World News Roundup: Air strikes in Yemen’s Hodeidah, U.S. nuclear missiles, Brexit

NATO's top official on Wednesday blamed Russia for breaching a landmark nuclear arms pact that Washington is talking about quitting but said he did not believe the Russian threat would lead to new deployments of U.S. missiles in Europe

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

China fails to stop U.N. Security Council Myanmar briefing

China, backed by Russia, failed on Wednesday to stop a United Nations Security Council briefing by the chair of a U.N. inquiry that accused Myanmar's military of genocide against Rohingya Muslims and urged the 15-member council to push for justice. "Atrocities continue to take place today," Marzuki Darusman, chair of the U.N. Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar, told reporters ahead of the council briefing. "It is an ongoing genocide that is taking place."

UK PM May to address her lawmakers after attacks over Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May will address Conservative Party lawmakers at a private meeting in parliament on Wednesday after anger at her Brexit negotiating strategy prompted some of them to discuss toppling her. May asked to address her divided party's powerful "1922 Committee" where she can expect questions from lawmakers, some of whom have discussed forcing a leadership contest.

Saudi crown prince vows to bring Khashoggi killers to justice

Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowed on Wednesday that the killers of Jamal Khashoggi would be brought to justice, in his first public comments since the journalist's murder sparked global condemnation. Striking a defiant tone, Prince Mohammed told international investors at a major conference in Riyadh that the furor over Khashoggi's killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul would not derail the kingdom's reform drive.

U.S.-bound Central American migrants on the move in Mexico

Thousands of Central American migrants began arriving at a town in southern Mexico on Wednesday on their march toward the United States, where President Donald Trump has declared them unwelcome and threatened to cut off aid to their home countries. Men, women and children, mostly from Honduras, had set out early on foot from the town of Huixtla in the southern state of Chiapas to continue their slog toward the U.S. border, more than 1,100 miles (1,770 km) away. They began arriving in the town of Mapastepec, about 35 miles to the northwest, by the afternoon.

Iraq PM sworn with partial cabinet as lawmakers disagree

Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi was sworn in on Wednesday with only a partial Cabinet after lawmakers failed to reach a consensus on key postings including interior and defence. A rowdy parliament session to approve Abdul Mahdi's government list created more uncertainty for Iraq, months after an inconclusive election, with parties and blocs wrangling over appointments.

NATO chief sees new U.S. missile deployments in Europe as unlikely

NATO's top official on Wednesday blamed Russia for breaching a landmark nuclear arms pact that Washington is talking about quitting but said he did not believe the Russian threat would lead to new deployments of U.S. missiles in Europe. The NATO allies are due to meet on Thursday to hear Washington explain the thinking behind President Donald Trump's move to quit the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which rid Europe of land-based nuclear missiles.

Japanese journalist heads home after 40 months held hostage by militants

A Japanese journalist held hostage by Islamist militants for 40 months left for Japan from Turkey on Wednesday after being freed and said he was happy to be going home. Jumpei Yasuda, a 44-year-old freelance journalist who was reported to have been captured by an al Qaeda affiliate after entering Syria from Turkey in 2015, was released a day earlier after three years in captivity.

Air strikes kill at least 16 civilians in Yemen's Hodeidah: medics, residents

At least 16 people were killed on Wednesday in an air strike that hit a factory for vegetable packaging in Yemen's Hodeidah province, medical workers and residents said. A Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen's war in 2015 has conducted frequent air strikes targeting the Iran-aligned Houthi group and has often hit civilians, although it denies doing so intentionally.

Counting on victory, Brazil's Bolsonaro looks to shape policy

Brazil's right-wing presidential front-runner, Jair Bolsonaro, has begun to shape policies and choose high-ranking ministers for the government he plans to form after his expected landslide victory in Sunday's run-off election. Following a meeting at his home on Wednesday, rural caucus lawmakers said Brazil's agriculture and environment ministries may remain separate, apparently ditching Bolsonaro's plan for a merger that caused a storm of criticism from environmentalists.

Russia will target European countries if they host U.S. nuclear missiles: Putin

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia would be forced to target any European countries that agreed to host U.S. nuclear missiles following Washington's withdrawal from a landmark Cold War-era arms control treaty. Speaking at a news conference after holding talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Putin said he wanted to discuss what he called dangerous U.S. plans to leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with U.S. President Donald Trump.

(With inputs from Reuters)