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12th century castle unearthed in Scotland shows medieval power seat

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Archaeologists recently announced the discovery of a grand castle affiliated with a long-forgotten medieval kingdom and nestled on an island in Scotland.

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland announced the discovery, nearly 30 years in the making, on Sept. 17. 

The discovery was made at the Finlaggan archaeological site on Islay, according to the BBC. Islay, a remote island off Scotland’s western coast, is roughly 70 miles west of Glasgow. 

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Archaeologist David Caldwell directed excavations of the site between 1989 and 1998. In his recently published findings, he argued that Finlaggan was a power seat for the Lordship of the Isles, a semi-independent Gaelic kingdom during the late Middle Ages.

The gem of the project? A previously unknown and unnamed castle at Finlaggan that dates to the 12th and 13th centuries.

Archaeologists uncovered the stone foundations of a long-lost medieval castle at Finlaggan on Scotland’s Islay island. (SWNS; David Simon)

Recently released photos show the stone foundations and cobbled surfaces of the ancient castle, preserved beneath soil for several hundred years.

Officials also released an artist’s reconstruction of the castle, featuring a stone tower and a causeway, or bridge, connecting two small islands.

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Caldwell’s findings suggest that the Lords of the Isles were a powerful dynasty, ruling from Finlaggan between 1300 and 1500 A.D.

“Evidence includes several mounts and keys that belonged to caskets which are thought to have protected documents and other valuables, and the remains of the council house, mentioned in a 1549 account, where meetings of the Council of the Isles took place,” the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland said in a statement.

Aerial of scottish island, castle remains

Researchers say the castle once housed a great hall, chapel, courtyards, kitchens and private quarters. (SWNS)

“In addition, the book reveals that the main island was accessed by boat to a jetty from which cobbled paths lead to the main buildings, including a feasting hall, chapel and private accommodation, and to a causeway leading to the council chamber on the smaller island,” the organization added.

“This would have been an ideal layout for ceremonial events.”

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Archaeologists also found evidence of a chapel and a “large and imposing great hall,” shedding light on the scale of the complex. Historians believe the castle featured living quarters and fortifications, plus courtyards, kitchens, houses and workshops.

“The tower is estimated to have been approximately 19 by 19m overall (21m square including a plinth), making it comparable in size to stone keeps in England like those in the castles of Carlisle, Bamburgh and Lancaster,” the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland said.

Cobblestones at site of ancient castle

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland announced the discovery following decades of research and excavation. (SWNS)

Archaeologists believe the castle was either dismantled due to structural issues or destroyed by enemies. Regardless, its existence was a political statement and a sign of wealth, as large rectangular stone towers were generally limited to rival Anglo-Norman lords and rulers.

In a statement, Caldwell said he was “privileged to have led a skilled and dedicated team of specialists and volunteers on such an important project on a key place of national significance.“

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“The processing of all the data that was gathered has been a major part of my life since the 1990s,” the archaeologist said.

“I hope I have not only provided an account of interest but also a basis for others to carry out more research in the future.”

Artistic depiction of castle

Archaeologists say the castle’s size rivaled great keeps in England, including Carlisle, Bamburgh and Lancaster castles. (David Simon via SWNS)

Scotland, which has been inhabited for millennia, has been the setting of several exciting archaeological finds this year.

This summer, an archaeology student found an unusual ancient head with an eerie smile while digging at a Scottish farm.

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Earlier this year, a prehistoric village was also discovered near Inverness, Scotland, at the site of a future golf course.

Believeland erupts: Guardians’ miracle rally rekindles Cleveland fan spirit

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Baseball history was just made by the Cleveland Guardians. The Detroit Tigers (87-75) led the Guardians (88-74) by 9.5 games on Sept. 10 with 16 games left to play (Cleveland had 17), but finished 3-13, while Cleveland went 14-3.

At one point in July, the Guards were 15.5 games behind the Tigers, making Cleveland’s comeback the greatest ever since divisional play came to MLB in 1969. The prior record was the 15 game comeback by the Yankees to take the American League Eastern Division in 1978 after trailing the Boston Red Sox by 14 games. It’s been a remarkable September for the Guardians, truly one of a kind. (And for the Tigers, though of exactly the opposite kind.)

Because the baseball gods have a sense of humor, Cleveland will host Detroit in a best of three games series beginning today at a little after 1 PM ET. The second game (and a third, if necessary, will start at the same time and at the same place.)

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So yes, we Guardians fans are pretty excited. I have plenty of friends who tweak me by calling the Guardians by their old name, “the Indians” and by their old nickname, the Tribe — and my muscle memory takes over sometimes and I use the old name and nickname too. 

But I cheer for clubs, not nicknames. So do the vast majority of Cleveland fans. Tweak away in the comments. I don’t care. The Guardians are still hosting the Tigers, starting today a little past 1 PM ET today from Progressive Field at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario in Cleveland. Tom Hamilton (“Hammy”) will be calling the games and he’s the best in the business. Terry Pluto will be writing about the games along with Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga and maybe Jimmy Watkins over at Cleveland.com. Northeast Ohio takes its professional clubs very seriously, so the local news outlets devote resources to serving the fan base and the vast diaspora of Cleveland fans keep those platforms afloat and not because of political controversies in Cuyahoga County. 

An aside: I met my wife in the fall of 1978 at a fundraiser for then San Diego mayor Pete Wilson. She has endured decades of Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians/Guardians seasons since. There has been a total of one championship in those years (the Cavs won a stunning upset over the Golden State Warriors in 2016), so sports widows and widowers of the last half century, buckle up. Your spouse is going to be a bit crazy again for at least this week. And brace yourself. You know the dark clouds descend and they last a few days. But perhaps not this fall!

Cleveland hasn’t won a World Series in my lifetime, last doing so in 1948. They have come close in 1995, 1997 and 2016, but close doesn’t get you a ring. (They also won it all in 1920 and lost it in 1954, but as I didn’t have to watch the collapse of 1954 I am as indifferent to that as to the 1920 and 1948 triumphs.) 

The Browns have never been to a Super Bowl. They last won the NFL Championship in 1964. The Cavs are pretty good right now, but they have never won it all without LeBron James. So there are skeptics. But it could possibly be two championships in the cycle. (The Browns are not in the hunt absent a miraculous emergence of rookie QBs Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders.)  

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THE Ohio State University has provided some relief, claiming national championships in college football in 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 and the most recent one after the 2024 regular season, running the gauntlet of four playoff games for the first time in the sport’s history. They could even repeat. 

But professional sports in Cleveland? It’s been a desert with one oasis for 50 years.

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Which is a long way of explaining to you that there may be mood swings among your colleagues this week (and maybe longer) if the Guards’ run goes on. You may not know they are from Ohio, though we usually tell you. And we are certainly going to tell you this week and beyond for as long as “Guards Ball” goes on. 

Cleveland has the best fan base in the country and the longest suffering. So put up with us this October. We couldn’t quite believe September. But it’s very much Believeland this month.  

Hugh Hewitt is host of “The Hugh Hewitt Show,” heard weekday mornings 6am to 9am ET on the Salem Radio Network, and simulcast on Salem News Channel. Hugh wakes up America on over 400 affiliates nationwide, and on all the streaming platforms where SNC can be seen. He is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel’s news roundtable hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6pm ET. A son of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a Professor of Law at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law since 1996 where he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show from Los Angeles in 1990.  Hewitt has frequently appeared on every major national news television network, hosted television shows for PBS and MSNBC, written for every major American paper, has authored a dozen books and moderated a score of Republican candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and his column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump over his 40 years in broadcast, and this column previews the lead story that will drive his radio/ TV show today.

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Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS far larger than scientists first thought

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A comet traveling outside the solar system and heading toward the Earth is much larger than scientists first believed, a scientist has detailed in a new report.

Avi Loeb claims the comet could even be an artifact of alien technology rather than a natural body because it weighs more than 33 billion tons and spans at least 3.1 miles across.

The object, named 3I/ATLAS, is only the third interstellar visitor ever detected, after Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. 

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Astronomers discovered an unusual object entered our solar system earlier this month, but a Harvard physicist is sounding alarms that the object could be an alien probe.

Astronomers discovered an unusual object entered our solar system earlier this month, but a Harvard physicist is sounding alarms that the object could be an alien probe. (NASA, ESA, David Jewitt (UCLA); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI))

The astrophysicist also revealed in a Medium blog post that new data and measurements indicate the comet’s nucleus is more massive than first estimated.

3I/ATLAS was spotted in July with observations showing the comet is shedding huge amounts of carbon dioxide and dust as it races toward the Sun. 

Loeb and his colleagues calculated a slight “non-gravitational acceleration” in its movement caused by “outgassing” which suggests the object must be far heavier than early models assumed.

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Astronomers discovered an unusual object entered our solar system earlier this month, but a Harvard physicist is sounding alarms that the object could be an alien probe.

Astronomers discovered an unusual object entered our solar system earlier this month, but a Harvard physicist is sounding alarms that the object could be an alien probe. (ATLAS/University of Hawaii/NASA)

The comet dwarfs Oumuamua, just a quarter-mile long, and Borisov, about 0.6 miles across. 

“This makes 3I/ATLAS three to five orders of magnitude more massive than the previous two interstellar objects we’ve observed,” Loeb wrote in his post.

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Comet

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) appears in the sky over Molfetta, Italy, on September 28, 2024. (Getty  Images)

Next week the comet will pass within 1.67 million miles of Mars’ orbit while also coming close to both Jupiter and Venus. 

Loeb has urged NASA to turn the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter towards the object and said that even a single bright pixel could fine tune estimates of its true dimensions.

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“We should not decide about the nature of 3I/ATLAS based on the chemical composition of its skin,” Loeb wrote. 

“For the same reason, we should not judge a book by its cover,” he added.

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. 



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British blogger arrested for posting anti-Hamas meme on social media

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A blogger has blasted British police after they arrested him for sharing a meme on social media that read “F— Hamas.”

Pete North, 47, filmed officers arriving at his Yorkshire home in the U.K. on Sept. 25 and telling him he was being detained because he had “posted something on the internet” that a member of their hate crime team “didn’t appreciate.” 

The shocking footage shows an officer explaining that North was being arrested “on suspicion of publishing or distributing written material intended to stir up racial hatred.”

The post in question had been shared by North on X in August and featured a Palestinian flag with the words: “F— Palestine. F— Hamas. F— Islam. Want to protest? F— off to Muslim country and protest.”

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A blogger has blasted British police after they arrested him for sharing an anti-Hamas meme on social media. 

North confirmed to The Telegraph that although the meme contained offensive references to Palestine and Islam, officers in the interview at the station appeared preoccupied with the part directed at Hamas.

“The officer in the interview said, ‘Well, firstly, let’s start with the meme. You posted a meme that said f— Hamas,’” North recalled to the British outlet.

“I said, ‘yeah, I did post a meme that said f— Hamas, because Hamas are a proscribed terrorist organisation internationally, including in Britain’.”

He added: “I then asked him, ‘Just so we’re on the same page, you do know who Hamas are?’ And he just… shook his head. He looked totally blank. If you’re going to arrest people for memes, you probably need to pay more attention to current affairs.”

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Harrogate police statIon, UK

Two North Yorkshire officers came to arrest Pete North at home and took him to Harrogate police station.

North told The Telegraph he pressed the officer on whether he was aware of Hamas’s atrocities, including the murder of civilians on October 7. “He was totally oblivious,” North claimed.

After being questioned for several hours, North was released without charge. 

“I feel quite strongly that what political cartoons and memes I post on social media is none of the police’s business,” North said.

“Nobody should be facing police inquiries for posting memes on Twitter. The whole point of this exercise is not to win convictions. It’s to terrorize people like me into thinking twice about posting spicy memes,” he added.

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North Yorkshire Police confirmed the arrest, telling UK media: “A 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of publishing or distributing written material intended to stir up racial hatred. He has been released under investigation while inquiries continue.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to North Yorkshire Police for comment.

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. 

Elite Americans are now seeking ‘golden’ visas in Latin America, Asia and Africa

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As the popularity of “golden” visas continues to rise, more locations — including some unexpected ones — are appealing to elite Americans who are looking for a “Plan B” residency.

Latin America and Asia are among the latest regions of interest in the spotlight. 

Mo Bennis, an associate vice president at Arton Capital, a global financial advisory and consultancy firm, told Fox News Digital that Americans are looking beyond Europe for secondary citizenship. 

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“For years, Europe was the go-to choice for Americans seeking a ‘Plan B’ passport — Portugal, Malta and Greece all saw sustained interest,” said Barton.

Now, he added, “Latin America is booming. Costa Rica, Panama and Uruguay are drawing record numbers of U.S. applicants who want affordability, proximity and flexibility.”

Wealthy Americans are shifting their focus from European “golden” visas to Latin America and Asia for secondary citizenship and residency programs. (iStock)

There was a 660% spike in U.S. citizens applying for residency in Costa Rica, according to Business Insider. 

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Bennis, who is based in Canada, said he also sees Asia rising quickly — with “Thailand and Singapore emerging as strategic relocation hubs thanks to their combination of business-friendly environments, world-class healthcare and lifestyle opportunities.”

"Costa Rica, Panama and Uruguay are drawing record numbers of U.S. applicants who want affordability, proximity and flexibility," said one expert. 

“Costa Rica, Panama and Uruguay are drawing record numbers of U.S. applicants who want affordability, proximity and flexibility,” said one expert.  (iStock)

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

While critics of “golden” visas argue these programs favor the affluent over ordinary people and can push up the prices of local housing, some African nations are also now appealing to well-off U.S. citizens. 

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In a Botswana “citizenship program” launched just recently by Arton Capitol, some 13% of those who expressed interest were Americans.

"It’s clear [Americans are] looking beyond Europe to Latin America, Asia and now Africa as they build a truly diversified portfolio of options for their families and futures," said one expert about "golden" visas. 

“It’s clear [Americans are] looking beyond Europe to Latin America, Asia and now Africa as they build a truly diversified portfolio of options for their families and futures,” said one expert about “golden” visas.  (iStock)

“This shows how hungry Americans are for optionality,” said Bennis. 

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“It’s clear they’re looking beyond Europe to Latin America, Asia and now Africa as they build a truly diversified portfolio of options for their families and futures.”

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

New Jersey school district pioneers new security approach using AI

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A New Jersey school district has adopted artificial intelligence to help detect weapons and stop threats before they escalate. The Glassboro Public School District has become the first in the country to combine AI gun detection with a mass communication system that speeds up emergency responses and reduces the time it takes to notify law enforcement.

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NORTH KOREAN HACKERS USE AI TO FORGE MILITARY IDS

What’s new in school security

The district is using ZeroEyes, an AI video analytics platform that integrates with existing security cameras. The software scans for visible firearms and sends an alert whenever a potential threat appears. A team of military and law enforcement veterans at a 24/7 operations center then reviews the image to confirm whether the gun is real. Once verified, the system pushes an alert to school staff and police within three to five seconds. At the same time, buildings go into lockdown automatically.

Children attending school.

South Jersey schools have deployed AI to spot weapons and alert police in seconds. (Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images)

These alerts are distributed through Singlewire Software’s InformaCast platform. This system can send warnings across school PA systems, strobe lights, digital signs, desk phones and other communication tools. Together, the two technologies give law enforcement and educators a faster and more coordinated way to respond to potential dangers.

How the system works

Security cameras around each building feed video into the ZeroEyes software. When the AI detects what appears to be a firearm, it highlights the object and immediately shares the footage with human analysts. If those experts confirm that the weapon is real, they send the alert to the district and local authorities. InformaCast then pushes the message to every connected device, allowing staff and students to receive instructions within seconds. The goal is to shorten the time between detection and action so schools can respond before violence has a chance to unfold.

Concerns to consider

As with any new technology, questions remain. Even with human oversight, AI can make mistakes, and false alerts are always a possibility. Privacy also comes into play since the system depends on constant monitoring through security cameras. Cost is another factor because installing, maintaining and training staff for these systems requires significant funding. Finally, schools need to build community trust by explaining how the technology works and preparing students and parents for what to expect during drills or emergencies. 

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Photo of an empty classroom.

Glassboro district becomes first in U.S. to pair AI gun detection with mass alerts. (Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)

What this means for you

For parents, teachers and students, this technology represents an important shift in how schools approach safety. AI adds speed to the process by recognizing threats before most people would even notice them. Alerts reach law enforcement and staff almost immediately, creating a critical advantage in a crisis. The system also provides a layered approach to protection by combining cameras, AI and communication tools. Parents may also find reassurance in knowing that human experts verify each threat to help reduce false alarms. While no system is perfect, this integration builds confidence that schools are investing in stronger defenses.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right – and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA VERIFICATION SYSTEMS LOSE POWER AS SCAMMERS PURCHASE CHECKMARKS TO APPEAR LEGITIMATE

Photo of a classroom.

New school security system scans cameras for firearms, pushes instant lockdowns. (Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

The decision to use AI gun detection with instant communication tools marks a major change in how schools can protect their communities. The Glassboro rollout demonstrates how technology can detect threats and share critical information in seconds. While no solution eliminates every risk, this approach gives schools more time to react when lives are at stake.

Would you feel more at ease knowing your child’s school uses AI to detect weapons instantly, or would you worry about putting too much trust in technology? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.



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SEO poisoning helps hackers push malware-filled apps

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When you search Google for apps, it feels natural to trust the first results you see. They’re supposed to be the most reliable, right? Unfortunately, hackers know this too. They’re sneaking fake websites into search results that look just like the real thing. If you click and download from one of these sites, you could end up with malware instead of the app you wanted. In other words, the top search results aren’t always safe, and that’s exactly how scammers trick people.

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NORTH KOREAN HACKERS USE AI TO FORGE MILITARY IDS

What you need to know about malware in Google searches

Researchers at FortiGuard Labs found that attackers are setting up websites that look almost identical to trusted providers. These sites host installers for apps like Signal, WhatsApp, Deepl, Chrome, Telegram, Line, VPN services and WPS Office. The catch is that these downloads include both the real app and hidden malware.

Once you run one, the malware drops files into your system, asks for administrator access and quietly starts spying. It can collect personal information, log everything you type, monitor your screen and even disable your antivirus.

A smartphone resting on a laptop.

Hackers are planting fake apps in Google search results and they look just like the real thing. (Harun Ozalp /Anadolu via Getty Images)

Some versions were designed to snoop on Telegram messages. All of this is possible because hackers use a tactic called SEO poisoning, which manipulates Google’s search results so their fake websites appear near the top. Even if you stick to “safe-looking” search links, you could still land on a fraudulent page.

 How hackers disguise fake apps as real ones

So how do these fake sites end up in your search results in the first place? The attackers use a technique called SEO poisoning. They register lookalike domains, use plugins to game search algorithms and then climb up Google’s rankings. That way, when you search for a trusted app, the fake site may appear as one of the first results.

According to FortiGuard Labs, this particular campaign mainly targeted Chinese-speaking users, but the method is being used everywhere. In fact, earlier reports from Cisco Talos showed ransomware groups pushing fake downloads of AI tools like ChatGPT or InVideo. Others used spoofed sites for PayPal, Microsoft, Netflix and Apple. Sometimes, attackers even buy sponsored ads so that their malicious links appear right at the top.

The scary part is that you might not even realize you installed something dangerous. Because the fake installer includes the real app, everything seems to work fine. Meanwhile, the hidden malware is already active on your device. That makes it harder to detect and much easier for attackers to steal your data.

6 ways you can stay safe from malware in Google Searches

I have listed some steps below that you can take to protect yourself from these fake apps and the malware they carry.

1) Download apps only from official sources

The safest way to avoid malware is to get software directly from the official website or verified app stores like Google Play or the Apple App Store. Avoid third-party download sites or search results that look suspicious, even if they appear at the top of Google.

2) Double-check website domains

Before clicking “download,” carefully inspect the domain name. Hackers often create lookalike domains that look nearly identical to real ones, adding small spelling changes or extra words. Even small differences can indicate a fake site designed to deliver malware.

TOP 5 OVERPAYMENT SCAMS TO AVOID

Google search on a laptop screen.

Cybercriminals are disguising malware as trusted apps, tricking users through poisoned search results. (Dilara Irem Sancar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

3) Install a reliable antivirus software

Malware can install itself quietly and avoid detection. Using a strong antivirus solution can help identify and block malicious files before they cause damage. Make sure your antivirus is always updated so it can recognize the latest threats, including Hiddengh0st and Winos variants.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

4) Use a password manager

If malware tries to capture your passwords, a password manager can protect you. It generates strong, unique passwords for each account and stores them securely. Many password managers can also alert you if your credentials appear in a data breach.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials. 

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com.

5) Be cautious with ads in search results

Attackers sometimes buy sponsored Google ads to push malware. Even if an ad looks like it comes from a trusted brand, verify it carefully before clicking. Stick to official websites whenever possible.

6) Keep your software and system updated

Outdated operating systems and applications can have vulnerabilities that malware exploits. Regularly updating your software ensures you have the latest security patches and reduces the risk of infection.

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Google search on a smartphone.

SEO poisoning is letting hackers hijack Google results targeting user’s data. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaway

Hackers are turning Google search into their delivery system for malware. By blending real apps with hidden spyware, they can make almost anyone a victim. The rise of SEO poisoning shows that you cannot rely only on search rankings to stay safe. If you are careful about where you download your apps, you can keep your devices and data out of a hacker’s hands.

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How much do you trust Google to filter out malicious sites before you click? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.



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Most European countries will require fingerprints, photos from travelers starting Oct. 12

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European vacation destinations will soon require travelers to have prints of their fingers taken as well as photos upon arrival.

France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom and 25 other countries will begin implementing the new Entry/Exit System (EES) on Oct. 12 over the course of about six months.  

“These European countries will introduce the different elements of the EES in phases, including the collection of biometric data, such as facial image and fingerprints,” the European Union’s (EU) website notes.

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“This means that biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) might not be collected at every border crossing point right away, and their personal information may not be registered in the system,” it continued.

Travelers’ passports will continue to be stamped as usual, according to the EU.

The European Union’s Entry/Exit System will collect biometric data from travelers, including fingerprints and photos as part of modernizing border security across Europe. (Jaimi Joy/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

It’s anticipated that the new policy will help modernize border management across Europe, including security improvements to combat fraud and terrorism.

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The system will be able to track if visitors overstay their welcome in the Schengen Area, which is a zone of 29 European countries that allow movement.

A self-service system is offered for those with a biometric passport, which contains a “chip” of the personal biometric information collected.

europe travel fingerprint and photo requirements

The new system will be able to track if visitors overstay their welcome in 29 European countries. (Jaimi Joy/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Last week, the U.S. Department of State shared a public service announcement on its X account.

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“U.S. citizens traveling to most European countries should expect new automated border checks and to have their biodata digitally collected upon arrival and departure,” the post read. 

europe travel fingerprint and photo requirements

All passports will continue to be stamped as usual, according to the EU.  (Jaimi Joy/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The EU states that safeguards are in place to ensure the protection of the data, and that the data “will only be retained in the EES for as long as necessary and for the purpose(s) for which it was collected,” reads the site.

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If a traveler refuses to provide biometric data, that person will be denied entry.

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

‘Ghost ship’ lost in Lake Michigan for 140 years found by Wisconsin researchers

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Researchers in Wisconsin recently discovered a long-lost “ghost ship,” hidden in Lake Michigan for nearly 140 years. The Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) announced the discovery on Sept. 15. 

In a press release shared with Fox News Digital, officials identified the wreck as the F.J. King, a schooner that went down in a late-night storm off Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, in 1886.

Officials said the F.J. King became known as a ghost ship “due to her elusiveness.”

MAN FISHING WITH GRANDSON UNCOVERS MYSTERY WRECKAGE IN MUD FLATS, ARCHAEOLOGISTS INVESTIGATING

“Missing for 139 years, the F.J. King was one of the most highly sought ships on Lake Michigan, and has been the subject of countless search efforts since the 1970s,” the WHS noted. 

“Area commercial fishermen claimed to bring up pieces of the wreck in their nets, and the local lighthouse keeper claimed to have seen her masts breaking the surface, but when shipwreck hunters scoured the area, they continually came up empty-handed.”

Researchers in Wisconsin confirmed the discovery of the schooner F.J. King, a ship lost since 1886. (Wisconsin Historical Society)

The recent effort took 20 citizen scientists and community historians. 

Brendon Baillod, the principal investigator and president of the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association (WUAA), considered the discovery “a long shot.”

But two hours into their search on Lake Michigan, researchers noticed a large object on their sidescan sonar.

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

“A few of us had to pinch each other,” recalled Baillod, who had collected hundreds of documents about the ship and its sinking.

“After all the previous searches, we couldn’t believe we had actually found it, and so quickly.”

Split image of shipwreck ruins

Citizen scientists and community historians joined professional divers in the successful search for the elusive schooner. (Wisconsin Historical Society)

The ship, built in Ohio in 1867, measured 144 feet long; it was built to transport grain and iron ore before the fateful storm of 1886. Remarkably, the entire ship’s crew was rescued after the vessel sunk.

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Baillod said the historic ship was still in excellent shape, considering the cargo it was carrying.

“We reasoned that the captain may not have known where he was in the 2 a.m. darkness, but the lighthouse keeper’s course and distance to the masts were probably accurate,” said Baillod. 

Wheel covered in ocean sediment at shipwreck site

The F.J. King had carried iron ore and grain when violent weather drove it beneath Lake Michigan’s waves. (Wisconsin Historical Society)

“The hull is remarkably intact,” he added. “We expected her to be in pieces due to the weight of the iron ore cargo, but her hull looks to be in one piece.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to Baillod for further comment. 

View of well-preserved ship hull

“We expected her to be in pieces due to the weight of the iron ore cargo, but her hull looks to be in one piece,” said Baillod, the principal investigator.  (Wisconsin Historical Society)

The latest find is one of many ship discoveries that the WHS helped facilitate over the past few months.

The L.W. Crane, a shipwreck from 1880, was found in the Fox River near the city of Oshkosh earlier this summer.

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This spring, a Wisconsin fisherman came across a tugboat named the J.C. Ames near the coast of Manitowoc.

Broken defense system threatens US military readiness in future wars

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During World War II, the United States unleashed free market mavericks to solve our hardest industrial challenges and build a war machine that proved to be the engine for the Allies’ victory. This machine served us well through the Cold War, but in the past 30 years, it stalled.

Today, we face a risk of losing our next major war, not for lack of courage or ingenuity, but because of a broken defense acquisition system riddled with bureaucratic sclerosis.

Americans constantly read headlines about growing threats and potential conflicts as our adversaries innovate rapidly. Meanwhile, our defense industrial base is tied down by regulations built for a bygone era.

We risk of losing our next major war, not for lack of courage or ingenuity, but because of a broken defense acquisition system riddled with bureaucratic sclerosis. (iStock)

A 2024 congressional report makes clear America is facing its most serious global threats since the Second World War, and we are woefully unprepared to meet the demands of a great power conflict.

FIDDLING WHILE ROME BURNS: AMERICA IGNORES CHINA’S RISING RED TIDE

While China spent two decades growing its military, the United States lost its industrial edge, surrendered risk tolerance and emphasized process over outcomes. The result is a constrained system that produces too little material, too slowly and in decreasing quality.

Reports suggest the U.S. could exhaust our long-range, anti-ship missile supply in as little as a week of conflict with China. The Pentagon takes almost 12 years to deliver the first version of a new weapons system. Our troops even use decades-old radio systems – what if you used a decades-old cellphone?

Years of rigid regulations have dwindled our once formidable, agile industrial base into a lumbering bureaucracy that fails to meet the needs of our warfighters and our national security interests.

Reforming the way we develop, produce and deploy weapons in the 21st century is not an option; it’s an imperative.

THE PENTAGON NEEDS MAJOR REFORM. NOW IS OUR CHANCE

To maintain agility and deterrence, we must supercharge our military industrial base by incentivizing the best private sector actors to invest in defense technology and manufacturing. Let them, not the government, drive the process to innovate, iterate and scale the latest capabilities. We don’t need more companies making dating apps and yoga pants; we need businesses built to secure America’s future.

Forty years ago, many of America’s greatest companies had healthy defense and commercial divisions which created cross-pollination between commercial and government innovation. Now, they are beholden to a byzantine contracting structure that, throughout the 1990s, boiled our defense industrial base down to a small sect of companies that only contract with the government and deters commercial companies from participating in defense industry initiatives.

That’s why we support the Dynamic Tech Defense Reform initiative in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to break inertia, overhaul the incentive structure that favors a handful of entrenched contractors, and empower new, innovative entrants into our defense industrial base.

CHINA IS EXPLOITING OUR GOVERNMENT’S TECH WEAKNESS. WE NEED A RAPID REBOOT

While the traditional primes are often villainized for their role in the stagnation of our defense acquisition, the truth is they are what the Pentagon has made them.

Decades of systemic inefficiencies have created the paradigm we see today. The FY 2026 NDAA takes important steps to address these problems.

First, the NDAA’s “commercial first” model champions speed and agility, requiring Pentagon acquisition officers to prioritize commercial options over costly, bespoke development programs. This can save us years in development and billions in taxpayer dollars.

Second, by narrowing requirements in contracting to only those required by law, the FY 2026 NDAA opens doors to a multitude of innovative businesses, big and small, who can participate in the defense industrial base. This will save costs and strengthen supply chains by ensuring we aren’t reliant on a pool of subcontractors so small that our most critical components for military equipment have only one, maybe two, suppliers.

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Finally, by reforming how the Department of War values past performance, Congress is ending the tyranny of incumbency at the Pentagon. The War Department currently favors entrenched contractors over newer startups – even those that offer superior solutions. Making this change will level the playing field with a focus on competition and improvement instead of a “don’t rock the boat” mentality.

These reforms will ensure our defense industrial base is vibrant and able to produce and iterate quickly – a requirement for modern warfare. Take the war between Ukraine and Russia, for example. That conflict consumes thousands of drones, missiles and bombs per month. The U.S. struggles to make that many in a year.

Quantity has a quality all its own. We must ensure we are able to not just produce weapons and materials quickly, but re-fit, re-tool and redeploy them just as fast.

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The United States simply cannot afford to wait until the next war starts to fix our broken acquisition system. We cannot sacrifice our national security on the altar of bureaucracy.

The time is now for Congress to reinvigorate our defense industrial base to meet the demands of the 21st century. Let’s get to work.

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Katherine Boyle is a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz and co-lead of its American Dynamism practice.

Republican Tim Sheehy represents Montana in the United States Senate. He is a father, husband, former Navy SEAL team leader, aerial firefighter and entrepreneur. Sheehy completed several deployments and hundreds of missions as a Navy SEAL officer and team leader, earning the Bronze Star with Valor for Heroism in Combat and the Purple Heart.

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