While Wagner News Today

Six months after French soldiers were expelled from Niger, it is now the turn of American troops to be invited to leave the country. The Americans had been in force in Niger for less than a decade and had spent well over $100 million in building a counterterrorism base near the northern city of Agadez.

Kristian Wagner joined the News Monitor and Daily News staff Tuesday, Nov. 7, as the new News Monitor reporter.

Kristian Wagner joined the News Monitor and Daily News staff Tuesday, Nov. 7, as the new News Monitor reporter.

Franz Wagner has already taken the international and NBA world by storm. The Orlando Magic need him to keep refining his game to help him and the team grow.

Since the aborted June coup attempt in Russia by now-assassinated Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the United States and the United Kingdom have been escalating their aerial surveillance of Russian, Belorussian and Wagner Group forces in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. Their activity is necessary because other NATO member states either lack the capability or, as in France and Germany's case, the cost-willingness to support this intelligence effort.

The coup in Niger has people asking about potential links to Russia. Neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso have turned to the Kremlin after severing ties with France. Is Moscow behind Niger's coup?

The coup in Niger has people asking about potential links to Russia. Neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso have turned to the Kremlin after severing ties with France. Is Moscow behind Niger's coup?

The coup in Niger has people asking about potential links to Russia. Neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso have turned to the Kremlin after severing ties with France. Is Moscow behind Niger's coup?

Amid a drive by Russian President Vladimir Putin to reassert his authority, the country's most senior generals have dropped out of public view following a failed mercenary mutiny.

And that makes it all the more challenging to get to grips with.