Feed aggregator
Putin calls Trump’s peace plan a ‘starting point’ as he warns Ukraine to pull back or face 'force'
Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed interest in using President Trump’s peace plan as a negotiating departure point to end the nearly four-year war between Ukraine and Russia.
"We need to sit down and discuss this seriously," Putin told reporters at the end of a three-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, according to an Associated Press report. He added, "Every word matters."
Putin described U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan as "a set of issues put forward for discussion" rather than a draft agreement.
"If Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories they occupy, hostilities will cease. If they don’t withdraw, we will achieve this by force," the Russian strongman said.
Andy Barr, R-Ky., a House Foreign Affairs Committee member, told Fox News Digital the situation reinforces the need for strong American leadership. "Russia invaded Ukraine because Joe Biden was the weakest president in American history."
Barr, a candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky said, "President Trump’s peace-through-strength leadership kept Putin fully contained. This war never would have happened under his watch. Trump is the peace president… the only leader who can end this war and bring stability back to Europe."
However, Putin critics believe he is seeking to trick the U.S. and the European Union.
The former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, who predicted Putin’s jingoism and invasion of Ukraine, told the Polish international news network TVP that "Peace under Putin is unachievable for one simple reason: Putin is war — and Russia is gearing up for even more."
Kasparov has also criticized NATO, Trump and the EU for failing to defend Ukraine and evict Russia from Ukraine’s entire territory.
"We owe them everything," Kasparov recently said about Ukraine at the Halifax International Security Forum.
MOMENTUM BUILDS IN UKRAINE PEACE PUSH, BUT EXPERTS FEAR PUTIN WON’T BUDGE
Kremlin officials have had little to say so far about the peace plan put forward last week by Trump. Putin has been recalcitrant about accepting previous Trump plans to end the war.
Putin has demanded that Ukraine completely withdraw from the entirety of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions before Russia considers any sort of "peace negotiations" — notably including areas of each of those oblasts that Russia does not occupy. He also wants to keep Ukraine from joining NATO and hosting any Western troops, allowing Moscow to gradually pull the country back into its orbit.
The Institute for the Study of War on Wednesday cast doubt on Russian claims that its invasion is unstoppable as it is still struggling to capture cities in the eastern Donetsk region.
"Data on Russian forces’ rate of advance indicates that a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, and a rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent," the Washington-based think tank said. "Recent Russian advances elsewhere on the front line have largely been opportunistic and exploited seasonal weather conditions.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Moscow next week, the Kremlin says, while U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who in recent weeks has played a high-profile role in the peace efforts, may be heading to Kyiv.
The initial U.S. peace proposal was criticized for being skewed toward Russian demands, but an amended version emerged from talks in Geneva on Sunday between American and Ukrainian officials. Sidelined European leaders, fearing for their own security amid Russian aggression, are angling for deeper involvement in the process.
The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.
Momentum builds in Ukraine peace push, but experts fear Putin won’t budge
As the United States advances a revised peace framework aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, officials and experts from Kyiv, Moscow and Washington tell Fox News Digital the effort is closer to a breakthrough than at any point since Russia’s invasion — but still stalled by the same immovable obstacle: the Kremlin wants Ukrainian land, and Ukraine refuses to surrender any of it.
President Donald Trump said this week that "tremendous progress" has been made, announcing that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will meet Russian officials in Moscow while senior U.S. defense leaders sit down with their Ukrainian counterparts. A senior American official confirmed to Fox News Digital that Kyiv has accepted the "broad contours" of an emerging deal, with "minor details" still being negotiated. European allies say they are coordinating a new "Coalition of the Willing," with France calling for a "just and lasting peace."
But as Russia launches fresh missile and drone strikes on Kyiv — killing civilians and damaging power infrastructure — negotiators warn that the territorial question remains the hard red line.
US AND RUSSIA DRAFT PEACE PLAN FOR UKRAINE REQUIRING MAJOR CONCESSIONS FROM KYIV
Oleksii Honcharenko, an opposition member of Ukraine’s Parliament, told Fox News Digital he believes Ukraine must pursue peace "as soon as possible," even though large segments of Ukrainian society distrust the emerging plan. "My personal position is that we need peace as soon as possible," he said. "This plan is a chance. I don’t like everything in it… some things are unacceptable. But it is a workable framework."
He pushed back on criticism that the "peace proposal" is a U.S.– Russia blueprint imposed on Kyiv. "For me, it doesn’t matter who the initial author was. There is a framework. Let’s work on it."
Honcharenko acknowledged that sanctions relief — one of Russia’s core demands — would be painful for Ukrainians. But he also underscored the reality of the battlefield: "We are not in the position where our tanks are near Moscow. There will not be a solution I like completely."
House Foreign Affairs committee member, Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital the situation reinforces the need for strong American leadership. "Russia invaded Ukraine because Joe Biden was the weakest President in American history."
Barr, a candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky said, "President Trump’s peace-through-strength leadership kept Putin fully contained. This war never would have happened under his watch. Trump is the Peace President… the only leader who can end this war and bring stability back to Europe."
Exiled Russian economist and former deputy finance minister Sergey Aleksashenko echoed the main roadblock: "The biggest difference is territorial," he told Fox News Digital. "Russia wants to grab what it was not able to take by military means. Ukraine does not want to give up. All other points could be resolved, but not territory."
He said he sees no sign that Putin is prepared to compromise, arguing the Kremlin believes Western support for Ukraine is weakening. Putin may be willing to fight "another two, three years," convinced he can outlast Kyiv and European governments struggling to maintain military aid.
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Philip Breedlove (Ret.) told Fox News Digital he doesn't see Ukraine agreeing to give Russia land Russia has never conquered. "It is an incredibly, incredibly bad thought," he said.
Breedlove argued that Putin’s goals extend far beyond Ukraine and that the Russian president has been clear about wanting to reshape the security order in Eastern Europe. He also warned that Zelenskyy is negotiating under heavy pressure from Western governments that control Ukraine’s access to weapons and funding.
RUSSIA BOMBARDS KYIV, KILLING AT LEAST 6, AS TRUMP PEACE PLAN MOVES FORWARD
"It’s very clear he’s being threatened with no support," Breedlove said. "If Mr. Zelenskyy loses the support of America and Europe, life’s going to be really ugly for Ukraine. But they will not stop fighting."
He said early versions of the U.S. proposal included "egregious" provisions that Ukraine never would have agreed to, but that the process has "improved" as Kyiv’s input was incorporated. Still, "the things that are acceptable to Ukraine are not going to be acceptable to Mr. Putin," he said.
Breedlove pushed back on the claim that Kyiv is ready to concede territory, saying lawmakers want peace but not capitulation. "I believe there are many parliamentary hearings and many in Zelenskyy's group that want peace, but they want a durable, equitable peace. I'm not sure that they're ready to make a lot of concessions to do that," he said.
As negotiators move toward what they hope will be a final round of talks, all sides agree on one point: the success or failure of this effort will depend on whether Ukraine and Russia — under pressure from allies, including incentives from Washington and the realities of the battlefield — can finally bridge the territorial divide that has defined the war from day one.
Pope Leo XIV opens first foreign trip in Turkey with a visit to Christianity’s early heartlands
Pope Leo XIV is using his very first foreign trip to make a statement that blends symbolism with geopolitical consequences. By landing in Turkey this morning for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and then into Lebanon’s ongoing economic and political freefall, the pope is stepping directly into places where Christianity once flourished.
His presence signals two messages at once: a bid to revive unity among Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant communities, and a warning to regional governments that persecution and instability will not go unnoticed. It’s an early test of how he intends to wield the soft power of the papacy.
Matthew R. Petrusek, Ph.D., senior director of the Word on Fire Institute, told Fox News Digital that the trip sends a clear signal about the priorities of the new pontiff. "Pope Leo has signaled early in his papacy that one of his primary objectives is to give hope to Christians who live in regions where they face persecution or other difficulties living out their faith. By traveling to Turkey and Lebanon, I think Leo is telling Christians both in those countries and across the globe, ‘You are not forgotten; the Church stands with you.’"
In Turkey, he will commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. The landmark council convened in 325 AD in the ancient city of Nicaea, now Iznik, and produced the Nicene Creed, a central statement of Christian belief shared by Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants.
On Thursday, the pope will fly by helicopter to Iznik for a prayer at the archaeological remains of the basilica where the council met.
Petrusek emphasized the symbolic weight of this moment. "Christianity is a creedal religion — it is based on shared, free assent to unchanging doctrines about Jesus Christ and the Church that give consistency and coherence to Christianity around the world. The Nicene Creed forms the backbone of Christian identity."
To underline the anniversary, Leo issued an apostolic letter on Nov. 23 titled "In the Unity of Faith," highlighting the Creed’s enduring role in unifying Christian communities. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said the document stresses the relevance of Nicaea’s teachings for Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants today.
Petrusek said the pope’s approach makes a broader statement about unity. "The Creed includes the words, ‘I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.’ I believe Pope Leo is also signaling that he wants to do everything within his power, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, to heal the rifts that, sadly, still prevent Christ’s Church from being ‘one.’"
In Turkey, the pope will also meet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, visit Christian communities in Istanbul and celebrate liturgies.
POPE LEO SIGNALS CONTINUATION OF POPE FRANCIS' WELCOMING OF LGBT COMMUNITY IN CATHOLIC CHURCH
The second half of the journey will take the pope to Lebanon, a country that last hosted a papal visit more than a decade ago. The late Pope Francis had hoped to travel there but was unable to do so due to his declining health.
Lebanon remains home to the largest proportion of Christians in the Middle East, but the population has plummeted due to economic collapse, emigration and political paralysis. The Associated Press reported that the pope will meet political leaders, Christian and Muslim clerics and families affected by overlapping crises. One of the most anticipated moments will come on Dec. 2, when Leo visits the Port of Beirut, the site of the 2020 explosion that killed more than 200 people and wounded more than 6,000.
POPE LEO XIV AGREES TO THROW OUT FIRST PITCH AT WHITE SOX NEW STADIUM AFTER INVITE FROM TEAM OWNER
Petrusek said papal visits have a profound emotional impact. "It is hard to overestimate the positive effect having the pope visit your country has for Catholics, especially those who are suffering because of their faith. It is a reminder that the ‘Church’ is not an abstraction but, rather, a historical reality that goes back to Jesus Christ himself."
He added that the pope’s presence carries a message for governments in the region. "In addition to his message of hope to the faithful, his presence in these countries communicates to those responsible for persecuting Christians, ‘Your crimes are not taking place in the dark; the world is watching.’"
In Lebanon, the pope will speak in both English and French. The Vatican has released the official missal for the liturgies, and Lebanese media are preparing for large crowds despite infrastructure shortages.
The Vatican is expected to emphasize Christian unity, interfaith dialogue and support for vulnerable communities. Pope Leo’s words in Turkey and Lebanon will be closely watched by regional governments and religious communities navigating conflict, insecurity and demographic decline.
Petrusek said the trip reflects the heart of Leo’s early papacy: "A papal visit brings immense hope and a renewed patience to persevere… suffering and death, especially as a result of persecution, not only doesn’t have the final say; when freely united to Christ on the Cross, it leads to nothing less than eternal life."
Politician named Adolf Hitler becomes focal point of local election campaign
A local Namibian politician named Adolf Hitler Uunona is widely expected to retain his council seat in the country’s latest round of regional elections, drawing international attention for a name he says carries no ideological meaning.
A longtime member of Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party, he is running again in the Ompundja constituency in the northern Oshana region.
While final tallies have not yet been released, several international outlets report he is projected to win by a wide margin, consistent with previous elections. SWAPO, which has governed Namibia since independence in 1990, has shifted from its socialist liberation roots toward a more centrist, market-oriented governing approach.
GERMANY TO RETURN ANCIENT STONE CROSS TO NAMIBIA
His German dictator-linked name — "Adolf Hitler" — was given to him by his father, he told the German outlet Bild, who he claimed did not understand the historical weight the name carried.
500 YEAR-OLD SHIPWRECK LOADED WITH GOLD FOUND IN NAMIBIAN DESERT
"It was a perfectly normal name for me when I was a kid," Uunona told Bild. "It wasn’t until I grew older that I realized this man wanted to subjugate the whole world and killed millions of Jews."
He said his childhood name reflected no political intent and stressed that he has never held extremist beliefs.
"The fact I have this name does not mean I want to conquer Oshana," he said, adding in earlier interviews he generally goes by Adolf Uunona in daily life.
Namibia was a German colony from 1884 to 1915, and Germanic names and place names remain common in some communities. Historians note that this legacy sometimes results in unusual or jarring combinations by modern standards, though they carry no inherent ideological meaning.
According to official information from the Oshana regional government, the Ompundja constituency has 4,659 inhabitants, 19 administrative centers and covers 466 square kilometers.
Germany warns Russia could attack NATO by 2029 as intelligence threat assessments mount
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned Tuesday that new intelligence assessments show Moscow is preparing for the option of a future attack against a NATO member, marking it the third time this month that senior German officials have raised alarms about a potential confrontation with Russia in the next 4 years.
"Putin eyes the EU and NATO. Our intelligence services are issuing urgent warnings: at the very least, Russia is creating the option for itself to wage war against NATO by 2029. We have to deter further Russian aggression, together with our partners and allies," the official German foreign ministry X account stated.
"These divisions, without a doubt, have their sights set on us, on the European Union, on NATO. The threat to our country from Russia is no longer a distant concern; it is already a reality," he said.
'PUTIN IS PUSHING THE LIMITS’: EASTERN ALLIES WARN TRUMP NOT TO PULL US TROOPS
In an interview with Fox News Digital, retired Gen. Philip Breedlove, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said he agreed with the severity of the German assessments. "I believe there is a lot of truth in what the foreign minister is saying. Russia's intent for Eastern Europe is very clear."
Breedlove noted that many observers have forgotten Russia’s early signals before the full-scale invasion. "At the beginning of this large-scale invasion phase, Russia gave us two documents. They call them treaties. We never acknowledged them. We continued to call them documents… Essentially, Mr. Putin said, ‘Sign these or there will be other means…’ And we did not sign them. And we learned what ‘or else’ meant. And he came crashing into Ukraine for the third time. First was in Crimea. Second was in the Donbas, and now the third time in multiple axes."
Breedlove said Putin’s ambitions extend far beyond Ukraine. "If you read those two documents, if you actually read them and I did multiple times, his intention is for all of Eastern Europe… he’s going to rearrange the security architecture of Eastern Europe back to a Cold War status where he controls all those buffer countries and has this buffer between him and NATO."
PUTIN WARNS WESTERN TROOPS IN UKRAINE WOULD BE 'LEGITIMATE TARGETS'
Asked whether Russia could be ready to attempt such a move within five years, Breedlove said that depends on how quickly Moscow can rebuild its degraded forces. "Ukraine has smashed his army, his army west of the Urals is deeply damaged… Is he able to rebuild this army? Is he able to hold the loyalty of the Russian people who are soon going to learn that their sons and husbands are not coming home?"
He warned that Putin will have to confront the consequences of massive wartime losses. "The conservative estimates are 1.1 to 1.5 million people… During the first part of this war more than 11 years ago, when people didn't come home, the moms of Moscow stood up. And I think that Mr. Putin is going to have to face that yet."
The German foreign minister’s warning follows separate comments from Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that a war between Russia and NATO "could begin in 2029," and that some analysts believe it could happen as early as 2028. The remarks were reported by Meduza.
Top military commanders have delivered similar assessments. Lt. Gen. Alexander Sollfrank, head of Germany’s joint operations command, told Reuters that Russia could launch on NATO territory "at any time." He added that a larger assault could become possible by 2029 if rearmament continues.
TRUMP 'DRAMATICALLY' CHANGES TUNE ON UKRAINE BUT EXPERTS CAUTION PUTIN IS STILL WAITING FOR ACTION
The warnings come as the United States pushes forward with a proposed Russia-Ukraine peace deal. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until the agreement is complete or in its final stage.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said "tremendous progress" had been made and that only "a few remaining points of disagreement" remain in the updated peace plan. A U.S. official told Fox News Digital that Ukraine has agreed to the revised framework, while Moscow is reviewing the latest changes.
The negotiations continued despite a major overnight Russian strike on Kyiv that killed at least seven people and damaged power infrastructure.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this report.
Trump touts 'progress' on Ukraine-Russia deal, admits it's 'one of the more difficult' conflicts to solve
President Donald Trump says Ukraine and Russia are "making progress" toward a peace agreement, but he conceded that the conflict remains "difficult" to solve.
Trump made the comments while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday night, giving insight into the ongoing Ukraine-Russia talks. He went on to say that U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff would soon be engaging in talks in Moscow, potentially alongside Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
"We're having good talks," Trump said. "Ukraine is doing well. I think they're pretty happy about it. I'd like to see it end, and we won't know for a little while. Well, we're making progress."
"We settled eight wars, and I thought this would be one of the easier ones because of my relationship with President Putin, but this is probably one of the more difficult ones. There's a lot of hatred," he added.
NATO CHIEF 'SURE' TRUMP'S UKRAINE-RUSSIA PEACE PLAN WILL SUCCEED DESPITE 'DIFFICULT' TALKS
Trump said that Europe is playing a large part in ensuring there are security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent any further aggression from Russia.
The Trump administration had come under scrutiny last week after presenting a 28-point peace plan to U.S. lawmakers. Some lawmakers, including Republicans, initially described it as a "wish list" for Russia.
RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE LEAVES 25 DEAD IN TERNOPIL AFTER MASSIVE OVERNIGHT STRIKES
Trump downplayed that plan while speaking Tuesday night, telling reporters that it was "just a map."
"All that was was a map. That was not a plan. It was, a concept. And from there they're taking each one of the 28 points, and then you get down to 22 points. A lot of them were solved and actually very favorably solved. So, so we'll see how we'll see what happens," he said.
While the talks are moving quickly, Trump said he does not have a deadline for securing a deal.
"The deadline for me is when it's over," he said. "I think everybody's tired of fighting at this moment. They are losing, losing too many people."
Fire tears through Hong Kong housing complex, killing at least 13 with others reported trapped
A fire engulfed several high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and reportedly trapping others inside.
Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department said it received reports of a blaze breaking out at the Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, a district in the northern New Territories, around 2:50 p.m.
The fire was upgraded to a No. 5 alarm by 6:22 p.m., the most severe fire alarm rating in Hong Kong.
In a government statement, the department said nine people were taken to the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and the Prince of Wales Hospital.
EXPLOSION ROCKS SENIOR LIVING APARTMENT BUILDING IN OHIO, MULTIPLE PEOPLE INJURED
Four people were pronounced dead and three were in critical condition. Another was listed as serious, and one was stable.
Tang Ping-keung, the secretary for security of Hong Kong, said one fireman died after sustaining injuries while battling the blaze.
"I am profoundly grieved at the passing of Mr Ho, who lost his life in the course of an operation. I offer my deepest condolences to his family members," Tang said.
Photos from the scene showed the bamboo scaffolding of the towers engulfed in flames and thick, dark smoke pouring out of multiple floors.
Firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze, and one man was photographed in visible distress, saying his wife was trapped inside.
LA FIREFIGHTERS ORDERED TO LEAVE FIRE THAT EXPLODED INTO PALISADES FIRE DAYS LATER: REPORT
Chan Kwong-tak, an 83-year-old retiree living in the community, told The South China Morning Post that the fire alarms failed to go off when the blaze broke out, even though the buildings were equipped with them.
"If someone was sleeping then, they were done," he said.
Tai Po’s former district councillor Herman Yiu Kwan-ho also told the outlet that residents reported not hearing the fire alarms go off even after they detected the smell of smoke. He said they were only warned when a security guard knocked on their doors, giving them little time to get out.
The Tai Po District Office opened temporary shelters for people in need at the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and the Tung Cheong Street Community Hall.
Arrest warrant for Miss Universe co-owner issued after court no-show in fraud case
A Bangkok court has issued an arrest warrant for Jakkaphong "Anne" Jakrajutatip, the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, after Jakrajutatip failed to appear in court on Tuesday in relation to a fraud case.
Jakkaphong is accused of defrauding an investor in 2023 and was released on bail, but she was a no-show for court on Tuesday and did not notify officials, The Associated Press reported, citing a statement from the Bangkok South District Court. The court deemed her a flight risk and rescheduled the hearing for Dec. 26.
Jakkaphong’s company, JKN Global Group, bought Miss Universe in 2022 and then sold 50% the following year to Legacy Holding Group USA, which is owned by Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú.
JKN is accused of cheating investor Raweewat Maschamadol during a 2023 corporate-bond deal that Maschamadol says cost him roughly $930,000. He says Jakkaphong and JKN misrepresented the company’s financial health when selling him the bonds. JKN ceased making investor payments in 2023, effectively erasing the value of the corporate bonds.
JKN has faced severe financial trouble in recent years, defaulting on investor payments in 2023 and entering debt rehabilitation in 2024. JKN reports obligations totaling about $93 million.
Jakkaphong, a well-known Thai celebrity, reality-show star and openly transgender woman, resigned from all company positions in June after being accused by Thailand’s SEC of falsifying 2023 financial statements, though Jakkaphong remains JKN’s largest shareholder.
Jakkaphong's whereabouts remain unclear and Jakkaphong did not appear at the 74th Miss Universe competition, which was held in Bangkok earlier this month.
On Monday, JKN denied rumors that she had liquidated the company’s assets and fled the country.
DIDDY DENIED BAIL IN SEX TRAFFICKING, RACKETEERING CASE
This year’s Miss Universe pageant faced a string of embarrassments.
A Thai organizer publicly reprimanded Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Fernández, who ultimately won the 2025 crown, sparking backlash, while two judges also withdrew, with one hinting the scoring wasn’t entirely above board.
Thai authorities separately opened an investigation into whether the event’s promotional materials illegally advertised online gambling.
The chaos deepened when Jamaica’s contestant, Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage during the preliminary evening gown round.
President Donald Trump once owned the Miss Universe Organization, controlling the pageant from 1996 until 2015, when he sold it to talent agency giant IMG after NBC severed ties with him during the early stages of his presidential campaign. The brand has since changed hands multiple times.
Trump sold the company in 2015, and in 2022, IMG Worldwide LLC sold it to Jakrajutatip.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Middle East officials look toward second phase of Israel-Hamas ceasefire with two hostages left in Gaza
Turkish, Qatari and Egyptian officials met Wednesday in Cairo to discuss the second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.
The meeting is said to have included Turkey and Egypt's intelligence chiefs, as well as Qatar's prime minister, according to reports.
"During the meeting, [they] also agreed to continue strengthening coordination and cooperation with the Civil Military Coordination Center to eliminate all obstacles to ensure the continuity of the ceasefire and to prevent further violations," a Turkish source told Reuters, adding that they also discussed countering Israeli ceasefire violations.
US-BACKED AID GROUP ENDS GAZA MISSION AFTER DEFYING HAMAS THREATS, UN CRITICISM
Despite Hamas and Israel accusing each other of violating the U.S.-brokered agreement, mediators are still looking to move to the next stage.
The second phase of the deal involves the deployment of an international stabilization force and the development of an international body to govern Gaza. It also includes the disarmament of Hamas. Additionally, Israel will move further from the so-called "yellow line" ahead of the international force taking over, according to The Times of Israel.
IDF ANNOUNCES TRANSFER OF DECEASED ISRAELI HOSTAGE REMAINS THROUGH RED CROSS
On Tuesday, Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians in exchange for the remains of Israeli hostage Dror Or. Israel has said that Or and his wife, Yonat Or, were killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Kibbutz Be'eri.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement that as their house caught on fire, Dror and Yonat evacuated their children through a window in the safe room, saving their lives. The couple split up in an attempt to escape, but they were both murdered by the terrorists. Two of their children, Noam and Alma, were taken hostage.
On Nov. 25, 2023, Noam and Alma were released in the first hostage exchange, exactly two years before their father's remains would be returned to Israel.
The remains of two hostages — one Israeli, Ran Gvili, and one Thai national, Sudthisak Rinthalak — are still in Gaza.
Hamas has committed to upholding its end of the deal and returning both, but did not give a timeline on when that may happen, according to The Associated Press.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Russia warns it may reject US-Ukraine peace plan if it fails to uphold Alaska summit 'understandings'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested Moscow could reject the White House’s latest Ukraine peace deal framework if it doesn’t uphold the "spirit and letter" of the understandings reached at the August Alaska summit between President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Lavrov said at a news conference Tuesday that Russia is awaiting the updated version of the Trump administration’s latest peace plan aimed at ending the nearly four-year war.
He warned that if the terms of the "key understandings" are "extinguished" then the situation would become "fundamentally different."
Russia has maintained its maximalist demands in negotiations, insisting Ukraine be barred from joining NATO and required to give up the rest of the Donbas as part of any peace deal.
RUSSIA BOMBARDS KYIV, KILLING AT LEAST 6, AS TRUMP PEACE PLAN MOVES FORWARD
John Hardie, the deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Russia Program, told Fox News Digital Moscow's intransigence over the past 10 months has been the main obstacle to Trump’s diplomatic efforts.
"The United States has really shot itself in the foot by kind of flip-flopping between strategies. One month you're trying to pressure the Russians and saying they're the obstacle in peace. The next minute you're trying to, you know, force their terms on Kyiv," said Hardie.
"What we really need is sustained military support for Ukraine and economic pressure on Russia, and Putin has to realize that neither the Ukrainian military nor Western, especially U.S., resolve, are going to falter."
Former CIA station chief Dan Hoffman told "The Brian Kilmeade Show" Tuesday he remains skeptical about an end to the war, arguing the United States lacks the leverage to compel Moscow to halt its invasion.
NATO JETS SCRAMBLED AMID RUSSIA'S LARGEST DRONE ATTACK ON UKRAINE
"Vladimir Putin, his strategic objective has always been to overthrow the democratically elected government of Ukraine. He’ll engage in negotiations, but he does it to ensure that he’s asserting the primacy of Russia in his self-designated sphere of influence," said Hoffman. "I just don’t see any evidence that Russia is going to pause in their relentless attacks on Ukraine."
Ukraine agreed Tuesday to a peace deal to end the war with Russia, but some details still need to be finalized, a U.S. official told Fox News.
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi Monday and Tuesday to discuss the framework for a Ukraine peace deal. The U.S. official said a Ukrainian delegation was also in Abu Dhabi and in contact with Driscoll and his team.
Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report
Trump touts 'tremendous progress' but says he'll meet Putin and Zelenskyy 'ONLY when' peace deal is final
President Donald Trump has stated that he will not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until the emerging Russia-Ukraine peace agreement is either complete or in its final stage.
In a lengthy post shared on Truth Social Tuesday, Trump emphasized "tremendous progress" had been made over the past week, calling it the most significant movement toward peace since the Ukraine war began.
FROM ISRAEL TO UKRAINE, TRUMP SPENDS WEEK FOCUSED ON NAVIGATING GLOBAL CONFLICTS
He wrote: "Over the past week, my team has made tremendous progress with respect to ending the War between Russia and Ukraine (A War that would have NEVER started if I were President!). Last month 25,000 soldiers died. The original 28-Point Peace Plan, which was drafted by the United States, has been fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides, and there are only a few remaining points of disagreement."
Trump continued by outlining the next steps in the negotiation process:
"In the hopes of finalizing this Peace Plan, I have directed my Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with President Putin in Moscow and, at the same time, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will be meeting with the Ukrainians. I will be briefed on all progress made, along with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles."
He concluded his post by explaining when he would be willing to meet with Zelenskyy and Putin:
"I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages,"
"Thank you for your attention to this very important matter, and let’s all hope that PEACE can be accomplished AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!" he added.
COULD TRUMP’S GAZA CEASEFIRE PLAN OFFER A BLUEPRINT FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE?
A revised peace framework, changed from the original 28 points, has reportedly gained preliminary acceptance from both Kyiv and Washington. Moscow is currently reviewing the latest revisions.
As reported by Fox News Digital Tuesday, Ukraine agreed to a peace deal that would see an end to the war with Russia, a U.S. official said,
Some minor details of the agreement are still to be sorted out, the official said.
However, overnight, Russia launched a large drone-and-missile strike on Kyiv, killing at least seven people and damaging power infrastructure.
Despite the continuing violence, U.S. diplomats describe the negotiations as the "closest they have been" to a potential agreement since the war began.
All 24 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls rescued after armed attack in Kebbi, president says
All 24 schoolgirls who were abducted by armed assailants from a school last week in Nigeria’s Kebbi state have been rescued, the country's president announced Tuesday.
Gunmen with "sophisticated weapons" abducted the girls around 4 a.m. on Nov. 17, police said at the time, and a statement Tuesday quoted President Bola Tinubu as saying that all 24 of the students who had been abducted were rescued.
"I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for," the statement quoted Tinubu as saying. "Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping."
No details were released about the rescue mission or about the group that kidnapped the girls.
NIGERIAN CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 5 AMONG HUNDREDS KIDNAPPED, NUN SAYS
The attack in Kebbi was among a spate of recent mass abductions in Nigeria.
Attackers raided a Catholic school Friday in north-central Niger state and abducted more than 300 students and staff.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EXPANDS EFFORTS TO STOP CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA WITH AID THREAT
School officials said Sunday that 50 students, ages 10 to 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday. A total of 253 students and 12 teachers were still being held, they said.
Nigeria has seen a series of attacks on Christians and their institutions, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a "country of particular concern." However, the Nigerian government has disputed the U.S. claims.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
EU's top court rules same-sex marriages must be recognized across all member states
The European Union's highest court ruled Tuesday that member countries must recognize same-sex marriages, rebuking Poland's laws on the issue.
The court case arose after Poland refused to recognize a same-sex marriage between two of its citizens that had taken place in Germany. Polish law currently does not allow same-sex marriage, but Tuesday's ruling applies to how Poland recognizes existing same-sex marriages.
"It infringes not only the freedom to move and reside, but also the fundamental right to respect for private and family life," the court wrote in its ruling.
"When they create a family life in a host member state, in particular by virtue of marriage, they must have the certainty to be able to pursue that family life upon returning to their member state of origin," the court added.
COURT STRIKES DOWN OHIO SCHOOL’S PRONOUN POLICY IN WIN FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS GROUP
The European high court became involved after a Polish court requested a ruling in the case after the two men were denied a request to transfer their German marriage certificate to Poland.
"This ruling is historic," Pawel Knut, the lawyer representing the couple, said Tuesday. "It marks a new beginning in the fight for equality and equal treatment for same-sex couples."
NATO JETS SCRAMBLED AMID RUSSIA'S LARGEST DRONE ATTACK ON UKRAINE
Critically, the court clarified that the ruling does not require member countries to allow same-sex marriages within their borders. It does, however, prevent members nations from discriminating against same-sex marriages when it comes to recognizing foreign marriages.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition government's work on pushing through a bill legalizing same-sex unions has been held back by resistance from his conservative coalition partner.
Poland's nationalist President Karol Nawrocki has also said he would veto "any bill that would undermine the constitutionally protected status of marriage."
Reuters contributed to this report.
Trump moves against Muslim Brotherhood as Islamist group spreads in West
President Donald Trump’s new executive order directing the State and Treasury departments to pursue terrorism designations for specific Muslim Brotherhood chapters marks one of the most significant shifts in U.S. policy toward the movement in decades.
Signed on Nov. 24, it launches the first formal review of Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon under U.S. designation laws and redefines how Washington treats Islamist movements with political and militant wings.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, praised the move, calling it essential for national security. "The Muslim Brotherhood and its branches encourage, facilitate and provide resources for conducting jihadist terrorism across the world," he said, urging Congress to advance his Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025.
Washington has long debated whether the Brotherhood is a unified global movement or a loose network of national branches with different agendas and levels of militancy. That dispute stalled previous attempts to designate the group. Trump’s order bypasses that debate and directs federal agencies to examine individual chapters that analysts say already meet the legal thresholds.
Mariam Wahba, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said in a statement that the directive "replaces years of debate with concrete action" and forces U.S. agencies to assess Brotherhood entities that function as "real organizations with leadership structures, financing channels and documented ties to terrorist groups." She said the order "treats Islamist actors according to their behavior, not their branding."
Across the Arab world, the Brotherhood has been banned for years. Egypt outlawed it in 2013 after accusing the movement of radicalization and efforts to undermine state institutions. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates designated it soon after, calling it a direct threat to national stability. Bahrain issued similar findings. Jordan dissolved its local chapter this year following arrests tied to illicit weapons activity. Austria has also taken legal action against Brotherhood-linked networks as part of its counter-extremism framework.
Officials in these countries say the Brotherhood uses a blend of religious preaching, political activism, charitable institutions and media platforms to shape public opinion and challenge state authority.
In the West, the Brotherhood operates far more freely. In the United States, Brotherhood-linked organizations function through charities, advocacy centers, mosques, student associations and community groups. This openness has raised concerns among counterterrorism officials, especially after a U.S. federal investigation in the early 2000s uncovered an internal Brotherhood memorandum describing its work in America as a long-term effort to influence and weaken Western institutions from within.
A French government-commissioned report earlier this year warned of the Brotherhood's influence in the country, but Paris has yet to officially implement a ban.
TRUMP SIGNALS PLAN TO DESIGNATE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
The document, according to Mind Israel think tank research, reflects the Brotherhood’s belief in "long-term social influence" through education, welfare networks and media.
The movement was founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna in Egypt after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The Brotherhood promoted Islam—according to experts—as the solution to modern political crises and relied on outreach, services and media to expand its base. Influential thinkers like Sayyid Qutb later inspired jihadist movements such as al Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
Although the Brotherhood historically maintained a symbolic "general guide" in Egypt, the movement now operates as a decentralized network across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America. Wahba noted that this fragmentation explains why earlier U.S. attempts to impose a blanket designation failed. Instead, Trump’s order adopts the model used when the United States designated Hamas, the Brotherhood’s Gaza branch, in 1997: target the components "that engage in violence, not the ideology itself."
The decision also comes amid growing Israeli concern about a resurgent Islamist bloc backed by Turkey and Qatar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly praised Trump’s action, calling the Muslim Brotherhood "an organization that threatens stability throughout the Middle East and beyond," and said Israel intends to expand its own restrictions.
Avner Golov, vice president of Mind Israel, argued that the United States should pair the new review process with steps to confront foreign influence in American academia, condition arms deals on behavioral changes and close loopholes exploited by extremist-linked organizations.
As the State and Treasury departments begin assembling evidentiary files, officials say the goal is not a blanket ban, but a targeted legal process grounded in provable ties to terrorism. Analysts say the results could determine how the United States confronts a movement outlawed across the Middle East yet still active across Western societies.
Four more arrested in Louvre jewel heist, authorities say
The Paris prosecutor announced that four more suspects have been arrested in connection with last month's heist at the Louvre Museum in which thieves escaped with jewels worth $102 million.
Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, whose office is heading the investigation, said two men and two women are in custody who range in age from 31 to 40, according to The Associated Press.
The AP noted that Beccuau did not say what role the suspects are accused of playing in the historic heist.
Louvre director Laurence des Cars previously acknowledged there was a "terrible failure" in museum security and said, "Despite our efforts, despite our hard work on a daily basis, we failed," The Guardian reported.
NEW DETAILS ABOUT LOUVRE HEIST REVEALED AS OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE STRICTER SECURITY MEASURES
Des Cars admitted that security around the Louvre's perimeter was an issue and that the only camera monitoring the outside of the museum was facing away from the balcony that led to the gallery where the precious jewels were kept, according to reports. The Guardian also noted that des Cars confirmed all the museum's alarms were functioning during the burglary.
Recently, des Cars shared the details of the museum's heightened security measures with the Committee of Cultural Affairs of the National Assembly, the AP reported.
The Louvre director also shared that the robbers used disc cutters to get into the display cases to take the loot. She said that while the display cases were replaced in 2019 to protect against weapon attacks, the method used by the gang of thieves in the Oct. 19 heist was "not imagined at all."
LOUVRE HEIST IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AMID APPARENT SECURITY LAPSES PUTS GLOBAL MUSEUMS ON ALERT
Beccuau has previously stated that the thieves appeared to use a truck-mounted lift, the kind movers use for heavy furniture, to get to the museum's second floor where they were able to break into the Apollo Gallery in broad daylight and steal eight jewels valued collectively at 88 million euros, or $102 million.
The loot includes a diamond-and-emerald necklace Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise, jewels tied to 19th-century Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, and Empress Eugénie’s pearl-and-diamond tiara, none of which has been recovered.
"We failed these jewels," des Cars said, according to the BBC. The outlet also quoted the director as saying that no one is safe from "brutal thieves — not even the Louvre."
Preliminary charges have already been filed against three men and one woman arrested in October in connection with the heist, according to the AP.
Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
IDF announces transfer of deceased Israeli hostage remains through Red Cross
The remains of an Israeli hostage have been transferred to Red Cross custody and will soon be turned over to the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced Tuesday.
"The Red Cross is on its way to the meeting point in the central Gaza Strip, where a coffin of a deceased hostage will be transferred into its custody," the IDF said in a statement.
"The IDF requests that the public act with sensitivity and wait for the official identification, which will first be provided to the families," the statement continued.
"Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages," the IDF noted.
HAMAS HANDS OVER ANOTHER ISRAELI HOSTAGE'S REMAINS AS GAZA CEASEFIRE EXCHANGES CONTINUE
It is still unknown whose remains Israel will be receiving. Prior to Tuesday, there were three deceased hostages known to still be in Hamas custody: Ran Gvili, 24, Dror Or, 48, and Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43.
Gvili served in an elite police unit and was recovering from a motorcycle injury on Oct. 7, 2023. He nevertheless rushed to respond to the attack and helped people escape from the Nova music festival. He was later killed fighting at another location and his body was taken to Gaza.
TRUMP THANKS GROUP REPRESENTING FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE APPEAL
Or was a father of three who was killed along with his wife, Yonat Or, while protecting two of their children on Oct. 7. The two children, Noam, who was then 16, and Alma, then 13, were abducted and then released during the November 2023 ceasefire.
Rinthalak was a Thai worker employed at a kibbutz that came under attack on Oct. 7. He is one of 31 Thai workers who were kidnapped on Oct. 7. The Thai government says at least 46 of its citizens were killed during the course of the war in Gaza.
The latest release comes less than a week after President Donald Trump met with 17 surviving Israeli hostages and their loved ones at the White House.
Trump gave each of the 17 survivors a Presidential Challenge Coin.
"You’re not a hostage anymore, today you’re heroes," Trump said. "We love you all, and our country loves you all. You’re amazing people."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Nigerian children as young as 5 among hundreds kidnapped, nun says
Many of the hundreds of children kidnapped from a Catholic school in Nigeria were as young as 5 years old, according to a nun who also described how 50 of the students escaped over the weekend.
Mary Barron, the superior general of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), described many of the 303 children kidnapped from St. Mary's School in Nigeria’s Papiri community on Friday as "tiny," the BBC reported.
"In this part of the world where there's no education available, people send their children to boarding school from nursery school, so you have very small children, the majority of the children that are missing are from the primary school," Barron said.
School officials said Sunday that 50 students, ages 10 to 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday. A total of 253 students and 12 teachers were still being held, they said.
ARMED ATTACKERS IN NIGERIA KIDNAP 25 GIRLS FROM BOARDING SCHOOL
Barron said the 50 children escaped their captors by jumping over a wall and running into the bush.
"They said they walked and walked, because they knew they couldn't walk back to the school, so they just kept walking until they found something familiar," she said.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EXPANDS EFFORTS TO STOP CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA WITH AID THREAT
No group has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack, The Associated Press reported. The outlet added that authorities said tactical squads and local hunters were working to rescue the kidnapped children.
It remains unclear where the remaining students and teachers were being held.
"I really keep hope alive," Barron said. "I really believe if there is a concerted effort, if we get enough people mobilized with the resources necessary to try to find these children, then it can happen."
Nigeria has seen a series of attacks on Christians and their institutions, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a "country of particular concern." However, the Nigerian government has disputed the U.S. claims.
Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Anders Hagstrom, along with The Associated Press, contributed to this report.
Russia bombards Kyiv, killing at least 6, as Trump peace plan moves forward
Russia launched an overnight attack on Kyiv that killed at least six people and injured 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday.
The strikes on residential buildings and civilian infrastructure came as U.S. and Ukrainian officials met over the weekend in Geneva to discuss the 28-point peace plan being pushed by the Trump administration to end the nearly four-year war.
Zelenskyy wrote on X that Russia launched 22 missiles of various types and more than 460 drones, four of which crossed into the airspace of Moldova and Romania.
"This is precisely why all partners must remember that lives need to be saved every single day. Weapons and air defense systems are important, as is the sanctions pressure on the aggressor. There can be no pauses in assistance," he said. "What matters most now is that all partners move toward diplomacy together, through joint efforts. Pressure on Russia must deliver results. Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine."
RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE LEAVES 25 DEAD IN TERNOPIL AFTER MASSIVE OVERNIGHT STRIKES
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote on Telegram that 18 people were rescued by state emergency services in Kyiv’s Dnipro and Desnyan districts, and operations were ongoing to find anyone still trapped under the rubble.
Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, a spokesman for U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, told Fox News that Driscoll and his team met with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the framework for a Ukraine peace deal.
"The talks are going well and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White House and the U.S. interagency as these talks progress," said Tolbert.
SOME EUROPEAN LEADERS WARY OF US APPROACH TO UKRAINE PEACE TALKS AS UK, FRANCE PLAN NEW MEETING
A U.S. official told Fox News that the Ukrainian delegation was also in Abu Dhabi and was in contact with Driscoll and his team.
The diplomatic flurry over the weekend followed the leak of the 28-point peace plan to Axios, which many European leaders and U.S. lawmakers viewed as largely favorable to Russia.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said on X that the initial proposal by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was a "surrender document for Ukraine that would have left it at the mercy of Russia for decades to come."
He said the latest version, developed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s involvement and input from Ukrainian and European officials, was a better plan.
"We must stand on [the] side of freedom & rule of law," Bacon wrote.
Temple staff stunned to hear knocking from inside coffin brought in for cremation
A 65-year-old Thai woman believed to be dead stunned temple staff in Bangkok when they heard a faint knocking from inside her coffin after her brother brought her in for cremation.
Pairat Soodthoop, general and financial affairs manager at the Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple, told The Associated Press on Monday that he was discussing cremation with the woman’s brother when they heard the noise coming from inside the coffin.
"I was a bit surprised, so I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was startled," he said. "I saw her opening her eyes slightly and knocking on the side of the coffin. She must have been knocking for quite some time."
The Buddhist temple in Nonthaburi province, outside Bangkok, posted a Facebook video showing a woman in a white coffin in the back of a pickup truck moving her arms and head, leaving staff stunned.
WOMAN STARTS KNOCKING INSIDE COFFIN DURING HER WAKE: 'GAVE US ALL A FRIGHT'
Pairat said the woman’s brother had driven her from Phitsanulok province to be cremated.
Pairat said the brother explained that his sister had been bedridden for about two years before her health declined and she appeared to stop breathing two days earlier. Believing she was dead, he placed her in a coffin and made the 300-mile trip to a Bangkok hospital, where she had wished to donate her organs.
MAN IN INDIA REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS BEFORE HIS CREMATION ON FUNERAL PYRE: REPORTS
The hospital, however, refused to accept the woman without an official death certificate, Pairat said. The brother then turned to the temple on Sunday, which offers free cremations, but was also turned away for lacking the document.
While Pairat was explaining how to obtain the certificate, they heard knocking from the coffin. Staff opened it, confirmed she was alive and sent her to a nearby hospital.
The abbot later said the temple would cover her medical expenses, according to Pairat.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Maduro dances to his own peace track while US ramps up Caribbean show of force
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro danced to a remix of his own peace slogans at a student rally in Caracas – the latest act of defiance after his performance of John Lennon’s "Imagine" while U.S. warships patrol near its coast.
Video from the National University Student Day celebration shows Maduro swaying to the beat, seemingly mimicking President Donald Trump’s trademark dance moves – with a noticeably looser sway.
The electronic track featured Maduro’s own phrases – recycled from speeches promoting peace and rejecting war – as tensions with the U.S. continue rising.
Reuters identified the remix as "Peace, yes. War, no." At one point, the Venezuelan leader punctuated the beat with finger pistols – a playful "pew, pew" gesture captured on camera.
US NAVY DESTROYER ARRIVES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AS TRUMP TURNS SCREWS ON VENEZUELA
The clip surfaced about a week after Maduro sang "Imagine" at a rally, urging peace while the Trump administration reinforced its military presence near Venezuela to stem drug trafficking.
Maduro invoked Lennon as he spoke about peace, calling the former member of The Beatles a poet and musician who left a "gift to humanity."
He urged young people to read the lyrics, describing the song as an anthem for every generation.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES VENEZUELA WILL TAKE CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BACK
In the video, Maduro paused mid-speech to recall Lennon’s song, singing a few words before reflecting on its meaning.
"What a beautiful song. The lyrics – young people, look up the lyrics," he said, according to a translation. "It’s an inspiration for all time. It’s an anthem for all eras and generations that John Lennon left as a gift to humanity. Long live the eternal memory of that great poet and musician, John Lennon."
As Maduro preaches peace, the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean, deploying bombers, warships and Marines as part of a campaign targeting drug-trafficking operations in the region, including airstrikes on suspected smuggling vessels.
HEGSETH SAYS MILITARY CONDUCTED ANOTHER STRIKE ON BOAT CARRYING ALLEGED NARCO-TERRORISTS
On Monday, the State Department formally announced the Cartel de los Soles would be designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
The Cartel de los Soles, or "Cartel of the Suns," refers to a network of government and military officials in Venezuela engaged in drug trafficking.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement last week that the Cartel de los Soles and other cartels in Venezuela were "responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe."
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this report.
Pages
Advertisement
