Russia’s Wagner Group Threatens Bakhmut Withdrawal

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April 30, 2023

The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force has threatens to withdraw his troops from the key battle for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine as casualty rates mount.

In an Interview with Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov published on Saturday, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said losses in Bakhmut are five times higher than necessary because of a lack of artillery ammunition

Prigozhin said he has written to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu asking for ammunition as soon as possible, else they would be forced to either withdraw or die.

He warned that the withdrawal of some fighters from Bakhmut would be likely, meaning that the Russian front line would collapse elsewhere.

In an audio statement published on the Telegram messaging app account of his press service on Saturday evening, the Wagner boss said he had lost 94 fighters due to a lack of ammunition.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington, DC-based think tank, reported the Wagner chief as stating that his forces have received 800 of the 4,000 shells per day that they had requested from Russia’s Ministry of Defence.

Prigozhin also said the long-awaited counteroffensive by Ukraine will begin before May 15 and he lamented that Russian forces are not hurrying to prepare for the expected onslaught, according to the institute.

Russian forces have been trying for 10 months to punch their way into the shattered remains of what was once a city of 70,000. The battle of attrition for Bakhmut has become known as the “meat grinder” due to its high casualty rates.

In the meantime, Ukraine’s military authorities say Russian forces have been unable to cut their supply routes to the front-line city.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, said in an interview with the local news website said the supply of provisions, weapons and ammunition is secured.

He added Ukrainian forces were maintaining their positions along the road and engineers had already laid new roads to Bakhmut.

Uzbekistan Votes On Referendum Term Limit Referendum

By

Zoe Maven

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April 30, 2023

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People in Uzbekistan are voting on a constitutional referendum that could allow President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to extend his rule by 14 years.

Authorities in Uzbekistan said an overhaul of the constitution would improve governance and quality of life in the majority-Muslim country of 35 million people. The government also said the referendum would usher in human rights reforms.

Leading up to the vote, media was heavily controlled in a country where rights have long been heavily restricted.

If Sunday’s referendum passes, presidential terms would be lengthened from five to seven years and thisbwould allow the 65-year-old Mirziyoyev to serve two more terms and extend his time in power until 2040.

The government has gone to some lengths to give the vote a veneer of legitimacy, enrolling local celebrities at large rallies and concerts to praise both the proposals and the president.

Since coming to power in 2016 in the wake of the death of his hardline predecessor Islam Karimov, Mirziyoyev has spearheaded a series of reforms in Uzbekistan, including a clampdown on forced labour in the cotton fields.

But activists said rights abuses persist and authorities have shown no sign of allowing a political opposition to emerge.

In 2022, at least 21 people were killed during demonstrations in the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan. Rights activists accused the authorities of using lethal force against the protesters.

Olivier Ferrando, a researcher at the Catholic University of Lyon in France, said the referendum was a “flagship measure” for Mirziyoyev in his attempt at “emancipation” from the legacy of his predecessor.

Uzbekistan’s population is emerging from a particularly harsh winter marked by fuel shortages and is faced with enduring poverty and endemic corruption.

Despite some economic progress and social improvements, such as the criminalisation of domestic violence, the government brooks no dissent.

During July’s unrest, demonstrations against a constitutional amendment in Karakalpakstan, which would have reduced the autonomy of the vast territory, were put down in a bloody crackdown. Dozens of people were jailed.

Cuba Cancels May Day Parade Due To Fuel Shortages

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Zoe Maven

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April 30, 2023

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Cuba’s communist government has cancelled Monday’s traditional May Day parade because of acute fuel shortages.

Cuban authorities have traditionally mobilised huge resources to ensure the success of the May Day parade, transporting workers en masse to Havana.

Before this year, the event had only ever been cancelled in 2020 and 2021, because of the Covid pandemic.

Local events are expected to go ahead instead, with people marching on foot.

Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, the head of the Workers’ Cuba’s main trade union said on Tuesday such acts would highlight “the obstacles to the development programmes due to the ironclad economic blockade”.

Every year hundreds of thousands of people are bussed in from across the island to fill Havana’s Revolution Square on International Workers’ Day but this first time since the 1959 revolution that the celebrations have been cancelled for economic reasons.

In recent weeks long queues have formed at petrol stations, with drivers often waiting for days and while Cuba has access to low-grade crude, the US-sanctioned island lacks the facilities to process it.

Earlier this month, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Cuba was only receiving two-thirds of the fuel it needs, adding that suppliers were failing to fulfil contractual obligations.

Deliveries of higher quality crude from Venezuela, Cuba’s largest provider of fuel, have dropped by 50% in recent years and Analysts say Venezuela is experiencing severe problems itself and finds it increasingly difficult to subsidise its socialist ally.

The shortages have added to daily pressures faced by Cubans. According to Spain’s El Pais newspaper, a typical monthly salary is $150-200, while a litre of cooking oil costs $30.

The government insists that its state-driven socialist model is best for the country and blames the problems on longstanding US sanctions.

Mass Exodus From Sudan As Deadly Fighting Enters Third Week

By

Zoe Maven

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April 30, 2023

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UN High Commission for Human Rights says hundreds of thousands of people have fled Sudan in the past two weeks, with thousands remaining trapped in the country.

Tens of thousands of people from the western Darfur region, have crossed the border into Chad while others are trying to reach South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Egypt or Ethiopia, raising fears of vast displacement from a country with 45 million inhabitants.

Despite the latest three-day ceasefire army forces clashed with paramilitaries on Sunday in Sudan’s capital Khartoum as fighting was being reported around the army headquarters in the centre of the city.

The Sudanese army is also carrying out air strikes in the capital’s twin city of Omdurman across the Nile River.

Although countries like Saudi Arabia, France and the United States have managed to repatriate nationals and diplomats back home in recent days, millions of civilians living in Khartoum are caught up in the chaos.

Analysts say without outside help, they risk their lives on the road or stay cloistered in their homes, where they have to endure crippling shortages of water and electricity.

More than 14,000 Sudanese people and a further 2,000 nationals from other countries have crossed into Egypt since the conflict began, according to the country’s government.

Violent battles between the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former number two Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary RSF, have rocked the country since April 15. The deadly clashes have sparked a mass exodus of civilians, the scale of which is still hard to pin down.

Meanwhile, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) spokesperson Eric Mazago told AFP on Thursday that more than 3,500 people have moved southeast into Ethiopia between April 21 and 25.

Another hot spot in the Sudan conflict is the western region of Darfur, still scarred by a war that erupted in 2003. Its capital, El Geneina, has seen a surge in attacks on civilians in recent days.

At least 20,000 people crossed into Chad during the first 10 days of fighting, according to the UNHCR, despite its government closing the border with Sudan at the start of the conflict on April 15.

The country already hosted more than 400,000 Sudanese refugees across 13 camps in local communities, who had fled the 2003 to 2010 genocide.

Togo President Faure Gnassingbe Says 140 People Killed

By

Zoe Maven

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April 30, 2023

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Togo President Faure Gnassingbe says around 40 soldiers and 100 civilians have been killed in a jihadist “war” in northern Togo.

Speaking in an interview with local private station New World TV broadcast, Gnassingbe they have paid a heavy price, especially their defence and security forces, who have lost around 40 men added to that a hundred or so civilian victims in the country.

The small West African nation, along with neighbouring Benin, Ghana and Ivory Coast, is increasingly facing threats of a jihadist spillover from Burkina Faso and Mali.

The president said a three-tiered strategy had been put in place to confront the threat, including launching a military operation known as Koundjoare in September 2018.

The 56-year-old, reelected three times in polls contested by the opposition, addressed concerns over the government and military’s choice to stay mum over the more frequent attacks when questioned by the media.

Members of the political opposition and civil society have often criticised the authorities’ silence over the situation in the north.

An official asking to remain anonymous recently told AFP that this was “a choice, because we have to protect our defence and security forces.”

Gnassingbe warned the Togolese people “should expect a long fight with dramatic moments, which is is inevitable in times of war.”

In addition to military operations, he said the government had set up “an inter-ministerial committee for the prevention and fight against violent extremism.”

The region is also hosting people displaced from Burkina Faso, and the president said that about half of the 100 civilians killed in the jihadist “war” in the north were not Togolese citizens.

Police Arrests 9 Over Killing of 5 Policemen, Couple

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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April 30, 2023

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The Imo state police command has said that it has arrested nine hoodlums suspected to be members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB and its militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network(ESN) said to be involved in the recent killing of five policemen and two civilians in Ngor-Okpala LGA last week.

This is coming after the IPOB had denied that its members were involved in the killing of the policemen.

C.A.R Rebels Accused Of Killing Nine Chinese Miners

The suspects were arrested at their hideout in Itu, Ezinihitte-Mbaise on Thursday, 27th April, 2023.

The Imo state police Spokesman, Henry Okoye, in a release on Sunday, said that the command acted on a tip-off and dispatched its Tactical Team led by SP Odeyeyiwa Oladimeji, who arrested one Mathew Chukwuma aged 48 from Mpam Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA of Imo state, at his hideout at Umuahia, Abia state.

The release said, “after interrogating him, he confessed to be the Sector Command of the dreaded IPOB/ESN syndicate in Mbaise and assisted the curious operatives in arresting three of his members namely; Ojoko Ikechukwu, 53 years, of Umugwa, Chilaka Charles aged 44, of Umuezuo and Anthony Iwu aged 50years of Umugwa all in Umuokirika, in Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA of Imo state.

“In the course of investigation, the suspects all confessed to be members of the dreaded IPOB/ESN syndicate terrorizing the good people of Imo state ad had a hand in the recent killing of five police officers and two civilians at Ngor-Okpala LGA.

“They also volunteered crucial information that assisted the operatives in raiding their second hideout in Itu, Ezinihitte-Mbaise LGA of Imo state which led to the arrest of another four suspected members of the proscribed separatist group. The suspects are famous on the commands wanted list due to their nefarious activities.

“On sighting the operatives of the police, the notorious criminal syndicates engaged them in a fierce gun duel but were over powered by the super fire power of the combat ready tactical squad which forced them to surrender all their weapons.

“Those arrested at Itu are one Damian Ibe aged 50year, Iwuala Simeon, 31 years both of Mpam in Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA and Obali Paul, 70 years who hails from Itu in Ezinihitte-Mbaise LGA of Imo state. The 70year-old man is said to be the Chief Priest of the Criminal gang while others escaped with various degrees of bullet injuries.”

According to the release, several ammunition were recovered including one cut to size AK47 rifle, one hundred and ninety rounds of live 7.62 mm ammunition, two AK47 magazines, two cut to size double barrel guns, one locally fabricated Berretta pistol, three pump action guns, two single barrel locally made guns, one locally made pistol, one cut to size gun, 50 rounds of7.66mm live ammunition, thirty-eight rounds of live cartridges, two AK47 magazines, two locally made explosive devices, one Iphone, one H-mobile, walkie-talkie, three cow horns painted with Biafran insignia, two Biafran Jewish caps, Jewish flag, large quantity of weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa and some fetish objects.

The command has promised to expedite more action towards arresting other fleeing members of the syndicates ad make them to face the law.

Meanwhile, the Imo state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Barde, appealed to Imo people to join hands with the police and other security agencies in the crusade against terrorism and always report any suspicious activities or treatment of gunshots injuries at any hospitals through the command’s emergency lines; 08034773700 or 08098880197

Recall that last week, gunmen killed couple and five policemen at Okpala junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State on Friday.

The couple identified as Mr and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu, hailed from Amankwo Okpala community, Ngor Okpala Local Government Areas of the State.

The incident caused panic in the entire community as commercial activities had abruptly came to end.

Chukwueze Eyes Champions League Spot With Yellow Submarines

By

Emenike Agu

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April 30, 2023

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Top-four hopefuls Villarreal and Nigerian winger, Samuel Chukwueze will be bidding to make it successive victories in Spain’s top flight when they continue their campaign at home to Celta Vigo on Sunday afternoon.

The Yellow Submarine are fifth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad, while Celta occupy 13th position, eight points clear of the relegation zone heading into the next set of fixtures.

Villarreal are very much in the argument for a top-four finish at this stage of the season, with Quique Setien’s side currently fifth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid appear to have cemented their spots in the Champions League positions, but Real Sociedad are far from comfortable in fourth, and Villarreal will be aiming to close the gap when they welcome Celta to Estadio de la Ceramica.

The Yellow Submarine were 4-2 winners over Espanyol on Thursday evening, with Etienne Capoue registering twice, and Dani Parejo and Nicolas Jackson also getting their names on the scoresheet.

Villarreal have finished seventh in their last two La Liga campaigns and have not claimed fourth since 2015-16, so it could be a very successful campaign for the club.

El Submarino Amarillo have been strong in front of their own fans this season, picking up 29 points from 15 matches, which is the fifth-best home record in the division, but Celta have claimed a respectable 16 points on their travels, and the Sky Blues certainly have the talent to make this a very difficult match.

Celta have only lost one of their last four La Liga games against Villarreal, meanwhile, and the points were shared when the two teams locked horns in Vigo towards the start of January.

Carlos Carvalhal’s side have no real relegation fears at this stage of the season, sitting 13th in the table, eight points clear of the bottom three, while they are just two points behind 10th-placed Girona.

A top-half finish should be the aim for Celta in the closing weeks of the campaign, which is something that they have achieved on only one occasion since 2016.

The Sky Blues will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Elche on Wednesday evening, with Joseph Aidoo coming up with a 90th-minute winner against the team at the bottom of the division.

The success was Celta’s first since the middle of March and eased any slight fears that they could be dragged closer to the relegation zone entering the latter stages of the campaign.

Transfer Window: Osimhen Not In Talks With PSG

By

Emenike Agu

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April 30, 2023

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French media claim Victor Osimhen is in advanced talks with PSG, but the striker’s entourage brands rumours as ‘fake news’ and insists it’s is ‘too early to speak about transfers.’

The Nigeria international is Serie A’s leading scorer this season and has attracted interest from some of the wealthiest clubs in Europe, including PSG, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

Mundo Deportivo asked the player’s entourage whether their client was in advanced talks with PSG and the answer was clear: “It’s all fake news, it’s early to speak about transfers.”

The Italian Roberto Calenda is the agent of the Nigerian striker.

Osimhen has scored 26 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions this season and his contract at the Stadio Maradona expires in June 2025.

The Partenopei will offer him a new deal by the end of the season and according to Mundo Deportivo, the Serie A giants won’t listen to offers below €150m in the summer.

Napoli are on the verge of winning their first Serie A title in 33 years. They must beat Salernitana on Sunday, hoping Lazio won’t win against Inter at San Siro.

Mixed Martial Arts: I Am Better Than Adesanya –Pereira

By

Emenike Agu

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April 30, 2023

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UFC middleweight fighter, Alex Pereira suffered a devastating knockout loss to champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 but still believes he is the better mixed martial artist.

After his knockout loss, the Braziian announced that he is moving to the light heavyweight division of the UFC but Pereira still thinks that he is better than Adesanya.

In a recent Instagram post, Pereira shared a video emphasizing why he is still the better fighter, despite Adesanya’s win At the UFC 287.

“We’re the best but I’m still the best. But the number speaks 3×1,” Pereira wrote, referring to his 3 wins over Adesanya compared to Adesanya’s 1 victory over him.

Nigerian-born fighter Adesanya, who had an impressive 11-win streak in kickboxing, faced Alex Pereira for the first time at Glory of Heroes 1 in Shenzhen, China, on April 2, 2016. Pereira emerged victorious via unanimous decision. Adesanya had the opportunity to redeem himself in a rematch at Glory of Heroes 7 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 4, 2017.

However, ‘Poatan’ defeated Adesanya with a left hook knockout in the third round. The long-standing rivalry between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira was reignited in a professional MMA bout at UFC 281 on November 12, 2022, in New York. Unfortunately, Adesanya lost his middleweight title to Pereira in the fifth round via technical knockout.

However, Adesanya got his revenge when he faced Pereira again at UFC 287 on April 8, 2023. With a stunning knockout victory in the second round, ‘The Last Stylebender’ reclaimed his UFC middleweight championship title, marking a triumphant moment in his career.

Whether Pereira gets another shot at Adesanya or fades from title contention remains to be see but there is no questioning Pereira’s belief in himself as the superior fighter, despite the setback.

Scudetti Title: Napoli Vs Salernitana: History Beckons

By

Emenike Agu

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April 30, 2023

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• Osimhen on brink of helping Napoli win first Serie A title in 33 years

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is on the cusp of leading Serie A leaders, Napoli, to their first Scudetto title in 33 years if they are able to record a win in the Campanian derby against Salernitana on Sunday (today) and second-placed Lazio fails to win against Inter Milan at the San Siro.

If the results indeed goes Napoli’s way, it will be Osimhen’s first ever league title in Europe and he will be the second Nigerian to win the Serie A title, after Obafemi Martins lifted the Scudetto with Inter Milan during the 2005/2006 season.

Speaking ahead of the game, the Serie A topscorer is already relishing celebrating the Serie A title with Napoli fans.

“We are all happy and giving our best to make our dream come true,” Osimhen told TG5.

Victory on Sunday would move Luciano Spalletti’s side to 81 points and they will become the first team to win the title with six matches remaining unless Lazio earn their first win away to Inter in more than four years on the same day.

However, Spalletti has urged his players not to get ahead of themselves despite being tantalisingly close to ending the city’s 33-year wait for the Serie A title since Diego Maradona led the team to two championships in 1987 and 1990.

“I don’t like to celebrate in advance,” he said. “If we all do it together there will be twice as much joy.”

It would be unthinkable for Napoli to blow their 17-point lead at this stage but Spalletti’s caution is understandable given a tough April in which his team managed two wins in six games in all competitions.

Osimhen has enjoyed a magnificent season with Napoli and has been instrumental in their campaign as the 24-year-old has hit 26 goals in 32 appearances, emerging as one of Europe’s most sought after strikers.