Monday Briefing: Plans for Gaza’s future
Good morning. We’re developing covering plans for the future of Gaza and the arrests of alleged Chinese spies in Europe. Plus an interview with Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid.
What’s the future of Gaza?Development agencies and Middle Eastern businesses have been meeting to discuss the eventual reconstruction of Gaza and to develop plans for its long-term economic future. They seek to transform Gaza into a commercial hub centered on trade, tourism and innovation. But those plans are far removed from today’s dire reality. Israel has been bombarding the enclave for months. It is still weighing whether to invade Rafah, the southern city where more than a million displaced Gazans are sheltering. And there is no end to the war in sight, even though diplomacy continues. Yesterday President Biden spoke to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss a possible cease-fire deal, and top diplomats from the U.S. and France traveled to the Middle East for more talks. Once the fighting ends, the transformation would cost tens of billions of dollars. The damage to Gaza’s crucial infrastructure has reached $18.5 billion, according to the World Bank and the U.N. The plan centers on a series of projects, including a deepwater port, a desalination plant, an online health care service and a transportation corridor connecting Gaza with the West Bank. The most forward-looking components, such as a new currency to replace the Israeli shekel, assume the establishment of Palestinian autonomy, which Netanyahu has vowed to resist. Aid: A ship with 400 tons of food for Gaza arrived in Israel yesterday. The U.S. military is building a humanitarian pier in Gaza. Read about how it will work. Hostages: Hamas released a video of two Israeli captives that suggested that they were still alive. Thousands rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday to push Israel to do more to fight for the release of the hostages.
Why Chinese spies seemed to pop up across EuropeLast week, courts in Britain and Germany saw first-of-their-kind espionage cases against China: Six people were charged with spying for Beijing in three separate cases. Two — a hawkish young Briton and a German of Chinese descent — were assistants to lawmakers. China experts said that the charges suggested that European countries were stepping up their response to Beijing’s espionage — rather than that Beijing was ramping up its spying. Europe “has lost patience with China,” said one researcher, who had recently served as an adviser to the European Commission on China. The Dutch and Polish authorities also raided the offices of a Chinese security equipment supplier as part of an E.U. crackdown on what it sees as unfair trading practices. This month, Sweden also expelled a Chinese journalist who had been a resident of the country for two decades, saying that the reporter posed a threat to national security. What’s next: Xi Jinping, China’s leader, will travel to Europe next month. He will skip Britain and Germany, instead visiting Hungary and Serbia, China’s last two staunch allies on the continent. He will also head to France.
Russia tortured Ukrainian P.O.W.sSome Ukrainians who had been prisoners of war in Russia are returning to the country with physical and psychological wounds. They have spoken of enduring relentless beatings, electric shocks, rape and other sexual violence, and mock executions — torture so extreme that one expert described it as a systematic, Russian state-endorsed policy. But Ukraine is sending them back to active duty after only a few months off, and often without having undergone adequate treatment. “I started having flashbacks, and nightmares,” said one soldier, who returned to training after spending nine months being tortured in Russian captivity. He was then diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Details: Nearly 3,000 Ukrainians have been released from Russian custody since the 2022 invasion. More than 10,000 more remain.
Campus Protests
My colleague Lulu Garcia-Navarro spoke with Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel’s opposition party, in “The Interview,” our new series. “There is a reason why everything is happening, and the reason is Hamas,” he said. “The reason is not Israel.” Read their full conversation.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
10 years of The UpshotA decade ago, The Times introduced the Upshot, a section devoted to explaining “politics, policy and everyday life.” More than 5,000 articles later, the Upshot has been many things to many readers. To celebrate its 10th birthday, we’ve collected 100 stories that embody the section. We have the Fried Calamari Index, a measure of food trendiness; a three-dimensional curve that predicts the economic future; how 8,000 different American demographic groups vote; the evolution of women in stock photos; and 96 more analytical, visual and data-driven stories. Take a look.
Cook: Mint brightens this creamy asparagus pasta. Listen: These podcasts can help soothe the anxious mind. Read: “Liberty Equality Fashion” explores the clothes that embodied the French Revolution. Work out: These exercises can help your sex life. Play Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here. That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Amelia You can reach us at briefing@nytimes.com.
|
Older messages
Birds
Sunday, April 28, 2024
So hot right now ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
30 great Mother’s Day gifts
Saturday, April 27, 2024
All under $50 ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
The jeans we’re wearing this spring
Friday, April 26, 2024
If you miss skinny jeans ... ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Before you lose your phone ...
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Do these things now ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Friday Briefing: Supreme Court hears Trump immunity case
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Also, more bodies found in a Gazan mass grave. View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition April 26, 2024 Author Headshot By Amelia Nierenberg
You Might Also Like
AI chatbots keep failing every accuracy test thrown at them
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
PLUS: Why Substack's new subscriber milestone is so significant ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Everything We’ve Written About That’s on Sale at Nordstrom
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Plus: Actually cute plus-size maternity clothes. The Strategist Every product is independently selected by editors. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.
What A Day: Bad Car-ma
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Elon Musk's politics are sparking a major Tesla backlash, ironically thanks to Trump. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Rohingya refugees just lost half of their food aid. Now what?
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
An interview with Free Rohingya Coalition what happened last week in Asia, Africa and the Americas Hey, this is Sham Jaff, a freelance journalist focused on Asia, Africa and the Americas and your very
Shayne Coplan’s Big Bet Is Paying Off
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
March 11, 2025 THE MONEY GAME Shayne Coplan's Big Bet Is Paying Off By Jen Wieczner Photo: Dina Litovsky At 6 am on Wednesday, November 13, eight FBI agents in black windbreakers burst through the
We need your input.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Share your insights & receive a 70% off forever.
We Talkin’ About Practice?
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Nobody Told Me There'd Be Days Like These ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Seattle startup takes eco-friendly aim at recycling clothing
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Read AI rolls out enterprise search tool | Hard time for hardware ADVERTISEMENT GeekWire SPONSOR MESSAGE: A limited number of table sponsorships are available at the 2025 GeekWire Awards: Secure your
☕ The beauty of it all
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
A conversation with Ulta Beauty's CMO. March 11, 2025 View Online | Sign Up Marketing Brew Presented By Iterable It's Tuesday. Count Kathy Hochul as an ad buyer. The governor of New York is
🤔 What’s in your wallet? A scam.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Plus, a new streaming deal is the latest gift to Trump from the billionaire CEO and his company — which profits off government contracts. Forward this email to others so they can sign up 🔥 Today on