“Developing our own accelerators adds to the broader ecosystem of partners all building the capacity required to push the frontier of A.I.,” OpenAI’s chief executive, Sam Altman, said in a statement.
"There is a sense of happiness" in Gaza, says BBC correspondent
US President Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a Gaza peace deal.
It comes two years and two days after Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the 7 October 2023 attack, in which Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.
At least 67,183 have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza since then, including 20,179 children, the Hamas-run health ministry says.
Here is what we know about the agreement, and what remains unclear:
What has been announced?
After intense negotiations in Egypt, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a first phase of a US peace plan, the US president said.
Announcing the deal on social media, Trump said: "This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line."
"All parties" would be treated fairly, said Trump, who called these the "first steps toward... everlasting peace".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it "a great day for Israel" and said his government would meet on Thursday to approve the agreement and "bring all our dear hostages home".
In confirming the announcement, Hamas said it would "end the war in Gaza, ensure the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces, allow the entry of humanitarian aid, and implement a prisoner exchange".
Israel and Hamas do not speak directly to each other - the negotiations were brokered by Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
Watch: Trump says Middle East deal ‘very close’ after being passed note by Marco Rubio
What happens next?
Israel's government is due to vote on the deal on Thursday.
If they formally approve it, Israel must withdraw its troops from Gaza to the agreed line, a senior White House official told BBC's US partner, CBS News. The withdrawal would likely happen within 24 hours, the official said.
After this happens, a 72-hour clock will begin where Hamas must release the living hostages.
The release of the hostages would likely begin on Monday, the senior White House official said.
What do we not know?
What's been announced so far is just the initial phase of Trump's 20-point peace plan, which Israel has accepted and Hamas has partly agreed to.
However the announcements did not cover some thorny issues both sides have not reached a resolution on.
Notably, no details surround the disarmament of Hamas - a key point in Trump's plan. Hamas has previously refused to lay down its weapons, saying it would only do so when a Palestinian state had been established.
The future governance of Gaza is also a sticking point. Trump's 20-point plan states Hamas will have no future role in the Strip and proposes it be temporarily governed by a "technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee", before being handed over to the Palestinian Authority.
Netanyahu appeared to push back on the Palestinian Authority's involvement last week, even as he accepted Trump's plan.
Ultranationalist hardliners within Netanyahu's ruling coalition, many of whom want to reconstruct Jewish settlements in Gaza, are also likely to object to this point.
Hamas, in response, said it still expected to have some role in governing Gaza.
In addition, as of Wednesday night, Hamas had not yet received the final list of Palestinian prisoners that Israel plans to release in exchange for the hostages in Gaza, a Palestinian source told the BBC.
The 20-point plan states that 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Gazans who were detained after 7 October 2023 will be released.
What's been the reaction?
Reuters
Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, reacts after Trump's announcement
Relatives of Israeli hostages have welcomed the deal.
Eli Sharabi, whose wife and children were killed, and whose brother Yossi's body is being held by Hamas, posted: "Great joy, can't wait to see everyone home."
The mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen posted: "My child, you are coming home."
Meanwhile in Gaza, celebrations broke out after the announcement. "Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing," Abdul Majeed abd Rabbo, a man in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"I am not the only one happy, all of the Gaza Strip is happy, all the Arab people, all of the world is happy with the ceasefire and the end of bloodshed."
Reuters
Palestinians celebrate after the announcement
World leaders have urged parties to abide by the deal.
"The suffering must end," United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, adding that the UN would support the "full implementation" of the deal, as well as increase its delivery of aid and its reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the news, saying: "This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years."
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the agreement a "much needed step towards peace" and urged parties to "respect the terms of the plan".
Lawmakers in the US have struck a cautiously optimistic tone.
"This is a first step, and all parties need to ensure this leads to an enduring end to this war," Democrat Senator Chris Coons said in an X post.
Republican James Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called it a welcome deal and said he "looks forward to learning [its] details".
With reporting by Rushdi Abualouf and Lucy Manning
The US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has praised the "incredible input and tireless efforts" of the UK's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell in bringing about the ceasefire in Gaza.
In a social media post, Witkoff also said he wanted to "acknowledge the vital role of the UK in assisting and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day in Israel".
The comments sharply contrast with those of Mike Huckabee, the US's ambassador in Israel, who said a UK minister was "delusional" for suggesting the UK played a "key role" in the process.
The specific and personal praise for Powell from Witkoff is a boost to the national security adviser at a moment of political vulnerability.
Sources in government had for some time been emphasising the strength of the relationship between Powell and Witkoff.
The two men are said to be in almost daily contact. Their relationship has become closer through their work on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with Powell playing an instrumental role in trying to rebuild the US-Ukraine relationship after President Trump and President Zelensky's public confrontation in the Oval Office in February.
Powell was also in Egypt last week as negotiations over the ceasefire were being finalised.
Some in government expect Powell's experience of negotiating the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland will be called upon by the US and others in the coming weeks and months, especially on the issue of decommissioning of weapons.
Powell was instrumental in brokering the 1998 peace deal in Northern Ireland when he was chief of staff to then Prime Minister Tony Blair.
He left Downing Street after 10 years and went on to set up Inter-mediate, a conflict resolution charity which has helped negotiate peace agreements in Colombia, Mozambique and Spain.
Bronwen Maddox, director of the international relations think tank Chatham House told BBC Radio 4's Profile that Powell made the case that to achieve peace people had to talk to their enemies "even if they have blood on their hands".
Talking previously about the process of negotiation, Powell has said: "It's much harder to kill people when you know them.
"You have to get to know people and build a relationship of trust to break out of the cycle of violence."
On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told Sky News the UK had "played a key role behind the scenes" in shaping the Gaza peace plan and had been involved in "complex matters of diplomacy".
Responding on the social media platform X, Huckabee said: "I assure you she's delusional. She can thank Donald Trump anytime just to set the record straight."
Israel's deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel added to Huckabee's criticism arguing that the UK's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood had "actually pushed Hamas to embolden their position".
However, on Monday, Witkoff publicly lauded the UK's involvement and specifically the role of Jonathan Powell.
Asked about his praise, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "I was not born yesterday.
"I think it is actually very sad that the government is having to beg people to send tweets to say something nice about Jonathan Powell.
"I think that that is quite tragic, the way that the UK's reputation is falling under this Labour government."
Sir Keir Starmer has travelled to Egypt, where US President Donald Trump and negotiators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey will sign the peace plan.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected to attend the international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, along with world leaders from around 20 countries.
The ceasefire brokered by Trump in Gaza began on Friday morning after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of the peace plan.
The last 20 of the Israeli hostages have been released and are now back in Israel, and Hamas is due to hand over the remains of up to 28 deceased hostages.
Israel is releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, while increased amounts of aid should enter the Gaza Strip.
Average mortgage rates have risen for the first time month-on-month since February as lenders approach the winter with caution.
Following a series of drops in mortgage interest rates, the picture worsened slightly for new and renewing borrowers over the last month, according to financial information service Moneyfacts.
The average rate for a two, or five, year fixed rate stands at about 5%, much lower than the peak of recent years, but still a stretch for many homeowners.
Analysts suggest imminent, further base rate cuts by the Bank of England appear unlikely, and uncertainty always foreshadows a Budget.
Moneyfacts data shows that mortgage rates only climbed very slightly over the month, by 0.02 percentage points.
That took the rate on an average two-year deal to 4.98%, and to 5.02% for the average five-year mortgage.
More than eight in 10 mortgage customers have fixed-rate deals. The interest rate on this kind of mortgage does not change until the deal expires, usually after two or five years, and a new one is chosen to replace it.
Hundreds of thousands of potential first-time buyers also hope to get a place of their own with their first mortgage. All would welcome low mortgage rates.
Rachel Springall, from Moneyfacts, said that the latest situation might well "disappoint" borrowers.
"Volatile swap rates and a cautionary approach among lenders have led to an abrupt halt in consecutive monthly average rate falls," she said.
Swap rates reflect the market's view of which direction the Bank of England's interest rates will go, so lenders use them to set their own rates.
"Lenders have responded cautiously, with some edging rates higher and the overall average ticking up slightly," said Simon Gammon, managing partner at mortgage advisers Knight Frank Finance.
"This is unlikely to mark the start of a sustained rise in borrowing costs, but rather a prolonged plateau while the outlook becomes clearer."
The rates during this October are much lower than this month two years ago, when the average rate for a two-year deal was 6.67%.
Some homeowners would have become accustomed to much lower rates during the 2010s, so will now be budgeting for bigger monthly repayments, alongside other financial pressures such as the rising cost of food.
The government has said it will support people with the cost of living. The Budget will be delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in November.
Ms Springall, from Moneyfacts, said that borrowers should consider their own circumstances and seek guidance when required.
"It remains essential borrowers seek independent advice to navigate the mortgage maze and not feel pressured to secure a deal because of the Budget rumour mill," she said.
On Monday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an independent economic think-tank, said that the chancellor should avoid "directionless tinkering and half-baked fixes" when trying to boost the government's tax take in the Budget.
A ceasefire deal has taken effect in Gaza that should see Hamas release all the 48 Israeli and foreign hostages it is still holding after two years of war, 20 of whom are assumed to be alive.
All but one were among the 251 people abducted during the Palestinian group's attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 other people were killed.
Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 67,000 people have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Hostages who are thought to be alive
Ariel Cunio, 28, was abducted in the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz on 7 October. Ariel's brother Eitan, who escaped the Hamas-led gunmen, said the last message from Ariel said: "We are in a horror movie." Ariel's partner, Arbel Yehud, was freed in January 2025 under a deal that saw Hamas hand over 25 living and eight dead hostages during a two-month ceasefire.
David Cunio, 35, another of Ariel's brothers, was also kidnapped from Nir Oz. David's wife Sharon Aloni Cunio and their then-three-year-old twin daughters Ema and Yuly were among the 105 hostages released during a week-long ceasefire in November 2023. Sharon's sister Danielle Aloni and her daughter Emilia were also freed. In February 2025, David's family said released hostages had told them that had recently seen him alive.
Gali and Ziv Berman, 28-year-old twin brothers, were abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza with their neighbour, Emily Damari. Ziv was held with Emily for 40 days before they were separated. She was released in January 2025 during the last ceasefire. Gali and Ziv's family said they had been informed by other hostages released in early 2025 that they were still alive.
Matan Angrest, a 22-year-old Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier, was in a tank that was attacked near the Gaza perimeter fence on 7 October. One video showed a crowd pulling him from the tank unconscious and injured. Earlier this year, his family said they had been told by released hostages that he was suffering from chronic asthma, untreated burns and infections.
Reuters
Matan Zangauker, 25, was taken with his partner Ilana Gritzewsky from Nir Oz. Ilana was released during the November 2023 ceasefire. In December 2024, Hamas released a video showing Matan in captivity. He said he and his fellow hostages were suffering from skin ailments, shortages of food, water and medicine.
Eitan Horn, 38, an Israeli-Argentine dual national, was kidnapped along with his elder brother Yair from Nir Oz. Yair was freed in February 2025 during the last ceasefire. Hamas released a video at the time showing Eitan and Yair hugging and breaking down in tears ahead of the latter's release. "Every day we imagined what we'd do if we were freed," Yair recalled recently.
Nimrod Cohen, 21, was serving as an IDF soldier when his tank was attacked by Hamas at Nahal Oz. In February 2025, his family were told by one of the released hostages that he was still alive in captivity but in poor physical and mental shape. After the new ceasefire was agreed, his mother Viki posted on social media: "My child, you are coming home."
Omri Miran, 48, was abducted from his home in Nahal Oz. His wife, Lishay, said she last saw him being driven away in his own car. She and their two young daughters, Roni and Alma, were not taken with him. In April 2025, Hamas released a video showing Omri marking his 48th birthday. In response: Lishay said: "I always said and I always knew, Omri is a survivor."
Reuters
Dozens of people were taken hostage during the attack by Hamas gunmen on the Nova music festival. Among those believed to be still alive in captivity are:
Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 25, had been at the festival with a friend, who said they had remained to help people escape the gunfire before running themselves. In May 2025, Hamas published a video showing Yosef and another hostage, Elkana Bohbot. Yosef is seen sitting beside Elkana, who is lying on the ground. An intravenous drip is hooked up to the wall next to Elkana.
Elkana Bohbot, 36, was working at the festival when he was abducted. "In our last conversation on the morning of the massacre at 07:00, I told him, 'It's not just missiles, come home,' and he promised he would return," his wife Rikva said in March 2025. The previous month, Israeli media cited a released hostage as saying Elkana, who has asthma, was being held in inhumane conditions and had developed a severe skin disease.
Avinatan Or, 32, was kidnapped at the festival along with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, but they were immediately separated. Noa and three other hostages were rescued in an Israeli military operation in central Gaza in June 2024. In March 2025, Avinatan's family said they had received a sign that he was still alive. His British-Israeli mother, Ditza, has said she just wants to put her ear to his chest and hear his heartbeat again.
Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24, attended the festival with his brother, Gal, who said the last time they saw each other was just before Hamas launched its first barrage of rockets into Israel at the start of the attack. Gal evaded the gunmen on the ground, but Guy was kidnapped. Last month, Hamas released a video showing Guy and another hostage, Alon Ohel, being driven around Gaza City in late August as the Israeli military prepared to launch an offensive there.
Alon Ohel, 24, has Israeli, German and Serbian citizenship. Hamas footage showed him being taken away as a hostage from the Nova festival. Alon was not seen in another video until August 2025, when he was filmed being driven around Gaza City with Guy Gilboa-Dalal. Last month, Alon's family approved the publication of a still from a new video which they said showed he had gone blind in one eye.
Eitan Mor, 25, was working as a security guard at the festival. His father Mor said he saved dozens of people before being kidnapped by Hamas gunmen. In February 2025, Eitan's family said they had received a sign of life from him. Three months later, they said a released hostage who spent time with him in a tunnel had told them how he had acted as a "spokesman to the captors" and "lifted everyone's spirits".
Maxim Herkin, 37, is an Israel-Russian dual national who was invited to the festival at the last moment. His two friends were among the 378 people killed in the attack. In April 2025, Maxim appeared in a Hamas video along with Bar Kupershtein - the first signs of life from either man since they were taken hostage. The following month, Maxim was seen alone in another video and appeared to be bandaged up. Hamas said was the result of an Israeli air strike.
Bar Kupershtein, 23, was working at the festival and stayed behind during the attack to help treat casualties. He told his grandmother that he would head home as soon as they were finished. But he was later identified him in a video of hostages. They heard no further information about him until April 2025, when he was seen in a video with Maxim Herkin.
Segev Kalfon, 27, was running away from the festival with a friend when he was taken hostage by Hamas gunmen. Two months later, the Israeli military found a video of the abduction. In February 2025, released hostage Ohad Ben Ami told Segev's father, Kobi, that they had been held captive with four other men in a tunnel in "terrible conditions".
Evyatar David, 24, was at the festival and on the morning of the attacks. He texted the family to say "they are bombarding the party". His family say they later received a text from an unknown number, containing video footage of Evyatar handcuffed on the floor of a dark room. In August 2025, Hamas published a video of an emaciated and weak Evyatar in a tunnel. The footage caused outrage in Israel and deep concern among his family. "He's a human skeleton. He was being starved to the point where he can be dead at any moment," said his brother Ilay.
Rom Braslabski, 21, was working on security for the festival. According to an account published by Hostages and Missing Families Forum, he was trying to rescue an injured person in the attack when he was caught in a volley of fire. In August 2025, Palestinian Islamic Jihad published a video of Rom, in which he is seen crying as he says he has run out of food and water. He says he is unable to stand or walk, and "is at death's door". Medical experts said he was suffering from "deliberate, prolonged, and systematic starvation".
EPA
Hostages whose conditions are unknown
Bipin Joshi, 24, a Nepalese agriculture student, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Alumim. Footage from 7 October 2023 showed him walking inside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. His family received no signs of life for a year, until the Israeli military shared a video showing him in captivity around November 2023. The family released the footage just before the new ceasefire was announced, describing it as "proof of life".
Tomer Alon Nimrodi, 20, was an education officer in the IDF at the Erez Crossing on 7 October. The last time his mother, Herut, saw him was in a video of his abduction posted on social media that day. Since then, she has received no signs of life and his fate is unknown.
Hostages who are confirmed dead
Tamir Adar, 38, was a member of Nir Oz's community security squad who was killed while fighting Hamas gunmen during the 7 October attack, his kibbutz announced in January 2024. The body of the farmer and father-of-two is being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Sonthaya Akrasri, 30, was a Thai agricultural worker killed in the attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, Thailand's foreign ministry said in May 2024, citing the available evidence. His body is being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Muhammad al-Atarash, 39, was a sergeant-major in the IDF and served as a tracker. In June 2024, the IDF confirmed the father-of-13 from the Bedouin village of Sawa was killed while fighting Hamas gunmen near Nahal Oz on 7 October and that his body was being held in Gaza.
Sahar Baruch, 24, was kidnapped from Be'eri. In January 2024, the IDF announced that he had been killed during a rescue attempt by Israeli forces in Gaza. It was not clear whether he was killed by Hamas or Israeli gunfire.
Uriel Baruch, 35, was abducted from the Nova festival. In March 2024, the father-of-two's family said they had been informed by the IDF that he was killed in captivity in Gaza.
Itay Chen, 19, was an Israeli-American who was serving as a soldier in the IDF on 7 October. The IDF said he was killed during Hamas's attack on Nahal Oz base and that his body was taken back to Gaza as a hostage.
Amiram Cooper, 85, was abducted from Nir Oz. The IDF said in June 2024 that he had been killed along with three other hostages - Nadav Popplewell, Chaim Peri and Yoram Metzger - during military operations in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza.
Oz Daniel, 19, was a sergeant in the IDF's 7th Armoured Brigade and was killed during a battle with Hamas gunmen near the Gaza perimeter fence on 7 October. His body was taken to Gaza as a hostage, according to the IDF.
Ronen Engel, 54, was kidnapped from Nir Oz on 7 October along with his wife, Karina Engel-Bart, and their daughters, Mika and Yuval. Karina, Mika and Yuval were released during the ceasefire in November 2023. The following month, the IDF confirmed that Ronen has been killed in captivity.
Meny Godard, 73, was killed during the attack on Be'eri with his wife, Ayelet, and his body was taken to Gaza as a hostage, his family said in February 2024. In March 2025, the IDF said some of Meny's remains had been found at a Palestinian Islamic Jihad outpost in Rafah, but that the group was believed to be holding the rest.
Ran Gvili, 24, was a sergeant in the Israel Police who was killed while fighting Hamas-led gunmen in Kibbutz Alumim on 7 October. His body was subsequently taken to Gaza as a hostage, according to the IDF.
Tal Haimi, 41, was part of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak's rapid response team and was killed during the attack there on 7 October. The father-of-four's body was taken to Gaza, where it is still being held.
Asaf Hamami, 41, was a colonel in the IDF and commander of the Gaza Division's Southern Brigade. He was killed near Kibbutz Nirim on 7 October and his body is being held in Gaza, according to the IDF.
Inbar Hayman, 27, was kidnapped during the attack on the Nova festival and was killed by Hamas in captivity, her family said. She is the last female hostage being held.
Guy Illouz, 26, was shot twice during the attack on the Nova festival and died of his wounds after being taken hostage, his family said. Released hostages are said to have confirmed his death.
Reuters
Eitan Levi, 53, was a taxi driver who was killed by Hamas gunmen on a road close to the Gaza perimeter on 7 October. His body was then taken to Gaza, where Palestinians were filmed beating and kicking it.
Eliyahu Margalit, 75, was killed by Hamas fighters in Nir Oz on 7 October, the IDF confirmed in December 2023. His body is being held in Gaza.
Joshua Mollel, 21, was a Tanzanian student who was undertaking an agricultural internship at Kibbutz Nahal Oz when it was attacked on 7 October. The Tanzanian government confirmed in December 2023 that he was killed that day and that his body was being held by Hamas.
Omer Neutra, 21, an Israeli-American and grandson of Holocaust survivors, was serving as an IDF tank commander near Gaza when Hamas attacked on 7 October. The IDF later said he was killed that day and his body taken to Gaza.
Dror Or, 48, and his wife, Yonat, were killed in the attack on Be'eri, the kibbutz confirmed in February 2024. Two of his three children, Noam and Alma, were taken hostage and were released as part of the November 2023 ceasefire deal. Dror's body is being held in Gaza.
Daniel Peretz, 22, was a captain in the IDF's 7th Armoured Brigade. Originally from South Africa, he was killed in an attack on his tank near Nahal Oz on 7 October and his body was taken to Gaza, the IDF said.
Suthisak Rintalak, 43, was a Thai agricultural worker killed in the attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, Thailand's foreign ministry said in May 2024, citing the available evidence. His body is being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Lior Rudaeff, 61, was killed while attempting to defend Nir Yitzhak from attack on 7 October, the kibbutz said. His body is being held as a hostage.
Yossi Sharabi, 53, was kidnapped from Be'eri along with his brother, Eli. In January 2024, the kibbutz announced that the father-of-three had been killed in captivity in Gaza. The following month, the IDF said an investigation had found that he was likely to have been killed when a building collapsed following an Israeli strike on another building nearby. His body is being held by Hamas. Eli, who was released in February 2025, told the BBC last week how important it was for the family to have a funeral and closure.
Arie Zalmanowicz, 85, was abducted from Nir Oz on 7 October. In November 2023, Hamas released a video showing him saying he felt unwell. The following month his kibbutz said he had died in captivity.
Hadar Goldin, 23, was a lieutenant in the IDF's Givati Brigade who was killed in combat in Gaza in 2014. His body has been held hostage by Hamas since then.
Nexperia is based in the Netherlands and operates factories worldwide, including in the UK
The Dutch government said on Sunday that it had taken the "highly exceptional" decision to intervene at Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia over a potential "risk to Dutch and European economic security."
The Netherlands-based firm's owner Wingtech said on Monday that it will take actions to protect its rights and will seek government support.
The development threatens to raise tensions between the European Union and China, which have increased in recent months over trade and Beijing's relationship with Russia.
The Dutch government said its economic affairs ministry had invoked its Goods Availability Act over "acute signals of serious governance shortcomings" within Nexperia.
The law is designed to allow the Hague to intervene in companies under exceptional circumstances. These include threats to the country's economic security and to ensure the supply of critical goods.
The intervention is meant to prevent a potential situation in which Nexperia's chips would become unavailable in an emergency, said the Dutch government.
It added that Nexperia's operations posed a "threat to the continuity and safeguarding on Dutch and European soil of crucial technological knowledge and capabilities."
The company's production can continue as normal, it added.
Nexperia makes semiconductors used in cars and consumer electronics.
The government statement did not detail why it thought the firm's operations were risky. The BBC has contacted Dutch authorities for clarification.
Shanghai-listed shares in Nexperia's parent company Wingtech fell by 10% on Monday morning.
Wingtech is among the firms the US has placed on its so-called "entity list". Under the regulations, US companies are barred from exporting American-made goods to businesses on the list unless they have special approval.
In September, the US commerce department further tightened its restrictions, adding to the entity list any company that is majority-owned by a Chinese firm.
The passenger bus veered off the N1 highway and plunged down an embankment
Forty-two Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals have died after a bus taking them home overturned on a South African road, authorities have said.
The crash happened on Sunday night as the bus was moving through "a mountainous section" of the N1 highway in South Africa's Limpopo province, local transport officials said.
"It [then] veered off the road along a steep mountain pass and plunged down an embankment," they added.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa mourned the high death toll, which includes seven children, and said this was not only a tragedy for the country but for "our sister states of Zimbabwe and Malawi" as well.
The cause of the accident is unknown but an investigation has been launched.
According to reports, the bus was travelling from the city of Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
It is not clear how many people were travelling on the bus when it crashed, or its capacity.
As well as the seven children, 18 women and 17 men died, while 49 people were injured, authorities confirmed.
Government officials, including Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, are set to visit the scene of the crash as well as the injured passengers.
Jin Mingri, who founded the influential Zion Church is 2007, is among those detained
The US has called for the release of 30 leaders of one of China's largest underground church network who were reportedly detained over the weekend in overnight raids in various cities.
The list includes several pastors and Zion Church founder Jin Mingri who was arrested in the early hours of Saturday after 10 officers searched his home, US-based non-profit ChinaAid said.
The Chinese Communist Party promotes atheism and tightly controls religion - still, some Christian groups are calling this the most extensive crackdown against the faith in decades.
Christians have long been pressured to join only state-sanctioned churches that are led by government-approved pastors and toe the party line.
It is unclear if the detainees have been formally charged.
"Such systematic persecution is not only an affront to the Church of God but also a public challenge to the international community," Zion Church said in a statement.
Urging China to release the church leaders, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Sunday that "this crackdown further demonstrates how the CCP exercises hostility towards Christians who reject Party interference in their faith and choose to worship at unregistered house churches".
Former US vice-president Mike Pence and former secretary of state Mike Pompeo have also released statements on X condemning the arrests.
When asked about the arrests at a press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said he was not aware of the case.
He added: "The Chinese government governs religious affairs in accordance with the law, and protects the religious freedom of citizens and normal religious activities. We firmly oppose the US interfering in China's internal affairs with so-called religious issues."
This could be yet another source of friction in the US-China relationship with trade tensions once again ramping up between the world's two biggest economies over tariffs and export controls.
Already, there is doubt over whether a summit between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, which was expected to happen in South Korea later this month, will proceed.
Under Xi, Beijing has cracked down even more on religious freedom, especially against Christians and Muslims.
At a national conference on religion in 2016, he called on the party to "guide those [who are] religious to love their country, protect the unification of their motherland and serve the overall interests of the Chinese nation".
Among them is Zion Church, which Mr Jin started in 2007 with just 20 people. Its network now includes some 10,000 people in 40 cities across the country, making it one of the largest underground churches in China.
In September 2018, the Party officially banned the church after it resisted government pressure to install security cameras at its property in Beijing. Mr Jin and several church leaders were detained briefly.
Many of its branch congregations across the country have since been investigated and shut down. Mr Jin's family relocated to the US for safety, while he remained in China to pastor his flock. Authorities have barred him from leaving the country.
Still the church continued to gather in small groups and shared its sermons online.
ChinaAid has called this roundup of Christian leaders - which involved police across several cities - unprecedented, and the "most extensive and coordinated wave of persecution" against Christians in over four decades.
"This new nationwide campaign echoes the darkest days of the 1980s, when urban churches first re-emerged from the Cultural Revolution," said ChinaAid's founder Bob Fu, referring to a period of mass purges in the 1960s and 1970s which triggered violence and huge upheaval across China.
In a letter seeking prayers, Mr Jin's wife Liu Chunli wrote that her heart is "filled with a mix of shock, grief, sorrow, worry, and righteous anger".
Mr Jin "simply [did] what any faithful pastor would do... He is innocent!" she wrote, adding that her family's hopes for a reunion after being separated for more than seven years have been dashed yet again.
Several house churches in China have also issued statements calling for the release of those detained.
Sean Long, a Zion Church pastor based in the US, said Mr Jin had been prepared for a crackdown of this scale.
In a Zoom call weeks ago between the two pastors, Mr Long had asked what would happen if Mr Jin was put in prison and all the church's leaders detained.
Mr Jin had replied: "Hallelujah! For a new wave of revival will follow then!"
Police have cautioned parents and guardians to ensure children do not have access to firearms (stock photo)
An 11-year-old boy has allegedly shot and killed a farm worker while attempting to shoot at guinea fowls on a farm in South Africa, police say.
According to the police, the child "accidentally discharged" the firearm, though the exact circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation.
His 43-year-old father has been arrested and is expected to be charged with negligent handling of a firearm. The two are due to appear in court on Monday.
Police said they were alerted to the shooting and on arrival at the scene discovered the body of a man believed to be in his 30s lying on his side with a gunshot wound. He was declared dead at the scene.
Saturday's shooting in Thabazimbi, Limpopo province, has renewed concern over firearm safety and parental responsibility in the country. The firearm was seized as evidence.
"This heart-breaking incident serves as a reminder that firearms must be handled with the utmost care and stored securely at all times," Limpopo police chief Thembi Hadebe said.
She added that parents and guardians have a responsibility to ensure that "children do not have access to firearms under any circumstances".
Local media report that the incident has deeply shocked the local farming community and raised public concern about the risks of children accessing weapons in rural households.
Earlier this month, police said they had opened a murder charge against an eight-year-old boy after he fatally shot his seven-year-old cousin with his father's firearm in Eastern Cape province.
His 48-year-old father was charged with failure to safeguard the firearm.
Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison in 2013
Two men have been charged with the murder of paedophile singer Ian Watkins, who was killed in Wakefield Prison.
The former Lostprophets frontman, who was serving a 29-year jail sentence, was fatally injured in an incident at the prison just after 09:30 BST on Saturday.
Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, have both been charged with murder and will appear before Leeds Magistrates' Court on Monday morning, West Yorkshire Police said.
Watkins was jailed in 2013 for a string of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.
Watkins, who also faced a further six years on licence if he was ever released, admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to rape.
He also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.
During sentencing, Mr Justice Royce said the case broke "new ground" and "plunged into new depths of depravity".
Police were called to an incident at Wakefield Prison just after 09:30 BST on Saturday
Formed in Pontypridd in 1997, Lostprophets became one of the UK's biggest bands, securing 11 top 40 hits and a number one album between 2002 and 2010.
In a statement released after his conviction, the band's remaining members said they were "heartbroken, angry, and disgusted" at his crimes, adding that their "hearts go out" to his victims.
A high-security prison housing some of the UK's most notorious offenders, Wakefield Prison currently holds more than 600 inmates.
A report on conditions within the facility, which was published last month, said violence had "increased markedly" since a previous inspection in 2022.
It also said the prison's "infrastructure was in a poor state", citing "repeated breakdowns of essential equipment" and "some significant elements of the prison's perimeter security systems".
Among those currently serving time at the prison are believd to be Roy Whiting, who murdered eight year-old Sarah Payne in 2000, and Reynhard Sinaga, who was convicted of 159 sexual offences against 48 men in 2020.
Both men have reportedly been attacked at the jail in recent years.
Harold Shipman, Ian Huntley and Piran Ditta Khan are also among the former inmates to have served time in Wakefield.
Watch Science Correspondent Victoria Gill put herself through a thermal imaging stress test
When I was asked to give an impromptu five-minute speech and then to count backwards in intervals of 17 - all in front of a panel of three strangers - the acute stress was written on my face.
That is because psychologists from the University of Sussex were filming this somewhat terrifying experience for a research project that is studying stress using thermal cameras.
Stress alters the blood flow in the face, and scientists have discovered that the drop in temperature of a person's nose can be used as a measure of stress levels, and to monitor recovery.
Thermal imaging, according to the psychologists behind the study could be a "game changer" in stress research.
Kevin Church/BBC
The temperature drop in the nose, seen in the thermal image on the right, happens because stress affects our blood flow.
The experimental stress test that I subjected myself to is carefully controlled and deliberately designed to be an unpleasant surprise. I arrived at the university with no idea what I was in for.
First, I was asked to sit, relax and listen to white noise through a set of headphones.
So far, so calming.
Then, the researcher who was running the test invited a panel of three strangers into the room. They all stared at me silently as the researcher informed that I now had three minutes to prepare a five minute speech about my "dream job".
As I felt the heat rise around my neck, the scientists captured my face changing colour through their thermal camera. My nose quickly dropped in temperature - turning blue on the thermal image - as I considered how to bluster my way through this unplanned presentation. (I decided I would take the opportunity to make my pitch to join the astronaut training programme!)
The Sussex researchers have carried out this same stress test on 29 volunteers. In each, they saw their nose dip in temperature by between three and six degrees.
My nose dropped in temperature by two degrees, as my nervous system pushed blood flow away from my nose and to my eyes and ears - a physical reaction to help me to look and listen for danger.
Most participants, like me, recovered quickly; their noses warmed to pre-stressed levels within a few minutes.
Lead researcher, Prof Gillian Forrester explained that being a reporter and broadcaster has probably made me "quite habituated to being put in stressful positions".
"You are used to the camera and talking with strangers, so you're probably quite resilient to social stressors," she explained.
"But even someone like you, trained to be in stressful situations, shows a biological blood flow shift, so that suggests this 'nasal dip' is a robust marker of a changing stress state."
Kevin Church/BBC News
The 'nasal dip' happens in just a few minutes when we are acutely stressed
Stress is part of life. But this discovery, the scientists say, could be used to help manage harmful levels of stress.
"The length of time it takes someone tor recover from this nasal dip could be an objective measure of how well somebody regulates their stress," said Prof Forrester.
"If they bounce back unusually slowly, could that be a risk marker of anxiety or depression? Is it something that we can do anything about?"
Because this technique is non-invasive and measures a physical response, it could also be useful to monitor stress in babies or in people who can't communicate.
The second task in my stress assessment was, in my view, even worse than the first. I was asked to count backwards from 2023 in intervals of 17. Someone on the panel of three impassive strangers stopped me every time I made a mistake and asked me to start again.
I admit, I am bad at mental arithmetic.
As I spent an embarrassing length of time trying to force my brain to perform subtraction, all I could think was that I wanted to flee the increasingly stuffy room.
During the research, only one of the 29 volunteers for the stress test did actually ask to leave. The rest, like me, completed their tasks - presumably feeling varying degrees of humiliation - and were rewarded with another calming session of white noise through headphones at the end.
Anxious apes
Prof Forrester will demonstrate this new thermal stress-measuring method in front of an audience at the New Scientist Live event in London on 18 October.
Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of the approach is that, because thermal cameras measure a physical stress response that is innate in many primates, it can also be used in non-human apes.
The researchers are currently developing its use in sanctuaries for great apes, including chimpanzees and gorillas. They want to work out how to reduce stress and improve the wellbeing of animals that may have been rescued from traumatic circumstances.
The team has already found that showing adult chimpanzees video footage of baby chimpanzees has a calming effect. When the researchers set up a video screen close to the rescued chimps' enclosure, they saw the noses of animals that watched the footage warm up.
So, in terms of stress, watching baby animals animals playing is the opposite of a surprise job interview or an on-the-spot subtraction task.
Gilly Forrester/University of Sussex
Chimpanzees and gorillas in sanctuaries may have been rescued from traumatic circumstances
Using thermal cameras in ape sanctuaries could prove to be valuable in helping rescued animals to adjust and settle in to a new social group and strange surroundings.
"They can't say how they're feeling and they can be quite good at masking how they're feeling," explained Marianne Paisley, a researcher from the University of Sussex who is studying great ape wellbeing.
"We've [studied] primates for the last 100 years or so to help us understand ourselves.
"Now we know so much about human mental health, so maybe we can use that and give back to them."
So perhaps my own minor scientific ordeal could contribute, in a small way, to alleviating distress in some of our primate cousins.
Additional reporting by Kate Stephens. Photography by Kevin Church
A woman has been arrested after two children were pronounced dead, police said
A 43-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the deaths of two children.
Emergency services were called to a home in Corporation Street, Stafford, at about 07:30 BST, where the two children were pronounced dead.
"We are working hard to understand more about what happened leading up to these two children tragically losing their lives," said Det Insp Kirsty Oldfield of Staffordshire Police.
"We ask that people do not speculate at this stage as it is distressing for family and friends and could hinder our inquiries."
Officers were called to the home by West Midlands Ambulance service, the force added.
The children's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers, it said.
Emma Wills moved in to the Chilworth property five months before the fire
A mother has warned about the perils of modified e-bikes after a fire left her family homeless and killed one of her kittens.
Emma Wills, from Chilworth in Surrey, moved in to the property five months before a modified e-bike charging in her living room caught fire at the end of January.
"To go from a fresh start to losing everything so quickly has been devastating," she said.
The e-bike, which belonged to a family friend, had recently been modified using a conversion kit bought online.
According to new research from consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First, a total of 23% of UK push-bike owners surveyed were considering turning their push-bike into an e-bike.
Conversion kits are cheaper to buy than a fully manufactured e-bike but come with huge risks, the charity has said.
Electrical Safety First
Mrs Wills said the fire destroyed all the "sentimental keepsakes" that remind her of her late mother
Giuseppe Capanna, its product safety engineer, said: "Kits made up of substandard components can cause devastating fires.
"At present, technology has outpaced regulation meaning there are no existing safety standards for conversion kits."
Mrs Wills, who has three children, said: "I lost my mum in 2021, so all the memories and sentimental keepsakes I had of her are gone.
"They can never be replaced, and that breaks my heart."
Electrical Safety First
Mrs Wills said losing the family kitten was "heartbreaking"
She added: "It's had a huge impact on my two youngest children. They don't want to go out anymore.
"It doesn't just affect one part of your life, it affects everything."
Mrs Wills said losing the kitten, which had been hand-reared by the family from four-weeks-old, was "heartbreaking".
In 2024, the Office for Product Safety and Standards received 170 reports of e-bike fires, with 45% confirmed to be from converted e-bikes.
The actual number is expected to be much higher as not all fire and rescue services notify OPSS of blazes involving consumer products.
Lloyds said that the number of eligible claims is expected to be higher than previously thought.
Lloyds Banking Group is setting aside an additional £800m for car finance compensation claims, bringing the total amount allocated by the bank for redress to nearly £2bn.
The company said that the number of eligible claims is expected to be higher than previously thought.
Millions of drivers who bought cars on finance with hidden commission payments between 2007 and 2024 may be eligible for redress.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published details of its proposed compensation scheme last week.
The FCA said payouts could be due on around 14 million unfair deals, averaging at about £700 each.
This could result in lenders paying out a total of £8.2bn in compensation.
The payouts are over commission arrangements between lenders and dealers, unfair contracts, and inaccurate information given to car buyers.
Lloyds said in a statement: "Based on the FCA proposals in their current form, the potential impact is at the adverse end of the range of previous expected outcomes."
It said it was setting aside an additional £800m for redress based on "the increased likelihood of a higher number of historical cases... being eligible for redress".
It said its "best estimate" of the total cost of redress was £1.95bn.
The proposed scheme would be free to access for consumers, although the interest they receive on redress will be much lower than that paid following the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal.
That scandal cost Lloyds £22bn.
The FCA estimates that 44% of all motor finance agreements made since 2007 will be eligible for payouts.
But a ruling at the Supreme Court in August limited the breadth of these cases.
The FCA advises anyone who wants to make a complaint to get in touch with their lender or broker, and has this guidance on how to complain.
But the Finance and Leasing Association, the body that represents the lending industry, has said the FCA is "overcompensating".
A ceasefire deal has taken effect in Gaza that should see Hamas release all the 48 Israeli and foreign hostages it is still holding after two years of war, 20 of whom are assumed to be alive.
All but one were among the 251 people abducted during the Palestinian group's attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 other people were killed.
Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 67,000 people have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Hostages who are thought to be alive
Ariel Cunio, 28, was abducted in the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz on 7 October. Ariel's brother Eitan, who escaped the Hamas-led gunmen, said the last message from Ariel said: "We are in a horror movie." Ariel's partner, Arbel Yehud, was freed in January 2025 under a deal that saw Hamas hand over 25 living and eight dead hostages during a two-month ceasefire.
David Cunio, 35, another of Ariel's brothers, was also kidnapped from Nir Oz. David's wife Sharon Aloni Cunio and their then-three-year-old twin daughters Ema and Yuly were among the 105 hostages released during a week-long ceasefire in November 2023. Sharon's sister Danielle Aloni and her daughter Emilia were also freed. In February 2025, David's family said released hostages had told them that had recently seen him alive.
Gali and Ziv Berman, 28-year-old twin brothers, were abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza with their neighbour, Emily Damari. Ziv was held with Emily for 40 days before they were separated. She was released in January 2025 during the last ceasefire. Gali and Ziv's family said they had been informed by other hostages released in early 2025 that they were still alive.
Matan Angrest, a 22-year-old Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier, was in a tank that was attacked near the Gaza perimeter fence on 7 October. One video showed a crowd pulling him from the tank unconscious and injured. Earlier this year, his family said they had been told by released hostages that he was suffering from chronic asthma, untreated burns and infections.
Reuters
Matan Zangauker, 25, was taken with his partner Ilana Gritzewsky from Nir Oz. Ilana was released during the November 2023 ceasefire. In December 2024, Hamas released a video showing Matan in captivity. He said he and his fellow hostages were suffering from skin ailments, shortages of food, water and medicine.
Eitan Horn, 38, an Israeli-Argentine dual national, was kidnapped along with his elder brother Yair from Nir Oz. Yair was freed in February 2025 during the last ceasefire. Hamas released a video at the time showing Eitan and Yair hugging and breaking down in tears ahead of the latter's release. "Every day we imagined what we'd do if we were freed," Yair recalled recently.
Nimrod Cohen, 21, was serving as an IDF soldier when his tank was attacked by Hamas at Nahal Oz. In February 2025, his family were told by one of the released hostages that he was still alive in captivity but in poor physical and mental shape. After the new ceasefire was agreed, his mother Viki posted on social media: "My child, you are coming home."
Omri Miran, 48, was abducted from his home in Nahal Oz. His wife, Lishay, said she last saw him being driven away in his own car. She and their two young daughters, Roni and Alma, were not taken with him. In April 2025, Hamas released a video showing Omri marking his 48th birthday. In response: Lishay said: "I always said and I always knew, Omri is a survivor."
Reuters
Dozens of people were taken hostage during the attack by Hamas gunmen on the Nova music festival. Among those believed to be still alive in captivity are:
Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 25, had been at the festival with a friend, who said they had remained to help people escape the gunfire before running themselves. In May 2025, Hamas published a video showing Yosef and another hostage, Elkana Bohbot. Yosef is seen sitting beside Elkana, who is lying on the ground. An intravenous drip is hooked up to the wall next to Elkana.
Elkana Bohbot, 36, was working at the festival when he was abducted. "In our last conversation on the morning of the massacre at 07:00, I told him, 'It's not just missiles, come home,' and he promised he would return," his wife Rikva said in March 2025. The previous month, Israeli media cited a released hostage as saying Elkana, who has asthma, was being held in inhumane conditions and had developed a severe skin disease.
Avinatan Or, 32, was kidnapped at the festival along with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, but they were immediately separated. Noa and three other hostages were rescued in an Israeli military operation in central Gaza in June 2024. In March 2025, Avinatan's family said they had received a sign that he was still alive. His British-Israeli mother, Ditza, has said she just wants to put her ear to his chest and hear his heartbeat again.
Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24, attended the festival with his brother, Gal, who said the last time they saw each other was just before Hamas launched its first barrage of rockets into Israel at the start of the attack. Gal evaded the gunmen on the ground, but Guy was kidnapped. Last month, Hamas released a video showing Guy and another hostage, Alon Ohel, being driven around Gaza City in late August as the Israeli military prepared to launch an offensive there.
Alon Ohel, 24, has Israeli, German and Serbian citizenship. Hamas footage showed him being taken away as a hostage from the Nova festival. Alon was not seen in another video until August 2025, when he was filmed being driven around Gaza City with Guy Gilboa-Dalal. Last month, Alon's family approved the publication of a still from a new video which they said showed he had gone blind in one eye.
Eitan Mor, 25, was working as a security guard at the festival. His father Mor said he saved dozens of people before being kidnapped by Hamas gunmen. In February 2025, Eitan's family said they had received a sign of life from him. Three months later, they said a released hostage who spent time with him in a tunnel had told them how he had acted as a "spokesman to the captors" and "lifted everyone's spirits".
Maxim Herkin, 37, is an Israel-Russian dual national who was invited to the festival at the last moment. His two friends were among the 378 people killed in the attack. In April 2025, Maxim appeared in a Hamas video along with Bar Kupershtein - the first signs of life from either man since they were taken hostage. The following month, Maxim was seen alone in another video and appeared to be bandaged up. Hamas said was the result of an Israeli air strike.
Bar Kupershtein, 23, was working at the festival and stayed behind during the attack to help treat casualties. He told his grandmother that he would head home as soon as they were finished. But he was later identified him in a video of hostages. They heard no further information about him until April 2025, when he was seen in a video with Maxim Herkin.
Segev Kalfon, 27, was running away from the festival with a friend when he was taken hostage by Hamas gunmen. Two months later, the Israeli military found a video of the abduction. In February 2025, released hostage Ohad Ben Ami told Segev's father, Kobi, that they had been held captive with four other men in a tunnel in "terrible conditions".
Evyatar David, 24, was at the festival and on the morning of the attacks. He texted the family to say "they are bombarding the party". His family say they later received a text from an unknown number, containing video footage of Evyatar handcuffed on the floor of a dark room. In August 2025, Hamas published a video of an emaciated and weak Evyatar in a tunnel. The footage caused outrage in Israel and deep concern among his family. "He's a human skeleton. He was being starved to the point where he can be dead at any moment," said his brother Ilay.
Rom Braslabski, 21, was working on security for the festival. According to an account published by Hostages and Missing Families Forum, he was trying to rescue an injured person in the attack when he was caught in a volley of fire. In August 2025, Palestinian Islamic Jihad published a video of Rom, in which he is seen crying as he says he has run out of food and water. He says he is unable to stand or walk, and "is at death's door". Medical experts said he was suffering from "deliberate, prolonged, and systematic starvation".
EPA
Hostages whose conditions are unknown
Bipin Joshi, 24, a Nepalese agriculture student, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Alumim. Footage from 7 October 2023 showed him walking inside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. His family received no signs of life for a year, until the Israeli military shared a video showing him in captivity around November 2023. The family released the footage just before the new ceasefire was announced, describing it as "proof of life".
Tomer Alon Nimrodi, 20, was an education officer in the IDF at the Erez Crossing on 7 October. The last time his mother, Herut, saw him was in a video of his abduction posted on social media that day. Since then, she has received no signs of life and his fate is unknown.
Hostages who are confirmed dead
Tamir Adar, 38, was a member of Nir Oz's community security squad who was killed while fighting Hamas gunmen during the 7 October attack, his kibbutz announced in January 2024. The body of the farmer and father-of-two is being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Sonthaya Akrasri, 30, was a Thai agricultural worker killed in the attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, Thailand's foreign ministry said in May 2024, citing the available evidence. His body is being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Muhammad al-Atarash, 39, was a sergeant-major in the IDF and served as a tracker. In June 2024, the IDF confirmed the father-of-13 from the Bedouin village of Sawa was killed while fighting Hamas gunmen near Nahal Oz on 7 October and that his body was being held in Gaza.
Sahar Baruch, 24, was kidnapped from Be'eri. In January 2024, the IDF announced that he had been killed during a rescue attempt by Israeli forces in Gaza. It was not clear whether he was killed by Hamas or Israeli gunfire.
Uriel Baruch, 35, was abducted from the Nova festival. In March 2024, the father-of-two's family said they had been informed by the IDF that he was killed in captivity in Gaza.
Itay Chen, 19, was an Israeli-American who was serving as a soldier in the IDF on 7 October. The IDF said he was killed during Hamas's attack on Nahal Oz base and that his body was taken back to Gaza as a hostage.
Amiram Cooper, 85, was abducted from Nir Oz. The IDF said in June 2024 that he had been killed along with three other hostages - Nadav Popplewell, Chaim Peri and Yoram Metzger - during military operations in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza.
Oz Daniel, 19, was a sergeant in the IDF's 7th Armoured Brigade and was killed during a battle with Hamas gunmen near the Gaza perimeter fence on 7 October. His body was taken to Gaza as a hostage, according to the IDF.
Ronen Engel, 54, was kidnapped from Nir Oz on 7 October along with his wife, Karina Engel-Bart, and their daughters, Mika and Yuval. Karina, Mika and Yuval were released during the ceasefire in November 2023. The following month, the IDF confirmed that Ronen has been killed in captivity.
Meny Godard, 73, was killed during the attack on Be'eri with his wife, Ayelet, and his body was taken to Gaza as a hostage, his family said in February 2024. In March 2025, the IDF said some of Meny's remains had been found at a Palestinian Islamic Jihad outpost in Rafah, but that the group was believed to be holding the rest.
Ran Gvili, 24, was a sergeant in the Israel Police who was killed while fighting Hamas-led gunmen in Kibbutz Alumim on 7 October. His body was subsequently taken to Gaza as a hostage, according to the IDF.
Tal Haimi, 41, was part of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak's rapid response team and was killed during the attack there on 7 October. The father-of-four's body was taken to Gaza, where it is still being held.
Asaf Hamami, 41, was a colonel in the IDF and commander of the Gaza Division's Southern Brigade. He was killed near Kibbutz Nirim on 7 October and his body is being held in Gaza, according to the IDF.
Inbar Hayman, 27, was kidnapped during the attack on the Nova festival and was killed by Hamas in captivity, her family said. She is the last female hostage being held.
Guy Illouz, 26, was shot twice during the attack on the Nova festival and died of his wounds after being taken hostage, his family said. Released hostages are said to have confirmed his death.
Reuters
Eitan Levi, 53, was a taxi driver who was killed by Hamas gunmen on a road close to the Gaza perimeter on 7 October. His body was then taken to Gaza, where Palestinians were filmed beating and kicking it.
Eliyahu Margalit, 75, was killed by Hamas fighters in Nir Oz on 7 October, the IDF confirmed in December 2023. His body is being held in Gaza.
Joshua Mollel, 21, was a Tanzanian student who was undertaking an agricultural internship at Kibbutz Nahal Oz when it was attacked on 7 October. The Tanzanian government confirmed in December 2023 that he was killed that day and that his body was being held by Hamas.
Omer Neutra, 21, an Israeli-American and grandson of Holocaust survivors, was serving as an IDF tank commander near Gaza when Hamas attacked on 7 October. The IDF later said he was killed that day and his body taken to Gaza.
Dror Or, 48, and his wife, Yonat, were killed in the attack on Be'eri, the kibbutz confirmed in February 2024. Two of his three children, Noam and Alma, were taken hostage and were released as part of the November 2023 ceasefire deal. Dror's body is being held in Gaza.
Daniel Peretz, 22, was a captain in the IDF's 7th Armoured Brigade. Originally from South Africa, he was killed in an attack on his tank near Nahal Oz on 7 October and his body was taken to Gaza, the IDF said.
Suthisak Rintalak, 43, was a Thai agricultural worker killed in the attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, Thailand's foreign ministry said in May 2024, citing the available evidence. His body is being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Lior Rudaeff, 61, was killed while attempting to defend Nir Yitzhak from attack on 7 October, the kibbutz said. His body is being held as a hostage.
Yossi Sharabi, 53, was kidnapped from Be'eri along with his brother, Eli. In January 2024, the kibbutz announced that the father-of-three had been killed in captivity in Gaza. The following month, the IDF said an investigation had found that he was likely to have been killed when a building collapsed following an Israeli strike on another building nearby. His body is being held by Hamas. Eli, who was released in February 2025, told the BBC last week how important it was for the family to have a funeral and closure.
Arie Zalmanowicz, 85, was abducted from Nir Oz on 7 October. In November 2023, Hamas released a video showing him saying he felt unwell. The following month his kibbutz said he had died in captivity.
Hadar Goldin, 23, was a lieutenant in the IDF's Givati Brigade who was killed in combat in Gaza in 2014. His body has been held hostage by Hamas since then.
'He's giving us a lot of joy' - Rashford's revival at Barcelona
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Marcus Rashford said his choice to join Barcelona was "easy"
Published
"He is unbelievable. He has more potential he can show us."
That was Hansi Flick's verdict on Marcus Rashford in September, before the forward's return to England for his first Champions League appearance with Barcelona.
The head coach's confidence seemed to inspire Rashford. He scored his first two goals for the Catalan giants and led them to a 2-1 victory against Newcastle at St James' Park.
It was the breakthrough Rashford had been waiting for since he joined Barcelona in July - a loan move from Manchester United that raised several questions.
What role would he play at Barcelona? Would he earn the trust of Flick? Would Barcelona make his move permanent?
With the season paused for its second international break, Rashford has featured in 10 matches for Barcelona, and the early indications are promising.
Beyond the numbers, Rashford is winning the support of Barcelona fans.
Some say it's too early to assess his performance while others have called him a "pleasant surprise".
"You can tell that little by little, he is gaining more confidence," said Alejandro, a life-long fan. "He's been giving us a lot of joy. We can see that he's really hungry to succeed, so, at the moment, all the fans and the whole team support him."
Another fan, Pablo, said he thinks Rashford can "exceed the expectations that many fans had for him".
Underwhelming first performances
When Rashford made his La Liga debut from the bench on 16 August, in a 3-0 win away to Mallorca, expectations were modest.
He arrived at Barcelona after falling out of favour at United, and as essentially the third-choice candidate for the attacking slot his club wanted to strengthen.
The club wanted to sign a forward who could support Raphinha on the left wing and add depth in their attack.
They took interest in the 27-year-old after failing to land their other options, Athletic Club's Nico Williams and Luis Diaz, who was still with Liverpool at the time.
Rashford's league debut was unremarkable and his subsequent two Spanish league fixtures were also uneventful, with the forward playing no more than 45 minutes in each.
Spanish media at the time described Rashford as 'a fuego lento', a 'slow-burner', saying his best performances were in pre-season, against easy opponents and with no competitive pressure.
However, his goal for England in their 5-0 win against Serbia in the World Cup qualifiers in early September started a series of more impactful performances.
Rashford's influence increases
Injuries to Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski have opened the door for Rashford's resurgence, giving him an extended run in Flick's starting XI, where his influence on Barcelona's attack has steadily grown.
He has started in six of the past seven matches across all competitions. The only time he didn't start, against Getafe, was because he arrived late to the team's morning meeting, although he did play the entire second half.
Barcelona sources said that Rashford was two minutes late, prompting Flick to enforce his strict policy of excluding players from the starting line-up if they are late to training or team meetings.
It was the only match out of the last seven for Barcelona where Rashford hasn't been directly involved in a goal, either through scoring or assisting.
A point to prove
His progress has drawn admiration. It started with a first assist against Valencia, was followed by the two Champions League goals at Newcastle, and continued with assists against Oviedo and Real Sociedad in La Liga, and Paris St-Germain in the Champions League.
In his final match before the second international break, Rashford scored his first La Liga goal, albeit a consolation in Barcelona's 4-1 loss to Sevilla.
Two of his assists have come from corner kicks - an area where Barcelona had previously lacked threat. Spanish media highlighted his contribution. As one report noted: "With his precise delivery, Barca has found a new weapon on set-pieces."
Rashford's standout Champions League performance against Newcastle drew particular praise from Flick.
"He's a fantastic player, a great talent and his finishing is incredible," said the former Bayern Munich and Germany boss.
"For a striker, it's always great to score goals and so I'm really happy for him. Before the start of the season, [sporting director] Deco and I said we needed a player like him."
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Media caption,
'A brilliant player and happy to have him here' - Flick on Rashford
Barcelona's leading goal contributor
Rashford has more goal involvements than any other Barcelona player across all competitions this season, with his three goals and four assists.
Ferran Torres has scored five goals and has one assist, so has six involvements, while Lamine Yamal has scored twice and added three assists, but the 18-year-old Ballon d'Or runner-up has missed four matches because of an injury he sustained in the September international break.
Rashford has recorded the joint-most shots (27) and shots on target (11) and the most touches in the opposition box (69) among Barcelona players. He also ranks second for chances created (18) behind Pedri (24).
Barcelona's website published a story in praise of Rashford in early October, lauding his "effort and consistency" and pointing out: "Incredible numbers for a newcomer, showing that the Englishman has arrived in Barcelona intent on leaving his mark. And he is succeeding."
Since first pulling on the shirt, Rashford has contributed to a goal for Barcelona every 88 minutes.
This ranks him fifth among players in La Liga for minutes per goal involvement, behind only Kylian Mbappe, Julian Alvarez, Vinicius Junior and Alvaro Garcia.
It is easy to overlook that in the 2022-23 season, Rashford scored over 30 goals for Manchester United and was the sixth top scorer in the Premier League. That campaign highlighted what Rashford is capable of with confidence and regular playing time, and Barcelona are hoping the old magic is returning.
Will Rashford sign permanently?
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Rashford scored two second-half goals for Barcelona against Newcastle at St James' Park
Rashford arrived in Barcelona determined to make his mark and launch a positive new chapter in an up-and-down career.
The club have the option of signing him on a permanent basis for £30.3m (35m euros) in 2026, but that is something that Deco told Spanish media would only be discussed at a later date.
"It's too early to talk about decisions for next season but what matters is that we're happy with him," the director of football said.
This was reiterated by another source at the club, who said: "We're all delighted and thrilled with him and his performance, Deco, Flick, and his team-mates. Marcus is also happy with us, with his team-mates and with the city of Barcelona.
"It's obvious that if he continues to develop like this, there's a very good chance that this will be the case. But we're only at the beginning of the season and it's still too early to talk about this."
Barcelona have big fixtures to come before the next round of international matches, including a derby against Girona, Champions League games against Olympiacos and Club Brugge, and the Clasico against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Off the back of successive defeats by Paris St-Germain and Sevilla, and with Raphinha returning from injury, Spanish media suggest Flick will be making some tactical changes.
For Rashford, it presents an opportunity to adapt and demonstrate his versatility as his quest continues for a consistent starting role.
He wanted this move in January, had to wait until the summer, and before he had kicked a ball was quick to say Barcelona "feels like home". The onus is now on him to make sure it remains that way.
Additional data collection and visualisations by Jordan Butler
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