View in Browser

Daily Briefing

Israel and Hamas extend their truce by one day in a last-minute deal, the COP28 summit opens with hopes for an early victory on a climate damage fund, and Henry Kissinger dies aged 100.

Plus, a special report on how the US courted the Philippines to thwart China.

By Edson Caldas

Today's Top News

Palestinian children walk among the houses destroyed in Israeli strikes during the conflict. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

ISRAEL AND HAMAS AT WAR

Israel and Hamas struck a last-minute agreement to extend their ceasefire for a seventh day, and Washington said it hoped the truce could be extended further. The truce has let some aid into Gaza after much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million people was reduced to wasteland by seven weeks of bombardment.
However, a deadly shooting in Jerusalem was a potent reminder of the potential for violence to spread. Two Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus stop during the morning rush hour at the entrance to Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding eight others, Israeli police said.

COP28 CLIMATE SUMMIT

As global leaders gather in Dubai for the world's U.N. climate conference, delegates hope to clinch an early victory on a disaster fund before the summit turns its focus to fossil fuels and other divisive topics. We have an explainer on how countries will measure climate action at COP28.
Adding to the urgency world leaders face at COP28, 2023 will reach global warming of about 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.5 Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, the World Meteorological Organization said. The WMO's provisional report confirms that this year will be the warmest on record by a large margin.
The Reuters World News podcast uncovers how despite the Pope Francis' directive for Catholics to move away from fossil fuels, not a single US diocese has complied. Some even have leases with oil drillers. Listen here. The pope has cancelled his planned trip to COP28 because of health issues.

IN OTHER NEWS

The Democratic Party has no Plan B if President Joe Biden decided for any reason to halt his 2024 re-election campaign, and a sudden need to replace him as its standard-bearer would spark a messy intraparty battle. Even if more candidates were to jump in now, the path forward would be unclear.
Henry Kissinger, a diplomatic powerhouse whose roles as a national security adviser and secretary of state under two presidents left an indelible mark on US foreign policy and earned him a controversial Nobel Peace Prize, died at age 100. Here are reactions from world leaders and key facts about his life.

Business & Markets

The Limmat river and the city are seen early morning in Zurich. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

Singapore and Zurich tied for the world's most expensive city this year, followed by Geneva, New York and Hong Kong, the Economist Intelligence Unit said, as it cautioned that the global cost-of-living crisis was not yet over. On average, prices have risen by 7.4% year on year for commonly used goods and services.
Euro zone inflation tumbled far more than expected this month, a challenge to the ECB's narrative that price growth remains stubborn and likely fueling bets on early spring rate cuts. Consumer price growth in the 20 nations sharing the euro currency dropped to 2.4% in November from 2.9% in October.
OPEC+ has reached a preliminary agreement for an additional oil output cut of more than 1 million barrels per day, an OPEC+ source said ahead of formal OPEC+ meetings due to take place later today. Oil prices will face an uphill struggle in 2024 as global growth risks restrain demand, a Reuters poll showed.
China Evergrande Group is seeking to avert a potentially imminent liquidation with a last-minute debt restructuring proposal, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said. The defaulted company has until a Hong Kong court hearing on Monday to present a "concrete" revised proposal for offshore creditors.
Elon Musk swore at advertisers that have fled X over antisemitic content. His profanity-laced remarks followed a moment of contrition in a New York Times DealBook Summit interview. Musk said repeatedly he was sorry for publishing a tweet on Nov. 15 that agreed with an anti-Jewish post.
In more news from the summit, Walt Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said he would "definitely" step down when his current contract ends in 2026 and that the ABC broadcast network was not for sale. Disney's board is undertaking a "robust" search for a successor, Iger said.

Eagle and Dragon

US outreach to its longtime ally the Philippines has been described as "love-bombing." Carolyn Kaster/Pool via REUTERS

America has rushed to mend relations with its former colony after ties frayed under former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. It has lavished attention on new leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr and sent military equipment and vaccines. Washington needs Manila in its camp as tensions with China rise in the Indo-Pacific.

Reuters got inside the charm offensive.

And Finally...

Yang Guang, one of the giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo. REUTERS/Lesley Martin

Britain's two giant pandas, the only pair in the country, will munch bamboo stalks in front of crowds at Edinburgh Zoo for the final time today, before their stay comes to an end and they return home to China. The pair came to Edinburgh in 2011 as part of a ten-year agreement, extended for two years due to the pandemic.

Read more: Britain bids farewell to its only giant pandas after 12 years

Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content.

Advertise in this newsletter or on Reuters.com

Reuters Daily Briefing is sent 5 days a week. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here.

Want to stop receiving this email? Unsubscribe here.
To manage which newsletters you're signed up for, click here.