IN BRIEF

Iran

MPs boosts missile funds

Iran's parliament on Sunday approved more than half a billion dollars in funding for the country's missile program and foreign operations of the elite Revolutionary Guards in response to US sanctions. The move follows a spike in tensions between Teheran and Washington since US President Donald Trump took office in January with a vow to get tough on the Islamic republic. It mandates the government to allocate an additional $260 million for missile development and the same amount to the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations wing, the Quds Force, state news agency IRNA said.

Afghanistan

US airstrikes kill key IS leader

A senior commander of the Islamic State group has been killed during the US airstrikes in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan, the NATO-led Resolute Support mission confirmed in a statement released on Sunday. "US and Afghan forces have confirmed the death of Kunar provincial Islamic State emir Abdul Rahman on Aug 10," the statement said, adding that Rahman was killed in an airstrike along with three additional senior IS members in Darah-Ye Pech district, Kunar province.

India

Elephant shot after killing 15

An elephant which killed 15 people in eastern India over the past few months was shot dead on Friday. According to forest officials, a hunter shot two bullets in the head of the animal, and another round was fired as a confirmation shot. Forest officials tried to tranquilize the elephant from a distance of 30 meters, but the animal suddenly ran to charge them, forcing the hunter to open fire, reported the Hindustan Times.

Nepal

Death toll in floods rises to 49

Torrential rain battered Nepal on Sunday, causing widespread flooding and landslides and raising the death toll from three days of severe weather to 49 people, according to officials. The toll could go higher as three dozen people were reported missing. Another 17 were injured. The heavy rain, which mainly hit the country's southern plains, led to the evacuation of 5,000 people, a Home Ministry official said.

Nigeria

President 'ok' after absence

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been in London for treatment of an undisclosed illness for more than three months, has assured a government delegation that he is doing fine. "I am okay," the 74-year-old leader said, according to a Saturday statement from the information ministry. "I feel I could go home, but the doctors are in charge. I've now learnt to obey orders, rather than be obeyed.