Hamas inclined to accept peace deal if Netanyahu withdraws from Gaza, Israeli media reports

Hamas is inclined to accept a Gaza peace plan laid out by Donald Trump but only under certain conditions, officials close to Israel-Hamas negotiations in Qatar told Haaretz.

The group is currently consulting with other Palestinian factions to come to a unified position on the plan.

Hamas is expected to clarify that it is willing to accept the outline that was presented to Arab leaders last week, before prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu made changes to it, the outlet added.

A Palestinian source close to Hamas’ leadership told AFP it wanted to amend certain clauses in the plan including in disarmament and Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza.

The group also wants guarantees that no assassination attempts will be made on its members inside or outside the territory.

Netanyahu and Trump have warned Hamas to accept the 20-point plan, which would see the group relinquish its political and military leadership in Gaza and lay down its arms.

Trump’s plan would appoint him as the chair of a “board of peace” serving as an oversight body led by a committee that includes former British prime minister Tony Blair.

William birthday party may have been ‘blagged’, High Court told

Information about the Prince of Wales’s 21st birthday party could have been “blagged” by a private investigator, it has been claimed at the High Court.

The Duke of Sussex is one of a group of seven high-profile individuals bringing legal action against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

The group, also including Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Liz Hurley, have accused the publisher of allegedly carrying out or commissioning unlawful activities such as hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, “blagging” private records, commissioning burglary to order, and accessing private phone conversations.

ANL firmly denies the allegations and is defending the legal action, previously describing the claims as “lurid” and “simply preposterous”.

At a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, lawyers for the group and the publisher returned to the High Court in London ahead of an expected trial in January 2026.

David Sherborne, for the group of high-profile individuals, said in written submissions that invoices were disclosed on 24 September, including one related to the Prince of Wales.

The invoice, dated 25 August 2003, was entitled “Out of Africa Story Royal Party Enqs”, the barrister continued.

Mr Sherborne claimed that this invoice was linked to a Daily Mail story from June 2003, with “extensive” details about William’s 21st birthday party which had an “out of Africa” theme, the day before the party was due to take place.

“It can be inferred… that information for the article was obtained through blagging,” Mr Sherborne continued.

The claims were made in a document dated 30 September, after ANL had provided its written arguments to the High Court.

Mr Sherborne also told the court that a record from a different private investigator allegedly shows a journalist commissioning him to provide a “mobile phone conversion” related to the Princess of Wales, as well as phone numbers from a “family and friends” list.

According to the document, lawyers for ANL are said to have said this proposed amendment is “very late”, with part of it previously reported in 2012.

Wednesday’s hearing included a bid by ANL to have parts of the cases thrown out, with Mr Sherborne saying that with the exception of one part, ANL’s bid to throw out elements of their claims is “unreasonably and unfairly late” and should be dismissed.

Harry was understood to be dialling in to Wednesday’s hearing in London using a remote link, and one user with the name “Prince Harry” could be seen.

Issues with the audio quality on the remote link were reported by the user and others during the morning, while actress Sadie Frost and David Furnish, who are also bringing legal action, attended the hearing in person.

Antony White KC, for ANL, said in written submissions that lawyers for the group of high-profile individuals had made “wholly unparticularised” allegations of unlawful information gathering (UIG) that should not proceed to the trial.

He said: “Unparticularised general allegations of UIG, particularly where these involve other journalists, or ANL more generally, will not be of assistance to the court in determining the claimants’ individual claims.”

The barrister said that “only clearly pleaded specific instances of alleged UIG against journalists involved in the articles complained of in the claimants’ individual cases” should remain in the case, adding: “This will allow a trial of clearly identified factual issues to take place in a fair and proportionate manner.”

Mr White later said that allegations related to journalists or third-party investigators at other newspaper groups are “irrelevant”.

He added: “In several instances, it is unclear if the relevant targeting is even said to have been done on behalf of ANL, because the pleading is rolled up with an allegation that the relevant journalist worked at Mirror Group Newspapers and/or News Group Newspapers.”

The hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin is due to conclude on Thursday, with a decision expected at a later date.

Michelle Mone firm ordered to repay government £122m over Covid PPE

A company linked to Tory peer Michelle Mone has been ordered to pay the government almost £122m for breaching a contract to supply millions of surgical gowns during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) sued PPE Medpro at the High Court, claiming the company had breached the deal because the 25 million gowns it provided were “faulty” by not being sterile.

The company, a consortium led by Lady Mone’s husband, businessman Doug Barrowman, was awarded government contracts by the former Conservative administration to supply PPE during the pandemic, after she recommended it to ministers.

She then acted as the firm’s “big gun” in talks with officials to help get the contract over the line, High Court judge Mrs Justice Cockerill said on Wednesday.

In her 87-page ruling, Mrs Justice Cockerill said the gowns “were not, contractually speaking, sterile, or properly validated as being sterile” which meant they could not be used in the NHS.

The ruling was celebrated by ministers, including health secretary Wes Streeting, who said the government was “coming after every penny owed to our NHS” as part of a plan to claw back money lost during the pandemic.

Families bereaved in the pandemic also welcomed the judgement and called for Baroness Mone to be stripped of her peerage.

But Baroness Mone said the ruling was a win for the “establishment”, while Mr Barrowman said it was a “travesty of justice”.

Both denied wrongdoing and neither gave evidence at the trial in June, while lawyers for the DHSC said they were “not concerned with any profits made by anybody” and that the case was “simply about compliance”.

The government is now recovering the cost of the £121m contract, as well as the costs of transporting and storing the items, which amount to an additional £8.6m.

Court documents from May reveal the DHSC said the gowns were delivered to the UK in 72 shipments between August and October 2020, with £121,999,219.20 paid to PPE Medpro between July and August that year.

In December 2020, the gowns were rejected by DHSC and the company was told it would need to repay the money. But the company did not, and the gowns remained in storage unable to be used.

During the trial, Paul Stanley KC, for the DHSC, said 99.9999 per cent of the gowns should have been sterile under the terms of the contract.

The DHSC claims the contract also specified PPE Medpro had to sterilise the gowns using a “validated process”; this included a CE marking to show it met certain medical standards.

However, according to Mr Stanley, “none of this happened”, and out of the 140 gowns later tested for sterility, 103 failed the test.

Charles Samek KC, for PPE Medpro, said at the close of the trial that the government had ordered 10 years’ worth of excess gowns by December 2020 and that it was suffering from “buyer’s remorse”.

He said the DHSC approved the gowns without seeing a valid CE mark and that PPE Medpro “did not pretend” to have one because it did not need it.

After delivery, the gowns were kept in shipping containers for “at least three months”, he added, and that contamination likely occurred “most probably during the subsequent transportation, storage and handling of the tested gowns”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has been leading work within government to claw back money lost during the Covid-19 pandemic, welcomed the judgment.

She said: “We want our money back. We are getting our money back. And it will go where it belongs – in our schools, NHS and communities.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “PPE Medpro put NHS staff and patients in danger with substandard kit whilst lining their own pockets with taxpayers’ money at a time of national crisis.

“Today’s court ruling makes clear we won’t stand for it and we’re coming after every penny owed to our NHS.

“This Government will ruthlessly pursue any company which tried to exploit the pandemic for their own ends while our health service was fighting to save lives.”

In a written statement, Mr Barrowman, a businessman who led the consortium, said: “Today, a travesty of justice took place following the judgment of Lady Justice Cockerill.

“She gave the DHSC an establishment win despite the mountain of evidence in court against such a judgment.

“Her judgment bears little resemblance to what actually took place during the month-long trial, where PPE Medpro convincingly demonstrated that its gowns were sterile.

“This judgment is a whitewash of the facts and shows that justice was being seen to be done, where the outcome was always certain for the DHSC and the government. This case was simply too big for the government to lose.”

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK campaign group said: “Our families welcome today’s ruling, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Greed and corruption during the pandemic have cost lives, and everyone responsible must be held accountable.”

They said the creation of a so-called VIP lane led to billions being spent on inadequate PPE, adding: “That failure cost lives. We want justice for those who died as a result.

“The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has so far concluded just one of its 10 modules. As it continues, the scale of the corruption, greed, misconduct and incompetence uncovered in its reports will shock the country.

“Nobody who had any part to play in the PPE scandal, which cost lives, should have any role in public life. Baroness Mone should have no role in making and passing the laws we all live under. Her title must be revoked immediately.”

Arsenal keep momentum going with nervous victory over Olympiacos

Bukayo Saka eased some increasingly frayed Arsenal nerves with a late strike to secure a 2-0 Champions League win over Olympiacos.

Gabriel Martinelli had opened the scoring with a 12th-minute tap-in on what looked set to be a routine evening at the Emirates Stadium.

But the Gunners missed chance after chance to bury the Greek champions, and for all their dominance they were indebted to a stunning one-handed save by David Raya from a point-blank volley from former Wolves forward Daniel Podence.

With the tension rising Saka was summoned from the bench, and the England winger had boss Mikel Arteta breathing a sigh of relief when he hit the second two minutes into stoppage time.

The Gunners, who also started without Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze, should have taken the lead with less than two minutes on the clock when Myles Lewis-Skelly’s cross found Martinelli unmarked, six yards out, but the Brazilian’s header flew wide.

Olympiacos briefly threatened when Raya held Ayoub El Kaabi’s header, but moments later Arsenal went ahead.

Martin Odegaard played through Viktor Gyokeres, who outmuscled two defenders as he bore down on goal.

Olympiacos keeper Kostas Tzolakis took the sting out of Gyokeres’s shot but it rolled against the foot of the post and Martinelli tapped in the rebound.

Then came Raya’s big moment as Podence got in front of his marker and perfectly caught a low cross on the volley, eight yards out, only for the Gunners keeper to instinctively leap to his left, fling out an arm and divert the ball over the crossbar.

The Gunners continued to press for a second before the interval but Gyokeres cut inside and fired over before Leandro Trossard skied another decent opportunity from Martinelli’s cross.

Arteta introduced Rice on the hour and the increase in tempo provided by the former West Ham midfielder almost had an instant impact.

Rice won the ball on the left, held off a defender and fizzed a low pass to Odegaard, who in turn found Trossard only for the Belgian to be denied by Tzolakis.

Arsenal had another let-off moments later after Raya saved El Kaabi’s header and Chiquinho prodded in the rebound, with an offside trap bailing them out.

The Gunners needed to finish the job and so Arteta threw on Saka and Eze, although the growing tension around the Emirates was not helped by the loss of defender Gabriel Magalhaes after he collided with Raya.

Odegaard had two bites at the cherry when he ran on to a Saka cross but Tzolakis saved his first and Panagiotis Retsos somehow blocked the second on the line.

But when Odegaard found Saka in the box he needed no second invitation, rifling the ball through the legs of Tzolakis to make it two wins out of two for Arsenal in Europe this season.

Two species of disease-carrying mosquito identified in UK

Two species of disease-carrying mosquitoes have been identified in the UK, and could spread further due to climate change, scientists have warned.

Research teams from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) discovered Aedes aegypti, also known as the Egyptian mosquito, and Aedes albopictus, also known as the (Asian) tiger or forest mosquito, in surveillance traps set to monitor the presence of non-native species in the UK.

Their presence in Europe poses a “significant public health threat”, according to experts, as both species are known to carry several diseases including yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, Zika and dirofilariasis.

The study by the UKHSA and the Centre for Climate and Health Security found Egyptian mosquito eggs in a freight storage warehouse near London Heathrow Airport in September 2023, and tiger mosquitoes at a motorway service station near Kent in August 2024. Both species are historically linked to subtropical and tropical regions.

The UKHSA regularly monitors mosquito presence in the UK through surveillance at ports, land transport sites, and the Kent marshes. It also runs the Mosquito Recording Scheme (MRS), allowing citizens to report sightings and nuisance biting incidents across the country.

While scientists said there was no evidence the species had travelled widely across the country, they warned such occurrences may become more regular as climates in largely populated cities such as London become more suitable for the insects.

“As urban areas become more climatically favourable for species such as Ae. albopictus, the risk of arboviral diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya increases,” the study’s authors wrote in the journal Global Change Biology.

They added rising temperatures and milder winters have encouraged the northward movement of the species, which had previously been identified in mainland Europe, into southern England.

As temperatures continue to rise, researchers warned both foreign species could establish populations in the south of England over the coming decades. While Zika, dengue, and chikungunya are not currently endemic in the UK, they said warmer climates could contribute to the spreading of these diseases more readily.

Flooding and increased rainfall, which are known consequences of soaring global temperatures, could also provide breeding grounds for the mosquitoes, making their spread more likely, the study suggests,

“Our findings suggest that future incursions of invasive mosquitoes in the UK are likely and undertaking enhanced surveillance is key to identifying and reducing the likelihood of their establishment,” researchers wrote.

“Without timely action, the UK faces the risk of invasive mosquito populations becoming established.”

It comes after research published in August showed dengue fever, which is spread by the Asian tiger mosquito, has been moving steadily northward in Europe since first appearing in Albania in 1979.

The research found the mosquito has accelerated its spread in France, moving from about four miles per year in 2006 to 12 miles per year in 2024.

Eats, Beats and Storied Streets: A journey through Louisiana

Few places in America are as spellbinding as Louisiana. Streets are alive with music, every table groans with food that tells a story, and every river bend reveals landscapes as mysterious as they are beautiful. Whether you’re dancing to zydeco in Lafayette, devouring beignets in the French Quarter, or gliding through the Atchafalaya swamps in search of alligators, this is a destination which offers travellers an unforgettable blend of rhythm, flavour and culture.

Music that Moves You

A seemingly never-ending party, a stroll through the bouncing streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter is one of America’s most thrilling sensory experiences. Guitars crunch, symbols crash and horns howl on every street corner, from Bourbon Street to Frenchmen Street. This Cajun corner of the US has a deep heritage too, and the Preservation Hall – dating back to 1961 – is an essential stop. With its intimate time-worn walls and wooden chairs facing the small stage, it’s a shrine to New Orleans jazz and every note should be savoured.

But Louisiana’s music tradition goes far beyond the Big Easy. Beginning in 1981, the Baton Rouge Blues Festival is one of the country’s oldest blues festivals and the state capital is a haven of Cajun music. It’s also the home of the swamp blues, so to hear the best of these laid-back rhythms, spend a foot-tapping night at Phil Brady’s Bar & Grill or Henry Turner Jr’s Listening Room. And for a little backyard boogie from local Louisiana musicians, try and hit the wonderfully chilled out Bee Nice Concert Series.

One of the more niche regional sounds is zydeco, and these infectious beats driven by accordions and washboards are perfect for dancing the night away. Over in Lafayette, the lush outdoor Hideaway on Lee and the charming Blue Moon Saloon host high-energy zydeco and Cajun jams. For a deeper dive into this unique music of the swamp, drop by the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles for three glorious days of Cajun, Creole, and zydeco sounds.

Flavours to Savour

Louisiana has one of America’s most distinct food cultures, with Creole dishes like gumbo and jambalaya not found anywhere else. Needless to say, the fiery flavours found in these creations are sublime and it’s no surprise that 2025 is Louisiana’s Year of Food.

With its rich broth, often featuring a roux base and embellished by juicy shrimp and thick sausage, gumbo is arguably the quintessential Creole dish. If you’re in New Orleans, look no further than no–frills downtown spots like Coop’s Place or head out to neighbourhood joints like the upscale Gabrielle Restaurant who serve a smoky take on Cajun-style gumbo or the dense dishes plated up at Liuzza’s by the Track. And if you’re so enraptured by this unique stew, then learn how to make it at home at the New Orleans School of Cooking.

A Cajun rice dish that originated in southern Louisiana in the 18th Century, Jambalaya is also iconic down here and can include meats, vegetables, seafood and spices in its mouthwatering mix. The Jambalaya Shoppe is dotted all around southern Louisiana and is a good place to start, though make time to visit Gonzales – the ‘Jambalaya Capital of the World. It even has its own Jambalaya Festival every spring.

Remember to make time for sweet treats though, as Louisiana’s beignets are something special. Warm, deep-fried pastries dusted with powdered sugar, these gentle delights are the perfect cafe snack. Open since 1862, the Cafe du Monde is an iconic French Quarter spot to watch the world go by with a beignet and café au lait.

And if you’re here for Mardi Gras, make sure to sample the sweet colourful King Cake as the jaunty floats pass by.

Culture and the Great Outdoors

Louisiana’s diverse cultural heritage is as unique as its landscape. French, Spanish, African, Caribbean and native influences all converge into Cajun and Creole identities and that’s most famously reflected in the state’s sublime cuisine. But don’t miss the great outdoors, as Louisiana’s biodiversity is enchanting too.

Acadiana’s humid moss-cloaked swamps and bayous are one of America’s last wildernesses, and boat tours of these serene and ethereal landscapes are unforgettable, especially if you spot wildlife like American Alligators, beavers, herons, eagles and white tail deer. The Atchafalaya Basin, just east of Lafayette, is a particular haven and several airboat tours depart from here, including McGee’s Swamp Tours and Last Wilderness Swamp Tours.

Road trails through these bayous can be just as inspiring, and the Bayou Teche National Byway tells stories. Running for 183 miles from Arnaudville down to Morgan City, this serpentine route passes by ornate antebellum homes like Shadows-on-the-Teche, tranquil fields of sugar cane, breezy swamps and historic towns packed with friendly cafes, zydeco dancehalls and local museums.

Look out for the region’s lively 400+ festivals too, which often celebrate Louisiana’s local culture. The Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette celebrates the links between Acadiana and the Francophone world, through music, art and food, while the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival in Opelousas aims to preserve Louisiana’s most gleeful music genre. And there’s no better way of learning about the state’s people and heritage than at the various tours, concerts, talks and cultural events held in Vermillionville in Lafayette.

Police shut down Oktoberfest after fatal explosion

The Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich was closed on Wednesday after police said they found explosives in a residential building in the city that caught fire and killed at least one person.

Special forces were investigating an area in the north of Munich earlier in the day, where the Bild newspaper and multiple other reports said shots and explosions had been heard.

City officials said there had been a bomb threat issued by the suspected perpetrator of the explosion early on Wednesday. Munich police said the explosion was part of a domestic dispute, and that the residential building had been “deliberately set on fire”.

Authorities found “explosive traps” in a house and had to call in special forces to defuse them, Munich police said on X, formerly Twitter. Investigators found hand grenades and tripwires, according to Welt.

An unidentified person was found seriously injured near the scene of the fire at Lerchenau Lake. Police later reported that they had died, and that another person was missing. It was not immediately clear whether the deceased person was the suspected perpetrator or someone else.

One resident told the dpa news agency: “I woke up around five o’clock because there were a few bangs. I got up, looked, and then there was a fire.”

Numerous emergency personnel were on site on Wednesday morning. A middle school around a kilometre from the scene was closed, and traffic was diverted from the area.

A motive is still unclear. Police are also said to be investigating posts apparently published online, claiming responsibility for attacks on luxury cars in northern Munich, local media reports.

Security services told Welt that doubts remain as to the authenticity of the post.

The city of Munich announced that there was a “corresponding letter from the perpetrator”, without further details.

Munich mayor Dieter Reiter said the closure of the festival followed “a perpetrator threatening the Oktoberfest”.

“The police will do everything to have the entire Wiesn searched by 5 p.m. this afternoon, if possible, to ensure safety,” he wrote on Instagram. “If that’s not the case, I’ll get in touch again, and then the Wiesn won’t open at all today.”

Police searched the Oktoberfest fairgrounds for other explosive devices and asked workers to leave the area. Witnesses told Seuddeutsche the entire area was evacuated around 9.45am local time.

A loudspeaker blared a warning to festival-goers arriving early this morning, citing a “bomb threat”, FAZ reports.

Some went to local beer gardens in the area, hoping they would be able to return to the festival later today.

Police were searching tents set up near the entrance this morning but found nothing, Seuddeutsche reports, citing authorities.

Police confirmed just after 7am on Wednesday morning that authorities were initially responding to an incident “due to a burning residential building”.

They were called to the scene around 4.40am as residents reported hearing explosions or gunshots.

“Loud banging noises were heard”, police reported, and an injured person was found who, they said, “might be connected to the incident”.

A van was also burned out nearby, they said. Initial images from the scene showed several burned cars in a street after the fire.

They assured the public that the missing person posed no threat.

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival and usually attracts up to six million visitors.

This year’s festival began on 20 September and ends on 5 October.

Workers consider getting Botox and plastic surgery for a promotion

Ironing out wrinkles with Botox and plastic surgery is a drastic measure hundreds of workers have admitted they would take to fight workplace ageism, a new survey has revealed.

Workers over the age of 45 are considering aesthetic procedures and surgeries to look younger in order to get a job or promotion.

The Centre for Ageing Better surveyed 567 people over the age of 45 and said the results were “dispiriting”.

The charity found 15 per cent said they would consider getting plastic surgery to look younger if it helped them to get a job or a promotion.

One in five (20 per cent) people in this age group said they would consider Botox or fillers while around two in five (41 per cent) said they would consider dyeing their hair if it helped them to get on at work.

Carole Easton, chief executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said it is “dispiriting to see the drastic steps that older workers are forced to consider in order to get a level playing field in the workplace”.

“We’ve heard from jobseekers who are inexplicably passed over for hundreds of job applications despite extensive skills and experience and who say they can feel prospective employers go cold on them the moment they realise their age,” she added.

Inappropriate comments about age from colleagues and managers were found to be common, with 16 per cent of those polled saying they had been a victim at work. Of these, two in five (39 per cent) said this happened frequently.

However, plastic surgeon Charles Durrant at Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth warns that although these procedures and surgeries can boost self-confidence, they come with risks and will not help combat ageism itself.

“Personally I don’t think it is a good reason to have any kind of surgical or non-surgical procedure. All of these things carry a degree of risk and the onus shouldn’t be on the individual to conform to the expectations of those around them,” he told the Independent.

“It should be a personal choice for their own self-esteem and confidence to allow them to feel more comfortable in their own skin and it doesn’t deal with the actual problem, which is ageism itself,” he added.

Ms Easton added: “Many people assume that in this day and age we have the legislation and the HR policies that put an end to ageism in the workplace. But the data, and the experiences we hear from people, tell a different story.

“The persistent and unfounded stereotypes around older workers are consigning too many people to the employment scrapheap with a third of their working lives still to go.”