GAZA CITY: Hamas&#39; armed wing said on Sunday that it had lost contact with two hostages during intensified Israeli strikes in Gaza City over the past 48 hours. &quot;The (Ezzedine) Al-Qassam Brigades announce the loss of contact with the two prisoners ... due to the brutal military operations and violent attacks in the Sabra and Tal al-Hawa neighbourhoods over the past 48 hours,&quot; the group said in a statement, referring to areas where Israeli forces have stepped up air and ground assaults.

Middle East

Hamas said that it had lost contact with two hostages as a result of the intensified Israeli strikes 

Hamas: 'lost contact with two hostages' due to Israeli strikes

JOHANNESBURG: A bus veered off a road and plunged down an embankment on a steep mountain pass in northern South Africa, killing at least 42 people and leaving another 49 passengers injured, authorities said Monday. The crash happened around 6 pm Sunday on the N1 highway near the town of Louis Trichardt, around 400 kilometers (248 miles) north of the capital, Pretoria. Seven children&nbsp;The Transport Ministry said in a statement that the victims included seven children, 17 men and 18 women. It said six people were critically injured and another 31 had serious injuries and had been taken to several hospitals.&nbsp;One critically injured child was airlifted to a hospital, the ministry said. Images released by authorities showed the blue bus lying upside down in the embankment with rescuers working underneath it to search for victims. The Limpopo provincial government said rescue operations continued late into Sunday night. The bus was traveling to Zimbabwe and was carrying Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals who were on their way to their home countries, the Transport Ministry said. It said the cause of the crash was not yet known. &lsquo;Deep condolences&rsquo;&nbsp;In a statement, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa offered &ldquo;his deep condolences to the nations of Zimbabwe and Malawi who have lost compatriots.&rdquo; &ldquo;This sadness is compounded by the fact that this incident has taken place during our annual transport month, where we place a special focus on the importance of safety on our roads,&quot; Ramaphosa said. Last year, 45 people were killed in a bus crash in the same Limpopo province when their vehicle veered off a bridge and into a ravine. An 8-year-old girl was the only survivor of that crash.&nbsp; That bus was carrying mainly Botswana nationals who were traveling to an Easter church gathering in South Africa.

Africa

A bus crash in northern South Africa killed at least 42 people and injured 49. The bus, carrying Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals, veered off a mountain pass. Authorities are still investigating the cause.

Bus crash in South Africa kills at least 42 people

BANGKOK: Asian shares tumbled on Monday as escalating trade tensions with China shattered a months&#39; long calm on Wall Street. US stocks skidded on Friday after President Donald Trump threatened to crank tariffs higher on China, signaling more trouble ahead between the two biggest economies. He was responding to restrictions Beijing is imposing on exports of rare earths, which are materials that are critical for the manufacturing of everything from consumer electronics to jet engines. But US futures advanced, with the contract for the S&amp;P 500 gaining 1.4% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1%. Strongest growth in six monthsChina reported its global exports rose 8.3% in September from a year earlier, the strongest growth in six months and further evidence that its manufacturers are shifting sales from the US to other markets. Exports to the US tumbled 27% year-on-year last month, customs data showed.&nbsp;In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng sank 2.2% to 25,700.07.&nbsp;Most other major regional markets logged losses of more than 1%.&nbsp; The Shanghai Composite index edged 0.2% lower to 3,889.50 and the Kospi in South Korea gave up 0.7% to 3,584.55. Australia&rsquo;s S&amp;P/ASX 200 declined 0.8% to 8,882.80. Taiwan&#39;s Taiex shed 1.4% and India&#39;s Sensex was down 0.4%.&nbsp;Markets in Tokyo were closed for a holiday. Re-escalation of trade warOn Friday, the S&amp;P 500 sank 2.7% in its worst day since April, closing at 6,552.51. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.9% to 45,479.60, and the Nasdaq composite lost 3.6% to 22,204.43. The setback reflected signs of a re-escalation of the trade war.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have been contacted by other Countries who are extremely angry at this great Trade hostility, which came out of nowhere,&rdquo; Trump wrote on Truth Social, alluding to Beijing.&nbsp; He also said &ldquo;now there seems to be no reason&rdquo; to meet with China&rsquo;s leader, Xi Jinping, after earlier agreeing to do so as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea. Roughly six out of every seven stocks within the S&amp;P 500 fell. Nearly everything weakened, from Big Tech companies like Nvidia and Apple to stocks of smaller companies looking to get past uncertainty about tariffs and trade. The market may have been primed for a slide. US stocks were already facing criticism that their prices had shot too high following the S&amp;P 500&rsquo;s nearly relentless 35% run from a low in April.&nbsp; The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its all-time high set earlier in the week. Artificial-intelligence industryCritics say the market looks too expensive after prices rose much faster than corporate profits. Worries are particularly high about companies in the artificial-intelligence industry, where pessimists see echoes of the 2000 dot-com bubble that imploded.&nbsp; For stocks to look less expensive, either their prices need to fall, or companies&rsquo; profits need to rise. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury sank to 4.05% from 4.14% late Thursday. In the doldrums&nbsp;It had already been lower before Trump made his threats, as a report from the University of Michigan suggested that sentiment among US consumers remains in the doldrums. Some of Friday&rsquo;s strongest action was in the oil market, where the price of a barrel of benchmark US crude sank 4.2% to $58.90. It fell as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect in Gaza. An end to the war could remove worries about disruptions to oil supplies, which had kept crude&rsquo;s price higher than it otherwise would have been. Losses accelerated following Trump&rsquo;s tariff threat, which could gum up global trade and lead the economy to burn less fuel. Brent crude, the international standard, dropped 3.8% to $62.73 per barrel. However, early Monday it was trading 85 cents higher at $63.58 per barrel. US benchmark crude oil gained 72 cents to $59.62 per barrel. In other dealings early Monday, the dollar rose 152.22 Japanese yen from 151.89 yen late Friday. The euro fell to $1.1605 from $1.1614.

Business

The markets fell sharply after Wall Street’s worst day since April, triggered by renewed US-China trade tensions. Trump's tariff threats and China's export restrictions rattled investors, despite China's export growth outside the US.

Asian markets plunge amid renewed US-China trade tensions

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: &nbsp;Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy produced a superb spell, taking six wickets to help South Africa dismiss Pakistan for 378 on the second morning of the first Test on Sunday.&nbsp;By lunch on Day 2, South Africa reached 10 without loss in their first innings, with openers Ryan Rickelton (4*) and Aiden Markram (5*) surviving a tricky phase before the break.<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977637922347335737&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=cd53a0764c561af21cbde874b8bb5292f5ba9e36&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VGOTEL Mobile Presents Bank Alfalah Pakistan vs South Africa Test Series 2025 🏏 1st Test Lunch (day 2) at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore 🏟️ South Africa 10-0 in 4 overs Pakistan 378 all out in 110.4 overs.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#PAKvSA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenPeYaqeen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#GreenPeYaqeen</a> <a href="https://t.co/rb9izwPamU" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/rb9izwPamU</a>&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1977637922347335737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote>Resuming on 314-5, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha extended Pakistan&rsquo;s total to 362 with a composed partnership before Muthusamy broke through. Rizwan, who had looked solid, edged one outside off-stump to the left-arm spinner, triggering a collapse. The remaining four wickets fell for just 16 runs as Muthusamy ripped through the lower order. His figures of 6-82 were a career-best, while off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen chipped in with two wickets, and Simon Harmer and Kagiso Rabada took one apiece.&nbsp;For Pakistan, Imam-ul-Haq (93), Agha Salman (93), Shan Masood (76), and Mohammad Rizwan (75) were the major contributors, building a strong foundation after early trouble. However, a late collapse saw Pakistan lose their last five wickets for just 16 runs.&nbsp;With some turn already visible, the spinners are expected to play a key role as the match progresses. South Africa&rsquo;s immediate goal will be to lay a solid foundation in response to Pakistan&rsquo;s total when play resumes after lunch.

Cricket

South Africa are 10-0 at the lunch on Day 2.

Muthusamy takes six, as South Africa fold Pakistan for 378

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh on Monday to attend the signing ceremony of the landmark Gaza peace plan &mdash; a crucial step toward lasting peace in the Middle East.&nbsp;&quot;Alhamdolillah, arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh this morning to attend the signing ceremony of the landmark Gaza peace plan &mdash; a crucial step towards lasting peace in the Middle East,&rdquo; the prime minister said in a post on X.&nbsp;Expressing gratitude to Egypt&rsquo;s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US President Donald Trump for co-hosting the event, Sharif said the world would not have seen this moment without President Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;It took his single-minded pursuit of peace to end the needless killing and destruction,&rdquo; he said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977648035669680624&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=0e645648d26a1939fec5b2b4007e83063710ec63&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 663px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The premier described the day&rsquo;s ceremony as marking the &ldquo;closing of a genocidal chapter,&rdquo; stressing that the international community must ensure such tragedy is never repeated anywhere again.&nbsp;Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing stance on Palestine, Prime Minister Sharif said the &ldquo;brave and resilient Palestinian people deserve to live in a free Palestine, with pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as their capital city.&rdquo; The visit takes place at the special invitation of President Trump and President El-Sisi. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar are accompanying the prime minister as part of the official delegation, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office. The summit, being hosted in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, brings together global and regional leaders, including President Trump, President Sisi, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for the signing ceremony of the Gaza Peace Agreement. According to the Foreign Office, the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit is the outcome of sustained diplomatic efforts that began on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York last month. On September 23, PM Sharif joined leaders from seven Arab and Islamic countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Indonesia, and T&uuml;rkiye, in a high-level meeting with President Trump to explore pathways for ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza. &ldquo;Through a joint statement, these countries welcomed President Trump&rsquo;s efforts to achieve peace and reaffirmed their collective commitment to work with the US for a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, while addressing the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza,&rdquo; the foreign office said. The Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office stated that the visit underscores Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;steadfast commitment to advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people and extending all possible political and diplomatic support to them.&rdquo; It added that Pakistan hopes the peace agreement &ldquo;will help end the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, ensure Israeli withdrawal, enable the safe return of displaced Palestinians, and begin the process of reconstruction.&rdquo; Pakistan remains hopeful that such initiatives will pave the way for the establishment of an &ldquo;independent and sovereign State of Palestine within pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,&rdquo; in line with UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Foreign Affairs

The summit brings together global and regional leaders from 20 countries to secure a ceasefire and establish lasting peace in Gaza.

PM Sharif arrives in Egypt to attend signing of Gaza peace plan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army team has won the gold medal in the Exercise Cambrian Patrol - 2025 held in Wales, UK from 03-13 October 2025. This was shared in a statement released by Pakistan military&rsquo;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday. &nbsp; This year, the Exercise Cambrian Patrol celebrated its 66th anniversary. Gold medal&nbsp;The exercise has retained its demanding professional standards; patrols from all across the globe had to move tactically across inhospitable terrain, covering a distance of 60 kilometers within 48 hours, completing specialist tasks in a contested environment. This year, 137 teams from 36 countries participated in the exercise and out of all these teams, Pakistan Army&rsquo;s team lead by Captain Muhammad Saad showed exceptional performance in the exercise and were awarded with the gold medal, the statement said. &lsquo;Proud moment&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;It is indeed a proud moment for the whole nation and the Pakistan Army, which is known for its professionalism and highest standards of training.&quot; &quot;Pakistan Army has always held the country&#39;s flag high and will keep endeavoring in the future as well,&rdquo; the ISPR statement concluded.

Athletics

Led by Captain Muhammad Saad, the team won a Gold Medal at Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2025 in Wales, UK, competing among 137 teams from 36 countries in a grueling 60 km tactical challenge.

Pakistan Army team wins gold in Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2025 in UK 

ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump on Sunday mentioned the ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes while highlighting his role in global peace efforts. He made these remarks aboard Air Force One, while on his way to the Middle East. During an interaction with the media, a reporter said that the president was receiving credit from Democrats and Republicans for securing the peace deal in Gaza and asked him, &ldquo;Where do you think it fits into your legacy?&rdquo; The US president replied, &ldquo;This will be my eighth war that I&rsquo;ve solved. And I hear there is a war now going on between Pakistan and Afghanistan. I said, I&rsquo;ll have to wait till I get back. You know I&rsquo;m doing another one. Because I&rsquo;m good at solving wars. I&rsquo;m good at making peace, and it&rsquo;s an honor to do it. I save millions of lives. Millions of lives,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;In all fairness to the Nobel committee, it was for 2024 and this was picked for 2024. But there are those who say you can make an exception because a lot of things happened during 2025 that are done and complete and great. But I did this, not for Nobel; I did this for saving lives. We saved millions of lives. Think about India-Pakistan. Think about some of the wars that were going on for years. We had one going for 31, one going for 37 years, with millions of people being killed in every country, and I got everyone of those done, for the most part within a day. Pretty good!&rdquo; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Overnight attack repulsed by Pakistan forcesPresident Trump was referring to the border clashes that took place between the Pakistan military and Afghan forces on the night of Oct.11. The Pakistan military said the overnight assault saw Afghan Taliban fighters and allied militants launch &ldquo;unprovoked&rdquo; coordinated attacks along multiple border sectors.&nbsp; Pakistani forces repelled the offensive, killing over 200 attackers and injuring hundreds of others, while 23 Pakistan soldiers embraced martyrdom, according to the military&rsquo;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations. Pakistan desires of peace In a statement issued later by the foreign office, Pakistan reiterated its long-standing desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan, emphasizing that Islamabad sought &ldquo;a peaceful, stable, friendly, inclusive, regionally connected, and prosperous Afghanistan.&rdquo; &ldquo;Pakistan expects the Taliban regime to act responsibly, honor its commitments, and play a constructive role in achieving the shared objective of rooting out terrorism from its soil,&rdquo; the statement said.

Asia

During a media interaction aboard Air Force One, US President Trump, while speaking about his efforts in resolving global conflicts, said he would address Pak-Afghan tensions upon returning from his trip to the Middle East.

‘I’ll have to wait till I get back’: Trump on Pakistan, Afghan Taliban clashes 

Reuters/AP

TEL AVIV:&nbsp;Hamas handed over the 20 surviving Israeli hostages to the Red Cross&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;in two separate groups, as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal. News agencies quoting Israel&rsquo;s public broadcaster reported Hamas had handed over all 20 surviving Israeli hostages to Red Cross representatives, with a second group of 13 hostages transferred in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Hamas on Monday published a list of 20 names, and shortly afterwards handed over the first seven hostages to Red Cross representatives in Gaza City. Earlier, President Donald Trump arrived in Israel to celebrate the US-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, an agreement that he declares has effectively ended the war and opened the door to building a durable peace in the Middle East. The moment remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas still in the early stages of implementing the first phase of the plan, which includes the release of Israeli hostages that have been held since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas-led militants. With families overjoyed at the impending reunions and Palestinians eager for a surge of humanitarian assistance, Trump thinks there is a narrow window to reshape the region and reset long-fraught relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors. &ldquo;The war is over, OK?&rdquo; Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force One. &ldquo;I think people are tired of it,&rdquo; he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that. Seven hostages arrive in Israel&nbsp;Hamas released seven of the 20 Israeli hostages into the custody of the Red Cross on Monday morning, the first group to be released as part of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. There was no immediate information on their condition. The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Monday it had begun &ldquo;a multi-phase operation&rdquo; to oversee the release of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in the key exchange of the breakthrough ceasefire after two years of war.&nbsp; Israelis on Monday prepared to welcome home the last 20 living hostages from devastated Gaza and mourn the return of the dead. All 1,966 Palestinian detainees slated for release on Monday have boarded buses at Israeli prisons, an official involved in the operation told Reuters. Palestinians awaited the release of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel. US President Donald Trump was arriving in the region along with other leaders to discuss the US-proposed deal and postwar plans. A surge of humanitarian aid was expected into famine-stricken Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless. While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners marked a key step toward ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group. Living hostages expected first&nbsp;Hamas released a list early Monday morning of the 20 living hostages it will free as part of the ceasefire, and a list of over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners it said will be released by Israeli authorities. The International Committee of the Red Cross was moving toward a site to collect several hostages held by Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said. The Israeli army said others would be released later. Major Israeli TV stations were airing special overnight broadcasts ahead of the hostages&#39; release as anticipation grew. People began to gather near a large screen in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv before dawn. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very exciting,&rdquo; said Meir Kaller, who spent a sleepless night there. The hostages&#39; return caps a painful chapter for Israel. Since they were captured in the October 2023 Hamas attack that ignited the war, newscasts have marked their days in captivity, and Israelis have worn yellow pins and ribbons in solidarity. Tens of thousands have joined their families in weekly demonstrations calling for their release. As the war dragged on, demonstrators accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging his feet for political purposes, even as he accused Hamas of intransigence. Last week, under heavy international pressure and increasing isolation for Israel, the bitter enemies agreed to the ceasefire. With the hostages&rsquo; release, the sense of urgency around the war for many Israelis will be effectively over. Israel expects the living hostages to be released together on Monday. They will be handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross and then to the Israeli military, which will take them to the Reim military base to be reunited with families. It is unlikely that the remains of up to 28 other hostages will be returned at the same time. An international task force will work to locate deceased hostages who are not returned within 72 hours, said Gal Hirsch, Israel&rsquo;s coordinator for the hostages and the missing. The timing has not been announced for the release of Palestinian prisoners. They include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions in attacks on Israelis, in addition to 1,700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge. They will be returned to the West Bank or Gaza or sent into exile. While Israel considers the prisoners to be terrorists, Palestinians view them as freedom fighters against Israeli occupation. Israel has warned Palestinians in the West Bank against celebrating after people are released, according to a prisoner&rsquo;s family and a Palestinian official familiar with the plans. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared retribution. Red Cross vehicles were seen driving in both Gaza and Israel early Monday. Trump in Israel, Egypt&nbsp;Trump was first visiting Israel, where a White House schedule said he would meet with families of the hostages and speak at the Knesset, Israel&rsquo;s parliament. Vice President JD Vance said Trump was likely to meet with newly freed hostages. &ldquo;The war is over,&rdquo; Trump asserted to reporters as he departed, adding he thought the ceasefire would hold. Trump will continue to Egypt, where President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi&#39;s office said he will co-chair a &ldquo;peace summit&rdquo; on Monday with regional and international leaders. Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, will attend, a judge and adviser to Abbas, Mahmoud al-Habbash, told The Associated Press. Netanyahu has rejected any role in postwar Gaza for Abbas, though the US plan leaves the possibility open if the Palestinian Authority undergoes reforms. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007. Other key questions in the ceasefire deal remain unresolved, including the future governance of Gaza and the funding for a billion-dollar reconstruction process. Israel wants to ensure that the weakened Hamas disarms, and Netanyahu has warned that Israel could do it &ldquo;the hard way.&rdquo; Hamas refuses to disarm and wants to ensure Israel pulls its troops completely out of Gaza. The Israeli military has withdrawn from much of Gaza City, the southern city of Khan Younis, and other areas. Troops remain in most of the southern city of Rafah, towns of Gaza&rsquo;s far north, and the wide strip along Gaza&rsquo;s border with Israel. Under the US plan, an international body will govern Gaza, overseeing Palestinian technocrats running day-to-day affairs. Hamas has said that Gaza&rsquo;s government should be worked out among Palestinians. The plan calls for an Arab-led international security force in Gaza, along with Palestinian police trained by Egypt and Jordan. It said Israeli forces would leave areas as those forces deploy. About 200 US troops are now in Israel to monitor the ceasefire. The plan also mentions the possibility of a future Palestinian state, another nonstarter for Netanyahu.

President Donald Trump walks with Israel's President Isaac Herzog, left, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an arrival ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, near Tel Aviv. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Hamas hands over hostages to the Red Cross; Israel to free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange; Donald Trump in Israel, expected to address the Knesset; later, he will attend the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in Egypt, which aims to strengthen peace in Gaza after two years of devastation by Israel.

All 20 surviving hostages arrive in Israel; Trump to address Knesset

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">POZA RICA: The death toll from Mexico&rsquo;s torrential rains rose to 47 on Sunday as the fallout mounted from flooding and landslides throughout the country, with authorities rushing to help affected residents and look for missing people.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Days after heavy rains drenched several parts of Mexico, the country saw over the weekend the extension of devastation in some states, where the flooding swept away vehicles and destroyed houses and roads.<figure><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/4f536df9-d91d-4b50-9b5c-33b6b9e0bb72-AP25285857233726.jpg" alt="Damaged vehicles sit in mud after flooding in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Damaged vehicles sit in mud after flooding in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)</figcaption></figure> <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Claudia Sheinbaum traveled to several states and announced that the government will conduct a census among affected people to distribute aid. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mexico&#39;s Civil Protection agency said as of Sunday night, the heavy rains had killed 18 people in Veracruz state on the Gulf Coast and 16 people in Hidalgo state, north of Mexico City. At least 12 people were killed in Puebla, east of Mexico City. Earlier, in the central state of Quer&eacute;taro, a child died while being caught in a landslide. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That toll could still rise as rescue workers continued to dig through sodden villages clogged with mud and debris on Sunday.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/e8c1a4cc-76d6-4bf1-a350-9a1ca933970d.png" style="width: 810px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"> <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Civil Protection said at least 38 people were missing in three different states<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Authorities have attributed the deadly downpours to two tropical systems that formed off the western coast of Mexico and have since dissipated, Hurricane Pricilla and Tropical Storm Raymond. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Veracruz and Puebla, hundreds of army personnel, police officers, and firefighters conducted rescue operations and set up temporary shelters where stranded residents could find food and medical attention. Thousands of residents across the country were still struggling with a lack of running water and electricity. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;There are still various communities in Veracruz that find themselves cut off, but fortunately, today they were able to establish air bridges to be able to take food, water, and attend to any sick people,&rdquo; Sheinbaum said on a visit to Veracruz on Sunday. &ldquo;We know that there is a lot of desperation and worry. We&rsquo;re going to get to everyone.&rdquo; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Parts of Veracruz state received some 21 inches (54 centimeters) of rain from Oct. 6 to 9. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Poza Rica, an oil town 170 miles (275 kilometers) northeast of Mexico City, where Sheinbaum spoke with residents in muddy streets, some low-lying neighborhoods saw 12 feet of water or more when the Cazones River jumped its banks Friday.

A Marine helps a woman cross a flooded street in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Americas

The death toll rose to 47 on Sunday as the fallout mounted from flooding and landslides throughout the country; authorities were rushing to help affected residents and look for missing people.

Mexico rushes rescue efforts after torrential rains leave 47 dead

HONG KONG: China&#39;s exports to the United States fell 27% in September from the year before, even though growth in its global exports hit a six-month high.&nbsp;Customs figures released Monday showed that China&rsquo;s worldwide exports were 8.3% higher than a year earlier, at $328.5 billion, surpassing economists&rsquo; estimates. That was markedly better than the 4.4% year-on-year increase in August.&nbsp;Imports grew 7.4% last month, significantly better than a 1.3% increase by year in August, although a weaker domestic economy and a real estate sector downturn continue to weigh on demand and consumption.&nbsp;China&rsquo;s exports to the United States have fallen for six straight months. In August they dropped 33%.&nbsp;The outlook is cloudy as a truce between Beijing and Washington unravels and both sides hit out with new tariffs and other retaliatory measures.&nbsp;As exports to the United States have come under pressure from US President Donald Trump&#39;s policies aimed at trying to get manufacturers to shift factories to America, China has expanded markets for its products in other regions.&nbsp;Shipments to Southeast Asia grew 15.6% year-on-year in September. Exports to Latin America and Africa were up 15% and 56%, respectively.&nbsp;&ldquo;China&rsquo;s exports continue to show resilience given the low costs and limited choices for replacement globally despite the higher tariffs,&rdquo; said Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis.&nbsp;Tensions with the US reignited Friday after Trump threatened an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods and export controls on &ldquo;critical&rdquo; software.&nbsp;That came after China announced it would hit American ships with new port fees in response to a US plan to impose port fees on Chinese vessels docking in the country. Beijing also extended export controls on lithium-ion batteries and on exports of rare earths and related technologies.&nbsp;The friction could jeopardize plans for a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in late October. It also suggests a lack of progress in efforts to forge a broad trade agreement between the world&#39;s two biggest economies.

China's exports to the US sink nearly 30% in September as trade truce unravels with new threats of higher tariffs.

China's US exports drop 30% as tariff tensions rise

SYDNEY: Pat Cummins has conceded he&#39;s a doubtful starter for Australia&#39;s Ashes series opener against England in Perth next month.&nbsp;&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t put a percentage on it, but I&rsquo;d say probably less likely than likely,&rdquo; the pace bowler told domestic media Monday. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve still got a bit of time.&rdquo;&nbsp;The Australia captain has been sidelined for three months with a back stress injury, and speculation has mounted in recent weeks that he&#39;d miss at least the first test, and likely more, of the biggest test cricket series on the 2025 calendar.&nbsp;Cummins said he&#39;s back into physical training and &quot;each session feels better and better.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We get into slight bowling prep, I think next week,&quot; he said. &quot;I&rsquo;m probably a couple of weeks away before I actually put on these spikes and bowl on the turf.&quot;&nbsp;The five-test series starts Nov. 21 in Perth, followed by a day-night test in Brisbane from Dec. 4, before the series moves to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.&nbsp;The 32-year-old Cummins has not bowled since Australia&#39;s 3-0 series sweep of the West Indies in the Caribbean in July.&nbsp;&ldquo;The immediate goal is to make sure I&rsquo;m giving myself a chance to be right for as much of (the series) as possible,&rdquo; Cummins said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really too early to kind of make some big decisions.&nbsp;&ldquo;With these things, it&rsquo;s pretty hard to go from not bowling or anything at all to suddenly playing five tests. The first step is trying to give us a shot at being (fit), and then we&rsquo;ll work it out a bit closer.&rdquo;&nbsp;Cummins said he wasn&#39;t in serious pain and was trying to increase his workload.&nbsp;&ldquo;A few of the symptoms hung around for a little bit longer than I would have liked,&quot; he said, &ldquo;but they&rsquo;re all gone now.&rdquo;&nbsp;If Cummins is ruled out, Scott Boland is likely to take his place in the pace attack that should include Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.&nbsp;Australia&#39;s white ball squad is preparing for a series of one-day and Twenty20 internationals against India starting Oct. 19.

Cummins says he's back into physical training and "each session feels better and better.”