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2023Kim
2023Putin
February 20, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaPutin gifts luxury Aurus car to North Korea’s KimPublished32 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The carmaker’s website describes the Aurus as Russia’s first full-size luxury sedanBy Robert GreenallBBC NewsRussian President Vladimir Putin has given North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a luxury Russian-made car.Pyongyang’s state media said the limousine was delivered to Mr Kim’s top aides on Sunday.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later confirmed the gift, saying it was an Aurus, a full-sized luxury sedan of the type used by Mr Putin himself.The two internationally isolated countries have forged close relations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.North Korea is thought to be supplying Russia with artillery, rockets and ballistic missiles for the war, despite international sanctions on both countries. Both sides deny breaching sanctions.Mr Putin welcomed Mr Kim to the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East last September, in what was his first trip abroad in four years.Image source, ReutersImage caption, President Putin (left) and Kim Jong Un met in September for their first face-to-face in four yearsDuring that visit, the North Korean leader inspected Mr Putin’s own Aurus Senat limousine and was invited to get in the back seat. They also swapped guns as gifts.Kim Jong-un is believed to be a car enthusiast and to have a collection of luxury foreign vehicles.Kim’s sister Yo Jong said the “gift serves as a clear demonstration of the special personal relations between the top leaders” of the two countries, in remarks quoted by North Korean state news agency KCNA.But South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the gift breached UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea, which prohibit supplies of certain categories of vehicle including luxury cars.Kim and Putin go public – but is it all a show? Putin and Kim: Friends in need (of ammunition)Inside Kim Jong Un’s luxury bulletproof trainThe BBC’s Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says that while the two leaders’ personal relationship is hardly a bromance – unlike that between Mr Kim and former US President Donald Trump – they both see the benefits of closer ties.Both Russia and North Korea have indicated that Mr Putin will visit Pyongyang in the near future.Related TopicsKim Jong UnRussiaVladimir PutinNorth KoreaMore on this storyKim and Putin go public – but is it all a show?Published15 September 2023Kim Jong Un extends Russia visit by several daysPublished14 September 2023The US wants to talk to North Korea but doesn’t know howPublished14 September 2023Kim and Putin discuss possible military cooperationPublished14 September 2023Putin and Kim: Friends in need (of ammunition)Published12 September 2023Top StoriesCameron government knew Post Office ditched Horizon IT investigationPublished10 hours agoStrictly dancer Robin Windsor dies aged 44Published54 minutes agoNavalny’s widow is strong but return to Russia would be highly riskyPublished6 hours agoFeatures’Evacuating was a mistake’: Israelis push to return to border homesHow Russia has rebranded Wagner in AfricaOne of UK’s ‘most advanced’ vertical farms opensWho is Julian Assange and why is he facing extradition?Boarders: ‘We all have to code switch to survive in life’Navalny’s widow faces daunting challengeThe Papers: Navalny wife blames Putin and US’s move to block Rafah offensiveHow an asbestos scare has sent Sydney scramblingLyse Doucet: Rafah deadline raises stakes as Ramadan nearsElsewhere on the BBCA dream holiday turns into a nightmareEverything changes for Karl Williams when he is busted with a kilo of drugsAttributioniPlayerCan dental chews really clean your dog’s teeth?Greg hears from a pet nutritionist and a vet who’s an expert in dental careAttributionSoundsEveryone has something to hide…When Sabine’s body is found beneath the cliffs, her sister is convinced she was murderedAttributionSoundsGet to know Cillian Murphy through musicThe Golden Globes and BAFTA-winning actor shares what he’d take with him to a desert islandAttributionSoundsMost Read1Strictly dancer Robin Windsor dies aged 442Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine ‘shot dead’3Government knew Post Office ditched Horizon probe4Brightest and hungriest black hole ever detected5Putin gifts luxury car to North Korea’s Kim6TV presenter’s rail rant leads to apology7Navalny’s widow faces daunting challenge8Probe after ‘Israel’ crossed out on birth certificate9’Too high’ baby milk prices to be investigated10Germany World Cup winner Brehme dies aged 63AttributionSport

[ad_1] The Kremlin says it was an Aurus, a full-sized sedan of the type used by the Russian president himself.

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February 20, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaRussian pilot Maxim Kuzminov who defected to Ukraine ‘shot dead’ in SpainPublished5 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, EPAImage caption, Maxim Kuzminov defected from Russia in August 2023 by flying his helicopter over the border with UkraineBy Laura GozziBBC NewsThe body of a man who was shot dead in Spain is believed to be that of a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine last year.In August, Maxim Kuzminov flew a helicopter into Ukrainian territory, where he handed himself in.Spanish police have not publicly confirmed the identity of the man, who was killed near Alicante last week.However, Ukrainian intelligence confirmed Mr Kuzminov’s death on Monday. A spokesperson told the Ukrainian outlet Ukrayinska Pravda: “We confirm the fact of his death… He decided to move to Spain rather than remain here. “What we know is that he invited his ex-spouse to join him and then he was found shot to death.”Spanish authorities told the BBC that the victim may have been living under a false identity.According to Spanish news agency Efe, Mr Kuzminov’s body was found near a property in the town of Villajoyosa on Spain’s eastern coast alongside documentation matching his nationality, but with a different name.A burnt-out car apparently used by the attackers was found near the scene of the crime, the intelligence agency’s press service told the outlet.Mr Kuzminov reportedly contacted the Ukrainian secret service to inform them of his decision to defect sometime last year.”Operation Synytsia” eventually saw him fly his Mi-8 helicopter over the border and land it in eastern Ukraine on 9 August. Two other people on board, who had been unaware of Mr Kuzminov’s plans, were shot dead when they started running back towards the border after the helicopter landed. Mr Kuzminov, who was also shot in the leg, blamed Russian forces for the killings. During a news conference in September, Mr Kuzminov said he switched sides because he opposed Russia’s war on Ukraine. He also said that Ukraine promised him $500,000 (£397,000) in state payments, new documents and protection for his family.Ukrainian authorities said they had offered Mr Kuzminov the opportunity to stay in Ukraine. The secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, said: “He would definitely have been protected here. And I don’t think that they have behaved as disgracefully here as they did in Spain,” he said.There has been no official comment from Russian authorities, although on Tuesday, Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, said: “That traitor and criminal was a moral corpse.”A few months after Mr Kuzminov defected, Russian state TV showed a man said to be a Russian intelligence officer saying: “I don’t think he’ll live long enough to face trial.”Related TopicsWar in UkraineSpainMore on this storyRussian defector who fled on foot speaks to BBCPublished12 June 2023Top StoriesCameron government knew Post Office ditched Horizon IT investigationPublished9 hours agoStrictly dancer Robin Windsor dies aged 44Published38 minutes agoNavalny’s widow is strong but return to Russia would be highly riskyPublished5 hours agoFeatures’Evacuating was a mistake’: Israelis push to return to border homesHow Russia has rebranded Wagner in AfricaOne of UK’s ‘most advanced’ vertical farms opensWho is Julian Assange and why is he facing extradition?Boarders: ‘We all have to code switch to survive in life’Navalny’s widow faces daunting challengeThe Papers: Navalny wife blames Putin and US’s move to block Rafah offensiveHow an asbestos scare has sent Sydney scramblingLyse Doucet: Rafah deadline raises stakes as Ramadan nearsElsewhere on the BBCA dream holiday turns into a nightmareEverything changes for Karl Williams when he is busted with a kilo of drugsAttributioniPlayerCan dental chews really clean your dog’s teeth?Greg hears from a pet nutritionist and a vet who’s an expert in dental careAttributionSoundsEveryone has something to hide…When Sabine’s body is found beneath the cliffs, her sister is convinced she was murderedAttributionSoundsGet to know Cillian Murphy through musicThe Golden Globes and BAFTA-winning actor shares what he’d take with him to a desert islandAttributionSoundsMost Read1Strictly dancer Robin Windsor dies aged 442Government knew Post Office ditched Horizon probe3Probe after ‘Israel’ crossed out on birth certificate4Lion kills zookeeper at Nigerian university5Navalny’s widow faces daunting challenge6Navalny wife blames Putin and US’s move to block Rafah offensive7Brightest and hungriest black hole ever detected8Bowel cancer checks for anyone with inherited risk9Russia detains US-Russian woman on treason charge10LGBT veteran in ‘last battle’ for navy ban compensation

[ad_1] Maxim Kuzminov – who fled Russia on a military helicopter – was found dead in Spain, according to reports.

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February 20, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaChina coast guard caused ‘panic’ by boarding tourist boat, says TaiwanPublished39 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Kinmen lies just 3km away from China’s south-eastern coast, placing it on the frontline of tensions between China and Taiwan.By Kelly NgBBC NewsTaiwan has accused China’s coast guard of triggering “panic”, after six Chinese officials briefly boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat.They checked the ship’s route plan, certificate and crew licenses, and left half an hour later.It comes less than a week after a Chinese fishing boat was pursued by Taiwan’s coast guard in the same area. The boat later capsized, killing two. Beijing later said it would step up patrols in the Kinmen archipelago.Kinmen lies just 3km(1.86 mi) away from China’s south-eastern coast, placing it on the frontline of tensions between China and Taiwan.China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually, be part of the country, and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve this. But Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland. “We think it has harmed our people’s feelings and triggered people’s panic. That was also not in line with the interest of the people across the strait,” Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, said of the incident, which happened late afternoon on Monday. The sightseeing vessel was carrying 11 crew members and 23 passengers, some of whom said they were nervous and worried they “would not be able to return to Taiwan”. “I was quite shocked and very anxious,” said a female passenger in a video posted on China Times.Ms Kuan said it was common for Chinese and Taiwanese tourist boats to enter the other side’s waters by accident, adding that: “Boats like these are not illegal at all.”The military will not “actively intervene” in the incident to avoid escalating tensions, Taiwan’s Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters in parliament on Tuesday.”Let’s handle the matter peacefully,” he said. Last week, two Chinese fishermen drowned while being chased by the Taiwanese coastguard off Kinmen.Taipei said the fishing boat trespassed into Taiwanese waters and the four fishermen on board resisted an inspection. Their boat capsized when authorities gave chase.Chinese state media said the families of the two survivors had arrived on Kinmen on Tuesday to bring them home. Beijing “strongly condemned” the incident, saying it “seriously hurt the feelings of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait”.Related TopicsAsiaChinaTaiwanFishing industryMore on this storyTwo Chinese fishermen die in sea chase by TaiwanPublished5 days agoLove and longing across the Taiwan Strait: The view from ChinaPublished11 JanuaryThe dark rumours trying to destroy Taiwan’s trust in USPublished8 JanuaryTop StoriesCameron government knew Post Office ditched Horizon IT investigationPublished8 hours agoStrictly dancer Robin Windsor dies aged 44Published6 minutes agoRussia accused of executing prisoners of war in AvdiivkaPublished7 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Navalny wife blames Putin and US’s move to block Rafah offensive’Evacuating was a mistake’: Israelis push to return to border homesHow Russia has rebranded Wagner in AfricaNavalny’s widow faces daunting challengeOne of UK’s ‘most advanced’ vertical farm opensWho is Julian Assange and why is he facing extradition?Boarders: ‘We all have to code switch to survive in life’Lyse Doucet: Rafah deadline raises stakes as Ramadan nearsThe unprecedented case of a migrant manslaughter trialElsewhere on the BBCA dream holiday turns into a nightmareEverything changes for Karl Williams when he is busted with a kilo of drugsAttributioniPlayerCan dental chews really clean your dog’s teeth?Greg hears from a pet nutritionist and a vet who’s an expert in dental careAttributionSoundsEveryone has something to hide…When Sabine’s body is found beneath the cliffs, her sister is convinced she was murderedAttributionSoundsGet to know Cillian Murphy through musicThe Golden Globes and BAFTA-winning actor shares what he’d take with him to a desert islandAttributionSoundsMost Read1Strictly dancer Robin Windsor dies aged 442Government knew Post Office ditched Horizon probe3Probe after ‘Israel’ crossed out on birth certificate4Navalny wife blames Putin and US’s move to block Rafah offensive5Russia accused of executing prisoners of war in Avdiivka6Lion kills zookeeper at Nigerian university7Bowel cancer checks for anyone with inherited risk8LGBT veteran in ‘last battle’ for navy ban compensation9Navalny’s widow faces daunting challenge10US zoo extracts 70 coins from white alligator

[ad_1] “We think it has harmed our people’s feelings and triggered people’s panic. That was also not in line with the interest of the people across the strait,” Kuan Bi-ling,…

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February 20, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaLion kills zookeeper at Nigeria’s Obafemi Awolowo UniversityPublished37 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Olabode Olawuyi, a veterinarian technologist, had been taking care of the university’s lions for nine years (file photo)By Basillioh RukangaBBC NewsA zookeeper at a Nigerian university has been killed by one of the lions he had been looking after for close to a decade.Olabode Olawuyi, who was in charge of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) zoo, was attacked as he was feeding the lions, the OAU said. His colleagues were unable to save him as “the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities”, the university added in a statement.The lion has since been put down.The zookeeper, a veterinary technologist, had been “taking care of the lions since they were born on campus about nine years ago”.”But, tragically, the male lion killed the man who had been feeding them,” the OAU said.Nigerians on social media have been sharing graphic images of the incident at the federal government-owned university in Osun state, in the south-west.The news of the incident is said to have sent the university community into mourning.The university sent a team to the family of the deceased to console them.Its vice-chancellor, Prof Adebayo Simeon Bamire, said he was “saddened” by the incident and ordered a thorough investigation “into the immediate and remote causes of the incident”.The university students’ union leader, Abbas Akinremi, told Nigeria’s Vanguard newspaper that the attack was caused by “human error” after the zookeeper had forgotten to lock the door after feeding.He described the incident as unfortunate, while paying tribute to the deceased zookeeper as a “good and humble man, who attended to us nicely whenever we went to the zoo”.Read more on this topic:Animals fear human voices more than lions – study’One of the world’s oldest wild lions’ killedGhana zoo: Lions maul man to death in AccraRelated TopicsNigeriaTop StoriesCameron government knew Post Office ditched Horizon IT investigationPublished7 hours agoRussia accused of executing prisoners of war in AvdiivkaPublished6 hours agoNavalny’s widow faces daunting challengePublished3 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Navalny wife blames Putin and US’s move to block Rafah offensive’Evacuating was a mistake’: Israelis push to return to border homesHow Russia has rebranded Wagner in AfricaNavalny’s widow faces daunting challengeOne of UK’s ‘most advanced’ vertical farm opensWho is Julian Assange and why is he facing extradition?Boarders: ‘We all have to code switch to survive in life’Lyse Doucet: Rafah deadline raises stakes as Ramadan nearsThe unprecedented case of a migrant manslaughter trialElsewhere on the BBCA dream holiday turns into a nightmareEverything changes for Karl Williams when he is busted with a kilo of drugsAttributioniPlayerCan dental chews really clean your dog’s teeth?Greg hears from a pet nutritionist and a vet who’s an expert in dental careAttributionSoundsEveryone has something to hide…When Sabine’s body is found beneath the cliffs, her sister is convinced she was murderedAttributionSoundsGet to know Cillian Murphy through musicThe Golden Globes and BAFTA-winning actor shares what he’d take with him to a desert islandAttributionSoundsMost Read1Government knew Post Office ditched Horizon probe2Navalny wife blames Putin and US’s move to block Rafah offensive3US zoo extracts 70 coins from white alligator4Probe after ‘Israel’ crossed out on birth certificate5Bowel cancer checks for anyone with inherited risk6Russia accused of executing prisoners of war in Avdiivka7LGBT veteran in ‘last battle’ for army ban compensation8Navalny’s widow faces daunting challenge9Hacker group’s site taken over by law enforcement10Lion kills zookeeper at Nigerian university

[ad_1] The veterinarian technologist had been taking care of the university’s lions for nine years.

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February 20, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaWagner in Africa: How the Russian mercenary group has rebrandedPublished50 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPBy Joe Inwood & Jake TacchiBBC Newsnight & BBC Eye InvestigationsRussia is offering governments in Africa a “regime survival package” in exchange for access to strategically important natural resources, a major new report has found. Internal Russian government documents, seen by the BBC, also detail how it is working to change mining laws in West Africa, with the ambition of dislodging Western companies from an area of strategic importance. This is part of the process of the Russian government taking over the businesses of the Wagner mercenary group, broken up after a failed coup in June 2023. The multibillion dollar operations are now mostly being run as the Russian “Expeditionary Corps”, managed by the man accused of being behind the attempt to murder Sergei Skripal using the Novichok nerve agent on the streets of the UK – a charge Russia has denied.”This is the Russian state coming out of the shadows in its Africa policy,” says Jack Watling, land warfare specialist at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) and one of the report’s authors.Back in June 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin was probably the most feared and famous mercenary in the world. His Wagner Group was in control of billions of dollars’ worth of companies and projects, while his fighters were central to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Then, he decided to march on Moscow, ostensibly calling for the removal of the defence minister and head of the general staff, but in reality threatening President Vladimir Putin in a way no-one had before.Within weeks he had died in a highly suspicious plane crash, along with much of the Wagner leadership. There was widespread speculation at the time about what would happen to the Wagner Group. Now, we have the answer. According to Dr Watling, “there was a meeting in the Kremlin fairly shortly after Prigozhin’s mutiny, in which it was decided that Wagner’s Africa operations would fall directly under the control of Russian military intelligence, the GRU”.Control was to be handed to Gen Andrey Averyanov, head of Unit 29155, a secretive operation specialising in targeting killings and destabilising foreign governments.But it seems Gen Averyanov’s new business was not destabilising governments, but rather securing their future, as long as they paid by signing away their mineral rights. In early September, accompanied by deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Gen Averyanov began a tour of former Wagner operations in Africa. They started in Libya, meeting warlord Gen Khalifa Haftar. Their next stop was Burkina Faso where they were greeted by 35-year-old coup leader Ibrahim Traoré.After that, they landed in the Central African Republic, possibly the most well-established Wagner operation on the continent, before heading to Mali to meet the leaders of the junta there.Image source, AFPImage caption, This banner in the Central African Republic reads: Russia is Wagner, we love Russia and we love WagnerOn a subsequent trip they also met General Salifou Modi, one of the military men who seized power in Niger last year.Readouts of the various meetings demonstrate that the two men were reassuring Wagner’s partners on the continent that the demise of Prigozhin did not mean the end of his business deals. Reports of the meeting with Capt Traoré of Burkina Faso confirmed cooperation would continue in “the military domain, including the training of Burkinabe officer cadets and officers at all levels, including pilots in Russia”.In short, the death of Prigozhin did not mean the end for the junta’s relationship with Russia. In some ways, it would become deeper still.The three West African states with close links to Wagner – Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso – have all experienced military takeovers in recent years. They have since announced their withdrawal from the regional bloc Ecowas, and the creation of their own “Alliance of Sahel States”. Maybe the most entwined with the mercenaries was Mali, where an ongoing Islamist insurgency, combined with multiple coups, had left an essentially failed state. Previously, security assistance had come in the form of the UN mission known as Minusma, alongside the French military’s long-running counter-insurgency operation.But there was no particular fondness for France, the former colonial power, and so when the Wagner group offered to replace their security operations with Russian backing, the offer was accepted. “The French were tolerated, rather than welcomed,” says Edwige Sorgho-Depagne, an analyst of African politics who works for Amber Advisers. “The French mandate to help in the terror crisis in the Sahel was always regarded as limited in time. So, the fact that the French stayed for that long – over 10 years – without finding a way to end the crisis didn’t help”.Image source, TelegramImage caption, These flowers commemorating Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin were laid at a monument to Russian mercenaries in CARBeyond pragmatism, there was also nostalgia. “In these countries, Russia is not a new ally. Russia was there before in the 1970s and 1980s.” “There’s this dream of getting back to a better time, which is often associated with the relationship with Russia.”But for the military juntas running these countries, Russia’s military presence has obvious benefits.”Initially, these juntas were transitional leaders. They were supposed to organise elections and bring about a return to democratic institutions.””But now Russian paramilitaries are brought in to protect the military junta, allowing them to stay as long as they want.”The junta ordered the French forces to leave and Mali is now largely dependent on Wagner for its internal security, a change that is having an immediate impact on ordinary Malians. “What the Russians have provided is a strike force, with helicopters with advanced capabilities and a lot of firepower,” says Dr Watling. “They are using pretty traditional Soviet anti-partisan methods. You see fighters who were executed, as well as civilians targeted for enabling or being associated with fighters.”There have been multiple claims that Wagner forces carried out human rights abuses on the African continent, as well as in Ukraine and Syria, where Prigozhin’s organisation previously held a commanding presence. One of the most well-documented incidents took place in the central Malian town of Moura where, according to a UN report, at least 500 people are believed to have been summarily executed by Malian troops and “armed white men”, who eyewitnesses described as speaking an “unknown language”.While independent verification has not been possible, Human Rights Watch identified the unknown white attackers as Russian mercenaries. Image source, TelegramImage caption, A hundred Russian military specialists arrived in Burkina Faso, along with equipment and weapons last month, with more expected soonIn exchange for considerable, if brutal, security assistance, Wagner required something in return.Mali, like many African nations, is rich in natural resources – from timber and gold to uranium and lithium. Some are simply valuable, while others have strategic importance as well.According to Dr Watling, Wagner was operating in a well-established tradition: “There is a standard Russian modus operandi, which is that you cover the operational costs with parallel business activity. In Africa, that is primarily through mining concessions.”In every country in which it operates, Wagner was reported to have secured valuable natural resources using these to not only cover costs, but also extract significant revenue. Russia has extracted $2.5bn (£2bn) worth of gold from Africa in the past two years, which is likely to have helped fund its war in Ukraine, according to the Blood Gold Report.This month, Russian fighters – formerly Wagner mercenaries – took control of Mali’s Intahaka gold mine, close to the border with Burkina Faso. The artisanal mine, the largest in northern Mali, had been disputed for many years by various armed groups active in the region. But there is something else, with potential geopolitical significance. “We are now observing the Russians attempting to strategically displace Western control of access to critical minerals and resources,” says Dr Watling. In Mali, the mining code was recently re-written to give the junta greater control over natural resources. That process has already seen an Australian lithium mine suspend trading on its shares, citing uncertainty over the implementation of the code.While lithium and gold mines are clearly important, according to Dr Watling there is possibly an even greater strategic headache around the corner: “In Niger the Russians are endeavouring to gain a similar set of concessions that would strip French access to the uranium mines in the country.”Image source, AFPImage caption, Many Malians earn their living by mining goldThe report details internal Russian memos focussed on trying to achieve in Niger what was done in Mali. If Russia managed to gain control of West Africa’s uranium mines, Europe could be left exposed once again to what has often been called Russian “energy blackmail”.France is more dependent on nuclear power than any other country in the world, with 56 reactors producing almost two-thirds of the country’s energy. About a fifth of its uranium is imported from Niger. There have previously been complaints about the terms of trade, with suggestions that the former colonial power exploits nations like Niger.”The narrative that Russia is pushing is that Western states remain fundamentally colonial in their attitude,” says Dr Watling. “It’s very ironic because the Russian approach, which is to isolate these regimes, capture their elites and to extract their natural resources, is quite colonial.”In reality, the “Expeditionary Corps” appears more as “Wagner 2.0”, than a radical departure for Russian foreign policy. Prigozhin had built deep political, economic and military ties on the African continent – dismantling this complex web would have been difficult and ultimately counter-productive.The “Expeditionary Corps” is operating in the same countries, with the same equipment and – it seems – with the same ultimate goal. According to Dr Watling, the fundamental change lies in “the overtness with which Russia is pursuing its policy”. Prigozhin’s Wagner Group had always provided Russia with a level of plausible deniability in operations and influence abroad. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many in the Western security apparatus say that Russia’s mask has slipped. “What they are looking to do is to exacerbate our crises internationally. They are trying to start fires elsewhere, and expand those that already exist, making a less safe world,” Dr Watling. “Ultimately, it weakens us in the global competition that we are currently facing. So the impact is not immediately felt, but over time, it is a serious threat.”You may also be interested in:Inside Wagner’s African ‘success story’What is Russia’s Wagner mercenary group? ‘France takes us for idiots’ – Inside coup-hit NigerWhy young Africans are celebrating military takeoversWas Prigozhin a dead man walking? Related TopicsCentral African RepublicRussiaLibyaBurkina FasoMaliAround the BBCBBC Focus on Africa podcastTop StoriesCameron government knew Post Office ditched Horizon IT investigationPublished6 hours agoRussia accused of executing prisoners of war in AvdiivkaPublished5 hours agoNavalny’s body ‘to be held for two weeks’Published6 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Navalny wife blames Putin and US’s move to block Rafah offensive’Evacuating was a mistake’: Israelis push to return to border homesHow Russia has rebranded Wagner in AfricaNavalny’s widow faces daunting challengeOne of UK’s ‘most advanced’ vertical farm opensWho is Julian Assange and why is he facing extradition?Boarders: ‘We all have to code switch to survive in life’Lyse Doucet: Rafah deadline raises stakes as Ramadan nearsThe unprecedented case of a migrant manslaughter trialElsewhere on the BBCA dream holiday turns into a nightmareEverything changes for Karl Williams when he is busted with a kilo of drugsAttributioniPlayerCan dental chews really clean your dog’s teeth?Greg hears from a pet nutritionist and a vet who’s an expert in dental careAttributionSoundsEveryone has something to hide…When Sabine’s body is found beneath the cliffs, her sister is convinced she was murderedAttributionSoundsGet to know Cillian Murphy through musicThe Golden Globes and BAFTA-winning actor shares what he’d take with him to a desert islandAttributionSoundsMost Read1Government knew Post Office ditched Horizon probe2US zoo extracts 70 coins from white alligator3Navalny wife blames Putin and US’s move to block Rafah offensive4Navalny’s body ‘to be held for two weeks’5Probe after ‘Israel crossed out on birth certificate’6Bowel cancer checks for anyone with inherited risk7Russia accused of executing prisoners of war in Avdiivka8LGBT veteran in ‘last battle’ for army ban compensation9Illegal abortion investigations rising, BBC told10Hacker group’s site taken over by law enforcement

[ad_1] Russia has taken the mercenary group into its intelligence services, using it to destabilise Africa.

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February 20, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaLionel Messi defends HK absence as China backlash continuesPublished21 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Messi responds to ‘false stories’ amid China backlashBy Nicholas YongBBC News, SingaporeLionel Messi has highlighted his “special” ties with China, as he continues to face anger from Chinese fans for missing a game in Hong Kong.In a video on social media site Weibo, Messi maintained an injury had led him to sit out the match on 4 February.Messi played in Japan just days after that Hong Kong friendly, enraging fans in China, where he is hugely popular.The backlash against the 36-year-old Argentine superstar has dragged on for weeks.Chinese officials have cancelled two Argentina friendlies due to take place in the country in March.The world champions were set to face Nigeria in Hangzhou and Ivory Coast in Beijing. But football authorities in the Chinese capital said: “Beijing does not plan, for the moment, to organise the match in which Lionel Messi was to participate,” The Hangzhou sports bureau also said the match it was hosting had been called off for “the reasons that everyone knows”.Messi mania grips crowd at China’s Workers’ StadiumMessi remained on the bench throughout the match held in Hong Kong, citing injury. State media outlet Global Times accused the footballer and his club Inter Miami of “political motives” with the aim of “embarrassing” the Chinese Special Administrative Region.But in the Weibo video posted on Monday, the Argentine rejected claims that he skipped play for “political reasons” as “totally untrue”. Stressing his “special affection” for the people of China, he added: “Had that been the case, I wouldn’t have even travelled to Japan or visited China as many times as I have.”He repeated his claim that he could not play in Hong Kong due to an inflamed adductor muscle. “I tried to train and made an effort for all those who’d come to watch training,” he said. “I did all I could. I also went along to the football clinic with all the kids. But I really couldn’t play. I felt discomfort and there was a risk it’d get worse.”Messi’s Weibo post, his second attempt at explaining his absence from the match, has so far attracted some 55,000 comments. Some were sceptical. One comment read: “Sorry is indeed a very difficult word to say”.Still some were supportive. One comment read: “I know you love China, I will always support you for what you have done for us”.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Messi enraged Chinese fans when he failed to take to the field during a friendly in Hong KongSome 38,000 fans at the Hong Kong Stadium booed and demanded refunds when Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham addressed the crowd at the end of the match. They had paid up to HK$4,880 (£494; $624) to watch Messi. They have since been promised a 50% refund by match organisers Tatler Asia.The territory’s chief executive John Lee said he was extremely disappointed by Messi’s absence and called for an explanation from match organisers. Other officials like Hong Kong lawmaker Regina Ip also reacted with fury, claiming that “Hong Kong people hate Messi, Inter-Miami, and the black hand behind them” for the “deliberate and calculated snub”.Just last year, Messi received a rock star welcome in Beijing when he played for his country in a friendly against Australia. Some 68,000 fans paid up to $680 for the chance to see him in action. He is also a spokesperson for big Chinese brands such as Huawei, Chery, Tencent, Mengniu, Chishui River Wine and J&T Express.Related TopicsAsiaChinaHong KongMore on this storyChina cancels Argentina games amid Messi backlashAttributionSportPublished10 FebruaryChina fury as Messi plays after missing Hong Kong gamePublished8 FebruaryTop StoriesCameron government knew Post Office ditched Horizon IT investigationPublished5 hours agoRussia accused of executing prisoners of war in AvdiivkaPublished4 hours agoNavalny’s body ‘to be held for two weeks’Published5 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Navalny wife blames Putin and US’s move to block Rafah offensiveLyse Doucet: Rafah deadline raises stakes as Ramadan nearsThe unprecedented case of a migrant manslaughter trialWatch Baftas 2024 best bits… in two minutes. 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[ad_1] Just last year, Messi received a rock star welcome in Beijing when he played for his country in a friendly against Australia. Some 68,000 fans paid up to $680…