WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine says it 'ran out of missiles' to stop Russian strike ruining power station

A lack of air defense missiles prevented Ukraine from thwarting a Russian missile attack last week that destroyed the biggest power plant in the region around the capital Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

Zelenskiy's comments, which follow repeated warnings from his government to its allies about scarce air defences, reflect the dire situation Ukraine finds itself in as Russia scales up strikes on its energy system.

"There were 11 missiles flying. We destroyed the first seven, and four (remaining) destroyed Trypillia. Why? Because there were zero missiles. We ran out of missiles to defend Trypillia," he said in the interview with PBS.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the account. Zelenskiy has earlier warned that Ukraine has already had to make tough choices about what to protect and said his country could run out of defensive missiles entirely if Russian attacks continued apace.

Destroyed in 11 March strike, Trypilska thermal power plant was the biggest energy facility near Kyiv and was built to have a capacity of 1,800 megawatts, more than the pre-war needs of Ukraine's biggest city. Other stations and imports have filled the gap for now but residents have been urged to save power.

Russia has stepped up combined missile and drone strikes targeting Ukraine's grid system since mid-March. It is the second concerted Russian attack on the energy system since Russian forces invaded Ukraine more than two years ago and has proven much more devastating than the first one.

In recent attacks, Ukraine lost about 7 gigawatt of power generating capacity, with major thermal power plants and transmitting capabilities significantly damaged.

Moscow says the strikes are aimed at degrading Ukraine's ability to fight and are in retaliation for recent attacks inside Russia.

Western allies have been reluctant to send additional air defenses to Ukraine, which says it needs 25 Patriot systems to cover its territory properly. Germany has pledged to deliver another system following urgent calls from Kyiv.

 

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

US told Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries – WaPo

The US has on multiple occasions asked Ukraine to stop targeting Russian oil refineries with its drones, the Washington Post claims, citing anonymous American officials. Kiev has reportedly ignored those requests, thus straining relations with its top foreign provider of military assistance, the newspaper reports.

Since January, Ukraine has launched a series of long-range attacks on Russian energy facilities, including oil depots and refineries, using kamikaze drones. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has argued that the strikes have been meant to impress Kiev’s Western backers amid a lack of progress on the front line.

The Washington Post reported on Monday that US Vice President Kamala Harris had met privately with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February, telling him to refrain from targeting Russian oil refineries. President Joe Biden’s administration reportedly believes that such attacks would raise global energy prices and provoke massive Russian retaliation.

According to the media outlet, the Ukrainian head of state “brushed off the recommendation.” Despite the US becoming more and more insistent over the following weeks, Kiev doubled down on its strategy.

As a rift widens between Washington and Kiev over the latter’s tactics, Ukrainian officials are becoming exasperated at the US’ inability to provide its partner with additional weaponry. This is due to the fact that Republicans in Congress have, for months, been blocking President Joe Biden’s foreign aid package, that envisages, among other things, $60 billion for Ukraine.

The newspaper, citing US Senator Tom Cotton, suggested that Biden’s main concern is keeping gasoline prices from rising domestically ahead of the November US presidential election.

Appearing on Ukrainian TV on Sunday, the country’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba made it clear that Kiev would consider Washington’s appeals if the US boosted its defense aid for Ukraine.

Last Wednesday, Celeste Wallander, the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, told lawmakers that the “strikes that we have seen against Russian energy sources have not significantly altered Russia’s ability to prosecute the war.”

She added that the “Russians have been able to rapidly repair the facilities that were struck.”

A day prior, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told a Senate panel that “those attacks could have a knock-on effect in terms of the global energy situation.”

Last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine’s recent tactics have forced Russia to respond by targeting Kiev’s energy and oil facilities. He explained that these strikes have helped degrade the Ukrainian defense industry’s capabilities.

Moscow has described the Ukraine conflict as a US-led proxy war against Russia, with Washington willing to fight “to the last Ukrainian.”

 

Reuters/RT

 

 

 

As a Gen Zer who works in journalism, thinking about how AI could change the future of work is a little daunting. I don’t know the first thing about coding, machine learning, robotics or data science. 

Luckily, these knowledge gaps won’t make or break my ability to be successful in the AI era, according to millionaire entrepreneur Scott Galloway. A more counterintuitive skill will be the most valuable.

“If I could give my 13- and 16-year-old one competence that I think would stand the test of time, it’d be storytelling,” Galloway told CNBC Make It, after a live recording of Vox’s “Pivot” podcast at South by Southwest last month.

The type of storytelling may not matter, because the platforms people use to communicate can rapidly change. The important part is developing an “ability to write well, an ability to articulate ideas and an ability to present ideas with data, infographics, slideshows,” Galloway said.

“We don’t know if in five years some neural network is going to replace ChatGPT,” he added. “We don’t know if coding is going to be outdated.”

Finding a way to be an expert in your field is a good way to become successful, no matter what else happens around you, Galloway pointed out.

“The specific crowds out the general,” he said. “Find a niche, no matter how narrow it is, and try and own it. Commit to being one of the most knowledgeable people in the world on a domain. ... You’re never going to be an expert in anything if you don’t enjoy it.”

As a journalist, storytelling is practically in my DNA. And though I’m still figuring out what exactly my niche is and what kinds of stories I enjoy telling the most, I feel at ease knowing that I won’t need to take a robotics class to be successful in the future.

 

CNBC

Goldman Sachs, a leading global investment bank, forecasts Nigeria to become the fifth-largest economy globally by 2075, solidifying its position as Africa’s largest economy.

The report also predicts Nigeria to rank 15th by 2050, with a projected GDP of $13.1 trillion by 2075. This places Nigeria ahead of Germany, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Egypt, Brazil, and others.

The shift in economic power is driven by Nigeria's large and youthful population, potentials in agriculture, energy, and emerging technology sectors. However, challenges like political instability and infrastructure deficits could hinder growth.

The report highlights the significant rise of Asian economies, with China and India leading, while also noting growth in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Alpesh Patel of Praefinium Partners underscores the importance of economic reforms and technological advancement in shaping the future global economy.

Once again, Nigeria's electricity grid suffered a collapse, plunging several cities into darkness.

The collapse occurred at 2:42 a.m. on Monday, with electricity generation plummeting to 64.70 megawatts.

The Jos Electricity Distribution Company (Jos DisCo) confirmed the outage, attributing it to the loss of power supply from the national grid.

In a statement by Friday Elijah, the Head of Corporate Communications at Jos DisCo, the company expressed hope for a swift restoration of normal power supply once the grid is back to stability. This incident marks another setback for the power sector, which has been grappling with challenges such as policy enforcement, regulatory uncertainty, gas supply issues, transmission constraints, and planning deficiencies.

Despite the government's privatization efforts in 2013 to enhance efficiency, the grid has collapsed over 140 times since then.

Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), assured the public that updates regarding the situation would be provided soon.

In March 2024, Nigeria experienced a surge in inflation, with the rate reaching 33.20 percent, up from 31.70 percent in February, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The consumer price index (CPI) report released by the bureau revealed that food inflation also rose to 40.01 percent during the same period. This increase represents a 1.50% point rise compared to February 2024 and an 11.16% point increase compared to March 2023.

On a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate decreased slightly to 3.02% in March, down from 3.12% in February.

Food prices were identified as a major contributor to the inflation rate, driven by increases in the prices of staple foods such as garri, millet, bread, yam, dried fish, meat, and fruits.

However, there was a slight decrease in food inflation on a month-on-month basis, attributed to lower prices of certain food items.

The report highlighted that Kogi, Kwara, and Akwa Ibom states had the highest food inflation rates on a year-on-year basis, while Abia, Cross River, and Bayelsa had the highest rates on a month-on-month basis. Conversely, Nasarawa, Borno, and Bauchi recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis, with Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa showing the slowest increase on a month-on-month basis.

Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, revealed that fuel subsidy has been reinstated by the federal government, stating that the government is now paying even more than before.

Speaking to journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, El-Rufai noted that the measures put in place to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal were ineffective, leading to the reversal of the policy.

While President Bola Tinubu initially announced the removal of fuel subsidy in his inaugural speech, El-Rufai expressed support for the policy but highlighted the need for necessary adjustments. He emphasized that despite the government's efforts, the impact of subsidy removal remained significant, prompting the government to resume subsidizing petrol.

El-Rufai underscored the importance of policy pragmatism in addressing challenges, presenting his insights on leadership and public policy at a capacity-building workshop for senior government officials of Borno State.

After the invasion of the Oyo State secretariat by suspected Yoruba nation agitators on Saturday, Ismaila Malomo, one of the agitators, has implicated Modupe Abiola Onitiri as one of their sponsors.

Speaking to journalists on Monday while being paraded alongside 20 others by the Oyo State Police Command, Malomo disclosed his role in driving the group from Idi-Iroko in Ogun State to the secretariat in Ibadan.

He also revealed that other sponsors, including individuals in the diaspora like Onitiri, have been holding virtual meetings with them, claiming to have secured sovereignty from the United Nations to declare the Yoruba Nation.

Alabi Ogundeji, another suspected agitator and a teacher at the Federal Government College, Oyo, defended their actions, stating that they had followed legal steps, including issuing petitions and embarking on a referendum, before invading the secretariat. The suspects, including Adeyemo Joseph Oluwaseun, Adeyemo Peter, and others, were paraded by the state Police Commissioner, Adebola Hamzat, who condemned their actions as criminal and unpatriotic.

Hamzat reassured the public of the command's commitment to protecting lives and property, announcing a review of the security architecture to address present-day challenges.

Israeli threats of retaliation following Iran's recent drone and missile attack have stirred deep concern among Iranians already grappling with economic hardships and increased social and political restrictions post-2022-23 protests.

Iranian leaders have issued warnings of further escalation in response to any Israeli action, raising fears of heightened conflict and its dire consequences for ordinary citizens.

Hesam, a 45-year-old teacher from Amol, voices apprehension about the potential economic strain and jeopardized safety for families like his.

Parvaneh, a 37-year-old mother in Yazd, expresses worry about the devastating impact an Israeli strike could have on an already fragile economy, especially for middle and lower-income families.

While some, like government employee Hossein Sabahi from Tabriz, express pride in Iran's retaliatory actions, the underlying economic realities paint a grim picture. The surge in demand for hard currency and the plummeting value of the rial highlight the immediate repercussions of war jitters on the economy.

Amidst these tensions, concerns arise within Iran's leadership about dissent and potential social unrest. The Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a warning against pro-Israeli sentiments on social media, fearing a resurgence of protests fueled by economic frustration.

The decision of some Western governments to evacuate their diplomats' families further fuels anxiety among Iranians, evoking memories of past conflicts and revolutions. Mohammad Reza, an engineer in Tehran, reflects the prevailing sentiment of increased isolation and misery in the face of looming threats.

In summary, the specter of Israeli retaliation exacerbates the already precarious situation for ordinary Iranians, prompting fears of further economic strain and social unrest amidst escalating tensions.

ISRAEL’S REPORTS

IDF: Overnight, during IDF activity in the area of the northern border, an IDF soldier was severely injured, two IDF soldiers were moderately injured, and an additional IDF soldier was lightly injured, as a result of an explosion of an unknown source. The incident is under review.

The soldiers were evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment. Their families have been notified.

** IDF: Overnight, IDF fighter jets struck Hezbollah terror targets, including a launch post, terrorist infrastructure, and military compounds in the areas of Seddiqine, Matmoura, Labbouneh, and Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon.

In addition, IDF soldiers struck in order to remove threats in the areas of Ayta ash Shab and Labbouneh in southern Lebanon.

Attached is a video of the IDF strikes in southern Lebanon: https://bit.ly/4d8dhjY

** IDF: Following the sirens that sounded in the area of Hanita in northern Israel, approximately five launches that were identified crossing from Lebanon fell in open areas. No injuries were reported, the IDF struck the sources of fire.

A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck Hezbollah military compounds in the areas of Markaba and Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon.

Earlier today, IDF artillery fired in order to remove a threat in the areas of Jabal Blat and Al-Hamra.

Attached is a video of IDF strikes in Lebanon: https://bit.ly/43XPgaU

 

HAMAS’ REPORTS

The leader of the Hamas movement, Abdel Hakim Hanini:

The crimes of the occupation and settlers in the West Bank will not pass without accountability, and our Palestinian people and their resistance are able to make the occupation and its settlers pay the price for their crimes.

The crimes of the settlers and what happened in the village of Aqraba are the result of the support and support of the racist occupation government, which provides support and cover for the settlers’ attacks.

The continuation of crimes will not discourage our Palestinian people from resisting the occupation and the settlers, and clinging to their land and defending it by all means.

We call on the revolutionary and resistant youth to rise up and escalate the resistance, and to confront settler attacks with all force, for this is the time for arms and resistance.

** Al-Quds Brigades - Nablus Battalion: As part of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” battle...our fighters opened fire at the occupation forces during their storming of Al-Marij Street in Nablus.

** Defeated Army Radio:

The explosion that targeted soldiers from the Golani unit occurred inside Lebanese territory after Israeli forces attempted to operate dozens of meters away from the separation fence.

** Hezbollah: We bombed with artillery and missiles a deployment of Israeli enemy soldiers in Horsh Hanita and achieved a direct hit.

** Occupation vehicles besiege schools in Beit Hanoun after advancing into the Girls Street area.

For three hours, the concentrated bombing of northern Gaza by occupation aircraft and artillery has not stopped.

Pray for our Mujahideen, the people of Gaza and all of Palestine.

 

Israel Defense Forces/Hamas Brigade al-Qassam

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Zelenskiy, Ukrainian commanders consider the front, weapons supplies

President Voldoymyr Zelenskiy and Ukrainian commanders on Monday considered action at the front of the 25-month-old war against Russia and the acquisition of weaponry from Kyiv's allies.

Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, issued a fresh plea for air defences to protect against Russian strikes on cities and infrastructure and called on Kyiv's allies to show the same unity they displayed in helping Israel fend off Iranian attacks.

Zelenskiy noted three sectors where Ukraine's forces face difficult situations in standing against Russian onslaughts: Chasiv Yar, west of the destroyed Russian-held town of Bakhmut in the east and Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, further west and north.

Zelenskiy said reports were presented on supplying arms and electronic warfare systems and ways to protect infrastructure hit for weeks by Russian missile and drone attacks.

Also heard were intelligence reports on new Russian offensives that he has predicted will soon be launched.

"This is about what we must prepare for -- all forms of enemy action," Zelenskiy said. "It is clear that the madness in the Kremlin is still strong and the occupiers will try to intensify their advances. We will respond."

Russian forces have made small advances in recent weeks, securing control of villages in eastern Donetsk region since recapturing the key town of Avdiivka in February.

The president again lauded what he described as "unity" in helping Israel defend against Iranian air attacks last weekend.

"Israel is not a member of NATO ... and no one was drawn into the war," he said.

"They simply helped save lives. Shaheds (drones) in the skies of Ukraine sound just like in the skies of the Middle East. Ballistics strike the same everywhere if not shot down."

He has called for "political will", especially from the United States, where an aid package remains blocked in Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to decide this week on how to handle President Joe Biden's request for billions of dollars in security assistance for Ukraine and other U.S. allies.

Johnson has declined to allow the Republican-controlled House to vote on the measure already passed by the Senate.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba earlier told a Black Sea security conference Ukraine needed additional Patriot and other air defence systems.

Western allies have been reluctant to send additional air defences to Kyiv, while Ukraine needs 26 Patriot systems to cover the country's territory in full. Germany has pledged to deliver another system following calls from Kyiv.

Kuleba met his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide in Kyiv to coordinate efforts to provide Patriots promptly.

 

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russia’s top brass reports destroying first Khmara jammer in Ukraine operation

Russian troops destroyed the first Khmara electronic warfare station of the Ukrainian army over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

Russian troops destroyed the Khmara jammer in the Avdeyevka area, it specified.

"In counter-battery fire, the following targets were destroyed: a US-made 155mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery gun, a 152mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery gun, a 122mm Gvozdika motorized artillery system, three 122mm D-30 howitzers, a US-manufactured 105mm M102 howitzer and a Khmara electronic warfare station," the ministry said in a statement.

** Ukraine’s army loses 420 troops in Donetsk area over past day

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 420 troops in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"The Ukrainian army lost as many as 420 personnel, a tank, 10 motor vehicles, 2 Gvozdika motorized artillery systems and a British-made 105mm L119 howitzer," the ministry said.

** Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian command post over past day

Russian troops destroyed a command post of a Ukrainian National Guard brigade over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces destroyed a battalion command/observation post of the 13th Ukrainian National Guard brigade and struck enemy manpower and military hardware in 110 areas," the ministry said.

 

Reuters/Tass