US military officials in Ukraine amid reports of Russia peace plan
Senior Pentagon officials have arrived in Ukraine to "discuss efforts to end the war" with Russia, the US military has said, BBC reported.
The team, led by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday when he returns from a trip to Turkey.
Reports began surfacing on Wednesday that the US and Russia had prepared a new peace plan, containing major concessions from Ukraine. Neither Washington nor Moscow has officially confirmed the plan, according to BBC.
Trump signs bill ordering justice department to release Epstein files
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he signed a bill ordering the release of government files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, BBC reported.
The bill requires the justice department to release all information from its Epstein investigation within 30 days, although some could be withheld if they relate to an active investigation or are deemed to invade personal privacy.
With Trump's support, the legislation overwhelmingly cleared both chambers of Congress, the House of Representatives and Senate, on Tuesday, according to BBC.
All 267 passengers and crew rescued after South Korean ferry runs aground
All 267 people aboard a South Korean passenger ferry have been rescued after it ran aground on rocks off the country's south-east coast, according to the Coast Guard, BBC reported.
Officials said the Queen Jenuvia 2 is stuck on a reef and unable to move, but there is currently no risk of it sinking or capsizing.
The accident happened near Jangsan Island in Sinan County on Wednesday evening local time. The vessel ran aground on rocks near the uninhabited island of Jogdo, according to BBC.
Israeli strikes across Gaza kill 25 Palestinians, health ministry says
At least 25 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry has said, BBC reported.
Ten people, including a woman and a young girl, were killed when a ministry of religious endowments building in the eastern Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City was hit, according to rescuers.
The Israeli military said it had struck "Hamas terrorist targets" after it said gunmen had opened fire towards an area where its soldiers were operating in the southern city of Khan Younis, in violation of the five-week-old ceasefire agreement, according to BBC.
