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FBI extradites Chinese hacker accused of stealing COVID-19 research

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A Chinese hacker accused of stealing COVID-19 research from U.S. institutions in a massive cyberattack has been extradited to American soil. 

FBI Director Kash Patel said the case involving Xu Zewei is a “historic win for our cybersecurity efforts under President Trump, bringing bad actors who target American infrastructure to justice no matter where they try to hide.” 

Patel said Xu, a Chinese national and accused state-sponsored hacker, is “allegedly responsible for a massive cyber intrusion campaign in 2020 and 2021 stealing COVID-19 research from American institutions.” 

“Xu has been extradited to the U.S. out of Italy as of this weekend, and he will now face federal charges,” Patel revealed Tuesday in a post on X.

DOJ CHARGES 2 CHINESE NATIONALS WHO ALLEGEDLY RAN OVERSEAS CRYPTOCURRENCY SCAM CENTER TARGETING AMERICANS

FBI brings suspect into custody

“During 2020 and 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xu and his co-conspirators allegedly targeted and hacked U.S. based universities, immunologists, and virologists conducting COVID-19 research – including key treatment and vaccines – accessing email accounts and more,” Patel said. 

The Justice Department said Xu is facing nine charges, including two counts of wire fraud, two counts of obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers and aggravated identity theft. The wire fraud charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

“According to court documents, officers of the PRC’s Ministry of State Security’s (MSS) Shanghai State Security Bureau (SSSB) directed Xu to conduct this hacking. The MSS and SSSB are PRC intelligence services responsible for PRC’s domestic counterintelligence, non-military foreign intelligence, and aspects of the PRC’s political and domestic security,” the Justice Department said.

“Xu and others reported their activities to officers in the SSSB who were supervising and directing the hacking activities,” the Justice Department added. “For example, on or about Feb. 19, 2020, Xu provided an SSSB officer with confirmation that he had compromised the network of a research university located in the Southern District of Texas. On or about Feb. 22, 2020, the SSSB officer directed Xu to target and access specific email accounts (mailboxes) belonging to virologists and immunologists engaged in COVID-19 research for the university. Xu later confirmed for the SSSB officer that he acquired the contents of the researchers’ mailboxes.”

FBI Director Kash Patel speaking at a news conference at the Justice Department

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Patel said, “Xu was also allegedly a key contractor [in] part of what’s known as HAFNIUM, a group responsible for a massive cyber intrusion campaign (directed by PRC officials) that compromised nearly 13,000 U.S. organizations.”

Patel thanked the FBI’s partners in Italy, mentioning that Prefect Vittorio Pisani of the Italian National Police “worked with us nonstop” in the investigation to bring Xu into custody.

FBI Director Kash Patel speaking at a Department of Justice news conference with officials standing behind him

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Fox News Digital has reached out to attorneys representing Xu for comment. 

  

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Influencer’s body returns home after safari getaway as missing ring and fiancé questions cloud case: report

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This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

The body of a popular New Jersey social media influencer who died in an apparent suicide while vacationing off the coast of Africa with her newly minted fiancé has reportedly been returned to her family – but without her personal belongings and engagement ring.  

Ashly Robinson, who was also known as Ashlee Jenae, died while on a trip to Zanzibar on April 10, according to local authorities. Her death came just days after getting engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Joe McCann, while the pair was traveling to celebrate her 31st birthday

On Friday, Robinson’s remains were returned to her family in New Jersey, her father, Harry Robinson, told TMZ

MYSTERY SHROUDS CASE AS AMERICAN TOURIST STILL PRESUMED MISSING IN POPULAR TOURIST PARADISE 

Ashlee Jenae smiling and posing for a photo

However, Robinson’s personal belongings – including her engagement ring –have yet to be handed over to her loved ones, the outlet reported.

Robinson’s father believes the items are being held by authorities as the investigation into her death remains ongoing, TMZ reported.

Her family has also reportedly conducted an independent autopsy of Robinson’s remains, though the results remain pending. 

A funeral service for Robinson is also expected to take place in New Jersey early this week, TMZ reported.

INFLUENCER’S SAFARI GETAWAY TURNS DEADLY DAYS AFTER PROPOSAL AS POLICE QUESTION FIANCÉ, FAMILY DEMANDS ANSWERS

Ashlee Jenae smiling in a close-up portrait

Robinson was discovered hanging from a door inside her hotel room and was subsequently transported to a hospital, where she died one day later. 

Her death was ruled a suicide by authorities. 

Tanzania Police previously revealed Robinson’s death was “attributed to a misunderstanding” between the influencer and McCann, while adding that the incident forced hotel staff to separate the newly engaged couple by placing McCann in another room “for their safety.”

Following Robinson’s death, Tanzania Police at the time revealed McCann “continues to be questioned by the Police Force and his passport has been suspended,” though authorities did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation.

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Zanzibar

Sources have since told the BBC that McCann was being interviewed as a witness in the case and is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Details regarding whether McCann has since returned to the United States remain unclear remain unclear, and local authorities did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment regarding the status of his passport.

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In the immediate aftermath of Robinson’s death, her family spoke out to dispute authorities’ ruling that the 31-year-old influencer died by suicide

In a previous interview with TMZ, Robinson’s parents, Harry and Yolanda Robinson, rejected authorities’ ruling that their daughter would take her own life, adding, “She was a beacon of light. A happy, go-lucky girl. Very excited to go on this birthday trip which later turned into a proposal.”

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Her family also reportedly told the outlet at the time that McCann contacted them 11 hours after Robinson was transported to the hospital, and only reached out again to inform them she had passed. 

Robinson’s parents told TMZ they have not heard from McCann since she died, a development that they find “very very odd,” FOX 29 reported.

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“The sadness, the unanswered questions, and the distance from home have made this tragedy even more overwhelming for our family,” Robinson’s parents said in a statement shared to social media. 

“At this time, there is an active investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ashly’s suspicious passing,” they added.

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Robinson, a popular social media influencer, had 145,000 followers on Instagram and regularly posted lifestyle content. She frequently shared photos with McCann, including one of her final posts showing her feeding giraffes while on vacation in Zanzibar.

Fox News Digital reached out to McCann, Zanzibar Police and the U.S. Embassy. It was not immediately clear whether McCann had retained an attorney. 

  

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Body camera video shows police officer allegedly kidnapped by armed robbery suspect in roadside showdown

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Harrowing body camera video shows the terrifying moments a California police officer was allegedly kidnapped by an armed robbery suspect and forced to shoot him in the leg as the pair veered down a local roadway. 

The incident unfolded around 5:16 a.m. on Feb. 20, when officers with the Antioch Police Department (APD) were dispatched to the FoodMaxx grocery store on Lone Tree Way regarding reports of an armed robbery involving multiple suspects, authorities said in a statement posted to social media. 

As officers attempted to detain the individuals, one suspect allegedly attempted to flee the scene by ramming his car into an occupied police vehicle, leading to a physical struggle between the suspect and officer. 

“During the altercation, the officer was pulled into the vehicle as the suspect drove forward, striking both a police car and a nearby store,” the APD said.

HOMELESS MAN CHARGED WITH ATTACKING SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR’S SECURITY DETAIL ARRESTED AGAIN DAYS AFTER RELEASE

A group of suspected robbers smashing a stolen car into FoodMaxx grocery store in Antioch

Surveillance video released by the department shows the moment a stolen Infiniti smashed through the front doors of the grocery store before two men climbed out of the vehicle and ran into the business. The suspects then allegedly threatened the store clerk with a handgun, police said. 

Within minutes, an Antioch police officer pulled into the parking lot and attempted to block the suspects’ vehicle as another officer approached the passenger side and opened the door. 

“Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands!” an officer is heard shouting.

MISSOURI SUSPECT TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER DEPUTY FATALLY SHOT, ENDING MANHUNT

Officer Travis Donaldson being pushed into a car in Antioch California

The suspect allegedly subsequently accelerated forward at a high rate of speed, trapping the officer inside the vehicle as he sped away. 

“Stop the car! Stop the car!” the trapped officer, identified as Travis Donaldson, can be heard yelling. 

“Get out of the car, bro,” the suspect, later identified as 23-year-old Dominick Desouza, replied.

WATCH: ACROBATIC TEXAS FUGITIVE FRONT-FLIPS OVER FENCE BEFORE EPIC TAKE DOWN

Officer Travis Donaldson pointing a gun at alleged armed robbery suspect Dominick Desouza inside a car

Desouza is heard threatening to crash the vehicle as the pair continue to argue. 

“Don’t do it,” Donaldson warns. “It’s not worth it.”

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“I got a family, bro” Desouza replied. 

Donaldson then begins pleading with Desouza to pull over while also giving him an ultimatum.

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“Stop the car, or I will shoot you in the leg,” Donaldson said. 

Body camera video shows Donaldson firing a single shot into Desouza’s leg.

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“Officer Donaldson intentionally shot Desouza in the leg to reduce the likelihood of a fatality to Desouza, himself, and members of the community,” the APD said. 

Despite his injury, Desouza crashed into a parked car inside a residential neighborhood and fled on foot, but was located just minutes later, according to police.

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Desouza was subsequently taken into custody and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the APD added. Donaldson also only sustained minor injuries from the incident. 

Desouza is charged with kidnapping, robbery, burglary and assault on an officer, according to authorities.

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Fox News Digital’s Adriana James-Rodil contributed to this report. 

  

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Carnival cruise ship passenger dies after falling from balcony – FBI investigates high-seas horror

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A passenger aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship died Monday morning after apparently falling from the balcony of her room while the vessel was sailing near Catalina Island.

The incident occurred on the Carnival Firenze, which was off the Southern California coast when the female guest went over the balcony of her stateroom and landed on a lower deck, the cruise line confirmed to Fox News Digital.

She was traveling with family members, who alerted the ship’s crew, according to Carnival.

“As is customary following these kinds of incidents, law enforcement was on board while the ship was in Catalina Island on Monday to collect information,” the company said in a statement, adding that all appropriate authorities had been notified.

FBI INVESTIGATING DEATH ON BOARD CARNIVAL DREAM CRUISE SHIP

Carnival Firenze ship cancels sailings

The family has since left the ship and returned home, according to Carnival.

“Carnival’s Care Team is supporting the guest’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones,” the company added.

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The FBI confirmed to Fox News Digital that it is looking into the death.

“The FBI responded to the ship and is currently investigating the reported death,” the bureau’s Los Angeles field office said.

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Carnival cruise ship sailing near Catalina Island

It remains unclear what caused the passenger to go over the balcony. Her identity has not been released.

NO CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHEERLEADER FOUND DEAD ON CRUISE SHIP AS REPORT REVEALS REMAINS FOUND HIDDEN UNDER BED

Multiple cruise ships docked at port as authorities investigate recent cruise ship incidents

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told Fox News Digital that its Search and Rescue team from the Avalon Sheriff’s Station helped in recovering the passenger who died. The department directed further questions to the FBI.

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The Carnival Splendor in Australia

It is the latest incident in a recent string of cruise tragedies.

Just last week, two separate emergencies turned deadly during a single voyage on the Carnival Splendor, with authorities indicating the incidents were unrelated.

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In that case, a 67-year-old woman died while snorkeling off Australia’s Moreton Island during a shore excursion after she was found unresponsive in the water. Hours later, a separate passenger in his 70s reportedly climbed over the ship’s safety railing and went overboard, prompting an intensive search that was later suspended.

In a separate incident, two Carnival passengers also died in drowning cases at the company’s private Bahamas resort.

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Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano and Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.

  

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Affidavit in suburban Massachusetts mother’s alleged slaying of children reveals gruesome details

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This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

An arrest affidavit for a Wellesley, Mass., mother accused of murdering her two children in their upscale suburban home reveals grisly details about the alleged killings.

Janette MacAusland, 49, is accused of killing her two children, Kai, 7, and Ella, 6, in their home last Friday before fleeing to Vermont.

The affidavit reveals MacAusland appeared at her aunt’s home distraught.

Janette MacAusland outdoors orange tank

MOTHER FROM AFFLUENT BOSTON SUBURB ACCUSED OF MURDERING TWO CHILDREN DURING CUSTODY DISPUTE

“She was hysterical. I brought her into my house. She had knocked on a window to get my attention and I could see that she had a large cut on her throat,” her aunt said. “After getting her to calm down checked her neck and could see that the blood on her was dried, Janette stated that she tried to kill herself. I asked where her husband was and she said he was at the lake.”

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“I wanted the three of us to go to God together, but it didn’t work,” MacAusland told her aunt, according to the affidavit.

MacAusland’s aunt relayed to police that her niece said she killed Kai and Ella and then tried to kill herself. The affidavit mentions MacAusland told her aunt that she planned to jump off a bridge, but could not do it.

Janette MacAusland mugshot

Later, police spoke with MacAusland and asked if her children were OK. In response, she shook her head, according to the affidavit. Then, she revealed a startling detail to police.

“I strangled them and then tried to kill myself,” she told them, adding that the children could be found in her bed in their Massachusetts family home.

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The affidavit says police in Wellesley were called, and confirmed what MacAusland told them.

MacAusland was jailed in Vermont on a fugitive from justice charge and appeared before a judge remotely on Monday afternoon. She was charged in Massachusetts over the weekend with two counts of murder.

Janette MacAsuland selfie

In the Monday hearing, she waived her extradition rights, and will be transported back to her home state to face those charges.

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MacAusland’s husband, Samuel MacAusland, filed for divorce in October after nine years of marriage, citing an “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage,” court records show. He was seeking custody of the children, and the couple had

MacAusland’s attorney did not return a request for comment.

  

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Cold case cracked after 40 years as teen’s alleged killers are caught after podcast helps find new leads

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Four men in Louisiana were charged with rape and murder four decades after 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp was found dead, thanks to a podcast and new DNA technology.

Sharp was found dead in a wooded area in Covington, Louisiana on Feb. 12, 1982. The Covington Police Department determined that Sharp was raped and murdered, but officials were unable to make arrests due to a lack of public cooperation and limited physical evidence, making the case go cold for decades until now.

Four Covington men face charges of aggravated rape and second-degree murder in connection with the 1982 killing of Sharp: Perry Wayne Taylor, 64, Darrell Dean Spell, 64, Carlos Cooper, 64, and Billy Williams Jr., 62. The men were arrested on April 21 and 22.

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Roxanne Sharp in a picture

The Louisiana State Police credited new DNA technology and a podcast for helping make arrests in the murder of Sharp. The podcast generated new leads and information, as well as new witness cooperation.

Police worked with local radio host Charles Dowdy with the Lake 94.7 from the Northshore Media Group in 2025 to produce a podcast called “Who Killed Roxanne,” which generated “new information, leads, and witness cooperation previously unknown to investigators.”

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Darrell Spell booking picture.

“These arrests highlight the continued commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice, regardless of how much time has passed. Through advancements in investigative techniques and strong interagency cooperation, cases once thought unsolvable can still be brought to resolution,” the Louisiana State Police said in a statement.

Sharp’s niece, Michele Lappin, told the Associated Press she hopes the arrests will provide closure.

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“We appreciate the hard work and love that has been shown to Roxanne Sharp’s case,” Lappin said. “We hope that with justice will come healing and closure for our family, her loved ones and the community.”

Billy Williams Jr.’s son, Billy Williams III, meanwhile, is adamant that his father didn’t kill Sharp.

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Billy Williams booking picturew.

“He thinks they’re putting him in for something he didn’t do,” Williams III said. “He says he would never in his life hurt anyone.”

Taylor and Cooper were already in prison on unrelated charges, according to police.

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Covington Police Department Chief Michael Ferrell said in a statement that his agency never gave up on Sharp’s case.

“The resolution of Roxanne Sharp’s case is a testament to what happens when dedicated law enforcement officers refuse to let a victim be forgotten. For over four decades, the Covington Police Department and Louisiana State Police kept Roxanne’s case alive revisiting evidence, following new leads, and carrying her name forward even when answers seemed out of reach. Cold cases don’t close themselves,” he said.

“They close because people show up, year after year, and refuse to quit. That is exactly what our agencies did, and today, Roxanne and her family finally have the justice they have waited so long for. We are proud of the work done by every investigator who touched this case and deeply grateful for the partnership that made this moment possible.”

  

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