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Archaeologists recently unearthed the remains of a massive Roman council hall in Turkey – and the site holds carvings linked to early Christian worship.

The discovery, found in the ancient city of Laodicea, was reported by Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s news agency, in August. 

Located in the modern Turkish province of Denizli, Laodicea is mentioned multiple times throughout the Bible, including the Book of Revelation.

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH REVEALS MYSTERIOUS 1,600-YEAR-OLD WARNING TO NONBELIEVERS: ‘ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS’

In Revelation 1:11 (KJV), Jesus Christ tells John, “What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”

Laodicea also appears in the Book of Colossians. The Apostle Paul acknowledges it as an early Christian community.

Pictures of the site show a cross carved into stone, as well as what appears to be the early Christian Chi-Rho monogram, which represents the first two letters of “Christ” in Koine Greek. The etchings are also accompanied by Greek text.

ARCHAEOLOGIST UNEARTHS MYSTERIOUS CHRISTIAN SETTLEMENT HIDDEN AWAY FOR CENTURIES

The images also show the remnants of the ancient Roman council building, including a headless statue of the Roman emperor Trajan and the remains of a theater.

Archaeologists believe the building dates back about 2,050 years, though the age of the Christian etchings is unknown. 

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In the past, excavators also found a statue of a priest’s head at the site, per the Turkish news agency, along with a sculpture depicting Scylla, a monster from Homer’s “The Odyssey.”

Archaeologists told the news agency the ancient building functioned as Laodicea’s main political and judicial center – and its shape, with pentagonal outer walls and a hexagonal plan, may be the first of its kind in Anatolia. 

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The structure held as many as 800 members in the late first century B.C., with the names of various citizens, elders and youths inscribed on the seats, according to the same source.

The discovery follows a series of recent biblical archaeology finds that have made headlines this year.

This spring, an Israeli child found an ancient amulet at Tel Azeka, a hill in the Judaean Foothills referenced in the Book of Samuel. 

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Earlier this year, a group of archaeologists found evidence of an ancient garden at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Mount Sinai, the place where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, is slated to be the location of a mega resort.

The resort is part of Egypt’s “Great Transfiguration Project,” which includes plans to build luxury hotels, shopping centers and villas, according to a BBC report.

The project “aims to turn the sacred mountainous area into a spiritual shrine and a destination for mountain, medical and environmental tourism,” per Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS).

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PARTY-TOWN BUILDING AND RELICS PULLED OUT IN OCEAN DISCOVERY

Mount Sinai is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its sacred ties to the religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

The Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine sits at the bottom of Mount Horeb, where Moses received the tablets of the law, and is part of the broader Greek Orthodox tradition, according to UNESCO World Heritage.

Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens, the current head of the Church of Greece, has reportedly denounced the project.

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“The monastery’s property is being seized and expropriated. This spiritual beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism is now facing an existential threat,” he said in a statement, according to the Orthodox Times.

Members of the Jebeleya tribe, also known as the Guardians of St. Catherine’s Monastery, told the BBC that their homes and eco-camps were demolished with minimal compensation, while some received nothing at all.

Ben Hoffler, a British travel writer working with Sinai tribes, told the BBC that an urban world is being built.

“This is not development as the Jebeleya see it or asked for it, but how it looks when imposed top-down to serve the interests of outsiders over those of the local community,” he said. 

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He added, “It’s a world they have always chosen to remain detached from, to whose construction they did not consent, and one that will change their place in their homeland forever.”

Nearly 16 million tourists visited Egypt in 2024, increasing by over a million from the previous year, according to SIS.

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Fox News Digital reached out to UNSECO World Heritage and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism for comment. 

Archaeologists in Romania have unearthed an elite Roman family’s ancient treasure, buried for centuries beneath the remains of a millennia-old city.

The discovery, announced by the National History Museum of Romania on Aug. 23, was made within the remains of Histria, an ancient Greek city on the coast of the Black Sea.

The treasure consists of more than 40 coins and several ancient ornaments made of precious metals, according to the MNIR’s announcement.

ANCIENT CIVILIZATION’S GOLD COINS, LUXURY ARTIFACTS UNEARTHED DURING ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ DIG

“These artifacts were discovered in the archaeological context of a dwelling that was destroyed by fire during the Roman period,” the translated statement noted. 

“From the same layer, numerous other artifacts were also found, [including] inscriptions, ceramic vessels, bronze, iron, glass and stone objects.”

Pictures show the coins heavily corroded over the centuries with a green and brown patina, yet still retaining their shape, with some gold visible.

RARE ANCIENT GOLD DISCOVERY MADE BY FLORIDA STUDENT AT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

Archaeologists believe that the treasure was originally hidden in a wooden chest, which “fused together while retaining its shape,” during the fire.

“Most likely, the dwelling belonged to an important family from the mid-2nd century to the mid-3rd century AD, and the valuables were stored in a special place but could not be saved at the time of the fire,” the statement noted.

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The house also contained limestone pavements and painted walls. The structure was called “sumptuous” by researchers, reflecting the living conditions of well-to-do Romans.

“[It] represents significant testimony for reconstructing a moment in the life of the ancient city during the Principate period,” the statement said.

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The coins were brought to the MNIR’s restoration laboratory. After conservation work was done, the artifacts were added to the museum’s collections.

“[It] represents significant testimony for reconstructing a moment in the life of the ancient city during the Principate period.”

Romania, a country rich with history, has been the setting of several treasure discoveries in recent months.

In the spring, a metal detectorist found a hoard of 1,469 Roman coins in the field of a small village in Romania.

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Two metal detectorists also came across millennia-old treasure in Romania this spring, in the historic region of Transylvania. 

While in flight at 30,000 feet, passengers may exhibit certain behaviors that would be deemed inappropriate on land.

In the “r/Delta” forum on Reddit, a user titled a post “Crimes against humanity,” along with a photo of a man lying back with his bare feet up on the seat in front of him.

Redditors took to the comment section to share their reactions, along with their own flying experiences.

AIRLINE PASSENGERS COULD BE REMOVED FROM FLIGHTS FOR GOING BAREFOOT: ETIQUETTE EXPERT WEIGHS IN

“This strikes me as the same type of person who would clip their nails in public,” commented one user.

Another person wrote, “This is not your mom’s basement, sir.” Yet another Redditor said, “Living room syndrome strikes again.”

Someone else commented, “This is why I travel with Clorox wipes on planes.”

“Did you say anything?” asked one person. The user who posted the photo responded, “Sure did, he at least put his socks back on.”

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Jacqueline Whitmore, a Florida-based etiquette expert and former flight attendant, said it is best to keep your feet covered in some capacity while on a plane.

“From an etiquette standpoint, it is rude to walk about barefoot in a public place, as many germs can be transmitted from your feet,” Whitmore told Fox News Digital.

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“If you plan to take off your shoes on a longer flight, it’s best not to walk around without slippers for your own health and safety,” she said. 

“The floor of the plane is extremely dirty, especially in the lavatory. The water on the floor is most likely not water at all.”

Whitmore also said that being barefoot can impact those around you.

“For fellow passengers, seeing someone walk around barefoot can be considered unpleasant or unhygienic, which could negatively impact their flying experience.”

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To stay comfortable while remaining hygienic, Whitmore suggests putting on a clean pair of socks, using slippers or wearing more comfortable shoes.

Italian archaeologists recently discovered an ancient Roman bathhouse submerged underwater – and it may have belonged to Rome’s greatest orator.

The Campi Flegrei Archaeological Park, located in Naples, announced the discovery on Aug. 6. Though the site of the bathhouse was first identified in 2023, it was only recently documented.

In a translated Facebook post, officials said the thermal complex was found around 10 feet underwater in Portus Julius, a port famous for being the first permanent Roman naval base.

ANCIENT ROMAN APARTMENT BUILDING FOUND BENEATH PUBLIC SQUARE AMID SUBWAY CONSTRUCTION

Officials believe it may have belonged to Marcus Tullius Cicero, the legendary Roman statesman who lived from 106 B.C. to 43 B.C.

Cicero is famed for being a staunch advocate of Rome’s Republic, as well as for translating Greek philosophical texts into Latin.

The bathhouse was built before the area was developed into a naval base in 37 B.C. Local officials believe it may have belonged to Cicero, based on ancient records.

ANCIENT ROMAN ‘PERFUME GARDEN’ BLOOMS AGAIN NEARLY 1,900 YEARS AFTER VESUVIUS ERUPTION

“Current research suggests that we may be looking at the baths of Cicero’s villa, known from historical sources,” the post said.

The bathhouse also featured cutting-edge engineering, such as its suspensurae system, which allowed its mosaic floors to heat up.

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“This, together with the tubular structures along the walls, allowed hot air to circulate, creating a true sauna, or laconicum,” the statement added.

Officials also said they recovered ceramic materials “of particular importance,” which may offer clues about how the structure was built – and how it was destroyed.

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“Work will continue throughout the autumn with the restoration of the mosaic floor, [which is] partly encrusted with mortar remains, and of the small but significant traces of wall paintings,” the post concluded.

Roman bathhouses – which functioned as important community spaces in antiquity – are still being discovered across Europe and Asia Minor today.

In Turkey, archaeologists recently unearthed an ancient Roman bathhouse that still preserved traces of its original engineering design.

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In Rome’s Appian Way Regional Park, excavators found a Roman bathhouse-turned-church that functioned as an ancient baptistery.

Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered a 1,600-year-old Christian care facility for the elderly – a remarkable find that may be the world’s oldest nursing home.

The news, reported by Israel’s news agency TPS-IL, was announced by the University of Haifa on Aug. 18. 

The care facility was found in the ruins of the ancient city of Hippos near the Sea of Galilee. The Christian city was a significant bishop’s seat in the region during the Byzantine era.

LUXURIOUS 1,700-YEAR-OLD ROMAN BATHHOUSE UNEARTHED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS AFTER SURPRISE DISCOVERY

While excavating the ruins, archaeologists from the University of Haifa’s Zinman Institute of Archaeology were struck by a floor design at the entrance of an ancient building.

The mosaic’s message read, “Peace be with the elders,” in Koine Greek. It was found around 320 feet from Hippos’ central plaza, inside one of the city’s residential blocks.

Dating back to the fourth or fifth century A.D., archaeologists are convinced that the building was a designated facility for older residents.

“It shows that Byzantine society established not only religious centers but also places dedicated to dignity and care for its seniors.”

Some sources from the fifth and sixth centuries record the existence of elderly care facilities, making the discovery unique but not entirely without precedent. The inscription may also be the first physical evidence of such an institution.

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN TOMB COMPLEX REVEALED BENEATH RUBBLE FROM SYRIA’S CIVIL WAR

Researchers posit that the message was intentionally placed at the entrance of the building, in order to designate its purpose to elderly residents and visitors.

The symbols on the mosaic – cypress trees, fruit and Egyptian geese – also complement the Greek text, with researchers interpreting them as deliberate choices.

For example, cypress trees were associated with everlasting life, while fruits symbolized abundance and eternal life. Egyptian geese, on the other hand, often represented blessed souls in ancient iconography.

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Directly referencing elders in such a manner is exceptionally rare in ancient inscriptions, underscoring the significance of the find.

In a statement, Michael Eisenberg, Ph.D., said the mosaic “offers a tangible, dated, and clear indication of an institution designed for the elderly.”

“This is living proof that care and concern for the elderly are not just a modern idea, but were part of social institutions and concepts as far back as about 1,600 years ago,” Eisenberg observed, according to TPS-IL.

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He added, “It shows that Byzantine society established not only religious centers but also places dedicated to dignity and care for its seniors.”

The research team, which published its findings in the Journal of Papyrology and Epigraphy, stressed that the discovery offers “a rare glimpse into the daily lives of older people in antiquity.”

“This was a communal and spiritual institution integrated into the fabric of city life and reflecting the social values of the period,” the researchers said in a statement, as TPS-IL noted.

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“It may provide one of the earliest material testimonies in the Holy Land, showing how the Christian community began assuming responsibilities for care that had previously been handled by family networks alone.”

A 20-year-old American pilot and influencer who was attempting to become the first pilot to fly solo to all seven continents has been released from Chilean detention in Antarctica after more than two months. 

Ethan Guo, of Tennessee, who was hoping to raise $1 million to fight cancer with his trip, was detained in June after he landed his Cessna 182Q in Antarctica without permission, Chilean authorities alleged, claiming he presented “false flight plan data.” 

When he arrived back in Punta Arenas, Chile, on Saturday, on a navy ship, he met the press while wearing a Chilean national soccer team jersey, describing his detention as “mundane” and with “limited freedoms.”

“The Chilean people have been incredibly hospitable, they’ve been fantastic people,” he told reporters. “They’ve taken care of me. They’ve taught me Spanish, and they’ve treated me like family.” 

THREE AMERICANS EVACUATED FROM ANTARCTICA AFTER MEDICAL EMERGENCY AT RESEARCH STATION

Authorities said he was only authorized to fly over Punta Arenas in southern Chile, but he continued to fly south toward Antarctica. 

His lawyer, Jaime Barrientos, told the Associated Press that he had to divert due to bad weather, claiming Chilean authorities gave him permission to land in Antarctica. 

‘CARBON PASSPORTS’ WOULD TRACK TRAVEL AND EVEN RESTRICT HOW SOME PEOPLE TAKE VACATION

“To his surprise, when he was about to take off back to Punta Arenas he was arrested, in a process that from my perspective was a total exaggeration,” Barrientos said.

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The charges against Guo were dropped last month and on Saturday he was released to the mainland. 

He is required to donate the tens of thousands of dollars he has raised to a cancer charity within 30 days and cannot return to Chile for three years. He must leave the country as soon as possible. 

After landing at King George Island in Antarctica on June 28, Guo remained at the base with temperatures well below zero with limited communication as the Chilean government and his lawyers negotiated. 

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He turned 20 while he was detained in July. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

A 13-year-old New Hampshire boy hauled in the catch of a lifetime this week, a massive 177-pound Atlantic halibut that outweighed him and could set a new junior world record.

Jackson Denio, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 120 pounds, set out on an overnight deep-sea fishing trip with about 30 other people off Cashes Ledge, a fishing ground off the New England Coast. He caught the fish on Monday morning.

“I think I screamed, honestly,” Denio told The Associated Press. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but I was very excited.”

‘SHARKS WON’T DO ANYTHING TO YOU’: FLORIDA SPEARFISHERMAN ATTACKED BY SHARK MINUTES AFTER REASSURING FAMILY

Catching a halibut in New England is rare, Denio said, because the fish are more commonly found in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

“Halibut this size is like a once-in-a-lifetime fish catching in the Atlantic,” he added. 

By Monday, those aboard Al Gauron’s Deep Sea Fishing and Whale Watching boat had caught plenty of pollock and other fish when Denio told them he wanted to catch a shark. 

He dropped his hook, which was baited with pollock, and, soon after, the line pulled straight down — a telltale sign of halibut.

LARGEST GREAT WHITE SHARK RECORDED IN ATLANTIC SPOTTED OFF POPULAR BEACH TOWN

“The line was pretty much straight up and down the whole fight, which usually means a halibut,” Denio recalled. “A shark kind of would run up and to the side a little bit, but it was straight up and down. … That’s the way they swim. They move their head and their tail and whack it hard.”

Footage from the trip (see video at top) shows the crew cheering as Denio fought the fish for about 30 minutes before finally tiring it out.

“He did not let go once,” said Jim Walsh, the captain of the boat. “He never let anybody else touch the rod.” 

FISHERMAN LANDS ENORMOUS 56-POUND ALMACO JACK, BREAKING STATE RECORD

“We looked and went, ‘Oh my God, look what it is,'” Walsh said.

“It was great,” he added. “We were all ecstatic.”

The fish was officially weighed, photographed and then carved up.

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Denio’s family plans to file an application with the International Game Fish Association under the junior record for Atlantic halibut and under another class that includes all fish.

His mother, Jill Denio, said the family, which is from Hampton, New Hampshire, didn’t know what to think when her son told them he might have caught a record-breaking fish.

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Then, they saw the “monstrosity” of it, she said. “For a kid his size to be able to bring in a 170-something-pound fish is, you know, pretty awesome.”

Atlantic halibut are the largest flatfish in the world and can reach weights of well over 600 pounds. 

Denio believes his catch is 20 pounds larger than the existing record, and now he’s aiming to beat his personal best.

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“It makes me want to keep fishing even more and try and beat the record if I can,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

A 102-year-old Japanese man has set a new record by becoming the oldest to summit Mount Fuji.

Kokichi Akuzawa began his ascent on Aug. 5 along with his 70-year-old daughter Motoe, his granddaughter and her husband and friends, according to The Associated Press.

Akuzawa told AP he’s impressed that he climbed so well, sharing that it’s better to climb while he still can.

FOX NEWS’ MIKE TOBIN COMPLETES RISKY EVEREST CLIMB AND SHARES DETAILS OF HIGH-STAKES SUMMIT

“I was really tempted to give up halfway through,” he said. “Reaching the summit was tough, but my friends encouraged me, and it turned out well. I managed to get through it because so many people supported me.”

The 12,388-foot-high mountain is the highest in Japan and was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2013. 

Akuzawa overcame heart issues, shingles and a climbing injury. Three months before the summit, he began training by waking early for long walks and climbing one mountain each week, according to AP.

This is not the first time Akuzawa has set the record. He climbed the mountain when he was 96.

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“Mount Fuji isn’t a difficult mountain, but this time was harder than six years ago. Harder than any mountain before,” Akuzawa said. 

The mountain used to be a place of pilgrimage and is now increasingly popular among hikers. 

In 2023, more than 220,000 people climbed the mountain between July and September, according to the BBC.

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“I’ve never felt this weak. I didn’t have pain, but I kept wondering why I was so slow, why I had no stamina,” Akuzawa added. “I’d long since passed my physical limit, and it was only thanks to everyone else’s strength that I made it.”

The mountain’s hiking trails are officially open only from July to early September, although there is no penalty for hiking off-season.

“People who climb mountains, people who paint — if they can create something whole on that path, that’s the most fulfilling thing,” Akuzawa said.

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Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Archaeologists in Alexandria, Egypt, recently recovered the ruins and relics of a 2,000-year-old city. 

Divers plunged into the waters off the Abu Qir Bay, pulling out various artifacts and revealing building structures. 

Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary-General Mohamed Ismail told Reuters the artifacts date back to successive periods starting from the Ptolemaic era.

ANCIENT ROMAN APARTMENT BUILDING FOUND BENEATH PUBLIC SQUARE AMID SUBWAY CONSTRUCTION

Ismail said the Ptolemaic era “was right after the construction of Alexandria’s city, until the Roman era.”

He added, “This indicates that the region was prosperous and developing since the establishment of Alexandria in the Ptolemaic era, after Alexander the Great, and continued into the Roman era, up to more recent times.”

The Ptolemaic era lasted from 305 to 30 B.C.E., according to Smithsonian Magazine. 

Officials believe the ancient docks and port they found were an extension of the city of Canopus, which was reportedly known as a party and religious town. 

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Divers also discovered a quartz statue of a cartouche of Ramses II. Ramses ruled Ancient Egypt from 1279 to 1213 B.C.E., according to the ministry’s press release.

A stone statue of an unknown Ptolemaic individual and a white marble statue of a Roman noble person were also unearthed. 

Pottery vessels and dishes, stone anchors, water tanks, temples and coins were also discovered. 

Officials say the recovery marks an important milestone in Egypt’s national plan to study, preserve and showcase its submerged heritage. 

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The discoveries also prove how natural events in history, such as earthquakes, can cause once-thriving ancient cities to end up in the Mediterranean Sea.

“This event carries a strong message to the whole world, that Egypt is a great country, capable of preserving its ancient heritage and enhancing its global tourism status,” said Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi.

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“[This] is evident in its success in attracting approximately 15.8 million tourists during the past year,” he added.

Reuters contributed reporting. 

A fatal derailment of Lisbon’s Glória Funicular during rush hour on Wednesday reportedly took the lives of at least 15 people and injured 18. A child is said to be among the injured.

Fabiana Pavel, president of the Bairro Alto Residents’ Association, is placing blame on “excessive tourism” leading up to the tragic train incident. 

“The use of it in recent years is certainly inappropriate,” he told BBC News. “It was used too much and the population lost the ability to use it as public transport, because it became a tourist attraction.”

LISBON’S HISTORIC GLÓRIA FUNICULAR DERAILS LEAVING AT LEAST 15 DEAD, 18 INJURED: REPORT

The cable-pulled tram, which has carried residents and tourists for generations, came off the tracks before crashing into a nearby building.

The Glória Funicular has long been a tourist draw. It connects Lisbon’s downtown with the Bairro Alto district and welcomes thousands of visitors annually, according to The Associated Press.

Mass tourism has been a problem for a number of European communities, with towns now implementing taxes as some locals gather to protest the influx of visitors. 

In June, protesters in Lisbon called out the mass influx of foreign visitors.

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The demonstration was in solidarity with protests in Barcelona and on the Spanish island of Mallorca as people shared their dismay about travelers in their country by spraying them with water guns.

Portugal’s historic city of Évora City Council implemented a tourist tax of nearly $2 (1.50 euros) per guest per night, which began on Aug 1., local news outlets reported. 

There were nearly 20 million international travelers who visited Portugal in 2024, according to Turismo De Portugal.

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Authorities have launched a probe into the mechanical failure of Glória Funicular while local media have cited concerns over recent maintenance schedules.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed condolences to victims’ families and pledged full transparency in the official investigation, saying, “It’s a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen.”

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The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report. 

A 1930s California beach boy, Walter Frederick Morrison, saw enormous opportunity in the playtime practice of skimming pie plates through the air.

That original vision led a worldwide sensation that’s explored in detail in a new Fox Nation special. 

“Meet the American” has returned for Season 2 with “America’s Newsroom” co-anchor Bill Hemmer showcasing an array of stories that make America great.

‘MEET THE AMERICAN’ VETERAN WHO CREATED PICKLEBALL AND FIND OUT HOW HE DID IT

Each episode highlights the individuals whose ideas, perseverance or innovations have left an enduring imprint on American culture with a full episode devoted to the roots of the game of Frisbee. 

Fox News’ Hemmer recounts the remarkable story of fighter pilot Morrison, who invented the game after World War II.

Students at Yale and other New England schools had been tossing around empty pie tins from the Frisbie Baking Company in Connecticut, according to the Strong National Museum of Play. 

Morrison, together with Warren Franscioni, turned the casual activity into a game, developing a plastic disc version in 1948.

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The invention had an airfoil at the outer edge dubbed “the Morrison slope.”

It helped the toy lift during flight, according to the same source. 

Wham-O toy founders purchased the rights in 1955, officially naming the flying saucer “Frisbee” in 1958.

“It was an instant phenomenon,” Tristan Lin, brand director for Wham-O, previously told Fox News Digital. 

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“Before you knew it, every college kid in America was playing Frisbee.”

The game soared in popularity, with Wham-O toy inventor Ed Headrick and other enthusiasts founding the International Frisbee Association in 1967.

A Frisbee Golf Tournament followed a year later in California, while Ultimate Frisbee was later invented in New Jersey.

Eventually, Headrick left Wham-O to start “disc golf.”

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Today, the Professional Disc Golf Association hosts tournaments with participants from all over the world. 

As Smithsonian Magazine noted, “The flying disc had humble beginnings but has since become an international phenomenon.”

Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley contributed reporting. 

Hawaii’s “Green Fee” bill will raise tourist taxes to help fund “climate-change” mitigation — and now a lawsuit has been filed that challenges it. 

The Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) will raise the tax on tourists who stay at Hawaii hotels to 11% while imposing a new 11% tax on cruises, according to the text of the bill. 

The Cruise Lines International Association, along with a cruise ship supplier, filed a lawsuit against state tax and county finance officials in the Aloha State.

COASTAL CITY GREENLIGHTS NEW VISITOR TAX AMID WIDESPREAD OVERTOURISM TREND

“We believe the extension violates both the U.S. Constitution and federal law, while imposing an additional financial burden on passengers already subject to substantial fees and taxes,” CLIA said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.

The association also pointed out the benefits that cruise tourism brings as a major economic driver for the state.

“Extending the TAT to cruise passengers threatens to deter visitors whose spending fuels this economic engine, risking job losses and eroding the financial stability of businesses dependent on tourism,” CLIA added.

The lawsuit points out that the state’s counties each add their own 3% surcharge on top of the state’s tax – bringing the tax to 14%.

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Portions of the newly raised revenue would go into the “Climate Mitigation and Resiliency Special Fund” and the “Economic Development and Revitalization Special Fund,” according to the bill. 

The bill addresses invasive species, wildlife conservation and beach management and restoration. 

It will also help fund a “green jobs youth corps,” as well as areas of environmental concern.

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In 2023, 9.6 million visitors traveled to Hawaii, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

The “green fee” is projected to generate $100 million annually, according to the release. 

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General said the department was recently served with the complaint.

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 “We will reserve comment until we have had a chance to fully review it,” it read.

The Associated Press contributed reporting. 

A Confederate monument that caused a stir in a North Carolina town has been dismantled and put in storage until it can be moved to a different location. 

The town of Edenton had been planning to remove the monument from a popular spot in the business district for the past three years. It dismantled the monument on Saturday. 

It was only after the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the move that the town decided to act.

FLORIDA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ERUPTS OVER PLAN TO REPLACE WWII VETERANS’ MEMORIAL WITH GOVERNMENT PROJECT

Mayor W. Hackney High Jr. told local news outlet WAVY the monument will be reinstated at the town’s Veterans Memorial Park. 

Edenton established a Human Relations Commission in 2020 to study the monument issue and propose recommendations. 

In a community letter posted on Facebook, the mayor said the debate over the monument “has been deeply emotional and challenging for the Town Council and many of our citizens.”

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The council eventually recommended relocating the 26-foot statue.  

High asked the community to find “common ground” and called out those who said officials were “erasing history.” 

“That is a misinformed view,” he wrote. “The monument is not being removed — it is being relocated. In doing so, we are not erasing history.”

The memorial, erected in 1909, originally stood in front of the Old Colonial Courthouse, according to several sources. It was built to honor the Confederate dead of Chowan County.

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In the early 1960s, it was relocated to the prominent downtown waterfront spot.

In related news, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in August that The Reconciliation Monument, a Confederate memorial, will be returning to Arlington National Cemetery just outside Washington, D.C. 

“I’m proud to announce that Moses Ezekiel’s beautiful and historic sculpture — often referred to as ‘The Reconciliation Monument’ — will be rightfully returned to Arlington National Cemetery near his burial site,” Hegseth wrote on X. 

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Installations honoring Confederate figures were moved into a Defense Department storage facility in Virginia in 2023 following a push by the Pentagon.

Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor and the town of Edenton for comment.

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.

‘POOP CRUISE’ DOCUMENTARY EXPOSES 2013 SHIP NIGHTMARE FEATURING CHAOS, GROSS CONDITIONS

“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.”

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“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. 

Fox Nation’s “Meet the American” has returned for Season 2, with “America’s Newsroom” co-anchor Bill Hemmer showcasing stories that are part of what makes America great.

Each episode highlights the individuals whose ideas, perseverance or innovations have left an enduring imprint on American culture — with a full episode in the new season spotlighting the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Fox News’ Hemmer recounts the remarkable story of George D. Hay, who is credited with founding the musical treasure.

‘MEET THE AMERICAN’ VETERAN WHO CREATED PICKLEBALL AND FIND OUT HOW HE DID IT

With upstart radio station WSM going live for the first time in Oct. 1925, the program originally called “WSM’s Barn Dance” also launched at that time. 

Prominent announcer and program director, George D. Hay, launched the show with Uncle Jimmy Thompson, a 77-year-old fiddle player. 

Hay, an Indiana native, served in the U.S. Army during World War I before moving to Tennessee, according to the George D. Hay Society.

He became known as the “Solemn Old Judge” — a journalistic alter-ego he adopted while he was still a print reporter in Memphis covering local courts. 

To this day, he is credited with the creation of the Grand Ole Opry nearly 100 years ago, according to the Opry’s website.

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The Opry grew so popular that the broadcast was moved to the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville in 1943. The Opry then built its own theater and country-music campus, Opryland, in 1974, about 10 miles east of the city center. 

The name of the now-iconic brand came from Hay in a burst of inspiration. 

“For the past hour, we have been listening to the music taken largely from the Grand Opera, but from now on we will present the Grand Ole Opry,” Hay declared in Dec. 1927.

The name stuck — and went on to become an everlasting program, a live performance, a location and a brand. 

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Hay is credited with launching the careers of such country icons as Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, George Jones and more, cementing the Opry as pivotal to country music.

Home to country legends and rising stars, the Opry now has a seating capacity of nearly 4,400, with over 30 sections.

The Opry in all its forms is still thriving today. 

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The Opry is the longest-running radio broadcast on the planet, according to Guinness World Records.

Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley contributed to this report.

Archaeologists in North Carolina recently discovered four 18th-century shipwrecks – including the likely remains of a detonated enemy vessel.

East Carolina University announced the discovery on July 24. The ships were located this spring at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson, in the state’s Cape Fear region.

Jeremy Borrelli, a staff archaeologist for ECU’s maritime studies program, told Fox News Digital the team recovered 63 wooden shipwreck timbers – 47 of which are believed to be part of La Fortuna, a Spanish privateer ship from Cuba. 

DIVERS REVEAL IMAGES OF 321-YEAR-OLD SHIPWRECK IN REMARKABLE CONDITION OFF COAST

La Fortuna attacked the port during King George’s War in 1748, one of the French and Indian conflicts in North America. It exploded near the wharves at Brunswick Town and has not been seen since.

Discovering the ship was pure luck, Borrelli said, as the remains of the vessel broke away from the Cape Fear River mud within two weeks of the start of the summer field school. 

“If luck hadn’t been on our side, the wreck might be lost forever from the coastal erosion impacting the historic site’s shoreline,” the archaeologist said. 

Remarkably, the wooden remains “look like they were cut yesterday,” said Borrelli.

DIVERS DISCOVER 2,000-YEAR-OLD SHIPWRECK LOADED WITH PRISTINE ANCIENT CERAMICS: ‘EXTREMELY VALUABLE’

“Each timber is remarkably preserved, and most still retain original tool marks from the shipwright to shape the tree into frames or planking.”

Divers also uncovered the wreck of a flatboat, helping to shed light on everyday trade during the 18th century. 

Archaeologists also found a vessel likely used for landfill retention, plus another one that remains unidentified.

“To find this variety of shipwrecks in close proximity to other historic waterfront infrastructure is rare and incredibly exciting.”

Borrelli said the team also found hundreds of artifacts, though they only collected the items that will help determine the age of the ships.

The finds included ceramic pieces, glass bottles and clay tobacco pipes, plus a cooper’s adze, barrel heads and staves.

Sailcloth, leather shoes, possible clothing fragments and a butchered animal bone were also recovered at the site.

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“Two Spanish Puebla Blue-on-White majolica ceramic sherds were found among the recovered shipwreck timbers,” Borrelli added. 

“This ceramic type is directly associated with 18th-century Spanish-American archaeological sites, and is another clue supporting the preliminary identification of La Fortuna.”

“Their discovery shows the importance of protecting historic places and the finite cultural resources within them.”

He said the discovery provides new insight into colonial North Carolina history, from the port town’s vulnerability to how wrecked ships were used for land retention infrastructure.

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“To find this variety of shipwrecks in close proximity to other historic waterfront infrastructure is rare and incredibly exciting,” Borrelli said. 

“These wrecks represent a range of past maritime activities that will help us to understand how ports like Brunswick Town helped shape the early development of North Carolina,” he continued. 

“Their discovery shows the importance of protecting historic places and the finite cultural resources within them.”

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The shipwreck remains are being analyzed by ECU conservationists. The project’s preliminary findings are encouraging, but there is still “a lot more work to be done,” said Borrelli. 

“This will allow us to analyze the shipwreck as it was originally situated on the riverbed as well as compare the site to other 18th-century ships to determine what type of watercraft it might be.”

Countries across the globe are racing to attract foreign investors with “golden” visas.

Many wealthy Americans are seeking residences abroad for financial security and personal safety reasons. 

Oman has become the latest country to join the pricey trend, launching its “Golden Residency” program in exchange for foreigners investing $520,000 — or 200,000 Omani rials (OMR) — in property, bonds, companies or businesses that grow the workforce. 

FOREIGN TRAVELERS SOON TO PAY ‘VISA INTEGRITY FEE’ TO VISIT THE US COSTING $250

Officials announced the program on Sunday at the Sustainable Business Environment forum, reiterating their strategic push to deepen private sector growth, according to Gulf News.

Those who obtain the visa are also offered fast-track airport services and the option to own a property in areas not previously open to non-Omani ownership. 

“The Golden Residency is not merely a residence permit; it is Oman’s commitment to creating a balanced environment that combines opportunity, stability and quality of life,” said Nasima bint Yahya Al Balushi, Investors Services Center director general at the forum, Gulf News reported. 

Canada-based Mohamed Bennis, an associate vice president at Arton Capital, told Fox News Digital that many are realizing “true wealth” is measured by “freedom of movement.”

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“Many Americans are realizing that a second residency or citizenship is the ultimate insurance policy against uncertainty,” said Bennis.

“It provides them with almost unmatched mobility, flexibility and security in a world that is becoming increasingly unpredictable.”

He said that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one country that is becoming increasingly popular for Americans seeking residency or citizenship through investment.

“The Middle East is no longer just a region for short-term postings or selective opportunities for the elite. With Oman now joining the movement, it shows that the region is ready and confident to become a mainstream destination for expatriates.” 

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“With a sizeable uptick in our requests from USA clients for the region, it was just a matter of time before Oman created its golden visa program.”

“[Golden visas] can open doors to privileges that money just can’t buy: freedom of movement, security for your family and access to opportunities around the world,” he said.

“Whether for business, family or lifestyle, a second residency offers peace of mind and flexibility in an uncertain world,” he said. 

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“Oman’s addition doesn’t just broaden the competitive landscape; it underscores that the Gulf is embracing openness and long-term global integration.”

Archaeologists recently unearthed two churches in Egypt that are over 1,500 years old, offering rare evidence of Christianity’s rise in the country’s Western Desert. 

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery in a press release in late July. The churches were found at Kharga Oasis, an ancient settlement roughly 350 miles southwest of Cairo. 

The site is known for its notable ancient Christian remains, including cemeteries and churches. It has been inhabited since antiquity, thanks to underground water sources.

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH REVEALS MYSTERIOUS 1,600-YEAR-OLD WARNING TO NONBELIEVERS: ‘ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS’

Archaeologists uncovered the remains of an entire settlement at Kharga Oasis, the translated press release said. Multiple residential buildings made of mudbrick were found, with some walls still retaining plaster.

Egyptian officials shared one photo of the site, showing the mudbrick ruins of the settlement.

The team also uncovered ovens and large clay jars set into the ground for storing food, according to officials. Other finds included inscribed pottery shards, vessels, glass and stone pieces, and several burials.

ARCHAEOLOGIST UNEARTHS MYSTERIOUS CHRISTIAN SETTLEMENT HIDDEN AWAY FOR CENTURIES

The centerpiece of the excavation, however, was the discovery of two churches. Both structures date back to the early Coptic era, Egypt’s Christianization period that began in the 4th century A.D.

One church was a grand basilica made of mudbrick, with the remnants of a large hall and two aisles, officials said. 

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The second church, which was smaller, had a rectangular layout and was surrounded “by the remains of seven external columns,” officials said. 

“Some of its inner walls were decorated with Coptic inscriptions,” the translated statement said. “To the west of this church, remains of service buildings were also found.”

Beyond the churches, archaeologists also uncovered a remarkable mural of Jesus Christ healing a sick person – a rare depiction during that period. 

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No pictures of the mural were released, likely due to conservation reasons.

Officials said that the area “witnessed the transition from paganism to Christianity.”

“[This discovery] sheds light on a significant era in the history of the Kharga Oasis, namely the beginnings of the Coptic period in Egypt,” the translated press release concluded. “[It also reflects] the importance of Egypt’s Western Oases as centers of religious and social life in different eras.”

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“[This discovery] highlights the tolerance and cultural and religious diversity that characterized Egyptian civilization.”

The Trump administration continues to take a harder stance on foreign visitors with a “visa integrity fee” to be implemented on Oct. 1. 

The fee would charge non-immigrant travelers visiting the U.S. $250 due at the time visas are issued and was enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Countries such as Mexico, China, and Brazil will take on the most heat, with the cost for non-visa waiver countries now nearing $442, per the U.S. Travel Association.

POPULAR DESTINATION MAY EXPAND ‘GOLDEN’ VISA PERKS, OPENING MORE DOORS FOR WEALTHY

The largest numbers of international visitors in May were from Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and Brazil, according to the International Inbound Travel Association.

Gabe Rizzi, global travel management company Altour president, told Reuters that “any friction we add to the traveler experience is going to cut travel volumes by some amount.”

“As the summer ends this will become a more pressing issue, and we’ll have to factor the fees into travel budgets and documentation,” Rizzi added.

Overseas visitors to the U.S. dropped 3.1% in July from the same time last year, according to Reuters. 

The new fee comes as the U.S. prepares to host America250 events, the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup matches.

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“International visitor spending to the U.S. is projected to fall to just under $169BN this year, down from $181BN in 2024,” notes a World Travel & Tourism Council report.

Tourism Economics director of industry studies Aran Ryan told Reuters that overseas travel to the U.S. this year would grow over 10% year over year, but the latest projections now show a 3% decline.

The U.S. isn’t alone—countries worldwide are adding entry fees and tightening screening to capitalize on tourism while cracking down on abuse.

The British government recently rolled out an “Electronic Travel Authorization” (ETA) that digitizes tourists’ requests to visit the country while paying a fee of about $13. 

The ETAs are linked to a traveler’s passport in an effort to smooth security checks and “prevent abuse” of the immigration system.

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On Wednesday, the Trump administration proposed a rule to limit the length of time international students can remain in the U.S. for their studies to four years and the duration of visas for cultural exchange visitors and members of the media.

The rule would limit how long certain visa holders are allowed to stay in the U.S., according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security.

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It seeks to curb “visa abuse” and increase the agency’s ability to “properly vet and oversee these individuals.”

Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion and Reuters contributed to this report.

Spotted these days on everything from quiet cul-de-sacs to bustling main streets, golf carts are no longer just for the fairway. They’re now street legal in many communities as families ditch their minivans and SUVs to run quick errands or ramble around town.

“A slow-rolling cavalry is conquering America’s public roads,” The Wall Street Journal recently noted. 

While four-wheeled carts are changing the way small towns move, not everyone is on board with the craze. In the “r/nashville” Reddit forum, one user recently asked, “When did we decide golf carts were fine for the roads?”

COASTAL CITY GREENLIGHTS NEW VISITOR TAX AMID WIDESPREAD OVERTOURISM TREND

“This sounds like a ‘rich side of town’ problem,” commented another user.

Yet another person wrote, “I began hearing about them referred to as NEVs — ‘neighborhood electric vehicles’ — in 2008 as a greener way to reduce traffic for short distances.”

“When wealthy people started to consider them fashionable,” said a different user.

One Redditor wrote, “They are a plague in my neighborhood.”

But another person said, “Golf carts are far safer than pickup trucks (especially lifted), SUVs and even sedans. Basically, golf carts are safer than cars for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.”

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A user on a different Reddit forum, “r/homeowners,” asked, “What’s the deal with golf carts and UTVs (utility task vehicle)?”

The person shared that his or her neighborhood has changed over the years and said that it’s “now starting to get what I would call more ‘suburban’ people.”

The post continued, “I’m not judging. I just don’t understand it. We don’t have a golf course anywhere nearby. I feel like this is something that is maybe more common in the further-out suburbs.”

It went on, “I’ll often see them driving through the neighborhood or even on the larger streets nearby where the speed limit is 40mph. Sometimes it’s teens/tweens driving them. Is this a common trend?” 

“I just don’t understand it. We don’t have a golf course anywhere nearby.”

A different Redditor said, “Fairly common here as well, especially in nicer subdivisions with community pools [and a] nearby park.”

Another user asked, “Maybe it’s becoming like a status symbol?”

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A different person defended the use of the carts.

“I have mine street legal and run errands on the weekends or cruise around on it when I’m bored,” the person wrote. “It’s a fun and exhilarating machine that gets good gas mileage, but can also shred going up mountains or in the snow.”

The City of Greenville in South Carolina recently reminded residents about a new state law regulating golf carts. 

The public service announcement on its X account read, “If you own a golf cart in #GreenvilleSC, a new state law is in effect. Registration, driver requirements and usage rules have been updated.”

Under the updated law, golf carts are only permitted on roads with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less and must remain within four miles of the owner’s residence.

GREAT WHITE SHARK SIGHTINGS RISE ALONG NORTHEAST BEACHES AS SUMMER WINDS DOWN

Greenville isn’t alone in aiming to manage the rise of golf cart traffic. 

In Peach Tree, Georgia — a city of just over 38,000 residents — more than 11,000 golf carts are registered, according to the town’s website.

Golf carts and go-karts caused 50 traffic crashes, resulting in three deaths in Michigan in 2023, according to the state’s Traffic Crash Reporting System.

Various counties in Michigan have enacted ordinances and implemented public laws to ensure the safety of people riding in carts.

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The state does not allow operation 30 minutes before sunset or 30 minutes after sunrise, for example. Also, drivers should not weave through traffic. 

Carts are also not allowed to be driven on sidewalks. 

A frustrated husband drew sympathy online after sharing that his in-laws “always want to go everywhere” with him and his wife, leaving him feeling more like a chauffeur and trip planner.

The man explained in Reddit’s “Am I the A–hole?” forum that his wife’s parents join them on nearly every weekend outing and vacation. Whether it’s a day trip to a park in New Jersey, a visit to Manhattan or even an out-of-state getaway, his wife “doesn’t see anything wrong” with her parents tagging along.

“She says that she is their only child and if her parents don’t go out with us, they do not go out,” the husband wrote, adding that he would not mind them joining occasionally. 

NEW DAD SPARKS DEBATE FOR WANTING SOLO VACATION WITH BABY, LEAVING MOM BEHIND

At one point, his wife even uninvited her mother and told her it was because her husband didn’t want them joining.

“Am I being unreasonable for objecting to them coming along so often?” he asked in the online post.

Reddit users overwhelmingly sided with him, ruling he was “NTA,” short for “Not the A–hole.”

“They’re third wheeling and intrusive,” one commenter said.

FAMILY VACATION DRAMA ERUPTS OVER GRANDMOTHER’S REQUEST FOR DINNER WITH HER GROWN KIDS ONLY

“Only child or not, your wife should not be solely responsible for her parents’ social life,” someone else said. “If they choose not to have friends or not to go places with friends they have, that isn’t on either of you.”

Many criticized the wife for putting her husband in this position.

“You have a wife problem, not an in-law problem,” one person wrote.

Another agreed: “She is an [a–hole] to do this to you.”

PARENTS CRASHING HONEYMOONS BECOMES BIZARRE NEW TRAVEL TREND FOR MODERN NEWLYWEDS

But some readers argued he should have anticipated the dynamic before marriage.

“Seems a little late to be upset now,” one person said.

“If you knew this and entered into their family willingly and now want to flip things, I’m going to have to say that [you’re the a–hole,” someone else said.

Others encouraged compromise and communication.

“You need to sit your wife down and have this conversation,” one person said, adding, “Just because she wants them at something doesn’t mean she gets to dictate what you do all the time as a couple.”

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“Parents wanting to spend time with their daughter is fine, your wife being chill with that is fine, you not wanting QUITE so much time with them is fine,” someone else said. “The best way forward will probably involve compromise on both sides.”

Nari Jeter, a licensed marriage and family therapist from Tallahassee, Florida, told Fox News Digital that no one is necessarily at fault.

“They just all have different boundaries and expectations,” Jeter said. “It is totally valid and reasonable for him to want to spend some Saturdays and vacations exclusively with his wife.”

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She advised the husband to set clear boundaries.

“Saying, ‘Can we spend less time with your family?’ is vague,” she said. “But saying, ‘I’d like to take one solo vacation with you a year and one family vacation a year’ is more specific.”

Or, he could encourage his wife to do more things with her family without him, she added. 

Jeter said the wife shouldn’t feel responsible for her parents’ social life, and that her parents should reassure her that it’s healthy for her to spend time with her husband alone.

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“Loving and caring parents should understand and respect the reasonable and healthy boundaries of their adult daughter, son-in-law and their marriage,” Jeter said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the original poster for comment.

As the summer days wind down, travelers are still hitting the beaches to take dips in the ocean.

Those in the Northeast may face a greater risk of shark attacks as new data shows an increase in great white sightings. 

The Oqunquit Fire Department (OFD) in Maine shared a shark advisory last week on its Facebook page. 

BEACHES WITH MOST SHARK ATTACKS AS AMERICANS PAY TRIBUTE TO ‘JAWS’ AND ACTIVIST WEIGHS IN

“A credible sighting of a 6–8-foot great white shark was reported approximately 200 yards off Little Beach near the mouth of the river,” OFD wrote. 

Officials put up a yellow flag on Aug. 19 to caution beachgoers and remind people to “follow posted advisories.”

A great white shark was recently spotted at the beginning of this month by a drone showing the shark swimming in water near Scarborough, Maine.

About 93 great white sharks have been detected in Maine since late August 2020, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources. 

“Shark behavior is clearly shifting.”

In July, the largest great white shark in the Atlantic was recorded near Nantucket, Massachusetts, stretching nearly 14 feet in length, Fox News Digital previously reported.  

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There has also been an increase in great white sharks near the waters of Nova Scotia, Canada, according to a Marine Ecology Progress Series paper published in Inter-Research in May.

Researchers attribute the increase to an overall growth in the population of great whites between the years 2019 and 2021.

They also say it could be due to “changes in habitat use that cause the population distribution to shift northward during warmer months.”

There have been 47 unprovoked shark bites globally in 2024, with 28 taking place in the U.S., according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File (ISAF).

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Activist Julie Andersen, founder of the New York-based Shark Angels, previously told Fox News Digital that several beach communities are seeing higher numbers of sharks this summer. 

“Based on trends over the past few years, shark behavior is clearly shifting,” she said. 

“From the West Coast to the East Coast and even parts of Mexico, sightings are increasing in places like California, Cape Cod, the Carolinas, Florida, and Baja.”

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Andersen said that in places like California or Cape Cod, Massachusetts, white shark populations are rebounding “thanks to decades of protection.” She said their return is a sign of healthier oceans.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

A medieval castle has hit the market near one of Italy’s busiest cities, though it comes with a few caveats.

The Castle of Landriano, listed by Sotheby’s International Realty, is roughly 15 miles southeast of Milan.

The Lombardy castle dates back to the 11th century. It boasts 10 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms and spans more than 102,000 square feet.

MEDIEVAL KNIGHT’S TOMB DISCOVERED BENEATH FORMER ICE CREAM PARLOR IN POLAND: ‘VERY RARE’

Diletta Giorgolo, head of residential at Italy Sotheby’s International Realty, told Fox News Digital the castle “has very ancient origins.”

Archaeological finds from the 6th century, she said, have been uncovered on the property.

“The first written mention of the castle itself dates to 1037, when Emperor Conrad II destroyed it during his war against Milan,” Giorgolo said.

The medieval elements, including a central courtyard, towers and fortified gates, were built between the 11th and 13th centuries.

“It is not just a property – it is a 1,000-year-old chapter of European history waiting to be reborn.”

In 1531, the castle was transformed from a military fortress into a Renaissance residence. 

That renovation added frescoed halls, a grand staircase and refined residential features.

The structure also played a role in the 1529 Battle of Landriano, Giorgolo added, which was part of the War of the League of Cognac.

ITALIAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNVEIL RARE 2,600-YEAR-OLD TOMB UNTOUCHED BY LOOTERS: ‘DOORWAY TO OUR ANCESTORS’

“Visitors can still see medieval arches in terracotta, Gothic windows, and Renaissance courtyards with Tuscan columns,” she said. 

“Inside are remarkable spaces such as the Hall of the Amorini, the Hall of Music, and the Taverna family’s private Studiolo, with frescoes attributed to the Tibaldi school.”

The property even features a moat fed by the Lambro River. Giorgolo confirmed that the listing is a once-in-a-century type of opportunity. 

“Castles of this scale, so close to Milan and Pavia, very rarely come to market,” the expert said.

“Many comparable castles are either ruins or have long been incorporated into public heritage.”

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But the castle comes with two catches: The price is under wraps for now, and it will require a full restoration. 

Keeping the price confidential is standard practice for protected Italian heritage properties.

“Although the property requires a complete restoration, it remains a sleeping giant – one of the few opportunities to acquire and revive such a significant piece of European history,” Giorgolo emphasized.

“The castle embodies nearly 1,000 years of history layered into its walls.”

The castle is “wrapped in folklore.”

As an added twist, the castle is also “wrapped in folklore,” according to Giorgolo.

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“A local legend tells of Giannetta, a 16th-century herbalist accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake in the square outside the castle. Locals still whisper that her voice and shadow haunt the halls,” she noted.

So the castle tells “two parallel stories.”

“[It tells] the grand narrative of emperors, dukes, and decisive battles, and the everyday memory of myths and beliefs that have survived through the centuries,” she said. 

“It is not just a property – it is a 1,000-year-old chapter of European history waiting to be reborn.”

The Castle of Landriano opportunity comes as other historic European estates hit the market.

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St. John’s Jerusalem, a medieval monastery in England once used by crusader monks, was also recently listed for sale. 

The 12th-century property is listed in the range of £3.25 million (roughly $4.4 million) for a lease ending in 2122.

A Florida beach house, dubbed the “Trump house,” has taken TikTok by storm for its eye-catching décor.

Marvin Peavy’s Walton County home sits on Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A in the northwestern part of the Sunshine State, which has been dubbed the “Hamptons of the South.”

Peavy stepped into the spotlight over a legal dispute with local officials after he hung large pro-Trump banners on his home.

AMERICANS FLEE TO CANADA SEEKING REFUGEE STATUS AS NUMBERS SPIKE DRAMATICALLY

His TikTok account shows various banners he has installed, amassing millions of views and thousands of followers.

One of Peavy’s most popular videos shows him dancing to “YMCA” with three Trump banners, shot a day before the presidential election.

“Who’s your Daddy?” says one banner. Others say “bulletproof” and “Trump coming home 2025,” all including photos of President Trump.

In 2021, Peavy was ordered to remove the banners within five days or pay $50 per day until he took them down, according to meeting minutes from a Walton County code enforcement hearing.

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Last year, Trace Gallagher spoke with Peavy on “Fox News @ Night,” debuting his “Who’s your Daddy?” banner with President Trump pointing.

“[Walton County officials] came against my constitutional right. They tried to beat me at my own God-given constitutional rights. And they can’t do it, I stood up, and I will fight,” said Peavy at the time.

In March 2025, a circuit judge ruled that the fines were unjust, ordering Walton County to pay Peavy’s legal fees, totaling $42,000.

His latest video, posted on July 2, shows a banner of President Trump’s mugshot, captioned “I don’t give a…” with a rat and donkey.

Also shown in the video is a “Welcome to the Gulf of America” map and a “Salute to 250 years of American independence.” 

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Peavy’s home is also flanked by American flags.

His TikTok video has garnered a large following, with fans commenting and some even visiting his home.

“I was there this past weekend,” commented one woman with a photo of herself outside Peavy’s house.

Another person wrote, “I saw ur banner yesterday, very patriotic.”

“I’ve been waiting for your new signs! Awesome as always,” commented a user.

One TikToker wrote, “Wish I was your neighbor! A: I could drink coffee every morning waiting on the next banner and B: I would be rich.”

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“Love this. Will forever stop and take a picture when coming to 30A,” said another user.

Someone else commented, “I was obsessed with your house on our vacation.”

A scientist from the University of Southampton claims to have solved the notorious Bermuda Triangle mystery. 

Situated between Florida, Bermuda and Puerto Rico, this precarious stretch of sea is known for its quickly changing weather patterns, varying sea levels and complicated navigational realities.

The area’s storied ship and plane disappearances have sparked urban legends, earning it the ominous nickname of the Devil’s Triangle.

SCHOOLBOY SPOTS AMERICAN REVOLUTION WARSHIP ON BEACH AFTER STORM UNCOVERS 230-YEAR-OLD WRECK

Oceanographer Dr. Simon Boxall says the disappearances are due to “rough waters,” as he told the Daily Mail.

“There are storms to the south and north, which come together,” he said in a British documentary, Channel 5’s “The Bermuda Triangle Enigma,” which is not available outside the U.K. 

Boxall, along with other researchers, reconstructed a scale model of one of the ships that disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle.

During World War I, the USS Cyclops supported warships in European waters as a unit of the Naval Auxiliary Force, according to the National Museum of the United States Navy (NMUSN).

GERMAN RESEARCHERS DISCOVER DOZENS OF SHIPWRECKS INCLUDING POSSIBLE WWII STEAMER LOST IN AIR RAID

The ship disappeared in March 1918 while returning from Brazil.

“Numerous ships sailed to locate the collier, as she was thought to have been sunk by a German submarine,” states the NMUSN website. “Her wreck has never been found, and the cause of her loss remains unknown.”

Boxall tested the replica to see how it would fare with rouge waves. 

Researchers determined the waves could quickly overwhelm the ship due to the vessel’s flat base and large size. 

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Since large ships need water to stay afloat, if the boat became suspended in such a way, it could “snap in two.”

“[The waves] are steep, they are high — we’ve measured waves in excess of 30 met[ers],” said Boxall in the documentary.

He added, “If that happens, it can sink in a matter of two or three minutes.”

Australian scientist Karl Kruszelnicki has echoed Boxall’s theory.

“The number [of ships and planes] that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis,” he told The Independent in 2017.   

He says that human error and poor weather conditions are likely behind the disappearances that have contributed to the superstition associated with the Bermuda Triangle, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

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As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) stated in a 2010 report, “There is no evidence that mysterious disappearances occur with any greater frequency in the Bermuda Triangle than in any other large, well-traveled area of the ocean.”

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“The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard contend that there are no supernatural explanations for disasters at sea,” NOAA also noted. 

“Their experience suggests that the combined forces of nature and human fallibility outdo even the most incredulous science fiction.”

Archaeologists in Central Europe recently uncovered an ancient grave – reopened not by modern looters, but by medieval Poles over 1,000 years ago.

The excavation took place at the Nowy Chorów cemetery in northern Poland. The findings were published in the journal Antiquity on June 23.

Known as Grave 7, the 11th-century burial appeared to belong to an elite individual. It still contained high-quality artifacts, including a yew wood bucket with iron fittings.

MEDIEVAL KNIGHT’S TOMB DISCOVERED BENEATH FORMER ICE CREAM PARLOR IN POLAND: ‘VERY RARE’

Sławomir Wadyl, an archaeologist at the University of Warsaw, told Fox News Digital that “nearly everything about this project has been surprising.”

An iron spearhead with preserved textile fragments was also found – possibly remnants of a banner or ceremonial flag known as a standard.

“We had little precedent to guide our expectations, and what we found exceeded them,” Wadyl also said.

Archaeologists found that some graves were reopened within a generation, with cremated remains laid directly over emptied burials – likely part of ritual reuse rather than robbery.

“It wasn’t a case of medieval or modern looters stumbling upon an ancient grave centuries later,” Wadyl noted. 

VIKING-ERA BURIAL SITE WITH ELITE FAMILY TREASURES AND GIFTS DISCOVERED, PLUS AN ‘UNUSUAL CASKET’

“It was part of unfolding local history.”

The archaeologist said that reopening graves was common in the 11th century, but that it “wasn’t always about stealing valuables.”

“Sometimes graves were disturbed to remove objects, possibly for reuse, ritual reasons, or even as acts of social or religious rejection,” Wadyl observed. 

“In other cases – like at Nowy Chorów – the bodies themselves were exhumed and cremated after burial, suggesting a deeper ritual significance.”

He added, “This may have been done to ‘correct’ burial practices as beliefs changed, or to assist the deceased in reaching the afterlife.”

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The burials incorporated both Christian and pagan rituals, shedding new insights on a time of dramatic transition in European history. 

Wadyl noted that while the east–west grave orientation and modest grave goods suggest Christian influence, the bodies were aligned with their heads, not feet, to the east — an unusual detail.

Features like cremation, symbolic grave markers and stone constructions point to pagan traditions.

This blending of beliefs, Wadyl said, was “one of the most fascinating aspects of this project.”

“In short, these were not fully Christian or fully pagan burials,” he said. “They represent a blended, transitional funerary tradition, which is why this cemetery is so significant.”

“The past is full of negotiation, resistance and adaptation.”

He added, “It’s about a community living through a time of profound change – the shift from pagan to Christian belief, from tribal structures to early states, from old traditions to new identities.”

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Next steps include DNA analysis to identify kinship patterns, Wadyl said — as well as “looking deeper into the blend of Christian and pre-Christian ritual practices.”  

He and his team also identified more than 120 similar grave sites across Pomerania, thanks to LiDAR mapping – opening the door to further study.

“This discovery reminds us that history isn’t always neat,” Wadyl concluded. 

“The past is full of negotiation, resistance and adaptation.”

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“For us, it’s a chance to give voice to those long-forgotten people, and to better understand how cultural transformation really happens.”

As European cities continue to struggle with surging tourist numbers, Italian farmers have taken matters into their own hands.

Locals have installed their own turnstiles across the Dolomites as influencers continue to flock to the mountain range in northeastern Italy.

Carlo Zanella, president of the Alto Adige Alpine Club, told Fox News Digital that the turnstiles are “working.”

COASTAL CITY GREENLIGHTS NEW VISITOR TAX AMID WIDESPREAD OVERTOURISM TREND

“The turnstiles were installed at the beginning of July by a farmer who owns the land where the path passes,” said Zenella.

Located in Val Gardena on the Seceda, the turnstiles charge visitors about $5 for access.

Zanella shared the “big problem” that farmers are facing. 

He said it’s about visitors “who go to the meadows to pass or have a picnic and ruin the grass that the farmer has to cut to make hay.”

The Dolomiti Superski area, spanning over 12 valleys, had 4 million winter visitors in the 2024 season, according to The Times.

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“I am against the influencers,” said Zanella, “because they almost always tell things that are not in events [related] to the locality and show the mountain differently from what it is. They are only interested in making money [through] advertising.”

Photos of the mountain range shared on social media show daily lines of thousands of tourists.

In the Province of Belluno, where the Dolomites are located, tourist arrivals increased 11% from 2019 to 2023, according to the official tourism portal.

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“The first 11 months of 2024 show a stability in flows compared to the previous year,” the tourism portal notes.

Zanella said local authorities have met about how to handle tourism issues, but no decision has been made yet.

He believes the best way to reduce the flow of tourists is to highlight that “there are other even more beautiful places to visit.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Ufficio Informazioni e Accoglienza Turistica for comment.

Archaeologists unearthed a massive trove of gold coins in the Czech Republic, minted by a long-lost civilization — with the site described by officials as “exceptional.”

The discovery was announced by the Museum of Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Králové. The Celtic settlement was found along the route of a future highway, the July release said.

The site dates back to the La Tène period, with archaeologists finding that the settlement peaked in roughly the second century B.C.

ANCIENT ROMAN SOLDIER’S MONTHLY PAYCHECK UNEARTHED IN PRISTINE CONDITION IN COUNTRYSIDE

It served as a “supra-regional trade and production center” that linked Central Europe to far-flung corners of the ancient world.

The La Tène period marked the height of Celtic power in Europe, shortly before Roman expansion into the region.

Gold and silver coins were discovered at the site, along with amber and “proof of luxury pottery production.”

Excavators also found numerous metal objects, along with ceramic vessel fragments and remnants of dwellings, production facilities and one or two “likely” sanctuaries.

“It represents one of the largest assemblages of artifacts ever discovered in the Czech Republic.”

Researchers took everything they found – and walked away with over 22,000 bags of artifacts, one of the largest archaeological hauls in the country’s history.

LONG-LOST CAPITAL OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATION MAY HAVE FINALLY BEEN UNCOVERED, ARCHAEOLOGISTS SAY: ‘UNIQUE FIND’

The haul, according to officials, represents “one of the largest assemblages of artifacts ever discovered in the Czech Republic,” the museum said in a statement translated from Czech to English. 

“These include everyday objects as well as extraordinarily rich collections of jewelry.”

The museum added that the site is “unprecedented” in the Czech Republic, in both scale and character – and that the location was “entirely exceptional.”

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Archaeologists said they were stunned by how many artifacts were packed into the soil.

The top layer of soil even held more artifacts than the preserved structures below.

“According to archaeologists, the site’s importance is comparable to the most significant central agglomerations known from the Middle Danube region and southern Germany,” the statement read.

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“Remarkably, the settlement was unfortified.”

This isn’t the first time the Czech Republic has been the setting of exciting recent archaeological finds.

Earlier this spring, the Museum of Eastern Bohemia announced that a hiker came across a mysterious gold-filled treasure trove in an overgrown field.

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Last year, a woman stumbled upon 2,150 medieval silver coins while walking in the Central Bohemian Region.

When it comes to city living, most people expect the hustle and bustle of traffic and busy sidewalks, but probably don’t think of pests.

Orkin has released its latest bedbug report, spotlighting which cities have the biggest infestations. 

The list is based on both commercial and residential treatment data from metro areas between May 15, 2024, to May 14, 2025.

FLESH-EATING PARASITE CASE DETECTED IN US TRAVELER RETURNING FROM CENTRAL AMERICA

Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist based in Atlanta, said in a press release it is “critical that people know the best ways to identify, prevent and control these pests.”

“Bedbugs are some of the most resilient pests in the world, making them extremely difficult to control if brought into a home or hotel,” he said.

Bedbugs are small, measuring around 3/16 inches long, and prefer human hosts to pets, according to Orkin. 

“Clinging to items such as luggage, purses and other personal belongings, bedbugs can travel from place to place with ease,” the release states.

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For the fifth year in a row, Chicago holds the top spot as the most bedbug-infested city.

In second place this year is Cleveland, Ohio, followed by Detroit, Michigan. 

Los Angeles, California, took third place, followed by Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Orkin gave Hartford, Connecticut, a notable mention for the biggest leap in the list, “debuting at No. 35 after jumping an unprecedented 48 spots — indicating a significant increase in bedbug activity.”

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Charlotte, North Carolina; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New York City all saw significant drops. 

Out of the 50 cities, Houston, Texas, came in last as the least infested. 

Prevention tips

Orkin shared the following tips to keep bedbugs at bay.

“Search the room for signs of infestation, looking for bedbugs, which are small, flat, oval-shaped insects that are brown and about the size of an apple seed.”

“Bedbugs are some of the most resilient pests in the world, making them extremely difficult to control.”

“Lift sheets, curtains and cushions to check for bedbugs or signs of bedbugs.”

“Elevate your luggage onto racks and keep it away from the bed or other furniture.”

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“Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and again when you return home.”

“Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for 30 to 45 minutes at the highest heat setting upon returning home.”

As America’s elite increasingly seek “golden” visas across the globe, others are seeking “refugee status” closer to home.

Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board released data highlighting a spike in Americans moving to the Land of the Maple Leaf.

The data, shared Thursday, found that more Americans applied for refugee status in Canada in the first half of 2025 than in all of 2024, Reuters reported.

3 EXCLUSIVE ‘GOLDEN’ VISA DESTINATIONS THAT AMERICA’S WEALTHIEST ARE EYEING

There have been 245 refugee claims so far this year, with 204 claims filed last year.

The 245 Americans who applied surpassed the numbers of each previous full year since 2019, according to Reuters.

While the data does not specify the reasons Americans are seeking refugee status, many reports suggest political disagreements with the Trump administration.

Yale philosophy professor Jason Stanley, for example, told the Financial Times (FT) he accepted a position at the University of Toronto and cited academic freedom concerns.

“I believe in the values of academic freedom and defending democratic institutions … Not the idea that the proper response to authoritarians is to hide and hope you’re not next,” Stanley said.

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Historians Timothy Snyder and Marci Shore also accepted positions at the University of Toronto, according to FT.

Leading up to the 2024 presidential election, various celebrities publicized their plans to move if President Trump was re-elected. 

Sharon Stone, Cher and Barbra Streisand all threatened to relocate, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

Streisand once said she wouldn’t be able to “live in this country if he becomes president,” while Stone said she was “certainly considering a house in Italy.”

David Lesperance, a lawyer who represents ultra-high net-worth families, told Axios he is seeing people move to the U.K.

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“A lot of the movement that we’re now seeing of Americans moving … would be people who don’t want to live in Trump’s America,” said Lesperance.

Canada-based Mohamed Bennis, an associate vice president at Arton Capital, previously spoke with Fox News Digital about the increase in “golden” visas.

Political divisions, said Bennis, have influenced wealthy Americans to weigh their options.

They’re not necessarily changing their primary residences, but they might be acquiring the freedom to have another option. 

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He said that Malta, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Portugal are becoming increasingly popular for Americans seeking residency or citizenship through investment.

Italian archaeologists recently gained rare insight into life during Ancient Rome when they found a multi-story apartment building built decades before the birth of Jesus Christ.

The discovery was announced by the Special Superintendency of Rome on Aug. 4. Construction crews were digging in Rome’s Piazza Venezia at the time as part of the Metro Line C subway project.

Officials say the structures spanned several eras of Italian history, as early as the end of the Republic period in the first century B.C.

ITALIAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNVEIL RARE 2,600-YEAR-OLD TOMB UNTOUCHED BY LOOTERS: ‘DOORWAY TO OUR ANCESTORS’

The site also contained homes from the Roman Imperial Era – the first to fourth centuries A.D. – as well as modern palaces that were destroyed in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Pictures show the buried ancient structures near the stately Victor Emmanuel II Monument in the piazza.

The real gem of the excavation was a multi-story complex that experts believe may have been used as an insula, or an apartment building. 

The structure was likely used by ordinary Romans, The Guardian reported.

MYSTERIOUS 1,600-YEAR-OLD SETTLEMENT EMERGES FROM SOIL WITH RARE ROMAN MILITARY FINDS

Fox News Digital reached out to officials for additional information about the structure.

Those close to the work said the site is like a palimpsest — a manuscript rewritten over time but still bearing traces of earlier text.

“Piazza Venezia reveals a complex palimpsest that makes it possible to study the topography of central Rome,” said the post, which was translated from Italian to English.

“The project, carried out under the scientific direction of the Special Superintendency of Rome, is progressing in full synergy with Metro C and Roma Metropolitane, without delays compared to the scheduled timeline.”

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Daniela Porro, the special superintendent of Rome, commended the excavation in a statement.

“The great fascination of this excavation lies in the sumptuous palimpsest of different eras that has resurfaced before our eyes and must be enhanced in the future station,” she said.

“Once again, the construction of a metro station allows us to rediscover the past of our city.”

The latest discovery is one of numerous historical finds in the Eternal City that have come to light.

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At the Appian Way Regional Park, an urban park in Rome, excavators recently found an ancient bath-turned-baptistery, with evidence of a Christian church at the site.

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Last summer, construction crews unearthed an ancient laundry near the Vatican.

An ancient baptistery was recently unearthed in France – and archaeologists say the discovery sheds light on Christian rituals from over 1,500 years ago.

The baptistery, dating back to the fifth and sixth centuries A.D., was found next to an ancient cathedral in Vence, a commune less than 10 miles west of Nice. While the cathedral was discovered earlier this year, the baptistery was only uncovered this summer.

Fabien Blanc Garidel, the supervising archaeologist on the project, confirmed the discovery to Fox News Digital.

ITALIAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNVEIL RARE 2,600-YEAR-OLD TOMB UNTOUCHED BY LOOTERS: ‘DOORWAY TO OUR ANCESTORS’

In an email translated from French to English, the historian described the baptistery as a “circular building, likely surrounded by a colonnade and covered.”

Blanc Garidel noted that “at the center, the baptismal font is octagonal on the outside and cross-shaped on the inside. It is bordered by a decorative coating made of béton de tuileau, a Roman concrete using crushed tile.”

Blanc Garidel estimated the baptistery to be 1,500 to 1,600 years old. 

It is located in front of the forecourt of the cathedral, which was a common layout at the time.

Pictures show archaeologists working near the ancient cross-shaped structure. 

ARCHAEOLOGIST UNEARTHS MYSTERIOUS CHRISTIAN SETTLEMENT HIDDEN AWAY FOR CENTURIES

The foundation of the baptistery, Blanc Garidel said, is the only relic that remains – but the font, or the baptism receptacle, is “in very good condition.”

“This discovery confirms the antiquity of the bishopric of Vence and enhances our knowledge of early Christian religious practices in the Alpes-Maritimes and Provence.”

He said the recent excavation helps show how early the diocese of Vence was established.

“This discovery confirms the antiquity of the bishopric of Vence and enhances our knowledge of early Christian religious practices in the Alpes-Maritimes and Provence,” he said.

“However, much work and analysis remain to be done in the coming months to provide further details.”

Several burials were uncovered in the cathedral’s nave, he also said. 

The tombs were built using pitched Roman roof tiles, a method typical of the time.

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“All of these burials are likely those of religious figures (bishops or canons) from the Carolingian period,” he said. 

“Radiocarbon dating will help clarify the timeline.”

Overall, the archaeologist said, the excavation sheds light on over six centuries of construction – and even revealed a Roman dwelling under the cathedral.

“One of the most significant aspects of this discovery is that the preserved archaeological structures offer insight into the history of this monument over six centuries (5th–11th centuries),” he said. 

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“The cathedral was demolished in the 11th century to build a new one right next to it.”

“After it was abandoned, two bell molds were installed in the nave of the old cathedral – likely to cast bells for the new one.”

The discovery is among several recent finds offering new insight into early Christianity in Europe.

Last year, historians unveiled a silver inscription representing the earliest-known evidence of Christianity north of the Alps.

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More recently, an ancient Christian warning was unearthed at the site of a fifth-century church in Turkey this summer.

A day on the water turned into a dramatic rescue Saturday as boaters were saved from rough seas off the coast of southern Florida.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USGC), along with the local fire department, responded to a distress call at 1:42 p.m. ET in Miami-Dade County. A 20-foot boat with eight people aboard requested assistance when they were low on fuel and taking on water in rough seas, according a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) Instagram post.

JET SKI RESCUE SAVES 6 PEOPLE AT BEACH AS ONE DIES IN DRAMATIC RIP CURRENT INCIDENT

The fire department deployed a crew on Fireboat 21 about 10 miles offshore, capturing the rescue in dramatic footage in real-time.

The video shows the choppy waters as first responders assist the distressed passengers. All passengers were safely brought back to shore with no reported injuries. 

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“MDFR reminds those who are planning to go boating to always check weather conditions before heading out on the water, file a float plan, and have a VHF radio tuned into channel 16 to signal for help if an emergency occurs,” reads the Instagram post. 

In 2023, there were 3,844 incidents involving 564 deaths due to recreational boating incidents, according to the USGC.

The USGC recommends that boaters check weather, swell and tide conditions both before departure and while underway.

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Small craft advisories, gale warnings or special marine warnings should be reviewed upon departure. 

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Boaters should also make sure they have Coast Guard-approved life jackets and Very High Frequency (VHF) marine radio on hand, and should not drink alcohol while operating the boat. 

Max Bacall of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. 

A student from the Sunshine State recently struck gold during an archaeological excavation in Britain – over 4,000 miles from home.

Yara Souza of Orlando, Florida, discovered the ninth-century golden artifact during an excavation in Redesdale, Northumberland, in July. 

An archaeology student at Newcastle University, Souza said that she “couldn’t believe” she found the artifact – during her first excavation too.

METAL DETECTORIST’S ‘FEELING’ LEADS TO MASSIVE ROMAN SETTLEMENT DISCOVERY IN POPULAR TOURIST HOTSPOT

“It was actually quite overwhelming. It was amazing to discover something that hasn’t been seen for more than 1,000 years,” she said in a university release.

“I was really geeking out over it!”

She found the artifact near Dere Street, a Roman road that once connected York to Edinburgh and later became part of the modern A68.

“I couldn’t believe I’d found something so quickly into my first ever excavation.”

After missing Newcastle University’s excavation at Birdoswald Roman fort due to illness, Souza said she unearthed the artifact within 90 minutes of digging.

RARE 1,200-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN CROSS FOUND IN FIELD BY METAL DETECTORIST

“I couldn’t believe I’d found something so quickly into my first excavation,” she added.

The early medieval artifact dates back to the 800s, the school said. It features a decorative finial at one end.

Gold was only used by elite individuals at the time, so experts believe the relic could have had a religious or ceremonial use. Further analysis is ongoing.

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Archaeology professor James Gerrard called the discovery “an exciting find of exceptional quality.” 

“I’m delighted for Yara that she has made this discovery at the beginning of her career as an archaeologist,” he said.

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“We know that Dere Street continued to be a major thoroughfare long after the Romans, and it’s clear from this discovery that high-status people were using it.”

The discovery follows other recent archaeological finds in the United Kingdom.

In late May, two different 2,000-year-old shoes were unearthed by volunteers at Magna Roman fort in Northumberland.

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This summer, officials announced that a cache of coins – equivalent to an Ancient Roman soldier’s monthly paycheck – was spotted in the English countryside.

During a recent board meeting of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), officials addressed factors that have contributed to the decline of tourists this summer in Sin City.

Steve Hill, the group’s president, spoke of the impact tariffs are having on both returning and potential new visitors. 

“Some of the decisions our administration has made around international relations [have] caused a drop in tourism,” said Hill, according to local outlet KTNV Las Vegas. He noted in particular a drop in Canadian visitors. 

VEGAS CASINO OWNER FIRES BACK AT ‘EXAGGERATED’ CLAIMS OF SIN CITY’S DEMISE

Others have pointed to the high prices in Vegas.

Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens told Fox News Digital, “I think some people are feeling Vegas is maybe pricing itself out.” (See the video at the top of this article.)

“Getting a steak in Las Vegas is not as inexpensive as it used to be,” he said.

“The days of Vegas being a place to visit because of cheap buffets and things like that are a bit in the past.”

“As with any other city, things evolve.”

He added, “I understand how a number of people are talking about missing some of those elements — but as with any other city, things evolve.”

Stevens acknowledged that the state of Vegas tourism is a nuanced one — and that overall, the restaurant business is very challenging.

LAS VEGAS CASINO CULTURE SUFFERS REJECTION BY GAMBLERS OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS

Circa has a total of 11 dining options, including restaurants, bars and cafés.

“I think every property owner wants to design a very broad-ranging restaurant selection because people like to eat where they wake up,” Stevens said. “They like to get coffee where they wake up.”

The industry has taken notice, he said, that visitors are “a bit more adventurous at lunch, although it has to be convenient” for them.

“And then [for] dinner, you’re competing against the entire city,” Stevens continued. “Everybody’s trying to go to the new hotspot.”

Other contributing factors 

The Culinary Workers Union, which represents 60,000 Vegas workers, recently renewed or created several new contracts with major casinos in the city. 

LAS VEGAS CASINO CULTURE SUFFERS REJECTION BY GAMBLERS OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS

“There was a relatively new culinary union contract that was signed that increased some costs,” Stevens said.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Workers Union, previously told Fox News Digital that companies had frozen hiring and were making targeted cuts to part-time workers’ hours. 

“If it continues, it could bleed into the full-timers,” he added.

Pappageorge also called the tipped income tax exemption in President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” a “welcome relief.” 

He pointed out, however, that if workers aren’t “making the tips, the credit doesn’t help.”

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Some industry observers have said the issues are more local.

“Many attribute [Vegas’ current problems] not only to a general dip in international travel demand to the U.S., but also to aggressive price-gouging by hospitality venues,” Rob DelliBovi, a consultant and founder of the Miami-based RDB Hospitality Group, previously told Fox News Digital. 

“Guests are pushing back on $18 bottles of water in the minibar and $37 martinis.”

Still, Stevens of Circa takes a more measured view.

“It’s not as if the sky is falling,” he said, according to The Associated Press.

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Circa has introduced inexpensive package deals to lure those with less money to spend.

“Vegas continues to reinvent itself as a destination worth visiting,” he said. 

Deirdre Bardolf of Fox News Digital, plus The Associated Press, contributed reporting. 

A Canadian woman took to TikTok earlier this month to share that a cocktail she drank while traveling abroad left her blind. Her message was blunt: “A shot can kill you.”

Ashley King, who lost her vision after methanol poisoning stemming from a drink she had while on vacation in Bali, recently released a video along with a petition to increase awareness of the potentially deadly chemical lurking in some cocktails. In her case, the drink she was given reportedly came in a reusable plastic bottle. 

Methanol is a compound typically reserved for industrial processes and found in the likes of gasoline, antifreeze and paint thinner. It is severely toxic to humans when ingested, according to multiple health agencies.

3 EXCLUSIVE ‘GOLDEN’ VISA DESTINATIONS THAT AMERICA’S WEALTHIEST ARE EYEING

In some cases, it is added to alcohol to extend the supply, reported the Methanol Institute, a trade association.

“In developing countries around the world, in the black market, methanol is often added to alcohol to expand the volume of liquid,” King said in her Aug. 4 video.

King also claimed that the tainted alcohol is then sold back to restaurants, bars, hotels and other drinking establishments.

“It smells no different and it tastes no different from the alcohol that we typically drink,” she said in her petition.

If a drink does include methanol, the person who consumes it can experience severe poisoning, blindness or even death, according to multiple medical sources.

YOUR FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COULD BE LINKED TO DEADLY FORM OF CANCER, STUDY FINDS

Earlier this summer, a U.S. tourist died in Laos after suspected alcohol poisoning, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

Authorities tied the death to tainted liquor sold in a resort town. It was an extreme reminder that even drinks ordered while on vacation can carry hidden risks.

“This doesn’t need to happen, but it does,” King said in her video, briefly touching on the Laos incident. “And not enough people know about it.”

The same pattern has been reported elsewhere. 

In Iran, at least 10 people died in 2023 after drinking homemade liquor spiked with methanol, AP previously reported.

Europe has also seen similar crises. A Central European outbreak in 2012 left 19 people dead and 24 hospitalized after vodka and rum batches were found to contain methanol, per AP.

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People experiencing methanol and ethanol poisoning may suffer from headaches, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of coordination and decreased level of consciousness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes.  

“Just as little as 30 milliliters of it — a shot — can kill you. And 15 milliliters of it can make you go blind, have organ failure, liver damage and even brain damage,” said King, who is an actor, writer and advocate today. 

To reduce risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that travelers refrain from purchasing illegal alcoholic drinks. 

They should also avoid alcoholic drinks in unlabeled containers and steer clear of unsealed or suspiciously cheap drinks.

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People should also seek immediate medical attention if they experience any of the symptoms mentioned above.

“Losing my eyesight is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, and I deal with it every single day,” King shared in a video on social media.

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“This doesn’t need to happen, and if we can save one life, then it’ll all be worth it.”

Fox News Digital reached out to King for further comment.

Coastal towns across parts of the United States are bracing for the wrath of Hurricane Erin, with officials closing beaches and warning of rip currents.

Hurricane Erin has maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, with strengthening expected through Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect from Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, to the North Carolina-Virginia border, as FOX Weather reported.

BEACH VISITORS RISK ‘ARREST’ FOR SWIMMING WITHOUT LIFEGUARD FOLLOWING TRAGIC INCIDENT

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, has already conducted multiple water rescues on Monday and Tuesday due to rip currents. 

“These swells are producing powerful rip currents that can create extremely hazardous swimming conditions,” Sam Proffitt, director of Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue, said to FOX Weather.

Forecasters are warning of high winds and life-threatening rip currents into Friday.

Eric Adams, New York City’s mayor, shared a stark warning to beachgoers, noting that public beaches are closed on Wednesday and Thursday. 

“Rip currents can sweep even strong swimmers out to sea quickly,” Adams said on X.

DEADLY RIP CURRENT FATALITIES REPORTED AMID SUMMER BEACH SEASON AS EXPERTS WEIGH IN

A tropical storm warning has been placed in effect from Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, to the North Carolina-Virginia border.

Tropical storm watches, meanwhile, have been placed in Virginia and North Carolina, and in Bermuda.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein wrote on X, “Hurricane Erin is expected to impact North Carolina.”

Stein declared a state of emergency “to assist with the response and to mobilize resources.”

Seven individuals were recently caught in a rip current at a beach in Seaside Heights, New Jersey — leaving one dead.

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The situation prompted Mayor Anthony Vaz to close swimming in the oceans after hours when lifeguards are off the clock.

He told Fox News Digital those who don’t comply could face “arrest.” 

As of Wednesday morning, there were 61 current deaths from rip currents so far this year, according to the National Weather Service. 

Tom Gill, United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) vice president, told Fox News Digital that it’s important for visitors to “only swim when lifeguards are on duty.”

“One reason beaches set swimming hours is to provide specific times when swimmers will be protected by lifeguards on duty,” said Gill.

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“The USLA has determined the chance of a fatal drowning on a guarded beach is 1 in 18 million,” he said. 

Chris Brewster of the USLA told Fox News Digital recently that most people are not aware of rip currents while they’re in the water.

“They notice that they’re further away from the beach than they thought they were, then typically they try to swim back toward the shore and realize they’re making no progress,” said Brewster.

This then “causes panic and that leads them to expend a lot of energy,” he said. That’s what “results in the drowning ultimately.”

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“The big picture is that once you realize this is going on, don’t fight the current, because you won’t win,” said Brewster. 

“Relax, float and then try to swim out of the rip.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

Archaeologists recently unearthed an ancient Roman bathhouse in Turkey – a relic as luxurious as it is old.

The discovery was covered by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency (AA). A landowner in the area was planting sour cherry saplings in 2023 when he stumbled across a Roman-era floor mosaic. 

Thanks to underground imaging radar, archaeologists found the bathhouse about 230 feet south of the mosaic.

MYSTERIOUS 1,600-YEAR-OLD SETTLEMENT EMERGES FROM SOIL WITH RARE ROMAN MILITARY FINDS

The 1,700-year-old structure, which measures 75 square meters, dates back to the Late Roman era. 

It had an underfloor heating system and distinct cold, warm and hot zones – the ancient equivalent of a modern spa, AA noted.

The bathhouse also featured sweat rooms, pools and separate channels for clean water and wastewater.

Turkish officials plan to open up the site for tourism in the future. 

ARCHAEOLOGISTS EXCAVATE ANCIENT WORKSHOP WITH UNFINISHED SCULPTURES ON GREEK ISLAND

Ahmet Demirdağ, provincial director of culture and tourism, told AA the bathhouse and mosaic are just a few of many “significant remains” in the area. 

“The bath is truly a distinctive and important structure.”

“Looking at it overall, we believe this area was an urban settlement,” Demirdağ observed. 

“We will continue our excavations.”

Excavation site archaeologist Emre Çayır told AA the bathhouse is likely the first of its kind in the area.

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“The fact that this architectural layout has survived to the present day is important,” he said.

Çayır added, “The cold, warm, and hot sections have survived with their full, planned engineering intact. In this respect, we can say the bath is truly a distinctive and important structure.”

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The bathhouse is one of many fascinating discoveries made in Turkey in recent months.

Over the summer, archaeologists discovered a fifth-century Christian church with an ominous message that hadn’t been seen in over 1,000 years.

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Earlier in 2025, archaeologists announced the discovery of ancient bread in central Turkey. 

The loaf dated back to the Bronze Age.

A little-known travel method is helping frugal tourists score luxury vacations for less.

The trend, “secondhand travel,” might sound unappealing, but in reality, it’s all about capitalizing on already-organized plans.

It involves “buying” other people’s canceled trips at a discounted rate while also letting sellers recoup some of their nonrefundable costs from their vacations.

FLIGHT PASSENGER’S RANT ABOUT AIRLINE STANDBY PRACTICES GOES VIRAL AS RECORD SUMMER TRAVEL GETS UNDERWAY

That allows the buyer to score a vacation for 20%-30% off – making it a win-win for both parties. 

As a bonus, the “secondhand traveler” may not even need to plan anything, since the trip is often already organized.

Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for Going, a travel company headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, told Fox News Digital the trend’s name is a bit of a misnomer, since the vacation that’s being resold hasn’t been used.

Some platforms, like Roomer, have been selling unused hotel rooms for years – but the concept of secondhand travel is new to most Americans.

“I still wouldn’t say they are fully known by the traveling public,” she said. 

The most common types of resold vacations include hotels or all-inclusive stays. 

“And, due to the nature of them, these types of trips are best for those with flexible schedules who can leave within a week and aren’t truly tied to a destination … [F]or most people, [that] can be difficult.”

Nastro said Transfer Travel and Sparefare are two online marketplaces to search for secondhand bookings.

TRAVELERS ARE STUFFING BASIC HOUSEHOLD ITEM WITH CLOTHES TO AVOID FLIGHT BAGGAGE FEES

The most common types of resold vacations include hotels or all-inclusive stays, Nastro said, many of which just require a quick name change.

“You are locked into whatever you purchase, which doesn’t allow for any cost comparisons after the fact, which can help you save,” she said.

“The options may be limited to specific areas for when you are looking to travel, so you don’t have the freedom to really choose where you are going and staying.”

The biggest hurdle to selling your trips is airfare – and Nastro cautioned people to be “absolutely sure” before listing on these sites.

“Changing names on airfare can be difficult, and some airlines don’t allow this practice outside the 24-hour window regardless,” she said. “So before any flight is put onto a platform, make sure your airline will allow for changes.”

“Speak to multiple people at the airline before putting your flights up on one of these sites,” Nastro added. 

But if you’re thinking of using the method for your next family getaway, secondhand booking can be rather limiting.

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It might be preferable for single remote workers who have more flexibility in terms of dates and times, the expert advised.

“The options may be limited to specific areas for when you are looking to travel, so you don’t have the freedom to really choose where you are going and staying,” she said.

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“Additionally, you are likely going to find more options near major cities, not near more remote destinations or national parks.”

Her big advice for bookers? Shop around these sites to ensure that the 20%-30% discounts are actually the best deal available.

“For example, I shopped around a NYC hotel during the same dates advertised and was able to find a cheaper rate at the same hotel on an OTA [online travel agency] — which also gave me 24 hours to decide if I wanted to cancel,” she said.

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“Just as if you would shop around at other hotels, shop around on other sites and with the hotel directly to ensure this rate is really worth it.“

An ancient Roman mosaic has recently revealed a millennia-old depiction of flip-flops – showing that certain footwear has always been in style.

The discovery was announced by the Archaeological Park of Morgantina and the Villa Romana del Casale on Aug. 4.

The villa, an ancient Roman estate, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and is located in Piazza Armerina, a central Sicilian town.

UNEARTHED ANCIENT ROMAN SHOES DRAW ‘IMPRESSED GASPS’ AFTER BEING BURIED FOR 2,000 YEARS

The villa is famous for holding the largest collection of Roman mosaics in the world. 

“During recent excavation work, two sandals depicted in a mosaic were discovered, resembling modern flip-flops,” said a statement translated from Italian about the newly unearthed mosaic. 

Found in a bath complex, the mosaic dates back to the fourth century A.D.

“These are not simple decorations, but rather a refined work created by a mosaic artisan of the fourth century, part of a larger mosaic design that adorned the southern bath section of the Villa.”

ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER LONG-LOST ANCIENT ROMAN BUILDING AT CONSTRUCTION SITE WITH A LITTLE HELP

Officials said that the “extraordinary” finds are helping to enrich “the already vast archaeological heritage of the site.”

In addition to the flip-flop find, officials also found a mosaic inscription, as well as three columns with their ornate capitals intact.

“These discoveries once again confirm the exceptionally high artistic and architectural level of the Villa.”

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“These discoveries once again confirm the exceptionally high artistic and architectural level of the Villa, as well as the importance of the ongoing excavations for the historical and cultural reconstruction of the site,” officials said.

“[They] not only expand knowledge of the Villa Romana del Casale, but also highlight the value of archaeological research as a fundamental tool for rediscovering and telling the stories of the cultures that preceded our own.”

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The mosaic isn’t the only ancient Roman fashion find that has turned up in recent months.

Earlier this spring, an excavator found a piece of chunky Roman jewelry in the British countryside.

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At the time, archaeologists said the eight-sided ring was “an uncommon find in the U.K., but not entirely without precedent.”

Utility workers unearthed two pre-Incan tombs during a routine day on the job in Peru – one of many archaeological discoveries in the country this year.

The workers, employed by the energy company Cálidda, found the burials in Lima just recently. The employees have been digging trenches in the city as part of an ongoing underground gas network project.

Both tombs belong to the pre-Incan Chancay culture, which existed in Peru from 1000 to 1470 A.D. The Inca Empire spanned from roughly 1400 to 1533 A.D., with Spanish colonization beginning soon after. 

ITALIAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNVEIL RARE 2,600-YEAR-OLD TOMB UNTOUCHED BY LOOTERS: ‘DOORWAY TO OUR ANCESTORS’

The two tombs were remarkably different. 

One was empty, while the other held a 1,000-year-old skeleton.

Images show excavators working to remove the remains from the soil. 

The tomb also contained four clay vessels and three “pumpkin shell artifacts,” according to The Associated Press (AP).

“Lima is unique among Latin American capitals, in that various archaeological finds are unearthed during nearly every civil project.”

The male skeleton was found in a torn cloth bundle in a sitting position. Its legs were against its chest.

Archaeologist José Aliaga told the AP the vessels contained iconography, along with some remaining black, white and red colors.

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN TOMB COMPLEX REVEALED BENEATH RUBBLE FROM SYRIA’S CIVIL WAR

“[It] allow[s] us to establish a connection with the pre-Incan Chancay culture,” the archaeologist said.

He added, “Lima is unique among Latin American capitals, in that various archaeological finds are unearthed during nearly every civil project.”

Local mother Flor Prieto walked through the area with her 7-year-old daughter during the excavation. 

She told the AP she’d assumed the area had always been uninhabited.

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“I always thought they were paths where no one had lived,” Prieto observed.

“But now I know that people older than the Incas have lived there … It feels so exciting.”

This is far from the first skeleton that Cálidda has come across.

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Over the past 20 years, the company has made more than 2,200 archaeological discoveries.

Earlier in June, excavators in Lima unearthed a millennia-old preserved female mummy during the same utility project.

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The skeleton, which still retained a small amount of brown hair, was found just 20 inches below the ground. 

A researcher may have uncovered the oldest written references to Moses, dating back 3,800 years and hidden in an Egyptian desert.

The two etchings were found at Serabit el-Khadim, an ancient turquoise mining site in the Sinai Desert where Semitic laborers once worked during the Middle Bronze Age.

The Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions date back between 1800 and 1600 B.C. 

RARE BIBLICAL SEAL WITH ANCIENT FINGERPRINT FOUND IN DEBRIS FROM JERUSALEM’S TEMPLE MOUNT

They were etched centuries before the earliest parts of the Bible were written between the 10th and 7th centuries B.C. 

The two inscriptions, among many at the site, were first discovered in the early 1900s – but they’re now being reanalyzed by an American-Israeli epigraphist named Michael S. Bar-Ron. The expert, who’s also a graduate student at Ariel University, spoke with Fox News Digital about the discovery. 

Bar-Ron posits that the inscriptions read “Zot M’Moshe” and “Ne’um Moshe.” 

The phrases may mean “This is from Moses” and “Declaration of Moses,” respectively.

If verified, the inscriptions are the earliest written mention of Moses outside the Bible.

The inscriptions also reference El, a deity associated with the Abrahamic God, while censuring the ancient pagan goddess Ba`alat.

If verified, the inscriptions are the earliest written mention of Moses outside the Bible.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Bar-Ron noted that the Serabit el-Khadim site once housed a temple to Ba`alat.

Some of the etchings, Bar-Ron says, seem to reflect resistance to the goddess’ worship from Semitic workers.

“Rather than lauding Ba`alat … [the] readings curse out the Ba`alat cult, with words of warning and rebuke to its followers,” Bar-Ron said.

He added, “They include the terms ‘BŠ’ – ‘for shame’ or ‘this is shameful’ – and ‘nimosh,’ [which means] ‘let us leave’ [or] ‘remove ourselves.’”

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

The Herculean task of translating the ancient etchings took nearly a decade, Bar-Ron said.

“I spent eight years actively involved in the painstaking, oft-frustrating reconstruction of some 23 wordy Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions,” the epigraphist noted. 

“That is, based on the principles of the foremost greats in the field, and informed by the work of my distinguished colleagues in the field.”

He also believes the “Moses” inscriptions may have a common author, pointing to certain “stylistic points” such as word usage.

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Bar-Ron’s larger graduate thesis explores “a Mosaic-type leadership” in the region at the time.

He described the latest revelations about the inscriptions as “nonessential icing on the cake.”

“The finding ‘Zot M’Moshe’ and ‘Ne’um Moshe’ were really last-minute discoveries and nonessential to that subpoint (possible Mosaic authorship), within a much more serious thesis,” he said. 

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Bar-Ron also noted that his findings will be peer-reviewed in the future; his research has already been edited over 100 times.

“If we were drawing such conclusions on the basis of one or two inscriptions, it would be weak,” he observed. “Rather, they are based on what is understood across the full set found at Serabit el-Khadim.”

“I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for educated readers to actually read the proto-thesis itself.”

Excavators have long searched for archaeological evidence of Moses, mostly without success.

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Last summer, an ancient sword from the era of the Book of Exodus was uncovered in Egypt.

More recently, a French expert identified ancient “propaganda” praising Ramesses II, the Egyptian leader who may have challenged Moses.

Four years after Afghanistan fell to Taliban control, the Islamic country is not only welcoming tourists, it’s seeing a recent travel boost.

Taliban forces captured the capital city of Kabul on Aug. 15, 2021, following the chaotic withdrawal of American troops under the Biden administration.  

Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal told The Associated Press (AP) recently that Afghanistan had nearly 9,000 foreign visitors last year — with 3,000 tourists in the first three months of this year.

AMERICANS TARGETED IN MEXICO CITY AS LOCALS PROTEST AGAINST TOURISM AND SOARING RENTS

“Tourism brings many benefits to a country,” he said. “We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them.”

United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organization director-general Audrey Azoulay told Fox News Digital in a statement that the Taliban has wiped out any gains for Afghan women.

“This exclusion of women from public life in Afghanistan has disastrous consequences for the country’s long-term development,” she said.

“At a time when some are seeking to normalize relations with the Taliban, I call on the international community to remain more mobilized than ever to fully and unconditionally restore Afghan women’s right to education.”

“I expected to feel rather fearful.” 

One of the first Afghan female tour guides recently led a group through the National Museum of Afghanistan – and the group consisted of all women.

AMERICAN TEEN PILOT DETAINED IN ANTARCTICA WHILE RAISING MONEY FOR CANCER ON SOLO TRIP

Suzanne Sandral, an Australian in the group, told AP she was surprised. “It’s not what I expected at all. I expected to feel rather fearful. I expected to be given a lot of … accusatory looks. Not at all.”

She said, “Wherever you go in the streets, if you smile at someone and give them a little nod or say hello, you get a terrific response. So it’s very different.”

Another woman in the group posted videos of her recent trip in June on TikTok. She captioned a video, “Exploring the nuanced and complex lives of Afghan women in context, and exploring all this beautiful land has to offer.”

The U.S. Department of State, however, is very clear. 

It lists travel to Afghanistan as “Travel Advisory Level 4: Do Not Travel” — warning of civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and limited health facilities.

DANGEROUS TRAVEL FOR THE ‘ADDED THRILL’ IS ON THE RISE AS VISITORS FLOCK TO HIGH-RISK COUNTRIES

“U.S. citizen travelers to Afghanistan have been wrongfully detained for months or even years,” said a spokesperson. “We remind all U.S. citizen travelers that no adventure or vacation is worth the price of your freedom.”

Other traveler influencers and regular tourists have shared their experiences on social media – with most showing the Taliban-run country in a positive light. 

A travel photographer posted a recap of her trip, saying she was “one of the first tourists to visit the country after the Taliban takeover.”

She added in a TikTok video that has been viewed over 56,000 times, “I was completely blown away by the incredible hospitality of the locals, amazing food and beautiful scenery.”

“No adventure or vacation is worth the price of your freedom.”

A popular solo traveler and social media creator posted a video of his trip to Afghanistan, writing, “I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about Afghanistan travel, but honestly, I had an amazing time there as a solo traveler.”

AMERICAN OFFICIALS WARN NIGERIAN WOMEN AGAINST BIRTH TOURISM: ‘THIS IS NOT PERMITTED’

Another TikTok video that amassed nearly half a million likes shows an Australian traveler shopping at a food market.

“Some of the best food I have had in all my travels was in Afghanistan,” said the video’s caption in part.

Manizha Bakhari, ambassador of Afghanistan to Austria, told Fox News Digital the Taliban’s promotion of tourism is an attempt at “image management.”

“As someone who has lived and worked in Afghanistan, I can say this: What these female influencers experience is not representative of women’s lives in Afghanistan,” said Bakhtari.

She added, “The Taliban treat foreign women differently, and often with exaggerated politeness, because they serve a purpose in the regime’s public relations strategy.”

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The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released its human rights report in May, pointing out that Afghan women are being denied the opportunity to join the workforce and are unable to access services without a male relative — while girls are still deprived of their right to education.

The State Department wrote in its 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices document that treatment of woman has become progressively worse. 

The new report stated that there has been “further restricted access to education, employment, and freedom of movement for women and girls – effectively removing them from public spaces.”

“By showcasing scenic landscapes and hospitality toward foreign visitors, especially influencers, they aim to create a narrative of stability and openness,” said Bakhtari.

Bakhtari noted she’s seen a growing disconnect in global travel culture when it comes to adventure tourism.

“The thrill of visiting the ‘forbidden’ or ‘untouched’ often outweighs concern for human rights … [It] becomes a form of voyeurism, one that prioritizes personal experience over the realities of those who live under oppression.”

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Kelley Currie, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, discussed the danger of visiting Afghanistan, saying Americans should “buy travel insurance.”

The United States is “unable to provide consular services if something happens, especially if they are kidnapped and sold or given to other extremist groups,” Currie told Fox News Digital. 

Adam Duckworth, Travelmation’s president and founder, told Fox News Digital that travel companies take State Department advisories “very seriously.”

“If you are considering travel to a location in the higher levels, then do your research to understand why those places are on those lists,” said Duckworth.

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Bakhtari said while Afghanistan is breathtakingly beautiful, “beauty should not blind us to injustice.”

“Travel should open hearts, not close eyes.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting. 

Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe will be in the spotlight in a rare Buckingham Palace exhibition next year.

The “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style” exhibit was announced by the Royal Collection Trust on July 21. The exhibition will feature over 200 items, half of which will be on display for the first time. 

The pieces span Elizabeth’s life from childhood through her reign as queen.

FAMOUS MEDIEVAL MASTERPIECE TO APPEAR AT TOP MUSEUM IN CELEBRATION OF ‘SHARED HISTORY’

The exhibit marks the 100th anniversary of Elizabeth’s birth and will run at Buckingham Palace’s King’s Gallery from spring to fall 2026.

In a statement, the organization called the exhibit the “largest and most comprehensive” collection of the queen’s fashion ever organized.

Elizabeth, who died in 2022, became queen in 1952. She was the longest-serving British monarch, with her 70 years surpassing Queen Victoria’s 63-year tenure.

“Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion archive is one of the largest and most important surviving collections of 20th-century British fashion.”

Some standouts will include her 1947 wedding dress and her 1953 coronation dress, as well as earlier pieces from her teenage years and childhood.

MUSEUM UNVEILS 1,300-YEAR-OLD MONK DOODLES REVEALING SURPRISING COMPLAINTS ABOUT HANGOVERS AND WEATHER

“On show for the first time will be one of the earliest surviving pieces of couture from her childhood wardrobe: the silver lamé and tulle bridesmaid dress, designed by Edward Molyneux, that she wore [at] aged eight for the 1934 wedding of her uncle, the Duke of Kent, to Princess Marina of Greece,” the press release said.

Pieces include clothing, jewelry and hats, along with shoes and accessories. 

Visitors will even be able to see original design sketches and fabric samples – plus handwritten correspondence showing the queen’s involvement in the creation of her wardrobe.

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“From impeccably cut riding jackets to tartan skirts and silk headscarves, visitors will see never-before-displayed examples of her practical everyday style, which continues to inspire contemporary designers to this day,” the release added.

“Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion archive is one of the largest and most important surviving collections of 20th-century British fashion and now forms part of the Royal Collection.”

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In a statement, exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut called Elizabeth’s style “instantly recognizable across the world.”

“Only now, as the late queen’s fashion archive comes under the care of Royal Collection Trust, can we tell the story of a lifetime of thoughtful style choices – from her hands-on role and understanding of the soft power behind her clothing, to the exceptional craftsmanship behind each garment,” she added.

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“In the year that she would have turned 100 years old, this exhibition will be a celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s uniquely British style and her enduring fashion legacy.”

A European zoo is asking for donations of healthy pets to feed to its predators as part of a controversial policy that has sparked international outrage.

“Did you know that you can donate smaller pets to Aalborg Zoo?” the Denmark zoo posted on social media late last month. “If you have a healthy animal that needs to be removed for various reasons, you are welcome to donate it to us,” it continued.

The zoo, located in the northern city of Aalborg, said in Facebook and Instagram posts that chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs are “an important part of the diet” of some predators, especially the European lynx. The wild cat “needs whole prey that resembles what it would naturally hunt in the wild,” according to the zoo.

TOURISTS SPRAYED WITH WATER GUNS BY PROTESTERS AS EUROPEAN ANTI-TOURISM TREND GROWS

On its website, below a picture of a tiger tearing into a furry animal, Aalborg Zoo explains that it accepts animal donations from individuals and businesses for euthanasia and slaughter because its predators need whole animals – including fur, bones and organs – rather than butchered meat.

“In zoos, we have a responsibility to imitate the animals’ natural food chain – for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity,” the zoo, which houses about 1,200 animals and a research and conservation center, said in its posts.

The zoo accepts no more than four small pets at a time, and, under certain conditions, also takes horses, according to its website. It does not accept dogs or cats.

Donors are not paid, though the zoo says the contributions are tax-deductible.

The practice drew swift criticism, and the zoo later disabled the comments on its posts, citing “hateful and malicious rhetoric.”

HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS FLEE CARTEL CHAOS, VIOLENCE AFTER WILDLIFE REFUGE FACED WITH THREATS

“How disgusting,” one woman commented on Facebook. “Having your healthy pet killed.”

“Feeding pets is absolutely unacceptable,” wrote someone else.

“How is putting a dead pet on a plate for a caged animal anything close to reenactment of nature,” one person asked.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said in a post on its website that there is nothing natural about feeding companion animals to predators. 

BEARS ESCAPE WILDLIFE PARK ENCLOSURE AND FEAST ON WEEK’S WORTH OF HONEY

“It’s not ‘natural behavior’ for predators from Asia, who roam and hunt for their meals, to be fed companion animals who originated in South America,” the anti-zoo animal rights group argued. Guinea pigs, for example, are native to Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and parts of Colombia.

“Companion animals are never needed to ‘imitate the natural food chain of the [zoo’s] animals,'” PETA added.

Another online critic said the policy spreads a “terrible trend of indifference with animals in Denmark.”

The Copenhagen Zoo was the focus of protests in 2014 after it put down a healthy 18-month-old giraffe because its genes were too similar to other breeds at the zoo, raising concerns about inbreeding. 

A veterinarian shot the giraffe and performed an autopsy in front of an audience, according to reports at the time.

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European zoos often allow animals to breed freely and then euthanize any surplus, while American zoos more frequently rely on contraception to control populations, The New York Times reported.

Researchers from the University of Zurich argued in a recent report that contraception changes the age profile and welfare of zoo populations, and deprives animals of “one of their most basic evolutionary drives.”

Some social media users also agreed with Aalborg Zoo’s policy, calling it the “circle of life.”

“It’s better for the animals to enter the food chain rather than being thrown into the wild,” one woman wrote.

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“It is a dignified end for a pet that has had a good life,” another Facebook user said.

“Horse owners have known that you can donate to the zoo for many years – and it is often seen as a good solution,” said someone else.

One woman said she donated a rabbit to the zoo and described it as a “super nice and professional experience.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to Aalborg Zoo for comment.

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In statements to other outlets, a spokesperson said the practice has been in place for “many years.”

“In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute,” the spokesperson said.

Following a dramatic rescue earlier this week in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, local officials are announcing they will be strictly enforcing after-hours beach time. 

Six individuals were caught in a rip current at Webster Avenue Beach about 100 yards offshore, according to the Jersey Shore Fire Response. (See the video at the top of this article.)  

The beach did not have lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident. 

DEADLY RIP CURRENT FATALITIES REPORTED AMID SUMMER BEACH SEASON AS EXPERTS WEIGH IN

The Seaside Heights Fire Department deployed a rescuer with a jet ski, successfully bringing the victims back to shore while a seventh person was taken to the hospital and tragically pronounced dead.

Mayor Anthony Vaz clarified to Fox News Digital that they will not be closing the beaches — but the ocean. 

“Our focus is the ocean. We don’t want anybody in the ocean,” said Vaz.

The beach will continue to be closed between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., with the possibility of an even earlier time period if the water is deemed too dangerous.

Seaside Heights will be adding more law enforcement to enforce the rule, it also said.

“Beaches set swimming hours to provide specific times when swimmers will be protected by lifeguards on duty.”

“They’ll be there the rest of the season, chasing people out of the water at five o’clock,” said Vaz.

“If [people] refuse to get out, we’ll [give them a summons]. And if they get really arrogant — I hope not — they’ll be arrested,” he said. 

Other beaches across the country have been implementing similar plans due to safety concerns. 

In December, Virginia Beach officials ruled that lifeguards would remain on their stands longer, extending through the second weekend of September, following three deaths last fall, according to local outlet 13 News Now.

In Escambia County, Florida, beach rules indicate there should be no swimming or wading in the Gulf of America during double red flag conditions.

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The rule states that violators could be punished with a fine of under $500 or by imprisonment in the county jail (not to exceed 60 days) or both, according to its government site.

It also states that any person rescued in the Gulf of America will be banned from returning for 24 hours.

There were 49 rip current deaths so far this year as of Monday and that number now stands at 52, according to the National Weather Service. 

Tom Gill, United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) vice president, told Fox News Digital that it’s important for visitors to “only swim when lifeguards are on duty.”

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“One reason beaches set swimming hours is to provide specific times when swimmers will be protected by lifeguards on duty,” said Gill.

“The USLA has determined the chance of a fatal drowning on a guarded beach is 1 in 18 million,” he said. 

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“Besides the safety aspect, the cost and resources required to initiate a full drowning response after hours also factor into the decision-making.”

America’s elite are increasingly seeking “golden” visas.

Canada-based Mohamed Bennis, an associate vice president at Arton Capital, told Fox News Digital that many are realizing “true wealth” is measured by “freedom of movement.”

“Many Americans are realizing that a second residency or citizenship is the ultimate insurance policy against uncertainty,” said Bennis. “It provides them with almost unmatched mobility, flexibility and security in a world that is becoming increasingly unpredictable.”

AMERICA’S ELITE LEAD BOOM OF ‘GOLDEN’ VISA APPLICATIONS TO VACATION DESTINATION

He added, “Just as gold has historically been a best-in-class investment as a store of value, these visas are also premium assets that provide their holders — and their families — with both tangible and intangible benefits for the long term.”

Arton Capital advises high-net-worth individuals on the process of investing in citizenship or residency all around the world.

Political divisions, said Bennis, have influenced wealthy Americans to weigh their options. They’re not necessarily moving their primary residences — but they might be acquiring the freedom to have another option. 

“[Golden visas] can open doors to privileges that money just can’t buy: freedom of movement, security for your family and access to opportunities around the world,” he said.

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He said that Malta, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Portugal are becoming increasingly popular for Americans seeking residency or citizenship through investment.

“Each option offers its own distinct benefits. All three open the door to new cultures, safer environments and the ability to live life on your own terms.”

“Malta and Portugal offer access to world-class healthcare and education within the EU, often at lower costs than in the U.S. — while the UAE offers a high standard of living, zero income tax and a thriving international community,” he said.

Portugal’s investment program requires prospective visa holders to invest about $500,000 in qualifying investment, venture capital funds, and scientific or technological research.

“Approval is granted to applicants based on their skills and innovation.”

About $250,000 can be invested in cultural heritage preservation, or in creating at least 10 full-time jobs in Portugal, according to the country’s site. 

Bennis said Malta’s program enables more people to access the visas by lowering the barriers. 

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“Malta has recently transitioned from a citizenship-by-investment model to a citizenship-by-merit framework,” he said. 

“This has meant that approval is granted to applicants based on their skills and innovation, rather than just the size of their economic contribution,” he said.

The UAE has remained a top destination for American clients. Bennis said the emirates offer a “modern crossroads” between the East and the West that’s particularly attractive. 

“Its golden visa popularized the ‘citizenship by merit’ trend that countries such as Malta are now adopting,” he said. 

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“It grants long-term residency rights, typically 5 or 10 years, and is available to investors, skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, even outstanding students.”

Bennis added, “The countries with the most smooth and streamlined processes are often the most popular.”

A preserved shipwreck from 1703 was recently documented in stunning detail for the first time – with experts cautioning that it may not stay this way for very long.

Researchers dove off the coast of Kent, England, to view the wreck of “The Northumberland” last summer. The Stuart-era ship was built in 1679 and sank during the Great Storm of 1703. (See the video at the top of this article.) 

The site was designated a Protected Wreck Site in 1981 — but it hasn’t been seen so clearly until now.

WORKERS DISCOVER 18TH-CENTURY VESSEL WHILE INSTALLING PIPELINE IN MEDIEVAL ‘GAME OF THRONES’ CITY

Officials revealed the results of the dive on July 31, sharing pictures of a shipwreck covered by marine sediment. The sands have aided the survival of the wreck, which is roughly 50 to 65 feet underwater.

The dive was conducted by Historic England, British coastal contractor MSDS Marine and Dan Pascoe, the licensee of the wreck.

Historic England told Fox News Digital that divers found an extensive hull structure, exposed deck planks and the wooden frame of the ship – which is “much more than previously thought.”

Among the finds were multiple wooden chests – some still containing musketballs – as well as one sealed chest with unknown contents.

CAPTAIN COOK’S LEGENDARY SHIP FINALLY IDENTIFIED NEAR NEW ENGLAND RESORT AFTER 250 YEARS

Researchers also came across seven iron cannons, along with copper cauldrons and rope.

Experts cited shifting sands as the main threat to the wreck. 

Hefin Meara, a maritime archaeologist at Historic England, told Fox News Digital the sand on the coast of England is “highly dynamic.”

Only the most robust materials, such as anchors and iron cannons, tend to survive.

“The Goodwin Sands provide an excellent environment for the preservation of organic material, such as ship timbers, rope and other objects,” he said.

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“Once the sand cover migrates away from the wreck site, biological and physical processes can cause the wreck to deteriorate very quickly,” he also said. 

“‘The Northumberland’ has so much potential to tell us more about the English Navy and ships of the period.”

He noted that archaeologists will continue focusing on surveying the site instead of removing the artifacts, which could jeopardize the integrity of the site.

Pascoe noted that “The Northumberland” “has the potential to be one of the best-preserved wooden warships in the U.K.”

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MSDS’s Alison James emphasized the wealth of information that the wreck could provide about the Stuart era.

“‘The Northumberland’ has so much potential to tell us more about the English Navy and ships of the period,” she said. 

Many historic shipwrecks have been found and documented across the United Kingdom in recent years.

In Feb. 2024, a teenager found an American Revolution warship on a Scottish beach.

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More recently, a former military pilot identified a 19th-century shipwreck in the English Channel.

An American-Asian teenager set out on a journey to do good by raising funds for cancer research — until this adventure came to an abrupt halt. 

The young pilot, Ethan Guo, set out in his small plane to become the youngest person to fly solo across the world.

Guo was detained by Chilean authorities in Antarctica, The Associated Press (AP) reported. 

‘CARBON PASSPORTS’ WOULD TRACK TRAVEL AND EVEN RESTRICT HOW SOME PEOPLE TAKE VACATION

Authorities allege the 19-year-old landed his Cessna 182Q plane without authorization and provided “false flight plan data” — which launched an investigation. 

He was authorized to fly only over Punta Arenas, Chile, according to prosecutors, as AP reported, but Guo continued going south. 

By his own choice, Guo has been staying at a Chilean territory military base, since he’s been unable to get a flight out due to weather conditions, according to AP.

The Chilean territory covers a region in West Antarctica as well as nearby islands, according to The Oxford Science Park.

Guo was first charged with handing false information to ground control and landing without authorization until an agreement was reached between his attorneys and Chilean prosecutors, AP noted.

AMERICAN OFFICIALS WARN NIGERIAN WOMEN AGAINST BIRTH TOURISM: ‘THIS IS NOT PERMITTED’

In its 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the U.S. State Department examined whether Chile engages in prolonged detention without charges.

“The constitution prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court,” the report stated. “The government generally observed these requirements.”

The judge dropped the charges on Monday, but Guo is to give a $30,000 donation to a children’s cancer foundation within 30 days to avoid a trial.

Guo must also leave Antarctica as soon as he can and is prohibited from returning to Chilean territory for three years.

He told AP via text message that he was relieved by the case’s outcome. 

BEACH TOWN CRACKS DOWN ON HALF-NAKED TOURISTS WITH HEFTY FINES FOR INAPPROPRIATE ATTIRE

“I remain in Antarctica awaiting approval for my departure flight … I sincerely hope they give it to me soon so that I and my plane can continue with my original mission.”

Bryan Stern of Gray Bull Rescue, a nonprofit focused on saving lives in some of the world’s most dangerous places, told Fox News Digital, “Just like in America, both sides need to be emotionally ready to settle.”

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Added Stern, “Dealing with Chilean authorities is very similar to dealing with many countries in Latin America … They have laws and they expect them to be followed. It’s a sovereign country, and presenting a legal argument or a humanitarian argument, and allowing cooler heads to prevail, is the key.”

He also said, “Bottom line is, the kid broke the law, and an arrangement and negotiation that is amicable for everybody while respecting the sovereignty of a country must occur.”

Stern also said travelers should not go to “high-risk” destinations.

“Right now, there is not an entity within the executive branch really in charge of an American in trouble if they violate a law in a foreign country,” said Stern.

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A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “The department has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens … Whenever a U.S. citizen is in need of consular assistance overseas, we stand ready to assist.”

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The spokesperson also said, “We generally do not share information with the media about private U.S. citizens absent their written consent.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting. 

A coin minted by Jewish rebels just before the destruction of the Second Temple – an event Jesus predicted in the Gospels – has been unearthed in Jerusalem.

The 2,000-year-old artifact was found at the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, located in the Old City and just a stone’s throw away from the Temple Mount.

The discovery was announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) on July 31, just days before Tisha B’Av – the Jewish day of mourning that marks the Romans’ destruction of the Temple, near where the coin was found.

ANCIENT ROMAN COIN TREASURE FINALLY REVEALED TO PUBLIC AFTER BEING HIDDEN FOR CENTURIES

“The obverse side of the coin carries the inscription in ancient Hebrew script: ‘For the Redemption of Zion’ – expressing the heartfelt desire of Jerusalem‘s Jews, toward the end of the revolt,” the IAA noted.

The bronze coin was minted by ancient Jews between 69 and 70 A.D. The IAA said it was found near the southwest corner of the Temple Mount.

The coin was discovered by Yaniv David Levy, a coin specialist with the IAA, who described its state of preservation as “quite good.”

“From the looks of it, [we thought] it might be a rare coin.”

“On its reverse is a lulav, a palm frond used in the Sukkot festival ritual,” Levy said. 

“Next to it are two etrogs, the citron used in that same ritual.”

MAN STUMBLES ACROSS HOARD OF PRICELESS COINS WHILE OUT FOR NATURE WALK: ‘FACE TO FACE WITH HISTORY’

He noted, “The [Year Four] inscription denotes the number of years since the outbreak of the rebellion and allows us to accurately date the coin to the period between the Hebrew month of Nissan (March-April) of the year 69 CE, and the month of Adar (February-March) of the year 70 CE.”

Speaking about her experience during the excavation, archaeologist Esther Rakow-Mellet told the IAA she had a feeling it was an unusual discovery.

“From the looks of it, [we thought] it might be a rare coin,” Rakow-Mellet recalled.

“We waited anxiously for several days until it came back from cleaning, and it turned out that it was a greeting from the Jewish rebels in Year Four of the Great Revolt.”

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She also noted the striking timing of the discovery, just days before Tisha B’Av.

“Two thousand years after the minting of this coin … [we found] such a moving testimony to that great destruction, and I think there is nothing more symbolic,” said Rakow-Mellet.

The IAA noted that Year Four coins are “relatively rare,” since they were minted toward the end of the revolt when rebels had reduced production capabilities.

Excavation director Yuval Baruch said the coin’s inscription “indicates a profound change of identity and mindset, and perhaps also reflects the desperate situation of the rebel forces.”

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“It would seem that in the rebellion’s fourth year, the mood of the rebels now besieged in Jerusalem changed from euphoria and anticipation of freedom at hand, to a dispirited mood and a yearning for redemption,” the archaeologist observed.

The coin will be put on display at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem.

The recent discovery is one of many archaeological finds made in Jerusalem this year: an ancient garden was recently found at the holiest site in Christianity, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

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In the Room of the Last Supper, located on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, centuries-old inscriptions have also recently resurfaced.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley DiMella contributed reporting.

Nearly four years after Afghanistan fell to Taliban control, the Islamic country is continuing to welcome tourists and seeing a recent travel boost.

Taliban forces captured the capital city of Kabul on Aug. 15, 2021, following the chaotic withdrawal of American troops under the Biden administration.  

Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal told The Associated Press (AP) recently that Afghanistan had nearly 9,000 foreign visitors last year, with 3,000 tourists in the first three months of this year.

“Tourism brings many benefits to a country,” he said. “We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them.”

AMERICANS TARGETED IN MEXICO CITY AS LOCALS PROTEST AGAINST TOURISM AND SOARING RENTS

One of the first Afghan female tour guides recently led a group through the National Museum of Afghanistan – the group consisted of all women.

Suzanne Sandral, an Australian in the group, told AP she was surprised. “It’s not what I expected at all. I expected to feel rather fearful. I expected to be given a lot of … accusatory looks. Not at all.”

She said, “Wherever you go in the streets, if you smile at someone and give them a little nod or say hello, you get a terrific response. So it’s very different.”

Another woman in the group posted videos of her recent trip in June on TikTok. She captioned a video, “Exploring the nuanced and complex lives of Afghan women in context, and exploring all this beautiful land has to offer.”

The U.S. Department of State, however, is very clear. It lists travel to Afghanistan as “Travel Advisory Level 4: Do Not Travel” — warning of civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and limited health facilities.

DANGEROUS TRAVEL FOR THE ‘ADDED THRILL’ IS ON THE RISE AS VISITORS FLOCK TO HIGH-RISK COUNTRIES

“U.S. citizen travelers to Afghanistan have been wrongfully detained for months or even years,” said a spokesperson. “We remind all U.S. citizen travelers that no adventure or vacation is worth the price of your freedom.”

Other traveler influencers and regular tourists have shared their experiences on social media – with most showing the Taliban-run country in a positive light. 

A travel photographer posted a recap of her trip, saying she was “one of the first tourists to visit the country after the Taliban takeover.”

She added in a TikTok video that has been viewed over 56,000 times, “I was completely blown away by the incredible hospitality of the locals, amazing food and beautiful scenery.”

“No adventure or vacation is worth the price of your freedom.”

A popular solo traveler and social media creator posted a video of his trip to Afghanistan, writing, “I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about Afghanistan travel, but honestly, I had an amazing time there as a solo traveler.”

AMERICAN OFFICIALS WARN NIGERIAN WOMEN AGAINST BIRTH TOURISM: ‘THIS IS NOT PERMITTED’

Another TikTok video that amassed nearly half a million likes shows an Australian traveler shopping at a food market.

“Some of the best food I have had in all my travels was in Afghanistan,” said the video’s caption in part.

Manizha Bakhari, ambassador of Afghanistan to Austria, told Fox News Digital the Taliban’s promotion of tourism is an attempt at “image management.”

“As someone who has lived and worked in Afghanistan, I can say this: What these female influencers experience is not representative of women’s lives in Afghanistan,” said Bakhtari.

She added, “The Taliban treat foreign women differently, and often with exaggerated politeness, because they serve a purpose in the regime’s public relations strategy.”

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The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released its human rights report in May, pointing out that Afghan women are being denied the opportunity to join the workforce and are unable to access services without a male relative — while girls are still deprived of their right to education.

The State Department wrote in its 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices document that treatment of woman has become progressively worse. 

The new report stated that there has been “further restricted access to education, employment, and freedom of movement for women and girls – effectively removing them from public spaces.”

“By showcasing scenic landscapes and hospitality toward foreign visitors, especially influencers, they aim to create a narrative of stability and openness,” said Bakhtari.

Bakhtari noted she’s seen a growing disconnect in global travel culture when it comes to adventure tourism.

“The thrill of visiting the ‘forbidden’ or ‘untouched’ often outweighs concern for human rights … [It] becomes a form of voyeurism, one that prioritizes personal experience over the realities of those who live under oppression.”

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Kelley Currie, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, discussed the danger of visiting Afghanistan, saying Americans should “buy travel insurance.”

The United States is “unable to provide consular services if something happens, especially if they are kidnapped and sold or given to other extremist groups,” Currie told Fox News Digital. 

Adam Duckworth, Travelmation’s president and founder, told Fox News Digital that travel companies take State Department advisories “very seriously.”

“If you are considering travel to a location in the higher levels, then do your research to understand why those places are on those lists,” said Duckworth.

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Bakhtari said while Afghanistan is breathtakingly beautiful, “beauty should not blind us to injustice.”

“Travel should open hearts, not close eyes.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Officials are speaking out after recent reports putting tourism declines in Sin City in the spotlight.

On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) held its board of directors meeting, addressing various factors that have been impacting tourism. 

Steve Hill, LVCVA president, reportedly spoke about the effect that tariffs are having on both returning and potential new visitors. 

VEGAS CASINO OWNER FIRES BACK AT ‘EXAGGERATED’ CLAIMS OF SIN CITY’S DEMISE

“Some of the decisions our administration has made around international relations [have] caused a drop in tourism,” said Hill, according to local outlet KTNV Las Vegas.

Hill added, “Our international visitation is flat but is making up for a 20+% drop in tourism from Canada, which is our largest international source of visitation.”

Fox News Digital reached out to LVCVA for comment. 

Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens recently told Fox News Digital that international tourism is down across an array of locations.

“I think everyone is in a position where you can say we’re missing some of our Canadian friends who aren’t visiting this year,” said Stevens.

LAS VEGAS CASINO CULTURE SUFFERS REJECTION BY GAMBLERS OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS

Nevada is among the top five most visited states by Canadians, according to the U.S. Travel Association. 

The association warned that the United States could see a 10% reduction in Canadian travel, which is about 2 million fewer visits, according to recent reports. 

The LVCVA board recently approved a $20 million sponsorship agreement for the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The agreement will extend the race through 2027 – an event that could boost tourism numbers.

The board also discussed developments at the Harry Reid Airport — which has also seen a decline, dropping 4.1% year to date compared to the same time last year, according to the website.

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Stevens said he believes the lack of international visitors right now may be due to the overall global economy and exchange rates. 

Amid some uncertainty, he said the industry has acknowledged the economy has slowed a bit. 

“I think in six months, I would believe that Vegas tourism and our economy overall will be in a much better place,” predicted Stevens.

He noted the finalization of trade agreements will provide stability and “set the table going forward.”

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Robby Starbuck, conservative activist and host of “The Robby Starbuck Show,” previously told Fox News Digital it is not just prices that are keeping people out of Vegas these days.

“Now nearly everyone under 40 who bets seems to do it online,” Starbuck said.

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“Another differentiator is that older generations focused on real-life interaction — while younger generations feel just as content with parasocial online experiences,” he said. “The Vegas marketing image is one centered on slots and showgirls, two things young people have no interest in,” said Starbuck.

A 5,500-year-old Canaanite blade factory was recently uncovered in Israel — offering a rare link to a major group of people central to the Bible.

The ancient workshop was discovered in Kiryat Gat, a city roughly 40 miles south of Tel Aviv. The workshop is the first of its kind found in southern Israel.  

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) made the announcement in a Facebook post in late July. 

1,000-YEAR-OLD MEDIEVAL SWORD EMERGES FROM DUTCH RIVER AFTER CHANCE DISCOVERY: ‘BARELY CORRODED’

“The most impressive findings discovered at the site are large flint cores, from which extremely sharp, uniformly shaped blades were produced,” the IAA said.

“The blades themselves were used as knives for cutting and butchering, and as harvesting tools, like sickle blades.”

The remnants of the factory were unearthed at the city’s Nahal Qomem archaeological site, which contains hundreds of underground pits once used for craft production, storage and other purposes.

Pictures shared by the IAA show long flint blades that were recovered, as well as the large stone cores that were used to produce them. 

LATE BRONZE AGE SETTLEMENT DATING BACK 3,000 YEARS UNCOVERED AMID ROAD WORK: ‘IMPORTANT DISCOVERY’

Cores are chunks of raw stone from which blades were struck.

The artifacts will be put on display at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem. 

“This is clear evidence that already at the onset of the Bronze Age, the local society here was organized and complex, and had professional specialization.”

The IAA ties the discovery to the “Canaanite blade industry,” referring to an ancient people described in the Bible as inhabiting the region before the Israelites.

Archaeologists say the tools align with the material culture of Canaan during the time of Abraham – and show how sophisticated the industry was.

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“Only exceptional individuals” knew how to craft Canaanite blades, according to the IAA.

The discovery deepens the understanding of craftsmanship in Israel, as well as urbanization during the Bronze Age, the IAA added.

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“This is clear evidence that already at the onset of the Bronze Age, the local society here was organized and complex, and had professional specialization,” the organization added.

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“The discovery of a sophisticated workshop indicates a society with a complex social and economic structure already at the beginning of the Early Bronze Age.”

A day at the beach turned into a tragedy as one person was left dead and six others were saved during a jet-ski rescue amid a dramatic scene. 

The fire department responded to a distress call on Monday evening at 6:55 p.m. ET at a beach in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. (See the video at the top of this article.) 

Six individuals were caught in a rip current at Webster Avenue Beach about 100 yards offshore, according to the Jersey Shore Fire Response.

DEADLY RIP CURRENT FATALITIES REPORTED AMID SUMMER BEACH SEASON AS EXPERTS WEIGH IN

The beach did not have lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident. 

The Seaside Heights Fire Department deployed a rescue swimmer with a jet ski, successfully bringing the victims to shore. 

Dramatic aerial video shows the rescuer grabbing the individuals one by one, placing them on a raft and quickly driving to shore with medics on site.

Another person was found in the water and rushed to shore — with CPR performed on the seventh individual, FOX 5 reported. 

Tragically, the person was taken to the Community Medical Center and later pronounced dead. 

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Seaside Heights Fire Department for comment.

There have already been 49 rip current deaths reported so far this year, according to the National Weather Service. 

Chris Brewster of the United States Lifesaving Association told Fox News Digital recently that most people are not aware of rip currents while they’re in the water.

“They notice that they’re further away from the beach than they thought they were, then typically they try to swim back toward the shore and realize they’re making no progress,” said Brewster.

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This then “causes panic and that leads them to expend a lot of energy,” he said. That’s what “results in the drowning ultimately.”

“The big picture is that once you realize this is going on, don’t fight the current, because you won’t win. Relax, float and then try to swim out of the rip,” advised Brewster.

Brewster co-authored a peer-reviewed study estimating rip current rescues and drowning in the U.S. published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences.

Rip currents were found to cause 81.9% of rescues on surf beaches. 

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It’s possible that more than 100 fatal drownings per year occur due to them.

The Seaside Heights Fire Department’s ocean rescue team recently saved 12 people from a rip current on beaches with lifeguards on duty, according to FOX 5.

Khloe Quill of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. 

A nuclear power plant in Petit Fort Philippe, France, was shut down on Sunday for an unusual reason.

France’s Gravelines nuclear power plant had issues with its cooling systems — which were impacted by a swarm of jellyfish.

Reactors were impacted as the plant temporarily halted production due to “massive and unpredictable” jellyfish filling the filter drums of the pumping stations, Reuters reported.

NEW BRIDGE WILL LINK POPULAR ISLAND TO MAINLAND AS CRITICS WARN OF MAFIA, EARTHQUAKES

The Gravelines nuclear power plant is one of France’s largest facilities, producing 900 megawatts of power in each of its six units.

The safety of the facilities, staff and environment were not impacted, per Reuters.

The water from the plant comes from the North Sea.

Several jellyfish species can be found in the North Sea as the creatures get carried away with the undertow, given offshore winds.

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The undercurrent can then move the jellyfish toward the beach, according to the Reddingsbrigade Noordwijk Association. 

Derek Wright, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA) marine biologist, told Reuters that jellyfish have been breeding faster of late due to warm water.

“Areas like the North Sea are becoming warmer, [and] the reproductive window is getting wider and wider,” said Wright.

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He added, “Jellyfish can also hitch rides on tanker ships, entering the ships’ ballast tank in one port and often getting pumped out into waters halfway across the globe.”

“Jellyfish can also hitch rides on tanker ships.”

The British Natural History Museum linked oil and gas extraction to pollution in the North Sea.

“High levels of pollutants in the sediment near platforms caused natural food webs to break down, leaving a simpler and less diverse ecosystem behind,” the museum wrote on its site.

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The North Sea is one of the largest areas of offshore oil and gas extraction in the world, the museum said. 

A 38-year-old man has been charged with committing a federal crime by stealing rare manuscripts from the library system of The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). 

Jeffrey Ying, who also went by “Jason Wang,” “Alan Fujimori,” and “Austin Chen,” allegedly conducted a scheme to steal $216,000 worth of historical Chinese documents, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in a press release. 

Ying, said to be of the San Francisco Bay Area, allegedly would take out the manuscripts on loan, bring them home for days at a time — then “return” the documents by replacing them with fakes.

TOURISTS FACE DANGEROUS ‘CRUSH-AND-GRAB’ PICKPOCKET SCHEMES IN MAJOR CITY

He would travel to and from China within several days of the thefts, the DOJ release said.  

Library workers noticed that several of the rare Chinese manuscripts were missing from the collections — prompting an investigation that found the books had been viewed last by an “Alan Fujimori.”

“Due to the rarity and value of the books, they are not in regular circulation in the library and must be reserved and checked out,” noted the press release.

Law enforcement officials tracked down Ying’s hotel room in Brentwood.

They found blank paper matching the style and manner of manuscripts he was checking out, the release said.

Ying is currently in state custody, according to the DOJ’s release, and “is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court in Los Angeles” shortly.  

Officials also discovered “pre-made labels known as asset tags associated with the same manuscripts.”

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It is alleged that Ying used the labels to create “dummy” books that he would return to the library in place of the real manuscripts. 

In addition, a fraudulent California identification card under the name “Austin Chen” was found, as were two library cards bearing the names “Austin Chen” and “Jason Wang.”

The UCLA Library system comprises one of the largest academic research libraries in North America.

It has 18 million titles in the library collection, according to its site.

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The FBI’s Art Crime Team is spearheading the investigation along with the UCLA Police Department.

Ying has been charged with theft of major artwork, which is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison.

“A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” the press release notes. 

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Fox News Digital reached out to the DOJ and UCLA for further comment. 

A Revolutionary War-era home tied to a Founding Father is for sale in historic downtown Boston – but one detail remains under wraps.

The property, called the Ebenezer Hancock House, was built in 1767. The building is located at 10 Marshall Street in the city’s tourist-heavy Blackstone Block Historic District.

The house sits right on Boston’s Freedom Trail and boasts proximity to Faneuil Hall, Haymarket and North Station. It’s also a short walk from the North End, a bustling tourist hotspot.

DESCENDANTS OF BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL FIGHTERS TELL ABOUT UNSUNG FAMILY HEROES

Luxury real estate company LandVest says the building is the last surviving Boston property tied to John Hancock. The Founding Father owned the house before transferring the title to his brother Ebenezer — for whom the house is now named.

The three-story house still maintains Georgian-era interior details, although it was expanded in the 1970s. It is now in use as a law office.

“[It] remains the only vernacular structure dating to the mid-1700s to survive in central Boston,” the firm’s website states.

The listing added, “It is reportedly the site where Ebenezer Hancock, deputy paymaster of the Continental Army and John Hancock’s younger brother, stored 2 million silver crowns, loaned by the French government, prior to disbursement to the troops.”

MYSTERIOUS 18TH-CENTURY WARSHIP UNEARTHED AT GROUND ZERO SITE GETS NEW HOME

Dave Killen, a commercial real estate broker with LandVest, told Fox News Digital the listing is aimed at commercial buyers, rather than residential ones.

“We are actively looking for a buyer who loves the history and the location, and who will embrace their role as a steward of this Boston landmark site with enthusiasm,” the broker said. 

“Given the property’s location in the heart of the Blackstone Block, this likely means an owner occupant for office, retail or mixed use.”

“We are grateful that the story of 10 Marshall Street is being told, and we are excited to see what this new chapter brings.”

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Yet one mystery remains.

The asking price is a closely held secret, available only to serious buyers. Killen declined to share the price with Fox News Digital.

But the property is one of a kind — and the broker said similar listings are “extremely rare” on the Boston market.

“This is the first time in approximately 50 years the property has been available for sale,” he said. 

“The current owners, who have been conscientious stewards of the site, acquired the property in 1976 and helped facilitate the landmark designation.”

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Above all, Killen noted that the property “may have one of the best untold stories for a historical site in downtown Boston.”

“The Freedom Trail is literally steps from the front door, and I think because the site has been owned and occupied by a law firm of some discretion for the last 50 years, the historical authenticity of this property may be less widely understood than that of some of its more famous peers,” the broker said.

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“We are grateful that the story of 10 Marshall Street is being told,” he added.

“And we are excited to see what this new chapter brings.”

An archaeologist who was recently sifting through debris in Israel uncovered a link to a legendary biblical king from the House of David.

The Temple Mount Sifting Project announced the discovery on July 30 of a rare clay seal impression bearing the name “Yed[a‛]yah (son of) Asayahu.” 

The project is dedicated to recovering artifacts from dumped soil that was illegally removed from the Temple Mount during unsupervised construction in 1999 by the Islamic Waqf.

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

The archaeologically rich soil was dumped in the nearby Kidron Valley, where archaeologists, volunteers and tourists now gather to sift through the discarded debris in search of ancient Jewish artifacts.

The recent discovery was made on the eve of the 17th of Tammuz, a Jewish fast day marking the breach of Jerusalem’s walls before the destruction of the First and Second Temples.

Archaeologist Mordechai Ehrlich discovered what the project described as a “rare and exceptionally well-preserved clay sealing, impressed by a stamp seal inscribed with ancient Hebrew letters.”

“The sealing still retains a clear fingerprint, presumably left by the ancient official who once owned it,” the project noted.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER ANCIENT ‘FACTORY’ USED TO PRODUCE COVETED PURPLE DYE MENTIONED IN BIBLE

Based on its script, the artifact dates to the late 7th or early 6th century B.C. – during the reign of King Josiah, who ruled Judah and oversaw major Temple reforms.

“Among Josiah’s trusted envoys was a senior official named Asayahu, described as ‘the king’s servant,'” the release stated. 

“Given his prominent role, it is reasonable to assume that his son, Yeda‛yah, may have also served in a high-ranking capacity, either at the same time or shortly thereafter.”

“Thus, the clay sealing’s owner was probably involved in Temple administration or the royal household, much like his father.”

King Josiah was a central figure in Jewish history.

After ordering repairs to the First Temple in Jerusalem, his workers found an ancient scroll that the royal scribe then read to the king.

The scroll, the project said, contained “warnings about the people’s sins and impending divine punishment deeply alarmed the king.”

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The release added, “Josiah then dispatched trusted officials to seek divine counsel from the prophetess Huldah, who foretold Jerusalem’s future destruction but assured Josiah that he personally would not live to witness it.”

Marks on the back of the seal suggest it was used to seal a bag or container – offering a glimpse into the ancient official’s life.

The Temple Mount Sifting Project said that the possibility of a link between the seal and King Josiah was “highly plausible.”

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“Historically, seals like these were reserved for officials of high rank, and many individuals named in similar discoveries from Jerusalem have been directly identified with biblical-era officials,” officials said.

“Thus, the clay sealing’s owner was probably involved in Temple administration or the royal household, much like his father,” the project said.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Temple Mount Sifting Project for additional information.

A meteorite fragment that burst through the roof of a Georgia home last June has been determined to be billions of years old and to predate the Earth, according to a geology professor. 

“A lot of people saw the fireball,” University of Georgia geologist Scott Harris told Fox News Digital on Friday of the meteorite fragment that he said had come from an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and fell to Earth on June 26 near Atlanta. 

He said he was immediately alerted to the incident and went to examine what had happened, looking in the attic for the fragment’s point of entry. 

ANCIENT ‘STICK FIGURES’ ON BEACH ONCE AGAIN VISIBLE AT TOURIST DESTINATION

“The homeowner didn’t know that they actually had a clean hole through the roof, through an air duct,” he continued. 

“They knew about the hole in the roof, but they didn’t know it went through the air duct, through one side of the air duct, out the other side of the air duct through a couple of feet of insulation, then through the ceiling. They had about a 10-foot-high ceiling, kind of a slanted frame ceiling, and then it went the distance from there to the floor and left about a centimeter-and-a-half little crater in the floor.”

He said the meteorite left a hole in the floor “about the size of a large cherry tomato.” 

“And so this hit hard enough that part of it just absolutely was pulverized like somebody hitting it with a sledgehammer,” he explained.

Harris said the ancient fragment broke the sound barrier as it hurtled toward Earth, adding that it would have sounded like a “very high-powered rifle” to the homeowner. 

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER ANCIENT RADIO SIGNALS FROM DISTANT GALAXY CLUSTER

“These are objects that go back to the original material formed 4.56 billion years ago,” Harris said. 

“So, in the days slightly before the formation of the planets themselves, and at least the rocky interior planets. And, you know, those are the basic building blocks then of our rocky planets and, so that’s one of the reasons that scientists are interested in studying them is it shows us about some of the processes that were active during the early days of the solar system.”

The Earth is believed to be 4.54 billion years old. 

Harris explained that while such a small fragment didn’t present a threat to anyone, scientists want to study the dynamics of meteorites falling to Earth because the “ultimate goal is to tell you what the risk assessment is for what could be absolute doom.”

ASTRONOMERS MAKE GROUNDBREAKING DISCOVERY ABOUT LARGEST COMET EVER OBSERVED FLYING THROUGH DEEP SPACE

“No one’s got to do anything about a small object like this coming through the atmosphere, but understanding where these materials come from in the solar system and understanding that even the dynamics of the small pieces are important for ultimately understanding where the bigger ones are and what the risks are for us in the future,” he said.

Scientists studying the dynamics of meteorites can attempt to “engineer ways to avoid collisions with them, most notably by techniques like were demonstrated a few years ago by the DART mission, where we could actually have what’s called a kinetic impacter to go and basically move an asteroid a little bit,” Harris explained. 

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“If you move an asteroid headed toward us, and you move it early enough, then you get it to avoid us all together.”

A new dad sparked a firestorm at home – and online – by suggesting he take a two-week vacation with his 8-month-old son, leaving his wife behind.

He shared his story on Reddit’s “Am I the A–hole” subreddit and asked if he was in the wrong.

While his wife of five years works an “intense and inflexible” job and has little paid time off left this year, his work can be done remotely and he still has paid time off to use, he said.

“I suggested I use some of my PTO to go away for a couple of weeks with the baby,” he wrote in the post. “I’d handle everything, and I was thinking of going somewhere really easy, like an all-inclusive resort so I don’t have to do much traveling.”

GRANDMOTHER’S RESPONSE TO MOM ‘GIVING IN’ TO TODDLER AT DINNER SPARKS HEATED DEBATE

That would give him and his wife a break, he said, and his wife could catch up on sleep too, he added.

But his wife refused. “Flat out ‘no,’ no discussion,” he said.

She cited concerns about separation anxiety, disrupting the baby’s routine and feeling left out.

He offered alternatives: bringing his mother to help, choosing a closer destination or even going alone.

“I guess I could stay home and just use the PTO right here, which is probably what she wants, but that feels like a bit of a waste,” he added. “Travel is one of the things we both love, and it feels like one of the few ways to really make use of my time off.”

WOMAN ‘REALLY UPSET’ HUSBAND WOULD NOT PICK HER UP AT AIRPORT: ‘GROW UP’

So, he turned to the internet, where many people were appalled by the suggestion, ruling “YTA,” the acronym for “You’re the A–hole.”

“I know this feels unfair, since you have so much PTO, but taking the baby away for WEEKS!!??” one person wrote, slamming the suggestion as “ludicrous.”

“That’s insane, bro,” said someone else.

“If my husband ever suggested taking our baby away from me, especially for a vacation, I would suggest he spend his PTO looking for a new wife,” another commenter said.

“You can’t just take the baby away like that,” wrote another. “Regardless if you have solo experience, the baby needs structure, routine, and time with mom.”

FAMILY VACATION DRAMA ERUPTS OVER GRANDMOTHER’S REQUEST FOR DINNER WITH HER GROWN KIDS ONLY

David Gomez, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Rancho Mirage, Calif., said that two weeks for an 8-month-old to be away from a parent might be too long.

“This is a core attachment and bonding period for infants,” Gomez told Fox News Digital. “An absence like this can affect attachment.”

“A better approach might be to take either local or shorter trips,” he added.

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The dad did not reveal where he lives but said in one comment that it is a “small and somewhat inaccessible” country that makes it difficult and expensive to take short trips – but that he is open to different suggestions.

Some people online empathized with him.

A Canadian mom shared that she took her baby to her mother’s home an hour away during her maternity leave, sometimes without her husband.

“I get it that you may need a change of scenery,” she wrote.

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Others said that Reddit might treat a mother wanting a solo baby trip differently.

One person said that they see many posts online about “inconsiderate dads who don’t even want to change diapers,” and that this dad’s willingness to care for the baby alone was refreshing. “I wish more dads felt like this,” the person said.

Jo Hayes, an Australia-based parenting consultant and founder of EtiquetteExpert.org, said it’s unfair for the wife to refuse all the options her husband proposed.

“He sounds like a very capable dad – confident in his ability to manage the baby on his own, and, in fact, enjoy it during vacation,” Hayes told Fox News Digital.

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The family could talk over video chat every day, or the wife could try to meet them for a portion of the trip, she suggested.

The key, Hayes added, is for the couple to communicate clearly and calmly. 

“Love, kindness and compassion are essential in any marital communication, to reaffirm the marital bond and remind the other – and oneself – that you are a team, especially in raising a child,” she said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the original poster for comment.

An individual was treated for injuries in connection with an incident involving acrylic glass breaking off of a water slide, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson indicated in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide. The guest is being treated for his injuries,” the statement noted.

AMUSEMENT PARK RIDE SNAPS AT SAUDI ARABIA PARK, WITH 23 REPORTED INJURED

“The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation,” the statement added.

Video footage, apparently of the aftermath, shows water gushing out of the slide.

GIRL ON DISNEY CRUISE FELL THROUGH PORTHOLE AS DAD JUMPED TO SAVE HER IN 20-MINUTE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL: POLICE

The incident occurred aboard the Icon of the Seas ship on August 7, and the person injured in the episode is in stable condition, Fox News Digital has been informed.

‘POOP CRUISE’ DOCUMENTARY EXPOSES 2013 SHIP NIGHTMARE FEATURING CHAOS, GROSS CONDITIONS

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The enormous cruise ship has multiple water slides on board. 

The latest statistics have confirmed the social chatter that Las Vegas tourism has hit a “dramatic low,” with some even calling Vegas an experience of the past.

Even as reports indicate Las Vegas tourism is down overall, Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens told Fox News Digital in an interview that the assessment may be “premature.” (See the video at the top of this article.) 

Only 3.1 million people visited Sin City in June, down 11.3% compared to last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

LAS VEGAS CASINO CULTURE SUFFERS REJECTION BY GAMBLERS OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS

“I think some of the data in Las Vegas indicates that some of these stories are a bit exaggerated,” said Stevens. “The June gaming numbers were just released and not everything is terrible.”

The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGB) announced that on a statewide level, gaming revenues were $1.33 billion, which is a 3.5% increase from June 2024.

“In specific pockets, like where we at Circa Las Vegas are located in downtown — I think people feel there’s maybe a little better value. Things were really booming,” said Stevens. 

He added, “If you really start unpeeling some layers of the onion in Las Vegas, I think you’re going to find companies that have very specific areas that are a little less subject to the economy and that are doing OK.”

Stevens said he’s spoken with other Las Vegas casino CEOs and said across the industry, there’s a “mixed bag” of opinions regarding the current state of tourism.

“[The] high end is a little less impacted by the economy, and then there are others that are doing well as well,” he said. 

“On the other side, there’s definitely some pretty significant concern about … flights [into the city].”

LAS VEGAS TOURISM DROPS SHARPLY AS SOME VISITORS CLAIM ‘CASINOS ARE EMPTY’ AMID RISING COSTS

The Harry Reid Airport has shown a decline, dropping 4.1% compared to the same time last year, according to the website.

“Clearly, [there are] some concerns with regard to international tourism,” said Stevens.

“I think that’s something that you see in any heavily, heavily visited area, whether it’s San Francisco, Hawaii, Southern California, Las Vegas, Florida,” he added. 

“I think everyone is in a position where you can say we’re missing some of our Canadian friends who aren’t visiting this year,” he also said. 

Nevada is among the top five most visited states by Canadians, according to the U.S. Travel Association. 

“We’re missing some of our Canadian friends who aren’t visiting this year.”

The association warned that the United States could see a 10% reduction in Canadian travel, which is about 2 million fewer visits, according to recent reports. 

Stevens said he believes the lack of international visitors right now may be due to the overall global economy and exchange rates. 

Stevens said Circa has found a niche by being “very sports-oriented,” with the resort and casino drawing in crowds for recent events. 

“UFC has been terrific those particular weekends,” he said, referencing the Ultimate Fighting Championship, headquartered in Vegas. 

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“[The] fights have been great. Now we’re getting into really a boom time of both groups coming for fantasy football drafts, as well as people coming to sign up for our world’s largest football contest in Circus Survivor and Circa Millions.”

Other Vegas properties associated with attractions, said Stevens, are also keeping afloat, such as entertainment events at Sphere and musical concerts this summer.

“I think some properties may be feeling it more than others, but I think that’s something you’re going to see in any type of tourist destination … It doesn’t mean that every sector is necessarily down.”

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Amid some uncertainty, he said the industry has come to the realization that the economy has slowed a bit. 

“I think in six months, I would believe that Vegas tourism and our economy overall will be in a much better place,” predicted Stevens.

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He noted the finalization of trade agreements will provide stability and “set the table going forward.”

FIRST ON FOX – As the White House prepares to begin construction on the addition of a New State Ballroom, the booking of tours for the public has been put on a pause. 

Nicholas Clemens, communications director for the first lady, told Fox News Digital that no tours have been canceled. 

“Instead, new tour bookings were paused proactively while a collaborative group of White House, U.S. Secret Service, National Park Service and Executive Residence staff work to determine the best way to ensure public access to the White House as this project begins and for the duration of construction,” said Clemens.

FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP OPENS WHITE HOUSE GARDENS TO ALL AMERICANS

The State Ballroom is intended to provide a dedicated space for hosting official events, state dinners and large ceremonial gatherings.

The new 90,000-square-foot addition will accommodate approximately 650 seated guests.

It will stay true to the classical design of the White House.

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“The White House tour route has evolved over presidencies, and we look forward to near-term updates about the new State Ballroom,” said Clemens.

“The president and first lady remain committed to continuing the tradition of public access to the People’s House in the present and for the future,” he added.

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It is not uncommon for White House tours to be put on pause between each transfer of power.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday during a briefing that the construction is scheduled to begin in September.

It will be “completed long before the end of President Trump’s term,” she said. 

President Theodore Roosevelt modernized the White House in 1902, adding the West Wing, while previous first ladies refurbished the state rooms.

“Every first family leaves its mark on the home.”

President Lyndon Johnson added gardens, President Gerald Ford added a swimming pool, and President Barack Obama added a kitchen garden, according to the White House Historical Association (WHAA).

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“Every first family leaves its mark on the home, and while some of these changes can be temporary, others continue into the next administration and beyond,” according to WHAA’s website.

Guests had previously entered the East Wing of the White House, proceeding down the East Colonnade.

Rooms on the White House tour included the Vermeil Room, Library, China Room, Blue Room, Red Room, Green Room and the State Dining Room.