Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso Quit Organization to Promote French
The juntas, which have broken ties with France, their former colonial master, said the organization no longer supports their national goals.
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The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
What Trump should learn from Oscar Wilde's doomed lawsuit
As President Trump flails about in a futile effort to change the narrative about his friendship with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his explanations have only drawn more attention to their connection. Ironically, Trump's resort to strong-arm litigation will likely lead to yet more damaging disclosures. History tells us why. Over a century before Trump's ' powerhouse ' defamation case against the Wall Street Journal for publishing an article about his supposed birthday note to Epstein, another outsize figure came to grief by filing an ill-advised libel action that he knew was false. In 1895, the poet and playwright Oscar Wilde was the most renowned literary figure in the English-speaking world. By sheer force of personality, Wilde led an artistic movement that defied convention, offended propriety and created an esthetic revolution. Then he wrecked it all by subjecting himself to a relentless cross-examination about his then-scandalous intimate life in a case he could not win. Trump appears to be making the same mistake. His lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal can expose him to extensive questioning under oath about escapades he has kept mostly under wraps. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent a risqué birthday note to Epstein, in 2003, featuring a sketch of a naked young woman. Trump immediately issued a sharp denial, calling it 'fake news' and declaring 'I never wrote a picture in my life.' The president's bluster was quickly disproven when reporters found verified drawings by Trump, at least four of which were publicly auctioned during his first term. The defamation case against the Wall Street Journal, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, promises to reveal even more. Parties in federal cases are required to sit for depositions under oath. The scope of inquiry is extremely broad, compelling disclosure of any information 'relevant to any party's claim or defense,' even if it would be inadmissible at trial. The expansive allegations in Trump's complaint open the relevance door about as widely as possible, which makes the whole story of his association with Epstein available for questioning. Trump will have to fully describe everything they did together, where and when they did it, and in whose company — with names and details. Trump cannot object based on relevance, because he raised these very issues in his own lawsuit. He cannot claim memory failure, at least for the many events documented in photographs (and others that defense counsel may well dig up). He cannot hide behind presidential immunity, which does not apply in civil cases. Such were the circumstances that destroyed Wilde. Today, Wilde would be described as gay or bisexual, although neither term was current in the late 19th century. Wilde's lover was young Lord Alfred Douglas, known as Bosie, whose father was the brutish Marquess of Queensberry, author of boxing's modern rules. Queensberry hounded Wilde in public and private, branding him a ' posing ' sodomite. Although the accusation was true in its way (minus the invective), Wilde believed he had no option but to sue Queensberry for libel. He retained the prominent barrister, Sir Edward Clarke, who asked him to swear 'that there is not and has never been any foundation' for Queensberry's accusation. Wilde falsely replied that the charges were absolutely 'groundless.' It was a pretense Wilde could not maintain on the witness stand. His credibility was shredded by Queensberry's counsel, Sir Edward Carson, who would later become attorney general of England. Carson confronted Wilde with his own words of love for young men, taken from his published writings and private letters to Bosie. Worse, he produced witness after witness, tracked down by private investigators, who testified to Wilde's then-illegal sexual activities. Recognizing the damage to his client, and embarrassed by his own credulousness, Wilde's attorney attempted to withdraw the case. But the judge wouldn't have it, and Queensberry was exonerated. That ended the libel case, but it was not the end of Wilde's trials. He was indicted for the crime of 'gross indecency,' based on Queensberry's evidence. Ultimately convicted, Wilde was sentenced to two years at hard labor. Emerging a broken man, he died three years later. Both Wilde and Trump believed themselves invulnerable to conventional standards of respectability and decorum. Wilde proved disastrously wrong, while Trump has succeeded beyond all expectations. Both men somehow convinced attorneys to file outrageous lawsuits. Wilde's case was defeated in the most torturous way. Trump's remains pending, although it seems almost impossible, given the photographic and other evidence, for him to prove his allegation that he was never Epstein's 'pal.' We know that Trump's name appears multiple times in the Justice Department's Epstein files, as he was informed by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Thanks to his improvident lawsuit, he may now have to explain that under oath. After 130 years of social progress, we can understand and sympathize with Wilde's dilemma, although it led him to perjury. Trump deserves no such indulgence. His claim that the Wall Street Journal 'concocted' a story is all but certain to be proven false and irresponsible. He won't face personal ruin, as did Wilde, but perhaps he will be exposed as one of Epstein's active or passive enablers. History does repeat itself. First as tragedy, then as farce.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Islamic State-linked fighters displace over 46,000 people in northern Mozambique, UN says
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Attacks by insurgents in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province displaced more than 46,000 people in the space of eight days last month, the United Nations migration agency said Monday. The International Organization for Migration said nearly 60% of those forced from their homes were children. There have been no reports of deaths in the attacks. In a separate report, the U.N.'s humanitarian office said the wave of attacks between July 20 and July 28 across three districts in Cabo Delgado caused the surge in displacements. The southern African nation has been fighting an insurgency by Islamic State-affiliated militants in the north for at least eight years. Rwandan soldiers have been deployed to help Mozambique fight them. The jihadis have been accused of beheading villagers and kidnapping children to be used as laborers or child soldiers. The U.N. estimates that the violence, and the impact of drought and several cyclones in recent years, has led to the displacement of more than 1 million people in northern Mozambique. Doctors Without Borders said it has launched an emergency response to help thousands of recently displaced people who now live in camps in Chiure, the district that experienced the worst of the attacks. Cabo Delgado has large offshore natural gas reserves, and the insurgency caused the suspension of a $20 billion extraction project by French company TotalEnergies in 2021. ___
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Russia Expands Nuclear Goals for Africa in New Deal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Russia has signed a nuclear energy cooperation agreement with Niger and fellow members of West Africa's Alliance of Sahel States, deepening Moscow's strategic footprint across the continent. The deal means the two nations plan to collaborate on electricity generation, nuclear medicine, infrastructure development and specialist training. Newsweek contacted the Kremlin for more information on the deal via email. Why It Matters West African states, particularly those under military rule—such as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso—are increasingly turning toward Moscow for critical investment and technical expertise. The escalation of Russian involvement brings potential economic development and energy security for millions, but it also raises questions over dependence on Russian technology, nuclear safety and the continent's future alliances. As the U.S. and European Union reconsider partnerships in the region following coups and rising authoritarianism, Russia is filling the void left behind, offering support in exchange for long-term strategic leverage. What To Know Russia and Niger finalized a memorandum of understanding in Niamey, Niger's capital, on July 29—with senior officials from Rosatom, Russia's state atomic energy corporation, and Niger's Energy Ministry in attendance. Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev led the Russian delegation and confirmed that the agreement included the construction of nuclear power plants, energy distribution networks and extensive training programs. A view of industrial buildings on the territory of the Obninsk nuclear power plant in Russia on February 2, 2021. A view of industrial buildings on the territory of the Obninsk nuclear power plant in Russia on February 2, 2021. Getty Images The agreement is the latest in a series of similar deals between Russia and African states, including prior agreements in Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Uganda. West African nations hope the Russian-led initiative will help address acute power shortages and promote industrialization. Niger, endowed with some of the world's largest uranium reserves, stands to benefit a significant amount from the technical expertise and new infrastructure that Russia can provide. Rosatom's expanding role mirrors Russia's desire to cement alliances by tying states into its nuclear supply and service structure. What People Are Saying Sergei Tsivilev, Russia's energy minister, said in a statement about the meeting: "Today we had fruitful talks with my fellow ministers. I arrived with a large delegation, which includes many representatives of Russian business. We listened to detailed presentations on the cooperation opportunities that Niger is ready to offer. And now our teams are discussing with each other, face to face, how to realize this great potential." The Russian Ministry of Energy said: "The countries view each other as important partners, and the creation of a joint IGC will be an important stage in the development of bilateral relations and will make it possible to transfer bilateral cooperation to a systemic basis. The parties also discussed cooperation in the economic sphere, the implementation of joint projects in the fields of energy, transport, infrastructure, agriculture and mining." What Happens Next Rosatom officials are expected to begin assessments for nuclear infrastructure in Niger and other Alliance of Sahel States members within the coming months.
