Iran seizes 2 oil tankers in Persian Gulf before planned US-Iran talks in Oman
Iran seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf Thursday, accusing them of smuggling fuel and detaining 15 foreign crew members ahead of high-stakes U.S.–Iran talks Friday in Oman.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy said it intercepted the two ships near Farsi Island, claiming they were carrying about 1 million liters of smuggled fuel, Reuters reported.
The crews, made up of 15 foreign nationals, were taken into custody and referred to Iran’s judicial authorities, according to Iranian state media.
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The IRGC alleged the vessels were part of an organized fuel-smuggling network that had been operating in the region for several months.
Iranian officials said the ships were identified through intelligence monitoring and seized during coordinated naval operations in the Persian Gulf, a vital artery for global energy markets.
According to The Jerusalem Post, Iranian authorities framed the operation as a significant blow to illegal fuel trafficking, though they did not immediately disclose the vessels’ nationalities or destinations.
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The seizures come as Iranian rhetoric toward the U.S. has grown hostile.
Ezzatollah Zarghami, a former Iranian minister and ex–state broadcaster chief, issued a warning, threatening violence in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil and petroleum product consumption passes.
“I am sure that the Strait of Hormuz will be the place of massacre and hell for the U.S.,” Zarghami said Thursday.
“Iran will show that the Strait of Hormuz has historically belonged to Iran. The only thing the Americans can think of is playing with their vessels and moving them from one place to another.”
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Zarghami later repeated the threat, calling the Strait a potential “killing field” for American forces and signaling Iran’s willingness to escalate amid mounting regional pressure.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to meet Iranian officials in Oman Friday.
The pair are traveling from Abu Dhabi after two days of talks related to Russia and Ukraine.
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday that Friday’s talks were still on, stating “diplomacy is always [Trump’s] first option.”
Harris mocked for ‘cringe’ social media rebrand attempt after failed White House bid
Former Vice President Kamala Harris received widespread mockery online on Thursday after re-launching her campaign account as a “Gen-Z led progressive content hub.”
In the months after her defeat in the 2024 presidential election, there has been a great deal of debate over what Harris’ future political aspirations might be.
Her decision not to run for California governor was seen as a sign she plans to run for the 2028 election cycle.
The account, now dubbed “HQ” and “@headquarters_67,” a possible reference to the 6-7 meme, shared a video with the caption, “Welcome to Headquarters, the new Gen-Z led progressive content hub.” Fox News Digital reached out to her office to ask whether this indeed was the intent, and has not received immediate reply.
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The video featured Harris being asked, “Madam Vice President, what’s going on with KamalaHQ?”
“Well, I’m so glad you asked. I have good news,” Harris replies. “So, Kamala HQ is turning into ‘Headquarters,’ and it’s where you can go online to get basically the latest of what’s going on, and also to meet and revisit with some of our great courageous leaders, be they elected leaders, community leaders, civic leaders, faith leaders, young leaders. I’m really excited about it. So stay engaged and I’ll see you out there. Thank you.”
In response to this video and the preview video shared the previous day, many popular conservative commentators mocked the rollout as a poorly planned maneuver or argued that Harris herself would not be viable.
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“On behalf of every Republican in the country: run, Kamala, run!” the Republican Jewish Coalition wrote.
“I am a moderate Democrat voter in a swing state. Everyone in my community is asking for Kamala Harris to run again,” commentator Comfortably Smug wrote, making a similar joke that Harris being the nominee would be a boon for Republicans.
GOP advisor Nathan Brand argued that both Republicans and Democrats can agree Harris’ time has passed, but suggested that news has not reached her staff.
Social media strategist Greg Price responded with a famous gif from Nickelodeon’s Spongebob Squarepants where a fish bystander yells, “How many times do we have to teach you this lesson old man?
Others responded to the purported 6-7 meme reference.
“6 7.. Do you get it!” conservative commentator Stephen L. Miller joked.
“Haven’t been this disappointed since Beyonce didn’t perform,” Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr joked.
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Journalist Chris Rufo wrote, “My children have informed me that ‘67’ is already old, tired, and cringe, so once again, Kamala is coming up short.”
White House reveals Trump’s choice for Super Bowl halftime show amid Bad Bunny concerns
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed which Super Bowl halftime show President Donald Trump prefers to watch this Sunday.
Grammy Award winner Bad Bunny will be performing during the official Super Bowl halftime show in Santa Clara, California, for Sunday’s game.
However, concern among conservatives over Bad Bunny’s apparent “woke” values inspired Turning Point USA (TPUSA) to plan its own “All-American” halftime for Sunday headlined by country/rock artist Kid Rock.
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Leavitt suggested Trump would be tuning in to watch the TPUSA show.
“I think the president would much prefer a Kid Rock performance over Bad Bunny. I must say that,” Leavitt told reporters at Thursday’s White House press briefing.
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Leavitt also said the president is not picking a team to win Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. But she revealed her rooting interest.
“The president has wisely chosen not to make a prediction on Sunday night’s game, but as a native girl from New Hampshire, go Patriots,” Leavitt added.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed questions about Bad Bunny possibly making a political statement during the Super Bowl halftime show during a news conference Monday.
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“Listen, Bad Bunny is, and I think that was demonstrated last night, one of the great artists in the world, and that’s one of the reasons we chose him,” Goodell said. “But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on, and this platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talents and to be able to use this moment to do that. And I think artists in the past have done that.
“I think Bad Bunny understands that, and I think he’ll have a great performance.”
Vance’s mother should have sold ‘little JD’ for drugs, NYT columnist says
New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie suggested Vice President JD Vance‘s mother was right to have attempted to sell him for drugs in a Bluesky post on Wednesday.
In a series of comments on the left-wing platform, Bouie criticized Vance for a recent interview with the Daily Mail where he declined to apologize to Minnesota shooting victim Alex Pretti‘s family after accusing him of showing up with “ill intent” at an immigration enforcement protest.
“[T]his is a wicked man who knows he is being wicked and does it anyway,” Bouie wrote.
He added, “like, do you see that smirk? that brief ‘ain’t i a stinker’ grin? beneath contempt.”
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Bouie also responded to a comment calling Vance “pompous” while musing “No wonder his mom tried to sell him for Percocets.”
“[I] can’t imagine a parent who wouldn’t sell little JD for percocet if they knew he would turn out like this,” Bouie remarked.
He added, “to be a bit serious one irony of vance’s life is that he is also an addict: addicted to power and clearly willing to sell anything to get it.”
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Fox News Digital reached out to The New York Times and Vance’s office for comment.
Vance has frequently discussed his mother, Beverly Aikins, and her history of addiction during his childhood.
Aikins’ addiction began with a legitimate prescription for medication, but led to her stealing drugs from her patients, as detailed in his bestselling book, “Hillbilly Elegy.”
Throughout the book, Vance detailed remaining committed to her recovery.
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“I knew that a mother could love her son despite the grip of addiction,” he wrote. “I knew that my family loved me, even when they struggled to take care of themselves.”
In April 2025, Vance led a celebration at the White House in honor of his mother achieving a decade of sobriety.
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Today, Aikins works at Seacrest Recovery Center, a substance abuse treatment center in Cincinnati, Ohio, which lists her as a nurse on its website.
Women’s sports activists react after boxer Imane Khelif makes comment about biological sex
Boxer Imane Khelif admitted to having the SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome, which is found in biological males, and undergoing hormone treatments to lower testosterone levels ahead of the 2024 Olympics in an interview with the French sports publication L’Equipe
Khelif has denied being transgender.
“We all have different genetics, different hormone levels. I’m not transgender. My difference is natural. This is who I am. I haven’t done anything to change the way nature made me. That’s why I’m not afraid,” Khelif said.
I have taken hormone treatments to lower my testosterone levels for competitions.”
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Khelif committed to also taking a genetic sex test to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which will likely be required.
“For the next Games, if I have to take a test, I will. I have no problem with that,” Khelif said.
The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) released a statement addressing Khelif’s admission.
“Algerian Olympic women’s gold medalist Imane Khelif has now confirmed he is male. With men no longer eligible for Olympic women’s boxing under World Boxing rules, Khelif reportedly plans to box professionally in Europe, though he inexplicably says he will still undergo sex screening for the LA 2028 Games in hopes of competing,” the statement said.
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Khelif won a gold medal in women’s boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics under heavy scrutiny from the International Boxing Association (IBA), which was derecognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2023 amid concerns about the organization’s governance, financial reliance on Russian state energy firm Gazprom and the integrity of the bouts.
Khelif was previously disqualified from the IBA for failing a gender eligibility test. IBA President Umar Kremlev claimed at the time that unpublished DNA test results showed Khelif had XY chromosomes.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended the results of the Paris Games, stating that Khelif and another boxer who faced gender eligibility concerns were the victims of a “sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA.”
World Boxing, the international governing body for the sport, announced a new policy in August that introduces mandatory sex testing to ensure only females compete in the women’s category. Khelif has appealed the new policy that will keep the athlete out of any competitions pending the results of genetic testing.
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Khelif did not compete in an international boxing tournament in the Netherlands last summer after failing to register in time before the applications closed.
President Donald Trump previously said there will be a “strong form of testing” when asked about potential genetic testing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at a news conference Aug. 5.
DHS issues warning about trend of domestic partners poisoning loved ones
Officials have seen an increase in domestic partners using chemical and biological toxins to harm or kill victims over the past five years, according to a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence bulletin distributed to law enforcement and public safety partners.
The January assessment, prepared by the DHS Intelligence Division within the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, identifies the worrying trend officials say makes it challenging for detection, investigation and prosecution because symptoms can mimic natural illness.
DHS said in the bulletin it has “moderate confidence” that domestic partners are increasingly using chemical and biological toxins — including cyanide and ricin — to harm or kill spouses or partners, based on reporting over the last five years.
The judgment is supported by law enforcement reporting, medical center data and documented cases spanning multiple states and years.
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“These cases often initially present as natural illness,” the report states, noting that many toxins cause delayed or nonspecific symptoms that complicate medical diagnosis and can obscure criminal intent, delaying intervention and increasing the risk of serious harm or death.
The intelligence bulletin also highlights recent incidents showing the threat posed by the domestic use of chemical and biological toxins.
In one example, a Colorado dentist was convicted of first-degree murder after gradually poisoning his wife with a mix of arsenic, cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a medication commonly found in eye drops.
Arsenic was added to his wife’s protein shakes. She went to the hospital three times in 10 days with symptoms including dizziness and headaches before her condition deteriorated and she died.
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Police reported that the dentist purchased a variety of poisons prior to her death.
The document states that similar incidents involving toxic substances in domestic settings have been reported in other states, underscoring persistent public safety risks and challenges for first responders.
According to DHS, domestic partner attacks involving chemical or biological toxins show a pattern in the choice of substances used to harm victims.
Substances used most include antifreeze, eye drops containing tetrahydrozoline, fentanyl, cyanide, thallium, colchicine, veterinary barbiturates and insulin.
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The bulletin also says these are often chosen for their accessibility and their ability to mimic natural illness, complicating detection and investigation.
The report also warns that the intentional or accidental use of chemical or biological toxins in homes or public spaces can pose risks beyond the intended target.
Poisons and toxic agents may contaminate air, surfaces or water, exposing children, neighbors, bystanders and first responders to secondary harm.
Emergency personnel may unknowingly enter contaminated environments without proper protective equipment, increasing the risk of secondary exposure and hindering response and investigation efforts.
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“If the trend of using chemical or biological toxins to kill or harm continues, we may see an increase in fatalities and long-term health consequences for survivors,” the bulletin states, adding that demand for specialized training, equipment and forensic expertise is likely to grow.
DHS has called for increased coordination, awareness and improved detection and response capabilities to address this evolving form of domestic partner violence.
Nearly 40% of cancers can be prevented with 3 lifestyle changes, study finds
Nearly half of cancers could be avoided by cutting out three major risk factors, a new study has revealed.
Research published this week in Nature Medicine identified that nearly 40% of global cancer cases are linked to tobacco (15% of new cases), infections (10%) and alcohol consumption (3%).
Overall, 7.1 million cancer diagnoses in 2022 were linked to 30 modifiable risk factors, according to the study.
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“The key here is that almost half of all cancers could be prevented by behavioral changes,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News Digital senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.
Conducted by the World Health Organization and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the study analyzed global cancer data across 185 countries, matching it with exposure data for the 30 risk factors.
Lung, stomach and cervical cancers accounted for nearly half of the cases that were linked to modifiable risks, with many linked to viruses and bacteria like the human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori (a common bacterium that infects the stomach lining).
“Preventable cancers of the cervix and throat are directly linked to the HPV virus and can be prevented by the HPV vaccine,” added Siegel, who was not involved in the study.
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Lung cancer, throat and GI cancers, and several others were linked to cigarette smoking, and alcohol was associated with breast, liver, colon and throat cancer, the doctor noted.
“Environmental factors are also key, varying by geography — 45% of new cancers could be prevented in men, and 30% in women,” he said.
Study author Hanna Fink, from the Cancer Surveillance Branch at IARC/WHO, said the main message is that many cancers can be prevented.
“Almost four in 10 new cancer cases worldwide, which represent 7.1 million lives that don’t need to be changed by a cancer diagnosis, were linked to things we can change or modify through awareness and public-health action,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“These things include tobacco smoking, infections, alcohol consumption, excess body weight, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation and others.”
Looking ahead, the researchers recommend that stronger prevention strategies targeting tobacco use, infections, unhealthy body weight and alcohol use could substantially reduce global cancer cases.
“The key here is that almost half of all cancers could be prevented by behavioral changes.”
“The study reinforces that cancer prevention works, and action is most effective at the population level,” Fink said.
“Governments and communities play a crucial role by making healthy choices easier, for example, through higher tobacco and alcohol taxes, smoke-free policies, clear health warnings, safer workplaces, cleaner air, and affordable access to vaccination and screening. Individuals can support these by advocating for healthier environments and using available preventive services.”
Reducing the risk
The AIRC offers the following recommendations to minimize cancer risk.
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- Do not smoke, and if you do smoke, seek help to quit.
- Keep alcohol intake as low as possible, as “there is no safe level of alcohol for cancer risk.”
- Aim for a healthy body weight over time with a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
- Move more and sit less, as even small amounts of daily movement help.
- Take advantage of vaccines, especially the HPV vaccination for young people and the hepatitis B vaccination.
“As a family physician, I try to help my patients understand how important their daily habits are in lowering their future cancer risk,” said Dr. Chris Scuderi, a cancer survivor and Florida-based family physician.
The doctor’s key prevention targets include daily exercise, consistent and restorative sleep, a Mediterranean-style diet, regular doctor’s visits and sufficient rest.
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“Small daily wins add up to make a powerful difference over time,” added Scuderi, who also was not involved in the research. “It’s also essential to stay on top of your routine screenings, which your family physician can help you with.”
Potential limitations
The study did have some limitations. The researchers often used data from around 2012 due to the long delay between exposure and cancer, which means the data may not reflect the most recent behaviors or environments.
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“This is a necessary simplification, because in reality, latency can be longer or shorter depending on the cancer and the exposure,” Fink noted.
Siegel pointed out that cancer types vary by geographic region — for example, stomach cancer is more prominent in Asia — and the relationships between risk factors and cancer prevalence can differ between countries, populations and time periods.
“We rely on the best available data on how common each risk factor is in different countries and how strongly it is linked to cancer, but these data are not perfect and are weaker in some low- and middle-income countries,” Fink said.
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Finally, the study only looked at 30 risk factors with the strongest evidence and global data.
“Our estimate of ‘almost 40% of cancers are preventable’ is very likely conservative,” the researcher added. “Some other suspected causes, such as certain aspects of diet, could not be included because the science or the data are not yet robust enough at a global level.”
Budget airline floods US with new routes in move on low fares as consumers cautioned
Utah-based budget airline Breeze Airways, which calls itself “Seriously Nice,” has announced it will be expanding its low-cost travel routes in the U.S.
The low-cost airline said it’s added new routes from Raleigh-Durham, Hartford, Columbus, Atlantic City, Charleston, Memphis, Louisville, Los Angeles, Madison, Pittsburgh and Greenville-Spartanburg.
“Breeze’s convenient, direct service to underserved destinations continues to resonate with travelers, and we’re eager to introduce Brownsville and Atlantic City to our unique, elevated product offering,” said David Neeleman, Breeze Airways’ founder and CEO, in a press release.
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The airline also added four new routes in the state of Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando.
The company said it will also be returning its flight service to San Antonio, Texas, after a four-year hiatus.
The brand is “excited to welcome new and returning guests in historic San Antonio after four years away,” Neeleman said.
The airline also added Nassau, Bahamas, to its list — making that popular vacation spot its fourth international destination.
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The CEO said the company was adding that location “as we prepare to kick off an exciting season of summer travel.”
The news comes just after the latest Travel Inflation Report from Nerd Wallet — which said last month that while flight prices have been down over the past decade, they still feel high to many people.
In its report, Nerd Wallet, the personal finance website, pointed to “unbundling,” which is when “airlines advertise lower fares, often in the form of basic economy seats that offer few frills.”
The report added, “Those low base fares typically come with upcharges in the form of ancillary fees to check bags, to guarantee an aisle seat or to secure early boarding.”
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The site advised consumers to watch for airline consolidation that can create less competition on routes — giving airlines more power to charge higher fees.
While flight prices have been down over the past decade, they still feel high to many people.
Breeze Airways, meanwhile, also offers service to Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
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Breeze began service in May 2021 with a fleet of Airbus A220-300 and Embraer 190 aircraft, according to the airline’s site.
In Texas, Brownsville city leaders expressed “excitement” about the company’s new route to Orlando — the 84th destination to be added to the airline’s roster, My San Antonio reported.
“Breeze’s route from Brownsville to Orlando will begin operating on May 15, with tickets already on sale,” the outlet noted.
“The nonstop route will fly Mondays and Fridays, with tickets starting as low as $79 one way,” if they were purchased as part of a “No Flex Fare” promotion which concluded on Feb. 3.
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Overall, the average domestic round-trip price for the first quarter of 2025 was $397, which was down about 1.2% from the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics in July 2025.
In January of this year alone, nearly 66 million passengers went through TSA checkpoints, according to TSA data.
Guardians star’s alleged pitching-rigging scheme may have been larger than thought
Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase faced additional allegations of rigging pitches to benefit bettors in a new document filed on Thursday.
Clase is accused of throwing suspicious pitches to benefit those who placed wagers on him in at least 48 games, according to ESPN. The initial indictment filed in November accused Clase of rigging pitches in specific games between May 2023 and June 2025.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Clase’s attorney for comment.
Clase pleaded not guilty to charges that he took bribes to help gamblers win bets on his pitches. He was released on $600,000 bond, surrendered his passport and was ordered to limit his travel to New York and Ohio, refrain from gambling and submit to GPS monitoring.
Clase allegedly began to request and receive bribes and kickback payments for agreeing to throw the specific pitches in April, according to the indictment. In one instance, the indictment said, Clase used his phone in the middle of a game to coordinate with a bettor on a pitch he would throw.
Bettors allegedly won $400,000 from betting platforms on pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025.
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Clase’s attorney, Michael Ferrara, said in October that Clase maintained his innocence.
“Emmanuel Clase has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win,” he said at the time.
Clase and teammate Luis Ortiz were both implicated in the alleged scheme. Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025.
Ortiz’s attorney, Christos N. Georgalis, filed the document on Thursday, saying federal prosecutors are making the accusations against Clase and argued to have his client’s case be dealt with separately from Clase.
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Georgalis said a jury may be able to find Ortiz guilty by association.