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☆ Germany Arrests Lawmaker’s Aide on Suspicion of Spying for China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Christopher F. Schuetze | More About Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

An aide to a German lawmaker in the European Parliament has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China, Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office said Tuesday. It came just hours after the German authorities arrested three people in the west of the country on suspicion of leaking technological data used in maritime propulsion and exporting a high-powered laser to China. Prosecutors said that Jiang G., as he was identified in keeping with German privacy rules, had worked for a German member of the European Parliament since 2019. Calling him an “employee of a Chinese secret service,” prosecutors accused Mr. G. of repeatedly passing along information about parliamentary deliberations and decisions to Chinese intelligence in January. Mr. G., a German citizen, also was accused of spying on Chinese opposition groups in Germany, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office.

Persons: Jiang G Organizations: Prosecutors, Mr Locations: China, Dresden, German, Germany

German national Jian G, who worked for AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, was arrested by Saxony State criminal police in Dresden and had his residences searched, the prosecutor’s office said early Tuesday. The aide was later suspended by the European Parliament, a spokesman for the body told CNN. Prosecutors said he passed on information about “negotiations and decisions in the European Parliament” to China in January. The far-right AfD party has nine seats in the European Parliament, and is competing alongside Germany’s traditional parties in the European elections in June. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office said the homes and workplace of the trio were searched in Düsseldorf and Bad Homburg.

Persons: Jian G, Maximilian Krah, ”, Jens Schlueter, Jian, “, Krah, Nancy Faeser, Thomas R, – Herwig, Ina F, –, Wang Wenbin Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, International Trade, Security, Defence, Foreign Trade, Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Ministry of State Security, ” Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Crown Prosecution Service Locations: China, Europe, Saxony, Dresden, Germany, United States, Bad Homburg

CNN —Three people in Germany have been arrested under suspicion of spying for China, while two people have been charged in the United Kingdom for espionage offenses. “Allegations suggest the suspects have had ties to a Chinese secret service since before June 2022,” the German prosecutor’s office said in a statement. The couple are accused of buying and exporting a specialized laser to China without authorization, violating European Union regulations. Germany’s justice minister Marco Buschmann congratulated the prosecutor’s office in a post on social media platform X, writing that the arrests highlighted the need to stay vigilant. Separately in the UK, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced charges against two men who allegedly breached the UK’s Official Secrets Act on behalf of China.

Persons: Thomas R, Thomas, Herwig, Ina F, Marco Buschmann, Nick Price Organizations: CNN, Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Foreign Trade, Ministry of State Security, Britain’s, Prosecution Service, CPS, Terrorism, Crown Prosecution Service, Metropolitan Police, ’ Locations: Germany, China, United Kingdom, Westminster, London

GRUENHEIDE, Germany (AP) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk visited the electric car maker's first European plant Wednesday as production resumed at the factory just outside Berlin about a week after a suspected arson attack cut its power supply. Musk was expected at a “team huddle” with employees at the plant in the Gruenheide municipality, employee council chief Michaela Schmitz told regional broadcaster RBB's Inforadio channel. Production at Tesla’s plant in Gruenheide came to a standstill on Tuesday last week. The power outage came as environmental activists have been protesting in a forest near the plant against plans to expand the facility. That has drawn opposition from environmentalists and some other local groups, who also worry about possible effects on the area’s water supply.

Persons: — Tesla, Elon Musk, Musk, Michaela Schmitz, Schmitz, Tesla Organizations: RBB's, ” Authorities, Volcano Locations: GRUENHEIDE, Germany, Berlin, Gruenheide, Brandenburg

“It would really shock me if someone that was hired by my campaign did something that’s inappropriate,” Adams said, flanked by eight of his top deputies in City Hall. Lisa Zornberg, chief counsel at City Hall, confirmed the Adams administration was also in touch with federal prosecutors in Manhattan about the matter, though she declined to go into detail about their communications. A spokesperson for Adams’ campaign previously said they had not been contacted about the raid. Brendan McGuire, the attorney hired to represent Adams, also not respond to an inquiry. I just strongly believe you have to follow the law.”Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office in Manhattan, declined to comment.

Persons: Eric Adams, ” Adams, “, ”, WilmerHale, Lisa Zornberg, Adams, Brianna Suggs, Suggs, I’m, ” Suggs, Brendan McGuire, ‘, ’ ”, ” Nicholas Biase Organizations: City Hall, New York Times, FBI, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Borough Hall, “ Locations: City Hall, Manhattan

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal agents on Thursday raided the home of a top fundraiser and longtime confidante to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who abruptly ditched a planned White House meeting and flew home from Washington. The official declined to say whether Suggs was the target of an investigation. Vito Pitta, an attorney for the Adams campaign, said the mayor was not contacted as part of the inquiry. A spokesperson for City Hall declined to comment on the cancellations, deferring comment on the raid to the Adams campaign. In July, six people were charged in a straw donor conspiracy scheme to divert tens of thousands of dollars to Adams’ campaign.

Persons: Eric Adams, Brianna Suggs, Suggs, Vito Pitta, Adams, ” Suggs, Christopher Burwell, FBI windbreakers, Nicholas Biase, –, Eric Ulrich, Ulrich, ___ Balsamo Organizations: —, New York City, Agents, Associated Press, Washington D.C, White House, City Hall, Brooklyn Borough, FBI Locations: New York, Washington, Brooklyn, New York City, Denver, Chicago, Chinatown, Sugg’s, Manhattan

☆ Sandro Tonali: Newcastle United and Italy midfielder banned for 10 months for violating betting regulations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Newcastle United and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months for violating betting regulations, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, said on Thursday. Tonali signed for Newcastle in the summer for a reported fee of $74 million, per Reuters. Tonali came on as a second-half substitute in Newcastle’s Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. The decision comes just weeks after Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli was handed a seven-month ban and fined €12,500 ($13,200) for also breaching betting rules. Tonali and his fellow Italy international teammate Nicolò Zaniolo withdrew from the national team squad earlier this month after their involvement in gambling investigations was released.

Persons: Sandro Tonali, Gabriele Gravina, “, ”, Gravina, Tonali, Eddie Howe, Reuters –, Nicolò Fagioli, Nicolò Zaniolo, Zaniolo, CNN’s Barbie Nadeau Organizations: CNN, Newcastle United, Italian Football Federation, Federal Prosecutor’s, Sky24, Newcastle, AC Milan, men’s, Newcastle’s Premier League, Crystal, BBC, FIFA, UEFA, Reuters, Serie, League, Newcastle’s Champions League, Borussia Dortmund, Wednesday, Juventus, Italy Locations: Italy, Italian

RUSSIAN DEATH TOLL IN HAMAS ATTACKS RISES TO 4MOSCOW — Russia’s embassy in Israel said the number of Russian citizens killed in the latest Israel-Palestinian war has risen to four. Previously, two Russian citizens were believed to have been killed and four were missing, according to Anatoly Viktorov, Russian Ambassador to Israel. 2 RUSSIAN CITIZENS WERE KILLED IN HAMAS ATTACKS IN ISRAELMOSCOW — Russia’s ambassador to Israel said that two Russian citizens have been killed in of the latest Israel-Palestinian war. Viktorov said that four other Russian citizens remain missing. He said the embassy has no information confirming Hamas’ claim that several Russian citizens were among the hostages it has taken.

Persons: Israel pummeled, Elon Musk, Musk, Marina Ryazanova, Anatoly Viktorov, Abdel Fattah el, JERUSALEM —, Cross, Fabrizio Carboni, we’ve, ” Carboni, “, Volker Türk, Türk, ”, ” PUTIN, Vladimir Putin, Mohammed Al, Sudani, Putin, regrettably hasn’t, ” Putin, Leo, Khan Younis, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, INDIA'S MODI, Narendra Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Modi, Modi, ISRAEL MOSCOW —, Israel, Anatoly Viktorov didn’t, hasn’t, Viktorov, MACRON, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Macron, Muqtada al, National Security Iyad, Bazm, Dmitry Peskov, Mahmoud Abbas, Peskov, it’s, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s, Tarik Jazarevic, HAVE Organizations: ‘, Twitter, Tass, International Committee, ICRC, Associated Press, HUMAN RIGHTS, The United Nations, Palestinian, Tuesday, Iraqi, MSF, Shifa Hospital, Nasser Hospital, ISRAEL BERLIN, German Foreign Ministry, Indian, Israel’s, Israel, ISRAEL MOSCOW, Hamas, Ministry of Interior, National Security, Kremlin, WHO, The United, World Health Organization, United Nations, UNRWA, PARIS — France’s Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.N, ISRAEL, MOSCOW, Russian, Egypt, Palestinian, Geneva, GAZA, U.S, GAZA CAIRO, Gaza City, Khan, Shalom, GERMANY, Israeli, Germany, DELHI, India, FRANCE, MACRON HAMBURG, Iran, Hamburg, France, IRAQ, GAZA BAGHDAD, Sadr, Najaf, Iraq, RAFAH, Rafah, RUSSIA, Moscow, GAZA GENEVA, The United Nations, UN, BEIRUT

☆ How Rudy Giuliani Became Co-Conspirator 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Jonah E. Bromwich | More About Jonah E. Bromwich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rudolph W. Giuliani is co-conspirator 1. But co-conspirator 1, who Mr. Giuliani’s lawyer acknowledged appeared to be his client, figures in each of the three conspiracies it alleges took place — leaving open the possibility that Mr. Giuliani could be charged himself. The former mayor who made his name as a lawman now faces a reckoning with the law. Mr. Giuliani’s relationship with Mr. Trump hangs in the balance. A person close to Mr. Trump who spoke confidentially to describe a private relationship said that while they don’t speak regularly, the former president retains a fondness for Mr. Giuliani born from his stint as mayor, when the two dealt with each other often.

Persons: Rudolph W, Giuliani, Donald J, Trump, Giuliani’s, Jack Smith Organizations: New Locations: New York City, Georgia

☆ 4 More Arrested in Human Smuggling Case That Left 53 Dead in Texas
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( John Yoon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Four more men have been arrested in Texas in connection with a human smuggling operation that left 53 people dead on the outskirts of San Antonio last year, federal prosecutors said on Tuesday. The arrests on Monday, which came one day shy of the first anniversary of the discovery of the dead migrants, marked a significant development in the federal investigation into one of the deadliest episodes involving migrants along the southern border of the United States in recent history. The arrests of the men brings to six the number of people facing criminal charges in the case. The four men arrested this week are Riley Covarrubias-Ponce, 30, Felipe Orduna-Torres, 28, Luis Alberto Rivera-Leal, 37, and Armando Gonzales-Ortega, 53, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Texas. They were part of a human smuggling organization that brought people into the United States from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico from December 2021 to June 2022, the federal prosecutor’s office in San Antonio said.

Persons: Riley Covarrubias, Felipe Orduna, Torres, Luis Alberto Rivera, Leal, Armando Gonzales, Ortega Organizations: San Antonio, Attorney’s, Western, Western District of Locations: Texas, San, United States, Ponce, Western District, Western District of Texas, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, San Antonio

CNN —European police carried out raids in multiple European countries on early Wednesday, as part of a probe into the Calabrian Mafia, according to the Belgian federal prosecutor. “This morning, a large-scale European operation took place in several countries. It concerns a case opened by the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office, in collaboration with the Limburg Prosecutor’s Office, the Federal Judicial Police, Eurojust, Europol and various countries, in particular Italy,” the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. Italian authorities arrested 108 people in Italy as part of a four-pronged investigation into charges of “mafia-type association,” the Italian Carabinieri said in a statement Wednesday. In Belgium, more than 20 raids were carried out as part of the operation, the statement from the federal prosecutor said.

☆ Belgian Authorities Detain Eight Over Suspected Terrorist Threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Laurence Norman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Three of the eight people suspected of preparing to commit a terrorist attack were arrested in and around Brussels, Belgium. Belgian police detained eight people across the country in several raids conducted on Monday evening connected to the suspected preparation of Islamist terrorist attacks, the federal prosecutor’s office said. The arrests resulted from two separate investigations into terrorist threats that authorities say may be linked.

☆ It's no great surprise that the European Parliament has a corruption problem
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Belgian police said late last week that they had carried out raids and arrested four people in connection with an ongoing corruption probe into alleged payments and gifts from Qatar to members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and their staff. Kaili did not appear at a scheduled hearing on Wednesday, and was remanded in custody until she appears before a court on December 22, Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office said Wednesday. Federal prosecutors confirmed a “large-scale investigation” was conducted into the alleged criminal activity, corruption, and money laundering activities within the European Parliament on Wednesday. Kaili, who has spoken in defense of Qatar in the European Parliament, traveled to Qatar shortly before the start of the soccer World Cup. While this scandal has rocked Brussels, the allegations have come as no great surprise to those who know the European institutions, especially the Parliament.

CNN —German officials arrested 22 suspected members and three suspected supporters of a far-right terrorist organization across the country on Wednesday on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government. Christian Mang/ReutersPolice secure an area in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday after arresting supporters of a far-right terrorist organization. Christian Mang/ReutersThe statement said the suspected members of the organization were German nationals. Two of the suspected supporters were German and one was Russian, it added. “The Federal Public Prosecutor is investigating a suspected terrorist network from the Reich citizen milieu,” Buschmann said on Twitter.

☆ Cristina Fernández de Kirchner: Argentina's vice president sentenced to six years in prison for corruption, will not run for office
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Sahar Akbarzai Emilia Delfino | Sahar Akbarzai | Emilia Delfino | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A court in Argentina on Tuesday sentenced the country’s vice president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, to six years in prison and disqualified her from holding public office again after finding her guilty of corruption during her earlier terms as President. Fernández de Kirchner has temporary immunity due to her current role so will not immediately go to jail, and can appeal. The former President awarded “80% of the national public road works in Santa Cruz in favor of Báez companies between 2003 and 2015,” according to Telam, Argentina’s state-run news agency. Baez was also sentenced to six years in prison, as were former secretary of public works, José López, and the former director of national roads, Néstor Periotti, for their involvement in the alleged scheme. Lopez and Periotti have also been disqualified from holding public office again, Telam reported.

☆ American woman who led an ISIS military battalion sentenced to 20 years in prison
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

An American woman who led an all-female Islamic State battalion was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday after she admitted to training dozens of women and girls in Syria for the militant group known as ISIS, federal authorities said. The prison term given to Fluke-Ekren, formerly of Kansas, was the maximum sentence allowed under a plea agreement reached in June. According to the prosecutor's office, Fluke-Ekren left the U.S. for Egypt in 2008 with her second husband, who later became ISIS' sniper leader in Syria. Fluke-Ekren trained female ISIS members through a women's center and in the all-female battalion known as Khatiba Nusaybah, the prosecutor's office said. Fluke-Ekren taught trainees how to use AK-47 rifles, grenades and suicide belts packed with explosives, the prosecutor's office said.

The video, which was posted to Twitter, shows a crowd of people, some carrying and others draped in the Brazilian flag, with many apparently performing a Nazi salute as the Brazilian national anthem plays. It’s unclear who posted the video and CNN has not been able to verify its authenticity. Nazi incitement is a crime in Brazil. Brazilian authorities will investigate the video. @CentralEleicoes/TwiiterA Brazilian Jewish organization, the Brazilian Israeli Confederation, released a statement condemning the image as “disgusting.”“Brazilian society cannot tolerate gestures like this.

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