## Putin is abandoning his dream of Russia as a global power

Authored by inews.co.uk

While it’s unlikely that the Jnim-FLA alliance will seize power, or even avoid breaking apart, there are now serious questions about whether Goïta’s regime can survive.

The Russians there are part of the Africa Corps, the organisation established to take over Wagner’s operations on the continent following its brief and unsuccessful mutiny in Russia in 2023.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent spike in global prices has only strengthened Moscow’s hand.

However, it is having to abandon dreams of being a truly global power.

None of this has a direct impact on Putin’s iron grip on the country, but it highlights growing tensions within the Russian elite.

Africa, in itself, matters to very few of them, but it is part of a sense of growing pressures and accumulated small reversals.

Four years into Russia’s war with Ukraine, the struggles of the Africa Corps is further adding to the atmosphere of dejection and recrimination. »

### FCC orders early license renewal for ABC stations following Kimmel's first lady joke

Authored by npr.org

FCC orders early license renewal for ABC stations following Kimmel's first lady joke.

As the early license renewal order went out, FCC Chair Brendan Carr criticized ABC's parent company, Disney.

Now, the FCC is ordering Disney and ABC to file a license renewal application for the stations within 30 days. »

### Ukraine accuses Steven Seagal of receiving weapons from illegal Russian trafficking network

Authored by kyivindependent.com

Ukrainian authorities said they have dismantled an illegal arms trafficking network that allegedly funneled weapons to pro-Russian public figures and politicians, including U.S. actor Steven Seagal and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

The National Police of Ukraine said in an April 28 statement that the network sourced weapons from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories and through illegal imports from Slovakia.

Some of the weapons were distributed as so-called "prizes" by Denis Pushilin, the head of the Russian-installed administration in occupied Donetsk Oblast. »

### Hospital CEOs defend charging patients more at facilities

Authored by nbcnews.com

Hospital CEOs came under fire at a House hearing Tuesday, with Republicans accusing them of overcharging patients and exploiting the system.

Throughout the hearing, Republicans cited instances of hospitals in their states charging high prices at outpatient facilities affiliated with the hospital.

Privately owned clinics and facilities can generally have the right to choose what patients they see and can demand payment up front. »

### Most Swiss back initiative to cap population at 10 million, poll shows

Authored by yahoo.com

ZURICH, April 29 (Reuters) - A slim majority of Swiss are backing an upcoming referendum proposal to limit Switzerland's population to 10 million, ‌and support for it is growing, an opinion poll showed on ‌Wednesday.

But concern about rapid population growth and pressure on public infrastructure is encouraging many Swiss to support the ‌proposal, the survey by ⁠media group Tamedia with newspaper "20 Minuten" and polling institute Leewas showed.

Switzerland's population is now more than 9 million, with official ⁠data showing foreign nationals accounted for more than 27% by 2024. »

## In pictures

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