List of All Articles with Tag 'rl'

Alleged sex-trafficking victims of Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard are suing him, his companies and high-level employees, claiming

Three West African nations led by military juntas met this week to strengthen a newly formed alliance described by some analysts on Friday as an attempt to legitimize their military governments amid coup-related sanctions and strained relations with neighbors. In his first foreign trip since the July coup that brought him into power, Niger’s junta leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani held separate meetings Thursday with his Mali and Burkina Faso counterparts. During their meetings, the leaders pledged security and political collaborations under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a partnership the three countries announced in September as a measure to help fight the extremist violence they each struggle with and across the Sahel, the vast arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert. The alliance provides a “path of sovereignty” for the countries and for their citizens, Gen. Tchiani told reporters after his meeting with Malian leader Col. Assimi Goita. “Through this alliance, the peoples of the Sahel affirm that … nothing will prevent them from the objective of making this area of ​​the Sahel, not an area of ​​insecurity, but an area of ​​prosperity,” Tchiani said. In reality, though, the partnership "is in part an effort to entrench and legitimize (their) military governments” more than to tackle the violent extremism which they have limited capacity to fight, said Nate Allen, an associate professor at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. The violence across the Sahel has contributed to a recent surge of coups in the region and militaries that claimed they took over power to help tackle their country's security challenges have struggled to do so. On Thursday, Gen. Tchiani partly blamed the violence on foreign powers, repeating claims his government has often made against France — which had been influential in the three countries before being forced out after their militaries took over — and against West Africa’s regional bloc of ECOWAS, which has heavily sanctioned Niger as a measure to reverse the surge of coups in the region. The new partnership also offers the military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger an opportunity "to say, ‘we are not internationally isolated and we actually have partners that share our ideology and philosophy’,” said James Barnett, a researcher specializing in West Africa at the U.S.-based Hudson Institute. Some analysts, however, believe that by pooling their resources together, those countries are able to reduce individual reliance on foreign countries and tackle the security challenge with one front. “The merit of this new alliance, despite its limited means and capabilities, lies in its initiation by concerned members," said Bedr Issa, an independent analyst who researches the conflict in the Sahel. "Its long-term success depends both on the resources that member countries can mobilize and the support that Africans and the broader international community could provide,” he added. In the Malian capital of Bamako, 35-year-old Aissata Sanogo expressed hope that such a partnership could be useful. “It’s important that we take charge of our own security,” said Sanogo. “That’s what I’m expecting from this alliance.” ____ Associated Press journalist Baba Ahmed in Bamako, Mali, contributed to this report. ____ Follow AP’s Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa Read More Victims in Niagara Falls border bridge crash identified as Western New York couple Mexico's arrest of cartel security boss who attacked army families' complex was likely personal Argentina and Brazil charged by FIFA after fan violence delays World Cup qualifying game at Maracana Germany's economy shrank, and it's facing a spending crisis that's spreading more gloom NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week Putin to boost AI work in Russia to fight a Western monopoly he says is 'unacceptable and dangerous'

European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos said there are risks to the current growth outlook and

The European Central Bank is now at a point where it can pause and assess the impact of

Hennes & Mauritz AB has pledged to offset higher worker wages in Bangladesh by raising prices for clothing

Macy’s Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gennette says in a Bloomberg Television interview that the retailer had a

Cheryl has revealed that the late Sarah Harding gave Girls Aloud her blessing to reunite and tour again before she passed away from breast cancer in 2021.

A Russian singer entertaining soldiers in occupied Ukraine has been killed after a missile hit the concert hall in which she was performing, local reports have confirmed. Polina Menshikh was performing at a dancehall in the town of Kumachove, Donetsk Oblast, roughly 37 miles from the frontline when two missiles allegedly struck the area on 19 November. The first missile hit the car park outside and the second struck the hall, according to Russian commentators on Telegram. A video circling among Russian military blogger channels appears to show the moment the first missile hits the car park while Ms Menshikh was singing inside. A few seconds later, the screen then goes black before abruptly cutting out. Ms Menshikh later died in hospital of her injuries. She had been performing for the Russian soldiers to mark Artilleryman's Day. A Ukrainian army spokesperson has confirmed media reporting of the incident. At least 20 Russian soldiers also died as a result of the strike, according to other Ukrainian channels. The attack has caused considerable frustration among the Russian milblogger community on Telegram. Mikhail Zvinchuk, author of the ‘Rybar’ channel on Telegram, one of the most followed war bloggers on the social media site, described the incident as the result of “stupid” local commanders. “The tragedy of the situation lies in the fact that the fighters who were in the recreation centre most likely themselves understood perfectly well how large gatherings of people in a combat zone would end,” he wrote. “And they clearly put their knowledge into practice on the front line, camouflaging positions and avoiding clusters in order to avoid falling under enemy attacks. “But in the end, all previous efforts went to waste because of one stupid decision to gather in a huge crowd in a conspicuous place. “And its price, among other things, was the death of a female singer who, unlike the others, had no combat experience, and who entrusted her life to seemingly experienced people.” Alexander Garmaev, a Russian war journalist, claimed the strike had left many Russian soldiers feeling the need to shelter further away from the frontline when off-duty, which he called “pushing back the safe rear”. Portal, a theatre studio based in St Petersburg associated with Ms Menshikh, said a performance on 9 December will be dedicated to the singer. Read More Russia singer killed in occupied Ukraine after missile hits the concert hall Putin pardons two cannibals who joined Russia’s war in Ukraine – report Russia pauses attacks across Ukraine frontline amid losses in battle for Avdiivka Russia-Ukraine war live: China in ‘secret talks for underwater Crimea tunnel’ Sunak is under pressure to act as the UK's net migration figures for 2022 hit a record high Europe's far-right populists buoyed by Wilders' win in Netherlands, hoping the best is yet to come

Ukraine’s long-range precision strikes are inflicting mass casualties among Vladimir Putin’s forces “well behind the frontline”, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has claimed. The dire lack of rotation among frontline troops is leaving Russia’s commanders with “an acute dilemma” of whether to keep soldiers safely dispersed or gather them in groups to boost morale, the ministry claimed – pointing to two recent strikes which likely caused dozens of casualties in Russian-held territory. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military claimed to be inflicting major losses as Russia seeks to try and encircle the key strategic city of Avdiivka in the east, with Kyiv insisting its soldiers are “standing their ground” and “steadfastly holding the defence”. It came as the Washington Post reported that Ukraine’s security service had intercepted emails showing Chinese business executives were potentially open to helping Russia construct a vast underwater tunnel linking the mainland to annexed Crimea. While the project would likely take years to complete, retaining the annexed peninsula is a priority for Vladimir Putin, whose prized 11-mile bridge over the Kerch Strait is under sustained Ukrainian attacks. Read More Putin G20 speech: What Russian leader said in virtual address about Ukraine war ‘tragedy’ Ukraine says at least three dead in Russian airstrike on hospital Putin may start sourcing ballistic missiles from Iran, warns White House Finland erects barriers at border with Russia to control influx of migrants. The Kremlin objects

Mexico’s economy expanded more in the third quarter than preliminary data suggested, lifted by surging exports to the

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti should stay at the club and sign a new contract, according to their former boss Jose Mourinho.

President Gustavo Petro’s pledge to phase out Colombian fossil fuel production is likely to mean importing cheap energy