Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here.
A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
President Biden mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin” on stage at the NATO summit yesterday. After recognizing his error, Biden attempted to laugh away the slip-up. In his solo press conference afterwards, Biden made another misstep by calling his Vice President Kamala Harris “Vice President Trump.” The errors come amid increased concerns for Biden’s mental acuity and calls for him to step down. Miles J. Herszenhorn reports for POLITICO.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE DEVELOPMENTS
U.S. intelligence discovered earlier this year that the Russian government planned to assassinate the chief executive of a German arms manufacturer that has been producing weapons for Ukraine, U.S. and Western officials say. The plot was one of a series of Russian plans to assassinate defense industry executives across Europe who were supporting Ukraine’s war effort, the sources said. Katie Bo Lillis, Natasha Bertrand and Frederik Pleitgen report for CNN.
Ukraine’s top prosecutor yesterday called for the International Criminal Court to prosecute Russia over a missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv on Monday. Stephanie van den Berg reports for Reuters.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toughened his demands for a ceasefire and hostage deal yesterday, just as optimism for a deal was growing after Hamas softened its stance. “Netanyahu gave these tough demands because he is trying to use Hamas’ weakness to get as much as he can out of the negotiations,” an Israeli official said. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
Many residents in Gaza City are remaining despite Israel’s evacuation orders, fearing the potential dangers from Israeli forces on the evacuation routes, and doubting there is safety in the south. The U.N. has repeatedly warned that the Israeli offensive has left nowhere safe in Gaza. Yesterday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said its helpline in Gaza had received “hundreds of calls in recent days from people desperate for help.” The New York Times reports.
The Israeli military failed in its mission to protect civilians and defend against the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, according to a military investigation released yesterday. The probe focused on the events in Kibbutz Be’eri, the site of one of the worst massacres, and found that Israeli security forces fell short in their response to the attacks. The investigation also exonerated a controversial decision to fire at a building where militants were holding 14 hostages, most of whom died. Dov Lieber and Anat Peled report for the Wall Street Journal; CNN reports.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday called for a state inquiry into failings around the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, saying it should investigate both himself and Netanyahu. Reuters reports.
Israeli and Egyptian ceasefire negotiators are in talks about an electronic surveillance system along the Gaza-Egypt border that could allow Israel to pull back its troops if a ceasefire is agreed, sources say. Ahmed Mohamed Hassan and Maayan Lubell report for Reuters.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The United States has added new individuals and organizations to a growing sanctions list in efforts to target violent Israeli settlers. The new entities include the far-right Lehava group, which had already been listed by the U.K., and two founding members of Tsav 9, a campaign group that has blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Emma Graham-Harrison and Julian Borger report for The Guardian.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
G7 Foreign Ministers yesterday denounced Israel’s move to expand its settlements in the West Bank, saying it is “counterproductive to the cause of peace.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today it is not possible for NATO to continue its partnership with the Israeli administration. “Until comprehensive, sustainable peace is established in Palestine, attempts at cooperation with Israel within NATO will not be approved by Turkey,” Erdogan said at the NATO summit. Reuters reports.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Russia is preparing a “military response” to the planned U.S. deployment of longer-range missiles in Germany, the Russian deputy foreign minister said yesterday. Sergei Ryabkov said the U.S. decision was “destructive to regional safety and strategic stability.” Ivan Nechepurenko and Paul Sonne report for the New York Times.
The United States and South Korea signed joint nuclear deterrence guidelines yesterday at the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, weeks after North Korea and Russia signed a defense pact that heightened concerns about the North’s growing nuclear threats. Hyung Jin-Kim reports for AP News.
An Australian soldier and her husband have been arrested and each charged with spying for Russia. Investigators say the couple, both Russian-born Australian citizens, obtained Australian Defense Force information to share with Moscow. The Australian police said “no significant compromise” of military secrets has been identified. Tiffanie Turnbull reports for BBC News.
Only one side of Sudan’s warring parties arrived in Geneva at the invitation of the U.N. to discuss protecting civilians through possible local ceasefires, U.N. officials said yesterday, without confirming which side failed to show up. Jamey Keaten and Edith M. Lederer report for AP News.
The Biden administration yesterday sanctioned a Venezuelan gang allegedly behind a spate of violent crimes linked to migrants that have spread across Latin America and the United States. Washington also offered a $12 million reward for the arrest of three leaders of Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organization prohibited from business in the United States. Joshua Goodman reports for AP News.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense today reprimanded over 100 people, including some senior officers, for mishandling classified security information. The ministry said it was not aware any security information was leaking outside of the military as a result of the lapses, but described widespread flouting of the rules about who can access secrets. Chieko Tsuneoka reports for the Wall Street Journal.
Kenyan President William Ruto yesterday announced he has fired almost his entire cabinet after weeks of deadly anti-government protests. Only the Deputy President and Prime Cabinet Secretary remain in their posts, Ruto said, adding he is engaging in “extensive consultations” to form a “broad-based” new government. Larry Madowo, Niamh Kennedy and Stephanie Busari report for CNN.
Authorities in Niger declared a curfew in the Tillaberi region after multiple prisoners escaped yesterday from a fortified jail known to hold jihadists, the interior ministry said. Chris Ewokor and Wycliffe Muia report for BBC News.
India’s Supreme Court granted interim bail today to opposition leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a graft case, but he will remain in jail due to his arrest in another case. Kejriwal, 55, denies any wrongdoing and calls the case politically motivated. Reuters reports.
Algeria’s president announced yesterday he intends to run for a second term in office, five years after ascending to power. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 78, said his decision came in response to support from political parties and young people. AP News reports.