World News Roundup: 40 killed in Kabul blast; Interpol president; Trump backs Saudi prince

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Israel to turn to U.S. government over Airbnb removal of settlement listings

Israel plans to consult with the U.S. government over a decision by home-renting company to remove listings in Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a cabinet minister said on Tuesday. Palestinians who want to establish an independent state in territory including the West Bank that Israel captured in a 1967 war welcomed the San Francisco-based firm's move, announced on Monday and taking effect in the coming days. Israel called it a "wretched capitulation" to boycotters.

U.S. targets Iran-Russia network over oil sent to Syria

The United States said on Tuesday it had moved to disrupt an Iranian-Russian network that sent millions of barrels of oil to Syria and hundreds of millions of dollars to indirectly fund militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. The complicated arrangement, described by the U.S. Treasury in a statement, involved a Syrian citizen using his Russia-based company to ship Iranian oil to Syria with the aid of a Russian state-owned company.

Facebook sued by Russian firm linked to woman charged by U.S.

A Russian company whose accountant was charged by federal prosecutors for attempting to meddle in U.S. elections sued Facebook Inc on Tuesday, claiming it is a legitimate news outlet and its Facebook account should be restored. The Federal Agency of News LLC, known as FAN, and its sole shareholder, Evgeniy Zubarev, filed the lawsuit in federal court in the Northern District of California, seeking damages and an injunction to prevent Facebook from blocking its account.

Myanmar court allows jailed Reuters reporters' appeal to proceed: lawyer

Myanmar's High Court has allowed an appeal to proceed in the case of two Reuters reporters jailed for seven years on charges of breaking the country's Official Secrets Act, defense lawyers said on Tuesday. The appeal against the conviction, filed earlier this month, cited evidence of a police set-up and lack of proof of a crime. The lawyers did not specify when the Yangon-based court made its decision and there was no formal announcement from the court. Reuters was unable to contact the court outside office hours.

G20 host Argentina's security nightmare: unrest and anarchists

Argentina vowed on Tuesday to crack down on any anarchists and anti-capitalist protesters who try to disrupt next week's Group of 20 gathering in Buenos Aires, saying it was working with foreign governments to identify and block entry to potential trouble-makers. Argentina's government, which faces near daily, occasionally violent protests over its economic austerity program, does not want a repeat of the havoc that overshadowed last year's summit of leaders from key industrialized and developing nations in Hamburg, Germany. Protesters set cars on fire and blocked streets and bridges leading to the summit venue.

With Carney warning of 1970s-style shock, UK firms ready for no-deal Brexit

Companies began triggering plans to keep operating if Britain leaves the European Union without an agreement, a "no deal" scenario the Bank of England said could plunge the economy into a crisis not seen since the 1970s. With less than five months before Britain leaves the bloc, Prime Minister Theresa May is struggling to persuade parliament to back a draft divorce deal agreed with Brussels last week.

At least 40 killed in a blast in Afghan capital Kabul

At least 40 people were killed in an explosion at a wedding hall in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, said two government officials. More than 60 other people were injured in the blast, said Basir Mujahid spokesman for Kabul police.

Trump stands by Saudi prince despite journalist Khashoggi's murder

President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia despite saying that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month. Defying intense pressure from U.S. lawmakers to impose tougher sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Trump also said he would not cancel military contracts with the kingdom, claiming it would be a "foolish" move that would only benefit Russia and China.

Criticism mounts as Interpol set to elect Russian as president

International police body Interpol is expected to elect a senior Russian official as its next president on Wednesday, in a move that has provoked alarm in Europe and the United States about the risk of Kremlin meddling. Interpol's 194 member states, meeting in Dubai for their annual congress, will hold the election on Wednesday morning, a spokesman for the Lyon-based agency said, with a candidate needing two-thirds of the ballots cast to be elected. Multiple voting rounds are possible.

Detained activists in Saudi Arabia subjected to torture, sexual harassment: rights groups

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch accused Saudi Arabia on Tuesday of subjecting several activists including some female human rights defenders detained since May to torture and sexual harassment. Over a dozen women's rights activists have been arrested since May, most of whom had campaigned for the right to drive and an end to the kingdom's male guardianship system, though some have since been freed.

(With inputs from Reuters)