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Hamas's military wing on Friday released two US hostages who were being held in Gaza, following mediation efforts by Qatar, marking the first time abductees have been released since the militant group seized about 200 people during its October 7 attack on Israel.
Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie Raanan, 17, from Chicago, were released at the border of the Gaza Strip, Israel's co-ordinator on hostages and missing persons, Gal Hirsch, said in a statement published by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.
“At this moment they are on their way to a meeting point at a military base in the centre of the country, where their family members are waiting for them,” the statement said.
The Israeli army published a photo of the two in Israeli custody after Hamas handed them over to the International Red Cross at the border of the Gaza Strip.
President Joe Biden said the US had been working “round-the-clock” to free Americans and he welcomed the first releases.
“Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear,” Mr Biden said.
“These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal,” he added, also thanking the Qatari and Israeli governments for their work on the case.
The US embassy in Israel posted a photo of the two speaking with Mr Biden by mobile phone.
“We are so grateful that they are safe,” the embassy said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The White House said Mr Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about the hostage issue. The US president also underscored the “importance of operating consistent with the law of war to include the protection of civilians in Gaza”.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a team from the US embassy in Israel would meet the women to address any issues.
“Over the coming hours, they'll receive any support and assistance they need” Mr Blinken said.
“And of course, we're very anxious to be able to reunite them with their loved ones.”
He said 10 US citizens remain unaccounted for during the conflict, and that the US has information that at least some of them are being held hostage by Hamas.
“Every single one should be released,” Mr Blinken said.
Earlier, Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Ubaida said that a mother and daughter had been freed.
“In response to Qatari efforts, Al Qassam Brigades released two American citizens for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by [President Joe] Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless,” he said.
Hamas seized about 200 hostages when its militants attacked Israel on October 7.
The Raanans had been visiting Israel to celebrate a relative's 85th birthday, the Times of Israel reported. Israeli authorities said they were taken hostage while staying at the Kibbutz Nahal Oz, where more than 100 people were murdered.
The government of Israel, armed forces and the entire security establishment would continue to operate with the best of their abilities and efforts to find all of the missing and return all of them home, the Israeli statement read.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a campaign group, welcomed the news.
“The families headquarters congratulates the release of hostages from Hamas captivity,” it said.
US House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Mike McCaul on Friday said he was “relieved” to hear about Hamas' release of two Americans.
Shortly before Friday's release, Bloomberg reported the US and European governments had put pressure on Israel to delay its ground invasion of Gaza, to buy time for talks, mediated by Qatar, to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The negotiations with Hamas were delicate, Bloomberg reported, quoting sources.
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Unresolved crisis
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.
Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
Sukuk explained
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
EVIL%20DEAD%20RISE
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RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
The specs: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster
Price, base: Dh708,750
Engine: 1.5L three-cylinder petrol, plus 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 374hp (total)
Torque: 570Nm (total)
Fuel economy, combined: 2.0L / 100km
Company%20Profile
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