Powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake rattles Russia’s Kamchatka region

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Monday, according to the National Seismic Network of the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

The tremor, which occurred at a depth of 48.1 kilometres, was recorded at 8:34 pm UAE time on September 15, the NCM confirmed.

So far, no immediate reports of casualties or large-scale damage have emerged, though authorities continue to monitor the region for aftershocks and possible infrastructure impact.

Chef in San Francisco Arrested After Robbing Three Banks in One Day

In a separate development in the United States, a 62-year-old renowned California chef, Valentino Luchin, was arrested this week after allegedly robbing three banks in a single day.

Luchin, who previously worked at two popular San Francisco restaurants — including one he owned — was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with multiple counts of robbery.

Robbery Spree Across the City

According to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), Luchin carried out three bank robberies on September 10. In each case, he allegedly handed over handwritten notes demanding money.

• The first robbery took place around noon at a bank near Grant Avenue in Chinatown.
• Two more robberies followed in the Central District later that day.

Bank employees complied with his demands, handing over bags of cash. Authorities have not revealed the total amount stolen.

SFPD’s Robbery Unit, supported by community tips and ambassadors, quickly identified Luchin as the suspect. He was arrested the same day at his home in San Francisco’s Central District and booked into the San Francisco County Jail.

He now faces two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery and remains in custody awaiting formal charges.

A History of Robbery

This was not Luchin’s first brush with the law. In 2018, he was arrested for robbing a Citibank in Orinda, California, where he stole about $18,000 using what was later revealed to be a fake gun.

Following that arrest, he admitted in a jailhouse interview that financial struggles after the closure of his restaurant, Ottavio Osteria, in 2016 had pushed him into desperation. “Desperation leads you to do things you never thought you were capable of,” he said at the time, adding he never intended to harm anyone.

Career and Background

Born in Italy’s Veneto region, Luchin immigrated to the United States in 1993. He rose quickly in the culinary world, becoming executive chef at Rose Pistola in San Francisco’s North Beach before opening Ottavio Osteria.

In 2022, reports linked him to the Old Clam House, one of San Francisco’s oldest restaurants, though it remains unclear if he was still employed there at the time of his arrest.

Expressions of Regret

Luchin has expressed remorse for his actions, both past and present. Speaking about the earlier robbery, he said:
“My action wasn’t aggressive. It was a fake gun. I don’t even know how to load a real gun.”

He also reportedly wrote an apology letter to one of the bank tellers, acknowledging the trauma caused by his actions.