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Weekend Briefing

From Reuters Daily Briefing

By Robert MacMillan, Reuters.com Weekend Editor

Thanks for joining me on the weekend shift and reading today’s edition of the briefing. Our On Assignment podcast visits Texas, Chicago and Mexico to understand why beef prices are rising in the United States. City Memo takes us to Hanoi. And I recommend our obituary for Ruth Weiss, the centenarian who “waged war with her typewriter.”

States line up to bypass Trump’s vaccine limits

REUTERS/Hannah Beier

Workarounds: Gov. Kathy Hochul authorized pharmacists to administer COVID vaccinations to anyone who wants a shot in an effort to counter new U.S. limits on inoculations. Massachusetts ordered insurers to cover vaccines backed by its health department. Florida’s legislature will have a fight on its hands as it debates the governor’s plan to dump vaccine mandates for grade-school children and others. Multiple health and medical groups called on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down. Trump is standing by his health secretary.
Dim data: The White House said it expects the Fed to consider larger interest-rate cuts this month after disappointing jobs numbers. Federal Reserve nominee Stephen Miran said he is not Trump’s puppet. The Justice Dept. launched a criminal mortgage-fraud probe of Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Here are possible Trump picks to succeed Jerome Powell.

U.S. increases military presence in the Caribbean

Southern theater: Washington ordered the deployment of F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to conduct operations against drug cartels, a White House official said. The move came after the U.S. killed 11 people in a strike on a boat from Venezuela. The administration is seeking to tie Venezuela to narco-trafficking and accused its military of provocation. President Nicolas Maduro says it’s an attempt at regime change.
Southern border: A federal appeals court said President Trump unlawfully invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans he accused of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Military lawyers will serve as immigration judges, something they’re not trained for. ICE arrested about 475 workers at a Hyundai Motor factory in Georgia. Listen to today’s World News podcast episode for more on this. These Americans support Trump’s immigration crackdown but are queasy about the methods.

Hamas releases vídeo of Israeli hostages

The latest: Hamas seized Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel from a music festival in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel's military said Palestinians in Gaza City should leave for the south as its forces advance deeper into the area. More countries say they’ll recognize a Palestinian state. What does that mean?
And in Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskiy said security guarantees could include sending thousands of troops into Ukraine once Russia’s war ends. Vladimir Putin said Russia would regard foreign troops in Ukraine as legitimate targets. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Donald Trump is “quite cynical”… but in a good way.

Keir Starmer achieves an unwanted record

Eighth minister out: Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned after saying she was sorry for underpaying property tax on her new home. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has scored more ministerial resignations than any UK government in the last half century. Nigel Farage lost little time in touting his anti-immigration Reform UK party as the solution to Britain’s troubles.
Elsewhere in Europe: France’s government is hanging on to power by its ongles as the far right figures out a way to muscle in. A confidence vote will come on Monday, and its sovereign debt is coming under review. Madrid will absorb nearly $100 billion in debt held by its regional administrations.

Nestle serves malaise, not mayonnaise

Spreading trouble: The Swiss food giant ousted its CEO for hiding a relationship with a subordinate, but that’s only part of Nestle’s troubles. Kraft Heinz is breaking up, something investment bankers had pitched for years without success. Tyson Foods’ chief supply-chain officer got the boot after an unspecified violation of its code of conduct. How irked is India over its tensions with the U.S.? It’s affecting their toothpaste.
Legalities: Amazon must face a nationwide class-action lawsuit over claims that it overcharged for products sold by third-party vendors. Disney will pay $10 million to settle FTC allegations