In an interview with WIRED ahead of her new concert film Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), Billie Eilish talked about whether or not future artists will be able to leverage SoundCloud the way she did.View the full article

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent asserted in a post on X that prior to the start of the Iran war, the U.S. intelligence community agreed that the Islamic Republic was not developing a nuclear weapon. "One of the many tragedies of this war is that before the war began the U.S. Intel Community, including CIA, was in agreement that Iran wasn't developing a nuclear weapon & that Iran would target U.S. bases in the region & shut down the Strait of Hormuz if they were attacked by Israel & the U.S.," Kent wrote in a post on Thursday. "The IC also properly assessed that targeting the Iranian leadership would strengthen the regime and embolden the hardliners. Despite the professionalism & accuracy of the IC, the narrative & agenda spun by a foreign government- Israel, won the argument & forced us into this war," he continued. EX-COUNTERTERRORISM CHIEF SAYS TRUMP MUST RESTRAIN ISRAEL BEFORE HE CAN DECLARE VICTORY IN IRAN "We need to understand exactly how this happened to ensure we are never put in this position again," he concluded. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Friday for a response to Kent's comments. Kent resigned from the National Counterterrorism Center director role back in March. WHAT ISRAEL WANTS FROM AN IRAN PEACE DEAL: NO ENRICHMENT, MISSILE LIMITS AND STRICT ENFORCEMENT "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran," he wrote in his resignation letter. "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby." In an April Truth Social post, President Donald Trump slapped down the notion that Israel convinced him to enter the war against Iran. TRUMP PUSHES BACK AGAINST PUNDITS, SAYS ISRAEL DID NOT TALK HIM INTO THE IRAN WAR "Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did," the president wrote in part of the post, referring to the heinous Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack perpetrated against Israel. View the full article

Fear is generally far more virulent than the virus that causes it. This is the case with the current hantavirus outbreak unless something about the virus itself has changed, which is very unlikely. As far as we know, the only thing that this hantavirus has in common with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that sparked the COVID pandemic is that both are single-stranded RNA viruses and both sparked outbreaks on cruise ships. Of course, the current hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius is sparking memories of the Diamond Princess, which departed from Japan in late January 2020 for a cruise of the Western Pacific. The cruise ended up being quarantined off Japan for two weeks, after 712 of the 3,711 people on board became infected with the new COVID-19 virus. But that’s where the similarity ends. On the MV Hondius, which left from Argentina, where the Andes strain of hantavirus is found, eight patients have become infected, and three have died, in part because the Andes strain can cause highly dangerous and deadly hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS. Unfortunately, the Andes strain can lead to HPS, and, given the close confines of a cruise ship, the vessel is an optimal environment for the spread of contagions. HANTAVIRUS IN THE US: WHERE THE RARE, SOMETIMES DEADLY DISEASE HAS BEEN FOUND One question that needs to be answered urgently is: Who or what carried the virus onto the ship? Was it an infected rodent or an infected person? If the story is true, as has been reported, that the Dutch couple got infected before they boarded the ship during a bird-watching trip through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, where they likely became infected from rodent droppings, urine or saliva, then the eight cases that occurred are all due to human-to-human transmission, which is much less common than rodent-to-human spread. This at least raises the question whether the virus itself could have changed, as does the case of the flight attendant who appears to have acquired hantavirus from an elderly Dutch passenger who later died of it. But it is far, far more likely that nothing about the virus itself has changed. The Andes strain can spread from one human to another, though with great difficulty. A study from Chile showed only 1% spread among household contacts and 17% among sexual contacts. HANTAVIRUS DEATHS ON CRUISE SHIP HIGHLIGHT DANGERS OF RODENT-BORNE DISEASE A more recent study from Argentina also showed extremely limited person-to-person spread. "From November 2018 through February 2019, person-to-person transmission of Andes virus (ANDV) hantavirus pulmonary syndrome occurred in Chubut Province, Argentina, and resulted in 34 confirmed infections and 11 deaths." Fortunately, there are only 15 to 50 cases of hantavirus in the U.S. yearly and 150 to 300 cases in all of the Americas. The most common strain is the Sin Nombre strain, which does not pass from human to human. There are 10,000 to 100,000 cases in Europe and Asia every year, but they have all involved strains that don’t support human-to-human spread. Hantavirus remains essentially a rodent virus. WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS, THE CAUSE OF GENE HACKMAN’S WIFE’S DEATH? Here are three things you need to know about hantavirus in order to protect yourself from the fear and myths that are circulating. While it is true that human-to-human spread is possible, it requires extremely close contact, most often sexual contact, and has only been shown to occur with the Andes strain. This is extremely unlikely. This virus spreads mainly among rodents. The numbers are consistent from year to year, there are very few cases in the Americas, and the chance of this increasing is very low without a major mutation. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION False. Not only is this virus very rare in the U.S. and very difficult to contract unless you come in direct contact with infected mouse or rat droppings, saliva or urine — as the wife of actor Gene Hackman did before dying of HPS — but, in addition, the deadly HPS manifestation — which has a fatality rate of about 40% — is much less common in U.S. cases than the more typical diarrhea, muscle aches and high fever. Authorities in South Africa and Europe must trace contacts of any passengers who got off the hantavirus-infected ship, but at the same time, the risk to the general population remains extremely low. It is also prudent for public health officials to quarantine all the MV Hondius passengers and crew members, around 150 people, now with cabin isolation and strict disinfection protocols and upon arrival in the Canary Islands, since the incubation period can be up to eight weeks. Virologists must also examine the genetic structure of the current Andes hantavirus that is circulating. Above all, it makes sense to counter the spread of fear with facts. Of course, a crucial part of this is for virologists to examine the structure of the Andes hantavirus that infected these passengers. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DR. MARC SIEGEL View the full article

The arrest of two Israeli Air Force personnel on allegations of espionage has underscored Iran’s expanding efforts to penetrate Israel’s military by recruiting operatives from within. Over the past year and a half, Israeli police, working alongside the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), have investigated more than 20 cases involving an estimated 40 to 50 suspects. Most remain in custody, though investigators believe additional suspects are still at large. Capt. Sefi Berger of the Israel Police’s Lahav International and Major Crimes Unit, which investigates Iranian espionage cases, told Fox News Digital that Tehran primarily seeks intelligence that could aid attack planning, along with information on high-profile individuals and other sensitive targets. IRAN ARRESTS DOZENS ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR ISRAEL IN NEW INTERNAL CRACKDOWN Payments vary widely. One network of seven suspects reportedly received about $300,000, while an Iron Dome reservist was allegedly paid $1,000 — and in some cases, even less. "People may think they will get rich, but the money is not life-changing," Berger said. "In one case last year involving two soldiers, one received just $21 and has been in prison for a year and a half." Iranian recruitment tactics include infiltrating WhatsApp and Facebook groups used by Israelis seeking freelance work, as well as pornography websites, where agents allegedly use compromising material to blackmail individuals into cooperating. Recruitment also relies on emotional manipulation of individuals whose moral judgment may be compromised. "When recruiting a person, a relationship can develop between the handler and the spy. Sometimes the asset is looking for a father figure or a friend — someone who listens without judgment," Berger said. Former Shin Bet handler Gonen Ben Itzhak, who spent years recruiting sources within Palestinian society, told Fox News Digital that the issue is particularly serious, saying he has not previously seen so many attempts — and some successful cases — of spying against Israel. IRANIAN REGIME SPREADING ANTI-ISRAEL PROPAGANDA ACROSS DOZENS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS: REPORT "The million-dollar question is who makes a good recruit. We don’t have a clear answer. There are certain indicators that someone may be more susceptible. The Iranians use social media — something we didn’t have in the same way —and it’s a powerful tool to identify potential motives," he said. As a handler, Ben Itzhak said he sought to recruit as many viable candidates as possible while avoiding individuals likely to attract suspicion, such as known criminals. He described the process as gradual and often uncertain. "At first, they need to agree to meet in secret. Sometimes they come but won’t share information. I would start with simple questions — who leads Hamas in their village," he said. "Sometimes it takes time. Some refuse to cooperate, some may even act as double agents. In many cases, they are trained to collect information without being exposed. It’s a process," Ben Itzhak added. In March, 22-year-old Haifa resident Ami Gaydarov was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing explosives intended to target a senior Israeli figure at the direction of an Iranian agent. Last month, a man from the Israeli-Arab city of Qalansawe was detained on suspicion of allegedly spying for "a hostile actor, mediated through the Al Jazeera channel." According to the investigation, Miqdad Moder Hosni Natur made contact with his handler after being introduced while searching for job opportunities through the Qatari-owned news organization. Under Israeli law, contact with a foreign agent carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Providing intelligence can result in more than 10 years’ imprisonment, while aiding the enemy during wartime carries a minimum sentence of life imprisonment and, in extreme cases, the death penalty. Berger also warned against attempts by Israelis to deceive foreign agents, stressing that any contact is a serious offense. DANISH NATIONAL WANTED IN GERMANY ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY SPYING ON JEWISH TARGETS FOR IRAN "We had a hotel worker near the Dead Sea who falsely told Iranians that a group of Israelis would arrive. He said it was a lie, but I explained he had effectively put a target on that hotel, its staff and guests, and encouraged an attack," Berger said. "People unfamiliar with this world should not engage in it. Contact is an offense, providing information is an offense, and aiding the enemy is the most severe," he added. While most suspects remain in custody awaiting trial, some cases are advancing through the courts. One concluded case involved 70-year-old Moti Maman, who was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison after twice entering Iran, where he met with intelligence agents to discuss carrying out terrorist activity in Israel. He also discussed the possibility of assassinating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Former Mossad operative Gad Shimron told Fox News Digital that while the espionage efforts have caused damage, their impact appears tactical rather than strategic. However, he cautioned against complacency. "The electronic Iron Dome is trying to catch Israelis willing to work for the Iranians, and I believe it is quite efficient," he said. "But one should never underestimate the enemy. I am sure they are investing a lot of effort and that they have some successes we don’t yet know of." View the full article

Nearly 600 unopened ballots were discovered in a California county months after voters approved a statewide Democratic redistricting measure, with local election officials admitting they failed voters. The Humboldt County Office of Elections said in a Wednesday press release that the 596 sealed but uncounted ballots did not impact the outcome of the Nov. 4 statewide special election, which centered on Proposition 50, a redistricting ballot measure pushed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats. The ballots were found Monday inside a locked drop box, prompting county officials to say they had not been tampered with because the box was locked, and the ballots remained sealed. Officials said the error stemmed from a miscommunication over whether the drop box had been fully emptied before certification. "While the mistake occurred after an election worker did not follow proper procedures, the responsibility for what happened ultimately sits with me. I did not have strong enough controls in place to prevent this, but we do now," Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes said in the news release. "We have taken corrective action and already updated our protocols. A new lock out, tag out procedure has been implemented for every ballot drop box to ensure each box is physically verified as empty and secured before election results are finalized." SUPREME COURT SHUTS DOWN CALIFORNIA GOP BID TO BLOCK NEWSOM'S NEW MAP While the ballots will not change the outcome of the November election, Humboldt County officials said they are still endeavoring to ensure all ballots get counted, apologizing to voters that they "fell short" of their duties. "I promise you that we are taking this seriously," Cervantes added. "We will strengthen our processes and continue pushing toward the standard our community expects and deserves." Proposition 50, championed by Newsom and California Democrats, allowed the state to temporarily use legislature-drawn congressional maps for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections instead of maps created by California’s independent redistricting commission. REDISTRICTING BATTLES BREWING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS PARTIES COMPETE FOR POWER AHEAD OF 2026 MIDTERMS The measure came amid a national mid-decade redistricting fight, with Newsom and California Democrats arguing the state needed to counter GOP-led map changes in states such as Texas. California’s normal redistricting process is handled by an independent commission, but Prop 50 created a temporary voter-approved exception allowing the state to use legislature-drawn congressional maps through 2030. After the Supreme Court last week narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in a Louisiana redistricting case, a ruling that could open the door for Republican-led states to pursue new maps that undercut Democratic redistricting gains in California and potential gains in states such as Virginia, California Democrats have faced pressure to consider going even further in response. However, The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that despite this urging for additional action, even after voters approved Prop 50, California Democrats have no intention of making an attempt to redraw the maps again before the midterms. California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks pointed out Democrats need to win the seats created under the state’s existing Prop 50 map they redrew last year. "We have yet to fully win the seats in the map that was drawn in 2025. It seems a step too far to say we’re going to go back to the drawing board and redraw the map," Hicks said, according to The Los Angeles Times. "You all should pick up some seats. Let’s all do this together, because California cannot do it alone, it will take the rest of the country," Hicks added, referring to pressure on Democratic-led states to counter Republican redistricting efforts nationwide. View the full article