INTERNACIONAL
$600 million worth of heroin, meth and other seized drugs set on fire in Burma
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Video emerged Friday showing hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of heroin, methamphetamine and other confiscated illegal drugs being set on fire in Burma .
More than 50 combined tons of those drugs, as well as opium, ketamine, marijuana and crystal meth – estimated to be worth $600 million – were set ablaze in the southeast Asian country to mark the United Nations’ International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, according to The Associated Press.
This year, the street value of drugs destroyed was more than double last year’s total, said Police Lt. Col. Aung Myat Soe of Yangon’s Anti-Narcotics Police Force. In Yangon alone, some $321 million worth of 31 different types of drugs were set ablaze, Aung Myat Soe added.
HIDDEN TUNNEL DISCOVERED IN TIJUANA MAY HAVE SUPPORTED CROSS-BORDER TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS
Smoke and flame rise from burning illegal narcotics during a destruction ceremony marking the U.N.’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, on the outskirts of Yangon, Burma, on Friday, June 26, 2026. (Thein Zaw/AP)
Footage taken in Yangon showed a massive array of drugs engulfed in a raging inferno, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Burma has been a major source of illegal drugs destined for East and Southeast Asia, despite repeated efforts to crack down, and has long been one of the world’s largest producers of heroin and methamphetamine.
More than 50 tons of heroin, opium, ketamine, methamphetamine, marijuana and crystal meth were burned on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Burma, to mark the U.N.’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. (AP)
Violent political unrest in Burma following the military takeover in 2021 — which has led into a civil war between the military government and its pro-democracy opponents, as well as ethnic armed groups — has caused an increase in drug production, experts told the AP.
FEDS SEIZE $6.4 MILLION WORTH OF COCAINE ABOARD OIL TANKER AT PORT OF LOS ANGELES, ARREST SUSPECTED CARTEL SMUGGLER
A police officer stands in front of seized illegal narcotics during a destruction ceremony marking the U.N.’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, on the outskirts of Yangon, Burma, on Friday, June 26, 2026. (Thein Zaw/AP)
In January, the military government claimed the country’s largest-ever seizures of illicit drugs and drug-manufacturing equipment, taken from a total of 12 drug production sites during a series of raids in the northern part of Shan state.
The U.N. says its June 26 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is «an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.»
«Supported each year by individuals, communities, and various organizations all over the world, this global observance aims to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society,» the U.N. added.
Firefighters spray water in front of illegal narcotics being burnt during a destruction ceremony in Burma on Friday, June 26, 2026. (Thein Zaw/AP)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
«Global drug use and the number of drugs on the market have been increasing in the past decades. The century-long dominance of heroin in illicit global opioid markets is increasingly being challenged by changes in the illegal supply of opioids,» it added. «Production, seizures and use of cocaine continue to rise, while low costs of manufacture and reduced risks of detection of synthetic drugs are contributing to their increase on illicit drug markets.»
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
fires disasters, asia
INTERNACIONAL
León XIV inaugura el Consistorio: pide franqueza y lealtad a los cardenales para afrontar los desafíos globales
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Video captured a large emergency response after a small plane crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper on Friday, prompting an immediate information blackout from Chinese authorities, The Associated Press reported.
Video and photos shared on social media appear to show the aircraft plummeting to the ground after smashing a large hole in the 108-story CITIC Tower, located in the Chinese capital’s business district.
Police, fire and EMS workers were spotted at the scene preventing witnesses from taking photos and attempting to clear the area.
People gather near the CITIC Tower in Beijing on June 26, 2026, after an eyewitness reported plane debris at the base of Beijing’s tallest building. Video footage taken from a nearby building by the witness showed fire trucks blasting water at smoke billowing from the 528-metre (1,732-foot) CITIC Tower, while the wreck of a plane lay on the ground beside the building. (Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images)
SEE IT: SMALL PLANE CRASH IN CALIFORNIA LEAVES GAPING HOLE IN ROOF, PILOT KILLED
A person working inside the high-rise said the plane crash triggered the building’s fire alarms.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated the aircraft was a Sunward SA 60L Aurora, which took off about 30 miles east of the city and crashed shortly before 6 p.m. local time.
ADS-B data for the flight only includes a partial flight path and stops prior to the crash, according to air traffic data.
A hole is seen (R) on the side of the CITIC Tower in Beijing on June 26, 2026, after a reported plane crash. (Peter Catterall/AFP via Getty Images)
FBI SEARCHING FOR OPERATOR OF PRIVATELY OWNED DRONE THAT PUNCHED HOLE IN CANADIAN FIREFIGHTING PLANE
The AP reported that photos and videos of the incident escaped the country’s «great firewall» and were circulated on social media platform X, though Chinese censors have removed content about the crash from the country’s restricted internet.
No information has been released by government officials or state-run media, as of Friday afternoon.
Police personnel block the road near the CITIC Tower in Beijing on June 26, 2026. (Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The cause of the crash, identity of the pilot, and the number of casualties remain unclear.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
video, hong kong, organization, associated press, airlines
INTERNACIONAL
House Democrat lashes out when grilled on whether socialist victories would threaten Dem unity
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., clashed with Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram on Capitol Hill while being pressed on whether Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates who won New York primaries this week could threaten Democratic unity and complicate House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ path to the speakership.
The exchange came after several socialist candidates won Democratic nominations in New York City this week, fueling questions about whether the party’s left flank could complicate Democrats’ messaging and create new headaches for Jeffries if Democrats win back control of the House.
Larson defended New York voters’ right to choose their nominees and repeatedly expressed confidence that Jeffries, D-N.Y., could manage any new ideological tension inside the House Democratic Caucus, while also saying he opposes antisemitism and agreeing that some DSA positions are not very American.
«Isn’t it going to create hassles here on Capitol Hill? For Jeffries?» Larson was asked.
SOCIALISTS CHEER ‘SHOCKWAVE’ PRIMARY NIGHT AS DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES WIN, ADVANCE ACROSS THE MAP
WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 5: Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., arrives for the House Ways and Means Committee «Hearing with the IRS Whistleblowers: Hunter Biden Investigation Obstruction in Their Own Words» in the Longworth House Office Building on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
«The voters of New York make up their own mind. We don’t control voters of New York. In America, in a free Democratic-Republic, people get to choose their elective representatives,» Larson shot back. «The people of New York have made a decision. The people in Wyoming make decisions too, the people in other states make decisions. That’s the way democracy works.»
Pressed on whether DSA-affiliated candidates coming to Capitol Hill would create division and dissension inside the House Democratic Caucus, Larson said Jeffries will «bring everybody together,» arguing he has been able to adequately handle numerous challenges thus far and will do so again with anymore that come his way.
«Hakeem Jeffries is the greatest leader that we can have, because he will bring everybody together, as he has with the 11 separate, different caucuses and more in the Democratic caucus already,» Larson responded.
Larson was then pressed on whether the DSA-backed candidates could present a new kind of challenge for Jeffries, particularly as he tries to become Speaker.
DNC CHAIR DOWNPLAYS SOCIALIST–MODERATE RIFT AS MAMDANI’S RISE HAS SOME DEMS RATTLED
«There was some argument out there that, you know, if this was Nancy Pelosi some years ago at the height of her powers, she’d be able to finesse this — he’s never been Speaker,» Pergram posited to Larson.
«Well, she wasn’t Speaker for a long time either, but she became Speaker and she did an outstanding job. Jeffries is going to be an outstanding Speaker because of his ability to bring people together,» Larson said back.
«Is there any backlash in the caucus about — and again, these are folks from New York, [Jeffries] is from New York, right? Schumer’s from New York — that this could undercut some of them. If others in the party think that these folks are going to drag them too far to the left?» Pergram continued to press.
HAKEEM JEFFRIES CONFRONTED ON ‘YOU’RE NEXT’ CHANTS FOLLOWING NY DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST VICTORIES
Rep. John Larson-D, Conn, and House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, greet fans as they walk to their seats at RFK stadium during the annual congressional baseball game one year in D.C. (Philip Scott Andrews/Roll Call/Getty Images)
«Hakeem Jeffries will be the Speaker of the House, plain and simple,» Larson shot back. «And why? Because he’s demonstrated his leadership and he’s held the most diverse caucus ever assembled in the history of the world together. And that’s what he’s great at, and that’s what it’ll continue to do.»
Larson was also pressed on whether Democrats would distance themselves from candidates or groups accused of holding antisemitic views.
«Will you stand by people if they have antisemitic views?» Pergram asked.
«The people in New York chose the candidates they did,» Larson replied.
When pressed again, Larson said, «Am I against antisemitism? If that’s your question,» making clear he opposed antisemitism while continuing to argue that voters had the right to choose their nominees.
DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER SLAMS MAMDANI, SAYS PARTY SHOULD HAVE ‘ZERO PATIENCE’ FOR ‘INTIFADA’ RHETORIC
Congressional candidate Claire Valdez, Congressional candidate Brad Lander, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier raise their hands during a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rally at King’s Theater on June 18, 2026 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The exchange continued as Larson was grilled on the DSA statement that he said called for eliminating the Senate and having the House choose the president and the Supreme Court.
«That’s the DSA,» Larson said. «The people of New York decide who their elected officials are. The people of Connecticut decide who their elected officials are.»
Asked whether that sounded radical, Larson said, «A lot of people sound radical to me. Radical on the left. Radical on the right. What’s your point?»
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
«Should you stand out and argue against saying, ‘Hey, we shouldn’t have people, you know, throw out the Senate. Eliminate the Senate? That’s not very American,» Pergram proposed back.
«I don’t think that’s very American either,» Larson said before he disengaged and took questions from another reporter.
democrats, democrats elections, socialism, democratic party, fox news, primary results
Los hermanos en el Mundial 2026: la curiosa historia de familias unidas o divididas que se encuentran jugando el Mundial 2026
¿Qué pasó? Estefanía Pasquini se quebró en llanto al lado de Alberto Cormillot y él no pudo decir ni una palabra
Mauricio Macri lamentó que el caso Adorni impida comentar “los avances que el país tuvo”
Mauricio Macri: “El PRO va a votar la interpelación del señor Adorni en ambas cámaras del Congreso”
El Gobierno consiguió más de USD 250 millones para un pago de deuda clave e inyectó pesos al mercado
León XIV inaugura el Consistorio: pide franqueza y lealtad a los cardenales para afrontar los desafíos globales
Diputados: con el apoyo de bloques aliados, LLA logró frenar la sesión en la que la oposición buscaba interpelar a Adorni
Wos cerró la Gira Bonaerense ’26 con ocho shows que reunieron a 25 mil personas
El desempleo registró una leve baja y alcanzó el 7,8%, pero creció fuerte el trabajo informal
El horóscopo de hoy: martes 23 de junio
ECONOMIA2 días agoNuevos controles a las devoluciones de 30% por gastos en el exterior: cómo pedir el reembolso del dólar tarjeta ante ARCA
- SOCIEDAD2 días ago
Desesperación y burocracia: Pacientes con cáncer denuncian esperas de más de 20 días en PAMI para recibir su medicación
- SOCIEDAD3 días ago
El CEO de Epic Games tiene claro por qué fracasan los nuevos juegos multijugador, y el culpable puedes ser tú y tus amigos
