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US prosecutors say plots to assassinate Sikh leaders in California and New York were part of a campaign of planned killings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

NEW YORK  — A foiled plot to assassinate a prominent Sikh separatist leader in New York, just days after another activist’s killing, was meant to precede a string of other politically motivated murders in the United States and Canada, according to U.S. prosecutors.In electronic communications and audio and video calls secretly recorded or obtained by U.S. law enforcement, organizers of the plot talked last spring about plans to kill someone in California and at least three other people in Canada, in addition to the victim in New York, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.The goal was to kill at least four people in the two countries by June 29, and then more after that, prosecutors contend.After Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist who had been exiled from India, was shot and killed outside a cultural center in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, one of the men charged with orchestrating the planned assassinations told a person he had hired as a hitman that he shou...

Walmart joins exodus of advertisers from Musk’s X

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

By Nathaniel Meyersohn | CNNWalmart confirmed on Friday that it is pausing its advertising on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk and formerly known as Twitter.“We aren’t advertising on X as we’ve found other platforms to better reach our customers,” a Walmart spokesperson said.Reuters first reported Walmart’s move.This is a developing story and will be updated.Related ArticlesNational News | Cybertruck launches with a higher price, many challengers National News | Musk lashes out at advertisers fleeing troubled platform National News | Striking Swedish workers getting under Elon Musk’s skin National News | Democrats accuse Twitter of profiting off Hamas propaganda National News | Paris Hilton’s media company suspends ads on Musk’s Twitter

Taylor Swift’s fierce response to Joe Alwyn marriage rumor sparks questions about her future with Travis Kelce

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

As Taylor Swift’s romance with Travis Kelce appears to grow ever more serious, her longtime publicist Tree Paine made what’s been called an unusual move Thursday to fiercely denounce one of the many online rumors that tend to percolate about the singer — this one alleging that she had a secret “marriage”-like ceremony with her last serious boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, before their shock split earlier this year.The secret ceremony claim was made by a writer on the infamous gossip account Deuxmoi, and it was vehemently slammed by Paine on Thursday. The rep no doubt was speaking on Swift’s behalf when she said on social media, “Enough is enough with these fabricated lies.”“There was NEVER a marriage ceremony of ANY kind. This is an insane thing to post,” Paine said before accusing Deuxmoi of causing “pain and trauma” with such claims.While Deuxmoi promptly apologized to Swift, the site’s writer wasn’t so contr...

Fed’s Powell notes inflation is easing but downplays discussion of interest rate cuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation is slowing steadily, but it’s too early to declare victory or to discuss when the Federal Reserve might cut interest rates, Chair Jerome Powell said Friday. Speaking at Spelman College in Atlanta, Powell noted that consumer prices, excluding volatile food and energy costs, rose at just a 2.5% annual rate in the past six months. That’s not far above the Fed’s 2% inflation target. Still, more progress is needed, Powell said. He added, “It would be premature to conclude with confidence” that the Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate high enough to fully defeat inflation. Nor is it time to “speculate on when policy might ease,” Powell said, referring to the possibility of cuts in the Fed’s benchmark interest rate, which affects many consumer and business loans. Instead, he said, the Fed’s interest-rate-setting committee “is moving forward carefully” — phrasing that analysts consider a signal that the central bank...

Parents can fight release of Tennessee school shooter’s writings, court rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Parents of school shooting victims in Tennessee can seek a court order to keep the writings of the shooter from ever being released to the public, the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday. The parents, along with The Covenant School and Covenant Presbyterian Church, which shares a building with the school, all have a right to participate in a court case that will determine which police records can be released to the public, the Appeals Court ruled. The public records case was brought by media groups, nonprofit organizations and a state senator. Those groups all requested police records from the March 27 shooting at the private Christian school in Nashville where three 9-year-old children and three adults were murdered. When police denied their Tennessee Public Records Act request, they sued.The shooter left behind at least 20 journals, a suicide note and a memoir, according to court filings. Metro Nashville Police have said they will release the recor...

Espada adds two new coaches to Astros staff, promotes Lopez to bench coach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — New Houston Astros manager Joe Espada has completed his coaching staff, retaining most of the group from last season and adding Dave Clark as first base coach and Jason Bell as quality assurance coach.Omar López, who had been the team’s first base coach since 2020, was promoted to bench coach. He managed Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic in 2023. The 46-year-old was named Texas League manager of the year in 2018 when he led Double-A Corpus Christi to an 82-56 record and playoff berth.The 61-year-old Clark returned to the Astros after serving as the team’s third base coach from 2009-12 and first base coach in 2013. He was Houston’s interim manager for the last 13 games of the 2009 season after Cecil Cooper was fired. The 13-year MLB veteran spent seven seasons on the Detroit Tigers coaching staff after leaving Houston. Bell has been in the Astros organization for seven seasons and has been the team’s minor league field coordinator since 20...

Dolphins visit Washington fresh off the Commanders firing their defensive coordinator

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

MIAMI (8-3) at WASHINGTON (4-8) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, FoxBETTING LINE: Dolphins by 9 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsbookAGAINST THE SPREAD: Dolphins 7-4; Commanders 5-6-1SERIES RECORD: Miami leads 9-6.LAST MEETING: Washington beat the Dolphins 17-16 on Oct. 13, 2019, at Miami.LAST WEEK: Dolphins beat Jets 34-13; Commanders lost to Cowboys 45-10.DOLPHINS OFFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (2), PASS (1), SCORING (2)DOLPHINS DEFENSE: OVERALL (6), RUSH (6), PASS (11), SCORING (23)COMMANDERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (14), RUSH (25), PASS (9), SCORING (20)COMMANDERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (29), RUSH (17), PASS (30), SCORING (32)TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Dolphins minus-5; Commanders minus-9DOLPHINS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Tua Tagovailoa vowed to play better after a pair of interceptions last week at the Jets, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Tagovailoa’s 10 interceptions are tied for fourth most in the NFL. Despite the turnovers, he is fourth in yards passing with 3,177 and third in passing touchdowns with 22...

India wins fourth Twenty20 cricket match by 20 runs to clinch series against Australia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

RAIPUR, India (AP) — Twelve days after losing the Cricket World Cup final at home to Australia, India rebounded by winning their Twenty20 series.Left-arm spinner Axar Patel took 3-16 in four overs as India beat Australia by 20 runs in the fourth T20 on Friday to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.Patel combined with wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi (1-17) as the duo bowled eight overs between them and picked up four wickets for just 33 runs.Australia was restricted to 154-7 in pursuit of India’s 174-9 after Australia captain Matthew Wade won the toss and chose to bowl first on the Raipur pitch.India’s Rinku Singh smacked 46 off 29 balls, including four fours and two sixes, to help revive the hosts from 111-4 in 13.2 overs.Wade top scored for Australia with a 23-ball 36 not out. Opener Travis Head hit 31 runs in 16 deliveries.India won the first T20 by two wickets and the second match by 44 runs before Australia bounced back with a five-wicket win in the third T20...

Aurora delegation traveling to Mexico to formalize sister cities agreement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman is leading a delegation to Chihuahua, Mexico, from Dec. 5-9.During the trip, Coffman and the Chihuahua municipal president are expected to formalize a sister cities agreement. The trip is organized by Aurora Sister Cities International’s Mexico Working Group with the support of Aurora’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs. Mayor’s office to close 2 more homeless encampments, move hundreds indoors Other people on the trip include At-Large Council Member Alison Coombs, Mexico Working Group members, and business and community leaders.Since the summer of 2022, Aurora-area community members have worked to establish a sister city in Mexico. After formalizing the Mexico Working Group under the umbrella of Aurora Sister Cities International, the group decided on the city of Chihuahua and started conversations with that city. In March, the city council approved Aurora Sister Cities International to officially reach out to the city of Chih...

Boulder man arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The Boulder County Sheriff's Office arrested a 32-year-old man on Friday for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material.Adrian Acevedo lives in the 800 block of 29th Street, according to the sheriff's office. Acevedo's home was searched on Nov. 8. after the Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children task force received information about an individual possibly possessing child sexual abuse material from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Littleton man charged with sex assault of 3 women over 15 years ago Boulder County Sheriff's Office deputies seized multiple electronic devices from Acevedo's residence, and a digital forensic analysis of his devices revealed multiple files of child pornography.Acevedo was arrested on Dec. 1 and booked into the Boulder County Jail with no bond for one count of possession of child sexual exploitation material.The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this investigation by the Boulder County Distri...