Outrage grows in Ukraine over apparent beheading video

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:58:19 GMT

By Samya Kullab and Hanna Arhirova | Associated PressKYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine launched an investigation Wednesday into a gruesome video that purportedly shows the beheading of a Ukrainian soldier, in the latest accusation of atrocities said to have been committed by Russia since it invaded in February 2022.The video spread quickly online and drew outrage from officials in Kyiv, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as international organizations. The Kremlin called the footage “horrible” but said it needed to be verified.The Associated Press was not able to independently verify the authenticity of the video or the circumstances of where and when it was shot. The AP is not distributing the video or using frame grabs due to its extremely graphic nature.Meanwhile, a Russian defense official claimed that fighters from Russia’s paramilitary Wagner group have seized three districts of Bakhmut, the embattled city that for months has been the focus of Moscow̵...

Warriors see ‘positive signs’ from Andrew Wiggins with Game 1 vs. Kings looming

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:58:19 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors have seen “positive signs” from Andrew Wiggins over the last week as his ramp-up to playing condition continues.Wiggins scrimmaged with the team Tuesday and Wednesday and appears to be in good shape, said coach Steve Kerr said, who declined to say whether Wiggins would be available as a starter or bench player for Saturday’s playoff opener in Sacramento.Wiggins felt sore coming out of Tuesday’s practice, but he told Kerr he was “feeling good” on Wednesday.“A lot of good, positive signs come out of this past week and we’ll just play it by ear,” Kerr said.Wiggins stepped away from the team Feb. 14 to tend to a family matter and trained on his own for about seven weeks. He missed the last 25 games of the regular season, but has spent the last week scrimmaging and working to get his legs under him.The Warriors are under a severe time crunch to try to get Wiggins up to game speed in time for the play...

Progressive Bay Area congressman calls on Feinstein to resign

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:58:19 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Bay Area Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) is publicly calling on Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to resign. "It's time for Sen. Feinstein to resign," the progressive congressman wrote on Twitter. "We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty."Feinstein, who is the oldest member of the Senate, has been absent from the Senate since late February while she undergoes treatment for shingles. She has missed 58 votes in the Senate since coming down with the illness, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. ‘Death of Downtown’ study: San Francisco ranks last Feinstein's representatives maintain that she continues to work from home in San Francisco. However, her absence, coupled with that of Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, has slowed progress of the Democratic agenda in the upper house, where Dems hold a narrow majority over Republicans.Khanna, a member of the House Progressive Caucus, acknowledged Feinstein's legacy in the Senate, while maintaining it was time for her...

Man arrested in San Rafael on felony stalking charge following series of incidents

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:58:19 GMT

(KRON) -- A Benicia man was arrested Tuesday after a series of stalking incidents, the San Rafael Police Department announced in a press release. After serving a search warrant, police arrested Jason Colby Carpenter, 46, when he was seen leaving his Benicia home. Berkeley police arrest man for sexual assault Detectives also found firearms and ammunition that were believed to be tied to one of Carpenter's threats toward his victim. Carpenter had been stalking a female victim, who he dated briefly, in San Rafael since early February, the release said.Police said threatening stalking behavior escalated with each incident. Carpenter would go to the unidentified victim's home and leave unwanted letters and items at her front door. In another stalking incident, Carpenter glued the lock to the front door and made it unusable, according to the press release. He is also accused of breaking into the victim's car and taking personal documents. Police said Carpenter would then tell the victi...

NFL prospect Michael Jefferson involved in fatal crash

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:58:19 GMT

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — NFL prospect and former Louisiana wide receiver Michael Jefferson was involved in a fatal car accident in Mobile County.Jefferson’s agent, Jon Perzley, told ESPN that the player suffered injuries in the accident Sunday evening that required multiple operations. Perzley did not immediately respond to an email sent by The Associated Press on Wednesday.Charles A. Dunn, 55, was pronounced dead at the scene after his car collided head-on with a 2014 Dodge Charger driven by Jefferson, a 23-year-old from Mobile. Another vehicle then struck Dunn’s car. The accident occurred at about 7:55 p.m. on SundayJefferson played the last two seasons at Louisiana after transferring from Alabama State. He finished with his best season, catching 51 passes for 810 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s projected as a potential late-round pick in the draft starting April 27. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division is investigating the accident.___More AP...

Griffin Canning returns to mound, Angels beat Nationals 3-2

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:58:19 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Griffin Canning pitched five innings of five-hit ball in his first big league appearance in 22 months for the Angels, and rookie Logan O’Hoppe drove in the tiebreaking run in Los Angeles’ 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.Brett Phillips scored an early run, drove in another with a bases-loaded walk and stole a probable homer from Keibert Ruiz in center field during his eventful first start for the Angels, who took two of three from Washington.The game was a milestone in the lengthy comeback of Canning, who hadn’t pitched in the majors since June 2, 2021. The Gold Glove-winning right-hander and Orange County native had a back injury that eventually scuttled the rest of the 2021 season and then kept him off the field entirely in 2022.Canning started with three innings of one-hit ball, but Washington got four consecutive hits to start the fourth. Joey Meneses had an RBI single before a run-scoring groundout by Luis García in his r...

Gurriel hits 3-run homer, D-backs take series from Brewers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:58:19 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a three-run homer for his first long ball with the Diamondbacks, rookie Drey Jameson pitched four scoreless innings and Arizona beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-3 on Wednesday.The Diamondbacks took two of three in the series and have won five of their past six games. The Brewers dropped their first series this year.Arizona took a 5-0 lead through four innings thanks to Gurriel’s third-inning drive and shoddy Brewers defense that committed three errors. Milwaukee starter Janson Junk (0-1) gave up five runs, including four earned, over 4 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old — making his first start of the season — surrendered eight hits, struck out two and walked two.Gurriel and catcher Gabriel Moreno came to the D-backs in an offseason trade that sent Daulton Varsho to the Blue Jays. The 29-year-old outfielder has found a home in the middle of Arizona’s lineup and his right-handed bat helps balance the lefty heavy roster.Jameson — wearing his us...

Seoul: North Korea launches ballistic missile toward sea

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:58:19 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea says North Korea has launched a ballistic missile off the North’s east coast.South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs says the launch was made on Thursday but gave no further details like how far the missile flew.The launch came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more “practical and offensive” ways.North Korea has launched a barrage of missiles this year in protest of South Korean-U.S. military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal. Source

Kelenic’s 482-foot homer helps Mariners beat Cubs 5-2

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:58:19 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Logan Gilbert pitched 6 2/3 innings of four-hit ball, Teoscar Hernández and Jarred Kelenic hit consecutive home runs in the eighth and the Seattle Mariners stopped a three-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Wednesday.Kelenic’s homer landed in the upper center-field bleachers and traveled 482 feet, the second-longest at Wrigley Field since Statcast began tracking in 2015 and trailing only Willson Contreras’ 491-footer in Game 4 of the 2017 NL Championship Series.“Certainly, the wind was blowing out today, but that ball was absolutely smoked,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “All three home runs that Jarred hit in this series were just killed. I played with Mr. (Sammy) Sosa for a few years. I never saw him go up to that level in center field.”Chicago (6-5) had beaten Seattle (5-8) seven consecutive times dating to July 31, 2016, the Cubs’ longest winning streak against an American League team since interleague play started in 199...