ABC News

BOSTON — A former Berklee College of Music student from China was sentenced Wednesday to nine months in prison for stalking and threatening a person who posted a flyer in support of democracy in the Asian country, authorities said.The leaflet that was posted on the campus in Boston on Oct. 22 read, “Stand with Chinese People,” along with other statements such as “We Want Freedom” and “We Want Democracy,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston said. In response, Xiaolei Wu, 26, threatened to chop off the person’s hands, reported their family to China’s public security agency, asked others to find out where the person was living and publicly posted their email address, prosecutors said.“Mr. Wu’s criminal conduct is very serious. He harnessed the fear of potential retribution from the PRC government to harass and threaten an innocent individual who had posted an innocuous, pro-democracy flier on the Berklee campus,” acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said in a statement. “Mr. Wu’s violent threats achieved his goal of instilling fear in his effort to silence this brave victim and others who might want to speak out against the PRC government.” The person who posted the flyer is a U.S. permanent resident originally from China who has family members still living there, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.Wu was convicted in January of one count of stalking and one count of interstate transmissions of threatening communication. Along with the nine-month prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper sentenced him to three years of supervised release. Wu’s lawyer did not respond to an email requesting comment.“Today, Xiaolei Wu learned there are serious consequences for harassing, threatening, stalking, and infringing on a fellow student’s constitutional rights solely because she was critical of the ruling Communist Party of China,” Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, said in a statement. “What Mr. Wu did — in weaponizing the authoritarian nature of the People’s Republic of China to threaten this woman — is incredibly disturbing.”

SAO PAULO — An Indigenous group in Brazil said Wednesday its members detained 12 people for allegedly mining illegally in the Amazon and handed them over to police.The non-profit Urihi Associação Yanomami said in a statement that the incident took place Tuesday in the northern state of Roraima, which borders Venezuela. The organization said its move was aimed at avoiding the risk of water contamination by mercury in mining.Brazil’s Indigenous Peoples Ministry confirmed that a dozen alleged miners, including 10 men and two women, were in police custody.The Yanomami group filmed some of its members carrying bows and shotguns as they took the alleged miners to police. The detainees did not make comments in the video. The Associated Press could not find a spokesperson for them.The Yanomami community is the Amazon’s largest Indigenous tribe living in relative isolation, and many of its members are contaminated with mercury coming from widespread illegal gold mining, according to Brazil’s top public health institute.The Yanomami territory, which covers an area the size of Portugal and has a population of 27,000, has endured decades of illegal mining. Its problem with miners significantly expanded during the four-year term of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, which ended in 2022. The Yanomami group criticized the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva over the continued presence of illegal miners.Lula has promised to expel gold prospectors from Yanomami territory and improve health conditions, but Indigenous leaders say his administration has yet to deliver.On April 10, Pope Francis met with a leader of Brazil’s Yanomami people, who asked for papal backing for Lula’s efforts to reverse decades of exploitation of the Amazon and better protect its Indigenous peoples. Francis told Yanomami leader David Kopenawa he would speak with Brazil’s president about the issue.The Amazon rainforest is a key buffer against climate change, and studies have said that Indigenous-controlled forests are the best-preserved in the region.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The longtime boyfriend of a central Florida mother whose teenage daughter was reported missing in February was charged Wednesday with the 13-year-old girl’s murder, officials said.Stephan Sterns was charged with first-degree murder for the killing of Madeline Soto, according to court records filed in Osceola County on Wednesday.Madeline Soto was reported missing Feb. 26 after her mother, Jennifer Soto, said she didn’t find the teenager when she went to pick her up from school. Her body was found in a wooded area several days later.State Attorney Andrew Bain said at a news conference that prosecutors haven’t decided yet whether to seek the death penalty for Sterns. Bain wouldn’t say whether the teenager’s mother was suspected of wrongdoing, though Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland said that Jennifer Soto has cooperated with detectives throughout the investigation.Sterns was being held in jail on no bond. The online court docket showed no defense attorney listed for Sterns for the murder charge.Sterns already was facing dozens of charges of sexual battery on a child under 12 and unlawful possession of child sex abuse material related to Madeline Soto. He had been scheduled to be in court for those charges Wednesday, but his public defender filed a motion to delay the trial as they continue preparing their defense.

LONDON — As many as five horses — and at least one of them soaked in blood — have caused chaos across central London on Wednesday morning after breaking free in Westminster, police say.“We are aware of a number of horses that are currently loose in central London and are working with colleagues, including the Army, to locate them,” Westminster Police said in a statement on social media on Wednesday morning.Early reports indicate that the horses may have come from the Household Calvary, the ceremonial guard of the British monarch, in Westminster.One of the horses reportedly ran into the front of a double decker bus while another injured horse was seen bloodied and running through central London traffic.The Household Calvary is made up of regiments of the British Army and are responsible for the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.Related StoriesIt is unclear how long the incident went on for but the horses are thought to have run approximately 6 miles before being contained by authorities in east London.“We’re pleased to confirm that all of the horses have been accounted for,” Westminster Police said in a statement on social media. “We are continuing to liaise with the Army.”This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

A Douglas DC-4 aircraft has crashed Tuesday in Fairbanks, Alaska, according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety.Alaska State Troopers and first responders from other state, federal and local agencies are heading to the scene of the crash, officials said.The crash took place on the Tanana River a few miles from Fairbanks International Airport, according to officials.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.