Israeli defense minister says troops will remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s defense minister says troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely. Israeli forces have taken over large areas of Gaza in recent weeks in a renewed campaign to pressure Hamas to release hostages. Israel ended the ceasefire last month. Israel has also refused to withdraw from some areas in Lebanon following a ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group last year. It seized a buffer zone in southern Syria after the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Palestinians and both neighboring countries view the presence of Israeli troops as military occupation in violation of international law.

China appoints a new trade negotiator during tariff fight with the US

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China has appointed a new trade negotiator in the midst of its tariff fight with the United States as the world’s two largest economies steadily increase tariffs on each other’s goods. The government said Li Chenggang replaces Wang Shouwen, who participated in negotiations for the countries’ 2020 trade deal. China faces 145% taxes on exports to the U.S., while the Trump administration gave dozens of other countries a 90-day reprieve for most duties. Beijing has hit back at the U.S. with 125% tariffs on American exports. China says any dialogue with the U.S. must be based on “equality, respect and mutual benefit.”

UK’s top court says definition of a woman is based on biological sex

LONDON (AP) — The Supreme Court has ruled that the U.K. Equality Act defines a woman as someone born biologically female. Five judges ruled unanimously that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman. The ruling means that a transgender person with a certificate that recognizes them as female should not be considered a woman for equality purposes. But the court added that its ruling “does not remove protection from trans people,” who are “protected from discrimination on the ground of gender reassignment.” The issue has polarized politics in some other countries, particularly the United States.

One dead, nine wounded in Russian strikes on Ukraine’s Kherson

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian glide bombs and artillery struck Kherson, in southern Ukraine, killing one and wounding nine others as Moscow forces continued daily attacks across the country. Kherson was struck with glide bombs on Wednesday morning, and when rescue teams arrived at the scene Russian forces launched artillery barrage, said the region’s head, Oleksandr Prokudin. He said the attack damaged a sports facility, supermarket and residential buildings. The strike on the city followed recent deadly attacks elsewhere. On Palm Sunday, two Russian ballistic missile hit the northeastern city of Sumy, near the Russian border, killing 35 people and injuring more than 100 others in the deadliest attack on Ukrainian civilians this year.