Wednesday Briefing: A Gaza hostage deal appears close
Good morning. We’re covering a possible deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages and a fresh blow to the crypto world. Plus the 100 notable books of 2023.
An Israel-Hamas hostage deal appears closeIsrael and Hamas appeared to be edging close to a deal that would allow the release of some of the 240 captives held in Gaza in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The exchange would take place during what would be a brief pause in the war. The Israeli government said yesterday afternoon that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would hold an unusually intense sequence of meetings with cabinet ministers in the coming hours “in light of developments on the issue of the release of our hostages.” Netanyahu added that he hoped “we will have good news soon.” President Biden echoed that optimism, saying, “We’re now very close, very close.” An Israeli official, speaking anonymously in order to discuss a sensitive matter, said the ministers were expected to vote on whether to approve a brief cease-fire that would allow for an exchange. If a deal is approved, the hostages may not be released until tomorrow to allow for a 24-hour period for judicial review, Israeli officials said. And until an exchange of captives begins, the situation is likely to remain fluid. Details: People familiar with the hostage negotiations, which have been brokered mainly by Qatar, said they centered on Hamas releasing roughly 50 children and women in exchange for about 150 Palestinian women and teenagers jailed by Israel, as well as a pause in fighting that would last about five days.
Binance’s founder pleaded guiltyChangpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, agreed to plead guilty to money laundering violations in the U.S. As part of his guilty plea, Zhao will pay a $50 million fine and step down from his role as chief executive — a stunning blow to the most powerful and influential figure in the global crypto industry. The company also agreed to plead guilty and pay $4.3 billion in fines and restitution, and accept the appointment of a monitor, according to court documents. Takeaway: For the relatively young and fast-growing crypto world, the proceedings were a monumental development, given Binance’s global reach and Zhao’s prominent role as a leader in the industry. At times, Binance has processed two-thirds of all digital currency trades.
North Korea launched its first spy satelliteNorth Korea launched a rocket in what South Korea said was an effort by the North to put its first military reconnaissance satellite in orbit. It was the North’s third attempt this year to place a satellite into orbit with the goal of allowing the country to better monitor U.S. and South Korean military movements and improve its nuclear-attack capabilities. Its previous attempts in May and August failed, but this time it received technological assistance from Russia, according to South Korea. Background: Moscow’s aid was part of a package of incentives that North Korea had been expected to receive from Russia in return for providing munitions to Russia for its war in Ukraine, South Korean officials said.
Around the World
Other Big Stories
A Morning Read
Each year, the staff of The New York Times Book Review reads thousands of new books, seeking out the best novels, memoirs, poetry collections and more. Here are 100 standouts of 2023. Subscribe Today We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times with this special offer.
Miyazaki’s latest film reflects his lifeHayao Miyazaki’s new film, “The Boy and the Heron,” tells the tale of a boy growing up in the shadow of World War II, much as the director did. Miyazaki’s family fled Tokyo for the countryside in 1944, when he was 3, and his earliest memories, he has said in interviews, involve war and fear. Elements of the film will be familiar to Miyazaki devotees: a lonely child, the threat of violence and a bevy of fantastical, only sometimes cuddly creatures that externalize some part of the protagonist’s desires. But even by Miyazaki’s standards, our new movie critic Alissa Wilkinson writes, the film is enigmatic, and more an exercise in contemplation than storytelling. “With Miyazaki, the draw is subliminal,” she writes, “tapping an unsettling emotional well that seals over as we age.”
Cook: Ready in 10 minutes, sheet-pan shrimp with tomatoes, feta and oregano is a perfect weeknight recipe. Read: “The World in a Wineglass” is a broad survey of vintners with a focus on sustainability and organic methods. Watch: The Emmy-winning FX series “Fargo” returns with a new season. Save: Black Friday travel sales are here, and deals abound. Play Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here. That’s it for today’s briefing. See you tomorrow. — Justin P.S. Here is a look at how The Times designed its audio app. We welcome your feedback. Send us your suggestions at briefing@nytimes.com.
|
Older messages
Our favorite jeans are on sale
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Denim deals ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
A suitable place for salt
Monday, November 20, 2023
And more great gifts ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Tuesday Briefing: OpenAI’s future in doubt
Monday, November 20, 2023
Plus India's cricket heartbreak. View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition November 21, 2023 Author Headshot By Justin Porter Good
Monday Briefing: Babies evacuated from Al-Shifa
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Plus: A woman's unconventional escape in India. View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition November 20, 2023 Author Headshot By Justin
Our new favorite vacuums
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Your Black Friday homework ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
You Might Also Like
The looming threat that could bankrupt The Intercept
Sunday, September 22, 2024
The message of these lawsuits is clear: Investigate the rich and powerful at your peril. When The Intercept was sued by Erik Prince, the billionaire founder of private security firm Blackwater, it
Monday Briefing: Israel and Hezbollah trade threats
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Plus, a Russian military officer's story of desertion and escape. View in browser|nytimes.com Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition September 23, 2024 Author Headshot By Gaya Gupta Good morning
Welcome to The Flyover
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Thanks for joining The Flyover! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
GeekWire's Most-Read Stories of the Week
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Catch up on the top tech stories from this past week. Here are the headlines that people have been reading on GeekWire. ADVERTISEMENT GeekWire SPONSOR MESSAGE: Get your ticket for AWS re:Invent,
10 Things We Loved: Narcoleptic-Approved Sleep Masks to Peanuts-Themed Doormats
Sunday, September 22, 2024
The most useful, thoughtful, and just plain fun things we uncovered this week. The Strategist Every product is independently selected by editors. If you buy something through our links, New York may
The Sunday — September 22
Sunday, September 22, 2024
This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading. What the right is doodling. Gary Varvel | Creators
LEVER WEEKLY: Dark Money Then, Dark Money Now
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Secret unlimited election spending is on the rise everywhere you look, and more from The Lever this week. LEVER WEEKLY: Dark Money Then, Dark Money Now By The Lever • 22 Sept 2024 View in browser View
Let’s talk about the 12-foot skeleton in the room
Sunday, September 22, 2024
And more ridiculous things we've tested View in browser The Recommendation Trick-or-treaters ignored my yard. So I bought a fancy 12-foot skeleton. A 12 foot skeleton statue standing in the front
☕ Treasure hunt
Sunday, September 22, 2024
How a Costco apartment is trying to solve the housing crisis... Presented by Timeline Nutrition September 22, 2024 | View Online | Sign Up | Shop Happy first day of Fall! Sebastien St-Jean/AFP via
Fighting Intensifies in Lebanon, a Long Hail Mary, and a Thieving Crab
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Israel confirmed a “targeted strike” in Beirut, Lebanon Friday that killed Ibrahim Aqil, a senior Hezbollah commander believed to be responsible for the 1983 bombing of a US Marines barracks and the