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Russia says Wagner private army, with help from Russian troops, seized Bakhmut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:12:40 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s defense ministry said early Sunday that forces of the Wagner private army, with the support of Russian troops, seized the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.The ministry statement on the Telegram channel came about eight hours after a similar claim by Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin. Ukrainian authorities at that time said fighting for Bakhmut was continuing.The eight-month battle for the city in eastern Ukraine is the longest and probably most bloody of the conflict in Ukraine.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The head of the Russian private army Wagner claimed Saturday that his forces have taken control of the city of Bakhmut after the longest and most grinding battle of the Russia-Ukraine war, but Ukrainian defense officials denied it.In a video posted on Telegram, Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin said the city came under complete Russian control at about midday Saturday. He spoke flanked by about half a dozen fighters,...

Russia’s Wagner group claims control of Bakhmut, but Kyiv says fighting continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:12:40 GMT

Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group claimed on Saturday to have gained control of Bakhmut, the eastern Ukrainian city that has seen the fiercest battles recently in Moscow’s war on Ukraine, but Kyiv disputed the assertion and said heavy fighting continued there. Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner’s leader, said in a video posted on Telegram that Bakhmut came under complete Russian control around midday Saturday, according to media reports.“Today, at 12 noon, Bakhmut was completely taken,” Prigozhin said in the video. “We completely took the whole city, from house to house.”Ukrainian officials denied that Wagner had established complete control in Bakhmut, but called the situation in the city critical. Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for Ukraine’s eastern command, told the Associated Press that Prigozhin’s claim “is not true.” Ukrainian “units are fighting in Bakhmut,” he added.Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said heavy fighting was c...

Franklin girls iron out problems in lacrosse win over Wellesley

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:12:40 GMT

FRANKLIN — Over a week ago, the Franklin girls lacrosse team suffered a lopsided defeat to Notre Dame Academy of Hingham, and Panthers coach Kristin Igoe Guarino wanted to make some adjustments.Going off Saturday morning’s 12-4 nonleague win over Wellesley, Igoe Guarino’s changes have all been for the better.With a suffocating defense, balanced offense and consistent performance on the draws, Franklin led throughout.Franklin is now 15-3, while Wellesley drops to 13-5. Both teams will be among the favorites in the Div. 1 state tournament.Although the game was played in an increasing downpour, Franklin looked like it was playing in perfect weather, while Wellesley never found traction.“I think we took the last two days of practice to work on some things, and the girls did a great job implementing that,” Igoe Guarino said. “Winning the draws, to playing good 1v1 and team ‘D.’ I think we were just solid all-around.”“The draws were re...

Male pedestrian, 76, killed by vehicle in Fitchburg

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:12:40 GMT

A car struck and killed a 76-year-old male in Fitchburg Friday night, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.The male was walking in a crosswalk near Water and Nichols Street when a vehicle struck him around 8:45 p.m., officials said. The cities of Leominster and Fitchburg meet at the four-way intersection where the 76-year-old was struck.Police from both cities responded to the incident and it was later determined that the victim was struck in Fitchburg, the Worcester DA’s office said.The driver remained at the crash and the victim was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester where he was pronounced dead. Officials did not release his name, saying identification would be provided after all proper notifications were made.Local police, state police, and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Team are investigating the crash, the Worcester County DA’s office said.

Clark: Default on nation’s debt would be ‘devastating’ to American families

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:12:40 GMT

A default of the nation’s debt would be “devastating to American families” and congressional Republicans’ “extortion” during negotiations is “outrageous behavior,” Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said Saturday during a rally in Boston.“When Democrats are in the minority, when we are in the majority, we meet the debts of this country because we understand this is not something that you take the economy hostage for,” Clark said. “That’s why we joined with Republicans, even though we have disagreed with their policies, to raise the debt ceiling three times under Donald Trump.”Clark was in Massachusetts just as the Biden administration is racing to reach a deal with Republicans led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to raise the nation’s borrowing limit, now at $31 trillion, so the government can keep paying the nation’s bills.Republicans are demanding steep spending cuts the Democrats oppose.Clark, a Massachusetts Democrat, said Republicans have “decided to take our country and our ...

History not in Celtics’ favor as they look to overcome 2-0 series deficit to Heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:12:40 GMT

A wry grin appeared on Jayson Tatum’s face as he sat at the podium inside TD Garden in the early hours of Saturday morning.His Celtics had just lost a second consecutive game to the underdog but fearless Heat, putting them in a 2-0 series deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals. Tatum didn’t seem upset or frustrated by the situation. “I mean, it’s no point in being up here sad and (expletive),” Tatum said. And when he was asked if the Celtics are capable of winning four of their next five games to save their season and advance to the NBA Finals, he expressed confidence.“Yeah,” he responded with a smile, before standing up and walking off the stage.History is certainly not on the Celtics’ side as they try to overcome this 2-0 hole.In 339 tries, only 27 teams in NBA history have overcome a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. Of those 27 teams, only five of them – the 1969 Lakers, 1994 Rockets, 2005 Mavericks, 2017 Celtics and 2021 Clippers – won a seven-game series after los...

Man, 23, gunned down in Mansfield

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:12:40 GMT

A 23-year-old man was killed in a residential area of Mansfield Saturday morning.“Our homicide detectives in Bristol County and Crime Scene Services Section responded to a fatal shooting in Mansfield to assist local police,” Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio said in a statement Saturday.The statement said the shooting was in the area of 42 West Church St., near Main Street in downtown and the Mansfield MBTA station. The area is heavily residential.Mansfield Police Department said they were “currently working a scene on W. Church Street,” in a post on the department’s Facebook page at 12:41 p.m. Saturday. “The scene is secure and there is no treat to the public.”The Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call at 11:11 a.m. reporting the shooting. At the scene, they found the 23-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim remains unidentified pending notification of next ...

Man shot in North County drive-by shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:12:40 GMT

VISTA, Calif. -- A man was shot while walking on a sidewalk in Vista Saturday, said the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The incident occurred around midnight when two men were shot at by a suspect in a gold or silver Honda Accord while walking on the 300 block of Vista Village Drive, authorities said,According to the sheriff's department, one of the victims was struck by the gunfire and was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.  There is no further suspect information available at this time. A motive for the drive-by shooting is also undetermined.  Sheriff's detectives are investigating the incident. Anyone with additional information regarding this shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

Man arrested in connection to East County groping incident involving a child

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:12:40 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man was arrested Friday in connection to a suspected groping incident involving a child in Santee, authorities said. According to the San Diego Sheriff's Department, the incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday near Big Rock Park in the 8100 block of Arlette Street when a 12-year-old student from Chet F. Harritt School was walking towards the park. VIDEO: Boat washes ashore in Del Mar Authorities say a man allegedly approached the child and groped her chest. The girl’s friend was able to intervene and push away the suspect, who then took off on an electric black and gray scooter going eastbound towards Mesa Road, authorities said.Just before 6:30 p.m. on Friday, an employee at the Santee Teen Center, which is located at Big Rock Park where the incident took place, called the sheriff's department to report seeing a man who matched the description of the suspect and his scooter, the sheriff's office explained.Following the call deputies with the Santee Sheriff...

Brazilian club president who helped uncover alleged match-fixing scandal has no regrets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:12:40 GMT

GOIANIA, Brazil (AP) — When Hugo Jorge Bravo received information over what has since blown up into a major alleged match-fixing scandal in Brazil, the lifelong soccer fan and full-time police officer felt there was only one thing to do.He started his own investigation.But this case was very different from any other in the career of Bravo since it involved his beloved Vila Nova, a second-tier Brazilian club where he has been president since 2020.His investigations led to action by Brazil’s federal police and the district attorney’s office of the state of Goias, with the country’s lower house of Congress also getting involved. Charges of alleged manipulation of sports competitions have so far been filed against 15 players across the top two tiers and local leagues, including two Vila Nova players — defender Gabriel Domingos and midfielder-striker Marcos Vinicius Alves Barreira, who both had their contracts at the club terminated.“It was my duty. From the get-go I said we would not ju...