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Head of Russian private army Wagner says more than 20,000 of his troops died in Bakhmut battle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:12 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The head of the Russian private army Wagner says his force lost more than 20,000 men in the drawn-out battle for Bakhmut, with about half of those who died in the eastern Ukrainian city being Russian convicts recruited to fight in the 15-month-old war. The figure stood in stark contrast to the widely disputed claims from Moscow that just over 6,000 of its troops were killed throughout the war as of January. By comparison, official Soviet troop losses in the 1979-89 Afghanistan war were 15,000.Ukraine hasn’t said how many of its soldiers have died since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.Analysts believe the nine-month fight for Bakhmut alone has killed tens of thousands of soldiers, among them Russian convicts who reportedly received little training before being sent to the front.Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin also said Russia’s invasion goal of “demilitarizing” Ukraine has backfired because Kyiv’s military has become stronger with the supply of...

Cirque du Soleil and Gamefan to launch online experience on Roblox in summer 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:12 GMT

MONTREAL — Cirque de Soleil Entertainment Group is joining forces with metaverse game developer Gamefam to create an online gaming experience on Roblox.The company says in Cirque du Soleil Tycoon, held on the online game platform, users can build their own Cirque de Soleil universe.It says users can create their own Cirque du Soleil performance complete with performers and crowds, in an experience inspired by its new touring show, “ECHO.”Cirque du Soleil says this supports the company’s newly defined mission to diversify its offerings beyond live shows. The company says it hopes to tap into some of the more than 66 million daily active Roblox users and attract a new fan base. Cirque du Soleil Tycoon will be available for free in summer 2023. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24, 2023.The Canadian Press

Bloc joins Conservatives in rejecting Johnston report briefing on election meddling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:12 GMT

OTTAWA — Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is joining Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in refusing to take a look at secret information that led a watchdog to recommend against a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference. Blanchet told reporters in Ottawa today that the briefing is “a dumb trap,” saying it is a way for the Liberal government to smooth the issue over by bringing opposition leaders into the loop — then restricting what they can say about what they learned.Special rapporteur David Johnston recommended the government provide the necessary security clearances for other leaders to have a full look at his first report released Tuesday, including a confidential annex of materials he used to arrive at his conclusions. The former governor general said in the report that the intelligence he reviewed must be kept secret, and while he understands opposition leaders do not want to be constrained by security laws, the issue is too important...

Kenneth Anger, influential avant-garde filmmaker and author, dies at 96

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:12 GMT

Kenneth Anger, the shocking and influential avant-garde artist who defied sexual and religious taboos in such short films as “Scorpio Rising” and “Fireworks” and dished the most lurid movie star gossip in his underground classic “Hollywood Babylon,” has died. He was 96.Anger died of natural causes on May 11 in Yucca Valley, California, his artist liaison, Spencer Glesby, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.Few so boldly and imaginatively mined the forbidden depths of culture and consciousness as Anger, whose admirers ranged from filmmakers Martin Scorsese and David Lynch to rock stars such as the Clash and the Rolling Stones. He was among the first openly gay filmmakers and a pioneer in using soundtracks as counterpoints to moving pictures. Well before the rise of punk and heavy metal, Anger was juxtaposing music with bikers, sadomasochism, occultism and Nazi imagery. When the Sex Pistols and the Clash appeared on the same bill at a 1976 concert, clips from Anger’s movies were sc...

China defends ban on US chipmaker Micron, accuses Washington of ‘economic coercion’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:12 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government on Wednesday defended its ban on products from U.S. memory chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. in some computer systems after Washington expressed concern, adding to strains over technology and security.The security review of Micron products was “conducted in accordance with the law,” said a foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning.The Cyberspace Administration of China on Sunday said Micron products have unspecified security risks but gave no details. It banned them from computers that handle sensitive information.That came after Washington, Japan and the Netherlands blocked Chinese access to technology to make advanced processor chips on security grounds at a time when the ruling Communist Party is threatening to attack Taiwan and is more assertive toward its other Asian neighbors.“China’s cybersecurity review does not target specific countries or regions,” Mao said. “We do not exclude technologies and products from any country.”Companies on...

WATCH LIVE | Mayor Johnson presides over his first Chicago City Council meeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:12 GMT

CHICAGO — Newly inaugurated Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will preside over his first Chicago City Council meeting Wednesday; a meeting with a packed agenda. In addition to officially organizing the councils many committees, to include chairperson appointments, a discussion and vote is expected on a $51 million aid package to assist migrants being moved into the city. If approved, the money will be used for staffing shelters, providing meals, and supporting the migrants in other ways such as with legal assistance. Retired Chicago officer shot while attempting to stop carjacking on West Side WGN plans to livestream the city council meeting, to include any pre-council press conferences and Mayor Johnson's expected post-council availability, within this story beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

'Lucky to have them': Millennium Park garden embracing fox family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:12 GMT

CHICAGO — A family of foxes living downtown are the latest Chicago animals to go viral and staff at Lurie Garden couldn't be more excited to care for them.A few years ago, Lurie Garden, which features 350 different types of plants and opened inside Millennium Park in 2004, noticed an adult male fox around the area but it was a rare occurrence.That changed in March when staff noticed the male fox more "out and about." Soon after, his family, consisting of six kits and female fox, joined him."We are overjoyed and it's really awesome to be able to share this space with them," horticulturist Kathryn Deery said. "We feel lucky to have them here and it's an indication we are doing something right in our horticulture practices."Courtesy Lurie GardenThe garden has sectioned off an area where they think their den is and has been consulting with the Urban Wildlife Institute."We use barriers and metal gates to section off the area where they've been most active," Deery said. "They can freely m...

Man charged after robbing, stabbing 52-year-old on Near West Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:12 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is charged with robbing and stabbing a 52-year-old man on the city's Near West Side.Tramain Bates, 41, faces one felony count of armed robbery and one felony county of aggravated battery/use of a deadly weapon.Police said Bates forcefully took property and stabbed the man around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1200 block of South Ashland Avenue. Retired Chicago officer shot while attempting to stop carjacking on West Side According to police, Bates was arrested shortly after and identified as the offender.He is due in bond court Wednesday.

2 men shot while walking on Northwest Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:12 GMT

CHICAGO — Two men were shot while walking on city's Northwest Side Tuesday night.The shooting happened just after 11 p.m. in the 400 block of North Long. Police said two men were walking when they heard shots and felt pain.A 27-year-old man was shot in the inner right thigh and transported to Loyola Hospital in good condition. A 29-year-old man was shot twice in the right arm and transported to Stroger Hospital in good condition. Retired Chicago officer shot while attempting to stop carjacking on West Side No one is in custody. Area Four detectives are investigating.According to police, the victims are known to police.

Baseball player dies after dugout collapse in Pennsylvania

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:12 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – A 19-year-old baseball player in Pennsylvania has died after a makeshift dugout structure collapsed on him, according to the president of Central Penn College.The Cumberland County Coroner's office confirmed the player's identity as Angel Mercado, who was a student at the college, saying he died at Holy Spirit Hospital from an accidental traumatic head injury.According to City of Harrisburg Communications Director Matt Maisel, Mercado was part of the Harrisburg International League baseball league, which consists of older students from multiple area schools who had permission to play on the rented field where the accident happened. However, Maisel said, they did not have a permit to build the structure, which the team’s coach, Gerardo Diaz, said was being constructed to protect the players from the rain and sun. Around 3 p.m. on Monday, the structure collapsed on Mercado while they were attempting to take it down, leaving him unable to breathe. Diaz said he ...