Reuters World News Summary

Germany said it had recalled its ambassador to Russia for consultations after Berlin accused Moscow of launching cyberattacks on its defence and aerospace firms and ruling party. Australia boosts funds to Taiwan-ally Tuvalu amid Pacific contest for influence with China Australia will quadruple its financial assistance to Tuvalu, a Pacific Island nation at risk from rising seas, to cement a landmark climate migration and security deal as China also courts small island states.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Russia's biggest airstrike in weeks piles pressure on Ukraine power grid

Russian missiles and drones struck nearly a dozen Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities on Wednesday, causing serious damage at three Soviet-era thermal power plants and blackouts in multiple regions, officials said. Ukraine's air force said it shot down 39 of 55 missiles and 20 of 21 attack drones used for the attack, which piles more pressure on the energy system more than two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Amsterdam university overnight

Pro-Palestinian protesters were occupying a University of Amsterdam (UvA) site on Wednesday, a day after police clashed with protesters in the Dutch capital and broke up an earlier encampment at the university. Police said the UvA had not asked them to stop the protest, contrary to early on Tuesday when riot police used a bulldozer to knock down barricades at UvA and detained 169 people at a different campus.

Wife of Pakistan's Imran Khan moved to jail on her request, lawyer says

A court in Pakistan granted a request on Wednesday by the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be moved to jail, her lawyer said, instead of the house arrest ordered by the government. In her petition to the Islamabad High Court, Bushra Bibi had accused authorities of violating her privacy and serving contaminated food in her home cell, which she and her lawyers said was dominated by men, a charge the prison staff has denied.

U.S. pauses some weapons to Israel as battles rage around Rafah

Hamas said it was battling Israeli troops on the outskirts of the Gaza Strip's crowded southern city of Rafah on Wednesday after a U.S. official said Washington had halted a shipment of powerful bombs that Israel could use in a full-scale assault. The United States, which is seeking to stave off an Israeli invasion of Rafah, said it believes a revised Hamas ceasefire proposal may lead to a breakthrough in an impasse in negotiations, with talks resuming in Cairo on Wednesday.

Hong Kong court bans protest anthem, saying it can be used as a weapon

Hong Kong's Court of Appeal on Wednesday granted an application by the government to ban a protest anthem called "Glory to Hong Kong", overturning a lower court judgment that had rejected such a ban because of its possible "chilling effects" on free speech. The ruling comes amid what critics say is an erosion in Hong Kong's rule of law and individual rights amid a sweeping national security crackdown by Beijing that has jailed scores of opposition democrats and shut down liberal media outlets.

Thailand to recriminalise cannabis as PM vows to get tough on drugs

Thailand will re-list cannabis as a narcotic by year-end, its prime minister said on Tuesday, in a stunning U-turn just two years after becoming one of the first countries in Asia to decriminalise its recreational use. The moves comes despite rapid growth of a domestic retail sector for marijuana, with tens of thousands of shops and businesses springing up in Thailand in the past two years in an industry projected to be worth up to $1.2 billion by 2025.

Exclusive-India's Modi, chasing reform legacy, shifts income goals for struggling farmers

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has drawn up new targets to boost farmer incomes as he seeks to secure his legacy of reforming the world's largest democracy and tries to assuage a key voting bloc disillusioned by his government's past failures. Modi, who is eyeing a rare third term in ongoing elections, wants to lift rural per-capita income by 50% by 2030, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.

Russian court says US soldier charged with theft causing 'significant' damage

U.S. soldier Gordon Black, who has been detained the Russian city of Vladivostok until July 2, has been charged with theft causing significant damage, a Russian court said. The detention of Black, who the Pentagon said travelled to Russia without authorization, presents yet another diplomatic headache for the United States, which has warned U.S. citizens against all travel to Russia.

Russia says Germany using baseless 'hacker myths' to destroy ties

Russia accused Germany on Wednesday of using baseless myths about Russian hackers to escalate tensions and said Berlin's decision to recall its ambassador would lead to further deterioration of bilateral ties. Germany said it had recalled its ambassador to Russia for consultations after Berlin accused Moscow of launching cyberattacks on its defence and aerospace firms and ruling party.

Australia boosts funds to Taiwan-ally Tuvalu amid Pacific contest for influence with China

Australia will quadruple its financial assistance to Tuvalu, a Pacific Island nation at risk from rising seas, to cement a landmark climate migration and security deal as China also courts small island states. On a visit to Tuvalu, foreign minister Penny Wong said on Wednesday evening Australia has committed A$110 million ($72.27 million) in its national budget to Tuvalu.

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