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New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Robbers force family into basement and duct-tape them during armed Queens home invasion
Two thugs armed with guns, one disguised as an Amazon worker, pushed their way into a home in Queens and tied up the family – including three young children – and duct taped their mouths shut, according to law enforcement sources. The thieves, one wearing an Amazon vest the other a black hoodie, forced their way into a single-family home at 152-14 12th Avenue in Whitestone Monday morning just after 9 a.m., police and sources said. 4 Two thugs armed with guns, one disguised as an Amazon worker, pushed their way into a home in Queens and tied up the family. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Advertisement One of the family's four children who had already left for school accidentally left the door open making it easier for the gunman to enter the home, law enforcement sources said. The hooligans forced the family into the basement at gunpoint, tied them up and stretched duct tape over their mouths, sources said. The pair raided the home and fled with an unknown amount of cash and jewelry using the victim's own car, a silver Chrysler minivan, as the getaway vehicle. Advertisement 4 The thieves forced their way into a single-family home at 152-14 12th Avenue in Whitestone Monday morning just after 9 a.m. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Investigators found it abandoned two blocks away, police said. John Nardone had just climbed out of his car to get to work when he saw the terrified father running out of the house tugging at something on his face. Nardone realized it was duct tape. 'I said, 'are you ok?'' Nardone said. 'He said his kids were in the basement.' Advertisement Nardone called 911 immediately, according to FreedomNewsTV. 4 One of the family's four children who had already left for school accidentally left the door open making it easier for the gunman to enter the home. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 'I honestly didn't really know what he was saying. He didn't really speak the greatest English,' the witness told FreedomNewsTV. 'He seemed really rattled and like he did not know even what was going on. But he was definitely very nervous.' Two police cars responded to the house, which is across the street from PS 193 Alfred J. Kennedy Elementary School, within minutes, Nardone said. He told officers what little he knew. Advertisement 'He was definitely disheveled,' the witness said of the terrified father. 'He was definitely, like, scared. He probably didn't know what just happened himself.' 4 The hooligans forced the family into the basement at gunpoint, tied them up and stretched duct tape over their mouths. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Nardone said he was nervous himself because he was starting his second day at a new job and didn't want to be late. The scene was so bizarre that at first he questioned what he was seeing. 'I was wondering if this was real, because that,' he said referring to the victim running out of a house, 'I've never seen something like that, like a guy come out of his house with duct tape all over his face.' Police are still searching for the suspects and said the incident remains under investigation. Investigators are looking for any video they can find to help identify the brazen gunman.
DW
2 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Israel tells aid ship to change course as it nears Gaza – DW – 06/09/2025
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage The ship is trying to deliver humanitarian supplies to the besieged enclave, where the UN has warned of a looming famine Image: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/picture alliance A ship carrying humanitarian aid bound for the Gaza Strip is approaching the Palestinian enclave, which is under an Israeli blockade. In addition to much-need supplies, the British-flagged Madleen is carrying climate advocate Greta Thunberg and several other activists. As it neared Gaza early on Monday morning, the occupants aboard the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's ship said it was coming "under assault" from Israeli forces and was surrounded by quadcopters. Israel's Navy has said it has told the aid ship to change course. On Sunday, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said that he had instructed the military to stop the ship from reaching Gaza, warning "the antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-propaganda-spouting friends" to turn back. We'll bring you the latest developments on the situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East region on Monday, June 9, 2025.
New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
NYPD cop fires at armed BMW thieves who tried to mow down officers during heist from Queens shop: cops
An NYPD cop opened fire on an armed crew who stole BMWs from a Queens auto repair shop and nearly plowed down the officers who closed in on them Friday morning, cops and sources said. The brazen suspects hopped into the luxury cars and sped off when cops caught them red-handed at the shop on 33rd Avenue near Miller Street in Flushing around 5:30 a.m., police said. They accelerated toward the cops – nearly striking them – prompting one officer to open fire, authorities and sources said. Advertisement 3 The luxury car thieves accelerated toward the responding cops — prompting one to open fire, police said. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 3 No one appeared to be struck by the gunfire, and the reckless drivers continued on their way, police said. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock No one appeared to have been struck, and the reckless crew continued to speed off, heading north on Miller Street, police said. Advertisement The officers were checked out at a local hospital for ringing in their ears, cops and sources said. 3 Two suspects were later taken into custody, and four BMWs were recovered, sources said. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Two suspects were later taken into custody, and four BMWs allegedly used by the perps were recovered, sources said. Charges were not immediately filed.
DW
5 days ago
- Business
- DW
India's air force hampered by aging fleet, delivery delays – DW – 06/06/2025
Chronic delays in defense procurement are frustrating India's efforts to expand its military fleet, with its top air force commander publicly calling out unmet goals and unrealistic timelines. In an unusual public disapproval of India's weapons manufacturing ecosystem, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Amar Preet Singh lamented the delays plaguing the country's defense projects and urged accountability. Speaking at a high-profile industry gathering in the capital New Delhi last week, in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the air chief declared that contract timelines are routinely unrealistic and questioned the fundamental credibility of delivery promises made by public sector defense companies. "Many times, we know while signing contracts that those systems will never come. Not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time," said Singh, referring to the agreed deadlines at the time of contract signing. "Why should we promise something which cannot be achieved?" Singh asked. While pointing to the changing nature and landscape of warfare involving drone technology, the air chief urged timely induction of new technologies into the armed forces. In 2016, India signed a deal with France for 36 Rafale jets Image: DebajyotixChakraborty/NurPhoto/IMAGO India aims to overhaul defense ecosystem For several years, the IAF has faced repeated delays in the delivery of new aircraft, especially the indigenous multirole combat jet Tejas Mk1A. For instance, not a single Tejas Mk1A from the 2021 order has yet been delivered despite repeated assurances of their imminent arrival. Singh's latest comments come on the heels of recent armed clashes between India and Pakistan, where Indian air force employed manned aircraft alongside drones, enabling deeper incursions into Pakistani airspace. The aerial confrontation was in response to a deadly attack by Islamist assailants that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu men, in India-administered Kashmir. New Delhi has accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, a charge Islamabad denies. During the four days of fierce clashes, reports emerged of aircraft losses and integration challenges. Pakistan's defense minister claimed three of India's fighter jets had been shot down during the fighting, though this was not independently verified. India's chief of defense staff told Reuters last week that India suffered losses in the air, but declined to give details. India, Pakistan pull back from brink of war over Kashmir To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Defense analysts say India urgently needs boost aircraft production and its modernization efforts to ensure its air force remains combat-ready. However, India's defense procurement system has been chronically bogged down by a complex, multi-stage procedures, frequent changes in requirements, and prolonged negotiations — often leading to projects taking years longer than initially planned. Plane prototypes arriving too late Tara Kartha, former member of the National Security Council Secretariat, which sits at the apex of India's national security architecture, flagged the slow pace of procurement which impacts the military's operational readiness. "Programs like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Tejas Mk-2 are still in development, with functional prototypes expected by 2028–2029, which are too slow to address immediate needs," Kartha told DW. In her reckoning, the systemic changes envisaged by Prime Minister Narender Modi have not taken off, with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) still unable to deliver projects on time. "It is time the defense services have a separate cadre for procurement and development to optimize efficiency and get away from bottlenecks," Kartha underlined. India looks abroad as Russian jets age out Former Lieutenant General Deependra Singh Hooda, who handled numerous strategic challenges along the borders with both Pakistan and China, points to evolving threats in the region as the reason for urgency in military procurement and modernization. "The air chief is absolutely correct. The fighter aircraft fleet has shrunk significantly due to delays in delivery of indigenous fighters," Hooda told DW. "Some hard decisions now must be taken, including considering foreign buys to ensure that the air force has adequate capability to take on future challenges. Meanwhile, we need to look beyond the public sector units to energize the private sector," he said. Programs like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) are too slow to address immediate needs, Kartha said Image: Stringer/REUTERS The IAF currently operates 31 combat squadrons, far below its sanctioned strength of 42. Considering a typical squadron has about 18 to 20 aircraft, the shortfall of 11 squadrons would amount to around 200 fighter jets. This shortfall is due to the retirement of aging aircraft like the MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-27 in the 2000s and 2010s without adequate replacement. The procurement process for the French-made Rafale multirole fighter aircraft has been relatively faster and smoother compared to many other major defense deals but it has still involved significant timelines and strategic considerations. In 2016, India finally signed a government-to-government deal with France for 36 Rafale jets. Air power proves crucial Former Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar pointed out that the IAF's ability to project power, achieve air dominance, and deliver precision strikes proved to be crucial during the recent fighting with Pakistan. "The events of those 90 hours underscore the pivotal and decisive role of the Indian Air Force. It was the sustained and impactful application of air power, targeting critical enemy infrastructure and capabilities," Nambiar told DW. "While broader geopolitical considerations and actions by other arms of the military played their part, the offensive air campaign was undoubtedly the principal factor that broke the enemy's will to continue the conflict," he added. At the same time, the aerial confrontation has also highlighted the growing influence of Chinese military technology, with Pakistan reportedly using the Chinese-made J-10C fighter jet and PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles. This deployment has drawn global attention, particularly from the US and Western nations, as it signals China's advancing capabilities in air warfare. Drones and AI: How technology is changing warfare To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Scaling up India's defense manufacturing Konark Rai, managing director of Rudram Dynamics, a defense startup, said the recent clashes were not just a test of India's armed forces but also a stress test for its defense industry. "When a war or national emergency hits and mass production is suddenly required, these firms falter. Not for the lack of effort or innovation, but because the system they operate in does not empower them to scale on demand," Rai told DW. Rai said the time has come for structural reform. "First, the archaic L1 or lowest bidder system and No Cost No Commitment (NCNC) trials must be rethought," said Rai, referring to a process in defense acquisitions where the government neither bears the cost of trials nor commits to buy the product after the trial. While admitting due diligence was necessary, Rai pointed out that staging trials without commitment is extremely risky and expensive HE claims the process discourages companies, especially small and medium ones, from contributing to defense procurement. "A better approach would be for defense forces to proactively scout technologies across the country in collaboration with local colleges, rather than just with the institutions of national importance," he added. Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
Black America Web
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Coco Gauff Is Going To The French Open Semi-Finals—And We All Need To Be Paying Attention
Source: Tim Clayton / Getty There's something about Coco. The fire. The grit. The way she fights for every point like it's personal. At just 21, Coco Gauff has already made a thing for herself, and we are here for it. On June 4, Coco secured her spot in the semifinals of the French Open for the third time, grinding her way through a tough match filled with momentum shifts and pressure points. Her performance wasn't flawless—10 double faults could've rattled anybody else. But Coco kept swinging. 'I was just trying to fight for every point,' she told ESPN after the match. That mindset is what keeps her dangerous in every round. She's the No. 2 seed with a major title after winning the US Open in 2023. In Paris, she's no stranger to the spotlight—runner-up in 2022, champion in 2023, and now a semifinalist again in 2025. And the thing is, Coco doesn't shy away from the work. She's open about the grind, the mistakes, and the comeback. 'When times become more difficult, knowing that I can dig deep in those tough moments—I've had that in me from a young age,' she told ESPN . 'My philosophy is if I can just leave it all out there, then the loss will hurt a lot less than regrets of maybe not giving it your all.' It's that kind of heart that separates her from the rest. Source: NurPhoto / Getty We've seen this kind of grit on the court with young stars like Naomi Osaka and icons like Venus Williams, and Serena Williams. (And you know we rooted for them, too). But Coco is carving out her own path. We are here to give the young tennis star her flowers. Even her style speaks to her individuality. That slate-blue, long-sleeve sporty-chic look she wore during a recent match we loved? That passion seen across her face? Yes, Coco is that girl. The tennis champion returns to the French Open play on Thursday, June 5, and all eyes should be locked in. There's something about Coco, and the world is seeing it one match at a time. Let's go, Coco! SEE ALSO Coco Gauff Is Going To The French Open Semi-Finals—And We All Need To Be Paying Attention was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
