Global Shockwaves: From Heatwaves to High Stakes Diplomacy

A comprehensive summary of current world news includes a Russian-American woman on trial for treason, a deadly train collision in Chile, a new military pact between North Korea and Russia, and soaring deaths during the haj pilgrimage due to intense heat. Other stories cover Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, China's demands for the Dalai Lama, Somalia's peacekeeping concerns, extreme global heatwaves, Romania's NATO candidature withdrawal, and Putin's strategic visit to Vietnam.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Russian-American woman goes on trial for treason after donating funds to Ukraine

A Russian-American woman arrested earlier this year while visiting family in Russia went on trial for alleged treason on Thursday after authorities accused her of raising money to send to the Ukrainian army. Karelina, who was born in Russia but had built a new life as an aesthetician at a Los Angeles spa after immigrating to the United States over a decade ago, faces a sentence of 12 years to life in prison if found guilty.

Two killed as Chilean train on test run collides with cargo train

Two people were killed and nine injured on Thursday when a train undergoing a test run by Chile's state railway company (EFE) collided with a cargo train operated by private rail firm Fepasa, EFE said in a statement. The incident happened in the San Bernardo area shortly after midnight when an EFE train, performing a test run, collided with a stationary Fepasa train carrying approximately 1,346 metric tons of copper.

New North Korea-Russia pact calls for immediate military aid if invaded

North Korea and Russia have agreed to provide immediate military assistance if either faces armed aggression, according to the full text of a landmark pact released on Thursday by Pyongyang after a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin. South Korea responded by convening an emergency meeting of its national security council and said it would now consider sending arms to Ukraine, which it had previously ruled out.

Toll of Egyptians who died during haj pilgrimage rises, sources say

At least 530 Egyptians have died taking part in the haj and another 31 are missing as extreme heat hits the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, medical and security sources told Reuters on Thursday. Hundreds of people from different countries have died in recent days in punishing conditions at the Saudi Arabian city, where temperatures have at times soared past 51 degrees Celsius (124 Fahrenheit).

Israel pounds central Gaza camps, deepens invasion of Rafah

Israeli forces pounded areas in the central Gaza Strip overnight, killing three people and wounding dozens of others, according to medics, while tanks deepened their invasion into Rafah in the south, residents said. Israeli planes struck a house in Al-Nuseirat camp, killing two people and wounding 12 others, while tanks shelled areas in Al-Maghazi and Al-Bureij camps, wounding many other people, health officials said. Nuseirat, Maghazi, and Bureij are three of Gaza's eight historic refugee camps.

China says Dalai Lama must 'thoroughly correct' his political views

The Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday that exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism the Dalai Lama must "thoroughly correct" his political views as a condition for contact with China's central government to resume. Formal talks between China and the Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, and his representatives have been stalled since 2010.

Exclusive-Somalia asks peacekeepers to slow withdrawal, fears Islamist resurgence

Somalia's government is seeking to slow the withdrawal of African peacekeepers and warning of a potential security vacuum, documents seen by Reuters show, with neighbouring countries fretting that resurgent al Shabaab militants could seize power. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a peacekeeping force, is committed to withdrawing by Dec. 31, when a smaller new force is expected to replace it.

Millions sweltering under extreme heat worldwide as summer arrives

Dangerous heatwaves are scorching cities on four continents as the Northern Hemisphere marks the first day of summer, a sign that climate change may again bring about record-breaking heat that could surpass last summer as the warmest in 2,000 years. Countries around the Mediterranean have endured another week of blistering high temperatures that have contributed to forest fires from Portugal to Greece and along the northern coast of Africa in Algeria, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth Observatory.

Romanian president withdraws NATO candidacy, clearing way for Rutte

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday he was withdrawing his bid for NATO's leadership, clearing the way for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become the alliance's secretary-general. Romania will back Rutte and donate one of its two operational Patriot missile systems to Ukraine on condition that allies replace it with a similar air defence system, Bucharest's Supreme Defence Council (CSAT) chaired by Iohannis said.

Russia's Putin in Vietnam calls for strengthening "strategic partnership"

Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a state visit to Vietnam on Thursday that strengthening strategic ties is "one of his priorities" as he continued a swing through Asia seen as a show of defiance. A day after signing a mutual defence agreement with North Korea, Putin said Moscow and Hanoi wanted to build what he called a reliable security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region. He also said Russia was keen to expand investment in energy in Vietnam.

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