Militants from Boko Haram have captured the strategic town of Bama, the second biggest town in Borno state in Nigeria’s north, local residents told BBC Hausa.

Thousands of civilians and Nigerian soldiers are reported to have fled the town after fierce fighting with Boko Haram.

It is feared that the militants’ next target is the state capital of Maiduguri, 70km northwest of the town, according to BBC Hausa’s Mansur Liman.

Read more here.

Boko Haram last month declared an Islamic caliphate in the areas it controls.

The US military has confirmed it carried out a targeted operation against al-Shabab militants in Somalia.

"U.S. military forces conducted an operation in Somalia today against the al-Shabab network. We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate," said Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby.

A senior Somali intelligence official told AP news agency that the US was targeting the leader of the group, Ahmed Abdi Godane.

Four peacekeepers with the UN mission in northern Mali (Minusma) were killed when their convoy struck a land mine on Tuesday.

“The toll is four dead and 15 wounded, including six very seriously,” Olivier Salgado, spokesperson for Minusma told Reuters.

“This is only a provisional toll because we do not know what will happen with six of the very seriously wounded.”

“I’m back Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State, despite our serious warnings. We take this opportunity to warn those governments that enter the evil alliance of America against the Islamic State to back off and leave our people alone.”

Libyan militiamen have taken control of most government ministries in the capital Tripoli, the government said.

"We announce that most ministries, institutions and state bodies in the capital Tripoli are out of our control," a government statement said.

On Sunday, militiamen took control of the US embassy, with footage showing men cheering and jumping from the balcony into the swimming pool.

Maryam al-Khawaja, a prominent Bahraini human rights activist was arrested on Saturday, as she attempted to enter the country, in order to visit her father, who is currently serving a life sentence.

Ms Khawaja, the co-director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, was denied entry by officials at the airport, who said she had been stripped of her citizenship.

According to her popular twitter feed, she is being charged with "insulting the King" and "assaulting the police”.

Nabeel Rajab, president of the BCHR and who himself was detained for two years, said her imprisonment was absurd.

"She wanted to see her father, as simple as that," he told Middle East Eye.

"There are hundreds of people who were deported and not allowed to come back to Bahrain by their own government,

“If there is no international coverage of what’s going on – and unfortunately I don’t expect much attention in her case – then the government of Bahrain can continue prosecuting human rights defenders and activists and bring them before a court that does not respect human rights," he told MEE.

Ukrainian forces are falling back from their positions, in the face of an advance by pro-Russian rebels.
According to officials, over 700 Ukrainian soldiers have been captured and the army was forced to withdraw from Luhansk airport.

Russia continued to deny assisting the rebels, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Ukraine's defence minister said on his Facebook page, they were now fighting a "great war" with Russia.

"A great war has arrived at our doorstep - the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two," he said.

"Unfortunately, the losses in such a war will be measured not in the hundreds but thousands and tens of thousands."

“This announcement, like every other settlement announcement Israel makes, planning step they approve and construction tender they issue is counterproductive to Israel’s stated goal of a negotiated two-state solution with the Palestinians. We urge the government of Israel to reverse its decision.”