Russian missiles blast Ukrainian military academy and hospital, killing more than 50, officials say

POLTAVA, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say two Russian ballistic missiles blasted a military academy and nearby hospital in Ukraine, killing more than 50 people and wounding more than 200 others. The attack on Tuesday appeared to be one of the deadliest Russian strikes since the war began. The strike hit the central-eastern city of Poltava, the capital of the region of the same name. It partially destroyed a building used by the Poltava Military Institute of Communications. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said some people got trapped in the rubble and that many were saved. Shattered bricks were visible inside the closed gates of the institution, which was off-limits to the media, and pools of blood could be seen just outside.

Attempted jailbreak at a Congo prison kills 129 people as chaos erupts

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congolese authorities say that an attempted jailbreak in the country’s main prison has left 129 people dead, including some who were shot and others who died in a stampede at the overcrowded facility. Activists alleged the death toll was higher, with one saying more than 200 were killed. Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani said Tuesday that initial findings found that 24 inmates were fatally shot by “warning” shots fired by guards as they tried to escape from the Makala Central Prison in the capital of Kinshasa early the previous day. It wasn’t known if all 129 fatalities were inmates. Also, it wasn’t immediately clear how the stampede happened as details of the jailbreak remained sparse.

A boat with dozens of migrants rips apart in the English Channel off France

BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, France (AP) — Officials say a boat carrying migrants has ripped apart in the English Channel as they tried to reach Britain from northern France, and 12 are dead. Dozens of people were plunged into the treacherous waterway, and many didn’t have life preservers. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin says most were believed to be women, some under 18. One official calls it the deadliest migrant accident in the channel this year. A French agency overseeing the rescue operation says 65 people in total were picked up from the waters.

Lebanon’s former central bank governor detained in corruption probe

BEIRUT (AP) — Officials say Lebanon’s controversial former central bank governor has been detained after being questioned in several corruption cases. Salameh served a 30-year term as central bank governor beginning in 1993. Though he was widely celebrated for his role in Lebanon’s economic recovery after a 15-year civil war, Salameh left his post last year under a cloud, with several European countries probing his alleged financial crimes. He was blamed by many in Lebanon of being responsible for the country’s financial crisis since late 2019.Salameh has repeatedly denied allegations of corruption, embezzlement and illicit enrichment.