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Attorney says van der Sloot’s confession about Natalee Holloway’s murder was ‘chilling’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:37 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Natalee Holloway’s parents gathered in a room at an Alabama jail on Oct. 3 to watch the man long-suspected in their daughter’s 2005 disappearance describe how he killed her. For three hours Joran van der Sloot was questioned — first by his own attorney and then by FBI agents — about what happened to Holloway, said Mark White, an attorney representing Natalee’s father, Dave Holloway. “Chilling,” White said of watching and listening to van der Sloot’s account. “It was listening to a person who lacks any sort of moral compass.” Van der Sloot’s admission that he killed Holloway came as part of a plea deal in a related extortion case after months of work and was agreed to by her parents in order to get answers about what happened to their daughter. The plea deal required van der Sloot to make a proffer — providing information about what he knew about the crime — and to let her parents witness the statement in “real time.” Van der Sloot then had t...

Democrats fear that Biden’s Israel-Hamas war stance could cost him reelection in Michigan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:37 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats in Michigan have warned the White House that President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict could cost him enough support within the Arab American community to sway the outcome of the 2024 election in a state he almost certainly can’t afford to lose in his bid for reelection.The situation has prompted the White House to discuss ways to alleviate tensions with some of the state’s prominent Democrats, including several who have been vocal critics of the president about the war. “The message has been relayed. We’ve had calls with the White House. We’ve had calls with DNC officials,” said Abraham Aiyash, the third-ranking Democrat in the state House of Representatives, referring to the Democratic National Committee. “We’ve been clear in saying the humanity should matter, but if that is not a calculation that you’re going to make in this moment, recognize that there will be electoral reverberations to this.”Michigan was a critical compon...

Man charged with killing Tupac Shakur in Vegas faces murder arraignment without hiring an attorney

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:37 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The former street gang leader charged with orchestrating the 1996 drive-by killing of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas is expected to plead not guilty Thursday to murder, amid questions of whether he’ll hire a defense lawyer or a judge appoints a public defender.Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis, who is described as the only person still alive who was in the vehicle from which shots were fired that night, killing Shakur, is due for arraignment in a Nevada courtroom despite losing his bid to hire local defense attorney Ross Goodman.Goodman spoke for Davis outside court two weeks ago, saying that prosecutors lack key evidence and witnesses to the killing committed 27 years ago. The attorney didn’t give a reason Wednesday why Davis couldn’t hire him.Davis, 60, is originally from Compton, California. He was arrested Sept. 29 outside a home in suburban Henderson where Las Vegas police served a search warrant July 17, drawing renewed attention to the unsolved murder ...

Blinken will enter diplomatic maelstrom over Gaza war on new Mideast trip

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just weeks after a frenzied trip to the Middle East, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the region with a somewhat more nuanced message than he offered in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ bloody Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israel’s military response.As he did last month, Blinken will stress U.S. support for Israel and try to prevent a wider Mideast war as he visits Israel and Jordan starting on Friday. But Blinken’s agenda this time is more crowded and more complex as the conflict intensifies and the Biden administration grapples with competing domestic and international interests and anger.He’ll push for the evacuation of more foreigners from Gaza and more humanitarian aid for the territory. He’ll press Israel to rein in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank committed by Jewish settlers. And, he’ll stress the importance of protecting civilians — even though the administration has yet to offer any criticism of Isr...

Daily horoscope for November 2, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:37 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Cancer.Happy Birthday for Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023:You are creative, spontaneous and talented. You love the excitement of change and new beginnings in your own life and in the lives of others. This is a slower paced year for you. Rest and rejuvenate yourself. Concentrate on your needs and what brings you happiness, especially in relationships.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Today you want to make changes at home or within the family. You also might have clever ideas about a family business. You certainly have the energy to make things happen; however, when it comes to getting funds and assistance from others, double-check everything. Tonight: Cocoon.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This is a vibrant and optimistic day for you. In fact, you will attract people to you who are energetic and upbeat! You can expect to be successful in dealing with members of the general public. However, be leery of anyone...

Commission approves €61.5 million Italian state aid scheme to support private employers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:37 GMT

The European Commission has approved a €61.5 million Italian scheme to support private employers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 for State Aid measures to support the economy following the aggression against Ukraine by Russia. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable member states to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants. The purpose of the scheme is to support private employers in Italy by exempting the payment of their social security contributions for the hiring of particularly disadvantaged workers, up to a maximum of €8000 per hiring contract. The eligible beneficiaries must hire workers during the period between 1 January 2023...

Dear Abby: I just learned my brother knew a secret that would have changed my life

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:37 GMT

DEAR ABBY: Recently, my current husband went on a fishing trip with my brother. My brother was drinking and confided that my ex-husband had cheated on me and that he (my brother) was present when it happened.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My sister says this skeevy man needs to be part of our family Advice | Dear Abby: I was blindsided by my fiance’s threat over this business deal Advice | Dear Abby: The groom’s father refuses to attend the wedding if heavy-drinking kin are excluded Advice | Dear Abby: Everything was great until my girlfriend came back from her weekend trip with this crazy story Advice | Dear Abby: An unmade quilt has undercut our friendship. Am I being unreasonable? I was shocked, to say the least. I felt so betrayed by both. I can’t believe my brother would keep this secret from me, but my ex-husband has some dirt on my brother as well.I sent my brother a text te...

Detached house sells in Pleasanton for $1.8 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:37 GMT

4716 Woodthrush Court – Google Street ViewA 1,909-square-foot house built in 1971 has changed hands. The property located in the 4700 block of Woodthrush Court in Pleasanton was sold on Sept. 25, 2023. The $1,841,000 purchase price works out to $964 per square foot. This single-story house provides a generous living space with its four bedrooms and two baths. On the exterior, the house is characterized by the use of wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C. In addition, the house is equipped with a garage. The property’s backyard also boasts a pool.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:In August 2022, a 2,103-square-foot home on Ross Gate Way in Pleasanton sold for $1,720,000, a price per square foot of $818. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Ross Gate Way, Pleasanton, in March 2023, a 1,825-square-foot home was sold for $1,716,000, a price per square foot of $9...

Stock market today: Asian shares surge on hopes the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes are done

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:37 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve indicated it may not need to pump the brakes any harder on Wall Street and the economy. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 1.1% in afternoon trading to 31,950.61. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 jumped 0.9% to 6,899.70. South Korea’s Kospi surged 1.8% to 2,341.96.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.9% to 17,246.87, while the Shanghai Composite edged 0.3% lower to 3,015.33. “It’s no surprise that Asian markets are responding positively to the gains in U.S. stocks and bonds after the Federal Reserve suggested its policy tightening cycle may be reaching the end of the runway. So maybe it is time to start engineering that elusive soft landing officially,” Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, said in a commentary.In Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced an economic stimulus package worth about $113 billion that is meant to cushion the blow to household budgets f...

Mientras el conflicto en Gaza se intensifica, a los mapas en línea de algunas empresas chinas les falta el nombre de Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:37 GMT

(CNN) — Beijing aclaró que Israel sigue marcado en los mapas oficiales emitidos por las autoridades chinas después de que surgieran preguntas sobre por qué el nombre del país no era visible en los mapas en línea proporcionados por dos importantes empresas chinas.El nombre del país “Israel” no aparece actualmente en mapas de aplicaciones móviles populares de la principal plataforma de búsqueda Baidu o Amap, respaldada por Alibaba, a pesar de que su territorio y los nombres de los países vecinos se muestran claramente en una vista de la región.En la misma vista se pueden ver, por ejemplo, países de tamaño similar o menor que Israel, como Chipre, Líbano y Kuwait.Los mapas tampoco incluyen un marcador con el nombre del país “Palestina”, que China reconoció como Estado en 1988 y figura en sus mapas oficiales junto con Israel. Ambos nombres aparecen en las búsquedas de palabras en las versiones móviles de las plataformas, que no son de propiedad estatal pero operan en el...