QUICK HITS

1 Iran acknowledges nuclear accusation: Iran on Thursday directly acknowledged an accusation attributed to international inspectors that it enriched uranium to 84% purity for the first time, which would put the nation closer than ever to weapons-grade material. The acknowledgment by a website linked to the highest reaches of Iran’s theocracy renews pressure on the West to address Tehran’s program, which had been contained by the 2015 nuclear deal that America unilaterally withdrew from in 2018.

2 Quake deathstop 47,000: The death toll from the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6 continues to rise as more bodies are found in the rubble. The death toll now stands at 47,244, including 43,556 in Turkey.

3 More bodies found in mine collapse: Rescuers dug through tons of earth and rubble looking for 48 people missing after a landslide buried an open-pit mine in northern China. State broadcaster CCTV reported the death toll in the disaster at Alxa League, China, rose to five.

4 U.S. announces World Bank pick: The United States is nominating former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank, President Joe Biden announced. The news comes days after David Malpass announced plans to step down in June from his role leading the 189-nation poverty reduction agency.

5 Gaza rockets, Israel strikes follow raid: Palestinian militants in Gaza launched rockets at southern Israel and Israeli aircraft struck targets Thursday after a gunbattle triggered by an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank killed 10 Palestinians. The bloodshed extends a deadly period in the West Bank, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year. Palestinian attacks on Israelis in 2023 have killed 11 people.