President Donald Trump announced late Friday that U.S. and Nigerian forces carried out an operation that killed a global ISIS leader. Trump identified the terrorist as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as ISIS’s second-in-command globally. "Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing," Trump continued. "He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans." 100 US TROOPS LAND IN NIGERIA AS ISLAMIC MILITANTS THREATEN WEST AFRICA REGIONAL SECURITY Trump also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the mission. "With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished," he added. Additional details surrounding the mission were not immediately available. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment. US MILITARY IN SYRIA CARRIES OUT 10 STRIKES ON MORE THAN 30 ISIS TARGETS: PHOTOS The announcement comes after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out multiple strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria in February as part of a joint military effort to "sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network." CENTCOM said U.S. forces struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons-storage targets using fixed-wing, rotary-wing and unmanned aircraft. DEADLY STRIKE ON US TROOPS TESTS TRUMP’S COUNTER-ISIS PLAN — AND HIS TRUST IN SYRIA’S NEW LEADER Trump told reporters on Jan. 27 that he had a "great conversation" with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. "All of the things having to do with Syria in that area are working out very, very well," he said at the time. "So, we are very happy about it." CENTCOM announced in February that more than 50 ISIS terrorists had been killed or captured and more than 100 ISIS infrastructure targets struck during two months of targeted operations in Syria. The U.S. launched Operation Hawkeye Strike in response to an ISIS ambush that killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter Dec. 13, 2025, in Palmyra, Syria. Fox News Digital's Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report. View the full article

As U.S. Route 66 turns 100 years old, travelers are searching for the brightest motels, most unique attractions and tastiest diners to celebrate its centennial. The things Route 66 travelers seek today are the same ones that drew people out during the road’s heyday. "[The] trucking industry increased like 700% between 1939 and 1964. In 1964, 80% of people vacationed by automobile," Route 66 author, Jim Hinckley, told Fox News. Historic Route 66 runs through dozens of towns — some have grown into larger cities, while others are now the bones of what once was. ROUTE 66: AN AMERICAN CELEBRATION, ALONG WITH AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY "Think 1939, you’ve got a million cars coming through your town in a year. And after the war, that increases, and all of a sudden it’s like someone turned off the tap," Hinckley said. That vision becomes clear as travelers pass rundown businesses in dozens of small towns across the eight states. During that stretch is the Texas town of Adrian, which is coined as the "geographical midpoint" of Route 66, according to Gary Daggett, president of the Old Route 66 Association of Texas. "It's the nostalgia, ya know, there's so much of American history here at Route 66," Daggett said. ROUTE 66 HIGHLIGHTS COSMIC SITES ACROSS ARIZONA Daggett is also the gift shop manager at Midpoint Café in Adrian, which is hard to miss as it is marked by a sign that soars to the skies. The owner, Brenda Hammit Bradley, bought the café in 2018 and is still known for her endless pie flavors, like green Chile apple pie and Elvis, which is chocolate, peanut butter and banana. "Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that it’s not hard, because it’s a job, but it’s just fun, I get to meet awesome people," Bradley told Fox News, adding that more than 70% of her customers come from overseas. Bradley said The Midpoint Café inspired Flo's V8 Restaurant in the Disney-Pixar movie Cars. Just 15 minutes east, is Vega, Texas – a small country town with sprinkles of Route 66 memorabilia. One block off the historic route is Dot's Mini Museum. "Our town was bypassed by I-40, but you know, there are a lot of people who travel, who love to go into the town, meet the people, see the places," said Keila Bain, Dot's granddaughter. Bain said her grandmother's small museum of antiques is free to enter, and the door is never locked. FOX'S STEVE DOOCY VISITS TULSA'S OUTSIDERS HOUSE MUSEUM "The thing that's mostly missing about Dot's mini museum is Dot herself, because she was a lot of life and a lot of fun," Bain said, adding that her grandmother inspired one of the characters in Cars, which allowed her to attend some movie events. Although Dot is not around anymore, a guest book inside the small museum is filled with names from dozens of countries. These small books are in several Route 66 attractions around the town, tallying the thousands of people who stop by. "From its inception, what it's about is the people. It has always been about the people," Hinckley said. "That's what gives it that infectious magic and enthusiasm." View the full article

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: Wood heating is reintroducing lead into the air of local communities and homes, a systematic investigation by academics has found. Overwhelming evidence of lead's neurotoxicity meant the metal was banned as an additive in petrol more than 25 years ago. The research by academics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst began by analysing samples of particle pollution from five suburban and rural towns in the north-east US. They looked for tiny particles of potassium that are given off when wood is burned and also particles containing lead. Samples from seven winters revealed associations between potassium and lead. When there were more wood burning particles in a daily sample, there was more lead in the air, with clear straight-line relationships in four of the five towns. The project was extended to 22 other towns across the US. The relationships between lead and potassium varied from place to place, being strongest in the Rocky Mountains. By factoring in the effects of temperature, moderate to strong associations in their analysis strengthened the conclusion that the extra lead came from wood burning. The lead concentrations were less than the US legal limits, but any exposure to the metal is harmful. [...] Although less than legal limits, lead particles are routinely measured in UK cities in winter when people are also burning wood. This is normally attributed to waste wood covered with old lead paint, but the Umass Amherst study suggests the metal is coming from the wood itself. This means that any wood burning could increase exposure in neighborhoods and at home. Tricia Henegan, a PhD student at Umass Amherst and the first author on the research, said: "The most logical answer [to the question of how lead ends up in wood] is that it comes from uptake in the soil, probably riding along with the nutrients and water that trees need. Once in the tree, it deposits in the tree's tissues and remains until that tree is burned." Other research has found that it can then become part of the smoke. "The use of wood as an energy source is a relic of the past, one that should not be relived if given a choice. Although wood fuel use can feel nostalgic, it does have negative consequences on air quality, and therefore public health." Read more of this story at Slashdot. View the full article

Catilin Clark is just starting her third WNBA season, and she is already being honored for a big career achievement in a pregame ceremony. Is that good? I think that's good. The Indiana Fever played host to the Washington Mystics on Friday night in a battle of two 1-1 teams through the early going of the season. One of the big stories so far this season came in the Fever's season opener against the Dallas Wings, when Clark scored her 1,000th career point. She accomplished the feat in just 54 games, which made her the fastest player to reach 1,000+ points, 250+ assists and 250+ rebounds. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE The previous mark belonged to WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, and she did it in 62 games. So, before tip-off on Friday, the team recognized Clark's accomplishment. Clark didn't wait long to keep adding to that career point and assist total of hers, feeding teammate and OutKick favorite Sophie Cunningham to extend an early Fever lead. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Clark wound up with 32 points on the night, along with seven assists and four rebounds. The biggest came with just one second on the clock when she drained a three-pointer to force overtime. Clark simply has the clutch gene. While Indiana was able to get this one to overtime, the Mystics managed to hang on to win 104-102 despite a late push from the Fever. The Fever dropped to 1-2 on the year, and will be back in action on Sunday when they welcome the Seattle Storm to town. View the full article

Margaret Thatcher once ran Britain. John Kennedy’s "Margaret" mostly runs him into the ground. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., is going viral after posting a tongue-in-cheek workout video introducing followers to "Margaret" — his elliptical trainer named after former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — while wearing a red bandanna and speaking directly to the camera from his Louisiana carport. "Hey X, I have somebody I’d like you to meet," Kennedy says at the start of the minute-long video posted to social media Friday. "This is Margaret. Margaret is my elliptical trainer. I named Margaret after Margaret Thatcher because both kick butt and take names." ERIC SWALWELL'S 'CRINGE' WORKOUT VIDEO MOCKED FOR BENCHING LIGHT WEIGHT Kennedy goes on to explain that "Margaret" lives outside under the carport for three reasons: the machine is too heavy to move, his wife "won’t let" him bring it inside and because he enjoys getting in a workout during Louisiana summers. The Senator said he enjoys working outside during Louisiana summers, a detail that drew disbelief from many viewers familiar with the state’s famously brutal heat and humidity. "As you can see, Margaret, my elliptical trainer, is out here under my carport in Louisiana," Kennedy says. "After Margaret kicks my butt, I look for air conditioning." The surreal, self-aware clip quickly drew thousands of reactions online, with users roasting Kennedy’s bandanna look while also praising the senator’s everyman personality. SEN KENNEDY PRAISES FETTERMAN AS A ‘TOTAL BANGER,’ WHO 'DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN' ABOUT ANGERING LIBERALS "You are rocking the dadgum crap outta that bandana," one user wrote. "I thought you were representing the Bloods for a minute. Tell Margaret I think she’s cute but evil." Others praised Kennedy’s personality and down-home delivery style. "You are a gem to us normal folk Mr. Kennedy. Live long and prosper!" one supporter posted. "Senator Kennedy is that kind of Southerner that makes you feel you're sitting on the front porch having some bit of common sense enlighten you in that poetic Southern way," another wrote. The Louisiana Republican has long cultivated a folksy, humorous public image that often breaks through online with colorful one-liners and unconventional social media moments. Kennedy ended the video with a line that only added to the internet’s fascination. "My work here is done," he said. "And I can see myself out." View the full article