Top US diplomat John Kerry was to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov Sunday, amid anger in Moscow over the prospect of new US sanctions and possible lethal military aid for Ukraine. The meeting in Rome comes as tensions soar after US lawmakers passed a bill — dubbed the Ukraine …

The French army has “neutralised” 200 jihadist fighters in the Sahel over the last year, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says in an interview to be published tomorrow. Peace talks between Mali’s government and rebels should conclude next month, he said. The French military has either killed or captured 200 …

Algeria is preparing for worst-case scenarios, due to the deterioration of conditions in the Sahel. Mounting concerns over border security led Algeria to toughen its stance towards illegal immigrants. But more than just refugees try to cross borders in times of conflict.