World News Roundup: Hunter Biden prosecutor to testify behind closed doors to House Republicans; Russia formally withdraws from key post-Cold War European armed forces treaty and more

The Group of Seven (G7) wealthy nations - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - as well as the European Union, meet in Tokyo on Nov. 7-8 to discuss issues including Russia's war in Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza crisis. China, Australia to restart annual meetings as trade resumes Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Tuesday, restarting an annual leaders' dialogue that Albanese said will continue as relations between the trading partners stabilised.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Hunter Biden prosecutor to testify behind closed doors to House Republicans

U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss, who is leading the probe into President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, will appear on Tuesday for a closed-door interview with the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, amid an impeachment inquiry into Biden. Weiss is expected to push back against comments by two whistleblowers from the Internal Revenue Service tax agency, who say he told officials at a meeting that he did not have final authority on deciding to bring charges as part of his probe.

Russia formally withdraws from key post-Cold War European armed forces treaty

Russia on Tuesday formally withdrew from a landmark security treaty which limited key categories of conventional armed forces, blaming the United States for undermining post-Cold War security with the enlargement of the NATO military alliance. The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), signed a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, placed verifiable limits on categories of conventional military equipment that NATO and the then-Warsaw Pact could deploy.

G7 support for Ukraine will not dim due to Middle East conflict, Japan says

G7 support for Ukraine in its war with Russia will not be affected by the intensifying Middle East conflict, Japan said on Tuesday as the group's foreign ministers prepared to hold virtual talks with Kyiv during a meeting in Tokyo. The Group of Seven (G7) wealthy nations - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - as well as the European Union, meet in Tokyo on Nov. 7-8 to discuss issues including Russia's war in Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza crisis.

China, Australia to restart annual meetings as trade resumes

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Tuesday, restarting an annual leaders' dialogue that Albanese said will continue as relations between the trading partners stabilised. Albanese is in China on the first visit by an Australian leader in seven years, after a diplomatic dispute had put a halt to once-annual meetings of leaders.

Turkish parliament removes brands from menu over alleged Israel support

Turkey's parliament removed Coca Cola and Nestle products from its restaurants on Tuesday over their alleged support for Israel amid the conflict in Gaza, according to a parliament statement and a source who named the two companies. The two companies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Germany releases aid for Palestinians, gives extra 20 million euros

Germany has decided to release 71 million euros ($75.80 million) in aid as part of an ongoing review of its support for Palestinians, and has pledged an additional 20 million euros in new funding, the development ministry said on Tuesday. Germany responded to Hamas militants' bloody attack on Israel on Oct. 7 by temporarily suspending its development aid to the Palestinian Territories pending review.

Crime, climate, growth: UK's Sunak sets out pre-election agenda in King's Speech

Britain's government set out its plans to tackle crime, boost growth and reduce the climate burden on Tuesday, an unashamedly political agenda that could be Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's first and last King's Speech before an election. In an agenda written by the government but delivered by King Charles to lawmakers packed into parliament's ornate House of Lords, Sunak signalled his intent to create a dividing line with the opposition Labour Party before the vote expected next year.

Spain's Constitutional Court endorses new wealth tax, court says

A new wealth tax introduced by Spain as part of measures aimed at easing the cost of living of ordinary Spaniards amid high inflation was endorsed by the Constitutional Court, it said on Tuesday. The court rejected an appeal lodged by Madrid region which considered the levy infringed its regional prerogatives, the court said in a statement.

Israel readies for Gaza City push as UN decries month of Middle East 'carnage'

Israel gave civilians still trapped inside freshly encircled Gaza City a four hour window to leave on Tuesday, and residents escaping said they passed tanks in position to possibly begin storming it. Israel says its forces have surrounded Gaza City, home to a third of the enclave's 2.3 million people, and are poised to storm it soon in their campaign to annihilate the Hamas Islamists who attacked Israeli towns exactly a month ago.

Myanmar rebels capture provincial town as anti-junta offensive widens

Opposition troops have captured a town in central Myanmar that is a district administrative headquarters after beating back the military, the shadow government and local media said on Tuesday. The shadow National Unity Government (NUG) hailed it as a key victory, although an analyst cautioned that the fighters may struggle to hold Kawlin, which has a population of around 25,000.