News 13/10/25

US President Donald Trump has hailed what he calls “a miracle of peace,” after the signing of a Gaza deal at a global summit in Egypt.

Speaking in Sharm el-Sheikh, Mr Trump said the prayers of millions had been answered, calling the agreement “historic” and “a new dawn for the Middle East.” The deal was signed alongside Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Mr Trump said the agreement would “lay the foundations for a lasting future in Gaza” following years of conflict.

A court has heard that a woman accused of stalking the parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann left voicemails asking for a DNA test.

Jurors were told Julia Wandelt, aged twenty-four from Poland, left a series of emotional messages for Kate McCann, including one where she said, “What if I’m her?” Co-defendant Karen Spragg, sixty-one, broke down in tears at Leicester Crown Court as the recordings were played. Both deny the charges.

England footballer Millie Bright has announced her retirement from international duty.

The thirty-two-year-old defender, who helped England win the European Championship in 2022, made eighty-eight appearances for her country. Speaking on her podcast, Bright said she’d been “weighing it up for a long time” and was now “at peace” with her decision. She’ll continue to play for Chelsea in the Women’s Super League.

Donald Trump has told Israel’s parliament the Gaza peace deal marks what he called “the historic dawn of a new Middle East.”

Speaking for more than an hour at the Knesset before signing the deal in Egypt, the US president said the agreement ends not only a war, but “an age of terror and death.” He described it as the beginning of “faith, hope and harmony” across the region. His speech was interrupted several times by heckling from left-wing politicians, but Trump insisted the peace framework would bring lasting stability to Israel and its neighbours.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering 13-year-old Lindsay Rimer in 1994.

Police confirmed the suspect was detained at a UK prison, where he’s already serving time for other offences. Officers say he’s being questioned over the next two days and is expected to be bailed and returned to custody while investigations continue. Detectives are also re-interviewing potential witnesses in the Hebden Bridge and Halifax areas as part of the renewed inquiry.

Two inmates have appeared in court charged with murdering convicted paedophile and former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins.

Rashid Gedel, aged twenty-five, and forty-three-year-old Samuel Dodsworth were remanded in custody after brief hearings at Leeds Magistrates’ Court. Both men only confirmed their names and dates of birth. They’re due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday. Watkins, who was serving a twenty-nine-year sentence for serious child sex offences, was killed in an attack at HMP Wakefield on Saturday.

Average mortgage rates have risen for the first time since February, as lenders take a cautious approach heading into winter.

Financial data firm Moneyfacts says rates have edged up after months of steady declines. The average two and five-year fixed rates now sit at around five percent — well below recent peaks but still a strain for many homeowners. Analysts say any immediate base rate cuts from the Bank of England appear unlikely, with uncertainty in the run-up to the Budget keeping markets on edge.

Israel says Hamas has handed over all twenty surviving hostages as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

The group, held in Gaza for more than two years, were freed in exchange for more than nineteen hundred Palestinian prisoners. Hamas first released seven hostages to the Red Cross before handing over thirteen more. They were driven to Israeli forces, then flown by helicopter to hospitals where families are now being reunited. Tens of thousands of people across Israel gathered at public screenings to watch the transfers take place.

Slough’s Wexham Park Hospital is taking a radical approach to tackling superbugs — by removing sinks from its intensive care unit.

The hospital discovered that antimicrobial-resistant bacteria thrive in damp environments like drains and waste pipes. In what’s believed to be the first trial of its kind in the UK, almost all sinks have been taken out to limit waterborne infections. Globally, antibiotic-resistant superbugs are estimated to kill one million people every year, and hospital leaders hope the experiment will help save lives by reducing contamination risks.

Two men have been charged with murdering former Lostprophets singer and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins.

The forty-eight-year-old was attacked at HMP Wakefield on Saturday morning and pronounced dead shortly afterwards. West Yorkshire Police say Rashid Gedel, aged twenty-five, and forty-three-year-old Samuel Dodsworth will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court later today. Watkins was jailed in 2013 for twenty-nine years for a series of serious child sex offences.

A major High Court trial has opened against five major carmakers accused of cheating emissions tests.

Mercedes, Ford, Peugeot Citroën, Renault and Nissan are all accused of using software to artificially reduce harmful gas emissions during testing. The case, dubbed “dieselgate,” could become the largest class action in UK legal history, involving up to one-point-six million car owners. All five manufacturers deny the allegations.

Israel says Hamas has handed over the first seven hostages under the Gaza ceasefire deal.

The remaining hostages, held for more than two years, are being released in exchange for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The hostages were handed to the Red Cross, taken to Israeli security forces, and flown to hospitals, with families waiting for reunions.

Tens of thousands of Israelis watched the transfers at public screenings across the country.

Lloyds Banking Group has set aside an extra £800 million over the car finance mis-selling scandal.

The bank says this takes its total provision to £1.95 billion. The move follows a Financial Conduct Authority consultation on a compensation scheme that could affect up to 14.2 million car finance agreements.

The FCA previously found many lenders failed to disclose broker commissions, potentially causing customers to pay more than they should have between April 2007 and November 2024.

Seven hostages have been handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza, Hebrew media reports.

Crowds in Hostages Square reportedly cheered as the transfer took place. The Red Cross will now take the hostages to Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza before they are handed to Israeli authorities.

From there, they will be flown to the Rei’im base in southern Israel, where families are expected to be reunited.

Hamas has released the names of 20 Israeli hostages expected to be freed within hours.

The hostages are among those still believed to be alive and held in Gaza. Red Cross vehicles are said to be moving into position, while Palestinian prisoners are boarding buses from Israeli jails ahead of a potential exchange.

Under the first phase of the agreement, Israel will release 250 convicted prisoners and 1,700 detainees once all hostages have safely crossed the border.

Donald Trump has warned he could send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Russia refuses to end the war.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, the US president said the move would be considered if peace efforts fail. He made the comments while travelling to the Middle East, where he’s expected to promote a new peace plan for Gaza.

Russia has previously warned that such a move would seriously damage relations between Washington and Moscow.

The chancellor has been warned against making “half-baked” tax changes in next month’s Budget.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies says Rachel Reeves must avoid short-term fixes as she looks to raise money to meet her own fiscal rules. Taxes are widely expected to rise, but the IFS says some increases could harm the economy.

The Treasury says the Budget will strike a balance between funding public services and encouraging growth.