☕ The parties can't agree

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Two years after the 7 October attacks on Israel by Hamas, peace talks now enter their second day in Egypt. A spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, a party to the talks, stated that the first day of discussions lasted four hours.

AP reports that an Egyptian official with knowledge of the discussions said the parties agreed on most of the first-phase terms, which include the release of hostages and the establishment of a ceasefire. We’ll bring you an update tomorrow.

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Some headlines from this morning:

• The Centers for Disease Control no longer universally recommends the COVID-19 vaccine after updating its immunization schedule on Monday. The update also includes a recommendation that children receive their chickenpox shot separately from their Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The changes follow recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices last month. The ACIP said the decision was based on individual decision-making and a slightly increased risk of seizures when children receive combined chickenpox and MMR vaccines.

• President Trump stated that he would invoke the Insurrection Act if courts, governors, or mayors hindered his efforts to deploy the National Guard in Chicago. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accused the president of trying to "militarize our nation's cities," citing an ICE operation in Chicago last week that used a military Black Hawk helicopter and more than 100 agents. The Insurrection Act suspends civil liberties and grants the president broad powers, designed for use during civil unrest or uprisings. Trump's statement escalates tensions between federal and state authorities over immigration enforcement operations.

• China and India have agreed to restart direct flights after a five-year hiatus, marking the latest sign of thawing relations between the world's most populous nations. Flights between Kolkata, a city in eastern India, and Guangzhou, in southern China, would resume this month for the first time since 2020 border clashes suspended the route. The decision comes months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to Beijing in seven years, with ties strengthening particularly after President Trump imposed 50% tariffs on India.

• Three scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries about how the immune system distinguishes between germs and the body's own cells. Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi uncovered a key pathway called peripheral immune tolerance that keeps the immune system in check. In separate projects spanning several years, the trio identified the importance of regulatory T cells, which experts have called critical to understanding autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Scientists are now utilizing these findings to develop more effective treatments for autoimmune diseases, enhance organ transplant outcomes, and improve the body's ability to fight cancer.

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President Trump has offered to meet Democratic demands to end the government shutdown - but only after Democrats pass a stalled funding bill first. The condition immediately derailed negotiations that began on Monday, breaking what Democrats called "radio silence" from the White House since the shutdown began last Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know.

Catch up

The Republican controlled House of Representatives passed a CR late last month. This bill was designed to continue government funding until November, pending the official budget vote.

The bill stalled when it reached the Senate, however, where Republicans only control 54 of the 60 seats required to pass the bill into law. Republicans needed the cooperation of seven Democrats, as one Republican senator was also holding out.

The CR in its current form does not extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies; Democrats insist that this be included before they cooperate.

Republicans have so far refused, saying they will extend the ACA subsidies but in a separate bill from the CR.

What is the Democrats’ proposal?

Democrats want Republicans to include an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance subsidies in the Continuing Resolution (CR)—a temporary funding bill that would reopen the government while Congress works on a full budget.

Republicans have refused, saying they'll extend the subsidies in a separate bill after the CR passes. Democrats won't budge until the ACA extension is included.

What are the ACA subsidies?

The subsidies reduce or eliminate insurance premiums for low-income families through the ACA marketplace. They cap what Americans pay for health insurance at 8% of household income.

The subsidies were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and most recently extended in 2025 under the Inflation Reduction Act. They're set to expire at the end of this year.

What happens if they expire?

Without the subsidies, average premiums would jump from $888 per year to $1,904. The Congressional Budget Office projects that this would leave 4 million people unable to afford insurance by 2034, while increasing government healthcare spending by $662 billion over the next ten years.

The Democratic proposal would make the subsidies permanent and expand eligibility to more middle-income families. It includes provisions designed to prevent the White House from circumventing the rules and ensures legal immigrants remain covered.

The Senate needs 60 votes to pass the CR. Republicans control 54 seats but need seven Democrats to cooperate - one Republican senator is also holding out. Neither side has indicated willingness to compromise on the ACA subsidy timing.

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France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned after 26 days in office.

It is the shortest prime ministerial term in modern French history.

The announcement came less than a day after he revealed a new cabinet.

Lecornu is expected to meet with President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday for final discussions to devise a plan “for the stability of the country.”

His departure paves the way for the country’s sixth PM since 2022.

Context

France’s last parliamentary election was held in July 2024. Macron called the snap election in response to gains by far-right parties at the European Parliament election.

At the French election, no party or coalition won enough seats to govern alone.

A left-wing coalition called Nouveau Front Populaire, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, picked up the most seats. It was followed by Macron’s party, then the far-right party Rassemblement National, led by Marine Le Pen.

A centrist coalition eventually formed government under 73-year-old Michel Barnier, who lost a vote of no-confidence after three months in office.

François Bayrou took over as PM in early 2025, before losing his own vote of no-confidence last month. He had called the vote after failing to pass a budget.

Lecornu, considered one of Macron’s closest political allies, then took over.

He has served in Macron’s cabinet since the President was first elected in 2017, most recently holding the role of Defence Minister before being appointed Prime Minister.

Resignation

In an address to media, Lecornu said he was forced to resign from the “difficult task” of being Prime Minister after “conditions were no longer met for [him] to exercise [his] duties”.

He attributed his decision to a lack of willingness among political parties in France’s parliament to compromise on issues “that cannot wait” until the next presidential election in 2027.

Lecornu said efforts to “build a path forward” on financial and social issues had been “blocked for many weeks now”.

Reaction

Mélenchon blamed the “political chaos” on Macron, leading calls for a snap election.

“An unprecedented historical political situation is unfolding. We have a duty to respond by giving the people a voice again,” Mélenchon said.

Rassemblement National and Le Pen have also called for an election, and demanded Macron’s government “stop the shady dealings and unnatural alliances that are plunging France into chaos”.

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