Daily Briefing

Israel and Hamas negotiate through mediators over another potential extension of the Gaza truce, India will investigate US concerns linking it to a foiled murder plot, and what to expect from the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

Plus, 2023 through the lens of Reuters photographers.

By Edson Caldas

Today's Top News

People react after the release of Palestinian prisoners amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

ISRAEL AND HAMAS AT WAR

Hamas and Israel are expected to release more people today, the last day of a prolonged six-day truce in Gaza, as attention focused on whether they could negotiate another extension. Israel has said the truce could be prolonged further, provided Hamas continues to free at least 10 hostages per day.
The pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas has given Gazans brief reprieve from seven weeks of near continuous bombardment. Our graphics team shows how the search for shelter continues for more than a million people. And bureau chief James Mackenzie shares the latest on the war on our daily podcast.

Correction: Yesterday's edition should have described Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel's prime minister, not president.

COUNTDOWN TO COP28

Imagine a massive industry expo with the drama of a dozen simultaneous political conferences, a few flashes of impassioned protest and the occasional crowd crush to glimpse a climate celebrity. Such is the scene at the annual COP summit, this year being held in Dubai. This is what you need to know.
Delegates from nearly 200 countries will convene for the conference where the UAE hopes to sell the vision of a low-carbon future that includes, not shuns, fossil fuels. That narrative will throw the spotlight on international divisions over the best way to combat global warming. You can follow the latest here.

IN OTHER NEWS

A US military aircraft carrying six people crashed into the sea in western Japan, killing at least one crew member with the condition of at least two hauled from waters unclear. US forces in the region were still gathering information, a spokesperson said.
India will investigate security concerns aired by the US in a warning to New Delhi about its links to a foiled plot to murder a Sikh separatist leader, the foreign ministry said. The issue comes at a delicate time for both India and the Biden administration as they try to build closer ties in the face of an ascendant China.
Hope that they would be rescued kept many of the workers trapped in a tunnel in India strong through their ordeal, some of the 41 men said, hours after they were pulled out of 17-days of confinement. Doctors said they were doing well, but would need long-term support, including monitoring for post-traumatic stress.

Business & Markets

Charlie Munger walks past a crowd at the annual Berkshire shareholder shopping day in Omaha, Nebraska, 2019. REUTERS/Scott Morgan/File Photo

The death of Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger heralds the end of an era, leaving Warren Buffett as the conglomerate's lone investing legend and shining the spotlight on managers who have largely operated in their shadow. Here is how business leaders have reacted to Munger's death.
Once a North Korean experiment in limited capitalism, the Rason Special Economic Zone appears to be the epicenter of the isolated country's growing cooperation with Russia, experts say, including possible shipments of arms for the war in Ukraine.
Huawei's new smart car software and components firm is set for a valuation of up to 250 billion yuan ($34.67 billion) after it sells stakes to investors, three people with knowledge of the matter said. Huawei said this weekend it will spin off its four-year-old Intelligent Automotive Solution business unit into a new company.
In more auto news, Uber will open up its platform to London's black cabs, trying to win over the British capital's taxis after a decade of tensions. The new service offered by Uber, which will be rolled out in early 2024, will enable black cab drivers to sign up to the app to take booked journeys.
A Virgin Atlantic passenger jet powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) completed a London-to-New York jaunt, showcasing the potential of low-carbon options. The aviation industry is relying on a massive ramp-up in production of SAF to meet its target of "net zero" carbon emissions by 2050.

The Wider Image

Haze and smoke from the Canadian wildfires shroud the Manhattan skyline in the Queens Borough New York City, June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

This year is one that will go down in history as being marked by two big wars - an ongoing conflict in Ukraine as it fights off a Russian invasion and a fresh outbreak of violence in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas militants. Reuters photographers were on the ground to capture it all as it unfolded - and much more.

Here is 2023 in 100 photos.

And Finally...

Timothee Chalamet attends the world premiere of "Wonka", at the Royal Festival Hall, in London, Britain, November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska

Timothee Chalamet took lessons from a top vocal coach as he prepared to follow in the footsteps of Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp to play Willy Wonka in a new movie that tells the origin story of Roald Dahl's famed character.