(the guardian)- More than a third of almost 300 female students abducted by Islamic militants from a school in Nigeria two-and-a-half years ago appear unwilling to leave their captors, a community leader has said. Nigeria’s government is negotiating the release of 83 of about 190 girls...

(The Daily Star)- International aid groups including the Red Cross said Tuesday they were preparing for the possible use of chemical weapons in the battle for the Iraq city of Mosul. Iraqi forces backed by an international coalition are making gains in their advance on the city, the last...

(Eqtsad) Entering Turkey is considered one of the biggest difficulties which many Syrians face as the border closure has cut off their means of reaching safety, and separated families between those in Syria and those in camps, provinces of cities in Turkey.  Syrians face a situation...

Iraqi and Kurdish forces closing in on Mosul said on Tuesday they had secured some 20 villages on the outskirts of the city in the first day of an operation to retake what is Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq. With around 1.5 million people still living in Mosul, the...