Reuters World News Summary

Seven women, including one minor at the time, had reported suffering acts that could be interpreted as sexual assault or harassment, a report published on Wednesday by Emmaus International and the Fondation Abbe Pierre said -- the first time the situation has been made public. Biden tests positive for COVID, will self-isolate in Delaware U.S. President Joe Biden, under fire from fellow Democrats to drop his re-election campaign, tested positive for COVID-19 while on a trip to Las Vegas on Wednesday and is self-isolating after experiencing mild symptoms, the White House said.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

UK's Starmer uses European forum to press for EU reset, Ukraine support

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will use his role as host of a European forum on Thursday to press his desire to reset Britain's post-Brexit relationship with the European Union and to reaffirm support for Ukraine. Two weeks after winning a large majority in an election and fresh from his first international trip to NATO in Washington as prime minister, Starmer hosts the European Political Community (EPC) of more than 40 nations at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, to build cooperation on border security.

Rising Republican star J.D. Vance to take spotlight ahead of Trump, as Biden contracts COVID

Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, addresses the Republican National Convention on Wednesday in a speech that could illustrate how Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement may dominate the party for years to come. Trump's Democratic opponent in the Nov. 5 election, President Joe Biden, tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms, the White House said on Wednesday. Biden, 81, who was on a campaign visit to Las Vegas, is returning to Delaware and will perform his presidential duties from home while isolating.

Car hits Paris cafe terrace, leaving one dead and six injured

A car drove into the terrace of a cafe in the 20th arrondissement in northern Paris on Wednesday evening, leaving one dead and six injured, including three in a critical state, police said. Police said the driver of the vehicle fled the scene.

Trump national security adviser calls on Taiwan to lift defense spending

A top national security adviser to Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Taiwan needs to boost its defense spending significantly in the face of potential Chinese aggression. The comments by Robert O'Brien, Trump's fourth and final national security adviser, follow remarks by the former president in which he said Taiwan should pay the United States for its defense.

Late French priest Abbe Pierre accused of sexual abuse, charities say

The late French Catholic priest Abbe Pierre, a lifelong campaigner for the homeless and the poor, has been accused of sexual assault, the charities he founded said, adding they believed the accusations and stood by the victims of abuse. Seven women, including one minor at the time, had reported suffering acts that could be interpreted as sexual assault or harassment, a report published on Wednesday by Emmaus International and the Fondation Abbe Pierre said -- the first time the situation has been made public.

Biden tests positive for COVID, will self-isolate in Delaware

U.S. President Joe Biden, under fire from fellow Democrats to drop his re-election campaign, tested positive for COVID-19 while on a trip to Las Vegas on Wednesday and is self-isolating after experiencing mild symptoms, the White House said. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the positive test for the 81-year-old Democrat after Biden cancelled a speech due to the diagnosis.

Germany to halve military aid for Ukraine despite possible Trump White House

Germany plans to halve its military aid to Ukraine next year, despite concerns that U.S. support for Kyiv could potentially diminish if Republican candidate Donald Trump returns to the White House. German aid to Ukraine will be cut to 4 billion euros ($4.35 billion) in 2025 from around 8 billion euros in 2024, according to a draft of the 2025 budget seen by Reuters.

Analysis-Arms race gathers pace as Russia and US plan to redeploy once-banned weapons

Four decades ago, the United States deployed cruise and Pershing II nuclear missiles in Europe to counter Soviet SS-20s - a move that stoked Cold War tensions but led within years to a historic disarmament deal. "We can be proud of planting this sapling, which may one day grow into a mighty tree of peace," Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev told U.S. President Ronald Reagan in December 1987 as they agreed to dismantle the rival systems under a treaty that scrapped all ground-based shorter-range and intermediate-range (INF) nuclear and conventional weapons - those with ranges between 500 km and 5,500 km.

Israel pounds central Gaza, sends tanks into north of Rafah

Israeli forces hit areas in the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday, killing at least nine Palestinians, according to health officials, while Israeli tanks carried out a limited advance further into Rafah in the south. Over the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes have killed at least 81 Palestinians and wounded 198, the Gaza health ministry said. The ministry does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its casualty count.

Violence breaks out at Bangladesh anti-quota protests, government orders probe into killings

Police in Bangladesh fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse students protesting against the government's job quota system on Wednesday, a day after violent clashes left six people dead and scores injured. Authorities also announced the indefinite closure of all public and private universities from Wednesday following the protests over public sector job quotas, which include a 30% reservation for family members of fighters from the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan.

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