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North Korea’s Kim vows to bolster war readiness to repel US-led confrontations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:24 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for bolstered war readiness to repel what he said were unprecedented United States-led confrontational moves, state media reported Thursday, as rival South Korea vowed a stern retaliation against any provocations by the North.Kim’s comments during the key political meeting tasked with setting state objectives for 2024 indicated North Korea will likely continue weapons tests to modernize its nuclear arsenal. Observers say Kim likely hopes to eventually use his boosted arsenal as leverage in potential diplomacy with Washington, possibly after the 2024 U.S. presidential election in November.During Wednesday’s second-day session of the ruling party’s plenary meeting, Kim set forth unspecified tasks for the military and the munitions industry to “further accelerate the war preparations” in the face of anti-North Korea “confrontation moves by the U.S. and its vassal forces unprecedented in history,” the official Korean...

China’s Alibaba must face a US toymaker’s lawsuit over sales of allegedly fake Squishmallows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:24 GMT

A judge in New York has ruled that Alibaba must face a lawsuit by a U.S. toymaker alleging that the Chinese ecommerce giant’s online platforms were used to sell counterfeit Squishmallows. Judge Jesse Furman of the Southern District Court of New York refused Alibaba’s request to dismiss the case filed by Kelly Toys Holdings, which makes the popular plush toys. Kelly Toys is owned by Jazwares, a toy company whose parent company Alleghany Corp. is controlled by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. There was no immediate comment by Alibaba, China’s biggest ecommerce company. Among other things, Alibaba based its motion to dismiss on how it was named in the lawsuit as Alibaba.com instead of its formal corporate name. In its complaint, Kelly Toys said sales of faked Squishmallows by merchants using Alibaba sites continued despite earlier lawsuits demanding they be stopped. The company had earlier filed the case to stop about 90 ecommerce companies from selling counterfeit vers...

Beekman scores 17 and Virginia eases past shorthanded Morgan State 79-44

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:24 GMT

Virginia guard Reece Beekman (2) plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Memphis Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)(AP/Brandon Dill) Virginia guard Reece Beekman (2) plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Memphis Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)(AP/Brandon Dill) CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Reece Beekman had 17 points and seven assists as Virginia beat shorthanded Morgan State 79-44 on Wednesday night.Beekman had 11 points and five assists in the first half to help build a 43-16 lead. The Cavaliers opened on a 14-5 run as Morgan State went 2 of 9 from the field in the first seven minutes....

OG Anonuby, Pascal Siakam help Raptors snap road slide with 132-102 rout of Wizards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:24 GMT

Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly, left, Toronto Raptors guard Dennis Schroder, and Washington Wizards forward Eugene Omoruyi try to control the loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Washington. Raptors won 132-102. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(AP/Alex Brandon) Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly, left, Toronto Raptors guard Dennis Schroder, and Washington Wizards forward Eugene Omoruyi try to control the loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Washington. Raptors won 132-102. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(AP/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON (AP) — OG Anonuby scored 26 points, Pascal Siakam had 22 points and 11 assists, an...

K’Andre Miller’s 3 points lead Rangers to 5-1 rout of Capitals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:24 GMT

New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider (4) works for the puck against Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)(AP/Adam Hunger) New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider (4) works for the puck against Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)(AP/Adam Hunger) NEW YORK (AP) — K’Andre Miller scored two goals and added an assist to lead the New York Rangers to a 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night.Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves for New York (24-8-1), which has won five of it...

Denver weather: More sunshine and melting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:24 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) - Thursday will bring mainly sunny skies to most of the state, as mild highs in the 40s in Denver will allow for more melting.Weather today: Mild with sunny skiesMainly sunny skies over the Front Range will help highs climb into the middle 40s, putting temperatures a few degrees above average. Winds will be light through most of the day. Snow from earlier in the week will continue to melt. What does Denver’s weather look like for New Year’s Eve? Pinpoint Weather forecast on Dec. 28, 2023 (KDVR)Weather tonight: Clear and chillySkies are clear Thursday night as chilly lows dip into the lower 20s. Winds are light overnight, out of the southwest at 5-10 mph.Looking ahead: Slight warming, staying dryFriday keeps the abundant sunshine in the forecast with temperatures making it into the lower 50s. Saturday stays the same with plenty of sunshine and mild highs in the lower 50s. Sunday will add a few extra clouds with some light snow in the central mountains (only a few inch...

‘This Barbie is the president,’ says Kosovo’s Vjosa Osmani

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:24 GMT

President Barbie might be the real deal after all.Sporting a bright pink blazer on Wednesday, Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani had a message to close out a press conference for journalists.“This Barbie is the president,” she said, gesturing at herself as the room erupted in applause.Osmani — who was elected as Kosovo’s second female president in 2021 — has been an advocate for gender equality in the small Balkan country, speaking out against violence against women and presiding over the most gender-equal Cabinet in Kosovo’s history.“In education, sports, culture, business, science or politics, women have demonstrated that they are capable of reaching the heights of success … To all the women and girls of the republic, today and every day: Never stop dreaming, but most importantly, never stop believing,” Osmani said in a statement on International Women’s Day this year.Barbie, the summer 2023 Hollywood blockbuster, has another surprising link to Pristina....

Boebert announces she will switch congressional districts for 2024 election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:24 GMT

(CNN) — Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert announced Wednesday that she will run in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District in 2024 as Republicans look to keep their narrow House majority.Among the most conservative members of the chamber, Boebert had been expected to face a tough reelection bid in Colorado’s 3rd District in the Western part of the state.“It’s the right move for me personally, and it’s the right decision for those who support our conservative movement,” she said in her announcement video. “Colorado’s 4th District is hungry for an unapologetic defender of freedom with a proven track record of standing strong for conservative principles.”The eastern Colorado district is currently represented by Republican Rep. Ken Buck, who announced last month that he will not seek reelection.Boebert said she did not “arrive at this decision easily” and said she was driven by “Hollywood elites and progressive money groups,” whom she accused of “buying” the 3rd District seat....

Florida teen charged with murder of his sister during a family fight over Christmas gifts, authorities say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:24 GMT

(CNN) — A 14-year-old has been charged with murder after being accused of fatally shooting his older sister on Christmas Eve during a family dispute over gifts, Tampa Bay area authorities say.His 15-year-old brother has also been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly shot the younger brother in retaliation for the shooting of their sister, Abrielle Baldwin, 23, the Sheriff’s office of Pinellas County, Florida, announced.The dispute began when the siblings, along with their mother and Baldwin’s two children, were shopping for presents on Christmas Eve and began arguing because the 15-year-old felt his brother was getting more gifts, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said during a press conference Tuesday.“They had this family spat about who was getting what and what money was being spent on who and they’re having this big thing going on in the store and they are all arguing with each other,” Gualtieri said.The family left the store and went to the grandmo...

Haley called out by voter for not mentioning slavery when asked about the Civil War

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:24 GMT

Berlin, New Hampshire (CNN) — Nikki Haley was confronted on Wednesday by a voter in New Hampshire who called her out for not mentioning slavery in her response to his question about the cause of the Civil War.Haley — who, as governor of South Carolina, ultimately called for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds — told the crowd that the war was about government interfering in people’s freedoms.“I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run. The freedoms and what people could and couldn’t do,” Haley said in a visit to Berlin — the first of five events in the Granite State as she attempts to close the gap with Republican front-runner Donald Trump ahead of next month’s primary.The former UN ambassador then asked the voter what he thought the cause of the Civil War was, to which the voter responded, “I’m not running for president.”“I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights o...