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Duffy expands air traffic control training program to fight nationwide shortage

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is expanding the number of schools that can participate in a fast-tracked air traffic control training program, as the administration seeks more ways to address the nationwide air traffic controller shortage amid recent control tower mishaps and crashes.

While the Federal Aviation Administration is suffering a shortage of roughly 3,000 air traffic controllers in the U.S., the Trump administration has added schools to a program that can offer training that students would receive at the FAA’s Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City.

The Enhanced Air Traffic – Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program allows selected institutions to provide FAA Academy air traffic control training with their students, who then head directly to an FAA facility to kick off their training — rather than undergo additional training at the Air Traffic Controller Academy.

In August, Nashua Community College became the fifth school to join the program since January, alongside the University of North Dakota, SUNY Schenectady County Community College, Vaughn College and Middle Georgia State College (Eastman).

"Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re solving the air traffic controller shortage one step at a time," Duffy said in an August statement. "Our new partnership with Nashua Community College will help us continue to attract the best and brightest to fill our air traffic control towers. To all the young Americans considering a career in this exciting field — your work will make flying safer and more efficient than ever." 

Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Tulsa Community College and the University of Oklahoma first joined the program in 2024 under former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The FAA opened applications for schools to join the initiative in April 2024, and the first schools were accepted in October 2024.

Those who undergo the Enhanced AT-CTI program must complete the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam and meet the same medical and security requirements as their counterparts who undergo the typical training pipeline.

Trump administration ends second layer of temporary protected status for Venezuelan migrants

The Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Kristi Noem are ending a 2021 designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela, the agency told Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

Under President Biden, two designations of TPS were established for Venezuela. The first was established in 2021, which is being terminated today, and the second in 2023, which the Trump administration terminated on April 7,2023.

"Given Venezuela’s substantial role in driving irregular migration and the clear magnet effect created by Temporary Protected Status, maintaining or expanding TPS for Venezuelan nationals directly undermines the Trump Administration’s efforts to secure our southern border and manage migration effectively," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

"Weighing public safety, national security, migration factors, immigration policy, economic considerations, and foreign policy, it’s clear that allowing Venezuelan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is not in America’s best interest," the spokesperson added.

With the termination of the 2021 TPS designation, 268,156 Venezuelan nationals currently in the U.S. will lose their status and will no longer be legally allowed to reside in the United States, according to figures shared by Fox News Digital from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

3,738 pending initial applications to be eligible for TPS and 102,935 pending renewal applications will also be terminated as of today.

USCIS recommends those no longer protected by TPS use the CBP Home Mobile App to facilitate leaving the U.S.

The TPS designation will expire September 10, 2025, and termination will be effective 60 days after the publication of the Federal Register notice.

After the April termination of the 2023 TPS designation, roughly 348,000 Venezuelan nationals lost their protected status and were required to make arrangements to leave the U.S.

Trump asks Supreme Court for urgent ruling on tariff powers as 'stakes could not be higher'

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court Wednesday to quickly make a decision on whether President Donald Trump has the authority to impose his sweeping tariffs under federal emergency law.

This appeal is a result of a federal appeals court ruling 7-4 that a vast majority of Trump’s tariffs were illegal according to the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act even though it allowed the duties to remain until the case was resolved.

Many states and small businesses challenged Trump’s tariffs in a lawsuit saying they were causing serious economic harm.

"These unlawful tariffs are inflicting serious harm on small businesses and jeopardizing their survival," said Jeffrey Schwab, an attorney with the Liberty Justice Center.

The Trump administration, however, countered the appeal, arguing that striking down the tariffs could cause serious economic harm.

"That decision casts a pall of uncertainty upon ongoing foreign negotiations that the President has been pursuing through tariffs over the past five months, jeopardizing both already negotiated framework deals and ongoing negotiations," the Trump administration argued in its appeal. "The stakes in this case could not be higher."

Officials also pointed out that the levies have raised $159 billion since late August, a figure that has more than doubled from the previous year.

Although the Constitution does give Congress the power to set tariffs throughout the years many lawmakers have delegated those authorities to the White House. Although Trump has been seen to use this to his advantage, some of his duties on steel, aluminum, autos, and earlier tariffs on China were left in place by former President Joe Biden and are not part of this case.

RFK Jr and top Dem clash during heated Senate hearing: 'This is about kids'

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., got into a heated debate with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Or., during a hearing on Thursday.

The exchange came as Kennedy was testifying before the Senate Finance Committee. Wyden accused Kennedy of putting children into "harm's way" with his policies and argued Kennedy has shown no regrets about doing so.

"This is about kids being pushed into harm's way by reckless and repeated decisions to get scientists and doctors out of the way and allow conspiracy theories to dictate this country's health policy," Wyden said at the end of his questioning.

"I don't see any evidence that you have any regrets about anything you've done or plans to change it. And my last comment is, I hope that you will tell the American people how many preventable child deaths are an acceptable sacrifice for enacting an agenda that I think is fundamentally cruel and defies common sense. Thank you, Mr. Chairman," Wyden said.

"Do I get a reply?" Kennedy said. "Senator you've sat in that chair how long? 20-25 years while the chronic disease of our children went up to 76%. And you said nothing."

"You never asked the question why it's happening. Why is this happening? Today, for the first time in 20 years, we've learned that infant mortality has increased in our country. It's not because I came in here. It's because of what happened during the Biden administration that we're going to end," he continued.

Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, then intervened, granting Wyden another chance to speak briefly, though his microphone remains turned off.

"We're going to proceed," Crapo says. "I gave Senator Wyden as ranking member some leeway there, but we're gonna stick to the five minutes."

Kennedy's testimony came one day after over 1,000 current and former HHS employees signed a letter calling for his resignation on Wednesday. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Ver., also called for his resignation.

Kennedy's critics point to his firing of former Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Susan Monarez.

"We believe health policy should be based in strong, evidence-based principles rather than partisan politics. But under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, HHS policies are placing the health of all Americans at risk, regardless of their politics," the Wednesday letter read.

Suspect targeted suburban DC fire station with ‘makeshift Molotov cocktails,’ police say
Police say suspect's devices targeting Capitol Heights, Maryland, station were becoming more dangerous

A man has been arrested after police said he placed incendiary devices near a local fire station in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Slater Chaia of District Heights, Maryland, has been charged with possession of a destructive device and possession of incendiary material with intent to create a destructive device, both felonies, stemming from incidents of littering Capitol Heights Fire Station 805 with what a criminal complaint called "makeshift Molotov cocktails." He also faces a reckless endangerment charge.

Surveillance video shows him walking up to the fire station's property with two plastic bottles, and putting both on the ground next to a flagpole. He then moves one of the bottles to the pavement a few feet away from the mailbox, according to the video. He then allegedly retreats back to the flagpole, grabs the second bottle and walks to the mailbox and places it inside.

He was caught on surveillance footage on Aug. 13 at around 8 a.m., but according to WUSA9, there were two more instances of Chaia placing devices near the station, one on June 1, and another on July 15. Neither of those were caught on video.

Police posted photos of the distinctive Tom and Jerry cartoon-themed Members Only jacket Chaia was wearing in the footage.

The bottles reportedly contained an incendiary liquid and a wick.

According to NBC 4 Washington, police believe that the fire station was specifically targeted, but they do not know why.

"God forbid one of our young people get ahold of one of these devices and become harmed," Prince George’s County Bureau of Homeland Security Deputy Chief James McCreary said.

McCreary said the first devices were ineffective, but they were becoming more dangerous.

"The initial devices were inert, but, again, they seem to be progressing," McCreary said. "The last device we had at this location could have been something, potentially, that would have harmed someone if it was able to be activated."

Chaia is being held without bond.

Trump roils Chicago Democrats with 'Apocalypse Now' meme hinting at National Guard deployment

President Donald Trump on Saturday gave possibly his strongest hint yet that he may deploy federal troops to Chicago by posting a parody meme of himself as a commander at war with Chicago. The post drew a swift rebuke from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and other officials who said it amounted to a threat.

In the image, Trump, known to provoke his opponents with his savvy use of social media, is styled as Robert Duvall’s character in "Apocalypse Now," a Vietnam War epic about a decorated U.S. officer who has gone rogue deep in the Cambodian jungle.

"I love the smell of deportations in the morning…" Trump wrote above the image, a play on the famous quote from the hit 1979 film.

"Chicago is about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR," he wrote, followed by three helicopter emoji. It came a day after he signed an executive order changing the Defense Department’s name to the Department of War.

The post appeared aimed at provoking Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who have both strongly opposed Trump’s threats to activate the National Guard in the Windy City to clamp down on crime and help enhance immigration enforcement efforts.

In the image, Trump is dressed in military fatigues resembling Duvall’s character, Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore, a flamboyant and fearless air cavalry officer who leads a helicopter air assault on a Vietnamese village.

Helicopters fly over the Chicago skyline in a fiery background, evoking Vietnam War scenes.

The text "Chipocalypse Now" is scrawled on the bottom of the image, a riff on "Apocalypse Now," with "Chi" referring to Chicago.

Trump’s goading appeared to work. Within an hour, Pritzker shot back, with Johnson also weighing in.

"The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city," Pritzker wrote on X "This is not a joke. This is not normal. Donald Trump isn't a strongman, he's a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator."

Johnson conveyed similar words of warning.

"The President’s threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution," Johnson wrote. "We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump."

What the heck? Where did Pritzker get the crazy impression that sending troops to a crime-infested city is declaring war against it!?  

ICE deports Mexican illegal immigrant accused of aggravated rape against family member

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it deported a Mexican illegal immigrant who is wanted for "aggravated rape against an underage family member."

Omar Alberto Almodobar Mondragon, 29, is facing an outstanding arrest warrant out of Sinaloa, Mexico, according to ICE. On Thursday, U.S. immigration officials handed him over to Mexican authorities at the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Ariz.

"There is no place in our society for these vile child predators," ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Phoenix Field Office Director John Cantu said in a statement. "We will continue our congressionally mandated mission to preserve public safety and national security by keeping dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities."

ICE said Almodobar Mondragon entered the U.S. in November 2019 on a visitor’s visa, but then he "never left."

"He showed a disregard for U.S. immigration laws when he overstayed his visa by almost five years," the agency added.

The removal of Almodobar Mondragon comes as ICE also announced the deportation this week of a "criminal alien fugitive and alleged child rapist who had been illegally residing" in Stamford, Conn.

"Officers with ICE Boston removed Albert George Davis, 59, from the United States to Jamaica [on] Aug. 21 and turned him over to Jamaican authorities, who sought his arrest for the rape of a child in 2020," ICE said in a statement.

"Albert George Davis fled to Connecticut in an apparent attempt to avoid prosecution for the disturbing victimization of a child in Jamaica," added ERO Boston Deputy Field Office Director David Wesling. 

UKRAINE WAR

Putin invites Zelenskyy to a meeting in Moscow for security talks as he bombs Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday claimed he "never refused" a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and invited him to come to Moscow, according to Russian state-owned news outlet Tass.

"If Zelenskyy is ready for a meeting, let him come to Moscow," Putin said, according to a translation of the remarks issued from China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II.

Zelenskyy’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions, nor did the White House.

Though President Donald Trump told reporters from the Oval Office on Wednesday that he would be speaking with Putin "very shortly," as his two-week deadline issued last month for the Kremlin chief to meet with Zelenskyy is now up.

"I'll know pretty much what we're going to be doing," Trump told reporters. "We've taken very strong action. But I'll be speaking to him over the next few days, and we're going to see.

"I'm going to know exactly what's happening," he added.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha took to X and accused Putin of issuing "knowingly unacceptable proposals," adding that seven nations have made known their readiness to host peace talks, including Austria, Vatican City, Switzerland, Turkey, and three Gulf states.

"These are serious proposals and President Zelenskyy is ready for such a meeting at any point of time. Yet, Putin continues to mess around," he added.  "Only increased pressure can force Russia to finally get serious about peace process."

Fox News confirmed that Trump will hold a call with Zelenskyy on Thursday.

Trump calls out Europe for 'funding' Putin's war and failing to 'pressure' China

President Donald Trump called on European leaders to stop "funding" Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and accused them of failing to pressure China.

In a statement to Fox News Digital following a call between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders who met in Paris for a Coalition of the Willing summit, a White House official said, "President Trump emphasized that Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war – as Russia received €1.1 billion [nearly $1.3 billion] in fuel sales from the EU in one year.

"The President also emphasized that European leaders must place economic pressure on China for funding Russia’s war efforts," the official added.

The EU has drastically cut its imports of Russian oil following the invasion of Ukraine, though the president's comments point out that it has not completely cut off its energy imports from Moscow.

The White House did not confirm where it pulled its figures from or the period of time it referenced.

The official highlighted the fact that the U.S. under Trump has not been a member of the Coalition aimed at backing Ukraine, and said, "[French] President [Emmanuel] Macron and European leaders called President Trump into their ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting."

White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff also attended the meeting in Paris and was seen giving Zelenskyy a handshake and a hug at the beginning of the meeting on Thursday, according to a video posted by Macron’s office.

Despite the tough tone from the White House, Macron described the Coalition of the Willing as having "made real progress in Paris" on Thursday.

It remains unclear what specifically was ironed out during the summit, though Macron said following the meeting that some 26 nations had agreed to deploy troops "by land, sea or air" to Ukraine the day after a ceasefire deal is secured, reported the BBC – a move that Putin has repeatedly condemned.

Putin warns Western troops in Ukraine would be 'legitimate targets'

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Friday that Western military personnel deployed to Ukraine would become "legitimate targets for defeat," raising fresh threats against the idea of international peacekeepers once a ceasefire is reached.

"This is one of the root causes (of the war): trying to involve Ukraine in NATO," Putin said, speaking at an economic forum in Russia’s Far East. "So if any troops appear there, especially during the ongoing hostilities, we assume they will be legitimate targets for defeat."

His remarks came a day after European and Allied nations signaled support for a coordinated postwar mission. At a gathering in Paris, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that 26 countries had committed to security guarantees for Kyiv, pledges that could involve military contributions "in the sky, in the sea and on the ground." French President Emmanuel Macron described the commitments as potential deployments "by land, sea or air" once hostilities have ceased.

Putin countered that if Moscow and Kyiv are able to finalize a political settlement, foreign soldiers would only complicate matters. "If decisions are reached that lead to long-term peace, then I simply see no reason for their presence on Ukrainian territory," he said. "Because if such agreements are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will fully implement them."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov echoed the Russian leader’s long-standing grievances with NATO, casting Western guarantees for Ukraine as equivalent to pushing the alliance eastward.

"What was one of the root causes of this conflict? It was when the foundations of security guarantees for our country began to be eroded, when Ukraine was being drawn into NATO, and when NATO’s military infrastructure began moving toward our borders," Peskov said, according to Russian state media. He added that any settlement would require guarantees "to both us and the Ukrainians."

The Kremlin’s statements followed a week of high-profile diplomacy for Putin, who traveled to Beijing to appear alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. From China, Putin revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had asked him to engage directly with Zelenskyy about ending the war.

"Donald asked me if it was possible to hold such a meeting. I said yes, it is possible. In the end, if Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow. Such a meeting will take place," Putin said. He later promised to ensure security for the Ukrainian leader in the Russian capital.

EUROPE

Archaeologists uncover house tied to Isaac Newton beside his legendary apple tree

British archaeologists recently found the remnants of a 17th-century house where Isaac Newton’s mother lived – not far from the site of his famous apple tree.

The National Trust announced in a recent press release that it had found a trove of everyday objects from the site of his mother's former house near Woolsthorpe Manor, an estate-turned-museum near Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Isaac Newton was born and raised at Woolsthorpe Manor. In 1665, he left Cambridge University during the Great Plague, and legend holds that he developed his theory of gravity thanks to a tree on the property.

Though he and his mother lived on the same property, they didn't live under the same roof. After his father died, Newton's mother, Hannah Ayscough, left him to be raised by his grandparents when she married a vicar. 

When her second husband died, Ayscough arranged for a house to be built next to Woolsthorpe Manor. She lived there with her children from her second marriage.

Archaeologists believe that Ayscough's house was demolished after a fire destroyed it in the early 1800s – but its remains have only just been uncovered in new excavations.

TOWER OF LONDON DIG REVEALS BLACK DEATH-ERA SKELETONS BELOW POPULAR TOURIST SITE: 'TIP OF THE ICEBERG'

"Searching for the exact location of the house, the archaeologists discovered rubble from its demolition – and intriguingly, some objects which might have been in the house when the Newton family was there," the National Trust's statement said.

The artifacts included thimbles, a needle remnant and buttons — in addition to animal bones that showed signs of butchering.

Staffordshire-type slipware – a style of 17th-century tableware – was also found, along with a Bellarmine jug and a "jetton," or token used for gaming.

Though the famous apple tree on the property blew down in the early 19th century, another one was regrown at the same location in 1820, where it remains to this day.

Allan King, a communications manager for the National Trust, told Fox News Digital that Newton likely visited the property frequently.

ASIA

3 new Chinese weapons highlighted at military parade watched by Putin, Kim

China displayed new weapons Wednesday at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end.

Beijing sought to display its growing military power as Chinese President Xi Jinping was accompanied by North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Highlights from China’s arms exhibition included submarine drones, hypersonic missiles and laser weapons. Additionally, China showed off its fighter jets and bombers during the 90-minute display.

"The Chinese people’s rejuvenation cannot be blocked, and the noble goal of the peaceful development of human civilization must triumph," Xi said at the end of his speech, according to the Associated Press.

SUBMARINE DRONE

For many, the word "drone" is synonymous with flying, but that’s not the case for the AJX002. The nuclear-capable unmanned vehicle that looks like a narrow submarine, with a propeller measuring up to 65 feet in length, could be used on surveillance and reconnaissance missions, according to the BBC. The outlet pointed out that the AJX002 wasn’t the only drone the Chinese were flaunting. Beijing also displayed its GJ-11 stealth attack drone.

HYPERSONIC MISSILES

Beijing also showed off its hypersonic anti-ship missiles that China has tested on mockups of U.S. aircraft carriers. According to Reuters, this included the Yinji-19, Yinji-17 and the Yinji-20, among others. The AP assesses that the hypersonic weapons are of particular concern to the U.S. Navy, which patrols the western Pacific from its 7th Fleet headquarters in Japan.

LASER WEAPONS

In addition to showing off its drones, China also presented its high-energy laser weapons meant to be used as part of the country’s system for countering drone attacks, according to Reuters.

President Donald Trump took a swipe at Xi, Putin and Kim in a post on Truth Social.

"Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America," he wrote.

Medical expert weighs in after Xi, Putin caught on hot mic discussing organ transplants, immortality

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping's Beijing hot mic remarks suggesting organ transplants could help people live to 150 have been dismissed as unfounded by a top U.S. transplant specialist.

After Reuters captured the two leaders’ bizarre exchange on Wednesday, transplant surgeon Dr. James Markmann told Fox News Digital Putin and Xi should be talking about ethics and organ access instead.

The chat in question unfolded as Putin and Xi walked alongside North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the Chinese capital.

As they moved toward a stage to watch the spectacle in Tiananmen Square, Putin’s interpreter could be heard saying in Chinese: "Biotechnology is continuously developing."

Putin’s interpreter explained the Russian president’s view that "human organs can be continuously transplanted" and added, "the longer you live, the younger you become, and [you can] even achieve immortality."

Xi, who was off camera at the time, can then be heard saying in Chinese: "Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old."

However, Dr. Markmann, President of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons Executive Council, claimed Xi's conclusions lack evidence.

"Transplantation of vital organs is a lifesaving and life-prolonging procedure for patients with organ failure," he said Wednesday.

"But there is no scientific evidence that it promotes immortality, nor that humans could realistically reach 150 years of age through transplants," the expert added.

Xi Jinping hails 'unstoppable' China as Trump accuses Beijing of conspiring against US

President Xi Jinping declared China’s "great rejuvenation" unstoppable on Wednesday as he used the country’s largest-ever military parade to hint at reunification with Taiwan and to flaunt advanced weapons designed to rival American power.

Xi said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would "resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity," underscoring Beijing’s ambitions toward Taiwan. "The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable," he added.

The 70-minute spectacle marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. Thousands of troops goose-stepped through Tiananmen Square, followed by columns of tanks, missile carriers and drones.

Xi has repeatedly set 2027, the 100th anniversary of the PLA, as a deadline for military modernization — a timeline U.S. officials warn could coincide with preparations for an invasion of Taiwan.

China showed off its full nuclear triad — missiles launched from land, sea and air. That included the DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of traveling 12,400 miles, putting the U.S. mainland within range.

Analysts paid special attention to what appeared to be a new DF-61 hypersonic missile carried on a WS2400 truck. The weapon is believed to be designed to outpace U.S. missile defenses. Submarine-launched ballistic missiles and long-range bombers rounded out the display of nuclear muscle.

The PLA also rolled out stealth drones — like the GJ-11 "Sharp Sword" UCAV and other "loyal wingman" drones — alongside AI-enhanced tanks, hypersonic weapons, underwater drones and other futuristic systems.

Amphibious assault vehicles hinted at preparations for a Taiwan contingency. Beijing also highlighted cyber and space capabilities, signaling ambitions beyond conventional battlefields.

Xi watched the procession flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — a not-so-subtle signal of solidarity among America’s adversaries.
After the parade, Putin and Kim met behind closed doors for two hours. Putin thanked Kim for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, Chinese state media reported.

President Donald Trump weighed in on Truth Social, addressing Xi directly: "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America."

Around two dozen world leaders watched from the stands, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Only two heads of state from Europe — Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico — accepted China’s invitation, as Western allies largely stayed away.

Kim Jong Un's young daughter being groomed to lead regime after military parade visit in China: expert

Kim Jong Un set foot in Beijing Tuesday for his first visit to China in years, accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, also thought to be his successor, per South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The young girl is believed to be around 12 or 13, and her debut appearance outside of her home country signals a possible role as North Korea’s heir-in-waiting, a parenting expert suspects. She was first publicly introduced in North Korea in 2022.

Dressed in a smart black suit, Kim Ju Ae followed her father as they were welcomed by Communist Party officials ahead of China’s military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.

On Wednesday, she may stand alongside Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping.

A parenting expert warned that bringing Kim Ju Ae onto the global stage at a young age could carry consequences.

"She’s being shaped into a role, rather than being supported to figure out who she is as an individual and that pressure could have a huge impact on her mental health," Kirsty Ketley told Fox News Digital.

"Even the most carefully groomed successor, like she could be, would struggle when thrust into leadership and even when later in life.

"It’s likely she’ll be under constant coaching, but that doesn’t remove the emotional weight of having your future decided for you at such a young age."

North Korea's famous father and daughter left Pyongyang on Monday for the international event, crossing into China by armored train to watch the country’s biggest-ever display of military power.

The event will last 70 minutes and include soldiers, tanks, anti-drone systems and aircraft passing through Tiananmen Square as President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin look on.

So far, Kim Ju Ae has been seen at a missile launch in November 2022 and other public events in North Korea in June.

NIS has claimed Kim Ju Ae enjoys skiing, horse riding, and swimming, and is privately homeschooled in Pyongyang, per The Associated Press. She is also said to appear on postage stamps in North Korea.

Luxury yacht tips and sinks minutes after launch as terrified passengers jump overboard

Dramatic video shows a brand-new luxury yacht sinking just minutes after it was launched off the coast of Turkey, forcing its crew to leap overboard.

According to reports, the new $1 million vessel, an 85-foot cruiser named Dolce Vento, was launched Tuesday in the Ereğli district of Zonguldak, a port city on Turkey’s Black Sea.

The amateur video shows the boat being pushed into the ocean down a track on the beach and then swaying within 15 minutes of setting off.

As bystanders watched, the luxury yacht lurched to one side, tilting dangerously before taking on water.

Chaos erupted as people on board had to scramble onto the sloping deck. As the vessel sank quickly, they were forced to dive into the sea.

One clip shows a man in a dark suit standing on the vessel’s side before springing into the water.

The Turkish Coast Guard and port teams reportedly rushed to the scene, setting up a security perimeter around the capsized craft as it slipped further into the water, per TMZ.

According to TMZ, a spokesperson for the shipyard hosting the yacht, Med Yilmaz, said the cause of the disaster is under investigation.

Technical inspections will be carried out to determine whether a construction flaw, balance issue or human error doomed the luxury vessel.

LATIN AMERICA

Venezuelan military jets buzz US Navy ship in 'highly provocative' move, Pentagon says

The Defense Department confirmed on Thursday night that two Venezuelan aircraft flew near a U.S. Navy vessel in international waters. The incident, which the department called a "highly provocative move," comes as the Trump administration ramps up its anti-narco-terrorism efforts.

"Today, two Maduro regime military aircraft flew near a U.S. Navy vessel in international waters. This highly provocative move was designed to interfere with our counter narco-terror operations," the Defense Department wrote in a statement posted to X. "The cartel running Venezuela is strongly advised not to pursue any further effort to obstruct, deter or interfere with counter-narcotics and counter-terror operations carried out by the U.S. military."

The Pentagon is deploying 10 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Puerto Rico for counter-narcotics tasking in the Caribbean, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to Fox News.

Venezuela’s actions followed an unprecedented U.S. Marine strike Tuesday on a cartel-operated vessel. The Trump administration later said 11 members of the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua – a U.S.-designated terrorist organization – were killed in the strike.

Prior to the strike on Tuesday, U.S. efforts to counter cartels and international gang organizations had taken place largely in the form of seizure and apprehension operations. The strike, however, appeared to signal that the Trump administration was shifting towards a tougher new approach.

On Thursday, during a visit to Ecuador, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that two gangs were being reclassified as foreign terrorist organizations. Rubio also slammed the Venezuelan leadership’s involvement in the drug trade. He went on to condemn Nicolás Maduro as an "indicted drug trafficker" and a "fugitive of American justice."

"Maduro is indicted by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York. That means the Southern District of New York presented the evidence to a grand jury, and a grand jury indicted him. And then a superseding indictment came out that was unsealed about a year and a half ago that specifically detailed Maduro's actions," Rubio said on Thursday. "So, number one, let there be no doubt he, Nicolás Maduro, is an indicted drug trafficker in the United States, and he's a fugitive of American justice."

Rubio also seemed to indicate that the U.S. and its allies were working together on this tougher approach to cartels and international gang organizations. He said that "cooperative governments" would help the U.S. identify drug traffickers and "blow them up, if that’s what it takes."