Round up to world events

India deployed thousands of soldiers and dozens of helicopters to rescue people marooned by the worst floods in a century in the southern state of Kerala, where the death toll of 186 people as of Saturday could rise fast as rains continue

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

More heavy rains likely in India's Kerala as flood death toll jumps

India deployed thousands of soldiers and dozens of helicopters to rescue people marooned by the worst floods in a century in the southern state of Kerala, where the death toll of 186 people as of Saturday could rise fast as rains continue. The weather office warned of more heavy "red" category rains on Saturday as tens of thousands of people were still stuck on the rooftops of houses and community centers. Rescue workers have yet to reach many flooded areas, some too narrow for boats to navigate.

Man to appear in court on Monday over UK parliament car incident

Sudanese-born British national Salih Khater was charged with two counts of attempted murder on Saturday and will appear in court on Monday after a car careered into people and a barrier at Britain's parliament earlier this week, police said. Khater will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with the attempted murders of members of the public and of police officers, London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

Turkey's Erdogan says to challenge 'games' on the economy

A day after two major ratings agencies downgraded Turkey closer to junk status amid a currency crisis, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he would challenge those playing "games" on the economy. Both Moody's and Standard & Poor's ratings agencies cut Turkey's sovereign credit ratings deeper into "junk" territory late on Friday.

Brazilian border town residents drive out Venezuelan immigrants

Angry residents of a Brazilian border town, Pacaraima, ran riot and drove out Venezuelan immigrants on Saturday after a local restaurant owner was stabbed and beaten, residents and government officials said. The demonstrations forced hundreds of Venezuelans to flee back across the frontier on foot and residents set fire to the belongings they left behind and to tires to block the only road crossing between the two countries, video images released by the state of Roraima government showed.

Tough talks, no agreements at Merkel, Putin meeting near Berlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as Iran and a gas pipeline project that has drawn U.S. ire during tough talks outside Berlin that ended with no clearcut progress. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters no agreements were reached, but the meeting had simply been intended to "check the watches" after Merkel's meeting with Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in May.

UK hopes to pick up Brexit talks pace with Raab-Barnier meeting on Tuesday

Britain's Brexit minister Dominic Raab will travel to Brussels on Tuesday in a bid to pick up the pace of Brexit talks with the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier, Prime Minister Theresa May's office said on Saturday. "On the agenda will be resolving the few remaining withdrawal issues related to the UK leaving the EU and pressing ahead with discussions on the future relationship," May's Downing Street office said.

Venezuelan migrants' dreams of new life dashed by Ecuador passport rule

Tears welled up in Gabriel Malavolta's eyes on Saturday as he realized his dream of a new life in Peru was over, at least for now. The 50-year-old mechanic fled Venezuela three days ago. He had hoped to make the overland crossing into Ecuador and then on to Lima, saying the deepening economic crisis in his homeland had left him without the basic means of survival.

Former U.N. chief and Nobel peace laureate Kofi Annan dies aged 80

Former U.N. Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan died on Saturday at the age of 80, his foundation said, after decades of championing efforts to try to end protracted conflicts in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Annan, a Ghanaian national, died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland, in the early hours, his close associates said.

Iran to unveil new fighter jet, develop missiles: minister

Iran will unveil a new fighter jet next week and continue developing missile capabilities as a top priority, the defense minister said on Saturday, defying new U.S. sanctions aimed at curbing Tehran's missile program and regional influence. Iran's navy also announced on Saturday that it has mounted a locally built advanced defensive weapons system on one of its warships for the first time, as tensions mount with the U.S. military in the Gulf.

U.S. missionary thrust to the center of Turkey-U.S. crisis

When Andrew Brunson saw a police summons on his door in late summer 2016, the U.S. evangelical pastor thought it was a routine appointment to sort out his residency papers in Turkey, his home for nearly a quarter of a century. He went to the police station on Oct. 7, 2016, was detained and later charged with involvement in a coup attempt. He is still in detention and is now at the center of a diplomatic row that has fueled Turkey's most serious currency crisis for almost two decades.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)