{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/35669120-6056-4c38-8f33-80df7112e8df/c0440db0-4be9-4a70-9c23-352e670cde23?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"What are Vladimir Putin's mercenaries doing in West Africa?","description":"<p>When a cargo plane containing four helicopters and a large consignment of military hardware touched down in the capital of Mali last month, observers raised an eyebrow. The kit was definitely from Russia – but was this the Russian army, or something else?</p><p><em>This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at:&nbsp;</em><a href=\"https://www.thetimes.co.uk/subscribe/digital/?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=audio&amp;utm_campaign=podcastsubs&amp;utm_content=storiesofourtimes\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes</em></a><em>. </em></p><p><strong>Guest:</strong>&nbsp;Roger Boyes, diplomatic editor, The Times.</p><p><strong>Host:</strong>&nbsp;Manveen Rana.</p><p><strong>Clips: </strong>Al Jazeera, BBC, NBC, Euronews, France 24, Reuters.</p>","author_name":"The Times"}