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Prigozhin’s final months were overshadowed by questions about what the Kremlin had in store for him

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:24:04 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Yevgeny Prigozhin smiled as a crowd of adoring fans surrounded his black SUV on June 24 in Russia’s southern city of Rostov-on-Don and cheered him on.“You rock!” fans shouted while taking selfies with the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, who was sitting in the vehicle after nightfall. “You’re a lion! Hang in there!”Prigozhin and his masked, camouflage-clad fighters were leaving the city after a daylong mutiny against the country’s military leadership. President Vladimir Putin decried it as “treason” and vowed punishment, but then cut a deal not to prosecute Prigozhin. Beyond that, his fate looked uncertain.Two months later, on Aug. 23, Prigozhin’s business jet plummeted from the sky and crashed in a field halfway between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Everyone aboard was killed, presumably including Prigozhin and some of his top lieutenants.The two scenes, which unfolded just two months apart, provide bookends to the mystery-shrouded final days of the outspok...

Cause of Kenya’s longest power outage in memory remains unclear as grid suppliers exchange blame

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:24:04 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The longest nationwide power outage in Kenyans’ memory remained a mystery Sunday as the government-owned power company blamed a failure at Africa’s largest wind farm, which laid the responsibility on the power grid instead.Some of Kenya’s more than 50 million people, including in the capital, Nairobi, saw power return almost 24 hours after the massive outage occurred late Friday. It was an embarrassment to the East African economic hub that has sought to promote itself as a tech center on the continent but remains challenged by alleged mismanagement and poor infrastructure.Hundreds of people were stranded in darkness for hours at Kenya’s main international airport in Nairobi, leading to a rare public apology from a government minister in a country where tourism is a key part of the economy. “This situation WILL NOT happen again,” transport minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, said.The head of the Kenya Airports Authority was fired after a generator serving the main in...

Albert Okwuegbunam sparkles in last audition before Broncos roster cuts. Was it his farewell to Denver?

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:24:04 GMT

The preseason hero’s stall in the Denver locker room was vacant as a small convoy of reporters approached, so the Broncos began a chorus summoning him to enjoy his moment with the cameras.“Albert! Albert!” they called out toward the showers in mocking desperation. Eventually, a beaming Albert Okwuegbunam emerged.Were those his last moments to savor as a Denver Bronco?The fourth-year tight end, whose entire career has been spent in Denver, is one of the team’s most ambiguous and intriguing decisions in the final days before the Tuesday deadline for NFL roster cuts. The plot thickened in a stirring preseason finale: He was buzzing in a 41-0 win over the Rams on Saturday night.“O went crazy,” receiver Brandon Johnson said. “He went crazy.”Targeted eight times by backup quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci, Okwuegbunam amassed a team-leading seven receptions and 109 yards, including a first-half touchdown. When Denver devised a scr...

Edinburgh Military Tattoo comes to Belgium

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:24:04 GMT

Ever wondered what the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo is like?The event is performed annually by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands, and artistic performance teams in the Scottish capital.Not everyone, though, gets the chance to experience the real thing in Scotland.But the good news is that Belgium is staging its own sort of version of the world-famous Tattoo, albeit on a slightly smaller scale, early next month.A sound and light show, called the “P'Thy Tattoo Show” which is a direct nod to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, is part of this year’s “Celtic Days” now-annual event on 2 and 3 September.This, the second edition of the musical jamboree, takes place over the two days at Thy-le-Chateau in Walcourt, just south of Charleroi.Last year’s show attracted over 6,000 visitors and hopes are high that this year’s version will be just as popular.The guest of honour for the 2023 edition is the Principality of Asturias, a region in the north-west of Spain...

3 people are injured, 1 critically, when a US military aircraft crashed in Australia, officials say

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:24:04 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — 3 people are injured, 1 critically, when a US military aircraft crashed in Australia, officials say.Source

Okwuegbunam, McLaughlin help the Broncos rout the mistake-prone Rams 41-0 in preseason finale

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:24:04 GMT

DENVER (AP) — His teammates serenaded tight end Albert Okwuegbunam after he played the starring role in the Denver Broncos’ 41-0 blowout of the Los Angeles Rams in the teams’ preseason closer Saturday night.“Albert O! Albert O!” they hollered as he emerged from the showers wearing but a towel and a smile.“One thing about this profession is you don’t get to pick when you get opportunities, but you get to pick when you take advantage of them,” Okwuegbunam said after catching seven passes in eight targets for 109 yards and a TD.The capper was a one-handed, 20-yard grab on fourth down that set up Denver’s final TD.“He’s a monster,” said undrafted rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin, who scored his fourth touchdown of the preseason in his most extensive action yet.Jarrett Stidham directed Denver to scores on its first five drives. Wearing white uniforms at home for the first time in 20 years, the Broncos built a 27-0 halftime lead after lighting up their mammoth...

NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 Results

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:24:04 GMT

SaturdayAt Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona Beach, Fla.Lap length: 2.50 miles(Start position in parentheses)1. (11) Chris Buescher, Ford, 163 laps, 40 points.2. (12) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 163, 45.3. (2) Aric Almirola, Ford, 163, 34.4. (23) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 163, 37.5. (14) Joey Logano, Ford, 163, 39.6. (31) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 163, 38.7. (18) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 163, 39.8. (27) William Byron, Chevrolet, 163, 35.9. (10) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 163, 36.10. (37) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 163, 27.11. (30) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 163, 26.12. (4) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 163, 30.13. (39) Michael McDowell, Ford, 163, 24.14. (26) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 163, 0.15. (36) Chandler Smith, Chevrolet, 163, 0.16. (15) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 163, 30.17. (25) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 163, 22.18. (24) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 163, 19.19. (33) JJ Yeley, Ford, 163, 0.20. (22) Daniel Suárez, Chevrolet, 163, 26.21. (28) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 163, 16.22. (29) Josh Berry, Chevrolet, 163, ...

23 US Marines are injured, some critically, in an aircraft crash in Australia, officials say

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:24:04 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A United States Marines Corps aircraft crashed on a north Australian island Sunday, injuring 23 Marines, several critically, officials said.Five of the injured were flown 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Melville Island to the mainland city of Darwin for hospital treatment, Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said around six hours after the crash.Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft had been deployed to return from the remote location with the rest of the injured, he said.One of the injured was undergoing surgery at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said at a joint news conference with Murphy.Some were critically injured and patients were being triaged on arrival at Darwin’s airport, she said. No deaths were reported.“We acknowledge that this is a terrible incident,” Fyles said. “The Northern Territory government stands by to offer whatever assistance is required.”Australian Prime Minister ...

100-year-old ginkgo trees could get the axe under disputed plan for Tokyo’s Jingu Gaien park

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:24:04 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Miho Nakashima stood in a two-piece bathing suit in Tokyo on Sunday next to a 100-year-old gingko tree, her body painted head-to-toe in green leaves and brown branches.Her message was clear, and she repeated it standing at the heart of the Jingu Gaien park area, its sanctity threatened by a disputed real-estate development plan“I’m a tree,” she said. “Don’t chop me down.”A plan approved earlier this year by Gov. Yuriko Koike would let developers, led by Mitsui Fudosan, build a pair of 200-meter (650-feet) skyscrapers in Jingu Gaien, mow down trees in one of Tokyo’s few green areas, and raze and rebuild a historic rugby venue and an adjoining baseball stadium.Takayuki Nakamura, among a few hundred who gathered on Sunday to protest, pressed his face into the bark of one tree and prayed. The area was set aside 100 years ago to honor Japan’s Meiji Emperor.“I want to appreciate the existence of these trees. Sometime I can feel some sounds inside,” he ...

Broncos backup QB Jarrett Stidham lets loose in preseason finale win over Los Angeles Rams

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:24:04 GMT

Even if Jarrett Stidham’s job as the Broncos’ backup quarterback wasn’t on the line, he sure played like it was Saturday night at Empower Field.Letting it fly throughout the first half of Denver’s 41-0 win over the Los Angeles Rams to wrap up the preseason, the fourth-year pro produced his best performance since signing with Denver in the offseason.Among the highlights was a 50-yard completion to rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. in the first quarter initially ruled a 75-yard touchdown — a play Stidham didn’t see because he got the wind knocked out of him.“I had no idea (what happened),” he said. “I was running down (the field) for the next play and saw the field goal team out there. I’m like ‘What are you guys doing?’”In the second quarter, Stidham launched the ball 49 yards down the field, hoping wide receiver Brandon Johnson was in the vicinity to make a play on the ball. Guess what? He was there to make the contested grab.Those two passes came after Stidham led th...