US military strikes narco-terrorist vessel as Trump reveals Caribbean operation

President Donald Trump shared dramatic video Tuesday of a U.S. military strike that blew apart a Venezuelan drug boat in the southern Caribbean, leaving nearly a dozen suspected Tren de Aragua (TdA) narco-terrorists dead.

“Over the last few minutes, [we] literally shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat,” Trump said during a news conference in the Oval Office. “A lot of drugs in that boat. And you’ll be seeing that, and you’ll be reading about that. It just happened moments ago.”

The president later shared a video of the strike on Truth Social, confirming the blast occurred in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility, while the terrorists were in international waters transporting illegal narcotics to the U.S.

“The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action,” Trump wrote in the post. “No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE! Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!!!!!!!!!”

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Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., added the vessel belonged to the Cartel of the Suns.

“This is going swimmingly,” Gimenez wrote in an X post. “We continue.”

Ahead of his departure to Mexico City, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters cocaine and fentanyl shipped from Venezuela often end up in Puerto Rico and then make their way to the U.S.

“The President has been very clear that he’s going to use the full power of America and the full might of the United States to take on and eradicate these drug cartels, no matter where they’re operating from and no matter how long they’ve been able to act with impunity,” Rubio said. “Those days are over.”

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Trump said many drug boats are coming out of Venezuela, claiming terrorists are acting under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

“TdA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere,” he wrote in the X post.

Maduro has not yet publicly commented on the strike.

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Parents shocked after cops find their 5-year-old son dining alone at Chick-fil-A

A hungry 5-year-old Florida boy craving Chick-fil-A snuck out of his home one morning this summer to walk to the popular fast-food restaurant by himself, prompting a visit from the police while he munched on his food.

The boy, identified as William, was seen eating a breakfast sandwich in a booth next to a Chick-fil-A manager when deputies from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office showed up.

“Are you going to take me to jail?” he asked the officers, according to bodycam footage.

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“No,” one officer replied. “I’m not going to put you in jail.”

William managed to leave his house while his parents slept. He then squeezed through the fence that surrounds the property and walked down the street for breakfast alone, police said.

After eating, police put the boy in a squad car, and with William’s help, were able to locate his home, to the surprise of his parents, who hadn’t realized he was gone.

“It’s kind of scary, actually, because we didn’t realize what was going on until after,” his mother, Victoria, said during a reunion with staff and officers at the restaurant.

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“I know he knows how to get to Chick-fil-A because we walk there,” she said. “I never would’ve expected him to come down here on his own in the morning before anyone else in the house was up.”

The boy’s father, identified as Phil, said his son “had an adventure.”

“I was worried about him—was he scared, was he crying, was he upset? He was quiet, which was unusual for him,” the dad said. “I think it did shake him up some, so I don’t really think we needed to impress too much that he shouldn’t do it again.”

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“I think he understood that it was serious, but we did talk about it,” he added.

American icon sells Olympic medals to help finance move abroad: ‘I told the truth’

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis, widely regarded as one of the greatest American divers, recently revealed that he sold some of his hardware to help facilitate his move to Panama. 

Louganis, 65, shared the news in a Facebook post over the weekend, admitting that he decided to sell his home and auction three of his medals because he “needed the money.” 

“I told the truth; I needed the money. While many people may have built businesses and sold them for a profit, I had my medals, which I am grateful for,” his post read. 

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“If I had proper management, I might not have been in that position, but what is done is done; live and learn.” 

Louganis sold three medals – two gold medals from the 1984 and 1988 Games and a silver from the 1976 Montreal Olympics – during an auction this summer. According to SwimSwam, the auction earned Louganis more than $430,000. 

He previously attempted to sell his medals at auction in 2022 and again in 2023. 

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Louganis said in his post that he hopes the sale of his home and prized medals will help him find himself in this fresh start. 

“Now I get to discover who is Greg Louganis? Without the distraction and noise from outside. At least this is my goal, and hey, I may not find that. I think I may find it at times, in moments, my goal is to live it! Discover, allow, and nurture that human spirit through the experiences of life.” 

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Louganis won his first medal in 1976 when he placed second in the men’s 10-meter platform event at age 16. He won gold in both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform events in the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and defended those titles in Seoul in 1988. 

Louganis became the first man in Olympic history to sweep the diving events in consecutive Games, and many believed that if it wasn’t for the American boycott in 1980, it would have been three consecutive Olympics. 

Trump and Leavitt blast CBS host as ‘stupid’ and ‘nasty’ in fiery takedown

President Donald Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt took turns knocking CBS News’ “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan on Friday, calling her “stupid” and “so bad.” 

Speaking with the Daily Caller, Trump took a victory lap over his settlement with CBS’ parent company, Paramount, after accusing the company of election interference for its handling of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. He then pivoted to speculating about the future of Norah O’Donnell, who left “CBS Evening News” earlier this year but remains at the network.

“Pay her $12 million a year, and she’s not going to be there very long,” Trump told the Daily Caller. “But if she’s not already out, I mean, she’s pretty close, I would say she’s pretty close.”

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Trump then invoked Brennan, saying, “The woman on the ‘Face the Nation’ is so bad.”

He turned to Leavitt, who was present during the interview, and asked, “What do you think of her?” 

“She’s stupid. You can put that on the record,” Leavitt said. 

“She’s nasty,” Trump added.

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Trump went on to praise Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying, “He handled her” during a recent interview. After Daily Caller White House reporter Reagan Reese noted Rubio’s frequent appearances on “Face the Nation,” Trump replied, “Because he’s good and he’s smart.” 

Neither Brennan nor CBS News responded to requests for comment. 

Last month, Rubio had a contentious exchange with Brennan over Trump’s highly-anticipated meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders after his Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

“You know there is concern from the Europeans that President Zelenskyy is going to be bullied into signing something away. That’s why you have these European leaders coming as backup tomorrow,” Brennan said.

That is not true,” Rubio interjected, as the two spoke over each other. “But that’s not true, they’re not coming here tomorrow to keep Zelenskyy from being bullied.”

“We had one meeting with Putin and like a dozen meetings with Zelenskyy… They’re not coming here tomorrow to keep Zelenskyy from being bullied. They are coming here because we’ve been working with the Europeans. We talked to them last week… The President talked to these leaders as early as Thursday… This is such a stupid media narrativeRubio said.

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Amazon will soon restrict Prime benefit that shoppers have used for 15 years

Amazon Prime’s free shipping perk will be restricted to household members only starting next month as the shopping juggernaut phases out the “Prime Invitee program.”

The program, which allowed Amazon Prime members to share their shipping benefits with people outside their household that didn’t have a membership, will end on Oct. 1, according to the company’s website. 

An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to FOX Business that it is ending the Invitee program, which launched in 2009, and focusing its advertising on its Amazon Family program, which includes allowing members to share several membership benefits with one other adult in their household, up to four teens added before April 7, 2025, and up to four profiles for children.  

AMAZON PRIME MEMBERS BRACE FOR STICKER SHOCK AS ANALYSTS PREDICT IMMINENT PRICE HIKE

These benefits include fast and free delivery on Prime eligible items, access to exclusive Prime events and deals, Prime Video, Prime Reading and access to third-party benefits like Grubhub.   

Amazon didn’t disclose specific figures for its Prime membership in its latest earnings call. However, they described the last Prime Day sale, which kicked off in July, as its “biggest Prime Day shopping event yet.”  

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“This year’s Prime Day event was bigger than any previous four-day period that included a Prime Day event, with record sales and more items sold during the four days,”  Amazon posted in a July blog following the two-day shopping bonanza. 

The company also said independent sellers, most of which are small and medium-sized businesses, also achieved record sales and a record number of items sold. 

AMAZON EXPANDS SAME-DAY DELIVERY SERVICE TO INCLUDE PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS IN OVER 1,000 CITIES
 

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Amazon has charged an annual fee of $139 for its Prime membership in the U.S. since 2022. That is an uptick from its previous cost of about $119 a year. 

However, J.P.Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth said in a research note that the bank thinks the Seattle-based e-commerce giant could raise the price of its popular Amazon Prime membership in 2026. 

Former news anchor enters Senate race pledging to secure border, help families

Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson on Monday announced her bid for the U.S. Senate, in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Joni Ernst.

“I am running for the United States Senate,” Hinson said in an appearance on a popular afternoon talk radio program in Iowa.

Hinson – a former TV news anchor who is in her third term representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers the northeastern portion of the state – showcased her support for President Donald Trump.

“I’m running to be President Trump’s top ally in the United States Senate,” she said. “I’m proud to fight alongside him.”

REPUBLICAN JONI ERNST ANNOUNCES SHE WON’T SEEK SENATE RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR

Her news came a few hours after Ernst, in a social media video, officially announced that she wouldn’t seek re-election in next year’s midterms.

“Having been raised in a family who has given me so much love and support, now as our family ages and grows, it’s time for me to get back to them. After a tremendous amount of prayer and reflection, I will not be seeking re-election in 2026,” the 55-year-old Ernst, who was first elected to the Senate in 2014, said in a video posted to social media.

TRUMP NOT ON BALLOT BUT FRONT-AND-CENTER IN 2025 ELECTIONS

Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard officer who served in the Iraq War, had been wrestling for months over whether to run for re-election in 2026. And in her video, she said, “This was no easy decision.”

Ernst first grabbed national attention 11 years ago with her “make ’em squeal” ads as she won the high-profile Senate election in Iowa in the race to succeed retiring longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.

And Ernst highlighted in her video that “11 years ago, Iowans elected me as the first female combat veteran to the U.S. Senate, and they did so with a mission in mind – to make Washington squeal. And I’m proud to say we have delivered. We’ve cut waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government.”

Hinson, in a social media post, thanked Ernst for her “incredible service to our state and nation” as well as for her friendship. “Iowa is better off thanks to your selfless service,” she said.

In her radio interview, she told host Simon Conway that among her priorities as she runs for the Senate are “secure borders, keeping men out of girls’ sports, cutting taxes for our working families, standing up for Iowa agriculture and helping our young Iowans who are trying to buy a house and start a family.”

Hinson also pledged to campaign across all 99 of Iowa’s counties, starting with a kick-off event on Friday.

And as she entered the race, Hinson was endorsed by Republican Sens. Jim Banks of Indiana, Katie Britt of Alabama, and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma.

House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, House Republican Leadership Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik and Iowa House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann also backed Hinson.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) communications director Maeve Coyle, following Hinson’s announcement, argued that “Republicans failed to convince Joni Ernst to run for reelection, and now they may be stuck with Ashley Hinson, who has repeatedly voted to raise costs and make life harder for Iowans by voting to slash Medicaid, cheering on the chaotic tariffs that threaten Iowa’s economy, voting against measures to lower the cost of insulin, and threatening Social Security.”

FOUR KEY SENATE SEATS THE GOP AIMS TO FLIP IN NEXT YEAR’S MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Iowa was once a top battleground state that former President Barack Obama carried in his 2008 and 2012 White House victories. But the state has shifted to the right in recent election cycles, with President Donald Trump carrying the state by nine points in 2016, eight points in 2020, and by 13 points last November.

Republicans currently hold both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats – Ernst and longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley – and all four of Iowa’s congressional districts, as well as all statewide offices except for state auditor, which is held by Democrat Rob Sand, who’s running for governor next year.

But Democrats in Iowa are energized after flipping two GOP-held state Senate seats in special elections so far this year.

Four Democrats are already running for Senate in Iowa. The field includes state Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian wheelchair basketball player, state Sen. Zach Wahls, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce executive director Nathan Sage and Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris.

“An open seat in Iowa is just the latest example of Democrats expanding the senatorial map,” Lauren French, spokesperson for the Democrat-aligned Senate Majority PAC, said in a statement.

But Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), said in a statement, “The NRSC is confident Iowans will elect a Republican to continue fighting for them and championing President Trump’s agenda in 2026.”

SENATE DEMOCRATS RECRUITING TOP CANDIDATES IN PUSH TO WIN BACK MAJORITY

Republicans are aiming to not only defend, but expand, the current 53-47 Senate majority in next year’s elections.

Senate Republicans enjoyed a favorable map in the 2024 cycle as they flipped four seats from blue to red to win back the majority.

But the party in power – the Republicans – traditionally faces political headwinds in the midterm elections. Nevertheless, a current read of the 2026 map indicates the GOP may be able to go on offense in some key states.

In battleground Georgia, which Trump narrowly carried in last year’s White House race, Republicans view first-term Sen. Jon Ossoff as the most vulnerable Democrat incumbent up for re-election next year.

They’re also targeting battleground Michigan, where Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring at the end of next year, and swing state New Hampshire, where longtime Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen decided against seeking a fourth six-year term in the Senate.

Also on the NRSC’s target list is blue-leaning Minnesota, where Democratic Sen. Tina Smith isn’t running for re-election.

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But the GOP is defending an open seat in battleground North Carolina, where Republican Sen. Thom Tills decided against seeking re-election. And Republicans will likely be forced to spend resources to defend Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio – who was appointed to succeed former senator and now-Vice President JD Vance – as he faces off next year against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Meanwhile, Democrats are also targeting moderate Sen. Susan Collins – who has yet to announce her expected 2026 re-election – in blue-leaning Maine. 

All-Star pitcher collapses on mound with heartbreaking injury: ‘I felt the pop’

The San Diego Padres not only lost to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, but they may have also lost one of their All-Star relievers for the season.

Relief pitcher Jason Adam went down in pain during the seventh inning of the team’s 4-3 loss at Petco Park.

The game was tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh with one out and a runner on first base when Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson hit a weak chopper back over the pitcher’s mound.

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Adam attempted to make a play on the grounder but immediately crumpled to the ground. Padres shortstop Jose Iglesias fielded the ball but had no play as Henderson reached first base.

As the play ended, Adam immediately waved to the dugout for help.

“I felt the pop right away, felt like the quad kind of rolled up, so I kinda knew it wasn’t good. It was pain at first and then you kinda come to and like, ‘Hey, did we get the out?’ Then it’s just waiting to hear how long,” Adam told reporters postgame while on crutches with a brace on his left leg.

Adam said he “went to plant to go back and grab the ball, because it was kind of a chopper to my right, and that’s when I felt the pop and it kind of gave out and I fell.”

The 34-year-old reliever was eventually helped onto a cart and taken off the field to a standing ovation.

Fellow All-Star reliever Robert Suarez entered in Adam’s place and struck out the first batter he faced, but allowed a run when Dylan Beavers singled to right field, scoring Jeremiah Jackson to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead.

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Adam said the hardest part of his injury would be missing out on a potential World Series run.

“I think that’s the hardest part, the recovery is what it is, you can take that day-by-day, but just knowing this group in here, the mental toughness they have, the skill, you just know there’s everything in this clubhouse to win the World Series,” Adam said.

“You want to be a part of that, but I can still play a small part in that by showing up every day for the boys, but that’s the hardest part.”

Adam said he still needs to get an MRI for confirmation “but that sounds like six to nine months, so the season’s probably done.”

Adam has been spectacular for the Padres this season. In 66 games, he posted a 1.93 ERA and struck out 70 batters over 65 1/3 innings. The Padres’ bullpen ERA of 3.11 was the best in Major League Baseball, and Adam was a big part of that success.

Padres manager Mike Shildt called Adam “an absolute workhorse.”

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“We’ve got a great clubhouse. We’ve got great dudes. I love him to death. Jason is as solid a guy as there is. He’s well-respected and means a lot to us. We’ll miss him and we’ll have to figure it out,” Shildt said.

The Padres have lost two straight and trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 2 1/2 games in the National League West. They are two games ahead of the New York Mets for the second NL wild-card spot.

The Padres (76-62) tried to turn things around Tuesday when they face the Orioles (62-76) in the second game of their three-game series at 9:40 p.m. ET.

World’s largest cruise ship sets sail as industry nears record-breaking highs

The world’s largest ship set sail on Sunday, making its debut out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas has 20 decks and eight neighborhoods with seven pools. It accommodates 5,000 passengers.

“Star of the Seas represents the next bold step in our journey to reimagine vacations,” said Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO Jason Liberty in a press release.

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“It brings together the best of our innovation, signature experiences, and the most sought-after destinations into one unforgettable vacation.”

He added, “With Star, we’re not just launching a ship, we’re advancing our mission to create the world’s best vacations responsibly for guests of all ages.”

In January, AAA released its first-ever “Cruise Travel Forecast.”

It projects that 19 million Americans plan to take cruises this year.

Stewart Chiron, a Miami-based cruise industry expert known as “The Cruise Guy,” told Fox News Digital that “2025 is another record year.”

“More people have cruised in 2025 than any previous year in history,” he said. “Future bookings are at record levels when compared to the same time in any previous year.”

Last year, 18.2 million travelers went on cruises, according to the AAA report.

Chiron said he sees demand surging in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe.

The cruise forecast report found that 72% of passengers are heading to Caribbean destinations in search of sunny vacation times.

Six percent plan on heading to Alaska, while 5% of people will be cruising in the Mediterranean, according to the report. 

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He added that he’s seeing interest in the Panama Canal, Japan and Asia growing along with expedition cruises to the North and South Poles.

“Cruise lines are responding to strong demand from cruise passengers who are desiring private destinations and the enticing experiences that are unavailable at the other ports being visited on regular itineraries,” said Chiron.

While the cruise industry is on the uptick, Chiron said there are a few things to consider.

“Geopolitical issues and fuel costs are always a concern,” said Chiron. “The cruise industry has protective measures in place, including the ability to move ships to ensure smooth sailings.”

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“Passenger and ship safety is paramount,” he added. 

Well-known professor vanishes during Labor Day walk as investigators seek leads

Authorities are searching for a beloved college professor who vanished during a morning walk on Labor Day.

Northwestern University Professor Nina Kraus, 72, was reported missing on Monday, Sept. 1, after she was last seen leaving her residence on the 1500 block of Ashland Avenue in Evanston around 9 a.m., according to the Evanston Police Department.

Kraus, a communications professor and nationally recognized researcher in auditory neuroscience, was wearing a windbreaker, long pants, and carrying a dark-colored backpack when she left home. She is described as being approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall with long silver hair.

“The University is hopeful that with the community’s help, we can find Professor Kraus and assure her safety,” the school said in a statement shared by Northwestern Now.

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Evanston police deployed a drone to search the nearby lakefront Tuesday morning, where investigators believe Kraus may have walked, though the search so far has yielded no results. 

A spokesperson for the Evanston Police Department told Fox News Digital that foul play is not suspected at this time. 

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The National Center for Missing and Endangered, Inc. has also shared a missing adult alert for Kraus to help broaden awareness of the case.

Krau’s disappearance has drawn an outpouring of concern from the Northwestern community and beyond.

WISCONSIN STUDENT ELIOTTE HEINZ’S AUTOPSY SHOWS NO FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED IN DEATH: POLICE

“Sending prayers for someone i know and admire,” one person commented.

Another former student shared, “She’s a brilliant professor and researcher at Northwestern. I took her class when I was a student there. This is heartbreaking.”

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Authorities are urging anyone with information about Kraus’s whereabouts to contact the Evanston Police Department at 847-866-5000. Northwestern officials said they will also provide updates as the search continues.