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Former Arsenal Player Charged in £600,000 Cannabis Smuggling Case

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Former Arsenal footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged in connection with an alleged attempt to smuggle £600,000 ($750,000) worth of cannabis through London’s Stansted Airport, the National Crime Agency (NCA) announced Thursday.

Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, was arrested Wednesday morning in Gourock, Inverclyde, Scotland, in an operation conducted by NCA officers with support from Police Scotland. He was subsequently transferred to Carlisle for questioning and has been charged with importing Class B drugs.

The London-born player, who currently plays for Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship, is scheduled to appear before Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

According to the NCA, the drugs were intercepted at Stansted Airport on September 2. Border Force officers discovered 60 kilograms of cannabis in two suitcases arriving on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand. Two women, aged 28 and 32, were previously arrested and charged in connection with the seizure. They appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court and were granted bail pending their next appearance at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.

David Phillips, NCA senior investigating officer, stated: “The NCA continues to work with partners like Border Force to target those involved in drug smuggling – that includes both the couriers and the organizers.” He urged anyone approached to engage in smuggling to consider the potential consequences carefully.

Emmanuel-Thomas began his career at Arsenal and has played for several clubs including Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, Livingston, and Aberdeen.

The NCA reported that the amount of cannabis seized so far in 2024 has already surpassed three times the total for the entire year of 2023, indicating a significant increase in smuggling attempts.

Greenock Morton, Emmanuel-Thomas’s current club, acknowledged an “ongoing situation” but declined further comment.

This case highlights ongoing challenges in combating international drug trafficking and the potential involvement of high-profile individuals in such operations.

Israeli Police Claim Foiled Iranian Plot to Assassinate Top Leaders

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Israeli authorities announced Thursday they had thwarted an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top government leaders.

According to a joint statement from Israeli police and the Shin Bet intelligence agency, 73-year-old Israeli businessman Moti Maman from Ashkelon is accused of twice traveling to Iran via Turkey to meet with intelligence officials directing potential assassination plots from Tehran.

The alleged targets included Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, among others. Authorities claim these plots were intended as retaliation for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, which Iran blamed on Israel.

Police say Maman allegedly met with Iranian contacts, including a businessman known only as Eddie and an intelligence agent identified as Hajjah. The suspect is accused of traveling to Iran in May and August 2024, with his second entry reportedly involving being smuggled across the Turkey-Iran border “hidden inside a truck cabin.”

The statement alleges that Maman demanded a $1 million advance payment for his services, which the Iranian agents declined, stating they would contact him in the future. Authorities claim Maman received approximately $558,000 in euros for attending meetings with Iranian intelligence personnel.

Maman was indicted on September 19 on charges related to the alleged plot. He is also accused of discussing the possibility of acting as a money courier, locating targets for assassination in Europe and the U.S., and attempting to recruit a Mossad “double agent.”

A senior Shin Bet official described the case as “very serious,” warning that Iran is likely to continue efforts to recruit operatives in Israel for intelligence gathering and terrorist missions, potentially targeting individuals with criminal backgrounds.

This alleged plot highlights ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as the complex nature of international espionage and counter-intelligence operations in the Middle East.

Prolific Shoplifter Banned from Most North East Stores, Except 3, After 171 Convictions

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A notorious shoplifter with 171 criminal convictions has been barred from entering almost all stores across a vast area of northeastern England, following a landmark court ruling.

Tanya Liddle, 43, from Newcastle, has been issued an unprecedented civil injunction by the Newcastle Civil Court, prohibiting her from entering any shops within Northumbria Police’s jurisdiction – an area spanning over 2,000 square miles from the Scottish border to County Durham, and from the Pennines to the coast.

The order, described by Northumbria Police as the strictest ever imposed in their region, allows Liddle access to only three stores: a pharmacy, a supermarket, and a clothing retailer. Any breach of these conditions could result in her arrest and potential imprisonment.

Inspector Patrick Hannon of Northumbria Police stated, “Liddle has consistently targeted retailers for a number of years and exhausted every opportunity given to her to change her ways. With that in mind, we feel that this is the best way to manage her offending.”

Liddle’s criminal career spans decades, during which she has been arrested nearly 400 times. Her most recent offense occurred on April 24 at a TK Maxx store in Cramlington’s Westmorland Retail Park. Security footage showed Liddle, disguised with a low-pulled hat, leaving the store with £1,500 (approximately $1,900) worth of stolen bags.

The shoplifter had become notorious for wearing various disguises to avoid recognition, a tactic that ultimately proved unsuccessful in evading law enforcement.

“The severity of this order demonstrates the seriousness of her criminality and the significant impact it has had on the retail community within the region, which is something we will simply not accept,” Inspector Hannon added.

Northumbria Police have urged the public to report any sightings of Liddle in prohibited stores via their social media channels or website live chat function.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by retailers and law enforcement in combating persistent shoplifting, and the extreme measures sometimes required to address prolific offenders.

Source: news.sky.com

UPDATED: Lebanon Pager Explosion Increases to 20 Deaths, 450 Injured

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The death toll from a series of pager explosions across Lebanon has risen to 20, with at least 450 people injured, Lebanese health officials reported Wednesday. This marks a significant increase from Tuesday’s initial attacks, which killed 12 and wounded approximately 2,800.

The latest round of explosions targeted wireless devices in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs. Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militant group and political party, confirmed that ten of its members were among the fatalities.

Lebanese Red Cross officials stated that more than 30 ambulances were deployed to provide treatment and evacuations. The severity of injuries prompted the transfer of at least 95 wounded individuals to Iran for specialized medical care.

Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad previously reported that around 460 injuries from Tuesday’s explosions were critical, requiring surgical intervention. Most victims suffered eye and facial injuries, with others sustaining wounds to hands and fingers.

The Lebanese Army has urged citizens to avoid gathering at explosion sites to allow unimpeded access for medical teams. Meanwhile, Civil Defense members are battling fires that erupted in homes, vehicles, and shops as a result of the blasts.

Sources told ABC News that Israel was behind both Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s explosions, though Israeli officials have not commented on these allegations. Hezbollah has accused Israel of “criminal aggression” and vowed retaliation.

The attacks have affected both Hezbollah members and civilians, including children. Lebanese officials confirmed that an 8-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy were among Tuesday’s fatalities.

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among those injured in the initial explosions. Iranian officials have strongly condemned the attacks, with the country’s UN ambassador calling for international action against what he termed “acts of terrorism.”

As Lebanon grapples with this escalating crisis, concerns are mounting about potential further destabilization in the region. The international community watches closely as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah threaten to boil over into wider conflict.

Mortuary Attendant, 6 Others Arrested for Selling Human Remains in Osun, Nigeria

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Osun State Police Command, Nigeria, announced on Wednesday the arrest of seven individuals, including two mortuary attendants, for allegedly selling human remains and water used to bathe corpses.

Acting Police Public Relations Officer Emmanuel Giwa-Alade identified the suspects as Johnson Daniel, 43, and Adetunji Okunade, 42, both mortuary attendants, along with Olaniyan Azeez, Balogun Temitope, Oladapo Hammed, Kazeem Rasaq, and Asaka Rauf.

The arrests followed a tip-off from a concerned citizen about Daniel, an attendant at a mortuary in Ipetu-Ijesa, selling corpse remains to native doctors.

“Daniel confessed to conspiring with Okunade to sell water used in bathing corpses to interested native doctors,” Giwa-Alade stated. “The suspects used these remains for various ritual purposes.”

Police searches of the suspects’ residences yielded fragments suspected to be human skull parts, as well as a female undergarment and a notebook containing ritual instructions.

In a separate incident, authorities arrested three individuals for promoting the Yoruba Nation separatist movement. Oluwafemi Fagbuyi was apprehended at Obada Market in Ikire while addressing a crowd, allegedly urging them to “denounce their allegiance to Nigeria as a nation.”

Two women, Joy Faseyiku, 63, and Alabede Janet, 64, were subsequently arrested in connection with this case in Osogbo and Ikire, respectively.

Giwa-Alade confirmed that investigations have concluded, and all suspects have been charged accordingly in Federal High Court.

These arrests highlight ongoing challenges with ritual practices involving human remains and separatist movements in parts of Nigeria.

Credit: punchng.com

Justice Department Sues Ship Owner Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse

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The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday against the owner and operator of the container ship that destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, seeking over $100 million in damages and cleanup costs.

The civil claim, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, targets Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, the Singaporean corporations that owned and operated the vessel Dali.

On March 26, the Dali struck the bridge after losing power while leaving the Port of Baltimore, causing the structure to collapse and killing six people. The incident halted shipping traffic and severed a crucial transportation link.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring accountability for those responsible for the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which resulted in the tragic deaths of six people and disrupted our country’s transportation and defense infrastructure.”

The lawsuit alleges that the companies were aware of vibration issues on the vessel that could cause power outages but failed to take necessary precautions. It claims that when the Dali lost power, a series of failures led to the disaster, with none of the ship’s steering mechanisms functioning properly.

Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer said, “Out of negligence, mismanagement, and, at times, a desire to cut costs, they configured the ship’s electrical and mechanical systems in a way that prevented those systems from being able to quickly restore propulsion and steering after a power outage.”

The government’s claim seeks to recover costs incurred in clearing the channel and reopening the Port of Baltimore, which was accomplished by June 10. It also seeks punitive damages to deter similar incidents in the future.

U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland emphasized, “Those responsible for the Key Bridge collapse will be held accountable.”

The lawsuit is part of a broader legal action initiated by the ship’s owner and operator, who are seeking to limit their liability to approximately $44 million.

The Justice Department’s claim does not include damages for reconstructing the bridge, which was owned and operated by the State of Maryland. The state may file its own claim for those damages.

Coast Guard Rear Admiral Laura M. Dickey supported the legal action, stating that “wholly preventable failures” caused the incident.

The claims in the lawsuit are allegations, and there has been no determination of liability at this time.

64-Year-Old Woman Survives Terrifying Python Attack in Thailand

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A 64-year-old Thai woman survived a harrowing four-hour ordeal after being attacked by a 13-foot reticulated python at her home in central Thailand’s Suphanburi province.

Arrom Arunroj was washing dishes in her outdoor kitchen when the massive snake began coiling around her body. Initially mistaking it for a monitor lizard, Arunroj quickly realized she was in the grip of one of Southeast Asia’s largest snake species.

“I didn’t notice the snake until it bit me. I looked down and it was coiling around my leg,” Arunroj told local media. “I was scared that the python would kill me, so I screamed at the top of my lungs until a passer-by heard me.”

The widow struggled for over two hours before her cries were heard by a neighbor, who alerted authorities. By the time help arrived, Arunroj had been battling the python for four hours.

Bodycam footage from responding officers showed Arunroj sitting helplessly on the ground as the python constricted her body. It took rescue workers more than 30 minutes to pry the snake off the victim.

Anusorn Wongmalee, commander of the local Crime Prevention and Suppression Unit, described the scene: “The elderly woman was being squeezed by a huge python that must have weighed more than 45 pounds. We used whatever tools we could to try to pry her free from it.”

Arunroj was rushed to a hospital for treatment of severe leg wounds and numbness in her arms from the prolonged constriction. Despite the traumatic experience, she is expected to recover.

The reticulated python, native to Southeast Asia, is one of the world’s longest snake species. While attacks on humans are rare, they are known to occasionally target larger prey. These non-venomous constrictors typically kill by wrapping around their victims and squeezing until cardiac arrest occurs.

After the rescue, authorities released the python back into a nearby forest. Wildlife experts emphasize the importance of coexistence with these creatures while taking precautions to avoid encounters.

This incident follows other recent python attacks in Southeast Asia, including a fatal encounter in Indonesia last month where a 57-year-old woman was killed by a 16-foot python at a rubber plantation.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Denied Bail Again in Federal Sex Trafficking Case

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Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail for a second time on Wednesday in a federal courtroom in Manhattan, despite his lawyer’s escalating promises of restrictive conditions in exchange for the music producer’s freedom.

U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter ruled that Combs, 54, would remain jailed pending trial, stating it was proved “by clear and convincing evidence” that no bail amount could guarantee Combs wouldn’t attempt to tamper with witnesses.

The decision came just one day after Combs’ initial court appearance where he was first denied bail. Combs faces multiple federal charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, presented an amended $50 million bail proposal that included 24/7 monitoring of Combs’ residence, a pre-approved visitor log, and promises that Combs would have no access to cell phones or the internet. In a notable moment, Agnifilo described Combs as an “actual altar boy” who “watches a sermon every day,” prompting the judge to question how far back in Combs’ past the lawyer was willing to delve.

Prosecutors allege that Combs used his business empire, operating under the name Combs Enterprise, to organize and conceal his crimes. They describe “Freak Offs” – elaborate sex performances allegedly arranged and directed by Combs, often involving drug use and interstate travel. The charges state that Combs recorded these events, using the “sensitive, embarrassing, and incriminating” material as leverage to ensure participants’ silence.

An unsealed indictment revealed gruesome details of Combs’ alleged behavior, including accusations that he “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.”

Combs is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a facility notorious for poor conditions including rat infestations and understaffing. His sons Quincy Brown, Christian “King” Combs, and Justin Combs were present at Wednesday’s hearing, having co-signed the denied bail proposal.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, indicated that the investigation is ongoing, suggesting further charges could be brought against Combs and potential co-conspirators. “Combs did not do this alone,” Williams stated at a Tuesday press conference.

If convicted on all charges, Combs faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison. The case continues to send shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with many questioning the future of Combs’ vast business empire.

Tunisian Court Sentences Presidential Candidate to Prison Term

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A Tunisian court on Wednesday sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to 20 months in prison, according to his lawyer, in a move that has intensified opposition concerns about the integrity of the upcoming election.

Zammel, who leads the opposition Azimoun party, was arrested two weeks ago on charges of falsifying voter signatures on his candidacy paperwork. He has denounced the charges as fabricated by incumbent President Kais Saied.

The court’s decision comes amid rising political tensions in Tunisia ahead of the October 6 presidential election. Earlier this month, an electoral commission appointed by Saied disqualified three prominent candidates, sparking protests from opposition and civil society groups.

The commission approved only three candidacies: the incumbent president, Zammel, and Zouhair Magzhaoui, who is perceived as close to Saied. This decision defied Tunisia’s administrative court, the highest judicial authority in election-related disputes.

Abdessattar Massoudi, Zammel’s lawyer, told Reuters, “Today’s verdict is politically motivated, unfair and aims to undermine his chances in the presidential race.”

The commission’s actions have drawn criticism from rights groups, political parties, and constitutional law experts, who argue that defying the court raises doubts about the election’s legitimacy and legality.

Saied, who was democratically elected in 2019, has tightened his grip on power since 2021, ruling by decree in what the opposition has described as a coup. Critics accuse Saied of using the electoral commission to secure victory by limiting competition and intimidating other candidates. Saied has denied these accusations, stating he is fighting against corruption and will not become a dictator.

Several other potential presidential candidates have faced legal challenges. Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party, has been imprisoned since last year on charges of harming public security. Lotfi Mraihi, another prominent politician, was jailed this year on charges of vote-buying in the 2019 election. Both had expressed intentions to run in the October election but were unable to submit their candidacy paperwork due to their imprisonment.

Last month, a court sentenced four other potential presidential candidates to prison terms and lifetime bans from running for office.

These developments have raised international concerns about the state of democracy in Tunisia, once considered a model of democratic transition in the Arab world following the 2011 revolution.

Workers at Musk’s Companies Donate More to Harris Despite His Trump Support

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Despite Elon Musk’s endorsement of former President Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential race, employees at his companies are largely contributing to the campaign of Democratic rival Kamala Harris, according to campaign finance data.

OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan nonprofit tracking U.S. campaign contributions, reports that workers at Tesla have donated $42,824 to Harris’ campaign compared to $24,840 for Trump. At SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company, employees have contributed $34,526 to Harris versus $7,652 to Trump. Workers at X, formerly Twitter, have given $13,213 to Harris and less than $500 to Trump.

While these amounts are relatively small in terms of overall campaign fundraising, they suggest a political leaning among Musk’s employees that contrasts with the billionaire’s own stated preferences. Musk, currently the world’s richest person, has been vocal in his support for Trump on the X platform and has criticized left-leaning ideologies.

Musk, who supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, has since shifted towards more conservative positions. Trump has indicated that if he wins the November 5 election, he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission.

Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management and a Tesla shareholder, attributes the donation patterns partly to the fact that many of Musk’s employees are based in California, traditionally a Democratic stronghold.

In July, Musk announced plans to move X and SpaceX headquarters from California to Texas, citing disagreement with California’s gender-identity laws. Gerber suggests this move could result in “losing out on a lot of potential talent” in California.

The OpenSecrets data includes donations from company employees, owners, and their immediate family members. Federal law prohibits companies themselves from donating directly to federal campaigns.

Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the donation patterns among his companies’ employees.

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