Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar killed, Israel says

In immediately’s e-newsletter:

• Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza

• Large Chinese language army drills gasoline alarm in Taiwan

• Playing hub Macau’s new Beijing-backed chief

Good morning. Israel stated yesterday it had killed Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the architect of final yr’s October 7 assault which triggered the deadliest battle within the historical past of the Israeli-Palestinian battle.

Sinwar’s dying is a pivotal second within the yr of preventing, delivering a extreme blow to the Palestinian militant group and a symbolic victory to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israel Protection Forces stated Sinwar had been killed on Wednesday by troopers from its southern command within the south of the Gaza Strip, with out giving additional particulars. Hamas didn’t instantly affirm Sinwar’s dying.

Netanyahu hailed Sinwar’s dying as a “victory of good over evil” and “the beginning of the day after Hamas” rule in Gaza, including these militants nonetheless holding Israeli hostages within the enclave now had a chance to launch them and be allowed to dwell.

The IDF, outlining how Sinwar was situated and killed, stated he was noticed by probability on Wednesday by its forces. Right here’s what occurred through the pursuit of the Hamas chief.

• ‘Dead man walking’: After greater than a yr, the relentless seek for Yahya Sinwar, Israel’s most wished man, lastly resulted in a bombed-out constructing within the south of the Gaza Strip.

Right here’s what else I’m protecting tabs on immediately:

• Financial knowledge: China publicizes third-quarter GDP together with the September home value index and retail gross sales. Japan releases its September inflation knowledge.

• UK-China relations: UK overseas secretary David Lammy meets his Chinese language counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing. Lammy will elevate issues over human rights and China’s assist for Russia, in keeping with individuals acquainted with his plans.

How nicely did you retain up with the information this week? Take our quiz.

5 extra high tales

1. China’s present of pressure round Taiwan in a day of huge army workout routines has fuelled alarm in Taipei. A senior Taiwanese nationwide safety official referred to as for different democracies to push again more durable in opposition to Beijing after China deployed a report variety of warplanes round Taiwan on Monday.

2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he has intelligence reviews that 10,000 North Korean troopers are getting ready to enter the battle on the aspect of Russia. The White Home stated yesterday it couldn’t independently affirm the reviews, however Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby described them as “concerning”.

3. Alimentation Couche-Tard’s proposed $47bn buyout of Seven & i is a greater deal and fewer dangerous than its goal’s break-up plan, the Canadian retailer’s chief stated in Tokyo as he urged the Japanese group to begin talks. Couche-Tard executives are in Japan to attempt to transfer their provide ahead, and stated they wished the prospect to debate their bid with authorities officers who must assessment any deal.

4. China plans to virtually double credit score assist for a particular group of housing initiatives to Rmb4tn ($562bn) as a part of official efforts to reinvigorate its property sector and switch across the economic system. China’s housing minister stated the brand new funds ought to be deployed by the top of the yr. Be taught extra in regards to the so-called whitelist of initiatives which are eligible to obtain financing.

5. Meta has fired about two dozen employees in Los Angeles for utilizing their $25 meal credit to purchase home goods together with pimples pads, wine glasses and laundry detergent. The terminations passed off final week, simply days earlier than the social media firm individually started restructuring sure groups throughout WhatsApp, Instagram and Actuality Labs, its augmented and digital actuality arm.

Information in-depth

The subsequent chief of playing hub Macau is a Beijing-backed former high decide who has beforehand warned in opposition to the “wild” growth of the gaming sector. Sam Hou Fai was elected unopposed on Sunday by a range committee stacked with pro-Beijing politicians and businesspeople. Analysts stated the territory’s playing sector is ready to come back beneath additional strain from China when Sam takes workplace in December.

We’re additionally studying . . . 

Chart of the day

Synthetic intelligence is being marshalled in a number of fields to alleviate issues in a number of the world’s poorest nations — in Zambia to assist enhance medical diagnostics, in Kenya to allow farmers to establish crop illness and in Ethiopia to tailor schooling supplies to pupils’ wants. However some worry the technological rush will deepen a digital divide.

Take a break from the information

Italian style group Prada and the US aerospace start-up Axiom House yesterday unveiled the spacesuits that can take astronauts to the Moon on Nasa’s upcoming Artemis III mission. Right here’s extra on the not-very-fashionable however extremely engineered 200kg-plus gender-neutral white extravehicular mobility unit spacesuit.

Extra contributions from Gordon Smith and Irwin Cruz