Did ukraine lost control of Soledar?

Soledar an embattled town in Ukraine is particularly important for two major reasons. First, Soledar has a wide network of salt mines that form a network under the city. Its capture would allow Russian forces to use these to launch attacks against the Ukrainians. Second Soledar is very close to bakhmuth a strategically important city in the war. This is because it lies in between a very important supply line between Donetsk and Luhansk. If the Russian invading forces were to fully capture it, they'd be able to deny Ukraine the supply route and in essence give Ukraine a taste of their own medicine. Throughout the war, so far, Ukraine has been devastating Russian supply lines making the war harder to fight. For these reasons, Soledar is seeing a huge amount of fighting in the first few weeks of 2023. In fact, so much so that it's crudely being referred to as the meat grinder. So it's easy to see why Ukraine has put so much effort into trying to ensure that the Russians never get their hands on Soledar.

Unfortunately for them it appears that the Russians may have finally captured the town. Now, we should note here that there are actually competing claims about who controls the town. The UK's Ministry of Defence said this morning that the Wagner group, who are in essence Russian mercenaries, are now likely to control Soledar. Evgeny Prigozhin, the head of the mercenary group, posted a photo of himself surrounded by Wagner Group troops in what appeared to be one of the city salt mines. He said later on Tuesday that Wagner units took control of the entire territory of Soledar. A cauldron has been formed in the center of the city in which urban fighting is going on. Kiev disputes this and says that its soldiers are holding out in Soledar. A Ukrainian military spokesperson said Russia say that it's under their control, It is not true. Speaking of the fighting in Soledar, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said there was almost no life left. And this is what madness looks like. If the town has been or eventually is captured by Russia, it will be a symbolic and strategic victory, but not without cost, as by all indications the fighting has been fierce.

Uranium at Heathrow

It was reported yesterday that the Metropolitan Police detected a package at London's Heathrow Airport that contained a small amount of uranium on the 29th of December 2022. A counter-terrorism commander has claimed that there was only a small amount of the substance found and that it posed no serious risk to the general public. The package was on its way to some Iranian nationals living in the UK and had arrived on a flight from Oman, which originated in Pakistan. It has been claimed that the incident is not linked to any direct threat, although investigations are ongoing. The former head of the British Army's chemical weapons unit has claimed that while there is no indication yet that a group such as al Qaeda were involved, it does have their fingerprints all over it. He added that we must be open to the fact that this might be some sort of terror type thing.

Macron's Pension Battle

President Emmanuel Macron's government has unveiled its plans to reform the French pension system, which includes pushing the retirement age from 62 to 64, bringing it closer in line with its European neighbours. The government faces an almighty battle over the long delayed and unpopular reform, which is opposed by eight out of ten French citizens, according to a recent poll. Meanwhile, trade unions swiftly called for a strike against the plans. On January the 19th, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, set out the plans cautiously and admitted it will spark fears and questions among the French people. The increase in retirement age wouldn't happen immediately, but would take place over time between 2027 and 2030. The government says the reforms would represent growth savings of €17.7 billion a year by 2030. In his first term, Macron's government attempted to overhaul the pension system but scrapped plans in 2020 amid mass protests and disruption from COVID. We can expect heated debates on the measures in the National Assembly, where Macron's party does not have a majority as the furthest left and furthest right blocs have vowed to oppose them.

Genocide inquiry in Peru

Peru's new president, Dino Blewett, is facing a genocide inquiry after 17 civilians died in clashes with security forces in the south of the country on Monday. Peru's top prosecutor announced that BOLO out, as well as the country's prime minister, defense minister and others, were being investigated on charges of genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries. More than 40 people have been killed and hundreds injured amid protests, demonstrations and clashes since early December. Monday was the deadliest of the protests so far, with 17 civilians killed. Violence continued on Tuesday as a police officer died after his car was torched. Protests broke out in Peru last month following the impeachment removal and arrest of former president Pedro Castillo, who had tried illegally to dissolve Congress. Castillo's vice president became president, but supporters of the ousted leader, many of whom are poor and indigenous Peruvians, are calling for early elections and his release from jail.