Israel–Hamas cease-fire holds as hostages and prisoners swapped
Israel and Hamas completed their ...
Israel and Hamas completed their third exchange on Sunday, which included the first release of an American hostage—a four-year-old girl. The swap, if completed today, would result in a total of 50 women and children hostages held by Hamas exchanged for 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The prime minister of Qatar, the country that brokered the deal, told the FT that efforts to extend the four-day cease-fire past Monday will depend on Hamas finding dozens of women and children hostages who are being held by civilians and gangs. In the US, three students of Palestinian descent were shot and wounded by a white man near Burlington, VT, Saturday night, according to police. Authorities are investigating the shooting as a possible hate crime
The world's largest iceberg is drifting from the Antarctic Circle toward the Southern Ocean, scientists confirmed late last week. The floating mass sheared from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986 but became stuck on the floor of the Weddell Sea.
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed in a federal prison in Arizona. He is reported to be in stable condition.
Daryl Hall sued John Oates, alleging that his music partner’s plan to sell his share in a joint venture would violate the business agreement of the Hall & Oates pair.
Brent holds above $80 a barrel ahead of OPEC+ meeting
[London] Oil prices were little changed on Monday, with Brent...
[London] Oil prices were little changed on Monday, with Brent holding above $80 a barrel, as investors awaited the OPEC+ meeting later this week for an agreement to curb supplies into 2024.
Both contracts rose slightly last week, their first weekly gain in five, underpinned by expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia could roll over voluntary supply cuts into early 2024 and OPEC+ might discuss plans to reduce further.
Investment in oil and gas exploration, production in Oman stands at $5.84 billion
The total volume of investment in oil and gas exploration,...
The total volume of investment in oil and gas exploration, production, and development during the first half of 2023 reached $5.84 billion.
Capital expenditure—including geological surveys, drilling, and facilities—accounted for 62 percent of total investment, while 38 percent went to operating expenses, said Dr. Saleh bin Ali Al Abbouri, Director General of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.
He further added that, during 2023, oil companies operating in the Sultanate of Oman drilled many exploratory wells in various oil and gas concession areas.
A four-day pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas...
A four-day pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip began Friday as Hamas released 24 hostages (13 Israeli women and children, 10 Thai nationals, and one Filipino citizen) while Israel released 39 Palestinian women and children detainees. The exchange is part of a short-term cease-fire deal brokered by Qatar and marks the first time fighting has temporarily halted between the two sides since Hamas captured more than 240 people during a surprise cross-border attack seven weeks ago.
During the duration of the pause, Hamas is set to free at least 50 hostages in exchange for the release of at least 150 Palestinians held in Israel's prisons. Israel has said the truce could be extended for an extra day for every 10 hostages released. At least 137 trucks carrying aid and fuel also entered Gaza Friday through the Rafah crossing as part of the agreement, with UN officials calling the humanitarian convoy the biggest since Hamas' Oct. 7 raid.
