The Islamic State remains a global threat despite losing the once vast territory it held in Syria and Iraq, U.S. officials said Thursday in warning about persistent violence from underground cells and an expansion of militants into new areas.

Ambassador James Jeffrey, the State Department envoy to the international coalition fighting the Islamic State, told reporters that thousands of the extremist organization's fighters are scattered around Syria and Iraq, where officials see a "persistent, resilient, rural terrorist level of violence" in that country.

A legal battle between the ruler of Dubai and his estranged wife over their children's welfare will be heard by England's High Court in November, a judge decided Wednesday.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Thursday announced the appointment of an acting deputy chief, after a report on alleged ethical abuses by top management prompted donors to freeze funds.

Islamic State group attacks on security forces north of the Iraqi capital killed six of their members overnight, officials said Thursday.

Libya's Government of National Accord has protested at what it said were "untruths" in UN envoy Ghassan Salame's latest report on the conflict in the North African country.

Fayed al-Sarraj, head of the UN-recognised GNA which is based in Tripoli, summoned Salame on Wednesday "to deliver a protest note over untruths" in his report to the United Nations Security Council, it said.

Two separate attacks killed at least 20 police in Yemen's government-held second city Aden Thursday, one by Shiite rebels and the other by jihadists, security and medical sources said.

A Palestinian crossed into Israel from Gaza and shot at troops, setting off a firefight in which he was killed and three Israeli soldiers were wounded early Thursday, the army said. 

A legal battle between the ruler of Dubai and his estranged wife over their children's welfare will be heard by England's High Court in November, a judge decided Wednesday.

Celebrations of King Mohammed VI's 20 years on the throne culminate Wednesday with the annual pledge of allegiance to Morocco's monarchy after a series of opulent banquets and a major speech.

Princess Haya, who is battling her husband Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum in a UK court, is the third princess who has sought to escape the Gulf emirate in recent years.