Reuters World News Summary

08/11/2016 19:50

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Kurds say Islamic State oil overseer killed in joint ops with U.S

The Islamic State militant in charge of the group's oil operations in Iraq and Syria was killed on Thursday in a joint operation between the Iraqi Kurdish and U.S. Special forces, the Kurdistan Region Security Council said in a statement. Sami Jassim al-Jabouri, also known as Haji Hamad, and his aide were killed "in the vicinity of Qaim," an Iraqi town near the Syrian border, the statement said.

Russia announces war games after accusing Ukraine of terrorist plot

Vladimir Putin summoned his security council and the Russian Navy announced war games in the Black Sea a day after the Russian president accused Ukraine of trying to provoke a conflict over Crimea, which Moscow seized and annexed in 2014. The belligerent posture heightened worries in Ukraine that Russia may plan to ramp up fighting in a war between Kiev and pro-Russian eastern separatists that had been de-escalated by a shaky peace process.

U.S. would welcome Turkish-Russian military cooperation against Islamic State

The United States would welcome Turkish-Russian military cooperation in Syria if it were truly designed to target Islamic State, State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said in a press briefing on Thursday. "We have been very clear that if is Russia really interested in taking the fight to ISIL, to combating a terror threat that frankly involves the entire global community, we would welcome their interest on that," Trudeau said, referring to Islamic State by an acronym. She was commenting on media reports of proposed Turkish-Russian military cooperation in Syria.

Zambia awaits presidential, parliamentary vote results

Zambia on Friday awaited the first election results from what is expected to have been a close contest between President Edgar Lungu and his main rival, who accuses him of mismanaging the economy. Lungu narrowly beat opponent Hakainde Hichilema in a presidential vote nearly 20 months ago to fill the vacancy created by the death of then president Michael Sata, and could be forced into a second-round rerun if he does not get an outright majority this time.

Convicted spy Pollard loses challenge to U.S. parole conditions

Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer convicted of spying for Israel, on Thursday lost a bid to overturn restrictive probation conditions imposed when he was released in November after serving 30 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest in Manhattan denied a challenge by Pollard to requirements imposed by the U.S. Parole Commission that he wear an electronic tracking device and submit his work computer to monitoring.

Venezuela is a 'powder keg,' government will fall: opposition boss

Venezuela is on the verge of a "political earthquake" that will cause the government to collapse because the country's massive economic problems mean the current situation is not sustainable, opposition chief Jesus Torrealba said. The opposition is working hard toward a recall referendum because many are angry with the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

U.S. authorities tipped off Canada to security threat: sources

A Canadian man killed by police on Wednesday had indicated he planned to carry out an imminent rush-hour attack on a major Canadian city, drawing the attention of the U.S. authorities who tipped off Canadian police, intelligence sources said. The man was killed on Wednesday during a police raid in a small Ontario town, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said, but did not give further details.

Libyan forces work to secure gains against Islamic State in Sirte

Libyan forces on Thursday were securing and de-mining areas newly captured from Islamic State in Sirte, combing the area around a convention complex that had been a symbol of the militant group's authority in the city. Forces aligned with Libya's U.N.-backed government seized the Ouagadougou convention center and several other key sites on Wednesday, advancing into areas that had been fought over for weeks.

London schoolgirl who left to join Islamic State dead: lawyer

One of three schoolgirls who left London in February of 2015 to join Islamic State has died, her family lawyer told Reuters on Thursday. Attorney Tasnime Akunjee said the family of Kadiza Sultana learned of her death in Raqqa a few weeks ago.

Bombs in Thai resort kill one, injure nine, including foreigners: police

Two bombs exploded in the Thai seaside resort of Hua Hin on Thursday, killing one woman and injuring 10 people, Thai police said. The explosions happened ahead of a public holiday on Friday to mark the birthday of Queen Sirikit. Hua Hin is a popular upscale Thai resort south of Bangkok and many people will have gone there for the holiday weekend.

08/11/2016 19:50