CCP threat becomes even more apparent after Israel launches strike on Iran

Recent arrests of Chinese nationals at the University of Michigan have resurrected concerns about CCP-owned farmland and property in the United States, particularly in Michigan, and caused some to draw parallels with the current conflict between Iran and Israel. 

Earlier this month, two Chinese nationals were charged with allegedly smuggling a “dangerous biological pathogen” into the U.S. to study at the University of Michigan in an incident that FBI Director Kash Patel described as a “sobering reminder that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply, an act that could cripple our economy and endanger American lives.”

Later, a third Chinese national with connections to the university was arrested, renewing questions about China’s efforts to infiltrate and influence various sectors in the United States, including buying up farmland, which has been a growing concern nationwide.

A 2023 report from the United States Department of Agriculture found that “foreign persons held an interest in nearly 45 million acres of U.S. agricultural land,” which represents 3.5% of all privately held agricultural land and 2% of all land in the country.

NEW LEGISLATION AIMS TO TELL CHINA ‘NO’ ON BUYING UP AMERICAN FARMLAND

While China is not at the top of the list of countries in that report, the arrests in Michigan have prompted calls from Congress to ensure that the CCP, viewed by many as the nation’s top geopolitical adversary, is not buying up farmland in the United States.

Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts exclusively told Fox News Digital this week that China has been aggressively buying American agriculture, “which is why we need to have a heightened sense of vigilance around protecting our homeland.”

Ricketts, along with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, introduced the bipartisan Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure (AFIDA) Improvements Act that seeks to implement recommendations published by the Government Accountability Office in January 2024, which found the AFIDA was ill-equipped to combat foreign ownership of American agricultural land. 

“China’s land purchases aren’t just about acreage—they’re about access,” Michigan GOP Rep. John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP, told Fox News Digital. 

“Even small parcels near military bases or critical infrastructure pose serious national security risks. In my home state, we’ve seen concerning cases like Gotion’s site near Camp Grayling. We need full transparency into who’s buying land and where—because the Chinese Communist Party shouldn’t be allowed to hide behind shell companies to gain a foothold in our country.”

FBI DIRECTOR PATEL LEADS CHARGE TO ROOT OUT CHINESE INFLUENCE ON US SOIL

China’s encroachment into Michigan’s agriculture was enough of a concern for Republican state Rep. Gina Johnsen to introduce legislation earlier this year banning foreign adversaries from buying up farmland.

“Our state’s agricultural industry is a pillar of our economy. My community is an agricultural community,” Johnsen said. Our farms provide food security, jobs, and economic stability for countless residents. However, there is growing concern about losing our farmland to countries of concern.” 

Additionally, Chinese farmland has become a topic of conversation in the wake of revelations that Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear capabilities was aided by years of covert planning, surveillance and infiltration by Israeli intelligence. 

Code-named “Am Kelavi” (Rising Lion), the preemptive operation was the product of unprecedented coordination between the Israeli air force, the Military Intelligence Directorate, the Mossad and the country’s defense industries. For years, they worked “shoulder to shoulder” to gather the intelligence files needed to eliminate Iran’s most sensitive military and nuclear assets.

As part of that operation, Israel was able to establish a drone base inside Iran, where Mossad operatives retrieved them from hiding spots to use against Iranian sites. 

Bryan Cunningham, president of Liberty Defense and former CIA intelligence officer, told Fox News Digital that the Israeli operation is a “wake-up call” for the United States about what a foreign adversary like China could potentially carry out in the United States.

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“As an intelligence officer, part of me says, I wish that the sources and methods of building these drone factories inside the target countries hadn’t been revealed,” Cunningham said. “But on the other hand, it does serve as a wake-up call, hopefully for our policymakers, and it also ties in, and if I were the administration, I would make this tie in immediately and loudly with the Trump administration’s border strategy.”

Cunningham continued, “Our borders are where you’re most likely to actually intercept these kinds of toxins, explosives, flares, 3D-printed weapons, ceramic weapons, whatever it is. So if it were me and I were the Secretary of Homeland Security, I would be tying this all together. You know, it is important to get people out of the country that have committed violent or other serious crimes in the country, but it’s also really important to prevent people like these guys from bringing in those kinds of materials.”

The FBI is increasing its surveillance of Iranian-backed operatives inside the United States as Trump weighs strikes, a senior law enforcement official told Fox News on Friday. 

Police warn of dangerous new robbery trend emerging across the country

As surveillance footage of an increasingly popular violent street crime has surfaced from South Carolina, police are warning Americans of the disturbing trend. 

The crime is known as “jugging,” a type of robbery in which criminals surveil banks and ATMs, watching for victims who withdraw large sums of money. When those victims finish their transactions, the “juggers” will usually follow them to a secondary location, where they will rob the victims, often inside their vehicles. 

“Jugging rhymes with mugging, it’s spread from Texas to South Carolina,” Fox News Senior Correspondent Steve Harrigan said on “America Reports” on Friday. “Some police there weren’t even sure what the word meant until the crime started happening in their own districts. Law enforcement warns that it could be over in a flash.”

BRONX CAR OWNER DRAGGED IN STREET DURING CARJACKING CAUGHT ON CAMERA

In the footage, captured on April 26, a man can be seen struggling inside the front passenger area of a red truck, before jumping out of that vehicle and into a silver SUV. The SUV then speeds off, and it is captured from different surveillance angles fleeing the parking lot. 

Cpl. Cecilio Reyes of the Mauldin, South Carolina, Police Department explained how the crime typically plays out. 

“They are scoping, and they will watch you as you’re either coming in or going out of the bank, or watch you do ATM withdrawals, seeing how much you’re getting cash wise,” Reyes said. 

CREW OF ARMED GUNMEN ROB ARMORED TRUCK OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO-AREA BANK IN BROAD DAYLIGHT

Harrigan described a wave of jugging arrests in Texas, before the practice began spreading to North and South Carolina. 

“In one place in South Carolina, a landscaping business owner went in a bank unaware that he was being observed, took out his weekly payroll, stopped at a gas station for a soda, and two juggers – they usually work in teams – pulled up alongside his Chevy, broke through the window and made off with what his entire payroll was, $6,000.” 

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Harrigan also reported that the Texas legislature is working to make jugging a specific felony, with harsher penalties than simple robbery. 

Police chief reveals the ‘never wrong’ way to verify officers after lawmaker’s murder

Vance Boelter left the state of Minnesota in fear after he allegedly posed as a police officer and carried out the shootings of two state lawmakers, killing one and her husband, at their homes last week.

But what can you do to verify that the person who knocks on your door or pulls you over while you’re in your vehicle is a law enforcement officer?

Mark Bruley, chief of police in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where Boelter allegedly shot and killed Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, told reporters at a press conference earlier this week that there’s one thing you can do that’s “never wrong.”

“You always can call 911 and verify if the person at your door is a police officer,” Bruley said. “If they are working police officer, they will be connected to a dispatch center that can validate that. So the first thing I would do is, if you’re concerned about it, is call 911. Obviously, there’s a lot of different uniforms, and it’s never wrong to do that.”

WHAT MOTIVATED SUSPECT IN MINNESOTA LAWMAKER SHOOTING IS UNCLEAR, SO ARE HIS POLITICS

Police officers typically wear a visible badge with their identification number and name on their uniform. They often also carry agency-issued photo identification that can include their name, rank and agency information.

Fox News Digital spoke with Brian Higgins, founder of Group 77 and former Chief of Police of Bergen County, N.J., to learn more about what citizens can do in cases where they feel the need to verify that who they’re speaking to is a law enforcement officer.

Higgins said that most verification measures, such as requesting the officer’s photo identification, require the citizen to open the door, at which point it would be too late if the individual is an impersonator.

“If you’re not sure, don’t open the door,” Higgins said, adding that citizens can stand to the side of their door and speak to officers through the door while calling 911 or the local police department to confirm that an officer was sent to their home.

Higgins said that knowing what police uniforms look like and, if you live in a town with a smaller police force, being familiar with its members helps with verifying.

“If you see an officer not in uniform, not someone you recognize,” Higgins said, “it’s prudent to call police and ask if this person is a police officer.”

Not all situations, however, are the same.

“It’s more difficult when on the road and a police officer pulls you over,” Higgins said of verification during traffic stops. 

In these situations, Higgins said it’s important to know what law enforcement vehicles look like, adding that sometimes real law enforcement cars can be unmarked.

MINNESOTA POLICE PRAISED FOR FOILING LAWMAKER SHOOTING SUSPECT’S PLAN

Higgins said officers usually call in traffic violations to dispatch, so drivers can still call 911 or the local police to verify that an officer performing their duties initiated the stop.

Higgins advised citizens to always be aware of their surroundings and to pull over in public places, if possible.

If unable to immediately pull over in a public place, Higgins said drivers can lower their window just enough, keep their car in drive and ask the officer if it’s possible to drive to another place that is safer or more public.

Higgins said that police officers understand that citizens may be uncertain or nervous and ask for verification.

“If their answer is anything other than professional, it should raise a concern,” Higgins said.

In the case in Minnesota, Boelter allegedly impersonated a police officer, wearing a flesh-colored mask, a black tactical vest and carrying a flashlight before shooting and killing state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their respective homes.

Boelter also drove a black SUV equipped with police-style lights and a fake license plate that said “POLICE,” according to a court affidavit.

Video footage from Hoffman’s home shows a masked Boelter at the front door wearing the black tactical vest and holding a flashlight, according to the affidavit. Boelter then allegedly knocked on their door and shouted repeatedly, “This is the police. Open the door.”

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The Hoffmans answered the door but, since Boelter was shining the flashlight in their eyes, realized too late that Boelter was not a real police officer, the affidavit said.

WATCH: Dem senators blame Trump for Iran crisis as GOP urges him to stand firm with Israel

While Democratic senators are blaming President Donald Trump for the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, Republicans are urging the president to continue standing in support of Israel as it attempts to eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities.

This comes as Israel and Iran, two major powers in the Middle East, are locked in a heavy missile war. Israel, a U.S. ally, has been targeting Iranian nuclear facilities with the intent of keeping Iran from utilizing nuclear weapons, something Trump has long advocated.

Following intense speculation that Trump would join the conflict by launching a U.S. strike on Iran, the White House issued a statement from the president in which he said there is a “substantial chance” for renewed negotiations to end the conflict. In the statement, Trump said he would decide which path to take in the next two weeks.

The White House has said that any deal with Iran would have to include a full commitment to not developing nuclear weapons, including no uranium enrichment, a necessary step to developing nuclear weapons. Iran has said it will not accept an agreement with a zero enrichment provision. 

SENATE RETURNS AMID CONCERNS ABOUT DEEPER US INVOLVEMENT IN THE IRAN, ISRAEL CONFLICT

Speaking with Fox News Digital in the halls of the Capitol, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., slammed Trump for pulling the U.S. out of a nuclear agreement of which Iran was a part during his first term. 

“The way to keep Iran from having a nuclear weapon is through negotiation,” she said. “We actually had that deal, and Donald Trump threw it out the window.

“That means we lost our inspectors, we lost the plans that had been made,” she continued.

“Right now, we need more deconfliction in the area. We need to bring down the temperature between Israel and Iran. That’s what’s best for Israel and Iran, it’s what’s best for the region and for the whole world,” said Warren.

IRAN REFUSES ZERO ENRICHMENT AS NUCLEAR TENSIONS ESCALATE 

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., also blamed Trump, saying, “He’s the one who put us out the deal in the first place,” which she said “very much so” contributed to the ongoing conflict.

While he said the U.S. should not be involved in bombing missions or any other military action against Iran, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said, “What we should do is continue to provide Israel with all the tools they need to defend themselves.”

“I hope the president will continue to promote a diplomatic solution that we had until he tore it up,” said Kaine.

Meanwhile, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats, told Fox News Digital that the “question is can it be resolved without our involvement.” He said he hopes Iran “will see the light and decide they don’t need to keep developing nuclear fuel.”

BEN HALL CONSIDERS HOW TRUMP’S DECISION ABOUT IRAN COULD ‘CHANGE THE WHOLE MIDDLE EAST’ 

On the other side of the aisle, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital that he believes Trump “standing unshakably with the nation of Israel” is the right move to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

“Israel is being incredibly effective with their military strike against Iran. They’ve taken out the senior military leadership, the leaders who would wage a war have been one after the other after the other surgically taken out by Israel. They are also taking out missile launch sites, and they’re taking out nuclear research sites, the sites where Iran is working to develop a nuclear weapon,” Cruz explained.

“Deterrence is always the key,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Ohio. “This president has been very clear he’s all about peace, and he doesn’t want to use the might of the United States unless we absolutely have to. I believe deterrence is the best foreign policy, because it shows peace through strength.”

That being said, Mullin said Trump has he’s been “very clear for over a decade: In no way are we going to allow the Iranian regime, who is the number one sponsor of terror around the world, to have a nuclear weapon.”

IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER REFUSES TO SURRENDER, MORE BALLISTIC MISSILES FIRED AT ISRAEL 

“So, we need to be prepared to back up Israel if they’re not able to do the job, then we need to be able to finish it,” he said.

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“Look, he has said this for 10 years. He has said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, full stop,” said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala. “So, it is not just about [uranium] enrichment, which absolutely should have never happened and cannot happen, but it is also complete and total dismantlement of the nuclear program.”

Judge questions legality of Trump’s military deployment in Los Angeles

A federal judge on Friday asked if the Trump administration’s military deployment in Los Angeles violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits troops from conducting civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil.

This comes as California’s challenge to President Donald Trump’s deployment of troops to respond to anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles returned to a federal courtroom in San Francisco on Friday for a brief hearing. That followed an appeals court handing the Trump administration a victory in the case, with the 9th Circuit appellate panel allowing the president to keep control of National Guard troops he sent to quell riots.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer did not issue any additional rulings but asked for briefings from both sides by noon Monday on whether the federal department violated the Posse Comitatus Act.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in his complaint that “violation of the Posse Comitatus Act is imminent, if not already underway” but last week, Breyer delayed considering that allegation.

TRUMP SCORES MAJOR WIN AGAINST NEWSOM IN BATTLE FOR NATIONAL GUARD CONTROL

Vice President JD Vance, who traveled to Los Angeles on Friday to meet with deployed troops, argued that the court said Trump’s reason for sending in federal troops “was legitimate” and that he would do it again if needed.

“The president has a very simple proposal to everybody in every city, every community, every town whether big or small, if you enforce your own laws and if you protect federal law enforcement, we’re not going to send in the National Guard because it’s unnecessary,” Vance told reporters.

National Guard troops have been accompanying federal agents on some immigration raids over the anti-ICE demonstrations, and Marines briefly detained a man on the first day they deployed to protect a federal building, marking the first time federal troops have detained a civilian since deploying to Los Angeles.

Breyer found Trump acted illegally when Trump deployed troops despite opposition from Newsom. But the appellate ruling halted the judge’s temporary restraining order.

On Friday, Breyer asked the lawyers to address whether he or the appellate court retains primary jurisdiction to grant an injunction under the Posse Comitatus Act.

California has requested a preliminary injunction returning the control of troops in Los Angeles, where protests have calmed down in recent days, back to Newsom.

Trump argued that the troops are needed to restore order, while Newsom said their presence on the streets escalated tensions and wasted resources.

Breyer said Trump had overstepped his legal authority, which he noted allows presidents to control state National Guard troops only during times of “rebellion or danger of a rebellion.”

JD VANCE RAILS AGAINST NEWSOM, LA MAYOR FOR DECLARING ‘OPEN SEASON ON FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT’

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“The protests in Los Angeles fall far short of ‘rebellion,'” Breyer said.

The administration argued that courts cannot second-guess the president’s decisions. The appellate panel ruled that presidents do not have unchecked power to seize control of a state’s National Guard, but also said that by pointing to violent acts by protesters in this case, the administration had presented enough evidence to show it had reason for federalizing the troops.

The California National Guard will stay under federal control, at least for now, as the lawsuit proceeds.

This is the first federal deployment of a state National Guard without the governor’s permission since troops were sent to protect Civil Rights Movement marchers in 1965.

Mystery beneath the monastery: Archaeologists make discovery ‘like no other’

Archaeologists recently uncovered “sensational” artifacts beneath a historic monastery in Poland — offering a glimpse into monastic life in the 18th century.

The discovery was found near the Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary in Chełm, Poland, roughly 40 miles east of Lublin. The medieval church was founded in the 13th century. 

Throughout its long history, the church has been affiliated with the Eastern Orthodox Church as well as the Ruthenian Uniate Church. It is currently Roman Catholic.

HISTORIC MARYLAND CHURCH OPENS DOORS TO VISITORS 320 YEARS AFTER CLOSING DOWN

Historians excavated a 17th-century Basilian monastery next to the church. The monastery, which once housed Greek Catholic monks who followed the rule of St. Basil, was built around 400 years after the church was established.

In a statement, officials from the Lublin Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments (LWKZ) said the recent discovery was “like no other.”

“This year’s research season has yielded a sensational discovery,” said the statement, which was translated from Polish to English.

RARE 1,600-YEAR-OLD MOSAIC FROM CHRISTIAN MONASTERY UNVEILED AFTER CENTURIES OF OBSCURITY

“After dismantling the wooden floors on the upper level of the former Basilian monastery, hundreds of fragments of very rare heraldic tiles were found in the fill.”

Officials wrote that the tiles were glazed “in green and brown, and were made to order with specific symbolism, a bishop’s coat of arms and titles.”

“Currently, work is ongoing to inventory, piece together and study these extraordinary artifacts,” the government agency noted.

Historians estimate the tiles were crafted between 1711 and 1730. 

They were specifically designed to fit a stove, as indicated by their distinctive shape and size.

“One of the reconstructed tiles had a faceplate shaped similarly to a square, measuring 25.8 cm x 25 cm x 9.5 cm (height of the chamber), while another measured 24.5 cm (length of one side) x 7.8 cm (height of the chamber),” the translated post added.

The tiles’ faceplates also bore distinct initials, including those of Józef Lewicki. 

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He served as the monastery’s superior before becoming bishop of the Chełm Eparchy in 1711.

This remarkable find adds to a series of intriguing archaeological discoveries in Poland this year.

In March, a pair of pedestrians stumbled across an ancient deadly weapon on the coast of the Baltic Sea.

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In the Polish city of Krakow, excavators at Wawel Royal Castle recently found a remarkable ring that dates back over 500 years.

Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez’s reported $500M yacht wedding faces fierce local fury

Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sanchez’s highly anticipated nuptials are just around the corner.

The 61-year-old billionaire and the 55-year-old former TV journalist will reportedly tie the knot during a three-day wedding extravaganza in Venice, Italy, next week with numerous high-profile guests, including celebrities, politicians and business leaders. 

Bezos and Sanchez reportedly met in the mid-2010s and went public with their relationship in 2019 after Sanchez separated from Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell and Bezos divorced his Mackenzie Scott.

The pair announced their engagement in May 2023 after Bezos proposed to Sanchez with a 30-carat pink diamond ring estimated to be worth between $3 million and $5 million.

MYSTERY COUPLE MISTAKEN FOR JEFF BEZOS AND LAUREN SANCHEZ AT CANNES

Though the preparations have mostly been kept under wraps, Sanchez shared a glimpse of her wedding plans during a November appearance on “Today.”

“I’m very excited about it, thinking about the dress. I have to say, I do have a Pinterest. I’m just like every other bride,” Sanchez told hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb. 

“I never thought at 54 — I’m going to be 55 — that I’d be an author, that I’d be getting married. I mean, life is just beginning,” she added.

Bezos has denied any involvement in the wedding planning.

“Oh, God, no. Do I look that dumb?” he told Vogue in 2023.

In March, Sanchez’s older brother Paul Sanchez shared his excitement over the upcoming nuptials with TMZ, which he compared to the royal wedding of the late Princess Diana and then Prince Charles.  

“I think it’s gonna be like a Princess Di thing,” Paul said. “Just huge and fun and just a blast.

“I’m thrilled beyond belief,” he added. “It’s gonna be an amazing event. It’s gonna be star-studded and fun.”

However, the upcoming festivities have some Venice locals up in arms over fears of disruptions in a city already affected by mass tourism. Early protests have already been held, and some Venetians have posted banners decrying the event and Bezos on historic landmarks around the city. More demonstrations are expected during the celebrations. 

Here’s everything to know about what has been called the “wedding of the year.”

Where are Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez getting married?

In March, the city of Venice confirmed it would host the lavish affair.

At the time, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said Venice is “mutually working and supporting the organizers to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city.”

City officials said it will be “easy” for Venice to “accommodate” the couple’s nuptials “without any disruption whatsoever to the city, its residents and visitors,” noting only around 200 guests “will have been invited” to the Amazon founder and his fiancée’s nuptials. 

Venice, home to sites like the Rialto Bridge, Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s Basilica, is home to about 50,000 people and gets around 20 million visitors yearly, mostly day-trippers from cruise ships or other cities.  

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Officials told NBC earlier this week that about 30 of the 280 water taxis have been reserved for the wedding festivities, and only three or four hotels will be used for the event.

According to the BBC, wedding organizers have booked the entire island of San Giorgio Maggiore, which is located across from Venice’s famed St. Mark’s Square.

JEFF BEZOS, LAUREN SANCHEZ GET AND GIVE PHILANTHROPY AWARDS

People magazine reported that the official ceremony will take place on Bezos’ $500 million yacht, Koru, which will be anchored in the Venetian lagoon. 

According to Architectural Digest, Bezos first commissioned Koru in 2018, and it was delivered to the Blue Origin founder in 2023. At 417 feet long, Koru is the largest sailing yacht in the world, according to the outlet. 

Koru is accompanied by a $75 million support vessel named Abeona, which features a helipad and a hangar. 

Bezos proposed to Sanchez while aboard Koru in May 2023, she told Vogue in November of that year. 

In August 2023, Bezos and Sanchez hosted a star-studded engagement party on Koru when it was anchored off the coast of Positano, Italy. Guests who attended the event included Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Queen Rania of Jordan, Ari Emanuel, Kris Jenner and Tobey Maguire. 

When are Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez getting married?

The exact dates for the wedding have not been revealed, though Luca Zuin, spokesperson for themayor of Venice, told CNN this week it will be held from June 24-26. 

In a report published Friday, a source told the Daily Mail the island of San Giorgio Maggiore will be “‘off-limits to visitors” from June 24-29.

Who is on the guest list? 

In March, Puck News reported Bezos and Sanchez had mailed wedding invitations. 

There is expected to be a star-studded guest list, with friends of the couple making appearances. Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Mick Jagger, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Eva Longoria, Gayle King and Jewel are among the stars expected to attend, according to multiple reports. 

In addition, Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner are said to have been invited along with Joshua Kushner and wife Karlie Kloss and Fox Sports journalist Charissa Thompson. 

In addition to Sanchez’s brother Paul, members of the couple’s family are also expected to be in attendance, including their children. Bezos shares three sons and one daughter with Scott, while Sanchez and ex-husband Whitesell are parents to son Evan, 18, and daughter Ella, 17. Sanchez also shares son Nikko Gonzalez with former professional football player Tony Gonzalez. 

What can guests expect from the celebrations?

According to The Associated Press, Bezos and Sanchez are sourcing 80% of their wedding vendors locally. 

Two historic Venetian companies will add artisanal touches to the celebration, including Rosa Salva, the city’s oldest pastry maker that has been in business since 1876, and Laguna B, a design studio known for its distinctive handblown Murano glass prized by fashion and design clients.

KATY PERRY, LAUREN SANCHEZ SHOW OFF BLUE ORIGIN FLIGHT SUITS THAT BRING ‘SPICE TO SPACE’

Antonio Rosa Salva, the sixth generation in his family to run the business, said the wedding order of a selection of surprises for goody bags was an important recognition of his family’s long tradition of baking Venetian specialties dating back nearly 150 years.

The pastries include the bussola buttery biscuit that was long a fisherman’s staple and small zaletti cookies, made from the Veneto region’s cornmeal, flavored with raisins and lemon zest.

However, the Daily Mail reported Rosa Salva would not be creating the couple’s wedding cake.

According to the AP, Laguna B would not disclose what its master glassblowers on Murano have created for the wedding, but the company is known for distinctive glassware that at times features an undulating lip – no two alike.

Will there be protests?

Venetians have already staged protests in advance of the event with more expected during the proceedings. 

Some locals have united under the protest group named “No Space for Bezos,” according to the BBC.

The outlet reported Wednesday that protesters have posted anti-Bezos banners from the bell tower of the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica and the Rialto Bridge.

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“Venice is being treated like a showcase, a stage,” Federica Toninelli, a No Space for Bezos activist, told the BBC. 

“And this wedding is the symbol of the exploitation of the city by outsiders,” she added. “Venice is now just an asset.”

Though most of the details surrounding the wedding have been kept secret, one Venice citizen said, “We have our moles,” according to The New York Times. 

According to the NYT, Toninelli said one of the wedding venues could be The Misericordia, a famed event hall. 

“Bezos will never get to the Misericordia,” she said during a protest. “We will line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with lifesavers, dinghies and our boats.”

VENICE TO PLAY HOST TO BEZOS, SANCHEZ WEDDING, CITY SAYS

“We have to block Bezos. We have to block this idea of this city as a tourist haven that has driven up housing costs so that most ordinary Venetians can no longer afford to live here,” she said, according to the NYT.

Despite the backlash, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro told The Associated Press Venice is taking pride in playing host to the celebrations. 

“We are very proud,’’ Brugnaro said. “I don’t know if I will have time [to meet Bezos and Sanchez], or if he will, to meet and shake hands, but it’s an honor that they chose Venice. Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage.’’

In a statement to NBC Wednesday, city hall officials said Venice is prepared for the festivities. 

“The city is fully accustomed to hosting high-profile events of this nature and scale, including other celebrity weddings, international summits such as the G7 and G20, as well as traditional events like the Festa del Redentore and the Venice Biennale,” the statement said.

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“The celebrations, attended by 250 guests, will blend into the daily rhythm of a city that, with dignity and respect, welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world while safeguarding the quality of life for its residents, workers, and students.

“Protest initiatives are in no way representative of the majority of citizens, who are proud that Venice has been chosen as the wedding location“.

Kris Jenner’s dramatic new look has surgeons speculating about deep plane facelift

Kris Jenner — known as the “momager” of the Kardashian-Jenner empire — has made headlines in recent weeks for her more youthful appearance, sparking rumors of a possible deep plane facelift.

A representative for Jenner confirmed to another outlet that Dr. Steven Levine of New York City performed Jenner’s recent work, but did not specify the type of procedure. (Fox News Digital reached out to Levine and Jenner for comment.)

Dr. Patrick Davis, a Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon, said that Jenner appears “youthful and natural,” which is the hallmark of a “well-performed procedure.” 

PLASTIC SURGERY TRENDS TAKE A SURPRISING TURN AS DOCTORS SEE MORE PATIENTS ‘SIZING DOWN’

“It is difficult to comment specifically on what technique was performed, though in some fashion, the structural elements of her face were lifted to reset her skin tissues,” Davis, who has not treated Jenner, hypothesized in an interview with Fox News Digital. 

“She has a healthy-looking distribution of fat contributing to this new look, which could potentially be the effect of a fat transfer in addition to a facelift.”

Dr. Jonathan Kaplan, a board-certified plastic surgeon with Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery in San Francisco, agreed that Jenner has gotten an “incredible result” from what “appears to be” a deep plane facelift.

Traditional vs. deep plane facelift

With a standard or traditional facelift — also known as a SMAS facelift, or a Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System facelift — the surgeon makes incisions behind the hairline and around the front of the ear, lifting and tightening the deeper tissues and muscles and then removing excess skin.

This can eliminate wrinkles, sagging skin and the “jowl-like” effect, achieving a more youthful contour of the face and neck, according to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.

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Davis said most of his education and training has focused on deep plane facelifts.

“A deep plane facelift involves a wider dissection under the structural elements of the face, which then allows the surgeon to reset a greater proportion of facial tissues,” Davis said.

“The benefit of this technique is that a more natural, vertical reset can be achieved — and more importantly, the tissues re-attach themselves in a broader way, allowing for a more durable result.”

It’s important to choose a facelift that is right for the patient and that falls within the surgeon’s expertise, Davis noted.

“In those patients who have had multiple facelifts in the past, it could be wise to perform a simpler SMAS facelift with less dissection, as the tissues have been manipulated in the past,” he advised.

Risks and recovery

Any elective or non-elective surgery carries some degree of risk, experts agree.

“In any given surgery, there is a risk of infection, nerve damage, or bruising and swelling,” Davis cautioned. “These are minimized based on the surgeon’s experience and the frequency with which they perform the procedure.”

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It is important that the surgeon goes over these risks with the patient in person, according to Davis. 

Because the deep plane technique involves a more extensive dissection of tissues under and around facial nerves, Kaplan cautioned that the biggest risk is facial paralysis, which can be temporary or permanent.

“It’s a newer variation that requires a greater understanding of the anatomy to be successful,” he said.

Davis tells his patients that a deep plane facelift has a typical recovery time of about six months for full results, though many can return to work and other functions within three to four weeks. 

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“These procedures are not debilitating — however, there is some cosmetic downtime, which varies from patient to patient,” he noted.

In Kaplan’s practice, he encourages most patients to be out and about two weeks after surgery.

“They may still have some bruising, but it’s typically in the lower neck or upper chest at that point and can be covered,” he said.

Various factors can affect a patient’s recovery timeline, the experts say. Some, like genetics, can’t be controlled.

“Other things, however — like a low-salt diet, exercise, lymphatic massage, hyperbaric oxygen treatments and keeping up with proper post-op care — are within our control,” Davis said.

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Most surgeons will have the patient wear a head and neck compression garment for two weeks, Kaplan noted. 

“In general, the patient should not be in a great deal of pain — if they are, that can actually be a sign of a hematoma (bleeding under the skin),” he said. 

What to discuss before surgery

When opting for a facelift, it’s important to choose a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who is specifically trained in facelifts of deep SMAS tissue, doctors agreed. 

Before undergoing a facelift, Davis emphasized the need for the patient to share as much detail as possible about his or her medical history, lifestyle and aesthetic goals. 

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“When we have consultations with prospective clients, we want to know more about their diet, lifestyle, support system and any health conditions that may affect a surgery,” he said.

Kaplan noted that it’s important to tell the surgeon if you’re taking any GLP-1 weight-loss medications, as they may ask you to pause them a week prior to surgery.

The most important things to ask a prospective surgeon, according to Davis, are where they put their incisions, how they close their incisions, details about their individual technique, and any information that provides better insight into their background, experience and frequency with which they perform that specific procedure. 

“You want to find a surgeon who has extensive knowledge in facial plastic surgery and can provide their patients with tidy incisions that are well-hidden,” he advised. 

“Most of all, it is important that you are comfortable with your surgeon, as they will not only be with you for the procedure, but will be by your side on the recovery journey.”

Wyoming’s secret weapon in the battle for wealthy homebuyers is working

Wyoming’s tax policies are a boon for wealthy homebuyers. 

The state’s lack of an income tax and the permissibility of dynasty trusts have provided significant appeal to residents and homebuyers with deep pockets over the years, Realtor.com reported. 

A dynasty trust “facilitates the transfer of wealth to future generations while minimizing taxes” for the future recipients of the wealth and can therefore help “enable long-term wealth growth,” according to U.S. Bank. 

Other states such as South Dakota, Nevada and Delaware also have favorable terms for dynasty trusts. 

Latham Jenkins of real estate firm Live Water Jackson Hole told Realtor.com that Wyoming “is the most tax-friendly state.” 

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“Retirement benefits are not taxed at the state level, and it’s one of the most business-business-friendly states in the nation,” he added. 

Homes on the market in Wyoming had a median price of $495,000 in May but the state was still home to properties with asking prices well-above that, according to Realtor.com.

The real estate marketplace pegged the median asking price of Teton County, the county that encompasses Jackson Hole and parts of the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, at $2.95 million. Of the nearly 70 properties for sale in the county in May, 57 had an asking price of over $5 million. 

Wyoming overall had a larger proportion of properties on the market upwards of $5 million last month than the neighboring states of Idaho and Montana, with about 3% of the state’s 2,200 for-sale homes carrying a $5 million-plus price tag, per Realtor.com.

The real estate marketplace reported Wyoming has seen a difference in buyers and sellers when it comes to properties with asking prices above $10 million and those seeking $1 million. 

Those shopping for homes above $10 million have a higher propensity for strategic home acquisitions that they intend to hold onto thanks to the state’s tax advantages and using cash for their transactions, according to Realtor.com. Sellers in that category also reportedly tend to not have mortgages and be patient about offloading their properties. 

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Mortgages are more common among owners of homes less than $10 million. 

The median number days a Wyoming home asking at least $5 million remained up for grabs was higher than Idaho and Montana, coming in at 187, according to Realtor.com.

“People are more bullish in their prices, and more confident,” Prugh Real Estate broker Margi Barrie said to Realtor.com. “A lot of people aren’t leveraged on their property so that they can sell them, or not.” 

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Jackson Hole saw 15 sales of homes above $10 million over the course of 2024, according to a report from Compass. 

More than 587,600 people called Wyoming home as of July 2024, per the U.S. Census Bureau.