hello and welcome to bbc news. russia says its forces have completed the capture of soledar a small town in eastern ukraine that s been the focus of intense fighting. moscow called it an important step in its offensive which would allow russian troops to cut off ukrainian forces in nearby bakhmut. if russia s claims are true, it would be the first ukrainan town it has captured since july after six months of russian military setbacks. but ukraine s president zelensky says the battle in soledar is still under way. our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse, reports. a salt mining town under russian assault, soledar has become a story of carnage and contradiction. after months of bloody fighting, an attempt by russia to give a clear message. for the first time, a claim, to be in complete control, and that this town is the start of something bigger. the capture of soledar became possible due to the constant destruction of the enemy, says russia s defence ministry. by groun
If the 29 May elections produce a result that requires the ANC to form a coalition, the post of National Assembly Speaker could be crucial. Were the ANC to let go of this post, it would signal a desperation to retain power.