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Reporter's Notebook: Remembering Baz Davies a great newsman and friend

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Reporter's Notebook: Remembering Baz Davies a great newsman and friend

This is one for the folks you don’t see on Fox News, but who helps to get the journalism out there, behind the camera, behind the scenes, never tiring.  

In particular, I’m referring to a man named Baz Davies (Barry-John Davies). For years, he was a top-notch video editor and then a wide-ranging producer for us at the Fox News London bureau.    

Baz passed away at the age of 46. Cancer brought him down. It was a tough yearslong fight which he waged as he did everything … with spirit and determination. 

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR CONTINUES ON DEADLY DAY FOR ISRAEL, BUT ITS ‘DETERMINATION REMAINS’

Fox News London bureau producer Baz Davies, left, in Lyon, France. (Greg Palkot/Fox News)

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We first worked together in the field in 2012, when we got an overnight surprise invitation to go to North Korea to see Kim Jong Un officially made leader. Our regular cameramen were away, and so I turned to Baz, who had worked as a satellite dish operator before Fox News. On the flight over, I turned to him and said, “By the way, have you used a camera before?”  “Not really,” he replied, “but I’ll wing it.” And he did…very well, even when our tripod got lost at the airport.

Our follow-up assignment was covering a high school prom in a London suburb, reporting on the American institution’s transplant over here. 

As you can see, he worked with us, in fact, on the widest range of stories possible.  

In Ukraine, both in the cities of Kyiv and Lviv, through some very hard times for the country … and for Fox News. 

Baz Davies, left, in Hong Kong covering pro-democracy protests. (Greg Palkot/Fox News)

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During the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong when the air was full of rancid tear gas and hurling brickbats. 

On the border with Hungary as officials tangled with their own immigration crisis. 

In France for some embattled presidential elections and some raucous celebrations at the women’s World Cup final. 

The terror attacks that left their trail through France, Belgium and the rest of Europe. 

In Sweden sorting out the mystery of hacker Julian Assange’s past.

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At Normandy for moving meetings with courageous veterans of D-Day.

In London for round after round of the U.K.’s Brexit battle to leave the European Union. 

Baz Davies, center, with Greg Palkot, left, and the late Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski.

Baz was warm and funny, a lover of life and people. He enjoyed working with others, was always there with a helping hand … and a quip.  

He was an expert on food and enjoyed the chance to order sushi from the hotel’s room service menu. 

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He adored a good political debate … often squaring-off with the members of the bureau.  

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: BRUCE VS BILLY ON NEUTRAL LONDON TURF

Baz Davies, right, with Greg Palkot in London. (Greg Palkot/Fox News)

He cherished music. We attended concerts together. He hated U2. I am witness to him getting right the opening riff of Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” on an electric keyboard at work.

In fact, it was at Glastonbury, a semi-annual Woodstock-like music festival here in England, where, very romantically, he met the woman who would become his dear wife, Sarah. 

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He loved very much the family they would build. Sarah and Baz had two very cute boys, Rex and Ned. They carved out a beautiful life together in a very pretty house in Cornwall, a seaside area of England. Also, a five-hour drive from London which made for some challenging commutes at the beginning and end of each week.

Baz Davies seen here in Lyon, France, enjoying a steak.

He was a brave man. When he got his cancer diagnosis, he took the challenge on in full, enduring tough operations as well as treatments, using Instagram to get his message about the terrible disease out there to the wider public, as his caring wife Sarah saw to all the challenges of his disability. 

Just over a week ago was the last time we saw Baz. London Bureau Chief Dragan Petrovic and I went down to Cornwall. It had been a while since we last saw him and the disease had taken its toll. Baz was barely able to walk and stay awake while we were with him.

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Baz Davies and the team in Hong Kong covering the pro-democracy protests.

But he said something very important when we were there. That he had to make each day count. That he couldn’t waste a moment of the time he had left.  At that point, it was clear that he knew there wouldn’t be much time. 

After a few hours, he told us he had to go upstairs and take a nap. I hugged him. Dragan helped him into his bed. As we bade goodbye to a sweet, talented and funny friend. Rest in peace Baz.   

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‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Sets Summer Release, Reveals More First-Look Photos as Jason Sudeikis Returns to Richmond

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‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Sets Summer Release, Reveals More First-Look Photos as Jason Sudeikis Returns to Richmond

Jason Sudeikis‘ long-awaited return to AFC Richmond now has a date.

Apple TV has announced that that the fourth season of “Ted Lasso” will debut globally this summer, while the streamer has also sharing new stills and plot details.

Currently in production, the show will see the return of Sudeikis, who exec produces, plus Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Emmy winner Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Jeremy Swift. New signings include Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsey, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, Abbie Hern and Grant Feely.

In season four, Ted returns to Richmond, taking on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women’s football team. As per the synopsis: “Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would.”

“Ted Lasso” season four also adds Emmy winner Jack Burditt (“Nobody Wants This,” “Modern Family,” “30 Rock”) as executive producer under a new overall deal with Apple TV. Sudeikis stars and executive produces alongside Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Jane Becker, Jamie Lee, and Bill Wrubel. Goldstein serves as writer and executive producer alongside Leanne Bowen. Sarah Walker and Phoebe Walsh will serve as writers and producers for season four, and Sasha Garron co-produces. Julia Lindon will write for season four, and Dylan Marron will serve as story editor.

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Bill Lawrence executive produces via his Doozer Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of NBCUniversal Content. Doozer’s Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer also serve as executive producers. The series was developed by Sudeikis, Lawrence, Kelly and Hunt, and is based on the preexisting format and characters from NBC Sports.

Following its global debut on Apple TV, “Ted Lasso” immediately broke records, the first season becoming the most Emmy-nominated comedy series. The series went on to land back-to-back outstanding comedy series Emmys for its first two seasons on air.

See the other first-look stills from “Ted Lasso” season 4 below.

Michael Becker Courtesy of Apple

Courtesy of Apple

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Ted Cruz urges US to arm Iranian protesters as militias threaten ‘total war’ against America

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Ted Cruz urges US to arm Iranian protesters as militias threaten ‘total war’ against America

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Sen. Ted Cruz called for the U.S. to arm Iranian protesters Tuesday as unrest continues inside the nation and Iran-backed militias issued threats against Washington.

“We should be arming the protesters in Iran. NOW,” Cruz wrote in a post on X.

“For the Iranian people to overthrow the Ayatollah — a tyrant who routinely chants ‘death to America’ — would make America much, much safer,” the Texas Republican added.

Cruz was responding to another post from Tehran Bureau, which cited a source inside Iran detailing what was described as a rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground as security forces continued to crack down on demonstrations.

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IRAN WILL RETALIATE ‘WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE’ IF US ATTACKS, SENIOR DIPLOMAT WARNS

“From trusted source in Tehran: Tell all of your friends [abroad] — everyone you know: there is absolutely nothing else we can do here inside Iran,” the post read.

“They are killing people in such ways, they’ve descended upon people so brutally, they’re attacking us in such ways… We’ve lost so many lives that no one dares go out anymore. They shoot directly with bullets. They kill outright. And even after killing, they come and behead you, and do countless other violent things to you,” it continued.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called for the armament of anti-government protesters in Iran. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“Going out into the streets is literally suicide. It’s not about bravery anymore. It’s madness. You go out and they shoot you point-blank. They don’t even ask why you came. They just kill you,” the post continued. “There is absolutely no way for us to gather unless we had weapons, unless we were armed like them. Otherwise they have weapons everywhere.”

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According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, activist groups estimate that more than 6,000 people have been killed in Iran, with additional cases still under review.

The protests began in late December amid widespread anger over economic hardship, political repression and corruption, according to reports.

IRAN REGIME REPORTEDLY ISSUED NATIONWIDE SHOOT-TO-KILL ORDERS AS PROTEST DEATH TOLL SURGES

Iranian security forces allegedly killed detainees and burned bodies during protests, with clashes continuing in Kermanshah, Rasht and Mashhad despite government claims. (NCRI)

Cruz’s post came after armed militias aligned with Iran warned the U.S. they would retaliate against any American attack on the Islamic Republic, as the Trump administration moved forces into the region.

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Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq said it was prepared for “total war” if the U.S. attacked Iran, according to The Associated Press.

Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, the group’s leader, said the “enemies” of the Islamic Republic would face “the bitterest forms of death.”

IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER ACKNOWLEDGES THOUSANDS KILLED AS TRUMP CALLS FOR NEW LEADERSHIP: REPORTS

Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq said it was prepared for “total war” should the U.S. attack Iran. (Fadel Itani/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

“You will taste every form of deadly suffering, nothing of you will remain in our region, and we will strike terror in your hearts,” the statement read.

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Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthis also threatened to restart attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, releasing a video Monday showing a ship engulfed in flames, captioned: “Soon,” The Associated Press reported.

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As previously reported by Fox News Digital, President Donald Trump said Iran appeared to be seeking negotiations with the U.S. amid the growing military buildup, telling Axios, “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk.”

The USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the Middle East on Monday as unrest inside Iran continued to escalate.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Sen. Ted Cruz for comment.

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North Korea’s Kim to outline plans to boost nuclear arsenal

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North Korea’s Kim to outline plans to boost nuclear arsenal

Pyongyang expected to release five-year development plan for defence and economy at upcoming congress.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will unveil plans to bolster the country’s nuclear forces at an upcoming governing party meeting, state media reported.

The report from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Wednesday came the day after Kim oversaw the latest in a series of missile tests that have unsettled the region. Kim has ordered the “expansion” and modernisation of the country’s missile production.

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Details, which Kim has warned will bring “excruciating mental agony” to his enemies, are expected to be released at the upcoming ninth Communist Party congress, which is due to take place in the coming weeks.

At the meeting, the first such gathering since 2021, the governing party will unveil a five-year development plan for defence and the economy.

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Kim described Tuesday’s test-firing of a large-calibre multiple rocket launcher system as of “great significance in improving the effectiveness of our strategic deterrent” and said it showed the weapon system could be used for “specific attacks”, KCNA reported.

The missiles that were fired “hit a target” in waters at a distance of 358.5km (222.7 miles), the North Korean leader declared.

The missiles were fired in the direction of the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. Two landed outside North Korea’s Exclusive Economic Zone, Japanese state news agency Jiji Press reported, citing Defence Ministry sources.

South Korea’s military reported that it detected multiple short-range ballistic missiles launched from north of Pyongyang towards the Sea of Japan.

“The result and significance of this test will be a source of excruciating mental agony and serious threat to the forces that attempt to provoke a military confrontation with us,” Kim said.

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Analysts told South Korea’s Yonhap news agency that the “self-steered precision guided flight system” mentioned by Kim may indicate a new navigation system employed to help the weapon defy global positioning system (GPS) jamming.

Photos showed Kim’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, accompanying him to the test, along with Kim Jong-sik, first vice department director of the party’s central committee, and Jang Chang-ha, chief of the Missile Administration, Yonhap reported.

While acknowledging that development of the rocket launcher system had “not been plain sailing”, Kim said the test was “of great significance in improving the effectiveness of our strategic deterrent”.

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