Fox World News

An unidentified assailant detonated an explosive device next to a patrol vehicle in Moscow on Tuesday, killing himself and a police officer in an apparent suicide bombing, according to The Associated Press. 

The outlet noted that, according to officials, the explosion also left two other officers injured.

The attack happened just after midnight on Tuesday near the Savyolovsky railway station in downtown Moscow, according to the AP, which cited Moscow’s branch of the Interior Ministry. 

The AP also reported that Russia's top investigative agency said the assailant was a 22-year-old man from Russia’s Udmurt Republic and that there was an ongoing probe regarding the motive behind the attack.

RUSSIA’S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE ENTERS FIFTH YEAR AS EXPERTS OUTLINE 3 POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

The attacker reportedly approached traffic police officers who were sitting in a patrol vehicle, The Moscow Times reported. The outlet noted, citing Russian state media agency TASS, that the targeted patrol car was heavily damaged but did not catch fire as a result of the attack.

PUTIN PUTS ‘NUCLEAR TRIAD’ ON FAST TRACK, ZELENSKYY CLAIMS ‘WORLD WAR 3’ UNDERWAY

Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly said at a meeting with top officials from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) that the young man was recruited online and was unknowingly given an explosive device that was then detonated remotely, according to the AP.

The attack came just as Russia marked the fourth anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine. While the Trump administration has worked to broker a peace deal between the two sides, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have yet to reach an agreement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The U.K. Parliament is set to deliberate calls for the release of confidential files regarding former Prince Andrew following the arrest of the Jeffrey Epstein-tied disgraced royal. The files in question are related to former Prince Andrew's appointment as Britain's special envoy for international trade in 2001.

Deliberating the release of the documents is outside the norm for the House of Commons, where the rules have historically prohibited members from criticizing the royal family, according to The Associated Press. However, the AP noted that Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats and the lawmaker who introduced the motion, is looking to change the rules.

"One thing the Liberal Democrats stand for is to hold the powerful to account," Davey told the BBC, according to the AP. "And I think we’ve seen too often in the past that people, because of their title or their friend or whatever, have not been properly held to account."

EX-PRINCE ANDREW RELEASED FROM POLICE CUSTODY HOURS AFTER ARREST

Parliament's deliberation comes after the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) released millions of files related to the Epstein case, some of which included the former prince. The AP reported that the U.K. has seen significant fallout from the release of the Epstein files, as the scandal raises questions about the aristocracy, senior politicians and influential businessmen.

The former prince, who is the younger brother of King Charles III, was stripped of his princely title last year due to his relationship with Epstein. Since then, the former prince has gone by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Previously, in 2019, Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on the day of his arrest, was forced by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to give up his royal duties and end his charity work after he tried to explain his ties to Epstein in a BBC interview.

FORMER PRINCE ANDREW ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MISCONDUCT IN PUBLIC OFFICE: A LOOK BACK AT HIS LIFE IN PHOTOS

The British government is already mulling the idea of removing Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession. Despite losing his princely title in October, Mountbatten-Windsor remains eighth in line to the throne. Removing him from the line would require new legislation. 

The last time a royal was removed from the line of succession was after the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936. The law was changed to remove him and any descendants from the list.

Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct while in public office amid allegations that he shared confidential files with Epstein while serving as Britain's special envoy for international trade. Thames Valley Police, which covers areas west of London, said at the time that Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested after a "thorough assessment," with an investigation now opened.

"Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office," Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright noted. "It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offense. We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time."

The king expressed his "deepest concern" about the news of his brother's arrest and said "the law must take its course." King Charles said authorities have Buckingham Palace's "full and wholehearted support and co-operation."

Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg, Stephanie Nolasco and Lori A. Bashian and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Iran is nearing a deal with China to acquire supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, a move that could significantly raise the stakes in the Middle East as U.S. carrier strike groups assemble within striking distance of the Islamic Republic.

Reuters reported Tuesday that Tehran is close to finalizing an agreement for Chinese-made CM-302 missiles, citing six people with knowledge of the negotiations.

The supersonic weapons, which can travel roughly 180 miles and fly low to evade ship defenses, would enhance Iran’s ability to target U.S. naval forces operating in the region.

The deal is near completion, though no delivery date has been agreed, the people said. It is unclear how many missiles are involved, how much Iran has agreed to pay, or whether China will ultimately proceed given heightened regional tensions.

IRAN LAUNCHES WAR DRILLS IN HORMUZ STRAIT AS US CARRIER IS FLYING MISSIONS 24/7 BEFORE GENEVA TALKS

Reuters reported that negotiations accelerated after last year’s 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which left Tehran’s military infrastructure strained and heightened regional tensions.

The reported deal comes as President Donald Trump warns Tehran of consequences if it fails to curb its nuclear program, while the Pentagon has deployed multiple carrier strike groups to the region, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford. The buildup marks one of the largest U.S. naval deployments in the region in recent years.

Trump said on Feb. 19 he was giving Iran 10 days to reach an agreement over its nuclear program or face potential military action.

WITKOFF WARNS IRAN IS ‘A WEEK AWAY’ FROM 'BOMB-MAKING MATERIAL' AS TRUMP WEIGHS ACTION

A White House official told Fox News Digital that the president remains firm that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons or enrich uranium.

"The President would like to see a deal negotiated, but he has been clear that ‘either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,’" the official said when asked for comment on the reported approaching Iran-China deal.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week appeared to threaten U.S. warships directly.

"More dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea," Khamenei wrote on Feb. 17 on X.

Military analysts say a Chinese transfer of supersonic anti-ship missiles could complicate U.S. naval operations in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.

"It’s a complete game-changer if Iran has supersonic capability to attack ships in the area," Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer and senior Iran researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, told Reuters. "These missiles are very difficult to intercept."

IRAN ANNOUNCES TEST OF NEW NAVAL AIR DEFENSE MISSILE IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS US MILITARY BUILDUP CONTINUES

Still, U.S. forces maintain layered defenses against Iranian threats, including Patriot missile batteries, Navy destroyers equipped with Standard Missile interceptors and F-35 stealth fighters, Fox News Digital reported.

Last year, Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles using SM-3 interceptors, while Marine Corps F-35Cs operating from the USS Abraham Lincoln shot down Iranian drones that approached U.S. assets, according to U.S. Central Command.

Iran has also relied on swarming fast boats, ballistic missiles and drones in past confrontations with U.S. forces.

The White House did not directly address the reported missile negotiations when asked by Reuters. China’s foreign ministry told the outlet it was not aware of the talks.

The potential transfer would mark one of the most advanced Chinese weapons systems supplied to Iran in decades and could test U.S. sanctions authorities if finalized.

As U.S. forces fan out across the region, defense officials have stressed that the buildup is designed to deter Iranian aggression — but warned they are prepared for combat if diplomacy fails.

Reuters contributed to this report.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s first option for Iran is "always diplomacy," but that he is "willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary." 

The remarks come after Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday that "it will be a very bad day" for Iran if the country can’t strike a deal over its nuclear program. 

"President Trump's first option is always diplomacy. But as he has shown, he is willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary. So the president is always the final decision-maker around here," Leavitt said Tuesday. 

"And I've seen a lot of sensationalist reporting over the past day that is just completely untrue. And anyone speculating to the media hiding behind an anonymous source, pretending to know what President Trump is thinking, or a decision he will make with respect to action against Iran has no idea what they're talking about," she added. 

IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS SPARK LARGEST US MILITARY BUILDUP IN MIDDLE EAST SINCE IRAQ WAR

The president told reporters last week that he is "considering" a limited military strike on Iran to pressure its leaders into reaching a deal over its nuclear program. 

US ASSETS IN MIDDLE EAST POSITIONED FOR ‘HIGHLY KINETIC’ WAR, FORMER PENTAGON OFFICIAL SAYS

The U.S. has recently been increasing its military assets in the Middle East, sending the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group toward the region. 

The USS Abraham Lincoln and three guided-missile destroyers already are in the area. 

"Everything that has been written about a potential War with Iran has been written incorrectly, and purposefully so. I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday. 

American forces operating in the Indian Ocean intercepted another fugitive tanker ship, the Department of War announced Tuesday. 

The development comes after President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela in mid-December, as Washington increased its naval presence in the Caribbean to put pressure on now-former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. 

The ship involved in Tuesday’s interdiction — the Bertha — was flagged by The New York Times as leaving Venezuela’s main oil port in early January following the U.S. military operation to capture Maduro. 

"Overnight, U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the Bertha without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility," the Department of War said on X. "The vessel was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean and attempted to evade." 

US FORCES BOARD SANCTIONED OIL TANKER AFTER VESSEL TRIED TO EVADE TRUMP QUARANTINE

"From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and stopped it. No other nation has the global reach, endurance, or will to enforce sanctions at this distance," it added. 

The Department of War said three boats that tried to flee the scene were captured. 

"International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned actors. By land, air, or sea, our forces will find you and deliver justice," it also said. "The Department of War will deny illicit actors and their proxies freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain."

US KILLS 3 SUSPECTED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS IN CARIBBEAN, PENTAGON SAYS

U.S. forces previously intercepted the Veronica III oil tanker on Feb. 15 in the Indo-Pacific. 

According to OpenSanctions, the Veronica III is listed on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals sanctions list.

That tanker, a large crude oil carrier built in 2006 and flagged in Panama, has been linked to the transport of hundreds of thousands of metric tons of sanctioned Iranian oil and is affiliated with a Chinese ship-management company that has also been sanctioned. 

Fox News Digital’s Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report. 

Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war is grinding into a fifth year with no clear end in sight, despite renewed diplomatic efforts and a fresh push for a negotiated settlement.

Peace talks have accelerated since President Donald Trump returned to office, reviving direct and indirect channels between Moscow and Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this month that the United States is pushing for a peace agreement by June, with the Trump administration expected to apply pressure on both sides as U.S.-mediated talks continue following temporary pauses in energy infrastructure strikes and a series of recent prisoner exchanges.

But despite those steps, fighting has not slowed.

UKRAINE RACES TO BOLSTER AIR DEFENSES AS PUTIN’S STRIKE PAUSE NEARS END

On the battlefield, Russian forces continue incremental, costly advances in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the contested Donetsk region. 

The pace is far removed from the rapid territorial gains seen in the war’s early weeks, with progress now measured in foot-by-foot advances, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a non-partisan, public policy research organization that tracks the front lines.

At the same time, Ukraine has mounted counteroffensive operations on a tactical scale in the northeastern Kupyansk direction, reclaiming territory even as the Kremlin continues to portray steady forward momentum.

RUSSIA LOSING 'MASSIVE' 25,000 TROOPS MONTHLY IN UKRAINE AS WAR GRINDS ON, NATO CHIEF SAYS

Christina Harward, Russia deputy team lead at the ISW, said in an interview with Fox News Digital that Moscow's public posture suggests little willingness to compromise, as officials continue to reiterate the same core demands outlined before the war began.

"What the Kremlin has been doing really consistently is delaying, stalling, and blaming anyone but Russia for this delaying and this stalling. We see them trying to dangle different carrots and also using sticks in order to try to influence President Trump and his administration to give in to the Russian demands," she said.

Harward noted that Russia continues to press for control over the remaining Ukrainian-held areas of Donetsk, including the heavily fortified "fortress belt" cities that Kyiv has been building up since 2014.

Preparations for a potential spring or summer offensive, she explained, suggest Moscow is positioning for a prolonged war rather than moving toward an imminent peace.

TRUMP MEETS WITH ZELENSKYY; TALKS COULD UNLOCK FIRST ZELENSKYY-PUTIN CALL IN FIVE YEARS: SOURCE

Beyond territorial disputes, negotiations remain entangled in broader security questions. Russia has rejected the prospect of Western security guarantees for postwar Ukraine and warned that foreign troops would be considered legitimate targets.

Kyiv and its European partners, meanwhile, contend that without meaningful guarantees, any ceasefire could simply provide Russia time to regroup and rearm.

Ret. Army Maj. Gen. Matt Smith told Fox News Digital he does not believe the latest round of diplomacy has brought the sides meaningfully closer to a deal, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin faces intense internal pressure that limits his ability to compromise.

TRUMP, ZELENSKYY SAY UKRAINE PEACE DEAL CLOSE BUT 'THORNY ISSUES' REMAIN AFTER FLORIDA TALKS

"The stakes are potentially much higher for him personally, in terms of life and limb in the most dramatic sense, but also in terms of his internal political power," Smith said. "If he's to compromise in any way, he has nothing to show for an extraordinary expense in lives, time, economics. You know, he's paid a tremendous price."

Russian forces have suffered approximately 1.2 million casualties (as many as 325,000 killed, with the rest being injured or missing) since February 2022, according to a January analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The report estimates that combined Russian and Ukrainian casualties could reach nearly 2 million by the spring of 2026 if current rates persist.

CSIS found that Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 15 and 70 meters per day, roughly 16 to 77 yards, in their most prominent offensives, slower than almost any major offensive campaign in any war in the last century.

Gen. Smith likened the situation to the final years of the Vietnam War, saying the outcome on the battlefield may already be clearer than the politics surrounding it. 

"The war’s already over," he told Fox News Digital. "People just haven’t stopped dying yet. He [Putin’s] already lost. The question is, how do you get him to admit it?"

A new study aims to jolt Israel’s security and technology establishment into embracing a new post-Oct. 7, 2023, business model that will advance the U.S.-Israel strategic partnership in the heart of the Middle East and across the globe.

The Henry Jackson Society study titled "Israel 2048: A Blueprint for a Rising Asymmetric Geopolitical Power" jumps into the future, with a view toward advancing American and Israeli security interests.

Co-author of the report, Barak M. Seener, told Fox News Digital that America requires Israel for "its security architecture in the region via the Abraham Accords and, more broadly, will be a force multiplier regarding the technological edge against China."

During President Donald Trump’s first term, his administration sealed diplomatic normalization deals between Sunni Gulf and North African countries: Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan and Israel.

TRUMP’S AMERICA FIRST STRATEGY BUILDS DETERRENCE THROUGH STRONG US-ISRAEL ALLIANCE, EXPERTS SAY

Seener and co-author David Wurmser argue that there is a pressing need to reframe the U.S.–Israel strategic partnership "around technology," and "shift from military aid dependency towards joint R&D and investment in shared technological platforms in defence-tech, AI, quantum computing and next generational warfare capabilities."

They wrote, "Israel must prioritize passing negotiated regulations for technology sharing to prevent AI/ quantum technology leakage to China."

Seener noted that the Pentagon’s National Defense Strategy (released in January) describes Israel as a strategic military partner. "That has never happened before."

He continued, "Israel is not only achieving regional dominance but international power by connecting trade routes and digital connectivity. Israel simply cannot remain in a purely defensive posture and hunker down and react to threats on its borders." 

Seener said following Israel’s successful air war campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran in June 2025, "America now wants to be part of this success story. "

He argues that President Donald Trump entered on the side of Israel with military attacks because "Israel demonstrated intelligence acumen and military prowess. For the first time, America joined Israel" in the prosecution of a war.

TRUMP ADMIN LABELS ISRAEL 'MODEL US ALLY' AHEAD OF MAJOR MILITARY AID TALKS

Consequently, Seener said Israel’s "defense technology makes it indispensable for nations."

Seener and Wurmser’s 51-page study contains granular information on how the U.S. can strengthen American security and recommend embedding "Israel as a defense-tech and deep-tech power that is indispensable to Western security and global technological competition in supply chains for AI, semiconductors, missile defense, cyber capabilities and critical materials. Israel’s technological dominance must be leveraged to anchor alliances and shape global supply chains."

The wobbliness of America’s European partners is also highlighted to show the need for Israel to "Accelerate domestic lines of production of critical military systems, munitions and energy infrastructure to reduce vulnerability to foreign political pressure such as Europe’s growing ambivalence, coupled with episodic constraints on arms transfers," according to the authors.

Earlier this month, Britain’s left-leaning government reportedly denied the U.S. military’s use of British bases to strike Iran.

Israel is uniquely positioned to help regenerate relations among Western powers, the study notes. According to the authors, there is an opportunity to "use Israel’s defense-tech, quantum computing, AI and cyber capabilities as a tool of statecraft to deepen alliances, deter political isolation and strengthen influence in Europe, the Gulf and Asia."

Seener said, "Israel is not a superpower but a geopolitical power that gives nations a force multiplier, and they benefit from Israel as a tech defense nation."

The head of a London airline parts firm was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison Monday after selling more than 60,000 fake aircraft engine parts, a fraud that triggered worldwide safety concerns and briefly grounded planes.

Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, 38, pleaded guilty in December to fraudulent trading, admitting he falsified paperwork about the source and condition of engine parts sold by his company, AOG Technics, between 2019 and 2023.

Prosecutors said more than 60,000 suspect parts entered the global aviation supply chain as a result of the scheme. Many of the parts were linked to CFM56 engines, widely used in Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The discovery of the fraudulent components in 2023 led to planes being temporarily grounded and prompted calls for tighter industry oversight.

Judge Simon Picken said Zamora Yrala’s actions amounted to a "more or less complete undermining of a regulatory framework designed to safeguard the millions of people who fly every day."

'SYSTEMIC NEGLIGENCE' ALLEGED BY AIRLINES, AS VICTIMS' FAMILIES FILE FIRST SUIT IN DC PLANE CRASH

According to prosecutors, AOG Technics sold falsified parts totaling roughly $9.3 million (£6.9 million) — about 90% of the company’s revenue — causing an estimated $53 million (£39.3 million) in losses across the aviation industry.

American Airlines alone suffered about $31 million (£23 million) in losses tied to engine repairs, replacement leasing and aircraft downtime, prosecutors said.

'SECURITY-RELATED SITUATION' GROUNDS FLIGHT TO VACATION HOT SPOT, PASSENGERS CONFINED FOR HOURS

Prosecutors said CFM International’s co-owners, GE Aerospace and Safran, lost about $4 million (£3 million) and $780,000 (£580,000) respectively, and suffered reputational damage.

Zamora Yrala was also barred from serving as a company director for eight years and faces confiscation proceedings aimed at compensating affected companies.

His attorney told the court he had "cut corners in order that he could trade more easily" and did not fully grasp the consequences of his actions.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was evacuated Tuesday from his official residence over a safety concern.  

Australian Federal Police (AFP) said they were summoned to The Lodge in Canberra following a threat and that Albanese was moved to another secure site, according to Sky News. 

"About 6pm today, the AFP responded to an alleged security incident within the Australian Capital Territory," police reportedly said in a statement. "A thorough search of a protection establishment was undertaken and nothing suspicious was located." 

"There is no current threat to the community or public safety. Further information will be provided at an appropriate time," they added.

TRUCK CAUGHT ON CAMERA PLOWING INTO FAMED AUSTRALIAN SYNAGOGUE IN ALLEGED HATE CRIME

The nature of the alleged safety concern was not immediately clear. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Australian Federal Police for further comment. 

AUSTRALIA HANUKKAH TERROR ATTACK SUSPECT SEEN FOR FIRST TIME IN PERSON

Authorities conducted a 3-hour search of Albanese’s residence, Sky News reported. 

"We trust the AFP to do their jobs and thank them for their work," a spokesperson for the prime minister told the network.

Albanese has informed sources that he is safe, according to Sky News. 

The network also reported that Albanese has recently been targeted with alleged death threats from two different men in Australia. 

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fourth year since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer referred to the ongoing conflict as "the most critical issue of our age," according to a press release announcing additional U.K. assistance for Ukraine.

"On this grim anniversary, our message to the Ukrainian people is simple: Britain is with you, stronger than ever. That is why we are announcing new support today and we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes," Starmer said, according to the press release.

"For all the noise in world affairs today, this war remains the most critical issue of our age. It asks the question of whether Ukrainian and European freedom will endure. Our answer, together, is unequivocal. Russia is not winning this war. They will not win this war. Ukraine’s courage continues to hold the line for our shared values, in the face of Putin’s aggression," Starmer continued. "We will stand by their side, until a just and lasting peace – and beyond. Slava Ukraini."

ZELENSKYY DISMISSES PUTIN'S ‘HISTORICAL S---’ IN PEACE TALKS AS ‘DELAY TACTIC,' URGES FOCUS ON ENDING THE WAR

Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested that the Western world is "pussyfooting around."

"Putin will not stop the slaughter until he faces much greater pressure. So for heaven’s sake let’s get on with it. Impound his entire shadow fleet. Unfreeze all his frozen assets and give them to Ukraine. Give the Ukrainians the weapons they need to take out all the Russian drone factories. Do all of it now. Putin will not negotiate sincerely until he feels he has no choice," Johnson wrote in a post on X.

PUTIN PUTS ‘NUCLEAR TRIAD’ ON FAST TRACK, ZELENSKYY CLAIMS ‘WORLD WAR 3’ UNDERWAY

"The Ukrainians fight like heroes while we in the West pussyfoot and delay. The West can end the war this year — if we stop pussyfooting around," he said.

President Donald Trump's administration has been attempting to help broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.

1 DEAD, DOZENS INJURED IN ‘TERRORIST ATTACK’ IN UKRAINE, ZELENSKYY SAYS

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In its statement, the U.K. government said the country’s security is closely tied to Ukraine’s fate and outlined new assistance, including £20 million (about $27 million) in emergency energy funding to help repair and protect Ukraine’s power grid and expand generation capacity.

The package also includes £5.7 million (around $7.7 million) in humanitarian aid for frontline communities, including people requiring evacuation and those affected by airstrikes or internal displacement, according to the release.

Four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has settled into a grinding conflict defined by high casualties and incremental territorial shifts. Russia still controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, while Kyiv has recently clawed back limited ground in counteroffensives. Military estimates put Russian losses at about 1.2 million casualties since 2022, with Ukrainian losses between 500,000 and 600,000, underscoring the scale of attrition on both sides.

Diplomacy has intensified alongside the fighting. President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last August for high-stakes talks aimed at advancing negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has traveled to Washington multiple times since Trump returned to office, including a contentious Oval Office meeting in Feb. 2025 and a follow-up visit later in the year.

The most recent U.S. engagement with both sides came during trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi earlier this year and more taking place in Geneva on Feb. 17–18, where special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian and Ukrainian delegations as part of ongoing efforts to broker a settlement.

As the war enters its fifth year, former officials and analysts say the next phase could unfold along three possible paths: prolonged stalemate, shifting Ukrainian momentum, or a dangerous erosion of Western resolve.

ZELENSKYY ANNOUNCES NEXT ROUND OF TALKS WITH US, RUSSIA AS UKRAINE AIMS FOR 'REAL AND DIGNIFIED END TO THE WAR

The most immediate trajectory is continuation. The war remains defined by attrition, with neither side delivering a decisive blow and negotiations producing little progress.

Ret. U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, former NATO supreme allied commander of Europe, said Moscow is not winning despite its territorial hold, "There isn't a winner right now."

"Russia, supposedly a world superpower with one of the world's probably top three world armies and top four world air forces, in 12 years has gained about 20% of Ukraine. And they have lost some, say, over 1.2 million in the conflict so far. It's a conflict that Ukraine is working hard to manage. It's also a conflict that Russia is not, I repeat, not winning," he said.

ZELENSKYY CLAIMS US GAVE UKRAINE AND RUSSIA A DEADLINE TO REACH PEACE AGREEMENT

Recent battlefield developments suggest another possibility. Breedlove pointed to rapid Ukrainian gains following disruptions in Russia’s command-and-control systems.

"In the last three or four days, because of the loss of the Starlink command and control system, Ukraine launched an offensive, and they have snatched back months of Russian gains in three days, three-pronged push, hundreds of square miles regained, and Russia is backing up in several places right now."

Carrie Filipetti, executive director of the Vandenberg Coalition, said such advances could shift leverage at the negotiating table. "Ukraine's recent advances to recapture its territory is yet another signal that Putin's war machine is continuing to atrophy as the world marks the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Russia's latest territorial losses shows that far from being invincible, Putin and his army are beginning to experience real failures in terms of capability and resources."

She added that momentum matters. "Not only is this the most significant Ukrainian advance on the battlefield in more than two years, its importance may be felt even more concretely at the diplomatic table. Finding a lasting and equitable peace deal through negotiation is often about momentum – and right now the Ukrainians have it."

If sustained, such gains could alter Moscow’s calculations and give Kyiv a stronger footing in negotiations as long as Ukraine has strong U.S. support, Breedlove argues, "The first thing and the most important thing Ukraine needs is a declaratory statement by the West and specifically by the United States that we are not going to allow Russia to win in Ukraine, and we will give Ukraine what it needs to stop Russia… where Putin hears it loud and clear and where the people of Russia hear it loud and clear that is a game changer. And I think that's when Mr. Putin is going to have to make some tough decisions."

ZELENSKYY SAYS PEACE DEAL IS CLOSE AFTER TRUMP MEETING BUT TERRITORY REMAINS STICKING POINT

A third path worries some Western strategists: that inconsistent support could prolong or tilt the conflict in Russia’s favor.

Heather Nauert, who served as spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State from 2017 to 2019, framed the war as more than a territorial dispute. "As we now enter the fifth year of Putin’s war in Ukraine, we’re reminded that this conflict has never been only about territory — it’s about identity, faith, and the future of a free nation. Russia has destroyed more than 600 churches, persecuted millions of Ukrainian Christians under occupation, and abducted more than 19,000 children in an effort to break Ukraine’s spirit. President Trump's push for a lasting peace must be backed by strength and accountability – one that protects innocent lives, defends religious freedom and brings stolen children home."

Ret. Lt. Gen. Richard Newton said deterrence remains central. "Four years into this horrific war, the fundamental lesson remains unchanged: Peace is only possible when strength shapes the terms. Putin will continue to savagely test our resolve until the costs of his aggression outweigh any possible gain."

"What Ukraine needs isn’t gestures from the world, but instead, unwavering support from the U.S. and Europe that convinces Moscow further advances carry unacceptable consequences," he argued. "Russia must not prevail against Ukraine and the West. What are needed are credible security guarantees, robust offensive and defensive capabilities and a unified, long-term commitment by the West to ensure deterrence isn’t an elusive goal, but a lasting reality."

Breedlove warned that negotiations alone will not shift the balance. "The most dangerous scenario is that we do not do what we should do in Ukraine and Russia takes over Ukraine because they're not done. We have a policy of peace through strength and we're using it in Iran. We've used it in Venezuela. We're using it with oil tankers around the world... But when it comes to Putin and Ukraine, we are peace through weakness."

"Mr. Putin is making a point that he's in charge in Ukraine, not the West and certainly not America. And so we need to change that dynamic. You got good guys and you got bad guys. And right now the bad guys have told America to take a hike. So now, rather than telling them what to do, we are going to the good guys and saying, you have to give up more because the bad guys are not playing well in the sandbox. That's peace through weakness, not peace through strength," Breedlove concluded.

President Vladimir Putin said the development of Russia's nuclear triad was an "absolute priority" Monday as he outlined the country's stance on its weapons program, according to reports.

Marking Russia’s Defender of the Fatherland Day, the Russian leader spoke about strengthening the country’s nuclear capabilities before presenting state awards to officers involved in the invasion of Ukraine, the Moscow Times reported.

In his speech, Putin referred to the Russian nuclear triad, which is the country’s three-pronged system for delivering nuclear weapons, designed to ensure a credible second-strike capability. 

Putin described its development as "an absolute priority," saying that it "guarantees Russia’s security and ensures effective strategic deterrence and a balance of forces in the world."

ZELENSKYY CLAIMS US GAVE UKRAINE AND RUSSIA A DEADLINE TO REACH PEACE AGREEMENT

Putin also emphasized his country would continue to strengthen its army and navy, "taking into account developments in the international situation, based on combat experience gained," amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

He added that Russia would also "significantly" enhance the capabilities of other branches of the armed forces, increasing their combat readiness, mobility, and ability to operate in all conditions, even the most challenging.

"And, of course, we will accelerate the development of advanced systems for the armed forces," he added.

Putin’s remarks came after Russia suspended its participation in the New START Treaty on Feb. 5, 2023, the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington.

RUSSIA FIRES NEW HYPERSONIC MISSILE IN MASSIVE UKRAINE ATTACK, KREMLIN SAYS

The treaty limited the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems each country could have.

Russian officials have said they will continue to take a "responsible" approach to managing their strategic nuclear arsenal and would respect previously established limits.

Putin’s announcement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that the Russian leader had effectively launched "World War III" with his invasion of Ukraine four years ago.

"I believe that Putin has already started it. The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him… Putin will not stop at Ukraine," Zelenskyy told the BBC in an interview Feb. 23.

RUSSIA SHIFTS FROM TALK TO ACTION, TARGETING NATO HOMELAND AMID FEARS OF GLOBAL WAR

Zelenskyy described the war as part of Putin’s broader attempt to impose a "different way of life" on the world.

"Stopping Putin today and preventing him from occupying Ukraine is a victory for the whole world," he said.

However, when asked about the possibility of ceding the embattled Donbas region to Moscow as part of a peace deal, he warned that Russia would likely rebuild its military strength within "no more than a couple of years" and launch another invasion.

"Where would he go next? We do not know, but that he would want to continue [the war] is a fact," Zelenskyy said.

The UK government is set to unseal a first batch of key documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the U.S., MPs were told Monday.

The disclosure, set for "early March," follows a Commons motion ordering the release of files related to Mandelson’s vetting for the post and comes in the wake of his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

"The government expects to be able to publish the first tranche of documents very shortly, in early March," Darren Jones, chief secretary to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, told the House of Commons.

"I should, however, inform the House that it remains the case that a subset of this first tranche of documents is currently subject to the ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation," he said.

KEIR STARMER’S CHIEF OF STAFF RESIGNS AFTER RECOMMENDING EPSTEIN-CONNECTED AMBASSADOR

Jones added that "a small portion of that material engages matters of national security or international relations" and would be handled through the Intelligence and Security Committee, in line with the will of the House.

As previously reported by Fox News Digital, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed in a statement Monday that officers had arrested a 72-year-old man at an address in Camden and took him to a London police station for questioning.

The arrest follows revelations about Mandelson's links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and comes days after former Prince Andrew was detained.

The investigation relates to allegations that Mandelson shared confidential government information with Epstein while serving as business secretary.

DOJ PUBLISHES TROVE OF EPSTEIN FILES, SAYS MORE TO COME AFTER FRIDAY DEADLINE

Police had opened a criminal inquiry after the government passed on communications between the former ambassador and the disgraced financier.

Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice also appeared to show Mandelson sharing market-sensitive information with Epstein during the 2008 financial crisis.

Mandelson has denied wrongdoing and said he does not recall the alleged disclosures and apologized to Epstein’s victims for maintaining contact with him after his conviction.

On Feb. 4, Starmer told the Commons: "I’m as angry as anyone about what Mandelson has been up to. The disclosures … are utterly shocking and appalling. He has betrayed our country. He has lied repeatedly. He is responsible for a litany of deceit."

UK TO RELEASE FILES RELATED TO FORMER AMBASSADOR'S JEFFREY EPSTEIN TIES

Starmer later said that if he had known then what he knows now, Mandelson "would never have been anywhere near government."

Mandelson, an architect of New Labour, was appointed U.S. ambassador before being dismissed in September 2025 as scrutiny over his links to Epstein intensified. 

He resigned from the Labour Party and stepped down from the House of Lords.

As U.S. ambassador, Mandelson scored an early victory by ensuring Britain was the first country to agree to a deal with the U.S. to lower some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but was fired a few months later.

Starmer has also faced calls to step down over Mandelson’s appointment, Reuters reported.

Mexico’s most-wanted fentanyl kingpin, "El Mencho," was captured and killed Sunday after authorities tracked his romantic partner to a secret rendezvous location over the weekend, Mexican officials revealed Monday.

The operation reportedly began Feb. 20, targeting Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho." He carried a $15 million U.S. bounty and rose to power following the arrest of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said during a news conference that military intelligence identified and located a trusted courier or guard connected to one of Oseguera Cervantes’s romantic partners.

The associate then transported the partner to a designated cabin for an overnight meeting with "El Mencho."

TOURISTS TRAPPED IN PUERTO VALLARTA RECOUNT CARTEL RETALIATION AFTER ‘EL MENCHO’ KILLED

"On February 20, through central military intelligence work, a man of trust of one of El Mencho's romantic partners was located, who took her to a facility in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco," Trevilla Trejo said.  

The following day, the partner left the property, but intelligence confirmed that Oseguera Cervantes remained behind with a small security detail, prompting authorities, including Army Special Forces and the National Guard’s Immediate Reaction Force, to carry out the operation.

Security forces reportedly raided the private property after aerial surveillance spotted Oseguera Cervantes’ inner circle openly carrying illegal high-caliber weapons, including rocket launchers and long guns.

During the confrontation, Oseguera Cervantes’ security detail reportedly fired "very violently" on military personnel, triggering Special Forces to engage the attackers. Officials said eight criminals were killed in the initial phase — correcting earlier reports of four — and two military personnel were also wounded.

CARTELS OUTGUN POLICE: ROCKET LAUNCHERS SEIZED IN EL MENCHO RAID SPOTLIGHT CJNG FIREPOWER

Amid the chaos at the cabins, Oseguera Cervantes and his "close circle" fled into a nearby wooded area, officials said. After soldiers located them "hidden among the brush," cartel suspects allegedly opened fire on the troops. Military personnel then wounded "El Mencho" and two of his escorts in the shootout, according to Trevilla Trejo.

Military medics determined that Oseguera Cervantes and his two escorts were in critical condition and required immediate evacuation by helicopter. Oseguera Cervantes and his two escorts ultimately died during transport, officials said.

Authorities noted that 2,500 reinforcements were sent to join the 7,000 already in the state to prevent further violence in the cartel’s retaliation.

Oseguera Cervantes’ capture and subsequent death marks one of Mexico’s most significant blows to drug trafficking and organized crime since President Donald Trump called for intensified crackdowns on cartel violence.

The killing of drug lord Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes may look like a decisive victory in the war on drugs. But in Washington and Mexico City, it is also being viewed as something more strategic: a visible response to mounting U.S. pressure that has reshaped Mexico’s approach to the cartels.

The operation, carried out by Mexican forces with U.S. intelligence support, underscores deepening coordination between the two governments as fentanyl trafficking remains a central political and security issue in the United States.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas., told Fox News Digital he had personally warned Mexican officials last year that Washington expected stronger action. "In August of last year, I went down to Mexico. I took a trip to El Salvador, Panama and Mexico, and I met with senior officials in the Mexican government. The message I conveyed to them was that they needed to get serious about fighting the cartels to stop the drug trafficking into America and to stop the human trafficking into America. I told them that if they didn’t get serious, President Trump was going to."

"This was before the Maduro raid," Cruz added, "But the raid was not a surprise — it was clear the president was going to do what was necessary to keep America safe. I will say that Mexico has pivoted sharply, and this is a real manifestation of that. Thousands of Americans are alive today because Trump was re-elected and Republicans were put in charge of Congress. If we had kept the Democrats’ open-border policies in place, there would be thousands more Americans dead from murder, other violent crime and drug overdoses."

HEGSETH SAYS US STRIKES FORCE SOME CARTEL LEADERS TO HALT DRUG OPERATIONS

Melissa Ford Maldonado, director of Western Hemisphere at the America First Policy Institute, told Fox News Digital the strike reflects a broader shift in incentives driven by Washington.

"U.S. pressure has absolutely shaped Mexico’s actions. Pressure is the only thing that compels the Mexican state to act," Ford Maldonado said. "The Trump administration has been explicit in linking trade leverage and even the possibility of unilateral action to Mexico’s performance against the cartels, which has completely changed the incentive structure in Mexico City. When Washington demands visible results, Mexico is under pressure to produce something visible."

She said the killing itself fits that dynamic. "The killing of El Mencho is an attempt to do that," she said. "El Mencho was one of the most wanted men in the hemisphere, and Jalisco New Generation cartel is among the most violent and militarized cartels in Mexico. His death gives the Mexican government something concrete to point to — a high-value target — and claim they’re delivering. But these are only tactical wins, designed to relieve immediate pressure from Washington."

DEATH TOLL RISES AFTER MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL LEADER KILLED IN US-BACKED OPERATION

Ford Maldonado cautioned that high-profile takedowns have historically failed to produce lasting stability.

"The problem is that tactical wins are not the same thing as strategic change. Tactical wins aren’t enough anymore. If they were, the long list of past arrests and extraditions would have solved this already. I believe Washington is looking for something deeper now: the disruption of the ecosystem that allows cartel power to thrive. Mexico has a problem with corruption, territorial control and political protection, and they must address the political and financial networks that keep the cartels in power."

She also pointed to internal Mexican political dynamics that may complicate the narrative.

In June 2020, Omar García Harfuch, then Mexico City’s chief of police, survived an assassination attempt widely attributed to El Mencho. García Harfuch is now Mexico’s secretary of security and citizen protection and oversaw the operation that killed the cartel leader.

"Therefore, there may be other motives involved," Ford Maldonado said. "Jalisco New Generation cartel has been in a long-standing and very bloody rivalry with the Sinaloa cartel, which some say is the traditional cartel partner of the Morena regime. So, if the Mexican government goes after the rivals of a cartel it’s long been accused of tolerating or working alongside, that alone doesn’t prove it has truly broken with cartel-state collusion."

For now, she said, the killing is significant but not definitive.

"Unfortunately, history has shown that killing a cartel leader rarely produces lasting stability. It disrupts command and control temporarily," she said. "Whether this is a real turning point depends on what comes next, specifically, whether enforcement moves beyond high-profile cartel leaders and begins to confront the political and financial networks that sustain them. Until then, this is significant, but it’s not transformative."

Peter Mandelson, a former British ambassador to the United States who was fired from his post after his ties to Jeffrey Epstein emerged, was arrested in England on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, authorities said.

London’s Metropolitan Police said "officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office" at an address in north London and has been taken to a police station to be interviewed.

Police did not name Mandelson, in keeping with British police practice, but the suspect in the case has previously been identified as Mandelson.

Mandelson was fired from his diplomatic post in September after materials were publicized revealing his links to Epstein.

AS EPSTEIN-LINKED APPOINTMENT SPARKS BACKLASH, UK PM STARMER FACES PARTY REVOLT AMID RESIGNATION CALLS

Documents cited by Fox News Digital report Mandelson maintained contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction on sex offenses involving minors, and that Epstein transferred about $75,000 in 2003 and 2004 to accounts connected to Mandelson or his husband.

Police opened a criminal probe when more details emerged in documents released by the U.S. Justice Department last month.

KEIR STARMER’S CHIEF OF STAFF RESIGNS AFTER RECOMMENDING EPSTEIN-CONNECTED AMBASSADOR

Police are investigating Mandelson over documents suggesting he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. He does not face any allegations of sexual misconduct.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to appoint Mandelson has resulted in one of the most serious crises of his premiership.

Starmer has sought to contain the damage, saying he regrets the appointment and has apologized to the victims.

Mandelson's arrest comes four days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of a similar offense related to his friendship with Epstein.

Andrew was released after 11 hours in custody while the police investigation continues.

This is a developing news story check back for updates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cartel violence that erupted across Mexico left 25 Mexican National Guard troops and more than two dozen criminal suspects among the dead following the killing of Jalisco New Generation cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, officials said Monday.

Mexico Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said the troops in Jalisco were killed in six separate attacks following the killing of Oseguera Cervantes during a shootout inside his home as the Mexican military attempted to capture him. He also said some 30 criminal suspects were killed in Jalisco and four others were killed in Michoacan.

García Harfuch added that a prison guard, an agent from the state prosecutor’s office and a woman whom he did not identify were also killed.

The U.S. provided intelligence support for the Mexican operation that resulted in the death of the cartel leader, who was known as "El Mencho."

DEATH TOLL RISES AFTER MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL LEADER KILLED IN US-BACKED OPERATION

Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla said Monday that intelligence leading to the military operation came from a romantic partner of the crime boss, Reuters reported.

The cartel reacted to its leader's death with violence across Mexico, placing roadblocks and setting vehicles on fire throughout Sunday. 

CARTELS OUTGUN POLICE: ROCKET LAUNCHERS SEIZED IN EL MENCHO RAID SPOTLIGHT CJNG FIREPOWER

President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm Monday, and authorities said all the more than 250 cartel roadblocks across 20 states had been cleared.

The U.S. State Department said its personnel in cities across Mexico would shelter in place Monday, urging U.S. citizens in many parts of Mexico to do the same.

Oseguera Cervantes was the leader of one of the largest narco-terrorist cartels in the country.

The criminal network was notorious for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States, and staging brazen attacks against government officials who challenged it.

Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Anti-government protests are resurging across Iran, with videos showing students chanting slogans against the regime as nuclear negotiations with the United States are set to resume on Thursday.

A video translated by Reuters showed demonstrators shouting "We’ll fight, we’ll die, we’ll reclaim Iran," reflecting growing anger towards the country’s leadership.

The renewed unrest follows months of frustration over economic hardship, repression and previous crackdowns, placing additional domestic pressure on the regime as talks unfold. Analysts say the convergence of protests at home, military pressure abroad and a stalled diplomatic track has hardened rhetoric on both sides rather than pushing them toward compromise.

TRUMP SAYS IRAN HAS 15 DAYS TO REACH A DEAL OR FACE 'UNFORTUNATE' OUTCOME

The Iranian regime, meanwhile, is striking a defiant tone. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would "not bow down" to pressure tied to nuclear negotiations, warning that external coercion would not change Iran’s stance, according to Al Jazeera.

His remarks come ahead of a new round of U.S.–Iran talks set for Thursday in Geneva, confirmed by Oman, which is mediating the discussions. The negotiations aim to address Tehran’s nuclear program amid rising regional tensions, though major disputes remain over enrichment limits, sanctions relief and the scope of any deal.

In a February speech analyzed by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled out abandoning uranium enrichment and rejected U.S. demands to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional proxy activity in negotiations. 

The analysis, authored by FDD research analyst Janatan Sayeh and Iran Program Senior Director Behnam Ben Taleblu, noted that Khamenei has escalated attacks on Washington’s leadership, calling President Donald Trump a "criminal" for backing Iranian protests and circulating rhetoric likening him to a tyrant.

US POSITIONS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, STRIKE PLATFORMS ACROSS MIDDLE EAST AS IRAN TALKS SHIFT TO OMAN

Meanwhile, the United States has expanded its military presence in the Middle East while signaling force remains an option. The deployments have shaped both the tone and urgency of the negotiations, reinforcing that diplomacy is unfolding under the shadow of potential escalation.

Special envoy Steve Witkoff warned Saturday that Iran could be "a week away" from having "industrial-grade bomb-making material," citing enrichment levels he said are approaching weapons capability.

"It’s up to 60%," Witkoff said. "They’re probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material." He made the remarks on "My View with Lara Trump," describing the situation as dangerous and accusing Iran of violating President Trump’s "zero enrichment" red line.

U.S. officials have warned that failure to reach an agreement could trigger serious consequences, while Tehran has signaled readiness to retaliate if attacked, reinforcing the sense that negotiations are taking place under intense pressure.

Reuters contributed to this report.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was re-elected as general secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, according to a press release from the country’s state-run media.

The decision was announced on Monday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which said the party formally adopted the measure on Feb. 22 during its Ninth Congress.

KCNA described the move as reflecting the "unanimous desire" of party members, the military and the public, praising Kim as the "centre of unity and leadership" and crediting him with strengthening the country’s nuclear deterrence and advancing economic and military development.

The lengthy statement highlighted the country’s achievements over the past five years, including improvements to national defense capabilities and economic planning.

KIM JONG UN APPEARS WITH DAUGHTER AT MAUSOLEUM, FUELING SUCCESSION SPECULATION

It also reaffirmed Kim's role as the guiding figure in the country’s "socialist construction."

Kim, who has been in power since 2011, has served as general secretary of the Workers’ Party since 2021, when he formally assumed the title previously held by his late father, Kim Jong Il.

An analysis by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) suggests North Korea could use the conclusion of the Ninth Party Congress to unveil new strategic weapons and highlight progress under its 2021–2025 military modernization plan.

SOUTH KOREAN COURT RULES EX-PRESIDENT YOON SUK YEOL GUILTY IN INSURRECTION TRIAL

The report notes Pyongyang may showcase advances in intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles as it seeks to improve the survivability and accuracy of its nuclear capabilities.

AEI assessed that Kim is also likely to outline modernization goals for the 2026–2030 period, potentially emphasizing second-strike capabilities, faster launch readiness and more diverse delivery systems.

NORTH KOREA FIRES MISSILE AS US, SOUTH KOREA BEGIN THEIR 1ST JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE OF TRUMP'S 2ND TERM

Beyond military issues, the analysis says Kim may frame the current five-year economic plan as a success, pointing to increased trade with Russia and China and efforts under his "20×10 Regional Development Policy" to reduce rural-urban disparities.

Following the reported killing of major cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as El Mencho, multiple American tourists vacationing in Puerto Vallarta told Fox News Digital they unexpectedly found themselves in the middle of a violent cartel retaliation.

As airlines canceled flights and authorities issued shelter-in-place orders, stranded visitors reported cars set ablaze, suspected cartel members blocking major roads, and stores ransacked by looters — scenes some witnesses said made parts of the popular resort city feel like "a war breaking out in the streets."

Witnesses said they were forced to evacuate their rooms, manage with limited hotel food, and even venture outside in search of meals while waiting for Mexican authorities to regain control of the city.

Staying at an Airbnb near a main road, Eugene Marchenko, 37, of Charleston, South Carolina, told Fox News Digital he woke up to blaring horns and saw six cars completely engulfed in flames just outside his balcony. He and his wife, who had arrived in Mexico only a day earlier, were forced to evacuate for several hours, fearing that a nearby fuel tanker, also ablaze, could explode.

MAJOR DRUG LORD 'EL MENCHO' KILLED IN MEXICAN MILITARY OPERATION WITH U.S. INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT

"I looked down and they're completely engulfed in flames," Marchenko said. "It was six cars in total that burned and one fuel tanker." 

He said he watched a neighbor’s video showing men he believed to be cartel members forcing people out of their vehicles, then pouring gasoline and setting the cars on fire.

"They told the people to leave," Marchenko said. "Then they were taking the gas and pouring the gas on the vehicle and waiting until everybody was clear before they were setting it on fire."

Later in the afternoon, Marchenko ventured out to find food and said he saw pharmacies and corner stores completely burned down, adding that younger crowds had broken into nearby buildings to loot beer and cigarettes.

CARTELS OUTGUN POLICE: ROCKET LAUNCHERS SEIZED IN EL MENCHO RAID SPOTLIGHT CJNG FIREPOWER

Videos obtained by Fox News Digital show a helicopter hovering above his building, circling as if searching for someone, while Mexican armed forces and armored vehicles moved through the streets below.

Public transportation and Ubers had come to a complete halt, Marchenko added, saying that even if flights resume, he is unsure how they would reach the airport. 

Despite the chaos, Marchenko noted that no one appeared to panic. 

"There's definitely not any panic from almost nobody here," he said. "I think it's interesting, almost everybody was just annoyed more than anything."

SOCCER MATCHES POSTPONED AFTER MEXICO KILLS CARTEL LEADER ‘EL MENCHO’ NEAR WORLD CUP HOST

Adriana Belli, 49, another visitor from Miami, told Fox News Digital that she had planned to spend over a week in Mexico to attend a wedding in Guadalajara and celebrate a friend’s birthday in Mexico City.

Belli said the sudden outbreak of violence was especially shocking, noting that she had spoken with American tourists staying at her Marriott resort who insisted the area was extremely safe after visiting Puerto Vallarta for 24 years.

She added that guests who had gone to the airport were under lockdown and were managing with the limited food available.

"A lot of the other tourists who had early morning flights were actually able to get to the airport, but they are now locked down in the airport and unable to leave," she said. "So what we heard from other guests is they are just sort of surviving off of granola bars." 

Another source staying at a separate resort told Fox News Digital that restaurants and room service had been shut down. Guests were brought to the lobby for what was described as "the last bit of food."

He added that this was the first trip where he and his wife were away from their 4-year-old son, and that he had to call home to tell family members where to find their will.

"This is the first time we've ever been away from him. My wife was saying, ‘We're never leaving him again,’" he said. "I had to call my mom today and, you know, just tell her, ‘Look, here's where my will is. We just created this. I don't want you to panic, but I may need you to stay a couple days extra with my son.’"

He added that, despite the area appearing like a war zone, he is remaining optimistic that the authorities will restore order in the coming days.

Mexico’s Defense Department said Sunday that Oseguera was killed in a military operation. The news reportedly triggered widespread unrest and uncertainty across multiple states as Mexican authorities worked to stabilize the region.