World News Roundup: PM May fans flames of Brexit rebellion; China ramps up 'ping-pong diplomacy' in S. Pacific; Yemen talks set to start in Sweden

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

'Just the beginning': Andalusia vote upends Spanish politics

Buoyant right-wingers and downcast Socialists agreed on one thing on Monday in Spain: politics will not be the same again after the surprise election in Andalusia's regional parliament of 12 far-right lawmakers. Andalusia kicked off a busy electoral season on Sunday by delivering the Socialists an unexpected blow and handing over to the far-right Vox a regional kingmaker role long unthinkable in a country with memories of military dictatorship still acute.

Exclusive: Delhi city government bars Bloomberg-funded charity from tobacco control work

A small Indian non-profit funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies will not be allowed to carry out tobacco-control work in New Delhi after it failed to disclose its funding, according to a city government official and a memo seen by Reuters. Other foreign-funded organizations will need to seek prior approval in the future for anti-tobacco activities in the Indian capital, the official also said.

Presenting legal advice, PM May fans flames of Brexit rebellion

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government fought on Monday to defend its Brexit deal by outlining the legal basis for parliament to support its plan to leave the European Union, but instead seemed to fan the flames of rebellion. May faces an uphill struggle to secure parliament's approval in a vote on Dec. 11, when many Brexit supporters and opponents alike say they will reject her vision for leaving the EU, Britain's biggest shift in foreign policy in over 40 years.

Yemen talks set to start in Sweden after wounded Houthis evacuated

Yemeni Houthi officials are expected to travel to Sweden shortly for talks as early as Wednesday to end the nearly four-year-old war after the Saudi-led coalition allowed the evacuation of some of their wounded for treatment. Prospects for convening talks have risen as Western allies press Saudi Arabia, leader of the Sunni Muslim alliance battling the Iranian-aligned Houthis, over a war that has killed more than 10,000 people and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine.

Michelle Obama revisits London school that inspired education drive

Michelle Obama returned on Monday to the London girls' school that inspired her global education initiative when she was U.S. First Lady, nine years after her first visit as part of a tour to promote her memoir. She addressed pupils at London's Elizabeth Garrett Anderson school, thanking them for motivating her to focus on girls' education.

Mexico's Lopez Obrador hails end to aloof politics, launches daily address

In just 48 hours in office, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has stamped a marked change of style on Mexican politics, with hands-on policies and symbolic moves aimed at narrowing the gap between the government and the people. On Monday, he held his first news conference, promising to repeat the exercise every weekday at 7 a.m. - a contrast to predecessor Enrique Pena Nieto, who rarely took journalists' questions, preferring to deliver stage-managed speeches.

Law group calls for tribunal for crimes against Rohingya

A human rights law group contracted by the U.S. State Department to investigate atrocities against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar called on Monday for the urgent establishment of a criminal tribunal to bring those responsible to justice. There were reasonable grounds to believe the Myanmar military committed crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes against the minority group, the Washington-based Public International Law and Policy Group (PILPG) said in a report. The report was based on more than 1,000 interviews with Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh.

Britain's May launches high-stakes parliamentary debate on Brexit plan

Prime Minister Theresa May will urge parliament to back her Brexit deal on Tuesday at the start of a high-stakes five-day debate that could determine her fate and whether Britain leaves the European Union without a deal. May's plan to keep close ties with the EU after leaving has been criticized by Brexit supporters and opponents alike, leaving her struggling to secure parliament's approval in a vote that will follow the debate on Dec. 11.

Brazil's Bolsonaro could put farm ministry in charge of indigenous affairs

Brazil's right-wing President-elect Jair Bolsonaro is considering placing indigenous affairs under the ministry of agriculture, his future chief of staff said on Monday, a move that could give ranchers an upper hand in land conflicts. Bolsonaro's top aide Onyx Lorenzoni told reporters the move has not been decided yet, but said Bolsonaro believes that native tribes should be able to integrate to improve their living standards.

Fifty years on, China ramps up 'ping-pong diplomacy' in South Pacific

Inside a Chinese-funded facility perched on a steep hill overlooking Port Moresby's sparkling harbor, Papua New Guinea's best table tennis players are honing techniques picked up months earlier on a sponsored trip to Shanghai. China's backing is helping the sport, also known as ping-pong, establish an unlikely foothold in the Pacific nation better known for its love-affair with rugby league.

(With inputs from Reuters)