Fox News host Jesse Watters discussed the report exclusively from Fox News Digital alleging that a Burisma executive paid the Biden family $10 million in a bribe scheme on "Jesse Watters Primetime."  JOE BIDEN ALLEGEDLY PAID $5M BY BURISMA EXECUTIVE AS PART OF A BRIBERY SCHEME, ACCORDING TO FBI DOCUMENT JESSE WATTERS: We're learning what's in the Biden Bibe document that the FBI's been trying to hide. And the allegation inside this document is explosive. Sources familiar with the document tell Fox News Digital that Joe Biden and Hunter Biden were paid $10 million in bribes by Ukraine. This was while Joe Biden was vice president.  The highly credible confidential source had multiple meetings and conversations with a top executive at Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company where Hunter worked. And these conversations stretched for five years. And the source told the FBI about these conversations in June 2020. Right as Joe Biden was wrapping up the Democrat nomination, the Burisma executive told the FBI's confidential source that Burisma had to pay the Bidens for help getting rid of the Ukrainian prosecutor who is investigating Burisma for corruption.  Quote, "5 million for one Biden, 5 million for the other Biden," the burisma executive told the confidential human source. People who've seen the document tell us that the $5 million payments were a kind of retainer agreement that Burisma had with the Bidens to deal with a number of issues, one of which was getting rid of this prosecutor.  Other issues Burisma needed Biden's help with was help with oil deals. And the executives said they needed to pay Joe Biden because Hunter was quote unquote "dumb" and couldn't get much done by himself. 

EXCLUSIVE: Former President Trump said his federal indictment is "election interference at the highest level," telling Fox News Digital that the Biden administration is "the most corrupt" in history. During an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital Thursday night, Trump said the case is "election interference" and "the greatest witch hunt of all time." Trump said he will "of course" plead not guilty to charges in federal court on Tuesday, and said he is "totally innocent." Trump, the current front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, was indicted on federal charges Thursday evening stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith's months-long investigation into the former president’s alleged improper retention of classified records at Mar-a-Lago. TRUMP INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES RELATED TO DOCUMENT HANDLING AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE Trump is listed in the indictment, which has not been unsealed, as a criminal defendant charged with at least seven counts involving obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and illegal retention of classified government material. He has been ordered to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday. The indictment remains unsealed.  "This is the most corrupt administration in history—there has never been an administration so corrupt, and they’re just starting to find it right now," Trump told Fox News Digital. "They are trying to deflect all of their dishonesty by bringing this ridiculous boxes hoax case." He added: "They’re not going to get away with it." JOE BIDEN ALLEGEDLY PAID $5M BY BURISMA EXECUTIVE AS PART OF A BRIBERY SCHEME, ACCORDING TO FBI DOCUMENT "I did absolutely nothing wrong," he said, citing the Presidential Records Act, saying it "makes me totally innocent." President Biden is under special counsel investigation for his alleged improper retention of classified records from his time as vice president in the Obama administration and as a senator.  When asked whether he thought Biden could, too, be charged, Trump said, "Probably not—nothing will happen."  He said the indictment was handed down Thursday because it was the same day an allegation, first revealed by Fox News Digital, emerged that Biden received $5 million for involvement in a bribery scheme. Fox News Digital, hours before the indictment, exclusively reported that a confidential human source told the FBI during a June 2020 interview that President Biden was allegedly paid $5 million by an executive of the Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings, where his son Hunter Biden sat on the board. Sources familiar briefed Fox News Digital on the contents of the subpoenaed FBI-generated FD-1023 form alleging a criminal bribery scheme between then-Vice President Joe Biden and a foreign national that involved influence over U.S. policy decisions. "The reason that they did this today, at this time, is because of the fact that the $5 million was found out in the document, and that’s just the beginning," Trump said. Fox News Digital exclusively reported that the FD-1023 form was an interview with a "highly credible" confidential source who detailed multiple meetings and conversations he or she had with a top Burisma executive over the course of several years, starting in 2015. Fox News Digital has not seen the form, but it was described by several sources who are aware of its contents. TRUMP TARGETED: A LOOK AT PROBES INVOLVING THE FORMER PRESIDENT; FROM STORMY DANIELS TO RUSSIA TO MAR-A-LAGO Sources familiar told Fox News Digital that the confidential human source believes that the $5 million payment to Joe Biden and the $5 million payment to Hunter Biden occurred, based on his or her conversations with the Burisma executive.  The confidential source said the Burisma executive told him he "paid" the Bidens in such a manner "through so many different bank accounts" that investigators would not be able to "unravel this for at least 10 years." The document then makes reference to "the Big Guy," which, has been said to be a reference to Joe Biden. The Burisma executive told the confidential source that he "didn’t pay the Big Guy directly." 

Osceola County, Florida, law enforcement officials arrested a man this week on allegations that he victimized and sexually abused two boys he babysat, according to police. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office arrested 18-year-old Vitor Camilo Coelho Pinto, a Brazilian national living in Kissimmee, Florida, since 2020. On June 5, the sheriff’s office responded to a report of capital sexual battery, after an 11-year-old boy disclosed he had been victimized by Pinto multiple times. FLORIDA WOMAN ARRESTED FOR FATALLY SHOOTING NEIGHBOR AFTER ALLEGED THREATS As the investigation unfolded, an 8-year-old boy allegedly told the sheriff’s office’s special victims unit he was the victim of several incidents involving lewd and lascivious conduct by Pinto. Pinto, the sheriff’s office said, has lived in the West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway area of Kissimmee, Florida since 2020, and while living there, he befriended several Brazilian families in the area and offered to babysit and help with childcare. On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office executed a warrant against Pinto and arrested him on 10 counts each of capital sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation. The investigation is ongoing, and detectives believe there may be other victims. The department encourages anyone with information about the incident, or if their child has been in contact with Pinto, to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at 407-348-2222.

"America's Got Talent" winner Michael Grimm has been hospitalized and remains unconscious as he battles a serious unknown illness. The 44-year-old blues singer, who won season 5 of the talent competition series, was admitted to an intensive care unit, where he was sedated and placed on a ventilator after falling ill Memorial Day, according to his wife, Lucie Zolcerva-Grimm. Zolcerva-Grimm, who is also Grimm's manager, addressed his friends and fans in an 11-minute clip she uploaded to the musician's Instagram page Wednesday. "I know you all love Michael, and while I want to protect his privacy and his request to not disclose anything, we’re kind of in a situation," Zolcerva-Grimm said while tearing up. "It's been an emotional ride. SUSAN BOYLE, ‘BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT' STAR, REVEALS SHE SUFFERED STROKE: ‘I FOUGHT LIKE CRAZY TO RECOVER’ "For those of you who have been out to see Michael in the last couple of months, you may have noticed that he was struggling with his health a lot, lacking energy and not being able to fulfill shows." Zolcerva-Grimm explained that Grimm went to the emergency room, but doctors "couldn't figure out what was going on with him." "Whatever the issue was, on Memorial Day, it kind of took him over," she said. "He was looking increasingly sickly. All of a sudden, he could barely walk, couldn't lift his head. He couldn't respond right away to me. When I would ask him things, he would get really fuzzy." Zolcerva-Grimm said she then rushed her husband to an emergency room because she feared he might be having a stroke. "That wasn't the case, luckily," she said. "Whatever was going on in his body from whatever — toxins, I guess — they were going to his brain. He started talking gibberish, and all of a sudden, like physical tremors were setting in, his blood pressure was skyrocketing. He became really agitated with the medication he was given, and they had to put him in ICU. "So, he's doing good," she said. "However, due to the last week, his body went through a lot. And they do still have him sedated so that he doesn't seize or flatline from the fluctuating blood pressure. So, even though Michael may not like this, because he's a very private person, I do want to let you guys know because he is not going to be around for a little while." Zolcerva-Grimmn explained she had canceled most of Grimm's upcoming concerts in June and his July 4 show. "I haven't canceled anything else moving forward because I'm trying to be hopeful and give him a chance to come back and see where he's at," she said. "It's a day-by-day process. So, you may see some cancellations coming in July. "Michael has been in ICU a week for the safety of his health," Zolcerva-Grimma continued. "They had to put him on a ventilator and sedate him pretty heavily so that he wouldn't stroke out, so that he wouldn't flatline." Zolcerva-Grimm added that Grimm was taken off the ventilator Wednesday and was breathing on his own. She said Grimm's doctors have not yet been able to diagnose his illness.  "He is improving so that is good," Zolcerva-Grimm said. "It's just taking time. "It's really just a day by day, minute by minute thing. My priority right now is to stand by Michael and stay at the hospital and make sure that he is stable and he is taken care of." Zolcerva-Grimm assured fans Grimm was being treated by a "phenomenal team of doctors and nurses." However, she explained that the singer was facing a difficult recovery. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Michael will have to not only come back to full consciousness, which he's not yet, he will also have to now undergo physical therapy because he's been bedridden for over a week," she said.  "He currently has no voice. He's got to go under vocal cord repair from time being on the ventilator and get all his organs back up and all his muscles working again. Mentally, he needs to come back from this and return to a state of health. "So this may take a little time, and I'm asking all of the fans to be patient, please." Zolcerva-Grimm concluded her video by thanking Grimm's fans for their love and support. She shared information on how supporters could donate toward Grimm's medical expenses and where they could send him letters.  "Have Michael in your hearts and prayers…

President Biden and a taxpayer-funded Public Broadcasting System (PBS) reporter were both harshly criticized Thursday for what some called a "scripted" exchange in opposition to bans on trans medical procedures for children. The incident occurred during a joint press conference with United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, when PBS NewsHour White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López stated, "All over the country… Republican led states are passing laws – passing anti-LGBT, anti-transgender laws that restrict rights and medical care. Intimidate is on the rise. This week, anti-LGBTQ protesters turned violent in California." Barrón-López went on to say she "spoke to the parents of a transgender girl in Texas who told me that they're afraid and that they are considering leaving not just their state, but the country. Sir, why do you think this is happening? And what do you say to parents like the ones that I spoke to-to those families who are contemplating leaving the country because they don't feel safe anymore?" Biden replied by first asking to connect with the family then saying he was proud to end a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and sign the Respect for Marriage Act. "But our fight is far, far from over because we have some hysterical and, I would argue, prejudiced people who are engaged in all that you see going on around the country. It's an appeal to fear, and it's an appeal that is totally, thoroughly unjustified, and ugly," he continued. FBI, RASKIN ‘RUNNING COVER’ FOR BIDEN IN HUNTER PROBE, TOP REPUBLICAN CLAIMS Biden went on to say that "extreme officials are pushing hateful bills targeting transgender children, terrifying families and criminalizing doctors." "These are our kids. These are our neighbors. It's cruel and it's callous. It's not somebody else's kids, they're all our kids. Our children are the kite strings that hold our national ambitions aloft," he said.  The lengthy exchange quickly drew outrage from the right online. Fox News Radio host Guy Benson quipped there is "much to say about his answer, but her ‘question’ is quite a thing to behold." New Hampshire state Senate staffer Grant Bosse added that the reporter was "Begging the question, if you will." Adding, the late slapstick comedian Chris Farley had "sharper inquiries" than Barrón-López. NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck keyed in on Barrón-López's question, calling it "Fake News" with the hashtag "DefundPBS." He later added that she "is lying about 'anti-LGBTQ protesters' becoming 'violent'" and used emojis to say her "claim" is pants on fire. Houck later pointed to Biden's apparent reading of crib notes, saying, "Notice how Biden read from prepared remarks in answering PBS reporter Laura Barrón-López's ‘question’ about ‘anti-LGBTQ’ views in America, saying those who believe men are men & women are women are 'prejudiced,' ‘ugly’ people." He added, "ZERO question this was pre-screened. ALL scripted." The research arm of the Republican National Committee also claimed the president is "once again using a list of pre-selected reporters to call on at his press conference." "Does he have the reporters' questions again, too?" they asked.  Biden has been criticized in the past for appearing to have printed lists of White House reporters he must call on, at times with the reporter's photo next to their name. Biden has even been caught with "cue cards" telling him specific choreographic directions like "YOU enter Roosevelt Room."  BIDEN CAUGHT WITH CRIB NOTES DETAILING REPORTER'S QUESTION PRIOR TO CALLING ON HER DURING PRESS CONFERENCE Critics also torched Biden for his defending gender surgeries for children while blasting critics. Former Ted Cruz adviser and commentator Steve Guest said the president's response shows "Joe Biden wants more mutilation of minors." Conservative writer Jim Treacher responded to Biden's comment that transgender children are "not somebody else's kids, they're all our kids," by saying that is "why we want to stop you from ruining their lives by sterilizing them." Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., separately added, "Contrary to President Biden, the nation's children do not belong to him, and it's good to oppose unnecessary and irreversible medical procedures for kids. If Joe Biden wants to see an extremist, there are mirrors all over the White House." Republican communications expert Matt Whitlock called Biden's comments a "[h]uge political miscalculation," because "the overwhelming majority of Americans support banning transgender surgeries for kids. Including a lot of Democrats." "This is such a bizarre hill for them to fight on," he said. WOKE 'NEW YORK TIMES FOR KIDS' DELIVERS RADICAL GENDER, RACIAL POLITICS TO CHILDREN Parents Defending Education founder…

The FBI has arrested a Texas businessman whose links to State Attorney General Ken Paxton were central to his historic impeachment last month.  Online records show Nate Paul, a real estate developer, was booked into an Austin jail Thursday afternoon after being taken into custody by federal agents, according to online inmate records of the Travis County Sheriff's Office.  It was not immediately clear what charges led to his arrest, and the records said only that he was being held on a federal detainer for a felony.  Fox News Digital has reached out to the FBI and Paxton's lawyer for comment.  The arrest comes a day after Paul's defense presented evidence that was intended to counter bribery allegations but raised new questions about his dealings with Paxton.  TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON HIRES PROMINENT LAWYER FOR IMPEACHMENT TRIAL Paul's troubled real estate empire has been the focus of federal scrutiny for years, and agents searched his Austin offices and palatial home in 2019. The next year, Paxton involved his office in the federal case, a move that prompted his top staff to report him to the FBI. Their allegations of bribery and abuse of office by Paxton prompted a separate FBI investigation of the attorney general, which remains ongoing. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

Waco, Texas, police who responded to the wrong address for a burglary in progress because of an autocorrect issue, shot and killed a dog that lunged at one of the officers. In a statement posted to social media, the Waco Police Department said it was saddened by the unfortunate shooting that resulted in the death of the beloved pet, Finn. At about 3:15 p.m. on June 3, officers were sent to a house in the 3200 block of N. 20th Street for a burglary in progress, but the corresponding adjacent "A" street was not included. TEXAS BEACHSIDE CITY RAMP COLLAPSES, INJURING DOZENS OF SUMMER CAMP TEENS The dispatcher reported hearing the caller screaming that a man kicked her door in, asking police to "Please come now!" The call taker also heard a man’s voice in the background saying, "I’m not trying to hurt you," before the call was disconnected. When officers arrived at the address provided, without the "A" street, they noticed the back door of the home was open, which matched the information provided by the dispatcher. According to police, the officers announced their presence to whomever was inside, and moments later several dogs ran toward the officers, who fled. TEXAS TO DEPLOY INFLATABLE BORDER ALONG RIO GRANDE RIVER IN EAGLE PASS One dog, police added, lunged at an officer, retreated, then lunged at the officer again. As a result, the officer fired one round from his department-issued firearm, striking the dog. The dog was taken to an emergency medical clinic by its owner, police said, where a department commander met with the family, offered his sympathy and provided information regarding services provided by the department. "We are regretful for the outcome regarding our response that resulted in the death of Finn," the WPD said on Facebook. "We will work diligently to confirm the address entered into our Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system is accurate and precise." CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The department added that it is working with the CAD system manufacturer to prevent similar situations from happening again. Dispatchers will also be directed to evaluate any address that comes up on streets with an adjacent "A" street.

A vending machine in New York City that offers free crack pipes, condoms, and anti-overdose meds for addicts reportedly ran out of stock overnight.  City health officials installed the big blue box in Brooklyn on Monday. By Tuesday afternoon, a drug-prevention program worker was spotted restocking the machine with safe sex kits and drug paraphernalia, The New York Post reported.  An official from the NYC Health Department told Fox News Digital that the vending machine has sensors that alert workers when supplies are low.  The Brooklyn vending machine is the first of four machines that will be installed in neighborhoods that data shows were hit hardest by the opioid crisis, officials said. The vending machine will be hosted by the nonprofit group Serving the Underserved (S:US).  SEATTLE REJECTS BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON DRUG USE DESPITE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM RESIDENTS: ‘SLAP IN THE FACE’ S:US and other proponents have argued that providing access to such paraphernalia and safe sex kits will help reduce drug overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases.  An S:US spokesperson said the organization shares a common goal with the city "to ensure that the public health vending machine has a net positive benefit on the surrounding community."  "Our outreach staff will continue to work closely with the community to ensure this tool is helpful in bringing New Yorkers into care, and supporting their recovery, as is the goal of all harm reduction tools," the organization said.  Overdose deaths in New York City are at historic highs. In 2021, there were 2,668 overdose deaths in NYC, compared with 2,103 in 2020. In 2021, 84% of overdose deaths involved an opioid. Fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, was involved in 80% of all overdose deaths, according to the NYC Department of Health. Officials said there were 1,370 confirmed overdose deaths in the first half of 2022. They estimate 2022 will be the deadliest year on record for overdoses if that trend continues. Fox News’ Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.

Houston, Texas, law enforcement authorities arrested a woman Tuesday after she breached the security fence surrounding Bush Intercontinental Airport, reaching the airfield, and causing the flight facility to briefly shut down, including a runway. Ivori Howard, 22, is accused of gaining access to the airfield of one of the runways at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday after getting through a section of fence located along the perimeter of the major airport. As a result of Howard’s breach, airport authorities shut down the runway so Houston police and airport operations crews could respond and detain her for trespassing. TEXAS-BOUND SOUTHWEST FLIGHT DELAYED TO REMOVE UNRULY PASSENGER, TO OTHER FLYERS' DELIGHT: VIDEO FOX 26 in Houston reported that airport officials determined the trespasser was able to go under a portion of the perimeter fence to get to the airfield. Officials added that the section of fence Howard breached met federal regulations, though they worked with TSA to weld additional infrastructure to prevent further entries. Harris was ultimately charged with intent to impair or interrupt operation of a critical infrastructure facility. VIDEO CAPTURES WILD BRAWL AT CHICAGO O'HARE AIRPORT, LEADING TO 2 ARRESTS In a statement to the media station, airport officials said it conducts patrols along the inside and outside the perimeter fence multiple times a day.  The airport also has a surveillance system that gives the security team the ability to detect intrusions. The staff, airport officials added, is responsible for 10,000 acres, 43 miles of runways and taxiways, 100 miles of roadways and about 30 miles of barbed-wire fence along the perimeter. "Breaching an airport’s security fence is a state and federal crime, and one that, unfortunately, is not unique to Houston’s airports," officials said.

Former President Donald Trump's top allies in Congress are linking his indictment on Thursday night to a bid to take attention away from an FBI document the includes allegations President Biden was guilty of taking a bribe while vice president.  "The SAME DAY [House Oversight Committee] is shown a document by the FBI showing evidence that Biden and his son were each paid $5 million dollars by a foreign national the DOJ indicts Trump. Coincidental? I think not," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., wrote on Twitter. House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik went so far as to accuse Democrats of meddling in the 2024 election. "The exact same day that the FBI is forced to turn over to Congress absolutely damning and credible allegations regarding Joe Biden’s illegal, egregious, and treasonous corruption, Joe Biden weaponizes his Department of Justice to indict Donald Trump," she said. "The American people are smart and understand this is the epitome of the illegal and unprecedented weaponization of the federal government against Joe Biden’s leading opponent, President Donald J. Trump. The radical Far Left will stop at nothing to interfere with the 2024 election in order to prop up the catastrophic presidency and desperate campaign of Joe Biden," Stefanik said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. TRUMP TARGETED: A LOOK AT PROBES INVOLVING THE FORMER PRESIDENT; FROM STORMY DANIELS TO RUSSIA TO MAR-A-LAGO The former president announced he'd been indicted in Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into the handling of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. "The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax," Trump wrote on his Truth Social app. "I have been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM. I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election. I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!" Trump had been indicted earlier this year in a separate case conducted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg linked to hush money payments made to a porn star who claims to have had an affair with Trump in 2006. PROTESTERS GET PHYSICAL OUTSIDE NYC COURTHOUSE BEFORE TRUMP ARRAIGNMENT "It's a sad day for America. God bless President Trump," said House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pledged to hold those involved in the indictment "accountable," declaring, "Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America. It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him. Joe Biden kept classified documents for decades." "I, and every American who believes in the rule of law, stand with President Trump against this grave injustice. House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable," McCarthy said. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said, "Imagine being naive enough to believe that the Biden Bribe evidence and Trump indictment happening the same day was a coincidence." "The phony Boxes Hoax indictment is an attempt to distract the American public from the millions of dollars in bribes that the Biden Crime Family received from foreign nationals. This scheme won't succeed. President Donald Trump will be back in the White House and Joe Biden will be Hunter’s cellmate," Gaetz also said. TRUMP PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO 34 FELONY COUNTS OF FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS LINKED TO 2016 HUSH-MONEY PAYMENTS Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., wrote, "Democrats must literally shake with sweats when they see amazing packed out Trump rallies and overwhelming winning poll numbers week after week. "We must win in 2024. We must beat these sick people. We started winning today in the SCIF reading proof of Joe Biden’s bribery crimes in Ukraine. Ultimately we win in the end," Greene said.  "We cannot have two tiers of justice: one for Trump on government document retention, another for Biden. One for Assange, another for Manning. One for BLM/Antifa, another for peaceful protesters on January 6," said GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. "I never thought we would see the day when the U.S. President deputizes the DOJ to arrest his lead rival in the middle of an election. 

Osceola County, Florida, law enforcement officials arrested a man this week on allegations that he victimized and sexually abused two boys he babysat, according to police. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office arrested 18-year-old Vitor Camilo Coelho Pinto, a Brazilian national living in Kissimmee, Florida, since 2020. On June 5, the sheriff’s office responded to a report of capital sexual battery, after an 11-year-old boy disclosed he had been victimized by Pinto multiple times. FLORIDA WOMAN ARRESTED FOR FATALLY SHOOTING NEIGHBOR AFTER ALLEGED THREATS As the investigation unfolded, an 8-year-old boy allegedly told the sheriff’s office’s special victims unit he was the victim of several incidents involving lewd and lascivious conduct by Pinto. Pinto, the sheriff’s office said, has lived in the West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway area of Kissimmee, Florida since 2020, and while living there, he befriended several Brazilian families in the area and offered to babysit and help with childcare. On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office executed a warrant against Pinto and arrested him on 10 counts each of capital sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation. The investigation is ongoing, and detectives believe there may be other victims. The department encourages anyone with information about the incident, or if their child has been in contact with Pinto, to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at 407-348-2222.

Waco, Texas, police who responded to the wrong address for a burglary in progress because of an autocorrect issue, shot and killed a dog that lunged at one of the officers. In a statement posted to social media, the Waco Police Department said it was saddened by the unfortunate shooting that resulted in the death of the beloved pet, Finn. At about 3:15 p.m. on June 3, officers were sent to a house in the 3200 block of N. 20th Street for a burglary in progress, but the corresponding adjacent "A" street was not included. TEXAS BEACHSIDE CITY RAMP COLLAPSES, INJURING DOZENS OF SUMMER CAMP TEENS The dispatcher reported hearing the caller screaming that a man kicked her door in, asking police to "Please come now!" The call taker also heard a man’s voice in the background saying, "I’m not trying to hurt you," before the call was disconnected. When officers arrived at the address provided, without the "A" street, they noticed the back door of the home was open, which matched the information provided by the dispatcher. According to police, the officers announced their presence to whomever was inside, and moments later several dogs ran toward the officers, who fled. TEXAS TO DEPLOY INFLATABLE BORDER ALONG RIO GRANDE RIVER IN EAGLE PASS One dog, police added, lunged at an officer, retreated, then lunged at the officer again. As a result, the officer fired one round from his department-issued firearm, striking the dog. The dog was taken to an emergency medical clinic by its owner, police said, where a department commander met with the family, offered his sympathy and provided information regarding services provided by the department. "We are regretful for the outcome regarding our response that resulted in the death of Finn," the WPD said on Facebook. "We will work diligently to confirm the address entered into our Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system is accurate and precise." CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The department added that it is working with the CAD system manufacturer to prevent similar situations from happening again. Dispatchers will also be directed to evaluate any address that comes up on streets with an adjacent "A" street.

A vending machine in New York City that offers free crack pipes, condoms, and anti-overdose meds for addicts reportedly ran out of stock overnight.  City health officials installed the big blue box in Brooklyn on Monday. By Tuesday afternoon, a drug-prevention program worker was spotted restocking the machine with safe sex kits and drug paraphernalia, The New York Post reported.  An official from the NYC Health Department told Fox News Digital that the vending machine has sensors that alert workers when supplies are low.  The Brooklyn vending machine is the first of four machines that will be installed in neighborhoods that data shows were hit hardest by the opioid crisis, officials said. The vending machine will be hosted by the nonprofit group Serving the Underserved (S:US).  SEATTLE REJECTS BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON DRUG USE DESPITE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM RESIDENTS: ‘SLAP IN THE FACE’ S:US and other proponents have argued that providing access to such paraphernalia and safe sex kits will help reduce drug overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases.  An S:US spokesperson said the organization shares a common goal with the city "to ensure that the public health vending machine has a net positive benefit on the surrounding community."  "Our outreach staff will continue to work closely with the community to ensure this tool is helpful in bringing New Yorkers into care, and supporting their recovery, as is the goal of all harm reduction tools," the organization said.  Overdose deaths in New York City are at historic highs. In 2021, there were 2,668 overdose deaths in NYC, compared with 2,103 in 2020. In 2021, 84% of overdose deaths involved an opioid. Fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, was involved in 80% of all overdose deaths, according to the NYC Department of Health. Officials said there were 1,370 confirmed overdose deaths in the first half of 2022. They estimate 2022 will be the deadliest year on record for overdoses if that trend continues. Fox News’ Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.

Houston, Texas, law enforcement authorities arrested a woman Tuesday after she breached the security fence surrounding Bush Intercontinental Airport, reaching the airfield, and causing the flight facility to briefly shut down, including a runway. Ivori Howard, 22, is accused of gaining access to the airfield of one of the runways at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday after getting through a section of fence located along the perimeter of the major airport. As a result of Howard’s breach, airport authorities shut down the runway so Houston police and airport operations crews could respond and detain her for trespassing. TEXAS-BOUND SOUTHWEST FLIGHT DELAYED TO REMOVE UNRULY PASSENGER, TO OTHER FLYERS' DELIGHT: VIDEO FOX 26 in Houston reported that airport officials determined the trespasser was able to go under a portion of the perimeter fence to get to the airfield. Officials added that the section of fence Howard breached met federal regulations, though they worked with TSA to weld additional infrastructure to prevent further entries. Harris was ultimately charged with intent to impair or interrupt operation of a critical infrastructure facility. VIDEO CAPTURES WILD BRAWL AT CHICAGO O'HARE AIRPORT, LEADING TO 2 ARRESTS In a statement to the media station, airport officials said it conducts patrols along the inside and outside the perimeter fence multiple times a day.  The airport also has a surveillance system that gives the security team the ability to detect intrusions. The staff, airport officials added, is responsible for 10,000 acres, 43 miles of runways and taxiways, 100 miles of roadways and about 30 miles of barbed-wire fence along the perimeter. "Breaching an airport’s security fence is a state and federal crime, and one that, unfortunately, is not unique to Houston’s airports," officials said.

A Salt Lake City man who says his job offer to become an Alaska State Trooper was rescinded after he disclosed he was HIV positive filed a lawsuit in state court Thursday to get his position on the statewide police force and to prevent others from suffering similar alleged discrimination. The lawsuit was filed electronically by Anchorage civil rights attorney Caitlin Shortell on behalf of a man only identified as John Doe, whose HIV is undetectable and untransmissible. "There are no reservations about his ability to do the duties of the job, and he is completely fit," Shortell said, adding he can work without accommodations. Doe "seeks to challenge the constitutionality of the Alaska State Troopers’ rescission of a job offer based on his being a person who lives with HIV, in light of medical advancements that render HIV status irrelevant to a person’s ability to meet the criteria for entry and service at Alaska State Troopers in any capacity," the lawsuit states. It alleges violations of civil rights laws, the state and U.S. constitutions and the Alaska Human Rights Act. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the lawsuit, which, as of Thursday morning, had not yet appeared online. CRUISE SHIP FIRE NEAR ALASKA PROMPTS DOZENS TO EVACUATE  Named as defendants are James Cockrell, the head of the troopers; the state of Alaska; the troopers, and Beacon Occupational Health and Safety, the troopers’ outside vendor. Emails seeking comment sent to the state attorney general’s office and the troopers were not immediately returned. Aris Brimanis, the operations manager for Beacon in Anchorage, said the company did not have immediate comment. According to the lawsuit, Doe wanted to be a law enforcement officer since his childhood, where he volunteered at the California Highway Patrol Academy and was an explorer with the local sheriff’s office during high school. He was working as a flight attendant when he applied to be a trooper in April 2020. Six months later, he was offered a conditional offer of employment, the lawsuit said, detailing how he completed the required written exam, two physical ability tests, passed a background test and an oral board interview. Doe also passed the written psychological test and interview, and then had to take a polygraph and medical exam as part of the conditions for employment, according to the suit. At the medical exam, Doe disclosed his disability status as a person living with HIV, the lawsuit said. He also provided to Beacon's nurse practitioner recent lab results and a note from his doctor saying he was able to perform all functions of a trooper without reasonable accommodation. However, the nurse practitioner noted on paperwork that Doe may require an accommodation. The lawsuit said the practitioner initially wrote "no" to a question if she had any reservations about the candidate’s ability to perform the duties of the job, but then crossed that out and wrote "error," noting the guidelines for a law enforcement officer. Doe argues the guidelines were out-of-date and didn’t reflect advances in medicine for those with HIV. The next day, during a polygraph test, he was asked if he took medication, the lawsuit said. He said yes, but noted he felt this was a prohibited medical inquiry and he had provided medical information to the nurse. He told the examiner he wasn’t comfortable disclosing his medical condition when asked what the medication was for. Doe then disclosed his HIV status to the examiner when told the interview process could be stopped if he refused, according to the court documents. That polygraph was deemed inconclusive. He took another the following day, which he passed with no questions about his medical condition, the lawsuit said. Doe said troopers later rescinded his conditional job offer, telling him there were better qualified applicants even though he already had received the conditional offer and, of the initial 245 applicants, Doe said he was one of the 10 finalists. Doe said he was told other applicants had prior military experience and others had already been living in Alaska. Neither is a condition for employment, according to the lawsuit. Half of the 10 finalists offered jobs didn't live in Alaska, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit argues these reasons "were nothing more than a false pretext for unconstitutional discrimination based on Doe’s HIV status."

A shopping cart collector who killed a manager and wounded two workers at a Long Island grocery store in 2021 was sentenced Thursday to 50 years to life in prison. Gabriel DeWitt Wilson, 33, was convicted last month of murder and attempted murder in the shooting at the Stop & Shop store in West Hempstead. Police said Wilson, a "troubled employee" who had been reprimanded for threatening and sexually harassing colleagues, opened fire in an office about 40 minutes after talking to a supervisor about transferring to another store. NEW YORK SHOOTING AT SUPERMARKET LEAVES 1 DEAD, 2 WOUNDED The slain manager, Ray Wishropp, was shot in the chest at point-blank range, police said. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Wilson has show no contrition or remorse and that she hopes his long prison sentence "provides some measure of justice for (Wishropp's) family, friends, and coworkers still mourning his tragic loss." NEW YORK GUNMAN WHO OPENED FIRE AT STOP & SHOP HAD 'UNEVENTFUL' MEETING WITH BOSS, RETURNED WITH GUN: POLICE Wilson fled the store after the shooting and was arrested about four hours later at an apartment building about 2 miles away in Hempstead. The area is about 30 miles east of midtown Manhattan. Wilson's lawyer said he was suffering the "lingering effects" of being shot in the head when he was 19. Wilson was involved in a gun battle in Baltimore seven years to the day before the supermarket shooting that left him and another man wounded. He has also been taken into custody at least twice in Nassau County for mental health evaluations, in 2016 and 2019, authorities said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is warning residents to be on guard for price gouging of essential goods like masks, air purifiers, and air filters as the air quality worsens from Canadian wildfires. James issued a consumer alert Wednesday, warning New Yorkers to be vigilant and to watch out for companies taking advantage of consumers by selling essential goods and services at an "excessively higher price during market disruptions or emergencies."  "The poor air quality impacting our state should not be an excuse for companies to increase profits on essential items," Attorney General James said in a statement.  "My office has zero tolerance for price gouging of any kind, and if New Yorkers notice abnormally high prices for essential items, I urge them to report it immediately. I also urge New Yorkers to follow local health guidance to protect their health and stay safe." NEW YORK STORES SEE AIR PURIFIERS SELL OUT, SCHOOL TEACHERS TOLD TO STAY HOME AMID HAZARDOUS AIR QUALITY New York State’s price gouging statute covers state vendors, retailers, and suppliers, and includes essential goods and services like food, water, gasoline, generators, batteries, flashlights, hotel lodging, and transportation options, according to the Attorney General’s office.  New Yorkers were advised to stay indoors and limit outdoor activities again Thursday as a thick, hazardous haze of wildfire smoke loomed over daily life for millions of people across the U.S. and Canada.  In a Canadian fire season that is just getting started but could well become the worst on record, more than 400 blazes — over a third of them in Quebec — burned Thursday. The smoke billowing from the fires sent plumes of fine particulate matter as far away as North Carolina and northern Europe. The weather system driving the great Canadian-American smokeout — a low-pressure system over Maine and Nova Scotia — extended "Code Red" air quality alerts in some places as forecasts showed winds continuing to push smoke-filled air south. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

An Alabama inmate who escaped with help from a jail official who ultimately ended up taking her own life as police closed in was sentenced Thursday to life in prison. Casey White, 39, told those gathered in the Lauderdale County courtroom that he felt like the most hated man in the world but that he wouldn't drag 56-year-old corrections officer Vicky White's name "through the dirt," news outlets reported. He said Vicky White, who was not related to him, was the first person who cared about him in six years. He apologized for the escape, saying Vicky White’s only regret was leaving behind her family. "We just wanted a new life together because she knew the truth. I can handle the truth because I know who I am. I chose this road. It’s cost me my life and freedom," White said. US SPACE COMMAND PREFERS HUNTSVILLE, NOT COLORADO SPRINGS, FOR HEADQUARTERS, ALABAMA SENATOR SAYS White was serving a 75-year prison term for an array of 2015 charges, including attempted murder, and awaiting a capital murder trial when he escaped in April 2022. The pair was on the run for 11 days until Casey White was recaptured in Evansville, Indiana, and Vicky White died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. White pleaded guilty to escape in exchange for a felony murder charge involving Vicky White's death being dropped and agreed to the maximum sentence of life without parole. White was also told to notify the state if he, his family or attorneys receives opportunities for books, movies or other financial opportunities related to the escape, which made national headlines, as any proceeds should be used to pay for his defense. Meanwhile, Casey White faces an Aug. 14 capital murder trial for the 2015 slaying of Connie Ridgeway in Rogersville, Alabama. That trial was delayed in the aftermath of the escape and White retaining a new team of attorneys.

A 61-year-old Indianapolis nursing home resident pleaded guilty to murder and rape Thursday in the death of an 80-year-old invalid last year. Dwayne Freeman faces 45 years in prison as part of a plea agreement when he's sentenced June 22 for the crimes against Patricia Newnum. Court documents say an employee at Homestead Healthcare Center entered Newnum’s room to give her medication on the morning of Feb. 2, 2022. She saw Freeman naked and lying on top of Newnum while holding a pillow over her face. OKLAHOMA TEEN MADELINE BILLS’ EX-BOYFRIEND CHARGED WITH HER RAPE AND MURDER Documents say Freeman admitted to having sex with Newnum, but said it was consensual. It wasn’t clear why Freeman was a resident of the nursing home. The Marion County Coroner’s Office ruled Newnum died of asphyxiation by smothering. FORMER PHILADELPHIA HOMICIDE DETECTIVE ACCUSED OF RAPING MURDER VICTIM'S SISTER: OFFICIALS Newnum's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Homestead, which is owned by Adams County Memorial Hospital, a small hospital in northeast Indiana. The hospital contracts with Cincinnati-based CommuniCare to operate the facility. The lawsuit claims the woman's death was the "inevitable result" of poor staffing and horrible conditions at the facility. A spokesperson for Homestead said it does not comment on pending litigation.

A former school dance teacher in Cleveland was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for raping six teenage students and sexually abusing two others. Terence Greene, 57, was convicted late last month by a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court jury that also found him guilty of kidnapping and felonious assault. He was an acclaimed teacher who helped launch the careers of many young dancers, including some who performed on Broadway. "I'm not one to harm anyone," Greene said during the hearing. "Half of them weren’t even my students. To listen to my life in front of me and see all that has been said. … All I can say is ‘Wow, OK God, what’s next?’ God knows." ACCLAIMED CLEVELAND DANCE INSTRUCTOR CONVICTED OF RAPING, SEXUALLY ABUSING 8 TEENAGE STUDENTS Greene’s attorney, W. Scott Ramsey, said his client still assumes his innocence but is "looking forward to an appeal." Prosecutors have said Greene began sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy in the late 1990s, soon after he was hired by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The eight victims in the case were ages 14 to 17 when the abuse began, prosecutors said. Greene resigned from a high school for the arts in 2014 and later began working at Cuyahoga Community College, where the abuse continued until 2019, according to prosecutors. YOUTH PASTOR CHARGED WITH FILMING WOMAN SHOWERING, GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 14 IN BATHROOM: 'SO DEVASTATING' In 2021, the Cleveland public school district agreed to pay a $3.25 million settlement after eight former students filed a lawsuit accusing the school of failing investigate past claims of sexual abuse against Greene. Greene had been found not guilty of sexual battery charges involving a student in 2004 and returned to teaching that year. The students’ lawsuit said the school allowed Greene to continue to share hotel rooms with students on school-sanctioned trips. After resigning in 2014, Greene began teaching at Cuyahoga Community College’s dance academy for children. The college has denied being aware of Greene’s past claims of sexual abuse.

A Moroccan migrant who was injured by gunfire while crossing from Turkey into Greece Thursday is being hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries, Greek officials said. A police statement said the 30-year-old man was found trying to cross the river Evros — Meric in Turkish — that runs along the land border, in a small boat with two other men. He had a gunshot wound in the back, apparently inflicted by somebody on the Turkish side. The boat reached the Greek side, where the man was taken to hospital. The other two were uninjured. Greek police said the Moroccan man told them he had been shot by the Turkish gendarmerie. But they added that they were examining every possibility as to who had fired at him from the Turkish side — including whether migrant-smugglers might have been involved. WASHINGTON STATE EQUITY DIRECTOR FIRED AFTER COMPLAINTS OF RACIST COMMENTS, FAT-SHAMING COLLEAGUE The river, on Greece's northeastern border with Turkey, is a major crossing point for people trying to surreptitiously enter Greece. Earlier this week, Greek officials held a series of high-level contacts with the newly elected Turkish government in an effort to counter a surge in attempted crossings. Patrols along the Greek bank of the river have been intensified following a recent drop in the water level that makes migrant crossings easier.

A federal judge in Mexico has charged another Venezuelan migrant for his alleged role in the March blaze at a Mexican detention center that left 40 dead and dozens more wounded. Mexico prosecutor's office said Thursday in a statement that a man identified as Carlos "C" was charged with homicide, injuries and damages caused by the fire in a migrant detention facility in Ciudad Juárez, across the border from El Paso, Texas. Authorities identified him, along with another migrant from Venezuela, as one of the people who allegedly started the fire, which was the deadliest ever at a Mexican immigration facility. The tragic blaze and its aftermath captured global attention earlier this year as loved ones across the Hemisphere mourned and demanded justice for the victims. VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS REMOVED UNDER NEW BIDEN MOVE FEEL BETRAYED BY MEXICO, US It also sparked controversy and intense criticism about the treatment of migrants by both Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and American authorities, which have constantly pressured the Mexican government to ward off rising arrivals of people from across Latin America and the Caribbean. On March 27, a small number of the migrants being held in the detention facility started a fire in their cell apparently to protest conditions. Their highly flammable mattresses quickly filled the area with smoke and guards fled without unlocking their cell, security camera videos show. In response, authorities have already opened criminal proceedings against Francisco Garduño, head of Mexico's National Migration Institute, and another director for unlawful exercise of public service and failure to perform their duties, which resulted in death by asphyxiation of many migrants. Authorities also detained six other immigration officers, a private security guard and the other migrant, charging them with homicide and for other injuries caused by the fire. Following the fire, NMI closed small- and medium-sized detention facilities similar to the one in Ciudad Juárez, and began a review of conditions in larger facilities.

At least five Africans are dead and dozens believed missing after three boats attempting to carry migrants across the Mediterranean Sea sank in recent days off the coast of the Tunisian city of Sfax, the Tunisian coast guard said Thursday. Bodies of five people, including one child, were recovered in the area in recent days, Sfax Prosecutor Faouzi Masmoudi said. Masmoudi told The Associated Press that navy units had rescued 73 migrants after the three shipwrecks, but survivors' accounted indicated as many as 47 others were missing. Six of the missing were reported to be children. 2 DEAD, 20 MISSING AFTER MIGRANT BOAT SINKS OFF TUNISIA Masmoudi said the boats were made of iron and took on water as soon as they reached the open sea. Most of the growing number of attempts to migrate to Italy by boat from Tunisia leave from the area around Sfax, a port on Tunisia's central coast. WAVE OF 640 MIGRANTS SMUGGLED TO TINY ITALIAN ISLAND FROM TUNISIA Masmoudi said the number of victims buried in Sfax’s cemeteries since January has reached almost 500, a significant increase from the previous two years. In 2022, 355 burials were recorded and 226 in 2021, he said. Migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, are undertaking the perilous journey from Tunisia in unprecedented numbers. Tunisian authorities say they stopped 13,000 migrants from making the crossing from Sfax in the first three months of this year alone. Tunisia has seen growing numbers of migrants arriving via neighboring Libya and is facing a financial and political crisis of its own that is driving growing numbers of young Tunisians to seek a better life in Europe. The leaders of Italy and the Netherlands along with the EU Commission president are traveling to Tunisia on Sunday with a packet of security initiatives to ease the way for a possible international bailout, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni told reporters Thursday.

Kosovo’s prime minister on Thursday complained of bias against his country from the United States and the European Union and tolerance of what he called Serbia’s authoritarian regime. Prime Minister Albin Kurti said his Cabinet took a different stance. "We insist that behaving well with an autocrat doesn’t make him behave better. On the contrary," he said. The U.S. and EU envoys for the Kosovo-Serbia talks — Gabriel Escobar and Miroslav Lajcak respectively — "come to us with demands, with requests of the other side," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. US ALLY REPORTEDLY CALLS BIDEN FOREIGN POLICY IN KOSOVO 'NAIVE' AMID RISING TENSIONS WITH SERBIA Ethnic Serbs recently clashed with Kosovo police and then the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force, leaving 30 soldiers and over 50 Serbs injured and provoking fears of a renewal of the region’s bloody conflicts. Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, outgoing head of the EU Rule of Law Mission, known as EULEX, said that during last week’s violent confrontation "there were very serious injuries sustained by several KFOR soldiers." "There already was violence of the worst kind of thing. Everyone … says we’re lucky that there were no casualties." After the soldiers were injured last week, NATO said it would send an additional 700 troops to northern Kosovo. Wigemark said the time would come when EULEX civilian police, who no longer have executive powers but only "monitoring and mentoring Kosovo police," wouldn’t be needed in Kosovo. "But the conditions are not quite there yet," he said. The European diplomat did not rule out that NATO could decide to deploy "thousands of military troops" in Kosovo. "If the situation is becoming increasingly unstable, if it starts to escalate again, of course, that is an option." The clashes grew out of an earlier confrontation after ethnic Albanian candidates who were declared the winners of local elections in northern Kosovo entered municipal buildings to take office and were blocked by Serbs. Ethnic Serbs overwhelmingly boycotted the votes. Brussels has asked Kosovo to withdraw its special police forces from northern Kosovo, where most of the ethnic Serb minority lives, and to hold fresh elections. In February and March, Kosovo and Serbia reached a EU-facilitated deal on normalizing relations, with an 11-point plan for implementation. The process remains the focus of the talks mediated by the envoys from Washington and Brussels. Kurti insisted the special police forces could not be "downsized" until criminal Serb gangs either left the country or were arrested. He said there was peace in Kosovo if there were no "orders for violence from Belgrade." Western powers should not indulge Belgrade, the root problem of the violence in the Western Balkans, Kurti said. Kurti complained that even for the April snap election in the four northern municipalities with a Serb majority population, "international mediators, European facilitators failed us." KOSOVO POLICE, NATO PEACEKEEPERS CLASH WITH SERB PROTESTERS AS TENSIONS IN THE REGION ESCALATE He said they urged Kosovo to make electoral amendments but did not put pressure on the ethnic Serbs’ only political party to take part in the vote. He said he would need the international community’s help to foster political pluralism in the ethnic Serb minority "for a fair competition, for a democratic race for new mayors." "We cannot afford another process where Serbian candidates boycott it a couple of days before the elections start because that's what Belgrade orders," he said. Wigemark, who has also served in Bosnia-Herzegovina, said it was vital that "these kinds of incidents are not allowed to flare up, to spill over to some sort of armed conflict." "The ongoing dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, that is the venue to sort out most of the outstanding questions," he said. Serbia and its former province Kosovo have been at odds for decades, with Belgrade refusing to recognize Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence. The violence near their shared border has stirred fear of a renewal of a 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo that claimed more than 10,000 lives and resulted in the KFOR peacekeeping mission.

The United States Agency for International Development said Thursday it has suspended all food aid to Ethiopia, Africa's second most-populous country, after an internal investigation found donated food intended for millions of hungry people there was being diverted on a "widespread" scale. While the agency's statement did not say who was responsible for the theft, agency head Samantha Power, in briefing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier this spring on initial discoveries of massive theft of food aid in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, said the theft appeared to "involve collusion between parties on both sides" in a government conflict with opponents there. Power at the time called her agency's delay in detecting the "widespread and coordinated" theft of aid there "a systemic failure" by her agency. UN FOOD RELIEF AGENCY SUSPENDS AID DELIVERIES TO ETHIOPIA'S NORTHERN TIGRAY REGION The U.S. is the biggest single donor to Ethiopia, providing $1.8 billion in humanitarian assistance, including food aid, in the 2022 fiscal year. In total, 20 million people across Ethiopia rely on aid because of conflict and drought, out of a total population of about 120 million. A USAID official, speaking on condition of anonymity given the ongoing investigation, said the U.S. development agency was still providing other assistance in Ethiopia, including feedings for malnourished children, despite the suspension of delivery of food aid. "Our intention is to immediately resume food assistance once we are confident in the integrity of delivery systems to get assistance to its intended recipients," the agency said in a statement. An internal memo prepared by a group of humanitarian donors and seen by The Associated Press also pointed to the involvement of Ethiopia’s federal government in the diversion of food aid. "The scheme appears to be orchestrated by federal and regional government of Ethiopia entities, with military units across the country benefitting from humanitarian assistance," said the document from the Humanitarian and Resilience Donor Group, which includes bilateral and multilateral partners. In a joint statement with USAID, Ethiopia's foreign affairs ministry spoke of "deeply concerning revelations" and said it was investigating with the U.S. "so that the perpetrators of such diversion are held to account." It committed to reforms to safeguard future aid from theft. The document said USAID staff members had launched inspection visits of 63 flour mills in seven of Ethiopia’s nine regions since March. They witnessed a "significant diversion of USAID-funded humanitarian food commodities" alongside food donated by France, Japan and Ukraine, according to the donor report. The USAID announcement comes after both USAID and the United Nations World Food Program last month said they had suspended aid to Ethiopia's northern Tigray region while they investigated allegations of food aid theft, which were first reported by the AP in April. The Tigray region was the center of a devastating two-year conflict that ended in November and left 5.4 million of the population of 6 million relying on humanitarian help. A USAID document from May 3 said its investigators discovered 2,000 metric tons of USAID-branded wheat — enough to feed 134,000 people for a month — for sale in a market in the Tigray town of Shire in March. The investigators also found USAID grain for sale elsewhere in the region, the document said. With food aid suspended in the region, doctors in Tigray have reported an alarming rise in hunger. Child malnutrition cases rose by 28% from March to April at the region’s flagship Ayder Hospital in Mekelle, the provincial capital, while at Axum Hospital they rose by 96% over the same period, according to admissions data reviewed by the AP. ETHIOPIA’S PM ANNOUNCES OUTREACH TO OUTLAWED REBEL GROUP IN OROMIA Simret Niguse, a pediatrician at Ayder, said seven children died from acute malnutrition at the hospital last month. They included a 6-month-old whose mother could not produce milk "due to hunger," she said. The acting U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia, Tracey Ann Jacobson, and Mike Hammer, the U.S. special envoy to the Horn of Africa, visited Tigray this week. The region’s interim president, Getachew Reda, said he discussed allegations of aid diversion with them. Testifying to senators about the investigation in late April, Power said fighting had meant that USAID’s disaster response team was then unable to gain access to the region, which denied the agency the oversight it would have had on scene, she said. "We know we owe you...not only accounting for what has happened but also some institution of additional safeguards," Power told senators.

A Russian man died after being mauled by a shark on Thursday off one of Egypt's Red Sea resorts, Egyptian and Russian authorities said. Egypt's Environment Ministry said the man was killed after being attacked by a tiger shark in the waters near the city of Hurghada. Authorities closed off a 46-mile stretch of the coastline, announcing it will remain off-limits until Sunday. The ministry later said it had caught the shark and was examining it in a laboratory to try and determine the reasons for the rare attack. The Russian Consulate in Hurghada identified the man as a Russian citizen but did not give his name. A video circulating online, purportedly of the attack, shows a man thrashing about in the water before being repeatedly attacked by a shark circling around him, then being dragged under. ISRAEL SUMMONS GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO REBUKE HIM FOR INTERFERENCE IN DOMESTIC POLITICS Shark attacks are rare in the Red Sea coastal regions. However, in 2022, two fatal attacks in Hughada within days, killing an Austrian and a Romanian tourist. Egypt’s Red Sea resorts, including Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, boast some of the country’s most renowned beach destinations and are popular with European tourists. Divers are attracted by the steep drop-offs of coral reefs just offshore, which offer a rich and colorful sea life. Egypt has in recent years sought to revive the vital tourism sector, hurt by years of political instability, the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Tiger sharks are large species that reside in tropical and temperate waters and are among sharks most cited by the International Shark Attack File for unprovoked attacks on humans.

South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission said Thursday it will investigate 237 more cases of South Korean adoptees who suspect their family origins were manipulated to facilitate their adoptions in Europe and the United States. The new cases in the commission's expanded inquiry into South Korea's foreign adoption boom involve adoptees in 11 nations including the United States, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden who were adopted from 1960 to 1990. More than 370 adoptees from Europe, North America and Australia filed applications last year demanding their cases be investigated. When the commission said it would investigate the first 34 cases in December, it said the records of many adoptees sent to the West had clearly been manipulated and falsely described them as orphans or faked their identities by borrowing the details of a third person. SOUTH KOREAN ADOPTION AGENCY ORDERED TO COMPENSATE ADOPTEE FOR MISHANDLING HIS ADOPTION TO THE US The commission said most of the applicants claim their adoptions were based on falsified records that laundered their status or origin to ensure their adoptability and expedite custody transfers across borders. Some applicants asked the commission to look into abuse they say they experienced at South Korean orphanages or under the care of their foreign adoptive parents. The commission’s potential findings could allow adoptees to take legal actions against agencies or the government, which would otherwise be difficult because South Korean civil courts put the burden of proof entirely on plaintiffs, who often lack information and resources. Of the 271 cases accepted by the commission so far, 141 are those of Danish adoptees, including members of the Danish Korean Rights Group co-led by adoptee activist Peter Møller, which submitted the initial 51 applications in August last year. Other cases accepted by the commission include those of 28 U.S. adoptees and 21 from Swedish adoptees, officials said. The commission, which is reviewing the applications in the order they were submitted, is likely to investigate the remaining 101 cases, too, according to officials. MISSISSIPPI'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM INCREASING PACE OF ADOPTIONS About 200,000 South Koreans, mostly girls, were adopted to the West in the past six decades, creating what’s believed to be the world’s largest diaspora of adoptees. Most were placed with white parents in the United States and Europe during the 1970s and ’80s. South Korea was then ruled by a succession of military dictatorships, which were focused on economic growth and saw adoptions as a tool to reduce the number of mouths to feed, erase the "social problem" of unwed mothers and deepen ties with the democratic West. The military governments implemented special laws aimed at promoting foreign adoptions that in practice allowed adoption agencies to bypass proper child relinquishment practices as they sent thousands of children to the West year after year during the adoptions' heyday. Most adoptees were registered by agencies as abandoned orphans found abandoned on the streets, although they frequently had relatives who could be easily identified or found. That practice often makes their roots difficult or impossible to trace. It wasn’t until 2013 that South Korea’s government required foreign adoptions to go through family courts, ending a decadeslong policy that allowed agencies to dictate child relinquishments and international transfers of custodies.

A coalition of opposition groups won a majority of seats in Guinea Bissau's parliament, beating the ruling party in the country’s first legislative elections since the president dissolved the National People’s Assembly more than a year ago, according to results announced Thursday. The results from the weekend vote were announced by the national electoral committee, which said the five-party Terra Ranka coalition won 54 of parliament's 102 seats. The ruling party, MADEM G-15, placed second with 29 seats. In the previous parliament, the main opposition party, The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), held the majority. It is now part of the coalition along with main opposition party PAIGC. Guinea-Bissau is a small nation that gained independence from Portugal nearly five decades ago. The country has endured continued political turmoil, including multiple coups, since then. President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, a former army general, took office in February 2020 after he was declared the winner of a runoff election. He survived a coup attempt two years later when assailants armed with machine guns and AK-47s attacked the government palace. REBEL ATTACK IN EASTERN CONGO'S ITURI PROVINCE CLAIMS 18 LIVES, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP REPORTS Embalo has consolidated his grip on power since his controversial inauguration. He's cracked down on civic freedoms, while government bodies have lost significant independence, according to analysts. He dissolved parliament in May 2022 and postponed the legislative elections originally scheduled for the following December. While there were concerns of unrest if MADEM G-15 did not secure a majority in Sunday's election, the capital appeared calm as people celebrating on the streets Thursday. Speaking at a press conference after the results were announced, the ruling party's president, Braima Camara, said he called the opposition to offer congratulations. "The people elected me to be in opposition and we are going to be in opposition to do our job," Camara said. The head of Terra Ranka, Domingos Simoes Pereira, said the win meant the coalition parties now had a huge responsibility on their shoulders. The results could be good for democracy and might provide some stability, according to analysts. "This significantly strengthens the hand of the opposition coalition and leaves the ruling party weakened," said Lucia Bird Ruiz Benitez de Lugo, director of the West Africa Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. The big question now is who will be appointed prime minister and how it will impact the government going forward, she said.

Philippine officials on Thursday raised the alert level for one of the country’s most active volcanoes after superheated streams of gas, debris and rocks cascaded down its upper slope in a condition they fear could lead to a hazardous eruption within days or weeks. Villagers living within a 3.7-mile radius of Mayon volcano’s crater were told to leave the long-designated permanent danger zone and move to safer grounds due to the danger of volcanic emissions, lava flows, rockfalls and other hazards, officials said. Cedric Daep, a provincial public safety official, said villagers were preparing to evacuate from the danger zone, which is supposed to be off limits to permanent residents but where many mostly poor families have built houses in Mayon's shadow over the years. PHOTOS SHOW HAWAII'S KILAUEA VOLCANO ERUPTING AGAIN "Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. A tourist draw in northeastern Albay province for its picturesque conical shape, Mayon is one of the most restive of two dozen active volcanoes across the Philippines. It last erupted violently in 2018, displacing tens of thousands of villagers. Government volcano experts said they raised the alert level around Mayon to the third of a five-step warning system after detecting an increasing number of rockfalls and at least two volcanic earthquakes in recent days. Three brief volcanic gas and ash emissions on Thursday streamed down the volcano’s southeastern gully about half a mile from the crater, they said. "This means that Mayon is exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome with increased chances of lava flows ... and of potential explosive activity within weeks or even days," the government volcanology institute said. Aside from Mayon, officials were closely monitoring Taal volcano south of Manila and Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island due to renewed signs of restiveness. A number of villages in three towns near Taal suspended classes on Wednesday due to thick smog emanating from the volcano, one of the world’s smallest, and residents were advised to limit outdoor activities and wear masks for protection. The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. A long-dormant volcano, Mount Pinatubo, blew its top north of Manila in 1991 in one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killing hundreds of people.

Five people were killed in a shooting Thursday in an Arab town in northern Israel, police said, the latest in a wave of criminal violence tearing through the country's Palestinian communities. Israel's Haaretz newspaper said a gunman arrived at a car wash in the town of Yafa an-Naseriyye, near the city of Nazareth, and opened fire. Police said they believed the shooting was connected to a dispute between organized crime families. Shortly afterward, a shooting in a nearby Arab town left a 30-year-old man and 3-year-old girl seriously wounded, police said. The circumstances of that shooting and the identities of the two wounded were not immediately known. Israel's Palestinian sector has long suffered from poverty, discrimination, crime and neglect by the national government. Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, promised to crack down on crime in Israel's Palestinian sector when he took office late last year. But the violence has only worsened, with nearly 100 people killed this year. WHO IS VIRGINIA MOSELEY? CNN EXECUTIVE IS ZUCKER-ERA VETERAN, MARRIED TO DEMOCRATIC POWER PLAYER In a statement at the crime scene, Ben-Gvir said years of neglect had turned Israel's Arab sector into the "wild west." He also blamed a manpower shortage in the national police force and vowing to halt the crime wave, called for the establishment of a controversial "national guard" that he has proposed. Ben-Gvir says the force is meant to fill in gaps in areas where police are spread thin, including in crime-ridden Arab communities. Critics say that Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist with a history of violent rhetoric against Palestinians, will use the force as a personal militia. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "shocked" by Thursday's killings. "We are determined to stop this chain of murders," he said. He vowed to enlist Israel's Shin Bet internal security agency — whose main task is to monitor the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip — in the effort. Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab party Raam, accused the government, and especially Ben-Gvir, of failing the country's Palestinians. "To bring into the ministry of national security (of) Itamar Ben-Gvir, who doesn't know what his powers are, in no normal country would they allow such a minister to continue," he told Israel’s Army Radio station. Merav Michaeli, leader of the opposition Labor Party, also blamed Ben-Gvir for the growing violence. "This is exactly the opposite of what the boss promised," she said. "The worst police minister in history. A disgraceful government. Go home." Thursday's shooting is separate from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has seen more than yearlong surge of violence in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem. That fighting has picked up since Israel’s new far-right government took office in late December. Nearly 120 Palestinians have been killed in the two areas this year, with nearly half of them members of armed militant groups, according to an AP tally. The military says the number of militants is much higher. Meanwhile, Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis have killed at least 21 people.