Topic: Niger

Ahead of spring break, State Dept issues travel alert for Mexico border

Travel alert places emphasis on a few hyper-violent cities and states near the Mexico border. It comes as many US college students and families are making travel plans for spring break.

Top five greenest nations on the planet

Iceland leads the list of the greenest nations. The US fell 22 places in the 2010 Environment Performance Index, but the study's researchers say that "murky" data makes the list imperfect.

Air Al Qaeda: Are Latin America's drug cartels giving Al Qaeda a lift?

There is growing concerns that Al Qaeda in Africa and Latin American drug cartels are working together. Latin American cocaine flights go to Africa, en route to Europe. Are Al Qaeda members on the empty planes back to Latin America?

What Obama could learn from France about stopping terrorists

To defend itself from terrorist attacks, the US should go on the offensive with a proactive strategy, like France.

African music festival goes smoothly in Mali despite Al Qaeda threats

This weekend's Festival au Desert in Mali ended without incident, but risks remain high as Al Qaeda threatened Monday to kill a French hostage.

Mali moves music festival as tourism threatened by Al Qaeda threat

A string of attacks by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in and around Mali has hurt the tourism mecca of Timbuktu. The popular Mali Festival au Desert was moved closer to the city yesterday for safety.

Al Qaeda rises in West Africa

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab – the terror suspect who allegedly tried to blow up a plane over Detroit on Christmas Day – hails from Nigeria in West Africa. The Monitor takes a look at how the fight against Al Qaeda is going in the region.

Chávez, Qaddafi get chummy at 'South-South' summit

The Africa-South America summit’s big personalities dominated the show. But some concrete proposals, like the plan for a Bank of the South, also came from it.

A stop-by-stop account of Clinton's Africa trip

During her seven-country tour, Clinton highlighted the continent's successes, stressed the work yet to be done, and strengthened US trading alliances.

Algeria hosts regional summit amid rise in terrorism

The conference focuses on the trans-Sahel, a desert area spanning four N. African countries where Al Qaeda operatives are believed to be training.

Hollywood in Baghdad: US spy thriller filmed partly in Iraq

The film crew of "Fair Game," a movie based on the Valerie Plame saga that will hit theaters next year, donned flak jackets and went to Baghdad in search of authenticity.

A stop sign for human trafficking

Nigeria shows the political will to investigate, prosecute, and convict.

Al Qaeda-linked militant group in Mali executes British hostage

The killing of Edwin Dyer underscores the growing threat posed by militants in North Africa with links to global terrorist groups.

Too many 'straws' sucking water out of the Colorado River

Uranium

From atomic bombs to cellphones, a history of uranium’s rise.

In N. Africa, Al Qaeda offshoot claims six Western hostages

The claim by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb that it holds hostages kidnapped more than a month ago fuels fears that the group is expanding its reach.

A soccer team gives hope to refugees in Italy

The émigrés, many of whom fled persecution in their own lands, form the country’s first professional team made up entirely of refugees.

Militants step up 'oil war' in Niger Delta

Attacks on foreign oil company facilities threaten to disrupt global oil supply.

West Africa's music enchants the West

Bluesy, trancelike melodies pull in wider audiences in the US and Europe, as the music's exotic rhythms move mainstream.

Reporters on the Job

Africans' newest form of dissent: blogs

From Congo to Chad, dissidents are taking their grievances online. But are some rebels going too far?

Ex-slave works to free others from West African tradition

Boubacar Messaoude is Mauritania's leading antislavery activist