World briefs

VIETNAM A powerful typhoon that rocked Vietnam has killed at least 44 people, left more than a dozen missing and caused extensive damage to the country’s south-central region ahead of a summit that will draw leaders from around the world.

PHILIPPINES Government forces have killed at least 11 remaining militants aligned with the Islamic State group over the weekend in southern Marawi city and are attempting to determine whether a Malaysian who may have taken over the militants’ leadership is still alive, officials said.

AUSTRALIA‘s prime minister yesterday proposed making all lawmakers prove they are not dual citizens in a move that could threaten the stability of his own government.

FIJI‘s prime minister called for a sense of urgency yesterday, telling negotiators that “we must not fail our people” as he opened two weeks of talks on implementing the Paris accord to fight climate change, which is already affecting his Pacific island nation.

IRAQ-SYRIA As the Islamic State group loses its remaining strongholds in Iraq and Syria, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is facing a growing chorus of questions from NATO allies and partners about what the next steps will be in the region to preserve peace and ensure the militants don’t rise again.

SAUDI ARABIA A Saudi prince and seven other officials have been killed in a helicopter crash near the border with Yemen, BBC News reported yesterday, just hours after a major purge of the kingdom’s political and business leadership.

EGYPT has summoned the ambassadors of Canada, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Britain in protest over a statement they made expressing concern over the fate of a detained human rights lawyer.

ZIMBABWE President Robert Mugabe yesterday fired a vice president who had previously been seen as a likely successor, removing an obstacle to the presidential ambitions of Mugabe’s wife.

BELGIUM A soccer player was injured by a smoke bomb thrown by rival fans during Sporting Charleroi’s 3-1 win at Royal Antwerp in the Belgian League on Sunday.

USA A gunman dressed in black tactical-style gear and armed with an assault rifle opened fire inside a small South Texas church, killing 26 people in an attack that claimed tight-knit neighbors and multiple family members ranging in age from 5 to 72 years old.