Trump visits Israel and Egypt to oversee a ceasefire he helped broker and the expected release of 48 captives held by a militant group. A swap would see detainees freed from Israeli custody and remains returned. He will meet families and attend a regional peace summit after the transfers.
King Charles helped keep the World Conker Championships alive by donating 300 horse chestnuts from the Windsor estate after organisers struggled to source enough. The contribution ensured the event went ahead, protecting a long‑standing autumn tradition for players and spectators.
Scientists have developed an ultra-fast MRI technique that cuts scan times from about 20–30 minutes to under seven, potentially doubling NHS capacity. It could speed and improve dementia diagnosis by allowing more patients to be scanned sooner with less discomfort.
Senior officials and MPs warn the UK could slip into a “debt trap” due to growing reliance on Chinese financing and trade after a spy scandal. They urge the PM to cut exposure, tighten scrutiny of state‑linked investment, and diversify borrowing and supply chains to protect resilience.
As Trump travels for a Gaza summit, a militant group prepared to release 20 Israeli hostages held for two years, with the Red Cross coordinating transfers and talks also addressing the return of 28 bodies.
Leaders will meet to finalise a Gaza truce that would free 20 hostages and start staged prisoner releases. The PM will attend alongside international counterparts. Tony Blair is expected to take a key role on a new peace board to help oversee the deal’s implementation.
Hostages held by a militant group are set for release under a ceasefire deal, as Trump and the PM head to a regional summit and Britain pledges £20m for humanitarian relief in Gaza.
Aid deliveries in Gaza began as part of a fragile deal expected to free 20 captives and nearly 2,000 detainees in a reciprocal handover, prompting cautious optimism for a truce while authorities warn the situation remains precarious and one misstep could unravel it.
Families await the release of 20 hostages from Gaza today under a mediated exchange, with further releases and the return of remains expected amid last-minute negotiations and a planned US visit.
Talks have secured the imminent release of 20 captives held in Gaza, with a handover via a humanitarian agency and a parallel exchange of prisoners forming part of a mediated truce that could pave the way to a wider ceasefire.