Tuesday Briefing: Benjamin Netanyahu disbanded his war cabinet

Vladimir Putin visits North Korea and demand for durian surges

View in browser|nytimes.com June 18, 2024 By Daniel E. Slotnik Good morning. We're covering Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to disband his war cabinet and Vladimir Putin's planned visit to North Korea. Plus: China's surging demand for durian. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed the war cabinet in October. Abir Sultan/EPA, via Shutterstock Netanyahu disbanded his war cabinet Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, dissolved his war cabinet. The move was widely expected after two key members, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, resigned last week over disagreements about the direction of the fighting in Gaza. An Israeli official suggested that Netanyahu's decision to disband the five-member body was largely symbolic. Israeli news media reported yesterday that Netanyahu shut down the cabinet after the far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, the country's minister of national security, demanded a seat. For now, major decisions about the war — such as whether to agree to a cease-fire — will be put to a separate and broader security cabinet. Netanyahu will also rely on an informal group of advisers to make important military decisions, analysts said. A pause in fighting: The Israeli military said that it had halted operations during daylight hours in parts of southern Gaza, a move that aid workers hoped would allow vital supplies to reach residents. The daily pause applies only to a stretch of road, and not to areas in central Gaza where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have fled since the invasion of Rafah. Vladimir Putin during his last visit to North Korea, in 2000. Korean Central News Agency, via Associated Press Putin to visit North Korea Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, was expected to start a two-day visit to North Korea today in a sign of the countries' deepening military ties. As Russia's war in Ukraine drags on, both sides are firing thousands of artillery shells, missiles and rockets every day. That means that Russia needs ammunition — and North Korea has plenty to offer. For Kim Jong-un, the North's leader, things had looked grim until the war in Ukraine created opportunities for him. He traveled to Russia in September, touring sensitive space and military facilities during a visit that underscored Russia's ability to provide the sort of technology North Korea has long coveted. Putin has indicated that Russia could help North Korea launch spy satellites, which Kim wants to use to monitor military targets. Both Moscow and Pyongyang deny that they are engaged in arms trading, which is banned under U.N. sanctions. Background: Putin last visited North Korea in 2000, when he became the first Russian leader to travel there. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general.  Susan Walsh/Associated Press A call for a warning label for social media sites Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general, said he would push Congress to require a warning label on social media platforms, similar to those on tobacco and alcohol products. The labels would advise parents that social media could harm teenagers' mental health. "The platforms are designed to maximize how much time we all spend on them," Murthy said in an interview. "It's one thing to do that to an adult, and another thing to do it to a child." Read his Opinion essay about social media here. Tips for parents: Here's how to wean your children off social media, and how to do a social media reset this summer. MORE TOP NEWS Diptendu Dutta/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images India: At least eight people were killed and dozens more were hurt when two trains collided in the state of West Bengal. The toll is expected to rise, officials said. South China Sea: Ships from China and the Philippines collided near a disputed archipelago, the two nations said. Each blamed the other for the crash. France: The soccer star Kylian Mbappé urged young people to vote in the upcoming election. Russia: A court said the espionage trial of the American journalist Evan Gershkovich would start next week and be held behind closed doors. Hungary: Peter Magyar, a former ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has become an improbable opposition leader. China: Beijing threatened to impose tariffs on pork imported from Europe after the E.U. said last week that it would place tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Taiwan: Don't panic about China, but don't grow numb to the risks, the U.S. envoy to the island suggested as she prepared to leave after three years. War: Residents of Belgorod, a Russian city near Ukraine's border, have adapted to living with a war that much of Russia has never directly felt. U.S.: A man accused of trying to assassinate a Sikh activist pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court after being extradited from the Czech Republic last week. The Tony Awards Big winners: The "Outsiders" and "Stereophonic" won top awards, but they're not the only Broadway shows that had a very good night. In their words: Several recipients won their first Tonys. Here's what they said about it. Unforgettable: The Tonys gave actors a chance to step out of their costumes and flaunt their personal styles. MORNING READ Gabriela Bhaskar for The New York Times China's demand for durian has resulted in new fortunes and razed landscapes in Southeast Asia. Last year, the value of durian exports to China hit $6.7 billion, up sharply from $550 million in 2017. Today, businesses are expanding rapidly. Some durian farmers have even become millionaires. CONVERSATION STARTERS Going viral: Some tweens are obsessed with a Brazilian skin-firming cream. Here's why. Two beds: Couples who sleep in separate bedrooms are more common than one might think. Sex therapists and marriage counselors aren't sure it's a healthy choice. Talk like Bad Bunny: Teachers say more students want to learn Puerto Rican Spanish, a jubilant, swaggering version of the language made popular by their favorite musicians from the island. SPORTS NEWS European Championship: Romania beat Ukraine, 3-0. The Times spoke with soldiers watching the game. How soccer shaped a cycling star: The Tour de France favorite who could have become a top player in a different sport. Inside a chaotic U.S. Open: How Bryson DeChambeau once again became a champion golfer. SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICA Natalija Gormalova for The New York Times Long-acting contraception is changing lives in Africa Women in Africa are increasingly turning to long-acting contraception, like hormonal implants and injections. Over the past decade, the number of women in the region using modern contraception has nearly doubled, to 66 million. "They like the implants and injections best of all," a community health nurse in Ghana told my colleague Stephanie Nolen. "It frees them from worry, and it is private. They don't have to even discuss it with a husband or a partner." A few factors are driving the change: More girls and women are learning about contraceptives, often through social media. They want careers and experiences that having children could complicate. There are more contraceptive options, and improved roads and planning help these options reach more remote areas. RECOMMENDATIONS David Malosh for The New York Times Cook: Shishito peppers give this corn salad a little kick. Read: In "The Fall of Roe," two of my Times colleagues explain how Roe v. Wade was made — and unmade. Camp: Before you head out to the woods or mountains, clean your tent. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. P.S. The Times won two awards from the Asian American Journalists Association. That's all for today. Thank you for reading, and see you tomorrow. — Dan You can reach Dan and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018