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Judge Compares Nationwide Burglary Ring by Illegal Immigrants to ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ Heist

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Judge Compares Nationwide Burglary Ring by Illegal Immigrants to ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ Heist

An audacious and well-coordinated burglary ring, operating illegally within the United States, orchestrated a series of home invasions that left a chilling imprint across the nation. Employing GPS technology to track their targets, the thieves would cut power lines before stealthily entering homes cloaked in darkness, leaving behind a chaotic scene of slashed mattresses and scattered possessions.

A group of six individuals, all undocumented immigrants, were each handed sentences exceeding typical theft recommendations, a reflection of the severity and scale of their criminal activities. This decision was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan in a recent news release. A seventh member of the crew remains at large, evading capture.

Leading this criminal enterprise was John Sebastian Quintero-Herrera, a 29-year-old from Colombia. His role in the operation culminated in a 70-month prison sentence after he admitted guilt to the interstate transportation of stolen goods.

U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering, presiding over the case, drew comparisons between the gang’s activities and the heist film “Ocean’s Eleven,” highlighting their sophisticated yet cruel methods. She remarked on the unsettling impact their crimes had on homeowners, describing the operation as “bone-chilling.”

ransacked and damaged homes

Federal prosecutors detailed how the defendants systematically ransacked homes in search of valuables, underscoring the calculated and invasive nature of their crimes.

Quintero-Herrera and his crew hit at least 20 homes across the country, a case that U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey cited as “another example of why we are so alarmed by illegal immigration into the United States.”

“When these people sneaked into our country, they weren’t looking for a chance to get a job,” VerHey said. “Their idea of a better life was to set up a burglary operation targeting the homes of people all over the United States.”

a black hidden surveillance camera with green leaves attached set on a table

The defendants used hidden surveillance cameras to watch potential victims, federal prosecutors said. (Department of Justice)

The group focused on small business owners believed to keep large amounts of cash or valuables at home. Investigators said the suspects conducted extensive surveillance, using GPS trackers to monitor victims’ movements and cameras to watch their residences.

Once targets were identified, prosecutors said the group broke into homes, sometimes cutting power beforehand before ransacking them. Authorities said they stole cash, jewelry, luxury handbags and shoes, family heirlooms, and personal documents such as passports and mortgage records.

Homes were often left in severe disarray, with belongings scattered and mattresses slashed, according to prosecutors.

a GPS grid showing the routes of their victims

The defendants put GPS trackers on their victims’ cars to locate their homes, federal prosecutors said. (Department of Justice)

Officials said the suspects spent the stolen money on drugs, nightlife and lavish travel.

“These professional burglars made over $1,500,000 breaking into people’s homes, but perhaps the most precious thing they stole from their victims was their sense of security and safety,” VerHey said.

The five other members of the crew who have pleaded guilty and been sentenced include: Iesua Ramirez-Perez, 26; Ivan Chaparro-Perez, 31; William Villarraga-Joya, 33; Paul Mendoza-Arevalo, 39; and Wendy Acosta-Arevalo, 31.

Ramirez-Perez, Chaparro-Perez and Mendoza-Arevalo were each convicted of conspiracy to transport stolen property, each receiving a sentence of 39 months, 42 months and 48 months, respectively.

Villarraga-Joya and Acosta-Arevalo were each convicted of interstate transportation of stolen property, and were sentenced to 90 months and 24 months, respectively.

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Presents Unconventional Defense in Court as Potential Release from Prison Looms

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Presents Unconventional Defense in Court as Potential Release from Prison Looms


The legal representatives of Sean “Diddy” Combs have made a compelling case for his immediate release from incarceration, asserting that his notorious freak-off tapes fall under the category of amateur pornography, not criminal acts. This argument was presented during an appeal session before a trio of federal judges in New York on Thursday.

Leading the defense, attorneys Alexandra Shapiro and Nicole Westmoreland, put forth this unexpected claim, suggesting Combs was subjected to an unfair trial the previous year and advocating for his release based on First Amendment rights.

Combs’ defense maintains that the 56-year-old was unjustly found guilty under the federal Mann Act, which prohibits the interstate transport of individuals for unlawful sexual activities. They argue that the recordings in question are a form of amateur pornography, safeguarded as free expression by the U.S. Constitution.

The legal team contends that these “freak-offs” and hotel escapades were elaborately staged sexual performances, complete with costumes, role-playing, and professional lighting, crafted for the purpose of creating amateur footage for Combs and his partners’ personal viewing, as reported by the Daily Mail.

“Freak-offs and hotel nights were highly choreographed sexual performances involving the use of costumes, role play, and staged lighting, which were filmed so Combs and his girlfriends could watch this amateur pornography later,” his lawyers argued, per the Daily Mail.

“Pornography production and viewing of this sort is protected by the First Amendment and thus cannot constitutionally be prosecuted,” Combs’ legal team added.

Combs’ attorneys also argued that Judge Arun Subramanian, who oversaw the case and sentencing, improperly relied on “acquitted conduct,” which refers to when a judge considers behavior associated with charges a defendant was acquitted of.

His team demanded the troubled record exec’s “immediate release” and requested the judge “grant a judgment of acquittal” or “vacate and remand for resentencing.”

Combs was convicted of transportation for prostitution in July 2025 following his September 2024 arrest on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

While a single charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison per count, Combs was convicted on two counts. However, he was acquitted of the higher racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

He was sentenced in October 2025 and moved from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to a low-security federal prison in Fort Dix, New Jersey, that same month.

Judge Subramanian told Combs that his punishment would mean “hard time in prison, away from your family, friends and community” during the imprisoned music mogul’s sentencing hearing, but added that Combs “will have a life afterward.”

“Mr. Combs, you’re being sentenced for the offenses of conviction, not the crimes he was acquitted of,” the judge continued. “However, under law, the court ‘shall consider’ the nature of the offense and characteristics of the defendant.”

As Page Six previously reported, Combs’ release date was pushed up from June 4, 2028, to April 25, 2028, last month.

The surprising development came after Combs was accepted into a drug-abuse rehabilitation program in November 2025, which may often lead to shorter prison sentences.

“Mr. Combs is an active participant in the Residential Drug Abuse Program and has taken his rehabilitation process seriously from the start,” a rep for Combs said in a statement at the time.

They added, “He is fully engaged in his work, focused on growth and committed to positive change.”

Combs had previously had his release date pushed back from May 8, 2028, to June 4, 2028, after he allegedly violated multiple prison rules.

Father Allegedly Leaves 10-Month-Old Under 20-Pound Weighted Blanket During Discord Chat: Police Report

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Father Allegedly Leaves 10-Month-Old Under 20-Pound Weighted Blanket During Discord Chat: Police Report

Background: The Mankato, Minn., apartment where first responders found baby Remington Morningstar unresponsive on Oct. 1, 2025 (Google Maps). Inset (left): Omni Maxx Morningstar (Blue Earth County Sheriff”s Office). Inset (right): Remington Morningstar (Mankato Mortuary).

A man from Minnesota faces manslaughter charges following the tragic asphyxiation death of his infant son.

Twenty-six-year-old Omni Maxx Morningstar was released on bond after his arrest and booking into the Blue Earth County Jail on the manslaughter charge. As stated by Mankato city authorities, Morningstar was taken into custody on Monday after a probe into the demise of his 10-month-old son, Remington. Details from a criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime reveal that on October 1, 2025, Morningstar placed his son face down for a nap on a bed and covered him with a 20-pound weighted blanket.

Authorities reported that Morningstar subsequently went to another room, closed the door, and put on headphones to engage in an online chat with friends via Discord.

The complaint notes that emergency personnel, including police and firefighters, arrived at Morningstar’s Mankato apartment at 3:54 p.m. in response to a medical emergency involving the baby, who lived there with his father and mother. When a firefighter inquired about the emergency, Morningstar allegedly replied it was about “a practically dead baby.”

Upon arrival, responders found the infant showing no signs of life; his extremities were cold, yet his body temperature remained high. Sadly, Remington was declared dead at the hospital an hour later, at 4:54 p.m.

Morningstar told officers at the scene that he took the baby’s temperature earlier that day and it was 104.7. According to the complaint, he told officers that his son’s temperature was “only 105, but you know what’s interesting, [he] exhibits the same symptoms as someone was 108.” He said Remington felt like he was “on fire,” and his lips were blue.

Police said Morningstar told them he put Remington down for a nap in the bedroom at 11 a.m., placing him face down with a 20-pound weighted blanket over him, covering his body up to his shoulder blades. He did not check on him again until almost 4 p.m. He told officers that he left the baby’s bedroom door open, but allegedly went into his own bedroom and closed the door. He then allegedly put on a pair of headphones and started chatting with friends on Discord.

According to the complaint, Morningstar said, “I’m thinking in my head like, [five] hours. Huh. I really do wish I would have checked on him. I mean, it only happened twice before. It spiked two times and we fixed him two times.” Morningstar explained to police that Remington was “colicky,” and the weighted blanket helped him.

Police said Morningstar also said that he started using a 12-pound weighted blanket during Remington’s naps four to five months earlier to keep his legs from moving. He stated that Remington was hospitalized about a month prior to his death when he became overheated, his body temperature reaching 104 degrees. Morningstar told police that “he had been cautioned about using a blanket at the hospital.”

Remington’s mother told police more about the previous incident, saying that she walked in to find the baby covered “head to toe” with a king-sized comforter. She was the one who took the baby’s temperature and called 911. Police said Morningstar told her that he “forgot” about the baby because he “was playing video games.”

According to the complaint, Morningstar also admitted to using the blankets to cover Remington’s head and would wear headphones to muffle his baby’s crying.

The medical examiner determined that Remington’s cause of death was probable asphyxia caused by the weighted blanket.

Morningstar was arrested on Monday and bonded out of Blue Earth County Jail on Wednesday. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 16.

 

Manhunt Intensifies: Convicted Gang Rapist Escapes Sydney Hospital, Public Urged to Remain Vigilant

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Manhunt Intensifies: Convicted Gang Rapist Escapes Sydney Hospital, Public Urged to Remain Vigilant
Police say “significant” resources are being devoted to the capture of a convicted gang rapist who absconded from a hospital in Sydney‘s south-west yesterday morning.

Michael Angok, a 30-year-old detainee, managed to escape from custody at Bankstown Hospital around 9:30 a.m. yesterday. He had been transferred there from Villawood Immigration Detention Centre for treatment, authorities have reported.

Angok has now been evading capture for over 30 hours.

The search continue for the 30-year-old escapee.
The search continue for the 30-year-old escapee. (NSW Police Force)

In 2014, Angok was convicted for his involvement in the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in Doonside, located in Sydney’s western suburbs. For the past nine years, he has been held at Villawood Detention Centre.

Detective Superintendent Brett Van Akker of the NSW Police described Angok as “well-known to police” and urged the public to provide any information that might aid in locating him.

While Van Akker refrained from discussing Angok’s full criminal background, he emphasized that “significant police resources” are being employed to ensure his apprehension.

Personal items belonging to the 30-year-old were found on Gallipoli Road in Condell Park after his escape.

The entrance to the Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital where a man in his 50s was dropped after being shot in the leg. Bankstown, NSW. November 28, 2025. Photo: Kate Geraghty
Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital. (Kate Geraghty)

He is described as being of African appearance, about 175cm to 180cm tall, of thin build with short black hair.

He was last seen wearing a black hooded jumper, grey tracksuit pants and white ‘croc’ sandals.

Angok previously lived in the Blacktown area and may use public transport.

Detective Superintendent Brett Van Akker,Acting Commander, Bankstown Police Area Command
Detective Superintendent Brett Van Akker,Acting Commander, Bankstown Police Area Command (Nine)

“If anyone knows the whereabouts of this individual, I urge them to come forward and contact police through Crime Stoppers or Triple-Zero,” Van Akker said. 

As the search continues, anyone who sees Angok is urged not to approach him but to contact Triple Zero (000) immediately.

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Natasha Lyonne Ejected from Delta Flight: What Really Happened?

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Natasha Lyonne Ejected from Delta Flight: What Really Happened?

Actress Natasha Lyonne was reportedly escorted off a Delta flight after she failed to comply with cabin crew instructions to shut down her laptop and fasten her seatbelt.

According to a report by Page Six, the incident occurred as Lyonne was set to leave Los Angeles on Tuesday. This was merely hours after she attended the highly-anticipated season three premiere of “Euphoria” in Hollywood, where she appeared somewhat disoriented.

This event follows a recent admission from Lyonne that she had experienced a setback in her sobriety journey after maintaining nearly a decade of sobriety.

Witnesses noted that Lyonne, who was seated in first class and still donned attire from the premiere, was given instructions by several flight attendants. Reports indicate that she appeared to be nodding off during the situation.

An eyewitness observed Lyonne being given instructions by multiple flight attendants, and the actress was reportedly dozing off during the mishap. 

She was heard telling flight attendants at one point: ‘Ah! You scared me!’

Natasha Lyonne was reportedly escorted off a flight after failing to respond to flight attendants asking her to turn off her laptop and fasten her seatbelt - pictured at the Euphoria season 3 premiere on April 7

Natasha Lyonne was reportedly escorted off a flight after failing to respond to flight attendants asking her to turn off her laptop and fasten her seatbelt – pictured at the Euphoria season 3 premiere on April 7

Lyonne was reportedly sitting first class when she was kicked off a Delta flight; stock photo of Delta flight in 2014

Lyonne was reportedly sitting first class when she was kicked off a Delta flight; stock photo of Delta flight in 2014

The staff were eventually able to retrieve her laptop and the plane taxied onto the runway before it returned to the gate, where a Delta staffer boarded to speak to Lyonne. 

‘Ma’am, do you need medical attention?’ the staffer reportedly asked Lyonne. ‘Ma’am, I need you to come off the plane. Do you need help with your belongings?’

The captain later revealed they had dealt with a passenger unable to follow ‘basic commands’ as they addressed the more than hour-long delay with travelers. 

‘We have a passenger who for whatever reason … wouldn’t follow some basic commands … We had a passenger who didn’t seem up to the task tonight so that’s why they were asked to be booked on another flight — I do apologize for the inconvenience, but we will get you to New York as quickly and as safely as possible,’ the captain reportedly said. 

The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Lyonne and Delta for comment but did not immediately hear back. 

The incident comes three months after she revealed she suffered a relapse.  

‘Took my relapse public, more to come,’ Lyonne told her 545.5k followers, who showered her with support.

‘Thanks, boss … for the grace, etc.,’ the actress wrote in response to one bolstering comment. ‘Sending love back your way. May become a pothead or a nun. TBD.’

The incident comes three months after Lyonne revealed she had suffered a relapse after being sober for nearly 10 years - pictured April 7

The incident comes three months after Lyonne revealed she had suffered a relapse after being sober for nearly 10 years – pictured April 7

An eyewitness observed Lyonne being given instructions by multiple flight attendants, and the actress was reportedly dozing off during the mishap. She was heard telling flight attendants at one point: 'Ah! You scared me!' - Pictured January 4 in LA

An eyewitness observed Lyonne being given instructions by multiple flight attendants, and the actress was reportedly dozing off during the mishap. She was heard telling flight attendants at one point: ‘Ah! You scared me!’ – Pictured January 4 in LA 

Lyonne didn’t give an exact time frame of when the relapse occurred or how, but she stressed that ‘recovery is a lifelong process.’

‘Anyone out there struggling, remember you’re not alone,’ her written message continued on Saturday, January 24.

‘Grateful for love and smart feet. Gonna do it for baby Bambo. Stay honest, folks. Sick as our secrets.’

The Orange is the New Black alum added: ‘If no one told ya today, I love you. No matter how far down the scales we have gone, we will see how our experience may help another. Keep going, kiddos. Don’t quit before the miracle. Wallpaper your mind with love. Rest is all noise and baloney.’

To one devotee she wrote, ‘Love ya back,’ and to another, she confided, ‘We need better systems and to end shame — bill the Sacklers and stilettos or something but don’t @ me for getting honest.’

She was referring to the notorious Sackler family, known for owning Purdue Pharma, which developed the highly addictive pain medication OxyContin and amassed billions from its sales.

Last year, the company was forced to cough up a $7.4 billion settlement for their role in the current opioid epidemic.

She then updated fans on her sobriety journey in March: ‘Proud to report this kid is doing a whole lot better & back on her feet,’ the 46-year-old actress posted to X.

Lyonne, who completed rehab in 2006, previously spoke about her downward spiral into drug and alcohol addiction in a candid interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2012.

‘Spiraling into addiction is really, really scary,’ she said. ‘Some things have a very A-to-B scientific effect. Like, alcohol is a depressant. Cocaine is a stimulant. And then: Cocaine plus heroin is bad! That’s the point of my story, that’s the moral. Coke plus heroin equals speedball. And speedball equals bad, you know?

‘It’s weird to talk about,’ she said at the time. ‘I was definitely as good as dead, you know? A lot of people don’t come back. That makes me feel wary, and self-conscious. I wouldn’t want to feel prideful about it. People really rallied around me and pulled me up by my f—ing bootstraps.’

Lyonne was making headlines in the early to mid-2000s but not the nice kind: a drunk-driving arrest, a run-in with a neighbor resulting in a court appearance, hospitalization for hepatitis C, a collapsed lung and infective endocarditis and later open-heart surgery to correct damage done.

In 2006 at age 27, she checked into an in-patient rehab for treatment for her drug and alcohol abuse.

‘Eventually, I made it through those dark nights of the soul,’ Lyonne told The Times in 2024.

Lyonne has seen a career resurgence in her 40s, and recently she has shifted her focus away from starring roles to directing, writing and producing, such as the 1980s-set boxing film Bambo.

Liverpool’s Bold Move: Unveiling the Next Mohamed Salah with Bundesliga Stars and a Fresh Winger Strategy

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Liverpool’s Bold Move: Unveiling the Next Mohamed Salah with Bundesliga Stars and a Fresh Winger Strategy

Arne Slot found himself in a tight spot with his Liverpool squad on the ropes in Paris. Seeking a spark, he glanced at the substitutes’ bench, hoping for a game-changer.

Mohamed Salah, though outwardly calm, likely simmered with frustration beneath his high-vis bib and club tracksuit as he waited. Despite the pressing need for a goal to turn the tide against Paris Saint-Germain at 2-0, Slot chose not to call upon the prolific forward, who boasts an impressive 255 goals for the club.

After a hefty £450 million splurge last summer, those steering the ship at Anfield are now strategizing on how to fill the void should Salah depart—a task that promises to be challenging.

In this context, Daily Mail Sport delves into Liverpool’s blueprint for Salah’s potential replacement, examining the players on their radar and the financial resources earmarked for this significant transition.

Daily Mail Sport has looked at how they will do that, which players they are targeting and what money is available.

When in desperate need of a goal at 2-0 down to Paris Saint-Germain, Arne Slot did not fancy Mohamed Salah, a man with 255 of them for the club

When in desperate need of a goal at 2-0 down to Paris Saint-Germain, Arne Slot did not fancy Mohamed Salah, a man with 255 of them for the club

What sort of player do Liverpool want?

It was a question we posed to Slot last Friday and he joked that with the way football is going, someone who could take a long throw-in would be beneficial.

But on a serious note, Liverpool have noticed that the game is evolving and they could turn to a more tricky, pacy winger that can unlock a deep defence.

Just take the last few games for the Reds. They were undone by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s mazy run for PSG’s second goal, several doses of brilliance from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo at Manchester City, and trickery from Yankuba Minteh (more on him later) at Brighton.

And then look around at the world’s best teams. Pep Guardiola used to prefer the sensible, conservative approach of Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva on the wings when City won the Treble – now he wants the unorthodox styles of Cherki, Semenyo and Jeremy Doku. The best team in Europe this season are probably Bayern Munich and their attackers are similar with Luis Diaz, Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry as a trio behind Harry Kane.

‘We are aware that football has changed in England,’ Slot said last week. ‘We will always try to have our own style, but we cannot shut our eyes for the new reality.

‘And that it’s not only low blocks, it’s also set-piece after set-piece after set-piece. One of the reasons why we haven’t been successful in the first half of the season was mainly set-pieces. Yes, I’m fully involved in next season and we have these discussions as well.

‘How can we unlock a low block? Wingers are very important to unlock a low block, as we noticed last season with Mo and Luis Diaz. Replacing Mo on a one-on-one is probably impossible. So we have to find a way of making it work that the team is stronger.’

Slot insists he is part of the recruitment process – and a big change is needed with at least one forward a necessity.

Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku offer Manchester City unpredictability on the wings

Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku offer Manchester City unpredictability on the wings

Bayern Munich have been Europe's best team this season with the likes of Luis Diaz (centre) and Michael Olise (right) buzzing around behind Harry Kane

Bayern Munich have been Europe’s best team this season with the likes of Luis Diaz (centre) and Michael Olise (right) buzzing around behind Harry Kane

Who may they target?

RB Leipzig’s 19-year-old wide man Yan Diomande has been followed extensively by Liverpool, according to sources. But he will not be cheap – the German side want €100m (£87.3m) – and this could put the Reds and other suitors off.

The young Ivorian has also been followed by Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich and has had an extraordinary rise. As my colleague Nathan Salt reported this week, just three years ago, Diomande was playing amateur football in the American fourth tier.

He could not afford football boots as a kid but flourished and moved to Florida without a word of English in his vocabulary after an exceptional Under 17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Liverpool have solid relations with Leipzig having signed Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate from them in recent years. They also nearly did a deal for defender Lutsharel Geertruida – on loan at Sunderland from Leipzig – earlier this year. But the Germans will not sell Diomande on the cheap, should the Reds or any other team decide to step up their interest. Leipzig are also set to offer him a new deal with a bumper pay rise to try to convince him to stay.

Another option is Minteh at Brighton, whom Slot coached at Feyenoord. The Seagulls wide man has really stepped up in the last 18 months after joining from Newcastle in 2024. Albion paid £33m and would realistically want to double their money.

The Gambian, 21, said recently he has ‘fallen in love’ with Brighton and is settled on the south coast – but might find it tough to turn down a move to an elite side.

German reports this week have talked up Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure as a potential option. The Ivorian has 11 Bundesliga assists this term and the club have kept a watching brief on him but he is perhaps not the No 1 target right now.

Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao has been mentioned as an option by some reports and sources in Portugal say Liverpool have monitored him, but any talk may be driven more from the Serie A team’s side.

RB Leipzig’s 19-year-old wide man Yan Diomande (left) has been followed extensively by Liverpool

RB Leipzig’s 19-year-old wide man Yan Diomande (left) has been followed extensively by Liverpool

Another option is Yankuba Minteh (right) at Brighton, whom Slot coached at Feyenoord. The Seagulls wide man has really stepped up in the last 18 months

Another option is Yankuba Minteh (right) at Brighton, whom Slot coached at Feyenoord. The Seagulls wide man has really stepped up in the last 18 months

Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao (left) has been mentioned as an option by some reports and sources in Portugal say Liverpool have monitored him

Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao (left) has been mentioned as an option by some reports and sources in Portugal say Liverpool have monitored him

Juve boss Luciano Spalletti, who coached Salah at Roma, said this week: ‘The comparison with the early Salah is appropriate. Conceicao is still a young player; he has things to learn. He needs to convince himself that he can also play more centrally.’

Given Newcastle’s reported need to sell players this year, Anthony Gordon will inevitably be linked again after nearly moving in 2024, while Liverpool will be looking at a host of other candidates. 

PSG’s Bradley Barcola and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo were discussed last summer.

Is anyone at the club ready to step up?

Rio Ngumoha will be expected to take further strides next year. When rumours around Barcola were swirling last summer, club officials insisted they did not want to block the pathway for Ngumoha, though Slot pushed back at those putting too much pressure on the 17-year-old this season.

The youngster has shown he is more than capable of playing a bigger role next year but the club are right to go easy on his body.

Last year’s trio of signings in Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike have played just 88 minutes together this year and they will only get better next season, injuries permitting. Perhaps they will replicate Salah’s output and influence between the three of them.

Rio Ngumoha, 17, will be expected to take further strides next year

Rio Ngumoha, 17, will be expected to take further strides next year

What money is available?

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told Daily Mail Sport recently that Liverpool could have a £200m black hole should they not qualify for the Champions League. They are currently fifth, enough for a Champions League spot, with seven games to go but are only one point above Chelsea and three in front of Brentford and Everton.

‘Effectively for every £1 you make in the Champions League, you probably make 22p in the Europa League and 11p in the Conference League,’ said Maguire. ‘So it really is a case of Champions League or bust as far as the finances are concerned.’

There is also the factor that potential transfer targets might not want to join if the Reds are not playing in Europe’s premier competition.

Salah defined a generation. Replacing him will lay the foundations for the next generation.

Kaitlyn Bristowe Opens Up About Her Transformative Cosmetic Experiences

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Kaitlyn Bristowe Opens Up About Her Transformative Cosmetic Experiences

Kaitlyn Bristowe is not one to keep secrets when it comes to her cosmetic procedures.

Over the years, the former star of “The Bachelorette” has been transparent about her aesthetic enhancements, regularly sharing updates on her recovery and experiences with her followers. She’s also been vocal about the criticism she’s faced regarding her looks.

In a candid Instagram Story from 2024, Bristowe addressed her critics while unveiling a new skincare treatment. “Everyone’s telling me to stop doing things to my face,” she remarked. “But I won’t. I love skincare and having bright, tight, glowy skin. It’s something I’m passionate about.”

For more insights into Bristowe’s cosmetic journey, keep reading.

Kaitlyn Bristowe Shares Why She Will Never Stop Altering Her Face

Kaitlyn Bristowe, photographed by Jason Kempin/Getty Images, has become accustomed to the commentary on her appearance. However, she refuses to let detractors deter her from pursuing what makes her happy. On Saturday, February 3, the 38-year-old shared an Instagram Story showcasing a new skin treatment and reiterated her stance: “Everyone’s telling me to stop doing stuff to my face, but I love it.”

Her Breast Augmentation

Kaitlyn Bristowe revealed her plans for a breast augmentation in May 2025. “New boob goofin,” Bristowe wrote alongside the Instagram announcement at the time. “Don’t worry IBTC I may not be the CEO anymore but definitely still part of the club.”

Three months later, Bristowe shared tips for followers considering the procedure. When asked to provide input, Bristowe said during an Instagram Q&A, “Make sure you trust your Dr and give him a pic to look at while he does them.”

The next year, Bristowe posted never-before-seen photos from her breast augmentation recovery. “Happy 1st birthday boobies!!!! Open to any and all questions. Will go through and answer on my podcast. WARNING. Don’t look at last pic if you don’t wanna see open under boob with drains,” she wrote via Instagram in April 2026.

Her Eyelid Surgery

Kaitlyn Bristowe underwent an upper blepharoplasty, a cosmetic surgery that helps remove excess skin around the eyes, in 2024. She gave fans a candid look at her eyes after the procedure via Instagram at the time.

“Don’t be ridiculous Andrea, everyone wants to look like this,” Bristowe wrote at the time, alongside a selfie from her recovery.

In January 2025, Bristowe opened up about her decision to get the procedure while also sharing that her dog “clawed” her stitches.

“I tried to over correct it by doing Botox but I got too much bad Botox and it actually drooped my lid even more,” she explained, adding that she’s had lip filler, cheek filler and bonded some of her teeth in the past. “I haven’t touched my cheeks in years though.”

She continued, “I wanted to tone down the Botox so I figured that getting a bleph would help me open that eye without getting all the Botox,” Bristowe continued. “This was my first ‘plastic surgery’ where I did go ‘under the knife.’ I got a little bit of my lid skin removed.”

Bristowe shared that she felt “zero pain” during the surgery and said the “scarring is healing nicely.”

Filler in Her Lips

In 2021, Kaitlyn Bristowe addressed a post via X that claimed she looked “different” since she appeared on The Bachelor.

“Six years since I was on the show, brow lift, brow microblading, got my teeth bonded, some filler in my lips, aging, darker hair and I finally learned how to contour,” she wrote at the time. “Oh, and I put on some weight.”

Months later, Bristowe replied to a comment about her appearance — mainly regarding her lips.

“Kaitlyn, are your lips real? Yeah. Real expensive! Just like coloring my hair, using fun makeup, fake lashes, skincare, I also like a little filler and botox,” she captioned a February 2021 Instagram post. “I know I have an ‘influence.’ I’m not saying you should go do it. I’m saying do what you want with YOUR body.”

In 2023, Bristowe was asked whether she had ever considered getting a “lip flip,” to which she replied that it was the reason for her most recent trip to the med spa.

Father of Young San Francisco Woman Fatally Shot by Former Biden Staffer Discloses Details of Troubled Relationship

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Father of Young San Francisco Woman Fatally Shot by Former Biden Staffer Discloses Details of Troubled Relationship

The tragic story of a young college graduate’s death in San Francisco has taken a dark turn, as her grieving father reveals a troubling narrative of abuse and control. Samantha Emge, a 2025 alumna of San Francisco State University, was allegedly shot by her boyfriend, Nation Wood, who has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter. The incident occurred in their shared apartment in the city’s Sunset District.

In an emotional interview, Emge’s father, Bill Phipps, shared a harrowing account of his daughter’s relationship with Wood. He described Wood as an angry and abusive individual with a drinking problem, casting doubt on the claim that the shooting was accidental.

“Their relationship was not good, and he was an abusive boyfriend. Samantha had been trying to break up with him for a while,” Phipps explained. “She was unable to break up with him, and she was looking forward to him going away.”

Phipps detailed efforts by Emge to confront Wood about his behavior, including an intervention where she demanded he stop drinking due to his escalating emotional and physical abuse. In a desperate bid for peace, she even moved out of their shared home after roommates grew intolerant of his behavior.

As the investigation unfolds, the recollections of Emge’s father paint a poignant picture of a young woman trapped in a toxic relationship, struggling to reclaim her independence. The case remains a stark reminder of the complexities and dangers that can lie beneath the surface of seemingly mundane relationships.

“All of her friends were constantly trying to tell her she should break up with him,” said Phipps, a surgeon who lives in Florida.

Wood had boasted on his LinkedIn profile that he was as a part-time security staffer who worked with President Biden’s White House Secret Service team starting in 2023. A photo shows him smiling with former VP Kamala Harris in front of a presidential jet.

The well-connected San Francisco State grad was days away from joining the National Guard when he shot Emge and told police he did it accidentally.

Emge had moved into Wood’s apartment just days before her death because it was larger than her old space and Wood was meant to leave for basic training in less than two weeks, her father told The Post.

The aspiring designer was still unpacking her things when Wood fired his pistol through a wall into the bathroom where Emge had just emerged from the shower at around 10:30 p.m. on March 24, authorities said.

The bullet tore through a medicine cabinet where Emge was using the mirror and struck her in the face.  

A neighbor called 911 as Wood carried Emge’s body from the apartment out to the street. Officers discovered him with his injured girlfriend on the sidewalk. Emge was taken to a hospital where she died.

Wood pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in San Francisco Superior Court on March 27.  

He told police he was “dry-firing” his gun when it went off and claimed he didn’t know it was loaded.

He was released to a psychiatric hospital in San Francsico on $300,000 bail.

Wood’s attorney, Paula Canny, had sought for Wood to be allowed to go to a clinic in Tucson for treatment, but on Wednesday dropped the request after Emge’s parents protested.

Phipps said Wood should’ve known better than to fire a gun at his daughter even if he thought the weapon was unloaded.

Canny said Wood had been sober for 16 months at the time of the killing and has been suicidal since it happened.

“Samantha told Nation’s family how much she loved Nation and how much she loved being a part of their family,” the lawyer said. “Nation’s family is devastated by this tragedy and their hearts go out to Samantha’s family and loved ones.”

San Francisco DA Brooke Jenkins said in a statement that the investigation into Emge’s killing is still active and her office may decide to bring different charges against Wood.

“As the investigation unfolds, if any new evidence comes to light, that is admissible in court and sufficient to meet our burden of proof, we may seek to file an amended complaint to reflect more or different charges from what was initially charged,” Jenkins said.

Like Phipps, Emge’s mother and friends also described Wood as an aggressive and controlling partner during their two-and-a-half-year relationship.

Emge’s friends told the San Francisco Chronicle that Wood would yell at her and make racist and homophobic comments.

Wood’s LinkedIn page identifies him as an “independent pre-event site security advisor.”  

He worked at the White House through July 2025, finishing out his term under President Donald Trump, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Nation was a political science and government major at SFSU, graduating in May 2024.

He posed with Harris and her husband, former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, in front of a presidential jet in 2024, in a post shared to his LinkedIn profile.

Emge worked in interior design, according to her LinkedIn profile. 

Her Instagram account shows her spending time with Wood. One post shows the couple smiling and sporting baseball caps.

“Travelled, ate, built a table, and became a real adult in 2025,” Emge captioned the post.

The couple visited Yosemite in June, according to Emge’s social media.

Prosecutors and police need to examine every shred of evidence in the case before determining his daughter’s killing was involuntary, Phipps said.

“I think maybe it wasn’t an accident,” he said.

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Sky-High Jet Fuel Prices Soar: How Travelers Can Navigate Rising Costs and Limited Flight Options

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Sky-High Jet Fuel Prices Soar: How Travelers Can Navigate Rising Costs and Limited Flight Options

Travelers around the globe are increasingly grappling with a new reality: escalating fees, limited flight choices, and tough decisions on whether a journey justifies its expense.

The driving force behind this shift is the unpredictable rise in oil and jet fuel prices, which have surged significantly since the onset of conflict in the Middle East. The situation has been exacerbated by tensions near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for the world’s oil supply.

“The real issue here is volatility,” explained Shye Gilad, a former airline captain and current professor at Georgetown University’s business school. “Airlines are trying to predict the future and make strategic decisions based on those forecasts.”

In response, airlines are cautiously adjusting their operations, reducing flight schedules, and modifying pricing strategies. Experts suggest these changes will have a varied impact across the market, yet they are expected to influence nearly all types of travelers.

Stained-glass windows cast colorful shadows on the floor as travelers walk through LaGuardia Airport in New York, Monday, March 30, 2026.
Stained-glass windows cast colorful shadows on the floor as travelers walk through LaGuardia Airport in New York, Monday, March 30, 2026.AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Budget airlines and their cost-sensitive customers are likely to be the first and most severely affected, according to experts. However, even those flying in premium cabins should anticipate increased fares and less convenient flight schedules.

Oil prices have swung wildly in recent weeks, briefly topping $119 a barrel at one point, and then plunging Wednesday below $95 after President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East that briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz. But the uncertainty behind those swings remains, especially after Iran closed the key artery for global oil shipments again in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

“When prices move quickly in both directions, it’s very hard for airlines to make predictions,” Gilad said. “That’s why there’s a lag between oil market moves and what passengers see in ticket prices.”

In other words, even when oil prices drop, travelers may not see relief right away. Airlines can take months, sometimes even up to a year, to adjust fares and fees as they wait for energy markets to stabilize.

“At this level of fuel, it’s hard to call anything temporary,” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian told reporters this week after the Atlanta-based carrier raised its checked baggage fees.

Global squeeze, local effects

Bastian said Wednesday as Delta kicked off the earnings season for U.S. airlines that the higher fuel prices are expected to add $2 billion in operating expenses in the second quarter alone.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a recent memo to staff that if jet fuel prices stay elevated, it would mean an additional $11 billion in annual costs. That’s more than double what United earned in its most profitable year.

“For perspective,” he said, “in United’s best year ever, we made less than $5 billion.”

According to the International Air Transport Association, the average global jet fuel price rose to $209 per barrel last week, up from roughly $99 at the end of February when the war started.

Travelers from the U.S. to Hong Kong and New Delhi are paying the price.

U.S. carriers are embedding the higher operating costs into ticket prices and add-on fees. Delta, United, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue have all increased their checked baggage fees.

United has moved beyond add-ons to adjust pricing in its front cabins. The carrier said last week that it is bringing the “pay for what you want” approach already standard in economy to its premium cabins, turning perks like advanced seat selection and fully refundable tickets into optional extras.

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific recently bumped fuel surcharges by roughly 34% across all routes, while Air India on Monday added up to $280 in fees to some flights. Emirates, Lufthansa and KLM have also adjusted fees or fares to keep pace with the price volatility.

Flight cuts to cut costs

For some travelers, it’s not just the cost – it’s the uncertainty that’s changing how they plan trips.

Bill Moorehouse, 50, a solutions director at a global provider of business and technology services, routinely travels for work every four to six weeks.

“When you have business trips and you have a carefully coordinated schedule, you don’t want unknowns and disruptions. And right now, it just feels like it’s more likely that things could go wrong and throw your trip off course,” the Cupertino, California, resident said.

For now, he’s staying closer to home.

“I think it’s a good time to do your spring cleaning and reconnect with friends locally.”

Airlines, meanwhile, are also adjusting how much they fly.

BNP Paribas estimates that global schedules for April have been cut roughly 5% compared with earlier plans. Most reductions are in the Middle East, the global investment bank said, though smaller cuts were also emerging in Europe, Asia and North America.

United Airlines is cutting about 5% of its planned flights in the near term, trimming less profitable routes and suspending some international service temporarily rather than “burning cash” on trips that can’t absorb the more expensive fuel costs. The airline’s CEO said the cuts will target redeye flights and routes on historically slower travel days such as Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Delta is scrapping plans to add more flights and seats this summer, leaving about 3.5% fewer seats than originally planned.

Travel plans upended

These moves show why major carriers are better positioned to weather the spike in fuel prices than low-cost carriers, whose “no frills” model leaves them with less flexibility to absorb unexpected costs. Bigger airlines can lean on dynamic pricing, sell more seats at higher fares or swap in larger planes on certain routes, letting them cut flights without losing overall capacity.

“Leisure travelers and budget conscious travelers are going to absolutely feel it first because it may make the difference between going and not going,” Gilad said.

It’s already made the difference for Anna Del Vecchio. The 36-year-old Seattle resident has made it an annual springtime tradition to visit family in Philadelphia before flying to Paris to see friends she met as a teenager during a volunteer internship.

Her credit card points typically cover the roundtrip flight, but ticket prices now hover around $1,400 – nearly double what she has paid in past years.

“It wasn’t even scratching the surface for the flight this time,” she said, “so I decided to delay the trip.”

But if airfare tops $1,500, she might not be able to make a journey she hasn’t missed in years.

“It might be the kind of thing where it just ends up being that I have to travel less.”

Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Trailblazing Mountaineer Jim Whittaker, First American to Conquer Everest, Passes Away at 97

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Trailblazing Mountaineer Jim Whittaker, First American to Conquer Everest, Passes Away at 97

Renowned mountaineer Jim Whittaker, who made history as the first American to conquer Mount Everest, has passed away at the age of 97.

Whittaker, who significantly contributed to the outdoor industry by becoming the first full-time employee at REI and later ascending to the roles of president and CEO, died peacefully on Tuesday at his home in Port Townsend, Washington. This news was confirmed by a family statement.

“Whether he was at home, scaling mountains, or navigating the seas, Jim always aimed to share adventure, joy, and optimism with those around him,” expressed the statement, sent by his son Leif Whittaker. “His warmth, humility, and belief in the unifying power of nature have left a lasting legacy, encouraging us to care for both our planet and each other.”

Whittaker’s historic climb of Mount Everest in 1963 with Nawang Gombu marked a significant moment in mountaineering history, following 10 years after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s groundbreaking achievement. This accomplishment not only inspired a surge of interest in mountaineering across the United States but also transformed the reserved, tall climber into a national icon, leading to magazine features and numerous public engagements.

NEW NATIONAL PARK PASSES AIM TO PRIORITIZE ‘AMERICAN FAMILIES FIRST’ WHILE INCREASING ENTRY FEES FOR SOME

Jim Whittaker gestures with his hand while speaking.

Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest, has died at 97, leaving a lasting legacy in mountaineering and conservation. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Whittaker had been working for REI since 1955, when he was hired by the co-op’s co-founder, Lloyd Anderson. The company’s popularity surged after Whittaker’s Everest climb, and Whittaker went on to lead the business from 1971 to 1979. Its membership grew from nearly 250,000 to more than 900,000 during his tenure, REI noted in a statement Wednesday.

The co-op credited his congressional testimony and other efforts with helping to establish North Cascades National Park and the Pasayten Wilderness in Washington, as well as Redwood National Park in California.

“Long before outdoor advocacy was commonplace, Jim gave his voice — and his leadership — to protecting the places we love, reminding us that wild places endure only if we choose to care for them,” the statement said.

Whittaker’s celebrity also brought him into the orbit of the Kennedy clan, and he became a close friend of Robert Kennedy, with whom he climbed a 14,000-foot (4,267 meters) Canadian peak. The peak was later named Mount Kennedy after the presidential contender’s murder in 1968.

Whittaker was at Kennedy’s bedside when he died and was devastated by the assassination.

ANCIENT LAKE RETURNS TO CALIFORNIA’S DEATH VALLEY AFTER VANISHING THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO
 

A group of hikers stands atop a snowy mountain.

Robert F. Kennedy, left, stands on Mt. Kennedy with Jim Whittaker, second from left. Jim Whittaker’s historic 1963 Everest ascent made him a national figure and helped grow America’s outdoor movement. (AP Photo/Doug Wilson, File)

Whittaker grew up in Seattle and began climbing with his twin brother Lou Whittaker in the 1940s with the Boy Scouts. At 16, they summited 7,965-foot (2,428-meter) Mount Olympus, the highest peak in the Olympic Mountains west of Seattle, Jim Whittaker recounted in his memoir, “A Life on the Edge.” When they reached the town of Port Angeles on their way home, they found cars honking and people celebrating: World War II had ended.

Jim Whittaker once reflected that the beauty and danger of his sport sharpened the senses: “When you live on the edge, you can see a little farther,” he once reflected.

His achievements on the remote, snowy slopes of Mount Everest and nearby K2, the world’s second-tallest peak, assured him a niche in the record books. He was shocked when Lou decided to skip the 1963 Everest expedition in favor of opening a sporting goods store in Tacoma.

But Lou Whittaker wrote in his own book, “Lou Whittaker: Memoirs of a Mountain Guide,” that he still got to share in some of his twin’s glory by filling in when Jim got tired of attending parades or other events in his honor.

“Only our families and closest friends ever knew the difference,” he wrote.

Lou Whittaker died in 2024 at age 95.

Jim Whittaker led many additional climbs, including the 1990 Mount Everest International Peace Climb, which brought together climbers from the U.S., the Soviet Union and China “to demonstrate what could be accomplished through cooperation and goodwill,” the family statement said.

50 YEARS LATER, FIRST AMERICAN TO CONQUER MOUNT EVEREST CONTINUES CLIMB
 

Jim Whittaker smiles.

The legendary mountaineer and former REI CEO is remembered for his leadership, advocacy and love of nature. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

“Jim was a lifelong advocate for peace and believed deeply in the ability of shared challenges in the natural world to unite people across borders and ideologies,” it said.

Whittaker himself said one of his proudest moments came in 1981, when he led 10 handicapped climbers up 14,410-foot Mount Rainier. For them, he said later, “that was Mount Everest.”

Whittaker scaled Mount Rainier more than 100 times but did not take its familiar flanks for granted. The caprices of the weather, even on a comparatively modest mountain, “can turn a good climber into a beginner” in a matter of hours, he once noted.

Former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee called Whittaker’s legacy “just as impressive, and just as lasting, as Mount Rainier itself.”

“He pulled many a climber up the peak,” Inslee wrote in a social media post Wednesday. “He did the same for all our spirits. He still does.”

After years of risk on the world’s most dizzying pinnacles, Whittaker said in a 1980 interview that he hoped to “die in my sleep with the television on.”

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dianne Roberts; sons Bob, Joss and Leif Whittaker; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
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