Wednesday, May 18, 2016

World News Briefs -- May 18, 2016 (Evening Edition)



Reuters: Nigerian schoolgirl rescued after two years as Boko Haram captive

A Nigerian teenager kidnapped by Boko Haram more than two years ago has been rescued, the first of more than 200 girls seized in a raid on their school in Chibok town to return from captivity in the insurgents' forest lair, officials said on Wednesday.

Soldiers working together with a civilian vigilante group rescued the girl and her four-month-old baby near Damboa in the remote northeast, army spokesman Sani Usman said. They also detained a "suspected Boko Haram terrorist" called Mohammed Hayatu who claimed to be the girl's husband, he added.

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MIDDLE EAST

No drop in Russian military strength in Syria: US.

Pentagon: No additional US troops needed to protect Baghdad in wake of deadly ISIS bombings.

IS conflict: Iraq forces retake remote western town of Rutba. Bomb kills nine Iraqi soldiers during raid south of Baghdad.

U.S., allies stage 17 strikes in Iraq, Syria against Islamic State: statement.

Biden: U.S. and Turkey prepared for military solution in Syria.

Kurdish militants trade deadly attacks with Turkish military in southeast of country.

Turkey moves towards stripping MPs of immunity.

Yemen's Houthis accused of torturing rivals. Yemen conflict: Houthis 'carry out wave of detentions.

Yemeni FM: Peace talks collapsing.

Israel action threatens to close down rights group and 'chill' free speech.

ASIA

Chinese aircraft intercept U.S. reconnaissance plane over South China Sea: Pentagon.

Afghanistan signs draft pact with Taliban-allied militants.

Four-nation talks on Afghan peace begin amid dim hopes, blame.

Sri Lanka mudslide leaves scores missing. Sri Lanka: Mudslides bury hundreds of villagers. Over 200 families feared buried by landslides in Sri Lanka.

China stages war games days ahead of Taiwan inauguration.

Shelling raises tensions along Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

Philippine communist rebels welcome Cabinet post offer.

Maldives cuts diplomatic ties with Iran.

Japan dodges recession with 0.4% growth in first quarter.

AFRICA

Mozambique looks to China for financial help.

Friend or foe? Doubts plague US military in Libya training.

Kerry in Cairo to talk Mideast peace, Libya.

Libya forces say pushing back Islamic State fighters.

Islamic State grows in Libya, but local militias fight back.

Report details "scenes of horror" in ISIS-held Libya.

Chibok girls: 'First kidnapped girl found' in Nigeria.

Nigerian union goes ahead with fuel protest strike; few early disruptions.

Uganda's opposition leader ordered detained till June 1.

Uganda: President promotes his son to 2-star army general.

Somaliland celebrates 25 years of self-declared independence.

EUROPE

Brussels warns Warsaw it needs to act to maintain rule-of-law, and democracy.

Ukraine conflict: more cases of trafficking and torture than previously thought.

US diplomat in Moscow for talks on Ukraine.

NATO equipment and troops arrive for exercises in Poland.

EU appeals to states as migrant moves 97 percent short of target.

Smugglers made $6bn from illegal migrant trafficking to EU last year - report.

German coalition partner dips below 20 percent for first time in 24 years.

Spain's debt now worth more than value of the economy.

France hit by rail strike, demo by weary police.

No 10 makes plans for potentially awkward UK visit by Donald Trump.

AMERICAS

Venezuela opposition leader Capriles says army must choose.

Venezuela security forces block anti-Maduro protesters. Venezuela braced for protests against Maduro's emergency decree.

US military plane made 'illegal entry' over Venezuela: Maduro.

Sanders wins Oregon, battles Clinton in Ky.; Trump wins Ore.

US Senate passes bill allowing 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia.

Magnitude-6.7 earthquake reported in Ecuador.

Alberta wildfire destroys oil sands work camp as thousands of staff evacuated. The Fort McMurray fire has grown 40 percent in two days.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

US kills 2 'high value individuals' in attack on IS in Iraq.

US drone strike reportedly kills senior Al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan.

Belgian bombings suspect Abrini 'left letter backing attacks'.

US commander: Islamic State may be reverting to its 'roots'.

GOP chairman: Gitmo detainees sent to 'ill-equipped' countries.

States hint at lawsuits over Gitmo detainees.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

For European banks, U.S. assurances on Iran come with asterisks.

US slaps China steel imports with fivefold tax increase.

Trump preparing plan to dismantle Obama's Wall Street reform law.

Mark Zuckerberg to meet US conservatives over Trending row.

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