KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: Last Christmas Eve, satellite tracking and ship-transponder data revealed an unusual maritime event in the East China Sea: thousands of Chinese fishing vessels gathered into tight, linear formations and holding position for extended periods. It happened again two weeks later.

Analysts from a geospatial analytical firm were the first to identify two large stationary formations involving roughly 1,400 and 2,000 fishing vessels. Cargo ships in the area were forced to reroute or carefully thread between thousands of stationary vessels that had ceased normal fishing activity. This flotilla behavior by Chinese fishing boats, analysts believe, was a "gray zone" exercise.

"There have been proposals by defense experts in the United States that the U.S. Navy should treat China’s maritime militia as a real naval force," Holmes Liao, a defense expert who is currently a senior advisor for the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), told Fox News Digital.

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"I think Taiwan may need to adhere to that mentality and mindset," said Liao. "If these Chinese vessels are operating under clear military direction, then their status under the law of armed conflict could be subject to reassessment, potentially affecting claims of civilian immunity."

Liao said that Taiwan should consider deploying surveillance drones or air patrols over maritime militia formations to demonstrate presence and reinforce deterrence. "Taiwan has so far been very timid in response to PRC aggression," said Liao. "They may be fishing boats, but they are actually under the PLA’s command… part of the maritime militia." 

Indeed, several editions of the U.S. Department of Defense’s annual "Military and Security Developments involving the People's Republic of China," describe the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) as a "state-organized, trained, and equipped" force that actively supports China’s navy and coast guard.

Analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative have previously documented swarms of dozens or even hundreds of Chinese vessels in the South China Sea near contested reefs, often remaining stationary for long periods. But the incidents late last year and early this year highlight how the scale of this fishing militia appears to be expanding.

Fishing vessels are inexpensive, numerous and legally ambiguous. When deployed in mass, they complicate navigation, create radar clutter and raise operational risks for commercial shipping. The civilian status of these boats also conveniently allows Beijing to frame any incidents as "rogue actions not sanctioned by authorities," or as accidents.

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The United States frequently cites freedom of navigation as the reason for navy patrols in the Indo-Pacific, with a U.S. State Department fact sheet noting that the region "accounts for 60% of global GDP." The area around Taiwan is already treated by maritime insurers and shipping firms as a "higher-risk environment," meaning even temporary flotilla formations could influence shipping decisions and significantly affect both regional and global economies.

Taipei-based security analyst Sasha Chhabra, however, warned of the risks China would face should it deploy civilian fishing vessels in an active conflict. "A U.S. Navy convoy could easily break through these lines, and the large commercial vessels that carry Taiwan’s much-needed imports would easily splinter most fishing vessels in a ramming incident."

He noted that there is precedent for Beijing using Chinese fisherman as "live bait" during a conflict. "In 1973, China used civilian fishing vessels to bait the South Vietnamese Navy into conflict and seize full control over the Paracels (islands)," said Chhabra. "But what worked against teetering South Vietnam in 1973 won’t work against the U.S. Navy." 

However, for independently ruled Taiwan, the concern could be cumulative pressure rather than a single dramatic incident. Encounters between Taiwanese patrol vessels and Chinese fishing boats have grown more frequent around outlying islands and in parts of the Taiwan Strait, with vessels sometimes operating in coordinated groups that shadow or crowd Taiwanese ships. The maritime militia could also be used as a tool to discourage the global shipping industry from doing business with Taiwan.

Taiwan’s major ports are the energy and industrial lifelines for this de facto independent state. The port of Kaohsiung in the south, for example, handles large volumes of LNG imports and petrochemical shipments. Even partial disruption or perceived instability in surrounding sea lanes could ripple through supply chains and sharply raise costs for the global economy.

Jason Wang, CEO of ingeniSPACE, the company that revealed the fishing fleets on their satellite systems, told Fox News Digital that despite Taiwan’s semiconductor advantage, China is winning in space. Wang said data fusion and satellite-based maritime awareness are now strategic necessities. "Intelligence is deterrence without provocation. Intelligence ensures efficient targeted spending and is a force multiplier by shaping a more effective military force," he said. "Taiwan, like all First Island Chain nations, must be prepared for a new kind of warfare."

Wang and other experts note that countries like Japan and South Korea have, for roughly a decade, aggressively augmented their satellite spy constellations with commercial satellites to "ensure sufficient coverage and revisit rates so that their leadership has the capability to distinguish both overt military and gray zone activity."

Analysts say the broader lesson is that sea control no longer depends solely on destroyers and submarines. In the immediate future, the most consequential maritime pressure may come not from warships, but from vessels that look, at first glance, entirely harmless.

Newly obtained images and video allegedly show the man accused in Thursday’s synagogue attack in Michigan purchasing more than $2,000 worth of fireworks two days before ramming a truck into Temple Israel outside Detroit.

Video obtained by Fox News allegedly shows 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali of Dearborn Heights making two purchases of fireworks totaling $2,250.96 at the Phantom Fireworks showroom in Livonia, Michigan, on March 10.

According to Phantom Fireworks, Ghazali made one purchase for $1,369.02 at 2 p.m. and another for $881.94 at 2:17 p.m. He purchased 20 items, including a variety of firecrackers, aerial repeaters and a fountain product.

Alan Zoldan, executive vice president of Phantom Fireworks, told Fox News there "was nothing really too suspicious" about the purchase, noting that Ghazali "seemed like he was in a good mood."

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Zoldan said the items Ghazali was buying were based on how they sounded and that he was looking at fireworks "that were either shaped like they were possibly very strong or had names like ‘Military Demolitions’ and ‘Da Bomb.’"

"He obviously thought that they were going to be stronger and perhaps more devastating than they were," Zoldan said.

Surveillance footage allegedly shows Ghazali shopping in the store’s retail showroom, where he spent about 45 minutes. After making the first purchase, he loaded the fireworks into the bed of his pickup truck and then returned inside to make an additional purchase.

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Zoldan added there was no noticeable tension or anything that would raise suspicion for employees.

Ghazali allegedly rammed a vehicle into Temple Israel, a large Reform Jewish synagogue in West Bloomfield, shortly before 12:30 p.m. local time. He then exited the vehicle with a rifle and exchanged gunfire with armed security, who shot and killed him.

All preschool children and staff were safely evacuated from the synagogue.

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Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, said during a news conference Friday that Ghazali was "forensically confirmed" to be the assailant.

She said Ghazali had no previous criminal history or registered weapons and had never been the subject of an FBI investigation.

After engaging security officers in a gunfight, Ghazali's vehicle engine compartment caught fire, and he became trapped in the synagogue hallway, according to investigators.

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"At some point during the gunfight, Ghazali suffers a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head," Runyan said.

She said agents found large quantities of commercial-grade fireworks and several jugs of flammable liquid, believed to be gasoline, in the bed of the truck. Some of the items were consumed in the fire, she added.

Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun said during a news conference Friday that Ghazali, a Lebanese-born American citizen, had recently lost family members in Lebanon during the country’s conflict with Israel.

"We do know that the individual had recently suffered devastating and personal losses overseas due to an Israeli airstrike on his family's home in Lebanon, leaving two children dead," he said.

"That grief is real and it’s heartbreaking," he continued. "But let me be clear: that is not an excuse. These actions do not reflect our values as a city. This is not who we are. There is never an excuse for violence, especially violence directed at a sacred space."

The incident remains under investigation.

An FBI advisory referencing an unverified tip about a potential Iranian drone concept off the California coast circulated to multiple California law enforcement agencies — only to be forcefully downplayed by the White House hours later.

The advisory, distributed through federal security channels, referenced intelligence suggesting Iran had "aspired" to launch unmanned aerial systems from a vessel offshore. The email did not identify specific targets, dates or operational details.

The advisory was shared with California state officials and forwarded to local law enforcement agencies, according to reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle, including police departments in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Berkeley. Local officials emphasized there was no indication of a specific or imminent threat but confirmed they were coordinating with federal partners.

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FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson posted the alert to X Thursday, which he said went to joint terrorism task force partners. 

"We recently acquired unverified information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event of U.S. strikes on Iran," the alert said, according to Williamson. "We have no additional information." 

After reports about the advisory surfaced publicly, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sharply criticized the coverage.

"This post and story should be immediately retracted by ABC News for providing false information to intentionally alarm the American people," Leavitt wrote. 

She said the reporting was based on "one email that was sent to local law enforcement in California about a single, unverified tip," adding: "No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom similarly said there was no verified threat to the state and that officials remained in communication with federal authorities as a precaution.

Former Department of Homeland Security official Tom Warrick said the wording of the advisory suggests the intelligence likely reflected aspirational discussion rather than operational planning.

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"When you see the word ‘unverified,’ that generally means this is aspirational," Warrick said.

He emphasized that advisories of this kind are not routine occurrences, but during periods of heightened tensions — particularly involving Iran — federal authorities may err on the side of caution.

"It’s not a regular occurrence," Warrick said. "But given the war with Iran, and given Iran’s known tendencies, it’s only prudent for the FBI to put out a notice to local law enforcement to be aware that this is what we know — but this is all we know."

Warrick said such reporting often stems from intercepted communications in which foreign actors discuss potential attack concepts without evidence of capability or follow-through.

"Somehow the United States picked up information of Iranians talking to each other — who probably have some affiliation to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Quds Force — talking about, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to launch a drone attack on California?’" Warrick said, describing what he believes likely triggered the alert. "That’s where we are."

He stressed that distributing such intelligence allows local authorities to connect suspicious activity — such as unusual drone purchases or maritime behavior — with broader federal reporting.

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At the same time, Warrick drew a distinction between large-scale military drone strikes and smaller improvised threats.

"We’re not talking about launching Shaheds at California. That’s not feasible," he said.

"Using small-scale hobby drones to carry out a terrorist attack has always been a concern of homeland security," he added. "That threat already exists." 

Current federal law limits the authority to actively disable or intercept drones to specific federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. State and local law enforcement agencies generally lack independent authority to jam or seize unmanned aerial systems without federal coordination.

Some state and local officials have in recent years pushed Congress to expand counter-drone authority beyond federal agencies, arguing that the proliferation of small drones has outpaced existing legal frameworks.

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While Warrick framed the advisory as precautionary, Iran specialists say the broader concept referenced in the alert is not entirely imaginary — though executing such an operation would be complex.

Michael Eisenstadt, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said Iran has experimented with sea-based launch concepts in the past, including containerized missile systems deployed from modified merchant vessels.

"The idea is something they’ve clearly thought about," Eisenstadt said. "They’ve demonstrated elements of this concept before."

However, he cautioned that projecting such capability across the globe and positioning assets close enough to the U.S. coastline to make an operational difference would be difficult.

"To get it across the globe and close enough off the coast of California to make a difference — I’m pretty sure we track pretty closely ships coming out of Iran," he said, adding that such an operation would likely be "a little too complicated for them to do at this point."

Eisenstadt agreed that describing the advisory as aspirational was likely accurate.

"I think that’s probably correct," he said.

He also questioned whether a direct drone strike on U.S. territory would align with Iran’s historical escalation patterns.

"If they were to retaliate on the homeland, it would more likely involve inspired or commissioned attacks," he said, rather than a complex maritime drone launch.

Drone-related activity has drawn scrutiny along the West Coast in recent years, though analysts caution against drawing a direct connection between prior incidents and the unverified tip referenced in the advisory. 

In 2019, multiple U.S. Navy destroyers operating near the Channel Islands of the coast of California reported encounters with groups of unidentified unmanned aerial systems during training operations. 

Navy documents later released through the Freedom of Information Act showed that some incidents were assessed as potential surveillance activity, while others were attributed to commercial or hobbyist operators. In several cases, the operator was never definitively identified.

More recently, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, confirmed multiple instances of unmanned aerial systems entering restricted airspace in late 2024, though officials said those incursions did not impact operations and were not assessed to pose an immediate threat.

Security analysts say the proliferation of inexpensive drone technology has complicated airspace monitoring near both civilian and military facilities, a broader backdrop against which even low-confidence intelligence may prompt precautionary alerts.

The FBI and Coast Guard could not immediately be reached for additional comment. 

When an Iranian American husband and wife see protests against the war with Iran in the United States, they shudder, recalling living and being raised under a regime that "controlled" their young lives.

Since its start, Operation Epic Fury has drawn scrutiny from the American public, inspiring anti-war protests across the country. 

Behzad Hemmati and Rahil Nazarian both had the opportunity to come to America from Iran as young adults. 

Decades later, Hemmati, 50, and Nazarian, 42, told Fox News Digital that they are watching the situation unfold from their new home in Southern California, and to them, this conflict isn’t a war, it’s a "rescue mission."

Born under the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Hemmati recalls he was too young to experience the "good things" before the Islamic Revolution in 1979 overthrew Pahlavi's reign.

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"I came here [just because of] my natural personality, I couldn’t bear with the things that [were] happening [in Iran]," Hemmati said.

He recalled his life as a teenager and said, "You want to be yourself, to be free," but shared that what Western culture considers a "normal" teenage life, wasn’t allowed in Iran.

"You want to dance, you want to hang out with your friends, but we couldn’t … girls and boys [are] always separate," Hemmati explained. "This is how [the government] control[s] you, this is how [they] break you in pieces and take that beautiful life that you can have [and] take it away from you."

Nazarian was born during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Her father was a teacher and after the Islamic Revolution, she explained that the Islamic Republic took her family’s home, their land and her father was unable to work.

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"After [Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini came and took over, they fired [my father] because they told him, ‘You work during Shah, you don’t deserve this," Nazarian said.

In an emotional moment, she recalled her father being brought back and forth between Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) camps until one day, he did not come back.

"They were executing most of his family members," Nazarian said. 

"One day, he went, and they told him, ‘Oh, we have a plan for you, we’re gonna give you back everything we took to you, we’re going to give it back to you,’" Nazarian recalled. "He left home [that day], he never came back."

Since the initial strikes in Operation Epic Fury that began in the early-morning hours of Feb. 28, the conflict has struck a chord with the American public, leading to backlash against the Trump administration.

Still, when Hemmati and Nazarian see protests against military action, Hemmati told Fox News Digital that they "don’t understand."

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"People should understand [here], those that they don’t understand," he said. "People are going on the street and saying no to war, I can tell you 100%, they have no idea."

The operation has also garnered support from many in the Iranian American community. 

Hemmati said protests in favor of U.S. military action in the country have sprung up around Southern California, and that he attends an event almost every weekend. He says this is a way for people to be the voice for people inside Iran who are in favor of the operation.

"[Iranian’s] inside Iran want to show the world — obviously, they can’t do anything because everything is disconnected from Iran — but that’s why we’re going out to be their voice," Hemmati said.

Nazarian and Hemmati said they spoke to relatives still living in Iran and despite constant bombardments near their homes, they’re "glad this is happening."

"No matter what happens, no matter if we lose our house, no matter if the whole house is destroyed, as long as we’re alive to fight back, we’re still grateful and happy," Hemmati said.

"They were thanking President [Donald] Trump and said, it’s OK, we have to pay the price for freedom," Nazarian continued.

Hemmati said by targeting specific IRGC locations the operation is "cutting the regime’s bloodlines."

"They’re targeting those very special places for their government," Hemmati said. "Once they’re eliminated, then it’s time for people to go out."

Once able, Nazarian and Hemmati said they’ll be on the first flight to Iran to see family for a long-overdue visit.

"[Our] kids are so thirsty to see their cousins, their family, because I don’t have any family [in the US]," Nazarian said. "I haven’t seen them for nine years [and Hemmati] hasn’t been there for 19 years."

"[This] is what I’ve been waiting for [for 47 years]," Hemmati said. "Unfortunately, we’re going to lose some lives in this rescue mission … but again, people are saying inside Iran, they’re saying, ‘How many are we gonna lose? … We’re ready to sacrifice again until we get to [freedom].’"

The dirtiest item you carry with you while you're traveling may not be what you think.

A controlled lab experiment commissioned by Japan Rail Pass provider JRPass found that one frequently handled travel essential contained significantly more bacteria than shoes, luggage or even cell phones do.

Researchers swabbed several common travel items, then incubated the samples to measure bacterial growth in colony-forming units (CFUs).

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The results showed that passports — far exceeding every other item tested — contained 436 CFUs. 

Checked baggage ranked second in the study with 97 CFUs, followed by shoes at 65, hand-held luggage at 56, phones at 45 — and coats at 15, according to the test.

Primrose Freestone, Ph.D., an associate professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester and a microbiology advisor for BBC Radio Leicester, said frequent handling can increase bacterial buildup.

The human hand already carries normal bacteria — but when people touch things in crowded places like airports, they also pick up microbes left behind by numerous other travelers, Freestone noted. 

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"The greater the handling of a passport by different people’s hands, the more and greater the variety of bacteria, fungi and even viruses will be deposited onto the surface," she said about the JRPass findings, as reported by Travel + Leisure and other outlets. 

Freestone said the findings should serve as a strong reminder for people to be mindful of hygiene while traveling.

Airports and public transportation hubs are high-contact environments. 

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Travelers frequently touch shared surfaces such as check-in kiosks, security bins, handrails and luggage handles.

To reduce exposure, Freestone recommended that people wash their hands thoroughly whenever possible, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after handling travel documents and other shared surfaces.

"Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based gel, is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce potential exposure," Freestone said.

She also advised wiping down high-touch personal items, including passports, phones and luggage handles, before and after trips.

"Clothing naturally collects microbes from our skin and the environments we move through. Immediately changing out of airport outfits and washing them after travel can help prevent those microbes [from] being transferred onto furniture, bedding and household surfaces."

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While bacteria are a normal part of everyday life, being aware of how easily they transfer from item to item during travel can help reduce unnecessary exposure, she also indicated. 

JRPass also said on Instagram about its study, "Moral of the story? Wash your hands. Wipe your passport. Maybe stop eating fries immediately after check-in."

Other items called out by experts for attracting an undue amount of dirt and germs include the seatback pockets on airplanes, plus seat belts. 

Freestone also recently commented on another common item that attracts far more dirt and germs than people think. 

She said people should change their kitchen sponges on a daily basis. 

"How often you clean your kitchen sponge depends on what you have been using the sponge for," the expert told The Daily Mail.

"If [it's] for something likely to be germ-ridden, such as dirty vegetables or raw meat or fish, then I dispose of these after a single use — as it is not easy to clean all microbes off a kitchen sponge."

Travis Kelce will reportedly return to the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year deal, ending the uncertainty around his playing future at least for one more season.

Kelce’s deal is for $12 million, which could be escalated to $15 million, ESPN reported Monday as free agency opened up around the league. The deal cannot be made official until Wednesday.

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There was plenty of speculation around what Kelce could do going into free agency. At least one report suggested that his representatives could entertain offers from other teams and possibly bring his Chiefs chapter to a close and play for another team. But as free agency began, it was made clear that Kelce was going to choose loyalty over money.

"It’s been a roller coaster for Travis Kelce. He’s only played for the Kansas City Chiefs. I think a lot of people assumed no doubt Travis Kelce would just come back to the Kansas City Chiefs, sign whatever deal was available and move forward," NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on Monday. "He was expected to get significant, significant interest. Likely, a deal that would have put him at the top of the tight end market. Based on the way he played last year, a Pro Bowler playing nearly on top of his game, that would make sense.

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"That’s not really what Travis Kelce is about. It really isn’t. He is going to turn down more money to stay in Kansas City, to be loyal, to be with Patrick Mahomes and to continue to have another shot at the Super Bowl. This is something the Chiefs were adamant about doing. They wanted this to happen. It was really just a matter of, would he get to free agency? In the end, it is likely not with Travis Kelce expected to stay in Kansas City."

Kelce is considered to be one of the best tight ends of all time.

The 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro has 1,080 catches for 13,002 yards and 82 touchdowns. He helped the Chiefs to three Super Bowl titles in his time and is hoping to squeeze out one more before his career comes to an end.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Public Housing and Section 8 rental assistance in America were created to provide a temporary helping hand to families during times of hardship, not to trap them in long-term dependency. Yet almost half of non-elderly, able-bodied households getting support from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) didn’t have a single person working in 2024. It’s time for a change.

We got here because well-intentioned federal policies drifted away from their original purpose, leaving many people stuck in subsidized housing for years, sometimes decades, while millions of families sit on waiting lists with no help at all.

HUD’s proposed rule aims to correct that drift by restoring a simple, commonsense principle: HUD housing assistance should encourage work, self-sufficiency, and upward mobility while keeping a strong safety net for the elderly and disabled. Under the Trump administration’s proposed regulation, no longer would able-bodied, able-minded individuals be allowed to waste away on welfare with no hope or dignity.

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Arkansas became the first state in the nation to bring work requirements to the forefront in state law after I, Governor Sanders, signed the Housing Welfare Reform Act of 2023 into law. This commonsense law ensures that an individual who is able to work is required to work, train, or volunteer if they’re living on the taxpayers’ dime. Public housing authorities, however, have not been permitted to require work or limit time under current rules. Without HUD’s proposed rule, Arkansas is unable to enforce the law on the books.

Public housing was never meant to be a hammock, but a springboard to a life of self-sufficiency. Federal housing assistance, as currently structured, disincentivizes work and leads to a long national waitlist for housing assistance for those who need a hand up.

Capable adults receiving assistance are staying longer and longer on welfare. Recent evidence presented to Congress shows that nearly 90 percent of able-bodied Section 8 voucher recipients will spend more than five years in subsidized housing, and half will spend more than fifteen years. It is not uncommon for multiple generations of a family to live in subsidized housing over decades. We must break this hopeless cycle.

There is extensive real-world evidence supporting work requirements and/or time limits on public housing benefits. Across the country, nearly forty Moving to Work housing agencies have tested work requirements or time limits, showing America that these programs can change lives.

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This proposal would finally allow Arkansas to empower all public housing agencies and Section 8 residents in the state to move towards self-sufficiency, as the law intends.

Arkansas will set the example for more states to follow because the Trump administration is empowering state and local leaders who best understand their residents and communities to decide whether and how to implement these policies, within clear regulatory bounds. No longer will there be a one-size-fits-all mandate from Washington.

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HUD estimates that under our proposal, between 19,000 and 79,000 families nationally will move out of subsidized housing in the first year, opening doors for new families in need. This is a win-win situation. The families leaving assistance will earn more, contribute more to their own rent, and stand on firmer financial ground, while the families finally getting assistance will receive the help they’ve been waiting on for years.

Most importantly, this is about dignity. Work is a pathway to meaning, independence, and stability. Study after study shows that prolonged unemployment erodes well-being, worsens health, decreases life expectancy and harms children’s prospects. By contrast, when adults work, families are healthier, communities are stronger, and futures are brighter. A rising tide lifts all boats

We believe in the potential of our fellow Americans. By restoring federal rental assistance to its intended role as temporary support, we can help more American families build brighter lives and better futures.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the 47th governor of Arkansas.