Putin tells officials to submit plans for possibly resuming nuclear tests after Trump’s remarks

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered officials to submit proposals for a possible resumption of nuclear tests in response to President Donald Trump’s statements last month that appeared to suggest the U.S. will restart its own atomic tests. Speaking to his Security Council, Putin reaffirmed his earlier statement that Moscow will only restart nuclear tests if the U.S. does so first. But he directed defense and diplomatic officials to clarify Washington’s intentions and work out proposals for resuming nuclear weapons tests. Trump appeared to signal the U.S. will resume testing nuclear weapons, but U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright later said new tests of the U.S. nuclear weapons system ordered by Trump will not include nuclear explosions.

Motorist ‘deliberately’ hit 5 people in car ramming on French Atlantic island

SAINT-PIERRE-D’OLERON, France (AP) — A driver has rammed his car into pedestrians and cyclists on the holiday island of Ile d’Oléron, off the west coast of France, leaving at least two people in a critical condition and three others injured. The incidents occurred Wednesday across the two neighboring towns of Dolus-d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron. A suspect has been detained. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said an investigation is underway. The mayor of Dolus-d’Oléron said a crisis cell was set up. Two helicopters transported some of those injured to Poitiers on the French mainland. The suspect, a 35-year-old French national, was known locally for minor offenses.

Satellite images suggest evidence of mass burials ongoing in Sudan’s el-Fasher

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Satellite images analyzed Wednesday appear to show mass burials in el-Fasher, Sudan, after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces seized the area. The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab reviewed images from Vantor, revealing potential mass graves at two sites. The Associated Press also accessed these images and saw details corresponding to those cited by the researchers. Earlier images showed objects likely to be corpses. The RSF denies killing anyone at a local hospital, but testimonies and videos suggest otherwise. The region’s poor communications make it hard to assess the full scope of violence. The conflict has displaced millions and sparked a severe humanitarian crisis.

Israel says Hamas hands over additional remains believed to be of a hostage

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military says Hamas has handed over remains believed to be of a deceased hostage to the Red Cross in Gaza. The military said in a statement that the remains were being brought to Israeli forces to be returned to Israel. The handover is the latest sign of progress under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that began Oct. 10. Ahead of the announcement, Hamas had returned the remains of 21 hostages to Israel under the ceasefire terms. If the latest remains are confirmed during forensic testing, that would leave the remains of six others in Gaza.