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State Department issues Level 2 travel advisory for Grenada due to crime

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The U.S. State Department has issued an increased travel advisory pertaining to Grenada, due to the “risk of crime.”

The Level 2 advisory was updated Jan. 5, with a warning about “violent crime.” Americans have been victims of armed robbery, assault, burglary and rape.

“In some cases, American citizens have been killed. Police response times are not as fast as one may expect in the United States,” the advisory says.

US OFFICIALS SOUND ALARM ON ‘GOLDEN’ VISAS, CITING SECURITY RISKS, RELAXED REQUIREMENTS

Grenada lies in the eastern Caribbean Sea as part of the West Indies. 

It’s about 125 miles north of Venezuela.

The State Department has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Grenada. (iStock)

“Do not answer your door at your hotel or residence unless you know who it is,” the advisory states.

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Officials also warn travelers to physically avoid resisting any robbery attempt and to “keep a low profile.”

“Response time to law enforcement and security requests can at times be quite slow.”

Travelers are also advised to use caution when walking or driving at night and to stay aware of their surroundings.

Woman with backpack just landed on sandbar in Grenada.

“In some cases, American citizens have been killed. Police response times are not as fast as one may expect in the United States,” the new advisory notes. (iStock)

About 16.8 million Americans visited the Caribbean in 2024, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

The U.S. Embassy is located in the country’s capital of St. George, which is the biggest city on the island.

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The State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Grenada report noted that regional police forces do usually cooperate with U.S. counterparts. 

“However, response time to law enforcement and security requests can at times be quite slow due to inadequate funding, lack of equipment and training, and staffing shortages,” the report said.

Establishing aerial shot of sunny St George houses, boats and cruise ship port

About 16.8 million Americans visited the Caribbean in 2024. (iStock)

Tourism is a major contributor to regional economies, and there is a level of police protection that regional governments provide to tourist areas, the same source noted. 

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The State Department has four travel advisory levels to help travelers assess safety risks before visiting other countries.

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The advisory levels are: Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions; Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution; Level 3 – Reconsider Travel; and Level 4 – Do Not Travel.

Ashley J. DiMella is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital. 

CDC confirms norovirus outbreak that sickens nearly 90 people on Holland America cruise ship

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a norovirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship — the first one of the year that’s been reported. 

The Holland America Line was hit with a norovirus outbreak that sickened nearly 90 passengers and crew during its Dec 28-Jan. 9 voyage.

The cruise notified the CDC of the outbreak on Jan. 8, according to the agency’s report.

CDC REPORTS 21ST CRUISE SHIP NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK THIS YEAR, WITH NEARLY 100 PEOPLE INFECTED

The outbreak spread on the cruise line’s Rotterdam ship.

The vessel departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with stops in Curaçao, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica and other destinations, according to CruiseMapper.

A norovirus outbreak on a Holland America Line cruise ship (not pictured) impacted nearly 90 passengers and crew members. (Ken Jack/Getty Images)

Eighty-one passengers plus eight crew members reported diarrhea and vomiting, the CDC’s data shows.

Over 2,593 passengers, plus 1,005 crew members, were on board at the time.

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A Holland America Line spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Monday that “during its previous voyage, a number of guests onboard Rotterdam reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.”

“The cases were mostly mild and quickly resolved,” the spokesperson added. 

Holland America Line ship passing panama canal aerial shot

The vessel (not pictured) departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with stops in Curaçao, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica and other destinations. (Holland America Line)

“The health of our guests and crew is a top priority, and consistent with CDC protocols, we conducted a comprehensive sanitization of the ship when the cruise ended Friday in Fort Lauderdale.”

“We conducted a comprehensive sanitization of the ship when the cruise ended Friday in Fort Lauderdale.”

Since the outbreak, the cruise line has increased its cleaning and disinfection procedures, according to their outbreak prevention and response plan, the CDC noted.

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Holland America Line collected stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases for testing and isolated ill passengers and crew, the CDC reports.

In order to track gastrointestinal issues, medical staff evaluated symptoms of three or more loose stools from individuals within a 24-hour period, or that which is more than normal for individual travelers. 

Holland America Line ship sailing near beach

“If people have acute vomiting, they should avoid public areas, since even if they don’t touch anything, the virus can spread through the air,” said a medical director. (Holland America Line )

Scott Weisenberg, M.D., medical director of the NYU Langone Infectious Disease Associates and the NYU Travel Medicine Program, previously told Fox News Digital that the virus is highly contagious — and it can spread quickly in crowded settings such as cruise ships.

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“If people have acute vomiting, they should avoid public areas, since even if they don’t touch anything, the virus can spread through the air,” he said.

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Weisenberg also noted that proper hygiene plays a key role in preventing transmission. 

Shared surfaces can easily become contaminated, putting anyone who touches them at risk of infection.

Ashley J. DiMella is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital. 

‘GLP-3’ retatrutide drug delivers major weight loss breakthrough in trials

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GLP-1 has become a popular buzzword in the weight-loss community — but now some are touting “GLP-3s,” claiming they are taking obesity medications to the next level.

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications work by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone in the body that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite.

The informal term “GLP-3” refers to a new triple-agonist drug that targets three hormones: GLP-1, GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, another naturally occurring hormone released by the gut after eating) and glucagon receptors. The most advanced example is retatrutide by Eli Lilly, according to clinical trial outcomes.

OBESITY EXPERT REVEALS THE BEST WAY TO DECIDE IF GLP-1S ARE RIGHT FOR YOU

The New England Journal of Medicine published results from a 2023 phase 2 retatrutide trial for obesity, revealing “substantial reductions in body weight” after 48 weeks of treatment.

A 12 mg once-weekly injection led to a 24.2% weight reduction, and participants continued to drop pounds after the 48-week trial period.

“GLP-3” dosages will most likely be once weekly, according to sources. (iStock)

Side effects are reportedly similar to GLP-1 medications, most commonly including gastrointestinal complications like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Heart rate increases were noted, depending on the dose.

How it’s different

Retatrutide mimics three natural hormones found in the body, compared to GLP-1s that simulate just one hormone, according to a report by GoodRx pharmacists.

GIP and GLP-1 hormones signal the pancreas to release insulin after eating, while slowing digestion to help initiate feelings of fullness.

NEW WEGOVY PILL OFFERS NEEDLE-FREE WEIGHT LOSS — BUT MAY NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE

These hormones target the area of the brain that regulates appetite and influences food cravings, the report noted.

The third hormone, glucagon, speeds up metabolism and helps the body break down fat cells for energy. That hormone also tells the liver to make new sugar, which is kept in check by GIP and GLP-1 activity, preventing blood sugar spikes.

man holds out jeans with thumb

Participants in the phase 3 trial saw an average weight loss of 71.8 pounds. (iStock)

“This added metabolism boost can add to and complement GIP’s and GLP-1’s actions. And that’s why it seems to provide significant weight loss,” the GoodRx website states. “If approved, retatrutide will be the first in a new class of medications.”

Eli Lilly announced results from its phase 3 trial TRIUMPH-4 in December, testing retatrutide’s effect on weight loss and other health conditions.

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Participants with obesity and knee arthritis who took a 12-mg dose of retatrutide saw an average weight loss of 71.8 lbs (28.7%) at 68 weeks.

The drug also reduced Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores by an average of 75.8%, marking “significant improvements” in comfort level and physical function, according to a press release.

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More than one in eight patients reported being “completely free” from knee pain at the end of the trial.

Seven additional phase 3 trials for retatrutide are expected to wrap up in 2026. The drug could see FDA approval in 2027, according to GoodRx.

person stands on scale holding GLP1 injection

Retatrutide patients with knee osteoarthritis reported an improvement in pain after 68 weeks of taking the drug. (iStock)

“We are encouraged by the results of TRIUMPH-4, which highlight the powerful effect of retatrutide, a first-in-class triple agonist, on body weight, pain and physical function,” Kenneth Custer, Ph.D., executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, wrote in a statement.

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“With seven additional phase 3 readouts expected in 2026, we believe retatrutide could become an important option for patients with significant weight loss needs and certain complications, including knee osteoarthritis.”

Despite limited data availability on the drug, the medication could also be applied to treat other conditions like type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular risk reduction and metabolic dysfunction, according to GoodRx and other experts.

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel noted that Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro already target two metabolic pathways — GLP-1 and GIP — which work together to promote weight loss, reduce hunger and inflammation, improve insulin function and slow digestion.

The doctor confirmed that the new drug, with its third receptor agonist, will further decrease hunger while increasing the feeling of fullness.

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“The weight loss in clinical trials is even more substantial, and the most likely reason that it decreases orthopedic problems is because of the weight loss — less stress on the joints and the decreased inflammation,” Siegel added.

The most common side effect of GLP-3s is gastrointestinal symptoms, the doctor confirmed. Rarer side effects may include pancreatitis, gallstones and heart arrhythmia.

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.

Man of 6,000 years ago survived lion attack in Bulgaria, skeleton reveals

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Archaeologists recently uncovered the remains of a young man who lived 6,000 years ago — and survived a brutal encounter with a lion.

A study published in the February 2026 edition of the peer-reviewed Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports focuses on a Late Eneolithic necropolis in the Thracian region of eastern Bulgaria.

The subject of the study is the skeleton of a man who died between the ages of 18 and 30. He was more than 5 feet 7 inches tall and lived between 4600 and 4200 B.C., during the Late Eneolithic.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH CHILLING 16TH-CENTURY GALLOWS WHERE REBELS WERE HANGED AND DISPLAYED

The grave is near another archaeological site called Kozareva Mogila, or the Goat Mound, near the coast of the Black Sea.

Upon analyzing the skeleton, researchers identified severe cranial and limb injuries — including puncture wounds on the man’s skull.

Archaeologists studying a Late Eneolithic burial in eastern Bulgaria uncovered skeletal evidence of a prehistoric lion attack that a young man survived thousands of years ago. (iStock; Veselin Danov)

Those wounds suggest an attack by a large carnivore — and interestingly, the wounds appeared to have healed, meaning he survived the encounter.

The study authors said the injury occurred during adolescence, possibly between the ages of 10 and 18.

Nadezhda Karastoyanova, a paleontologist at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia, told Fox News Digital that lions were present in eastern Bulgaria during the Late Eneolithic period.

LONG-LOST ANCIENT VILLAGE WITH MYSTERIOUS PAST UNEARTHED AMID WIND FARM DIG: ‘EXCITING DISCOVERY’

Karastoyanova headed the zooarchaeological analysis — and credited her colleagues Veselin Danov, Petya Petrova and Viktoria Ruseva with documenting, interpreting and analyzing the skeleton, respectively.

“There is direct archaeological evidence for interactions between humans and lions,” said Karastoyanova. “More than 15 lion remains have been identified at prehistoric sites across Bulgaria, some bearing cut marks that indicate hunting and dismemberment.”

“These injuries would have made independent survival impossible [and] strongly suggest prolonged care and support from the surrounding community.”

She added, “The highest concentration of lion remains comes from sites along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, such as Durankulak and the Sozopol area. Where this individual was buried lies within the same broader region, making encounters between humans and large predators a realistic possibility.”

She observed that such skeletal evidence of prehistoric animal attacks on humans is “extremely rare.”

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“In this case, the skeletal trauma not only survived in the archaeological record but also shows clear signs of healing, indicating long-term survival,” she said.

The cranial injuries “likely caused neurological consequences,” she added, possibly including epileptic seizures.

Split image of skeleton with wounds

Researchers say puncture wounds found on a young man’s skull indicate an encounter with a large carnivore during Bulgaria’s Late Eneolithic period. (Veselin Danov)

“Combined with other impairments, these injuries would have made independent survival impossible [and] strongly suggest prolonged care and support from the surrounding community.”

Karastoyanova was struck by the fact that the man survived for months after the attack — which she said “provides rare insight into resilience and social caregiving in Eneolithic societies.”

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Interestingly, Karastoyanova noted that the man’s grave is among the poorest in the necropolis, with no grave goods.

“This contrasts sharply with the nearby Varna Eneolithic Necropolis, dating to the same period, which contains some of the world’s earliest and richest gold burials,” she said.

Thrace in Bulgaria.

The necropolis was discovered in the Thracian region of eastern Bulgaria, which is seen here. (iStock)

“This juxtaposition highlights the strong social diversity of Eneolithic societies, where wealth inequality coexisted with evidence for care and support of vulnerable individuals.”

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Archaeological evidence of lion-inflicted injuries is rare, but not without precedent.

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Last spring, excavators found that a skeleton from a Roman cemetery outside of York, England, bore signs of a lion wound.

Five human heads found hanging on Ecuador beach amid ongoing gang violence

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Five severed human heads were found hanging from ropes on a beach in southwestern Ecuador Sunday in a gruesome display linked to ongoing gang violence sweeping across the country, according to reports.

The killings came amid a wave of bloody violence tied to drug trafficking and organized crime, which has surged across Ecuador in recent years.

The Associated Press reported that the grim discovery underscores the tactics used by criminal groups competing for control of territory and trafficking routes, especially along the country’s coastline.

TREN DE ARAGUA GANG LEADER CHARGED WITH RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY AND COCAINE TRAFFICKING UNDER TRUMP CRACKDOWN

Drug trafficking gangs leave five human heads on Ecuador beach with a threatening message to fishermen, police said, as violence surges along the country’s coastal trafficking routes. (Kike Calvo/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Police said the heads were found on a tourist beach in the small fishing port of Puerto Lopez, in Manabi province.

The images shared by Ecuadorian media and on social media showed the severed heads tied with ropes to wooden poles planted in the sand, with blood visible at the scene.

A wooden sign left beside the heads carried a threatening message aimed at alleged extortionists targeting local fishermen.

The message warned those demanding so-called “vaccine cards” protection payments commonly extorted by gangs that they had been identified, the report said.

RUBIO IDENTIFIES ‘SINGLE MOST SERIOUS THREAT’ TO THE US FROM WESTERN HEMISPHERE

Ecuador arrest

Members of the Marines detain a suspect during security operations in southern Guayaquil, Ecuador on October 19, 2021. – Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso on October 19 declared a state of emergency in the country grappling with a surge in drug-related violence. (AFP via Getty Images)

Authorities said the display was likely the result of a conflict between criminal groups operating in the area.

Drug-trafficking networks with links to transnational cartels are active along Ecuador’s coast and have used fishermen and their small boats to transport illicit shipments, according to local police.

President Daniel Noboa launched an armed campaign against gangs and declared states of emergency in several provinces, including Manabi, deploying the military to support police operations.

Despite his efforts, violence has continued to escalate with police increasing patrols and surveillance in Puerto Lopez following recent massacres in the province, the Associated Press said.

MS-13 GANG LEADER ACCUSED IN MURDER OF EX-HONDURAN PRESIDENT’S SON ARRESTED IN NEBRASKA

Daniel Noboa

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa addresses supporters after early returns show him in the lead in the presidential election runoff at his family home in Olon, Ecuador, Sunday, April 13, 2025.  (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

In 2025, at least nine people, including a baby, were killed there in an attack that authorities blamed on clashes between local gangs also.

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As previously reported by Fox News Digital, in 2025, infighting between factions of a gang vying for control over territory in Ecuador’s largest city, Guayaquil, left nearly two dozen people dead.

Ecuador ended the year with a record homicide rate of 52 per 100,000 people, according to the Organized Crime Observatory, making it the deadliest year on record.

Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture. 

Cruise expert who travels constantly reveals key booking tip for better cabins

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A woman who travels on cruise ships regularly says one simple booking move can help passengers get a better cabin.

Mollie Finlon, 38, originally from Seattle, is able to sail at little or no cost through her husband’s job as a maritime engineer — which covers food, accommodation and other living expenses while onboard, she told news agency Jam Press.

She also works as a guest presenter on high-end cruise liners for several months out of every year.

LUXURY CRUISE LINE GOES ‘ADULTS ONLY’ TO CREATE MORE ‘TRANQUIL ENVIRONMENT’ FOR GUESTS

Finlon said her experiences at sea have taught her how passengers can improve their onboard experience — starting with when and how they book.

Her top tip? Book your next cruise while you’re already aboard your current one.

Mollie Finlon, pictured with her husband, says a simple booking trick can help passengers get a better cabin. (Jam Press/Mollie Finlon)

“If you book onboard with a future cruise consultant, [he or she] can give you great [information] and better cabins,” Finlon said.

She also recommends speaking with a cruise consultant face to face — plus researching cruise lines before booking.

LITTLE-KNOWN ‘SECONDHAND TRAVEL’ TRICK HELPS TOURISTS SCORE LUXURY VACATIONS FOR LESS

Amenities, layouts and onboard experiences can vary widely, she noted.

“Every cruise line is different, so watching YouTube [videos], reading articles, looking on social media — these are the best ways to see what fits an individual’s liking,” Finlon said.

Couple relaxing inside a cruise ship cabin with large ocean-view window overlooking the sea.

A cruise expert advises meeting with consultants in person and researching cruise lines, as experiences vary. (iStock)

Many travelers book cruises without fully understanding the cruise line or what’s included, she also said.

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Finlon’s perspective is shaped by a career connected to cruise ships and time spent largely aboard them. 

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She said amid her constant travel and experiences at new destinations, there are also challenges.

Large white cruise ship sailing through open ocean under a cloudy blue sky.

Researching cruise lines through videos, articles and social media may help travelers ensure the experience matches their expectations, an expert says. (iStock)

“When my husband [or I] work, there are no days off — it’s an everyday job while onboard,” Finlon said.

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Finlon has worked on cruise ships since 2011, she said, after deciding that a traditional nine-to-five job was not for her.

Over the years, she’s visited more than 100 countries.

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“Each day you’re in a new place or have a new location to explore,” she said. 

“There’s always something to do — and you meet new people from all over the world.”

Kelly McGreal is a production assistant with the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. 

Wyoming ranked best state to retire, New Jersey worst in new study

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A growing number of Americans are entering retirement age, reshaping trends of where and how people spend their golden years.

The population of Americans age 65 and older reached about 61.2 million in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Those entering retirement are also living longer than previous generations. Someone turning 65 today can expect to live nearly two more decades, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

WHY MOST PEOPLE FALL OFF A ‘HEALTH CLIFF’ AT 75 — AND 5 WAYS TO AVOID THE DROP

Living and health care costs are increasingly shaping decisions about where older Americans can afford to retire.

Increasing costs for daily necessities and medical care are influencing where seniors can realistically choose to retire. (iStock)

In response to those trends, new analysis by U.S.-based senior care company CareScout examined affordability, quality of life and health care access to identify the best and worst states for retirees in 2026.

Best States

The analysis ranked Wyoming as the best state in which to retire, citing its lack of personal income tax and strong health indicators among older adults.

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“Tradeoffs include the weather and relative scarcity of doctors,” CareScout stated.

Older couple hiking outdoors with walking poles on a scenic nature trail.

Wyoming placed first in the rankings, supported by its absence of a state income tax and favorable health outcomes for its older population. (iStock)

Other top-ranked states included New Hampshire, Vermont, Montana and South Dakota, which scored well across measures of affordability, tax policy and quality of life.

New Hampshire benefited from having no personal income tax and one of the highest average Social Security incomes in the country, the analysis said.

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Worst States

New Jersey was named the worst state to retire in due to the high cost of living and one of the nation’s steepest personal income tax rates.

Older couple unpacking moving boxes together in a bright, modern living room.

The study found New Jersey to be the least retirement-friendly state, citing its high cost of living and unusually high income tax rates. (iStock)

The analysis found that despite offering the highest average Social Security income in the country, New Jersey struggled with poor health outcomes among older adults.

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Massachusetts, New York, Alabama and Mississippi also ranked near the bottom.

Massachusetts and New York were penalized largely due to high living costs and tax burdens, while Alabama and Mississippi faced challenges tied to aging health outcomes and limited access to recreational and cultural resources for older residents.

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Fox News Digital reached out to CareScout for further comment.

Kelly McGreal is a production assistant with the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. 

Texas Tech archaeologists uncover 18th-century mission in Jackson County

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Archaeologists and students recently uncovered an 18th-century Catholic mission in Texas — a discovery that clarifies a key chapter in the early history of the Lone Star State.

Excavators from Texas Tech University (TTU) unearthed remains belonging to Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo (Mission Our Lady of the Holy Spirit), an abandoned settlement in Jackson County. 

With the help of students, excavators discovered proof of the missing site, which resolves “decades of searching” and “fill[s] a long-standing gap in the historical record of early Texas,” the university said in a recent release.

HISTORY’S MOST FAMOUS TAPESTRY MAY HAVE BEEN VIEWED IN UNUSUAL SETTING, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS

Pictures show excavators and archaeologists-in-training smiling at the site, located in southeastern Texas.

Excavation leader Tamra Walter, an associate professor of archaeology at TTU, told Fox News Digital this week that her team found numerous artifacts during the dig.

Researchers and students from Texas Tech University uncovered remains of an 18th-century Spanish Catholic mission. (Tamra Walter/Texas Tech University)

“We found lead shot and sprue, sourced to the mines in Boca de Leones in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, rose head nails — indicative of this time period — [and] parts of a copper kettle, including a handle,” she noted.

Her team also found pottery, plus fired clay and daub from the mud huts of the time — as well as brass trade rings, a part of a pair of scissors and “a number of as-yet unidentified objects.”

LONG-LOST ANCIENT VILLAGE WITH MYSTERIOUS PAST UNEARTHED AMID WIND FARM DIG: ‘EXCITING DISCOVERY’

The mission was related to Presidio La Bahía, a Spanish fort, and Fort St. Louis, a colony established by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle.

La Salle’s settlement, which failed, prompted Spain to reassert control over the region. The Spanish crown promptly launched expeditions, and Mission Espíritu Santo was part of Spain’s effort to “pay serious attention to Texas for the first time,” said Walter.

Artifacts on display, excavators digging at site

Artifacts recovered from the mission site include lead shot, rose head nails, pottery fragments and parts of a copper kettle. (Tamra Walter/Texas Tech University)

The religious settlement was only occupied from 1721 to 1725. The professor said that one of the main reasons for its early demise was difficulty in attracting Karankawa Native Americans to the mission.

“They relied heavily on the labor of Native converts, and without them, they didn’t have the manpower to establish and maintain crops and livestock to keep the operation going,” she said.

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“The local environment was also challenging. It was hot, the area was full of mosquitoes and there were alligators living in the nearby creek.”

The weather combined with difficulty surviving in mud huts led the missionaries to move westward to Goliad, Texas, to set up a new site.

Student smiling and holding stick at archaeological site

The discovery was made with the help of students, giving them hands-on experience with centuries-old artifacts. (Tamra Walter / Texas Tech University)

What makes the mission’s remains so special is their rarity. Mission Espíritu Santo was “one of the earliest definitively located Spanish missions in Texas,” Walter said. 

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She added that the excavation “helps to provide a rare, undisturbed snapshot of daily life on the Spanish frontier in the early 18th century.”

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“Without La Salle’s colony, this mission and presidio likely would not have existed, and the events that unfolded here helped change the course of Texas history,” she said.

Walter added that her students were “very excited” to be part of the search for the mission.

Excavators in cowboy hats standing at site

The excavation “helps to provide a rare, undisturbed snapshot of daily life on the Spanish frontier in the early 18th century,” said the excavation leader. (Tamra Walter/Texas Tech University)

“They also had the opportunity to work with professional archaeologists from the Texas Historical Commission and even a team of researchers from New Mexico,” she added. 

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“I think it is also pretty exciting for them to touch the same artifacts used by the mission occupants more than 300 years ago.”

Netanyahu and Rubio discuss potential U.S. military intervention in Iran

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iran, according to a report.

The two leaders spoke by phone Saturday as Israel is on “high alert,” preparing for the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Iran, according to Reuters, citing multiple Israeli sources.

The report comes as nationwide anti-regime demonstrations across Iran hit the two-week mark.

On Saturday, the Iranian regime triggered an internet “kill switch” in an apparent effort to conceal alleged abuses by security forces and as protests against it surged nationwide, according to a cybersecurity expert. The blackout reduced internet access to a fraction of normal levels.

KEANE WARNS IRANIAN REGIME TO TAKE TRUMP ‘DEAD SERIOUS’ ON PROTEST KILLING THREAT AMID ONGOING DEMONSTRATIONS

Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds his end-of-year press conference at the State Department in Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2025.  (Kevin Mohatt/Reuters)

On Sunday, Iran’s parliament speaker warned that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America strikes the Islamic Republic.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf issued the threat as lawmakers rushed the dais in the Iranian parliament, shouting, “Death to America!” according to The Associated Press.

President Donald Trump offered support for the protesters on Saturday, writing on Truth Social that “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”

IRANIAN MILITARY LEADER THREATENS PREEMPTIVE ATTACK AFTER TRUMP COMMENTS

Protester holding sign in Tehran on Friday

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

At a news conference Friday, Trump said Iran was facing mounting pressure as unrest spreads across the country.

“Iran’s in big trouble,” he said. “It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago. We’re watching the situation very carefully.”

The president said the U.S. would respond forcefully if the regime resorts to mass violence. 

“We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts. And that doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts,” he said.

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Protesters set cars on fire in Iran

Protests in Iran intensify for the 12th day. (The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) )

Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department and White House for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey, Brie Stimson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Gallows from 16th century discovered by archaeologists in Grenoble, France

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French authorities announced a chilling discovery: They found a 16th-century gallows where condemned prisoners were put on display as a warning to others.

The discovery, which was made in 2024 but not announced until December, was carried out by Inrap, France’s national institution for preventive archaeology.

The team focused on an archaeological site in Grenoble in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France, ahead of redevelopment work on the city’s Esplanade.

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In a press release sent out last month, archaeologists said they were surprised by the gallows, which were built during the Protestant Reformation and targeted “rebels against royal authority, including Protestant opponents of the crown.”

“Among them were Benoît Croyet, accused in 1573 of participating in an attack on Grenoble, and Charles du Puy Montbrun, a Huguenot leader who was beheaded and displayed at the site in 1575,” the release said.

French archaeologists uncovered a rare 16th-century gallows site in Grenoble, shedding light on royal justice during the Protestant Reformation. (Nordine Saadi, Inrap; Anne-Gaëlle Corbara, Inrap)

Archaeologists originally thought the structure was a religious building — until they discovered it was a site “used to display the bodies of executed prisoners,” Inrap said.

“Archaeologists uncovered a square masonry structure along with ten burial pits dating to the 16th century,” the organization’s translated statement read.

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“The graves contained at least 32 individuals, mostly men with a few women, often buried together in groups of two to eight.”

The gallows date back as early as 1544 and featured eight stone pillars — a sign that it was royally controlled instead of seigneurially, or feudally.

Split image of skeletons dumped into graves

The gallows site dates back as early as 1544. It was linked to punishment of rebels against the French crown. (Anne-Gaëlle Corbara, Inrap)

Nicolas Minvielle-Larousse, a researcher with Inrap, told Fox News Digital that excavated examples of medieval gallows “remain rare” in France.

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“Compared with the few known cases, the Grenoble gallows stands out for its square plan with eight pillars, which reflects its high status within the hierarchy of criminal justice in the kingdom,” said Minvielle-Larousse.

“It was under royal jurisdiction, administered by the Parliament of the Dauphiné.”

Aerial of archaeologists at site

The discovery was made in 2024 but not publicly announced until December, according to French officials. (Nordine Saadi, Inrap)

That said, the historian noted that gallows were “very common” in Europe into the early modern era.

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“Each criminal court could therefore have its own gallows, whether it belonged to royal jurisdictions — Grenoble being one example — or more broadly to seigneurial courts,” he said.

Minvielle-Larousse added that many burials at the site were “carried out without any care,” which presents more questions for researchers to solve.

Workers digging at gallows site

“Compared with the few known cases, the Grenoble gallows stands out for its square plan with eight pillars,” a researcher said.  (Nordine Saadi, Inrap)

“Post-excavation studies then provided decisive evidence for the identification: the organization of the burials, traces of violence observed on some individuals, and construction accounts referring to the gallows.”

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Minvielle-Larousse said he hopes the excavation will help add to the developing field of research — saying it also sheds light on “anthropological reflections on mortuary practices in past and even present-day societies.”

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“What constitutes a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ death? What material markers are left to make a bad death visible? And how did earthly condemnation relate to beliefs about the afterlife?” he mused.

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