Reuters World News Summary

08/21/2016 8:57

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Show of European unity: Merkel, Hollande, Renzi meet to discuss gameplan

The leaders of Germany, France and Italy will meet on Monday to discuss how to keep the European project together in the second set of talks between the premiers of the euro zone's three largest economies since Britain's shock vote to leave the bloc. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi hosts German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on an island off the coast of Naples ahead of September's EU summit called to discuss reverberations from the Brexit vote.

Philippines' Duterte threatens to quit U.N. after drugs war censure

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte railed against the United Nations on Sunday after it called for an end to the wave of killings unleashed by his war on drugs, saying he might leave the organization and invite China and others to form a new one. Two U.N. human rights experts last week urged Manila to stop the extra-judicial executions and killings that have escalated since Duterte won the presidency on a promise to wipe out drugs.

Iraq hangs 36 people sentenced to death for 2014 killings

Iraq said on Sunday it had hanged 36 militants sentenced to death over the mass killing of hundreds of mainly Shi'ite soldiers at a camp north of Baghdad in 2014. The executions were carried out at a prison in Nasiriya, a city in southern Iraq, state television quoted the Justice Ministry as saying.

At least 10 killed in suicide car bomb attack in Somalia

At least 10 people were killed when two suicide car bombers attacked the local government headquarters in Somalia's Galkayo town in the semi-autonomous Puntland region on Sunday, police said, and the militant al Shabaab group claimed the attack. "We have confirmed 10 people dead including civilians and security forces," said Ali Ahmed, a police officer.

No date set for Australia same sex marriage vote: PM's spokeswoman

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has recommended that a vote on whether to allow same sex marriage be delayed, but a spokesman for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Sunday no decision had been made. Australia has been criticized by international human rights groups over its slowness to act on same-sex marriage. Several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, United States, France, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa, have already amended their marriage laws to recognize same-sex unions.

Bombing at wedding party in southern Turkey kills at least 50

At least 50 people were killed on Saturday when a suspected suicide bomber detonated his explosives among people dancing on the street at a wedding party in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, about 40 km (25 miles) from the Syrian border. President Tayyip Erdogan said it was likely that Islamic State militants carried out the late-night attack, the deadliest bombing this year in Turkey, which faces threats from militants at home and from Syria.

Germany tightens Swiss border controls: Swiss minister

Germany has tightened border controls with southern neighbor Switzerland to choke off a flow of illegal immigrants, Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer said, calling it evidence that Germany has withdrawn its welcome mat for migrants. Germany's interior ministry confirmed border staffing had been reinforced.

Hundreds swelter in Hong Kong protests at perceived election meddling

Hundreds of protesters rallied on Sunday against Hong Kong's disqualification of six candidates from legislative elections, the latest outpouring of anger at a perceived tightening grip on the city's freedoms by China. The former British colony was handed back to China in 1997 under an agreement that gave ultimate control to Communist Party rulers in Beijing while promising Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy.

Syrian rebels prepare attack from Turkey on Islamic State town

Hundreds of Syrian rebels are preparing to launch an operation to capture a town held by Islamic State at the border with Turkey, a senior Syrian rebel said on Sunday, a move that would frustrate Kurdish hopes to expand further in that area. The rebels, Turkey-backed groups fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, are expected to assault Jarablus from inside Turkey in the next few days, said the rebel official, who is familiar with the plans but declined to be identified.

Promised prosperity never arrived in Russian-held Crimea, locals say

More than two years after Russia annexed Crimea and promised its 2 million people a better life, residents say prices have soared, wages and pensions have stagnated and tourists have fled. The sunny and mountainous Black Sea peninsula is back in the news, with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing Kiev of sending infiltrators across the border to wreck its industry. But locals say the damage has already been done by Moscow's neglect.

08/21/2016 8:57