A new study says the United Nations and other aid groups have repeatedly looked the other way as aid intended for civilians is stolen by terror groups and dictators, from Hamas in Gaza to the Taliban in Afghanistan.Last month, researchers Dr. Netta Barak-Corren of Jerusalem's Hebrew University and Dr. Jonathan Boxman outlined the harmful impact of aid diversion in war zones, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Afghanistan, before presenting the likely case of diversion in Gaza.EXCLUSIVE: WHISTLEBLOWER ALLEGES MISCONDUCT BY UNITED NATIONS IN GAZAIn Somalia, researchers found diversion "at every stage of the supply chain," with nearly half of the World Food Programme (WFP) budget taken up by cartel transportation payments, "ghost camps" siphoning off aid, combatants family members signing up for assistance, and local "gatekeepers" taking aid.In the end, the study assessed that only about 12.5% to 17.5% of aid reached Somalis in need.A July 2023 internal report commissioned by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres flagged as "strictly confidential," contained claims from Somalian internally displaced persons (IDPs) who said "they were coerced into paying up to half of the cash assistance they received to people in positions of power in the face of threats of eviction, arrest or de-registration from beneficiary lists," Reuters reported.In Ethiopia, researchers found that the WFP "looked the other way" at diversion, particularly as Ethiopian military personnel forced local mills to grind 30 metric tons of looted grain into flour for their soldiers.The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) discovered the discrepancy and eventually suspended aid to Ethiopia.Reuters also found that the WFP knew about aid diversion in Ethiopia "for several years." In response to concerns voiced in 2024, Cindy McCain, WFP director, publicly stated that the WFP has "zero tolerance for theft or diversion."During the Syrian Civil War, the report states that Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad "dictated the terms of humanitarian assistance." This included siphoning off about 51% of aid through currency exchanges, and determining that rebel-controlled areas were too dangerous for aid distribution.David Adesnik, vice president of research for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that financing Assad created "a war of annihilation." It was "not just that youre losing some aid or wasting it, but that youre actively making the conflict worse and causing more violence," he said.While the U.N. has reported the disappearance of about 1% of aid, the authors' report estimated that around 60% of beneficiaries did not receive aid, which was given to Houthi loyalists or sold on the market by bad actors.In Sudan, warring factions attempted to deny aid to adversaries. When WFP aid was looted, researchers reported that the organization failed to identify the looter, "afraid of being expelled from Sudan."THE UN WOULD RATHER HELP HAMAS THAN THE US, CHARITY LEADER SAYSThe researchers report that two leading WFP officials faced investigation "over allegations including fraud, and concealing information from donors" in Sudan.In August 2024, the WFP told Reuters that its Office of the Inspector General was examining "allegations of individual misconduct related to irregularities in pockets of our operation in Sudan."During the 2001-2021 Afghanistan war, Barak-Corren and Boxman found that about 40% of aid was diverted by the Taliban taxing humanitarian organizations, demanding medical care for fighters, and placing members on humanitarian organizations payroll.The study found that international supervisors who discovered the activities "avoid[ed] reporting to donors."Foundation for Defense of Democracies senior fellow and editor of the Long War Journal Bill Roggio said he "suspects [diversion figures] are even higher. The Taliban was and still is adept at infiltrating aid organizations and diverting aid to fill their coffers."While the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has denied aid diversion in Gaza, Barak-Corren and Boxman note that diversion has been reported by WFP and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. According to the authors, UNRWA "should be seen as a streamlined aid diversion operation enjoying a unique level of international immunity and freedom from accountability."AS ISRAEL FACES BLAME FOR THE HUNGER CRISIS IN GAZA, UNS OWN DATA SHOWS MOST OF ITS AID IS LOOTEDThe U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) declined to respond to questions about diversion in other conflict zones or whether aid providers are incentivized to hide diversion from donors.A UNOCHA spokesperson said that in Gaza, "we do not have evidence of systematic aid diversion from the U.N. to Hamas. The U.N. and our partners have strict monitoring in place, with oversight on deliveries when enabled to do so."The U.N. and humanitarian groups "have a range of measures in place to mitigate the risk of aid diversion and provide effective oversight," the spokesperson said.Barak-Corren told Fox News Digital that UNOCHAs "answer demonstrates the exact phenomenon we pointed out in our research, which is that the U.N. prefers to avoid and suppress the issue of aid diversion as a general problem rather than confront it."The U.N.s own figures show that an estimated 88% of aid did not reach its intended destination between May 19 and Aug. 12.An Israeli military official told Fox News Digital that their issue lies with Hamas "controlling the aid, selling it, getting money out of it, paying salaries, and including [recruiting] other youngsters to fight against us."The official explained that the U.N. is "not paying for it. The world is paying for it, and not being responsible enough in order to avoid Hamas hands." In this way, the official said, "they are assisting Hamas and assisting to make this war longer."Reuters contributed to this report.

At least seven people have been killed and 37 others injured in shootings in Chicago this Labor Day weekend, even as the city's mayor vows to block President Donald Trump's efforts to combat crime.This weekend's shootings took place in a series of unrelated incidents across Chicago, with the majority of instances resulting in no one being taken into custody, police say. Trump has suggested he may deploy the National Guard and other federal law enforcement to combat crime in the city.The victims of fatal shootings so far this weekend include at least two women and three men, as well as two others police have not specified. Authorities have not released the names of the deceased.Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday prohibiting local police from working with their federal counterparts.PRITZKER SAYS 'ACTION WILL BE MET WITH A RESPONSE' AFTER TRUMP THREATENS TO SEND NATIONAL GUARD TO CHICAGO"This executive order makes it emphatically clear that this president is not going to come in and deputize our police department," Johnson said at a news conference with other city leaders.The mayor's order affirms that Chicago police officers will continue to enforce state and local laws, but will not work with the National Guard or federal agents on patrols, arrests, immigration enforcement or other law enforcement actions.CHICAGO MAYOR CALLS TRUMP'S NATIONAL GUARD PLAN 'MOST FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF OUR CONSTITUTION'"We will protect our Constitution, we will protect our city, and we will protect our people," he said. "We do not want to see tanks in our streets. We do not want to see families ripped apart. We do not want grandmothers thrown into the back of unmarked vans. We don't want to see homeless Chicagoans harassed or disappeared by federal agents."The White House dismissed Johnson's order on Saturday, claiming that Democrats were attempting to make efforts to reduce crime a partisan issue."If these Democrats focused on fixing crime in their own cities instead of doing publicity stunts to criticize the President, their communities would be much safer," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement to Reuters.Chicago has struggled with gun violence for decades. The city suffered another bloody weekend on July 4 this year, when 55 people were shot, six of whom were killed.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPOver Memorial Day weekend at the end of May, 22 people were shot, two fatally, in the city.According to city data, there have been 272 homicides in Chicago this year, including 225 fatal shootings.

For nearly 30 years, Todd and Julie Chrisley have been by each other's side through all of life's challenges. But in January 2023, the "Chrisley Knows Best" stars' marriage was tested when they were forced to separate as they began their respective prison sentences for tax evasion and fraud charges.In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Todd and Julie who are currently promoting Lifetime's new docuseries, "The Chrisleys: Back to Reality," alongside their family spoke about the challenges they faced when it came to maintaining a healthy marriage and strong bond."Todd and I didn't speak for 28 months and I was lucky and so blessed to be able to see my children and they were able to visit and we were able to talk, but that wasn't the case for Todd and I," Julie explained. "We had an email that's very antiquated and we got messages every two, three days. So it was almost impossible to even keep a conversation going."TODD CHRISLEY SHARES PRESIDENT TRUMPS SURPRISING FIRST REMARK AFTER PRISON PARDON"For me, I never felt, and this is the weirdest way of saying this, but I was never in my mind away from her," Todd said of being separated from his wife of nearly 30 years. "She stayed in my mind all day long and all night. I thought about her every waking second.""I used to say in my emails, I thank God for my mind, for my memory and for all the memories that we've created because I was around men who were being diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's, things like that. And I used to say, God, thank you for my mind. And I survived on my memories that Julie and I have made for 30 years.""I survived all my times of seeing my children laugh and when they were crying and me telling them 'It's going to be OK' And then all of a sudden we've moved on to something much bigger. So for me, it was not an option of is this marriage going to last? It was, how do we pick up and start rebuilding from where we are right now?"WATCH: TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY'S MARRIAGE WAS TESTED IN PRISON, STAYING CONNECTED FELT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLEThe Chrisleys, who rose to fame with their hit reality show "Chrisley Knows Best," were convicted in 2022 of federal bank fraud and tax evasion. Todd and Julie, who have maintained their innocence, were sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively, and reported to prison on Jan. 17, 2023.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERIn May, the couple were released from federal prison after they received pardons from President Trump."Its a terrible thing, but its a great thing, because your parents are going to be free and clean, and I hope we can do it by tomorrow. Is that OK? Well try getting it done tomorrow," Trump told the Chrisleys' children, Savannah and Chase, in a phone call from the Oval Office that was posted on the X account of a White House aide. The post was captioned in part, "Trump Knows Best!"Todd recalled waking up in prison on May 28, expecting to go about his daily routine. He never expected to walk out a free man."Listen, I've said again on our ['Chrisley Confessions 2.0'] podcast that I've had so many Joseph moments to happen in my life from the time this whole thing started," he said. "And so you go to bed on May the 27th, and you know that on the 28th you're going to get up and do the same thing over and over and over again. That's not the way my life happened."TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY CALL LIFE AFTER PRISON MORE DIFFICULT THAN TIME BEHIND BARS"My Joseph moment was getting up that morning and then that afternoon being told, you've been pardoned, we've got to get you out of here," he continued. "That's how quickly your life can change. When I spoke with President Trump via FaceTime, his first thing was, Well, wow, you look great. And I was like, Well, thank you. But he was very kind and very gracious."Since returning home, both Todd and Julie have been navigating the transition as well as possible."There's definitely been a transition period, a period of just, I think you just kind of pinch yourself to say, This is really happening," Julie explained. "And when you are incarcerated, when you're in prison, you have this protective shell because you have to. It is just self-preservation of just getting through each day. And so I think it takes time to let your guard down and to say, 'OK, this has really happened. I'm really home and I can really continue living.' So I'm just grateful for every day.""I think for me, Julie and I have talked about it. Julie had reconciled that she was going to do this many months on her sentence or this many years, whatever it was. For me, I never believed that for me. Every day I was getting up, getting dressed, I was leaving," said Todd.TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY'S CHILDREN ACCUSE FAMILY MEMBERS OF BETRAYAL, LOSE OUR LAST NAME"I got up and I got dressed and I put my best foot forward," he continued. "I would go call my daughter and say, OK, what's the plans for the day? What do you have going on today? Who are you talking to? What's your next steps? And so we always had a plan. And I think through my communication with Savannah, that helped to keep me focused and motivated because we had more communication than what Julie was able to have with them which is so bizarre that women get less in the Bureau of Prisons and in the prison system as a whole than what men do. But I think that through my constant communication with Savannah and her coming to see me and giving me the blow by blows of what's happening and what she hopes to see happen next, that continued to fuel me with hope. And that's what I hope that our family will be able to do to the 155,000 that we've left behind, is to instill hope in them to let them know that there is a brighter tomorrow."WATCH: TODD CHRISLEY SHARES PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SURPRISING FIRST REMARK AFTER PRISON PARDONIn July, Todd and Julie opened up about life in prison and explained why life on the outside can sometimes be more difficult."Ive actually talked to a few of the women that I was in prison with that theyre already home," Julie, 52, began to explain during the July 23 episode of their "Chrisley Confessions 2.0" podcast."We all have this general consensus that its kind of weird to even say it."Todd, 56, added, "No, its not weird. Life is rougher than prison life."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"It is so horrific, the conditions that youre there for, but thats from a physical standpoint," he explained. "But from an emotional and psychological standpoint, it is harder dealing with day to day.""The Chrisleys: Back to Reality"will premiere as a two-night eventon Lifetime Sept. 1and 2 at 8/7c. Theremainingepisodes will airTuesdays beginning on Sept. 9with the finale on Sept. 16.

An executive order signed by President Donald Trump is aiming to combat crime involving homelessness throughout the country, with cities such as Las Vegas seeing a crisis surrounding encampments overtaking communities and crippling the local area.Sin City has seen an uptick in homelessness throughout the community, with a 20% increase within Clark County in 2024, according to themost recent data from theSouthern Nevada Homeless Continuum of Care."It's progressively gotten worse and worse and worse," Robert Marbut, the former federal homelessness czar under Trumps first administration, told Fox News Digital. "And there was sort of an idea that they tried a lot of gimmicks in the beginning."INTERIOR DEPARTMENT ADOPTS NO-TOLERANCE POLICY FOR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN WASHINGTON, DCThe increase comes as Clark County officials are looking to combat homelessness, but have reportedly hit roadblocks while acknowledging the city possesses the funding, yet lacks a concrete plan."I mean, we have the resources but we do not have a specific plan," Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom said,according to News 3 Las Vegas."We have lots of resources. But we are not proactive, we really respond. So, unless somebody calls and tells us what is going on, a lot of times we have so much going on in the county that we do not have the ability to be there."Segerblom did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.TOP TRUMP OFFICIAL VOWS TO END 'CYCLE OF GOVERNMENT DEPENDENCY' IN HOMELESS CRACKDOWNThe concept of a city having resources, but no concrete way of executing an effective plan, is not new, according to Marbut."I only lost one project [in two decades] because of money," Marbut told Fox News Digital. "Every other city that decides not to do something, its the lack of political will of the leadership."Marbut pointed to two key groups within the citys homeless population serving as the cause of concern for local officials: individuals who remain unhoused on the streets, and those who are often in and out of hospitals."They'll move from the street to jail, to the emergency room, back to the street, under a river, into a rescue mission, back to the street, back to jail," Marbut said."And that group has a lot of people trying to say, We just need more housing, we need affordable housing. This is a group [that], even with affordable housing, can't keep their house."WATCH: DC HOMELESS WEIGH IN ON TRUMP CLEANING UP CITY STREETSThe issue of maintaining a rental is reflected in the numbers, with Clark County accounting for over 26,000 evictions since the start of this year,according to data from Eviction Lab. The county currently has about 371,000 rental households, the organization reported.Marbut looked to his own experience addressing homelessness throughout the area within the last four years."They were saying, We just want to keep building more affordable housing and we want to keep giving away free housing to people who are experiencing homelessness," Marbut said. "But it didn't work."TRUMP VOWS TO MAKE DC 'SAFER' AND 'BEAUTIFUL' AS CAPITAL BATTLES CRIME AND HOMELESSNESSAccording to Marbut, street-level homelessness within Las Vegas continues to rise on an annual basis, with local leaders putting the bulk of their efforts into combating the crisis within the citys highly-trafficked tourism areas."They are putting money into the street-level because of their self-interest," Marbut said. "That's what's motivating them, and if that's what it takes to get funding to fund a good model OK, go for it."The city reportedly pivoted to offering vouchers for free food and housing in past attempts to fight homelessness an attempt that Marbut believes proved futile.HOMELESS PEOPLE CAN BE REMOVED FROM STREETS BY CITIES, STATES IN NEW TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER"Clark County and Las Vegas kept doubling down on a program that wouldn't work," Marbut said. "They kept doubling down, they kept putting more money in. They kept, from my understanding, counting on the federal government money and some of their local money there was somewhere between two and a half to four times more funding, depending on how you measure it, and it didn't make a dent. In fact, homelessness went up. And sometimes when you have a bad program and you fund it with more money, it actually makes things worse."The issue has been exasperated in recent weeks, with a local neighborhood on edge after a previously removed homeless encampment located in an empty parking lot across the street reportedly returned within days."Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas," a neighbor living at Casa Bonita Apartments said, according to KLAS. "We are filled with trash, garbage and homeless people sleeping in the streets. Were so fabulous. Honestly, it wouldnt hurt the state to fix this problem."TRUMP VOWS TO MAKE DC 'SAFER' AND 'BEAUTIFUL' AS CAPITAL BATTLES CRIME AND HOMELESSNESSThe apartment complexs tenants are reportedly fed up with the encampment, pointing to instances of fires being lit, trash being left out and even confrontations between homeless individuals and residents."There was a dumpster fire at 3 a.m," Briana Talbot, property manager for Casa Bonita Apartments, told the outlet. "Someone was walking through the parking lot, lit something on fire in the trash and the whole dumpster caught on fire."Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley and Talbot did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.In light of the crisis sweeping the nation, Trump issued an executive order titled "Ending Crime and Disorder on Americas Streets," in an effort to cut down on instances of violence involving homeless individuals.SANTA MONICA BUSINESS OWNER OFFERING ONE-WAY FLIGHTS TO GET HOMELESS OUT OF CALIFORNIA"Shifting homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment will restore public order," the order states.The order authorizes the federal government to work with local and state offices throughout the country to implement treatment for homeless individuals, while targeting specific issues such as squatting and illegal drug use within communities.Trumps administration is also looking to ensure federal funding does not enable "safe consumption" policies, which allow homeless individuals to consume illegal drugs while supervised.The move is celebrated by Marbut, who believes it is a step in the right direction toward a federal policy on combating and treating homelessness."What the president's order and I applaud him for doing this is saying, we're going to take a zero-tolerance approach to encampments," Marbut said."So what the executive order is trying to do is stop these encampments under bridges, rivers, out in the open, downtown, back alleys, and get people in the real world. Real programs that really work and not doing gimmicks."

A Los Angeles City Council member raged against Home Depot on Friday, accusing the hardware store chain of being "complicit" with raids on illegal immigrants and vowing to oppose the opening of a new location."Take your orange aprons somewhere else. Home Depot has no place in Eagle Rock," Councilmember Ysabel Jurado fumed on Instagram.Home Depot is planning to open a new superstore in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Eagle Rock, according to documents filed with the LA city planning department. The project would demolish a defunct Macys department store in Eagle Rock Plaza to make way for the new Home Depot location.MAN STRUCK, KILLED ON FREEWAY WHILE FLEEING IMMIGRATION AGENTS DURING HOME DEPOT RAIDJurado claimed that the hardware store chain was "complicit" with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids at their locations due to the companys refusal to speak out against them. She cited an ICE raid that occurred at a Home Depot location in the LA town of Westlake on Thursday, and claimed it was the fourth such raid to occur at that location since June."These raids are part of a disturbing pattern across Los Angeles, with ICE repeatedly targeting Home Depot parking lots common gathering spots for day laborers without judicial warrants, in clear violations of peoples rights. And yet, Home Depot has remained silent," Jurado wrote.Surveillance video posted by the Los Angeles Times reportedly shows the Thursday raid. The video shows a black van pull up to street vendors across from the Home Depot. As what appears to be rifle-brandishing federal agents dressed in tactical gear emerge from the van, numerous street vendors attempt to flee the scene. The agents pursue them on foot and deploy what appears to be tear gas. The raid saw at least 15 people arrested, the LA Times reported.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREThe Westlake Home Depot location was the site of "Operation Trojan Horse," which saw federal agents emerge from a Penske truck and more than a dozen alleged illegal immigrants arrested Wednesday, Aug. 6. The raid came just days after a federal appeals court upheld a temporary restraining order against indiscriminate immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and other areas of California.President Donald Trump deployed nearly 5,000 troops to Los Angeles in June after massive anti-ICE riots broke out in the city. Over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines were sent to quell the chaotic uprising, which saw vehicles and American flags set ablaze, and law enforcement pelted with heavy objects."When your name becomes associated with terror, and you refuse to speak, you become complicit. Home Depot has chosen power and profit over the working people who sustain it," Jurado wrote.Home Depot told Fox News Digital that the company isn't notified of ICE activities."We arent notified that ICE activities are going to happen, and were not requesting them. In many cases, we don't know that arrests have taken place until after they're over. Were required to follow all federal and local rules and regulations in every market where we operate," a Home Depot representative said.Jurado, a former tenants rights attorney who represents Los Angeles District 14, which includes downtown LA, is herself the daughter of "undocumented Filipino immigrants," according to her city council bio. She vowed to oppose the construction of the new Home Depot, claiming it would bring "violence" to her community."I unequivocally oppose Home Depot coming to Eagle Rock Plaza, a mall that has been a gathering place for the Filipino community in Los Angeles. I will not allow violence to take root in our neighborhoods. Our communities deserve safety, dignity, and businesses that fight for the people, not against them," Jurado wrote.Jurado and DHS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the bipartisan National Governors Association (NGA) is focused on reigniting the American Dream, NGA Chair Gov. Kevin Stitt, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview."I've lived the American Dream," the Oklahoma governor said, explaining that Democratic and Republican governors "can all agree that we want to teach the next generation that America is exceptional, and that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to."During the NGA's summer meeting in Colorado Springs, Stitt announced his marquee initiative as the incoming chair, focusing on the economy, education and investing in artificial intelligence."There's no such thing as equal outcomes, but we want equal opportunities to go chase your dreams through hard work, through entrepreneurship and free markets," Stitt explained.DEMOCRATIC PARTY TENSIONS SEEP INTO BIPARTISAN GROUP AS GOVERNORS RESISTING TRUMP'S AGENDA RECONSIDER DUESThe NGA hosted Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier this summer in Colorado Springs.INCOMING NGA CHAIR 'DISAPPOINTED' IN DEM GOVERNORS 'PLAYING POLITICS' IN BIPARTISAN GROUPStitt said he hopes to feature more speakers at NGA events who embody the American Dream, mentioning Vice President JD Vance, former President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as potential guests.NGA Vice Chair Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., shared his own American Dream story during the NGA's summer meeting, telling the crowd that the "American Dream is never a singular dream.""Its a continuation," Moore said. "Its a dream that was born generations ago. Its a dream that was borne by people who, even if they did not know us, they fought for the hope of us. The United States is the most unique experiment in the history of the world. Period. Full stop."Stitt said his own story reflects the American Dream, telling Fox News Digital that he grew his nationwide company from just "$1,000 and a computer" before being elected governor in 2018.The Oklahoma governor is term-limited this year. When asked about his legacy, Stitt said he is proud to have accomplished "education freedom" and becoming a top-10 state where people are moving."We were having teacher walkouts, we were having billion-dollar budget deficits, we had no money in savings, and we had this kind of second-class feel as a state," Stitt said of his home state before he took office. "I'm a fourth-generation Oklahoman, and we weren't doing as well as we could have, and I wanted to bring this bravado."Looking ahead to next year, Stitt said he is monitoring the gubernatorial race closely as several candidates have already declared their candidacies."Behind the scenes, I'm certainly going to let Oklahomans know who I think is the best one to replace me, but if we can get a couple of good businessman governors and people that are focused on the next generation, not the next election, we can absolutely keep this momentum in Oklahoma going, and we can continue to be a top-10 state," Stitt said.As for his own political future, Stitt said he plans to return to his company as "our Founding Fathers envisioned," adding that "politics shouldn't necessarily be a profession where to climb the ladder.""When I told Oklahomans, I came from the business world and I said, I'm always going to focus on the next generation, not the next election," Stitt concluded. "That's why Oklahomans are starting to thrive, because we're not making political decisions, we're making the right decisions for the citizens of Oklahoma."

Americans have been rethinking the role that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) play in their diets, especially those aiming to drop some pounds.Recent research found that overweight adults who cut out UPFs from their daily eating habits lost nearly twice as much weight as those who did not, according to a study published in Nature Medicine, as reported earlier by Fox News Digital. The study lasted two months.UPFs go through multiple industrial processes. They usually contain additives such as preservatives and flavorings.RESTAURANT CONSULTANTS REVEAL WHAT CUSTOMERS SHOULD NEVER DO WHEN DINING OUTThey're not just candy bars, either. Foods fortified with nutrients and vitamins, for example, are also considered UPFs.For those looking to slim down and for anyone aiming for a healthier lifestyle overall, here's a clear look at pervasive UPFs in everyday eating and how to make the wisest meal choices. Fox News Digital consulted the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, Yale Medicine, GoodRx and other medical sources.Some of the most obvious breakfast UPFs include sugary cereals and toaster pastries.Breakfast sandwiches both frozen and bought from fast-food chains are also ultra-processed.MAJORITY OF AMERICANS GET MORE THAN HALF OF CALORIES FROM ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS, CDC FINDSFlavored oatmeal, a popular health food, is another UPF. If you're willing to prep the night before, this can be replaced by overnight oats.The bread you toast might be considered a UPF as well.Check the ingredients for corn syrup, preservatives and other additives. Mass-produced cinnamon raisin bread, for example, falls into the ultra-processed category.Any lunch that is frozen, packaged or has a long shelf life is likely a UPF.That includes frozen meals even those relatively low-calorie or marketed to aid in weight loss.Dr. Dariusz Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University in Boston, said UPFs can sometimes be difficult to spot.MEDICAL EXPERTS WARN 'BIG FOOD' IS FIGHTING BACK AGAINST OZEMPIC WITH ADDICTIVE ITEMS FOR SALE"The simplest practical approach is to look for ingredients that wouldn't usually be used in a home kitchen,"he said.Even prepackaged sandwiches from grocery stores are likely made with ultra-processed ingredients.Most cold cuts even diet staples like turkey are UPFs. Cheese is typically not, although shredded cheese with flavorings, American cheese and cheese sauces are considered ultra-processed.Mozaffarian recommended consuming fewer UPFs and eating more minimally processed foods.THE WORST FOODS TO BUY IN THE SUPERMARKET AND THE BETTER CHOICES INSTEAD"That's going to go a long way toward a healthier diet," he said.If you're making pasta for dinner, check your store-bought sauce jars for ingredients. If they contain high-fructose corn syrup or flavor enhancers like yeast extract, they're likely ultra-processed.Boxed dinner kits are another culprit. You might be using real meat in your meal, but cooking it with additive-filled taco seasoning introduces UPF ingredients.Your go-to hamburger or hot dog buns are also likely UPFs, along with meats including frozen meatballs, chicken nuggets, hot dogs and most sausages.You might naturally reach for some ultra-processed alternatives between meals.DIABETES RISK LINKED TO THESE FOOD COMBINATIONSRice cakes may be found in the health foods section of a grocery store, but they're considered UPFs since an industrial process is required to create the puffed rice.Butter-flavored microwave popcorn can also be in this category, along with pretzels.Granola bars are almost all UPFs, along with protein bars, veggie chips and flavored yogurt cups.Carrie Lupoli, a Connecticut-based nutritionist, confirmed that the above foods are generally UPFs.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"The key is to be an informed consumer and choose convenient options made from real food, without all the extras that can harm our health," Lupoli told Fox News Digital.Dr. Omer Awan, a physician at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, said that most UPFs are high in saturated fats, sugars and salt.The healthier ones, however such as protein bars and instant oatmeal are not always bad for weight loss, he indicated."These particular foods do have some nutritional value in that they have protein and fiber," he said.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleEating protein and fiber is key to weight loss. So if you simply can't give up certain UPFs, stick to the better ones, Awan said."If [eating] these foods will help someone avoid fast foods or late-night snacking, then they can very well help promote weight loss," he said. He cautioned, though, that "thekey is to have a balanced diet."Awan said consumers need to exercise care."A diet high in UPFs will result in overeating and weight gain, but eating these foods occasionallywon't necessarily result in harm."

A European Commission spokeswoman accused the Russian government of jamming the GPS systems of a plane carrying President Ursula von der Leyen while flying over Bulgaria on Monday.European Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podest confirmed that von der Leyen's plane landed safely in Plovdiv airport. The European leader is currently on a tour of the European Unions nations bordering Russia and Belarus."We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming," Podest said. "We have received information from the Bulgarian authority that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia.""This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the president is carrying out in the front-line member states," she added.RUSSIA LAUNCHES LARGEST ATTACK ON UKRAINE THIS MONTH FOLLOWING TRUMP'S MEETINGS WITH PUTIN, ZELENSKYY"And, of course, the EU will continue to invest into defense spending and in Europe's readiness even more after this incident," she said.Von der Leyen and other European leaders have been skeptical of President Donald Trump's efforts to work with Russian President Vladimir Putin toward peace in Ukraine. She visited the White House alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in August, announcing at the time a new wave of sanctions against Moscow.RUSSIA BOMBARDS UKRAINE HOURS BEFORE KEY MEETING ON TRUMP NATO WEAPONS DEALThe incident comes just days after White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Ukrainian officials in New York City on Friday as they continue to push for a peace agreement.Witkoff met with Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraines office of the president and chief of staff, and Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's ambassador extraordinary.The meeting, according to Trump administration officials, was a status update and a reaffirmation of the goal of getting both Ukraine and Russia to meet to ultimately reach an agreement to end the war.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held warm meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, sending Washington a clear message after President Donald Trump's heavy tariffs against India went into effect last week.Xi hosted Modi, Putin and other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the port city of Tianjin. China has long sought to build up the group in a challenge to U.S. and NATO dominance. Modi was pictured having friendly exchanges with both leaders, and he emphasized that India sees itself as a "partner" of China's rather than a "rival."Modi's trip was his first time visiting China in seven years. He also took a ride in Putin's presidential limo, echoing Putin's own visit with Trump in Alaska last month. The two leaders held a separate bilateral meeting after the summit."Conversations with him are always insightful," Modi wrote on X, posting a picture of himself with Putin.TRUMPS DEADLINE ON SECONDARY TARIFFS ARRIVES; US-RUSSIAN RELATIONS HANG IN THE BALANCEPutin in turn called Modi his "dear friend" and expressed gratitude that India and Russia share "friendly and trusting" relations.While Modi never criticized Trump or the U.S. outright, his warming up to U.S. adversaries is a clear rebuke amid India's tariff strife with Trump. The U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods beginning last week. Xi also stopped short of naming Washington, but condemned "bullying behavior" by countries during his summit address.Trump appeared to receive the message on Monday, reacting to the trio's meeting in a post on social media. He argued India had much more to lose in an economic standoff with the U.S.TRUMP AND PUTINS RELATIONSHIP TURNS SOUR AS PRESIDENT PUSHES FOR RESOLUTION WITH UKRAINE"What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us," Trump wrote, adding that the U.S. is India's "biggest client.""They have offered to cut their tariffs to nothing, but it's getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!" he continued.INDIAN PRIME MINISTER MODI TAKES PAGE FROM TRUMP, SAYS 'MAKE INDIA GREAT AGAIN,' OR 'MIGA'Modi's visits with Putin and Xi are only the latest sign of cooling relations between Washington and New Delhi, however. Indias national security adviser traveled to Moscow last month, its foreign minister visited last week and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded talks in Delhi in mid-August. Putin is also expected to host Modi in Moscow before the end of the year.Fox News' Morgan Phillips contributed to this report

Homeland Security (DHS)Secretary Kristi Noemon Sunday accused CBS News of editing her interview to "whitewash the truth" about an alleged MS-13 gang member, but the Tiffany Network says it was simply cut for time and meets all network standards."Face the Nation" host Ed O'Keefe asked Noem why the Trump administration was working to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia instead of forcing him to face charges in the United States. She took to social media after her segment aired to blast the network."I joined CBS to report the facts about Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Instead, CBS shamefully edited the interview to whitewash the truth about this MS-13 gang member and the threat he poses to American public safety," Noem wrote alongside video clips to back her point.NOEM HITS BACK AT FEMA CRITICS, REVEALS VISION FOR DISASTER RELIEF AGENCYIn the clip that aired on television, Noem said, "Prosecution decisions are always made by the Department of Justice and Pam Bondis department, so we will let them do that, although this individual does have criminal charges pending. He has charges pending against him civilly as well. And the one thing that we will continue to do is to make sure that he doesnt walk free in the United States of America."The on-air portion edited out the rest of her answer and went to O'Keefe's next question about whether the government would still seek to deport him to Uganda.Noem posted a video of her "uncut response" that was not shown on the air. However, the whole interview is available on the show's YouTube page."This individual was a known human smuggler, an MS-13 gang member, and an individual who is a wife beater, and someone who is so perverted that he solicited nude photos from minors and even his fellow human traffickers told him to knock it off. He was so sick in what he was doing and how he was treating small children. So, he needs to never be in the United States of America, and our administration is making sure were doing all that we can," Noem said.CBS insists the process met the network's standards."Secretary Noems 'Face The Nation' interview was edited for time and met all CBS News standards. The entire interview is publicly available onYouTube, and the full transcript was posted earlier this morningon CBSNews.com," a CBS News spokesperson told Fox News Digital.ABREGO GARCIA'S LAWYERS ASK JUDGE FOR GAG ORDER AGAINST TRUMP OFFICIALSAbrego Garcia's lawyers asked a federal judge inTennesseeon Thursday to prohibit top Trump administration officials from making remarks about their client that could bias the jury against him.His defense team said that administration officials have repeatedly accused Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national facing human smuggling charges, of being a criminal gang member and made other negative claims about him that pose a "substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing this proceeding."The attorneys pointed to numerous recent instances, including Noem calling Abrego Garcia an "MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator."Abrego Garcia was erroneously deported by the Trump administration to a prison in El Salvador in March. The government claimed for nearly two months in combative hearings and court papers that it could not return him, despite an order from the Supreme Court to attempt to do so.The Salvadoran migrant entered the country illegally more than a decade ago, but an immigration judge previously barred the government from sending him back to El Salvador, citing his fears of persecution if he were sent there.In a surprise move in June, the DOJ returned Abrego Garcia to the United States and brought an indictment against him for two counts of conspiring to transport illegal immigrants within the country.He was released from jail last week while he awaits trial, but immigration authorities promptly re-detained him in Maryland, fulfilling fears previously expressed in court by Abrego Garcia and his lawyers. He has denied all the allegations against him.Noems claims are not the first time CBS has faced accusations of editing critical rhetoric out of an answer.Paramount Global and CBS settled President Donald Trumps "election interference" lawsuit in July after he accused CBS News of deceitful editing.PARAMOUNT, CBS FORCED TO PAY EIGHT FIGURES, CHANGE EDITORIAL POLICY IN SETTLEMENT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMPTrump was seeking $20 billion in his lawsuit against CBS over its handling of a "60 Minutes" interview last year with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing the network of election interference leading up to the 2024 contest.The lawsuit alleged CBS News deceitfully edited an exchange Harris had with "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker, who asked her why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't "listening" to the Biden administration.Harris was widely mockedfor the "word salad" answer that aired in a preview clip of the interview on "Face the Nation."However, when the same question aired during a primetime special on the network, Harris had a different, more concise response. Critics at the time accused CBS News of deceitfully editingHarris' answerto shield the Democratic nominee from backlash leading up to Election Day.Trump agreed to receive $16 million upfront to cover legal fees, costs of the case, and contributions to his future presidential library or charitable causes. The president has said another allocation in the eight figures has been set aside for advertisements, public service announcements, or other similar transmissions, in support of conservative causes by the network in the future.Fox News Digitals Ashley Oliver contributed to this report.