Gaza Strip, Feb 1: A 65-year-old Israeli-American hostage, Keith Siegel, was freed by Hamas on Saturday after 484 days in captivity, marking the third release of the day.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed his release, stating that medical officials were assessing his condition at an initial reception point in southern Israel.

Siegel was abducted along with his wife, Aviva, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. While Aviva was freed in a November 2023 ceasefire-hostage deal, Keith remained in captivity until now.

“After 484 days, Keith has finally been released from captivity,” the IDF stated in a post on X.

Earlier in the day, Hamas also released two other hostages — 54-year-old Israeli-French citizen Ofer Calderon and 35-year-old Israeli civilian Yardan Bibas. The Red Cross facilitated their transfer from Hamas custody to the Israeli military.

Following their release, all three hostages were taken to the IDF’s Reim base near the Gaza border, where they reunited with their families before being flown to hospitals in central Israel for further medical assessments. Emotional videos of these reunions were shared by the IDF.

The latest releases follow the return of three other hostages — Agam Berger, Arbel Yehud, and Gadi Moses — on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed them home and credited Israel’s military efforts and firm stance in negotiations for their safe return.

“This release was achieved, first of all, thanks to our heroic soldiers, and it was also achieved thanks to the steadfast and determined stand that we took during the negotiations,” Netanyahu stated.

The hostage releases were part of the fourth batch under a negotiated prisoner exchange and ceasefire deal. The transfer was coordinated with international mediators to ensure safe passage.

Sydney, Jan 31: Australian authorities have issued a major flood warning for the country’s northeast.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) on Friday issued a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall for communities along a 400-kilometre stretch of coast in far north Queensland state.

Residents in the area were told to prepare for up to half a metre of rainfall and for the possibility of flooding.

“Intensely heavy rainfall and significant, potentially life-threatening flash flooding are expected to develop,” Miriam Bradbury from the BoM said.

“These areas have already seen a huge amount of rain so far this week, and additional rainfall is likely to lead to further flash flooding.”

The area between Cairns and Townsville, the two biggest cities in far north Queensland, is expected to receive between 300 and 500 millimetres of rainfall between Friday night and Sunday.

Queensland’s State Disaster Coordinator Shane Chelepy said at a press conference that flood preparations were underway.

He urged residents in the affected area to put a disaster plan in place, ensure they are stocked up on food and fuel and that their electronic devices are charged.

“The most important thing they can do is stay connected with our messaging,” he said.

The area controller for the State Emergency Service, Chris Watts, said that emergency crews prepared flood boats and storm damage equipment.

He said that residents in flood zones should be prepared to evacuate.

According to the BoM, parts of Queensland’s north tropical coast received up to 800 millimeters of rain in the past week.

The heavy rainfall was being driven by three tropical low systems that formed off the coast of Queensland.

Washington, Jan 30: No survivors have yet been found of American Eagle Flight 5342 that collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near the Reagan National Airport in Washington DC Wednesday night.

Both aircraft fell into the Potomac river.

The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four members of the crew while the helicopter had three service members.

Rescuers had pulled out several bodies from the icy cold water of the river till early Thursday morning, but no survivors. The temperature of the water in the river was dangerously low around 0 degree celsius.

NBC’s Washington affiliate has reported rescuers have recovered 30 bodies from the river.

The plane was carrying passengers from Wichita in the state of Kansas to the National Airport.

DC authorities have said the plane had broken into pieces and the helicopter was found upside down in the river.

Rescue helicopters hovered over the river with flood lights as boats and rescuers combed the river for survivors and bodies.

The collision reportedly took place around 8:47 pm, local time.

The Army helicopter was a UH-60 Black Hawk on a training flight, US military officials have said. It was assigned to Bravo Company of the 12th Aviation Battalion, which operates out of Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir, in nearby Virginia.

Two renowned former Russian figure skaters were on board the passenger plane, the Kremlin has said according to reports.

They were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov did not identify them at a briefing but confirmed when asked if they were on board.

He also suggested that other Russian nationals were aboard the crashed flight.

“There were other of our fellow citizens there as well,” he said.

Shishkova and Naumov won gold at the 1994 Figure Skating World Championship for Russia. The Washington Post reported the married pair lived in the United States since at least 1998, where they coached young ice skaters.