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“Today we are again facing a crisis in the Middle East that could once again shock oil markets," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. That comes on top of the stress on energy markets from Russia's cutoff of natural gas to Europe over its invasion of Ukraine, he said. Political Cartoons View All 1215 ImagesFossil fuel prices are down from 2022 peaks, but “markets are tense and volatile," said the IEA in the report. “Some of the immediate pressures from the global energy crisis have eased, but energy markets, geopolitics, and the global economy are unsettled and the risk of further disruption is ever present,” it said. “We have solar, wind, nuclear power, electric cars.

Persons: Fatih Birol, “, ” Birol, Birol, ” Organizations: International Energy Agency, Associated Press, Hamas, Israel, Nations, IEA, AP Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, Gaza, Europe, Ukraine, Israel, China

☆ An 85-year-old Israeli women shook hands with a Hamas militant after being freed. Her husband is still being held hostage.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Sarah Gray | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Two older adult hostages were released by Hamas on Monday, October 23. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, were taken October 7 during the Hamas terror attacks. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, were taken hostage on October 7 after militants attacked kibbutz Nir Oz. Lifschitz's father and Yocheved Lifzhitz's husband, Oded Lifshitz, along with Nurit Cooper's husband, Amiram Cooper, are still being held by Hamas, along with an estimated 218 hostages. Over 1,400 people in Israel have been killed — mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas terror attacks.

Persons: Yocheved Lifshitz, Nurit Cooper, Lifshitz, —, Nir Oz, Sharone Lifschitz, CNN's Anderson Cooper, Lifschitz's, Yocheved, Oded, Nurit, Amiram Cooper, Al Qassam, Judith, Natalie Raanan, Daniel Lifshitz, Daniel, salam, AP Daniel Lifschiz, Israel, John Kirby, Yoav Gallant Organizations: Service, Hamas, AP, CNN, Reuters, West Bank, Israel Defense Forces, Security, US, Ministry Locations: Rafa, Egypt, Tel Aviv, Evanston , Illinois, Gaza, Israel, The, Iranian, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Washington

☆ Why Cramer remains optimistic on Halliburton despite a quarterly revenue miss
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Traders work beneath a monitor displaying Halliburton Co. signage on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, May 2, 2016. CNBC's Jim Cramer says don't turn bearish on Halliburton (HAL) yet — even as the oilfield services name tumbles on a slight revenue miss for its third-quarter earnings report. Halliburton, which reported quarterly results before Tuesday's opening bell, beat profit expectations but missed on revenue amid weakness in North America. "Let Halliburton [stock] come down, but this company's going to do just fine if oil stays at these prices," Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street." He cited Halliburton's track record of conserving capital and sees more demand for the company's services due to oil market dynamics.

Persons: CNBC's Jim Cramer, Jim Cramer's, Cramer, WTI Organizations: Halliburton, New York Stock Exchange, HAL, Texas, CNBC Investing Club, The, Coterra Energy Locations: New York, U.S, North America

Without directly referencing the devastation of the Israel-Hamas war, the first lady announced Tuesday that "we’ve made a few adjustments to the entertainment portion” of the dinner. Albanese is the fourth world leader to be honored with a state visit during Biden's term, after the leaders of France, South Korea and India. Hundreds of lawmakers, business titans and celebrities are typically invited to state dinners, but the White House keeps the guest list secret until just before people start arriving for the black-tie affair. The dinner program, including an exchange of toasts, will unfold in a temporary pavilion being built on the White House lawn. The White House said postponing was not an option, casting Albanese's visit as part of the important diplomatic balancing act that a president must undertake with U.S. allies worldwide.

Persons: Jill Biden, we’ve, Anthony Albanese, Katie Button, Joe Biden, Albanese, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, John Kirby, ” Albanese, Jodie Haydon Organizations: WASHINGTON, White House, Army and Air Force, Australian, House, Washington, Republican, White, Press, Biden, National Security Council Locations: Israel, Asheville , North Carolina, Australia, France, South Korea, India, Washington, United States

SummaryCompanies Markets await US PCE price index, Q3 GDP data this weekPalladium up 3%Oct 23 (Reuters) - Safe-haven gold eased on Monday, hitting pause after jumping to within striking distance of the key $2,000 level in the last session, as traders positioned for further developments on the Middle East conflict and U.S. economic data. Spot gold fell 0.3% to $1,976.19 per ounce by 1:41 p.m. Reuters Graphics"Safe-haven demand will continue to drive gold higher after a slight period of consolidation. Focus is also on the U.S. PCE price index on Friday— the Federal Reserve's favoured inflation gauge — and U.S. GDP figures for the third quarter on Thursday. Silver slipped 1.3% to $23.05 per ounce, platinum rose 0.3% to $897.58 and palladium gained 3% to $1,131.03.

Persons: David Meger, Bullion, Craig Erlam, Meger, Silver, BEV, Ashitha Shivaprasad, Sherin Elizabeth Varghese, Andrea Ricci, Aurora Ellis, Shailesh Organizations: Reuters, High, U.S, Thomson Locations: U.S, Israel, Bengaluru

Israel is widely expected to launch a ground offensive in Gaza following Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israeli communities. At least 222 people were captured and dragged back to Gaza, including foreigners, the military said Monday, updating a previous figure. The Israeli military released footage showing what it said were attacks on Hamas infrastructure. The Israeli military said a soldier was killed and three others were wounded by an anti-tank missile during a raid inside Gaza. Israel repeated its calls for people to leave northern Gaza, including by dropping leaflets from the air.

Persons: Israel ramped, Israel, —, Abu Youssef Al, Talaat Barghout, Netanyahu, Joe Biden “, Antony Blinken, Israel “, ” Israel, ___ Magdy, Wafaa Shurafa, Amy Teibel, Brian Melley Organizations: Hamas, West Bank, U.S, Qatar . Tanks, Ministry, Crescent, Associated Press, Najjar, World Health Organization Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, United States, Israel, Egypt, Gaza City, Iranian, U.S, Lebanon, Syria, Washington, American, Qatar, Rafah, U.N, Jerusalem, Cairo, Krauss, Deir al, London, israel

☆ Listen now: Tehran's tightrope and new war fronts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Follow on Apple, Google or Spotify. Listen on the Reuters app. The bombardment of Gaza intensifies as Israel strikes southern Lebanon and clashes with Palestinians in the West Bank. Reuters reveals the quandary for Iran's cleric about entering the war. Aid convoys arrive in Gaza, but it's just a fraction of what's needed, according to the UN.

Persons: Argentina's Organizations: Apple, Google, Reuters, West Bank, Aid, UN, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Lebanon

☆ Developing World Sees Double Standard in West’s Actions in Gaza and Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Neil Macfarquhar | More About Neil Macfarquhar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

For 20 months, the Biden administration has attempted to stake out the moral high ground against Russia, condemning its brutal war on Ukraine for indiscriminately killing civilians. Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, President Biden tied American support for Ukraine and Israel together, describing both nations as democracies fighting enemies determined to “completely annihilate” them. Such accusations are not exactly new in the Middle East conflict. But the dynamics of the dual crises have gone beyond Washington’s desire to rally global support to isolate and punish Russia for invading its neighbor. “That will make international cooperation on Ukraine, like sanctions enforcement on Russia, even harder.”

Persons: Biden, Israel bombards, ”, Clifford Kupchan Organizations: America, West, Eurasia Group Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Africa, Asia, China, Brazil, Indonesia, New York

Palestinian media reported at least 11 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, and that Israel was striking the southern city of Rafah. We will continue to attack in the area of Gaza City and increase attacks," Hagari told Israeli reporters on Saturday. Israel started its "total siege" of Gaza after an Oct. 7 cross-border attack on southern Israel by militants of the Islamist movement Hamas killed 1,400 people, mainly civilians, in a shock rampage that has traumatised Israel. [1/5]An Israeli soldier secures an area, following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Kissufim in southern Israel October 21, 2023. At least 84 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces since the Hamas rampage, Palestinian officials say.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Biden, Israel, Khan Younis, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Joe, Washington, Amir Cohen, Rights Biden, General Herzi Halevi, Antony Blinken, Najib Mikati, Nidal al, Michelle Nichols, Phil Stewart, Lincoln, Daniel Wallis, William Mallard Organizations: US, Defense, Al, Gaza's Health, Area Defense, Drones, FIRST, Gaza, United Nations, Palestinian, REUTERS, Rights, United, Security, Canada's National Department of Defence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Health Ministry, State Department, West Bank, Thomson Locations: U.S, Iran, Canada, Ahli, Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Washington, Khan, Rafah, Gaza City, Iraq, East, Israeli, Kibbutz Kissufim, United States, France, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, Jenin, New York, Jerusalem

☆ Gulf bourses drop amid hawkish Fed tone, Mideast conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 22 (Reuters) - Stock markets in the Gulf fell on Sunday amid warnings of possible further interest rate hikes from the U.S Federal Reserve, and worries of escalation in the Middle East conflict. Monetary policy in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is usually guided by Fed policy decisions because most regional currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) was down for a third consecutive session, ending 1.5% lower, with all sectors in the red. Elm Company (7203.SE) dropped 2.3%, while Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE), the world's largest Islamic bank by assets, slipped 2.1%. The Qatari index (.QSI) fell for a fifth straight session, ending 0.9% lower, with Industries Qatar (IQCD.QA) dropping 2.2% and Qatar Navigation (QNNC.QA) sliding 3%.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hamad I Mohammed, Jerome Powell, Talaat Mostafa, Md Manzer Hussain, David Holmes Organizations: Bahrain Bourse, U.S, REUTERS, Stock, U.S Federal Reserve, Gulf Cooperation Council, U.S ., Elm Company, Al Rajhi Bank, Industries Qatar, Qatar Navigation, Qatar National Bank, Eastern Co, Gaza, Thomson Locations: Bahrain, Manama, Saudi, Israel, Lebanon, Syria

☆ 3 things to watch in the stock market next week as bond yields hover at 2007 highs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Matthew J. Belvedere | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

The usual suspects were to blame — rising bond yields, geopolitical tensions, and oil prices — and will hold the keys to the market this coming week. Earnings are one of the three major themes on the marquee next week, with 10 Club companies reporting. Here are the companies: Danaher (DHR), Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta Platforms (META), Veralto (VLTO), Honeywell (HON), Linde (LIN), Amazon (AMZN), Ford (F) and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK). As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

Persons: —, Jerome Powell, Jim Cramer, Jim, Morgan Stanley, Stanley Black, Decker, Danaher, Veralto, it's, Mark Zuckerberg, We're, Vimal Kapur, Linde, Jim Farley, Ford, FactSet, Powell, WTI, Baker Hughes, Edwards Lifesciences, Northrop, CARR, Davidson, Dr Pepper, Phillips, Jim Cramer's, Michael M Organizations: Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Economic, of New, Treasury, West Texas, Procter, Gamble, 10, Microsoft, Honeywell, Linde, LIN, Health Care, Technology, Communications Services, Google, Meta, Ford, Amazon, United Auto Workers, Atlanta, Wall Street, Hamas, Brent, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Logitech, Verizon, General Electric, GE, RTX Corporation, Halliburton, HAL, General Motors, Dow Chemical, DOW, Xerox, Texas Instruments, F5 Networks, WM, Boeing, Fisher, Mobile, Hilton, General Dynamics, Norfolk Southern, Otis Worldwide, IBM, KLA, O'Reilly Automotive, Mattel, Whirlpool, Gross, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Hershey Company, United Parcel Service, Southwest Airlines, Altria, Northrop Grumman, Valero Energy Corp, Mastercard, Merck, Co, Myers Squibb, Newmont, Tractor Supply Company, Comcast, Seagate Technology, Boston, Hertz, Carrier, Hasbro, Harley, Intel, Grill, United States Steel, Boston Beer Company, Texas, University of Michigan, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Charter Communications, Colgate, Palmolive, Newell Brands, Sanofi, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Traders, New York Stock Exchange, Santiago, Getty Locations: of New York, U.S, Industrials, OpenAI, America, Venezuela, Cleveland, Norfolk, ORLY, Bristol, Brunswick, Oshkosh, New York City

“The border has never been a money issue,” said Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas. It also suggests $1.4 billion to add 375 immigration judges and their teams in addition to money for 1,300 new border patrol agents. “But it’s got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border,” he said. “No more money should be spent simply to facilitate current border policy.”It's unclear if compromise is possible on the issue. The border is not about money; there’s some money that needs to be spent on certain things, but it is way more about policy.

Persons: Joe Biden, It's, ”, Dan Crenshaw, Biden, “, Colleen Putzel, there's, Eric Adams, Alex Gough, J.B . Pritzker, Maura Healey, Kevin McCarthy, Sen, Kevin Cramer, he’d, it’s, Texas Republican Sen, John Cornyn, Chris Murphy, ” Murphy, ” Crenshaw, Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Claire Savage, Mike Casey, Patrick Whittle, Lisa Rathke, Holly Ramer Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, White, Democratic, Homeland Security, Migration Policy Institute, Central America, New York, ”, O’Hare, Illinois Gov, GOP, Texas Republican, Connecticut Democrat, Department of Homeland Security, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Mexico, Israel, Texas, U.S, South, Central, York City, New, implore, New York City, Chicago, ” Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, Boston, Portland , Maine, Montpelier , Vt, Concord, N.H

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water in the territory that is under an Israeli siege. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid, which had been positioned near the crossing for days, began heading into Gaza. Many in Gaza, reduced to eating one meal a day and without enough water to drink, are waiting desperately for the aid. Hundreds of foreign passport holders also waited to cross from Gaza to Egypt to escape the conflict. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the tiny territory, home to some 2.3 million Palestinians.

Persons: Israel, Judith Raanan, Natalie, Ben, Joe Biden, “, Israel —, Yoav Gallant, ”, ” Gallant, Gallant, Mohammed Abu Selmia, ___ Magdy, Bassem Mroue Organizations: Hamas, U.S, International Committee, Associated Press, Health Ministry, Israel, Shifa, Palestine Red Crescent Society Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, Egypt, Israel, American, Qatar, Persian, Chicago, Nahal Oz, Rafah, Gaza’s, Palestine, Quds, Cairo, Krauss, Jerusalem, Beirut

☆ Wall St ends sharply lower, posts weekly losses; Mideast fears increase
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

All of the S&P 500 index's 11 sectors ended lower in broad-based selling, with technology (.SPLRCT) and financials (.SPYS) among the biggest drags. The S&P 500 financial index (.SPSY) was down 1.6% while the KBW regional banking index (.KRX) fell 3.5%. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFor the week, the Dow was down 1.6%, the S&P 500 fell 2.4% and the Nasdaq slid 3.2%. The third-quarter U.S. earnings season is well under way, with 86 companies in the S&P 500 having reported. The S&P 500 posted no new 52-week highs and 38 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded nine new highs and 420 new lows.

Persons: Alan Lancz, Alan B, Lancz, Jerome Powell, Brendan McDermid, Dow, advancers, Caroline Valetkavitch, Shubham Batra, Shashwat Chauhan, Arun Koyyur, Vinay Dwivedi, Richard Chang Organizations: Treasury, Dow, Nasdaq, Lancz, Associates Inc, Regions, Federal, Dow Jones, Wall, REUTERS, American Express, NYSE, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Toledo , Ohio, U.S, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Wall St ends sharply lower with tech, financials; Mideast fears increase
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A street sign for Wall Street is seen in the financial district in New York, U.S., November 8, 2021. All of the S&P 500 index's 11 sectors fell in broad-based selling. The KBW regional banking index (.KRX) was down sharply, while shares of Regions Financial (RF.N) slid to their lowest since March 2020. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield fell on Friday, a day after crossing 5% for the first time since July 2007 in the wake of comments by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The third-quarter U.S. earnings season is well under way, with 86 companies in the S&P 500 having reported.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Alan Lancz, Alan B, Jerome Powell, Lancz, Caroline Valetkavitch, Shubham Batra, Shashwat Chauhan, Arun Koyyur, Vinay Dwivedi, Richard Chang Organizations: Wall, REUTERS, Treasury, Major U.S, Regions, Lancz, Associates Inc, Federal, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Major, Israel, Toledo , Ohio, Gaza, Bengaluru

Michel suggested no deal was imminent when he told reporters the two sides needed to find "mutually beneficial" solutions. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai met with European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis on Thursday, a third source told Reuters. Michel told reporters it was a critical time for the United States and the EU to "stick together" on their shared values and commitment to democracy given the Israel-Hamas conflict. It is still to be seen if this will end the U.S. tariffs threat or just see an extended suspension. Given the EU needs such materials itself for its green transition, the positive impact for the bloc may be limited.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Joe Biden, Charles Michel, Michel, von der Leyen, Katherine Tai, Valdis Dombrovskis, Donald Trump, Bernd Lange, Philip Blenkinsop, Alexandra Hudson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: WASHINGTON, European Union, Trump, Commission, U.S, European, . Trade, EU, Washington, World Trade Organization, United, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, United States, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Europe, North America, China, Brussels, U.S, Washington, Friday's

On Oct. 7, Hamas gunmen stormed into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing at least 1,400 people. In response, Israel has retaliated with air strikes, putting the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people under siege. President Joe Biden said he would seek extra funding, estimated to be in the billions, to help Israel fight Hamas. QATARIn Qatar, Zhai said China was ready to maintain communication and coordination with Russia in an effort to calm the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Reporting by Liz Lee and Ryan Woo; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Stephen Coates and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Zhai Jun, Mikhail Bogdanov, Zhai, Bogdanov, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Israel, U.N, Antony Blinken, Washington, Blinken, Liz Lee, Ryan Woo, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Mideast, Moscow, Gaza, Security, United, Global Times, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Rights BEIJING, Israel, Qatar, Middle, Moscow, China, Russia, Doha, Beijing, Palestinian, United States, Iran, Brazil, Washington, Russian, U.S, QATAR, Lincoln

☆ Oil climbs on Mideast contagion fears from Israel-Gaza conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices extended gains on Friday, rising about 1% on fears that the Israel-Gaza conflict may spread in the Middle East and disrupt supplies from one of the world's top-producing regions. Brent crude futures climbed 77 cents, or 0.8%, to $93.15 a barrel by 0042 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $90.36 a barrel, up 99 cents, or 1.1%. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops gathered at the Gaza border on Thursday that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave "from inside," suggesting an expected ground invasion could be nearing. Venezuelan state-run oil company PDVSA has begun contacting customers with crude supply contracts, two people familiar to the matter said on Thursday, moving to resume cash sales to global refiners.

Persons: CLc2, Tony Sycamore, Yoav Gallant, Sycamore, PDVSA Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Israel Defence Forces, Israeli, U.S, Pentagon, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, U.S . Department of Energy, Reuters Locations: Israel, Gaza, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Washington, Venezuela, OPEC, Venezuelan

Worries are growing about how much the turmoil could cost the global economy. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, hit a three-week high this on Fridayfears that a military escalation could disrupt already tight supplies. In a speech largely focused on inflation, interest rates and economic growth, Jay Powell, the central bank’s chair, warned on Thursday that “geopolitical tensions are highly elevated and pose important risks to global economic activity.”The Middle East is becoming a wild card for the global economy. That would probably sap growth but might also slow the economy enough to negate the need for an additional interest-rate increase. The measures were announced days after the U.S. imposed tighter restrictions on sales of more advanced semiconductors to China.

Persons: Biden, —, Brent, Jay Powell, Powell, ” Powell, Kamala Harris, Jay Monahan, David Zaslav, Jim Jordan, Patrick McHenry, Jordan, there’s, Fran Drescher, George Clooney, ” Drescher, Sidney Powell, Donald Trump’s Organizations: Gaza, Israel, U.S . Navy, Intel, Siemens, European Commission, Digital Services, PGA, Warner Bros, Hollywood, SAG, Trump Locations: Mideast, Israel, Ukraine, Lebanon, U.S, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lisbon, Ohio, Trump . China, Beijing, China

☆ Israel-Hamas War Live News Updates: Biden Says American Leadership Holds the World Together
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden said in a broadcast speech that "American leadership is what holds the world together." The Israeli military continued its airstrike campaign on Gaza and said it was preparing for the next phases of the war. Biden speech: President Biden said in his Oval Office address that supporting the security of Ukraine and Israel was critical to buttressing the U.S.-led global order, characterizing the current moment as an "inflection point in history." Hostages: Israel's military said 203 people were taken hostage by Hamas, an increase on its previous number. Attacks on U.S. forces: A Pentagon spokesman said U.S. forces in the Middle East came under attack several times this week.

Persons: Biden, Yoav Gallant Organizations: Israeli, House Republicans, U.S, Hamas, Pentagon Locations: Gaza, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Yemen, Palestinian

☆ SLB profit beats on strength in global drilling activity
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Courtesy of SLB/Handout via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Schlumberger NV FollowOct 20 (Reuters) - SLB (SLB.N) edged past estimates for quarterly profit on Friday as strength in the overseas drilling market to meet the insatiable global appetite for oil drove demand for its oilfield equipment, offsetting weakness in North America. Oilfield services firms have been kept busy as oil and gas companies reinvest their windfall profit, reaped when Russia invaded Ukraine, to secure more offshore and international sources. International revenue rose 12% to $6.6 billion in the third quarter, compared with a year earlier. North America revenue climbed 6%, but declined sequentially due to reduced drilling activity in the onshore U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. Reporting by Arunima Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Olivier Le Peuch, Arunima Kumar, Anil D'Silva Organizations: REUTERS, Schlumberger, Thomson Locations: Houston , Texas, Handout, North America, Russia, Ukraine, America, Gulf of Mexico, MidEast, Asia, Bengaluru

☆ Demand destruction will outweigh a wider Mideast conflict in oil markets, JPMorgan says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Even if the fighting spreads beyond Israel and the Palestinian territories, it is unlikely to result in a prolonged oil price spike" they predicted. "There are tangible signs that high oil prices amplified by surging borrowing costs and depreciating EM currencies began to erode fuel consumption." In addition, oil prices rarely experienced long-term turmoil during most of Israel's past conflicts, JPMorgan said. "Eventually, oil prices tended to gradually stabilize and decline, resulting in Brent actually trading at a discount to its fundamentally-derived fair value. Only the 1973 Yom Kippur war saw longer lasting impacts, given that it led to a Saudi oil embargo against the US.

Persons: —, Brent, JPMorgan doesn't, haven't Organizations: JPMorgan, Service, UAE haven't Locations: Israel, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, 4Q23, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Saudi, Northern Iraq

☆ Protests across Mideast as US’ Arab allies warn against pushing Palestinians out
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Protests erupted around the Arab world on Friday as the Gaza war raged and an Israeli ground operation with the potential to displace millions of Palestinians loomed. In a sign of the growing anger over the Israeli operation in Gaza, Egypt sanctioned its first major nationwide protest in a decade. Amman and Cairo have sounded alarms over what they perceive as a plan to transfer Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to Egypt and Jordan. The West Bank, however, remains occupied and the previous right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would advance plans to extend its jurisdiction to the West Bank. The Palestinians want to establish an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza.

Persons: Annie Sakkab, Antony Blinken, Azhar, Omar Zoheiry, Amal, Young, Joe Biden, ”, Israel, Abdel Fattah el, Ayman Mohsab, Sisi, ” Sisi, Ayman Safadi, Al Jazeera, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Jordan, Olaf Scholz Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Bloomberg, Getty, Louk, AP, United, Reuters, Israel, Arab Affairs Committee, Al, Israeli, National Unity Party, Palestinian Authority, Cairo Peace, United Arab, United Nations Locations: Gaza, Israeli, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Israel, Amman , Jordan, Rafah, Cairo’s, Cairo, Bab el, Tahrir, al, Old Cairo, Beirut, Lebanese, Iran, Iraq’s, Baghdad, United States, Amman, ‘, Jordanian, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Italy, Greece

☆ Biden’s Response to Israeli War Meets Centrist Praise and Liberal Anger
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Reid J. Epstein | More About Reid J. Epstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

He pleaded with the Israelis not to overreact, as he said the United States did after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Mr. Biden’s speech comes as his political coalition has begun to fray over the Israeli conflict. “I am grateful to have @POTUS thoughtful leadership in this moment,” Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri wrote on social media. “Joe Biden flew into a war zone to stand with Israel,” Mr. Auchincloss said late Wednesday. “Trump wouldn’t even visit a cemetery of American war dead.” (Mr. Trump, in 2018, canceled a planned trip to a French cemetery, and his aides cited the rainy weather.)

Persons: Biden, Israel —, “, Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri, Steny Hoyer, Biden “, Richard Haass, Jake Auchincloss, Donald J, Trump, “ Joe Biden, ” Mr, Auchincloss, “ Trump, ”, Cori Bush, André Carson, Pope Francis, Rashida Tlaib, Jerry Nadler, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ilhan Omar, Omar, Dilawar Syed, Wadea, ’, Josh Paul, Biden administration’s Organizations: Democratic, Progressives, Democrats, Maryland, Foreign Relations, Biden, Liberal Democrats, Gaza, Capitol, Florida, Small Business Administration, Department Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Tel Aviv, United States, Gaza, America, Massachusetts, Missouri, André Carson of Indiana, Michigan, York, Minnesota, Chicago

The vote follows the council’s rejection Monday evening of a Russian-drafted resolution that condemned violence and terrorism against civilians and called for a “humanitarian cease-fire” but made no mention of Hamas. One calls for a “humanitarian cease-fire.” The other would condemn indiscriminate attacks on civilians and assaults on “civilian objects” in Gaza like hospitals and schools that deprive people of the means to survive. To be adopted, a resolution needs at least nine of the 15 council members to vote “yes” and no veto by a permanent member. The council vote was taking place amid frantic diplomatic efforts to prevent the Israeli-Hamas conflict from spreading. The five permanent Security Council nations are also invited, he said.

Persons: “, ”, Rosemary DiCarlo, Tor Wennesland, Islamic Jihad, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, King Abdullah II of Jordan, U.N, Osama Mahmoud, Antonio Guterres, Mahmoud Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, . Security, Hamas, United Arab, Islamic, Arab, United Nations, Security Council Locations: Israel, Gaza, Brazil, Russian, Russia, United Arab Emirates, China, U.N, Palestinian, Ukraine, United States, Britain, France, U.S, Cairo

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