Reuters World News Summary

At least 17 airstrikes were reported in the country, including in the principal port city of Hodeidah and at Ras Issa Port, according to Al Masirah, the main Houthi-run television news outlet. Israel urges UN Security Council to pressure Hamas on hostages Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Monday demanded the United Nations Security Council "put as much pressure as possible" on Palestinian militants Hamas to release the people it took hostage during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Kremlin, NATO at odds over pope's call for Ukraine to show 'white flag' and start talks

The Kremlin on Monday said a call by Pope Francis for talks to end the Ukraine war was "quite understandable", but NATO's boss said now was not the time to talk about "surrender".

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry summoned the Vatican ambassador, known as the papal nuncio, to express its "disappointment" with Francis' comments in an interview recorded last month that Ukraine should have "the courage of the white flag" to negotiate an end to the conflict.

Ukraine's Zelenskiy says frontline situation better than in prior three months

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that the situation along the front of Ukraine's war with Russia was the best it had been in three months, with Moscow's troops no longer advancing after their capture last month of the eastern city of Avdiivka. Zelenskiy, in an interview with France's BFM television, said Ukraine had improved its strategic position despite shortages of weaponry, but suggested the situation could change again if new supplies were not forthcoming.

Israel checking whether it killed Hamas military No.2 Issa in Gaza

Israel was checking on Monday whether it had killed Hamas's deputy military leader in an airstrike in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said, as prospects faded for a ceasefire to coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. If his death is confirmed, Marwan Issa will be the highest-ranking official from the Islamist militant movement killed by Israel in five months of war that has pulverised the coastal enclave and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Portugal's centre-right prepares to rule, far-right warns of instability

Portugal's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won Sunday's general election by a slim margin and is preparing to govern without an outright majority as the far-right Chega warned of instability if it is not included in government. With 99.1% of the vote counted, the AD won 79 seats in the 230-seat legislature, followed by the Socialists with 77 seats, prompting the latter to concede defeat.

At least 50 hurt as LATAM's Boeing 787 to Auckland 'just dropped' mid-flight

At least 50 people were hurt when a Boeing 787 operated by LATAM Airlines dropped abruptly mid-flight from Sydney to Auckland on Monday, according to the airline and a New Zealand health service organisation that treated the injured. The aircraft experienced a strong shake and as a result, 10 passengers and three cabin crew members were taken to a hospital, the South American carrier said as it investigates the cause.

US-British forces strike Houthi targets, killing 11, Yemen government says

Airstrikes attributed to a U.S.-British coalition hit port cities and small towns in western Yemen on Monday, killing at least 11 people and injuring 14 while defending commercial shipping, a spokesperson for Yemen's internationally recognized government told Reuters. At least 17 airstrikes were reported in the country, including in the principal port city of Hodeidah and at Ras Issa Port, according to Al Masirah, the main Houthi-run television news outlet.

Israel urges UN Security Council to pressure Hamas on hostages

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Monday demanded the United Nations Security Council "put as much pressure as possible" on Palestinian militants Hamas to release the people it took hostage during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Katz addressed the 15-member council, which met to discuss a U.N. report that found there were "reasonable grounds to believe" sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, occurred at several locations during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

North Korean delegation meets Mongolian President in rare visit -KCNA

North Korea's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Myong Ho met with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on Monday, North Korean state media KCNA said, in a rare foreign trip by a diplomatic delegation from the isolated state. The trip comes as Pyongyang appears to be expanding diplomatic engagement after keeping its borders tightly shut during the pandemic.

US pledges $100 million more for Haiti security mission at Jamaica talks

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday the United States would contribute an additional $100 million to a United Nations-backed multinational security force intended to help Haitian police fight gangs and $33 million in humanitarian aid. This brings the proposed U.S. contribution to the force to $300 million.

German court to rule on 'extremist' label for AfD

A German court is due to rule this week on whether security services can treat the far-right Alternative for Germany and its youth wing as suspected extremist organisations, a decision that could cost the party dearly in upcoming European elections. If the higher administrative court in Muenster confirms a lower court finding, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), tasked with scrutinising threats to Germany's constitutional order, will retain the power to deploy the full range of intelligence tools against the party.

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