Netflix offices in Europe raided by tax fraud investigators: Reports
Netflix headquarters in France and the Netherlands are reportedly under investigation for possible tax fraud and money laundering. The offices were searched Tuesday, Nov. 5.
A special financial prosecution unit called the PNF is handling the French investigation in Paris.
The group is known for conducting high-stakes investigations that often involve large international companies. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean criminal charges will be filed.
French news agency AFP cited an unnamed judicial source who said this is related to an investigation opened in 2022 into suspicions of covering up “serious tax fraud and off-the-books works.”
Dutch authorities searched the company’s Amsterdam headquarters at the same time.
Paris saw nearly 20,000 people displaced before Olympic Games: Report
A coalition of more than 100 community groups accused Parisian authorities on Monday, Nov. 4, of removing nearly 20,000 people including 4,500 minors from shelters and tents to make way for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on Monday, Nov. 4. The advocacy coalition is now calling for the Olympic hosting model to be reevaluated and suggesting a permanent site for future Olympic Games as well as for authorities to take steps to prevent forced removals.
The group’s data showed evictions grew by 41% from April 2023 to September 2024 compared to the same period in 2021 and 2022.
Advocates for the homeless community say forced removals amount to “social cleansing,” alleging it was a concerted effort to keep migrants and squatters out of the view of the Olympic Games, facilities and Olympic sites.
The report did note that the numbers of those displaced may be inflated because some people may have been evicted several times.
Straight Arrow News reported in July about efforts by the French government to bus out homeless migrants ahead of the Olympics. Around 5,000 people were reportedly evicted under a program busing homeless migrants out of Paris and into other French towns.
French President Emmanuel Macron claimed the program was voluntary and denied the effort was connect to the Olympic Games.
Victim takes stand in French mass rape trial, waives right to be anonymous
A mass rape trial in France is changing how the country confronts the issue of sexual assault. Many are comparing the interest surrounding the case to the #MeToo Movement in the United States.
The alleged victim, Gisele Pelicot took the stand for the first time on Wednesday, Oct. 23, to testify against her former husband, Dominique Pelicot.
Warning: Some may find the details of this case distressing
Dominique admitted he invited dozens of strangers over for nearly a decade to rape Gisele after he had drugged her.
Fifty other men are on trial.
Some said they were told she was a willing participant acting out a fantasy. Dominique denied this and said his co-defendants knew the situation.
He told the court he started drugging Gisele so she would have sex with him in the way he wanted and said he then met other men and invited them to join.
Authorities arrested Dominique in 2020 for filming up the skirts of women in a grocery store. Police later found thousands of pornographic photos and videos on his phone and laptop. He admitted to also recording all of the sexual encounters with Gisele and the men in separate files.
Gisele said from 2010 to 2020 she started suffering from health issues and later realized they were linked to the drugs Dominique was giving to her in secret.
“I’m a woman who’s totally destroyed,” Gisele said in court. “My life has tumbled into nothingness.”
Gisele has become admired by many in France for waving her right to remain anonymous and requesting an open trial.
A large crowd applauded her as she walked out of the courtroom Wednesday.
“It’s not courage. It’s determination to change things. This is not just my battle but the battle of all rape victims,” Gisele said.
Supporters marched for Gisele in more than a dozen cities in France. Some organizations are asking the French government to expand the law on rape to include a clause of consent.
The trial is only about halfway through due to the number of defendants who have been questioned.
Harris, Trump field questions during town halls as Election Day nears
With less than three weeks until the presidential election, the candidates are blitzing battleground states and the airwaves with town halls. And in a possible blow to small businesses hoping to rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, one federal agency is running out of money. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
Harris, Trump field questions during town halls as Election Day nears
With less than three weeks to go until Election Day, the candidates fielded questions on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in two different town hall settings.
Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris took part in a town hall in Detroit hosted by radio personality Charlamagne tha God as she looks to reach Black voters. During the town hall, the vice president said she believes slavery reparations should be studied.
Harris said while she is running for “president for everyone” she is “clear-eyed about the history and the disparities that exist for specific communities.”
The vice president also urged Black Americans not to sit out on Election Day.
Vice President Harris: Ask Donald Trump what his plan is for Black America. I'll tell you what it is. Project 2025 wants to implement stop-and-frisk. It wants to make it more difficult for workers to receive overtime pay. He wants to terminate the Constitution, which includes… pic.twitter.com/ZAQNgRkRyq
“The solutions that we all want are not going to happen in totality because of one election but here’s the thing: the things that we want and are prepared to fight for won’t happen if we’re not active and if we don’t participate,” she said. “We cannot allow circumstances to take us out the game because then basically what we’re saying is all those people who are obstructionist, who are standing in the way of change, they’re winning because they are convincing people that it can’t be done so take yourself out, don’t participate. Look at that circle, look at that vicious circle, then so let’s not fall for it.”
Meanwhile, Republican nominee former President Donald Trump participated in a Fox News town hall in Georgia moderated by host Harris Faulkner.
The town hall had an all-female audience, with the women posing questions to Trump on issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion. According to reports of the event, which will air later Wednesday, Oct. 16 on Fox News, Trump said some states are “too tough” when it comes to restrictions on abortion and those laws “are going to be redone.”
“The African American community and the Hispanic community are being devastated with the jobs, the numbers are down 6, 7, 8, 9%. They are going to work, and they’re saying, ‘I’m sorry, we’re not going to take you any more.’ People that have worked there and worked there well for years are now being told that they no longer have a job because they have illegal immigrants coming in and taking their job,” Trump said. “Any African American or Hispanic, and you know how well I’m doing there, that votes for Kamala, you got to have your head examined, because they are really screwing you.”
Early voting begins in Georgia with record turnout
Early voting has begun in the battleground state of Georgia and it’s already seeing a record turnout. Voting for the Nov. 5 presidential election started Tuesday and by the late afternoon, at least 252,000 voters had already cast ballots at early voting sites.
That’s nearly double the 136,000 who voted on the first day of early voting in the 2020 election, according to a top Georgia election official.
Also Tuesday, a judge blocked a new rule requiring Georgia Election Day ballots to be counted by hand after the close of voting. That ruling came just a day after the same judge ruled county election officials must certify election results by the deadline set in law.
Small Business Administration runs out of disaster relief funding
The Small Business administration has run out of funding for its disaster assistance loans right after the one-two punch of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. That means much-needed financial assistance will be delayed for people applying for help right now.
After a disaster, the SBA provides loans to businesses and people who need them. The organization had warned it expected to run out of money by the end of the month.
Congress can approve more funding, but lawmakers are not set to reconvene until Nov. 12. The SBA administrator said in the meantime, people that need them should keep applying for the loans.
HURRICANE #MILTON SURVIVORS: Business owners and residents in declared disaster areas can now apply for SBA assistance.
Israel strikes Beirut despite U.S. opposition; vows to avoid nuclear sites in Iran
At least one Israeli air strike rocked a Beirut, Lebanon suburb early Wednesday morning, killing at least 15 people according to the Associated Press. The strike came just hours after a State Department spokesperson said the U.S. told its key ally it opposed the bombing campaign there in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, the United Nations’ Human Rights Office called for an investigation into an Israeli air strike that happened on Monday which killed at least 21 people in northern Lebanon, saying it posed “real concerns” because it may have violated international laws governing war.
This comes as a Biden administration official said Israel has assured the U.S. it will not hit nuclear or oil sites when it retaliates against Iran for its missile barrage earlier this month.
However, that does not mean Israel will keep its word. In the past, the country’s track record of sticking to what it tells the U.S. has been mixed.
Just last month, U.S. officials were told by their Israeli counterparts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would welcome a U.S.- and French-led temporary cease-fire initiative in Lebanon, only for Israel to launch a massive airstrike that killed a Hezbollah leader two days later.
Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $15M in baby powder cancer case
A jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $15 million to a Connecticut man who says he developed a rare form of cancer after using the company’s baby powder for decades. The man says he contracted mesothelioma from inhaling the talc powder.
The jury also said Johnson & Johnson should pay additional punitive damages, which will be determined later by the judge overseeing the case.
After the ruling, Johnson & Johnson’s vice president of litigation said the company will be appealing the decision, saying “erroneous” rulings by the judge kept the jury from hearing critical facts about the case.
Tom Brady approved to become minority owner of Raiders
Tom Brady has been called many names: the GOAT, Super Bowl champion, and NFL commentator, to name a few. Now, he can add team owner to that list.
On Tuesday, NFL team owners voted to approve Brady’s purchase of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. The former NFL quarterback said in a statement he is eager to contribute to the Raiders organization in any way.
Because of his new title, Brady faces some restrictions in his other role as a Fox broadcaster, including being barred from weekly production meetings with the players and coaches in the games he will cover.
Two treasure hunts conclude with winners finding trophies worth thousands
Two treasure hunts concluded during the week of Sept. 29, resulting in two fortunate winners discovering hidden gold. One contest in the Northeast took about two weeks for the winner to find the prize, while the gold in France was unearthed after a 30-year search.
Starting abroad, a 1993 book filled with riddles attracted more than 200,000 participants in pursuit of the “Golden Owl.” This contest is noted as one of the longest unsolved scavenger hunts in history.
A winner has been declared, though their identity remains undisclosed. The lucky finder captured a prized owl statue made of gold and silver, valued at over $150,000.
A golden trophy was hidden in the deep woods of the Northeast. The individual who found it would keep the trophy, worth $26,000, along with a share of the entry fees, which totaled more than $87,000. The winner of this treasure hunt also remains unnamed.
The creators of the hunt have not yet heard from the trophy finder directly. However, contestants in the woods reported speaking with the winner, who is said to be a scientist studying tree habitats and weather patterns. They utilized images on the treasure hunt website to track down the gold.
‘Y’all Street’: Texas Stock Exchange to launch in 2025
Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, is highlighting the progress of the upcoming Texas Stock Exchange. The exchange is an initiative that could bolster the state’s already robust financial landscape.
“Texas has already become the home of capital in the U.S. Today, we are staking our claim as the home of capital markets with the addition of the Texas Stock Exchange,” Abbott said at a press conference.
Set to launch in Dallas in late 2025, the Texas Stock Exchange, dubbed “Y’all Street,” is expected to begin trading in early 2026.
During a recent press conference, Abbott emphasized the strength of the Texas economy, noting that only seven countries have economies larger than Texas, which could soon surpass France. He mentioned several major companies that operate in the Lone Star State, including Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Valero, AT&T, Dell, Tesla, Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines.
Abbott stated that the new stock exchange will attract more business and economic opportunities for Texans.
“Today’s announcement is the next logical step in the trajectory of business in Texas,” Abbott said. “The Texas Stock Exchange will ensure that businesses have access to capital and that market participants have more choices. Texas is the modern embodiment of the American dream.”
The Texas Stock Exchange has already raised over $135 million in capital, making it the most well-capitalized national securities exchange applicant to ever file a registration with the SEC. Financial backers include BlackRock and Citadel Securities. The exchange is poised to submit its registration in the coming months.
Telegram alters privacy policy, says it will give user info to authorities
Telegram is making major changes. The social media platform once known for its strong privacy stance has announced a significant update in its user data policy.
The platform will now share users’ phone numbers and IP addresses with law enforcement agencies in response to valid legal requests, marking a departure from its previous approach.
To maintain transparency, Telegram plans to publish quarterly reports detailing instances where user data is shared with authorities.
These changes come after French authorities arrested CEO Pavel Durov in August. Paris prosecutors have levied 12 offenses against Durov, including allegations of allowing child exploitation and drug trafficking and refusing to cooperate with authorities investigating criminal activities on Telegram.
There have also been growing national security questions. Ukraine’s National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity (NCCC) has banned Telegram on all government, military, and critical infrastructure devices, citing national security concerns.
In response to mounting pressure, Durov also announced that Telegram, aided by artificial intelligence, will remove problematic content from the platform’s search feature.
Telegram’s recent decision to share user data with authorities has sparked widespread concern among its user base of nearly a billion users worldwide.
CERN to expel hundreds of Russian scientists, continue research with Russia
Europe’s premier particle-physics laboratory, CERN, is set to expel hundreds of Russian-affiliated scientists by the end of November. This decision marks the end of a decades-long collaboration with Russia, a move triggered by the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
CERN is grappling with the challenge of isolating Russia while maintaining relationships with the broader scientific community.
The decision is further complicated by CERN’s ongoing agreement with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Russia. Scientists from this institute will continue to participate in CERN projects, despite significant funding from the Russian government, which has close military ties.
Ukrainian scientists have raised concerns that this partnership could potentially aid military efforts during the conflict.
As the Nov. 30 deadline approaches, the debate intensifies over whether CERN should prioritize scientific ethics or national security in its future collaborations.
State of calamity declared in Portugal, wildfires consume nearly 40,000 acres
Portugal is battling one of its worst wildfire outbreaks in recent years, with more than 100 fires stretching the resources of thousands of firefighters and volunteers to their limits. The outbreak turned deadly this week during the week of Sept. 15, with seven lives lost and dozens of injuries.
The lives of four firefighters and three civilians, including a volunteer firefighter, were lost this week. Now, a state of calamity has been declared by Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro in the hardest hit areas. He’s mobilized additional resources, calling on police to intensify efforts to find the arsonists responsible for sparking the fires.
The Portuguese government has also pledged support for those who have lost their homes or been evacuated. So far, police have arrested seven men suspected of involvement.
Meanwhile, environmental experts are pointing to climate change and the abandonment of traditional farming methods as key contributors to the scale of the wildfires.
Weather has also been a factor in the spread of the fire. Consistent winds on Monday, Sept. 16, around 45 mph have been a key contributor to the spread of the flames as well, with high temperatures and very low humidity.
Since the fires erupted over the weekend, an area roughly the size of 90,000 football fields has been scorched across mainland Portugal. The fires have reduced entire villages to ash, with local residents joining firefighters in battling the flames however they can, with buckets, hoses, rakes and even tree branches.
The European Union has also has stepped in, deploying planes and firefighters from Spain, France and Italy. Even Morocco recently sent aircraft to assist in dousing the flames. Despite international support, the thick smoke and winds are hampering air operation, with visibility in some areas greatly reduced.
In a televised address, the prime minister warned that the situation was far from over, calling for continued support from Portugal’s European neighbors.
How international authorities took out the popular cybercrime platform ‘Ghost’
An international law enforcement operation took down an encrypted cybercrime communication platform known as “Ghost,” and led to dozens of arrests around the world. Australian federal authorities announced Wednesday, Sept. 18, it made 38 arrests in raids across the country while authorities in Canada, Sweden, Ireland and Italy conducted similar raids.
“We allege hundreds of criminals including Italian organized crime, motorcycle gang members, Middle Eastern organized crime and Korean organized crime have used Ghost in Australia and overseas to import illicit drugs and order killings,” Ian McCartney, deputy commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, said.
“Importantly, the AFP has prevented the death and serious injury of 50 individuals in Australia, because we’ve been able to decrypt these messages,” McCartney said.
Europol, the global task force helping in the effort, said the coalition dismantled a drug lab in Australia and seized drugs, weapons and more than $1 million globally.
“Today we have made it clear that no matter how hidden criminal networks think they are, they can’t evade our collective effort,” Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle said.
“This was truly a global game of cat and mouse, and today, the game is up,” Europol’s Deputy Executive Director Jean-Phillipe Lecouffe told reporters.
The AFP said the French assisted in decrypting Ghost communications.
“This time, the AFP engineered a new technological solution as the administrator regularly pushed out software updates, the AFT was able to modify those updates,” McCartney said. “In effect, we infected the devices, enabling us to access the content on Australian devices.”
The alleged ringleader of Ghost, Yoon Jung, was arrested at his home on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Authorities accused him of using a network of resellers to offer specialized iPhones to criminals worldwide. The cellphones reportedly sold for nearly $1,600 a piece and included a six-month subscription to the Ghost app as well as technical support.
The app reportedly gained popularity among criminals for its “advanced security features” and its disruption is a major blow to organized cybercrimes globally.
As the investigation continues, more disruption to illegal activities and arrests are reportedly expected in connection with the cybercrime network.
The Europol-led crackdown includes help from the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Sweden, France, Iceland and the Netherlands.