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Suspect in Natalee Holloway case expected to enter plea in extortion charge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:48 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The chief suspect in Natalee Holloway’s 2005 disappearance is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning, where he is expected to plead guilty to trying to extort money from her mother and provide new information about what happened to the missing teen.Joran van der Sloot, 36, charged with extortion and wire fraud, is scheduled to go before a federal judge in Birmingham, Alabama, for a plea and sentencing hearing. Attorney John Q. Kelly, who represented Holloway’s mother during the alleged extortion attempt, said the plea deal was contingent on van der Sloot providing details about what happened to Holloway.Van der Sloot is not charged in Holloway’s death. He is charged with trying to extort $250,000 from Holloway’s mother, Beth Holloway, in 2010 to reveal the location of her daughter’s remains. Holloway went missing during a high school graduation trip to Aruba with classmates from Mountain Brook High School. She was last seen lea...

China’s Xi promises more market openness and new investments for Belt and Road projects

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:48 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping promised greater access to China’s market for international firms and new financing exceeding $100 billion for other developing economies as he opened a forum Wednesday on his signature Belt and Road infrastructure policy.The initiative has built power plants, roads, railroads and ports around the world and deepened China’s relations with Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Mideast. But the massive loans that funded the projects have burdened poorer countries with heavy debts, in some cases leading to China taking control of those assets.At the forum’s opening ceremony at the cavernous Great Hall of the People, Xi promised two Chinese-backed development banks – the China Development Bank and the Export–Import Bank of China – will each set 350 billion yuan ($47.9 billion) financing windows, while an additional 80 billion yuan ($11 billion) will be injected into the Silk Road Fund to support BRI projects.“We will comprehensively remove...

Colorado teens accused of taking ‘memento’ photo after rock-throwing death set to appear in court

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:48 GMT

GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) — Three teenagers charged with murder in the death of a 20-year Colorado driver who was struck by a rock that investigators say was thrown through her windshield are set to appear in court Wednesday for an evidentiary hearing to determine if their case should go to trial.Joseph Koenig, Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak were arrested several days after Alexa Bartell was hit in the head by a rock while driving northwest of Denver on April 19 and talking on the phone with a friend. After the call went silent, the friend tracked Bartell’s location with a phone app and found the suburban Denver woman dead in her car, which had crashed into a field. Investigators have said Bartell was killed by the rock and not the crash.According to court documents, the teens, all 18 at the time, circled back to take a photo of the crashed car as a “memento.”Investigators said at the time that they believed the attack was linked to several other similar incidents in which ro...

Calvin Booth addresses comments made about Michael Porter Jr., Bones Hyland: “Mike is a core piece of our program”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:48 GMT

LOS ANGELES — Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth appeared on ESPN’s broadcast of the Nuggets-Clippers preseason game Tuesday night and addressed recent comments attributed to him in an article by The Ringer.Booth reaffirmed his appreciation of Michael Porter Jr. in the brief, live interview on ESPN. “Obviously, Mike is a core piece of our program with his character and offensive and defensive prowess,” Booth said.In the article published Monday, Booth was quoted in a way that he described Tuesday as “unfair” while explaining his rationale for last season’s trade of Bones Hyland. “I knew you couldn’t have two guys that couldn’t guard, and we couldn’t have two guys that were young and kind of more ‘me guys,’” Booth told The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor. “Mike makes $30 million. He’s one of the best shooters in the NBA. So, Bones, there’s no place for you.”Given the opportunity to address those comments, Booth told ESPN: &#...

Malibu crash leaves 4 dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:48 GMT

Four people died Tuesday night following a multi-vehicle crash in Malibu.The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. on the 21500 block of the Pacific Coast Highway.According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, four people were pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were injured and crews were working to remove them from the vehicles and transport them to the hospital. The severity of their injuries is unclear at this time.One of the involved vehicles in a deadly crash in Malibu is seen on its side on Oct. 17, 2023. (KTLA)Video from Sky5 showed at least two vehicles that sustained major damage, including one vehicle that rolled onto its side. Severe front end damage to one of the vehicles seemed to indicate that the crash was a head-on collision.The circumstances of the crash are under investigation. Check back for details on this developing story.

Armed man taken into custody at Palo Alto shopping center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:48 GMT

PALO ALTO – Officers on Tuesday night took an armed man into custody at a Palo Alto shopping center, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | 2 vehicles stolen, 6 others burglarized Monday in Los Altos Crime and Public Safety | San Jose police say teen pistol-whipped resident during home invasion Crime and Public Safety | Body found in pond on Evergreen Valley College campus Crime and Public Safety | Fundraisers underway for parents of 18-month-old girl who drowned at San Jose daycare Crime and Public Safety | Sheriff’s office investigating fatal shooting in hills east of San Jose The incident happened at Town & Country Village, located at 855 El Camino Real, the Palo Alto Police Department said in a community message.Officers took the man into custody and recovered a loaded firearm, according to police.Police said no one was injured and no force was used.Additional details about t...

2 vehicles stolen, 6 others burglarized Monday in Los Altos

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:48 GMT

LOS ALTOS – Two vehicles were stolen and another half dozen were burglarized Monday morning in Los Altos, authorities said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Armed man taken into custody at Palo Alto shopping center Crime and Public Safety | San Jose police say teen pistol-whipped resident during home invasion Crime and Public Safety | Body found in pond on Evergreen Valley College campus Crime and Public Safety | Fundraisers underway for parents of 18-month-old girl who drowned at San Jose daycare Crime and Public Safety | Sheriff’s office investigating fatal shooting in hills east of San Jose In addition, the suspects tried to enter homes, garages and other vehicles, the Los Altos Police Department said in a news release.The incidents happened between 1:20 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. in the 1000 block of Laureles Drive, 300 block of Lunada Drive, 400 block of Pine Lane, 800 block Patrick Way, 800 b...

Street vending to be banned on SF's Mission Street

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:48 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Selling goods on San Francisco's Mission Street will soon be banned, city supervisor Hillary Ronen confirmed to KRON4. Ronen said allowing vendors was creating hazards in the area. "Unfortunately a good intentioned State Law SB 946, which legalized street vending in any public space in California, has led to problems in the Mission District and in many other areas around the City," she said. Suspect in armed home invasion robbery arrested in San Jose There have long been people selling goods on the street in the Mission District, particularly near the BART stations. Items include anything from clothing, pharmacy products and grocery items. However, Ronen said San Francisco Department of Public Works employees had been assaulted and threatened by people selling stolen goods on the streets. Other workers wore bulletproof vests to work and filed grievances allowing them to avoid working in the Mission due to fears for their safety. "The Mission’s vulnerable s...

Human remains found in Sebastopol, suspicious death investigation underway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:48 GMT

(KRON) -- Human remains were found on a property in Sebastopol on Saturday, and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office is considering the death to be suspicious, it said in a Facebook post Tuesday. A deputy was called to the 300 block of Sparkes Road at about 3:05 p.m. Saturday. The deputy confirmed that the remains were human and called for additional resources to search for evidence, SCSO said. Authorities were unable to confirm the victim's identity "due to the extensive decomposition of the remains," SCSO said. Detectives are working with the county coroner's office to identify the decedent. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call (707) 565-2185.

Neymar leaves Brazil match in tears with left knee injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:48 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Neymar was in tears as he left the field with a left knee injury at the end of the first half of Brazil’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss at Uruguay on Tuesday.The 31-year-old striker tripped and fell during a run in the 44th minute at the Centenario Stadium and was immediately surrounded by players from both teams as he held his knee.Neymar was carried off on a stretcher with both of his hands on his face. Richarlison came on to replace him. The Brazilian star used crutches as he left the stadium.Brazil’s doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told reporters it was too early to determine the severity of Neymar’s injury.“We did all the tests and we will repeat them tomorrow. Those 24 hours are key to see how his knee will respond, how swollen it will be and what images will show,” Lasmar said. “Let’s wait for the exams with calmness, evaluate with calmness and tell you once we have a diagnosis.”Uruguay led 1-0 when Neymar was hurt. Brazil went on to s...