aatm shakti

Happy Independence Day, everyone! Nothing says independence more than the freedom to take our hard-earned money and put it on a sport that most only watch every four years. We do it with the Olympics, and we do it with the World Cup. We’ve had quite a few swings and misses, but we’ve also cashed a couple of solid plus-money plays. Let’s try to do it again.

This marks the start of the round of 16. There aren’t really too many lopsided matches in terms of odds any longer - more on that in a moment. Instead, we should be getting the best teams and solid matches from here on out. Canada vs Morocco is no exception. Canada is here after taking down Saudi Arabia. I haven’t seen much out of our neighbors to the north that I’ve been overly impressed with. They’ve scored at least one goal in every game and gotten two shutouts, so there is some stuff to hang their hat on.

MOROCCO SENDS THE NETHERLANDS HOME WITH DRAMATIC WORLD CUP KNOCKOUT IN PENALTIES

For Morocco, they had a much more difficult task of getting the victory against the Netherlands. They won in penalty kicks, and it was a wild shootout. They also haven’t actually lost a match yet and have just one draw. This should be a tight game, and a draw at +245 is where the value lies, in my opinion. I’m not going to tell you it’s a safe bet, but I think these two teams are a bit more evenly matched, and neither seems to be super aggressive on offense. Give me the draw.

If you watched the Argentina game yesterday, you know that lines don’t always tell you the full story of how things will go. The Argentinians were massive favorites and Cape Verde gave them all they could handle. Argentina won 3-2, but it took extra time to get there. Paraguay has a chance to do that today against France. France is -1600 to advance, meaning even if it goes to penalty kicks, France is still the massive favorite. Paraguay beat Germany in penalty kicks for their win to get here. It was their best game of the tournament.

France has looked unstoppable. They are still the favorites to win the World Cup. If you’ve watched them, and even if you’re not a soccer enthusiast, you can see why. Kylian Mbappe has been dynamic and continues to rack up goals. He is a real threat to Messi and the Golden Boot. He is -205 to score a goal today. I prefer his teammate, Ousmane Dembele. I think so much attention goes to Mbappe, Dembele, who already has four goals himself this tournament, gets less attention and easier looks. I’m going to play him to score at +105.

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FBI Director Kash Patel detailed a historic cross-agency operation that resulted in the arrest of over 300 suspects in the Chicago area over 60 days.

"Operation New Dawn represents a massive, whole-of-government approach under President Trump’s leadership to cracking down on violent crimes and crimes against children in great American cities," Patel told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.

"This was a sweeping operation in Chicago that brought together 11 different federal agencies across the government who worked together to execute 305 arrests and recover 24 children — many of whom had been reported kidnapped or missing — as well as charging subjects with robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, child exploitation and more.

"The success of this op and more to come through initiatives like Summer Heat 2.0 should be a clear message that this FBI, our partners and the Justice Department led by AG Todd Blanche are full throttle on crushing criminal networks in this country no matter where they are."

KASH PATEL TOUTS FBI 'FULL-THROTTLE MISSION' AFTER OPERATION SPRING CLEANING YIELDS 615 INDICTMENTS/COMPLAINTS

The agencies involved included the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), according to a statement from the United States Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Illinois.

Aside from the robbers, kidnappers and drug traffickers Patel detailed, other suspects swept up in the operation included those involved in gun trafficking, gun offenses and immigration violations, according to the U.S. attorney's statement. 

The statement described the operation as "badgeless," noting that the numerous federal agencies collaborated "under the banner of the United States flag as opposed to the shield of any agency."

U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros said the operation and the collaboration it induced represented a new era of law enforcement in America.

"It is my view that to combat violence, federal law enforcement must move at the speed of violence," Boutros said in a statement. "The remarkable success of Operation New Dawn resoundingly proves that point. Chicago’s federal anti-violence apparatus united under one banner — the United States flag and not the shield, badge, banner or logo of any agency — to make their presence felt on the streets of Chicago and make it known that they are a force to be reckoned with in the battle against violence."

ATF Special Agent in Charge in Chicago Christopher Amon concurred.

DOJ SAYS 11 MIGRANTS INDICTED IN MULTI-STATE SEX TRAFFICKING, DRUG, FIREARMS CASE

"Law enforcement has always been, and always will be, a team sport," Amon said in a statement. "The success of Operation New Dawn reflects the leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the trust, commitment and collaboration among our Chicago federal law enforcement partners. Together, we made a meaningful impact by removing shooters and other violent offenders from our streets, making Chicago safer for all."

The cooperation enabled the agencies to sweep up criminals like Felipe Dejesus Gomez Ramirez, who HSI noted is a convicted murderer and illegal alien.

New Dawn operators also arrested David Collins and Tyrone Thomas, who authorities say are members of Chicago's Traveling Vice Lords criminal gang who were deeply involved in drug trafficking. Both were federally charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

"Operation New Dawn demonstrates the power of coordinated law enforcement efforts to address the interconnected threats of violent crime and drug trafficking," Todd C. Smith, special agent in charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division said in a statement.

"Through the Homeland Security Task Force and in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies combined intelligence, resources and expertise to target individuals and criminal networks that threaten public safety. Reducing violent crime remains one of DEA’s top strategic priorities, and the significant drug seizures resulting from this operation underscore the close relationship between violence and drug trafficking activity. By working together to disrupt criminal organizations, remove dangerous drugs from our communities and hold offenders accountable, we are enhancing public safety while advancing our commitment to a Fentanyl Free America."

The operation, which began in earnest May 1, has so far resulted in 179 criminal defendants being charged in federal court in 140 newly-filed criminal cases. 

Twenty-four children, many of whom were kidnapped, were located and safely returned home, according to the statement.

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Cole Hauser's connection to Montana runs deeper than the "Yellowstone" franchise.

Hauser told Fox News Digital that while Taylor Sheridan's hit franchise introduced millions of viewers to Montana, his family's ties to the Treasure State stretch back nearly 140 years.

"Montana, my family has been there since 1886. So the Hauser legacy there is huge," Hauser said. "I mean, Samuel T. Hauser was the seventh governor of Montana, helped start that state. So going back there felt like a homecoming for me."

Samuel T. Hauser served as the seventh governor of the Montana Territory and was a businessman whose investments in banking, mining and railroads helped shape the territory's early development. For Hauser, stepping into the character meant filming in a place that had already been woven into his family's history long before television cameras arrived.

WATCH: COLE HAUSER SAYS MONTANA ROOTS HELPED SHAPE HIS CONNECTION TO RIP WHEELER

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Now, as the Western franchise expands into Texas with "Dutton Ranch," experts say the show's tourism boom may be expanding with it.

"Traveling to the sets of popular TV shows, movies, and even books has increased substantially over the past few years," Adam Duckworth, president and founder of Travelmation, told Fox News Digital. "We have even given this travel trend a name: set-jetting. This is when fans 'jet' to the sets of their favorite shows."

According to Duckworth, few modern television shows have influenced American travel quite like "Yellowstone."

"'Yellowstone' was one of the first shows to spark this trend," he said. "Fans would watch the Dutton family in those breathtaking landscapes and want to see them in person with their own eyes. Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding areas saw a boom in tourism as the show increased in popularity and next we expect that to happen in Texas thanks to the spin-off 'Dutton Ranch.'"

Sheridan's original series premiered in 2018 and steadily evolved from a cable drama into one of television's biggest franchises. Along the way, Montana itself became more than a backdrop. Endless mountain ranges, sprawling ranches and wide-open skies became as recognizable to viewers as the Dutton family itself.

TAYLOR SHERIDAN’S 'YELLOWSTONE’ FORMULA TURNS COUNTRY STARS INTO SCENE-STEALERS AS MORGAN WADE MAKES HER DEBUT

Hauser believes the landscape played an enormous role in the show's success.

WATCH:COLE HAUSER SAYS RIP WHEELER IS A ‘THROWBACK TO THE OLD-SCHOOL AMERICAN MAN’

"You know, 10 years ago when we started this, it was a really kind of a grassroot show in Montana and then, you know, we grew out to the edges, Los Angeles, now New York, and now the world," Hauser told Fox News Digital.

The actor said he's witnessed the show's global reach firsthand while traveling overseas.

"We were just in Europe, and it's amazing to watch, you know, the Germans dress up as cowboys, the English," Hauser said. "I've been to Australia and New Zealand. I mean just how many people have been touched by it."

When asked why "Yellowstone" resonated with audiences around the world, Hauser credited Sheridan's storytelling and Montana itself.

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"I honestly don't know other than it's the tremendous writing and storytelling of Taylor Sheridan," Hauser said. "He created unbelievable characters and, you know, Montana is a character in its own and I think people forget how beautiful the Old West is."

That emotional attachment to place is exactly what travel advisers are seeing translate into vacation bookings.

Duckworth said fans aren't simply looking for scenic overlooks or filming locations. They want to immerse themselves in the same lifestyle they see on screen.

"Any TV show or movie that takes place in a gorgeous setting can ignite a set-jetting trend," he explained. "Fans want to feel like they are their favorite characters by visiting the exact places they are seeing on their screens."

"The more remote or luxurious the stay, the more it truly becomes a bucket-list destination," Duckworth continued. "Yes, you can do a place like Yellowstone on a budget but you can also go ultra-lux and stay at an upscale ranch where you are wined and dined and feel like you are a member of the Dutton family."

As Sheridan shifts the franchise south, Hauser said filming in Texas brought an entirely different experience.

"God, this next iteration, I mean, it has such new challenges," he said. "Obviously the landscape of Texas, the heat that was totally different, the new environment, the new characters that come in, the story."

Even with the new setting, Hauser said he and co-star Kelly Reilly wanted to preserve what fans love most about Rip and Beth.

"What stayed consistent is Beth and Rip," Hauser said. "Kelly and I were very cognizant of making sure that those two characters continue to be the same polarizing, strong, loyal characters that they've always been."

Duckworth believes Texas now stands to benefit from the same television-driven tourism Montana experienced during the height of "Yellowstone."

'YELLOWSTONE’ FANS ‘ABOUT TO PASS OUT’ OVER ‘DUTTON RANCH’ TRAILER AS BETH AND RIP RETURN

"'Dutton Ranch' was mainly filmed around Northern Texas," he said. "One of the popular shooting spots was Ferris, Texas, which is about 20 miles outside Dallas. Ferris is known to be growing in popularity and I have no doubt it will quickly expand with all the extra attention on the small town."

He also pointed to Saunders Ranch in Weatherford, Texas, as another destination likely to draw devoted fans.

"Another place for 'Dutton Ranch' fans is Saunders Ranch in Weatherford, Texas," Duckworth said. "This is a real-life working ranch with a history that dates all the way back to the 1800s. Saunders Ranch is the setting for the show's Edwards Ranch, also known as Rip and Beth's property."

Travelmation travel adviser Kris Porter said she's already seeing demand shift from the Rocky Mountains toward Texas as audiences look to re-create the world Sheridan built.

"Before the Yellowstone craze, I'd gotten exactly one request for a 'dude ranch' vacation," Porter told Fox News Digital. "Now they come from the most unlikely places."

"Families who would typically pick a cruise or an all-inclusive beach resort are instead heading out West to fulfill their dreams of life on a ranch."

‘YELLOWSTONE’ STAR LUKE GRIMES TARGETED BY MONTANA LOCALS AS MOVE FROM LA SPARKS SMALL-TOWN FURY

Porter said today's travelers aren't looking for a rustic getaway. Instead, they're seeking luxury experiences that mirror the lifestyle portrayed in Sheridan's television universe.

"These clients do not want to do this on a budget," she explained. "They are seeking an elevated, bucket list ranch experience like they are seeing on TV."

"They are willing to pay an all-inclusive price that includes Michelin-quality food, while also learning how to ride horses and herd cattle."

For many travelers, she said, the appeal is balancing rugged adventure with upscale comfort.

"At the end of the day they want to retreat to their comfortable cabin with a nice glass of wine while staring at the stars — a pristine view that their normal, every day life does not allow."

The shift toward Texas is already becoming noticeable.

"Over the past few years we've seen an increase in bookings for these experiences in Wyoming and Montana, but with 'Dutton Ranch,' clients are now also moving south to Texas," Porter said.

She added that Texas offers one advantage Montana can't always promise.

"One strong appeal of Texas, besides the show, is the weather, which gives you much more opportunities year-round," Porter said. "Lavish spas and all-inclusive stays can be found in the Lone Star State too, so my clients are traveling to Texas for those higher-end trips with much warmer weather than Wyoming, especially in the spring months."

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It is the quintessential imagery of a desperate man, drained of all earthly strength and power, who's come to the end of his own knowledge and wisdom. He takes a knee in humbleness to God.

This is the portrait of then-General George Washington at Valley Forge, praying for guidance when the fight for America's independence seemed lost.  

The iconic painting, "Prayer at Valley Forge," was created 50 years ago by artist Arnold Friberg in honor of America's bicentennial. Now, it's the centerpiece of the Museum of the Bible's exhibit celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary.

SECRETS OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLEFIELDS EMERGE 250 YEARS AFTER AMERICA'S FOUNDING

Carlos Campo, Ph.D., CEO of the Museum of the Bible, says, "Washington is most powerful on his knees. That's what he knows, because he is bowing to a greater power who can infuse him with true leadership."

The image is a snapshot of "a man carrying a burden that feels too heavy to bear — and the quiet place he goes when everything is on the line." It takes place during the brutal winter of 1777-1778. 

America's founders had already declared a break from Great Britain's rule on July 4, 1776. 

Now, the "fragile army" of colonists needs to fight to secure it. Washington is their leader. But America at this juncture is more a dream than solid reality.  

Washington's soldiers are freezing in the harsh snow and cold. Many of them are without shoes or warm clothing.

JUST 5 MINUTES OF PRAYER COULD HAVE SURPRISING HEALTH BENEFITS, STUDY FINDS

The painting and the D.C.-based museum show how fidelity to God and belief in the omniscient power of an Almighty God are real powers that helped create the United States of America. They are not lofty philosophies written in founding documents, but living realities tested on a literal battlefield.  

As America celebrates its 250th year, much of Washington, D.C., is turning red, white and blue to exalt this nation's strength through its noble founding documents, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights — all now taking center stage. Yet the greater influence, Campo believes, on America’s self-governing sense of law, justice and mercy is found at the Museum of the Bible, where the famous portrait of General Washington in prayer headlines the museum’s exhibit.

Campo told Fox News, "While other influences aided in the founding principles of our nation, nothing — and there's not even a close second — had the influence as the power of scripture."

Even so, Dr. Ben Carson wants us to know there was something in the man himself that was divinely ordained. He quips that it's a story about a young Washington that public schools tend to leave out of their history lessons. 

RARE AMERICAN BIBLE AND FOUNDERS' LETTERS TRACE FAITH'S ROLE IN BIRTH OF THE NATION

Carson, the former U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development and, before that, a highly accomplished pediatric surgeon, is making sure younger generations hear the story through his Little Patriots Learning. In July 1755, a 23-year-old Washington escaped a harrowing death at the Battle of the Monongahela. 

He was shot at by an expert marksman and survived. In a letter to his younger brother John, the future first president wrote, "By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability and expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side."

Carson says, "He realized that God had saved him for a reason. And years later, he was in the same area... before he became president… and one of the Indian chiefs who had been involved in the war heard about it and asked [to be brought] to where Washington was. When he reached Washington, he said, 'Sir, I just needed to meet you because I'm an expert marksman and I shot you 17 times and my men shot you, and pretty soon I told them to stop wasting their bullets, because this is a man who's protected by the great spirit above. And I just wanted to see you before I died, knowing that you would become the father of a great nation.'"

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Added Carson, "That used to be in all of our history books."

There were no videos or phone cameras back then, of course — just historical accounts. Putting the future in the hands of a man who believes wholeheartedly in the power of prayer seems a bit risky. But Washington and America's subsequent thriving should be proof enough.

The museum, though, has made the portrait of "Prayer at Valley Forge" come alive with a one-man show in its theater. 

Actor James Denton portrays the general, not as an alabaster statue whose portrait graces the $1 bill, nor the proud picture of confidence as the president of the United States, but as the man "at his most vulnerable" facing what all men and women face at some point in life: a crisis. Except that this crisis would affect not just him, but chart the course of history.

So Washington did what he knew was demanded by Scripture: to "pray without ceasing." And to know these words of Scripture: "If my people, who are called by my name would humble themselves … I will come and heal their land."

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The die was cast. Decades later, Abraham Lincoln would take up the mantel of prayer. He faced another crisis, a civil war. While Washington’s prayer came to help birth our nation, Lincoln’s prayer was to sustain it, to keep it together. 

He famously said, "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day."

If America were to survive and become something of a global beacon on a hill, for the good of the world, it had to survive its own internal conflicts. It must live in truth "e pluribus unum" — out of many, one.

Today, we sometimes take prayer for granted, even mock its worth. Thoughts and prayers get downgraded to mere words with no action. But prayer has power. 

That is why the churches call men and women who take to their knees as prayer warriors.

Says Campo, "Washington may not have been the most orthodox believer, [but] he certainly understood the sovereign power of God and that, in that moment, it was the thing he had to call upon for the true power that he needed."

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This Fourth of July, as we celebrate America's 250th, we should also realize that power is still available to us.

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Millions of Medicare beneficiaries struggling with obesity could soon see the cost of weight-loss drugs plummet, as a new federal pilot program launching July 1 expands access to GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound for eligible seniors.

Through a new trial called Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, the federal government is now offering a selection of the brand-name medications to certain Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries for $50 a month, The Associated Press reported.

The covered medications include drugmaker Eli Lilly’s Foundayo tablets and Zepbound KwikPens and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy injections and tablets, all of which have been FDA-approved for weight loss, according to the report.

OZEMPIC USERS MAY BE MAKING A MAJOR WEIGHT-LOSS MISTAKE, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

The temporary program is set to run until the end of 2027.

This is the first time GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) will be covered by insurance when used solely for weight loss.

Prior to this new Medicare pilot, seniors who wanted to access GLP-1s for obesity alone paid about $1,350-$1,650 per month for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) and about $1,086 monthly for Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide). However, both manufacturers offered some cash-pay options that significantly reduced those prices for eligible patients.

GLP-1 WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS ARE RESHAPING THE BRIDAL INDUSTRY AS SHOPS RUSH ORDERS AND REQUIRE NEW WAIVERS

There are some parameters surrounding the coverage — older adults must have had a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher when they started GLP-1 therapy, or a BMI of 27 or higher alongside another health condition, such as a past heart attack or stroke or prediabetes.

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Those who already have insurance coverage for other diseases, such as diabetes and sleep apnea, are not eligible for the program.

There are more than 70 million Americans currently enrolled in Medicare, 10 million of whom are overweight or obese, according to Juliette Cubanski, vice president and director of the program on Medicare policy at the healthcare research nonprofit KFF.

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"For many older Americans living with obesity, this is a moment they and their families have been waiting for," Jamey Millar, Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president of U.S. operations, said in a press release.

"The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program offers a new, affordable path to an FDA-approved treatment that was previously not covered."

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Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said he hopes the program can help his agency collect data to potentially work toward longer-term coverage, while providing immediate relief to cash-strapped older Americans, AP reported.

"The sheer cost of these medications is a huge barrier to access," he said in a call with reporters. "That ends today."

Oz told reporters that CMS plans to "carefully track participation and outcomes" to see whether an extension of the Bridge program or another solution is the best way to move forward. He told AP a federal law permanently allowing the coverage is "not essential right now" but something "for Congress to debate amongst themselves."

"We can’t decide what’s going to happen long term with Bridge until we see some of the data," he said, adding that there are ongoing talks with drug companies to lower costs.

One potential concern is that older patients tend to have more adverse effects to medication in general , according to Dr. Micah Eimer, a clinical assistant professor of cardiology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Specifically, in our research, older patients on blood pressure medications were more likely to experience hypotensive side effects, such as fainting and dizziness, after starting a GLP-1," he said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Three separate attacks involving petrol bombs and other improvised devices took place in Thessaloniki in the early hours of Wednesday.

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A man was seen clambering through a window to escape black smoke in the block where some 200 people live.

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