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Man Accused of Setting Ugandan Olympic Athlete on Fire Dies of Burns

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Man Accused of Setting Ugandan Olympic Athlete on Fire Dies of Burns

Dickson Ndiema, the man accused of fatally setting Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei on fire, has died from burns sustained during the attack, officials at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, confirmed on Tuesday.

Ndiema had been admitted to the hospital with burns covering 30% of his body following the incident that led to Cheptegei’s death last Thursday. The Olympic athlete succumbed to injuries after suffering burns on 80% of her body.

Owen Menach, spokesperson for Moi Referral Hospital, confirmed Ndiema’s death to The Associated Press, stating that the hospital would issue a formal statement later. The circumstances surrounding Ndiema’s death while in medical care are yet to be fully disclosed.

The attack reportedly stemmed from a dispute over a piece of land that Cheptegei had purchased in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia county. According to a report filed by the local chief, Ndiema and Cheptegei had quarreled over the property.

Cheptegei, who competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics less than a month before the attack, finishing 44th, had bought the land to be near Kenya’s numerous athletic training centers, according to her parents.

Joseph Cheptegei, the athlete’s father, had previously told reporters that Ndiema, described as his daughter’s former boyfriend, had been stalking and threatening her. The family had reportedly informed police of these threats prior to the tragic incident.

The elder Cheptegei expressed concern last week about the lack of security guarding Ndiema in the hospital, fearing he might escape. With Ndiema’s death, questions may arise about the circumstances of his care and the missed opportunity for justice through the legal system.

Rebecca Cheptegei is scheduled to be buried at her home in Uganda on Saturday, marking a somber end to a promising athletic career cut short by violence.

This tragic case has shed light on issues of personal safety for athletes, land disputes in the region, and the potential dangers of stalking and domestic violence. It also raises questions about security measures for suspects in high-profile cases who are receiving medical treatment.

AP

Google Loses Final EU Court Appeal Against 2.4 Billion Euro Antitrust Fine

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Google Loses Final EU Court Appeal Against 2.4 Billion Euro Antitrust Fine

Google suffered a significant legal setback on Tuesday as the European Union’s Court of Justice dismissed the tech giant’s final appeal against a 2.4 billion euro ($2.7 billion) antitrust fine. The decision upholds the European Commission’s 2017 ruling that Google illegally favored its own shopping comparison service in search results.

The Court of Justice, the EU’s highest legal authority, affirmed the lower court’s decision, stating, “By today’s judgment, the Court of Justice dismisses the appeal and thus upholds the judgment of the General Court.” This verdict concludes a long-running antitrust case that has been a cornerstone of the EU’s efforts to regulate Big Tech.

CEO of Google

The European Commission, led by competition chief Margrethe Vestager, originally imposed the fine as part of a broader crackdown on the tech industry. It ruled that Google had unfairly directed visitors to its Google Shopping service at the expense of rival comparison shopping sites.

Google expressed disappointment with the decision, saying it related to “a very specific set of facts.” The company maintains that changes implemented in 2017 to comply with the Commission’s decision have been successful, generating “billions of clicks for more than 800 comparison shopping services.”

The case is one of three multibillion-euro fines imposed on Google by the EU in the past decade. The company is still appealing separate penalties related to its Android mobile operating system and AdSense advertising platform.

European consumer group BEUC welcomed the court’s decision. Director General Agustín Reyna stated, “Google harmed millions of European consumers by ensuring that rival comparison shopping services were virtually invisible,” preventing access to potentially cheaper prices and useful product information.

The Google sign is shown over an entrance to the company’s new building in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. The U.S. government is taking aim at what has been an indomitable empire: Google’s ubiquitous search engine and the lucrative digital services hatched by its unwavering status as the internet’s main gateway. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

This ruling reinforces the EU’s stance on digital market regulation and sets a precedent for ongoing and future antitrust cases against tech giants. It comes as the EU implements its new Digital Markets Act, designed to prevent large tech companies from dominating online markets.

Commissioner Vestager, who is set to step down in October after a decade overseeing competition issues, emphasized the case’s symbolic importance in demonstrating that even the most powerful tech companies can be held accountable.

As Google faces continued regulatory scrutiny, including a U.S. federal antitrust trial over its digital advertising business and an investigation by British competition regulators, this EU court decision marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to regulate the tech industry.

AP

Pope Francis’ Mass in East Timor Draws 600,000 People, Nearly Half the Population

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Pope Francis’ Mass in East Timor Draws 600,000 People, Nearly Half the Population

In a remarkable display of faith and national unity, an estimated 600,000 people — nearly half of East Timor’s population of 1.3 million — gathered at Tasitolu park on Tuesday for Pope Francis’ final Mass during his visit to the Southeast Asian nation.

The turnout, believed to be the largest proportion of a national population ever to attend a papal event, highlighted the overwhelmingly Catholic character of East Timor and the high esteem in which its people hold the Church. The Catholic Church played a crucial role in supporting the Timorese during their traumatic battle for independence from Indonesia and helped draw international attention to their plight.

The Mass was held in the same seaside park where St. John Paul II prayed 35 years ago during East Timor’s fight for independence. Now known as the “Park of Peace,” Tasitolu was once a site where Indonesian troops allegedly disposed of bodies during their 24-year rule.

Pope Francis delighted the massive crowd by staying at the park well after nightfall, circling the field in his open-topped popemobile. The screens of attendees’ cellphones lit up the evening as Francis addressed them in Spanish: “I wish for you peace, that you keep having many children, and that your smile continues to be your children.”

The park was a sea of yellow and white umbrellas — the colors of the Holy See flag — as Timorese shielded themselves from the afternoon sun. Water trucks provided occasional relief from temperatures reaching 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit) with over 50% humidity.

Dirce Maria Teresa Freitas, 44, who arrived at the field seven hours early from Baucau, expressed the sentiment of many: “We are very happy that the pope came to Timor because it gives a blessing to our land and our people.”

Cardinal Carmo da Silva, the archbishop of Dili, drew parallels between John Paul II’s historic 1989 visit and Francis’ presence. He stated that John Paul’s visit “marked the decisive step in our process of self-determination,” while Francis’ visit “marks a fundamental step in the process of building our country, its identity and its culture.”

The Mass took place against the backdrop of East Timor’s ongoing challenges. Despite gaining independence in 2002, the country remains one of the poorest globally, with 42% of its population living below the poverty line, according to U.N. data. However, it boasts one of the world’s highest proportions of Catholics at 97%, a legacy of Portuguese colonization dating back to the early 1500s.

Francis’ visit follows in the footsteps of John Paul II, whose 1989 Mass made headlines when a riot broke out at its conclusion, drawing international attention to East Timor’s struggle for independence. The current papal visit, two decades after East Timor’s independence, serves to encourage the nation as it continues to develop and address ongoing challenges.

As Pope Francis concluded his visit, the massive turnout and emotional response of the faithful underscored the enduring influence of the Catholic Church in East Timor and its significant role in the nation’s history and ongoing development.

Woman Killed Near Moscow as Ukraine Launches 140 Drones Attack on Russia

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Woman Killed Near Moscow as Ukraine Launches 140 Drones Attack on Russia

A woman was killed and three others injured in Ramenskoye, just outside Moscow, as Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Russian soil since the war began 2 1/2 years ago, Russian officials reported on Tuesday. The assault involved over 140 Ukrainian drones targeting multiple regions across Russia, including the capital and its surrounding areas.

Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov confirmed that drones hit two multistory residential buildings in Ramenskoye, sparking fires and leading to the evacuation of five residential buildings due to falling debris. The attack claimed the life of one woman, marking a significant escalation in the conflict’s impact on Russian civilians far from the front lines.

The massive drone assault disrupted air traffic in the Moscow region, with authorities temporarily closing three major airports: Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky. Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, reported that 48 flights had to be diverted to other airports during the attack, highlighting the widespread disruption caused by the incident.

In Moscow itself, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that drone debris fell on a private house on the city’s outskirts, though no injuries were reported in the capital. Sobyanin stated that air defenses intercepted over a dozen drones as they approached Moscow, underscoring the intensity of the attack and the response from Russian air defense systems.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have “intercepted and destroyed” 144 Ukrainian drones across nine Russian regions, including areas bordering Ukraine and those deeper within Russian territory. This attack follows a similar large-scale drone assault on September 1, where Russia reported intercepting 158 Ukrainian drones over more than a dozen regions.

This latest incident represents a significant escalation in Ukraine’s strategy of using drone attacks to disrupt Russian military operations and civilian life far from the front lines. It also highlights Ukraine’s growing capabilities in domestic drone production and deployment, a focus of their military development efforts.

The attack has prompted Russia’s Investigative Committee to launch a criminal investigation, describing the incident as a terror attack. Meanwhile, the conflict continues to rage along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, with intense fighting in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region and recent Ukrainian incursions into Russia’s Kursk border region.

As both sides continue to employ long-range strike capabilities, the war’s impact on civilians remains a grave concern. The United Nations reports that Russian attacks on Ukraine have killed over 10,000 civilians since the conflict began.

This latest drone assault on Russian territory marks a significant moment in the ongoing war, demonstrating Ukraine’s ability to strike deep within Russia and potentially shifting the dynamics of the conflict.

Israeli Strike on Gaza Humanitarian Zone Kills at Least 40, Palestinians Say

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Israeli Strike on Gaza Humanitarian Zone Kills at Least 40, Palestinians Say

An Israeli airstrike on a tent camp in a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza killed at least 40 people and wounded 60 others early Tuesday, according to Palestinian officials. The Israeli military disputed the death toll and said it targeted senior Hamas militants in the area.

The overnight strike hit the Muwasi area, a coastal region Israel had previously designated as a safe zone for civilians fleeing the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Gaza’s Civil Defense reported recovering 40 bodies from the scene, with search efforts continuing.

Associated Press footage showed three large craters at the site. First responders were seen digging through sand and rubble with basic tools and their hands, using mobile phone lights in the pre-dawn darkness. Body parts, including what appeared to be a human leg, were pulled from the debris.

Iyad Hamed Madi, a displaced person sheltering in Muwasi, expressed disbelief at the attack on an area deemed safe. “We were told to go to Muwasi, to the safe area… Look around you and see this safe place,” he said, holding up a bag of diapers for his 4-month-old son.

Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis received about two dozen bodies from the strike. An AP cameraman observed 10 bodies in the hospital morgue, including two children and three women.

The Israeli military stated it had targeted Hamas militants in a command-and-control center embedded in the area. It identified three alleged senior operatives, claiming they were involved in the October 7 attack and recent operations against Israeli forces. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, disputed the reported casualty figures, saying they didn’t align with the military’s information about the weapons used and the strike’s accuracy.

Hamas denied any militants were present in the area, calling Israel’s claims a “blatant lie.” Neither side provided evidence to support their assertions.

The war, which began with Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 40,900 Palestinian deaths since the war’s start, with women and children comprising just over half of the casualties. Israel claims to have killed more than 17,000 militants.

International mediators continue efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement and secure the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suggested conditions might be favorable for a six-week pause in fighting, though he did not commit to a permanent end to hostilities as demanded by Hamas.

The conflict has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with aid groups struggling to operate due to ongoing fighting and Israeli restrictions. The United Nations’ main aid agency for Palestinians reported that Israeli troops delayed a polio vaccination convoy for over eight hours on Monday, despite prior coordination.

Credit: apnews.com

Police Officer’s Father Accused of Killing Her, Fleeing Country After Alleged Stalking

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Police Officer’s Father Accused of Killing Her, Fleeing Country After Alleged Stalking

The Tooele City Police Department has filed multiple charges against Hector Ramon Martinez-Ayala, 54, in connection with the death of his daughter, Marbella Martinez, a 25-year-old Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer. The charges, filed on September 6, include murder, obstruction of justice, stalking, and unlawful possession of financial and identifying documents.

Marbella Martinez, 25, was found dead on her bed at the home she shared with her father 

Marbella Martinez’s body was discovered on August 1 during a welfare check at the home she shared with her father. She had been sworn in as a corrections officer less than six months prior. According to investigators, Martinez was last seen on interior cameras at 12:23 p.m. on July 31. Her father reportedly returned home at 2:17 p.m., after which camera footage was allegedly deleted or disabled.

Prosecutors believe Martinez-Ayala strangled his daughter upon returning home. The victim was found on her bed with apparent fingernail marks on her face and neck. A text message sent by Martinez-Ayala to his brother at 4:30 p.m. on July 31 allegedly contained a confession of making “a big mistake” and an “unforgivable sin.”

Father Hector Ramon Martinez-Ayala, 54, told his twin brother he had committed an ‘unforgivable sin’ as he fled from the home in Tooele, Utah on July 31

Law enforcement officials report that Martinez-Ayala attempted to dispose of his daughter’s phone along I-80 between their house and the Salt Lake City airport. He also allegedly withdrew money from her bank account before leaving the country. Cell phone tracking indicates he traveled to San Francisco and then Houston before his phone records ceased, leading investigators to believe he left the United States.

The charging documents allege months of stalking behavior by Martinez-Ayala preceding the murder. Prosecutors claim he became “obsessed and controlling” with his daughter, placing a tracking device on her vehicle and installing hidden cameras in their home. In February, Marbella reportedly found a bag of her underwear in her father’s room.

Marbella had only joined the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office on January 11, but quickly became a ‘cherished friend and an integral part of our team’, according to Sheriff Rosie Rivera

Two days before her death, Martinez-Ayala allegedly tracked his daughter to a hiking area where he found her with a “romantic interest.” Following this encounter, Marbella did not return home and instead stayed at a hotel for several days.

Authorities are currently seeking Martinez-Ayala’s whereabouts, believing he may have used his twin brother’s identification to pass through customs in an undisclosed country.

This case has shocked the local law enforcement community and raised questions about familial violence and stalking behaviors. The investigation is ongoing.

Tyrese Gibson Arrested for Failing to Pay $73k in Child Support

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Tyrese Gibson Arrested for Failing to Pay $73k in Child Support

Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson, 45, was taken into custody on Monday for failing to pay court-ordered child support, according to reports from TMZ. The arrest occurred after a hearing related to support payments for his five-year-old daughter, Soraya, whom he shares with ex-wife Samantha Lee.

The court had previously ordered Gibson to pay $10,000 per month in child support, beginning in April 2023. However, reports indicate that tyrese had been paying only $2,200 monthly, significantly less than the mandated amount.

During the hearing, Judge Kevin Farmer held Gibson in contempt of court. The actor was handcuffed and removed from the courtroom. Judge Farmer stated that Gibson could avoid jail time by paying $73,000, with $7,500 of that sum allocated to Samantha Lee’s attorney fees.

Sources close to the situation told TMZ that Gibson is making arrangements to pay the full amount, which should lead to his release soon.

Gibson and Lee were married from 2017 to 2020. The actor also has a daughter born in 2007 with his previous wife, Norma Mitchell.

On Sunday, prior to his arrest, Gibson posted a video on Instagram addressing his child support issues. In the video, he claimed he had never been arrested before and accused his ex-partners of “playing the victim.” He also expressed frustration with the legal system, stating, “If you are born a man and you go into a courtroom, you understand there is a preset menu that says ‘You are born a man, f**k you’.”

Gibson, known for his roles in the “Fast & Furious” franchise and the “Transformers” series, reportedly has a net worth of $4 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He has also released seven studio albums as a singer.

This incident highlights the ongoing legal and financial challenges faced by Gibson, as well as the complexities surrounding child support cases involving high-profile individuals in the entertainment industry.

Plane Crashes Near Moscow, Killing 2 Pilots

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Plane Crashes Near Moscow, Killing 2 Pilots

A small propeller-powered plane crashed during a training flight at an airfield in the Moscow region on Monday, resulting in the deaths of both pilots on board, Russian authorities reported.

The incident involved an Aviatik Alliance Aleks-251 twin-engine aircraft, which went down near the Vatulino airfield in the town of Ruza, approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Moscow.

In response to the crash, the transportation arm of Russia’s Investigative Committee, responsible for probing major crimes, announced the launch of a criminal investigation into potential flight safety violations.

Moscow’s transportation prosecutor’s office informed the state-run news agency TASS that a senior official had been dispatched to the crash site. This official’s task is to identify the causes and circumstances surrounding the plane crash.

The identities of the deceased pilots have not been released, and authorities have not provided further details about the nature of the training flight or the specific conditions at the time of the incident.

The Aviatik Alliance Aleks-251 is a light aircraft typically used for training and recreational purposes. The loss of life in this incident underscores the risks associated with aviation, even in controlled training environments.

Leaders of Transnational Terrorist Group Charged with Hate Crimes and Terrorism Offenses

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Leaders of Transnational Terrorist Group Charged with Hate Crimes and Terrorism Offenses

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday that two leaders of the Terrorgram Collective, a transnational terrorist group, have been charged with multiple federal offenses including soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

Dallas Humber, 34, of Elk Grove, California, and Matthew Allison, 37, of Boise, Idaho, were arrested on Friday by law enforcement officials. The 15-count indictment, unsealed today, alleges that Humber and Allison led the Terrorgram Collective, which operates on the Telegram messaging platform to promote white supremacist accelerationism.

According to the indictment, the defendants contributed to and disseminated videos and publications providing specific advice for carrying out crimes, celebrating white supremacist attacks, and offering a hit list of “high-value targets” for assassination.

These targets included federal, state, and local officials, as well as leaders of private companies and non-governmental organizations, many targeted due to their race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The Justice Department alleges that Humber and Allison operated Terrorgram channels and group chats where they solicited users to commit attacks to achieve the group’s goals of accelerationism and white supremacy. They allegedly provided instructions for attacks on government infrastructure and “high-value targets,” which they believed would ignite a race war and accelerate societal collapse.

The indictment also links the Terrorgram Collective to several real-world attacks, including a shooting at an LGBT bar in Slovakia, a planned attack on energy facilities in New Jersey, and a stabbing near a mosque in Turkey.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “Today’s indictment charges the defendants with leading a transnational terrorist group dedicated to attacking America’s critical infrastructure, targeting a hit list of our country’s public officials, and carrying out deadly hate crimes — all in the name of violent white supremacist ideology.”

If convicted on all charges, Humber and Allison each face a maximum penalty of 220 years in prison. The case was investigated by the FBI Sacramento and Salt Lake City Field Offices, with assistance from various domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies.

The Justice Department emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: DOJ

Nigerian Officials Warn Against Church’s ‘Miracle’ Water Products

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Nigerian Officials Warn Against Church’s ‘Miracle’ Water Products

Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to the public against purchasing “miracle” products marketed by the Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, led by popular televangelist Jeremiah Fufeyin.

NAFDAC stated that these products, including “miracle water” and “River Jordan water,” claim to have unsubstantiated healing properties, such as curing female infertility. The agency emphasized that these items lack NAFDAC approval and are being sold without proper authorization.

The regulatory body initiated an investigation into these products following public complaints. NAFDAC accused the church of refusing to cooperate with the investigation and violating regulatory approval processes.

In response, Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry released a statement defending its practices. The church asserted that it is “law-abiding” and uses “spiritual items in expression of [their] spiritual beliefs.” They maintain that their operations comply with Nigerian laws guaranteeing freedom of religion without interference. The church also denied the accusation of non-cooperation, stating they had communicated with NAFDAC via letter.

Jeremiah Fufeyin, who claims to be a billionaire, has attracted a large following across Nigeria with his claims of performing miracles and healing ailments. His church boasts hundreds of thousands of YouTube subscribers and a significant social media presence.

The sale of products claiming miraculous healing powers is not uncommon among Nigerian preachers. For instance, the late televangelist TB Joshua sold “anointed water” purported to have healing abilities. A BBC investigation revealed that Joshua had also encouraged sick congregation members to stop taking prescribed medication while secretly providing them with drinks containing those same drugs.

NAFDAC’s warning highlights ongoing concerns about the regulation of religious products and practices in Nigeria, particularly those claiming medical benefits without scientific backing.

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