FIRST ON FOX: Eric Flores, an Army veteran and former federal prosecutor, on Monday launched a Republican campaign for Congress in a key battleground House district at the southern tip of Texas."We need fewer politicians and more fighters who will put our communities first," Flores said in a video that was shared first with Fox News Digital.He pledged that "in Congress, I'll stand with President Trump, fight and deliver for South Texas every single day."Flores is running in Texas' 34th Congressional District, which stretches along the Gulf Coast from just south of Corpus Christi to the border with Mexico. It includes Brownsville and stretches westward to include parts of McAllen.SCOOP: HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN ARM AIMS TO ANCHOR MAMDANI TO VULNERABLE DEMOCRATSThe district is one of 26 the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is targeting in the 2026 midterm elections, as the House GOP's campaign arm defends the party's razor-thin majority in the chamber.The district appears to be a prime pickup possibility for Republicans, as it's been trending to the right. Former President Joe Biden carried the district by 15 points in the 2020 White House race. Four years later, President Donald Trump won the district by nearly five points.FIRST ON FOX: HOUSE REPUBLICANS LAUNCH AD PROMOTING PASSAGE OF BIG BEAUTIFUL BILLHowever, Democrats carried the district in last year's Senate election, with now-former Rep. Colin Allred (who is running again for the Senate in 2026) topping Sen. Ted Cruz by six points.Republicans view incumbent Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez as vulnerable. Gonzalez, who's in his fifth term in Congress, defeated former GOP Rep. Mayra Flores in the 2022 and 2024 elections, but his victory in last November's rematch to hold the district was by just 2.5 points.Flores, who has met with NRCC officials, is a Spanish speaker who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley.He was commissioned in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer and rose to the rank of captain. He has served in the Texas Army National Guard and has commanded soldiers during Operation Guardian Support along the U.S. southern border with neighboring Mexico.Flores is also a former assistant U.S. attorney, helping in the prosecutions of cartel-connected and human trafficking operations. His campaign biography also notes that Flores "secured the conviction of one of Texass Top Ten most-wanted fugitives accomplishments recognized with two U.S. Attorneys Awards."Flores, who also served as a municipal judge in Alton, Texas, is currently a partner at a statewide legal firm where he leads the litigation department, defending municipalities and school districts across Texas. He is married and the father of two children."Every day, I see how broken policies hurt our community," Flores said. "Enough is enough. Politicians put themselves first, while the Valley gets left behind."Flores said that "President Trump stood up to the insiders and fought for places like ours: the communities the career politicians always forget. We cannot lose this opportunity. Thats why Im running for Congress. We need bold, principled leadership, and we need it now."While several other Republicans are running in the GOP primary in the district next March, Flores is considered the only major Republican candidate.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday visited the Customs and Border Protection officer who was shot in New York City over the weekend duringan attempted robbery involving a previously-deported illegal immigrant.The off-duty officer was allegedly struck in the face and forearm in Manhattans Riverside Park on Saturday night. Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a Dominican national who was caught by Border Patrol in April 2023, was taken into custody following the shooting while his alleged accomplice remained on the loose Monday."A witness of the attack believed to be an attempted robbery states that she and the victim were sitting on the rocks by the water when 2 subjects on a scooter drove up to them and the passenger got off the back and approached them with a firearm drawn. The off-duty CBP officer responded by withdrawing his own firearm in self-defense," Homeland Security said in a statement. "The CBP officer was shot in his right arm and left cheek. Thankfully, the officer is in stable condition at the hospital," it added.OFF-DUTY CBP OFFICER SHOT DURING ATTEMPTED ROBERY IN NEW YORK CITY: DHSNunez was also injured during the shootout and was shot in the leg and groin. He was dropped off at a hospital in the Bronx, according to authorities."Suspect Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez is a national and citizen of the Dominican Republic. RE ENTERED and RELEASED under Biden on April 4, 2023 the United States Border Patrol apprehended him at/near San Luis, AZ," Noem wrote on X prior to the hospital visit."This criminal has a criminal warrant in Massachusetts for kidnapping and had been charged with a series of offenses," she added.NOEM WARNS OF UNPRECEDENTED THREAT LEVEL FOR ICE AGENTS, BLAMES 'LIES' FROM DEMOCRATSAfter being apprehended at the Arizona border, Nunez was released into the U.S., though he still has an active deportation order.New York City Mayor Eric Adams described Nunez as a "21-year-old male has prior arrests for assault and violating an order protection." At the time of this shooting, he had an active bench warrant from the Bronx, was wanted for a robbery from last December, and [a] stabbing from January," Adams also said. "He has inflicted violence in our city and once he is charged for last night's crimes, we will be able to add attempted murder to his rap sheet," the mayor added.President Donald Trump weighed in on the shooting Sunday afternoon, writing that "an incredible CBP Officer was shot in the face by an Illegal Alien Monster freed into the Country under Joe Biden.""The CBP Officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage," Trump wrote.Fox News Bill Melugin and Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.

Police in New York City responded after a campaign office for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was vandalized with a painted anti-Israel slogan this weekend.The slogan, written in red paint, read "AOC funds genocide in Gaza." The vandals had also spread the paint all over the entrance to the campaign office before police arrived at roughly 1 a.m. Monday.The incident came just days after Ocasio-Cortez voted against legislation from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., that would have cut funding for the Israeli Defense Forces.The lawmaker, who has been vocally critical of Israel's war in Gaza, said she voted against the bill because it only cut funding for the defensive "Iron Dome" and did nothing to cut off the "actual bombs killing Palestinians."POPE, STATE DEPARTMENT CONDEMN LATEST MASSACRE OF CHRISTIANS BY ISLAMIST MILITANTS IN NIGERIAGreene's legislation would have cut off roughly $500 million in funding for Israel. Her proposed amendment, which failed on Thursday, came after Israeli Defense Forces bombed the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza."Israel bombed the Catholic Church in Gaza, and that entire population is being wiped out as they continue their aggressive war in Gaza," Greene said."My amendment would strike $500 million in funding for nuclear-armed Israel's missile defence system. The U.S. already provides Israel with $3.8 billion annually in foreign aid. 3.8 billion. That's a lot of money," she continued."Here in America, we're $37 trillion in debt. My amendment will ensure an America First department of defense, and that is exactly what we need," she added.ISRAEL, HAMAS TALKS DRAG AS AID GROUP CHAIR TELLS UN TO STOP ACTING LIKE THE MAFIAVoting alongside Greene on the amendment were Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., members of the progressive so-called "squad" to which Ocasio-Cortez also belongs.Pope Leo XIV expressed sadness and called for a ceasefire after the strike on the church, which is the only Catholic church in Gaza.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said in a statement that "stray ammunition" hit the church."His Holiness Pope Leo XIV was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, and he assures the parish priest, Father Gabriele Romanelli, and the whole parish community of his spiritual closeness," read a telegram sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on behalf of the pope.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is getting broadsided from her left over her vote on an amendment aimed at blocking U.S. funding for Israel's Iron Dome.The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are criticizing the progressive firebrand for voting against an amendment by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to block $500 million in Congress' annual defense spending bill that was aimed at helping fund Israeli missile defense systems."An arms embargo means keeping all arms out of the hands of a genocidal military, no exceptions. This is why we oppose Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez[s] vote against an amendment that would have blocked $500 million in funding for the Israeli militarys Iron Dome program," the DSA said over the weekend.The DSA noted she did vote against the defense funding bill itself, thereby "voting against funding for the imperialist military-industrial complex and the Israeli genocide."FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE 'NEVER HAD A CONCERN' ABOUT BIDEN'S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UPThe group added, however, "We were further deeply disappointed by her clarifying statement on her position on the Iron Dome.""Along with other US-funded interceptor systems, the Iron Dome has emboldened Israel to invade or bomb no less than five different countries in the past two years," the DSA said."The fact that Representative Ocasio-Cortez acknowledges that Israel is carrying out this genocide makes her support for military aid all the more disappointing and incongruous. We urge the representative to continue voting against the Iron Dome, whether it is part of a larger defense spending bill or as a stand-alone bill."The DSA commended Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Summer Lee, D-Pa., and Al Green, D-Texas, for voting against the amendment.Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's campaign and congressional office for comment.148 DEMOCRATS BACK NONCITIZEN VOTING IN DC AS GOP RAISES ALARM ABOUT FOREIGN AGENTSShe posted on X after the vote, "Marjorie Taylor Greenes amendment does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza. Of course I voted against it.""What it does do is cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue. I have long stated that I do not believe that adding to the death count of innocent victims to this war is constructive to its end," she said."That is a simple and clear difference of opinion that has long been established. I remain focused on cutting the flow of US munitions that are being used to perpetuate the genocide in Gaza."The clash exemplifies how Israel continues to drive an ideological wedge within the Democratic Party.It's not the first time Ocasio-Cortez caught heat from the progressive base for failing to take a critical enough stance on Israel.In 2021, the New York Democrat cried on the House floor after voting "present" on funding Israel's Iron Dome defense system."Yes, I wept," she wrote in an open letter to constituents after the incident. "I wept at the complete lack of care for the human beings that are impacted by these decisions. I wept at an institution choosing a path of maximum volatility and minimum consideration for its own political convenience."The overall bill that passed last week calls for $832 billion in defense funding for fiscal year 2026.That's separate from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), another annual bill that sets defense and national security policy each fiscal year essentially detailing how those funds will be spent.Greene's amendment to strip $500 billion going toward Israeli missile defense programs lost in a lopsided 6-422 vote.

In the 2026 battle for control of the House of Representatives, when Republicans will be defending their razor-thin majority in next year's midterm elections, it seems nothing's out of bounds.The GOP-controlled state legislature in Texas meets in special session starting Monday, and one of the key items on their agenda is the push by Republicans in the red state to redraw the current congressional maps to reduce the number of districts controlled by already marginalized Democrats.It's part of a broader effort by the GOP across the country to keep control of the chamber, and cushion losses elsewhere in the country, as the party in power traditionally faces political headwinds and loses seats.And President Donald Trump is aiming to prevent what happened during his first term, when Democrats stormed back to grab the House majority in the 2018 midterms.RNC CHAIR SAYS BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL KEY PART OF MIDTERM MESSAGING"Texas will be the biggest one," the president told reporters last week, as he predicted the number of GOP-friendly seats that could be added through redistricting in the Lone Star State. "Just a simple redrawing, we pick up five seats."Hours earlier, Trump held a call with Texas' Republican congressional delegation and sources confirmed to Fox News that the president told the lawmakers that he was aiming to redraw the maps to create five new winnable seats.BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IMMEDIATELY HITS CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN MIDTERMS BATTLEDemocrats control just 12 of the state's 38 congressional districts, with a blue-leaning seat vacant after the death in March of Rep. Sylvester Turner.The idea is to relocate Democratic voters from competitive seats into nearby GOP-leaning districts, and move Republican voters into neighboring districts the Democrats currently control.Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, both conservative Republicans and Trump allies, said they needed to redistrict because of constitutional concerns raised by the Justice Department over a handful of minority-dominated districts.But the move is potentially risky."There is some risk of making safe Republican seats more competitive, and I think that the incumbents are certainly worried about that," veteran Texas-based Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser told Fox News. "If you talk to Republican members of Congress, they're going to be worried about their own seats. They don't want to be in a seat that's more competitive."Steinhauser noted "that's the tradeoff for Republicans, if you want to grow the majority."But he added that "the people drawing the maps they don't want to make any seat too competitive because that will defeat the purpose."Redistricting typically takes place at the start of each decade, based on the latest U.S. Census data. Mid-decade redistricting is uncommon but not without precedent.Democrats are slamming Trump and Texas Republicans for what they describe as a power grab, and vowing to take legal action to prevent any shift in the current congressional maps."Democrats are going to push back aggressively because its the right thing to do," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters last week.Democrats in blue-dominated states are now considering similar tactics."Two can play this game," California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on social media last week.COURT SIDETRACKS REDISTRICTING FIGHT IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATEThe next day, after a meeting, Democrats in California's congressional delegation said they were on board with an ambitious plan to try and gain at least five seats through redistricting. Democrats currently control 43 of the Golden State's 52 congressional districts.But it won't be easy to enact the change, because in California, congressional maps are drawn by an independent commission that is not supposed to let partisanship influence their work.Newsom this week suggested that the state's Democratic-controlled legislature move forward with a mid-decade redrawing of the maps, arguing that it might not be forbidden by the 17-year-old ballot initiative that created the independent commission.The governor also proposed quickly holding a special election to repeal the commission ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.Both plans are considered long shots, as they would face plenty of legislative, legal and financial hurdles.Democrats are also hoping to alter congressional maps in battleground Wisconsin, but the new liberal majority on the state Supreme Court recently declined to hear the case. Democrats and their allies are now in the midst of a second legal push for redistricting in Wisconsin.Democrats have also filed redistricting litigation in Utah and Florida, which are both red states.Meanwhile, Ohio is required by law to redistrict this year, and a redrawing of the maps in the red-leaning state could provide the GOP with up to three more congressional seats.

Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., has announced that it will no longer provide gender transition-related medical interventions.The web page for the hospital's "Gender Development Program" displays a message for existing and new patients announcing the change, which will go into effect Aug. 30."In light of escalating legal and regulatory risks to Childrens National, our providers, and the families we serve, we will be discontinuing the prescription of gender-affirming medications," the message says. "Mental health and other support services for LGBT patients remain available. You are always welcome at Childrens National for your other medical needs.""We know this change will have a significant impact on affected patients, families and staff. Our care teams are working directly with families of current patients to support them," it adds, urging people with questions to contact the hospital directly.The announcement comes after the Justice Department on July 9 sent more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in performing transgender medical procedures on children.GENDER-AFFIRMING TREATMENTS DONT BENEFIT YOUTH, SAYS PEDIATRICIANS GROUP: IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCESThe Trump administration said DOJ investigations include healthcare fraud, false statements and more."Medical professionals and organizations that mutilated children in the service of a warped ideology will be held accountable by this Department of Justice," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement at the time.It was not immediately clear if Children's National received a subpoena.Reached for comment by Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Children's National Hospital did not address the DOJ probes and provided a statement similar to the one already posted on its website, citing "escalating legal and regulatory risks.""LGBT patients are always welcome at Childrens National for other medical needs and treatment," the spokesperson said.In late January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled, "Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," which directed federal agencies to slash Medicare, Medicaid and other federal funding from providers offering so-called "genderaffirming care" to patients under the age of 19. A federal judge in February issued a nationwide temporary restraining order, blocking the order while litigation filed by LGBTQ advocacy groups proceeds.Childrens National Hospital was among several hospitals that paused prescriptions, refills and medication to minors as a result of Trump's order but later resumed such transgender services after the court intervened, according to The Washington Post.Since Friday's announcement that the hospital would stop providing gender-transition services to children on Aug. 30, the Post obtained a message sent out to impacted families saying Children's National teams "are available to assist you as you move forward" but will no longer evaluate patients for medication or monitor medications through labs such as blood work.According to Trump's executive order, "Across the country today, medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a child's sex through a series of irreversible medical interventions. This dangerous trend will be a stain on our Nation's history, and it must end."The order claims, "countless children soon regret that they have been mutilated and begin to grasp the horrifying tragedy that they will never be able to conceive children of their own or nurture their children through breastfeeding," and, moreover, "these vulnerable youths' medical bills may rise throughout their lifetimes, as they are often trapped with lifelong medical complications, a losing war with their own bodies, and, tragically, sterilization."TRANS CHILDREN WHO TOOK PUBERTY-BLOCKING DRUGS HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, UK STUDY FOUNDIt adds that the U.S. "will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called transition of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures."Ben Takai, the board president of Metro DC PFLAG, which is involved in the lawsuit challenging Trump's order, told the Post the change at Children's National was sad, adding that "there are many ways to bully minority populations."Children's National asserts on its gender development program's web page that "some young people feel, sense or know they are a gender different than the one they were assumed at birth.""They may live and dress in ways typical of another gender (gender non-conformity), and some may experience the need to live and be affirmed as this gender in some or all settings," the hospital says. "This can be an urgent need, or for others, there may be experimentation and exploration. There are also some young people who show gender non-conformity in their everyday behaviors, but may not yet have the self-advocacy skills to discuss their gender identity and their gender-related needs."The hospital website says parental consent is required to provide "gender-affirming medical care" to a minor in the District of Columbia. The hospital also says it does not provide "gender-affirming surgery" for anyone under the age of 18 and does not provide hormone therapy to children before puberty begins.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in May released a report framing gender transition treatments for minors as risky and insufficiently studied. To treat pediatric gender dysphoria, it recommends replacing most medical interventions with "exploratory therapy." The report says that the "gender-affirming" model of care "includes irreversible endocrine and surgical interventions on minors with no physical pathology.""These interventions carry risk of significant harms including infertility/sterility, sexual dysfunction, impaired bone density accrual, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret," according to HHS. "Meanwhile, systematic reviews of the evidence have revealed deep uncertainty about the purported benefits of these interventions."The report notes that the United Kingdom in December 2024 indefinitely banned puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria. Meanwhile, amid pressure from the Trump administration, the Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, considered the largest public provider of "gender-affirming care" for children and teens in the U.S., announced earlier this month that it was closing by July 22.

NPR CEO Katherine Maher expressed "deep frustration" in a new interview upon seeing the passage of the Trump administrations rescissions package that pulled her organization's federal funding, but she vowed NPR would continue to operate.Republicans in the Senate and Housenarrowly passed the rescissionspackage last week that yanked over $1 billion in federal broadcast funding for the fiscal year."Throughout this process, the political rhetoric has been about punishing NPR (and PBS) for editorial and programming decisions. But the reality is that NPR receives less than half of one percent of all federal funds for public broadcasting. More than 70% goes directly to local stations," Maher told Status.RURAL NPR STATIONS DISAPPOINTED, DETERMINED TO SURVIVE AFTER RESCISSION PACKAGE ELIMINATES FEDERAL FUNDING"Meanwhile, lawmakers from both parties continuously acknowledgein public and privatehow important their local stations are to their constituents. In this sense, its a bit likeCongressitself," she continued. "The institution may have low approval ratings, but people generally approve of their local representatives. This eviscerates funding for those independent, community-based stations. And for what purpose? Scoring political points by saying you voted against NPR and PBS."Maher admitted the cuts are a "big hit" for NPR, and local member stations in rural areas will be rocked."I expect youll see nearly immediate loss of universal coverage in hard-to-reach parts of the country, as well as layoffs of journalists covering local and state news," Maher told Status.NPR CEO WARNS STAFF 'TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CHANGE' COMING IF FEDERAL FUNDING YANKED"The loss of funding may make it impossible for local stations in places like ruralAlaskaandAppalachiato continue to operatestations that receive as much as 70% of their budget from federal funds. Stations like these are already pulling shutdown plans out of their desks," Maher added, adding NPR had committed to reduce its operating budget by $8 million.Trump's multibillion-dollar clawback package teed up cuts to "woke" spending on foreign aid programs and NPR and PBS, as Republicans finally yanked federal money from public news outlets in a move advocates said was long overdue.Maher, who has espoused liberal views and preferences in past remarks and social media postings, has repeatedly denied the notion that NPR is "woke" or biased and believes the vote was "about politics and power.""We can have real, substantive policy debates about federal funding for public media. I recognize thats a matter of legitimate political disagreementhow big the government should be, or what the government should and shouldnt fund," Maher told Status.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE"This argument about public media being biased is a stalking horse. We report on soybean farmers and LGBTQ activism. We report on coal miners and eco-warriors," she continued. "Having non-White voices and perspectives on air does not make us woke. Covering the existence of disagreement and difference in our country does not make us biased. It makes us reflective of the complex, diverse nation we serve."Maher said NPR would "take a moment to mourn" and ultimately move forward.Ex-NPR editor Uri Berliner roasted the outlet last year over its biased coverage on such issues as COVID-19, Hunter Biden's laptop and the Russiagate saga. He soon after resigned and joined The Free Press.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis will miss the entire 2025 season as he decided to undergo shoulder surgery that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the year.The Titans made the announcement on Monday with mere days to go before the start of training camp.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"After consulting with doctors and his representatives, Will Levis has decided to undergo shoulder surgery that will sideline him for the entire 2025 season," the team said. "We support his decision to focus on his long-term health."He approached the offseason with professionalism and showed clear growth as a leader. We remain confident in his full recovery."Levis suffered an injury to his right shoulder early last year and re-aggravated it during the 2024 season, ESPN reported. He reportedly has been unable to move past the discomfort hes been dealing with.COWBOYS LINEMAN TYLER SMITH BANGS DRUM ON SUPER BOWL HYPE: 'THAT'S ALWAYS THE EXPECTATION'The Titans selected Levis in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft as Malik Willis failed to live up to expectations and quarterback Ryan Tannehill was on his way out.He played in 21 games between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He has 3,899 passing yards and 21 touchdown passes, but the Titans were 5-16 in his starts.Tennessee obtained the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft and selected quarterback Cam Ward.It may have been a quarterback competition going into camp, but Ward now appears to be the frontrunner to get the nod for Week 1. Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle are currently the other quarterbacks on the roster.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

In a direct response to President Donald Trump's 50-day deadline that he issued to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his latest peace deal push, the U.K. on Monday announced a "50-day drive" to better arm Ukraine.The call to action was issued by U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey during a virtual meeting with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) on Monday, the British Ministry of Defense announced.The Defense Ministry did not immediately answer Fox News Digitals questions about what type of commitments Healey wants to see from allied nations in support of Kyiv.RUSSIA SAYS NATO THREATENS WWIII IN LATEST DETERRENCE PLAN THAT COULD TAKE DOWN KALININGRAD FASTER THAN EVERAt the top of the meeting, the British defense secretary said "[Trump] started the clock on a 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to peace or to face crippling economic sanctions."And as members of this UDCG, we need to step up in turn with a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and to help push Putin to the negotiating table," he added.Healey urged nations to utilize the NATO sales agreement announced by Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte last week to more quickly and efficiently arm Ukraine on the battlefield.RUSSIA THREATENS WEST WITH PREEMPTIVE STRIKES AS NATO LOOKS TO DELIVER PATRIOTS 'AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE'While the U.S.-NATO sales agreement is not an unusual deal as Washington, D.C., for decades has sold its arms to NATO allies, the announcement was significant because it signaled a turning point in the U.S.s continued support for Ukraine, which has remained a question since Trump was re-elected in November."We sell arms to allies all the time and if they want to give them to Ukraine then we authorize an export license, and they then transfer the arms to Ukraine," Mike Ryan, who formally served as deputyassistantsecretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy, told Fox News Digital."So, the significance is that one, the Europeans are stepping up their support for Ukraine. Two, the American taxpayer is getting a break. Three, Europe is buying more American arms [which is] good for the trade deficit, and four, Ukraine is getting the help it needs."The Monday meeting will be the fourth time Healey has chaired the defensive group in support of Kyiv, and the third such event that he has done so alongside German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.A major point of discussion is expected to be the quick transfer of Patriot Battery Missiles for Ukraine five of which Berlin is set to confirm shipment of on Monday following his meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week."Boris and I have agreed to partner in providing critical air defense missiles to Ukraine," Healey said before announcing a near $54 million defensive pledge to Ukraine, and by extension, Europe's security.The announcement is on top of the more than $6 billion in military aid the U.K. has sent Ukraine this year alone."This is a critical moment we meet at a critical time, a time for all allies and partners to share the burden, to support Ukraine, both in the fight now and to secure the peace future," Healey added.

If youre at a Coldplay concert, then yes, you might be featured on the jumbotron.Chris Martin gave concertgoers a cheeky warning during one of the bands latest shows, breaking his silence following the viral Kiss Cam saga involving Astronomer CEO Andy Byron.On Saturday, the group performed at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.COLDPLAY KISS CAM TRIGGERS 'FORMAL INVESTIGATION' INTO ASTRONOMER CEO ANDY BYRON AND HR HEAD KRISTIN CABOT"Wed like to say hello to some of you in the crowd," the 48-year-old said in a video posted onX, which sparked both cheers and laughter from the audience."How were gonna do that is were gonna use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen," said Martin while grinning. "So please, if you havent done your makeup, do your makeup now."The fan who posted the snippet from Saturdays show later wrote on X that "zero couples" were shown on the venues jumbotron.The show marked Coldplay's first Music of the Spheres World Tour performance since the explosive Kiss Cam scandal, which took place on Wednesday, July 16, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.During that performance, Byron appeared on the Kiss Cam with his arms wrapped around a woman, who was later identified as his companys HR chief, Kristin Cabot. The pair were on the big screen during "The Jumbotron Song," where Martin improvises songs about couples in the audience.The woman immediately covered her face and turned away from the camera, while a stunned Byron ducked down and exited the frame. Martin then joked that, "Either theyre having an affair or theyre just very shy."WATCH: COLDPLAY BROUGHT THE COUNTRY AND THE INTERNET TOGETHER WITH THEIR SPOTLIGHT ON AFFAIR COUPLE, SAYS POLITICAL MEDIA ANALYSTThe company put out a statement after the incident, writing on social media, "Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability."WATCH: COLDPLAY'S CHRIS MARTIN CATCHES COUPLE ON KISS CAM, JOKINGLY ASKS IF THEY'RE HAVING AN AFFAIR"The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter, and we will have additional details to share very shortly."In another update on Friday, the company announced Byron had beenplaced on leave and an interim CEO had been appointed. The company later informed followers on Saturday that Byron had resigned from the company."Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted," theX post read in part. "The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO."Fox News Digital confirmed that Cabot and her ex-husband finalized their divorce in 2022, and New Hampshire property records show Kristin and Andrew Cabot purchased a home as a married couple in April 2024. No divorce records were found for Byron, who appears to still be married.When speaking withThe U.S. Sun, Grace Springer, the TikTok user who posted the video of the viral moment, said the moment was a "hot topic" among those at the concert, but that "no one knew who they were" until she posted the video."I had no idea who the couple was," she said. "Just thought I caught an interesting reaction to the Kiss Cam and decided to post it. A part of me feels bad for turning these peoples lives upside down, but play stupid games win stupid prizes."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERLIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSSpringer also added that she hopes "their partners can heal from this" and that "for them, myvideo was a blessing in disguise."