General strike starts in Israel amid public anger over hostage deaths

Good morning. Over the weekend we’ve been watching the outcome of seismic state elections in Europe’s largest economy. The Alternative for Germany party swept to success in Germany’s eastern region of Thuringia, the first time a far-right party has won a state poll in the country’s post-war history. The results were a disaster for the parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-way coalition government.

But first, a general strike has shut down much of Israel amid growing anger at the government’s failure to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas after the death of six captives in Gaza at the weekend.

It represents the country’s first widespread industrial action since Hamas’s attack last October, with flights halted from Ben Gurion international airport. Universities, shopping malls and ports were shut.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Tel Aviv and other cities yesterday after the Israel Defense Forces retrieved the bodies of six Israeli hostages seized by Hamas last year during the group’s assault on southern Israel. More protests are expected today.

• A divided nation: Time is quickly running out for the remaining 101 hostages, stoking tensions between protesters and Netanyahu’s far-right allies.

Here’s what else I’m keeping tabs on today:

We’ve loved reading all the questions you’ve sent in for us to answer in a special weekend edition of FirstFT. Please keep them coming: hit “reply” and remember to include your name and where you’re writing from — Georgina

Five more top stories

1. The far-right Alternative for Germany has won elections in the eastern region of Thuringia. According to preliminary results, the AfD garnered 32.8 per cent in Thuringia, way ahead of all other parties. Our Berlin bureau chief explores how the AfD became a home for many east Germans despite its radical reputation.

2. Brazil’s Supreme Court is facing a backlash over its move to ban X after the social media company refused to comply with a deadline to appoint a legal representative. The court also ruled that users who access Elon Musk’s platform using virtual private networks would face daily fines of about $8,000, an even more contentious decision.

3. A prominent shareholder in Seven & i Holdings (the owner of 7-Eleven) has set a deadline for the Japanese convenience store giant to update investors on the takeover bid by Canada’s Couche-Tard. US-based Artisan Partners sent a letter to the board of the 7-Eleven parent company warning that management will be “held accountable” if it did not immediately open negotiations with the buyer. 

4. Kamala Harris is planning to spend $370mn on advertising between early September and the US election in November. The Democratic candidate’s attempt to turn a surge in donations into a sustainable polling lead over Donald Trump will include what her campaign is describing as the biggest digital ad buy in the history of American politics.

5. Poland and other countries bordering Ukraine have a “duty” to shoot down incoming Russian missiles before they enter their airspace, the Polish foreign minister told the FT. Despite Nato’s fears that such interceptions could embroil the alliance in Russia’s war against Ukraine, Radosław Sikorski argued it would be “legitimate self-defence”.

• War in Ukraine: Ukrainian forces have continued to lose ground in the country’s eastern Donetsk region, with Russian troops nearing the logistic hub of Pokrovsk.

Feel better informed on the events shaping your world with our relaunched newsletter Newswrap. Darren Dodd, a former FT news editor, explains how the biggest stories relate to global economic and business trends. Sign up here to get it delivered three times a week.

The Big Read

Brands from Shein and Zara to H&M and Lego are throwing themselves into a booming second-hand economy, and celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Rihanna and Sarah Jessica Parker have all embraced thrift. Last week, Ikea joined the trend, launching a peer-to-peer marketplace for furniture. Will companies be able to make money from a market long dominated by not-for-profit charity and thrift stores?

We’re also reading . . . 

• US policy priorities: If Kamala Harris wins, she will need to connect the dots in the US economy, writes Rana Foroohar, including in areas such as housing, childcare, competition and tax policy.

• Lessons for leaders: This op-ed by Michael Skapinker, which has intriguing insights into how to navigate office politics, is proving popular with FT readers.

• Reliance on China: Europe should depend less on China for technology and show it has learned its lessons about relying too much on a single supplier, as it did previously with Russian oil and gas, Denmark’s prime minister has warned.

• AI’s place: Henry Mance sits down with Google executive James Manyika, who warns employers that the hyped-up productivity gains from AI are “not guaranteed”.

Chart of the day

The value of European sustainable investment funds’ exposure to defence stocks has more than doubled since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to an FT analysis.

Take a break from the news

As someone who jumped on the “overnight oats” breakfast bandwagon a few months ago (and hasn’t looked back since), I was intrigued by this piece that breaks down why “overnight” features in some of our favourite recipes. I’d love to know what culinary hacks you’ve uncovered by preparing food the night before (I’m at georgina.quach@ft.com).

Additional contributions from Tee Zhuo and Benjamin Wilhelm