Reuters World News Summary

"If Wagner deploys its serial killers in Belarus, all neighbouring countries face even bigger danger of instability," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said after a meeting in The Hague with Stoltenberg and government leaders from six other NATO allies. Mercenary chief Prigozhin starts exile in Belarus, Putin praises Russian troops Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin flew into exile in Belarus on Tuesday under a deal that ended a brief mutiny by his fighters, as President Vladimir Putin praised his armed forces for averting a civil war.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

US asks what's next for Russia's Wagner in Middle East, Africa

The United States is examining how the Wagner Group's short-lived mutiny against Russia's military establishment might affect the mercenaries' operations in the Middle East and Africa, officials said. Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin startled the world by leading an armed revolt on Saturday that brought his fighters from the Ukrainian border to within 200 kilometers (125 miles) of Moscow before he abruptly called off the uprising.

Russian missile hits restaurant in Ukraine's Kramatorsk, four dead

Two Russian missiles on Tuesday struck the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk and killed at least four people, local officials and police said, as rescue crews combed through a shattered restaurant in search of casualties. The dead included a child while 42 people were injured at the restaurant, according to the city council in Kramatorsk, a city frequently targeted by Russian attacks. The second missile hit a village on the fringes of Kramatorsk, injuring five.

Wagner mutiny exposes risks for China's deep Russian ties

As news broke on Saturday that mercenary Wagner troops were careering towards Moscow in a short-lived rebellion, several businessmen from southern China began frantically calling factories to halt shipments of goods destined for Russia. While the mutiny - the biggest test of Russian President Vladimir Putin's leadership since his February 2022 invasion of Ukraine - quickly faded, some of these exporters are now left questioning their future dependence on Beijing's closest ally.

Analysis-Belarus leader, long the supplicant, feted in Russia after mutiny role

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko is usually the one thanking Russia's Vladimir Putin or asking him for a favour - be it a loan, cheap gas, help in navigating protests or tactical nuclear weapons. This time, the shoe is on the other foot. While the full extent of Lukashenko's role in defusing an armed mutiny on Saturday by Wagner mercenaries aimed at toppling Russia's military leadership remains unclear, the Belarusian leader - derided by Russian officials for years as a useful but volatile and demanding partner - is now being feted in Russia.

Israeli, Palestinian ministers discuss West Bank violence in rare contact

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and a senior Palestinian official discussed violence in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, with Gallant's office saying he offered reassurance about Israel's intention to crack down on Jewish settler riots. Both the phone call and the announcement that it took place were unusual for Israel's religious-nationalist government and followed mounting expressions of U.S. concern about the situation in the West Bank, among areas where Palestinians, with foreign backing, seek to establish an independent state.

Mexico proposes handing control of capital airport to its navy

Mexico is likely to hand over control of the capital's main airport - the busiest in the country - to its navy, according to a draft decree published on Tuesday, in what would be the latest step increasing the military's role in the sector.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has touted the armed forces' involvement in aviation, arguing it has reduced drug trafficking and smuggling out of airports.

Sudan army head calls on young men to join fight against paramilitary RSF

The head of Sudan's army called on young men to defend their country, including by joining the army, and announced a ceasefire for the Eid al Adha holiday on Wednesday, when a rival force has also declared a truce. Multiple ceasefire deals have failed to stick in the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that began April 15, including several brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States at talks in Jeddah that were suspended last week.

East Europe NATO allies say Wagner troops in Belarus spell trouble

Eastern European NATO countries on Tuesday warned that a move of Wagner's Russian mercenary troops to Belarus would create greater regional instability, but NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is ready to defend itself against any threat. "If Wagner deploys its serial killers in Belarus, all neighbouring countries face even bigger danger of instability," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said after a meeting in The Hague with Stoltenberg and government leaders from six other NATO allies.

Mercenary chief Prigozhin starts exile in Belarus, Putin praises Russian troops

Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin flew into exile in Belarus on Tuesday under a deal that ended a brief mutiny by his fighters, as President Vladimir Putin praised his armed forces for averting a civil war. A plane linked to Prigozhin was shown on a flight tracking service taking off from the southern Russian city of Rostov early on Tuesday and landing in Belarus.

U.S. Catholic bishop resigns after investigation of abuse cover-up

Pope Francis on Tuesday accepted the resignation of the bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee following a Vatican investigation triggered by a rebellion by priests and allegations that the bishop mishandled a sexual abuse investigation. The one-line statement from the Vatican gave no reason for the resignation of Bishop Richard Stika, who has denied any wrongdoing.

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