Israeli government in chaos, rocked by protests

Plus, credit crunch concerns allayed by SVB deal.

View in Browser Daily Briefing The Israeli government is in chaos, NATO slams Putin's plan for nukes in Belarus, and the sale of SVB helps to steady banks.   Plus, Prince Harry has brought a lawsuit against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers.   By Kate Turton   Today's Top News People attend a demonstration in Tel Aviv, March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Nir Elias Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition plunged into chaos after mass overnight protests over the sacking of his defense chief piled pressure on the government to halt its bitterly contested plans to overhaul the judiciary.  NATO slammed Vladimir Putin for "dangerous" nuclear rhetoric after the Russian president announced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, while his forces stepped up shelling of the frontline Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou left for China on a landmark trip, saying he hoped to bring about peace and improve relations. The trip comes at a time of heightened tensions between Beijing and Taipei. The US Supreme Court is weighing whether colleges can continue to consider race as part of their admissions decisions, a practice commonly known as affirmative action. We explain the policy, its history, and the possible consequences of the court's decision. Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga said protests against President William Ruto's government over the high cost of living would go ahead today as scheduled despite a police ban. Donald Trump used his first election rally in Waco, Texas, to cast the 2024 presidential vote in apocalyptic terms, slam his leading Republican rival Ron DeSantis, and rail against prosecutors pursuing him with criminal investigations. Business & Markets An empty platform seen at the main Berlin train station during a nationwide strike called by the German trade union Verdi over a wage dispute, March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse Airports and bus and train stations across Germany were at a standstill, disrupting millions of commuters and travelers at the start of the work week during one of the largest walkouts in decades in Europe's largest economy. A buyer for Silicon Valley Bank's deposits and loans helped shares in European lenders mount a partial recovery, after the sector was hammered last week by worries of systemic bank stress and a credit crunch. First Citizens agreed to acquire the failed SVB. Chinese search engine Baidu shared pre-recorded videos of its AI-powered chatbot Ernie summarizing financial statements and producing PowerPoint presentations, among other industry-focused capabilities. Some parts of Twitter's source code have been leaked and the social media platform owned by billionaire Elon Musk is seeking information on the person responsible, a legal filing showed. Alibaba founder Jack Ma has returned to China, the South China Morning Post  reported, ending a more than year-long sojourn overseas that was viewed by industry as reflecting the sober mood of China's private businesses. Iraq's oil output and capacity may peak following growth of around 25% over the next five years, analysts said, falling short of 2027 targets and ending a long-standing ambition to rival the output of top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia. US and China wage war beneath the waves Special Report: Subsea cables, which carry the world's data, are now central to the US - China tech war. Washington, fearful of Beijing's spies, has thwarted Chinese projects abroad and choked Big Tech's cable routes to Hong Kong, Reuters has learned. And finally... Prince Harry arrives at the High Court in London, March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville Britain's Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles, arrived at London's High Court for a hearing against the publisher of the Daily Mail newspaper over alleged phone-tapping and other breaches of privacy.   Harry has brought a lawsuit against Associated Newspapers alongside other famous figures including singer Elton John, his husband and filmmaker David Furnish, and actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost. Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. 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. Reuters Terms & Conditions and Privacy Statement © 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036