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Australia’s Parliament descended into turmoil Monday after right-wing populist Sen. Pauline Hanson entered the chamber wearing a burqa, triggering outrage from Muslim lawmakers and forcing proceedings to be suspended.

Hanson arrived in the full-face covering shortly after being denied permission to introduce her bill seeking to ban burqas and other face coverings in public. The move prompted shouting across the chamber as senators demanded she remove the garment. Senate leaders eventually halted the session when she refused to do so.

Leaders from both major parties condemned the stunt. Labor Senate leader and Foreign Minister Penny Wong described Hanson’s display as "not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate," according to Reuters, and moved to suspend her after she refused to comply with instructions to remove the covering. Opposition Deputy Senate Leader Anne Ruston also criticized the act.

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Two muslim senators condemned Hanson's actions. Green party Sen. Mehreen Faruqi denounced the move. "This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism." Independent Sen. Fatima Payman similarly denounced the act as "disgraceful" and "shame".

The incident marked the second time Hanson has worn a burqa inside Parliament. The 71-year-old senator first did so in 2017 as part of her longtime campaign against Islamic dress. Hanson has spent decades opposing immigration from Asia and criticizing Australia’s multicultural policies, positions that helped launch her political career in the 1990s.

Her One Nation party currently holds four seats in the senate after gaining two in May’s national election, reflecting a rise in anti-immigration sentiment, according to Reuters.

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Following the uproar, Hanson released a statement on her verified Facebook page. She wrote: "Today I wore a burqa into the Senate after One Nation's bill to ban the burqa and face coverings in public was blocked from even being introduced. The usual hypocrites had an absolute freak out. The fact is more than 20 countries around the world have banned the burqa because they recognize it as a tool that oppresses women, poses a national security risk, encourages radical Islam and threatens social cohesion. If these hypocrites don't want me to wear a burqa, they can always support my ban."

Her statement continued, "So if Parliament won't ban it, I will display this oppressive, radical, nonreligious head garb that risks our national security and the ill treatment of women on the floor of our Parliament so that every Australian knows what's at stake. If they don't want me wearing it, ban the burqa."

France and 21 other countries, including Tunisia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Portugal, have already implemented burqa bans.

Hanson left Parliament after losing her seat in 1998 and resigned as leader of One Nation in 2002. She was jailed in 2003 on electoral fraud charges, though the conviction was later overturned. 

In 2010, she dropped plans to move to the United Kingdom, saying it was "overrun with immigrants and refugees." She returned to lead One Nation in 2014 and won election to the Senate in 2016. She used her first speech to warn that "Australia was in danger of being swamped by Muslims."

Reuters contributed to this report.

A U.S. proposal to end the war in Ukraine has opened some disagreement with key European allies, with Paris, Berlin and Helsinki signaling they will not be sidelined during talks in Geneva.

A senior European diplomat told Fox News Digital that Europe would not accept a U.S.-driven agreement without full European involvement. "No negotiations about Ukraine without Ukrainians. No negotiations about Europe’s security without Europeans," the diplomat said.

Some of the European concerns came a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that the U.S. and Ukraine made "substantial" headway on an "updated and refined peace framework." He called it "the most productive day we have had," acknowledged unresolved issues, and said matters involving the EU and NATO would proceed on a "separate track." Negotiators from the U.S., Ukraine and major European states are expected to continue discussions throughout the week.

US AND RUSSIA DRAFT PEACE PLAN FOR UKRAINE REQUIRING MAJOR CONCESSIONS FROM KYIV

The European official called the American plan "a basis that requires further work," adding that "the first of these conditions must be the implementation of a ceasefire along the line of contact." According to the diplomat, France and the United Kingdom will convene a Coalition of Volunteers meeting on Tuesday to coordinate Europe’s position.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned at the Group of 20 summit in South Africa over the weekend that Europe cannot be cut out of any settlement. "Wars cannot be ended by major powers over the heads of the countries affected," he said, adding, "We are still quite a way from a good outcome for everyone."

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed those concerns on the sidelines of the summit, saying the U.S. plan "has not been negotiated with the Europeans," even though it contains "many provisions that concern Europeans directly." He pointed to proposed limits on Ukraine’s military capacity, calling them "limitations on the size of the Ukrainian army — in other words, on its own sovereignty."

"It is positive in the sense that it proposes a path to peace and acknowledges important elements regarding sovereignty, security guarantees, and other issues. But it is only a basis for work that needs to resume, just as we did last summer, because this plan has not been negotiated with the Europeans," Macron told reporters.

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Finland’s President Alexander Stubb wrote on X on Monday that NATO will assert control over issues in their remit: "It is clear that Europe and NATO decide on matters concerning them."

Amid the friction, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told "Fox & Friends" on Monday the U.S. effort still contained constructive elements, saying "some elements had to be changed, but there was also good stuff in the plan." In the interview, Rutte told Brian Kilmeade that President Trump’s team is "working extremely hard to get this war solved," with the goal of "a durable and lasting peace in Ukraine, a sovereign nation."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reinforced Kyiv’s red lines in an address to Sweden’s parliament on Monday, "The aggressor must pay fully for the war he started," rejecting territorial concessions. "Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen… That is the main problem," Zelenskyy said.

Moscow dismissed emerging European ideas as "not constructive," according to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, according to Reuters.

EXCLUSIVE: The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced on Monday, after the delivery of more than 187 million free meals to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip without Hamas stealing their aid, that it will shift its work to other aid organizations.

The GHF launched its operation on May 26 to ensure meals reached the Gazan population and to prevent Hamas terrorists from looting goods. According to GHF, it "provided more than 1.1 million packs of ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) for malnourished children."

GHF Executive Director John Acree said, "From the outset, GHF’s goal was to meet an urgent need, prove that a new approach could succeed where others had failed, and ultimately hand off that success to the broader international community. With the creation of the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) and a rejuvenated engagement of the international humanitarian community, GHF believes that moment has now arrived," he said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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Acree continued, "GHF has been in talks with CMCC and international organizations now for weeks about the way forward, and it's clear they will be adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted. As a result, we are winding down our operations as we have succeeded in our mission of showing there's a better way to deliver aid to Gazans.

"From our very first day of operations, our mission was singular: feed civilians in desperate need. We built a new model that worked, saved lives and restored dignity to civilians in Gaza. Our dedicated and compassionate team, including former U.S. service members, humanitarians, local Gazan workers and other partners like Samaritan’s Purse, risked their lives to feed the people in Gaza amidst an active war conflict," he said.

U.N. aid organizations plagued by corruption and alleged support for Hamas terrorism reportedly bristled at the effectiveness of GHF.

Since May, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has faced numerous attacks over its operations, including accusations that hundreds of Gazans were killed and injured at distribution sites. The United Nations and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) also blasted GHF for what they said was its weaponization of aid. The commissioner-general of UNRWA in July called for an end to GHF, saying it "provides nothing but starvation and gunfire to the people of #Gaza."

In August, a whistleblower confirmed to Fox News Digital that "the IDF is actively helping the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation get food into the hands of civilians while U.N. agencies, including WFP and OCHA, through their unwillingness to coordinate with the IDF, are inhibiting the distribution of such aid."

Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the United Nations secretary general, told Fox News Digital at the time that the whistleblower’s "accusation is delusional."

GHF told Fox News Digital that "it repeatedly offered to help U.N. agencies secure and distribute their aid to meet the need in Gaza while preventing looting and diversion. During its entire four-and-a-half months of operations, not a single GHF aid truck was looted."

AS US-BACKED GROUP DELIVERS 70 MILLION MEALS, UN AND NGOS FIGHT TO DISCREDIT GAZA AID RIVAL

GHF stated that "American-led solutions and compassion work," attributing its success to "the Trump administration’s call for innovation and early confidence in our mission, recognizing that American leadership, clarity of purpose and accountability to results are still the international gold standard."

GHF leaders said they are prepared to revive the mission "if new humanitarian needs are identified and will not dissolve as a registered NGO."

Acree said, "What our team will miss the most are the friendships and camaraderie developed with thousands of Gazans, especially the women and children we served. In early July, as the food security situation in Gaza improved, our operations stabilized, and we experienced a major shift in winning over the trust of aid seekers to the point where our aid sites became local hangout spots for women and children interacting with our team on a daily basis. We will miss them dearly."

Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in the mass murder of over 1,200 people, including more than 40 Americans. Hamas kidnapped 251 people during the invasion and still holds three dead hostages, according to Israel. Trump’s peace plan for Gaza outlines no role for Hamas in post-war Gaza governance and demands the total disarming of the Iran-backed jihadist terrorist organization.

Fifty of the 303 students kidnapped from a Nigerian Catholic school on Friday have escaped and are now reunited with their families, officials said Sunday, as schools across Niger remain closed following the attack.

The students, ages 10 to 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday, according to the Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state and the school’s proprietor.

A total of 253 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary's School are still being held, Yohanna said, adding: "We were able to ascertain this when we decided to contact and visit some parents."

Officials did not provide further details about how the children escaped or where the remaining students and teachers were being held.

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Pope Leo XIV called for the immediate release of the children and school staff, saying at the end of a Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday that he was "deeply saddened" by the incident.

"I feel great sorrow, especially for the many girls and boys who have been abducted and for their anguished families," the pontiff said. "I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their release."

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.

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Niger State quickly shut down all schools after Friday’s attack, while the Nigerian government also closed several federal colleges in conflict-prone areas across the region.

The attack at St. Mary’s came just four days after armed men kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in Kebbi State, killing at least one staff member. The search for the missing girls is ongoing.

Meanwhile, 38 worshippers kidnapped during a deadly church attack in central Nigeria’s Kwara State have been freed, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said Sunday. Gunmen had attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku town on Tuesday, killing two and taking others hostage. President Bola Tinubu credited "the efforts of security agencies" for securing their release but offered no further details.

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.'s claims.

"I’m really angry about it," the president told Fox News Radio on Friday. "What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace."

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Anders Hagstrom, along with The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released a video showing what it describes as one of Hamas’s "most complex" underground infrastructures extending beneath the southern Gaza city of Rafah. 

According to the IDF, the seven-kilometer-long "root tunnel" runs roughly 25 meters underground, contains about 80 rooms and was used for command operations, weapons storage and sheltering Hamas operatives. 

The video shared on X on Nov. 20 travels through reinforced concrete passageways and large chambers, showing the sophistication and scale of Hamas’s underground network. 

The Israeli military claims the tunnel originated beneath a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound and stretched beneath civilian sites.

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"IDF troops uncovered one of Gaza’s largest and most complex underground routes, over 7 km long, ~25 meters deep, with ~80 hideouts, where abducted IDF officer Lt. Hadar Goldin was held," the post read.

Israeli analysts say the demolition of this tunnel marks a strategic blow to Hamas and "paves the path to its defeat."

"The destruction of this tunnel as well as many others like it or similar… as well as other terror facilities pushes Hamas to the edge," said Professor Kobi Michael, senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Misgav Institute.

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"It is one of the longest and [most] complicated tunnels that have been discovered, but it is not the only one," he told Fox News Digital.

Michael explained that Hamas’ root tunnels form the backbone of its underground warfare system. 

"This is an example of a root tunnel, a strategic one that feeds many tactic tunnels and is used for strategic purposes [such] as command and control, weapon storage, manufacturing platforms of weapon[s] and strategic logistics," he said.

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"Such a tunnel is usually manned by hundreds of militants and commanders."

The IDF believes this particular tunnel network may have been connected to the area where Lt. Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier abducted during the 2014 Gaza war, was held captive. Hamas returned Goldin’s remains earlier this month – after more than a decade. 

The tunnel’s exposure sheds new light on the extent of its underground operations.

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"I have no idea about the cost but if you take into consideration the amount of the building materials, labor and facilities and its length, it is a matter of millions of INS," he claimed. "Hamas chose routes under sensitive civilian and humanitarian facilities in order to prevent the IDF from attacking the tunnel."

As Israel continues operations in Gaza, the destruction of Hamas’s tunnel networks remains central to its strategy to dismantle the group’s military capabilities and prevent future attacks.

In 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he wanted to destroy the tunnels, which Hamas militants used to infiltrate Israeli territory, "with or without a ceasefire."

According to a 2023 investigation by Reuters, Hamas had said it had been using the tunnels to hide hostages seized in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Israel’s military said its ground forces had uncovered around 1,500 Hamas tunnels and shafts throughout the Gaza Strip, per the report.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah’s chief of staff, in Beirut, calling him a "mass murderer" responsible for attacks on Israelis and Americans.

Netanyahu framed the strike as part of Israel’s ongoing effort to dismantle Hezbollah’s leadership and prevent the group from rebuilding its arsenal after recent operations. He warned that Israel would not tolerate future threats from Lebanon and urged its government to disarm Hezbollah.

"A few hours ago, the IDF eliminated Ali Tabatabai, the chief of staff of the Hezbollah terrorist organization," Netanyahu said. "Tabatabai is a mass murderer. His hands are soaked in the blood of many Israelis and Americans, and it is not for nothing that the U.S. put a bounty of $5 million on his head."

The prime minister said Tabatabai was a senior commander in the Radwan Force, which he said prepared to invade the Galilee and kill Israeli civilians.

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Netanyahu said Tabatabai most recently led Hezbollah’s efforts to rearm after the group suffered major losses in the "Pager Operation," including damage to missile stockpiles and the killing of Nasrallah.

"I thank the IDF and the security forces that carried out a professional, accurate and successful operation today," Netanyahu said. "The policy I am leading is absolutely clear: Under my leadership, the State of Israel will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its power and we will not allow it to pose a threat to the State of Israel again.

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"I expect the government of Lebanon to fulfill its commitment to disarm Hezbollah," he added. "Because only in this way can a better future be made possible for every citizen in Lebanon and only in this way can good and secure neighborly relations be established between Israel and Lebanon."

Netanyahu also commended President Donald Trump for vowing to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, saying the group endangers stability throughout the Middle East and beyond.

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Hezbollah confirmed Tabatabai’s death by posting a photo on its Telegram accounts, signaling the loss of one of its top commanders. A translation of the image’s caption reads, "Islamic Resistance in Lebanon – Hezbollah. The great jihadi leader Haitham Ali Tabatabai (Sayyed Abu Ali), 1968–2025."

Earlier Sunday, the prime minister’s office said the IDF carried out the Beirut strike on the recommendation of the defense minister and the IDF chief of staff. Shortly after the operation, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel will continue to act decisively against threats from Lebanon.

"Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off," Katz said. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I are determined to continue the policy of maximum enforcement in Lebanon and elsewhere. We will not allow a return to the reality before Oct. 7."

JOHANNESBURG: The White House has mounted a new verbal attack on South Africa over the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg this weekend. White House deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly hit back at South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after Pretoria refused to allow a U.S. embassy delegation to take part in the summit’s closing ceremony.

The U.S. takes over the G20’s presidency next year. But Ramaphosa’s spokesperson told reporters here at the summit their president won’t perform the ceremonial hand over to a junior diplomat. Washington had asked to send the embassy’s chargé d’affaires to the ceremony.

In what is becoming an increasingly fractious back-and-forth of bitter statements between Pretoria and Washington on several issues around the G20, Kelly told Fox News Digital, "President Ramaphosa initially declared that he would pass the gavel to an ‘empty chair.’ Now, he’s refusing to facilitate a smooth transition of the G20 presidency at all."

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Kelly continued "This, coupled with South Africa’s push to issue a G20 Leaders Declaration, despite consistent and robust U.S. objections, underscores the fact that they have weaponized their G20 presidency to undermine the G20’s founding principles. President Trump looks forward to restoring legitimacy to the G20 in the U.S.’s 2026 host year."

Trump withdrew all U.S. participation in the summit over his claims that some white South Africans were being racially discriminated against.  

Now South Africa’s Chief Rabbi, Dr. Warren Goldstein, has also lashed out at the G20, speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital, saying, "How can it be that in the long wish list of items that make up the G20 Leaders Declaration, there wasn’t space to condemn one of the greatest human rights crises in Africa - the continent wide jihadi war on Christians?"

He continued "How can it be that the first G20 hosted in Africa by an African government ignores how Africa — from Mozambique to Mali, the DRC, Nigeria, Sudan and so many other countries — has become the central front of Islamist terrorism?

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"Just Friday, more than 300 girls and 12 teachers were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Nigeria," he added. "Who will speak up for these children and save them? The silence of the G20 declaration on this and other Jihadi atrocities on the continent is a moral disgrace, revealing the gathering to be a heartless charade that history will judge harshly. God’s condemnation of Cain following his feeble defense of "am I my brother’s keeper?" stands as an eternal accusation against the leaders of the G20 — "What have you done? The blood of your brother calls out to Me from the ground."

42 world leaders and major institutions such as the U.N. are represented at the summit. Only one of them, Italy’s President Giorgia Meloni, has addressed the issue of Christian persecution in the last few days – and she did that Friday, before the summit started. Posting on X, she wrote, "We ask the Nigerian government to strengthen the protection of Christian communities and all religious communities and to pursue those responsible for these heinous attacks."

The White House could question the validity of the Leaders’ Declaration produced at the G20. Ramaphosa conceivably didn’t realize his microphone was open right at the beginning of proceedings Saturday. Journalists in the media center next door to the main summit hall could hear him telling leaders that the final 122-point resolution was ready for them to endorse – before they had discussed it.

As it stands, South Africa has officially marked the U.S. as ‘absent’ from this G20 summit. The only U.S. presence here this weekend was the American flag in the media center.

The final G20 South Africa Summit Leaders' Declaration was released on Sunday with the only reference to religion, noting, "We condemn all attacks against civilians and infrastructure. We further reaffirm that in line with the U.N. Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state and that states should develop friendly relations among nations, including by promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Fox News Digital reached out to the South African government but did not receive a response.

Teachers fended off a grizzly bear that attacked a school group walking along a trail in British Columbia, Canada, on Thursday, officials said.

"The group had stopped along a trail near the community when a grizzly bear emerged from the forest and attacked," Insp. Kevin Van Damme of British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service, said in an update on social media. "Teachers successfully repelled the bear using pepper spray and a bear banger."

Eleven people were injured in the attack, including students in the fourth and fifth grade, according to CBC News.

Two were in critical condition, two in serious condition and the other seven were treated at the scene, the British Columbia Health Services said.

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The incident happened in Bella Coola, a town more than 400 miles north of Vancouver.

The victims were taken to Bella Coola Hospital and were being transferred to Vancouver for further care, Van Damme said.

Officials were still searching for the bear as of Friday, who they believe may have been previously injured.

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"We recognize this incident is distressing for the community. We are in close contact with the Nuxalk Nation as our investigation continues. We thank them for their collaborative efforts to ensure community awareness and shared safety information," Van Damme said. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery."

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Tamara Davidson, British Columbia’s Minister of Environment and Parks, called the teachers who fought off the bear "true heroes," adding that they were well-prepared, according to the Guardian.

An anti-Israel group's website is offering bounties of up to $100,000 for the murder of Israeli academics, according to reports.

"The Punishment for Justice Movement" not only named specific targets and prices on their heads, but also published personal information like home addresses, emails and phone numbers, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The academics who were targeted work at universities like Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, the Technion public research university in Haifa, and even Harvard and Oxford universities, and the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

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Along with offering $100,000 for the killing of "special targets," $50,000 was being offered for the murder of other targets, as well as $20,000 to set fire to their homes or car, $5,000 for information about a target, and $1,000 to put protest signs outside their homes.

The website, created last summer and appears to have originated in the Netherlands, briefly went down Friday night, but was back up on Saturday, the outlet reported.

The website is written in English, according to the Times of Israel, and accuses its targets of being "criminals and collaborators with the occupation army," referring to the war in Gaza.

It also accuses the targets of being "distributors of weapons of mass destruction to the Israeli army," who are "involved in the murder of Palestinian children," the Jerusalem Post reported.

The organization claimed to have warned the targets to "abandon criminal activity" and stop working with the Israeli Defense Forces, but claimed they ignored the warnings so they are now "legitimate targets for the movement," according to the Times.

Two targeted academics told the Post they received no warning and several of those targeted at the European Organization for Nuclear Research said they hadn’t worked on military projects, but the website creators seemed to be mixed up by the word "nuclear."

One targeted academic told the Post: "The competent government agencies should suggest more comprehensive solutions" than just taking down the website, "because walking around with targets on our heads puts at risk not only us, but also our families."

However, Michael Bronstein, who teaches computer science at Oxford, told the Post he didn’t "give a damn" about the bounty on his life, calling those threatening him "nutcases."

"I was profoundly disturbed and shocked that my head was valued so cheaply, considering my standing in the academic community, I find anything below a seven-figure highly offensive," he told the Post. "I am, however, consoled that I am at least in a good company."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Anti-Defamation League for comment.

Gunmen abducted 303 children and 12 teachers in an attack on St. Mary's School, a Catholic institution in Nigeria. Initial reports indicated that at least 52 had been kidnapped before the tally was increased to over 200 children and then to its final count of 303.

Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna said in a statement that the total number of kidnapped was determined "after a verification exercise and a final census was carried out," according to The Associated Press. Yohanna is the chairman of the Niger state chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), who visited the school on Friday. The AP noted that the students who were kidnapped were male and female and ranged in age from 10 to 18.

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No group has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack, according to the AP. The outlet added that authorities said tactical squads and local hunters were working to rescue the kidnapped children.

After the attack, the state government said that St. Mary's School reopened despite warnings of increased threats. However, Yohanna denied this claim, the AP reported.

"We did not receive any circular. It must be an afterthought and a way to shift blame," he said, according to the AP.

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The attack at St. Mary's follows a similar incident earlier this week in which armed attackers kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in Nigeria’s Kebbi State and killed at least one staffer. The search for the abducted schoolgirls is still underway.

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.'s claims.

On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz held an event highlighting the ongoing violence in Nigeria. During the event, Waltz called the killings of Christians in Nigeria "genocide wearing the mask of chaos." He was joined by rap superstar Nicki Minaj, who called for religious freedom for all.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines about flying over Venezuela as it issued a notice urging them to "exercise caution" due to the "potentially hazardous situation" in the region. 

The advisory comes as the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean under U.S. Southern Command, deploying bombers, warships and Marines as part of an expanded campaign targeting drug-trafficking and so-called "narco-terrorist" networks operating near Venezuela. 

"Operators are advised to exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetia flight information region at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela," the FAA advisory said. 

"Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground," it added, requesting airlines to provide at least 72-hour advance notice to the FAA if they plan to fly through the area.

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Direct flights from U.S. passenger and cargo carriers to Venezuela have been suspended since 2019, but some airlines still fly over the country on their South American routes, according to Reuters. 

It added that American Airlines said Friday it stopped flying over Venezuela in October, while Delta Air Lines said it stopped "a while ago." 

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"Since September 2025, there has been an increase in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in the Maiquetia Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR), as well as activity associated with increasing Venezuela military readiness," the FAA also said.

"Some civil aircraft recently reported GNSS interference while transiting the SVZM FIR, which, in some cases, caused lingering effects throughout the flight. GNSS jammers and spoofers can affect aircraft out to 250 nautical miles and can impact a wide variety of critical communication, navigation, surveillance, and safety equipment on aircraft," the FAA continued.

"Additionally, since early September, Venezuela has conducted multiple military exercises and directed the mass mobilization of thousands of military and reserve forces. While Venezuela has at no point expressed an intent to target civil aviation, the Venezuelan military possesses advanced fighter aircraft and multiple weapons systems capable of reaching or exceeding civil aircraft operating altitudes, as well as potential low-altitude risk from man-portable air defense systems and anti-aircraft artillery," it also warned. 

Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report. 

China’s aggressive campaign to steal American military technology is emerging as a central concern in the debate over whether the United States should sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, according to experts and retired senior military commanders.

(Ret.) Gen. Charles Wald, a former U.S. Air Force officer and former deputy commander of EUCOM, said the United States had already rejected the United Arab Emirates and Turkey due to concerns about Chinese technology exploitation.

"We told Turkey they’re not going to get the F-35. We told the UAE they’re not going to get it because there’s concern that there could be a transfer of technology to China," Wald said. "That would probably be the biggest issue with Saudi Arabia getting the F-35 … Not because they would give it to the Chinese. Because the Chinese could exploit through intel, getting capability off that, but I’m not as worried as some," Wald said during a briefing at JINSA this week.

SAUDI CROWN PRINCE BIN SALMAN HIKES COMMITTED US INVESTMENT TO NEARLY $1T

China expert Gordon Chang said Beijing has already demonstrated its ability to penetrate U.S. defense programs and should be assumed to be targeting the F-35 again. "We should assume China has everything already. They already stole the whole plane once. They probably did it again," Chang told Fox News Digital.

He argued that Washington must balance the risks with the strategic benefits of strengthening ties with Riyadh. "We need to cement the relationship with the crown prince, especially if that helps him sign off on an Abraham Accord. Let him have stripped-down F-35s," he said.

He added that other U.S. partners may present even greater concerns. "I’m much more worried about South Korea having the plane and turning over the plans to China."

Chinese intelligence services have been implicated for years in efforts to harvest American military and aerospace technology, including stealth designs, propulsion systems, and advanced avionics. U.S. officials have previously linked Chinese cyber actors to thefts targeting premier American defense programs, including components resembling those found in fifth-generation fighters.

AMERICA’S ‘BAT’ MAN UNVEILS TECH BUILT TO OUTSMART A CHINESE FIRST STRIKE

Against that backdrop, the United States is weighing whether to approve Saudi Arabia’s request for the F-35 as part of a broader negotiation that includes defense assurances and potential diplomatic progress with Israel.

(Ret.) Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said the United States uses foreign military sales monitoring protocols to reduce risk, but the protections are not perfect. "One of the things that we do through foreign military sales is end-use case monitoring protocol," Ashley said. "We watch very closely how these kinds of advanced systems are used … but they’re not absolute."

SAUDI ARABIA IS ALREADY AMERICA’S TOP ARMS BUYER AND NOW TRUMP WANTS TO ADD F-35S

Despite the China threat, the retired commanders said they do not believe a Saudi F-35 acquisition would undermine Israel’s qualitative military edge.

Wald emphasized that Israeli pilots, planners, and engineers maintain a superior level of training and innovation. "There’s a big difference between the Israeli actual pilot capability than the other countries out there," Wald said. He added that Israel has integrated its own upgrades into the aircraft. "The Israelis modified their own F-35 a little bit … they created or developed [additional capabilities] just prior to the attack on Iran."

Wald noted that even if approved, Riyadh would not receive the aircraft for years. "At the very least, there’s probably about a five-year window here before that would happen if they got the F-35," he said.

Ashley and Wald said that in the long term, additional F-35s in the region could enhance shared situational awareness and strengthen collective defenses against Iran. Retired Vice Adm. Mark Fox said the fighter’s data-sharing architecture means more aircraft in allied hands improves overall performance. "The one thing about F-35 is it talks to every other F-35," Fox said. "Having more F-35s in the region actually increases the capability of the coalition."

A U.S.-backed framework to end the Ukraine war — assembled by special envoy Steve Witkoff, with input through both Kyiv and Moscow channels — is stirring unease among European allies and putting fresh pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy, who has ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over Ukrainian land, delivered one of his starkest public messages yet, warning that Kyiv is entering "one of the most difficult moments in our history."

In remarks released on Friday by Reuters, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is under intense pressure and may soon face what he called "a very difficult choice: either losing its dignity or risking the loss of a key partner. Either 28 difficult points or an extremely difficult winter — the most difficult one yet — and further risks. Life without freedom, without dignity, without justice. And we are expected to trust someone who has already attacked us twice."

WITKOFF MEETS UKRAINE OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK AHEAD OF EMERGENCY UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING: 'VERY PRODUCTIVE'

Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to remain disciplined as negotiations continue with Washington. "We will not make any loud statements; we will work calmly with America and all our partners," he said. "I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will offer alternatives, but we will definitely not give the enemy any reason to say that Ukraine does not want peace, that it is disrupting the process, and that Ukraine is not ready for diplomacy. That will not happen."

Warning of intensified attempts to divide the country, he said Ukrainians should expect "a lot of pressure — political, informational and other kinds of pressure — to weaken us," but vowed that "we have no right to allow that," and insisted, "we will succeed."

According to multiple outlets, a working draft would require Kyiv to cede the eastern Donbas region to Russia, limit long-range Western strikes inside Russia, and cap Ukraine’s armed forces at roughly 600,000 troops.

The White House says Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been "quietly working" on the plan and engaging both sides. President Donald Trump has been briefed and supports pushing to finalize the framework by the holidays. 

Zelenskyy is preparing calls with Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as European leaders scramble to assess the proposal’s implications, after he held a call with U.S. Vice President Vance, source says.

Ukraine has formally received the document. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United States would "work on the provisions of the plan," and that Kyiv is ready for "constructive, honest and swift work." He has repeatedly ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over any Ukrainian territory, saying earlier there can be "no reward for waging war."

"We are working to ensure that Ukraine’s national interests are taken into account at every level of our relations with partners," Zelenskyy posted Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

ZELENSKYY SEEKS 'STRONG REACTION' FROM US IF PUTIN IS NOT READY FOR BILATERAL MEETING

A Ukrainian source told Fox News Digital that Kyiv’s red lines include limits on NATO membership, territorial concessions and troop cuts. The former senior Ukrainian official called the draft’s terms "political suicide" that would leave Zelenskyy responsible "for the loss of about one-fifth of Ukraine."

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Washington and Moscow are not yet discussing the proposals in detail, but that contacts were taking place. "There are certain ideas on the American side, but nothing substantive is currently being discussed. We are completely open — we maintain our openness to peace negotiations," Peskov told reporters.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz pressed for urgency during a Security Council briefing Thursday, saying diplomacy is "the only path to a durable and just peace." Waltz said Washington has "proposed generous terms for Russia, including sanctions relief," and vowed that "under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will continue to pursue a path to peace in Ukraine."

Ukraine’s Deputy Representative to the United Nations, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, pushed back firmly during Thursday’s Security Council meeting, declaring that Kyiv would reject any settlement that compromises its sovereignty. "There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Our land is not for sale," she said. Hayovyshyn stressed that "Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join."

European leaders were caught off guard. The Associated Press reported that the leaders of Germany, France and the U.K. spoke with Zelenskyy Friday to reaffirm their "unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace" as diplomats scrambled to parse a U.S. proposal many first learned about through the media. Bild said Merz canceled a domestic appearance to hold crisis calls with both Zelenskyy and Trump.

Zelenskyy is expected to speak with Trump in the coming days to discuss the plan’s core points and Ukraine’s red lines.

A U.S.-backed framework to end the Ukraine war — assembled by special envoy Steve Witkoff, with input through both Kyiv and Moscow channels — is stirring unease among European allies and putting fresh pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy, who has ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over Ukrainian land, said he will work "calmly" with America." This is one of the most difficult moments in our history," Zelenskyy said in a video address to the nation. "Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner," he said, according to a report in the Associated Press 

According to multiple outlets, a working draft would require Kyiv to cede the eastern Donbas region to Russia, limit long-range Western strikes inside Russia, and cap Ukraine’s armed forces at roughly 600,000 troops.

The White House says Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been "quietly working" on the plan and engaging both sides. President Donald Trump has been briefed and supports pushing to finalize the framework by the holidays. 

WITKOFF MEETS UKRAINE OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK AHEAD OF EMERGENCY UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING: 'VERY PRODUCTIVE'

Zelenskyy is preparing for a call with Trump and spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as European leaders scramble to assess the proposal’s implications, after he held a call with U.S. Vice President Vance, source says.

Ukraine has formally received the document. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United States would "work on the provisions of the plan," and that Kyiv is ready for "constructive, honest and swift work." He has repeatedly ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over any Ukrainian territory, saying earlier there can be "no reward for waging war."

"We are working to ensure that Ukraine’s national interests are taken into account at every level of our relations with partners," Zelenskyy posted Friday on X.

A Ukrainian source told Fox News Digital that Kyiv’s red lines include limits on NATO membership, territorial concessions and troop cuts. The former senior Ukrainian official called the draft’s terms "political suicide" that would leave Zelenskyy responsible "for the loss of about one-fifth of Ukraine."

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Washington and Moscow are not yet discussing the proposals in detail, but that contacts were taking place. "There are certain ideas on the American side, but nothing substantive is currently being discussed. We are completely open — we maintain our openness to peace negotiations," Peskov told reporters.

ZELENSKYY SEEKS 'STRONG REACTION' FROM US IF PUTIN IS NOT READY FOR BILATERAL MEETING

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz pressed for urgency during a Security Council briefing Thursday, saying diplomacy is "the only path to a durable and just peace." Waltz said Washington has "proposed generous terms for Russia, including sanctions relief," and vowed that "under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will continue to pursue a path to peace in Ukraine."

Ukraine’s Deputy Representative to the United Nations, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, pushed back firmly during Thursday’s Security Council meeting, declaring that Kyiv would reject any settlement that compromises its sovereignty. "There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Our land is not for sale," she said. Hayovyshyn stressed that "Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join."

European leaders were reportedly caught off guard by the proposals, with the Associated Press reporting the leaders of Germany, France and the U.K. spoke with Zelenskyy Friday to reaffirm their "unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace" as diplomats scrambled to parse a U.S. proposal many first learned about through the media. Bild said Merz canceled a domestic appearance to hold crisis calls with both Zelenskyy and Trump.

Zelenskyy is expected to speak with Trump in the coming days to discuss the plan’s core points and Ukraine’s red lines.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist movement Hezbollah is rebuilding its military arsenal on Israel’s northern border, as experts warn that another war between the two sides could be on the horizon. The latest developments come a year after the U.S. helped broker a ceasefire between the parties.

On Wednesday, IDF spokesman Nadav Shoshani, said Hezbollah had engaged "in a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement." Shoshani also released a video showing the rearming, claiming the terror group was "operating to reestablish its assets in the village of Beit Lif." 

Critics argue that the U.N. peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, is not fulfilling its mandate to disarm the terror group and the Lebanese Armed Forces are moving too slowly, which has led to continued Israeli actions against the terrorists. The IDF has been launching near-daily strikes against the group’s infrastructure and operatives inside Lebanon. 

IRAN SMUGGLED $1B TO HEZBOLLAH THIS YEAR DESPITE US SANCTIONS, TREASURY OFFICIAL SAYS

Sarit Zehavi, a leading Israeli security expert on Hezbollah from the Israel Alma Research and Education Center, told Fox News Digital that Hezbollah does not currently "have the capability to carry out an October invasion. They had it prior to Oct. 7, 2023. They can send in a few terrorists. I want to believe it will take a few years to get those capabilities back."

Fox News Digital exclusively reported last year on Hezbollah’s war plan to invade northern Israel and carry out a scorched-earth campaign against the Jewish state.

A day after the Iran-backed Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and massacred over 1,200 people, Hezbollah launched missile attacks against Israel.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MIDDLE EAST'S HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS GROUPS?

Zehavi said, "Both the IDF and Hezbollah are very active. The IDF is very active to stop the rehabilitation of Hezbollah and Hezbollah is very active in rebuilding. Hezbollah learned lessons. It has been more problematic to smuggle weapons to Lebanon from Syria. It is happening. But the Syrians intercepted weapons."

She noted that the "Syrian regime is willing to fight Hezbollah to fight weapons smuggling. Hezbollah is relying more on manufacturing rockets."

Zehavi, who lives in northern Israel, said that "almost half of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah are south of the Litani river. We see a lot of investment from Hezbollah in drones, short-range rockets, mortars and anti-tank missiles."

On Tuesday in Germany, prosecutors started a trial against an alleged Hezbollah member running "an extensive drone program for some time."

The German Federal Prosecutor's Office said the suspected Hezbollah operative Fadel Z joined Hezbollah more than 10 years ago and worked as a "foreign operator" for the group's drone program in 2022 in Spain and Germany.

Zehavi said it suffered a defeat of its leadership via the Mossad pager attack on its commanders. However, she added, "Iran immediately provided oxygen to Hezbollah for treatment to help revive Hezbollah."

ISRAEL DEGRADES IRAN-BACKED HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS IN SPECTACULAR PAGER EXPLOSION OPERATION: EXPERTS

She outlined Israel’s main defense strategy against Hezbollah. First, the IDF has positions in Syria and Lebanon. "We cannot have civilians on the front line. The IDF is on top of hills in Israel and Lebanon and can see everything and can respond quickly to terrorist activities. This means when an Israeli woman opens her window and used to see a Hezbollah flag, she now sees an Israeli flag. This gives her a sense of security. This was not present before Oct. 7.

She estimates Hezbollah has 50,000 terrorists and 50,000 reservists. "We killed a few thousand terrorists."

The IDF made dramatic advances in eradicating Hezbollah’s missile arsenal. "We degraded 80%" of the rockets, Zehavi said, noting the elimination of sizable numbers of Hezbollah’s long-range and highly accurate missiles.

Edy Cohen, a Lebanese-born Israeli scholar of Hezbollah, said, "There is no lack of arms for Hezbollah in Beirut and Lebanon. Lately, we saw many reports that Hezbollah received arms from Syria and Iran is trying to send arms by civilian Iranian airplanes."

HEZBOLLAH'S NEIGHBORS: ISRAELI BORDER COMMUNITY UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK FROM TERROR GROUP

He said there is enormous pressure on Hezbollah and every week Israel is killing Hezbollah operative. The Shiite community in Lebanon wants Hezbollah to retaliate against Israel, said Cohen, adding, "For the Shiite community Hezbollah is the state."

Cohen said the IDF is gathering intelligence information about Hezbollah’s arsenal and attacking almost every day its leaders and operatives.

He warned that because "Hezbollah said it will not disarm its militia ... the big war will come."

Fox News Digital reported in early November that Trump’s U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, who also serves as envoy to Syria, said that Lebanon is a "failed state," because of its "paralyzed government."

He also noted that Hezbollah retains 40,000 fighters and between 15,000 and 20,000 rockets and missiles, noting the terror group pays its militia $2,200 per month, whereas the Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers earn $275 a month and have inferior equipment as well.

An Indian fighter jet crashed Friday at the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates, killing the pilot onboard, officials said. 

Videos circulating on social media showed the IAF Tejas aircraft bursting into flames as it struck the ground, drawing gasps from crowds gathered at the event. 

"The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident," the Indian Air Force wrote on X, noting that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. "IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief." 

"A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today’s flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot," added the Dubai Media Office. "Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site."

US NAVY SEA HAWK HELICOPTER, F/A-18F SUPER HORNET FIGHTER JET GO DOWN IN SEPARATE SOUTH CHINA SEA INCIDENTS 

An SUV bearing diplomatic plates flying the Indian flag was seen at the crash site, along with police and emergency personnel. 

The air show later resumed flight demonstrations, with the Russian Knights aerobatics team flying overhead as emergency crews still worked the crash site, the Associated Press reported. 

Tejas is India’s indigenous fighter aircraft, built by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

SKIES AT STAKE: INSIDE THE U.S.–CHINA RACE FOR AIR DOMINANCE 

The lightweight, single-engine jet is expected to bolster India’s depleted fighter fleet as China expands its military presence in South Asia, including by strengthening defense ties with India’s rival Pakistan, according to the AP. 

In September, India’s Defense Ministry signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or HAL, to procure 97 Tejas jets for the air force. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.

A Tejas fighter jet crashed in the western Indian state of Rajasthan last year, but the pilot ejected safely in that incident. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped several students and staff from a Catholic school early Friday, marking the latest attack on a Christian institution.

Nigerian news outlet Arise TV said 52 children were abducted from St. Mary's School. The Catholic institution is in Agwara local government’s Papiri community, according to The Associated Press, which cited Abubakar Usman, the secretary to the Niger state government. The outlet added that Usman did not specify how many children were kidnapped in the attack.

The Niger State Police Command said military and security forces were deployed to the area where the attack took place in the early hours of Friday, the AP reported. Additionally, the Niger State Police Command said St. Mary's educates students ages 12–17.

A security staffer was "badly shot" in the attack, according to the AP which cited a statement issued by the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora.

GUNMEN ATTACK CHURCH IN NIGERIA, KILLING TWO AND KIDNAPPING OTHERS

Following the attack, Usman released a statement condemning the abductions and stating that St. Mary's made the decision to reopen despite prior security intelligence warning of increased threats, according to Arise TV.

"Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk," the statement read.

The attack at St. Mary's follows a similar incident earlier this week in which armed attackers kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in Nigeria’s Kebbi State and killed at least one staffer. The search for the abducted schoolgirls is still underway.

On Wednesday, gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church, killing at least two people and abducting the pastor and 38 worshippers, according to Reuters. In a video of the attack, which was reviewed and verified by Reuters, armed men are seen entering the church and taking worshippers' belongings as gunshots ring out. The outlet later reported that a church official said the gunmen demanded a ransom of 100 million naira (roughly $69,000) per worshipper.

RAP STAR NICKI MINAJ THANKS TRUMP FOR ADDRESSING PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA

Nigeria has seen a series of attacks on Christians, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a "country of particular concern" over the persecution of Christians. However, the Nigerian government has disputed the U.S.'s claims.

On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz held an event highlighting the ongoing violence in Nigeria. During the event, Waltz called the killings of Christians in Nigeria "genocide wearing the mask of chaos."

"Folks, we have an entire faith that is being erased, one bullet at a time, one torched Bible at a time," Waltz said.

Rap superstar Nicki Minaj, who has been vocal about her support for the Trump administration's efforts to combat the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, spoke at Waltz's event. Minaj lamented that "families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray."

Fox News Digital's Ashley Carnahan and Paul Tilsley contributed to this report.

Vladimir Putin said he is in good health after a two-day medical checkup despite backing out of a blood pressure test at an artificial intelligence conference, according to reports.

Appearing at the AI Journey forum in Moscow, Putin, 73, was invited to try a new AI-powered kiosk that measures users’ pulse and blood pressure through a fingertip scanner, according to Reuters.

The Russian president, who was surrounded by bodyguards, reportedly told the crowd, "I recently had my annual checkup. It took two and a half days, including an overnight stay at the clinic. Thank God, everything is fine," according to The Times.

Putin made the comments amid persistent rumors about his health.

MEDICAL EXPERT WEIGHS IN AFTER XI, PUTIN CAUGHT ON HOT MIC DISCUSSING ORGAN TRANSPLANTS, IMMORTALITY

At another event in Moscow Nov. 9, people noticed that the Russian president had a bruised or swollen hand.

Ukrainian presidential advisor Anton Gerashchenko posted a close-up photo of Putin’s hand on X, claiming his "veins are bulging" and adding, "There’s something wrong with Putin’s hands."

In March, Fox News Digital reported that President Zelenskyy had predicted Putin "will die soon" as speculation was mounting over him having cancer or suffering strokes.

TRUMP REVEALS HE HAD 'PERFECT' MRI DURING RECENT WALTER REED PHYSICAL

Video of Putin gripping a table during a meeting with defense officials in 2022 also led people to suggest he was suffering from Parkinson’s disease or chronic pain.

At the forum on Wednesday, Putin said he believed humans might eventually live to 150 years old, according to the Daily Express.

"It is probably possible to reach 150," he said. "But it will always be too few, just like with money — always."

PUTIN CALLS DANCING RUSSIAN ROBOT 'VERY BEAUTIFUL' IN AWKWARD AI CONFERENCE MOMENT

It’s not the first time the Russian leader has contemplated longevity.

During a hot mic exchange with China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at a summit in Beijing in September, he was overheard joking about biotechnology and organ transplants.

"The longer you live, the younger you become," he said. "Perhaps one day, we may even achieve immortality."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kremlin for further comment.

The U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa held a hearing Thursday on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria in what subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith, R-N.J., described as the "systematic and accelerating violence against predominantly Christian communities in Nigeria."

Members from both parties questioned administration officials and outside experts as witness after witness described the collapse of security, mass killings, kidnappings and the impunity that has turned Africa’s most populous country into what one lawmaker called "the deadliest place on Earth to be a Christian."

Smith, who has long been sounding the alarm about the persecution of Christians in the country, described the situation in vivid terms.

TRUMP’S WARNING TO NIGERIA OFFERS HOPE TO NATION'S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

"Nigeria is ground zero, the focal point of the most brutal and murderous anti-Christian persecution in the world today," he said.

He called the session "a very critical hearing," noting it was his 12th such hearing and that he has led three human rights trips to the country.

Quoting earlier testimony from Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Diocese, Smith cited militants who "kill and boast about it …  kidnap and rape and enjoy total impunity from elected officials."

He highlighted a June 13 attack in Yola, saying reports showed "278 people — men, women and children — were killed in a manner too gory to describe by people shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ while slaughtering their victims."

"This is not random violence. It is deliberate persecution," Smith said. "There may be other factors, but religion is driving this."

Smith also noted that moderate Muslims who speak out against extremists are often murdered as well, underscoring the scope of Nigeria’s "culture of denial."

TRUMP DESIGNATES NIGERIA AS 'COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN' OVER WIDESPREAD CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION, KILLINGS

Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., the panel’s ranking member, agreed Nigeria faces devastating insecurity but warned against "oversimplistic narratives."

She cited overlapping drivers — extremist insurgencies, farmer-herder conflict and organized banditry — and said the 25 girls recently kidnapped in Kebbi state were all Muslim.

"Violence affects everyone," she said. "False narratives erase the real drivers of violence and make it harder to find solutions."

She condemned President Trump’s remarks about "going into Nigeria guns blazing," calling such rhetoric reckless and illegal and said unilateral U.S. military action would be "counterproductive."

Jacobs claimed the Trump administration cut peace-building and conflict-prevention tools that once helped reduce violence, programs, she said, "that proactively prevented and directly addressed the violence this administration is now concerned about."

CRUZ CLASHES WITH NIGERIA OVER HIS CLAIMS 50,000 CHRISTIANS KILLED SINCE 2009 IN RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE

Rep. John James, R-Mich., described Nigeria’s crisis in stark terms. 

"This is one of the gravest religious freedom crises in the world," he said. "The deadliest place on earth to be a Christian."

He cited estimates that nearly 17,000 Christians have been killed since 2019, calling the murders "a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence, often ignored or even enabled by the Nigerian government."

Appearing on video from Benue state, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe detailed church burnings, mass displacement and priests targeted for abduction.

"Nigeria remains the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian," Anagbe said. "More believers are killed there annually than in the rest of the world combined."

He thanked Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations but urged that it be backed with sanctions and greater humanitarian support for displaced civilians.

Two senior state department officials, Jonathan Pratt and Jacob McGee, defended the administration’s approach while acknowledging the horror of the attacks.

Pratt called the situation "a very serious security problem," saying the U.S. seeks to "raise the protection of Christians to the top of the Nigerian government’s priorities."

McGee added, "The levels of violence and atrocities committed against Christians are appalling. … Nigerians are being attacked and killed because of their faith."

He pointed to blasphemy laws in 12 northern states that can carry the death penalty, calling them "unacceptable in a free and democratic society."

‘GENOCIDE CAN’T BE IGNORED’: GOP LAWMAKER BACKS TRUMP’S THREAT OF MILITARY ACTION IN NIGERIA

Both officials said the U.S. is developing a plan to "incentivize and compel" the Nigerian government to protect religious communities.

In one exchange between Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., and an expert on Nigeria, he asked bluntly, "Ma’am, are we frenemies? Are we — what are we?"

Oge Onubogu, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, replied, "We’re friends."

She added that U.S.–Nigeria engagement must be "from a place of honesty" and that Nigerians "acknowledge something must be done quickly about the levels of insecurity."

Onubogu warned, however, that a "narrow narrative that reduces Nigeria’s security situation to a single story" could deepen divisions.

Stutzman pressed her further, noting, "If Nigeria’s government cannot stop the violence, they should be willing to ask the international community for help."

As the hearing came to a close, Smith warned, "The Nigerian government has a constitutional obligation to protect its citizens. If it cannot stop the slaughter, then America — and the world — must not look away."

Russian President Vladimir Putin was caught on camera looking stony-faced as he watched a robot dance at a Moscow AI exhibition Wednesday.

Video of the display showed the humanoid robot trying to gyrate in front of him before the president remarked, "Very beautiful. Thanks," and wandered off. 

The moment between Putin and the robot, called Green, became one of the day’s most replayed television moments, appearing on state TV, per Reuters.

The demonstration, staged by Sberbank took place at the AI Journey conference with Putin arriving with a gaggle of bodyguards.

THE NEW ROBOT THAT COULD MAKE CHORES A THING OF THE PAST

The video also shows the bodyguards moving toward the Russian leader when the robot stepped forward to introduce itself to Putin.

"My name is Green," it said in Russian. "I am the first Russian humanoid robot with embedded artificial intelligence. This means that I am not just a program on a screen but a physical embodiment of technology," Green added.

FOX NEWS AI NEWSLETTER: RUSSIAN ROBOT FACEPLANTS IN HUMILIATING DEBUT

The video shows Green going on to explain its capabilities, noting, "Over 40 motors and numerous sensors allow me to move smoothly, maintain my balance confidently and interact safely with people."

It requested a virtual assistant to play its favorite track before launching into a dance routine set to the folk-pop song The Sun Rose High, per Reuters.

At one point, a nervous bodyguard appeared to edge between the robot and Putin to make sure that the choreographed display didn’t go wrong.

AI VIDEO TECH FAST-TRACKS HUMANOID ROBOT TRAINING

The moment in Moscow contrasted to another video that went viral days earlier when a different AI-powered humanoid named Aidol fell over within seconds of walking on stage.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kremlin for comment.