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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.

Kentucky I-75 Gunman Charged as Ongoing Manhunt Closes Schools

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The search for a suspected gunman who fired into vehicles along Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky entered its third day on Monday, prompting school closures in several counties and a heightened state of alert among local residents.

Joseph A Couch, 32, has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder and assault in connection with the Saturday evening shooting that injured five people. Authorities believe Couch fled to a remote, rugged area about 9 miles from the city of London after the incident.

The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office reported recovering a silver Honda SUV and an AR rifle believed to have been used in the attack. Police also found a phone thought to belong to Couch, though its battery had been removed. An arrest warrant filed for Couch includes five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault.

According to police, Couch legally purchased the rifle and approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition hours before the shooting began around 5:30 p.m. local time on Saturday. Authorities now believe 12 vehicles were hit by gunfire along I-75, with shots fired from a ledge on a cliff overlooking the highway.

Five people were wounded in the attack, some with “very serious” injuries, including one person shot in the face. All victims were reported stable as of Sunday and are expected to survive.

The ongoing manhunt has disrupted daily life in the area. Schools in Laurel County and several neighboring counties were closed Monday as a precautionary measure. Some local businesses and churches also remained closed on Sunday.

Kentucky State Police spokesperson Scottie Pennington urged local residents to be vigilant, advising them to lock doors, monitor security cameras, and keep porch lights on while the suspect remains at large.

The search area, described as having very thick woods, has slowed the manhunt. Deputy Gilbert Acciardo of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office characterized the scene as a “madhouse” when first responders arrived, with people on the roadsides, emergency flashers activated, and bullet-riddled vehicles.

Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the shooting but have characterized it as a random attack rather than a targeted one. Couch previously served in the Army Reserve for about six years as a combat engineer but was never deployed.

As the search continues, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has urged the public to avoid the area and “pray for everyone involved.”

Elon Musk on Track to Be First Trillionaire by 2027, Report Says

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Elon Musk is projected to become the world’s first trillionaire by 2027, according to a new global wealth report by Informa Connect Academy. The 53-year-old entrepreneur, currently the world’s richest person with a net worth of $251 billion as per Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, has seen his wealth grow at an average rate of 110% annually.

The report, titled “2024 Trillion Dollar Club,” estimates that if Musk’s wealth continues to grow at its current rate, he could reach the trillionaire mark within the next three years. His electric car company Tesla, valued at $669.3 billion, is growing at an even more rapid pace of 173.3% per year and could exceed $1 trillion in value by 2025.

Other potential trillionaires identified in the report include Indian business conglomerate founder Gautam Adani, who could reach the milestone by 2028 with an annual growth rate of 123%. Jensen Huang, CEO of tech firm Nvidia, and Indonesian energy and mining mogul Prajogo Pangestu are also predicted to join the trillionaire club by 2028.

Musk’s wealth is derived from various ventures beyond Tesla, including spacecraft manufacturer SpaceX, neurotechnology firm Neuralink, and tunnel construction company The Boring Company.

His 2022 acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, for $44 billion has been marked by controversy. Recent incidents include Musk apologizing for endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory and feuding with Brazil’s Supreme Court, resulting in X being banned in the country.

Musk has also been involved in political discussions, interviewing former President Donald Trump on X and commenting on right-wing media figures’ content. These actions have drawn criticism from various quarters, including the White House.

The report highlights the growing concentration of wealth among tech industry leaders, with Microsoft ($3.4 trillion) and Apple ($3.3 trillion) listed as the top two richest companies.

Two Pakistani Men Convicted for Calls to Murder Dutch Anti-Muslim Leader Wilders

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A Dutch court on Monday convicted two Pakistani political leaders for making calls to murder Geert Wilders, a prominent anti-Muslim lawmaker in the Netherlands.

The District Court of The Hague sentenced a 56-year-old man, described as a political and religious leader from Pakistan, to 14 years in prison for attempted and actual incitement and threats to murder with terrorist intent. A 29-year-old “political leader” from Pakistan received a four-year sentence for incitement and threats to murder.

Both men were tried and sentenced in absentia, as they are believed to be outside the Netherlands. The court did not disclose the names of the convicted individuals or provide further details about their political activities in Pakistan.

The case stems from accusations made in February that the two men had publicly called for Wilders’ murder, promising rewards in the afterlife for anyone who carried out the act. Wilders, whose party recently joined the Dutch government following an election victory, has lived under tight security for the past 20 years due to persistent death threats.

This is not the first case of its kind. In September 2023, a Dutch court sentenced a Pakistani former cricketer to 12 years in prison, also in absentia, for publicly urging people to kill Wilders.

The likelihood of these sentences being served is low, as the Netherlands does not have an extradition treaty with Pakistan.

Wilders’ anti-Muslim rhetoric has made him a controversial figure both in the Netherlands and abroad. As Wilders and his party take on a more prominent role in Dutch politics, the government faces ongoing security challenges.

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