AP PHOTOS: Orthodox patriarch marks Easter on Turkish island

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

AP PHOTOS: Orthodox patriarch marks Easter on Turkish island GOKCEADA, Turkey (AP) — The ecumenical patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, based in Istanbul, fulfilled a 10-year promise to mark Easter on the Turkish island of Gokceada where he was born.In candle-lit masses held over three days, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I presided over services that brought together Orthodox Christian believers from the Aegean island and abroad.About 200 visitors and locals attended the services. Many of them were returning Greeks whose families lived on the island in the past but had since left. Others had also traveled from abroad while a few lived on the island.Chants and hymns reverberated and two golden candles were lit at the Cathedral of St. George where the midnight Easter Mass was held. Fireworks accompanied the patriarch’s sermon. Sunday’s final ceremony was held at the Cathedral of the Dormition of Virgin Mary in the morning.The Good Friday service was at the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, which was also attended by Greece’s...

Man found dead in RV, deputies investigating homicide

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

Man found dead in RV, deputies investigating homicide JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- A man was found shot to death Friday inside an RV parked in a parking lot off of Highway 40 in Jefferson County. It is being investigated as a homicide.He was found around 3:45 p.m. by a Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy during a routine check of a park-n-ride lot. The deputy saw the RV parked in the lot with the door swinging open. 2 hurt after shooting in Green Valley Ranch neighborhood The victim was identified as 57-year-old Matthew Hire from Denver.Anyone who has information or saw anything related to the RV while in the parking lot was asked to contact 303-271-5612.You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

Man suffers life-threatening injuries in Aurora shooting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

Man suffers life-threatening injuries in Aurora shooting AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) -- A man suffered life-threatening injuries in a shooting Saturday night in Aurora, police said.The shooting happened near the 13900 block of East Radcliff Place at 8:13 p.m. Serious injuries reported from fire in Jefferson County Aurora Police said the man was in stable condition and awake, but would not give any information on what led up to the shooting, leading to there being no suspect description.

UPDATE: North Creek Fire was human-caused, authorities say, by campfire

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

UPDATE: North Creek Fire was human-caused, authorities say, by campfire UPDATE: SUNDAY 4/16/2023 11 a.m.(BEULAH, Colo.) — According to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), the cause of the North Creek Fire was determined to be human-caused, specifically caused by a campfire being utilized by a hunter. The US Forest Service and the Sheriff's Office have a person of interest in this case. This investigation is ongoing.PCSO is reminding the public that many of our day-to-day actions can potentially cause a wildfire. Always ensure that you dispose of any heat source properly, trailer chains are not dragging, and campfires are built safely and extinguished completely.Many areas in Colorado are in some variation of fire restrictions. Check fire restrictions for your area or the area you will be visiting. UPDATE: SATURDAY 4/15/2023 7:48 p.m.According to PCSO, the North Creek Fire is now 10% contained and the mandatory evacuation order has been lifted. Those living in the area are now on pre-evacuation status. PCSO said homeowners will be allowed back to ...

Double-teams and 3s: Nets hope adjustments level playing field in Game 2 vs. Sixers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

Double-teams and 3s: Nets hope adjustments level playing field in Game 2 vs. Sixers PHILADELPHIA – When the Nets double-teamed presumptive league MVP Joel Embiid, he easily found his teammates, who carried the Sixers to a 20-point victory in Game 1 despite a suboptimal scoring night from the superstar big man.Yet when the 76ers began double-teaming Mikal Bridges in the second half after his hot start through the first two quarters, the Nets did not have the same luxury. The Sixers were able to take away the three-point shot by crashing the glass. Brooklyn turned the ball over 12 times in the second half and 19 times on the night.The Nets couldn’t generate enough offense to keep up with a high-scoring 76ers team with championship aspirations.As the Nets continue an uphill battle in their first-round playoff series against the Sixers, defensive game planning – and making counter-adjustments – will be the difference between finishing the first quarter down five, entering halftime down nine, and losing in blowout fashion like they did on Saturda...

Isaac Okoro’s return couldn’t stop the crafty Jalen Brunson

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

Isaac Okoro’s return couldn’t stop the crafty Jalen Brunson CLEVELAND – Jalen Brunson remained a handful for the Cavs, even with their perimeter stopper back in the lineup.A narrative heading into Game 1 was the return of Isaac Okoro from injury would slow down Brunson, who had dropped 48 points against the Cavs in their final regular-season matchup.Except Okoro had such little success that coach JB Bickerstaff used reserve Cedi Osman to mark Brunson in the fourth quarter of New York’s 101-97 victory.And Okoro, who gave up 12 points to Brunson in the third quarter, was benched for all but 1 ½ minutes of that final period. The 22-year-old then alluded to Brunson baiting fouls.“He’s a quick guard. He tries to get you at different angles,” Okoro said of Brunson. “Tries to draw cheap fouls. So when guarding him, you got to be mentally prepared for all that.”Brunson’s effectiveness is in his craftiness. He’s physical with a deceptively quick first step, using awareness of the defenderR...

Heat’s Strus asking for a friend at NBA (and maybe should consider smaller shoes); Heat draft tie to be broken Monday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

Heat’s Strus asking for a friend at NBA (and maybe should consider smaller shoes); Heat draft tie to be broken Monday Max Strus took the direct flight with the Miami Heat to Milwaukee for Sunday’s playoff opener against the Bucks at Fiserv Forum.But you hardly could blame the fourth-year wing if he had planned a stop in Secaucus, N.J., home of the NBA’s Replay Center.Or at least stopped at a shoe store to perhaps look at a small sneaker size.For the second time in as many postseasons, Strus in Friday night’s play-in victory over the Chicago Bulls saw a successful 3-pointer retroactively rescinded by the NBA Replay Center for apparently having part of his foot on the sideline.Last season, the stakes were considerably higher when a Strus 3-pointer was rescinded well after the fact for the same reason during the Heat’s Game 7 loss in the Eastern Conference finals to the Boston Celtics.Unlike the 2022 playoffs, when there was a considerable lag before the ruling on Strus’ 3-pointer was recalculated on the scoreboard, Friday’s action was relatively swift, because of w...

Lack of security for Japanese prime minister surprised many

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

Lack of security for Japanese prime minister surprised many WAKAYAMA, Japan (AP) — The fishermen who tackled the man suspected of the second attack on a Japanese politician in less than a year said Sunday that they were surprised by the lack of security for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.Fisherman Tsutomu Konishi was watching Kishida at a campaign event at this fishing port when an object flew overhead and landed near the prime minister, Konishi said. A security officer covered the object with a bulletproof briefcase, said Konishi, 41. The fishermen swarmed the attacker. “I never thought a crime like this would happen in my hometown, which is a rather small fishing area,” Konishi, 41, said Sunday as he sipped a can of coffee at the port of Saikazaki. “I’m still shocked and stunned.”The prime minister was unhurt but like many others in Japan Konishi was mulling Sunday what the country should do to better protect public figures. “At a time when Japan’s serving prime minister was visiting, perhaps we may have needed a metal detector,” Konis...

Iran: Jail terms for those behind downing of Ukraine flight

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

Iran: Jail terms for those behind downing of Ukraine flight DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian court has sentenced an air defense commander allegedly responsible for the deadly downing of a passenger plane amid Iran-U.S. tensions several years ago, a state news agency reported Sunday.Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard mistakenly shot down the Ukraine International Airlines flight in January 2020. The missile strike killed all 176 people on board and came as Tehran and Washington teetered on the brink of war.The Guards commander who officials purport ordered the strike was sentenced to 13 years in prison, the official judiciary news outlet said.Mizan said the commander did not follow protocols in the moments leading up to the shooting down of the plane. The commander was ordered to pay fines to families of victims, the report added.Mizan said the court also sentenced two personnel allegedly involved in running the surface-to-air missile system Tor M-1 to one year in prison each.After a lengthy series of hearings, the court sen...

At least 33 people killed by gunmen in northwest Nigeria

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

At least 33 people killed by gunmen in northwest Nigeria ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Gunmen have attacked a village in northwest Nigeria and killed at least 33 people, a local official said Sunday.More than 35 houses were destroyed in the violence in Runji, which is in the state of Kaduna, said Francis Zimbo, chairman of the Zangon Kataf area where the massacre took place. Zimbo provided the number of fatalities, but state authorities wouldn’t comment on the number of people killed.“Troops had a fierce encounter with the attackers and are still in the general area,” said Samuel Aruwan, the state commissioner of security.No group has claimed responsibility for the killings. However, gangs of bandits have been accused of being responsible for attacks in the region, which includes the kidnapping for ransom and killing of civilians. Earlier this month, gunmen kidnapped 10 students about a half-hour drive by car from where Saturday’s attack occurred.Nigeria’s government is still struggling to quell the violence in the country’s nor...