Reuters World News Summary

The virtual talks organised by current BRICS chair South Africa were the first between the group's leaders since Israel invaded Gaza in retaliation for a deadly raid by militant group Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7. US reviewing possible 'terrorist' designations for Houthis The United States is reviewing "potential terrorist designations" for Yemen's Houthi rebel group in response to its seizure of a cargo ship, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

North Korea claims it launched first spy satellite, promises more

North Korea said it successfully placed its first spy satellite in orbit on Tuesday and vowed to launch more in the near future, defying international condemnation from the United States and its allies. Officials in South Korea and Japan, which first reported the launch, said they could not immediately verify whether a satellite was placed in orbit. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the U.S. military was still assessing whether the launch was a success or not.

Taliban defends record on women as UN looks at path forward

Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration is "obligated" to consider religious values and will not allow interference in internal affairs, it has told the United Nations in response to an assessment on how the world could deal with the Islamists. The U.N. Security Council asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the independent assessment, which was submitted this month. It proposes a path for political engagement aimed at reintegrating Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 as U.S.-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war.

Pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at Australian port

Australian police arrested 23 pro-Palestinian protesters for blocking roads near one of the country's largest container ports in Sydney, authorities said on Wednesday, after they protested against a ship owned by Israeli carrier Zim. About 400 people had gathered near Port Botany on Tuesday evening for a planned unauthorised protest activity, New South Wales state police said. Protesters who did not comply with directions and occupied roads near the port were charged with offences, including disrupting operations of a major facility.

Israeli government debates deal for release of Gaza hostages, truce

Israel's government met into the early hours of Wednesday to consider a deal for Palestinian Hamas militants to free some hostages in Gaza in exchange for a multi-day truce and the release of a greater number of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Officials from Qatar, which has been mediating negotiations, as well as the U.S., Israel and Hamas have for days been saying a deal was imminent.

North Koreans use fake names, scripts to land remote IT work for cash

Using fake names, sham LinkedIn profiles, counterfeit work papers and mock interview scripts, North Korean IT workers seeking employment in Western tech companies are deploying sophisticated subterfuge to get hired. Landing a job outside North Korea to secretly earn hard currency for the isolated country demands highly-developed strategies to convince Western hiring managers, according to documents reviewed by Reuters, an interview with a former North Korean IT worker and cybersecurity researchers.

BRICS countries discuss Gaza conflict but don't agree joint declaration

Leaders of the BRICS bloc of developing nations and other countries they have invited to join from next year discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Tuesday, but failed to agree a joint declaration. The virtual talks organised by current BRICS chair South Africa were the first between the group's leaders since Israel invaded Gaza in retaliation for a deadly raid by militant group Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7.

US reviewing possible 'terrorist' designations for Houthis

The United States is reviewing "potential terrorist designations" for Yemen's Houthi rebel group in response to its seizure of a cargo ship, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday. Kirby's comment was significant because one of the Biden administration's first acts after taking office in January 2021 was revoking terrorist designations of the Houthis over fears the sanctions they carried could worsen Yemen's humanitarian crisis.

South African lawmakers vote to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel, shut embassy

South African lawmakers voted on Tuesday in favour of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending all diplomatic relations until a ceasefire is agreed in its war with Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza. The resolution is largely symbolic as it will be up to President Cyril Ramaphosa's government whether to implement it; a presidency spokesperson said Ramaphosa "notes and appreciates" parliament's guidance on South Africa's diplomatic relations with Israel, particularly on the status of the embassy.

Deportation drive sparks 'sense of panic' among Afghan refugees in Pakistan: UNHCR

The U.N. refugee agency on Tuesday expressed concern over widespread distress in large Afghan refugee communities across Pakistan where authorities are conducting searches to round up and expel undocumented foreigners. Islamabad last month announced it would expel over a million undocumented refugees, mostly Afghans, amid a row with Kabul over charges it harbours anti-Pakistan militants. Over 370,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan since Oct. 1.

Argentine election winner Milei greeted globally by mix of hostility and support

The victory of Argentina's libertarian President-elect Javier Milei at the weekend has sparked mixed reactions worldwide - including hostility from some Latin American leftists, tentative support from others, and a pledge from China to work with him despite his critical comments. Milei, a self-described anarcho-capitalist, channeled voter anger over a deep economic crisis and years of economic dysfunction to win by double-digits in Sunday's runoff vote.