Reuters World News Summary

09/13/2016 19:52

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Spanish court to investigate politician from Rajoy's People's Party

Spain's Supreme Court said on Tuesday it would investigate a prominent figure from the conservative People's Party (PP) for alleged money laundering offenses, as politicians struggling to form a government clash over corruption cases. Rita Barbera had been in the public eye for several months in connection with an investigation into an alleged irregular party financing scheme in the eastern city of Valencia, where she used to be mayor. She denies any wrongdoing.

Germany's Steinmeier against new integration push by EU

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday said the European Union lacked the cohesion to undertake major new integration steps after Britain's vote to leave the bloc, but also warned against efforts to unwind the current EU structure. Steinmeier, speaking after a meeting with his Danish counterpart, said moves to revamp the current EU treaties would result in lengthy and complex negotiations that would go nowhere.

U.S. says strikes in Syria may have resulted in civilian casualties

The U.S. military said on Tuesday that three strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria in the past six days may have caused civilian casualties. U.S. Central Command said in a statement that strikes near Dayz Az Zawr on Sept. 7, near Raqqa on Sept. 10 and near Ash Shaddadah on Sept. 12 may have resulted in civilian casualties.

Syria truce holds at start of second day: monitor

A nationwide ceasefire was holding across Syria at the start of its second day on Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitoring body said it had not recorded a single civilian death from fighting in the fifteen hours since the ceasefire came into effect on Monday night.

Mexico puts federal police under spotlight over 43 student deaths

Mexico has widened its investigation into the abduction and apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers in the southwestern city of Iguala in 2014 to examine the role of federal and state police, a federal prosecutor said. During the first year of the investigation, authorities focused on the municipal police in Iguala and the nearby town of Cocula, who federal prosecutors said were in cahoots with a drug gang suspected of killing the students.

U.S. bombers fly over South Korea in show of force after nuclear test

Two U.S. B-1 bombers flew over South Korea on Tuesday in a show of force and solidarity with its ally after North Korea's nuclear test last week, while a U.S. envoy called for a swift and strong response to Pyongyang from the United Nations. Speaking in the South Korean capital on Tuesday, Sung Kim, the U.S. envoy on North Korea, added that the United States remained open to meaningful dialog with Pyongyang on ending its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Croatia conservatives, reformists start talks on new government

Croatia's conservative HDZ party and its former junior coalition partner moved closer on Tuesday to forming a new cabinet after the HDZ won the most seats in a snap election at the weekend. The HDZ won 61 seats in the 151-parliament, while the reformist center-right Most ("Bridge") party came third with 13 seats. An alliance led by the HDZ's arch-rivals the Social Democrats took 54 seats.

Peru's president throws cold water on Chinese railway proposal

Peru President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said a transcontinental railway proposed by China to slash the costs of shipping Brazilian goods to Asia could be too expensive and environmentally harmful to build. Peru and China agreed to study the feasibility of a 5,300-kilometer (3,293-mile) railroad to link Brazil's Atlantic coast with a port on Peru's Pacific shores last year during the term of Kuczynski's predecessor, Ollanta Humala.

Britain's Libya intervention flawed, ex-PM Cameron to blame: lawmakers

Britain's 2011 military intervention in Libya, ordered by former prime minister David Cameron, relied on flawed intelligence and hastened the North African country's political and economic collapse, lawmakers said on Wednesday in a damning report. Britain and France led international efforts to help oust Libya's then-leader Muammar Gaddafi in early 2011, using fighter jets to beat back Gaddafi's armies and allow rebels to topple the longtime dictator.

Record U.S. military aid deal for Israel to be signed on Wednesday

The United States and Israel have agreed on a record $38 billion package of U.S. military aid and will sign the new pact on Wednesday, enshrining defense funding for Washington's closest Middle East ally for the next decade, officials said. The deal will represent the biggest pledge of U.S. military assistance made to any country but also involves major concessions granted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to officials on both sides and U.S. congressional aides.

09/13/2016 19:52