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Real Madrid rejects UEFA fan refund offers for final chaos

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:36 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Real Madrid has rejected UEFA’s plan to refund fans the price of their ticket to last year’s chaotic Champions League final in Paris, and said Thursday it would help them file their own legal claims.Madrid said it expected more from UEFA after talks about compensation than just the “insufficient” offer of the ticket cost with conditions attached to prove their eligibility.The offer to Madrid and Liverpool fans last week had been promised by UEFA after an investigation panel it appointed outlined serious organizational failures leading to a near “mass fatality catastrophe” at Stade de France on May 28.“Many of them were victims of ticket theft and the theft of personal belongings such as bags, phones and wallets,” Madrid said in a statement. “And more seriously, some of these fans were subjected to physical assaults that required medical attention and admission to hospital.”The dispute is the latest legal rift between the Champions League winners and the com...

Boulder therapist accused of sexual assault on children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:36 GMT

BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) — A therapist in Boulder was charged with sexually assaulting two children, and police believe there could be more victims out there. According to the Boulder Police Department, 72-year-old Mark A. Hochwender was arrested on Wednesday and charged with sexually assaulting at least two children by a person in a position of trust. Amber Alert for missing Texas girl may now be in Colorado BPD said the victims were juveniles at the time of the crime but came forward after they became adults.The victims told detectives the alleged crime occurred when Hochwender worked as their therapist between August 1999 to the present day. The incident took place at Hochwender's home office in Boulder and Westminster.At the time of these crimes, Hochwender was in his 40s. Now, police believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information on Hochwender to contact Detective Lutz at 303-441-4374. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the Northern ...

Florida man saves dog following alligator attack near Orlando

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:36 GMT

DELTONA, Fla. (WSVN) — Winston the chocolate Labrador Retriever is lucky to be alive after a close call with a predator. His owner was forced to fire at the gator invader in his backyard. Now, he’s talking about what happened. A homeowner near Orlando had to think fast when an alligator started attacking his chocolate lab in his backyard. The more than seven-foot-long reptile latched onto the side of his head. That was when the homeowner grabbed his gun and shot it 4 times. “I don’t even think there was a thought. I think it was – my heart just dropped, and I was like, ‘OK, I have to go do something,'” said the homeowner. “So, I mean, you just spring into action and do what you have to do to save your dog. 20 seconds later, probably would’ve had a dead dog.”The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came out to help get rid of the gator.Winston is doing OK; he had a minor puncture wound on his ear. “Leading...

Former NBA star Shawn Kemp arrested in drive-by shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:36 GMT

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Former NBA star Shawn Kemp was arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting in Tacoma, Washington, and was set to appear in court Thursday.Online jail records show Kemp was booked for investigation of felony drive-by shooting shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday. Pierce County Superior Court records showed that Kemp, 53, was scheduled to make a court appearance Thursday afternoon.Kemp was a six-time NBA all-star and played for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1989 to 1997. He also played for Cleveland, Portland and Orlando.Kemp debuted in the NBA during the 1989-90 season as a 20-year-old who had never played college basketball. He became known for his high-flying, athletic dunks.Kemp owns two cannabis stores in Seattle.

Jury deliberations underway in murder trial of slain South Florida rapper XXXTentacion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:36 GMT

The murder trial of a South Florida rapper has been handed to a jury. Soon, the three men who are accused of murdering him could learn their fates. This jury has deliberated since late Wednesday afternoon and resumed those deliberations, Thursday morning.A verdict could be decided as some point Thursday.During day two of deliberations in the murder trial of rapper XXXTentacion, Dedrick Williams, Trayvone Newsome and Michael Boatwright are accused of robbing, shooting and killing the rap star at Riva Motorsports in Deerfield Beach back in June 2018.Surveillance video showed XXXTentacion’s car being cut off and rushed by gunmen. Fifty-thousand dollars in cash were stolen. The defendants took to social media the next day and posted pictures showing wads of money. XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was only 20 years old when he was murdered. All three defendants are facing charges of first-degree murder. If found guilty, they will be sentenced to life in prison with...

No NATO yet, Turkey tells Sweden and Finland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:36 GMT

BRUSSELS — Ankara showed no signs of lifting its blockade on Stockholm and Helsinki’s NATO accession in a meeting on Thursday. Representatives from the three countries came together for the first time since November as alliance officials sought Turkey’s sign-off. Sweden cast the meeting as a step forward — regardless of lacking concrete results.“The most important thing today is that we have gathered,” Sweden’s negotiator Oscar Stenström told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels following the talks. The sides, he said, “have agreed to further meetings.”While 28 out of NATO’s 30 allies were quick to approve Sweden and Finland joining the alliance, the parliaments of Turkey and Hungary have yet to ratify their membership bids. Ankara, Stockholm and Helsinki signed a memorandum outlining steps the sides would take to address Turkish concerns on arms exports and terrorism at the alliance’s summit in Madrid last summer, when NATO leaders dec...

Britain’s top sports host can’t stop fighting with ministers and it’s all getting a bit weird

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:36 GMT

LONDON — Gary Lineker, leader of the opposition?The footballer-turned-TV-presenter — one of the U.K.’s most recognizable and highly paid media stars — has spent most of the week embroiled in a news bulletin-topping row about his views on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s new immigration plan.Some Tory MPs want his head, accusing him of making a crass comparison with Nazi Germany, while liberals on Twitter are swooning.The former Leicester City and England star on Wednesday took a hefty swipe at Sunak’s Illegal Migration Bill, which is aimed at making it easier for British authorities to detain and deport those who enter the country by crossing the English Channel in small boats. Sunak’s vowed to make solving the problem a top priority for his Conservative government, and Tory voters want to see action.Lineker — no stranger to airing his political views on social media — wasn’t impressed. He claimed the language used to announce the bill was “not dissimi...

Viktor Orbán’s political director — Sponsored flight flap — VDL meets Biden

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:36 GMT

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Google Play EN_Google_Podcasts_Badge Created with Sketch. Stitcher .st0{fill:#EB8A23;} .st1{fill:#FAC617;} .st2{fill:#612368;} .st3{fill:#3792C4;} .st4{fill:#C33727;} Acast This week, we debate a controversy over travel rules for top EU officials and unpack what the European Commission president is hoping to achieve during her visit to North America. Our special guest is Baláz...

Sweden confirms Indo-Pacific ministerial meeting on May 13

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:36 GMT

Amid China’s efforts to shore up ties with the broader Asian region, the EU’s second Indo-Pacific ministerial forum will take place on May 13 in Stockholm, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said Thursday. “It is important for the EU to have strong political relationships in the Indo-Pacific,” he told POLITICO. “[This] will give us an opportunity to sit down and really have a discussion of a joint agenda of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.” Last year in Paris, China wasn’t invited to the forum of foreign ministers — though other regional heavyweights such as Japan, India and South Korea were on the guest list. EU diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, previously said they didn’t expect China to be invited this year. “We definitely should have a dialogue with countries who are willing to have a dialogue … When you look at China, it is an open question, given all we know about the connections between Russia and China,” Billström said. The Swed...

85-year-old accused of hitting Acton teen and taking off allegedly bought alcohol before getting behind wheel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:36 GMT

The 85-year-old Maynard woman accused in a hit-and-run that injured a teen in Acton last year allegedly bought alcohol before getting behind the wheel, according to prosecutors.In court, the prosecution said there was plenty of evidence showing it was Joan Hurley who drove the car that hit 13-year-old Cesar Soto on Great Road last November.A plea of “not guilty” was entered on her behalf Thursday as the prosecutors laid out the case against her, detailing how Hurley had visited a café she frequents often the day of the crash. Café employees told police Hurley usually leaves before it gets too dark. Also mentioned in court was a receipt with Hurley’s name on it that showed she bought shots of alcohol before getting behind the wheel. Hurley is facing charges that include leaving the scene of personal injury, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and a crosswalk violation. In court, Hurley’s attorney accepted the conditions of not driving without a valid licens...