👋 Henda ho!*
Welcome to Thursday, where Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of his Gaza peace plan, French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister within 48 hours, and today’s quiz question highlights a new milestone for soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Meanwhile, Régis Arnaud in Le Figaro wonders what happened to the throngs of Japanese tourists that used to travel the world.
[*Malagasy, Madagascar]
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🗞️ FRONT PAGE
“It’s what’s inside that matters,” titles southern Germany-based daily Aichacher Nachrichten, after the European Parliament voted to ban terms like “sausage” and “burger” for plant-based foods. Supporters of the decision say it protects farmers and prevents consumer confusion, while critics argue the measure is pointless and costly.
🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW
• Israel and Hamas agree to the first phase of a peace plan for Gaza. This first step paves the way for a pause in the fighting and the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Palestinians greeted the news cautiously Thursday as a possible breakthrough in ending the devastating 2-year-old war. Uncertainty remains about other aspects of the plan advanced by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, such as whether and how Hamas will disarm, and who will govern Gaza.
• Macron to nominate new French prime minister in 48 hours. French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister, the Elysee Palace has said, fending off speculation that fresh elections could be imminent. Outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the possibility of dissolving parliament was beginning to fade following talks with political parties over the last two days. Read this piece by French political analyst Pierre Haski on how France’s current political turmoil is being seen by the world’s authoritarian leaders.
• Colombia’s president says a boat struck by U.S. was carrying Colombians. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said Wednesday there were “signs” that Colombian citizens were killed in the last small boat attacked by the U.S. military off the coast of Venezuela. Last Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the strike on a small boat he accused of carrying drugs in the waters off Venezuela.
• Keir Starmer meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his first visit to the country. The two leaders met in India’s financial capital Mumbai, where the UK prime minister is on a two-day trade mission with the largest ever delegation of more than 100 CEOs, entrepreneurs, university vice-chancellors and cultural leaders.
• National Guard to enter Chicago as Trump calls for jailing Democratic leaders. Some 500 National Guard troops were deployed near Chicago on Wednesday on President Donald Trump’s orders despite the objections of the Chicago mayor and Illinois governor. Trump in turn called for the jailing of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
• Nobel Prize in Literature announced. Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai, 71, has been chosen as this year’s recipient “for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.”
• News Quiz! What milestone is sports great Cristiano Ronaldo the first soccer player in history to achieve?
A. Playing professional soccer on every continent
B. Scoring 1,000 career goals
C. Becoming a billionaire
D. Kicking a ball so hard it leaves Earth’s orbit
[Answer below]
📣 VERBATIM
“I ain’t dead yet!”
— Country music legend Dolly Parton, 79, reassured fans after a social media message from her sister Freida asking for the public to pray for her caused concern about her health. In an Instagram video, Parton said she’s recovering from minor issues after neglecting her health following her husband’s death, and is resuming work on new projects.
📰 IN OTHER NEWS
🇩🇪🇮🇱 As the region transforms after October 7, Berlin needs both empathy for Israel and the courage to rethink its own foreign policy doctrine.
— DIE ZEIT
🌈 The concept of the “autism spectrum,” once revolutionary, may now oversimplify autism’s complexity. Experts argue autism isn’t a line from mild to severe but a diverse set of traits and needs, requiring language that reflects individuality, not hierarchy or severity.
— THE CONVERSATION
📸 The pandemic has put a damper on the Japanese tourism boom. Also discouraged by international crises, they now prefer local vacations.
— LE FIGARO
✍️ Newsletter by Emma Albright & Bertrand Hauger
Quiz Answer: C. Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first billionaire soccer player, notably thanks to his lucrative contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Nearing the end of his playing career at age 40, the Portuguese star joins the ranks of the world’s wealthiest athletes, a milestone confirmed by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Let us know what’s happening in your corner of the world!