Russian Forces Hit Ukrainian Museum

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April 25, 2023

A Russian missile hit a museum building in a Ukrainian city on Tuesday, killing at least two people and wounding 10 others, as Ukraine is readying its forces for an expected spring counteroffensive.

Ukrainian officials said the Russian military used S-300 air defense missiles to attack Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, hitting the museum of local history in the city center.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video from the site that shows the ruined building and emergency responders examining the damage.

Zelenskyy said that a museum worker was killed, and Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov later reported that the body of another victim was pulled from under the rubble.

Kupiansk was captured by Russian forces in the earlier stages of the Russian invasion but was reclaimed by Ukrainian forces in a surprise counteroffensive in September that saw the Russians driven out of broad swaths of the Kharkiv region.

The Ukrainian military is now preparing for a new massive counteroffensive, relying on the latest supplies of Western battle tanks and other weapons and fresh troops that were trained in the West.

Zelenskyy on Tuesday met with the top military brass to discuss the battlefield situation as well as prospects for new weapons supplies and the preparation of troops.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has regularly reminded the West about Russia’s nuclear arsenal in a bid to discourage the U.S. and its allies from ramping up weapons supplies to Ukraine.

The U.S. and its NATO allies have denounced Moscow’s nuclear rhetoric as dangerous and irresponsible, but noted that they haven’t seen any change in Russia’s nuclear posture.

On Tuesday, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the Security Council chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, warned that “the world is likely on the verge of another world war” and declared that Moscow wouldn’t hesitate to use nuclear weapons if it faced an existential threat.

Medvedev described atomic weapons as pviotal for Russia’s survival, saying that “for our country, the nuclear weapons are the joint holding the state together.”

German Police Arrest Syrian Man Over Suspected Bomb Plot

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Zoe Maven

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April 25, 2023

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German police said they had detained a 28-year-old Syrian man on Tuesday as regards a suspected plan to use a homemade bomb against civilian targets.

Around 250 officers were involved in the operation on Tuesday morning, seizing evidence including chemical substances but the authorities said Investigations were focused on the 28-year-old and his 24-year-old brother.

Police, who arrested the man in Hamburg, also searched a number of addresses in the northern port city as well as in the southern town of Kempten.

Motivated by “radical-Islamist and jihadist convictions,” the pair were suspected of planning an attack with a self-made explosive aimed at civilian targets.

The elder brother was said to have used the online platform eBay and other providers to buy the ingredients to make explosive materials in recent weeks.

His sibling, who lives in Kempten, was believed to have supported the planning of the suspected attack while he 28-year-old has already been charged by German courts with “terrorism financing,” police said.

Separately, prosecutors said they had indications that a knife attack in Duisburg last week had an Islamist motive.

A 26-year-old Syrian has been arrested in relation with the stabbing at a gym in the western city, which left four men severely injured.

Islamist extremists have committed several violent attacks in Germany in recent years, the deadliest being a truck rampage at a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016 that killed 12 people.

The Tunisian attacker, a failed asylum seeker behind the 2016 incident, was a supporter of the Islamic State jihadist group.

Police Arrest One Suspected Bandit in Benue

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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April 25, 2023

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One suspected bandit has been arrested by police for trying to liase with criminal herders and invite them to attack a village in Anyiin, Logo local government area of Benue state.

The State Command spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene disclosed this in a statement she made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Tuesday.

Zamfara: Two Bandits Killed As Police Repel Another Attack

The Benue Command spokesperson said that the young man identified as Ephraim Ternenge was seen along Taraba/Benue border wondering around before someone approached him.

“On 22/04/2023 at about 1230hrs one Ephraim Ternenge Iortser of Logo Local Government Area was seen along Taraba-Benue border wondering in a suspicious manner.”

“During investigation, the suspect confessed to have gone to the forest to liaise with criminal herders to pay him so that he can facilitate an attack on a village in Anyiin”

The PPRO however said investigation is ongoing to reveal more information about the suspect’s involvement in recent attack and possible arrest of other suspects involved in carrying out such heinous crimes.

UNHCR Warns Of Further Displacement Of People From Sudan

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Zoe Maven

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April 25, 2023

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U.N. refugee agency UNHCR has warned of further displacement of people from Sudan after thousands streamed into neighboring Chad and South Sudan.

This comes despite a tenuous cease-fire between the two warring Sudanese generals battling for control of the country. The fighting has plunged Sudan into chaos, pushing the already heavily aid-dependent African nation to the brink of collapse.

UNHCR spokeswoman Olga Sarrado said since the clashes erupted on April 15, at least 20,000 Sudanese have fled into Chad and some 4,000 South Sudanese refugees have returned to their home country,.

She said the figures could rise, stating that she did not have figures for the five other countries neighboring Sudan, but UNHCR has cited unspecified numbers of those fleeing Sudan arriving in Egypt.

The UNHCR was scaling up its operations, she said, even as foreign governments have raced to evacuate their embassy staff and citizens from Sudan. Many Sudanese have desperately sought ways to escape the chaos, fearing late their all-out battle for power once evacuations are completed.

Several previous cease-fires have failed, although intermittent lulls during the weekend’s major Muslim holiday allowed for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners by air and land.

More than 800,000 South Sudanese refugees live in Sudan, a quarter of them in the capital of Khartoum, where they are directly affected by the fighting.

Dozens of hospitals have shuttered in Khartoum and elsewhere across the country due to the fighting, and dwindling medical and fuel supplies according to the Sudanese Doctors’ Syndicate.

The International Committee of the Red Cross welcomed the announced cease-fire as a “potential lifesaver for civilians” trapped in their homes in fighting-hit areas.

Rise In Cholera Cases After Cyclone Freddy In Mozambique

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Zoe Maven

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April 25, 2023

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The number of cholera cases in Mozambique has risen exponentially since February, with over 28,000 people infected in the southern African country still reeling from the deadly Cyclone Freddy.

In a news conference in Geneva, Guy Taylor, spokesman for the Mozambican branch of UNICEF said over 28,000 cases of cholera have been recorded in Mozambique.

He said this was ten times the number recorded at the beginning of February, and more than half of the cases involve children, adding that the numbers continue to rise.

He also said the interruption of water supply, hygiene, and sanitation services caused by the cyclone has increased the spread.

The disease has reportedly killed 123 people in Mozambique since late last year with acute diarrheal infection caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria.

According to UNICEF, Freddy destroyed a hundred health facilities and 250 water points in Mozambique, depriving about 300,000 people of drinking water, mainly in the center of the country, one of the poorest in the world.

The cyclone killed at least 86 people in the country of 33 million and left tens of thousands homeless. More than 390,000 hectares of land were also affected by the cyclone, raising concerns about the upcoming harvest.

Freddy first hit Madagascar and Mozambique in late February before returning to the Indian Ocean. It had then regained power thanks to the warm waters and turned around, returning to the continent. On its return, it hit landlocked Malawi hard, killing nearly 680 people and leaving many more missing.

2023 UTME: Exams Begins Nationwide

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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April 25, 2023

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The 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME has begun on Tuesday April 25th, and run till Wednesday 3rd May, 2023.

Information from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB indicated that the examination would be conducted for over 1.6 million candidates who registered for the 2023 UTME.

2023 UTME: JAMB Fixes New Date For Exercise

Candidates are being checked into the examination hall using the Biometric Verification Machine, BVM which is also a register of attendance in line with the Board’s policy of “no biometric verification, no examination.”

JAMB spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, told Journalists that all was set for the start of the examination and JAMB has put in all measures to ensure smooth conduct of the examination.

Dr. Fabian had in a statement earlier in the week advised candidates who registered for the exercise to print their 2023 UTME notification slips which contains information on location of candidate’s examination centre, date of scheduled sessions, time of the examination and other necessary information.

He also said ban on prohibited items is still in force, thus asking candidates to be careful not to run foul of the law as necessary sanctions would be meted out to violators of its code of conduct.

He listed the banned items within the examination hall to include but not limited to flash drives, smart watches, calculators, recorders, mobile phones, spy reading glasses, jeweleries, among others.

Aruna, Assar Set to Renew rivalry in Nairobi

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Emenike Agu

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April 25, 2023

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According to Reports, Quadri Aruna and Omar Assar will again take their rivalry to Nairobi, Kenya when the 2023 Africa Cup kicks off May 4 to 6 at Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Kenya.

Aruna, who missed out on the title in 2022 after suffering a thigh injury in the final to concede the title to Assar at 4-3, will be hoping to reclaim the title following his recent form at international tournaments across the globe.

Aruna, presently ranked 12th in the world, is the highest-ranked African in the world while Assar is rated 33rd and the second-best-rated African.

Current African best-ranked female player, Dina Meshref is in fine form following her display at the just concluded WTT Champions in China and will be up against compatriot and defending champion Hana Goda, who claimed her first continental title in Lagos last year.

Each participating country is expected to present two players each in the men’s and women’s events while Egypt, the defending champions will nominate two players alongside the two champions.

Kenya as host will present four players each in men’s and women’s events while Brian Mutua will lead the East African team against the visitors.

The organisers of the tournament, Kenya Table Tennis Association have assured of a top-class event having staged the same event in 2018.

2024 US Election: Democrats Taking on Joe Biden

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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April 25, 2023

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Joe Biden has launched his re-election campaign with a video in which he says the country faces a pivotal moment in the 2024 vote.

President Joe Biden announces 2024 re-election bid

The Democratic Party, however, still need convincing that he is the best candidate they have.

Polls show about half of Democrats want the party to nominate someone else – although many of those said they will still vote for him.

So who are the most prominent other people running?

Marianne Williamson
Self-help guru Marianne Williamson was the first Democrat to jump into the 2024 race, with a formal campaign launch in March.

70-year-old Ms Williamson, is a long-time social justice activist, best-selling author and former “spiritual advisor” to Oprah Winfrey who made her first foray into politics in 2020.

She transfixed audiences with a frenetic performance at two Democratic primary debates, in which she declared that the only way to defeat Donald Trump was to “harness love for political purposes”.

Her 2024 policy platform backs universal government-run healthcare, free childcare, at least $1tn (£800bn) in slavery reparations to black Americans and a federal agency called the Department of Peace.

Robert F Kennedy Jr
Anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr has filed paperwork to run for the White House and will launch his campaign later in April.

The nephew of President John F Kennedy and the son of slain US Attorney General Bobby Kennedy, is at least the 12th member of the Kennedy dynasty to run for political office.

The long-time environmental lawyer once won plaudits for campaigning on issues such as clean water, including working to clean up the Hudson River in New York.

69-year-old Kennedy’s vaccine scepticism long predated Covid-19, but he found a new audience during the pandemic, when revenues to the anti-vaccine non-profit he founded in 2011 doubled.

Xhaka, Saliba to Miss Arsenal-Man City Clash

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Emenike Agu

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April 25, 2023

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Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta has disclosed the chances of Granit Xhaka and William Saliba to miss the match against Manchester City.

The Arsenal manager disclosed this during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday withThe Gunners set to travel to Manchester City on Wednesday.

While Xhaka was unavailable for the club’s 3-3 draw with Southampton due to illness, Saliba will not be available for games against Man City and Chelsea.

According to Arsenal Head Coach, Mikel Arteta, “There’s not been a real improvement unfortunately on him (saliba) so we’re still waiting.

“At the moment we don’t have him and we’re preparing for this game without him. Probably the next game [Chelsea] will come too soon as well,”.

“Hopefully he will be able to train today. He’s still a doubt,” the Arsenal coach said on Xhaka.

Over 1,000 Migrants Reach Italian Isle; 23 Reported Missing

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Zoe Maven

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April 25, 2023

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The Italian Coast Guard says With the return of calm seas, migrant smugglers launched dozens of boats from Tunisia during the weekend and some 1,200 people ended up on a tiny Italian island while several were reported missing at sea.

Coast guard officials said in a statement that they responded to 35 boats that had left Tunisia, three of which came to grief.

According to the coast guard, in one shipwreck some 20 nautical miles off Lampedusa island coast guard and border police vessels said three migrants were missing. In a second, in Malta’s search-and-rescue area, survivors said some 20 people were missing, while in the third, also in Malta’s rescue area, Italian rescuers recovered a man’s body.

The coast guard said air and naval assets of the Coast Guard, the Border Police, the European border protection agency Frontex as well as a humanitarian organization were involved in the assistance.

Dozens of the migrants sat Monday morning near Lampedusa’s port, awaiting transfer to the island’s overcrowded shelter or eventually to Sicily or the Italian mainland.