Reuters World News Summary

Among the dozens of Nike-branded items the site offers are the U.S. sportswear maker’s Phantom GT2 Elite soccer boots, for 29,999 roubles, or around $330. World leaders join Ukraine summit in test of Kyiv's diplomatic clout World leaders began gathering at a Swiss mountain resort on Saturday to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine and sketch out a path to peace, but notable absences such as China will blunt the summit's potential impact.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Sweden and Iran exchange prisoners in breakthrough deal, officials say

Sweden and Iran carried out a prisoner exchange on Saturday, officials said, with Sweden freeing a former Iranian official convicted for his role in a mass execution in the 1980s while Iran released two Swedes being held there. The prisoner swap was mediated by Oman, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement. "Omani efforts resulted in the two sides agreeing on a mutual release, as those released were transferred from Tehran and Stockholm," it said.

China's Premier Li arrives in Australia, says ties 'back on track'

Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Australia on Saturday, saying relations were "back on track" as he started the first visit by a Chinese premier to the major trading partner in seven years. Australia is "uniquely positioned to connect the West and the East" and stands as "an important force of economic globalization and world multipolarity", Li said at Adelaide's airport, according to a statement from the Chinese embassy.

The Dutchman who gets Nike and Lego into wartime Russia's stores

Nike stopped selling its sportswear to Russia soon after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine over two years ago. But that hasn't stopped footballstore.ru, an online sports retailer owned by Russia's Zenit soccer club. Among the dozens of Nike-branded items the site offers are the U.S. sportswear maker's Phantom GT2 Elite soccer boots, for 29,999 roubles, or around $330.

World leaders join Ukraine summit in test of Kyiv's diplomatic clout

World leaders began gathering at a Swiss mountain resort on Saturday to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine and sketch out a path to peace, but notable absences such as China will blunt the summit's potential impact. Dozens of Ukraine's allies will take part in the talks, but Beijing is staying away after Russia was frozen out of proceedings on the grounds it had dismissed the event as a waste of time and had no interest in attending.

Ukrainian families cross Europe to plead for prisoners held by Russia

Svitlana Bilous travelled half way across Europe - from her home in Ukraine to a Swiss mountaintop resort - to stand on the sidelines of an international summit to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine and tell the world about her missing husband. During the day's events, she will join scores of other relatives of Ukrainian soldiers waving banners and shouting slogans and trying to raise awareness of the troops who have disappeared on the battlefield.

South African foes unite in uneasy coalition

For the first time since Nelson Mandela negotiated an end to white minority rule, former sworn enemies are coming together in South Africa under a pledge to overcome ideological differences for the good of the nation. President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the seismic political shift is a response to voters' demands for solutions to deepening woes - from sky-high unemployment and economic torpor to corruption and failing infrastructure.

US VP announces $1.5 billion for aid for Ukraine at peace summit in Switzerland

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced more than $1.5 billion in aid in part for Ukraine's energy sector and its humanitarian situation as a result of Russia's 27-month invasion of Ukraine. The announcement was made as Harris attended a Ukraine peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she was to meet Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and address the summit's plenary session.

Kate, Princess of Wales, makes first public appearance since cancer diagnosis

Kate, Britain's Princess of Wales, made her first public appearance on Saturday since surgery five months ago revealed the presence of cancer, attending a military parade in central London. Kate rode in a covered carriage with her three children before watching the "Trooping the Colour", an annual military parade near Buckingham Palace that marks the official birthday of the British monarch, King Charles.

G7 confronts China on commerce, pope talks about AI

Pope Francis made an historic appearance at the Group of Seven summit on Friday to speak about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, while G7 leaders also pledged to tackle what they said were harmful business practices by China. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the summit host, invited the pope and other heads of state and government, including the prime minister of India and the king of Jordan, in an effort to show the G7 was not an aloof, exclusive club.

Thousands to march across France against far right

Demonstrations were expected in Paris and cities across France on Saturday to protest against the far-right National Rally (RN) ahead of upcoming elections to the French parliament.

Following RN's surge in last Sunday's European elections, police said 350,000 people were expected to march and 21,000 officers had been mobilised after labour unions, student groups and rights groups called for rallies to oppose the anti-immigration, eurosceptic party.

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