The prices of the coup in Niger

The navy takeover in Niger has upended years of Western counterterrorism efforts in West Africa. The coup additionally poses challenges for the Biden administration’s battle in opposition to Islamist militants on the continent, particularly within the Sahel, the semiarid area south of the Sahara the place teams linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State are rapidly gaining floor.

Niger, an impoverished nation of 25 million individuals that’s almost twice the dimensions of Texas, has not too long ago been the exception to that development. Terrorist assaults in opposition to civilians there decreased by 49 p.c this 12 months, largely due to French and U.S. troops’ coaching and helping of Nigerien forces there, in addition to efforts from the deposed president, analysts say.

Those positive factors may very well be in jeopardy if a regional battle breaks out or if the junta orders the Western forces, together with 1,100 American troops, to go away and three U.S. drone bases to be shuttered. It might additionally open the door to Russian affect in Niger within the type of the Kremlin-backed Wagner non-public navy firm.

Consequences: A safety vacuum in Niger might embolden the militants to ramp up propaganda, improve recruitment, set up ministates in distant areas and plot assaults in opposition to Western international locations. Removing the comparatively small U.S. presence would make it tougher to handle threats as they emerge, officers stated.

Ukraine claims one other small acquire

Ukraine’s forces have driven further into the Mokri Yaly River Valley within the south of the nation, retaking the tiny village of Urozhaine, with a inhabitants of underneath 1,000. The recapture of the village, the primary by Kyiv’s forces since late July, follows the retreat by Russian forces after greater than per week of combating.

Ukraine now holds positions on each banks of the Mokri Yaly River. But the truth that progress in Kyiv’s counteroffensive is measured by the recapture of small villages reinforces how troublesome the combating has grow to be.

In different news: As Russia threatens ships within the Black Sea, the 40-mile Sulina Channel has kept grain flowing, turning into an important and protected lifeline for Ukraine.

England triumphs in opposition to Australia

Spain and England will face off within the ultimate of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday, after England beat Australia, 3-1, yesterday, in a sport that broke hearts throughout the host nation.

For three weeks, the Matildas have held Australia within the palms of their palms, throughout exhilarating highs and moments of beautiful stress. Sam Kerr, the workforce’s captain and celebrity, has needed to miss a lot of the event due to a calf harm. Against England on Wednesday, she scored one extraordinary objective — however she couldn’t comply with it with others.

Effects: Alex Chidiac, a midfielder for the Matildas, stated that the nation’s run on this event will depart a “lasting legacy.” Read extra about the long rise of women’s sports in Australia.

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Around the World

France’s huge however getting old system of public swimming pools is feeling the strains of rising power prices, rising water shortage and mounting budgetary stress.

As warmth waves grow to be extra frequent, conflicts over spending priorities might grow to be extra widespread. A brand new stadium stands reverse a closed pool in Montlhéry, south of Paris. “They found money for soccer, but not for swimming,” one native swimmer stated.

SPORTS NEWS FROM THE ATHLETIC

How England gained: Read analysis of the victory in opposition to the Matildas.

Carli Lloyd responds: The response to her headline-grabbing comments.

A brand new debate about magnificence requirements

Four ’90s supermodels, all of their 50s — Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell — grace the front of the September issue of Vogue.

The cowl has generated enthusiasm amongst some and consternation amongst others, who query the promotion of those ladies as paragons of mature magnificence when the years have seemingly been smoothed from their faces. The fashions look “so retouched that they seem more like A.I.-generated bots than actual people,” Vanessa Friedman, The Times’s chief style critic, writes.