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BURKINA FASOBurkina Faso's army ousted President Roch Kabore in January 2022, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. MALIA group of Malian colonels led by Assimi Goita ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020. But the coup leaders clashed with the interim president, retired colonel Bah Ndaw, and engineered a second coup in May 2021. Deby's son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, was named interim president and tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to elections. GUINEASpecial forces commander Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Conde in September 2021.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Roch Kabore, Colonel Paul, Henri Damiba, Captain Ibrahim Traore, Assimi Goita, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Bah Ndaw, Goita, CHAD Chad's, Idriss Deby, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, Mamady Doumbouya, Alpha Conde, Conde, Doumbouya, Bate Felix, Nick Macfie Organizations: Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, African, BURKINA FASO Burkina Faso's, Mali's West, Chadian, GUINEA Special, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Niamey, African Union, West, Central Africa, BURKINA FASO, MALI, Mali, N'Djamena, GUINEA

☆ A mystery buyer paid $875,000 for 11 Hunter Biden paintings
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A mystery buyer spent $875,000 on 11 of Hunter Biden's paintings. That's according to internal documents from Biden's art gallery that Insider obtained. Hunter Biden was aware of Hirsh Naftali's identity as well as the identity of another buyer, Kevin Morris, Insider learned. Hunter Biden's counsel told Insider that he became aware of the buyers' identities after their purchases because they were his friends. Hirsh Naftali's role on the commission establishes at least one point at which the worlds of Hunter Biden's art patrons and President Biden's donors overlap.

Persons: Hunter, Biden, Georges Bergès, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali, Hunter Biden, Hirsh Naftali's, Kevin Morris, Hunter Biden's, " Hunter Biden, Ian Sams, Nate Freeman, what's, Freeman, Benjamin Godsill, Godsill Organizations: Service, Commission, America's, Biden White, The Washington Post, White Locations: New York, Wall, Silicon, Manhattan

☆ Exclusive: Hunter Biden's gallery sold his art to a Democratic donor 'friend' who Joe Biden named to a prestigious commission
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Internal gallery documents reveal that sales of Hunter Biden's art brought in $1.3 million. The messaging seemed to suggest that Hunter Biden's art patrons came from a rarified universe of collectors who had nothing to do with the hurly burly of politics. Hunter Biden did in fact learn the identity of two buyers, according to three people directly familiar with Hunter Biden's own account of his art career. In the past, Hunter Biden has privately suggested that he could arrange to have friends seated on the commission. In fact, according to the person familiar with Hunter Biden's account, Morris purchased the art through Biden's gallery.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali, Kevin Morris, Hunter Biden's, Joe Biden, Hunter, Hirsh Naftali, Biden, Kamala Harris, Hirsh Naftali's, —, Nancy Pelosi, Ian Sams, Bruce Weinstein, it's, Weinstein, Eric Schwerin, Barack Obama, Eric, Schwerin, Abbe Lowell, Lowell, Georges Bergès, Hunter Biden's gallerist, Hunter Biden deplanes, Elizabeth Frantz, Morris, Charlie Horne, Gurr Johns, he'd, Kedric Payne, Mattathias Schwartz Organizations: Service, Biden White, Biden White House, California Democratic, Democratic National Campaign, Commission, America's, RAND Corporation, Air Force, New York Times, Times, Department of Justice Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York, Los Angeles, California, Israel, Europe, Syracuse , New York

TUA Assicurazioni, a non-life company founded in 2003, is valued at around 300 million euros ($335 million), according to the sources. Two sources mentioned German insurance heavyweight Allianz (ALVG.DE), fellow German insurer Talanx (TLXGn.DE) and France's Groupama as potential bidders. One of them also named Italy's Itas as one of up to five parties that could bid in the second round. Talanx has expressed interest in ICCREA's non-life business and is competing with Swiss Helvetia Group (HELN.S), Groupama and Italian cooperative insurer Assimoco. ($1 = 0.8946 euros)Additional reporting by Gianluca Semarero in Milan, writing by Keith Weir Editing by Keith Weir and Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: TUA, TUA Assicurazioni, Italy's, ICCREA, Talanx, Rothschild, Mediobanca, Groupama, Gianluca Semarero, Keith Weir, Louise Heavens Organizations: Generali, Cattolica, Allianz, Swiss Helvetia Group, Itas, Thomson Locations: MILAN, Generali, Mediobanca, Talanx, Milan

☆ A man who runs the web domain for a Russian-allied country says the US military has been accidentally sending him millions of emails for 10 years, including sensitive information like a general's trav
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Dutch business owner is warning that millions of US military emails are being sent to Mali. People are sending sensitive information to the ".ml" instead of ".mil" accounts, he told the FT.Johannes Zuurbier said the emails sent to the Russian ally contained maps and personal records. Johannes Zuurbier, who was contracted to manage Mali's country email domain, said he's been trying to alert the Pentagon to the potential security issue for the last decade, according to The Financial Times. Zuurbier told the FT he's seen around 1,000 emails a day being sent to the wrong domain. US military email accounts also notify personnel if they try sending a message to addresses with the ".ml" domain, and will automatically block the email from being sent, Gorman added.

Persons: Johannes Zuurbier, he's, —, Zuurbier, James McConville, General James Charles McConville, Prabowo Subianto, Eko Siswono, He's, Cmdr, Tim Gorman, Gorman Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Financial Times, US Army, Staff, Indonesian Defense, Anadolu Agency, Getty, White House, Wagner, Kremlin, Defense Department Locations: Mali, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Indonesia, Jakarta, Russia, Malian

☆ When a tourist in Bali gets arrested, this is the woman they call
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

When it comes to misbehaving tourists in Bali, Niluh Djelantik has seen and heard it all. “There is no shortage of bad tourists in Bali – I’m losing count, to be honest,” she told CNN Travel. “She’s probably the most important person in Bali, after the governor (Wayan Koster),” the woman said. “We will no longer welcome mass tourism,” Bali governor Wayan Koster said at a conference in May. Bali needs tourists and this is about (getting foreigners) to respect our laws… and not take our hospitality for granted.”

Persons: CNN — Influencers, Djelantik, ”, Bali – I’m, – I’ve, ” Djelantik, I’ve, Bali Agung, ” ‘, She’s, Wayan Koster, you’ll, Yuri Chilikin, Mount Agung –, Chilikin, Garry Lotulung, “ Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Bali, Tourists, ” CNN, Tourism, Visa Locations: Bali, Bali –, Jakarta, Canggu, Indonesia, Germany, “ Bali, Russian, Mount, Instagram, Mount Agung, Denpasar, Moscow, Russia

☆ Generali buys U.S. asset manager Conning under deal with Cathay Life
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, July 6 (Reuters) - Generali (GASI.MI) has agreed to buy Connecticut-based asset manager Conning Holdings as part of a partnership with Cathay Life, a unit of Taiwan's Cathay Financial Holding (2882.TW), the Italian insurer said on Thursday. Cathay Life will become a minority shareholder in Generali Investments Holding, which comprises the majority of the group's asset management activities, with a stake of around 16.75%, Generali said. Furthermore Generali will become one of the top 10 players in asset management in Europe, he added. Generali and Cathay Life will enter an asset management agreement for at least 10 years. The acquisition of Conning and its affiliates increases Generali's total Assets Under Management (AUM) to $845 billion (775 billion euros), up from 620 billion euros at the end of March.

Persons: Philippe Donnet's, Generali, Carlo Trabattoni, Woody Bradford, Gianluca Semeraro, Valentina Za, Keith Weir Organizations: MILAN, Holdings, Cathay Life, Cathay Financial, Cathay, Generali Investments, Wealth Management, Generali, Thomson Locations: Connecticut, United States, Europe, Asia

☆ UN ends peacekeeping mission in Mali, US blames Russia's Wagner
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva told the Security Council that Mali had made a "sovereign decision." "Russia will continue to provide comprehensive support to Mali for normalizing the situation in that country on a bilateral basis." Ambassador Issa Konfourou told the Security Council. "The government regrets that the Security Council continues to consider the situation in Mali as a threat to international peace and security," Konfourou said. The Security Council deployed MINUSMA in 2013 to support foreign and local efforts to restore stability.

Persons: Russia's Wagner, Mali's, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, John Kirby, Anna Evstigneeva, U.N, Issa Konfourou, Konfourou, Antonio Guterres, Abdoulaye Diop, MINUSMA, Michelle Nichols, Steve Holland, Caitlin Webber, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Security, African, Security, House, Security Council, United Nations, Malian Foreign, MINUSMA, Thomson Locations: Mali, United States, Russia, French, Bamako, Malian, Washington

☆ What is Wagner Group doing? Operations in Africa and rest of world explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Several hundred Wagner fighters were killed by U.S. forces during a confrontation in Syria in 2018. U.N. sanctions monitors reported in 2020 that Wagner had deployed up to 1,200 people in Libya and the U.S. military Africa Command said Russian military aircraft were supplying Wagner fighters there. As well as bringing in Syrian fighters as mercenaries, Wagner worked alongside foreign fighters from Sudan, Chad and elsewhere. Russian mercenaries including from Wagner intervened in 2018 on the side of the government to quell a civil war that has raged since 2012. Wagner fighters have been accused of involvement in an incident last year in Moura, in central Mali, where local troops and suspected Russian fighters allegedly killed hundreds of civilians.

Persons: Russia's Wagner, Wagner, UKRAINE Wagner, BELARUS Wagner, Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, Bashar al, Assad, LIBYA Wagner, Khalifa Haftar's, Haftar, U.N, Omar al, Bashir, Angus McDowall, Alison Williams Organizations: Defence Ministry, Evro Polis, United States Department of Defense, United Arab Emirates, U.S ., Africa Command, CENTRAL, Central African, Reuters, Russian, Rapid Support Forces, Reuters newsrooms, Thomson Locations: Europe, East, Africa, UKRAINE, Ukraine, Bakhmut, BELARUS, Belarus, Asipovichi, Minsk, SYRIA Russia, Syria, U.S, Syrian, Libya, Hmeimim, Russia, LIBYA, Tripoli, Egypt, UAE, Russian, Sudan, Chad, Republic, Central African Republic, States, MALI, Mali, Moura, SUDAN, Moscow, Middle East

The planned end of the MINUSMA mission follows years of tensions between the U.N. and Mali's military junta that came to a head this month when Mali Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop asked the force to leave "without delay". The U.N. mission is credited with playing a vital role in protecting civilians against an Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands. Under the draft text, MINUSMA would have until Dec. 31 to undertake an "orderly and safe" withdrawal, which the Security Council would review by Oct. 30. A UN peacekeeping spokesperson said: "Subject to the decision of the Security Council, the United Nations is ready to work with the Malian authorities on an exit plan for MINUSMA." The U.N. had been expected to extend its mandate for another year this month, before Mali asked it to leave.

Persons: Adama Diarra, Abdoulaye Diop, Russia's Wagner, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, MINUSMA, David Lewis, Edward McAllister, Michelle Nichols, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: UN, United Nations, Reuters, Mali Foreign, Security Council, Thomson Locations: Kouroume, Mali, Kourome, Timbuktu, Mali Mali, NAIROBI, DAKAR, Mali's, Russia, Belarus, China, United States, Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, al Qaeda, West Africa, Gao, Algiers Accords

The U.N. mission is credited with playing a vital role in protecting civilians against an Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands. "The Security Council ... decides to terminate MINUSMA's mandate as of June 30 2023," said the draft resolution circulated among council member states last week. A draft resolution could still be changed before publication, but two of the sources said they expected no changes to be made. The 15-member Security Council is due to vote on Thursday. Under the draft resolution, operations would be pared down to providing security to U.N. personnel, facilities and convoys.

Persons: Adama Diarra, Abdoulaye Diop, Russia's Wagner, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, MINUSMA, Moscow's, David Lewis, Edward McAllister, Michelle Nichols Organizations: UN, United Nations, Reuters, Mali Foreign, Security, Security Council, Thomson Locations: Kouroume, Mali, Kourome, Timbuktu, Mali Mali, NAIROBI, DAKAR, France, Mali's, Russia, Belarus, China, United States, Britain, Germany, Sweden, al Qaeda, West Africa, Gao, Algiers Accords

Mali, where military authorities seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, is battling a years-long Islamist insurgency. It has said Russian forces there are not Wagner mercenaries but trainers helping local troops with equipment bought from Russia. In February, French President Emmanuel Macron described the deployment of Wagner Group troops in Africa as the "life insurance of failing regimes in Africa" that will only sow misery. A suspension of Wagner operations in Africa could impact the group's finances. The group has cemented strong ties with several African governments over the past decade with operations in at least eight African nations, according to leaked U.S. documents, including Mali, Central African Republic, and Libya.

Persons: Wagner, Stringer, Bassirou Doumbia, Wagner's, Vladimir, Putin, Yvan Guichaoua, insurgencies, Emmanuel Macron, Edward McAllister, Bate Felix, Alessandra Prentice, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Southern Military District, REUTERS, Central African Republic, Kremlin, United Nations, Brussels School of International Studies, Central African, Wagner Group, West, United, Thomson Locations: Rostov, Don, Russia, Mali, Central, Africa, BAMAKO, BANGUI, Moscow, Malian, Russian, Central African Republic, Francophone Africa, France, United States, Ukraine, Libya

☆ Pakistan's economic meltdown spurs more people to risk lives to reach Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

He is missing and presumed dead, according to his brother, highlighting the perils faced by people who seek to enter Europe illegally. Cash-strapped Pakistan's $350 billion economy is in a meltdown, with inflation at a record 38%. Pakistan's information ministry did not respond to questions from Reuters about economic factors fuelling migration. 3 nationality registered in Italy coming from Libya, after Egyptians and Bangladeshis, a Frontex spokesperson told Reuters in an email. At least 209 Pakistanis were believed to be on board, according to official data based on information provided by relatives.

Persons: Muhammad Sarwar Bhatti, Hameed Iqbal Bhatti, Salahuddin, Bhatti, Hafeez Pasha, Muhammad Nadeem, Nadeem, Kosar Bibi, Bibi, Sarwar Warraich, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Nazim, Nazim, Muhammad Ali, Anish Raza, Haji Ilyas, Ilyas, puffing, Israr Mirza, Mirza, Gibran Peshimam, Ariba Shahid, David Crawshaw Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Cash, Federal Investigation Agency, FIA, OF, International Monetary Fund, Migrant Resource Centre, College, Thomson Locations: Greece, Khuiratta, Pakistan, Kashmir, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Libya, Italy, Gujrat, Italian, Ferrara, Turkey, Bhojpur, Gujrat district, Spain, EU, Lahore, Islamabad

Ali's comments came after sources said the airline was close to a deal to buy 10 Airbus A350 widebody planes, marking its first order with the French planemaker. It was not clear whether the deal would be finalised in time for the Paris Airshow, which opens on Monday. "Every country has both Airbus and Boeing in their fleet. We didn't have an Airbus in our fleet," Ali said, as the airline looks to break its reliance on the U.S. planemaker that typically dominates widebody orders. The 51-year-old airline has a fleet of more than 20 mostly Boeing planes, over half of which are widebodies, and some Dash-8 turboprops.

Persons: Mahbub Ali, Ali's, Biman, Ali, Ruma Paul, Tim Hepher, Aditi Shah, Christopher Cushing, Jamie Freed Organizations: Bangladesh Airlines, Airbus, Boeing, country's, Reuters, Paris Airshow, Thomson Locations: DHAKA, PARIS, Britain, Malaysia, Thailand, Canada, Dhaka, Paris

☆ US urges 'orderly, responsible' drawdown of UN peacekeepers from Mali
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 19 (Reuters) - The United States regrets a decision by Mali's interim military authorities to ask a United Nations peacekeeping force to leave the country, the State Department said on Monday, calling for an "orderly and responsible" drawdown of the mission. "The United States regrets the transition government of Mali’s decision to revoke its consent for MINUSMA," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. "MINUSMA's drawdown must be orderly and responsible, prioritizing the safety and security of peacekeepers and Malians." MINUSMA was deployed by the U.N. Security Council in 2013 to support foreign and local efforts to restore stability. U.N. Security Council members had started to discuss a draft resolution to extend MINUSMA's mandate, which expires on June 30.

Persons: Abdoulaye Diop, Matthew Miller, MINUSMA, Miller, Michelle Nichols, Daphne Psaledakis, Franklin Paul, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United Nations, State Department, Mali's, Security, Department, . Security, Thomson Locations: United States, Mali, France, Russia, West Africa, El

☆ Germany resists Malian junta demand for immediate exit of troops
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Berlin has deployed some 1,000 troops to Mali, most near the northern town of Gao where their main task is to gather reconnaissance for the 13,000-strong MINUSMA. MINUSMA was deployed by the U.N. Security Council in 2013 to support foreign and local efforts to restore stability. A resolution requires at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France to pass. The junta has burnt bridges with traditional Western allies and turned to Russia for help boosting its military capabilities. Germany said late last year it would start to pull out its troops from Mali from the middle of next year after a decade-long mission, with the withdrawal to be completed by May 2024.

Persons: MINUSMA, Wagner, Sarah Marsh, Sabine Siebold, Giles Elgood Organizations: United Nations, West, . Security, Security, UN, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, Berlin, Mali, Gao, France, Russia, China, United States, Britain

And it has also helped to placate Tuareg-led rebels in northern Mali who halted their separatist uprising with the 2015 Algiers Accord. Mali, Russia and Wagner deny wrongdoing in Moura or targeting civilians anywhere in Mali. RESTRICTIONSMINUSMA launched in 2013 after the separatist rebels and al Qaeda-linked insurgents occupied northern Mali. Bamako and the Kremlin say Russian troops, not Wagner mercenaries, are present in Mali but only to train the army and supply equipment. As a result, MINUSMA has struggled to counter a tide of anti-U.N. posts online, losing the battle for public opinion in Mali.

Persons: Wagner, Ahmedou Ould, Abdallah, MINUSMA, General Antonio Guterres, Abdoulaye Diop, U.N, Fatoumata Sinkoun Kaba, Souleymane Dembelé, Ulf Laessing, Konrad Adenauer, Ould Mohamed Ramdane, Ramdane, Yvan Guichaoua, Friedrich, Ebert, Edward McAllister, David Lewis, Tiemoko Diallo, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Wagner Group, Islamic, CMA, Malian Foreign, Security, Reuters, El, Kremlin, French, Department of Peace, UN, U.S, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, NAIROBI, Russian, West Africa, Gao, Timbuktu, Mali, Algiers, Bamako, Islamic State, al Qaeda, Mauritanian, Sahel, Moura, Russia, U.N, Burkina Faso, Niger, Central African Republic, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, France, Egypt, Brussels, U.S, Dakar, Nairobi

☆ Mali asks United Nations to withdraw peacekeeping force
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, June 16 (Reuters) - Mali's interim military authorities on Friday asked for a United Nations peacekeeping force to leave "without delay", citing a "crisis of confidence" between Malian authorities and the decade-long U.N. mission known as MINUSMA. MINUSMA was deployed by the U.N. Security Council in 2013 to support foreign and local efforts to restore stability. "This situation is begetting mistrust among the Malian population and also causing a crisis of confidence between Malian authorities and MINUSMA," he said. Security Council members must adopt a resolution to extend MINUSMA's mandate by June 30. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recommended this month that the Security Council extend MINUSMA's mandate for a year, maintaining the current authorized strength of some 15,000 troops and police.

Persons: MINUSMA, Abdoulaye Diop, Wagner, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Nebenzia, Nicolas de Riviere, de Riviere, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Michelle Nichols, Bate Felix, Alessandra Prenticel, Frank Jack Daniel, Grant McCool Organizations: YORK, United Nations, West, . Security, Foreign, Security, UN, Thomson Locations: France, MINUSMA, Russia, China, United States, Britain, Mali, al Qaeda, State, Sahel, El

☆ How 150,000 people are fed during Onam in Kerala, India
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( David Valerio | Nicole Raucheisen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Onam is a 10-day harvest festival celebrated in Kerala, India. It marks the first month of the Malayalam calendar and commemorates the return of the mythical King Mahabali from the underworld to his home in Kerala. Mahabali's return and the harvest are celebrated with floral artwork, traditional dances, boat races, and a traditional feast known as the Onam sadya. While the traditions of Onam are rooted in Hinduism, Keralites across the state, regardless of religion or caste, enjoy the festivities and a traditional meal. We visited Vinayaka Caterers in Kerala, India, to see how it prepares sadyas for 150,000 people.

Persons: King Mahabali, Mahabali's Organizations: Caterers Locations: Kerala, India

☆ US says Russia's Wagner Group seeking to transit material acquisitions through Mali
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Wagner is willing to use false paperwork for such transactions, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at a regular news briefing. "There are indications that Wagner has been attempting to purchase military systems from foreign suppliers and route these weapons through Mali as a third party," Miller said. Miller said Washington has imposed sanctions on a number of people and entities that support Wagner's military operations, and said the United States would have more to share soon. Wagner mercenaries have fought alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine, including in some of the most intense battles such as the ongoing fight for control of Bakhmut. Western countries have raised concerns over Wagner's activities in Mali since late 2021.

☆ Jim Brown, legendary NFL running back, dead at 87
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Bill Trott | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

[1/2] Former NFL football player Jim Brown speaks after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 11, 2018. Brown led the NFL in rushing in eight of his nine seasons and was voted the league's most valuable player four times. "I didn't retire because I was broken down and slow," Brown told Sports Illustrated in 2015. "I was basically a proponent of economic development as a way to equality, social equality," Brown told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 2013. The NFL this year honored Brown by renaming the league's rushing title the Jim Brown Award.

☆ US urges Mali to investigate, hold accountable those to blame for Moura attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (Reuters) - The United States on Monday urged Mali's transition government to pursue an "independent, impartial, efficient, exhaustive, and transparent investigation" to hold accountable those responsible for the likely execution of hundreds of people in one village. The identity of the white men was not clear, U.N. Human Rights Office regional spokesperson Seif Magango said. But Western countries have raised concerns over Russian private military contractor Wagner Group's activities in Mali since late 2021, including allegations of its role in Moura. "The United States continues to stand with the Malian people in the fight against terrorism," Miller said in a statement. "Human rights abuses and violations like those committed at Moura will serve only to drive aggrieved civilians into the ranks of terrorists and other armed groups."

☆ Mali rejects UN report on alleged execution of 500 villagers by troops
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BAMAKO, May 14 (Reuters) - Mali's interim military government has rejected a United Nations human rights office report on the alleged execution of at least 500 people by Malian soldiers and unidentified foreign fighters during an operation last year. The report said Malian soldiers and foreign personnel descended in helicopters on the village of Moura on March 27 last year and opened fire on fleeing residents. Maiga said a state investigation into possible human rights violations during the operation was still ongoing, but repeated previous comments that Islamist fighters were killed rather than civilians. The U.N. report was based on interviews with victims and witnesses in the West African country, as well as forensic and satellite imagery. Malian authorities denied requests by the U.N. fact-finding team to access the village of Moura itself, it said.

☆ Mali sets date for delayed vote, saying it's true to its word on democracy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The vote, initially scheduled for March 19, is the first in a series of polls meant to restore democracy in the West African country after two military takeovers since August 2020. It was delayed days before that date to give electoral management authorities more time to set up in all of Mali's 19 administrative regions. He added that the new date showed authorities were true to their word and democratic commitments. Similar frustrations contributed to two military takeovers in neighbouring Burkina Faso last year. Military rulers in both countries have previously blamed election delays on insecurity, saying it made it difficult to organise polls.

☆ Generali's No.3 investor Caltagirone withholds backing for 2022 accounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, April 28 (Reuters) - Italian tycoon Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone, the third-largest investor in Generali (GASI.MI), on Friday withheld his approval for the insurer's 2022 accounts, two sources said, after attempting to bring about a management shake-up last year. They proposed an alternative candidate for the job but lost out in the April 2022 shareholder vote. During the AGM, Donnet said those results put Generali "in an excellent position" to achieve all the targets of its plan to 2024. In April last year, at the height of the shareholder clash, the 2021 accounts got around 85% of AGM votes. Italy's Benetton family, with a 4.8% stake, also challenged Donnet who had the support of Generali's top shareholder Mediobanca (MDBI.MI), which holds 13% of the insurer.

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