Trump schedules face-to-face with Putin ahead of Ukraine peace talks
President Trump intends to meet in person with President Vladimir Putin of Russia as soon as next week, Fox News has learned.
Trump then plans to follow shortly afterward with a meeting between himself, Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.
MS-13 chokehold prompts surprise immigration raid at California Home Depot
Department of Homeland Security officials took 16 individuals into custody on Wednesday morning during immigration raids at a Los Angeles Home Depot, territory that federal authorities say is in the grip of the notorious MS-13 gang.
The operation happened around 7 a.m. in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. As DHS officials burst onto the scene from the back of Penske trucks, migrants began scattering from the parking lot, according to video from the scene.
DHS told Fox News that the violent MS-13 gang has a chokehold on the area, which is why the highly optic immigration raid was carried out at the location.
No further details about the 16 detained individuals were immediately provided.
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The raid happened near the site of immigration raids last month that saw Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass come to the scene to ask federal agents to leave.
“They need to leave, and they need to leave right now. They need to leave because this is unacceptable!” Bass, who has been a vocal opponent of immigration raids in the city, said at the time.
FEDERAL AGENTS CONDUCT IMMIGRATION RAID IN LOS ANGELES DESPITE FIERCE OPPOSITION FROM DEMOCRAT MAYOR
Protesters also showed up in the area last month, with reports of a tire on a federal vehicle being slashed and objects thrown at vehicles.
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In June, protesters rioted and clashed with authorities for several days amid outrage over immigration raids in the region. President Donald Trump federalized the National Guard and ordered the deployment of Marines to the city, leading to heavy criticism from local and state officials, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Social media erupts over Beyoncé’s jeans ad following Sweeney controversy
Social media users went into a frenzy as singer Beyoncé Knowles dropped her own new jeans ad following the release of actress Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle (AE) ad.
The singer-songwriter and Levi’s jeans unveiled their latest fashion collaboration on social media Tuesday, featuring a blonde Knowles wearing a rhinestone-encrusted denim suit. The image sent shockwaves across social media, which had just been roiling over Sweeney’s ad that some media outlets accused of promoting “Whiteness.”
“So Beyoncé can pose in Levi jeans and it’s art… But when a White woman does it, it’s a national crisis?” one user wrote, suggesting a double standard in how both women were being treated for their ads.
SYDNEY SWEENEY HAS NO FEAR OF FILMING NUDE SCENES AS SHE HIGHLIGHTS BODY TRANSFORMATION FOR ROLE
Though Beyoncé had been collaborating with Levi’s prior to Sweeney’s AE campaign, the latest roll-out from the pop star and fashion brand happened within days of the release of Sweeney’s ad, which caused a firestorm online with its tagline, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.”
The line’s double meaning, referring to both the blue-eyed, blonde actress’ looks and her denim pants, had many online and in the media accusing the movie star and fashion brand of promoting White supremacist themes.
For example, far-left outlet Salon’s weekend editor CK Smith linked the tagline of Sweeney’s ad to “eugenics movements.”
“Eugenics movements in the U.S. often promoted the idea of ‘good genes’ to encourage reproduction among White, able-bodied people while justifying the forced sterilization of others. Critics say those ideas still show up in modern advertising and influencer culture, often unexamined,” Smith wrote last month.
Many of the social media responses to a blonde Beyoncé donning jeans in her own ad appeared to be referencing the Sweeney controversy.
“Those curves = good genes,” one user wrote on Levi’s Instagram post featuring the ad.
Another wrote, “Sweeney looks better,” and someone else declared, “We want Sydney Sweeney!”
On X, users commented on the Beyoncé ad in the context of Sweeney’s as well.
Commentator John LeFevre said people were letting Beyoncé get away with cultural appropriation in this ad, but would never allow Sweeney to get away with that.
“Hard to recognize, but this is Beyonce – with straightened blonde hair and lightened skin. If Sydney Sweeney did an ad in braids, the world would melt down…” he wrote.
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British commentator Oli London called out the different treatments of both ad campaigns, asking, “Beyoncé appeared in Levi Jeans advert. Zero liberal outrage. Sydney Sweeney appeared in American Eagle advert. Massive liberal outrage. Why is that?”
Washington Examiner contributor Kimberly Ross criticized people for throwing barbs over both ads.
“What if I said Sydney Sweeney has good genes, Beyoncé has good genes, and flipping out about either is stupid? Move on from these inane discussions. Good lord,” she said.
Fox News contributor Nicole Saphier implied there was cultural appropriation on Knowles’ part.
“Just going to leave this pic from Beyoncé Levi’s campaign right here for those saying Sydney Sweeney with her blond hair/denim/sultry look is racist…” she stated.
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Reps for Levi’s and Beyoncé did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital’s for comment.
US embassy sends blunt message to TV host threatened after illegal filming
Cocaine hippos, narrow escapes from the law and bringing extinct animals back to life – the latest installment of the “Sean” podcast explores a series of quirky topics, and you can catch it on Fox Nation.
Sean Hannity hosts conservation educator and TV host Forrest Galante, who sits down to talk about his wildest adventures – with one taking listeners to Burma, where he endured a nail-biting threat of imprisonment while filming for The History Channel.
“We’re sitting there in the country with this illegal drone, and I’m like, ‘We can’t make a TV show without it…'” The eagerness to collect footage meant Galante and his team were weighing a hefty risk.
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On the one hand, the show must go on. On the other, getting caught meant facing life in prison.
Just one week earlier, such drones weren’t illegal in the southeast Asian nation – but the eagerness to avoid bad press after the Rohingya massacre created the climate for a perfect storm. In the days of bulkier, less-discreet drones, concealing one while going through customs would be no easy feat for Galante’s team.
Galante’s team, unaware of the law change until their arrival in Burma, had to strategically break down their equipment and hide it in backpacks. Their effort to get through customs unscathed proved successful.
“We’re like, ‘Ah, we’re scot-free. We’re so clever,’ high-fiving, everything. We reassemble, we are shooting with it every day. We’re snickering, we think we’re great. We literally broke the law. I’m not the most proud of that, but at the time, it seemed like it was okay,” he recalled.
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But things took a turn for the worse when their sneaky operation was exposed on CCTV, and local authorities came calling.
“They’re threatening us with literally life imprisonment if we don’t turn over the drone and turn ourselves in,” he revealed.
Left with little choice, his crew ditched the drone and weighed their next steps.
“We had a guy fly in and take out hard drives with the footage, and the crew was freaking out,” Galante told Hannity.
Seeking help, he called the U.S. embassy and explained the situation. Their reply was blunt: “Well, you broke the law. There’s nothing we can do. Click.”
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The team had to strategize again, this time formulating a plan to stagger their departure and fly out of the country in pairs on different days to break down their large group and appear less suspicious.
As the head of the crew, Galante went first, and what happened next only added to the nail-biting encounter.
To learn what happened next and how Galante was ‘nearly sentenced to death,’ subscribe to Fox Nation and begin streaming the August 5 installment of “Sean” now.
Rich Americans flee to popular sunny islands, buying homes for ‘golden’ visa
America’s elite are increasingly drawn to “golden” visa programs with new opportunities emerging in sunny and desirable locations.
The latest countries to be included in the trend are some Caribbean Islands — namely, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia.
The islands offer citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programs, also dubbed “golden passports.”
AMERICA’S ELITE LEAD BOOM OF ‘GOLDEN’ VISA APPLICATIONS TO VACATION DESTINATION
The visa can be obtained by making one of two qualifying investments.
The first is “a direct contribution to the Government (commonly known as the contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund route), starting at U.S. $200,000 for a single applicant,” according to the Commonwealth of Dominica.
The second is “the purchase of pre-approved real estate at a minimum value of U.S. $200,000.”
Many Caribbean Islands do not have wealth, gift, inheritance, foreign income or capital gains taxes.
The CBI program allows investors to retain their existing citizenship and grants visa-free entry to most countries around the world.
Nadia Dyson, owner of Luxury Locations Real Estate in Antiqua, told the BBC there has been a surge in business.
“Up to 70% of all buyers right now are wanting citizenship, and the vast majority are from the U.S.,” Dyson said.
“This time last year, it was all lifestyle buyers and a few CBI. Now they’re all saying, ‘I want a house with citizenship.’ We’ve never sold so many before,” she told the BBC.
New Zealand recently saw a surge of Americans seeking its “Active Investor Plus” visa, Fox News Digital previously reported.
In April, the government relaxed its visa rules to attract more high-net-worth individuals, with such changes as removing an English language requirement and reducing the amount of time required to spend in New Zealand.
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In under three months, 189 golden visa applications were received, while previous applications were at 116 submissions over the span of more than two-and-a-half years, Reuters reported.
Nearly half the applications were submitted by U.S. citizens.
Former New Zealand Minister for Economic Development Stuart Nash, co-founder of Nash Kelly Global, told Fox News Digital the visas are becoming more popular.
“There’s a lot of global uncertainty at the moment,” he said last month.
“You’ve got a war going on in Europe, you’ve got the tinderbox, which is the Middle East. You’ve got a change in the U.S. administration,” said Nash, “which is causing more polarization than we’ve seen in a long, long time.”
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He added, “In the past, people were looking for tax havens. Now they’re looking for safe havens for them[selves] and their family.”
Screams heard before bikini brand founder’s body discovered at elite yacht club
Martha Nolan‑O’Slatarra, a 33‑year‑old Manhattan fashion entrepreneur known for her high-end bikini brand and infectious social media presence, was found dead aboard a docked boat at a high-end marina destination at the eastern tip of Long Island.
According to the Suffolk County Police Department, Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the death of the 33-year-old Manhattan woman who was found unresponsive aboard a boat docked at the Montauk Yacht Club early Tuesday morning.
According to police, East Hampton Town officers responded to a 911 call just after midnight from a man who reported a woman unconscious on a vessel docked at the luxury marina, located on Star Island Road. Nearby good Samaritans attempted CPR before first responders arrived, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
On Wednesday, police identified the deceased as Nolan, an industrious entrepreneur. The New York Post reported that, according to one Montauk Yacht Club member, they heard screaming from the docks late Monday, just hours before the blonde-haired beauty was found.
EXCLUSIVE WATERFRONT ENCLAVE ROCED AFTER BODY FOUND NEAR YACHT CLUB
Authorities said the preliminary investigation and medical exam were “inconclusive” as to the cause of death. An official ruling will be made following an autopsy by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Former NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro told Fox News Digital that police are likely beginning with the standard proceedings following a high-profile death investigation.
“The detectives will be doing the basics here — interview the boat owner, others potentially on the boat that night, other boat-owners nearby, members of the yacht club, etc. They’ll also be doing the usual digital stuff we talk about, with phones and video,” Mauro said. “A key piece here will also be the determination made by the Suffolk Medical Examiner following the autopsy.”
Despite the upscale setting, Mauro said investigators won’t be deterred: “Just because this occurred in an exclusive area is no shield from police inquiries. I have no doubt there will be a full investigation.”
One critical logistical challenge may be the scene of the incident: the boat.
“If it is indeed a crime scene, you have a crime scene that could go mobile. So the detectives have no doubt frozen the scene — by court order if necessary,” Mauro explained. “That boat cannot go sailing off into the sunset.”
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Originally from Carlow, Ireland, Nolan was the founder of East x East, a boutique resort wear label she frequently promoted on TikTok through stylish behind-the-scenes glimpses of her photo shoots and design process.
In one clip from a Mallorca campaign, she described the project as “a beautiful love story,” adding that “witnessing my visions come to life fills me with so much happiness.”
Her most recent posts included a July video celebrating a pop-up appearance at Gurney’s Resort in Montauk, captioned “Goals Achieved,” highlighting the culmination of her marketing efforts in the Hamptons.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Nolan received her Bachelor of Commerce and Master’s degree in Digital Marketing from University College Dublin before moving to the Big Apple at 26-years-old.
WATCH:
The Suffolk County Homicide Squad is leading the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact detectives at 631-852-6392.
The Montauk Yacht Club is a haven for summer tourism and upscale clientele. The Long Island hotel is oceanfront.
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A spokesperson for the Montauk Yacht Club, where the boat was docked, confirmed the incident but declined to provide further details.
“We are saddened to learn of the incident that took place,” the spokesperson said to Fox News Digital. “Our team is cooperating with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation and remains committed to the safety and well-being of our guests and staff. We have no further comment at this time.”
NATO member scrambles jets after Russian drone attack, as Witkoff meets with Putin
Romania was forced to scramble F-16 jets after Russia carried out a strike just half a mile from the NATO nation’s territory.
The country’s Ministry of National Defense (MApN) confirmed in a post on X that Russia carried out a drone attack near its border.
“On the night of August 5-6, the Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on the civilian infrastructure in the Ismail area, Ukraine, in the vicinity of the border with Romania,” Romania’s defense ministry wrote in a post on X.
“The radar systems of the MApN detected air targets in Ukrainian space, close to Tulcea County. At 1:10a.m., the population in the north of the county was warned via RO-Alert,” the ministry added. RO-Alert is Romania’s official emergency warning system.
NATO JETS SCRAMBLED AMID RUSSIA’S LARGEST DRONE ATTACK ON UKRAINE
The defense ministry stated that two F-16 fighter jets took off “to monitor the national airspace,” but no “unauthorized intrusions” were detected. The ministry said it would carry out checks in the area and keep NATO allies updated in real time.
The drones reportedly struck oil and gas pipelines at the Orlivka plant in Odesa, Ukraine. Bright orange flames and plumes of smoke were visible across the Danube River.
Nearby Lithuania has also suffered from Russia’s war on Ukraine. Drones from Putin ally Belarus crossed into its territory, according to Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys, who said he spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“These repeated incidents represent an alarming sign of the spillover of Russia’s aggression against [Ukraine] onto [NATO territory],” Budrys said of the incident. “We cannot compromise the security of our country and citizens, nor the integrity of NATO airspace. We must remain vigilant, as the threat is real and growing.”
RUSSIA LAUNCHED ITS LARGEST AERIAL ATTACK OF THE WAR, UKRAINE SAYS
This attack could signal that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not moving closer to reaching a ceasefire deal, despite President Donald Trump’s Friday deadline. It’s unclear whether Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit will push the Russian leader to move toward peace. However, if Moscow fails to make a deal by Friday, the U.S. will impose sanctions on Russia and potentially secondary tariffs.
Trump is reportedly putting pressure on Witkoff’s visit. One person close to the administration told the Financial Times that “if Witkoff comes back empty-handed, with absolutely nothing, Trump is going to go ballistic.”
Witkoff reportedly spent about three hours at the Kremlin and, according to Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, the “dialogue will prevail,” Reuters reported.
TRUMP CONFIRMS NUCLEAR SUBMARINES “IN THE REGION” AHEAD OF WITKOFF’S RUSSIA VISIT
Before setting the deadline, Trump reportedly spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about securing a deal that would end the brutal war more than three years after Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy later confirmed the conversation took place, saying that the “key focus” was ending the war.
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“Today, we coordinated our positions – Ukraine and the United States. We exchanged assessments of the situation: The Russians have intensified the brutality of their attacks. President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
Woman beaten in viral street attack says doctors told her she ‘should be dead’
One of the victims of a viral brawl that happened in Cincinnati July 26 says she’s been forced into hiding after the incident that left her severely injured.
The victim, who is identified only as “Holly,” appeared on “The Benny Show” Wednesday and revealed she’s had to hire security and temporarily relocate after she was beaten.
“So I’ve had to have security crew and go into a super-secret spot, which we allowed the security guys to come into today,” Holly said. “Wild, wild.”
While discussing her injuries, Holly said she won’t know the extent of those injuries until after healing from a concussion, adding that doctors are concerned there might be some neurological damage. She added some of the damage might be permanent.
CINCINNATI BRAWL TIMELINE: BRUTAL ASSAULT SPIRALS INTO NATIONAL FIRESTORM
“I have giant welts all over my body. My neck, you know, right now I don’t have it, but I’ve been wearing an airport neck pillow because I didn’t wanna wear a complete neck brace, so I can try and strengthen the neck muscles,” she said. “But I’ll be sitting here, I’ll be fine and then, all the sudden, my neck muscles stop working. So, I literally have to just walk around and hold my head up.”
Holly said doctors told her she was lucky to be alive, telling her she “should be dead.”
“Yeah, they said 25% of the time, people die instantly when they hit their head like that,” Holly said, repeating what doctors told her. “And then there’s another 25% to 40% chance that I could have, like, gone into a coma and been a vegetable my whole life.”
FIFTH SUSPECT ARRESTED IN VIRAL CINCINNATI BEATDOWN AS VICTIM DETAILS HER ‘ONGOING BATTLE’
Police in Cincinnati on Wednesday announced officers have arrested a sixth suspect allegedly linked to the July 26 brawl. Aisha Devaughn, 25, was arrested and charged with aggravated riot and felonious assault.
Devaughn was arrested by the Cincinnati Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit.
Footage from the brawl shows a large group attacking multiple individuals on the corner of Fourth and Elm streets in Cincinnati’s business district during the early morning hours of July 26. Several individuals can be seen punching and kicking the victims, with one woman being knocked unconscious and lying in the street.
Authorities have also arrested Patrick Rosemond, 38, Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, DeKyra Vernon, 24, and Dominique Kittle, 37, for their alleged roles in the brutal brawl.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said that only one witness called 911 out of 100 people.
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A fundraiser set up for Holly has raised over $500,000. Actor Charlie Sheen is among those who donated.
“My Ohio connections run deep, and what happened to you will NOT be tolerated by the “true” Ohioans (like yourself), as justice will reign supreme. heal well, young lady, and know that we are all rooting for you!” Sheen wrote when making the donation, according to a post on X from Benny Johnson.
Leading economist issues stark warning for struggling US economy
A leading economist is warning that the U.S. economy is on the brink of recession after incoming economic data last week signaled labor market conditions are softening as inflation is rising, which could complicate the ability of the Federal Reserve to support the economy.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, on Monday wrote a post on X that the “economy is on the precipice of recession” – citing the weaker-than-expected jobs report released Friday and the inflation data from the previous day that showed consumer prices rose as indicating the economy’s precarious position.
“Consumer spending has flatlined, construction and manufacturing are contracting, and employment is set to fall. And with inflation on the rise, it is tough for the Fed to come to the rescue,” he wrote.
Zandi explained that while the unemployment rate has remained relatively low, that’s because “labor force growth has gone sideways” with the number of foreign-born workers declining along with the labor force participation rate.
MARKETS NOW BETTING FED WILL CUT RATES IN SEPTEMBER AFTER DISAPPOINTING JOBS REPORT
He also said the “economy-wide hiring freeze, particularly for recent graduates, and the decline in hours worked,” is telling about the conditions in the labor market.
Zandi said the tariffs put in place by the Trump administration are having a greater impact on household budgets and corporate profits, while the immigration crackdown has hampered the labor market.
“It’s no mystery why the economy is struggling; blame increasing U.S. tariffs and highly restrictive immigration policy. The tariffs are cutting increasingly deeply into the profits of American companies and the purchasing power of American households. Fewer immigrant workers means a smaller economy,” Zandi explained.
WHY DOES THE LABOR DEPARTMENT REVISE JOBS REPORTS? HERE ARE 3 REASONS
The Commerce Department on Thursday reported the Fed’s favored inflation gauge rose in June, with the headline PCE inflation figure rising from 2.3% to 2.6% on an annual basis.
That figure is well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation target.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell has previously said that if the central bank is caught in a situation where economic conditions are pushing data further away from fulfilling both of its dual mandate goals of 2% and maximum employment, it would orient its monetary policy to support whichever is further from the Fed’s goal.
Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the U.S. economy added 73,000 jobs in July – well below the gain of 110,000 jobs that was estimated by economists polled by LSEG. The agency also revised employment in May and June downward by a combined 258,000 jobs.
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Those large revisions prompted President Donald Trump to fire the BLS commissioner, and the president claimed without evidence that the agency manipulated jobs data for political purposes ahead of last year’s election.
Zandi defended the fidelity of the economic data in a follow-up post, saying that significant revisions happen regularly when the economy is undergoing a transition or entering a recession.
“Any notion that the economic data misrepresents the reality of how the economy is performing is way off base. The data always suffers big revisions when the economy is at an inflection point, like a recession,” Zandi wrote. “It’s thus not at all surprising that we are seeing big downward revisions to the payroll employment numbers.”
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“Particularly given the DOGE cuts – not because the BLS has had to cut staff, although that can’t help, but because the government often reports payrolls to the BLS late. This didn’t matter much when government employment was stable, but now that government jobs are declining, the cuts are being picked up in the revisions,” he added.