Israel aims to lock in gains before US election

Weekend Briefing

From Reuters Daily Briefing

By Robert MacMillan, Reuters.com Weekend Editor

Thanks for reading the Weekend Briefing. Our World News podcast examines abortion and reproductive justice on U.S. ballots in November. We also take a deep look into the Black maternal health crisis in the United States.

Israel aims to lock in gains before US election

Haifa, Israel. REUTERS/Artorn Pookasook

Yahya Sinwar: The killing of the Hamas leader marked a major triumph for Israel. Now it wants to reshape the region in its favor, and is rushing to inflict maximum damage on Hamas and Hezbollah before a new U.S. president takes office. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nevertheless faces pressure to end the fighting.
Latest news: Israeli strikes killed at least 33 people in the Jabalia refugee camp, medics said. A drone strike targeted Netanyahu's home in Caesarea. He was not there and there were no casualties.

EU countries want a tougher stance on migration

Higher walls: The European Commission will propose measures in response to governments' concerns that migration has become a major security problem and a catalyst for far-right voter sentiment. Italy is sending migrants to Albania and the Netherlands might send African asylum seekers right back to Africa. Poland suspended the right to asylum.
In the USA: Donald Trump pledged to hire an extra 10,000 border-patrol agents and to raise agent pay. He also stood by false claims that Haitian immigrants are eating people's pets and blamed Volodymyr Zelenskiy for starting Ukraine's war with Russia. Kamala Harris blasted Trump for his vague comments about an "enemy from within." Her campaign is focusing on winning over more men and Republicans as anxieties rise over Trump making stronger gains.

You must be at least this rich to buy this bag

Motions: People suing Hermes again revised their lawsuit to convince a judge that the French luxury house is forcing customers to spend big on other merchandise before they can buy a Birkin bag. Lufthansa agreed to pay a $4 million penalty over its treatment of Jewish passengers. The New York Times warned AI startup Perplexity to stop using its content. Meta must face U.S. states' lawsuits accusing it of getting teenagers addicted to Facebook and Instagram. And Australia's plan to set a minimum age limit for social media has a downside.
Hard times at the mill: The Boeing strike and Hurricane Helene caused U.S. industrial production to fall in September. Unionized workers aren't buying what VW is selling. Airbus will cut thousands of space and defense jobs. European airlines want the EU to stop allowing Chinese planes to land if they crossed Russian airspace, saying it puts them at a disadvantage. Nestle is blaming the U.S. election in advance for a possible dent in its sales. Retailer Boohoo is living up to its name.

A global vortex of plastic waste

Hanga Roa dispatch: Easter Island receives some 50 times more plastic and microplastic than the coasts of Chile because of its location among Pacific Ocean currents. Countries need a global pact to solve a water crisis that could put half the world's food supplies at risk in less than three decades, an OECD-backed group said.
Water problems: Artificial intelligence is enhancing forecasters' abilities to predict floods, but it can't erase the risk of disaster. Officials in some sub-Saharan African nations were unprepared for floods despite rains predicted well in advance. Hurricanes are causing insurance premiums to skyrocket in Florida.

Before I forget…

- North Korean troops soon may fight with Russians in the Ukraine war. Ukraine picked up no support from key allies on Zelenskiy's "victory plan," which includes an immediate NATO-membership invitation.
- Cuba - the entire island - went dark after the collapse of one of its power plants. Some electricity service has been restored.
- Slovenia's prime minister rejected accusations that he interfered in police staffing after he was charged with corruption. A New Hampshire Supreme Court justice was indicted on charges that she tried to interfere with a criminal investigation into her husband, the director of the office overseeing the state's ports and harbors.
- Some Sikhs in Canada are receiving word from police that their lives are at risk. It has everything to do with India, they say.
- Credit Agricole is buying half of GAC's leasing unit. GAC and other Chinese carmakers are working on getting around EU tariffs on their vehicles by producing them inside Europe rather than China.
- A postgraduate program on racism and xenophobia at a Lisbon university drew heat for hiring only white teachers and holding a session called, "Does racism really exist?"
- The Italian men's water polo team will miss next year's World Cup after being suspended for abusing referees and officials at the Olympics. A French court sentenced a former Australia rugby union captain in absentia to five years in jail for misusing corporate assets while president of the Narbonne club. The UK's "King Conker" is under investigation after other players accused him of cheating.

Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. Advertise in this newsletter or on Reuters.com

Listen to the Reuters World News podcast

Weekend Briefing is sent once a week. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here.

Want to stop receiving this email? Unsubscribe here. To manage which newsletters you're signed up for, click here.

Terms & Conditions and Privacy Statement