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The yield on US government long-term debt surpassed 5 percent on Monday, marking its highest level since October 2023, before easing slightly. This increase comes in the wake of Moody’s recent downgrade of the US sovereign credit rating, citing the substantial growth in federal debt over the past decade, according to BBC.

At the same time, Congress is advancing tax and spending legislation expected to increase the national debt beyond the current $36trn, highlighting persistent concerns over fiscal stability.

Israeli forces have killed 84 people in Gaza amid orders for residents in Khan Younis to evacuate ahead of a major offensive.

Canada, France, and the UK warned of possible action against Israel if the attack continues, while 22 countries urged Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, Al Jazeera reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed these calls, pledging to press on with plans to take full control of Gaza.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 53,000 Palestinian deaths and 121,000 injuries, with the official death toll now exceeding 61,700, according to Al Jazeera.

Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, killed around 1,139 people and left over 200 captive.

US President Donald Trump has signed the bipartisan “Take It Down Act,” which makes it a federal crime to share explicit images — real or AI-generated — without a person’s consent. Offenders can face up to three years in prison. The law also requires tech companies to remove such content within 48 hours of notification, according to BBC.

First Lady Melania Trump, who played a key role in promoting the bill, joined the president at the signing ceremony. She called the legislation a “national victory” that will help protect children and families from online exploitation.

The bill, supported by major tech companies including Meta, Google, and TikTok, is the sixth law signed during Trump’s second term. However, some digital rights groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, warn the law could lead to over-censorship, threaten free expression, and undermine encryption and user privacy, BBC reported.

The US Supreme Court has approved the Trump administration’s plan to end deportation protections for about 350,000 Venezuelans living in the US under Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

The decision lifts a block from a California judge that had delayed the termination. TPS permits migrants to live and work legally in the US if their home countries face severe crises, BBC reported.

The administration aimed to end these protections in April 2025, over a year earlier than the original October 2026 deadline. Government lawyers argued the lower court had interfered with the president’s authority over immigration.

This ruling follows Trump’s recent push to end other immigration programs, including humanitarian parole for migrants from several countries. Last week, however, the Supreme Court rejected his attempt to use an old law to deport immigrants in Texas, according to BBC.

US President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin negotiations toward a ceasefire following a two-hour call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called it a “defining moment” and urged continued US and European involvement.

Putin expressed openness to a “memorandum” on peace but did not agree to demands for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s call for a full ceasefire and warned of stronger sanctions if Moscow delays, according to BBC.

Trump emphasized that the terms of peace would be decided by both countries directly. He denied the US was stepping back from its role and said the US remains committed to facilitating talks.

World Health Organization officials, donors, and diplomats gathered in Geneva this week amid significant funding challenges following the United States decision to withdraw from the agency, according to Reuters.

The US, which contributed around 18 percent of WHO’s funding, was absent from the assembly as the organization faces a $600m budget shortfall for 2025 and plans a 21 percent funding cut over the next two years.

The WHO will focus on core priorities like vaccine approval, outbreak response, and providing treatment guidelines while scaling back training programs and offices in wealthier countries. Despite President Donald Trump’s recent comments hinting at a possible reversal, global health leaders say the US remains on course to officially leave the WHO in January 2026, Reuters reported.

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a two-hour phone call on Monday, discussing prospects for ending the war in Ukraine.

Reuters reported that Putin described the call as “informative and useful,” indicating that a ceasefire could be possible if mutual agreements are reached. He stated that both sides must find compromises and that Russia is ready to work on a memorandum for future peace talks.

The conversation followed brief contact between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. While Kyiv has signaled openness to a ceasefire, Moscow insists certain conditions must be met first.

Vice President JD Vance said the US recognizes a current impasse and may reconsider its role if progress stalls. Trump, who has vowed to end the war swiftly, supported recent talks in Istanbul, though no breakthrough was achieved. The White House has not yet commented on the calls, according to Reuters.

Russia has banned Amnesty International, labeling the human rights group “undesirable” for allegedly promoting “Russophobic projects” and supporting Ukraine. The Russian prosecutor’s office accused Amnesty of justifying crimes by Ukrainian “neo-Nazis” and calling for Russia’s political and economic isolation. The ban prohibits the organization from operating within Russia, Reuters reported.

Amnesty International has repeatedly condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine, documenting alleged war crimes since the full-scale invasion in 2022. The group has also faced criticism for reporting on Ukraine’s wartime conduct. Russia has previously banned several foreign NGOs under laws targeting groups critical of the Kremlin.