Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. has not been seen in public since a pre-dawn raid of her Washington, D.C. residence last week — but Fox News Digital spotted her daughters descending on the home in recent days.

Isra Hirsi pulled black sedan into the driveway of the home under the cover of darkness Saturday night and stepped out of the vehicle carrying a bag with both hands. She walked directly into the front door of the same home that was swarmed by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents a week prior.

"What's your problem?" Hirsi said to Fox News Digital after getting out of her car.

Just two days later, a young teenage girl believed to be Omar's second daughter also was seen entering the home with a woman that appeared to be her caretaker.

ILHAN OMAR’S EMBATTLED HUSBAND APPEARS AT SCENE OF HSI RAID IN MIDST OF CRIMINAL FRAUD INVESTIGATION

The daughters arrived on the scene roughly a week after the house was raided by federal agents. Omar also has a son who is the only immediate family member of Omar's that Fox News Digital has not seen arrive at their home in D.C., since the federal search where her phone and passport were reportedly seized.

The same night Omar's eldest daughter was captured entering the home, U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) — whose jurisdiction is typically limited to U.S. Capitol building and grounds, but extends to protecting members of Congress and their families — showed up on the congresswoman's street.

Omar shares her three children with Ahmed Hirsi, who she ceremonially married in 2002 and legally married in 2018. During the time before her legal marriage to Hirsi, she was legally married to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, who is allegedly her brother, from 2009 until 2017 — during which time Omar's youngest daughter was born. She married political consultant Tim Mynett in 2020.

Throughout the week after the raid, Mynett has emerged from the home intermittently, mostly to walk the family’s Golden Labrador Retriever dog, Teddy. He has defended his wife to Fox News Digital, saying he has "no concerns" about the investigation.

He also snapped when asked about unsubstantiated rumors that the congresswoman had fled the country. "You guys are annoying the hell out of the neighbors around here, man," said Mynett.

Omar's eldest daughter, Isra Hirsi, is controversial in her own right.

The 23-year-old activist and graduate of Barnard College — a Columbia University affiliate — was arrested at Columbia and later suspended from the school in 2024 after participating in the school’s now-infamous anti-Israel tent encampment, which lasted for two weeks until it was dispersed by NYPD.

ILHAN OMAR'S HUSBAND SNAPS OVER RUMORS SHE FLED US AFTER FEDERAL IMMIGRATION FRAUD RAID

She also co-founded the U.S. Climate Strike in 2019, part of a global movement that organized student walkouts of class as they demanded the passage of the far-left Green New Deal and a switch to 100% renewable energy.

Despite its name, the group didn’t stop at advocating for "green" energy policies. It also demanded universal healthcare, student debt relief, stronger union organization and advocated for giving land back to Native Americans.

Hirsi has also railed against capitalism publicly on social media.

Omar's sister, Sahra Noor, did not show up for a scheduled stop on her book tour in Minnesota last week due to a "family emergency," according to the book store hosting the event.

Three sources confirmed to Fox News Digital that Noor voluntarily spoke with federal investigators last week.

Omar’s home was raided by HSI, the chief investigatory body of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), at around 6:00 a.m., last Monday.

Sources confirmed to Fox News Digital that the agency executed a search warrant in relation to an immigration fraud probe. Specifically, investigators are probing whether the congresswoman and/or her father falsified information when filling out her citizenship paperwork.

Border Czar Tom Homan revealed over the weekend that if the allegations are proven, they could lead to Omar’s denaturalization.

The New York Times reported that about a dozen people, including Omar’s relatives, have been subpoenaed in the case.

Omar has not responded to repeated requests for comment from Fox News Digital, but she has reacted publicly to the raid on social media.

REP ILHAN OMAR'S IMMIGRATION HISTORY FACES NEW SCRUTINY AS FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SUBPOENA RELATIVES

"This raid by Trump’s DHS is an outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement to target political enemies," she said in a statement posted to X hours after the raid. For a decade, Donald Trump has relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with inflammatory rhetoric, repeatedly putting a target on her back. Now, those attacks have escalated to a pointless federal raid. The Congresswoman has done nothing wrong. No president should be able to use the power of the federal government to intimidate his political enemies."

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital last Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance said the investigation is not politically motivated.

"We don't want to be like the Biden administration. We never want to be like that — where they would allow the law to go after their political opponents," he said.

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"We really want to let the law, the facts drive this," he continued. "And if justice requires something else be done, then, of course, we'll take a step when we have to."

Ever notice that websites keep asking you to verify your identity when you're using a VPN? Whether you're checking your bank account, signing into email or shopping online, those repeated security checks can get frustrating. Your VPN may be part of the reason.

A VPN changes the IP address websites see, which can sometimes trigger additional verification requests. Fortunately, a dedicated IP address may help reduce those interruptions while keeping your VPN protection enabled. Here's what you need to know.

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YOUR BANK MAY STOP TEXTING YOU SIX-DIGIT CODES

How VPNs can affect your logins

First, let's set the record straight: A VPN generally does not interfere with how your passkeys or two-factor authentication codes work. Time-based authenticator codes are generated on your device and can work without an internet connection. Passkeys use cryptographic keys to verify your identity during a sign-in, while push notification approvals require a network connection. A VPN can usually work alongside all of these methods. What it does change is the public IP address websites see. When you connect through a VPN server, websites and apps see that server's IP address instead of your usual public IP address.

That's the whole point. But it's also why banks, email providers, and financial apps sometimes get nervous. These services use your IP address as one of many signals to decide whether a login looks legitimate. If you always log into your bank from roughly the same location and the same address, and suddenly your account is being accessed from a different city or a different country, the system flags it. Not because your VPN broke anything, but because from the app’s point of view, someone new just walked in the door.

Why changing IP addresses can trigger extra security checks

One common trigger is a VPN connection that uses shared IP addresses. Your public IP address may change when you reconnect or switch servers, although some VPN connections can keep the same address across multiple sessions. For a bank or workplace login portal that recognizes your usual login patterns, an unfamiliar IP address or location can raise a red flag.

The second trigger is shared IP addresses themselves. When hundreds of users connect through the same VPN server, they all appear to be coming from the same address. Websites and security systems recognize these addresses as VPN traffic and treat logins from them with extra suspicion. That means more CAPTCHAs, more verification steps, more temporary lockouts. Neither of these is a flaw in your VPN. It's doing exactly what it's supposed to do. But if you're regularly logging into sensitive accounts, those extra security checks can get frustrating fast.

How a dedicated IP can reduce login interruptions

One potential solution is a dedicated IP address. Instead of sharing an IP address with other VPN customers, you receive a fixed address reserved for your use. Each time you connect to that dedicated VPN location, websites see the same public IP address. This consistency may help reduce unnecessary CAPTCHAs and security checks, especially on services that consider your usual login location.

However, a dedicated IP doesn't guarantee that a bank or website will recognize your connection as trusted. Security systems also evaluate your device, account activity and other risk signals.

Some VPN providers offer dedicated IP addresses as part of their subscription plans or as a paid add-on. These services let you maintain a consistent IP address while keeping your internet traffic encrypted through the VPN. However, privacy protections vary by provider, so check how your dedicated IP is assigned and whether it can be linked to your account.

There is also an important trade-off. Because only you use your dedicated IP, websites may find it easier to associate repeated visits with the same address. Shared VPN addresses can provide greater privacy against IP-based tracking by mixing your traffic with other users.

For people who frequently encounter login interruptions, a dedicated IP may provide a more consistent browsing experience without giving up VPN encryption.

For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

ANTI-SCAM SETTINGS ON IPHONE, PIXEL AND GALAXY YOU SHOULD CHECK

A few extra tips to avoid VPN login problems

If you're still running into extra verification requests, here are five things worth trying.

1) Switch to a different VPN server

Some VPN server IP addresses trigger more security checks than others. Try connecting to a server closer to your actual location. This may help reduce verification requests, although websites can still recognize VPN traffic.

2) Use split tunneling for trusted apps

Some VPN services offer split tunneling, which lets you choose which apps use the VPN connection. For example, you might allow your banking app to connect directly to the internet while keeping other apps protected by the VPN. Just remember that apps bypassing the VPN will expose your regular public IP address. Feature availability varies by provider and device. Only bypass the VPN for sensitive apps when you're using a network you trust.

3) Check your authenticator app's clock

If your six-digit authentication codes aren't working, your device's clock could be the problem. Time-based codes depend on accurate time settings. Make sure your phone's date and time are set to automatic. If codes still fail, confirm you're selecting the correct account in your authenticator app.

4) Let trusted websites remember your device

Some websites offer a "Don't ask again on this device" option after you verify your identity. Selecting it can reduce repeated security checks on your personal computer or phone. Make sure your browser allows cookies for those websites, since private browsing or automatically clearing cookies can cause them to forget your device. Never use this option on a shared or public computer.

5) Don't approve unexpected login requests

A VPN can trigger extra security checks, but that doesn't mean every authentication request is legitimate. If your phone asks you to approve a login you didn't initiate, deny it. Someone could be trying to access your account. Check your recent account activity for unfamiliar sign-in attempts. If you spot anything suspicious, change your password and review your account's security settings.

HOW TO FIND COMPROMISED PASSWORDS ON IPHONE AND ANDROID

Kurt’s key takeaways

I like the extra privacy a VPN provides, but I can understand how repeated security checks could get frustrating. A VPN generally works alongside passkeys and two-factor authentication without interfering with their underlying security. However, changing IP addresses and shared VPN connections can prompt websites to request additional verification. A dedicated IP may reduce those interruptions by giving websites a more consistent connection to recognize. It won't eliminate every security check, but it can make frequent logins more convenient. The most important thing is to keep your authentication protections enabled, even when an extra verification step feels inconvenient.

Have you ever been locked out of an account while using a VPN, or found a solution that smoothed things out? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Deadly Haitian gangs over the weekend ambushed members of an international security force deployed in Haiti, kidnapping four Salvadoran Air Force members, authorities confirmed Monday.

The post Haiti Gangs Ambush Foreign Troops, Kidnap Four Salvadoran Air Force Members appeared first on Breitbart.

Sea mines have resurfaced as a threat in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran claimed Oct.17 that two oil tankers caught fire after striking the explosives, raising fresh alarms over the safety of one of the world's most critical shipping lanes.

This came as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) warned that sea mines pose a serious threat to vessels navigating the strategic waterway and while Tehran continues to maintain its own unauthorized shipping corridor inside its territorial waters.

"The traffic separation scheme, the information that we have is that they still have mines. And of course, whilst the conflict is ongoing, it's very difficult for us to use third parties to verify that it is clear of these hazards," IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told Fox News Digital.

INSIDE THE DANGEROUS US MISSION THAT CLEARED IRAN’S MINES FROM HORMUZ SHIPPING LANES

"So in the meantime, we cannot guarantee that a vessel that intends to transit that route will not be hit by a mine."

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy said Saturday that two oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported, citing Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

State media also said both tankers were carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil, according to Reuters.

IRNA also reported that the vessels had switched off their positioning and radar systems and attempted to use a route through the strategic waterway that Iran had not authorized.

IRAN WARNS SHIPS OF 'FORCEFUL RESPONSE' AS US-BACKED HORMUZ ROUTE CHALLENGES TEHRAN'S GRIP

The second tanker was left immobilized after striking a mine, according to the Reuters report.

The alleged strikes came as Tehran continued to maintain its transit passageway inside Iranian territorial waters, imposing tolls and safety fees administered by the IRGC — a framework rejected by Washington and the IMO as inconsistent with international maritime law.

International shipping through the narrow chokepoint has historically relied on an IMO-approved traffic separation scheme adopted in 1968.

"Right now there's only one route that was adopted back in 1968 that is approved and recognized for IMO and that appears in all the charts for the vessels to operate," Dominguez explained.

IRAN FAILS TO STRIKE DEAL WITH US AS DEADLINE PASSES AND TRUMP CALLS FOR ‘WHITE FLAG OF SURRENDER'

"There's only one route that should be used for transit, but it's not clear of mines right now, so it's not safe."

"We have received confirmation from Iran about the establishment of its temporary route in the waters," he added before stating that the route was not provided with "an official confirmation or a decision of the organization."

"Any other route needs to actually be sent to the organization to go through the processes, and we have not received that."

"We have received communication from Iran to use that route because of the conflict," Dominguez clarified.

"That's the way that it's been presented. But anything for us to approve needs to go through the mechanisms at the international maritime organizations and the member states need to review it."

The developments also came amid stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran over ending the conflict and restoring maritime traffic.

DISTRESS CALL CAPTURES TANKER UNDER FIRE, IRAN SHUTS HORMUZ TRAPPING THOUSANDS OF SAILORS

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and a former Revolutionary Guard commander, said Tehran considered Washington's latest response to negotiations "insufficient," Reuters reported, according to IRNA.

Rezaei said the U.S. had accepted some of Iran's seven conditions but that other issues remained unresolved, adding that Tehran was no longer responding to Washington and that the U.S. needed to clarify the outstanding matters.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran had submitted a proposal to Washington through Qatar, which is mediating the negotiations, outlining conditions under which the Strait of Hormuz could reopen and normal maritime traffic resume within seven days.

"Our situation is clear and based on ⁠the seven-day proposal presented to the US. They shared comments which ​we are reviewing, but our proposal is still on the table ​and if there is any honesty on the US part, which there isn't, the way to reopening the Strait of Hormuz is obvious," Araqchi said in ​Baghdad, Reuters reported

IRAN REQUESTS TALKS WITH US AS WHITE HOUSE WARNS 'VIOLENCE WILL BE MET WITH VIOLENCE'

Meanwhile, attacks on commercial vessels around the Strait of Hormuz have surged over the past two weeks.

Senior Iranian officials also told Reuters that Tehran has shifted its strategy for attacking commercial vessels during that period.

For commercial shipping operators, Dominguez warned that the continued threat of mines and attacks means the waterway has yet to return to normal operations.

The Strait of Hormuz is "not open for business in the way that it was before the conflict started," he said.

"Our role right now is to prepare for when we have the opportunity to go back, resume the operations, follow all the procedures at IMO, but not until the root causes are addressed and those are beyond IMO."

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Fox News Digital reached out to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) for comment.

U.S. Army Chief Financial Officer Marc E. Andersen argues that the nation must implement a National Security Capital Strategy to leverage private investment and super intelligence to modernize the military and rebuild the defense industrial base.

U.S. Army Chief Financial Officer Marc E. Andersen argues that the nation must implement a National Security Capital Strategy to leverage private investment and super intelligence to modernize the military and rebuild the defense industrial base.

On January 5, 2025, Saudi Arabia’s then ambassador to Bangladesh, Essa Youssef Essa Al Duhailan, delivered a stark reminder of a lost opportunity. Saudi Aramco, the Kingdom’s state-owned oil giant, had sent high-level delegations to Bangladesh three times between 2016 and 2018 to explore investment opportunities, including an oil refinery. Yet, according to the ambassador, […]

The post Houthi hits on infrastructure helping lure Aramco to Bangladesh? appeared first on Asia Times.

Nearly $1 million worth of trading cards in more than 200 packages were stolen from a FedEx truck last week outside of Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA) in Santa Ana.

The cards, which Santa Ana police said were valued at approximately $963,000, were graded by PSA and were being shipped back to their owners.

Police said that sports and Pokémon cards were included in the heist.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

The thief had broken into the truck by breaking the lock. The cards were stolen while the FedEx driver was away from the vehicle.

Card collector and YouTuber SKY-B was a victim of the heist, saying he had 104 cards stolen, "many" of which are "irreplaceable."

"A hundred four cards which were either case hits, which are ultra rare, or they're 1-of-1s, meaning they're the only one in the world," the YouTuber said.

"We are aware of a theft involving a third-party shipping vehicle carrying PSA-graded items. We are working closely with law enforcement and the carrier as the investigation continues," Collectors said in a statement.

FORMER CLIPPERS STAR WARNS OF TEAM'S UPHILL BATTLE AFTER BRUTAL KAWHI LEONARD SALARY CAP PUNISHMENT

Collectors said it has "deactivated the certificates for the stolen items and notified marketplace partners so they can be on the lookout for rare and serialized items."

"Our customer service team has contacted affected customers directly and is arranging compensation based on fair market value," Collectors said.

"We understand the impact this has on collectors involved, many of whom see these cards as far more than a financial asset. Our team is focused on supporting them. We take this incident seriously, and we will continue working with law enforcement to hold those responsible accountable."

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

No arrests have been made, and none of the cards have been recovered.

FIRST ON FOX: The State Department warns that antifascist groups are planning to participate in a "potentially more confrontational protest" this weekend as the far-right National Rally holds its political convention just days after widespread riots overwhelmed police and exposed major security failures.

As party leader Marine Le Pen prepares for the gathering on Oct. 24–25 in Orléans, France, an internal document obtained by Fox News Digital cautions that antagonists are planning more demonstrations near the convention venue that could "expose further security shortcomings and deepen political tensions."

The warning comes at a particularly dangerous political moment for President Emmanuel Macron, considering the same unrest that exposed his government's security vulnerabilities could also give National Rally and center-right parties an opening to challenge his record, according to the State Department assessment.

GLOBAL 'CHAOS INC' GROWS TO 101 GROUPS WITH PLANS FOR NEW ROUNDS OF DEMONSTRATIONS

Now, French authorities face another high-stakes security test as demonstrators prepare to converge on the congress of a party that could benefit politically from the previous unrest.

The demonstrations are expected to coincide with the National Rally's two-day party congress, where Le Pen is set to launch her presidential campaign. Left-wing parties, unions and activist groups are planning a march Saturday, while antifascist groups have announced plans for a separate protest Sunday near the convention venue, according to the State Department assessment.

WHO'S WHO: INSIDE FRANCE'S 'CHAOS INC.' FRANCHISE OF COMMUNIST GROUPS, LABOR UNIONS AND GLOBAL ACTIVISTS

National Rally President Jordan Bardella has ruled out canceling the congress, while local authorities are preparing additional security restrictions around the gathering.

The looming confrontation comes as France is still reeling from the Oct. 17 unrest, when authorities badly underestimated the scale of demonstrations that descended into widespread rioting and looting.

Some 550,000 people joined 110 marches nationwide, according to France's Interior Ministry. More than 2,400 people were arrested, nearly 1,000 law enforcement officers and firefighters were injured and thousands of businesses were damaged. And intelligence failures that far underestimated the turnout left authorities overwhelmed and facing more than double the number of protesters originally estimated.

The State Department's internal assessment notes that the violence has reshaped France's political debate just six months before voters choose Macron's successor. It says the unrest has shifted attention away from the economic and education grievances that initially drove the protests and toward public security and government accountability, potentially giving National Rally and center-right parties an opening to challenge Macron's record.

French officials have acknowledged that intelligence and planning failures contributed to authorities being overwhelmed during the Oct. 17 unrest.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation after acknowledging police "lost control" in some major cities. Macron rejected it, citing the need for continuity in law enforcement command, and ordered "full transparency" over the failures in planning and intelligence-gathering that preceded the violence.

Nuñez has said authorities need to improve their ability to anticipate large-scale mobilizations, putting added pressure on security services to avoid a repeat when demonstrators converge on Orléans this weekend.

And the government may have little time to recover even if the National Rally congress passes without major violence.

Labor organizations are already mobilizing for nationwide strikes and demonstrations Nov. 5 over wages, public services and the proposed 2027 budget, according to the State Department document.

The internal assessment said Macron faces competing pressure to restore order while addressing the grievances fueling the protests, with limited fiscal room for concessions as parliament debates next year's budget.

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With parliamentary scrutiny looming and further demonstrations already planned, the State Department assessed that France faces another potential flash point that could "expose further security shortcomings and deepen political tensions."

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier revealed on Monday that a judge in the state had issued an arrest warrant for Raúl Castro, the 95-year-old dictator of Cuba, on conspiracy to commit murder charges.

The post Florida Judge Issues Arrest Warrant for 95-Year-Old Cuban Dictator Raúl Castro appeared first on Breitbart.

What is needed is a fundamental restructuring of financial crime education in the private sector.

What is needed is a fundamental restructuring of financial crime education in the private sector.

Security firm Claroc said some of the pages held loan applications, revenue reviews and a bank fraud alert

NATO’s threat to blockade the Gulf of Finland could backfire by disrupting regional trade, triggering Russian military retaliation, and escalating tensions in the Baltic Sea. Rather than weakening Moscow, such a move could expose NATO’s logistical vulnerabilities and undermine its own military readiness. “We are able within a few hours to form a force of […]

The European Commission has selected 77 industrial and technology projects across 23 European Economic Area countries to receive €3.4 billion in funding, as Brussels attempts to strengthen the continent’s manufacturing capacity and reduce dependence on imported energy and critical materials.

The funding, announced on Monday, 19 October, will come from the EU Innovation Fund, which uses revenues generated by the Emissions Trading System to support investment in technologies intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The selected projects include manufacturing facilities, renewable energy installations, advanced energy storage, critical raw materials processing and industrial carbon management. For the first time, the programme also includes a small modular nuclear reactor project and a direct air carbon capture and storage initiative.

The announcement comes amid growing concern over Europe’s industrial competitiveness, particularly as manufacturers face high energy costs, increasing competition from China and difficulties securing investment for major industrial projects.

Funding for industrial production

According to the Commission’s announcement, the 77 selected projects span energy-intensive industries, clean technology manufacturing, alternative fuels, transport and several other sectors.

Six projects concern critical raw materials, an area in which the EU has been seeking to reduce its exposure to foreign suppliers.

These investments are intended to strengthen European supply chains for technologies including batteries, renewable energy equipment and permanent magnets, which are essential components in electric motors and other industrial applications.

The funding follows renewed political pressure to expand the processing and production of strategically important materials inside Europe.

As EU Today recently reported, the European Parliament has been pressing for stronger measures to reduce dependence on China for critical raw materials used by European manufacturers.

China occupies a dominant position in several international processing and refining markets, leaving European companies exposed to supply interruptions and trade restrictions.

The Commission is seeking to support alternative production capacity through financial assistance, industrial regulation and measures designed to attract private capital.

However, the selection of projects for EU funding does not automatically mean that the proposed facilities will be built. Their implementation will still depend on financing agreements, regulatory approvals and commercial decisions.

Nuclear technology enters funding programme

The inclusion of a small modular nuclear reactor project represents a new development in the Innovation Fund’s portfolio.

Small modular reactors are designed to produce electricity or industrial heat using nuclear technology on a smaller scale than conventional nuclear power stations.

Supporters argue that modular construction could reduce certain project risks and provide stable electricity supplies for energy-intensive industries.

However, the technology faces substantial challenges involving construction costs, regulatory approval, supply chains and the transition from demonstration projects to commercial production.

The Commission published a European strategy for small modular reactors in March, outlining plans to accelerate their development and support the first operational facilities in the early 2030s.

The latest funding decision gives the technology access to a financial instrument principally associated with industrial decarbonisation and clean energy investment.

Another newly represented technology is direct air carbon capture and storage, which involves extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it.

Both technologies remain at comparatively early stages of commercial deployment in Europe, making their eventual costs and performance important considerations.

Emissions trading revenue finances investment

The Innovation Fund is financed through revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System, under which companies operating in covered sectors must obtain allowances for their greenhouse gas emissions.

Part of the revenue generated from auctioning allowances is reinvested into projects designed to introduce lower-emission technologies into industrial production.

The Commission estimates that the 77 newly selected projects could avoid approximately 290 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions during their first ten years of operation.

That figure is a projection based on the projects’ anticipated performance, rather than an achieved reduction. Actual results will depend on construction, commissioning and subsequent commercial operation.

The funding announcement also follows the publication of the EU’s broader industrial policy initiatives, which seek to increase domestic production of clean technologies and improve investment conditions for European manufacturers.

The Commission announced a separate allocation of more than €390 million to 135 environmental and climate projects under the LIFE programme on the same day. That funding is distinct from the €3.4 billion Innovation Fund selection.

Funding agreements still to be concluded

The companies and organisations behind the selected Innovation Fund projects must now complete the procedures necessary to obtain their grants.

During the Commission’s 19 October press briefing, officials indicated that project-specific grant amounts would become available when the agreements are signed, currently envisaged for the first quarter of 2027.

The final allocations and implementation conditions therefore remain subject to the grant preparation process.

For industrial companies, the principal test will be whether the European funding attracts sufficient additional investment to bring the selected technologies into commercial operation.

The results will also provide an indication of how effectively Brussels can translate its industrial policy objectives into additional European manufacturing capacity, particularly in sectors where supply chains remain concentrated outside the Union.

Image Credit: © European Union, 2024 / CC BY 4.0

Twelve migrants, including an infant, have died in two separate incidents involving boats travelling from Turkey towards the Greek islands of Lesbos and Samos, prompting investigations into the circumstances of the deaths and the activities of suspected people smugglers.

The incidents occurred on Monday, 19 October, in the northeastern Aegean Sea. Six people died when a speedboat collided with a Greek coastguard vessel near Lesbos, while another six were killed after a separate boat overturned north of Samos.

The deaths coincided with the publication of new figures from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, showing that irregular crossings into the EU fell by almost one-third during the first nine months of 2026.

According to the latest border monitoring figures, approximately 91,000 irregular crossings were detected between January and September, although the eastern Mediterranean remained the busiest migration route into the Union.

Two incidents under investigation

According to information released by the Greek authorities, the first fatal incident occurred near Agrilia on Lesbos when a speedboat carrying migrants struck a coastguard patrol vessel before overturning.

Six people died, while eight survivors were taken to hospital. The authorities subsequently arrested a 37-year-old Turkish national, identifying him as the suspected operator of the migrant boat.

Greece’s Maritime Affairs Minister Vassilis Kikilias said the available evidence indicated that the speedboat had struck the left side of the coastguard vessel. The precise circumstances remain under investigation.

In the second incident, approximately four nautical miles north of Samos, a boat reportedly overturned after making a sudden manoeuvre while being pursued by the coastguard.

Five men and one woman died, while 14 people were rescued. An Iranian national was arrested on suspicion of involvement in migrant smuggling.

The arrests do not establish criminal responsibility, and the circumstances surrounding both incidents remain subject to investigation.

Greek authorities have attributed the dangers of the crossings to trafficking networks operating between Turkey and the Aegean islands. The government has reiterated its policy of pursuing smugglers and restricting unauthorised maritime arrivals.

Fewer crossings, continued fatalities

Frontex recorded approximately 31,800 detections along the eastern Mediterranean route during the first nine months of this year, representing a decline of around 15 per cent compared with the equivalent period in 2025.

Across the European Union’s external borders, the agency reported an even larger reduction, with overall detections down by almost one-third.

The Central Mediterranean route experienced a particularly substantial fall, while the Western Mediterranean recorded an increase, reflecting changes in departure points and migration patterns.

These figures count detected border crossings rather than individual migrants and do not necessarily capture every unauthorised arrival.

The latest data also have to be considered alongside exceptional developments elsewhere on Europe’s borders. In July, large-scale movements through Spain’s Ceuta enclave created additional pressures on Spanish authorities and raised questions about the application of the EU’s new asylum arrangements.

The eastern Mediterranean figures encompass several routes, including crossings from Libya towards Crete, movements through the Aegean islands and arrivals across the land border with Turkey.

Consequently, the total recorded for the wider region should not be interpreted solely as the number of people arriving on the Greek islands.

Greece remains central to European border policy

Greece has occupied a central position in EU migration policy since the 2015–2016 crisis, when hundreds of thousands of people arrived from Turkey, many travelling onwards through the Balkans.

The subsequent EU–Turkey migration arrangements were intended to reduce unauthorised crossings and establish procedures for returning certain migrants who did not qualify for protection.

Athens has also faced persistent criticism from human rights organisations concerning allegations of unlawful returns at sea and land borders. Greek authorities deny operating an unlawful pushback policy and maintain that their border operations respect domestic and international law.

The EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, which entered into application in 2026, has introduced common procedures for screening arrivals, processing asylum claims and managing people who do not have permission to remain.

Its implementation has placed greater emphasis on border identification, biometric registration and cooperation between national authorities and Frontex.

However, the two disasters demonstrate the continued risks associated with maritime crossings, even during a period of declining arrivals.

Investigators must now establish precisely how both boats overturned, whether criminal offences were committed and what occurred during the encounters with coastguard vessels.

The findings will be relevant not only to the prosecutions of those arrested, but also to continuing scrutiny of maritime enforcement along one of the European Union’s principal external borders.

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Ilhan Omar's older sister was questioned by federal investigators last week in relation to an immigration fraud probe into the congresswoman, Fox News Digital has learned.

Three sources familiar with the investigation said Sahra Noor voluntarily spoke with the investigators after the high-profile Monday morning raid on the residence Omar shares with her husband in Washington, D.C. It is not clear the scope of the conversation Noor had with investigators.

Like Omar, Noor came to the United States as a child fleeing the civil war in Somalia. She currently lives in Kenya, according to her LinkedIn page, but has been in the United States promoting her new book, "Salt in the Snow: A Somali Immigrant Story."

The House lawmaker's sister canceled a Minnesota stop on the book tour last week amid the fallout of the raid and the ensuing interview with authorities.

ILHAN OMAR'S SISTER SKIPS BOOK TOUR EVENT AMID WEEK OF CHAOS FOLLOWING RAID ON PROGRESSIVE'S DC HOME

The book event, which was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, at the University of Minnesota Rochester, was promoted online by Garden Party Books, a local bookstore that listed itself as a "proud supporter" of the event alongside the university and the Rochester Public Library.

A representative from Garden Party Books told Fox News Digital last week that the event was canceled because Noor had a "family emergency." It is now revealed that last week she was questioned by federal investigators.

Omar’s D.C. home was raided by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the chief investigatory body of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), at around 6 a.m. last Monday. Sources confirmed to Fox News Digital that the agency executed a search warrant in relation to an immigration fraud probe.

Specifically, they are probing whether the lawmaker or her father falsified information when filling out her citizenship paperwork.

ILHAN OMAR'S TURBULENT WEEK EXPLAINED: THE DUELING PROBES THAT THREW THE SOMALI-BORN PROGRESSIVE INTO CHAOS

Border czar Tom Homan revealed over the weekend that if the allegations are proven, they could lead to Omar’s denaturalization.

During the raid, Omar’s personal phone, passport and computer were seized, The Wall Street Journal reported last week. And Omar’s attorneys over the weekend demanded that the Justice Department return some of the property confiscated by HSI.

Additionally, The New York Times reported that about a dozen people, including Omar’s relatives, have been subpoenaed in the case.

Omar has not been seen publicly since before the raid, though her husband has been seen several times walking their dog, taking out the trash and speaking outside the home with one of the congresswoman's aides. Omar has not responded to Fox News Digital's repeated requests for comment, but she did react to the raid publicly on social media.

"This raid by Trump’s DHS is an outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement to target political enemies," she said in a statement posted to X hours after feds descended on her home.

FEDERAL AGENTS SEIZE PHONE OF REP ILHAN OMAR IN RAID TIED TO IMMIGRATION FRAUD PROBE

"For a decade, Donald Trump has relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with inflammatory rhetoric, repeatedly putting a target on her back," the post continued. "Now, those attacks have escalated to a pointless federal raid. The Congresswoman has done nothing wrong. No president should be able to use the power of the federal government to intimidate his political enemies."

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital last Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance said the investigation is not politically motivated.

"We don't want to be like the Biden administration. We never want to be like that — where they would allow the law to go after their political opponents," he said.

DEMOCRATS' FURY OVER ILHAN OMAR RAID DRAWS STINGING GOP REMINDER ABOUT RAID FROM THE PAST: ‘SET THE PRECEDENT’

"We really want to let the law, the facts drive this," he continued. "And if justice requires something else be done, then, of course, we'll take a step when we have to."

Fox News Digital reached out to Noor, but did not hear back before publication.

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Omar's attorneys did not immediately return a comment request.

Apparent attempt to hack Rade Bajić’s iPhone comes amid efforts to undermine landmark criminal case

A Serbian prosecutor who investigated the authorities’ allegedly illegal scheme to help the Trumps build a tower in Belgrade has been targeted with advanced spyware, expert analysis indicates.

The finding suggests a disturbing new element in the authoritarian Serbian regime’s campaign to undermine what is believed to be the first criminal case related to global moneymaking drive of the US president’s family, which critics describe as a “pay to play” scheme trading the Trump administration’s favour for business opportunities.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Andrej Isaković/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Andrej Isaković/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Andrej Isaković/AFP/Getty Images

Apparent attempt to hack Rade Bajić’s iPhone comes amid efforts to undermine landmark criminal case

A Serbian prosecutor who investigated the authorities’ allegedly illegal scheme to help the Trumps build a tower in Belgrade has been targeted with advanced spyware, expert analysis indicates.

The finding suggests a disturbing new element in the authoritarian Serbian regime’s campaign to undermine what is believed to be the first criminal case related to global moneymaking drive of the US president’s family, which critics describe as a “pay to play” scheme trading the Trump administration’s favour for business opportunities.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Andrej Isaković/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Andrej Isaković/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Andrej Isaković/AFP/Getty Images

A Sofia court has cleared European arrest warrants for two 19-year-old Germans charged with setting fire to Starlink antennas south of the Bulgarian capital, a court spokeswoman told dpa. Prosecutors named the pair in court, but both had already left Bulgaria. The case adds Bulgaria to a run of attacks on Starlink sites in Europe, which Poland and Lithuania have linked to Russia.

While Russia presses its assault along the front and strikes Ukraine’s cities, Starlink keeps Ukraine’s drone units and front-line troops connected, and Poland pays about $50 million a year for its terminals. The network’s ground links in Europe are now a target in their own right, and ISW has linked the Polish fire to a wider Russian pattern of sabotage. Each attack on a ground station hits a network whose speed caps already disrupted Ukraine’s drone missions this month.

Two names, a few hours in Bulgaria

Prosecutors identified the suspects as Zeka Islam and Tirpan Beytullah, Bulgaria’s state news agency BTA reported, noting the names may be misspelled. Their whereabouts are unknown, according to German authorities cited by the agency. They were charged in absentia on 14 October and face three to 12 years in prison if convicted.

According to the indictment, the two crossed from Serbia at the Kalotina checkpoint at 17:37 on 9 October and told border officers they were tourists. At about 22:25, wearing gloves and masks, they allegedly set fire to antennas at the Plana teleport, a satellite ground station near the village of Plana. They drove back into Serbia through the same checkpoint at 23:55.

Three antennas burned completely, two were partly damaged, and three more were affected, prosecutors say. The pair traveled in a Volkswagen with German plates, and a national warrant followed two days after the charges, ZDF reported.

The court-appointed lawyers argued that investigators had pinned down the vehicle, not the men in it. The court rejected those objections, finding reasonable grounds to suspect the pair. The lawyers said they would appeal. The ruling can be challenged within three days.

An opposition MP made the fire public three days later

The fire became public only on 12 October, when opposition MP Ivaylo Mirchev of Democratic Bulgaria posted about it on Facebook. He said 11 antennas had been set on fire, more than prosecutors later counted.

In parliament two days later, Prime Minister Rumen Radev asked the head of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) not to reveal details, saying disclosure could harm the investigation. DANS head Plamen Tonchev told lawmakers he believes the fire was sabotage and that more such attacks cannot be ruled out, dpa reported.

After the ruling, Mirchev wrote that Radev personally owes the public an explanation of what has been achieved, BTA reported.

Bulgaria’s case joins attacks Poland and Lithuania tie to Russia

Bulgaria has not said who might be behind the fire. Authorities in Poland and Lithuania have linked similar recent arsons on Starlink equipment to Russia.

In September, fire hit a Starlink ground station south of Warsaw, and Germany later detained two suspects. On 18 October, Lithuania’s prime minister said intruders had tried to burn a company’s Starlink antennas used by Ukraine, calling it part of Russia’s hybrid war. Moscow claims such accusations are baseless, Reuters reported.