Islamic militant groups have stepped up attacks and deepened their presence in border areas of Benin, Niger and Nigeria in West Africa over the past year, a crisis monitoring group said Thursday.

The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Niger, citing terrorism, kidnapping, crime, unrest and limited medical care.

Deep in the desert of Niger, scientists have unearthed an unknown species of dinosaur, a giant fissvery of its kind in more ...