Munich police fatally wounded an armed man on Thursday during an exchange of fire near a museum dedicated to the city’s Nazi-era history and the Israeli Consulate, authorities said.
Police spokesperson Andreas Franken told reporters that officers responded to reports of a person carrying a “long gun” in the Karolinenplatz area, near downtown Munich, around 9 a.m. The ensuing exchange of gunfire resulted in the suspect sustaining fatal injuries. No other injuries were reported.
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said the suspect had opened fire on police before officers returned fire. The man, who was carrying an old make of firearm with a repeating mechanism, died at the scene.
Authorities have not released information on the suspect’s identity or possible motives. The incident occurred on the 52nd anniversary of the attack by Palestinian militants on the Israeli delegation at the 1972 Munich Olympics, which resulted in multiple deaths. However, police have not indicated any connection between the anniversary and Thursday’s events.
Police increased their presence in Germany’s third-largest city but said they had no indication of incidents at other locations or of any other suspects. Five officers were present when the gunfire erupted, with additional forces deployed to the area afterward.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the consulate in Munich was closed when the shooting occurred, and none of its staff was harmed. The nearby Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism, which explores the city’s past as the birthplace of the Nazi movement, reported that all of its employees were unharmed.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier about the incident. Herzog wrote on social media platform X that “together we expressed our shared condemnation and horror” at the shooting.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, speaking at an unrelated news conference in Berlin, described the shooting as “a serious incident” but declined to speculate on its nature. She emphasized that “the protection of Jewish and Israeli facilities has the highest priority.”
The incident has prompted heightened security measures in Munich, with authorities continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
ELDORET, Kenya — Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan Olympic athlete, has died at a Kenyan hospital where she was being treated for severe burns covering 80% of her body following an attack allegedly perpetrated by her partner.
Owen Menach, a spokesperson for Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, confirmed Cheptegei’s death on Thursday. Menach stated that the long-distance runner died early in the morning after organ failure. She had been fully sedated since her admission to the hospital.
Cheptegei had competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics less than a month before the attack, finishing in 44th place.
Joseph Cheptegei, the athlete’s father, told journalists at the hospital that he had lost a “very supportive” daughter and expressed hope for justice.
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom reported on Monday that Cheptegei’s partner, Dickson Ndiema, allegedly bought a can of gasoline, poured it on her, and set her ablaze during a disagreement on Sunday. Ndiema also sustained burns in the incident and was being treated at the same hospital.
Menach informed that Ndiema remained in the intensive care unit with burns over 30% of his body but was “improving and stable.”
Cheptegei’s parents revealed that their daughter had purchased land in Trans Nzoia to be near the county’s numerous athletic training centers. A report filed by the local chief indicated that the couple was heard arguing over the land where her house was built before the attack occurred.
The Uganda Athletics Federation expressed its condolences on the social platform X, stating, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.”
Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare described the attack as “a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete.”
This tragic incident follows a series of violent deaths among East African athletes in recent years. In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with stab wounds. In 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was found dead, with a postmortem report indicating she was strangled. In 2021, long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was stabbed to death at her home, with her husband Ibrahim Rotich arrested and charged with murder in an ongoing case.
The death of Rebecca Cheptegei highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence in the athletic community and beyond, prompting calls for increased awareness and preventive measures.
An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Pittsburgh International Airport on Wednesday due to a bomb threat discovered onboard.
The flight, traveling from Newark, New Jersey to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, was diverted after a flight attendant found a bomb threat written on a bathroom door, according to local news station WPXI. The message, barely legible and scrawled in pink ink, reportedly read, “there’s a bomb onboard.”
Upon landing in Pittsburgh, the FBI questioned the last two passengers who had used the bathroom. Officials and a K-9 unit searched the plane for a pink pen but were unable to find one.
As of Wednesday evening, no suspects were in custody, and it remained unclear when the note was written on the bathroom door. The investigation is ongoing.
American Airlines described the diversion as due to a “possible security issue.” The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of aviation security and the protocols in place to handle potential threats.
The Dallas Police Department has officially confirmed the presence of the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in North Texas. This acknowledgment, revealed to DailyMail.com, marks the first public statement by law enforcement officials about the gang’s activities in the area, validating long-standing rumors and raising serious concerns about public safety.
Dallas Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer Pryor stated, “We have had gang activity in the north Dallas area linked to the Tren De Aragua gang from Venezuela.” Pryor added that the department is collaborating with other agencies to address possible crimes linked to this and other gangs in the city, though specific details of ongoing investigations were not disclosed due to their sensitive nature.
Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization best known for sex trafficking and exploiting Venezuelan migrants, has reportedly expanded its operations across the United States in recent years. Law enforcement sources suggest that gang members have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border mixed in with asylum-seeking migrants, contributing to a crime wave stretching from Miami to New York.
The gang’s expansion into North Texas follows the establishment of its new headquarters on the U.S.-Mexico border, just south of El Paso, Texas. This strategic positioning has allowed Tren de Aragua to exploit desperate migrants, charging exorbitant fees for smuggling them across the border and, in some cases, kidnapping migrants for ransom.
In July 2023, the U.S. government designated Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson emphasized the escalating threat the gang poses to American communities, stating, “Today’s designation of Tren de Aragua as a significant Transnational Criminal Organization underscores the escalating threat it poses to American communities.”
The gang’s activities have raised alarm about the safety of home delivery and ride-share services. Investigations have uncovered that some Venezuelan migrants, potentially affiliated with the gang, have infiltrated these services by renting or buying accounts that do not belong to them. This practice raises significant safety concerns, as many of these individuals may lack legal authorization to work in the U.S. or valid driver’s licenses.
In Dallas, the Venezuelan community is concentrated in an area known as Villa Dallas, located in the northern part of the city. Residents and local authorities report that this neighborhood has experienced an uptick in criminal activity, including illegal street races, violence, and extortion attempts.
One resident, who requested anonymity, described the situation: “Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the situation is out of control. These men hang around the complex drinking and doing drugs. Next thing you know, it’s bullets flying and people fighting.”
In response to the rising crime, the Dallas Police Department designated The Oaks at North Dallas apartment complex as a habitual crime property in July 2023 and increased police presence in the area. “Our Neighborhood Police Officers are setting up a crime watch meeting to speak with tenants and address the crime in the area,” a police statement indicated.
Immigration attorney Rolando Vazquez highlighted the professional nature of these criminals, stating, “A lot of these people are criminals from the (Nicholas) Maduro regime. Some are ex-security forces.
They are professional criminals or part of criminal organizations.” Vazquez also noted that some gang members may have been part of government-backed militias in Venezuela, known as ‘Collectivos’.
The leader of Tren de Aragua, Hector Guerrero Flores, remains at large with a $5 million bounty on his head. The gang, which originated in Venezuela’s Tocoron Prison, has transformed from a group of prison thugs into one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world, rivaling groups like El Salvador’s MS-13 in notoriety.
As investigations continue, local and federal authorities are expected to intensify efforts to combat the gang’s activities and mitigate their impact on communities in North Texas and beyond.
The presence of Tren de Aragua in Dallas underscores the complex challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with transnational criminal organizations and highlights the intricate relationship between immigration policies, border security, and public safety in American cities.
The situation remains fluid, with law enforcement agencies working to develop strategies to address this growing threat. As the community grapples with these developments, the full impact of Tren de Aragua’s presence in Dallas and its implications for public safety continue to unfold.
Text messages exchanged between a student at Apalachee High School and his mother have provided a harrowing glimpse into the moments when students learned of an active shooter on campus Wednesday morning.
Erin Clark received a message from her son, Ethan, at 10:23 a.m. stating, “school shooting rn (right now). I’m scared. I’m not joking.” Clark immediately responded, assuring her son she was leaving work. In a poignant exchange, Ethan wrote, “I love you,” to which his mother replied, “Love you too baby. Where are you?”
Ethan informed his mother he was in class and added, “someone’s dead.” NBC News has reported that two people have died and at least four more are injured in the incident at the Winder, Georgia, school.
The Burrow County Sheriff’s office confirmed that multiple casualties have been reported and one person has been taken into custody. Apalachee High School, located about 25 miles west of Athens, has approximately 1,900 students.
Clark later shared the exchange on social media, describing the ordeal as her “worst nightmare.” She reported that her son, a high school senior, heard “eight or nine” gunshots before his classroom door was closed and barricaded with chairs and tables by students.
As the situation unfolded, frantic parents gathered at the school, waiting for their children to be released. Reports indicate that students were moved to the school’s oval and are being released to parents.
One parent, who was waiting for her friend to pick up her children, described the scene in a live social media video: “It is very quiet. It was very loud when I first got here and now it’s very, very quiet. They say they’re going to release kids to parents but I haven’t seen anyone start walking this way.”
The woman noted the overwhelming police presence, saying, “There are so many police I can’t even tell you. The road is just completely blocked all the way up.”
News sources on the scene reported that distressed parents had to park up to a mile away from the grounds and make their way on foot to reach their children.
Another parent, echoing the sentiment of it being a “parent’s worst nightmare,” said her daughter was “shaken up but okay.” She added, “To hear my baby crying and saying she is scared, I felt helpless because I could not get to her. The shooting happened very close to her classroom. So close that she heard gunshots.”
As the community grapples with this tragedy, law enforcement continues to investigate the incident. School officials and local authorities are expected to provide more information as it becomes available.
The shooting at Apalachee High School adds to the ongoing national conversation about school safety and gun violence in educational institutions.
American actor Jamie Foxx arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Columbia Pictures' 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' held at the Regency Village Theatre on December 13, 2021 in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency)
Actor Jamie Foxx has announced plans to discuss his 2023 health scare in detail during an upcoming one-man show, “One More Chance: An Evening with Jamie Foxx.”
Foxx, who was hospitalized in Atlanta for an undisclosed medical complication in April 2023, shared the news on his Instagram account this week. The show’s promotional image features the phrase “What Had Happened Was” against a black background, suggesting a lighthearted approach to the serious topic.
In his social media post, Foxx promised that the show would blend humor, heart, and inspiration. The actor has previously hinted at the severity of his health crisis, stating at the December Critics Choice Association Awards that he “nearly lost his life” during the medical emergency.
While Foxx has kept the specifics of his condition and diagnosis private, he is now set to reveal the full details during this three-night engagement scheduled for October.
American actor Jamie Foxx arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ held at the Regency Village Theatre on December 13, 2021 in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency)
The announcement comes after months of speculation and concern from fans and the entertainment industry about Foxx’s health. The Oscar-winning actor’s hospitalization last year led to his temporary withdrawal from ongoing film projects and public appearances.
Foxx’s decision to share his experience through a live performance aligns with his background in stand-up comedy and his reputation for engaging storytelling. The show is expected to provide insights into the actor’s personal journey through his health crisis and recovery.
Dates and venue details for “One More Chance: An Evening with Jamie Foxx” have not yet been released. The entertainment industry and fans alike are anticipating this rare, personal glimpse into the life of one of Hollywood’s most versatile performers.
A deadly encounter between members of an uncontacted indigenous tribe and loggers in Peru’s Amazon rainforest has resulted in two deaths and two disappearances, underscoring the ongoing tensions between isolated communities and outside encroachment.
The Mashco Piro people, believed to be one of the world’s largest isolated tribes, were involved in the incident that occurred on Thursday in the Madre de Dios region. According to Peru’s Ministry of Culture, which reported the clash on Monday night, two loggers were killed by arrows fired by tribe members while workers were opening a trail in the forest. Two other individuals remain missing, and one was injured.
This latest confrontation is not an isolated incident. The Ministry of Culture reports that at least four people, including workers and local residents, died between 2015 and 2022 in clashes with the Mashco Piro. The tribe, which inhabits an area between two natural reserves in Madre de Dios, rarely interacts with the outside world and has historically avoided contact.
The incident highlights the complex issues surrounding the protection of uncontacted tribes and the pressures they face from industrial activities in the Amazon. Several logging companies hold timber concessions inside the territory inhabited by the Mashco Piro. One such company, Canales Tahuamanu, has constructed over 120 miles of roads for its logging trucks to extract timber, according to the indigenous rights organization Survival International.
Canales Tahuamanu, which is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, has rights to extract cedar and mahogany from 130,000 acres of forests in Madre de Dios. A company representative in Lima did not respond to requests for comment on the recent incident.
The Mashco Piro have been increasingly sighted outside their traditional territory in recent months. On June 28, the Peruvian government reported that local residents had seen tribe members along the Las Piedras river, 93 miles from Puerto Maldonado, the capital of Madre de Dios.
These sightings extend beyond Peru’s borders. Rosa Padilha, from the Brazilian Catholic bishops’ Indigenous Missionary Council in the state of Acre, reported that the Mashco Piro have been observed in Brazil. “They flee from loggers on the Peruvian side,” Padilha said. “At this time of the year, they appear on the beaches to take Amazon turtle eggs. That’s when we find their footprints on the sand. They leave behind a lot of turtle shells.”
Padilha described the Mashco Piro as “a people with no peace, restless, because they are always on the run,” highlighting the precarious existence of uncontacted tribes in the face of external pressures.
Survival International estimates that there are over 100 uncontacted tribes worldwide, many facing extinction due to habitat destruction by outsiders. The organization warns that the Peruvian government has yet to formally recognize certain indigenous domains crucial for these tribes’ survival.
The risks associated with contact between uncontacted tribes and outsiders extend beyond violent confrontations. Exposure to new infections can be fatal for isolated peoples who lack immunity to common diseases.
As investigations into the recent clash continue, involving the Ministry of Culture, the prosecutor’s office, and local law enforcement, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in balancing economic development, resource extraction, and the protection of indigenous rights and lives in the Amazon rainforest.
FILE PHOTO: Unilever headquarters in Rotterdam, Netherlands August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo
The Kremlin has approved the sale of British consumer goods giant Unilever’s Russian subsidiary at a significant discount, according to a report by the RBC business news outlet on Thursday. This development underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Western companies attempting to exit the Russian market following the invasion of Ukraine.
RBC, citing sources familiar with the matter, reports that Russia’s foreign investment commission has given the green light for the sale of Unilever Rus, which employs around 3,000 people. The sale price is estimated to be between 35 billion and 40 billion rubles ($391-447 million). While a buyer has reportedly been determined, their identity remains undisclosed.
Unilever, known for brands such as Dove soap and Magnum ice cream, halted imports, exports, and advertising in Russia in March 2022 following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, the company stopped short of a complete exit, citing concerns that its assets would be seized by the Russian state.
The sale reflects the complex environment for corporate exits from Russia, which now involves several constraints. These include a mandatory 50% discount on assets from businesses in countries deemed “unfriendly” to Russia, a minimum 15% exit tax, and the challenge of finding Russian buyers who are both unsanctioned by the West and acceptable to Moscow. These exit fees are reportedly applicable to the Unilever Rus deal as well.
Despite suspending most of its operations in Russia, Unilever has faced criticism from Ukraine. The company was added to Kyiv’s “International Sponsors of War” list for continuing to operate in the country. This highlights the delicate balance companies must strike between managing their assets and responding to geopolitical pressures.
Financially, Unilever Rus nearly doubled its net profit in 2022 before experiencing a decline in 2023, illustrating the complex economic landscape for foreign companies in Russia during this period of geopolitical tensions.
The sale of Unilever’s Russian subsidiary is part of a broader trend of Western companies reevaluating their presence in Russia amid ongoing international sanctions and pressure related to the conflict in Ukraine. As the situation continues to evolve, the terms of such corporate exits and their implications for both international businesses and the Russian economy remain a subject of close observation by financial analysts and policymakers alike.
The challenges faced by Unilever in this sale process provide insight into the difficulties other multinational corporations may encounter as they navigate the complex terrain of international business in times of geopolitical strife. The outcome of this sale could set precedents for how other companies approach their exit strategies from the Russian market.
As more details about the sale become available or if Unilever issues an official statement, this story may be updated to provide a fuller picture of the transaction and its implications for the global business community.
BOSTON – A Boston woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Jameela Gross, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Dec. 5, 2024. Gross, a Heath Street Gang member/associate, was arrested in February 2024 along with over 40 Heath Street Gang members/associates, who were charged with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms charges and financial frauds, including COVID-related fraud.
In April 2021, Gross submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of her purported business. The application contained multiple false statements, including false representations regarding the purported business’s total gross income in 2020 and the purpose of the loan. Gross also submitted false tax records in support of her loan applications. Based on the fraudulent application, Gross received approximately $18,750, which she then spent on non-business-related expenses.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act created a temporary loan program directed at small businesses called the Paycheck Protection Program. PPP loans were processed by private financial institutions and fully guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. If the small business used the loan funds for approved purposes, such as payroll, the loan could be forgiven by the financial institution and paid for by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Harry T. Chavis Jr, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Hoefle and Lucy Sun of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The organizers of the Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual award, revealed the list of nominees on Wednesday, notably excluding eight-time winner Lionel Messi while featuring a strong contingent of Spanish and English stars.
Messi, 37, who claimed his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or last year after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, is absent from the 30-player shortlist. The former Barcelona star, now playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, was also omitted in 2022 when Karim Benzema won the award. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal was also excluded from the list. He had won it five time.
The nomination list highlights several key trends:
Real Madrid Dominance: Six members of Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League-winning team are nominated, including Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, considered among the favorites. Other Madrid nominees are Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Antonio Rudiger, and Fede Valverde.
Spanish National Team Recognition: Following their Euro 2024 victory, several Spanish national team players made the list, including Carvajal, Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal.
English Talent: Six England internationals feature among the nominees, reflecting the strength of English football on both domestic and international stages.
Notable Inclusions: Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane are among the high-profile nominees.
Significant Omissions: Alongside Messi, five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, now 39, is also absent from the list.
The Ballon d’Or is voted for by a jury of journalists from the top 100 countries in FIFA’s world ranking.
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In the coaching category, Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga season, is considered a favorite. He faces competition from Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Spain’s Luis de la Fuente, among others.
For the women’s Ballon d’Or, Barcelona and Spain’s Aitana Bonmati is hoping to retain her title. Former winners Ada Hegerberg and Alexia Putellas are also nominated, along with five members of the United States’ Olympic gold medal-winning team: Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan, and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in Paris on October 28th.
This year’s nominations reflect the evolving landscape of world football, with younger talents and team achievements gaining prominence in the absence of long-standing individual dominance.
