Hamas officials say Israel delaying aid delivery to Gaza, may affect hostages' release

Displaced Palestinians cross a checkpoint manned by Hamas security at the Nezarim corridor as people make their way from the south to the northern parts of the Gaza Strip, on Salah al-Din road, in Mughraqa in central Gaza, on January 29, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 29 January 2025
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Hamas officials say Israel delaying aid delivery to Gaza, may affect hostages' release

CAIRO: Two Hamas officials on Wednesday accused Israel of delaying the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to Gaza, as agreed in the ceasefire deal, and warned that it could impact the release of hostages.
"We warn that continued delays and failure to address these points (delivery of key aid) will affect the natural progression of the agreement, including the prisoner exchange," a senior Hamas official told AFP, while another offical said the group had asked mediators to intervene in the issue. Both spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.


500 days of the Israel-Hamas war, by the numbers

Updated 1 min 50 sec ago
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500 days of the Israel-Hamas war, by the numbers

  • The current phase of the truce is set to expire in early March and it is unclear if the sides will extend it
Monday is the 500th day of the war triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack into southern Israel.
A tenuous ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has held for nearly a month. But the current phase of the truce is set to expire in early March and it is unclear if the sides will extend it, begin negotiations for a more lasting ceasefire or resume fighting.
Here are some numbers that show the scale of death and devastation. Sources include the Israeli government, the Gaza Health Ministry and UN agencies.
People killed in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023: Around 1,200
Hostages taken into Gaza: 251
Hostages remaining in Gaza: 73, including 3 taken before Oct. 7, 2023
Hostages in Gaza believed to be dead: 36, including one from before Oct. 7, 2023
Palestinians killed in Gaza: Over 48,200 (This figure from the Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, but the ministry says more than half of the dead were women and children)
Palestinians wounded in Gaza: Over 111,600
Israeli soldiers killed since Oct. 7, 2023: 846
Rockets fired at Israel from Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023: Over 10,000
Percentage of Gaza’s population displaced: Around 90 percent
Palestinians who have crossed into northern Gaza since the ceasefire began: 586,000
Israelis displaced by attacks from Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon at their peak: Over 75,500
Housing units damaged or destroyed in Gaza: Over 245,000
Primary roads damaged or destroyed in Gaza: Over 92 percent
Health facilities damaged or destroyed in Gaza: Over 84 percent

South African NGOs worry Trump’s aid freeze will cause HIV patients to default on treatment

Updated 1 min 46 sec ago
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South African NGOs worry Trump’s aid freeze will cause HIV patients to default on treatment

  • There are 5.5 million South Africans receiving antiretroviral treatment

UMZIMKHULU: At a rural village in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, unemployed 19-year-old Nozuko Majola is trying to figure out if she has enough money for the one-hour ride to collect her much-needed HIV medication, usually delivered to her home that can’t be easily reached due to rough, untarred roads.
Majola is one of millions of patients in South Africa affected by US President Donald Trump’s global foreign aid freeze, raising worries about HIV patients defaulting on treatment, infection rates going up and eventually a rise in deaths.
In 2024, think tank Human Sciences Research Council released figures showing that Majola’s province recorded the second-highest HIV prevalence in the country, at 16 percent, with at least 1,300 young people estimated to contract the disease every week.
KwaZulu-Natal also had the highest number of people living with HIV in South Africa in 2022, about 1.9 million. The country counts more than 7.5 million people infected with the virus that causes AIDS — more than any other nation.
There are 5.5 million South Africans receiving antiretroviral treatment, whose funding is now in question after Trump suspended the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. It contributes more than $400 million a year to South Africa’s HIV programs and nongovernmental organizations, about 17 percent of the total funding, according to the Health Ministry.
Globally, PEPFAR is credited with saving at least 26 million lives since its inception in 2003, according to the UN AIDS agency.
Last week, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to temporarily lift the funding freeze, while the US Embassy in South Africa said PEPFAR projects would resume under a limited waiver. However, aid groups dealing with HIV have already shuttered with closure notices hanging at the entrances and PEPFAR-branded vehicles standing idle, with patients diverted to struggling health facilities.
Most of the PEPFAR funding is channeled through non-governmental organizations, which run programs that compliment health care services provided by the government.
For Majola and other HIV patients in the Umzimkhulu region, where unemployment is rife and most people rely on subsistence farming and government welfare grants, the aid freeze has disrupted their lives.
“Things will be tough around here, and a lot of people will default on their treatment because we really struggle with transport,” she said. “The mobile clinics hardly come here.”
The freeze has hurt various groups that can no longer provide treatment, causing an influx of patients to already overstretched public facilities. Along with the medication, these programs also allowed health personnel to test HIV patients in far-flung villages, which has been a lifeline for many, especially those afraid to visit public facilities due to the social stigma attached to HIV.
In addition, nearly 15,000 health workers whose salaries are funded through PEPFAR are left wondering if they have lost their livelihoods.
About an hour away in the district of Umgungundlovu, which the think tank says has the highest number of HIV cases in South Africa, HIV counselors gathered in a small office discussing how best to assist patients like Majola. A manager at a nearby health clinic wondered how to handle the administrative work that is piling up after PEPFAR-funded workers withdrew.
“People who were doing administration and data capturing, whose salaries were funded by PEPFAR, have left. We are a small facility and we cannot handle such a workload,” said the manager, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
Nozuko Ngcaweni has been on HIV treatment for about 30 years. One of her children was also infected and died at age 17. She said the aid suspension already impacted her community and many missed their treatment.
“Not long ago, we said by 2030, we want to see an HIV-free generation. But if things remain as is, we will not achieve that. We will have to deal with deaths,” she said.
Mzamo Zondi, a provincial manager of the Treatment Action Campaign, which advocates for access to HIV treatment for the poor, has been monitoring the impact of the aid freeze in Umgungudlovu.
“Our response (to HIV) is likely to falter as we struggle to stop newly infected cases,” he said. “This is a matter of life and death.”


UAE win 21 medals at Asian Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Updated 12 min 14 sec ago
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UAE win 21 medals at Asian Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship

  • Under-18 team clinch 11 medals including 2 gold, 3 silver, 6 bronze on final day

BANGKOK: The UAE National Team wrapped up its participation in the Asian Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the weekend with a total of 21 medals.

The under-18 team clinched 11 medals on the final day, including two gold, three silver, and six bronze.

Obaid Al-Ketbi won gold in the 52 kg weight category, and Salem Alqubaisi took gold in the 56 kg category. Silver medals were secured by Fatima Al-Katheeri (44 kg), Ghala Al-Hammadi (48 kg), and Ahmed Al-Shamsi (48 kg).

Bronze medals went to Haira Al-Dhaheri (40 kg), Haneen Alkhoori (57 kg), Zainab Al-Mansoori (70 kg), Aisha Aljneibi (63 kg), Harib Alhammadi (62 kg), and Zayed Alhosani (85 kg).

Mubarak Al-Menhali, technical director at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “We focused a lot on the technical side during preparations for the Asian Championships and kept evaluating our athletes’ readiness.

“Their strong performance at the championship shows that our efforts paid off. These results are the result of the leadership’s support, which has given our players everything they need to compete at the highest level.

“The federation’s continuous backing, through training camps and preparatory tournaments, has been instrumental in boosting the players’ confidence and competitive edge.

“We take pride in these achievements and remain committed to reaching even greater heights in future competitions.”

Al-Ketbi said of his gold medal: “This moment means a great deal to me, as it represents years of hard work and determination to achieve my dream.

“Every fight has been a reflection of my passion for jiu-jitsu and my desire to represent my country in the best way possible. Today’s gold medal is just another step in my journey toward reaching the top globally.”

The UAE’s under-16 team secured 10 medals, including three gold, one silver, and six bronze, on the opening day of the Asian championships last week.

Meanwhile, the UAE National Team wrapped up the 2025 Asian Jiu-Jitsu Cup (under-14) with 11 medals, including two gold, three silver, and six bronze.


Oil Updates — prices steady as market eyes Russia-Ukraine peace deal

Updated 17 min 46 sec ago
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Oil Updates — prices steady as market eyes Russia-Ukraine peace deal

SINGAPORE: Oil prices were little changed on Monday as investors eyed developments on a potential Russia-Ukraine peace deal that could ease sanctions disrupting global supply flows.

Brent crude futures was up 7 cents at $74.81 a barrel at 7:30 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was stable at $70.75 a barrel.

The market continued to keep an eye on progress of peace talks, after US President Donald Trump and his administration officials announced they had begun discussions with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

“If negotiations lead to a resolution, more Russian barrels would enter global supplies, which could significantly impact oil prices negatively,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

“Despite bearish developments, the near-term for oil looks somewhat supported by positive signs on the demand side,” said Sachdeva, pointing to largely stable forecasts for oil demand.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he believes he could meet “very soon” with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

His comments come as the US and Russia are preparing for initial talks in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said on Sunday Ukraine and Europe would be part of any “real negotiations” to end Moscow’s war, signalling that US talks with Russia this week were a chance to see how serious Putin is about peace.

Sanctions by the US and EU on Russian oil exports have curbed its shipments and disrupted seaborne oil supply flows.

Meanwhile, the risk of a global trade war is capping prices after Trump last week ordered commerce and economic officials to study reciprocal tariffs against countries that place tariffs on US goods and to return their recommendations by April 1.

US energy firms last week added oil and natural gas rigs for a third week in a row for the first time since December 2023, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Friday.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose by two to 588 in the week to Feb. 14.


Dominant Raducanu advances to second round of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Updated 18 min 42 sec ago
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Dominant Raducanu advances to second round of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

  • Wildcard Briton completes hat-trick of wins over Greece’s Maria Sakkari
  • Two-time Dubai champion Elina Svitolina eases past 2024 finalist Anna Kalinskaya, while Bencic, Vondrousova, and Badosa all progress

DUBAI: Emma Raducanu got her maiden Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships campaign off to the perfect start on Sunday night, defeating former World No. 3 Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-4, 6-2 under the lights on Centre Court.

Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is a high-profile wildcard this week as Dubai’s women’s tournament celebrates its landmark 25th anniversary. Making her first appearance in the tournament, she broke her opponent at the first opportunity to take an early lead at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. Yet Sakkari, ranked 29th in the world and 31 places above her opponent, battled back to level the set in the sixth.

Raducanu arrived in Dubai on a run of four consecutive defeats and three first-round exits. So it was much to her credit that she maintained composure to immediately regain the lead, breaking back without dropping a point.

“I just tried to stay focused on what was in front of me,” Raducanu said. “There was some momentum shared throughout the match and I think when I was broken in the first set, I regrouped really well to break back and was really pleased with how I performed.”

The second set was initially similar to the first as the British No. 2 immediately broke Sakkari’s serve before letting her lead slip once more, this time in the fourth game. But she kept her composure and regained the lead — this time turning the screw to break again and capitalise on Sakkari’s errors to take a 5-2 lead. Serving for the match, she drew cheers from the crowd with a powerful ace down the middle.

“I’m very happy to get through to the next round,” she said. “The support has been great tonight. It’s my first time spending a little bit of time here (in Dubai) and I’ve really enjoyed it. What I love most is that everything is open late and I’m a big night owl, so I can go out and go for my walks at, like, 11pm.” 

The two players had only ever met previously at Grand Slams, with Raducanu coming out on top both in the semi-final of her historic 2021 US Open campaign and in the Round of 32 at Wimbledon last year. With her Dubai victory making it a hat-trick of wins over the same opponent — all without dropping a set — Raducanu was asked on court what it is about Sakkari’s game she most enjoys playing against.

“It’s a difficult one … In a way, we play quite similar, she’s very athletic,” Raducanu said. “I’m not necessarily going to give all my tactics away; it’s just a very difficult match every time we play, so I’m happy to have won on these occasions — and all big tournaments.”

Raducanu will now meet 14th seed Karolina Muchova in the second round on Tuesday after the Czech overcame Suzan Lamens 6-2, 6-2 on Court 1.

Earlier in the evening, two-time champion Elina Svitolina made light work of last year’s surprise finalist Anna Kalinskaya, defeating the World No. 18 6-1, 6-2 in a little more than an hour. Thirty-year-old Svitolina is making her 10th appearance in the emirate and wasted no time dispatching No. 15 seed Kalinskaya, who made history in the event last year to become the first qualifier to reach the final of the WTA 1000 event.

World No. 22 Svitolina, a back-to-back winner here in 2017 and 2018, will now face either Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova or Clara Tauson of Denmark.

Meanwhile, World No. 34 Marketa Vondrousova advanced to the second round after beating French wildcard Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-2 on Court 1. The Czech will now face either Elina Avanesyan or Mirra Andreeva, who meet on Monday in the final match on Centre Court. Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic also advanced with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Japan’s Aoi Ito, while American wildcard Sofia Kenin despatched Donna Vekic 7-5, 6-3. There was no surprise in the first match of the day as World No. 10 Paula Badosa beat New Zealand’s Lulu Sun 6-3, 6-4.

The 25th edition of the annual WTA 1000 event runs until Feb. 22, before the 33rd staging of Dubai’s ATP Tour 500 tournament takes place from Feb. 24 to March 1.