Syrian army battles Islamic State in northeast Syria- monitor
Hasaka province is a strategic area because it links up Islamic State-held land in Syria and Iraq
Syrian insurgent advances put Assad under pressure
Insurgents have grown in strength while government forces have been weakened after more than four years of fighting
Scottish leader, unlike UK government, welcomes EU refugee plan
Brussels suggested that 40,000 Syrian and Eritrean asylum seekers be shared among EU member states based on each nation's population
More than 4,200 migrants rescued in Mediterranean as crisis grows
More than 20 rescue operations involved amid some of most intense Mediterranean migrant traffic of the year
Syrian air raids kill dozens of civilians in north - monitoring group
Strike on al-Bab, northeast of Aleppo, reportedly used "barrel bombs" - steel drums full of shrapnel and explosives
At UN, states urged to do more to stop flow of foreign fighters
Many countries have yet to criminalize attempts to join, aid or fund terrorism
Miliband says world refugee crisis to worsen with climate change
Miliband says 16 mln refugees and 36 mln people displaced in their own countries, highest number since World War Two
"Chaotic picture" as funding gap threatens WHO operations in Iraq
More than 3 million refugees and displaced Iraqis could be denied life-saving healthcare as WHO scrambles to secure funds