Israel bombs another Gaza City high-rise as US advances a new ceasefire proposal

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has struck and destroyed another high-rise building in Gaza City after warning residents to evacuate as part of an offensive aimed at taking over the largest Palestinian city. The military said it was targeting Hamas observation posts and bombs placed around the 12-story office building. U.S. President Donald Trump said that he was giving his “last warning” to Hamas regarding a possible ceasefire as Arab officials described a new U.S. proposal. In Jerusalem, meanwhile, two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus station, killing six people in the worst such attack on Israelis in nearly a year.

Palestinian gunmen kill 6 people in attack on Jerusalem bus stop

JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinian attackers have opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem during the morning rush hour, killing six people and wounding 12. An Israeli soldier and civilians shot and killed the two attackers, and police later arrested a third person. Monday’s attack, at a major intersection, is the deadliest in Israel since October 2024. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the scene, warned that Israel is “fighting a war on multiple fronts.” The Israeli military is encircling Palestinian villages near Ramallah in response. Hamas hailed the attack as a “natural response” to Israeli actions.

A rebel-held Congolese city uses damaged banknotes due to a cash shortage

BUKAVU, Congo (AP) — Perforated banknotes meant to be destroyed have flooded Bukavu in eastern Congo since the M23 rebel group captured the city in February. This has caused confusion and tension between buyers and sellers. Banks have been closed since fighting escalated early this year, leading residents to use hole-punched banknotes. Some suspect these notes were stolen during the takeover. The shortage of regular banknotes has worsened the humanitarian crisis, with around 7 million people displaced. The M23-appointed governor announced a bank exchange for hole-punched notes, but it was suspended due to overwhelming demand. Residents continue to struggle with the lack of usable currency.

French government collapses in a confidence vote

PARIS (AP) — Legislators have toppled France’s government in a confidence vote. The result on Monday marked a new crisis for Europe’s second-largest economy that obliges President Emmanuel Macron to search for a fourth prime minister in 12 months. Prime Minister François Bayrou was ousted overwhelmingly in a 364-194 vote against him. Bayrou paid the price for what appeared to be a staggering political miscalculation. He gambled that lawmakers would back his view that France must slash public spending to repair its debts. They instead seized on the vote that he called to gang up against Bayrou. He’s a 74-year-old centrist who was appointed by Macron last December.