Azerbaijan launches operation against Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan's defense ministry said Tuesday it had begun an "anti-terrorist" campaign in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, as Armenian media and local authorities reported heavy bombardment of the regional capital of Stepanakert.
1970-01-01 08:00
Man on death row for Tinder killing is accused of hatching $25k murder-for-hire scam behind bars
A death row inmate in Nebraska who was convicted of killing his Tinder date has now been accused of concocting a fake murder-for-hire scheme from behind bars – with a little help. Aubrey Trail, 56, was sentenced to death in June 2021 for the brutal 2017 murder and dismembering of Sydney Loofe after meeting her on the dating app Tinder. While in prison, he met 55-year-old Samantha Al-Rekabi of Lincoln, Nebraska, who was writing a book about Loofe’s murder and the two began hatching a plan to swindle a nurse at the Lincoln prison out of $25,000. On Sunday, Ms Al-Rekabi was arrested and has since been charged with felony theft by extortion in the case, according to court records. Investigators began the probe after being tipped off by another inmate in 2021. They say the two “manipulated” the nurse into smuggling in contraband, including a phone and chewing tobacco, according to a recent arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the Lincoln Journal Star. The nurse, who has not been named because she is not charged, worked at the Nebraska Diagnostic & Evaluation Center, now known as the Reception and Treatment Center. She quit just before the Nebraska State Patrol’s investigation began in March 2021, was interviewed by the FBI in December of that same year. She told the FBI she’d been manipulated by Trail and admitted to smuggling him contraband, the affidavit states. The affidavit revealed that Trail told Ms Al-Rekabi to befriend the nurse, which she did, and the two bonded over being “true crime buffs” and confided in each other about marriage troubles. In the interview, the nurse talked about how Trail exploited her friendship with Ms Al-Rekabi, and alleged that Trail had told her he’d hired a hitman to kill her husband and that he would only call off the hit if she paid him $25,000. She agreed to pay the money and went to the bank with Ms Al-Rekabi to withdraw the funds. The affidavit revealed the nurse had withdrawn $25,000 in cash from her account. The affidavit also revealed that in a number of phone recordings investigators believe to be between Ms Al-Rekabi and Trail, she was allegedly heard bragging to Trail about getting the blackmail money from the nurse, gushing “she’s gonna get her pension out just [to] give it to us.” A response from a male can be heard, “She don’t have a choice.” It was revealed that investigators came to “believe that there was never a legitimate plan” to pay a hitman to kill the nurse’s family. Other calls detailed Trail’s alleged desire to have a gun smuggled into the prison. In one of the calls, a male’s voice is heard telling the nurse to “bring me a gun so I can just kill everybody,” according to the affidavit. Ms Al-Rekabi later admitted that she helped Trail because she was afraid he would hurt her son, who is also in prison. She appeared in court on Monday where her bond was set at $5,000. An interview with a Nebraska State Patrol investigator in April 2023 also revealed that Ms Al-Rekabi had admitted to working as an intermediary between Trail and his girlfriend, Bailey Boswell, a former store clerk who was also convicted for her role in Loofe’s killing, KLKNTV reported. Boswell, who was at the center of a wild outburst by Trail during his 2019 trial, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in November 2021. Trail had tried slashing his throat and yelled “Bailey is innocent, and I curse you all!” Read More Alex Murdaugh pleads guilty to committing crime for first time Extortion trial against Joran van der Sloot, suspect in Natalee Holloway disappearance, is delayed Teenager arrested over murder of girl, 10, who was shot while being driven back from Mother’s Day party
1970-01-01 08:00
Chelsea hoping for major step towards Stamford Bridge rebuild
Chelsea taking steps towards potenial Stamford Bridge rebuild as land purchase deal awaits final approval.
1970-01-01 08:00
'The Amazon is speaking for itself': Brazil President Lula puts climate and inequality at the center of UN address
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva put inequality and the climate crisis at the center of a speech Tuesday that opened the annual UN General Debate in New York, lamenting that the international community has "numbed" to its responsibility to care for the world's poor.
1970-01-01 08:00
Factbox-Tesla courts interest from Turkey to India for next gigafactory
Tesla's plan to expand its global manufacturing footprint has sparked a race among some countries to woo CEO
1970-01-01 08:00
Deshaun Watson suspension: Is star QB being punished for shoving ref?
Is there a potential suspension for Deshaun Watson following his actions towards a referee in the Cleveland Browns' Week 2 game?
1970-01-01 08:00
Camp Half-Blood comes to life in 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' trailer
As the release date for Percy Jackson and the Olympians creeps ever closer, the Greek
1970-01-01 08:00
Climate change made storm that devastated Libya far more likely and intense, scientists say
Scientists say climate change made the devastating storm along the Libyan coast up to 50 times more likely and 50% more intense
1970-01-01 08:00
Getting a grip: After rubbing mud on baseballs for nearly a century, MLB experiments with a chemical substance
For nearly 100 years every ball used in MLB has been rubbed down with a very particular variety of mud before use. The league is experimenting with alternatives but nothing has stuck yet.
1970-01-01 08:00
Russell Brand: Fall of the arch-provocateur
Bursting onto the scene as a provocative comedian before transforming into a Hollywood star then anti-establishment guru, Russell Brand still boasts millions of online fans...
1970-01-01 08:00
House Republicans struggle to find consensus in closed-door party meeting amid government shutdown threat
House Republicans are still struggling to reach consensus on a plan to fund the government, with lawmakers going back-and-forth over the issue during a closed-door party meeting on Tuesday morning.
1970-01-01 08:00
NIL news: Will Shipley gets appropriately named Chipotle deal
WIll Shipley has a new NIL deal with Chipotle and the branding is absolutely perfect for both sides.
1970-01-01 08:00