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Twenty-six Western nations have agreed to send forces to Ukraine once a ceasefire is reached, French President Emmanuel Macron announced after a Paris summit. The security guarantees would take effect the moment fighting stops, BBC reported.

Peace prospects remain fragile. A recent Trump-Putin meeting failed to break the deadlock, and a direct encounter between Putin and Zelenskiy appears unlikely. Trump has hinted US support could come through air power, while Zelenskiy has called for maximum protection of Ukraine’s skies.

Macron voiced confidence in US backing, though Washington has ruled out sending ground troops. European leaders stressed that securing a ceasefire must come first, with stronger guarantees to follow.

Russia continues to reject Western involvement and is reinforcing its positions in Ukraine. Putin has warned the war will go on unless a full peace deal is struck, while Kyiv and its allies argue a truce should precede broader talks, according to BBC.

NATO chief Mark Rutte said Russia has no veto over Western deployments, insisting Ukraine alone decides. Despite renewed attacks, allies believe a ceasefire could open the door to lasting security arrangements.

 The District of Columbia has initiated a federal lawsuit against President Trump’s administration, challenging the recent deployment of National Guard troops in the capital. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues the troop presence amounts to an unconstitutional “military occupation” that infringes on local self-rule and basic citizen freedoms. He is seeking a court order to end the deployment immediately, according to Reuters.

This litigation follows a recent judicial decision in California declaring a similar National Guard deployment unlawful, raising concerns over federal overreach and the expanded use of military force domestically.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has warned of severe reprisals, referencing the “10 biblical plagues,” after Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched missile attacks on Israeli targets. The threats follow the Houthis’ retaliation for the assassination of Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi and other officials, Al Jazeera reported.

The Houthis recently targeted the Israeli-owned tanker Scarlet Ray in the Red Sea. In response, Israel has conducted airstrikes on Houthi-held areas, including Sanaa. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire in May, the Houthis have continued attacks, citing support for Palestinians as justification.

The situation remains tense, with both sides escalating military actions in the region, according to Al Jazeera.

Thailand’s parliament will vote Friday to elect a new prime minister after the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s request to dissolve the legislature was rejected. Caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the Privy Council deemed the request “inappropriate,” citing legal uncertainties over a caretaker premier’s authority, Al Jazeera reported.

The vote comes after former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was dismissed by the Constitutional Court over an ethics violation. The opposition is expected to back Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, 58, who previously served as deputy prime minister and health minister and is known for legalizing cannabis in 2022. Pheu Thai has nominated former Attorney General Chaikasem Nitisiri and may call a snap election if he wins.

According to Al Jazeera, the parliamentary vote is scheduled for 10 am local time (03:00 GMT).

A powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has killed more than 2,200 people and injured thousands, leaving remote villages in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces devastated. Entire communities were flattened, with nearly two-thirds of residents in some areas killed or hurt and almost every home destroyed, Reuters reported.

Rescue teams are still pulling bodies from rubble, while survivors say they have been left with “nothing but the clothes on our backs.” Thousands of families are now displaced, many sleeping in the open without food, water, or shelter.

Humanitarian groups warn that relief supplies are running short. The Red Cross estimates over 84,000 people are affected, the World Health Organization faces a $3m funding gap for medical aid, and the UN food agency says its stocks may run out within weeks.

Aid workers are urging urgent and sustained international support, stressing that Afghanistan cannot withstand another crisis without long-term recovery help, according to Reuters.

Western leaders met in Paris with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to advance security guarantees for Ukraine, but the effort still hinges on US backing, Reuters reported.

France’s Emmanuel Macron said technical plans are ready, stressing Europe’s determination to support Kyiv and hoping Washington will sign on. Donald Trump has yet to commit, though his envoy Steve Witkoff discussed the proposals with officials in Paris.

Russian President Vladimir Putin repeated calls for talks but warned Moscow remains ready to use force if necessary.

Thousands of students protested outside Jakarta’s parliament, demanding accountability for police violence and a government dialogue. The demonstrations were sparked by the death of a motorbike taxi driver hit by police, fueling wider anger over corruption and lawmakers’ lavish benefits, Reuters reported.

Despite prior meetings with parliament members, students say their calls for reform and an independent investigation remain unaddressed. At least ten people have died and over 1,000 injured since unrest began, drawing criticism of heavy-handed security measures.

Students vow to continue protests until their demands for justice and transparency are met.

Health insurance premiums under employer plans are expected to rise 6 to 7 percent in 2026, a Mercer survey shows. Even with benefit redesigns, employer costs are projected to grow 6.5 percent, and nearly 9 percent without changes, Reuters reported.

The surge is driven mainly by expensive specialty drugs, higher demand for medical and mental health care, and inflation in healthcare wages. To manage the burden, many employers are revising coverage, increasing cost-sharing, and expanding access to virtual and behavioral health services.