World briefs

THAILAND A government committee has approved construction of an 800-megawatt coal power plant near pristine beaches on the Andaman Sea. The plant and an accompanying dock are slated to be built next to an existing oil plant on the coast in Krabi, a province whose sandy shores, aqua-blue waters, and soaring limestone cliffs make it a world-famous tourist destination.

MONGOLIA The Mongolian government and envoys from the International Monetary Fund said yesterday that they and other partners have agreed on terms for a more than USD5 billion loan package to the north Asian country to help get its economy back on track. 

SRI LANKA  Police say at least 10 people were killed and seven others were rescued after the boat they were traveling in capsized off the country’s southwestern coast.

PAKISTAN Police say that counter-terrorism forces killed five militants in an overnight raid and seized weapons and explosives from their hideout. Nayab Haider, a spokesman for the counter-terrorism department, said yesterday that the militants were members of the banned Jamaat-ul Ahrar — which has claimed responsibility for several recent terrorist attacks.

IRAQ U.S.-backed Iraqi forces launched a large-scale military operation yesterday to dislodge Islamic State militants from the western half of Mosul, the latest phase in a four-month-old offensive to retake Iraq’s second largest city. 

SOMALIA A police officer says a blast at a busy market in the western part of Somalia’s capital killed at least 34 people. Capt. Mohamed Hussein said the powerful blast, thought to be from a car bomb, wounded more than 50 others and casualties may rise as many of the wounded victims suffered horrific wounds.

ITALY Former Premier Matteo Renzi resigned yesterday as leader of his fractious Democratic Party in a bid to win a fresh, stronger mandate before parliamentary elections which populist political forces hope will propel them into national power for the first time.

FRANCE-RUSSIA France’s foreign minister is denouncing possible Russian meddling in the French presidential campaign as “unacceptable.” Jean-Marc Ayrault, in an interview published yesterday, said Russia appears to be targeting centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, while favoring more pro-Russia candidates such as conservative Francois Fillon and nationalist Marine Le Pen.