Reuters World News Summary

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Missing Panama cardinal found 'safe and sound'

Jose Luis Lacunza, a Roman Catholic Cardinal who was reported missing has been found "safe and sound" near his diocese in western Panama, the Central American country's police said on X on Thursday. A video shared on the social platform shows a police officer speaking with the 79-year-old Spanish-Panamanian bishop of the Diocese of David - the country's senior Catholic cleric - through a car window. He was located in Boquete, police said.

EU agrees $54 billion in new aid for Ukraine in message to divided US

European Union leaders unanimously agreed on Thursday to extend 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in new aid to Ukraine, sending a message to the United States split on whether to keep backing Kyiv in its fight against Russia's invasion. The agreement overcomes weeks of resistance from Hungary and comes amid uncertainty over the future of U.S. aid. Kyiv relies heavily on Western support as the war, the biggest conflict in Europe since World War Two, nears its third year.

'Everything is melting': Argentines seek cool as heat wave strikes

Argentines sought shade and tried to cool off in public fountains on Thursday as a heat wave hitting the country saw temperatures rise towards 40 degrees Celsius (104°F). "Everything is melting, everything is melting," said Diego Gatti, a 34-year-old merchant in Buenos Aires, adding that at least near the coast there was some access to water and a breeze.

Algeria pushes UN Security Council to demand Gaza ceasefire

Algeria has drafted a U.N. Security Council resolution to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a move that the United States - a council veto power - opposes because it says it would only benefit the Palestinian militants. The draft, seen by Reuters on Thursday, also "rejects the forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population" and again demands all parties comply with international law and calls for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip.

US lawmakers want pressure on Hungary to back Sweden's NATO membership

Senior U.S. lawmakers said they wanted Hungary to immediately approve Sweden's accession to NATO, suggesting on Thursday, a week after Turkey's approval, that Budapest risks permanent damage to its relationship with Washington if it does not act. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin said he had "deep concerns" over the direction of Hungary's current government. The Democratic lawmaker noted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's delay, until today, of European Union assistance for Ukraine, as well as its continuing obstruction of Sweden's NATO membership.

Colombia's Petro denies calling for cabinet resignations

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Thursday denied asking his cabinet ministers to resign, despite three government sources confirming the request to Reuters and reporting in local media. Colombian presidents frequently request mass, 'protocol' cabinet resignations in order to make changes to the government, though these are not guaranteed.

Some Palestinian Americans decline invite to meet Blinken

Some members of the Palestinian American community who received an invite to meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday declined the invitation over their frustration with Washington's policy toward the conflict and crisis in Gaza. "A meeting of this nature at this moment in time is insulting and performative," a group of Palestinian American community members said in a statement, adding they represented a majority of those invited.

Russian strike kills two French aid workers in southern Ukraine-governor

A Russian strike killed two French volunteer aid workers on Thursday in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, the regional governor and other officials said. Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said the Russian attack on the town of Beryslav killed the two French nationals and wounded three other foreigners.

Alberta restrictions for transgender youth 'extremely dangerous' -Canada minister

Canada's health minister on Thursday said planned restrictions for transgender youth in the Western province of Alberta are "extremely dangerous," a sign that policies could become a political wedge issue going into next year's election.

On Wednesday, conservative Alberta Premier Danielle Smith unveiled sweeping changes to policies related to students and gender identity.

US said to back strikes on Iran targets in Iraq, Syria as Gaza truce hopes rise

The planned targets for U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria in response to the killing of three U.S. soldiers by a drone in Jordan include "Iranian personnel and facilities", CBS News reported on Thursday, citing American officials. The United States has assessed that the drone, which also wounded more than 40 people, was made by Iran, four U.S. officials told Reuters. Sources said Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards were pulling senior officers out of Syria.

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