Latest News
-
TotalEnergies Secures Four Exploration Permits Offshore Liberia
TotalEnergies has signed four Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for exploration blocks offshore Liberia, which were awarded following the 2024 Direct Negotiation Licensing Round organized by the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Agency.The agreements were signed for the blocks LB-6, LB-11, LB-17 and LB-29, covering an area of approximately 12,700 square kilometers.The blocks are located in the south of the Liberia Basin. The work program includes acquiring one firm 3D seismic survey.“TotalEnergies is enthusiastic to be part of the resumption of exploration activities in offshore Liberia. Entering these blocks aligns with our strategy of diversifying our Exploration portfolio in high-potential new oil-prone basins.“These areas hold significant potential for prospects that have the potential for large-scale discoveries that lead to cost-effective, low-emission developments, leveraging the company’s proven expertise in deepwater operations,” said Kevin McLachlan, Senior Vice-President Exploration at TotalEnergies.
-
Australia's 2035 emission reduction target is lower than expected at 62%-72%
Australia set a target for 2035 to reduce emissions by 62%-70% compared to 2005, which is lower than the figure initially suggested by Australia's climate authority. The United Nations has requested that countries It is important that all countries submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) before the end September to allow their efforts to be evaluated before the COP30 Summit in Brazil in November. Australia's resources industry is largely responsible for its high pollution levels per capita. The target is below the range of 65-75% suggested initially by the Climate Change Authority (an independent body that advises government policy on climate change) and modelled by Treasury. "The target should be both ambitious and realistic." "A target above 70% is not feasible, this advice is clear. We have chosen the highest level of ambition possible," Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said at a Thursday news conference. The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced A$5 Billion ($3.32 Billion) in funding for industrial facilities to decarbonise as well as A$2 Billion for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation of Australia to continue to push down electricity prices. Albanese stated in a press release that "we are not the largest polluter nor the biggest economy, but our commitment to climate change action matters." It matters to us, to our neighbors, to our economy and to the country we leave to our children. The United Kingdom announced that it would be the most ambitious country in terms of climate targets, with a reduction of 78% compared to 2005. (1 Australian dollar = $1) (Reporting and editing by Kim Coghill, Christian Schmollinger, and Alasdair Pala in Sydney)
-
As traders evaluate Fed outlook after rate cut, stocks rumble
The global stock markets were choppy Thursday, after the Federal Reserve announced its first rate reduction this year. However, the Fed signaled a measured approach for further monetary policy ease. This left investors uncertain about the pace of future movements. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan fell 0.1%, as the benchmark was impacted by declines in New Zealand and Australia markets. Chinese stocks fluctuated between gains and losses. However, there were signs of strength on some markets. U.S. stock futures rose 0.4% following a mixed session overnight on Wall Street, while South Korean shares soared by 0.8%, and Taiwanese stocks climbed 0.4%. Japan's Nikkei 225 tacked on 1%. The global stock market fell on Wednesday, after reaching a record-high in response to the Fed's quarter point rate cut. It also indicated that it would continue to lower borrowing costs throughout the remainder of this year. In his post-meeting remarks, Fed chair Jerome Powell temperated the more aggressive expectations of easing in the markets. He said that Wednesday's action was a risk management cut, and the central banks did not have to act quickly on rates. ANZ analysts wrote in a report that the decision made and the tone of the press briefing were both balanced and restrained. They weren't at all dovish. Investors were sceptical about Powell's projections of higher inflation and stronger U.S. growth. These doubts fueled overnight trading in the U.S., as the S&P 500 closed down and the Nasdaq Composite fell. Only Stephen Miran, the new Fed Governor who joined on Tuesday, voted against a 50-basis-point cut. The currency markets are also indecisive. After the rate announcement, the U.S. Dollar fell to its lowest level since February 2022 against a basket major counterparts at 96.224. However, it rose 0.1% on Thursday to reach 97.089. The euro was stable at $1.181, after an immediate reaction to the Fed's announcement caused it to rise to its highest level since June 2021. The Chinese Yuan was unchanged at 7,103 on Thursday after China's central banks left the borrowing costs of its reverse repurchase agreements for seven-day periods unchanged, refusing to follow the Fed. The pound fell 0.1% to $1.3621 after briefly reaching its highest level since July 2, at $1.3726, on Wednesday. It is expected that the Bank of England's policy decision will be announced later on Thursday. Rates are likely to remain at 4%. According to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, traders are pricing in an 87.7% probability of another 25-bp reduction at the Fed’s next meeting in November, compared with a 74.3% likelihood a day before. Shane Oliver is the chief economist at AMP and head of investment strategies in Sydney. He said that while "the Fed continues to signal more rate cuts", it still expects a good growth. This is a combination which is positive for share markets. He added, "I think the gains are going to be limited as the markets already rallied in anticipation of a Fed rate cut and they're due for a pause or a near-term corrective." Bank of Canada reduced its key rate on Wednesday by 25 basis points to a low of 2,5%, a level not seen in three years. This was the first time in six months that the Bank had cut the rate. The Bank said it would cut the rate again if the risks to the economy increased over the next few months. GROWTH CONCERNS S&P/NZX50 dropped by 0.9% in New Zealand after data revealed a worse than expected economic contraction for the second quarter. The kiwi currency fell 0.7% against greenback. The Australian market did not fare much better. It fell 0.6%, led by a drop of up to 13.6% in the shares of gas producer Santos after a consortium headed by Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC canceled its $18.7-billion bid for the firm, claiming that commercial terms couldn’t be agreed. After the release of softer-than-expected August labour market data, the Australian dollar fell 0.2%. Full-time employment dropped unexpectedly after a sharp increase the previous month. The unemployment rate remained at 4.2%. Kerry Craig, global strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Melbourne, says that the data could cause a weakness in the Australian Dollar, which recently gained strength due to hawkish remarks from the Reserve Bank of Australia. He said that the bank was still expecting a rate reduction in November. After a slight pullback on Tuesday, bond markets rallied. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 4.0718% from its U.S. closing of 4.076%. The yield on the two-year Treasury note, which increases with traders' expectation of higher Fed Funds rates, increased a bit to 3.5385%. Gold prices rose 0.1%, to $3662.33 an ounce. This is a recovery from the dip that occurred after Wednesday's record high. Brent crude oil prices fell by 0.5% to $67.62 a barrel.
-
Shanghai copper falls to a new low after Fed rate cut
Shanghai copper futures fell for the third consecutive session on Thursday after a 25 basis-point rate cut from the U.S. Federal Reserve, and a higher supply of the top consumer China. In line with expectations, the U.S. Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday by a quarter-point. At its October and December meetings, the Fed indicated that it would also make further cuts. The traders closed long positions in order to take profits from bets on the rate drop. This wave of profit taking continued even after the rate decrease, which weighed on the prices of red metals used in construction and power. As of 0238 GMT, the most traded copper contract on Shanghai Futures Exchange fell below the psychologically important level of 80,000 Yuan ($11252.23) for a metric ton. The price was down by 1.05%, to 79.870 yuan per ton. Earlier in the session, the contract reached its lowest level since September 10, at 79.690 yuan. The benchmark three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange fell 0.25% to $9,971.5 per tonne after hitting its lowest level in a week at $9925 on Wednesday. ANZ analysts also said that the higher metals production in China weighed on the sentiment in a recent note. China's refined output of copper in August increased 15% on an annual basis, reaching a near-record high level. SHFE aluminium fell by 1.05%. Nickel dropped by 0.29%. Tin declined 1.04%. Zinc shed 1.1%. Lead added 0.26%. Aluminium, nickel, lead, tin, and zinc all fell in the LME.
-
Powell's comments and Fed meeting have led to a strengthening of the dollar, lowering gold.
Gold prices continued to decline on Thursday, while the dollar strengthened after the U.S. Federal Reserve, as anticipated, cut interest rates a quarter percentage point and used a measured tone on future policy easing. As of 0156 GMT spot gold fell 0.2%, to $3,654.29 an ounce. It had hit a record-high of $3,707.40 per ounce on Wednesday. U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery fell 0.8% to $3.690. Edward Meir, Marex analyst, said that the Fed's general message was a little hawkish on interest rates. They didn't endorse lower rates with enthusiasm. "As a consequence, we saw the Dollar firm up after Fed meeting and Treasury rates also moved upwards... I believe that in the short-term, we may be a little overbought and could possibly retrace further to the $3600 mark. Gold is now more expensive for holders of other currencies due to the dollar's 0.2% rise. The Fed cut rates by 25 basis point on Wednesday, and said it would continue to lower borrowing costs throughout the remainder of this year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell described the policy as a risk management cut in response the weakening of the labour market. The central bank is currently in a situation where it has to "meet by meeting" in order to determine the future interest rate outlook. The SPDR Gold Trust is the largest gold-backed ETF in the world. Its holdings dropped 0.44% on Wednesday to 975.66 tons from 979.95 on Tuesday. The gold price has risen by 39% this year after a 27% increase in 2024. This is due to expectations of monetary policy ease by the Fed and lingering geopolitical conflicts, as well as strong central bank purchases. The price of palladium remained unchanged at $1,153.87. Platinum rose 0.4% to 1,366.75 per ounce and silver fell 0.3% to $41.53 an ounce. (Reporting and editing by Rashmi aich in Bengaluru, Brijesh patel from Bengaluru)
-
Investors assess Fed's outlook after rate cut and are cautious about stocks, the dollar
The global stock markets rose on Thursday, after the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates. However, investors were cautious after the world's largest central bank indicated a measured approach towards further monetary policy ease. U.S. equity contracts advanced by 0.3% after an uneven session overnight on Wall Street. Shares in Korea and Taiwan, which opened around 0.7% higher, led the gains in Asia. Japan's Nikkei 225 tacked on 0.3%. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan edged down 0.1% as the declines in Australian markets and New Zealand weighed on this benchmark. The global stock market fell on Wednesday, after reaching a record-high in response to the Fed's quarter-point rate cut. It also indicated that it would continue to lower borrowing costs throughout the remainder of the year. In his post-meeting remarks, Fed Chair Jerome Powell temperated the more aggressive expectations of easing in the markets. He said that Wednesday's action was a risk management cut, and the central bank did not have to act quickly on rates. ANZ analysts wrote in a report that the decision made and the tone of the press briefing were both balanced and restrained. They weren't at all dovish. Investors were sceptical about Powell's projections of higher inflation and stronger U.S. growth. These doubts fueled the U.S. trade overnight. The S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite closed down. Only Stephen Miran, the new Fed Governor who joined on Tuesday, was against a 50-bp increase. The currency markets are also indecisive. After the rate announcement, the U.S. Dollar Index fell to its lowest level since February 2022. It was 96.224. However, it recovered to 97.074 to end the day higher. After a knee-jerk response to the Fed's announcement, the euro remained at $1.1821. It had previously reached its highest level since June 2021 of $1.19185. Sterling is flat at $1.3626 after briefly reaching its highest level since July 2, at $1.3726, on Wednesday. It is expected that the Bank of England will announce its own policy later on Thursday and keep rates at 4%. According to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, traders are pricing in an 87.7% probability of another 25 bp cut during the Fed's October meeting, up from a 74.3% likelihood a day before. Shane Oliver is the chief economist at AMP and head of investment strategies in Sydney. He said that while "the Fed continues to signal more rate cuts", it still expects a good growth. This is a combination which is positive for share markets. He added, "I think the gains are going to be limited as the markets already rallied in anticipation of Fed rate cuts and therefore they're due for a pause or a near-term corrective." Bank of Canada reduced its key rate on Wednesday by 25 basis points to a low of 2,5%, a level not seen in three years. This was the first time in six months that the Bank had cut the rate. The Bank said it would cut the rate again if the risks to the economy grew in the coming months. S&P/NZX50 dropped 0.6% in New Zealand after data revealed a worse than expected economic contraction for the second quarter. The kiwi currency fell 0.6% against the dollar. The Australian market did not fare much better. It fell 0.8%, led by a drop of up to 13.6% in the shares of gas producer Santos after a consortium headed by Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC canceled its $18,7 billion bid, claiming that commercial terms couldn't be agreed. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 4.0872% on the bond market from its U.S. closing of 4.076% Wednesday. The yield on the two-year bond, which increases with traders' expectation of higher Fed fund rates, increased a bit to 3.5552%. Gold prices increased 0.3%, to $3670.19 an ounce. This is a recovery from the dip that occurred after Wednesday's record high. Brent crude oil prices remained steady at $67.95 a barrel.
-
Oil prices barely changed after Fed rate reduction
The oil prices were not much changed Thursday, after the U.S. Central Bank lowered its main interest rate. This was widely expected. However, an indication that more rate reductions will be made before the end of the year raised the possibility of a surge in demand due to falling borrowing costs. Brent crude futures fell 8 cents or 0.12% to $67.87 per barrel at 0042 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Futures were down by 10 cents or 0.16% at $63.95. Federal Reserve policymakers responded in part to the signs of weakness on the job market by cutting their policy rate by one quarter of a percent point. They also said they would continue to lower borrowing costs throughout the rest of this year. Low borrowing costs usually boost oil demand. Claudio Galimberti is the chief economist at Rystad and the global director of the market analysis. He said that the Fed's decision to continue cutting rates indicates the Fed believes the risk of inflation to the economy is higher than the risk of unemployment. "For Brent, in particular,... the cuts and the two expected to be made by the end of the calendar year will be a positive factor that will counter the negative OPEC+ strategy of unwinding," he added, referring the increased oil supply coming from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies. The Energy Information Administration reported that the U.S. crude stockpiles declined sharply on the demand side last week, as net imports plunged to a new record low, while exports rose to a nearly two-year high. The world's largest oil consumer was concerned about the demand for distillate, and prices were pushed up by a 4 million barrel increase in stockpiles, as opposed to 1 million barrels expected by the market. JP Morgan stated in a note to clients that the global average oil demand was 104.4 million barrels of crude per day through September 17. This represents an increase from last year of 0.520 million barrels. The demand for oil has been up by 0.8 million barrels per day (mpd) so far this year, which is just a little bit less than the 0.83 mbd that was projected by JP Morgan. JP Morgan stated that "While flight volume in the U.S., China, and Latin America is easing, as summer travel season ends, activity continues to grow in Europe, Middle East and Latin America." (Reporting and editing by Christopher Cushing; Katya Golubkova)
-
Mariah Carey's floating concert brings star power to Amazon ahead of COP30
On Wednesday night, less than two months before Belem welcomes heads of state to the U.N. Climate Summit COP30 in the Brazilian city, pop star Mariah Carey performed with a cast local artists at a floating concert for the Amazon rainforest. The concert was part of the two-day "Amazon Live Today and Forever" event, organized by Rock World. The company that organizes the music festivals Rock in Rio and The Town. Carey, 56 years old, was able to captivate more than 70,000 Sao Paulo fans on Saturday when she appeared at The Town. Fans watched from another location as the singer performed on a stage that resembled an enormous waterlily floating on the Guama River for a half-hour on Wednesday. "We are here tonight to raise awareness about the protection of the rainforest." Let's start with something tropical," she said, before singing "Sugar Sweet", the first song of the evening. Carey made her sixth visit to Brazil after performing in Sao Paulo last year and Rio de Janeiro the previous year. The Amazon concert was broadcast on Brazilian TV, and it was preceded by a showcase of Amazon-born female performers. Belem, Brazil, will host COP30 in November. This event, the first U.N. Climate Summit to be held within the Amazon, will bring together business leaders, climate activists, and foreign leaders. (Reporting and writing by Wagner Santana, Fernando Cardoso, Jamie Freed).
Yahya Sinwar: The Hamas leader dedicated to eradicating Israel is dead
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar remained unrepentant about the Oct. 7 attacks in spite of letting loose an Israeli invasion that has actually killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, laid waste to his Gaza homeland and drizzled damage on ally Hezbollah, individuals in contact with him have stated.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that Sinwar, 62, designer of in 2015's Hamas's cross-border raids that ended up being the most dangerous day in Israel's history, was eliminated in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated: The. score has been settled and evil has been dealt a blow on their. most wanted opponent. Hamas sources said signs from Gaza. suggested that Sinwar had actually been killed in an Israeli operation.
Besides his sibling, Mohammed, a top Hamas leader, Sinwar. is believed to have been the last Hamas leader on a high-profile. Israeli hit list prepared after the Oct. 7 attack.
For Sinwar, armed battle stayed the only method to require. the production of a Palestinian nation, Palestinian authorities and. Arab sources stated, speaking in weeks causing the Oct. 7. anniversary.
The attacks eliminated 1,200 people, generally civilians, and. recorded 250 captives, according to Israeli tallies, in the. most dangerous day for Jews since the Holocaust.
Israel responded by introducing a huge offensive, killing. 42,400 people and displacing 1.9 million, according to. Palestinian health authorities and U.N. figures.
Now the conflict has infected Lebanon, with Israel heavily. breaking down Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, consisting of. eliminating most of its leadership. Hamas patron Tehran is at risk. of being pulled into open war with Israel.
Sinwar drew Iran and its entire Axis of Resistance -. consisting of Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis and Iraqi militias - into. dispute with Israel, said Hassan Hassan, an author and. researcher on Islamic groups.
We're seeing now the ripple effects of Oct. 7. Sinwar's. gamble didn't work, Hassan said, recommending that the Axis of. Resistance might never recover.
What Israel did to Hezbollah in two weeks is nearly equal. to an entire year of degrading Hamas in Gaza. With Hezbollah,. three layers of leadership have been gotten rid of, its armed force. command has actually been decimated, and its essential leader Hassan. Nasrallah has actually been assassinated, added Hassan.
Sinwar was picked as the Islamist motion's general leader. after his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh was eliminated in July by a. suspected Israeli strike during a visit to Tehran. Israel has. not confirmed its participation in the strike.
Two Israeli sources stated that, running from a network of. labyrinthine tunnels under Gaza, Sinwar had over the previous year. endured Israeli airstrikes, which have reportedly eliminated his. deputy Mohammed Deif and other senior leaders.
After Oct. 7, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said. Sinwar and other leaders were residing on obtained time.
Sinwar has actually operated in secrecy, moving continuously and using. trusted messengers for non-digital interaction, according to. three Hamas authorities and one regional official. He had not been. seen in public because Oct. 7, 2023.
Over months of stopped working ceasefire talks, led by Qatar and. Egypt, that focused on switching detainees for hostages, Sinwar. was the sole decision-maker, Hamas sources stated. Arbitrators. would wait for days for reactions filtered through a secretive. chain of messengers.
Sinwar's high tolerance for suffering, both for himself and. for the Palestinian people, in the name of a cause, appeared. when he helped work out the 2011 exchange of 1,027 detainees,. himself consisted of, for one kidnapped Israeli soldier.
The kidnapping by Hamas had caused an Israeli attack on the. seaside enclave and thousands of Palestinian deaths.
Half a lots people who know Sinwar informed Reuters his resolve. was formed by an impoverished childhood in Gaza's refugee camps. and a harsh 22 years in Israeli custody, consisting of a period in. Ashkelon, the town his moms and dads called home before fleeing after. the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
The question of hostages and prisoner swaps was deeply. individual for Sinwar, said all the sources. He had actually vowed to complimentary. all Palestinian detainees kept in Israel.
Sinwar ended up being a member of Hamas soon after its starting in. the 1980s, adopting the group's radical Islamist ideology, which. seeks to develop an Islamic state in historic Palestine and. opposes Israel's presence.
The ideology views Israel not only as a political competitor but. as an occupying force on Muslim land. Seen in this light,. challenges and suffering were often interpreted by him and his. followers as part of a bigger Islamic belief of sacrifice,. experts on Islamic motions say.
What lies behind his resolve is perseverance of ideology,. persistence of goal. He's ascetic and satisfied with little, said. one senior Hamas official who asked for anonymity.
FROM SACKCLOTH TO LEADER
Before the war, Sinwar would sometimes tell of his early. life in Gaza during years of Israeli occupation, as soon as saying. his mom made clothing from empty U.N. food-aid sacks,. according to Gaza resident Wissam Ibrahim, who has satisfied him.
In a semi-autobiographical unique composed in jail, Sinwar. explained scenes of troops bulldozing Palestinian homes, like. a beast crushing its prey's bones, before Israel withdrew. from Gaza in 2005.
A ruthless enforcer charged with penalizing Palestinians. presumed of informing for Israel, Sinwar then made his name as. a jail leader, emerging as a street hero from a 22-year. Israeli sentence for masterminding the kidnapping and murder of. 2 Israeli soldiers and 4 Palestinians.
He then quickly increased to the top of the Hamas ranks.
His understanding of the everyday hardships and ruthless. realities in Gaza was well-received by Gazans and made individuals. feel at ease, four journalists and three Hamas authorities stated,. despite his terrifying credibility and explosive anger.
Sinwar is concerned by Arab and Palestinian officials as the. architect of Hamas' technique and military power, reinforced. through his strong ties with Iran, which he visited in 2012.
Before managing the Oct. 7 raids Sinwar made no secret. of his desire to strike his opponent hard.
In a speech the year before, he swore to send a flood of. fighters and rockets to Israel, hinting at a war that would. either unite the world to establish a Palestinian state on land. Israel inhabited in 1967, or leave the Jewish nation separated on. the international stage.
By the time of the speech, Sinwar and Deif had currently. hatched secret strategies for the assault. They were even running. training drills in public that simulated such an attack.
His objectives have actually not been fulfilled. While the issue is once. once again at the top of the international agenda, the prospect of a. Palestinian nation is as far-off as ever.
' BY REQUIRE, NOT BY NEGOTIATIONS'
Sinwar was jailed in 1988 and sentenced to 4 life. sentences, implicated of managing the abduction and murder of. two Israeli soldiers and four believed Palestinian informants.
Michael Koubi, a previous official with Israel's Shin Bet. security agency who questioned Sinwar for 180 hours in prison,. said Sinwar plainly stood apart for his capability to daunt and. command.
Koubi as soon as asked the militant, then aged 28 or 29, why he. was not already wed. He informed me Hamas is my better half, Hamas is. my child. Hamas for me is everything. Sinwar married after his. release from jail in 2011 and has 3 kids.
Yuval Bitton, who was Sinwar's dental expert before being. recruited by Israel's prison intelligence service, recounted. questioning Sinwar about the futility of Hamas's method when. they kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilat Shalit with the objective of. utilizing him as take advantage of for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel's responded by getting in Gaza, killing hundreds Hamas. fighters and countless civilians.
I said to Sinwar, 'Tell me, is it worth 10,000 innocent. individuals to pass away in order to free 100 detainees, Sinwar's reply. was unequivocal, even 100,000 is worth it.
Nabih Awadah, a previous Lebanese Communist militant who was. imprisoned with Sinwar in Ashkelon in between 1991-95, stated Sinwar. viewed the 1993 Oslo peace accords in between Israel and the. Palestinian Authority as disastrous and a ruse by Israel,. which he said would only relinquish Palestinian land by force,. not by negotiations.
Calling him willful and dogmatic, Awadah said Sinwar would. illuminate with pleasure whenever he became aware of attacks versus Israelis. by Hamas or Lebanon's Hezbollah group. For him, military. conflict was the only path to liberating Palestine from. Israeli occupation.
Awadah stated Sinwar was an prominent design to all. prisoners, even those who were not Islamists or religious.. In prison, he continued to pursue Palestinian spies, Awadah. said. His sharp impulses and care allowed him to identify. and expose Shin Bet informants penetrated in the prison.
Sinwar likewise used his time in jail to find out fluent Hebrew.
Awadah stated Sinwar regularly recalled that Ashkelon, where. they were put behind bars together, was his household's ancestral. hometown.
When playing table tennis in the courtyard of Ashkelon jail,. in present day Israel, Sinwar would typically play barefoot, saying. he wanted his feet to touch the land of Palestine.
Sinwar often informed us: 'I'm not in jail; I'm on my land. I. am totally free here, in my country.'.
(source: Reuters)