Ukraine ‘peace summit’ talks make progress but long way to go -officials

By Andrew Gray BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Ukraine’s work with allies to build broad international support for a peace blueprint has made progress but any summit to endorse a document is at least months away, officials said. Senior officials from Ukraine, G7 countries, the European Union and nations such as Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa…

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IMF board approves $1.8 billion for Senegal, frees $216 million immediately

(Reuters) – The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund approved a 3-year Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility for about $1.51 billion with Senegal, and a $324 million arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility, the IMF said on Monday. The EFF/ECF program will help address macroeconomic imbalances while the RSF arrangement will…

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Wagner revolt in Russia clouds outlook for its operations in Africa

By Tiemoko Diallo and Judicael Yongo BAMAKO/BANGUI (Reuters) – A revolt by the Wagner militia in Russia poses a diplomatic quandary for Mali and Central African Republic (CAR), where forces from the mercenary group have played an increasingly central role in long-running internal conflicts. As the Wagner fighters barrelled towards Moscow after seizing a southern…

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Sudanese-Canadian campaigns to help adopted sister stranded in Khartoum

By Mai Shams El-Din CAIRO (Reuters) – A Sudanese-Canadian citizen has been separated from an adopted sister and her children and is trying to help them secure safe passage out of Sudan where they have been stranded for over 10 weeks by the war between rival military factions. Sami Atabani said he hoped the Canadian…

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Cocaine market is booming as meth trafficking spreads, U.N. report says

VIENNA (Reuters) – Cocaine demand and supply are booming worldwide and methamphetamine trafficking is expanding beyond established markets, including in Afghanistan where the drug is now being produced, a United Nations report said on Sunday. Coca bush cultivation and total cocaine production were at record highs in 2021, the most recent year for which data…

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Moscow accuses Wagner head of mutiny, he says his forces enter Russia

By Andrew Osborn and Kevin Liffey MOSCOW/KYIV (Reuters) – Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday his Wagner fighters had crossed the border into Russia from Ukraine and were prepared to go “all the way” against Moscow’s military, hours after the Kremlin accused him of armed mutiny. As a long-running standoff between Prigozhin and…

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Ombudsman to investigate if Spain delayed migrant rescue

MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s ombudsman is to investigate the sinking of a dinghy headed to the Canary Islands from Morocco on Wednesday after more than 30 migrants were feared dead. Migration-focused organisations Walking Borders and Alarm Phone criticised Spain and Morocco this week for not intervening earlier to rescue the vessel’s passengers. Spain says all…

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