Russian attacks kill 3 and wound 64 as drones hit Kharkiv, other parts of Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces have launched a large-scale drone assault across Ukraine, where officials said three people were killed and 64 others wounded. The overnight strikes caused widespread destruction in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where apartment buildings, private homes, playgrounds, industrial sites and public transportation were hit. Moscow’ has deployed high numbers of drones and missiles in recent days. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by reiterating calls for greater international pressure on Russia.

At least 49 people have died in flooding in South Africa with toll expected to rise

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Officials say at least 49 people have died in flooding in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. An extreme cold front brought heavy rain and snow to parts of the country. Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said Wednesday that the death toll is expected to rise as authorities continue to search for missing people. The dead included six high school students who were washed away when their school bus was caught in floodwaters near a river on Tuesday. Mabuyane says four other students are among the missing.

Netanyahu’s government faces possible collapse

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government faces a major test after the opposition submitted a bill Wednesday to dissolve parliament. His ultra-Orthodox coalition partners threaten to support the measure and force early elections. The ultra-Orthodox parties are furious that the government has failed to pass a law exempting their community from mandatory military service. The issue has bitterly divided the Israeli public during the war in Gaza. While many expect a last-minute compromise, the vote is the most serious challenge to Netanyahu’s government since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. It was the biggest security failure in Israel’s history.

More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Gaza Health Ministry says that the Palestinian death toll from the 20-month Israel-Hamas war has climbed past 55,000. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants but has said that women and children make up more than half the dead. The ministry gave the updated figures on Wednesday. It’s a grim milestone in the war that began with Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023 into southern Israel. The war shows no sign of ending. Israel says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas. Israel accuses the militants of hiding among civilians because they operate in populated areas.