Reuters World News Summary

It could also complicate Democrats’ efforts to capitalize on vulnerabilities among Republicans, the party of President Donald Trump, over high prices and a backlash against the U.S.-Israeli-launched Iran war. ASEAN to hold talks soon with Myanmar foreign minister, secretary-general says Southeast Asian foreign ministers have agreed to a virtual meeting with their Myanmar counterpart, ASEAN's secretary-general said on Thursday, as the country seeks to re-engage with the regional bloc after five years on the sidelines.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

EU prosecutors arrest 21 Croatians over suspected farm aid fraud

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said on Thursday it had arrested 21 Croatians, including an acting and a former public official, in a probe into possible corruption and fraud involving European Union farm subsidies. The head and a former expert adviser of a payment agency of agricultural funds in one of Croatia's counties were among ​those arrested on May 6 in coordination with local police and Croatian tax administration authorities for suspected "abuse of office and authority and receiving bribes", the EPPO said in a statement.

Paraguay president lauds friendship with Taiwan, China tells him to sever ties

Paraguay and Taiwan share a friendship based ​on freedom and democracy that extends beyond diplomatic formalities, Paraguayan President Santiago Pena said on Thursday, as China told him to sever ties with Taipei. His visit comes as China steps up efforts ‌to draw the South ​American nation away from its longstanding support for Taipei.

ASEAN summit kicks off with calls for joint response to energy crisis

The fallout of the Middle East crisis took centre stage at meetings of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN on Thursday, with renewed calls for a united front in the face of serious challenges for its fuel import-dependent economies. Concerns of energy and food supply security following a blockade of the critical Strait of Hormuz weigh heavy on the bloc of 11 nations, home to nearly 700 million and one of the regions worst-hit after the Iran war choked off energy supplies.

Thai, Cambodian leaders commit to seek peace after rare meeting on conflict

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Thursday to pursue trust-building measures to advance a fragile ceasefire and establish peace, after rare talks over last year's deadly fighting between the two neighbours. Troops remain deployed on both sides of their long-disputed 817-km (508-mile) border after battles in July and December ‌when skirmishes quickly escalated into air strikes and heavy exchanges of artillery and rockets.

Israeli attack kills son of Hamas leader negotiating with Trump-led board

An Israeli air strike has killed the son of Hamas' chief negotiator in U.S.-mediated talks over Gaza's future, a senior Hamas official said on Thursday, as leaders of the militant group held talks in Cairo aimed at safeguarding their truce with Israel. Azzam Al-Hayya, son of Khalil Al-Hayya, succumbed to his wounds on Thursday after being struck in an Israeli attack on Wednesday night, said senior Hamas official Basim Naim. He is the fourth son of Hamas' exiled Gaza chief to have been killed in Israeli attacks.

Russia says Armenia is being dragged into EU's 'anti-Russian orbit'

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Armenia was being drawn into what it described as the European Union's "anti-Russian orbit". The comment by the ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, was a sign of increasing tensions between the two countries, formerly close allies, after Armenian officials accused Russia of failing to protect it from neighbour and longtime rival Azerbaijan.

Tensions over pro-Israel lobbying group highlight rifts in Democratic primaries

A growing number of Democratic primary challengers are making opposition to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee a campaign issue as they seek to unseat party incumbents backed by the influential pro-Israel advocacy group. The trend reflects divisions over U.S. policy toward ‌Israel as the wars in Gaza and Iran deepen intraparty tensions ahead of November’s midterm election. It could also complicate Democrats’ efforts to capitalize on vulnerabilities among Republicans, the party of President Donald Trump, over high prices and a backlash against the U.S.-Israeli-launched Iran war.

ASEAN to hold talks soon with Myanmar foreign minister, secretary-general says

Southeast Asian foreign ministers have agreed to a virtual meeting with their Myanmar counterpart, ASEAN's secretary-general said on Thursday, as the country seeks to re-engage with the regional bloc after five years on the sidelines. In an interview during the ASEAN summit in the Philippines, Kao Kim Hourn said ‌Myanmar, which has been gripped by civil war, had indicated it wanted to normalise ties with the 11-member grouping, but its neighbours want to see progress on de-escalation, dialogue and aid access.

US senators urge stability, cooperation between US, China

A delegation of U.S. senators visiting Beijing has called for stability and peaceful cooperation between the world's two largest economies a week before the countries' leaders meet. U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to the Chinese capital to meet President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15.

Indian seafarers endured nightly blasts, lack of food in Iran war ordeal

Nightly explosions of drones and missiles terrified Indian sailor Tithi Chiranjeevi after his ship was stranded in Iran for more than a month by the Strait of Hormuz blockade caused by the Middle East conflict. "Around 10 to 20 missiles struck every night. No one could sleep," he told Reuters, describing conditions outside Iran's port of Khorramshahr on his return home last week, after an arduous 15-day journey through Iraq, Armenia, and Dubai.

Israeli suspected of attacking French nun in Jerusalem charged with religious hate crime

An Israeli man suspected of shoving a French Catholic nun to the ground and kicking her in Jerusalem has been charged with assault motivated by religious hostility, Israel's state attorney's office said on Thursday. The April 28 attack was condemned by Christian clergy in Jerusalem and came amid a rise in harassment of religious officials and pilgrims by religious Jews in the walled Old City, home to sites holy to Christians, Muslims and Jews.

African countries warn citizens of xenophobic attacks in South Africa

African countries including ⁠Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have warned ​migrants in South Africa to be cautious and remain indoors due to attacks targeting foreigners, and Ghana has lobbied the African Union regional bloc for action. South Africa has ⁠seen a wave of protests against illegal immigration which have been accompanied by instances of violence against migrants from other sub-Saharan African countries in South Africa, which has the largest economy on the continent.

Israel says it killed Hezbollah commander in first strike on Beirut since ceasefire

Israel said on Thursday it had killed a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force in an airstrike on Beirut a day earlier, the first Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital since a ceasefire agreed last month. The Israeli military said the commander was killed when Israel struck the southern suburbs of Beirut. There was no immediate confirmation from Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz announced the attack in a joint statement on Wednesday.

A small town in Germany braces for end ⁠to decades of life with US troops

The picturesque Bavarian town of Vilseck has hosted U.S. forces since the end of World War Two and could bear the brunt of President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw at least 5,000 troops from Germany. Although details of the units affected by the order have not been confirmed, the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment — the only permanent brigade combat team in Germany — based at Rose Barracks in Vilseck is expected to go.

UK police make third arrest over attempted arson at London synagogue

British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with an attempted arson attack on a synagogue in north London last month, marking the third arrest in the investigation, the force said on Thursday. The ​man was arrested on suspicion of attempted arson and remains in custody, police said. The investigation relates to an incident in the early hours of April 15 at a synagogue in Finchley, north London, in which no damage was caused and no injuries were reported.

Australian women linked to ISIS arrested, accused of slavery after Syrian return

Three Australian women linked to the extremist group Islamic State were arrested on Thursday after arriving home with their children following years in a camp in Syria, and were expected to be charged with slavery and terrorism offences, police ⁠said. The Australian government said on Wednesday that four women and nine children who had been detained in northeast Syria planned to return to Australia, but would receive no government assistance.

US and Iran explore short-term deal to end fighting

The United States and Iran are edging toward a limited, temporary agreement to halt their war, sources and officials said on Thursday, with a draft framework that would stop the fighting but leave the most contentious issues unresolved. The emerging plan centres on a short-term memorandum rather than a comprehensive peace deal, underscoring deep divisions between the two sides and signalling that it would be an interim step.

Congo president raises prospect of third term and vote delay, angering opposition

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi said he was open to standing for a third term, angering opposition politicians who accused ⁠him ​of planning to break through mandate limits in the constitution and cling to power. Tshisekedi also said fighting in the east could make it impossible to hold the next presidential vote on time in 2028 - raising the prospect of a delay that could prove equally divisive in the mineral-rich nation which has endured decades of conflict.

UK voters cast ballots in elections expected to deal blow to Starmer

Millions of British voters cast their ballots on Thursday in local and regional elections that are expected to deal a huge blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party and renew questions over his ability to govern. Elections for almost 5,000 council seats in England and to the parliaments in Scotland and Wales could signal the beginning of the end of Britain's traditional two-party system if voters opt for populist and nationalist parties rather than the once-dominant Labour and Conservatives.

Countries scramble to track passengers of virus-hit cruise ship

Countries worldwide on Thursday scrambled to prevent further spread of the hantavirus, after an outbreak on a cruise ship, by tracking those who had already disembarked before the virus was detected and anyone in close contact with them since. Three people - a Dutch couple and a German national - died in the outbreak on the MV Hondius. Eight people, including a Swiss citizen, are suspected ⁠to have contracted the virus, which is usually spread by rodents but can in rare cases be transmitted among people, the World Health Organization said.

Rubio departs Vatican after meeting Pope Leo amid tensions with Trump

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio left the Vatican on Thursday after seeing Pope Leo in what was expected to have been a fraught meeting following President Donald Trump's repeated attacks on the Catholic leader over the Iran war. Rubio spent 2-1/2 hours at the Vatican before driving away in a convoy under tight security. He met initially with Leo before sitting down with senior Vatican ⁠officials, including top diplomat Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Three killed in Austrian city of Linz, weapon recovered, police say

At least three people have been killed outside a restaurant in the Austrian ⁠city of Linz, a police spokesperson said on Thursday, adding that the weapon with which they were killed had been recovered. The spokesperson declined to comment further. Tabloid newspaper Kronen Zeitung reported that it was a shooting in which a man killed two women and then himself.

Ukraine's top negotiator in Miami for talks, source says

Ukraine's top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, has arrived in Miami for a meeting with U.S. representatives, a source said, as peace talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine have stalled in recent months. Kyiv hoped U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Ukraine earlier this spring, but the visit never happened. Washington's focus has largely moved away from Ukraine amid the war in Iran.

Exclusive-How Trump's Minneapolis immigration blitz hobbled federal crime fighting

The Trump administration blitz that flooded Minnesota with immigration agents also dramatically slowed other federal investigations and prosecutions into an array of serious crimes, a Reuters review of federal court ‌records found. New gun and drug prosecutions stalled. Several top prosecutors quit. Some federal agents disappeared from drug task forces and ‌gang cases. Others took the unusual step of bringing their investigations to state authorities.

Russia continues to violate Kyiv-proposed ceasefire, Zelenskiy says

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia continued to flout a Kyiv-proposed ceasefire on Thursday, adding that Ukraine would continue its long-range strikes if Russia carried on with its assaults. Zelenskiy had floated the cessation, starting on May ​6, in response to Russian leader Vladimir Putin's own proposed ceasefire from May 8 to 9 to coincide with its World War Two victory commemorations.