Israel-Hamas truce raises hopes for hostage launch

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A tentative four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has begun in Gaza, setting the bottom for the staggered launch of fifty hostages held by Hamas and 150 Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

The Qatari-brokered pause in hostilities, which commenced at 7am native time, gave the impression to be holding, elevating hopes that the 2 sides would later within the day start exchanging hostages, and that substantial humanitarian help can be allowed into the besieged enclave.

In an indication that the tenuous settlement was progressing, 4 tankers of gas and cooking gasoline entered Gaza this morning. This was completed “throughout the framework of the truce and the schedule for the discharge of the hostages”, the Israeli defence ministry mentioned.

Qatar, which introduced the ceasefire yesterday, mentioned the primary 13 hostages can be handed over to Israeli authorities at about 4pm native time right now. The households of the ladies and kids have been knowledgeable that their names are on an inventory for launch after 48 days of captivity.

They’re anticipated to be exchanged for 39 Palestinian girls and kids held in Israeli prisons — a few of whom have but to be tried or convicted — a ratio of roughly three Palestinians for each hostage from Israel. Right here’s the most recent on the ceasefire as we strategy the deliberate hostage launch.

Right here’s what else I’m watching right now and on the weekend:

• Black Friday: US markets shut early on the day after Thanksgiving.

• Components One: The ultimate race of the F1 season takes place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Learn extra on the game in our particular report.

• Booker Prize: The winner of the literary award for fiction can be introduced at a ceremony in London on Sunday.

Be part of us on November 27-29 in London for the International Banking Summit — the one strategy-focused banking convention that brings all the highest chief executives in a single place. Hear from Goldman Sachs, NatWest, UBS, Barclays, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Santander, Deutsche Financial institution, Lloyds Financial institution and extra. Register right here.

5 extra high tales

1. Unique: Jeff Zucker has hit out at rival bidders for the Telegraph, a rightwing British newspaper. “There’s a cause that individuals are slinging mud and throwing darts — [it’s] as a result of they need to personal these property,” the previous CNN boss instructed the Monetary Occasions. Zucker’s Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI firm emerged in pole place to accumulate the media group this month. Learn the total interview.

2. Traders are promoting {dollars} on the quickest charge in a 12 months as they elevate their bets that the US Federal Reserve has completed its tightening marketing campaign. Asset managers are on monitor to promote 1.6 per cent of their open greenback positions this month, in accordance with State Road, which is custodian to $40tn of property. Analysts warn that the gross sales might be the beginning of a longer-term development amongst buyers to cut back publicity to US property.

3. An escalating strike towards Tesla by a gaggle of Swedish unions has been branded “insane” by Elon Musk as the economic motion threatens to disrupt the US carmaker’s operations in different components of Europe. Unions in Norway, considered one of Europe’s largest markets for electrical car gross sales, mentioned they might cease Tesla autos destined for Sweden being unloaded within the neighbouring Scandinavian nation. The chance for Tesla is that unions in different nations, particularly Germany, be a part of the economic motion.

4. Sir Christopher Hohn’s activist hedge fund TCI has opened an workplace in Abu Dhabi, becoming a member of a wave of teams betting that the United Arab Emirates will assist energy the trade’s progress. The fund, which manages $60bn, mentioned it will use the workplace to forge ties with native buyers and develop its property below administration. Bronwyn Owen, the group’s head of buyers relations, is relocating from New York to run the workplace.

5. Oil and gasoline producers ought to be spending about half of their annual funding on clear vitality initiatives by 2030 to be aligned with world local weather targets, the Worldwide Vitality Company has mentioned. The west’s vitality watchdog additionally warned oil and gasoline corporations investing in new carbon seize initiatives that the know-how can be no substitute for reducing emissions and “can’t be used to take care of the established order”.

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Deep dive

Ohio this month turned the most recent conservative state to vote for the legalisation of hashish. The difficulty is driving a wedge between Republican lawmakers and their voters and creating a possibility for Democrats. Sam Learner explains how attitudes to pot are serving to to redraw the US’s electoral map forward of subsequent 12 months’s presidential election.

What we’re additionally studying . . . 

• Mutual dependence: Microsoft’s tie-up with OpenAI has turn out to be one of many tech trade’s most profitable partnerships, however it has not been with out threat.

• Cryptocurrencies: Central authorities struck a blow towards libertarian entrepreneurs this week however a core of the crypto dream stays an fascinating thought, argues Gillian Tett.

• A altering Europe: More and more harsh measures and lurid rhetoric on migration make the continent look as whether it is betraying its values, writes Timothy Garton Ash.

Chart of the day

The rise of international influencers in China — whom the nation seems to be “cultivating” to talk up for the governing Communist celebration — has coincided over the previous three years with Beijing’s transfer to expel some international journalists from the mainstream worldwide media. Immediately, greater than 120 international influencers with thousands and thousands of followers defend the nation on-line towards essential abroad narratives. A considerable contingent hails from the UK, the US and different democratic nations.

Take a break from the information

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro, and the Disney fairy story Want — which marks the studio’s centenary — are amongst this week’s movie releases.

Extra contributions from Gary Jones and Euan Healy