Capture

Soldier charged with using classified information to bet on Maduro capture

April 23 (UPI) — A U.S. Army special forces soldier who participated in capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has been charged with using classified information about the operation to make bets on Polymarket, a decentralized prediction platform, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C., is alleged to have profited by more than $400,000 through wagers he made on Polymarket concerning the future of Venezuela, Maduro and U.S. military intervention.

“Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible, and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.

Polymarket is one of several crypto-based prediction markets that grew in popularity during the 2024 general election, allowing users to make wagers on seemingly anything, from who will be drafted first overall in the NFL Draft to when President Donald Trump will announce the war in Iran is over.

In the indictment unsealed Thursday, federal prosecutors alleged that starting from around Dec. 8, Van Dyke participated in the planning and execution of Operation Absolute Resolve.

On Dec. 26, Van Dyke allegedly created a Polymarket account, which he used to make 13 bets from Dec. 27, wagering a combined $33,034 on contracts concerning U.S. military involvement in Venezuela.

Before dawn on Jan. 3, U.S. military forces conducted a clandestine operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Maduro and his wife, who were brought back to the United States to face narco-trafficking charges.

After Trump announced the operation that night, Van Dyke allegedly made $409,881 off his bets, which he withdrew to a foreign cryptocurrency vault before depositing them into a newly created online brokerage account, federal prosecutors said.

After the operation, news broke that one user had wagered $32,000 that Maduro would be ousted by the end of January, netting the multi-hundred-thousand-dollar payout.

Prosecutors alleged that as reports of the unusual wager spread, Van Dyke asked the platform on Jan. 6 to delete his account and he allegedly changed the email address registered to his cryptocurrency exchange account.

The indictment charges him with use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction.

If convicted, Van Dyke faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the three Commodity Exchange Act counts, 20 years for the one wire fraud count and 10 years for the unlawful monetary transaction charge.

The charges come amid concern about such decentralized markets that allow for betting on real-world events and calls for them to be regulated

In late March, dozens of lawmakers called on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Office of Government Ethics to address illegal insider trading on these platforms by federal employees following the Polymarket payout on the capture of Maduro and other suspicious trades.

Asked about the development and if he is concerned about bets being placed on the Iran war, Trump told reporters at the White House that he will look into it.

“The whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino. And you look at what’s going on all over the world, in Europe and every place, they’re doing these betting things,” he said.

“I was never much in favor of it. I don’t like it, conceptually, but it is what it is.”

Source link

What we know about the US capture of Iranian vessel near Hormuz | US-Israel war on Iran

NewsFeed

US forces have released video appearing to show the capture of an Iranian-flagged ship near the Strait of Hormuz, which President Donald Trump says was attempting to breach its naval blockade. Iran has condemned the operation as ‘maritime piracy,’ warned of retaliation, and cast doubt on new talks with the US. Here’s what we know.

Source link

BBC The Capture viewers all left saying same thing after series three finale

BBC has aired the gripping bumper-length finale of The Capture series three and fans have been left wondering if there will be another season of the popular series

BBC viewers were all left making the same demand after tuning into The Capture season three finale.

The gripping bumper-length final episode of the current series played out on Sunday (April 12) evening wrapping up the story told across the six-part drama.

DI Rachel Carey’s (Holliday Grainger) battle with E Squadron and her investigation into Isaac Turner’s (Paapa Essiedu) death came to a close and it also marked the end of the road for two major characters.

Rachel officially become the Commander of Counter Terror, but in doing so had sold out on her ideals and compromised herself, meaning she had lost to E Squadron.

They would continue using Correction in the knowledge that she would never be able to reveal that to the public or do anything about it.

One element of the story was left hanging which saw Rachel spotting the dead DSU Gemma Garland (Lia Williams) in the background of a selfie she had just taken only for her to disappear from the image moments later.

Whether this was something that happened technologically or just in Rachel’s head was left uncertain at this moment.

However, the tantalising cliffhanger has left fans begging more episodes.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “@BBCOneDrama There needs to be a fourth series of #TheCapture. It is sooo good. S3E6 was superb and left us wanting another series. Soon. Another person wrote: “There’d better be a season 4 #TheCapture.”

A third person agreed: “Is Gemma dead? Is Frank dead? Is D.C Chloe compromised? I don’t trust these scriptwriters anymore We need answers!!! We need S4!!”

Meanwhile, a fourth social media user said: “Need a season 4. I can”t believe walker died man #TheCapture.”

Creator Ben Chanan has previously stated that he wrote the third season intending it to be the show’s last but by the time it was released he was less certain.

He told Radio Times: “I’d think to myself as I was writing it ‘This is going to be the last series.’ Now, is that true? I don’t know. Never say never, right?

“I think it’s really healthy to just write each series as if it’s going to be the last that you’re not just hanging on to people for the sake of it.

“I think actors don’t mind dying in a series particularly if it’s probably going to be the last one but also if you give them a really good send off.”

The Capture is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

Source link

BBC The Capture to be replaced by ‘powerful’ special about beloved royal

BBC The Capture’s long-awaited season three finale has almost arrived with fans already on tender hooks.

The Capture season three is nearly over and the BBC has now confirmed what’s going to take its place next week.

BBC fans were shocked when the revelation around Simon’s true identity was discovered in last week’s episode of The Capture season three and are desperate to find out how it ends.

But with the grand finale airing tonight, Sunday, April 12, at 9pm, many have already turned their attention to what they will watch next week when it’s all over.

The BBC has since announced that The Capture season three’s time slot on Sunday, April 19, is going to be taken over by a “powerful” royal special.

To mark what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday, BBC One will be airing a one-off film that explores the life and legacy of the country’s longest-reigning monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Country won’t be one to miss as it is going to feature “powerful” old and new interviews with global icons including Dame Helen Mirren, Barack Obama, Sir David Attenborough and her daughter-in-law, HM Queen Camilla.

Describing what else to expect, its official synopsis reads: “Spanning an era that saw the nation move from the age of Empire to the rise of celebrity culture — from the Blitz to the 2012 London Olympics — Queen Elizabeth II lived through extraordinary change.

“More than a witness to history, she became an enduring symbol of continuity in a rapidly evolving world.

“Through the prism of her life, the documentary tells the story of modern Britain in a richly historical and emotionally resonant exploration of both The Queen and the people she served.”

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Country won’t be the only way the BBC will be marking what would have been the late Queen’s centenary year either.

Ahead of the one-off special airing, BBC One will be showing Antiques Roadshow : Royal Special at 8pm with Fiona Bruce visiting Windsor Castle for the episode.

She will be taking a closer look at some of the late Queen’s more cherished items, childhood clothes and her coronation gown.

Bruce is also going to be given access to a selection of Queen Elizabeth II’s clothes which are set to go on display in a special exhibition at the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Country airs on Sunday, April 19, at 9pm on BBC One.

Source link

BBC’s The Capture star to lead powerful new drama after season 3 exit

Paapa Essiedu is set to appear in a ‘tender yet urgent love story’ starting on BBC One next week

The Capture favourite Paapa Essiedu is set to star opposite Siobhán Cullen, known for The Dry and Obituary, in a powerful new drama.

Babies, starting on BBC One next week, is the actor’s first role since his unexpected exit from The Capture. It comes after his character, Home Secretary Isaac Turner, was killed off just minutes into season 3, despite being a main figure on the show since 2022.

Written and directed by multi-award-winning Stefan Golaszewski (Mum, Marriage, Him & Her), Babies is a gripping, warm and urgent love story about a couple struggling through the experience of pregnancy loss.

A synopsis for the new series reads: “At the heart of the series are Lisa (Cullen) and Stephen (Essiedu), a couple in their 30s whose dream of becoming parents is tested as they endure multiple miscarriages. While confronting unimaginable grief, their bond shines through with humour, warmth, and unwavering commitment.

“Charlotte Riley (The Peripheral, Press) and Jack Bannon (Pennyworth, Pulse) also star as Amanda and Dave – a new couple navigating their own challenges and testing their compatibility. Their complex relationship, set against Lisa and Stephen’s ongoing pregnancy journey, begins to expose cracks in Stephen and Dave’s long-standing friendship.”

Describing the series, and what drew him to the scripts, Paapa said: “It’s a six-part drama about two couples who are navigating all the complications and nuances of their relationships and the process of trying for children. The characters are all in their mid to late 30s and at this new stage of life. I’ve always been a huge fan of Stefan’s work. I loved Him & Her, as well as Mum and Marriage.

“He writes with such compassion, detail, specificity, humanity and humour. Scripts with that level of complexity, depth and dimension rarely arrive in your inbox. I never thought twice about it.”

Outlining the premise of the show, writer Stefan Golaszewski, said: “It’s a love story about a couple going through the process of trying to have their first baby. Although it is not autobiographical, I have some personal experience of these issues, and I thought it was a good idea to create a show that talks about a subject that feels quite taboo, but that so many people go through in a painful secrecy. “

Describing the characters at the centre of the show, Stefan said: “Stephen is a kind, gentle soul who has some complications with his notions of masculinity. He loves Lisa very much, and has had a well-oiled problem-free life up until this point. This is his first time experiencing tragedy.

“Lisa is a funny, clever, outgoing, confident person, who again, hasn’t really had to deal with much in her life. She’s had smooth sailing throughout her youth and is now experiencing the first emotional hurdle.

“Dave is a complicated soul. He’s gotten by so far in life by not letting anything deeper than banter in but depth is starting to happen around and to him. He’s finding it hard to navigate that with his old tricks.

“Amanda has suffered great loss in her life. Her fiancé died a few years ago, and she’s now with Dave. She’s starting to step out into the world again, and she’s trying to find a new future for herself.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: “Babies has everything we love about Stefan Golaszewski’s work – a tender, authentic, emotional and human look at couples navigating a time in their lives that is rarely covered on television.

“It’s no surprise that this very special series has attracted such an outstanding cast, and it’s been an honour to see them bring Stefan’s scripts to life.”

All episodes of Babies are on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday, March 30, with the series airing on BBC One from 9pm that night.

Source link