Israel: Opposition unity could oust Netanyahu
49-year-old tech millionaire Naftali Bennett could replace long-standing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the next government leader in Israel after he threw his weight behind a so-called “unity government”. Bennett, who had previously been both defence and education minister under Netanyahu, said on Sunday he wanted his far-right Yamina party, which has six seats in parliament, to join forces with Yair Lapid’s centrist Yesh Atid. Reports suggest a deal has been struck by which Bennett would become prime minister for two years, with Lapid replacing him for the final two years of office. Following successive elections in which no clear majority has been formed, Lapid has been given until Wednesday to form a new government. But Netanyahu reacted on Sunday by saying “such a government is a danger to Israel's security and future.” The Times of Israel, BBC, CNBC, The Guardian and Reuters have reports and analysis.
Report suggests Danes helped US spy on Merkel
Media reports suggest that Denmark’s Defence Intelligence Service (FE) helped the US National Security Agency to spy on leading European officials, including Angela Merkel, during Barack Obama’s presidency. The FE facilitated the tapping of Danish internet cables for the NSA, allowing agents to access phone calls and text messages. The latest report followed allegations made by Edward Snowden back in 2013 that the NSA had spied on US allies. It says that as well as Merkel, the current German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier as well as unnamed officials from France, Norway and Sweden were targets of the surveillance. Deutsche Welle, Politico and France24 have more.
Carney calls on business to pay more for pollution
United Nations special envoy on climate action and finance, Mark Carney, has said that the current rate companies pay for carbon credits is way too low. The former Bank of England governor said that rates of between “$80 to $100 a ton” were needed “by the end of this decade to keep us on track to net zero.” The global average price in 2019 was $2 per ton, according to the IMF which has projected that carbon taxes should be $75 a ton by 2030. CNBC reports.
Goodyear faces abuse allegations in Malaysia
Reuters has an exclusive report that Goodyear has been taken to court in Malaysia over a series of allegations regarding abuse of foreign workers. The tyre manufacturer has been accused of making improper salary deductions, imposing illegal overtime and withholding access to passports.
Brazilians protest Bolsonaro
Mass protests across Brazil on Saturday called for the impeachment of president Jair Bolsonaro and better management of the covid crisis. Brazil reported 79,670 new covid cases and 2,012 coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday as it faces a possible third wave of the pandemic. Less than 9.4% of the population has been fully vaccinated. CNN, Aljazeera and SkyNews report.
Students taken in Nigerian attack
Gunmen on motorcycles who attacked the town of Tegina on Sunday abducted around 150 students aged between seven and 15 from an Islamic school. Some of the weaker and younger children were later released. The Guardian and Aljazeera report.
Cannabis farm turns out to be Bitcoin mine
Police in the UK who thought they were raiding a cannabis farm unearthed a cryptocurrency mine that was stealing electricity from the main supply grid. The West Midlands force said surveillance of the industrial estate building indicated it had all “the hallmarks of a cannabis cultivation set-up”, but instead their officers found a bank of about 100 computer units that had been illegally connected to the network operated by Western Power Distribution. The BBC, CNN and The Verge have details.
Sports roundup
Football: Chelsea won the Champions League for the second time in the club’s history when a Kai Havertz goal was enough to beat Manchester City 1-0 in Porto on Saturday. The Guardian has a match report. Fola of Esch are the newly crowned Luxembourg champions after a 3-0 win at local rivals Jeunesse on the last day of the season left them two points clear of F91 Dudelange. RTL has highlights (in Luxembourgish). Cycling: Colombian rider Egan Bernal won the 2021 Giro d'Italia, finishing 1’29” ahead of Italian Damiano Caruso in second place, with Britain's Simon Yates finishing third. Eurosport has more. Tennis: Japan’s Naomi Osaka, the number 2 ranked women’s player, was fined $15,000 after refusing to meet media following her first-round win over Patricia Maria Tig at the French Open on Sunday. She faces possible expulsion from the tournament if she continues to shun media calls. The BBC reports.
Darth Vader house up for sale for $4.3 million
A 7,000 square-foot home in Houston, known as the Darth Vader house because its façade looks uncannily like the iconic Star Wars character, has gone on sale for a cool $4.3 million. The Houston Chronicle and CNN have details.
Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts