Reuters World News Summary

09/20/2016 19:54

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Turkey's Erdogan urges world to act against U.S.-based Gulen

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called on world leaders at the United Nations to take measures against a U.S.-based cleric's "terrorist network" that he said threatened their security. "I am calling, from this podium, to all our friends, to swiftly take the necessary measures against the Gulenist terrorist organization for their own safety and the future of their nations," Erdogan said.

UK not turning away from world after Brexit vote, UK's May tells United Nations

British Prime Minister Theresa May told leaders on Tuesday that her country will not turn away from the world after the shock vote to leave the European Union, seeking to allay fears over the future unity of the West. In her maiden speech to the United Nations General Assembly, May sketched her views on how to deal with terrorism, mass migration and modern slavery while also calling for modernization of the 71-year-old organization.

U.S. believes Russian aircraft hit Syria aid convoy: officials

The United States believes two Russian aircraft attacked an aid convoy near Aleppo in a strike that shattered a one-week truce, U.S. officials said on Tuesday, but Russia denied involvement. Despite the military blame game over Monday's deadly attack, diplomats struggled to save the U.S.-Russian ceasefire agreement that took effect on Sept. 12.

Canada's Trudeau sidesteps questions on extraditions to China

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sidestepped questions on Tuesday on the sensitive topic of possible extraditions to China, saying Canada would stick to high standards when deciding whether to return Chinese citizens. A statement posted on Trudeau's website said his national security adviser went to Beijing last week and agreed to start talks about an extradition treaty as part of a security dialog. China, which wants the return of officials suspected of corruption who it says are hiding in Canada, has long pressed for such a treaty.

Top CIA analyst sees likely Putin re-election bid

Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to run for re-election in 2018 and may impose tougher authoritarian rule to curb unrest over the slumping economy, the CIA's top Russia analyst said on Tuesday. The rare public comments by Peter Clement, head of the CIA unit that watches Russia, shed light on how some senior U.S. intelligence officials view Putin and where he is taking his country as he prepares an expected run for a fourth presidential term in 2018.

Blair sees 'chaos' if U.S. elects an isolationist president

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday predicted chaos if the United States elected an isolationist president, likening the withdrawal of America from world affairs to a soccer match without a referee. Asked how he would advise Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, should he win the Nov. 8 election, Blair stopped short of labeling Trump an isolationist. But he pointedly praised Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, once the United States' top diplomat, and said the world needed U.S. leadership and democratic values.

Congo death toll hits 44 in anti-Kabila unrest: rights group

At least 44 people - including 37 demonstrators and six police officers - have been killed in protests over Congolese President Joseph Kabila's perceived bid to extend his rule, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday. The unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo started on Monday after its election commission decided to try to postpone the next presidential vote, due in November.

Brazil's ex-president Lula to stand trial for corruption

Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will stand trial on corruption charges, a crusading federal judge ruled on Tuesday, adding more turbulence to the country's political landscape. Judge Sergio Moro said that Lula, who served as president from 2003-11 and has for two decades been an iconic and powerful political force in Brazil, will face charges of accepting 3.7 million Brazilian reais ($1.14 million) in bribes connected to a sweeping kickback probe at state-run oil company Petrobras.

India backs off major retaliation over Kashmir raid, for now

For all the shrill rhetoric immediately following Sunday's attack on an Indian army camp in Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, the threat of a sudden escalation in hostilities between the nuclear-armed rivals has receded for now. Two days after 18 Indian soldiers were killed, in the biggest blow to security forces in the disputed Himalayan region for 14 years, some officials called for a measured response and plotted a diplomatic offensive to increase pressure on Pakistan.

Jordan's rebranded Islamists seen staging election comeback

Jordan's moderate Islamist opposition could emerge from Tuesday's parliamentary election with renewed influence after surviving government attempts to ban it as part of a wider crackdown on political Islam. The group could win up to a fifth of seats in the parliament after ditching its "Islam is the Solution" slogan and joining with Christians to create a broad-based civic grouping - The National Coalition for Reform.

09/20/2016 19:54