Monday, January 15, 2024

Six In The Morning Monday 15 January 2024


Talks to free Gaza hostages make some progress but two sides still ‘far’ apart

Deal mediated by Qatar includes delivery of medicines and aid but leaders in Hamas and Israel deeply divided about way forward

A new round of negotiations to obtain the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas has made incremental progress, sources close to the talks say, signalling the end to months of deadlock and raising hopes among relatives as the war passes its 100th day.

New details emerged in recent days of a deal to allow medicine – such as vital prescription drugs – to reach the hostages, along with an increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza.

‘No gree for anybody’ slang could be message of rebellion, Nigerian police claim

Pidgin English term triggers debate after going viral in new year as a motto for self-reliance and resilience

A Nigerian slang term meaning not letting anyone bully or cheat you is sparking debate after police warned the slogan could be a message of rebellion.

While not new, the pidgin English term “No gree for anybody”, and variations of it, has been going viral since the start of the year as a motto for self-reliance and resilience in the face of difficulties.

Israel-Hamas war: Footballer released after Turkey detention

Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel has been released, after being detained for a gesture made during a match in Turkey. The Antalyaspor defender seemingly showed solidarity with those held hostage by Hamas.

What's happened?

After scoring a goal against Trabzonspor on Sunday, Israeli football player Sagiv Jehezkel held up his hand in celebration to show off a bandage that said: "100 days, 7.10". The text was in relation to the Hamas attack on October 7, 100 days before the match, and appeared next to a Star of David.

Turkish prosecutors later launched an investigation against Jehezkel on charges of "inciting people to hatred and hostility," according to Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc.

Reports on Monday morning stated that Jehezkel has been released pending trial while NTV television reported that a private plane had been sent from Israel on Monday to pick up Jehezkel and his family so that they could return home.


Reformist Arevalo sworn in as Guatemala's president despite opponents' efforts to derail transition

Anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arevalo was sworn in as Guatemala's president in the early hours of Monday after a chaotic inauguration that was delayed for hours by a last-ditch attempt by Congress opponents to weaken his authority.

The latest in a series of legislative setbacks triggered by opponents underscored the challenges Arevalo faces as leader of Central America's most populous nation, to which he has pledged to bring sweeping reforms and tackle the rising cost of living and violence, key drivers of migration to the United States.

Arevalo won August elections by a landslide and about 9 hours after his inauguration was scheduled to start, he took the oath as president, replacing conservative politician Alejandro Giammattei whose government has been engulfed in corruption scandals.

Giammattei skipped the ceremony.

Iran lodges hijab case against journalists day after temporary release

New proceedings are launched against the two journalists for posing without the mandatory hijab upon their release after more than a year in prison.

Iran’s judiciary has opened a new case against two jailed female journalists for appearing without a hijab after their temporary release from prison, reports say.

Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi had the new case filed against them on Monday, a day after they were released on bail.

The duo had been sentenced to 13  and 12 years in prison respectively for reporting on the death in custody of Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini in 2022.


The Gazan doctor whose phone call on live TV shook Israelis to the core 15 years ago

When I speak to Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish on the phone, his voice is heavy with jetlag and grief.

Abuelaish — known as the first Palestinian doctor to hold a staff position at an Israeli hospital — has just returned to his adopted home of Toronto.

For the past few days he’s been in Cairo, comforting his brother who is mourning the loss of three of his children killed in Gaza by an Israeli airstrike.

“Even if he could get back,” Abuelaish says of his brother who left Gaza for Egypt in September for health reasons, “he doesn’t have anything to go back to.”







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