The State Department has confirmed that it has closed the US Embassy in Yemen and evacuated its staff because of the political crisis and security concerns following the takeover of much of the country by Shiite rebels. The department announced it had suspended operations at the embassy in Sanaa and …

Niger’s parliament has voted unanimously to send troops to Nigeria to join a regional fight against Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, lawmakers said. “The resolution was passed unanimously. All 102 lawmakers present voted favourably,” lawmaker Mohamed Ben Omar said yesterday. Another member of parliament said the resolution authorises the country …

US President Barack Obama said Monday no decision had been made on whether to send weapons to Ukraine to help Kiev battle pro-Russian separatists, as he warned the West would not allow Russia to redraw Europe’s borders by force. Obama, who has faced increasing calls from domestic critics to supply …