International

Suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO arrested in Pennsylvania

The authorities arrested this Monday in Pennsylvania (border state with New York) the suspect of killing the executive director of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, thanks to citizen collaboration.

Luigi Mangione, 26, had a weapon “compatible with the one used in the murder” – with the “ability to fire a nine-millimeter bullet” and a silencer – a lethal tool that could have been made with a 3D printer, the New York Police said at a press conference.

In addition, Mangione – whose image had been shared by the New York Police Department (NYPD) in recent days – had at the time of the arrest a military collared collared panties similar to the one the one the murderer wore in his shooting in front of the Hilton Midtown hotel (Manhattan), the same false identification he used to stay in a hostel in New York and a three-page handwritten document in which he criticized insurance companies.

How was the arrest of the suspect in the murder of the director of UnitedHealthcare?

The arrest took place at a McDonald’s in Altoona (Pennsylvania), where the suspect was eating and was recognized by an employee who called the local police.

“New York Police detectives are on their way to Pennsylvania,” noted New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

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The young man was not arrested or accused in connection with the murder, but in Altoona he will face charges of possession of weapons.

However, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office will seek to extradite the young man to face charges in the Big Apple.

“Combination of detective work”

At the press conference, in which the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, also participated, it was emphasized that this arrest has been possible thanks to a “combination of old-school detective work and new-era technology,” as well as the review of videos.

Despite the fact that Mangione had in his possession other forms of false identification, the police said today that he was not at risk of escaping the country.

The twenty-year-old was born and raised in Maryland, and has lived in San Francisco, Pennsylvania and Hawaii, according to the Police.

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This Monday there will be a private funeral for Thompson, the 50-year-old executive killed on Wednesday in broad daylight in downtown New York, according to local media.

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”