Dozens killed by Israeli fire in Gaza, officials say, as US envoy heads back to the region

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Health officials in the Gaza Strip say Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 46 Palestinians, most of them among crowds seeking food. The strikes came overnight and into Wednesday as the U.S. envoy for the Israel-Hamas war, Steve Witkoff, was heading to Israel for talks after ceasefire negotiations with the militant group appeared to have stalled last week. Israel has come under mounting international pressure as its ongoing military offensive and blockade have led to the “worst-case scenario of famine” in the territory of some 2 million Palestinians. That’s according to the leading international authority on hunger crises.

Tsunami evacuations ordered in South America, but worst risk appears to pass for US

HONOLULU (AP) — One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded has hit off a sparsely populated eastern Russia peninsula. It sent tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. Several people were injured, but none gravely, and no major damage has been reported so far. Authorities warned the risk from the 8.8 magnitude quake could last for hours, and millions of people potentially in the path of the waves were initially told to move away from the shore or seek high ground. The worst appeared to have passed for many areas, including the U.S., Japan and the affected parts of Russia. But Chile raised its tsunami warning to the highest level for most of its lengthy Pacific coast.

Russian missiles hit a Ukrainian army training ground, killing at least 3 soldiers

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Authorities say Russian missiles have hit a Ukrainian army training ground and killed three soldiers as Ukraine struggles to make up a severe manpower shortage in the three-year war. The Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday claimed that the strike killed or wounded about 200 Ukrainian troops. Russia also continued its stepped-up aerial campaign against Ukrainian civilian targets. Russian forces launched 78 attack drones overnight. At least five people were wounded. Meanwhile, the U.N. mission in Ukraine notes a worsening trend in civilian casualties from Russian attacks this year.

Malta says it will recognize the state of Palestine, joining France and possibly Britain

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Malta told a high-level U.N. meeting that it will formally recognize the state of Palestine in September, joining France and the United Kingdom in stepping up pressure to end the nearly 80-year Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Christopher Cutajar, the permanent secretary at Malta’s Foreign Ministry, made the announcement at the U.N. General Assembly’s meeting on a two-state solution to the conflict which has been extended to a third day on Wednesday because of the high number of countries wanting to speak. The Mediterranean island nation and European Union member will join more than 145 countries, including over a dozen European nations, in recognizing the state of Palestine.