French political power couple lose tax fraud appeal

Jewish mayor and deputy of wealthy Paris suburb for decades, are jailed for 3 years; claim inherited wealth from parents; will appeal separate money laundering conviction

PARIS, France (AFP) — A right-wing power couple that ran a wealthy Paris suburb for decades were given three-year jail terms on Wednesday and barred from holding office for 10 years after losing their appeals against tax fraud convictions.

Patrick Balkany, the cigar-chomping mayor of the northwestern suburb of Levallois-Perret, and his wife Isabelle, who is deputy mayor, were found guilty of tax fraud “on an exceptional scale.”

By SOFIA BOUDERBALA

Today, 7:45 am

https://www.timesofisrael.com/french-political-power-couple-lose-tax-fraud-appeal/

Well an old boy

Pérez de Cuéllar, Peruvian two-term UN chief, dies at 100

Diplomat worked to prevent Israel losing its General Assembly seat amid Arab pressure, release of US hostages in Lebanon and brokered historic cease-fire between Iran and Iraq

https://www.timesofisrael.com/perez-de-cuellar-peruvian-two-term-un-chief-dies-at-100/

Alan Gross says Bernie Sanders praised Cuba while visiting him in prison

‘I don’t know what’s so wrong with this country,’ former hostage quotes presidential hopeful as having told him

By RON KAMPEAS

Today, 2:18 am

https://www.timesofisrael.com/alan-gross-says-bernie-sanders-praised-cuba-while-visiting-him-in-prison/

Three officials likely promoted to full members of North Korea’s Politburo

Kim Hyong Jun, Ho Chol Man, and Ri Ho Rim all seen voting at recent ruling party meeting.

https://www.nknews.org/2020/03/three-officials-likely-promoted-to-full-members-of-north-koreas-politburo/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Missouri Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

A Columbia, Missouri, man was sentenced to 236 months in prison in federal court today for his role in making preparations to launch a terrorist attack with persons he believed were members of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), but who were actually undercover law enforcement employees, announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Garrison for the Western District of Missouri.

Robert Lorenzo Hester Jr., 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 236 months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Hester to a lifetime of supervised release following incarceration.

Hester pleaded guilty on Sept. 24, 2019, to attempting to provide material support to ISIS from October 2016 to Feb. 17, 2017, knowing that it was a designated foreign terrorist organization that engages in terrorist activity. Hester actively attempted to plot a mass casualty attack with others that he believed were acting on behalf of ISIS. Hester drew the attention of law enforcement through advocating violence on social media, and when contacted by undercover officers, he immediately showed that he wanted action in addition to words. Law enforcement engaged Hester to see if he was truly committed to an act of terrorism, and his responses left no doubt that he was….

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/missouri-man-sentenced-19-years-attempting-provide-material-support-isis

Prosecutors oppose early release for Bernie Madoff to die at home from kidney disease because 'he has never accepted responsiblity for his massive Ponzi scheme or shown remorse'

By Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com and Reuters

06:51 GMT 05 Mar 2020 , updated 06:51 GMT 05 Mar 2020

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8077167/Prosecutors-oppose-early-release-Bernie-Madoff-die-home-kidney-disease.html

Netflix cancels SXSW screenings and Apple scraps Austin world premiere of Beastie Boys Stories over coronavirus fears… after 11 people in Texas contract COVID-19

By Rachel Mcgrath For Dailymail.com

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8077251/Netflix-cancels-SXSW-screenings-Apple-pulls-music-tech-festival-coronavirus-fears.html

Golden State Killer suspect, 74, makes surprise offer to plead GUILTY to 13 murders in exchange for taking the death penalty off the table

By Keith Griffith For Dailymail.com

06:54 GMT 05 Mar 2020 , updated 07:01 GMT 05 Mar 2020

Attorneys for Joseph DeAngelo, 74, revealed the offer in a filing this week

He is charged with 13 counts of murder and 13 of kidnapping in California

Investigators also believe he may be responsible for up to 50 rapes

Prosecutors are seeking death despite state's moratorium on execution

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8077163/Golden-State-Killer-suspect-74-makes-surprise-offer-plead-GUILTY.html