Reuters World News Summary

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Death toll from Indonesia floods and landslides passes 700

The number of people killed by floods and landslides on Indonesia's Sumatra island rose to 708 on Tuesday, the disaster agency said, as authorities rushed to repair infrastructure and deliver aid to cut-off areas. The agency in a press conference late on Tuesday said 708 people had been killed since last week, a figure lower than the 753 reported on its website earlier in the day. It did not give a reason for the discrepancy.

UK's Starmer says China poses security threats, but urges deeper business ties

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that China poses "national security threats" to Britain, but defended his government's decision to step up engagement with the country, saying closer business ties are in the national interest. Starmer's Labour government has made improved relations with China one of its foreign policy priorities, but relations between the two countries have been strained by British accusations of spying by Beijing.

Belgian police raid EU's diplomatic service on fraud suspicion

Belgian police have raided the EU's diplomatic service (EEAS) in Brussels and a training college, the College of Europe in Bruges, as part of a probe into suspected fraud, the European Public Prosecutor's Office said on Tuesday. Three suspects were detained in an investigation into suspected fraud related to EU-funded training for junior diplomats, the prosecutors said.

Sudan's RSF paramilitary says it took control of strategic West Kordofan town

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said on Monday that it seized full control of Babanusa, a transport junction in the country's oil-producing south, though its rival, the Sudanese army, disputed the claim. In a statement on Monday, the RSF said its "liberation" of Babanusa in West Kordofan state — the latest frontline in the war in Sudan — came as it repelled "a surprise attack" by the Sudanese army in what it called "a clear violation of the humanitarian truce."

Germany's foreign minister to visit China next week, as EU prepares to toughen up on trade

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will visit China from December 8 to 9, two sources familiar with his plans said, after he abruptly cancelled a planned October trip, as Beijing seeks to counter European calls to "de-risk" from the Chinese economy. The European Union is expected to toughen its trade stance on China next month, with signs that Germany - the EU's largest member and economy - is aligning with the shift and that the 27-member bloc may be sufficiently united to push through policy changes that deepen ties with like-minded trading partners.

US envoy Witkoff and Kushner arrive in Moscow to meet Putin on ending war in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner were due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for talks on a possible way to end the war in Ukraine. Trump has said he wants to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two but his efforts so far, including a summit with Putin in Alaska in August and meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, have not yet brought peace.

Malaysia tightens nuclear controls under amended law

Malaysia has amended its nuclear regulatory framework to require permits be obtained for all atomic energy activities including import, exports and transshipment of radioactive materials. The amended law, which came into effect on Monday and will be enforced in stages, comes as Malaysia conducts feasibility studies on nuclear energy adoption as part of efforts to meet energy demand and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Bulgaria's government withdraws 2026 draft budget after protests

Bulgaria's government on Tuesday withdrew its 2026 budget plan, the first drafted in euros before the European Union member state adopts the currency on January 1, following nationwide protests against planned tax hikes to finance higher spending. The minority government of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov asked parliament in a statement to withdraw the budget.

Russia says before talks with US it has fully captured city of Pokrovsk, Ukraine denies it

President Vladimir Putin hailed what his commanders said was Russia's full capture of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine as an important victory, but the Ukrainian military said its forces still held the northern part of the city. In comments released before a visit to Moscow by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss possible moves to end the war in Ukraine, Putin said complete control of Pokrovsk would help Moscow fulfil its wider war aims.

AI could increase divide between rich and poor states, UN report warns

Artificial Intelligence could widen gaps between developed and developing countries, a U.N. report said on Tuesday, calling for policy measures to limit the impact. The report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns of a possible "great divergence" emerging between nations in terms of economic performance, people's skill sets and governing systems.

EU epidemic vets begin work on swine fever outbreak in Barcelona

A taskforce of EU vets specialising in epidemics began work in Barcelona on Tuesday as Spain seeks to contain an African swine fever outbreak that has forced it to halt some pork exports. The experts in virology and risk management will visit a 6-km exclusion zone around the affected area in Bellaterra to survey the situation, provide advice and prepare a follow-report with recommendations, a European Commission spokesperson said.

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