Americans rescued in nearly 20-hour mission completed in freezing temps
New Zealand’s air force carried out a nearly 20-hour medical evacuation to rescue three Americans from Antarctica, calling it a high-risk mission conducted in freezing temperatures and total darkness.
The U.S. National Science Foundation requested the evacuation after three staff members at McMurdo Station were unable to receive adequate medical treatment on-site.
One of the individuals required urgent care, while the other two also needed medical attention and were transported as a precaution, according to New Zealand’s air force.
Air Commodore Andy Scott, head of New Zealand’s air component, said mid-winter flights to Antarctica are among the most difficult missions due to shifting weather, extreme cold and ice landings in total darkness.
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“The crew can only attempt the flight after detailed analysis of the weather and airfield state,” Scott said. “The United States Antarctic Program Winter Team must physically create the runway before we can depart by ensuring the ice is groomed and suitable for landing.
“Although they determine it is safe, it’s still an extremely challenging environment to fly in on Night Vision Goggles due to the extreme weather conditions, which are highly changeable at this time of year and makes accurate forecasting a challenge,” he added. “This, coupled with there being no airfields available to divert to once the aircraft is past a certain point south adds to the risk, so these missions are not taken lightly.”
A medical team, including a physician, accompanied the crew to provide in-flight care during the return to Christchurch.
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The aircraft was pre-positioned from Auckland to Christchurch on Sunday, with a crew on standby for a weather window.
The crew made the decision on Tuesday to fly to Antarctica, working through the night to complete the mission.
After landing on the ice runway, the aircraft’s engines remained running to prevent freezing during refueling, the air force said.
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The round-trip mission lasted 19.5 hours, with the aircraft touching down in Christchurch on Wednesday morning.
Temperatures at McMurdo Station dropped to -11°F during the operation, adding to the already dangerous conditions.
Melissa Sweeney, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to New Zealand, praised the operation as “flawless.”
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“We are so very grateful. Our Kiwi partners didn’t hesitate to undertake this mission in one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. Their skill and readiness are truly world-class,” she said.
Far-left district attorney’s recall demanded by Sears after attempted kidnapping case
EXCLUSIVE: Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, who is running for governor, is calling for the recall of Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano as he faces mounting scrutiny over a string of controversial incidents, including a recent situation in which Fairfax County released a man who went on to allegedly attempt a kidnapping just three days later.
“Why is this man still in office? It is time for somebody to do a recall based on a dereliction of duty, and it can be done. If I were to keep telling you how many cases that this man, Steve Descano, has allowed to let go, doesn’t honor ICE detainers, puts murderers back in the community, et cetera, et cetera, it’s like, what are we doing?” the Republican told Fox News Digital in an interview.
“He is the one who is not protecting the citizens of Fairfax County. And the problem is, these criminals – they don’t just stay in Fairfax. They come all the way through Virginia and do their mayhem when he, one man, had the opportunity to do the right thing and keep Virginians safe,” she added.
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The Democratic commonwealth’s attorney is under investigation by Gov. Glenn Youngkin following the viral attempted kidnapping case at Fair Oaks Mall, which is just one of many instances where Descano has released high-profile criminals back into the community.
The outlet reported that the suspect in the attempted kidnapping case, Andres Caceres Jaldin, had over 30 previous run-ins with the law in the county.
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The commonwealth’s attorney is even becoming a topic in Sears’s race against Rep. Abigail Spanberger in the bid to become the next governor. Descano faced two past unsuccessful recall efforts in 2021.
“Abigail, it is time for you to come forward and make a decision. Do you support Steve Descano or do you support a recall?” Sears said. Descano’s campaign, along with several other campaigns, made a $1,000 contribution to Spanberger’s gubernatorial bid in March, according to vendor records on the Virginia Public Access Project website.
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Last year, Descano faced calls to resign from Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, after Navarette Romero, a rape suspect who’s an illegal immigrant, was released back into the community in prior arrests, according to WJLA.
In addition, Fox News Digital reported in May that Guatemalan national Wilmer Osmany Ramos-Giron, an illegal immigrant, was arrested by ICE following a plea deal from the county. He faced numerous felony charges in January, including abduction by force, assault on a family member, and felony strangulation causing injury to a woman, but he only spent two months at a detention center in Fairfax County before the arrest by federal authorities.
Sears noted that immigration, and crime tied with it, has also played a major role in her campaign, given the major policy shifts from President Joe Biden to the Trump administration.
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“So, as a result of being able to work with President Trump, we’ve been able to find 500-plus criminally illegal immigrants here in Virginia […] We found Tren de Aragua here. We have found other international gangs here in Virginia,” she said.
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After Youngkin called for an investigation after it had become known that attempted kidnapping suspect was released in Fairfax County days before the incident, Miyares said his “office will examine the facts and report to the people of Fairfax why [Commonwealth’s Attorney] Descano’s refusal to prosecute criminals has been allowed to endanger the public.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Spanberger campaign, Descano, and the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office.
Tourist’s ‘pathetic’ act at sacred war memorial costs him everything in France
France has reportedly stripped the residency permit of a man who lit a cigarette at a war memorial in Paris after he was caught on camera.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on Tuesday called the actions of a 47-year-old Moroccan man “indecent and pathetic” following his arrest. Video footage of him lighting a cigarette beneath the much-visited Arc de Triomphe sparked outrage after it was circulated.
“The man who desecrated the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by lighting a cigarette with the memorial flame was arrested in Paris for violating a burial site, tomb, urn, or monument erected in memory of the dead. He was taken into custody and admitted the facts,” Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau wrote on X.
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On Wednesday, France’s Interior Ministry announced that the unidentified man had been stripped of his residency permit, Politico reported.
The Unknown Soldier War Memorial contains a flame and the tomb of a soldier killed in World War I under an arch of the Arc de Triomphe.
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Footage of the incident shows a man kneeling beside the memorial, which appears to be off limits to visitors. He is seen leaning over the flame emitting from the memorial to light his cigarette before immediately leaving, as the stunned tourists watch.
The man reportedly has legal status in France and was known to police, according to local reports.
Patricia Miralles, the deputy minister for Memory and Veterans’ Affairs, said she was “outraged” by what happened.
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“Walking on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Lighting his cigarette with the eternal flame. This is not a mere misstep: it is a desecration,” she wrote on X. “France will never tolerate the tarnishing of the memory of those who died for her. Never.”
Virginia high school staff allegedly paid for students’ abortions without telling parents
The Fairfax County Public Schools system in Virginia has launched an investigation into accusations that school staff arranged abortions for students without notifying their parents, according to local reports.
School officials at Centreville High School in Union Hill allegedly arranged and bankrolled abortions for girls in 2021, including a 17-year-old, according to local news outlet WJLA.
“We learned yesterday of these concerning allegations from 2021,” FCPS said in a statement to the outlet on Wednesday. “We are launching an immediate and comprehensive investigation as we take all concerns of student wellbeing very seriously.”
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Pressed on whether FCPS staff have ever arranged abortions for students, including in this case, the district said it was not aware of any instances of the sort.
“Not to [our] knowledge. We have launched an immediate investigation into these concerns as soon as we were made aware,” the district told WJLA.
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FCPS policy states that “every effort shall be made to encourage and support students suspecting pregnancy to discuss their concerns with their parents or guardians.” However, it does not say FCPS employees should inform parents about those conversations.
Fox News Digital has reached out to FCPS for additional comment.
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Pro-life groups reacted to the “secretly arranged” abortions for students at Centreville High School.
“A Fairfax high school secretly arranged and paid for student abortions—without telling parents,” 40 Days for Life wrote on X. “This isn’t ‘healthcare.’ It’s state-funded child exploitation. Every official involved must be held accountable.”
Mamdani’s LGBT stance shattered when Cuomo calls out situation in hometown
The race for New York City mayor intensified this week when former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, called out socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani for owning property in Uganda despite the country’s anti-LGBT policies.
“The no-show assemblyman missed this interview while vacationing at his parents’ compound in Uganda, a country that murders LGBTQIA+ people,” Cuomo posted on X Tuesday.
“Silence is violence. I hereby call on you to Boycott, Divest, and Sanction your property in Uganda and commit to stop spending tourism dollars there until they overturn their hateful, discriminatory laws which violate basic human rights.”
Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, has faced criticism in recent days for spending the last part of June at his family’s compound in Uganda, where, according to a New York Post report, his wedding celebration was surrounded by armed guards.
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Some, including GOP opponent Curtis Sliwa, called him a hypocrite for calling to defund the police for everyday New Yorkers in the past while employing tight security at his overseas wedding celebration.
Cuomo’s post alluded to Mamdani’s strident support for BDS and sanctions against Israel. which Mamdani has promoted dating back to his college days and has stood by on the campaign trail.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign for comment.
Uganda has a long history of government actions against LGBT individuals, including last year, when Uganda’s Constitutional Court upheld an anti-gay law that allows the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.”
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“Queer and trans people across the United States are facing an increasingly hostile political environment,” Mamdani’s campaign website states.
“New York City must be a refuge for LGBTQIA+ people, but private institutions in our own city have already started capitulating to Trump’s assault on trans rights. Meanwhile, the cost of living crisis confronting working class people across the city hits the LGBTQIA+ community particularly hard, with higher rates of unemployment and homelessness than the rest of the city.
“The Mamdani administration will protect LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers by expanding and protecting gender-affirming care citywide, making NYC an LGBTQIA+ sanctuary city, and creating the Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs.”
United Airlines grounds entire mainline fleet over widespread technology system error
United Airlines temporarily grounded all of its mainline flights Wednesday evening due to a technical issue, the airline said.
Mainline flights are operated directly by United, using its own aircraft and crew. These typically include Boeing 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787 jets, as well as Airbus A319 and A320 models.
“Due to a technology issue, we are holding United mainline flights at their departure airports,” a spokesperson told FOX Business. “We expect additional flight delays this evening as we work through this issue. Safety is our top priority, and we’ll work with our customers to get them to their destinations.”
In a statement posted to social media, United apologized for the disruption and said its teams were working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
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In response to a concerned traveler on social media, United acknowledged the issue and thanked the passenger for their patience.
“We’re aware of the system error at this time and are working on a fix to have you on your way as soon as possible,” United responded. “We understand that this disruption has caused frustrations during your travel and appreciate your continued patience.”
A spokesperson later said the airline was “working with customers to get them to their destinations after a technology disruption.”
“The underlying technology issue has been resolved, and, while we expect residual delays, our team is working to restore our normal operations,” the airline said.
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Still, passengers around the world felt the ramifications of the glitch.
One passenger in Denver told Fox News Senior Correspondent Aishah Hasnie that she had been stuck on a United plane on the tarmac in Denver for nearly two hours.
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None of the gates were available, and the pilot told the passenger there was no update on when those on board could get off the aircraft.
The passenger also said some planes have been sitting for twice as long as they had been waiting.
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While there were reports on social media that United flights had begun taking off again, the airline did not confirm that information to FOX Business.
Kelly Clarkson halts Vegas residency shows as ex-husband faces serious health battle
Kelly Clarkson has postponed additional shows from her Las Vegas residency.
“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” the “Since U been Gone” singer captioned an Instagram post on Wednesday. “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father [ex-husband Brandon Blackstock] has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them.”
KELLY CLARKSON POSTPONES LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY HOURS BEFORE OPENING NIGHT
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“I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding,” she concluded.
Representatives for Clarkson did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Last month, Clarkson postponed the opening of her residency hours before it was about to begin.
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“Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions – The Las Vegas Residency,” which was announced in February, was originally scheduled to kick off at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace July 4. There were 18 performances scheduled through Nov. 15.
Just hours before she was supposed to hit the stage, the singer took to Instagram and announced she would be postponing the show in an effort to protect her voice.
“We have been working 24/7 to make Studio Sessions the most intimate and extraordinary experience with and for my incredible fans,” the 43-year-old wrote. “I am beyond grateful that you always show up for me and I am devastated to have to postpone tonight and tomorrow’s opening at Caesars.
“The prep and rehearsals have taken a toll on my voice,” Clarkson shared. “I want the shows to be perfect for y’all and I need to protect myself from doing serious damage so I am taking this weekend and next week to rest up so that we can deliver what you all deserve.
“The show is truly incredible,” Clarkson continued. “The musicians and singers are outstanding, and I want us all to start out strong. I can’t wait to be back next weekend and show y’all what we’ve been working on.”
In March, the “Since U Been Gone” songstress marked a major milestone with her 1,000th episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
That same month, Clarkson was absent for nearly two weeks while a variety of celebrities acted as guest hosts. She returned on March 18 only to have another guest host take her place the following day. She returned for the March 20 episode.
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Clarkson’s 1,000th episode came after she’d endured a tumultuous few years, navigating a highly publicized divorce from Blackstock. The divorce was settled in 2022, and Clarkson received primary physical custody of their two children, River and Remington.
Patriots coach left bleeding after jumping into player brawl; QB mentions Trump
Before becoming a coach, Mike Vrabel was known as one of the most physical linebackers in the NFL.
Earlier this year, Vrabel was named head coach of the New England Patriots, reuniting him with the franchise with which he spent eight seasons.
Vrabel is guiding the Patriots through training camp, and while fights tend to break out during the grueling weeks of training camp, coaches don’t typically jump into the fray.
Vrabel decided to buck that trend.
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On Wednesday, the Patriots and Washington Commanders held a joint practice at Gillette Stadium. At one point during practice, a hard tackle by rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson as he stepped up to block for pass protection appeared to be the tipping point for an eventual scuffle.
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Vrabel eventually tried to defuse the situation by taking matters into his own hands and jumping into the pile. Once the tension settled, the first-year Patriots coach emerged with a bloody face, the Boston Herald reported.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was complimentary of his coach’s tenacity.
“That’s what we’re trying to build, and it starts with the head coach — intensity, bringing it every day, taking no crap when we’re out there on the field,” Maye said. “The mentality, I like it. That’s what you want.”
Vrabel was later spotted holding a towel that appeared to contain ice on his face.
“Pass pro is physical. It’s a physical game. Things happen out there,” Maye said. “There’s a time where obviously you don’t want to come out here and fight and get into trouble. At the same time, you don’t want to back down from nobody. So, I’m sure Coach will preach that we can’t have that, but, at the same time, kind of in the back of our minds, that’s kind of how we want to play — the intensity. When the whistle is going, play hard, and when the whistle stops, get off and get away.”
Maye added that Vrabel’s appearance reminded him of the assassination attempt at one of President Donald Trump’s political rallies in Pennsylvania last year.
“Somebody was saying it was like the Trump gunshot,” Maye said, pointing toward his ear.
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Patriots tight end Hunter Henry suggested Vrabel’s pysical nature is still a part of him even though he is no longer playing.
“He’s right there with us, man. I think that player comes out in him a little bit too,” Henry said.
The brief melee did not result in any player ejections from practice.
Trump implements tariffs up to 50% on goods on more than 60 countries
President Donald Trump’s higher import taxes on dozens of countries went into effect on Thursday, just as the economic impact of his earlier tariffs had started to show visible harm to the U.S. economy.
The new broad tariffs went into effect just after midnight on Thursday, going as high as 50%. They come after some major trading partners have reached framework deals for trade and investment concessions with Trump.
The White House said goods from more than 60 countries and the European Union would face tariff rates of 10% or higher. Products from Japan, South Korea and the European Union will be taxed at 15% and imports from Taiwan, Vietnam, Bangladesh and others will be levied at 20%. Britain will only be taxed at a 10% rate.
Trump has anticipated that places like Japan, South Korea and the European Union investing hundreds of billions of dollars in the U.S.
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“I think the growth is going to be unprecedented,” Trump said on Wednesday, adding that the U.S. was “taking in hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs.”
Goods loaded onto U.S.-bound vessels and in transit before midnight can enter at the previous lower tariff rates before October 5, according to a CBP notice to shippers issued this week. Imports from many countries had been facing a baseline 10% import duty after Trump paused higher rates announced in April.
Trump has since amended his tariff plan, hitting some countries with higher rates, including 50% for goods from Brazil, 39% from Switzerland, 35% from Canada and 25% from India.
The president announced a separate 25% tariff on Indian goods on Wednesday to be imposed in 21 days over the country’s purchase of Russian oil.
China, which has imposed retaliatory tariffs, will face a potential tariff increase on August 12 unless Trump approves an extension of an earlier truce after negotiations held last week. He has said he may impose additional duties in response to China’s purchase of Russian oil.
The Trump administration holds the position that now that companies understand the direction the U.S. is headed when it comes to tariffs, it can bolster new investments and boost hiring to support the U.S. economy.
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U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has predicted that U.S. tariff revenues could top $300 billion a year. But U.S. companies and consumers are bracing for the impact of new duties.
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Trump has celebrated the vast increase in federal revenues from his import tax collections, which are paid by companies importing the goods and consumers of the products.