US President Joe Biden confident more hostages will be freed by Hamas, Firefighters still fighting bushfires in Perth, and in formula one, Charles Leclerc gets fastest lap in second practice session ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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TRANSCRIPT
- US President Joe Biden confident more hostages will be freed by Hamas
- Firefighters still fighting bushfires in Perth
- Charles Leclerc gets fastest lap in second practice session ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
US President Joe Biden reacted to the release of 24 hostages held by Hamas, saying it was the start of what he expected would be further hostage releases group in the coming days.
During a news conference Biden declined to speculate about how long the Israel-Hamas war would last, but said he thought the chances of an extension of the ongoing truce were "real."
He also expressed hope that American nationals held by Hamas would be freed.
"Over the next few days, we expect that dozens of hostages will be returned to their families. We also remember all those who are still being held and renew our commitment to work for their release as well. Two American women and one four-year-old child, Abigail, who remains among those missing. We also will not stop until we get these hostages brought home and an answer to their whereabouts. I remain in personal contact with the leaders of Qatar, Egypt and Israel to make sure this stays on track and every aspect of the deal is implemented."
Joe Biden was greeted at the press conference by a small crowd chanting “Free Palestine”.
He also called the idea of conditioning military aid to Israel a “worthwhile thought” but did not develop further.
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Buses carrying Palestinian prisoners crossed in the West Bank's Ramallah, as Israeli forces fired tear gas to dampen the celebrations.
As part of the deal for the ongoing four days truce, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners.
Thirty-three prisoners were freed in the West Bank and handed to a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
An advocacy group for prisoners said the remaining six prisoners were being freed from a Jerusalem lockup.
More Israeli hostages and Palestinians are due to be released in the coming days under the terms of the truce agreement.
Laith Othman, a seventeen-years old prisoner, talks about his experience after his release.
“The situation inside (the prison) is very hard, I can’t really express how hard it is... We were not allowed out of our cells, no good food, no meals, there is nothing, we were starving. There is nothing good in the prison, the situation is very catastrophic.”
The truce appears to be holding with no major reports of bombings, artillery strikes or rocket attacks, although both sides were accused of violations.
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More than 200 firefighters continue to battle the fire that has ripped through dozens of tinder-dry, semi-rural properties, with a weekend of high temperatures forecast.
The destructive and out-of-control bushfire in metropolitan Perth has destroyed 18 homes.
Previously at emergency level, the blaze was reduced to a watch and act warning on Friday afternoon, although authorities warn it could take at least another three to four days to bring the fire under control.
Watch and act alerts are in place for parts of Jandabup, Melaleuca, Wanneroo and Marginiup in the City of Wannaroo and the City of Swan.
Residents are being warned there is still a possible threat to lives and homes as the fire continued to burn and weather predictions remained unpredictable.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said it remained a major incident and was not contained.
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In formula one,
Charles Leclerc has topped a shortened practice two at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix while Ferrari team mate Carlos Sainz has crashed, giving his mechanics plenty of work to do for the second weekend in a row.
In an evening session halted by two red flag periods, Red Bull's triple-world champion Max Verstappen was only third fastest at the Yas Marina, complaining that his car was "jumping like a kangaroo".
Both the driver's and the constructor's titles have already been won by Verstappen and dominant Red Bull, with the main battle now between Mercedes and Ferrari to be best of the rest.
22-year-old Australian Oscar Piastri, who completed the practice session at tenth with his Mclaren, says they hope to put up a good fight during Sunday's race.
"We started to go out there and and do our job and get the most out of what we've got, so yeah hopefully we can be quick, fighting you know well and truly at the front and then the result will take care of itself."
