Kaid Farhan Elkadi, a Bedouin Arab and father of 11, was rescued by Israeli forces from an underground tunnel in Gaza. He was the eighth hostage freed since the war began. Elkadi, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, endured eight months of captivity with minimal sunlight. Despite being Muslim, he was not treated differently. Elkadi is now in stable condition in a hospital. He recounted to relatives the harsh conditions and mentioned a fellow detainee who died beside him. Elkadi also expressed concerns about his eyesight. Noah Prescott 28/08/2024 1:00 pm
Preetam Gaikwad, an electrical engineer in Jena, Germany, expresses concern over the political climate as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party leads polls ahead of Thuringia’s elections. The AfD’s anti-foreigner stance worries businesses like Jenoptik, Gaikwad’s employer, which relies on attracting international talent. Jenoptik CEO Stefan Traeger notes that the rise of the AfD complicates retaining a skilled workforce. Noah Prescott 28/08/2024 9:30 am
Russia launched a second day of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, killing at least five people and damaging infrastructure. Some missiles were intercepted by Western-supplied F-16 jets. The attacks caused power outages in Kyiv and other cities. Ukraine’s military identified the launch sites, and President Zelenskyy urged the U.S. to allow strikes deep inside Russia. Ava Sinclair 28/08/2024 6:00 am
Israeli forces conducted a “complex operation” to free Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a hostage abducted by Hamas in October, bringing rare joy to Israelis amid nearly 11 months of war. Despite international efforts, dozens of hostages remain captive. Cease-fire talks are expected to resume in Doha after stalling in Cairo. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 40,000 deaths due to Israel’s offensive, which began after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and abducted around 250 on October 7. AP correspondent Josef Federman provided details on the freed Bedouin Israeli. Noah Prescott 28/08/2024 6:00 am
President Joe Biden approved a plan to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza via a floating military pier, despite internal warnings about rough waves and objections that it might hinder diplomatic efforts to open more land routes. An inspector general report from USAID highlighted various external factors, including Pentagon security requirements, that impaired aid distribution. USAID staff expressed concerns that focusing on the pier undermined efforts to advocate for more efficient land crossings. Penelope Kingsley 28/08/2024 6:00 am
Moscow claims Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in Paris is an assault on free speech, but experts suggest the Kremlin could exploit the situation to control Telegram, a platform it has long sought to censor. Durov fled Russia in 2014 after refusing to hand over encryption keys. George Barros from the Institute for the Study of War notes that the Kremlin views Telegram as a liability since it remains uncontrolled. If Russia pressures France to release Durov, they could coerce him for the keys. Telegram, with over 900 million users, is crucial for Moscow’s military communications, especially since the Ukraine invasion. Penelope Kingsley 28/08/2024 2:30 am
An Israeli military operation rescued Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a hostage taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the Gaza war. Alkadi, an Arab Bedouin, was found in an underground tunnel and is in normal medical condition. He conveyed to Israeli President Isaac Herzog that other hostages are suffering. Around 250 people were taken hostage during the attack, with over 100 still held by militants. Hamas also holds two Israeli civilians and the bodies of two soldiers from previous conflicts. Penelope Kingsley 28/08/2024 2:30 am
In Erfurt, Germany, a group of women in their 70s, part of the nationwide “Grandmas against the far-right” movement, are actively engaging with the public to counter the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which leads the polls in Thuringia ahead of state elections. Cofounder Gabriele Wölke-Rebhan emphasizes the importance of speaking out against hate, drawing parallels to the rise of the Nazis. These women aim to reconnect with AfD supporters to revive debate and potentially change minds, though their efforts face significant challenges. Ava Sinclair 27/08/2024 11:00 pm
Mexican authorities seized over seven tons of suspected cocaine in two Pacific Ocean raids, captured in dramatic video. In the first operation near Manzanillo, naval officers intercepted three speedboats, seizing 5.6 tons of cocaine and arresting 15 suspects. In the second operation near Lazaro Cardenas, authorities retrieved 1.6 tons of cocaine from the water and confiscated a speedboat. Both operations involved helicopters and patrol boats, marking significant drug busts amid ongoing cartel violence. Ava Sinclair 27/08/2024 11:00 pm
Farhan Al-Qadi, a 52-year-old Bedouin Israeli citizen, was rescued from Hamas’ tunnel network in Gaza by Israeli special forces. Held hostage since October 7, Al-Qadi was found alone in a complex operation based on intelligence. He is now in stable condition at Soroka Medical Center. Al-Qadi is the first hostage to be rescued alive from the tunnels, and his family expressed immense relief and joy, likening his rescue to being “brought back to life.” Penelope Kingsley 27/08/2024 11:00 pm
