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Prosecutors charge Indian man with attempted murder-for-hire plot against Sikh activist on US soil

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

(CNN) — US federal prosecutors have charged an Indian national in an alleged murder-for-hire plot to try to assassinate a Sikh political activist in New York City, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.Authorities say Nikhil Gupta, 52, paid an undercover officer he believed to be a hitman $100,000 to target the victim, a US citizen who is unnamed in the indictment but described as an attorney and vocal critic of the Indian government.US officials familiar with the case told CNN the victim is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who runs a New York-based outfit called “Sikhs for Justice,” which has held referendums for a separate Khalistan state. The organization is considered unlawful in India, where its website is not accessible.Gupta has been charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire – was arrested in June of this year in the Czech Republic and held pursuant to a bilateral extradition treaty, authorities said.Authori...

Chicago basketball report: Historically bad Bulls head home on a 5-game skid — and DeMar DeRozan praises USC’s JuJu Watkins

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

The Chicago Bulls can’t stop losing — often in historic fashion. The pattern is dire enough that Artūras Karnišovas acknowledged the disastrous start to the season for the Bulls this week.With the In-Season Tournament firmly in the rearview mirror and a losing streak stretching out, where are the Bulls headed next?Every Wednesday throughout the season, Tribune writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Bulls, Sky and local basketball.Bulls return home on a five-game losing streakThis is a new low for the Bulls, who fell to 5-14 at the end of a four-game road trip capped by a demoralizing 27-point blowout by the Celtics in Boston on Tuesday.The Bulls have a solitary win on the road so far this season. They were eliminated from the In-Season Tournament before they even played their last two games of the group stage. And they sank to the third-lowest rung in the Eastern Conference as they continued their losing s...

Red Sox honor Liam Hendriks as 2023 Tony Conigliaro Award recipient

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

The Red Sox announced Wednesday that Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Tony Conigliaro Award.Given annually since 1990, the Tony Conigliaro Award recognizes a “Major Leaguer who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks of Tony C,” the former Red Sox outfielder whose career was cut short after being hit in the face by a pitch in 1967 and later died at age 45 in 1990.“As baseball players we all dream about winning World Series rings, but if this year has taught me anything it’s that the biggest impact I can make is by being a source of inspiration to others who are dealing with their own difficult circumstances,” Hendriks said in a statement. “I’ve spent a good deal of time sitting in the bullpen at Fenway Park, and to be awarded this honor and have my name associated with Tony Conigliaro’s is something I will forever cherish. I’d like to thank the c...

Boston Police arrest 14-year-old boy for allegedly bringing a loaded gun to Southie school

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

A 14-year-old boy is accused of bringing a loaded gun to a South Boston school, according to police who arrested the juvenile.Boston Police officers on Tuesday afternoon responded to a report of a found weapon at UP Academy Charter School of Boston at 215 Dorchester St.School staff had been alerted that a student might have a gun. Staff then took the accused student out of class, and found a firearm in his backpack.UP Academy Charter School staff then contacted Boston Police to take custody of the gun, which was fully loaded.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | 4 arrested after gunshot at Brighton youth halfway house Crime & Public Safety | Should domestic violence offenders have guns? Supreme Court hears arguments Crime & Public Safety | Storing guns away from home could reduce suicides, but legal hurdles loom The 14-year-old boy was placed under arrest and charged with: delinquent to wit unlawful possession of a firear...

US authorities charge man from India in plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader in New York City

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

By LARRY NEUMEISTER and ASHOK SHARMA (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. authorities announced murder-for-hire charges Wednesday against a man from India who they say plotted to pay an assassin $100,000 to kill a prominent Sikh separatist leader living in New York City after the man advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs.U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced the charges against Nikhil Gupta, 52, an Indian national who had lived in India, as an indictment was unsealed in Manhattan federal court.“As alleged, the defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India,” he said in a release.According to the release, Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta on June 30 in Czechoslovakia through a bilateral extradition treaty between the U.S. and the Czech Republic....

U.S. Air Force Osprey crashes off Japan during training mission, killing at least 1 of 8 on board

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

By MARI YAMAGUCHI and TARA COPP (Associated Press)TOKYO (AP) — A U.S. Air Force Osprey based in Japan crashed during a training mission Wednesday off of the country’s southern coast, killing at least one of the eight crew members, the Japanese coast guard said.The cause of the crash and the status of the seven others on board were not immediately known, Japanese coast guard spokesperson Kazuo Ogawa said.U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said in a statement that the CV-22B Osprey belonged to the 353rd Special Operations Wing assigned to Yokota Air Base. The crash occurred “while performing a routine training mission off the shore of Yakushima Island,” the command said. While the U.S. Marine Corps flies most of the Ospreys based in Japan, the Air Force also has some deployed there.Air Force Special Operations Command said search and rescue operations were underway. A U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized ...

Over 135 small-batch makers coming to Broadway Pier for two-day holiday fair

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Looking to check off your holiday gifts list? Over 135 small-batch makers will be selling goods at the Broadway Pier this weekend.On Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, the Makers Arcade Holiday Fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to kick-off the month of December. Get there early if you want a special "swag bag," which will be handed out to the first 100 people to enter the gate. December Nights: What to know about the two-day event at Balboa Park Not only will there be an array of vendors selling unique and handmade items, the event also offers photo displays, gourmet food, live music, cocktails, workshops and more. For example, at “make and take stations" attendees can create their own holiday wreaths. This holiday fair is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit as the pier will be decked out with festive décor. Plus, there will be music both days by Nathan and Jessie, PUERTO, DEVV LOV, Erika Davies Jazz, Divina, and the Barnacle Boys.“We are excited to put ...

Family booted off Air Canada flight now calling for changes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

Dr. Mehdi Asghari, a Canadian citizen who was born in Iran, is on a mission to fight what he calls an injustice at Toronto Pearson International Airport – a fight he believes impacts several travellers who may run into the same issue his family encountered after they were denied boarding on an Air Canada flight.The family had bought tickets back in February to return to Iran for a wedding this past August, a trip they’ve done several times in the past without issue.But when they went to board the flight, they were turned away over a passport issue.“We were told the Iranian passport my daughter had did not match the name on the boarding pass.”But her Canadian passport did. According to Air Canada’s rules, only one passport must match the name on the boarding pass.Their daughter, who is 12, was born in the U.S. and at that time Asghari and his wife chose a new name for her.“We chose a Western family name because we knew that she was going to live in Canada,” he said. “That name ...

S&P/TSX composite up in late-morning trading, U.S. stock markets also edge higher

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

TORONTO — Strength in financial stocks helped Canada’s main stock index move up in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets also edged higher.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 40.36 points at 20,077.13.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 9.20 points at 35,426.18. The S&P 500 index was up 3.07 points at 4,557.96, while the Nasdaq composite was up 3.97 points at 14,285.73.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.54 cents US compared with 73.63 cents US on Tuesday.The January crude contract was up 27 cents at US$76.68 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.84 per mmBTU.The February gold contract was up US$3.50 at US$2,063.70 an ounce and the March copper contract was down less than a penny at US$3.84 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 29, 2023.The Canadian Press

Federal government reaches deal with Google over Online News Act

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

Google and the federal government have reached a deal in their dispute over the Online News Act, sources tell CityNews.Multiple reports suggest the new agreement would see Canadian news continue to be shared on Google’s platforms. In return, the company would make annual payments to news companies in the range of $100 million.The deal comes three weeks before the Online News Act, formerly Bill C-18, goes into effect. The law will force digital giants to compensate media outlets for content that is shared or repurposed on their platforms.Google had threatened to remove news from its search platform in Canada as a response to the Trudeau government’s bill.Facebook’s parent company Meta ended its talks with the government last summer and has already stopped distributing Canadian news on Facebook and Instagram.This is a developing story. More to come.