Russia’s Africa Corps is reeling after an alliance of separatist and jihadist groups in Mali launched a series of attacks on the country’s Putin-backed junta government in late April. Is this merely an instance of renewed violence in a country that has seen multiple coups this century already? Or does the bruising rebuke to a feared Russian expeditionary force indicate a crisis for one of West Africa’s most powerful benefactors?

‘Limits of Moscow’s reach and military might’
The “series of reversals” experienced by Mali’s Moscow-backed military government has “dented Russia’s image as a self-styled security guarantor in Africa,” said Reuters. The recent violence also “threatens” Moscow’s “strategic and economic interests ​on the continent.”

The attacks across Mali by “al Qaeda-linked rebels and mostly-Muslim Tuareg tribesmen” mark a “turning point in Moscow’s influence in West Africa,” said Fox News. Russia has been “grabbing Mali’s precious minerals” while promising to “protect the country.” But the “wave of coordinated, surprise attacks” by Malian rebels has “exposed the limits of Moscow’s reach and military might in the impoverished West African state,” said The Guardian.

In recent years, Mali had “drastically pivoted toward Russia” as the junta pushed out Western governmental support, said The New York Times. And Russia has dispatched “thousands” of fighters from its Africa Corps, a military intelligence-run force that “provides security support to several African governments” in exchange for payment or “access to resources.” 

Mali is part of a chain of African nations that Moscow has “worked hard to cultivate” for “geopolitical clout and access to mineral wealth,” said Irina Filatova, an honorary research associate at the University of Cape Town, to Reuters. So withdrawing from Malian sites during the attacks “punctures the claim that Moscow could deliver where France and other Western allies could not,” said Bloomberg. 

‘Reputational damage’
The Africa Corps has “really lost credibility” in the region, said Ulf Laessing, the West Africa program lead at Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, to Al Jazeera. Putin’s forces “just didn’t do their job — it’s reputational damage.” Now, Russia’s “collapse” in Mali presents Washington with an “opportunity to reassert the control it had foolishly relinquished,” said Zineb Riboua, a Hudson Institute fellow, at The Washington Post. 

Viral TikTok videos are circulating of people dashing through Church of Scientology centers in multiple cities. And while the Gen Z pranksters believe it’s harmless fun, the famously secretive religious group wants real consequences.

What are the videos about?
They feature participants “recording themselves ‘speed-running,’ as if in a video game, through Scientology’s buildings,” often “dodging screaming church members and security guards” until they are kicked out, said NBC News. The TikTokers are going inside these properties because Scientology is a “highly controversial organization known to be secretive, shrouded in darkness and mystique,” said Forbes. And the speed runners are trying to “rack up as many social media validation points as they can.”

The fad began in Los Angeles, including at the religion’s Hollywood headquarters. After a speed-running incident in April, the Los Angeles Police Department began investigating the incident as an “alleged hate crime,” said the department to the Los Angeles Times.

And these videos have since spread to other national and international cities. Detectives in New York City began investigating after “young people stormed and ransacked parts of the Church of Scientology in Midtown Manhattan,” said WABC-TV New York. 

What has the response been?
Church officials are taking the joke seriously, accusing the videos of perpetuating a religious hate crime. Scientology buildings are “peaceful spaces designed to welcome parishioners, visitors and members of the public,” said Scientology spokesperson David Bloomberg in a statement to The Guardian. 

Actor Leah Remini, who left the organization in 2013 and has accused Scientology of widespread abuses, lambasted the speed runners on social media. Scientologists are “deeply indoctrinated and radicalized and believe they are helping people,” said Remini on X, and “running through a building is not going to break that or lead them to reconsider what they have given up their entire lives for.”

Music’s star couple Rihanna and A$AP Rocky arrive on the red carpet at the 2026 Met Gala in celebration of the exhibition “Costume Art” opening on Sunday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She wore Maison Margiela by Glenn Martens, and he wore Chanel by Matthieu Blazy.
Angela Weiss / AFP / Getty Images

Moms always seem to know exactly what you need. This Mother’s Day, it’s your turn to reciprocate with a present that’s exactly what she needs. There’s a gift for every mom and the other special women in your life in this guide. 

Fly by Jing hot pot starter set 
Everything she needs to have a “killer” hot-pot party is in this starter set, said Food & Wine. The kit includes an electric hot pot that fits on a tabletop and can feed up to six people and the “fiery” soup base containing ginger, star anise, clove and tingly Sichuan pepper extract. It’s the “gift that keeps on giving.” So expect dinner invitations for “years to come.” ($130, Fly by Jing)

Lekfit Perfect cryoball 
If she can’t go to the spa, bring the spa to her. She can pull this icy cryoball from the freezer or refrigerator and use it on her face and body when she wants to reduce puffiness, boost circulation and relieve tightness and inflammation. The Cryoball comes in a sturdy box, so she can travel with it and experience pain relief on the go. ($60, Lekfit)

Brook & York Build Your Own birthstone stacking necklace
Keep her family close to her heart. Choose up to six 14k-gold-plated brass charms, representing the birthstones of children, parents, siblings and other relatives. The stones dangle from a dainty 18-inch paper-clip chain, and you can mix styles (teardrop, baguette, round and mini round). (starting at $84, Brook & York)