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Kenyan cult deaths rise to 73; president calls it terrorism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:57 GMT

By Evelyne Musabi | Associated PressNAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday compared the dozens of starvation deaths among the followers of a pastor in the south of the country with the results of terrorist acts, as the new death toll rose to 73.He maintained that the pastor, Paul Makenzi, who is in police custody, should be in prison.“What we are seeing … is akin to terrorism,” Ruto said. “Mr. Makenzi … pretends and postures as a pastor when in fact he is a terrible criminal.”Makenzi was arrested on suspicion of telling his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus. A group of emaciated people were rescued alive, but some of them later died. Authorities then turned their attention to dozens of shallow graves marked with crosses on Makenzi’s 800-acre ranch.The total death toll now stands at 73, with 26 new bodies exhumed on Monday, Malindi sub-county police chief John Kemboi told the Associated Press.Kemboi said inve...

Best Bitcoin Roulette Sites Ranked for Crypto Roulette Game Variety and BTC Roulette Bonuses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:57 GMT

Sponsored ContentFinding the best Bitcoin roulette sites can be a bit like hoping for that inside bet to hit: there’s just so many landmines to dodge on the way to potential crypto casino glory.That’s why we’re sweeping aside anything but the top crypto roulette sites. No weak games lists, no impossible bonuses, no shady licensing – just pure Bitcoin roulette royalty.Our best roulette site is Bitstarz for their top roulette games, exciting roulette races, and 8 minute payouts – but any of our top Bitcoin roulette sites could be right for you.Let’s break down each crypto roulette site to get a better idea.Best Bitcoin Roulette OnlineBitstarz: Best Bitcoin roulette site overallIgnition: Best welcome bonus7Bit Casino: Best live dealer roulettemBit Casino: Best for roulette variantsBetOnline: Best for live Bitcoin rouletteMyBookie: Best refer a friend systemWild Casino: Highest crypto welcome packageSportsbetting.ag: Best for beginnersJuicy Stakes: Best customer serviceEl Ro...

The Bay Area vs. Sacramento: Dubs, Roots to play away games against NorCal rivals on same night

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:57 GMT

(KTXL) — Wednesday will be an action-packed night for sports fans in Sacramento, as local teams will take on neighboring rivals from the Bay Area. The Sacramento Kings are hosting Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors at the Golden 1 Center. •Video Above: Kings Head Coach Mike Brown speaks after Game 4 lossAt Heart Health Park at Cal Expo, the Sacramento Republic FC continues their U.S. Open Cup run against fellow United Soccer League squad Oakland Roots SC. Both sporting events are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Here is what you need to know about both games happening in the capital city. Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State WarriorsThe playoff series between the NBA’s two Northern California teams is heading back to Sacramento with the series tied 2-2. Game 5 is a pivotal one for the Kings, who look to rebound following two straight losses at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Kings won Games 1 and 2 at the G...

14 arrested in massive Pittsburg PD retail theft bust

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:57 GMT

(KRON) -- Fourteen people were arrested in a retail theft operation launched by the Pittsburg Police Department, the department announced on social media late Sunday. Additionally, five vehicles were towed and over $5,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered. PHOTOS: Group of Canadian students targeted in smash and grab at San Leandro In-N-Out Of the merchandise recovered, police said $3,200 of it was from local Pittsburg stores that included Winco, Walmart, Burlington and Target. Another $2,000 came from department stores in Antioch and San Francisco that included Old Navy, Children's Place, Forever 21 and Macy's.Of the suspects arrested, two admitted to being "boosters" -- professional thieves that steal for others to profit -- that normally target SF department stores. A vehicle used by the boosters was towed and another $2,000 in merchandise that was already separated and ready to be delivered to customers was also recovered, police said.The two suspected boosters were charged ...

California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis announces 2026 run for governor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:57 GMT

(KTXL) — California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis announced Monday she is running to be elected the next governor of California in 2026. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was reelected in November, is ineligible to run for governor again due to term limits set in the state's constitution. Kounalakis was first elected to her current position alongside Gov. Newsom in 2018 and won her reelection in 2022 with nearly 60% of the vote. Prior to serving as lieutenant governor, Kounalakis served as an ambassador to Hungary in the Obama administration from 2010 to 2013. "My gratitude for the possibilities our beautiful Golden State has offered and my passion for ensuring every family has the same shot at a brighter future led me to begin my career in public service," Kounalakis said. "As Lieutenant Governor, I’ve worked hard to make our state work better for all Californians — making college more affordable, fighting against climate change, and championing abortion rights and gender equality."Kounalakis...

MATCHDAY: EPL battlers meet in Leeds; Madrid visits Girona

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:57 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Tuesday:ENGLANDLeeds and Leicester meet in a crucial match for Premier League survival. Leeds is 16th, two places above the relegation zone and one point above 17th-placed Leicester. Just five points separate the bottom five in the league. Leicester boosted its chances of avoiding the drop by beating Wolverhampton on Saturday. Leeds has lost four of its last five games, including at Fulham last weekend. Also, there’s Wolverhampton vs. Crystal Palace, and Aston Villa can move up to fifth with a win against Fulham. SPAINReal Madrid visits Girona looking to strengthen its grip on second place in the league. Madrid is virtually out of title contention as it trails leader Barcelona by 11 points with eight games remaining. Second place, and a spot in the lucrative Spanish Super Cup, is not guaranteed yet, though Carlo Ancelotti’s team holds a five-point gap to third-placed Atletico Madrid. Madrid’s main focus in the final ...

Twitter changes stoke Russian, Chinese propaganda surge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Twitter accounts operated by authoritarian governments in Russia, China and Iran are benefiting from recent changes at the social media company, making it easier for them to attract new followers and broadcast propaganda and disinformation to a larger audience.The platform is no longer labeling state-controlled media and propaganda agencies, and will no longer prohibit their content from being automatically promoted or recommended to users. Together, the two changes, both made in recent weeks, have supercharged the Kremlin’s ability to use the U.S.-based platform to spread lies and misleading claims about its invasion of Ukraine, U.S. politics and other topics.Russian state media accounts are now earning 33% more views than they were just weeks ago, before the change was made, according to a report by Reset, a London-based non-profit that tracks authoritarian governments’ use of social media to spread propaganda. Reset’s findings were first report...

Youngkin meets with Taiwan’s leader during trade mission

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:57 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin met with the president of Taiwan on Monday to discuss mutual trade and investment initiatives and other business matters, his office said, and he signed an executive order establishing an economic development office in Taipei.The visit by Youngkin, who has been considered a possible 2024 presidential contender and has not publicly ruled out a run, came on Day 1 of his first international trade mission — and amid heightened tensions between the United States and China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and treats dealings between U.S. and Taiwanese officials as a challenge.Following his meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, the Republican governor, along with the rest of the Virginia delegation, is also expected to visit Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea, as the trade mission continues this week. “I was thrilled to meet with President Tsai to strengthen Virginia’s decades-old partnership with Taiwan,” Youngkin, a former private...

DC-area home prices have more than tripled since 2000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:57 GMT

D.C.-area home prices plunged 33% between 2007 and 2010, according to listing service Bright MLS, but that Great Recession setback has barely put a dent in long-term homes price inflation in the D.C. region.Going back more than two decades shows home values in the D.C. metro have more than tripled.“In 2000, the typical home price in D.C. was $173,207, and now it costs $521,308. Overall inflation since 2000 has increased by 145%, whereas home prices in D.C. have increased by 201%,” said Sam Huisache at homebuyer resource site Clever.The national average for home-price inflation over that 23-year period is a bit more than D.C., at 207%.Home price inflation far outpacing overall inflation by that much is good for long-term homeowners, but it has just added to affordability challenges for buyers.“Most people’s income has not increased by 201% since 2000. So there is a huge gap between income and home prices,” Huisache said.Home prices have cooled in many metro areas in the past year — t...

Dutch club AZ routs Hajduk 5-0 to win UEFA Youth League

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:57 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Unheralded Dutch club AZ Alkmaar is a European champion for the first time after outclassing Hajduk Split 5-0 in the UEFA Youth League final on Monday. AZ earned Europe’s premier youth title with another dominating win in the knockout rounds: Real Madrid was previously beaten 4-0, Barcelona by 3-0 and Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0. A penalty converted in the 45th minute by 17-year-old Ghanaian winger Jayden Addai rewarded AZ for being the most ambitious team in the first half. Three goals in a nine-minute spell from the 70th sealed the title. Ernest Poku slotted a pair of right-foot shots. Substitute Mexx Meerdink then also scored twice.The final paired two clubs whose men’s teams are currently ranked No. 37 and No. 153 by UEFA for results in European competitions over the past five seasons. Hajduk also eliminated a series of favored opponents from wealthy clubs — Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan – to reach a first European final for the Croatian club.Ab...