Reuters World News Summary

The governor general at the time awarded the Order of Canada, a top civilian honor that recognizes outstanding achievement and service to the nation, to Peter Savaryn, who was praised for promoting multiculturalism in Canada. Turkey carries out new air strikes in northern Iraq after Ankara bombing Turkish air forces destroyed 58 targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq since the Kurdish militant group claimed responsibility for a bomb attack near government buildings in Ankara on Sunday.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Ukraine says its forces make headway in south, hold gains in east

Ukrainian forces made some headway in their drive southward as part of a gruelling counteroffensive to recapture areas seized by Russia in its 19-month-old invasion of its neighbour, military officials said. Ukrainian officials also said Kyiv's forces were resisting Russian attempts to reverse gains on the eastern front made by Kyiv since it launched the counteroffensive in June.

Egypt opposition say they face foul play over presidential candidate endorsements

Egyptian opposition parties said on Wednesday that people trying to endorse candidates hoping to stand against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in an election in December had been repeatedly obstructed from doing so. Potențial candidates must secure backing of at least 25,000 members of the public from 15 different governorates, or 20 members of parliament, and register their candidacy by Oct. 14 for the Dec. 10-12 presidential poll.

Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan bid to fill top job in leaderless US House

The race to replace ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy took shape on Wednesday as Steve Scalise, the chamber's No. 2 Republican, and Jim Jordan, a leading antagonist of Democratic President Joe Biden, said they would seek the post. The two lawmakers could be joined by several other candidates in what could be a lengthy and messy battle to fill the post in the House where Republicans hold a majority.

UN-mandated investigation into Ethiopia atrocities lapses

A United Nations-mandated inquiry into what investigators say are continuing atrocities in Ethiopia faces closure after a U.N. website on Wednesday showed that no motion has been received to renew it. Thousands died in a two-year conflict between the government and regional forces from Tigray, which formally came to an end in November last year. Both sides accused each other of atrocities, including massacres, rape and arbitrary detentions, but each denied responsibility for systemic abuses.

Canada apologizes for honor awarded to ex-Nazi soldier in 1987

Canada's Governor General Mary Simon has apologized for a top Canadian honor awarded in 1987 to a former Nazi soldier who moved to Canada after World War Two and went on to become the Chancellor of the University of Alberta. The governor general at the time awarded the Order of Canada, a top civilian honor that recognizes outstanding achievement and service to the nation, to Peter Savaryn, who was praised for promoting multiculturalism in Canada.

Turkey carries out new air strikes in northern Iraq after Ankara bombing

Turkish air forces destroyed 58 targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq since the Kurdish militant group claimed responsibility for a bomb attack near government buildings in Ankara on Sunday. The third operation after Sunday's bombing was conducted in the Metina, Hakurk, Gara, Qandil and Asos regions of northern Iraq at 7 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Wednesday and many PKK militants were "neutralised", a term mostly used to mean killed, Turkey's defence ministry said.

In Australia's Outback, Indigenous Voice proposal struggles to inspire

In this dusty corner of the Outback, Tarna Andrews sat in the local schoolyard and rolled off a catalogue of problems afflicting her largely Indigenous community: Lack of jobs. Inadequate health services. Spotty internet. Andrews has spent 38 years teaching in this tiny settlement, where dogs roam red-dirt streets some 220 km from the nearest large town, Alice Springs.

Azerbaijan's Aliyev pulls out of talks with Armenia and EU

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday pulled out of an EU-brokered meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, dealing a blow to prospects for rescuing the peace process between the two countries. The meeting had been aimed at preventing any further escalation and restoring dialogue after Azerbaijan last month seized back control of a region populated by ethnic Armenians, prompting more than 100,000 of them to flee to Armenia.

Analysis-India's spies infiltrated West long before Canada's murder claim

India's external intelligence service is a feared foe in its neighborhood: Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal have all accused it of political meddling and involvement with outlawed groups that have perpetrated acts of violence. Now, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegation last month that Indian government agents were involved in the June killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb has thrust Delhi's secretive Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) into the global spotlight.

Slovakia tightens controls on Hungary border as migrant arrivals rise

Slovakia moved on Wednesday to impose temporary controls on its border with Hungary over a rising number of illegal migrants, after Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria tightened their own frontiers with Slovakia. Slovakia's prime minister criticised the "chain reaction" of controls imposed on Tuesday by neighbours and said a European fix to guard the European Union's external borders would be a better solution.

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