Reuters World News Summary

Following is a summary of current world news briefs. Scale, sophistication of Sri Lanka attack point to foreign links: U.S. ambassador

The scale and sophistication of the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka suggested the involvement of an external group such as Islamic State, the U.S. ambassador said on Wednesday, as the death toll from the bombings rose to 359. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the coordinated attacks on three churches and four hotels, and details have begun to emerge of a band of nine, well-educated suicide bombers, including a woman, from well-to-do families. Exclusive: Gold worth billions smuggled out of Africa

Billions of dollars' worth of gold is being smuggled out of Africa every year through the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East – a gateway to markets in Europe, the United States and beyond – a Reuters analysis has found. Customs data shows that the UAE imported $15.1 billion worth of gold from Africa in 2016, more than any other country and up from $1.3 billion in 2006. The total weight was 446 tonnes, in varying degrees of purity – up from 67 tonnes in 2006. Trump rejects Mexican efforts in face of fresh migrant caravan

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Mexico to do more to block a new caravan of migrants and asylum-seekers traveling through the country toward the United States, reiterating his threat to close the border or send more troops. "A very big Caravan of over 20,000 people started up through Mexico," Trump wrote on Twitter. "It has been reduced in size by Mexico but is still coming. Mexico must apprehend the remainder or we will be forced to close that section of the Border & call up the Military." Britain to allow Huawei restricted access to 5G network

Britain will allow Huawei Technologies a restricted role in building parts of its 5G network, seeking a middle way in a bitter dispute between the United States and China over the next generation of communications technology. Huawei, the world's biggest producer of telecoms equipment, is under intense scrutiny after the United States told allies not to use its technology because of fears it could be a vehicle for Chinese spying. Huawei has categorically denied this. Russia eases path to citizenship for east Ukraine residents

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an order simplifying the procedure for obtaining a Russian passport for residents of the rebel-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. Separatist rebellions broke out against Ukrainian rule in both regions in 2014. Moscow provided military help for the separatists, according to evidence gathered by Reuters, though Russian officials have denied providing material support. North Korea confirms leader Kim Jong Un to visit Russia for summit with Putin: KCNA

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean state media confirmed. State media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the visit will happen "soon," but did not elaborate the time or the venue. Peace, honesty and cheap gas: Ukraine's new leader shoulders high expectations

When the Ukrainian president played by actor Volodymyr Zelenskiy faces a corrupt parliament in his TV comedy, he fantasizes about blasting them all away with two submachine guns. Now that Zelenskiy has been elected president in real life, Margarita Bulava, who voted for him, hopes he will have a similarly transformative effect on the country's politics. Four Hong Kong 'Occupy' leaders jailed for 2014 democracy protests

A Hong Kong court jailed four leaders of 2014 pro-democracy protests on Wednesday amid heightened concerns over the decline of freedoms in the China-ruled city nearly five years after activists took to the streets in mass protests. The sentencing of the nine activists followed a near month-long trial that was closely watched as China's Communist Party leaders have put Hong Kong's autonomy under increasing strain, stoking concern among foreign governments, rights groups and business people. Algeria investigating corruption allegations relating to ex-energy minister: Ennahar TV

Algeria's Supreme Court is investigating cases of alleged corruption relating to former Energy Minister Chakib Khelil, Ennahar TV reported on Wednesday. The cases include capital movements and contracts signed by state energy firm Sonatrach with two foreign companies, the television station said. Irish, British leaders join mourners at funeral of murdered Northern Irish journalist

The leaders of Britain and Ireland joined hundreds of mourners on Wednesday at the funeral of journalist Lyra McKee whose killing by an Irish nationalist militant gunman has sparked outrage in the province. The New IRA group, which opposes Northern Ireland's 1998 peace accord, admitted one of its members shot 29-year-old McKee dead in Londonderry on Thursday when they opened fire on police officers during a riot McKee was watching.