World News Roundup: Moscow pledges 'full protection' to any areas annexed by Russia; Philippines evacuates coastal communities as Typhoon Noru nears and more

President Vladimir Putin's move to order Russia's first military mobilisation since World War Two triggered protests across the country and seen flocks of military-age men flee, causing tailbacks at borders and flights to sell out. Britain's Labour pitches itself against tax cuts for the wealthy Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's Labour Party, on Sunday pledged to reverse the abolition of the top rate of income tax, saying tax cuts for the wealthy wouldn't create economic growth as he made a pitch for power at his party's annual conference.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Moscow pledges 'full protection' to any areas annexed by Russia

Russia has sought to defend its seven-month-old war at the United Nations, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying that regions of Ukraine where widely-derided referendums are being held would be under Russia's "full protection" if annexed by Moscow. The referendums in four eastern Ukrainian regions, aimed at annexing territory Russia has taken by force since its invasion in February, were being staged for a third day on Sunday and the Russian parliament could move to formalize the annexation within days.

Philippines evacuates coastal communities as Typhoon Noru nears

A typhoon gained strength as it approached the Philippines on Sunday, forcing thousands of people from their homes in coastal communities on the main island of Luzon and the cancellation of dozens of flights. Typhoon Noru strengthened with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph (121 mph) and gusts of up to 240 kph (149 mph), the state weather bureau said in an advisory hours before the storm was expected to make landfall.

Putin allies express concern over mobilization 'excesses'

Russia's two most senior lawmakers on Sunday addressed a string of complaints about Russia's mobilization drive, ordering regional officials to get a handle on the situation and swiftly solve the "excesses" that have stoked public anger. President Vladimir Putin's move to order Russia's first military mobilization since World War Two triggered protests across the country and seen flocks of military-age men flee, causing tailbacks at borders and flights to sell out.

Britain's Labour pitches itself against tax cuts for the wealthy

Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's Labour Party, on Sunday pledged to reverse the abolition of the top rate of income tax, saying tax cuts for the wealthy wouldn't create economic growth as he made a pitch for power at his party's annual conference. Starmer, who has led Britain's main opposition party for the past two years, said he would reintroduce the top rate of income tax to 45% after the government abolished the rate in a mini-budget.

Iran summons UK and Norwegian envoys as unrest persists

Iran summoned the British and Norwegian ambassadors over what it said was interference and hostile media coverage of nationwide unrest triggered by the death of a woman detained by the morality police, the semi-official ISNA news agency said on Sunday. Demonstrations that broke out more than a week ago at the funeral of the 22-year-old Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, have spread across the country and turned into the biggest wave of protest in years.

N.Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of U.S. VP Harris visit

North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the sea off its east coast on Sunday, ahead of planned military drills by South Korean and U.S. forces involving an aircraft carrier and a visit to the region by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. South Korea's military said it was a single, short-range ballistic missile fired from near the Taechon area of North Pyongyang Province just before 7 a.m. local time and flew about 600 km (373 miles) at an altitude of 60 km and a speed of Mach 5.

Canada girds for long haul after historic storm Fiona ravages east coast

After powerful storm Fiona left a trail of destruction in Canada's east coast on Saturday, the focus shifted to massive clean-up efforts, damage assessment and restoration of power and telecom services as officials warned of a long road to recovery.

The historic storm slammed into eastern Canada with hurricane-force winds, forcing evacuations, uprooting trees and powerlines, and reducing many homes to "just a pile of rubble."

Poverty in Lebanon's 'city of billionaires' drives deadly migration

In the city from which Lebanon's richest politicians hail, the poorest residents once again mourn their dead. Among them, Mustafa Misto, a taxi driver in the city of Tripoli, and his three young children, whose bodies were found off Syria's coast on Thursday after they left Lebanon on a migrant boat carrying more than 100 people.

Meloni tipped to be prime minister as Italians vote

Italians were voting on Sunday in an election that is forecast to return the country's most right-wing government since World War Two and pave the way for Giorgia Meloni to become its first woman prime minister. A right-wing alliance led by Meloni's Brothers of Italy party appeared set for a clear victory when the last opinion polls were published two weeks ago.

Israeli forces kill Palestinian militant in West Bank

Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian militant on Sunday during an army operation in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said, in the latest in a series of incidents in recent months around the volatile town of Nablus. "The Dens of Lions", a Palestinian umbrella group formed of militants from different factions, said the man, Said Al-Kawni, was a "hero of resistance" and died during "clashes with occupation forces".