Jim Lovell, legendary NASA astronaut and commander of Apollo 13, has died at 97. Renowned for turning a life-threatening lunar mission into a historic survival story, Lovell flew four pioneering spaceflights, including Apollo 8. His steady leadership during crisis inspired generations and cemented his place as one of space exploration’s most respected figures.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/hfDOQA0
Friday, August 15, 2025
US Priest Accused Of Having Affair With Teen Stripper, Paying Her Money
A 61-year-old Catholic priest in Alabama is under investigation for allegedly initiating a relationship with a 17-year-old stripper in 2009 and paying her hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep silent about it, the Guardian reported. Robert Sullivan, the pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Homewood, Alabama, has been placed on leave after being publicly accused by the woman, Heather Jones, now 33. According to Ms Jones, she met Sullivan while dancing at a strip club he regularly visited.
While tipping her, he allegedly offered $273,000 for a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for "an ongoing relationship" involving financial support for private companionship, which also included sex. Ms Jones, who was raised in foster care due to her mother's severe neglect, said in her letter to the diocese that she was hesitant but agreed due to his persistence and her vulnerable state of mind.
Days later, she allegedly received two wire transfers of $136,500 each from an attorney's office. Sullivan, posing initially as a doctor, allegedly took her shopping, dining, drinking, and to hotels in at least six Alabama cities during their relationship, which she claims continued until this year.
Ms Jones further alleged that the priest purchased a phone for her and funded her rehab treatment while she struggled with addiction and depression. She claimed that between July 18, 2024, and March 2025, a Venmo account in her name transferred nearly $120,000 to her. She explained that she felt obligated to share the allegations publicly due to Sullivan's close work with families and children at his church.
"Others may be vulnerable to the same type of manipulation and exploitation," she told the Guardian.
Sullivan has served as a priest for over 32 years and previously held the position of president at John Carroll High School for six years.
In a letter to the diocese this week, Bishop Steven Raica, who leads the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, addressed the allegations, stating that there is insufficient evidence to warrant a criminal investigation into Sullivan's actions.
"While the Alabama Department of Human Resources determined that the allegations did not match the requirements for opening an investigation, a diocese investigation was initiated, again, according to Church law and our diocesan policies and guidelines," Mr Raica wrote.
"Our diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator has continued to be in contact with the woman who brought forth the allegations and has provided appropriate support," he added.
The Bishop also said that the allegations are being reported to the Vatican.
from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/v6Fh3aD
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Influencer With 1.2 Million Followers Arrested In Rs 40-Crore Laundering Case
An 'entrepreneur' with over 1.2 million followers on Instagram, whose bio also states that she is an actor, has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a Rs 40-crore money laundering case.
The case against Sandeepa Virk stems from a first information report (FIR) lodged at a police station in Mohali under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code, in which she was accused of defrauding individuals by soliciting money under false pretences and through misrepresentation.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out search operations on Tuesday and Wednesday at multiple locations in Delhi and Mumbai in connection with the money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
According to the ED, Ms Virk is accused of acquiring immovable properties through fraudulent means. She projected herself as the owner of hyboocare.com, a website claiming to sell FDA-approved beauty products. However, investigators found that the products were non-existent, the website lacked user registration features, faced persistent payment gateway failures, and had negligible social media presence.
Additionally, its WhatsApp contact number was inactive, and no transparent company details were available - pointing to a non-genuine commercial operation allegedly used as a front to launder funds.
The ED's probe also revealed Ms Virk's alleged links with Angarai Natarajan Sethuraman, a former director of the now-defunct Reliance Capital Limited. Search operations at Mr Sethuraman's residence allegedly confirmed his role in "illegal liaising work" and diversion of funds for personal gain.
The agency said that, in 2018, public funds worth approximately Rs 18 crore from Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd (RCFL) were disbursed to Mr Sethuraman without due diligence and under highly irregular lending terms that allowed deferments and multiple waivers. In addition, a Rs 22-crore home loan was allegedly sanctioned by Reliance Capital Limited in violation of prudential norms. Investigators said large portions of these funds were siphoned off and remain unpaid.
In a statement to news agency PTI, Mr Sethuraman dismissed the allegations as "baseless". He also denied any connection with Ms Virk or any transactions related to her.
During the raids, the ED seized incriminating documents and recorded statements of several key individuals, including one Farrukh Ali. Ms Virk was arrested on August 12 under provisions of the PMLA and produced before a court, which sent her to ED custody until Friday.
ED officials said the potential involvement of other individuals is also being investigated.
from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/SrfRMKw
Video: Man Robs Home, Another Looms Over Sleeping Owner With Iron Rod
In a brazen theft, three unidentified thieves looted jewellery and cash worth over Rs 5 lakh from the residence of retired Justice Ramesh Garg in Indore's Vijay Nagar. The meticulously executed heist, which lasted four minutes and ten seconds, targeted the bungalow around 3:30 AM, with the masked thieves breaking the main gate's lock and forcing open an almirah to make off with the valuables.
A video of the shocking theft has surfaced on social media, showing one thief standing guard with a rod in hand, while the other stole cash and jewellery from the almirah.
Watch the video here:
3 criminals rohbed a retired Justice Ramesh Garg's residence in Indore in just 4 minutes and 10 seconds and got away with Rs 5 lakh and gold-silver jewellery.
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) August 13, 2025
They would have killed Justice Garg's son (in the video) if he had woken up. Fortunately, he kept sleeping despite the… pic.twitter.com/MTg8cJgaPQ
The incident, captured on CCTV, occurred on Sunday morning while the family was asleep. Notably, the home's alarm system failed to alert Justice Garg's son, Ritvik, allowing the thieves to escape undetected. According to reports, the thieves had cut through an iron window grill to gain entry, all while a security guard was present outside. Meanwhile, Ritvik's wife and children slept undisturbed in another room, oblivious to the theft unfolding nearby.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Indore's affluent Vijay Nagar neighbourhood, raising concerns about security in an area known for its prominent residents. The targeting of a retired justice's home has added urgency to the police's efforts, with pressure mounting to apprehend the culprits.
Vijay Nagar police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the vicinity to identify the culprits.
from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/xtHQrgE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)