Latest news with #Gal
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brother of Israeli hostage still hoping for safe return
Trapped in the ruins of Gaza, there are at least 20 Israeli hostages who are believed to be still alive, held captive by Hamas. One of them is Gal Dalal's younger brother, the now 24-year-old Guy Gilboa-Dalal. "Every bomb, every military operation, everything that's going on, they're putting my brother in risk," Gal told CBS News. And the bombing intensified this week. Security camera footage showed the moment an Israeli strike hit outside a hospital in Gaza — killing dozens. The attack came just a day after the release of American hostage Edan Alexander. "We know his family, we love them. And they deserve nothing more than to be reunited with their son. It's this complicated thing of joy and also sadness," Gal said. Gal told CBS News his family was "joyful" and "thankful" Alexander got to go home. "But we also, it was such a pain to see another hostage returning and it's not your brother," he said. Gal and Guy were at the Nova music festival when Hamas launched its Oct. 7 terror attack. Gal escaped, but his brother, who he calls his best friend, did not. "The hardest thing for me is that I really went there to watch over him, watch over my baby brother, and I returned without him," Gal said In February, Hamas put out a propaganda video that showed Guy. "He was brought out by Hamas to watch other hostages going home," Gal said. "I was helpless entirely because I couldn't do anything to help him so I just, I was there again, watching my baby brother in this inhumane condition looking so much worse." While the video was proof of life, Gal knew from freed hostages how bad things were for his brother. "They were at the same tunnel with two or 10 hostages, a very small tunnel, almost unable to move. Sleeping, eating, breathing next to where they had to dig their own toilet," he said. "My brother is in front of me every time, all day," Gal added. "I go to sleep with him. I wake up with him, I cannot feel anything else but guilt on the most simple things." Like so many families of hostages, he is pinning his hopes on President Trump to broker a deal to free them. "Although we break sometimes because we are human, we also keep each other strong with the hope that Guy will return to us," Gal said. "I hope [our love] is what saves him right now," he added. "How much he knows that everyone loves him and waits for him." Sneak peek: Fatal First Date Trump teases "good news" on Russia-Ukraine war Arrests by masked federal agents are "slippery slope," former DHS attorney warns
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Brother of Israeli hostage taken at Nova music festival still hoping for safe return
Survivor of Hamas attack fears "every bomb" could kill his brother still held hostage Trapped in the ruins of Gaza, there are at least 20 Israeli hostages who are believed to be still alive, held captive by Hamas. One of them is Gal Dalal's younger brother, the now 24-year-old Guy Gilboa-Dalal. "Every bomb, every military operation, everything that's going on, they're putting my brother in risk," Gal told CBS News. And the bombing intensified this week. Security camera footage showed the moment an Israeli strike hit outside a hospital in Gaza — killing dozens. The attack came just a day after the release of American hostage Edan Alexander. "We know his family, we love them. And they deserve nothing more than to be reunited with their son. It's this complicated thing of joy and also sadness," Gal said. Gal told CBS News his family was "joyful" and "thankful" Alexander got to go home. "But we also, it was such a pain to see another hostage returning and it's not your brother," he said. Gal and Guy were at the Nova music festival when Hamas launched its Oct. 7 terror attack. Gal escaped, but his brother, who he calls his best friend, did not. "The hardest thing for me is that I really went there to watch over him, watch over my baby brother, and I returned without him," Gal said In February, Hamas put out a propaganda video that showed Guy. "He was brought out by Hamas to watch other hostages going home," Gal said. "I was helpless entirely because I couldn't do anything to help him so I just, I was there again, watching my baby brother in this inhumane condition looking so much worse." While the video was proof of life, Gal knew from freed hostages how bad things were for his brother. "They were at the same tunnel with two or 10 hostages, a very small tunnel, almost unable to move. Sleeping, eating, breathing next to where they had to dig their own toilet," he said. "My brother is in front of me every time, all day," Gal added. "I go to sleep with him. I wake up with him, I cannot feel anything else but guilt on the most simple things." Like so many families of hostages, he is pinning his hopes on President Trump to broker a deal to free them. "Although we break sometimes because we are human, we also keep each other strong with the hope that Guy will return to us," Gal said. "I hope [our love] is what saves him right now," he added. "How much he knows that everyone loves him and waits for him."
The Mainichi
06-05-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
'Gal Mikoshi' festival parade at Osaka Expo to showcase women power
OSAKA -- Osaka's beloved "Gal Mikoshi" (Gal portable shrine procession) summer tradition will make an early appearance this year at a special event on May 10 at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. "We want to deliver energy to the world and also create an opportunity to reflect on gender equality," says Gal Mikoshi organizing committee chair Takanobu Miura. Officially called the Tenjin Matsuri Josei O-mikoshi (Tenjin festival women's mikoshi), the shrine-carriers appear annually as part of Tenjin Matsuri, a major festival at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine in the city's Kita Ward every July. Eighty women between the ages of 15 and 30 -- selected through auditions -- take turns energetically carrying two mikoshi, each weighing around 200 kilograms, parading through Tenjinbashisuji shopping street. Not considered part of Tenjin Matsuri's religious ceremonies, the Gal Mikoshi serves mainly as a community promotion effort, organized primarily by members of the shopping street association. Since its 1981 launch, only the COVID-19 pandemic has ever caused the yearly event to be suspended. Over the decades, it affectionately gained the nickname "Gal Mikoshi," capturing media attention and appearing on various TV programs. Recently, the event has received applications to join in from people in Asia, Europe and other regions around the world. Miura, 51, first participated in the Gal Mikoshi as a security staffer in 2015, and took over as its executive committee chairperson in 2017. As the event supervisor, he organizes meetings and manages overall operations. Miura had long been considering, "Wouldn't it be great if Gal Mikoshi could take part in the Expo?" Miura believes that Japan has not progressed enough on gender equality, especially amid global movements and initiatives such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also points to Japan ranking 118th among 146 countries in the 2024 gender equality report, published by the World Economic Forum. "In some Japanese traditional festivals, there's still a lingering belief in excluding women from carrying mikoshi," Miura explains. Indeed, several Gal Mikoshi participants have cited reasons such as, "Since I am not allowed to touch the portable shrine back home, I wanted a chance to carry one." Miura emphasizes, "Through the Expo, I hope people from around the world see a portable shrine carried entirely by women." Gal Mikoshi will appear as part of the "Osaka Festival! EXPO2025 Spring" event on May 10. Miura added, "By joining the Expo event, we would love more people to discover Gal Mikoshi and inspire even more women to apply." Organizers sought out former Gal Mikoshi participants for this special event, receiving more than 100 applications from around the world. On the day of the event, some 70 women ranging in age from 16 to their late 30s are expected to join, including international participants. Amid joyful "danjiri bayashi" (traditional rhythm-based festival music) performed by a team from Miyakojima Ward, these "gals" will energetically parade two portable shrines through the EXPO Arena in the World Exposition venue.
CNBC
05-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Function Health buys Ezra, launches full-body scan for a third of the price
Blood testing startup Function Health on Monday announced the acquisition of full-body MRI scanning company Ezra and launched a new, 22-minute scan for $499. Function offers a $499 annual subscription where members complete more than 160 blood tests and track their results over time. The company said adding Ezra's scanning technology to its platform will allow its users to screen for more conditions and access a more complete picture of their health. "It makes so much sense," Jonathan Swerdlin, the co-founder and CEO of Function, said in an interview. "What labs aren't covering, scans can see, and what scans couldn't touch on, labs cover." Function and Ezra declined to disclose the financial details of the acquisition. Before Monday's announcement, Ezra's cheapest offering was a 30-minute scan that cost participants $1,495. Ezra, founded in 2018, offers a range of full-body MRI scans that can help patients detect cancer and other conditions. The company partners with existing imaging facilities across more than 70 locations in the U.S., according to its website. Full-body MRI scans have surged in popularity in recent years after celebrities like Kim Kardashian began posting about them on social media. Medical experts have mixed feelings about the screenings, in part because they're expensive, can result in unnecessary care and can cause patients to worry. Ezra's primary competitor is Prenuvo, another full-body MRI scanning startup. In February, Prenuvo announced that it closed a $120 million funding round, and it also launched a new blood test to provide insights into patients' hormonal, cardiovascular, metabolic and immune health. Ezra has raised a total of $44 million from investors, while Function has raised a total of $53 million as of June 2024. Function is reportedly seeking more than $200 million in fresh capital at a valuation of around $2 billion, according to a February report from Bloomberg. Emi Gal, the founder and CEO of Ezra, said he has known Function's Swerdlin for years, and that the two began chatting last year about potentially collaborating through a commercial partnership. Over time, though, he said it became clear that an acquisition ultimately made more sense. "I'm pinching myself," Gal said in an interview. "This is just a phenomenal outcome." The company was able to shorten its new scan time to 22 minutes by leveraging artificial intelligence that was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January, Gal said. The AI, as well as Function's "financial prowess," helped reduce the price of the scan to $499, he added. The new 22-minute scan will be available to Function members starting on Monday. Function does not publicly disclose how many patients subscribe to its platform, but Swerdlin said it's in the "hundreds of thousands." Dr. Mark Hyman, co-founder and the chief medical officer of Function, said acquiring Ezra was a natural part of Function's evolution. "What used to be the domain of the wealthy is now accessible to everybody, including comprehensive imaging," Hyman said in an interview. "It truly makes a difference for people and saves lives."
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gal Gadot sprints across a road while filming in East London for latest movie
Gal Gadot was seen filming her latest movie in East London this week, sprinting through the city's streets. The actress, 40, was followed by a camera crew as she tore through the streets. During the shoot, she was dressed head to toe in lycra, adding a blue jacket and a pair of bright red sneakers. Gal was filming scenes for her new movie, The Runner. The Runner centers on a high-flying attorney (Gal) who has to race through London to try to save her abducted son. It is being produced by David Kosse via his new London-based production company Rockwood Pictures. It comes after Gal was reportedly left fuming after pro-Palestine protesters swarmed the set on Friday. The actress, who has been vocal in her support of Israel, was escorted off set as activists carrying flags shouted 'stop bombing Palestine' through a megaphone. One man banged a drum to cause maximum to disruption to filming in London. Police were called and the actress was replaced by a body double.
