Reuters World News Summary
Following is a summary of current world news briefs.
Ukraine retakes more territory in the east, south in counteroffensive
Ukraine reported on Monday its troops had recaptured more territory on the eastern front and advanced in the south in its military counteroffensive against Russian forces. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Kyiv's forces had retaken two square km (0.77 square mile) of land in the past week around the shattered eastern city of Bakhmut, which was captured by Russian troops in May after months of fighting.
Moscow fires cruise missiles in sea drills between Russia and Alaska
Russia fired cruise missiles at mock targets in the seas separating it from Alaska on Monday in what it said was an exercise to protect its northern shipping route in the Arctic. The defense ministry said Vulcan, Granit and Onyx cruise missiles were fired over distances of hundreds of kilometers to strike targets simulating enemy ships in the Bering Sea.
Hungary politician flags possible delay for Sweden's NATO bid
Hungary is not sure it needs to approve Sweden's bid to join NATO, the parliament speaker told local television late on Sunday, potentially signaling further delays to the process. Hungary's approval has been stranded in parliament since July 2022, amid concerns over criticism by Swedish politicians of Hungary's democratic backsliding.
A week after Libya floods, families haunted by fate of the missing
Sabreen Blil was on her hands and knees atop the rubble of her brother's house, the wind beating at her black robe as she clawed with her bare hands at the flattened masonry in hope of somehow digging to the family buried below. She recited their names as she wept.
Italy to pass tougher measures to deter migrant arrivals
The Italian government, struggling with a surge in migrant arrivals, will pass measures on Monday to lengthen the time migrants can be held and to ensure more people who have no right to stay are repatriated, officials said. The move comes after almost 10,000 migrants reached the southern Italian island of Lampedusa last week, dealing a blow to the credibility of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who won office last year vowing to curb illegal immigration.
Former Thai PM Thaksin eligible for parole in February - official
Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra could be released on parole as early as late February, having already had an eight-year prison sentence commuted to one year following his return from self-exile, a senior corrections official said on Monday. Thailand's most famous politician made a dramatic homecoming last month, 15 years after he entered self-exile, having been ousted by a military coup in 2006. While abroad, Thaksin was found guilty in absentia in three cases involving abuse of power, conflict of interest and malfeasance.
Russia calls on World Court to throw out Ukraine genocide challenge
Russia called on the U.N.'s highest court in The Hague on Monday to throw out what it said was a "hopelessly flawed" case challenging Moscow's argument that its invasion of Ukraine was carried out to prevent genocide. The Russian request was made at the start of hearings dealing with the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court.
Taiwan urges China to stop 'destructive' military activities
Taiwan's defense ministry on Monday urged China to stop "destructive, unilateral action" after reporting a sharp rise in Chinese military activities near the island, warning such behavior could lead to a sharp increase in tensions. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has in recent years regularly carried out military drills around the island as it seeks to assert its sovereignty claims and pressure Taipei.
US prisoners fly out of Iran in swap deal after $6 billion unfrozen
Five U.S. detainees flew out of Iran on Monday in a swap for five Iranians held in the U.S. under a rare deal brokered by Qatar between the arch enemies that also unfroze $6 billion of Tehran's funds. A Qatari plane took off from Tehran carrying the five with two of their relatives, shortly after the U.S. and Iran received confirmation that the funds had been transferred to accounts in Doha, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters.
UN experts says war crimes committed in Ethiopia despite formal end to conflict
War crimes and crimes against humanity are still being committed in Ethiopia nearly a year after government and regional forces from Tigray agreed to end fighting, U.N. experts said in a report published on Monday. Thousands died in the two-year conflict, which formally came to an end in November last year. Both sides accused each other of atrocities, including massacres, rape and arbitrary detentions, but each denied responsibility for systemic abuses.
