Reuters World News Summary

Addressing a ceremony at the U.S. naval base in San Diego, accompanied by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, U.S. President Joe Biden called the agreement under the 2021 AUKUS partnership part of a shared commitment to a free-and-open Indo-Pacific region with two of America's "most stalwart and capable allies." Ukrainian soldiers wrap up Leopard 2A4 tank training in Spain Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers on Monday wrapped up a four-week training in Spain on how to operate the Leopard 2A4 battle tank, of which Madrid is set to deliver six mothballed units to Kyiv this spring.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Russia, Ukraine battle for Bakhmut as ICC seeks war crime arrest warrants

Ukraine's future hinges on the outcome of fighting with Russia in and around Bakhmut, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, with both sides describing relentless battles as Moscow intensifies a winter campaign to capture the small eastern city.

In what would be the first international war crimes cases arising from Russia's invasion, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to seek the arrest of Russian officials for forcibly deporting children from Ukraine and targeting civilian infrastructure, a source told Reuters.

Australia says offered China briefing over nuclear submarine deal

Australia offered China a briefing over its nuclear-powered submarine deal with the United States and Britain but is not aware of any response from Beijing, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday. The government has made more than 60 calls over the last week to leaders including in the Pacific and southeast Asia to inform them about the agreement, known as the AUKUS pact, Marles said during a televised media briefing.

North Korea fires ballistic missile, South Korea says

North Korea has fired a ballistic missile off its east coast, South Korea's military said on Tuesday, the latest in a series of weapons tests as the South and the United States conduct their largest joint military drills in years. Other details, including the missile's flight range, were not immediately available.

U.S. to extend humanitarian stay for Ukrainians who entered via Mexico border

The Biden administration will allow Ukrainians who entered the United States last year at the Mexico border to renew their humanitarian status, giving them continued access to government benefits like health insurance and food stamps. The extension is a victory for advocates who have urged the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden to expand legal pathways for thousands of migrants from a select group of countries who have been allowed to enter the country in recent years on a temporary emergency basis.

Brazil's Bolsonaro will be subpoenaed in jewelry scandal, says minister

Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro will be called to testify as part of an investigation into accusations he tried to illegally bring $3.2 million of jewelry into the country, Justice Minister Flavio Dino said on Monday. "We have enquiries in progress, hearings taking place, and at some point, the former president will be subpoenaed," Dino told reporters after an event in Rio de Janeiro.

Russian blogger charged with spying in Albania asks for asylum

A Russian self-proclaimed blogger arrested last August in Albania on spying charges has applied for asylum in an attempt to escape extradition because she fears persecution in Moscow, her lawyer said on Monday. Svetlana Timofeeva, 34, was arrested together with another Russian and a Ukrainian on charges of entering the former communist military factory of Gramsh, some 80 km (50 miles) from the Albanian capital Tirana.

Eyeing China, Biden and allies unveil nuclear-powered submarine plan for Australia

The leaders of the United States, Australia and Britain on Monday unveiled details of a plan to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines, a major step involving investment of hundreds of billions of dollars aimed at countering China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. Addressing a ceremony at the U.S. naval base in San Diego, accompanied by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, U.S. President Joe Biden called the agreement under the 2021 AUKUS partnership part of a shared commitment to a free-and-open Indo-Pacific region with two of America's "most stalwart and capable allies."

Ukrainian soldiers wrap up Leopard 2A4 tank training in Spain

Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers on Monday wrapped up a four-week training in Spain on how to operate the Leopard 2A4 battle tank, of which Madrid is set to deliver six mothballed units to Kyiv this spring. A total of 40 tank crew members and 15 mechanical specialists underwent training on their use at a military base in the northeastern city of Zaragoza, Spain's armed forces said in a statement.

Returning to frontline, Ukrainian Leopard crews see their 'cat' as game-changer

Ukrainian troops fired the 120mm guns of their Leopard tanks at a German shooting range on Monday, a few days before they were due to return home with the "cats" they hope will give Kyiv a breakthrough in what has become a grinding war of attrition. Muzzle flashes could be seen, and dust clouds where the shells hit the ground, as four tanks fought their way through a muddy dip to what was marked as an enemy position two kilometres away, destroying wooden pop-up targets as they rattled along.

Turkey's quake toll tops 48,000 as govt races to build container cities

The death toll in Turkey from last month's major earthquakes has risen to 48,448, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Monday, as authorities rush to set up container cities to house for the longer-term those left homeless by the disaster. The combined death toll including those killed in Syria has climbed to more than 54,000.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)