Sean "Diddy" Combs legal team for his sex-trafficking and racketeering trial in New York is stacked with a high-profile group of lawyers.Marc Agnifilo, who represented NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere, and Brian Steel, who recently represented rapper Young Thug, are among the team of lawyers listed on Diddys court docket.The others include Teny Geragos, Anna Estevao, Jason Driscoll, Xavier R. Donaldson and Alexandra Shapiro.Since the musician has a hefty legal team, experts have estimated the price tag for his eight-week trial and months of pretrial motions and preparations will cost him a pretty penny.SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS' LAWYER WANTS OUT OF SEX-TRAFFICKING CASE, SAYS CAN'T CONTINUE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCESCivil rights and criminal defense attorney Adante Pointer told Fox News Digital that he believes Combs legal tab will top $10 million."When you consider the severity of the potential punishment Diddy is facing if convicted, including life in prison, and the sprawling indictment which alleges RICO charges along with the number of witnesses and locations of the conduct being prosecuted, its easy to see the legal tab topping $10 million," Pointer said.The lawyer claimed that Combs legal tab began "well before" his indictment was made public."You dont become a billionaire by being clueless and not preparing for a legal battle that will put your life, legacy and wealth on the line. His bill started growing the moment he began conversations with lawyers, their legal staff, private investigators, potential witnesses and all the pretrial preparation that goes into such a complicated case long before it ever went before a jury," Pointer said.Pointer said the group of eight lawyers are likely on Combs "beck-and-call" with one goal: allowing Combs to walk out of the courtroom a free man."And that costs a lot of money," Pointer said.Criminal defense attorney John Day compared Combs case with Alec Baldwins lawyer Alex Spiros rate."By comparison, Alec Baldwin's lawyer, Alex Spiro, was reportedly charging similar clients over $2,000 per hour or roughly about $80,000 a week. And Diddy is no regular client with his life and career on the line.SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS TRIED TO SWAY WITNESSES FROM JAIL AMID SEX TRAFFICKING TRIAL: DOCS"This kind of intensive work by lawyers on such a complicated case keeps them from taking on other high-paying clients, and Im sure theyre also paying for publicists since this is playing out in the court of public opinion, as well, and everyone is watching," Day said.He told Fox News Digital that he estimates Combs trial will cost him $15 million "for the entire package.""This is literally a money is no object defense," Day said.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSFormer federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital that Combs will drop eight figures when his trial is all said and done."Top-tier criminal defense attorneys like Marc Agnifilo and Brian Steel may charge retainers of $1 million or more in complex federal cases like this. In addition to those two, Combs has a small army of lawyers working on the trial," Rahmani said.He estimated Combs net worth at about $1 billion before his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, accused the rapper of rape in 2018 and domestic abuse.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"Combs life is literally on the line, so money is no object, and he has assembled his version of a dream team.""The trial is estimated to last up to two months, and the daily cost for all the lawyers, paralegals, assistants, experts and jury consultants may exceed $100,000 for each day of trial. Thats not even counting the many months of pretrial work and preparation and the inevitable appeal to the Second Circuit, Supreme Court and lobbying President Trump for a pardon if Combs is convicted," Rahmani said.Combs sex-trafficking trial began on May 12 with opening statements and is expected to last two months.The rapper is being charged with multiple counts of racketeering conspiracy,sex traffickingby force, fraud or coercion, and transporting for prostitution in September.

Advocates for police and border patrol lambasted what they said were open border policies that allowed an illegal alien suspected of killing an Air Force recruit into the country in the first place.Joe Gamaldi, national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said he was disgusted to learn 18-year-old Ava Moore, a Texas native who was about to begin cadet training at the United States Air Force Academy, was allegedly killed by someone who shouldn't have been in the United States in the first place."How many cases do we have to see where people who should not have been in this country in the first place end up causing the death or murdering someone else, someone who is here legally in this country?" he asked. "How many families have to be ripped apart? How? How much trauma do we have to take from people who should not be here in the first place?"Moore was a star basketball player at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado whose goal was to become a four-star general.ILLEGAL ALIENS ARRESTED IN DEATH OF AIR FORCE CADET CANDIDATE HAD SUITCASES PACKED: REPORTGamaldi was incredulous at open border advocates watching Americans die at the hands of noncitizens who continue to fight President Donald Trump's closed border policies and deportation efforts.He also warned that, given the number of illegal aliens who entered the country during the Biden administration, he expects more American deaths at the hands of unknown foreigners."I think they completely ignore the crime and chaos that a number of illegal immigrants bring to our communities," Gamaldi said. "And the most frustrating part, from law enforcement's perspective, and from the victim's perspective and their families', is that the crimes that are committed are avoidable. How many people have to die before the other side says enough?"He also slammed "radical ideologue" judges he said are blocking Trump from carrying out the will of his voters."They're a disgrace to this country, a disgrace to the robes they wear, and they should resign in shame for what they are doing, politicizing this issue," he said. "They have no business sitting on the bench, and I'm certainly hoping that there will be every action taken to remove them from their positions because all they are at this point are radical ideologues. They're not judges, they're a joke."ICE IDENTIFIES JET SKI SUSPECTS IN AIR FORCE CADET CANDIDATE'S DEATH AS ILLEGAL ALIENSArt Del Cueto is the vice president of the National Border Patrol Council, a union that represents 18,000 U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.Like Gamaldi, he believes the damage from the previous administration's open border policies isn't over."Another senseless death," he said. "I think that, unfortunately, though, there will be others. We dont know how many people are in the country illegally. And, yes, it couldve been someone thats legally in the U.S., but in this case it wasnt. It was somebody that should not have been in the country to begin with. Unfortunately, theres too many politicians that continue to put obstacles from allowing law enforcement to do their job."Daikerlyn Alejandraa Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 22, was charged with second-degree manslaughter, a felony, for allegedly striking and killing Moore while riding a jet ski on Lake Grapevine in Texas last weekend.Maikel Coello Perozo, 21, is accused of picking Gonzalez-Gonzalez up and fleeing. Authorities allege Perozo hit another vehicle while speeding off. He has been charged with a collision involving damage to a vehicle and hindering apprehension, both misdemeanors.Police reportedly found packed suitcases in the home where Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Perozo were arrested.They were identified as illegal aliens from Venezuela by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement Wednesday.Trump's Department of Homeland Security also slammed Biden's border policies in a post on X."Ava Moore was a patriot serving her country when she was killed by an illegal alien in a hit-and-run over Memorial Day weekend. This senseless tragedy was 100 percent preventable," the post said."Daikerlyn Gonzalez and Maikel Perozo entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 and were released into our interior," the post added."The previous administrations open border policies have cost too many Americans their lives. President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue to stand with victims of illegal alien crime and their families."Moore's becomes yet another high-profile death allegedly at the hands of an illegal alien.Jose Ibarra, also from Venezuela, was convicted last year of murdering Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus.Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, who lived in the Houston area, was sexually assaulted and strangled to death last year, allegedly by two Venezuelan illegal aliens accused of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang. The suspects in that case are Franklin Jose Pena Ramos and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez.Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old New Jersey mother of five, was killed by Salvadoran illegal alien Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez in 2023. A jury found Martinez-Hernandez guilty of Morin's murder in April.

Sperm from a single donor in Europe has reportedly been used to conceive at least 67 pregnancies, although the donor carried a rare cancer-causing mutation.The donors mutation has been linked to cancer diagnoses in 10 of these children, according to a report by The Guardian.The case was brought to light after two families separately contacted their fertility clinics after their children's cancer diagnoses were linked to a rare genetic variant called TP53.PROSTATE CANCER RISK INCREASES BY 45% AMONG MEN WHO SHARE ONE TROUBLING BEHAVIORA mutation in the TP53 gene causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which increases the risk of developing cancer. Cleveland Clinic states that this disorder comes with a 90% chance of developing some type of cancer by age 60, and a 50% chance by the age of 40.The European Sperm Bank, the sperm supplier, confirmed that this variant was present in some of the donors sperm.The Guardian reported that the rare variant was "not known to be linked to cancer at the time of donation in 2008."The genetic variant reportedly would not have been detectable through standard screening, and the donor is said to currently be in good health.Dr Edwige Kasper, a biologist at Rouen University Hospital in France, presented this case at the European Society of Human Genetics annual conference in Milan last week, commenting on the need for a European limit on the number of births or families for a single donor."We cant do whole-genome sequencing for all sperm donors Im not arguing for that," she told The Guardian. "But this is the abnormal dissemination of genetic disease. Not every man has 75 children across Europe."4 TROUBLING CANCER TRENDS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT IN 2025Kasper analyzed the mutation in her lab, concluding that it was most likely cancer-causing and that children born from this donor should "receive genetic counseling."The research-turned-investigation tracked down 67 children from 46 families in eight European countries. The children were tested, with the variant detected in 23 of them.The 10 who had been diagnosed with cancer reportedly included cases of leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, the European Sperm Bank stated that donor-assisted reproduction "generally remains a significantly safer alternative" than reproduction without genetic screening.The bank added that sperm donors undergo a "comprehensive health screening," which includes an in-depth medical examination, a review of the donors family medical history and "extensive" testing for genetic and infectious diseases."However, its not possible to rule out all risks and, in this particular case, the identified mutation is one that could not have been detected by the screening methods we use in accordance with regulations and would require specialized genetic testing," the group noted.Julie Paulli Budtz, VP. of corporate communications at the European Sperm Bank, expressed to Fox News Digital that they are "deeply affected by this case."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER"The donor has been thoroughly tested even beyond the required standards, but preventative genetic screening is reaching its limits here," she said."Every human being has about 20,000 genes, and it is scientifically simply not possible to detect disease-causing mutations in a persons gene pool if you dont know what you are looking for."Budtz noted that the European Sperm Bank welcomes "continued dialogue" regarding setting an "internationally binding family limit," which they have advocated for "on several occasions, also at EU level.""This is also why, in addition to complying with national pregnancy limits, we have proactively implemented our own international limit of 75 families per donor," she added.In the U.S., there is no official legal limit on how many sperm donations one man can make.However, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommends that donors are limited to 25 live births within each population area of 800,000 people."Institutions, clinics and sperm banks should maintain sufficient records to allow a limit to be set for the number of pregnancies for which a given donor is responsible," the ASRM states on its website.California Cryobank, which has claimed to have the largest selection of sperm and egg donations in the country, states on its website that it closely monitors donors to limit the total number of family units to 20 to 30 worldwide."Limiting donor vials is an important part of the process," the bank noted.The U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all sperm donors undergo a physical exam, complete a questionnaire, provide their medical history, and undergo screenings for infectious diseases at an FDA-approved lab.In addition, the ASRM suggests that donors undergo psychological and genetic screening, and also recommends infectious-disease testing of the recipient and the recipient's sexually intimate partners, per its website.For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/health"Legal consultation and laws may vary by state," the organization notes.At California Cryobank, donors must be tested for infectious diseases, undergo genetic screening, get a psychological assessment and criminal background check, and receive screening for the Zika virus, according to the bank's website.

A team of scientists at the Institute for Advanced StudySchool of Natural Sciences in Princeton, New Jersey, might have found a new dwarf planet, potentially leading to more evidence of a theoretical super-planet.The scientists announced in a news release that they have found a trans-Neptune Object(TNO), code-named 2017OF201, located past the icy and desolate region of the Kuplier Belt.The TNO, which are described as minor planets that orbit the sun at a greater distance than Neptune, were found on the edge of our solar system.While there are plenty of other TNOs in the solar system, what makes 2017OF201 special is its large size and extreme orbit.NASA LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DESTROY ASTEROID THAT COULD STRIKE EARTH, KILL CITYOne of the team leads,Sihao Cheng, along with Jiaxuan Li and Eritas Yang from Princeton University, made the discovery.The team used advanced computational methods to identify the objects distinctive trajectory pattern in the sky."The objects aphelion the farthest point on the orbit from the Sun is more than 1600 times that of the Earths orbit," Cheng said in the release. "Meanwhile, its perihelion the closest point on its orbit to the Sun is 44.5 times that of the Earths orbit, similar to Pluto's orbit."2017OF201 takes about 25,000 years to orbit the sun, making Yang suggest that "It must have experienced close encounters with a giant planet, causing it to be ejected to a wide orbit."NEWLY DISCOVERED ASTEROID TURNS OUT TO BE TESLA ROADSTER LAUNCHED INTO SPACECheng also added that there may have been more than one step in its migration."Its possible that this object was first ejected to the Oort cloud, the most distant region in our solar system, which is home to many comets, and then sent back," Cheng said.This discovery has significant implications for the current understanding of the layout of ourouter solar system.According to NASA, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) astronomers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown in January 2016 announced research that provided evidence for a planet about 1.5 times the size of Earth in the outer solar system.However, the existence of Planet X or Planet Nine is strictly theoretical as neither astronomer has actually observed such a planet.The theory puts the planet at around the same size as Neptune, far past Pluto somewhere near the Kuiper Belt, where 2017OF201 was located.If it exists, it is theorized to have a mass of up to 10 times as much as Earths with a distance of up to 30 times further than Neptune to the Sun.It would take between 10,000 and 20,000 Earth years to make one full orbit around the Sun.However, the area beyond the Kuiper Belt, where the object is located, had previously been thought to be essentially empty, but the teams discovery suggests that this is not so.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPCheng said in the release that 2017OF201 only has about 1% of its orbit visible to us."Even though advances in telescopes have enabled us to explore distant parts of the universe, there is still a great deal to discover about our own solar system," Cheng said.NASA mentioned that if Planet Nine exists, it could help explain the unique orbits of some smaller objects in the distant Kuiper Belt.As of now, Planet Nine remains all but a theory, but theexistence of this far-off world rests on gravitational patterns in the outer solar system.

Before Hollywood scripts, private jets and "Mission: Impossible" stunts, there were lesson plans and curious students for rising actor Greg Tarzan Davis.Davis, 31, proved the skys the limit when he completely switched careers to become an aspiring Hollywood actor."I used to preach to my students that they can be whatever they want, to follow their dreams," Davis told Fox News Digital. "One of my students asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, when I got older. I was like, I wanted to be a teacher. And the student was like, No you didn't."'MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE' STAR TOM CRUISE'S UNUSUAL PREPARATION FOR DEATH-DEFYING STUNTSDavis explained that the brutal honesty of one of his first grade students was a moment of clarity for him."Since I was young, I've wanted to be an actor, but it was something that seemed impossible," he added.Fast-forward to his career switch, and Davis started to take steps to achieve his long-abandoned dream of becoming an actor.At first, he admitted, he let his goals "fall to the wayside," but he gave himself two years to accomplish his mission.WATCH: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE ACTOR SHARES HOW HE RODE IN A PRIVATE JET FLOWN BY TOM CRUISEWhen asked about the biggest challenge of becoming an actor, Davis told Fox News Digital, "Not knowing anything. It was like a gift and a curse. I didn't know what I was doing or what I was getting myself into. I didnt have anybody to talk to."He noted that he put himself in substantial debt since he was traveling from New Orleans to Chicago for auditions."I racked up so much credit card debt. But I thought that's what I was supposed to do," Davis said.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSWhile Davis continued to chase his Hollywood dreams that seemed out of reach at the time, he finally caught his big break with a role next to Tom Cruise."Top Gun was the platform that put me in the spotlight," he told Fox News Digital. "After that, I got my first offer to join Mission: Impossible. Ive been working ever since, which is a blessing. Thats what we all strive for as artists to be a working freaking actor. Because its tough out here."In 2022, Davis landed the role of Javy "Coyote" Machado in "Top Gun: Maverick." He shared that he received a call back to return and be a part of Cruise's other big franchise.MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE STAR TOM CRUISE DEFIES DEATH, HANGING FROM AIRPLANE IN WILD NEW STUNTIn "Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One," Davis portrayed a character named Degas, and he explained that the crew wrote this role specifically for him."I'm from New Orleans, he's French, and they were like, We wanted to name him after you."His character is an agent who shifted allegiances from initially hunting Cruises character, Ethan Hunt, to eventually fighting alongside him."My role in the first film was more of like an introduction to my character. And then with The Final Reckoning,' you see me emerge more of a main character, and I'm a part of the team trying to help Ethan and everybody else save the world."WATCH: HOW MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE ACTOR SWITCHED CAREERS FROM TEACHER TO HOLLYWOOD STARDavis career change didnt just shift his job title. It "rapidly" transformed his entire life.As a Hollywood actor, Davis excitedly shared how hes traveled all over the world, met a variety of people and experienced things he'd never imagined, including riding in a private jet flown by the "Top Gun" star himself.TOM CRUISE 'PASSED OUT' FILMING NEW 'MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE' MOVIE SCENES"I got flown home by Tom Cruise in his private jet after the last day of filming Top Gun: Maverick. I was like, 'My first time in a private jet, and Tom is flying it. What?!"When asked one thing fans may not know about Cruise, Davis said the A-lister is a "funny guy" and enjoys hosting dinner parties."He likes to have fun," Davis added. "When we're filming, he'll invite the cast over and we'll spend five or six hours just talking, playing games, dancing, listening to music. I have some great memories from those dinner parties."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERWhile Davis is finally living out his Hollywood dreams, he hasnt forgotten about his students."I keep in contact with my students. They graduate in two years and for each one of my films Top Gun: Maverick, Dead Reckoning and for Final Reckoning' I take the movie back to New Orleans, and I have a screening for them and other students."Davis career switch has helped students in the community, as the parents shared how the teacher-turned-Hollywood actor has inspired their kids."I spoke to some of their parents, and they [said], You don't understand how much this means to them to see you follow your dreams, and they're all excited to do the same exact thing."

Sperm from a single donor in Europe has reportedly been used to conceive at least 67 pregnancies, although the donor carried a rare cancer-causing mutation.The donors mutation has been linked to cancer diagnoses in 10 of these children, according to a report by The Guardian.The case was brought to light after two families separately contacted their fertility clinics after their children's cancer diagnoses were linked to a rare genetic variant called TP53.PROSTATE CANCER RISK INCREASES BY 45% AMONG MEN WHO SHARE ONE TROUBLING BEHAVIORA mutation in the TP53 gene causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which increases the risk of developing cancer. Cleveland Clinic states that this disorder comes with a 90% chance of developing some type of cancer by age 60, and a 50% chance by the age of 40.The European Sperm Bank, the sperm supplier, confirmed that this variant was present in some of the donors sperm.The Guardian reported that the rare variant was "not known to be linked to cancer at the time of donation in 2008."The genetic variant reportedly would not have been detectable through standard screening, and the donor is said to currently be in good health.Dr Edwige Kasper, a biologist at Rouen University Hospital in France, presented this case at the European Society of Human Genetics annual conference in Milan last week, commenting on the need for a European limit on the number of births or families for a single donor."We cant do whole-genome sequencing for all sperm donors Im not arguing for that," she told The Guardian. "But this is the abnormal dissemination of genetic disease. Not every man has 75 children across Europe."4 TROUBLING CANCER TRENDS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT IN 2025Kasper analyzed the mutation in her lab, concluding that it was most likely cancer-causing and that children born from this donor should "receive genetic counseling."The research-turned-investigation tracked down 67 children from 46 families in eight European countries. The children were tested, with the variant detected in 23 of them.The 10 who had been diagnosed with cancer reportedly included cases of leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, the European Sperm Bank stated that donor-assisted reproduction "generally remains a significantly safer alternative" than reproduction without genetic screening.The bank added that sperm donors undergo a "comprehensive health screening," which includes an in-depth medical examination, a review of the donors family medical history and "extensive" testing for genetic and infectious diseases."However, its not possible to rule out all risks and, in this particular case, the identified mutation is one that could not have been detected by the screening methods we use in accordance with regulations and would require specialized genetic testing," the group noted.Julie Paulli Budtz, VP. of corporate communications at the European Sperm Bank, expressed to Fox News Digital that they are "deeply affected by this case."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER"The donor has been thoroughly tested even beyond the required standards, but preventative genetic screening is reaching its limits here," she said."Every human being has about 20,000 genes, and it is scientifically simply not possible to detect disease-causing mutations in a persons gene pool if you dont know what you are looking for."Budtz noted that the European Sperm Bank welcomes "continued dialogue" regarding setting an "internationally binding family limit," which they have advocated for "on several occasions, also at EU level.""This is also why, in addition to complying with national pregnancy limits, we have proactively implemented our own international limit of 75 families per donor," she added.In the U.S., there is no official legal limit on how many sperm donations one man can make.However, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommends that donors are limited to 25 live births within each population area of 800,000 people."Institutions, clinics and sperm banks should maintain sufficient records to allow a limit to be set for the number of pregnancies for which a given donor is responsible," the ASRM states on its website.California Cryobank, which has claimed to have the largest selection of sperm and egg donations in the country, states on its website that it closely monitors donors to limit the total number of family units to 20 to 30 worldwide."Limiting donor vials is an important part of the process," the bank noted.The U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all sperm donors undergo a physical exam, complete a questionnaire, provide their medical history, and undergo screenings for infectious diseases at an FDA-approved lab.In addition, the ASRM suggests that donors undergo psychological and genetic screening, and also recommends infectious-disease testing of the recipient and the recipient's sexually intimate partners, per its website.For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/health"Legal consultation and laws may vary by state," the organization notes.At California Cryobank, donors must be tested for infectious diseases, undergo genetic screening, get a psychological assessment and criminal background check, and receive screening for the Zika virus, according to the bank's website.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday told allies in the Indo-Pacific that the U.S. has their back against increasing military and economic pressure from China, while insisting that they also contribute more to their own defense.Hegseth said the U.S. will bolster its defenses overseas to counter what the Pentagon views as rapidly developing threats by China, particularly toward Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own. China has conducted numerous exercises to test what a blockade of the island would look like.The Chinese army "is rehearsing for the real deal," Hegseth said in a keynote speech at a security conference in Singapore. "We are not going to sugarcoat it the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent."DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WORKERS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO SUBMIT DOGE'S WEEKLY PRODUCTION REPORTSChina has said it wants its military to be in a position to take Taiwan by force if necessary by 2027.China is no longer building up its military forces to take Taiwan, but it is "actively training for it, every day," Hegseth said on Saturday.Not only has China created man-made islands in the South China Sea to support new military outposts, but it has also developed highly advanced hypersonic and space capabilities, prompting the U.S. to begin creating the "Golden Dome."HEGSETH DENIES CLAIM THAT GOLDEN DOME IS 'OFFENSIVE': 'PROTECTING THE HOMELAND'In his speech, Hegseth called out China's ambitions in Latin America, specifically attempts to increase influence over the Panama Canal.He also urged countries in the region to increase their defense spending to be in line with the percentage of gross domestic product that European nations are being pressed to contribute."We must all do our part," Hegseth said.The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, pushed back against Hegseth after his speech for a comment he made about European countries putting focus on defending their own region while the U.S. mostly handles the Indo-Pacific.Kallas said European and Asian security are "very much interlinked" at the moment as North Korean troops are fighting for Russia and China is supporting Moscow.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Imagine losing your ability to speak or move, yet still having so much to say.For Brad G. Smith, this became his reality after being diagnosed with ALS, a rare and progressive disease that attacks the nerves controlling voluntary muscle movement.But thanks to a groundbreaking Neuralink brain implant, Smith is now able to communicate with the world using only his thoughts.Join The FREE CyberGuy Report: Get my expert tech tips, critical security alerts and exclusive deals plus instant access to myfree Ultimate Scam Survival Guide when you sign up!Before receiving theNeuralink implant, Smith relied on eye-tracking technology to communicate. While impressive, it came with major limitations."It is a miracle of technology, but it is frustrating. It works best in dark rooms, so I was basically Batman. I was stuck in a dark room,"Smith shared in arecent post on X. Bright environments would disrupt the system, making communication slow and sometimes impossible. Now, Smith says,"Neuralink lets me go outside and ignore lighting changes."PARALYZED MAN WITH ALS IS THIRD TO RECEIVE NEURALINK IMPLANT, CAN TYPE WITH BRAINAI ENABLES PARALYZED MAN TO CONTROL ROBOTIC ARM WITH BRAIN SIGNALSSmith is the first non-verbal person and only the third individual worldwide to receive the Neuralink Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). The device, about as thick as five stacked coins, sits in his skull and connects to the motor cortex-the part of the brain that controls movement.Tiny wires, thinner than human hair, extend into Smith's brain. These pick up signals from his neurons and transmit them wirelessly to his MacBook Pro. The computer then decodes these signals, allowing Smith to move a cursor on the screen with his thoughts alone.As Smith explains, "The Neuralink implant embedded in my brain contains 1024 electrodes that capture neuron firings every 15 milliseconds generating a vast amount of data. Artificial intelligence processes this data on a connected MacBook Pro to decode my intended movements in real time to move the cursor on my screen. Neuralink does not read my deepest thoughts or words I think about. It just reads how I wanna move and moves the cursor where I want."WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?TEEN GOES FROM 10 NIGHTLY SEIZURES TO ZERO WITH BRAIN IMPLANTLearning to use the system took some trial and error. At first, the team tried mapping Smith's hand movements to the cursor, but it didn't work well. After more research, they discovered that signals related to his tongue were the most effective for cursor movement, and clenching his jaw worked best for clicking."I am not actively thinking about my tongue, just like you don't think about your wrist when you move a mouse. I have done a lot of cursor movements in my life. I think my brain has switched over to subconscious control quickly so I just think about moving the cursor,"Smith said.RICE-SIZED ROBOT COULD MAKE BRAIN SURGERY SAFER AND LESS INVASIVEThe Neuralink implant has given Smith new ways to interact with his family and the world. He can now play games like Mario Kart with his children and communicate more quickly than before. The system includes a virtual keyboard and shortcuts for common actions, making tasks like copying, pasting and navigating web pages much easier.Smith also worked with Neuralink engineers to develop a "parking spot" feature for the cursor."Sometimes you just wanna park the cursor and watch a video. When it is in the parking spot, I can watch a show or take a nap without worrying about the cursor," he explained.BEST FATHERS DAY GIFTS FOR EVERY DADTo speed up communication even more, Smith uses Grok, Elon Musk's AI chatbot. Grok helps him write responses and even suggests witty replies. "We have created a chat app that uses AI to listen to the conversation and gives me options to say in response. It uses Grok 3 and an AI clone of my old voice to generate options for me to say. It is not perfect, but it keeps me in the conversation and it comes up with some great ideas," Smith shared. One example? When a friend needed a gift idea for his girlfriend who loves horses, the AI suggested a bouquet of carrots.Smith's journey has been shaped by more than just technology. He credits his wife, Tiffany, as his"best caregiver I could ever imagine," and recognizes the support of his kids, friends and family. Despite the challenges of ALS, Smith finds meaning and hope in his faith."I have not always understood why God afflicted me with ALS but with time I am learning to trust his plan for me. I'm a better man because of ALS. I'm a better disciple of Jesus Christ because of ALS. I'm closer to my amazing wife, literally and figuratively, because of ALS," he said.Neuralink's technology is still in its early stages, but Smith's experience is already making waves. The company recently received a "breakthrough" designation from the Food and Drug Administration for its brain implant device, which hopes to help people with severe speech impairments caused by ALS, stroke, spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions.Neuro-ethicists are watching closely, as the merging of brain implants and AI raises important questions about privacy, autonomy and the future of human communication.SUBSCRIBE TO KURTS YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICESSmith's story is about resilience, creativity and the power of technology to restore something as fundamental as the ability to communicate. As Smith puts it, "Neuralink is giving me freedom, hope and faster communication. Overall, the whole Neuralink experience has been fantastic. It has improved my life so much. I'm so happy to be involved in something big that will help many people."While ALS "really sucks," as Smith says, his journey shows how innovation and determination can bring light to even the darkest rooms. And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that behind every breakthrough, there are real people, real families and real stories of hope.If you or a family member lost the ability to speak or move, would you consider a brain implant that lets you communicate with your thoughts? Let us know by writing to us atCyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/NewsletterAsk Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino made headlines this week when he revealed the bureau was "closing in" on suspects involved in planting two pipe bombs near the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, a sign that the bureau may soon solve the nagging, four-year mystery."The second we got in, I put a team on it and I said, I want answers on this," Bongino told "Fox & Friends." "And I'm pretty confident that we're closing in on some suspects."Law enforcement discovered the two pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic National Committees' headquarters around the same time that thousands of rioters a few blocks away began to descend on the Capitol in protest of the 2020 election results.A faction of President Donald Trump's base has since raised questions about the timing of the pipe bomb incident and security failures surrounding it and speculated that the Biden administration was not forthright to the public about the facts of the case. Prior to being sworn in, Bongino was a leading voice perpetuating that notion.FBI 'CLOSING IN' ON SUSPECTS IN CASE OF DC PIPE BOMBS PLACED ON EVE OF JAN 6A former Secret Service agent and podcast host, Bongino told listeners of his popular right-wing show that the FBI lied about the pipe bomb incident because the bureau did not want people to know it was an "inside job."Now as deputy director, Bongino is facing pressure from supporters and critics alike to release new details about the case.Video footage released by the FBI shows an unidentified person placing the pipe bombs near the two headquarters more than 16 hours before law enforcement found them.The suspect is seen wearing a gray hoodie, Nike Air Max Speed Turf sneakers, a face mask, glasses, and gloves.FBI REOPENING INVESTIGATION INTO COCAINE FOUND AT BIDEN WHITE HOUSEPrior to the administration change in January, the FBI also unveiled a minor last-minute detail that the suspect's height was about 5-foot-7.A woman who is a Capitol Hill resident alerted a security guard that she spotted the first pipe bomb in an alley behind the RNC headquarters while she was out retrieving her laundry around 1 p.m.Security footage showed her running from the area of the washer and dryer and notifying the guard. That set off a furious search that led officers at the DNC headquarters to discover a second pipe bomb there.A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspector general report published last year revealed the two explosive devices were "viable" and "could have detonated, causing innocent bystanders to be seriously injured or killed."FBI RELEASES VIDEO SHOWING JANUARY 2021 PIPE BOMB SUSPECT PLANTING DEVICE OUTSIDE DNC, RNC OFFICES IN DCThe bombs included one-hour timers. An FBI official said they did not believe the timers could have detonated the bombs since the time had already elapsed when the bombs were found, according to the DHS report.That report and an investigative report released by House Republicans revealed that then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at one point came within feet of the pipe bomb by the DNC.The FBI has said it has received more than 600 tips, and it continues to offer a $500,000 reward for any successful leads.The House Republicans' report noted the FBI initially investigated a person who searched on the internet for "pipe bomb DC" and a person who had recently purchased the Nike shoes seen in the surveillance footage.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe report noted, however, that the pace of the FBI's inquiry dropped off after about a month as a result of leads drying up.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday told allies in the Indo-Pacific that the U.S. has their back against increasing military and economic pressure from China, while insisting that they also contribute more to their own defense.Hegseth said the U.S. will bolster its defenses overseas to counter what the Pentagon views as rapidly developing threats by China, particularly toward Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own. China has conducted numerous exercises to test what a blockade of the island would look like.The Chinese army "is rehearsing for the real deal," Hegseth said in a keynote speech at a security conference in Singapore. "We are not going to sugarcoat it the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent."DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WORKERS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO SUBMIT DOGE'S WEEKLY PRODUCTION REPORTSChina has said it wants its military to be in a position to take Taiwan by force if necessary by 2027.China is no longer building up its military forces to take Taiwan, but it is "actively training for it, every day," Hegseth said on Saturday.Not only has China created man-made islands in the South China Sea to support new military outposts, but it has also developed highly advanced hypersonic and space capabilities, prompting the U.S. to begin creating the "Golden Dome."HEGSETH DENIES CLAIM THAT GOLDEN DOME IS 'OFFENSIVE': 'PROTECTING THE HOMELAND'In his speech, Hegseth called out China's ambitions in Latin America, specifically attempts to increase influence over the Panama Canal.He also urged countries in the region to increase their defense spending to be in line with the percentage of gross domestic product that European nations are being pressed to contribute."We must all do our part," Hegseth said.The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, pushed back against Hegseth after his speech for a comment he made about European countries putting focus on defending their own region while the U.S. mostly handles the Indo-Pacific.Kallas said European and Asian security are "very much interlinked" at the moment as North Korean troops are fighting for Russia and China is supporting Moscow.The Associated Press contributed to this report.