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☆ Biden is still running on a promise to get student-loan forgiveness to 'as many borrowers as possible.' Here's where his debt relief efforts stand.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

When Biden was first running for office, he campaigned on canceling $10,000 in student debt per borrower, along with reforming repayment programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness. AdvertisementThe Education Department is undergoing a process to get relief to borrowers using a different law, but it will take time to reach borrowers. Targeted student-loan forgivenessWhile the Supreme Court struck down Biden's first try at broad student-loan forgiveness, he has still enacted smaller amounts of relief to borrowers through various reforms. Additionally, the Education Department has announced debt cancellation for borrowers defrauded by the schools they attended, including the major for-profit chains ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges. In February, the department announced $1.2 billion in debt relief for 153,000 borrowers, the first group to benefit from that provision.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden, Clare McCann, Arnold Ventures —, McCann, Biden's, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Public, Biden, Business, Department, Arnold Ventures, Education Department, ITT Technical Institute, Corinthian Colleges, Education, Higher Locations: PSLF, deferment

☆ She missed her flight to extend her Italy vacation romance. Here’s what happened next
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

Bianca was in the harbor of Riomaggiore, the southernmost of the five picturesque fishing villages that make up the Italian Cinque Terre region. “Then, three days before I was leaving to go home, my friend said, ‘Let’s go to the Cinque Terre. After three days with Alessandro, Bianca didn’t want to leave, but she figured she had no choice. She fed me, of course.”Alessandro also took Bianca on the back of his scooter for hilltop rides around the Cinque Terre. The couple would take their daughter along too, and spend time with their Italian family.

Persons: Bianca Gignac, Bianca, ” Bianca, It’s, she’d, Florence –, “, ”, ‘ Let’s, ’, Alessandro Morelli, ” Alessandro, –, Alessandro, I’d, Bianca –, Artie, “ I’m, skeptically, let’s, She’d, Bianca Gignac Bianca, Bianca didn’t, “ Bianca, don’t, Paola, ‘ I’m, they’d, “ I’ve, I’m, ’ ” Bianca, Riomaggiore –, Alessandro’s, Italy Bianca, ” “ Patience, Bianca’s, ’ ”, Stefano Butturini Bianca, – we’re, ‘ Don’t, we’ve, “ She’s, Italy –, “ It’s, we’re Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Italian Cultural Institute of Vancouver, Terre, La Spezia, Getty Locations: Riomaggiore, Italian, Terre, Canadian, Italy, Europe, Florence, La, Cinque Terre, Rome, Canada, Terre wasn’t, La Spezia, Vancouver, Bianca’s, Costa Rica, Bianca

☆ 153,000 student-loan borrowers are getting $1.2 billion in debt wiped out — the first group to see relief under a new repayment reform
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Thousands of student-loan borrowers just became the first group to see relief under President Joe Biden's new repayment reform. On Wednesday, Biden — along with the Education Department — announced that 153,000 borrowers are getting $1.2 billion in debt cancellation as a result of a new provision in the SAVE income-driven repayment plan. "If you've been paying for a decade, you've done your part, and you deserve relief," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement. The Education Department first implemented the SAVE plan over the summer, intended to make borrowers' monthly payments cheaper. Of course, the relief comes as many borrowers are encountering challenges with the return to repayment that began in October.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, —, you've, Miguel Cardona, Biden's, Education James Kvaal Organizations: Wednesday, Education Department —, Education Department, Business, Administration, SAVE, The Education Department, Public, Department, Education

☆ China's biggest banks are finally getting scared by the West's sanctions against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Bank of China have stopped the transactions since the start of 2024, Alexey Poroshin, the general director of investment and consulting firm First Group, told Izvestia. In December, the US also authorized secondary sanctions targeting financial institutions that help Russia skirt sanctions. Chinese banks are tightening compliance checks with Russian businesses because they fear getting caught up in the West's increasingly restrictive sanctions regime against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Bank of China did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. In particular, Russian firms trading internationally have become more dependent on Chinese institutions and the Chinese yuan since some Russian banks withdrew from the SWIFT global financial-messaging system .

Persons: —, Alexey Poroshin, Poroshin, Dmitry Peskov Organizations: Russia, Service, Commercial Bank of, China Construction Bank, Bank of, First Group, Union, Industrial, Bank of China, Business, SWIFT Locations: Russia, Commercial Bank of China, China, Bank of China, —, Ukraine, India, West, Beijing

☆ Alaska Airlines resumes flying Boeing 737 MAX 9 after inspections
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane is parked on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport on January 8, 2024, in Los Angeles. Alaska Airlines on Friday said it has completed inspections on the first group of its Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, clearing the carrier to put the MAX 9 back in service after an in-flight cabin blowout earlier this month. Alaska said it had begun inspections of its first MAX 9s on Wednesday night, after the Federal Aviation Administration approved inspection criteria. A Copa Airlines jet became the first MAX 9 to return to service on Thursday. Alaska and United Airlines, the two U.S. carriers that fly the MAX 9, have canceled thousands of flights this month since the Jan. 6 grounding of 171 MAX 9s.

Persons: Stan Deal Organizations: Alaska Airlines Boeing, Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles . Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines, Boeing Commercial, Copa Airlines, United Airlines Locations: Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego . Alaska, Alaska, United, U.S

☆ Why Making Face Computers Cool Isn’t Easy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Brian X. Chen | More About Brian X. Chen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The $3,500 Vision Pro, a face computer that resembles ski goggles, will be released next week. The device, which includes high-resolution displays and sensors that track eye movements and hand gestures, is one of Apple’s most ambitious products. I was among the first group of journalists to try the Vision Pro last year and walked away impressed with the quality of the picture but ultimately not sure that people would want to wear it. The devices were intended to create immersive experiences for getting things done by moving the body instead of typing on keyboards. Sales of mixed reality and virtual reality headsets fell 8.3 percent last year, according to the research firm IDC, though they may rebound this year with Apple entering the market.

Persons: Apple’s Organizations: Pro, Google, Samsung, Sony, IDC, Apple

☆ Taiwan President-Elect Says He Hopes for Continued Firm US Support
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan president-elect Lai Ching-te said on Thursday he hopes that the United States can continue to firmly support Taiwan, as he met the first group of U.S. lawmakers to visit Taipei since he won an election earlier this month. "I also hope that the two co-chairs and our friends in the U.S. Congress can continue to support Taiwan in bolstering its self-defence capabilities." Diaz-Balart told Lai his main message was that U.S. support for Taiwan was firm, real and "100% bipartisan". "Rest assured that you have the support of the United States Congress," he said. China has repeatedly warned the United States to stop its support for Taiwan and the issue is a constant irritant in Sino-U.S. relations.

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, Mario Diaz, Ami Bera, Diaz, Balart, Tsai Ing, Joe Biden, Ben Blanchard, Kim Coghill, Michael Perry, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, U.S . House, Representatives Taiwan Caucus, Republican, Balart, Democratic, ., U.S, Congress, United States Congress Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, United States, U.S, Taipei, China

☆ Influencers are the new travel agents: Here's how creators are using their adventures to build businesses, from planning group trips to becoming certified advisors
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

DMs persuaded some travel creators to arrange group trips with their followersTravel creator Gabby Beckford led her first group trip with her followers in August 2021. Ismail initially worked with the group travel company TrovaTrip, which handled the logistics. AdvertisementAs more travel creators build communities to travel with, startups like Jerne are popping up to help support their businesses. Morgan said quite a few creators are now using Jerne to find brands to sponsor group travel, as well. "Travel advisors have been hosting group trips for as long as they've existed," he said.

Persons: —, Tia Cooper, she's, Cooper, they've, Instagram, influencers, Tim Morgan, Gabby Beckford, she'd, Beckford, Nabila Ismail, Ismail, Morgan, It's, Dharma, Charaf El Mansouri Organizations: Service, Business, BI, DMs, Intrepid, Brand, Virgin Voyages Locations: Ireland, Abu Dhabi, Croatia, Mexico, Indonesia, Pakistani

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers entertain fans with their sprinter-like tempo and historic scoring pace. So we're excited to go to Vegas and play some more defense." It's not that the league's worst-ranked scoring defense suddenly found a magical solution. “The old saying is offense wins games, defense wins championships. I'm a big believer in that myself so if we keep winning games, we'll figure it out on defense.”___

Persons: Tyrese Haliburton, “, Tatum, ” Haliburton, we’re, Rick Carlisle's, Frank Vogel's, ” Bruce Brown, —, Haliburton, he's, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Jordan, James, ” Carlisle, Jayson, Tyrese, they're, Myles Turner, ” Organizations: INDIANAPOLIS, The Indiana Pacers, Boston, NBA, Pacers Locations: Las Vegas, Vegas, Boston, Indiana

Another two Thai workers were set free on Tuesday, bringing the total released to 23. He said they remain in contact with him and send him updates about the release of hostages even before the news breaks. The Thai foreign ministry said three Thais were being treated for wounds in hospital. On Wednesday night, four additional Thai hostages were released. Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages back to Gaza on Oct. 7.

Persons: Parnpree Bahiddha, Nukara, Thais, Parnpree, Lerpong Syed, Israel, Juarawee Kittisilpa, Howard Goller, Sandra Maler, Stephen Coates Organizations: Thai Foreign, Shamir Medical Center, Hamas, Iran, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, Thailand, Palestinian, Gaza, Thai

☆ Freed Israeli Hostages Share Details of Captivity, Relatives Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Isabel Kershner | More About Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

A mother released from captivity in Gaza with her young son told relatives that they had slept on chairs pushed together. The freed hostages have not spoken directly to the news media and most are still being treated in private areas of Israeli hospitals. Relatives who have spoken or met with some of the released hostages said all seemed to have spent their weeks in captivity totally cut off from the outside world, and to have returned thinner than before. Adva Adar’s grandmother, Yaffa Adar, 85, was among the hostages released on Friday. The Or siblings were taken hostage with their father, Dror, who is believed to still be held in Gaza.

Persons: “, ”, Merav Mor Raviv, Keren Munder, Ohad, Ruth Munder, Ms, Raviv, Keren, Adva, Yaffa Adar, Adva Adar, Roi, Ruth, Avraham Munder, — Noam, Alma, —, Yonat, Ahal Besorai, Dror, Besorai, Noam Organizations: Media Central, BBC Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ Rocky hostage release underscores fragility of deal between Israel and Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hamas on Saturday blamed the delay on issues with the amount of aid being delivered and selection of Palestinian prisoners being released. Thirty-nine Palestinian teenagers and women were also released from Israeli prisons, per the terms of the exchange, on Saturday. All but one of the Israeli hostages released had been at the communal kibbutz of Nir Oz when they were abducted. Under the deal, Israel is freeing three Palestinians from jail for every Israeli hostage allowed out of Gaza. Released Palestinian prisoners arrive to Beitunia, west of Ramallah, on Friday.

Persons: ”, Neta Rosenberg, Alex Sherman, Ron, Israel –, Emily Hand, Noga, Shiri Weiss, Adi Shoham, Naveh, Regev, Noam Avigdori, Sharon Avigdori, Hila Rotem, Shoshan, Noam, Nir Oz, Yafa Adar, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Yoni Asher, we’ll, we’re, We’ve, we’ve, “, Nutthawaree Munkan, ” Boonyarin Srichan, Joy, Aseel El, ” El, Titi, Issam, Nadav Rudaeff, ” CNN’s Oren Liebermann, Joseph Ataman, Clarissa Ward, Kocha, Manveena Suri, Eve Brennan, Lauren Izso Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Palestinian, Saturday, Reuters, Ofer, West Bank, Getty, West Bank . Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Irish, Alma, Philippine, Beitunia, AFP, Thailand, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Anadolu

☆ 'I'm not dead,' Thai hostage says after 'miracle' release in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Chayut Setboonsarng | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"He told me not to cry, to tell mother I’m coming back," Roongarun Wichagern told Reuters of her younger brother after an emotional reunion on a video call. "He said, ‘I’m not dead, I’m not dead,’" Roongarun said, calling his survival a "miracle". The freed Thai hostages will return home after 48 hours in hospital, Thailand’s foreign ministry said in a statement. He called for the release of the remaining "innocent Thai hostages as soon as possible". Photographs from the Thai foreign ministry showed them meeting doctors at a medical centre in Israel.

Persons: I’m, Roongarun Wichagern, ‘ I’m, Roongarun, Srettha Thavisin, Vetoon, Thais, Thongkoon Onkaew, Natthaporn, Chayut Setboonsarng, Napat Wesshasartar, Poppy McPherson, William Mallard Organizations: Hamas, Foreign Affairs, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Reuters, Shamir Medical, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thai, International Committee, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Tel Aviv, Foreign Affairs Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Thai, Gaza, Thailand, Egypt, Qatar, Iran, Malaysia

☆ 'That's My Son!' Thai Family Overjoyed as Second Group of Hostages Freed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Napat Wesshasartar and Chayut SetboonsarngBANGKOK (Reuters) -The mother of a Thai hostage freed from Gaza late on Saturday said she was indescribably happy her son was among the four most recent Thai nationals confirmed as freed from Hamas captivity. A first group of 10 Thai hostages were on freed Friday along with 13 Israelis, in return 39 Palestinians from Israel's prisons. More than 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, mostly as farm workers, making up one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country. Thailand's foreign ministry estimated 18 Thai nationals remained captive after Israel told it the number abducted had increased by two from the previous tally. "The Thai government will continue to make every effort towards the safe release and return of those remaining Thai nationals," the ministry said in a statement.

Persons: Napat Wesshasartar, Thongkoon Onkaew, Srettha Thavisin, Thongkoon, Poppy McPherson, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Sunday, Thai Locations: Chayut, BANGKOK, Gaza, Thai, Palestinian, Israel

[1/2] An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. Both contracts had their first weekly gain in five weeks as OPEC+ prepares for a meeting that will have output cuts high on the agenda after recent oil price declines on demand concerns and burgeoning supply, particularly from non-OPEC producers. OPEC+ has moved closer to a compromise with African oil producers on 2024 output levels, three OPEC+ sources have told Reuters. "Fundamentals developments have been bearish with rising U.S. oil inventories," ANZ analysts said in a note. Analysts say oil demand growth could weaken to about 4% in the first half of 2024 as the property sector crunch weighs on diesel use.

Persons: John Kilduff, Tony Sycamore, Brent, Craig Erlam, Tina Teng, Paul Carsten, Natalie Grover, Colleen Howe, David Goodman, Louise Heavens, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Brent, West Texas, Organization of, Petroleum, Reuters, OANDA, ANZ, Petrobras, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Gaza, OPEC, Wednesday's, WTI, Israel, New York, Russia, U.S, London, Beijing

☆ Hamas Releases First Group of Hostages Under Pause Deal With Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Hamas Releases First Group of Hostages Under Pause Deal With IsraelHamas released over 20 hostages taken from Israel, including 12 Thai nationals, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners on Friday. The exchange is part of a deal that began a four-day pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas. Photo: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

Persons: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Organizations: Israel Hamas, Reuters Locations: Israel

All but one were abducted from the Nir Oz kibbutz, according to spokespeople for the kibbutz and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Eleven foreign nationals were also released alongside the Israeli hostages: 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen, according to a Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Here’s what you need to know about the released hostages:Yafa Adar, 85Adar is a founder of the Nir Oz kibbutz and is the oldest person to be taken hostage on October 7. Now Daniel and Emilia are on their way to Israel,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement. “She has diabetes, and suffers severe vision loss in one of her eyes,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in a statement.

Persons: Nir, “, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Yafa, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Tamir Adar, Nir Oz, Margalit Moses, ”, Hana Katzir, Rami Katzir, Elad, Nir Oz’s, Adina Moshe, David, Sa’id, Moshe, Ruth Munder, Keren, Ohad, Roee, Avraham, Ruth, Keren Munder, Ohad Munder, Munder “, Daniel Aloni, Emilia Aloni, Emilia, Sharon Aloni, “ Daniel, Daniel, Doron Katz Asher, Raz Asher, Aviv Asher, Doron, Efrat Katz, Ganot Hadar, Dori Roberts, Efrat, Roberts, Channa Peri, Peri Organizations: CNN, Gaza, Qatar Foreign Ministry, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Raz Locations: Israel, Hatzarim Airbase, Gaza, Hatzerim Airbase, Mozambique, Aviv, Ganot, Kibbutz Nirim, South Africa

☆ Mixed emotions as first group of Israeli hostages return from Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Ari Rabinovitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"But I stress to you, the families, and to you, citizens of Israel: We are committed to bringing back all our hostages." As well as the Israeli hostages, 10 Thais and one Filipino, who were taken captive at the same time, were also freed under a separate agreement, Qatari mediators said. The military said the released hostages had undergone initial medical checks inside Israel and would be taken to hospitals where they would be reunited with their families. The rest of a group of at least 50 Israeli hostages due to be exchanged under a Qatari-brokered agreement are expected to be freed in the coming days and more hostages could be added if the truce deal is extended. The military campaign has killed around 14,000 Palestinians, according to medical authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza and reduced much of Gaza to rubble.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Corinne Moshe, Adina Moshe, Al Qahera, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel's Kan, Erez, Shelly Shem Tov, Omer Shem Tov, Omer, Ari Rabinovitch, Henriette Chacar, Andrew Heavens, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Qatari, Reuters, Israel's, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt

☆ Israel-Hamas War Promise of Freed Hostages and Prisoners Hinges on a Fragile Temporary Truce
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

A temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was expected to take effect on Friday. A deal between Israel and Hamas for a temporary cease-fire was expected to go into effect on Friday. In general, both Israel and Hamas have signaled that roughly 30 Palestinians will be exchanged for every 10 Israeli hostages. The official said the first Palestinians to be released from Israeli prisons will be allowed home only after the first tranche of Israeli hostages are freed. Some, but perhaps not all, of them are expected to be among the hostages released in the coming days.

Persons: Khan Younis, —, Israel, Majed al, Ansari, Patrick Kingsley Organizations: Hamas, International Committee, White Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, a.m

☆ Morning Bid: Caution prevails as Gaza truce begins
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, November 13, 2023. Futures indicated European bourses were set for a muted open and with a bare economic calendar, markets are likely to drift as holiday season kicks off. For British consumers though, Black Friday is likely to be about hunting for refurbished and pre-owned bargains to save cash. Israel and Hamas start a four-day truce on Friday morning with the release of a first group of 13 Israeli women and child hostages expected later in the day. Reuters GraphicsKey developments that could influence markets on Friday:Germany's Q3 GDP data, German lfo business climate data for NovemberReporting By Ankur Banerjee; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ankur Banerjee, clawing, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, Ankur, Bank of Japan, Barclays, Reuters, Hamas, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Israel, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Tokyo

It was the moment the crowd outside the gates of Ofer prison just outside the West Bank city of Ramallah had awaited for hours: A large white bus carrying Palestinian prisoners and detainees exited the prison gates and made its way through the crowd around 8 p.m. Friday. Throngs of Palestinians erupted in cheers while drivers revved their engines in celebration. Fireworks erupted, replacing the sounds of tear-gas canisters that Israeli security forces had fired to disperse the crowd throughout the afternoon. As the prisoners and detainees made their way to a nearby municipality building, hundreds of people raced alongside them, waving Palestinian and Hamas flags. Hanan Saleh al-Bargouthi, 59, who was among those released, hugged her husband and grandchildren as tears clouded her eyes.

Persons: Ofer, Throngs, ”, Hanan Saleh al Organizations: West Bank, Hamas Locations: Ramallah, Israel, Gaza

[1/11] An Israeli tank maneuvers, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, near Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, November 23, 2023. Egypt said 130,000 litres of diesel and four trucks of gas will be delivered daily to Gaza when the truce starts, and that 200 trucks of aid would enter Gaza daily. "We all hope that this truce will lead to a chance to start a wider work to achieve a permanent truce." "Control over northern Gaza is the first step of a long war, and we are preparing for the next stages," he added. Israel says Hamas fighters use residential and other civilian buildings, including hospitals, as cover - a charge that Hamas denies.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Majed Al, Ansari, Abu Ubaida, Daniel Hagari, Israel, U.N, Philippe Lazzarini, Deepa Babington, Stephen Coates Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Qatari, West Bank, UNRWA's, Gaza, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Israel, Israel's, Gaza, Rights DOHA, GAZA, Iran, Qatar, Gaza City, Doha, Egypt, Palestinian, Jabalia, Indonesian

Hamas freed two dozen hostages held in Gaza and Israel released nearly 40 imprisoned Palestinians on Friday, completing the first exchange in a tense, temporary truce that halted the fighting after seven weeks of war. All the hostages freed by Hamas were expected to be swiftly moved to Israel to receive urgent medical care. Israel has said that it would extend the cease-fire by a day for every 10 additional hostages that Hamas releases. Hamas has not commented directly on the offer but its top political official, Ismail Haniyeh, said his group was committed to making the truce work. But it would also allow both Israel and Hamas to try to better their positions for battles to come.

Persons: Thais, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, President Biden Organizations: International Committee, Ministry, Hamas, Gaza, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, United States

☆ Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire Hangs on 11th-Hour Talks Over Hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Jared Malsin | Summer Said | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Negotiators were racing Thursday to hash out the final details of a deal to free Israeli hostages held by Hamas and pause the war, after last-minute issues delayed an agreement weeks in the making. The handover of the first group of hostages, planned for Thursday, now won’t happen until Friday at the earliest, Israeli and regional officials said. Senior Egyptian officials blamed the setback on Hamas’s failure to hand over a complete list of the first group of hostages it planned to release.

Organizations: Senior

☆ Cease-Fire Will Begin Friday Morning, Qatar Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Hiba Yazbek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

A temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was expected to take effect on Friday. A deal between Israel and Hamas for a temporary cease-fire is expected to go into effect on Friday. Here is a closer look at the agreement, mediated in part by Qatar, and how it is expected to play out. Who are the Palestinian prisoners? Some, but perhaps not all, of them are expected to be among the hostages released in the coming days.

Persons: Khan Younis, —, Israel, Majed al, Ansari Organizations: Hamas, International Committee, West Bank, White Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, a.m

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