At least 6 dead after submarine carrying tourists on a reef tour in Red Sea sinks off Egypt

CAIRO (AP) — A recreational submarine taking 45 tourists on an underwater cruise of coral reefs in the Red Sea sank off the Egyptian resort town of Hurghada on Thursday, leaving six Russians dead, the provincial governor said. The remaining tourists, more than two dozen of whom were injured, were rescued, he said. The cause of the sinking was not immediately known. The Russian consulate said it took place about 1,000 meters offshore. The submarine was carrying 45 tourists and five Egyptian crewmembers when it sank, Red Sea governor Maj. Gen. Amr Hanafi, said in a statement, adding that rescue teams were quickly sent.

French president says not all European allies agree on a proposed force for Ukraine

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron says that France and Britain will continue to forge ahead with plans to deploy troops in Ukraine to defend an eventual peace deal with Russia, but he says that only some other nations want to take part. Macron was speaking after a summit of leaders of nearly 30 countries plus NATO and European Union chiefs who have been mulling the proposal. “These reassurance forces are a French-British proposal,” Macron said. “It is desired by Ukraine and noted by several member states that have expressed their willingness to join. It is not unanimous. That is known. Besides, we do not need unanimity to achieve it.”

Police use force to break up protests at a university in Turkey’s capital

ISTANBUL (AP) — Police used pepper spray, plastic pellets and water cannon against protesters in Turkey’s capital early Thursday, the latest clash in the country’s biggest anti-government protests in over a decade. The demonstrations began last week following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Imamoglu was jailed pending trial on corruption charges many see as politically motivated and is also accused of supporting terrorism. The government insists the judiciary is independent, but critics say the evidence is based on secret witnesses and lacks credibility.

South Sudan opposition says peace deal has collapsed after arrest of its leader

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan’s main opposition party says a peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war has collapsed, following the arrest of its leader Riek Machar a day earlier. The opposition group’s spokesperson told reporters Wednesday night that Machar was confined by the government and his life was at risk. South Sudan’s five-year civil war caused 400,000 deaths before a 2018 peace agreement brought President Salva Kiir and Machar together in a unity government. The head of the U.N mission in South Sudan said all parties should exercise restraint and uphold the agreement. Tensions escalated in March when an armed group loyal to Machar overran an army base and the government responded with airstrikes.