• Israeli protesters lit bonfires on the main highway in Tel Aviv and chanted “the country is on fire” as similar demonstrations broke out spontaneously across the country after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for calling for a delay of his planned judicial overhaul. Umbrella labor union Histadrut, which represents 800,000 workers, called for a strike across multiple sectors, threatening to paralyze Israel’s economy. (The Associated Press)
• Mexico’s Supreme Court temporarily halted parts of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s controversial overhaul of the country’s electoral system on Friday, a decision the government has vowed to challenge. The court will also consider a separate lawsuit from Mexico’s independent electoral institute that seeks to overturn it. (Reuters)
• Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou landed in China for the first visit of any sitting or former Taiwanese leader since the Kuomintang government fled mainland China in 1949. The visit is unofficial but will be watched closely for clues as to how Beijing might try to influence its small neighbor ahead of Taiwan’s upcoming elections in January 2024. (The New York Times)
• Ukraine has called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus by July. The White House said it is monitoring the situation but has not seen any evidence that Putin has moved nuclear weapons or plans to use them against Ukraine. (The Wall Street Journal)

Money market funds swell by more than $286bn as investors pull deposits from banks

Financial Times

IMF chief warns of increased risks to financial stability

Joe Leahy, Financial Times 

Kristalina Georgieva says uncertainties in the world economy remain ‘exceptionally high’.

Germany, EU Reach Deal on Combustion-Engine Plan

Kim Mackrael et al., The Wall Street Journal 

Berlin had pushed against the EU’s plan to effectively ban new cars with internal combustion engines.

Russia may demand compensation over Nord Stream blasts: Diplomat

Al Jazeera 

Dmitry Birichevsky says Moscow intends to insist on a comprehensive and open international probe.

Tokyo demands China free Japan national detained in Beijing

Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press 

Tokyo has demanded that China release a Japanese national who was detained in Beijing earlier this month, Japan’s top government spokesperson said Monday.

North Korea test-fires 2 more missiles as US sends carrier

Kim Tong-hyung, The Associated Press 

Fighter jets roared off the USS Nimitz as the nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier and its battle group began exercises with South Korean warships on Monday, hours after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles in an apparent protest of the allies’ expanding drills.

Taliban want control of more Afghan diplomatic missions

The Associated Press 

The Taliban government is trying to take charge of more Afghan embassies abroad, a spokesman said Saturday, amid their continued international isolation because of restrictions on women and girls.

US Imposes New Sanctions on Military-Ruled Myanmar

Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat 

The latest round of sanctions aims to cut off the Myanmar military’s access to aviation fuel, following a series of deadly airstrikes on civilian populations.

Jack Ma makes surprise China return after lengthy travels abroad

Cissy Zhou, Nikkei Asia 

Alibaba founder talked education and ChatGPT at school he founded.

In China, Marriage Rates Are Down and ‘Bride Prices’ Are Up

Nicole Hong and Zixu Wang, The New York Times 

China’s one-child policy has led to too few women. Grooms are now paying more money for wives, in a tradition that has faced growing resistance.

Bakhmut Battle ‘Could Be Stabilized,’ Ukrainian General Says

Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Victoria Kim, The New York Times 

The battle for the city has been the most violent of recent months, creating an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis for the few remaining civilians.

New Russian campaign tries to entice men to fight in Ukraine

Dasha Litvinova, The Associated Press

Advertisements promise cash bonuses and enticing benefits. Recruiters are making cold calls to eligible men. Enlistment offices are working with universities and social service agencies to lure students and the unemployed.

In Macron’s France, streets and fields seethe with protest

John Leicester, The Associated Press 

For French President Emmanuel Macron, the look of determination on their young faces only heralds deepening crisis.

EU and UK ramp up talks on defence co-operation

Henry Foy and George Parker, Financial Times 

Northern Ireland deal paves way for dialogue on cyber security and counter-terrorism.

Largest strike in decades brings Germany to a standstill

Klaus Lauer and Tom Sims, Reuters 

Airports and bus and train stations across Germany were at a standstill on Monday morning, causing disruption for millions at the start of the working week during one of the largest walkouts in decades as Europe’s biggest economy reels from inflation.

Hungary: Criticism makes it hard to cooperate with West

Michael Weissentstein, The Associated Press 

The West’s steady criticism of Hungary on democratic and cultural issues makes the small European country’s right-wing government reluctant to offer support on practical matters, specifically NATO’s buildup against Russia, Hungary’s foreign minister said.

Italy’s shift away from Russian gas clashes with its climate targets

Camila Hodgson and Amy Kazmin, Financial Times 

New policy phasing out support for fossil fuel projects overseas has loopholes, say experts.

Germany Wants More Chip Makers, but They Won’t Come Cheap

Melissa Eddy, The New York Times 

The global competition to attract semiconductor companies is expected to cost Berlin billions. Some wonder if it’s a good use of money.

Man Pleads Guilty in Case Related to Assassination of Haiti’s President

Zach Montague, The New York Times 

Rodolphe Jaar, a dual Haitian and Chilean citizen, said he had provided money to buy weapons and a location to stage the 2021 attack.

Cubans vote in legislative elections, with all eyes on turnout

Al Jazeera 

More than eight million voters will be choosing National Assembly candidates for five-year terms.

China to decide new date for Brazil’s Lula visit, agreements postponed 

Marcela Ayres, Reuters 

Brazil’s Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro said on Sunday that the Chinese government would decide on a new date for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s visit to the country, adding that the signing of agreements between Beijing and Brasilia has been postponed.

Al Qaeda Closes In on a Stalwart U.S. Ally in Africa

Michael M. Phillips, The Wall Street Journal 

In a city in Ghana, a fight between ethnic groups is the kind of bitter local dispute Islamist militants often exploit.

There Are 13 Guantanamos in the Syrian Desert

Charles Lister, Politico 

ISIS appears to be regrouping inside a makeshift detention system holding 65,000 people including 10,000 hardened fighters.

Kenya police on alert before expected opposition protests

Evelyne Musambi, The Associated Press 

Police in Kenya are on high alert ahead of a second round of anti-government protests organized by the opposition that have been declared illegal by the government.

Rebellion in Iran: how far will the regime go?

Andrew England and Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Financial Times 

Hardliners strike a defiant tone in public, but behind the scenes there is debate about how to respond to demands for change.

Kamala Harris Looks to Deepen Relations With Africa Amid China’s Influence

Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Abdi Latif Dahir, The New York Times 

In a weeklong trip to Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia, the vice president will face a balancing act as she tries to foster a collaborative U.S. relationship.

Jay Powell and Janet Yellen struggle to calm nerves in banking crisis

James Politi and Colby Smith, Financial Times 

Policymakers have been criticized by some for not sending clear enough message after tumultuous two weeks.

Poland’s prime minister confident US Republicans will not backtrack on Ukraine

Sam Fleming and Alice Hancock, Financial Times 

Mateusz Morawiecki says Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s comments are part of political ‘poker game’.

Migrants on Foot Make Last Dash Into Canada Before Rules Tighten 

Jane Gottlieb and Ian Austen, The New York Times 

A freer era of migration into Canada ended on Saturday when officials stopped accepting asylum petitions from people who walk in at unofficial crossings.