America's secret talks with Hamas are moving along in a "positive" direction after President Trump warned the terror group to release the hostages in Gaza "or there will be hell to pay later."

Several heroic passengers were able to detain a 17-year-old boy who allegedly dressed as a maintenance worker to board a Jetstar flight at an Australian airport with a shotgun and ammunition, police said.

"The path to peace cannot be reached by abandoning Ukraine," the French president declared.

Police are on the hunt for the suspects behind a series of wild videos showcasing a monkey and lion cub inside a car as it strolls the streets of Israel.

There are 27 living hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip — with no clear timeline on when they might be released.

Ukraine forces can hold their own against the Russian invasion despite President Trump's order to halt military aid — but only until the summer, Kyiv officials warn as they try to mend ties with the US.

The Egyptian government offered an alternative to Trump's controversial plan.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday Israel was ready to proceed to the second phase of the Gaza cease-fire deal, as long as Hamas was ready to release more of the 59 hostages it is still holding.

Two rough proposals have emerged ahead of a crucial meeting of Europe's leaders this Thursday -- though they're both short on details and support in the bloc. And they both likely require US military support.

“For the past three years, the Russians have been spending 10% of their GDP on defense,” Macron told the French Le Figaro outlet. “We need to prepare for what comes next, with an objective of 3% to 3.5% of GDP.”

The brawl apparently broke out when the families demanded entrance to the guest gallery, with the guard informing them that only 10 people could go in at a time, The Jerusalem Post reported.

His position has given the former Warsaw Pact nation — which has a population only slightly larger than New Jersey — an outsized role in European diplomacy.

Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO) eliminated a Russian platoon and weapons storage facilities along the frontlines in Donetsk.

Israel and Hamas have begun negotiating the terms of the next phase of the cease-fire deal just two days before the truce expires, Egyptian mediators say.

Hanging in the balance are the fate of 28 Israeli hostages who are still believed to be alive in Gaza — including New Jersey native Edan Alexander.

Hamas released the bodies of Tsahi Idan, Ohad Yahalomi, Itzik Elgarat and Shlomo Mantzur on Wednesday night without the controversial public ceremonies it has been holding during the exchanges.

Slain Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas and her two young boys, Ariel and Kfir, were buried together in a single casket during a heartbreaking funeral on Wednesday honoring the victims.

"I believe that Serbia made a mistake today. I apologize to the citizens of Serbia for that, and I take the blame for that because I was probably tired and overwhelmed," Aleksandar Vucic said.

"If they [Russia] definitely want to get the money back, then they have to give something in return for it,” an EU diplomat said.

Agam Berger, one of the Israeli hostages who was freed from Hamas captivity, said her heart broke when she learned via radio that the negotiations for her and the others' freedom were so contentious.