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Netanyahu will reportedly hold a security meeting at Trump's deadline
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will reportedly hold a meeting at 12:00 p.m. eastern on Saturday, President Donald Trump’s deadline for Hamas, to discuss the rest of the ceasefire agreement, his spokesperson confirmed to Fox News.
In a statement, Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that Israel is "preparing with full intensity for what comes next, in every sense," TPS-IL reported.
Earlier on Saturday, Hamas released three more hostages, including American citizen Sagui Dekel-Chen. Their release was almost delayed "indefinitely" by the terror group due to alleged ceasefire violations by Israel.
TRUMP DEMANDS HAMAS RELEASE REST OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES
Trump then said on Monday that if Hamas did not return all of the remaining hostages by noon, Israel should cancel the ceasefire and "let all hell break out."
"If all the Gaza hostages aren't returned by Saturday at 12 p.m., I would say cancel the ceasefire," Trump said in the Oval Office. "Let all hell break out; Israel can override it."
When Trump made the statement, it was unclear if he meant 12 p.m. eastern or Israeli time. The time of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s meeting indicates that Israel understood Trump’s deadline as 12 p.m. eastern, making it 7 p.m. local time.
On Thursday, Hamas announced it would release hostages on Saturday as planned. The group eventually named the hostages set to be released. Iair Horn and Sasha Troufanov were released alongside Dekel-Chen. All three men were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks.
While Trump was the one who originally suggested the deadline, he said on Saturday in a post on Truth Social that the United States would "back" any decision that Israel made regarding further actions.
"Hamas has just released three Hostages from GAZA, including an American Citizen. They seem to be in good shape! This differs from their statement last week that they would not release any Hostages," Trump wrote. "Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES. The United States will back the decision they make!"
Last week, Trump expressed outrage over the condition of the hostages released by Hamas, all of whom looked frail and gaunt. Trump said that the three men "looked like Holocaust survivors" and "like they haven’t had a meal in a month."
Israel and Hamas are engaged in a ceasefire deal that went into effect on Jan. 19. Throughout the six-week deal, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel releases Palestinian prisoners linked to suicide bombings, attempted murders
Palestinians linked to suicide bombings and attempted murders are among the 369 released Saturday by Israel in its latest exchange for hostages captured by Hamas.
Thirty-six of the detainees were serving out life sentences in Israeli prisons, but only 12 of them were allowed to return to their homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The other 24 are being sent to exile.
Those released Saturday were wearing white sweatshirts given to them by the Israeli Prison Service upon their release, emblazoned with a Star of David, the Prison Service logo and the phrase "Never forgive, never forget" written in Arabic on the front and back, according to the Associated Press. A video later posted on X purportedly showed those sweatshirts being burned.
Among those that returned to the West Bank were Ibrahim and Musa Sarahneh, who served more than 22 years in prison for their involvement in suicide bombings that killed a number of Israelis during the second intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israel in the early 2000s.
Their other brother, Khalil Sarahneh, who was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to life in 2002, was sent to Egypt.
Hassan Aweis, who also was sentenced to life in 2002 on charges of voluntary manslaughter, planting an explosive device and attempted murder, according to Israel's Justice Ministry, was among the few released prisoners welcomed by joyous crowds in Ramallah.
He was involved in planning attacks during the second intifada for the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, the AP reported.
The group, which is designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization, was "formed in late 2000 during the second intifada as a militant wing of the West Bank’s Fatah political faction" and "seeks to drive Israeli military forces and settlers from Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip and establish a Palestinian state," according to the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
HAMAS FREES 3 MORE HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE THAN 300 PRISONERS
Hassan Aweis’s brother, Abdel Karim Aweis, whom Israel’s Justice Ministry said was sentenced to the equivalent of six life sentences for charges including throwing an explosive device, attempted murder and assault, was transferred to Egypt.
Ahmed Barghouti was also sent to Egypt on Saturday. Barghouti, who once was a commander in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, was given a life sentence for dispatching assailants and suicide bombers to carry out attacks that killed Israeli civilians during the second intifada.
Barghouti is a close aide of Marwan Barghouti, a popular Fatah leader who remains in Israeli custody.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reporter's Notebook: Crunch time for hostages amid ceasefire uncertainty
It’s crunch time for the nervous families of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Under the rules of phase one of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal, another nine living hostages will be released by the end of the month. Including the three on Saturday. Along with more of the already dead. Remaining living hostages would be released in a phase two, which has not yet been agreed to.
The last few batches of hostages put on display in propaganda moves by Hamas have looked worse and worse. Malnutrition is a common malady. Plus untended wounds. And mental degradation. As information emerges. Spending months in dark damp tunnels, bodies chained to walls, humans forced to grovel like animals.
The feared, but now confirmed, horrible state of the hostages is raising pressure on the Israeli government to try and speed up the release of the prisoners. If not quite the all-or-nothing approach of President Donald Trump’s proposal earlier this week, then at least an accelerated phase one release program and an extended release beyond the deadline for the start of phase two.
We recently had the chance to meet with the relatives of some of the hostages who have been freed under the current plan. Elan Tiv Siegel, daughter of 65-year-old North Carolina native Israeli-American Keith Siegel, freed earlier this month, told us that while his father suffered from real malnutrition and lost 65 pounds, he kept his spirit and mind alive.
ISRAELI CABINET BACKS TRUMP’S DEMAND FOR HAMAS TO RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES BY SATURDAY DEADLINE
Likewise, 24 year-old Romi Gonen, who gained freedom late last month, on the surface at least seems like any bubbly young woman. But in fact, her sister Yarden told us she had suffered a bad arm injury, which will need months of surgery and rehab to try and get back into shape. She also made the common complaint of a horrendous diet.
Everyone we spoke with sees the role of President Trump as a positive that pushed what had been a months-long stalled hostage deal across the line. While they like the sound of a mass release of the long-held captives, they are a little worried about rocking the ceasefire "boat" too much, by going for too much too soon, acknowledging the fact that Hamas are terrorists.
Still, a light at the end of this very horrible long tunnel might be a bit more visible at this time.
American-Israeli hostage released by Hamas embraces his wife, family after being apart for nearly 500 days
American-Israeli hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen embraced his wife after being apart from her for nearly 500 days in heartwarming photos and video taken Saturday following his release by Hamas.
The scenes captured at a reception point in Israel show the 36-year-old hugging and kissing Avital Dekel-Chen, who gave birth to their third daughter two months after he was seized by the Palestinian terrorist group during their Oct. 7, 2023, attack on the country. Dekel-Chen's parents are also seen welcoming him home.
"Our hearts ache for everything he missed, but now he’s here, unlike many others," his family said in a statement to the Associated Press.
As with previous exchanges, Saturday’s hostage release was heavily choreographed, with the captives made to walk onto a stage and speak into microphones before a crowd in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. Dozens of masked, armed Hamas fighters lined up near the stage, which was decorated with Palestinian flags and banners of militant factions.
Chen appeared to be limping as he descended the stage during the hostage release, the AP reported.
The other hostages released were Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29, and Iair Horn, 46. Troufanov has Israeli and Russian citizenship, while Horn is a dual citizen of Israel and Argentina.
The three were abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz in the terror group's Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.
In return for the hostages’ release, Israel began releasing 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 36 serving life sentences for deadly attacks. A bus carrying the first released prisoners arrived in the West Bank town of Beitunia and was greeted by a cheering crowd of relatives and supporters.
Some appeared gaunt, and the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service said four were immediately taken for medical treatment.
It is the sixth swap since the ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19. Before Saturday, 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners were freed during the first phase of the truce.
Fox News’ Landon Mion and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Pope Francis will remain in hospital, Vatican says
Pope Francis will remain hospitalized and will continue treatment for a respiratory infection, according to a Reuters report citing a Vatican spokesperson.
Diagnostic tests apparently indicated that Pope Francis had a respiratory tract infection, the outlet added.
Vatican News reported that the 88-year-old pontiff had a "restful night" at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital. While the pope was experiencing a "slight fever" on Friday, it had broken by Saturday, according to Vatican News.
BIDEN AWARDS POPE FRANCIS WITH HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR, PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM, OVER THE PHONE
The pope was admitted to Rome’s largest hospital after reportedly grappling with a bout of bronchitis for about a week, the Vatican confirmed to Fox News.
CNN CEO Mark Thompson met with Pope Francis shortly before his hospitalization. According to CNN’s report, the pope was "mentally alert but struggling to speak for extended periods due to breathing difficulties."
POPE FRANCIS KICKS OFF HOLY YEAR AT VATICAN WITH OVER 32 MILLION VISITORS EXPECTED
The pope is no stranger to health struggles. At the age of 21, he had part of his lung removed after developing pleurisy, which is an inflammation of the membranes that cushion the lungs.
Pope Francis has struggled with multiple health battles over the last few years, including surgeries in 2021 and 2023, as well as longstanding knee issues, which have resulted in his using a wheelchair.
POPE FRANCIS INJURED AS VATICAN CONFIRMS 2ND FALL IN MATTER OF WEEKS
In his autobiography, the pope chalked up his health issues to his age, saying "the Church is governed using the head and the heart, not the legs."
The pope also suffered from two recent falls, one in December and another in January. After the second fall, which occurred at his residence, Pope Francis’ arm was put in a sling to immobilize it. The Vatican said at the time that this was done as "a precautionary measure."
Shattering the 'iron' ceiling: New series 'Guerrera' explores vital role of US female troops in combat
Women in combat broke the "iron" ceiling more than a decade ago when female soldiers volunteered to throw themselves into some of the toughest operations carried out during the War on Terror, deploying with elite military units under a task force known as the Cultural Support Team (CST).
A new three-part documentary series, "Guerrera," which bowed Saturday on Amazon, YouTube and Google TV, reveals the indispensable role women have played in combat.
"We did it — females in combat arms. The legacy is we broke the ceiling, the hard ceiling, not even a glass ceiling," said retired Sgt. First Class Jeramy Neusmith, Army Ranger, who helped train the women of the CST program at Fort Bragg. "[It] was f---ing iron. We breached it."
SHOULD WOMEN SERVE IN COMBAT? MILITARY EXPERTS WEIGH IN
The series uncovers little-known details about the female troops who were successfully paired with elite special operations units like Delta Force and the Army Rangers. Their goal was to address intelligence gaps in Afghanistan and Iraq by speaking with local women and children who had in-depth knowledge of active terrorist movements.
Though the documentary series was years in the making by producer and director Will Agee and executive producer Jessica Yahn — who served in the CST program — the timing of its release coincides with a moment in the U.S. where some in top positions are once again questioning whether women should have the right to fight with America’s elite.
"I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn't made us more effective, hasn't made us more lethal, it has made fighting more complicated," then-nominee and now confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during a November 2024 interview with "The Sean Ryan Show." Later in an interview on "The Megyn Kelly Show," he appeared to have shifted his position and said, "If we have the right standard and women meet that standard, roger. Let’s go."
Hegseth did not repeat his previously stated beliefs when pressed about it during his January confirmation and has said he does not plan to reverse the 2013 Combat Exclusion Policy, which allowed women to vie for elite positions.
But his comments renewed an old debate about the effectiveness of women in combat — despite more than a decade of evidence proving capability and operational efficacy.
"Regardless of what side of the political spectrum you're on — which there's plenty of Republicans, plenty of Democrats in "Guerrera" — every single one of them, man and woman, want a high standard, and that is such a unifying point," Yahn told Fox News Digital. "I hope what comes out of the film is just the essence that more unites us than divides us.
"And it's just a matter of getting down to that rich discourse and breaking through some of those things that we immediately may perceive the other side is thinking."
In the series, Neusmith argues the turning point in what would become a major shift in American policy for women in combat started after 1st Lt. Ashley White was killed alongside Ranger forces during an operation in Afghanistan in 2011.
White became the first CST member to be killed in combat after she and the team of Rangers she was attached to entered a compound booby-trapped with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). White and two other Rangers were killed on Oct. 22, 2011.
"Ashley died — she died in combat. No Rangers stopped, no Rangers turned around, cried, no one wept, right on target," Neusmith highlights in the series. "They did their job, and then they went back and handled the death of their comrade. We beat the stigma.
"All the stigmas they put out there — bone density, you know, men are going to be susceptible, you know, they'll pay attention to women. No," he continued. "I mean, they cared, but they couldn't care at that time. They had to do their job."
Though the CST women were assigned to elite units, they were not special forces, and technically it was still illegal for women to serve in combat roles when the first batch of CSTs deployed in 2011. However, they were trained to not only keep up with the special forces, but to engage enemy combatants alongside America’s best-of-the-best.
"One of my pet peeves is when people try to blame something on a gender or a race or a sexual preference or anything but the human standing in front of you, who can or cannot do something," said retired Seg. Major George Fraser, Special Forces, who also received four Purple Hearts and six Bronze Stars for Valor. "That's the end of it for me."
The series is dedicated to Capt. Jennifer Moreno, the second woman in the CST program to die in combat while out with her team of Rangers on Oct. 5, 2013, during a raid on a compound in Afghanistan.
Moreno and the team she was with were ambushed after combatants lured the unit into a deactivated minefield, before the IEDs were then activated by the terrorists they were pursuing.
The situation was akin to "teleporting yourself into the middle of a minefield," explained Special Operations Veteran Luke Ryan, Army Ranger, who was there that night.
The operation, which was expected to be a "quick snatch and go," became one of the most brutal nights of the war, which saw four American soldiers killed and 30 others wounded.
Moreno, a trained nurse, was killed after she ran across the IED-embedded compound in an attempt to reach a fallen comrade.
"She was going to save a life come hell or high water," said retired Sgt. Tom Block, Army Ranger, who was severely wounded by a suicide bomber that night, permanently costing him his right eye. "She embodied heroism that night."
Sgt. Joseph Peters, Special Agent; Sgt. Patrick Hawkins, Army Ranger; and Pfc. Cody Patterson, Army Ranger, were also killed in the IED ambush.
The CST program, along with others like Lioness and Female Engagement Teams, contributed to the U.S. Department of Defense’s decision in 2013 to officially open up combat roles to women.
Women would not be permitted to vie for the elite slots until 2015, which would see the first two women to graduate from the infamous Army Ranger school. Since then, over 140 women have graduated from the program alongside their male peers.
Though the Army in 2022 lowered general physical standards for women and older troops completing annual physical exams, it did not alter the standards required from graduates of its elite programs like the Rangers or Green Berets.
The women of the CST program have championed calls to maintain universal standards for males and females in arms, but they flat reject the argument that women shouldn’t be allowed in combat.
When asked what Agee hopes viewers will take away from the series, he said first and foremost the "recognition of unsung heroes in our midst" and the "sacrifices that our men and women who serve in the military take day in and day out."
Agee quoted a comment made by Ryan in the series in which he said, "There is a mechanism of dialogue that is broken in the United States right now."
"I really would love ‘Guerrera’ to go a small step in fixing that mechanism of dialogue," he said. "I hope we can watch a documentary film that deals with complicated concepts, that we will discuss them respectfully."
"We can differ in terms of opinion, but we can all come back at the end of the day to understand and to underline the unity… [the] thing that we need the most of in this country," Agee added. "It's what makes a military unit thrive, and it's also what I think makes a society thrive."
The series "Guerrera" will also be released on Apple in the coming weeks.
Hamas frees 3 more hostages in exchange for more than 300 prisoners as part of ceasefire deal with Israel
Hamas released three more hostages on Saturday in exchange for more than 300 Palestinian prisoners as part of the delicate ceasefire agreement reached with Israel.
The hostages released were Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29; Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, and Yair Horn, 46. Troufanov has Israeli and Russian citizenship, Dekel-Chen is an American-Israeli and Horn is a dual citizen of Israel and Argentina.
The three were abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz in the terror group's Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel that sparked the war in Gaza now under ceasefire.
HAMAS TO FREE ANOTHER AMERICAN IN SATURDAY HOSTAGE RELEASE
The Palestinian prisoners were freed from Israeli jails as part of the sensitive ceasefire agreement, which has continued to hold even after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened that "all hell is going to break out" if Hamas does not release all the remaining hostages this week. Trump has also said he is committed to the U.S. purchasing and taking over Gaza and resettling Palestinians elsewhere.
About 70 hostages remain in Hamas custody. Nearly all the remaining hostages, including Israeli soldiers, are men and about half are believed to be dead.
In the first phase of the ceasefire, 24 hostages and more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners have been released so far. The first phase includes Hamas' release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The war could resume if no agreement is reached on the more complicated second phase, which calls for Hamas to release all remaining hostages and an indefinite extension of the ceasefire.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
US citizen allegedly carrying cannabis detained in Moscow, charged with narcotics smuggling: Russian media
A U.S. citizen who was allegedly carrying cannabis gummies has been detained at an airport in Moscow, Russian media reported.
The 28-year-old American was detained at the Vnukovo Airport Feb. 7 after a K-9 with the Russian Federal Customs Service detected something in his luggage, Russia’s TASS news agency said.
He had arrived in Russia via Istanbul.
The U.S. State Department told Fox News Digital it is aware of reports of a citizen being detained and had no further comment.
FREED AMERICAN HOSTAGE MARC FOGEL LANDS IN US AFTER YEARS IN RUSSIAN CAPTIVITY
"A chemical analysis revealed the presence of narcotic substances from the cannabinoid group," the customs service reported, according to TASS, adding the man claimed his U.S. doctor had prescribed the gummies.
He has been charged with smuggling narcotic drugs into the country and could face five up to 10 years in prison, TASS reported.
Marc Fogel, a U.S. citizen who was detained on drug charges in Russia four years ago, was released on Tuesday in exchange for Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik, who had been detained by the U.S. government on cryptocurrency fraud charges.
Vogel's plane landed safely in the U.S. Tuesday night.
Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, was serving a 14-year prison sentence after his arrest in August 2021 at a Russian airport for being in possession of drugs, which his family and supporters said were medically prescribed marijuana.
In 2022, WNBA player Brittney Griner was released from Russia after she spent eight months in detainment for having vape cartridges containing oils derived from cannabis.
MOTHER OF FREED AMERICAN HOSTAGE MARC FOGEL THANKS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: 'HE KEPT HIS PROMISE'
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She was also detained at a Moscow airport as she returned to the country to play in a basketball league there.
Israel's UN ambassador slams Palestinian plan for Gaza, demands PA first 'condemn Hamas'
EXCLUSIVE - Israel's United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon is making the Jewish State’s disapproval of the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) "Relief and Early Recovery Plan" for Gaza crystal clear.
"It would be better if they dealt with terrorism in Judea and Samaria and condemn Hamas," Ambassador Danon told Fox News Digital exclusively. Judea and Samaria are commonly referred to as the West Bank outside of Israel.
The PA’s plan, which was submitted to the U.N. Security Council for review, is broken up into three phases and will cost approximately $3.5 billion, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital. It calls for an "international commitment to end the Israeli siege" in the Gaza Strip and "longer-term changes."
"The end of Israel's occupation of the State of Palestine and the achievement of the two-state solution, as outlined in numerous U.N. resolutions as well as the Arab Peace Initiative, is the only [way] forward for the State of Palestine and the State of Israel to live side by side in peace and security," the PA’s plan reads.
TRUMP’S GAZA RELOCATION PROPOSAL SPARKS HEATED DEBATE AMONG PALESTINIANS: ‘NO LIFE LEFT HERE’
Israel’s Mission to the U.N. condemned the plan in a statement provided exclusively to Fox News Digital. Israel sees the plan presented by the PA as a way to "circumvent basic security requirements, including disarming Hamas."
"While the Trump administration presents plans to change the reality in Gaza, including voluntarily transferring the residents of the Strip to other countries, the Palestinian Authority offers the U.N. an independent reconstruction plan - without any reference to the demilitarization of the Strip or Hamas' responsibility for the destruction caused to it," the statement from Israel's Mission to the U.N. said.
In its plan, the PA puts the onus of ensuring the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Gaza on Israel, calling it the "occupying power." However, in 2005, Israel unilaterally pulled out of the Gaza Strip, and Hamas took over after a 2006 election.
The physical restoration of Gaza is not the only focus of the PA’s plan; there is also the establishment of a "Governmental Emergency Operations Room" to oversee the plan, along with the controversial United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Both the PA and UNRWA have been accused by Israel of perpetuating terrorism and violence.
"The Palestinian Authority, which has not yet condemned the atrocities of October 7, does not have the moral standing and executive ability to take part in these issues," Ambassador Danon told Fox News Digital. "It would have been better if they had focused on stopping the rotten culture of incitement and demanded a stop to the ugly terrorism that has reared its head in Judea and Samaria."
Upon reviewing the PA’s documents, Fox News Digital did not find any references to the Oct. 7 attacks, or the hostages taken into Gaza by force. The PA did, however, repeatedly accuse Israel of committing "genocidal aggression" in Gaza.
Hamas is not mentioned in the PA’s plan, which aligns with the two factions’ history of friction.
In February 2024, Russia attempted to launch peace talks between the PA and Hamas. Hamas urged Russia in October 2024 to push PA President Mahmoud Abbas to agree to a unity government for post-war Gaza, but so far nothing has come from those efforts.
While Israel’s Mission to the U.N. condemned the PA’s plan, it also admitted that the "chance that it will be overwhelmingly accepted remains an open question, especially in light of the Trump administration's new policy on Gaza."
HAMAS SAYS IT WILL FREE MORE ISRAELI HOSTAGES ON SATURDAY AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED
When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited D.C. earlier this month, President Trump said the U.S. would "take over" Gaza and relocate the Palestinians living there.
When recently asked about the president’s plan, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ruled out the idea of putting American troops on the ground in Gaza. Instead, she said that President Trump would "strike a deal with our partners in the region."
Before he returned to the Oval Office, President Trump warned Hamas that there would be "hell to pay" if the hostages were not returned. Since then, several hostages have been released.
Saturday will see three more Israeli hostages released, including American Sagui Dekel Chen.
Suspect in Munich car attack had 'Islamist motivation,' prosecutor says
The suspect accused of injuring more than 30 people in a car ramming attack in Munich, Germany, appears to have been motivated by Islamic extremism, prosecutors revealed Friday.
The 24-year-old Afghan, a self-described bodybuilder and fitness model, was arrested Thursday after he drove his Mini Cooper into the back of a labor union demonstration. The incident unfolded near where world leaders — including Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — were expected to gather for the Munich Security Conference.
Prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann said that the suspect said "Allahu Akbar," or "God is great," to police and then prayed after his arrest -- which prompted a department that investigates extremism and terror to take on the case immediately.
In questioning, he admitted deliberately driving into the demonstration and "gave an explanation that I would summarize as religious motivation," Tilmann said, according to the Associated Press. "According to all we know at the moment, I would venture to speak of an Islamist motivation."
CAR DRIVER IN MUNICH PLOWS INTO CROWD
However, there were no indications the suspect was in any Islamic extremist organization, she reportedly added.
Tilmann also announced Friday that the suspect, who arrived in Germany as an asylum-seeker in 2016 and lived in Munich, posted content with religious references — such as "Allah, protect us always" — on social media.
The attack left 36 people injured, and the suspect is now facing 36 counts of attempted murder as well as bodily harm and dangerous interference with road traffic.
PLANE CARRYING SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO RESUMES FLIGHT TO MUNICH AFTER MECHANICAL ISSUE
The deputy head of Bavaria's state criminal police office, Guido Limmer, said investigators found a chat, apparently with relatives, in which the suspect wrote "perhaps I won't be there anymore tomorrow," but so far they have found nothing that points to concrete preparations for the attack or anyone else being involved.
The man had no previous convictions and had a valid residence permit. Tilmann also said there was no indication of mental illness.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier reportedly laid a flower at the attack scene Friday morning, where he condemned "the brutality of this act" and said that it "leaves us stunned."
A spokesperson for the vice president told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that Vance and President Zelenskyy will meet on the sidelines of the conference, where the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is likely to be a focus.
Fox News’ Rachel Wolf and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
Hamas to free another American in Saturday hostage release
The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas has released the names of the three hostages set to be freed Saturday, including American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, following days of concern that a ceasefire deal with Israel could collapse.
Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov and Argentine-Israeli Yair Horn, who along with Dekel-Chen were abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023, will also be released on Saturday, which will mark 497 days in captivity.
Dekel-Chen is the second American to be released by Hamas since President Donald Trump re-entered office, following the release of Keith Siegel on Feb. 1.
FORMER HAMAS HOSTAGE'S MOM SAYS DAUGHTER WAS FORCED TO FAKE HER DEATH FOR A PROPAGANDA VIDEO
International concern over the stability of the ceasefire reached new heights after Hamas threatened not to release any more hostages – in direct violation of the agreement – after it claimed that Israel had violated the treaty by not facilitating the transport of humanitarian aid and targeting Palestinians in airstrikes.
Trump then said on Monday that Israel should cancel the ceasefire agreement if Hamas did not hand over all remaining hostages, not just the three slated to be released on Feb. 15 under the ceasefire agreement.
Concern mounted when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday also called on Hamas to release hostages come Saturday, but did not specify whether he meant all hostages or the three previously agreed to.
"The Israeli formal position is that we have an agreement that should be fulfilled," retired IDF Major General Yaakov Amidror confirmed on Thursday during a discussion hosted by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA).
"We don’t [want to] shake the boat by adding [Trump’s] demand," he said. "The question is, will Hamas fulfill the agreement from its side and release the three hostages?
"I think Hamas is not going to take the risk now when this is the mood in Washington," Amidror added. "But we don’t know."
Just 16 of the 33 hostages scheduled to be released during the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire have been freed.
Following the first week of the rocky agreement, which saw the release of seven hostages, three hostages per week were slated to be released under terms agreed to by Hamas and Israel. The final 14 hostages will be released together on Feb. 22, marking the final week of the first phase.
The IDF has assessed that at least eight of the hostages slated for release in the first phase have been killed while in Hamas captivity, though the number could be higher as the fate of Shiri Bibas and her two young boys – Ariel, who was four years old when he was abducted alongside his brother Kfir, who was nine months old – remains unconfirmed by the IDF.
Hamas has claimed they were killed by an Israeli airstrike, though the IDF has said it does not have evidence to support this.
Mediators were supposed to start to negotiate terms for the release of the remaining 65 hostages earlier this month, though Amidror said he does not believe they has officially begun. At least 26 of those slated for release in the second phase are assessed to have been killed.
In recent weeks, the hostages have confirmed fears that they were tortured, interrogated and starved during their time in Hamas captivity. And the state of the hostages released last week sparked an outcry as many pointed out the similarities in appearance of the three men to images of those who survived the Holocaust.
Five other Americans remain in captivity, including Edan Alexander, 19, an IDF soldier and the only remaining American still assessed to be alive, though he is not slated for release until the second phase of the ceasefire.
IDF soldiers Itay Chen, 19, and Omer Neutra, 22, are believed to have been killed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and their bodies continue to be held alongside Gadi and Judi Haggai, who were also killed during the terrorist attack near their kibbutz.
Siegel, 65, thanked Trump for his help in securing his release but urged him to ensure that the ceasefire is upheld and said, "Your leadership and strength will ensure the agreement is honored by all sides – that is what will allow all . . . hostages to return home to their families," he added.
Hegseth says he and Vance are 'on the same page' despite VP's remark on US troops in Ukraine
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Friday that "the reality of U.S. troops in Ukraine is unlikely," but insisted that there was "no daylight" between himself and Vice President JD Vance.
In a bilateral press conference with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Hegseth touched on the possibility of U.S. troops going into Ukraine. At first, he appeared to shut down the idea, but then he seemed to not take it entirely off the table.
Hegseth added that he would "never put constraints around what the President of the United States would be willing to negotiate with the sovereign leaders of both Russia and Ukraine."
On Thursday, in an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal, Vance reportedly said that the option of sending U.S. troops to Ukraine remained "on the table."
Vance also told the outlet that the U.S. could use "economic tools" or "military tools" against Russia to bring about an end to the nearly three-year-long war. The vice president said that President Donald Trump wants "a productive negotiation" with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also teased a deal that would "shock a lot of people."
Vance is in Germany for the Munich Security Conference, where he is expected to meet with Zelenskyy.
The vice president’s remarks appear contrast with what Hegseth told the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels earlier this week. In his opening remarks to the group, Hegseth said that rather than admitting Ukraine to NATO, security guarantees to the country would be supported "by capable European and non-European troops." However, he also appeared to completely rule out the possibility of U.S. troops
"To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine," he said.
FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO NATO PREDICTS IMMINENT CEASEFIRE IN UKRAINE
At the Munich Security Conference, Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker, R-Ms., told Politico that he was "puzzled" and "disturbed" by Hegseth’s remarks in Brussels.
"Everybody knows … and people in the administration know you don't say before your first meeting what you will agree to and what you won't agree to," Sen. Wicker told Politico, classifying Hegseth’s comments as a "rookie mistake."
Trump has long spoken about ending the war between Ukraine and Russia, often asserting that it would not have started had he been in the Oval Office.
On Wednesday, Trump announced that in a "lengthy and highly productive" phone call Putin agreed to "immediately" begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump said he asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to lead the negotiations, saying he thinks they "will be successful."
Head of UN watchdog says UNRWA hired people 'who were supporting terrorism'
UNITED NATIONS - President Donald Trump has made major foreign policy moves in his first few weeks in office, including cutting off U.S. funding to the controversial United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). UNRWA has long faced accusations of ties to terrorists, which have intensified over the course of the Israel-Hamas war that began with the massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
Former President Joe Biden initially cut off U.S. funding to UNRWA in January 2024, months into the war, after Israel accused members of the U.N. agency of taking part in Hamas’ brutal attacks.
U.N. Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer said Americans need to know that some U.N. agencies, such as UNRWA, are founded on "altruistic good intentions," but have "morphed into something which is the complete opposite of what it was supposed to be."
UNRWA was founded in 1949 "to carry out direct relief and works programs for Palestine refugees," according to the agency’s website. However, Neuer disputes Palestinians’ refugee status and says that President Trump’s proposed Gaza takeover uncovered a "truth that has been hidden."
Neuer points out that UNRWA supporters and critics of the president’s proposal have accused Trump of "uprooting them [Palestinians] from their homes and lands," which would mean that "they’re not refugees." Gaza, which the U.N. recognizes as part of the "State of Palestine," would be considered their home under this criticism, negating their refugee status.
However, the problems with UNRWA go beyond ambiguous definitions. Neuer told Fox News Digital that the agency "systematically employed individuals who were supporting terrorism." He pointed to Fathi al-Sharif, who served as the principal of a school run by UNRWA, as well as the agency’s teachers’ union in Lebanon.
"We know that the head of UNRWA's education system, namely, teacher, school principal and head of the teachers’ union of 2,000 teachers in Lebanon, was a man named Fathi al-Sharif… he was the head of Hamas in Lebanon," Neuer said, adding that American taxpayers’ money funded al-Sharif and "the entire education system that he oversaw."
In the case of Suhail al-Hindi, UNRWA’s former head of a "local staff union in Gaza," the agency insists that it suspended and fired al-Hindi after an announcement that he had been "elected to political office with Hamas."
In response to a request for comment, UNRWA told Fox News Digital that it "prohibits any type of involvement of staff in a militant or armed group. As a representative of the U.N., any involvement in a group that promotes discrimination or violence violates the principle of neutrality and gravely jeopardizes UNRWA’s ability to provide services and protection to refugees."
UNRWA referenced al-Hindi's case specifically, noting it "also dismissed another staff member whose name appeared in the list of those newly elected to Hamas political office in Gaza."
Contrary to critics’ claims, Neuer told Fox News Digital that Israel was not always trying to shut down UNRWA, saying that the Jewish State first saw the agency as "convenient" in the late 1960s. However, Neuer said that Israel’s view on the agency has greatly shifted, particularly since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
ISRAEL TELLS UN IT'S SHUTTING DOWN ALL UNRWA OPERATIONS IN JERUSALEM: 'ACUTE SECURITY RISKS'
In January 2024, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini ordered an investigation of any staff who allegedly participated in Hamas' attacks, which he condemned in a statement. UNRWA told Fox News Digital that "upon ascertaining that the individuals were indeed UNRWA staff members," Lazzarini "immediately" terminated their appointments.
Late last month, Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon formally notified U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres of Israel’s demand that UNRWA cease operations in Jerusalem and evacuate its premises.
"Months of good-faith engagement with the United Nations and years of related grievances conveyed to UNRWA, have been met with blatant disregard, compromising its fundamental obligation to impartiality and neutrality beyond repair," Danon wrote in the letter.
In a statement released last month, UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler slammed the laws that Israel passed in October 2024, saying that the Jewish State’s shortening of UNRWA staff visas was "tantamount to being evicted." However, Fowler confirmed that "UNRWA remains absolutely committed to stay and deliver," referring to the agency’s other locations in the region.
While Israel’s views on the agency have changed, prompting action from the country’s government, Neuer points out that several countries, including the U.S., failed to "take any meaningful action" against UNRWA. He called the countries’ past moves "largely performative and limited."
When asked about what Americans need to know about UNRWA, Neuer says that the agency is "a wolf in sheep’s clothing," adding examples of U.N. officials who he says have gone against their mission. He also compared it to a social issue commonly debated here, namely anti-racism.
"Just like Americans were told for at least the past 5 years - maybe more - that anti-racism means you have to discriminate against white people, against heterosexuals, you know, all kinds of categories, we were told that's tolerance, that's equality. We were told that racism and discrimination was anti-racism and anti-discrimination. We were fed a pack of lies," Neuer told Fox News Digital.
Addressing UNRWA and the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Neuer added, "They are no humanitarian agencies. They are agencies that systematically have incentivized and legitimized terrorist groups from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the Islamic regime in Iran. That's the reality."
When asked by Fox News Digital about Neuer's allegations, UNRWA dismissed them and accused U.N. Watch of "spreading disinformation against" the agency.
"The agency systematically reviews all allegations of misconduct, including breaching U.N. values and humanitarian principles, and launches investigations into any credible allegation, applying disciplinary measures where misconduct has been established, up to and including separation," UNRWA told Fox News Digital.
President Trump’s executive order called for "renewed scrutiny" of UNHRC, UNRWA and the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In the order, UNHRC is accused of "protecting human rights abusers," while UNESCO is slammed for its "failure to reform itself" among other issues.
Pope Francis hospitalized for bronchitis treatment, Vatican says
Pope Francis was hospitalized on Friday to receive treatment for a bout of bronchitis that he has reportedly been dealing with for a week, the Vatican confirmed to Fox News.
The 88-year-old pope is also expected to undergo tests in addition to the treatment, The Associated Press reported.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
Ukraine blames Russia for drone attack on Chernobyl's protective shell, Zelenskyy says damage 'significant'
An alleged drone struck the protective shell covering the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine early Friday, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pointing the finger at Russia.
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on X that overnight Thursday, the IAEA team at the Chornobyl site heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement.
The site protects the remains of the nuclear reactor that exploded in Chernobyl in 1986 and was reportedly set ablaze after an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) struck the NSC roof. Zelenskyy said initial assessments show "the damage to the shelter is significant."
Zelenskyy took to X stating that the incident occurred when allegedly a "Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter."
RUSSIA LAUNCHES FRESH DRONE ATTACK AGAINST UKRAINE SHORTLY AFTER TRUMP-PUTIN PHONE CALL
Surveillance footage from his posts shows the moment the drone impacts the dome, causing an explosion.
"The shelter at the Chernobyl NPP was damaged by this drone. The fire has been extinguished. As of now, radiation levels have not increased and are being constantly monitored," Zelenskyy added. "According to initial assessments, the damage to the shelter is significant."
While the incident is currently still under investigation, Zelenskyy claimed the alleged attack was the result of a terrorist threat.
"This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world, together with America – all those committed to real security for humanity," Zelenskyy said in his post. "The only country in the world that attacks such sites, occupies nuclear power plants, and wages war without any regard for the consequences is today’s Russia. This is a terrorist threat to the entire world. The shelter at the Chornobyl NPP was damaged by this drone."
Russia has denied any involvement.
The IAEA said its fire safety personnel were able to respond in minutes and there was no indication of a breach in NSC’s inner containment.
The agency also reported that there were currently no casualties, but are monitoring the situation and radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable.
The explosion comes as world leaders are meeting in Munich, Germany on Friday for the Munich Security Conference where the future of Ukraine and its ongoing war with Russia will be the top item on the agenda.
Nurses suspended after viral video threatening to kill Israeli man: Australia Health Department
Two Sydney nurses who threatened on camera to kill an Israeli man and other Jewish people in their care were identified and immediately suspended from practicing.
The Australian Department of Health and Aged Care announced in a statement on Thursday that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of New South Wales (NSW) suspended the registrations of registered nurses Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, effective immediately.
Nadir and Lebdeh, who initially claimed they were doctors while donning scrubs, threatened Israeli influencer Max Veifer on an international video chat website called Chatrouletka.
After asking Veifer about his nationality, Lebdeh said "it's Palentine's country, not your country you piece of s---," according to the video.
She proceeded to tell Veifer "when the time comes, I want you to remember my face, so you can understand that you will die the most disgusting death."
Nadir chimed in and they both said they would not treat Veifer and would kill him if he came to their hospital.
"You have no idea how many Israelis came to this hospital and…," Nadir said, while sliding his arm across his neck in a throat-slashing motion.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency automatically updated their record on the public register of practitioners, making the two Bankstown Hospital nurses unable to practice nursing anywhere in Australia, in any context.
"The idea that you would single out a particular group in our community and indicate you wouldn’t care for them, let alone actively threaten their lives, runs against every single principle in our health care system," the health department wrote in the statement.
JEWISH CHILDREN, TEENS VIOLENTLY ATTACKED IN LONDON: ‘STREETS ARE NO LONGER SAFE’
Officials said "their sickening comments – and the hatred that underpins them – have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia."
The department added Australians have a right to feel safe wherever they go and "nowhere should be safer" than a hospital.
"Health workers have a solemn duty to treat and heal everyone who comes before them needing help," according to the statement. "The overwhelming majority hold to that oath."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Tuesday the pair were "rightly" referred to the NSW Police for criminal investigation.
"Individuals found to have committed criminal antisemitic acts will face the full force of our laws," Albanese wrote in a post on X. "The footage is sickening and shameful."
On Wednesday, Australia enacted a hate crimes bill imposing minimum mandatory penalties for certain hate-related crimes, including six years for terrorist offenses, three years for financing terrorism and one year for displaying hate symbols.
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NSW Health Minister Ryan Park claimed there was "no evidence" the nurses harmed patients in their care, but the investigation is ongoing.
Lebdeh's family members spoke to various news outlets claiming she was "baited" and that she was "sorry," the New York Post reported.
Israel's biggest newspaper, Israel Hayom, seemingly responded to the remarks with a story titled, "Sorry, not sorry," and accused the two nurses of minimizing the incident, according to the report.
Sharren Haskel, deputy minister of foreign affairs of the state of Israel, posted on X, commending Australian officials for their response, and calling the pair "racist."
"Thank you, @ChrisMinnsMP for your swift and decisive action against the racist nurses who threatened to kill Jews. Your dedication and efforts in combating antisemitism over the past month are commendable, and we deeply appreciate your commitment to protecting the Jewish community of New South Wales."
Haskel added there must be "zero tolerance" for racism and antisemitism and noted threats must be met with "the full force of the law."
A synagogue was firebombed in Melbourne on Dec. 6, which authorities are now investigating as a likely terrorist attack. Other reports indicate cars have been set aflame and buildings have been vandalized in Sydney Jewish communities.
Archaeologists unearth ruins of nearly 2,000-year-old Roman basilica in London
Archaeologists excavating the site of a planned 32-story skyscraper in London uncovered the ruins of a nearly 2,000-year-old Roman basilica.
The ancient basilica, constructed between 78 and 84 A.D., once stood at the heart of the city, which was known at the time as Londinium, according to The Associated Press.
While exploring the basement of a building slated to be demolished for the upcoming office tower, the scientists unearthed the remains of what once served as the foundation of a two-story building, nearly as large as an Olympic swimming pool.
They uncovered flint, brick and ragstone walls and foundations 13 feet deep and more than three feet wide, AP reported.
ANCIENT ROMAN HELMET TURNS UP IN UNUSUAL LOCATION: 'EXCEPTIONALLY RARE'
The finding marks "one of the most significant discoveries" in years in the City of London, the square-mile financial district that is London’s oldest quarter, according to Sophie Jackson of Museum of London Archaeology.
In Roman London, the basilica was part of the forum, a place where people shopped, mingled and heard the latest from politicians, AP reported.
"This is the heart of Rome in London, where all the decisions were made," said Andrew Henderson-Schwartz, head of public impact at Museum of London Archaeology.
The ruins are also believed to have formed part of the tribunal, an area of the forum where officials made decisions about the governance of the city.
ANCIENT TREASURE, LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN ISRAEL, FOUND BURIED IN 2,100-YEAR-OLD KITCHEN
"We’re talking about the early stages of London here, but it’s a real sign of investment in the city, even in its early infancy," added Henderson-Schwartz.
Further excavation could answer questions about the original forum and why it was replaced with a larger one after only 20 years of use. It could also offer glimpses into the lives of Roman Londoners, according to AP.
The owner of the site, developer Hertshten Properties, has agreed to display the ruins in a visitor center of the planned office tower, AP reported. Property developers in Britain have to consult archaeologists in their planning process.
"We do have these little windows into Roman London that are all over the city," Henderson-Schwartz said. "But this is really in some ways the site that connects them all together."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mexican president signals possible lawsuit against Google over Gulf of America name change
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday her government was deciding whether to initiate a lawsuit against Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America on Google Maps.
"We are going to wait. We are already seeing, observing what this would mean from the perspective of legal advice, but we hope that they will make a revision," Sheinbaum said, according to Reuters.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Google.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES $20 BILLION IN NEW DATA CENTERS IN POST-CERTIFICATION ADDRESS
Google renamed the body of water after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to change it. Now, Google Maps users in the United States will see "Gulf of America" in the app, and users outside the U.S. and Mexico see both terms, the company said.
"We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring. That covers a lot of territory," Trump said Tuesday. "The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And it's appropriate."
Sheinbaum has decried the move, saying the Gulf of Mexico name has long been recognized internationally.
"All we are asking of Google is to look at the decree that the White House released and that President Donald Trump signed. You’ll see in that decree that it does not refer to the whole gulf," Sheinbaum said.
"If necessary, we will file a civil suit," she added. "Our legal area is already looking into what that would mean, but we hope that (Google) reconsiders."
Aside from Google, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sent out a charting notice confirming that its systems were in the process of updating the name, in addition to updating the newly named Mount McKinley in Alaska, formerly known as Denali.
"Please be advised that the FAA is in the process of updating our data and charts to show a name change from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and a name change from Denali to Mount McKinley. This will be targeted for the next publication cycle," the notice said.
'I thought I was dead': Kayaker gets swallowed by humpback whale in dramatic moment caught on camera
A humpback whale swallowed a man on a kayak off the coast of Chile last week, before he was quickly able to get out of the leviathan’s mouth unharmed.
Video shows the death-defying and terrifying moment from last Saturday, when Adrián Simancas was kayaking with his father, Dell, in Bahía El Águila near the San Isidro Lighthouse in the Strait of Magellan, off Chilean Patagonia.
As Simancas was paddling in what appeared to be an inflatable kayak, a humpback whale rolled on the surface with its mouth open, swallowing the kayaker.
Moments later, the tail broke the surface and the whale dove to deeper depth. Simancas and his yellow kayak then resurfaced after being freed from the clutches of the whale’s jaws.
The Associated Press reported that Dell captured the moment on video and encouraged his son to stay calm.
"Stay calm, stay calm," the father was heard saying in Spanish after his son was released from the whale.
"I thought I was dead," Adrián told the AP. "I thought it had eaten me, that it had swallowed me."
KILLER WHALE MOTHERS PROTECT THEIR SONS MORE THAN THEIR DAUGHTERS, NEW STUDY FINDS
He described the few seconds of "terror" to the wire service, explaining that his real fear set in after resurfacing, fearing that the whale would hurt his father or that he would die in the cold waters.
"When I came up and started floating, I was scared that something might happen to my father too, that we wouldn’t reach the shore in time, or that I would get hypothermia," Adrián said.
Adrián ultimately reached his father’s kayak, and both returned to shore without injuries.
SEE IT: HUMPBACK WHALE, NAMED ZILLION, SCOOPS UP SEAL IN RARE PHOTO
The Strait of Magellan, which is located about 1,600 miles south of Santiago, Chile, is a major tourist attraction in Chilean Patagonia, and is known for adventurous activities.
The frigid waters in the area pose a challenge for those who attempt to cross the strait.
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While whale attacks on humans are extremely rare in Chilean waters, whale deaths from collisions with cargo ships have increased in recent years, and strandings have become a recurring issue in the last decade.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
4 dead, 26 hurt in Taiwan food court explosion
A gas explosion at a department store in Taiwan on Thursday killed four people and injured 26, fire authorities said.
The blast occurred at the food court on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung city, the Taichung Fire Bureau said. The higher floors of the upscale department store were blown out, raining debris on pedestrians below.
Among the dead were two people visiting from Macau, Macao's Tourism Office confirmed Thursday. Local media reported that they were part of a family of seven who were there for tourism. The other five were also injured are now being treated at local hospitals in Taichung.
TAIWAN AIR FORCE OFFICER KILLED AFTER BEING ‘INHALED’ BY FIGHTER JET’S ENGINE
Part of the store was under renovation, but it's not clear if the work was connected to the explosion, Taichung Vice Mayor Cheng Chao-hsin told reporters at the scene. "If it's found there were illegal actions or parts that violated renovation regulations, it will be dealt with appropriately," Cheng said.
Dozens of firefighters were deployed to the scene at about 11:30 a.m. Parts of the building's exterior were damaged and scattered fragments were strewn on the streets.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen told reporters at the scene that she felt the shock at her office nearby. She said the fire bureau would focus on a rescue operation first, but an investigation was also underway and officers were checking whether there were other sources of danger.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te said he had asked all relevant government agencies to investigate the cause of the accident.
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