Israeli troops advance in Gaza to retake part of a corridor dividing north from south

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel says its troops retook part of a corridor that bisects Gaza, and its defense minister warned that attacks would intensify until Hamas frees dozens of hostages and gives up control of the territory. The military said Wednesday it had retaken part of the Netzarim Corridor that divides northern Gaza from the south. It had previously withdrawn from the area as part of a ceasefire that began in January. That truce was shattered Tuesday by Israeli airstrikes that the Gaza Health Ministry says killed more than 400 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The United Nations says one of its employees was killed in Gaza in an apparent strike on a guesthouse, though it was not immediately clear who was behind the strike.

Trump suggests to Zelenskyy that the US should take ownership of power plants

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Donald Trump has suggested to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the U.S. should take ownership of Ukrainian power plants to ensure the critical facilities’ security. Trump told Zelenskyy during a call Wednesday that the U.S could be “very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise,” according to a White House statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz. Trump added that “American ownership of those plants could be the best protection for that infrastructure.”

Turkish police arrest Istanbul mayor, a key Erdogan rival

ISTANBUL (AP) — Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu — who is a key rival of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — has been arrested as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and terror links. The state-run Anadolu Agency said prosecutors issued warrants for some 100 other people. Authorities closed several roads around Istanbul and banned demonstrations in the city for four days in an apparent effort to prevent protests following the arrest. The arrest followed a search of Imamoglu’s home a day after a university invalidated his diploma, effectively disqualifying the popular opposition figure from running in the next presidential race. Having a university degree is a requisite for running in elections under Turkish law.

Italian coast guard recovers 6 bodies after a migrant shipwreck in the Mediterranean

MILAN (AP) — The Italian Coast Guard has recovered six bodies and is searching for up to 40 migrants missing after a rubber dinghy that departed from Tunisia sank in the Mediterranean. Ten people were rescued and brought to Italy’s southernmost island of Lampedusa. The United Nations refugee agency says survivors reported some 56 people were in the dinghy when it departed on Monday. The boat started to deflate a few hours later. The people on board were from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali. So far this year, 8,963 migrants have arrived in Italy, a 4% increase over the same period last year.