Reuters World News Summary

It was not immediately clear how soon the border crossings would reopen. After UN vote, Netanyahu calls for Hamas' expulsion from the region Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday called for Hamas to be expelled from the region, a day after the U.N. Security Council endorsed President Donald Trump's plan to end the war that offers the Palestinian militant group amnesty. Netanyahu publicly endorsed the plan during a White House visit in late September.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Ukraine's parliament sacks energy minister Hrynchuk

Ukraine's parliament on Wednesday voted to dismiss Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk following a major corruption investigation into the country's energy sector. Hrynchuk held the position from the summer of 2025.

UK says 'military options ready' as Russian ship uses lasers against RAF pilots

British defence minister John Healey said on Wednesday that "military options" are ready should the Russian spy ship Yantar become a threat, after the vessel directed lasers at British pilots sent to monitor it. Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force (RAF) routinely shadow potential threats to national security, and such missions to monitor Russian vessels and submarines have become more frequent since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Louvre museum to add 100 external cameras by 2026 after heist exposed security flaws

France's Louvre Museum will install 100 external cameras by the end of 2026 as part of measures to tighten security after last month's spectacular heist, its director said on Wednesday. Laurence Des Cars also told a National Assembly hearing that ties with Paris police would be tightened with the installation of an "advanced police station within the Louvre's estate".

US Congress approves release of Epstein files, putting matter before Trump

The Republican-controlled U.S. Congress voted almost unanimously on Tuesday to force the release of Justice Department files on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an outcome President Donald Trump had fought for months before ending his opposition. Two days after Trump's abrupt about-face, the House of Representatives passed the measure with a vote of 427-1, sending a resolution requiring the release of all unclassified records on Epstein to the Republican-majority Senate, which swiftly approved it. The bill could now go to Trump for his signature as soon as Wednesday.

Afghanistan seeks Indian investments, goods as Taliban minister arrives in Delhi

Afghanistan's Taliban trade minister arrived in India on Wednesday on a maiden visit to draw greater investments and goods as both countries consider ways to enhance their relations in the backdrop of souring relations with neighbouring Pakistan.

India last month upgraded its ties with the Taliban by reopening its embassy in Kabul that was shut after the Islamist group seized power in 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO forces. New Delhi is also ramping up its aid to the country as it competes with China for influence.

Top US army officials in Ukraine in attempt to revive peace talks, Politico reports

Two top U.S. Army officials have made a rare wartime visit to Kyiv by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, arriving on an unannounced trip for talks with Ukraine's leaders in an attempt to revive stalled peace talks with Russia, Politico reported on Wednesday. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff General Randy George are due to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, senior commanders and lawmakers, Politico said, citing people familiar with the planning.

Japanese seafood caught up in escalating diplomatic dispute with China

China has informed Japan that it will ban all imports of Japanese seafood, media outlets reported on Wednesday, in what appeared to be the latest salvo in an escalating diplomatic dispute between Asia's top two economies. Tensions between the two countries ignited after new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said this month that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival could trigger a military response.

Pope Leo gets gift of Chicago beer from Illinois governor Pritzker

Catholics believe in holy water. How about holy beer? Pope Leo received a special gift on Wednesday from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a four-pack of American mild ale from a Chicago brewery.

Lithuania to reopen Belarus border after balloon incidents

Lithuania will reopen its border crossings with Belarus, ending a closure imposed in response to airspace disruptions by smugglers' balloons, the Baltic republic's government said on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear how soon the border crossings would reopen.

After UN vote, Netanyahu calls for Hamas' expulsion from the region

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday called for Hamas to be expelled from the region, a day after the U.N. Security Council endorsed President Donald Trump's plan to end the war that offers the Palestinian militant group amnesty.

Netanyahu publicly endorsed the plan during a White House visit in late September. However, his latest remarks appear to show that there are differences with the United States on the path forward. Hamas has also objected to parts of the plan.

West scrambles to fill heavy rare earth gap as China rivalry deepens

The West's push to build a home-grown magnets supply chain to reduce its reliance on China - led by massive U.S. backing for Nevada-based MP Materials - is running into a critical problem: the scarcity of so-called heavy rare earth elements. The United States and allies have been scrambling to create an alternative supply chain to make super-strong rare earth magnets, which are vital components in everything from defence technology and electric vehicles, to electronics and wind turbines.

Trump says visiting Saudi crown prince knew nothing about Khashoggi killing, contradicting US intel

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Mohammed bin Salman knew nothing about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents, offering a fierce defense of the visiting Saudi crown prince that contradicted a U.S. intelligence assessment. The controversy over the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and U.S.-based critic of the Saudi leadership, flared again in the Oval Office in front of cameras as the kingdom's de facto ruler made his first White House visit in more than seven years, seeking to further rehabilitate his global image tarnished by the incident.

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