Al-Qaida affiliate says it has 2 Russian hostages in Niger, shows video

DAKAR, Senegal — Two men claiming to be Russian nationals and saying they were taken captive in Niger by militants linked to al-Qaida appeared in a video published on a media platform affiliated to the extremist group. The video, which appeared on the az-Zallaqa platform Friday night, showed two men who said they were seized by the militants while working in Baga in northeastern Niger. The men, seated side by side and dressed in traditional local clothing, spoke into the camera. One identified himself as Yury...