Kharkiv offensive: Ukraine targets Donbas as advance gathers pace

 Ukrainian officials say they are targeting towns in the eastern Donbas region after making a series of gains in a rapid counter-offensive.

In recent days Ukraine’s army reclaimed swathes of occupied territory, forcing Russian troops to retreat.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces were fortifying their hold over 8,000 sq km (3,088 sq miles) of retaken territory in the Kharkiv region.

US President Joe Biden said Ukraine had made “significant” gains.

Mr Biden said it was “clear” that the advance had enjoyed success, but cautioned that the offensive “could be a long haul”.

While Russia still controls around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, towns in the Donbas that fell early in the war are now under threat from Kyiv’s advancing forces.

After failing to capture cities across the country, including the capital Kyiv, Russia has been focusing on the Donbas, parts of which were already under the control of Russian-back rebels before Russia launched its invasion this year.

Serhiy Hayday, the exiled Ukrainian head of the Luhansk region – one of two provinces that make up the Donbas – said Ukrainian forces had reached the strategic town of Lyman.

“There are fierce battles in Lyman now, which I think will last a few more days,” Mr Hayday said in a Telegram post.

Lyman fell to Russian forces after a protected battle at the end of May. It sits just 50km (31 miles) away from the city of Donetsk, the capital of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic.

Its capture was a coup for Russian troops, giving Moscow control over a key east-west highway.

In other areas, Ukrainian forces are said to have reached the Russian border, and Mr Hayday said their capture of two towns – Izyum and Kupiansk – could see supply lines to the Russian-held cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk severed.

The precise scale of Ukraine’s gains has not been verified

As Kyiv’s forces move into previously occupied areas, allegations of Russian war crimes have started to emerge. The Kremlin has admitted that its forces have moved out of some eastern towns, but refused to call it a retreat, instead insisting that its forces are regrouping.

On Monday, Moscow insisted that it would press on with its invasion “until all the goals that were originally set are achieved”.

But the pace of the Ukrainian advance appears to have taken Russian forces by surprise, with reports of some of Moscow’s forces abandoning their uniforms to blend in with civilians.

In some areas, Russian teachers who moved to Ukrainian towns and cities after Moscow seized control were left behind by the retreating troops.

An unspecified number have now been detained by Ukrainian forces and Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has warned that they will face charges.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to re-enter negotiations with Ukraine as soon as possible during a 90-minute phone call on Tuesday.

A German government readout of the call said Mr Scholz urged Mr Putin “to find a diplomatic solution as soon as possible, based on a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Russian troops and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine”.

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SA ends residency for religious workers

 Foreign religious workers will no longer be eligible for work permits or permanent residency in South Africa, news site EWN reports quoting the country Home Affairs minister.

Minister Aaron Motsoaledi was appearing in front of a parliamentary committee investigating how controversial Malawian televangelist Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, fled the country in 2020 while facing money laundering charges.

A senior and four junior South African Home Affairs officials have been suspended for allegedly issuing Mr Bushiri a residency permit.

South Africa sent a formal extradition request to Malawi for Mr Bushiri.

“I want to confirm that on our movement control system, we do not see any record of the Bushiris leaving, which means they left the country illegally,” Mr Motsoaledi said on Tuesday, EWN reports.

The minister also said that an investigation had been launched to determine how another evangelist, Nigerian Timothy Omotoso, who is facing a rape and human trafficking charges, had acquired South African residency.

“We are saying they must come only as visitors, but as visitors who can perform work. This change means there’s no avenue available for these religious workers to migrate to permanent residence status,” said Mr Motsoaledi.

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Zambia chief prosecutor fears for her life

 Zambia’s chief state prosecutor says her life is in danger after the government withdrew all her security.

Lillian Siyunyi, who was appointed by the previous government, has fallen out with the new administration and is a subject of complaints against her professional conduct at the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC).

She has refused to appear before the JCC arguing that her constitutional oath of secrecy first needed to be lifted by President Hakainde Hichilema before she could appear before the body.

As one of highest constitutional office holders in Zambia, the Director of Public Prosecutions swears an oath of secrecy which in part reads: “I will not directly or indirectly reveal or transmit any information or matter as shall be made known to me by reason of my office except as may be required in the discharge of my duties as such or with the authority of the president.”

Ms Siyunyi told the BBC that both the president and the attorney general had denied her request.

She complained that despite the waiver being denied, the JCC had proceeded with the hearing of the complaints against her.

Ms Siyunyi added that if she responded to any of the charges against her before the lifting of her oath of secrecy, she would be breaking the constitution and committing a crime.

“I have had to escape from home on more than three occasions” after threats from known ‘operatives’.”

“I am not at all saying that I am above the law but that there must be total compliance with the provisions of the constitution of Zambia which we all must uphold if we are to uphold the rule of law and protect human rights for all,” she said.

Presidential spokesperson, Anthony Bwalya, has since last week not responded to a BBC query on the matter.

On Monday, Information Minister and Chief government Spokesperson, Chushi Kasanda, referred all questions to Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe who was contacted by the BBC but has not yet responded.

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TAAG cargo service generates USD 67 mln profits

 Luanda – The Angolan airlines TAAG reaped until August, 67 million US dollars with its cargo services surpassing the 55.5 million US dollars profit forecast for this year, ANGOP has learnt from a data disclosed Tuesday by the company.

The new service, which has been carried out by the airlines for over the past eight months, resulted in an exceptional revenue of over 20 percent, contradicting the primary projections made in January , when the service was launched.

 

The data adds that the performance is the result of teamwork and contracts signed by TAAG for charter flights, exclusively for cargo, between China and Latin America (Brazil), via Angola.

 

TAAG has several connections from Luanda to Chinese cities such as Changsha, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai Hongqiao and Beijing for transportation of various goods such as raw materials, agricultural products, electronic equipment and others, the statement says.

 

The service is provided by three aircraft, two Boeing 777 for intercontinental connections and one Boeing 737 for regional routes.

 

"Cargo and mail transportation is increasingly strategic for TAAG, with a growing contribution to the company's sustainability", the statement said.

 

In parallel with the effort to increase revenue, TAAG is also committed to reducing costs. It also aims to reduce costs by about 10 million US dollars by August 2023.

Portuguese President in Luanda to attend João Lourenço inauguration

 Luanda - The Portuguese Head of State, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, arrived Wednesday morning in Luanda to attend the inauguration ceremony of the re-elected President of Angola, João Lourenço, to take place Thursday.

At Luanda 's 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was received by the Angolan minister of Foreign Affairs, Teté António, and by the governor of Luanda, Paula de Carvalho.

 

Speaking to the press, the Portuguese Head of State said the two countries have long-standing diplomatic and friendly relations and that there is the will to deepen these ties.

 

For the Portuguese statesman, Angola and Portugal "are condemned to live together and cooperate in different domains”.

 

Marcelo de Sousa is the second President to arrive in Angola to attend João Lourenço 's inauguration ceremony. The first was Umaro Sissoco Embaló, of Guinea Bissau, who is  in Luanda since Tuesday.

 

The MPLA party and its leader, João Lourenço, won the fifth general elections held in Angola with 51.17 percent of the votes.