media reports. As one Dutch Jewish citizen told Ynetnews, Jews visiting the Netherlands should not wear identifying items or "bring Israeli passports." The Times reported in October that many Irish Jews are likewise removing identifying symbols due to an environment of mistrust.
In France, Jewish citizens are removing mezuzahs from their doors, avoiding riding in Ubers, and even changing their names to protect themselves from being identified and targeted with hate when they receive deliveries, according to the Christian Science Monitor. In 2023, France recorded 1,676 antisemitic incidents, compared with 436 the prior year. About 1,200 French Jews began applications to emigrate to Israel in 2023, an increase of 430% from 2022.
As Cooper explained, it is "enormously painful to look across Europe and to see that they give their due deference one or two days a year to dead Jews. They still haven’t figured out in Europe how to live and embrace and celebrate Jewish presence in their societies."
With increased hate in Europe possibly impacting Americans traveling overseas, Fox News Digital asked the U.S. State Department whether it would issue travel advisories warning Jewish Americans of antisemitism abroad.
"We take seriously our commitment to provide U.S. citizens with clear, timely, and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions," a spokesperson said. "We use standard formats for our Travel Advisories and Alerts to help U.S. citizens find and use important security information easily. We encourage U.S. citizens traveling overseas to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP.state.gov) to receive important safety and security updates, and to make it easier for the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact them in an emergency."
The Netherlands’ Level-Two State Department Travel Advisory, last updated in August, notes threats of terrorism, but provides no information about antisemitic hatred. Neither do advisories for France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, or Greece.
Cooper emphasized that the Simon Wiesenthal Center hopes the incoming Trump administration will "take the fight against antisemitism globally to a new level," making it "part and parcel of American foreign policy, especially in the Americas and in the international organizations for which we fork out billions of dollars every year."
Man in India regains consciousness before his cremation on funeral pyre: reports
A 25-year-old man who was declared dead and about to be cremated in India this week was found to be still alive by witnesses, according to reports.
Rohitash Kumar, 25, who was deaf and mute, was declared dead at a hospital in the state of Rajasthan in the northwestern part of India without a post-mortem examination, according to The Times of India.
Once it was clear Kumar was alive at his cremation on Thursday afternoon, his family reportedly took him back to a hospital where he died early Friday morning.
COLORADO FUNERAL HOME OWNERS PLEAD GUILTY TO CORPSE ABUSE AFTER NEARLY 200 BODIES FOUND DECOMPOSING
Three doctors involved in declaring Kumar dead at the Bhagwan Das Khetan district hospital have since been suspended, the newspaper reported.
Kumar had suffered an epileptic seizure and was declared dead after he flatlined while doctors were performing CPR on him, the Daily Mail reported, citing the AFP news service.
10 NEWBORN BABIES DIE IN INDIA AFTER FIRE RIPS THROUGH HOSPITAL NEONATAL UNIT
"The situation was nothing short of a miracle," a witness at the funeral pyre told local news outlet ETV Bharat. "We all were in shock. He was declared dead, but there he was, breathing and alive."
Ramavtar Meena, a government official in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district, called the incident "serious negligence."
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"Action will be taken against those responsible. The working style of the doctors will also be thoroughly investigated," he said.
Meena added that a committee had been formed to investigate the incident.
Rabbi feared kidnapped, killed by terrorists after going missing, prompting investigation
An Orthodox Jewish rabbi is feared dead after "terrorist involvement" was found related to his recent disappearance, prompting an investigation by the Mossad.
Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a Chabad emissary, was a resident of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates when he went missing Thursday. He is a citizen of both Moldova and Israel.
According to his LinkedIn, Kogan works as a recruiter and is "passionate about volunteering and serving [his] community."
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced its investigation into the unusual disappearance on Saturday. The statement said the disappearance appears to be related to "a terrorist incident" but did not elaborate.
'CHEERLEADING FOR TERRORISM': TWITCH STAR CALLED FOR NEW 9/11, DISMISSED HORROR OF OCT 7
"Since his disappearance, and given information indicating that this is a terrorist incident, an active investigation has been going on in the country," the office's statement posted on X said. "Israeli security and intelligence orgs, concerned for Kogan's safety and wellbeing, have been working tirelessly on this case.
"This also serves as a reminder that for a while, per the recommendations of the NSC, there has been a level 3 – moderate travel warning issued for the UAE, with a recommendation to avoid any non-essential travel there, and for those who are in the country – take extra precautions."
UAE officials are also investigating. In a statement released Saturday night, Emerati official Majed Al Mansoori "affirmed that the Ministry is closely monitoring the case of the missing Moldovan citizen, Zvi Kogan, and is in close contact with his family to provide them with all means of necessary support.
"His Excellency also highlighted that the Ministry is in continuous contact with the Embassy of Moldova in Abu Dhabi in this regard," the press release, which identified Kogan as a citizen of Moldova, added. "His Excellency underscored that the Ministry of Interior (MoI) is implementing extensive measures in its search for the missing person, affirming that the relevant authorities in the UAE have initiated the search operations and investigations immediately following the receipt of the report."
The Chabad movement asked its social media followers to "please pray" for the missing rabbi Saturday.
"Rabbi Zvi Kogan, the Chabad-Lubavitch emissary to Abu Dhabi, UAE, has been missing since Thursday," Chabad.org wrote on X.
"Details of his current whereabouts are unconfirmed. Please say a chapter of Psalms for the immediate and safe return of Tzvi hakohen ben Etel."
Justin Trudeau dances at Taylor Swift concert amid destructive riot in Montreal, sparking outrage
Video of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dancing at a Taylor Swift concert amid a destructive protest in Montreal drew outrage over the weekend.
Trudeau, who represents a district in Montreal, had attended the Taylor Swift concert in Toronto on Friday night. A viral video posted on X shows the Canadian politician dancing and singing along to the song "You Don't Own Me" before Swift took the stage.
Toronto is roughly 280 miles west of the Canadian capital of Ottowa and 330 miles west of the Montreal district that Trudeau represents.
During the same night, anti-NATO demonstrators set off smoke bombs and marched through the streets of Montreal with Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, the rioters set cars on fire and clashed with police.
CANADA'S TRUDEAU FACING REVOLT FROM WITHIN AS POPULAR CONSERVATIVE LEADER LOOKS TO CAPITALIZE
Protesters also threw small explosive devices and metal items at officers. At one point, the group burned an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The image of Trudeau dancing amid protests in his hometown sparked outrage online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to Nero, the infamous Roman emperor known for "fiddling while Rome burned."
Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.
"Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances," Stewart wrote. "This is the Canada built by the Liberal government."
CANADA LAUNCHES SUDDEN IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN AMID PUBLIC PRESSURE: REPORT
"Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved," the MP added.
On Saturday, Trudeau denounced the protests and called them "appalling."
"What we saw on the streets of Montreal last night was appalling," the Canadian leader said. "Acts of antisemitism, intimidation, and violence must be condemned wherever we see them."
"The RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] are in communication with local police. There must be consequences, and rioters held accountable."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Trudeau's office for comment.
Scientists study ‘very rare’ frozen remains of 35,000-year-old saber-toothed cub
A mummified saber-toothed cub dating back 35,000 years was left almost perfectly preserved in Siberia's permafrost.
The remains had been found back in 2020, northeast of Yakutia, Russia. Research regarding the study of the cub was published in the journal Scientific Reports on November 14, 2024.
The discovery of frozen remains from the Late Pleistocene period is "very rare," according to the published research, though most discovered in Russia lie in the Indigirka River basin, the authors note.
12-YEAR-OLD BOY STUMBLES UPON STUNNING ANCIENT FIND WHILE WALKING DOG IN ENGLAND: ‘RELATIVELY RARE’
The mummified cub remained well-preserved, frozen in time for thousands of years. The frozen nature of this find left it in impressive condition, even still containing fur.
"The mummy body is covered with short, thick, soft, dark brown fur with hair about 20–30 mm long," the authors wrote in the published research, also pointing out that the fur that was located on the back and neck of the cub was longer than the hair that was found on the legs.
The head of the mummy was also left well-preserved, down to its chest, front arms and paws.
IRISH FARMER FINDS NEAR-60-POUND SLAB OF ANCIENT BOG BUTTER ON HIS LAND BY ‘PURE LUCK’
The study of this find wasn't just a unique opportunity for scientists, it also provided first-of-its kind research.
"For the first time in the history of paleontology, the appearance of an extinct mammal that has no analogues in the modern fauna has been studied," the authors of the study explained.
The scientists determined that the cub had died at about three weeks old. It was identified by the authors of the study as belonging to the species Homotherium latidens and had many differentiations from a modern lion cub of a similar age.
The shape of the muzzle displayed by the mummified cub, which had a large mouth and small ears, plus a "massive" neck, long forelimbs and a darker colored coat, were all among key differences from today's modern lion cubs that scientists observed.
2,000-YEAR-OLD ROMAN ROAD DISCOVERED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN LONDON
Scientists also worked in their research to find out how the extinct species was able to survive through frigid temperatures.
Large contributors to their survival were the shape of the large paws and absence of carpal pads. Scientists believe these elements helped them get through the snow.
In recent years, there have been other ancient animals found in Siberian permafrost.
For example, in 2021, a mummified wolf was discovered that dated back over 44,000 years, Live Science reported in June 2024.
Philippine vice president makes public assassination threat against country's president
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte shockingly declared Saturday that she had contracted an assassin to kill the president, his wife and other top officials should she meet an untimely demise.
Duterte warned in an online press conference that she is deadly serious and not joking about her threat to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. killed if something happens to her first. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin referred the "active threat" against the president to an elite presidential guard force "for immediate proper action."
The Presidential Security Command said it has "heightened and strengthened" Marcos' security protocols. "We are also closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, and defend against any and all threats to the President and the First Family."
Security officials are treating the threat – "made so brazenly in public" – with the "upmost seriousness."
PHILIPPINES DEPLOYS NEW COAST GUARD SHIP TO SABINA SHOAL, DEFYING CHINA'S DEMANDS FOR WITHDRAWAL
"We consider this a matter of national security and shall take all necessary measures to ensure the President’s safety," the command said.
It is unclear what action, if any, will be taken against the vice president.
Marcos and Duterte ran on the same ticket in the May 2022 elections and both were elected with landslide majorities after campaigning on national unity.
But divisions over policy towards Chinese aggression in the disputed South China Sea and other key issues interrupted the honeymoon and led to a falling out between Marcos and Duterte.
Duterte, a populist, is the daughter of the equally controversial former President Rodrigo Duterte, a well-known critic of Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the president's ally and cousin. Duterte has accused them of corruption, incompetence and political persecution of her family and supporters.
Her threat to have Marcos killed came after House members allied with Romualdez and Marcos detained her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, who was accused of hampering a congressional inquiry into the possible misuse of her budget as vice president and education secretary. Lopez was later transferred to a hospital after falling ill, and wept when she heard of a plan to temporarily lock her up in a women’s prison, the Associated Press reported.
Furious, Duterte held an online press conference Saturday and accused Marcos of incompetence as president and of being a liar, along with his wife and the House speaker, throwing several expletives at them in her remarks.
When asked about concerns over her security, the 46-year-old lawyer suggested there was an unspecified plot to kill her. "Don’t worry about my security because I’ve talked with somebody. I said 'if I’m killed, you’ll kill BBM, Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke,’" the vice president said without elaborating and using the initials that many use to call the president.
EX-PHILIPPINE LEADER RODRIGO DUTERTE LAUNCHES ALLEGATIONS AT SUCCESSOR, SPARKING POLITICAL RIFT
"I’ve given my order, ‘If I die, don’t stop until you’ve killed them.’ And he said, ’yes,’" the vice president said, per the AP.
Philippine law criminalizes public remarks that may constitute a crime of threatening to inflict a wrong on a person or his family, which is punishable by jail time and a fine.
In light of the chaotic political divisions, military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner put out a statement that pledged the 160,000-member Armed Forces of the Philippines would remain nonpartisan "with utmost respect for our democratic institutions and civilian authority."
"We call for calm and resolve," Brawner said. "We reiterate our need to stand together against those who will try to break our bonds as Filipinos."
Duterte's father Rodrigo Duterte presided over polcie-enforced anti-drugs crackdowns when he was a city mayor and later president tthatleft thousands of drug suspects dead in killings the International Criminal Court has been investigating as a possible crime against humanity.
The former president has denied authorizing extrajudicial killings under his anti-drug crusade, but some of his public statements have contradicted his denials. He told a public Philippine Senate inquiry last month that he had maintained a "death squad" of gangsters to kill other criminals when he was mayor of southern Davao city.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
US scrambles as drones shape the landscape of war: 'the future is here'
FIRST ON FOX: The U.S. Army this week took steps to advance American military capabilities by ordering close to 12,000 surveillance drones small enough to fit in a backpack as the reality of battle shifts in favor of electronic warfare.
Conflicts around the globe, particularly the war in Ukraine, have drastically changed how major nations think about conducting war, explained drone expert and former U.S. Army intelligence and special operations soldier Brett Velicovich to Fox News Digital.
The nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine has often depicted scenes not witnessed since World War II, with children loaded onto trains, veins of trenches scarring the eastern front and renewed concern over how the geopolitics of this conflict could ensnare the entire Western world.
But Ukraine’s scrappy response to its often outnumbered and at times outgunned reality has completely changed how major nations look at the modern-day battlefield.
"Think about how we fought wars in the past," Velicovich, a Fox News contributor, said, pointing to the Vietnam War. "When you were fighting the enemy over that trench line, you didn't know who was over that hill. You saw a red hat and you fired at it."
"Now you have the ability to see what's over that hill and maneuver your forces quickly based on that," he added.
A report by The Wall Street Journal this week said the U.S. Army secured potentially its largest-ever purchase of small surveillance drones from Red Cat Holding’s Utah-based Teal Drones.
This move is a significant step that the U.S. has been eyeing for more than a decade after terrorists first began employing small-drone tactics against the U.S. military in the Middle East.
According to Velicovich, who routinely visits Ukraine to advise on drone technology, the U.S. is trailing its top adversaries like Russia and China when it comes investment in drone capabilities.
US BRIEFED UKRAINE AHEAD OF PUTIN'S 'EXPERIMENTAL INTERMEDIATE-RANGE BALLISTIC' ATTACK
While the U.S. invested heavily in sophisticated systems like Predator and Reaper drones — which are multimillion-dollar systems designed for intelligence collection and lengthy navigation flight times and possess missile strike capabilities — it is the small, cheaply made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which are changing battlefield dynamics.
"These handheld, small UAS systems that you are able to take a drone with a bomb strapped to it [have become] basically an artillery shell now. It's guided artillery shells," Velicovich said in reference to Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which include not only the UAV, but also the controller manned from the ground. "Frankly, it's changing how countries are going to fight wars in the future, and the U.S. has been so slow to get ahead of this."
It has reportedly taken the U.S. Army some 15 years to start beefing up its Short Range Reconnaissance program with these backpack-sized drones, in part because there was a mental hurdle the Department of Defense needed to push through.
"It's the mentality of senior leaders," Velicovich explained. "These guys are hardened battle infantry guys. They didn't grow up with fancy technology."
"It really takes a lot of people understanding, changing their thought process. And that's happening now because of the accelerating war in Ukraine, where they've seen how effective drones are," he said, noting that drones can no longer be dismissed as gimmicks or toys of the future.
"Now it's real. Now it's here, the future is here," Velicovich said. "We will never fight another war without drones."
Teal Drones worked to develop a UAS system based on battlefield needs identified by the U.S. Army, and eventually created the drone that has been dubbed the Black Widow, explained Red Cat CEO Jeff Thompson to Fox News Digital.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ANNOUNCE $275 MILLION UKRAINE WEAPONS PACKAGE THIS WEEK
This sophisticated system is capable of being operated by a single man, can resist Russian jammers, has strike capabilities, and can fly in GPS-denied zones — an important factor that has been highlighted by the war in Ukraine.
"The Short Range Reconnaissance drone is really going to be able to help the warfighter be more lethal and be a safer soldier," Thompson said.
The U.S. Army greenlighted the purchase of nearly 12,000 drones. Each soldier kitted out with the Black Widow technology will be given what is called a "system," which includes two drones and one controller — all of which can fit in one's rucksack.
Each system, including the drones and controller, costs the U.S. government about $45,000.
But, as Johnson pointed out, Ukraine’s armed forces are going through about 10,000 drones a month — which suggests the U.S. will need to acquire far more than 12,000 drones.
The war in Ukraine has shown that affordably made drones, particularly FPV drones, which stands for "first-person view," can be made for as low as $1,000 a drone and frequently strapped with explosives and utilized as kamikaze drones.
But drone warfare is about significantly more than sheer quantity — it’s a "power game."
"This is a cat and mouse game," Velicovich said, explaining that drone and counter-drone technology, like jamming systems, are constantly evolving. "This is playing out at a level that most people don't realize."
"It's like we were almost peering into the future," he continued. "We are seeing what's happening on the ground now, there in Ukraine, and eventually we'll have to fight a war similar to it, and we just need to be ready."
A look inside the most expensive house in the world — the home of the UK’s monarch
The world's most expensive house is located in London, England.
Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the king, is widely considered the most expensive house in the world, valued at around $4.9 billion.
Buckingham Palace is far from a traditional house with 775 rooms and 50,000 people visiting each year for receptions, dinners, state banquets and other events, according to the royal family website.
ROYAL FAMILY SPOUSES: KATE MIDDLETON, MEGHAN MARKLE, OTHER CURRENT SPOUSES OF ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS
This, of course, is outside the half million tourists who visit the destination each year. In 2023-2024, about 530,000 tourists visited Buckingham Palace, according to Statista.
In addition to viewing the breathtaking palace, visitors often watch the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony.
For those who want a look inside Buckingham Palace, guests can view the state rooms in the summer as well as on select dates in the winter and spring when small guided tours are available, according to the Royal Collection Trust website.
OWNER OF WORLD'S LARGEST CAR COLLECTION HAS OVER 7,000 VEHICLES IN HIS POSSESSION
Since 1837, Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of the United Kingdom's sovereigns, according to the royal family website.
Among the 775 rooms located in Buckingham Palace are 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 bedrooms for staff, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms, according to the royal family website.
The royal palace is full of breathtaking places, including the White Drawing Room, the Throne Room, the Ballroom and the 47-meter Picture Gallery filled with historical art.
SET SAIL ON WORLD'S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP, WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE OVER 7,000 GUESTS PER VOYAGE
The Grand Staircase and 39-acre Palace Garden are other highlights.
The balcony of the royal palace is where generations of royals have stepped out for public appearances.
Another home ranked as one of the most expensive is Antilia in Mumbai, India.
Antilia holds the Guinness World Record for the "most expensive private house in the world."
The mansion is estimated to be worth between $1 billion and $2 billion, according to Architectural Digest India.
It is owned by business magnate Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries.
The 400,000-square-foot residence is 570 feet tall.
The 27 stories of Antilia include numerous swimming pools, a spa and a theater, according to Guinness World Records.
The property also includes 168 parking spaces and three helipads.
Israel keeping its ‘eyes open’ for Iranian attacks during Trump transition period, ambassador says
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon tells Fox News Digital that his country is keeping its "eyes open" for any potential aggression from Iran during the Trump transition period, adding it would be a "mistake" for the Islamic Republic to carry out an attack.
The comments come after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi vowed earlier this week that Iran would retaliate against Israel for the strategic airstrikes it carried out against Tehran on Oct. 26. Araghchi was quoted in Iranian media saying "we have not given up our right to react, and we will react in our time and in the way we see fit."
"I would advise him not to challenge us. We have already shown our capabilities. We have proved that they are vulnerable. We can actually target any location in Iran. They know that," Danon told Fox News Digital.
"So I would advise them not to make that mistake. If they think that now, because of the transition period, they can take advantage of it, they are wrong," he added. "We are keeping our eyes open and we are ready for all scenarios."
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Danon says he believes one of the most important challenges for the incoming Trump administration will be the way the U.S. deals with Iran.
"Regarding the new administration, I think the most important challenge will be the way you challenge Iran, the aggression, the threat of the Iranian regime. I believe that the U.S. will have to go back to a leading position on this issue," he told Fox News Digital.
"We are fighting the same enemies, the enemies of the United States of America. When you look at the Iranians, the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, all those bad actors that are coming against Israel... that is the enemy of the United States. So I think every American should support us and understand what we are doing now," Danon also said.
IRAN HIDING MISSILE, DRONE PROGRAMS UNDER GUISE OF COMMERCIAL FRONT TO EVADE SANCTIONS
Danon spoke as the U.S. vetoed a draft resolution against Israel at the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday.
The resolution, which was overseen by Algeria, sought an "immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire" to be imposed on Israel. The resolution did not guarantee the release of the hostages still being held by Hamas within Gaza.
"It was a shameful resolution because... it didn’t have the linkage between the cease-fire and the call [for] the release of the hostages. And I want to thank the United States for taking a strong position and vetoing this resolution," Danon said. "I think it sent a very clear message that the U.S. stands with its strongest ally with Israel. And, you know, it was shameful, too, to hear the voices of so many ambassadors speaking about a cease-fire but abandoning the 101 hostages. We will not forget them. We will never abandon them. We will continue to fight until we bring all of them back home."
Fox News’ Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.
Stefanik meets with senators as Trump's UN ambassador nominee, touts 'American First peace through strength'
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., met with 10 senators in the first two days of meetings while courting approval as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Stefanik, the current House GOP chair, communicated her record supporting Israel and combating antisemitism to Republican senators as the upper chamber must approve her appointment to Trump's Cabinet.
Kicking off the road to confirmation, Stefanik met with Sens. Katie Britt, R-Ala., MarkWayne Mullin, R-Okla., Jim Banks, R-Ind., Tim Scott, R-S.C., Shelley Capito, R-W.Va., on Wednesday.
Then, on Thursday, Stefanik, the fourth-highest ranking House member, met with Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mt., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and John Barasso, R-Wyo.
Stefanik posted photos of her meeting with each senator on X, saying their discussions centered around standing with Israel, combating antisemitism and supporting Trump's "America First peace through strength national security policies."
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McConnell, the outgoing Senate majority leader, said in a statement that "the world’s largest international organization is in dire need of a wake-up call, and Representative Stefanik is uniquely well-suited to deliver it."
"In a forum corrupted by authoritarians where cowardly majorities hector the embattled Jewish state of Israel, the next U.S. Ambassador must speak with uncompromising moral clarity," McConnell said. "I am particularly encouraged that the President-elect’s nominee shares my commitment to holding UNRWA accountable for its role in the horrors of October 7th and keeping U.S. taxpayer dollars clear of such vile complicity."
"I look forward to the Senate’s timely consideration of Representative Stefanik’s nomination. I hope and expect she will be a proud proponent of an American foreign policy based on peace through strength," McConnell added.
The meetings came at the same time the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for "crimes against humanity and war crimes," including the use of starvation as a method of warfare and targeting civilians. President Biden condemned the move as "outrageous," and the Pentagon said it "fundamentally rejects" the decision by the ICC, which "does not have jurisdiction over this matter."
"Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas," Biden said.
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Stefanik has been a staunch supporter of Israel as it continues its offensive against Hamas terrorists in Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 attacks, as well as other Iran-backed terrorist groups in the region.
Last month, Stefanik demanded a "complete reassessment" of U.S. funding for the United Nations and called to stop financial backing for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Biden had suspended funding to UNRWA after the agency fired several staffers in Gaza who Israeli authorities accused of participating in the Oct. 7 attacks.
However, the congresswoman derided how the Biden-Harris administration "has sent over $1 billion to UNRWA since 2021, filling the coffers of this terrorist front."
"This must end," Stefanik said in a statement on Nov. 4. "Just as President Trump did, and I have consistently advocated for, we must permanently cut off funding to UNRWA which instills antisemitic hate in Palestinians, houses weapons for terrorists, and steals the aid they are supposed to be distributing."
The United States contributes 22% of the United Nations budget, and therefore is the world body's largest single donor.
Through her position on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Stefanik also has fought against surging antisemitism on American college campuses in the wake of Oct. 7 and held the presidents of Ivy League universities to account for failing to condemn calls for the genocide of Jews by anti-Israel protesters.
Brazil’s former President Bolsonaro and aides indicted for alleged 2022 coup attempt
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others were indicted by federal police Thursday on charges of attempting a coup to keep him in office after being defeated in the 2022 elections.
The Associated Press reported that the findings would be delivered to Brazil’s Supreme Court on Thursday, where they will be referred to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet to either throw out the investigation or agree with the charges and put Bolsonaro on trial.
Bolsonaro, who leans right politically, has denied claims that he tried to remain in office after his defeat in 2022 to left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
After losing the election, Bolsonaro launched an aggressive campaign against the Brazilian government that claimed the election was stolen.
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One week after Lula took office, Bolsonaro's supporters raided and trashed the buildings of the South American country's Supreme Court, Congress and the presidential palace. Hundreds of them are expected to stand trial.
Since his defeat, Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats.
In June 2023, electoral judges voted to ban the former leader from public leadership for eight years after determining he attacked the public’s confidence in the country’s democratic institutions. The court also deemed Bolsonaro a threat to political tensions.
FORMER BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT JAIR BOLSONARO INDICTED BY FEDERAL POLICE IN UNDECLARED DIAMONDS CASE: AP
The decision was made with four out of seven votes by the Superior Electoral Court.
In July, Bolsonaro was indicted by Brazil’s federal police for alleged money laundering and criminal association in connection with diamonds he allegedly received from Saudi Arabia while he was in office.
It was the second formal accusation of criminal wrongdoing against Bolsonaro, having also been charged in March with forging his and others’ COVID-19 vaccine records.
The former president denies any involvement in either allegation.
On Tuesday, Brazilian police arrested four military and a federal police officer accused of plotting a coup that included plans to overthrow the government following the 2022 election, and allegedly kill Lula and other top officials.
Fox News Digital’s Timothy H.J. Nerozzi and Kyle Schmidbauer, along with The Associated Press, contributed to this report.
US briefed Ukraine ahead of Putin's 'experimental Intermediate-range ballistic' attack
A U.S. official on Thursday confirmed to Fox News Digital that Ukrainian authorities were briefed ahead of the "experimental Intermediate-range ballistic" attack that this type of weapon may be used against it in order to help them prepare for such an attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the attack Thursday evening local time in an address to the nation and said it was in direct response to the U.S. and U.K. jointly approving Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range missiles to target Russia.
It remains unclear if there were any casualties in the attack on the city of Dnipro, which was originally reported as an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), and which would have marked the first time such a weapon had been used during a time of war, sending panic across the globe.
Putin and U.S. sources have since confirmed the strike was not an ICBM, but the Kremlin chief also claimed that the weapon used poses a significant challenge for Western nations.
"The missiles attack targets at a speed of MACH 10. That's 2.5 miles per second," Putin said according to a translation. "The world's current air defense systems and the missile defense systems developed by the Americans in Europe do not intercept such missiles."
Fox News Digital could not immediately verify whether the U.S. or its NATO allies are capable of defending against this latest missile, dubbed the Oreshnik.
But according to one U.S. official, Putin may be playing up his abilities in a move to intimidate the West and Ukraine.
"While we take all threats against Ukraine seriously, it is important to keep a few key facts in mind: Russia likely possesses only a handful of these experimental missiles," the official told Fox News Digital. "Ukraine has withstood countless attacks from Russia, including from missiles with significantly larger warheads than this weapon.
"Let me be clear: Russia may be seeking to use this capability to try to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters, or generate attention in the information space, but it will not be a game-changer in this conflict," the official added.
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Following President Biden’s position reversal this week to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against the Russian homeland, Kyiv immediately levied strikes against a military arsenal in the Russian region of Bryansk, more than 70 miles from Ukraine’s border.
While Ukrainian troops are the ones to officially fire the sophisticated missiles, the weapons system still relies on U.S. satellites to hit their target – an issue Putin touched on in his unannounced speech Thursday.
"We are testing the Oreshnik missile systems in combat conditions in response to NATO countries' aggressive actions against Russia. We will decide on the further deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles depending on the actions of the U.S. and its satellites," he said.
Putin claimed Russia will alert Ukrainian citizens of an impending attack like the strike he carried out on Thursday, though it remains unclear if he issued a warning to the Ukrainians living in Dnipro.
The Kremlin chief said the "defense industry" was targeted, though images released by the Ukrainian ministry of defense showed what appeared to be civilian infrastructure was also caught in the fray.
The Pentagon on Thursday confirmed that Russia informed the U.S. of the impending attack, which corresponds with information obtained by Fox News Digital, but it is unclear if Moscow clarified which Ukrainian city was the intended target.
A U.S. official told Fox News Digital that the U.S. is committed to helping Ukraine bolster its air defense systems and has done so already by supplying Ukraine with hundreds of additional Patriot and Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles.
US citizen among 4 dead in Laos after suspected alcohol poisoning
An American, two Danes and one Australian tourist died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos following reports that several people had been sickened in a town popular with backpackers.
The only victim's identity publicly released so far is 19-year-old Bianca Jones of Australia.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament on Thursday that Jones had died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng, Laos, for treatment in a Thai hospital. Her friend, also 19, remains hospitalized in neighboring Thailand.
"This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure," Albanese said, according to The Associated Press. "We also take this moment to say that we’re thinking of Bianca’s friend Holly Bowles, who is fighting for her life."
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Shaun Bowles told reporters outside Bangkok Hospital on Wednesday that his daughter remained in critical condition and on life support.
"We just like to thank everyone from back home for all of the support and love that we’re receiving," he said. "But we’d also like the people to appreciate right now, we just need privacy so we can spend as much time as we can with Holly."
Australian media said Jones was the fourth foreign tourist to die after consuming the contaminated alcohol.
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"The physician who examined her said the cause of death was a methanol poisoning, from fake liquor," Phattanawong Chanphon, a police official in the Thai city, told Reuters. "The amount of methanol in her body was high, leading to swelling of the brain."
Counterfeit liquor is a problem in Laos, with the governments of Australia and Britain warning citizens to be cautious when having drinks there.
Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and alternative fuel source, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The U.S. Department of State did not respond to a Fox News Digital inquiry, but told the AP that local authorities were investigating the case and were responsible for providing any details. The State Department noted that the U.S. was providing consular assistance.
"At this time I would say to parents, to young people, please have a conversation about risks, please inform yourselves, please let’s work together to ensure this tragedy doesn’t happen again," Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said after receiving news of Jones' death.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this request.
ICC rejects Israeli appeals, issues arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant
The International Criminal Court (ICC) rejected challenges from Israel and issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday.
The ICC charged Netanyahu and Gallant with "crimes against humanity and war crimes," including using starvation as a method of warfare and targeting civilians. Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the move in a statement on Thursday.
"Taken in bad faith, the outrageous decision at the ICC has turned universal justice into a universal laughingstock. It makes a mockery of the sacrifice of all those who fight for justice – from the Allied victory over the Nazis till today," Herzog wrote.
Herzog argued that the ICC's decision ignores Hamas' use of human shields and its Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks that started the war, as well as the Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza.
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"Indeed, the decision has chosen the side of terror and evil over democracy and freedom, and turned the very system of justice into a human shield for Hamas’ crimes against humanity," he added. "This cynical exploitation of the international legal institutions reminds us once again of the need for true moral clarity in the face of an Iranian empire of evil that seeks to destabilize our region and the world, and destroy the very institutions of the free world."
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Israel made several efforts to block the ICC from approving the arrest warrants. They first argued that the ICC has no jurisdiction over Israel, but the court said it could issue the arrest warrants as part of the "territorial jurisdication of Palestine."
Israel also made other procedural challenges, but they were rejected.
The ICC's move comes just days after Senate Majority Leader-elect John Thune threatened to hit the court with sanctions if it moved forward with the arrest warrants.
Thune – who was selected last week to be the next Senate majority leader once the GOP takes the upper chamber come January 2025 – warned that if the current Democratic leader does not take on the international court, he will.
"If the ICC and its prosecutor do not reverse their outrageous and unlawful actions to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli officials, the Senate should immediately pass sanctions legislation, as the House has already done on a bipartisan basis," Thune wrote on X. "If Majority Leader Schumer does not act, the Senate Republican majority will stand with our key ally Israel and make this – and other supportive legislation – a top priority in the next Congress."
The U.S. does not officially recognize the ICC’s authority, but it is not the first time Washington has looked to halt the court’s actions.
In 2020, the Trump administration opposed attempts by the ICC to investigate U.S. soldiers and the CIA involved in alleged war crimes between 2003-2004 "in secret detention facilities in Afghanistan," and issued sanctions against ICC prosecutors.
President Biden's administration undid those sanctions shortly after entering office.
Russia launched intercontinental ballistic missile toward Ukraine, air force says
Russian troops launched various missiles, reportedly including an intercontinental ballistic missile from the Astrakhan region, in an early morning attack on Ukraine on Thursday.
Ukraine's Air Force said on its Telegram account that it destroyed six Kh-101 cruise missiles using anti-aircraft combat.
The Russian attack hit critical infrastructure in the central-eastern city of Dnipro, according to the air force.
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This comes after Ukraine fired American-supplied long-range missiles into Russia on Tuesday, marking the first time for Kyiv to do so in the 1,000 days of war – a move that was authorized by President Biden on Sunday.
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There are currently no reports on injuries or fatalities.
If the attack did involve an ICBM, it would mark a major escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the first time such a weapon has been used.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
Iran hiding missile, drone programs under guise of commercial front to evade sanctions
FIRST ON FOX — Iran has turned to its commercial sector to conceal its development of ballistic missiles in a move to circumvent international sanctions, turning private companies into fronts for its illicit military dealings.
Sources embedded within the Iranian regime and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and who are also affiliated with the Iranian resistance group called the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, have collected months of information on how the civilian workforce is unknowingly fueling Tehran’s war machine.
According to a report by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital, civilian companies involved with oil, gas, petrochemicals and electronic components are susceptible to Tehran’s determination to bolster its missile and drone programs, especially as tensions with the West continue to mount over its aid to Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine as well as Iran's direct and indirect attacks on Israel.
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The NCRI is sounding the alarm that at least three companies in Iran, including the Kaveh Mobadel Industrial Co., also known as Kaveh Machinery Co. (KMC), Sanaye Garma Gostar (SGG), also dubbed the Garma Gostar Industries, as well as the Sana Bargh Tavan Co., also known as SBT Electric, are tasked with producing items used to develop missile and drones.
"The Iranian regime’s missile program is not limited to the dozens of known military sites of the Aerospace Force of the IRGC or the Ministry of Defense," Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the NCRI in the U.S., told Fox News Digital. "It has built a sophisticated network of commercial companies to cover up the true extent of Tehran’s missile and drone programs, as well as evading sanctions and accountability."
Fox News Digital could not reach any of the mentioned companies for comment, but according to findings provided by embedded sources, these companies are not only subject to inspection by the Iranian Ministry of Defense but also hold contracts with the IRGC and the regime.
Despite evidence to suggest that while company executives are aware of how their businesses are being used to circumvent sanctions, the workers within the companies apparently remain uninformed despite dubious production demands.
The NCRI said it had obtained information indicating that certain items have entered the companies’ production lines that are incompatible with the business platforms.
One example highlighted in the NRCI report pointed to dozens of aluminum tanks allegedly being produced for the "dairy industry," though the report also pointed out that "using aluminum for dairy purposes is prohibited."
While there is a strong indication that the Iranian regime is doing what it can to keep its efforts to circumvent sanctions secret, even within its own borders, some products being manufactured have likely not escaped notice.
The Sana Bargh Tavan Co., a collection of electronic factories situated in an area known as Pardis Technology Park and produces elevator drives, was reportedly discovered to be manufacturing "electronic boards for missiles and drones under the guise of other industrial products for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps."
The complex was also reported to be "under the control of the IRGC, and visitors' access is regulated."
Iran’s attempts to circumvent sanctions are nothing new, and despite heavy sanctions by the U.S., U.K. and the European Union (EU), Iran has continued to develop its nuclear and missile programs.
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In October 2023, U.N. sanctions on Iran, which prohibited its ability to import or export missiles, drones and other related technology without prior U.N. Security Council approval under Resolution 2231, expired.
Though the sanctions were believed to have slowed Iran’s ability to develop its missile and drone programs, it did not halt it altogether.
"The Iranian regime has relied on the expansion of its missile program to make up for its near-zero air power and minimal air defense capabilities," Jafarzadeh told Fox News Digital.
"The missile program serves two purposes for the regime: one is arming its regional proxies, such as Hezbollah, and the second, which is of strategic significance, is building missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead," he added.
The U.S. last year deemed that Iran’s "missile program remains one of the greatest challenges to international nonproliferation efforts," and it has since implemented several rounds of targeted sanctions.
The U.K. and the EU on Monday announced fresh sanctions on Tehran over its support for Russia, targeting its shipping industry that is allegedly used to transfer drones and missiles.
Iran has repeatedly denied sending missiles or drones to Russia for its war against Kyiv, but the use of Iranian-made Shahed drones to target soldiers and civilians alike has been well documented in Ukraine.
Archaeologists discover 12,000-year-old pebbles that could provide new insights about the wheel
12,000-year-old perforated stones found over years of excavations in Israel may "represent early evidence for the adoption of spinning with the ’spindle and whorl' device," according to newly published research in PLOS ONE.
The wheel-shaped stones were found at Nahal Ein-Gev II in the Jordan Valley of Israel, over many years of excavations. A total of 113 perforated stones have been discovered in the area since 1972.
Of those stones found, 48 of them had complete perforation, 36 were broken items with partial holes present and 29 were unfinished items with one or two drill marks, according to the research.
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The stones were "dominantly limestone," co-authors Talia Yasuv and Leore Grosman of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem wrote in their published research, ranging in weight from 1 to 34 grams.
Researchers came up with several theories about what these perforated stones could be.
"An initial thought was they may have been related to fishing," Yasuv told Fox News Digital in an email. Researchers ultimately came to the conclusion that, because of the shape of the stones, the material, plus the shape and size of the holes made, that they were most likely spindle whorls.
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High-resolution 3D models were used in this research to study the stones in much more detail.
"For the naked eye, the collection of stones seems highly variable, with no standardization in the sense that every stone in the assemblage is different and unique," Yashuv said.
"However, the 3D analysis pointed out morphological parameters that showed there are standard measures — for example, width/length ratio, a central location of the centre of mass, the fact that the perforations were located at that point too, and that the minimal width of the perforation is at a constant measure," Yashuv continued.
The authors of the study noted that their theory could be strengthened by "use wear analysis," but explained that the particular method was "beyond the scope of the present article."
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What was done as part of this study, beyond 3D modeling, was a feasibility test to test the functionality of the items as ancient spindle whorls. This was done with the help of Yonit Kristal, a traditional craft-making expert, per the study.
"Although those parameters pointed to the functionality of spindle whorls, we were left with a doubt and therefore ran a feasibility test with replicas we produced," Yashuv said.
Though Kristal's first initial attempt didn't work well, the authors explained in their research, she eventually was able to spin both wool and flax using the pebbles as spindle whorls.
"Surprisingly, the experiment demonstrated that not only do the replicas function well as spindle whorls, but that the parameters we suspected as disadvantageous were actually beneficial for this purpose," Yashuv said.
Yashuv believes that this discovery is bigger than just a matter of "who's first."
"The ‘earliest’ spindle whorl could easily become irrelevant when an additional earlier find will be found," Yashuv pointed out. "However, since we suggest an explanation to how come the innovation disappeared, if an earlier find would be retrieved, it could join into the general scheme we presented."
Through the multistep process of studying the perforated rocks, the researchers came to the conclusion that these items could have been spindle whorls that were used to spin fibers.
"In a cumulative evolutionary trend, they manifest early phases of the development of rotational technologies by laying the mechanical principle of the wheel and axle," the researcher wrote in their study. "All in all, it reflects on the technological innovations that played an important part in the Neolithization processes of the Southern Levant."
Pope Francis rejects tradition, opts for humble wooden casket and burial outside Vatican
Pope Francis has announced that he will forgo the traditional, elaborate burial rites of his predecessors in a decision that may modernize the Catholic Church.
When the time comes, the 87-year-old pontiff has chosen to be laid to rest in a single wooden casket lined with zinc, breaking from the centuries-old practice of interring popes in three interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead, and oak.
The Vatican made the announcement on Wednesday, unveiling a new formal rite that reflects Francis’ vision of a more modest Church. Pope Francis approved a new edition of the liturgical rites in April this year and received the first copy of the printed volume on Nov. 4.
The new edition of the liturgical book was presented following its predecessor, the "editio typica" or "typical edition" of the "Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis" or "Order of Roman Pontifical Funerals."
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The edition was approved in 1998 by Saint John Paul II and published in 2000. It was used in Saint John Paul II's funeral rites in 2005 and in those of Pope Benedict XVI in 2023 with some adaptations.
"A second edition became necessary," said Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies in a release, "first of all because Pope Francis has requested it, as he himself has stated on several occasions of the need to simplify and adapt certain rites so that the celebration of the funeral of the Bishop of Rome may better expresses the faith of the Church in the Risen Christ."
"The renewed rite also needed to emphasize even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world," added the Archbishop.
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Additionally, the pontiff will become the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican grounds. He has requested burial at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, a church he frequently visits to pray before and after his international trips.
The last pope to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII in 1903, who rests at Rome’s Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Francis’ decision to reject the traditional three-casket practice—which creates an airtight seal and accommodates objects such as coins or papal documents—is part of his broader effort to simplify papal customs.
The late pontiff’s body will also not be displayed on a raised platform in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing, as has been customary. Instead, while visitors will still be able to pay their respects, his body will remain inside the casket with the lid removed.
Last year, Francis stated his desire to simplify the intricate and lengthy funeral rites traditionally used for popes.
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