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Former New York Jets executive Scott Pioli, who also played a key role in Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots dynasty, gives his reaction to the Jets trading away defensive stars Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at the NFL’s trade deadline.

WATCH: The Whole 10 Yards – NFL’s trade deadline (UK ONLY)

Indonesia has denied visas to Israel athletes ahead of the upcoming world championships in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.

Gymnastics’ governing body has given a muted reaction to Indonesia’s announcement that it would block Israeli athletes from competing at the upcoming world championships in Jakarta.

“The FIG takes note of the Indonesian government’s decision not to issue visas to the Israeli delegation registered for the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics, which will be held in Jakarta from 19-25 October, and recognizes the challenges that the host country has faced in organizing this event,” it said in a short statement on Friday

The statement did not threaten to take the event away from Indonesia, as stipulated in FIG statutes for cases where the host refuses to issue visas.

“The FIG hopes that an environment will be created as soon as possible where athletes around the world can enjoy sports safely and with peace of mind,” it said.

Indonesia’s decision to deny visas to the Israeli athletes came after their planned participation had prompted intense opposition in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, which has long been a staunch supporter of Palestinians.

Israel is among 86 countries registered to compete at the worlds, with a team highlighted by 2020 Olympic gold medallist and defending world champion Artem Dolgopyat in the men’s floor exercise.

Now its participation is in doubt, even though the Israeli Gymnastics Federation said in July that it had been assured by Indonesian officials that it would be welcome at the worlds. That would have gone against Indonesia’s longstanding policy of refusing to host Israeli sports delegations for major events.

On Thursday, Indonesia’s senior minister of law, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, made it clear the Israeli team will not be allowed into the country, despite Israel and Hamas having agreed to a ceasefire.

“We respect every decision taken by the government with various considerations,” Indonesian Olympic Committee president Raja Sapta Oktohari told a news conference in Jakarta on Friday.

Indonesian Gymnastics Federation chairwoman, Ita Yuliati, said that she has briefed FIG president Morinari Watanabe about the decision and claimed “the FIG has expressed support”.

The gymnastics spat is the latest example of how the global backlash against Israel over the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza has spread into the arenas of sports and culture.

Indonesia was stripped of hosting rights for football’s Under-20 World Cup in 2023, only two months before the start of the tournament, amid political turmoil regarding Israel’s participation.

Instead of disciplining Indonesia, FIFA awarded the country hosting rights to a different youth World Cup later that year, which Israel had not qualified for.

Indonesian football was seen to benefit from its leader Erick Thohir’s close ties with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who, like Thohir, is a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire deal built off United States President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at ending Israel’s war on Gaza.

“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line”, Trump said on his Truth Social platform, announcing the ceasefire agreement late on Wednesday.

Under the first phase of the plan, Hamas and other Palestinian factions are required to release 20 Israeli captives held in Gaza who are believed to be alive, and the bodies of 28 others in the Palestinian territory. Israel is required to release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners it holds in its jails, based on a list shared by Hamas. This includes hundreds of people from Gaza whom Israel has arrested since the start of the war in October 2023.

In a separate phone interview with Fox News on its Hannity programme, Trump said Israeli captives held in Gaza could be released on Monday.

Israel and Hamas subsequently confirmed the agreement, though key differences remain over their interpretations of how Trump’s broader plan is to unfold.

The announcement followed three days of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. Senior officials from Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt and the US had joined the delegations from Israel and Hamas on Wednesday for those talks.

The ceasefire has not come into force yet, but the announcement of the deal prompted messages of congratulations and hope from regional and world leaders.

Here are some of them:

US President Donald Trump

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump said on Truth Social, soon after he received a note from Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the middle of a press briefing, telling the president that a deal was close to being struck.

“All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”

Speaking to Sean Hannity on the phone on Fox News, Trump claimed that the world will see “people getting along and Gaza will be rebuilt”, adding that it is going to be a “different world” and that there will be “wealth spent in Gaza”.

“I’m very confident there’ll be peace in the Middle East.”

Trump has hinted that he might travel to Egypt as soon as this weekend.

“I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday,” he told reporters at the White House earlier on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

“A big day for Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement from his Jerusalem office.

“Tomorrow I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear hostages home,” he said, thanking Israeli soldiers for “their courage and sacrifice”.

He extended his “heartfelt thanks” to Trump and his team “for their dedication to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages”.

“With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbors”.

Hamas

“We highly appreciate the efforts of our brothers and mediators in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, and we also value the efforts of US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war completely and achieving a full withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip,” Hamas said in a statement.

“We call on President Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement, and all Arab, Islamic, and international parties to compel the occupation government to fully implement its obligations under the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the implementation of what has been agreed upon.

“We salute our great people in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and throughout our homeland and the diaspora, who have demonstrated unparalleled honor, courage, and heroism — confronting the fascist occupation projects that targeted them and their national rights. These sacrifices and steadfast positions have thwarted the Israeli occupation’s schemes of subjugation and displacement.

“We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, and that we will remain true to our pledge — never abandoning our people’s national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

“I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by President Donald J Trump. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in brokering this desperately needed breakthrough,” Guterres said in a statement.

“I urge all concerned to abide fully by the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The fighting must stop once and for all.”

The leader of the UN stressed the need for “immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza” so that the suffering could end.

“The United Nations will support the full implementation of the agreement and will scale up the delivery of sustained and principled humanitarian relief, and we will advance recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza,” Guterres added.

He mentioned how the peace talks should be the starting point to “achieving a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security”.

“I urge all stakeholders to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people … The stakes have never been higher.”

Qatar

Qatar has led mediation efforts to end the war over the past two years. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani headed to Egypt to participate in the ceasefire talks, underscoring the urgency of efforts to end the war.

“The mediators announce that tonight an agreement was reached on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid,” Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said after the announcement of the ceasefire deal.

Talking about the agreement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said on X that “details will be announced later”.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Starmer urged that the agreement on the first stage of Trump’s plan for Gaza must be implemented in full without delay.

“I welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he said in a statement.

We welcome the agreement on the first phase of President Trump’s peace plan. This is also a reflection of the strong leadership of PM Netanyahu.

We hope the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza will bring respite to them and pave the way…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2025

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Modi welcomed the first phase agreement, calling it a step towards lasting peace in the region.

“We welcome the agreement on the first phase of President Trump’s peace plan. This is also a reflection of the strong leadership of PM Netanyahu,” Modi said in a post on X.

“We hope the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza will bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace.”

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters

“Hamas needs to release all of the hostages and Israel must withdraw their troops to the agreed-upon line,” Peters said in a statement.

“This is an essential first step towards achieving lasting peace. We urge Israel and Hamas to continue working towards a complete resolution.”

Dani Dyer has opened up on how she feels watching fellow Love Island alumni Amber Davies join the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in her place following injury

Dani Dyer has admitted she found the first live Strictly Come Dancing show hard to watch at the weekend. The former Love Island star, 29, had been excited to be a part of the hit BBC contest, but injury forced her to quit in the week running up to the series starting.

Now, while chatting with her dad Danny Dyer on their Live and Let Dyers podcast, the reality TV star admitted she would love to go back next series. “My door is open,” she confessed. “If they want their door to be open then I’ll walk through their door.”

And talking about Amber Davies replacing her, she admitted she feels she will be amazing with Nikita Guzman. “Watching the launch show, they’re all so lovely,” she said before her dad asked how she felt.

READ MORE: Dani Dyer opens up about ‘pure devastation’ she felt when forced to quit StrictlyREAD MORE: Love Island star’s desperate call to cops after creepy man ‘tried to grab kids’

“That was really hard,” she confessed. “Obviously seeing them, but obviously Amber’s come in and they’re going to be amazing together.

“I’m glad that Nikita’s actually got a partner because there was a chance he wouldn’t get a partner. It was just such a quick turnaround.”

She added: “Listen, I wish everyone the best, ” before confessing her love for Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison. “I’m so glad I met Vicky,” she gushed.

Dani also revealed during the chat that she felt she may have done something wrong in the world after injuring herself. It left her requiring the advice of her therapist for the first time since she met her husband Jarrod Bowen.

“He just put things into perspective for me,” she candidly revealed.

Speaking of how the injury occurred, dad Danny labelled it a “freak f***ing accident”. Dani then added: “Basically I fell and rolled my ankle and initially I heard a noise but I thought, ‘I think it’ll be fine’, but I came home on the weekend and iced it all, and they sent me for the MRI and it came back that there was a hairline fracture on my ankle, but it was my ligaments.”

“They said to me, the physio, if you have a grade one sprain, we can work with a grade one sprain, but one side of my ankle had a grade two sprain and the other side had a grade one.

“We went and got a second opinion, see the doctor, and I was like ‘What can we do? Physically do? Can you jab it, there’s got to be something’.”

But she admitted the Strictly bosses pulled the plug on her time, admitting they told her it wasn’t worth it. They explained she would be “in so much pain” if she was to continue.

Now, with Amber going in as one of the favourites, fans have been wondering if her call-up is fair due to her West End and dancing background.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

READ MORE: ‘I tested this £28 foundation – it’s a dream and made my face glow all day’

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER admitted his torrid Ryder Cup was “one of the lowest moments of my career”.

The dominant world No1 arrived at Bethpage expected to lead the USA team by example.

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But in harrowingly similar fashion to his 9&7 defeat with Brooks Koepka to Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland, he started Friday morning with a crushing 5&3 foursomes loss alongside Russell Henley to Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick.

And Scheffler, 29, became the first American to go 0-4 in the first four sessions in Ryder Cup history.

The reigning PGA Championship and Open champion, though, did beat Rory McIlroy in the singles to ensure he did not leave New York pointless.

Scheffler said: “I think it’s hard to put into words how much it hurt to lose all four matches. This week did not go how I anticipated it going for myself and I’m a little bit bummed.

“To have the trust of my captains and team-mates to go out there and play all four matches and lose all four, it’s really hard to put into words how much that stings and hurts.

“It was probably one of the lowest moments of my career, but it turned out to be one of the most special, just because I’ve got great friends in this room and I was really proud to be battling with these guys for three days.”

McIlroy and Scheffler spoke to each other on the course about their mental, physical and emotional exhaustion as both men played in all five sessions.

McIlroy said he was “running on empty” and described their match as a “pillow fight”.

Scheffler added: “Things just did not work out the way I anticipated, it was a difficult week for me personally but I was proud to be able to get a point.

“It’s tough, playing all five matches is a grind. I’m pretty tired.”

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RYDER CUP 2025 LIVE: FOLLOW ALL THE LATEST FROM BETHPAGE BLACK

A federal jury on Thursday found hip-hop producer Metro Boomin not liable in his civil sexual assault case, after nearly a year of litigation. He is feeling more than relieved.

“I’m grateful and thankful to God that I can finally put all of this nonsense behind me,” the Grammy-nominated “Like That” musician said in a statement shared on Instagram after the verdict.

The jury sided with the 32-year-old artist, whose real name is Leland Tyler Wayne, after a brief trial that began Tuesday. He was cleared in all four actionable claims brought by Vanessa LeMaistre, who first raised her allegations in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles in October 2024.

LeMaistre said in her initial lawsuit that she and Wayne struck up a connection in spring of 2016 amid their mutual grief: The musician had broken up with a longtime girlfriend and LeMaistre had lost a 9-month-old son “as a result of a rare and fatal disease,” according to court documents. LeMaistre alleged the assault occurred that September after he invited her to a recording studio to watch him work.

LeMaistre described the alleged incident as the “second worst thing that ever happened to her,” other than the death of her child. She also accused Wayne of impregnating her through rape and said she underwent an abortion.

The producer’s legal team quickly denied the allegations last October and dismissed the complaint as a “pure shakedown.” Attorney Lawrence C. Hinkle II echoed those sentiments Thursday in a statement shared after the verdict.

“We are extremely grateful for the jury’s careful consideration of the evidence and for reaching the correct decision,” Hinkle said. “The allegations against Mr. Wayne were frivolous and unequivocally false. Mr. Wayne has endured serious and damaging accusations, and today’s verdict confirms what he has always said — the plaintiff’s claims against him are completely fabricated.”

After Thursday’s verdict, LeMaistre attorney Michael J. Willemin said that although “the legal system is often stacked against survivors, our client showed unwavering fortitude throughout this trial.”

Willemin added: “We are disappointed in the outcome but are proud to represent Ms. LeMaistre and believe that the verdict will ultimately be overturned on appeal.”

Though the case — which was moved from L.A. County Superior Court to California Central District Court in December — ended in victory for Metro Boomin, he said in his statement it also resulted in a “a long list of losses.” He lamented the money and time “wasted” in the litigation process and said there had been an “incalculable amount of money and opportunities that did not make it to me or my team during this time.”

The Missouri-born artist also spoke about the case’s toll on his personal life, writing that “the trauma my family and I have endured during this dark period can never be forgiven.” He detailed adopting his youngest siblings and expressed concern over their possible online exposure to the case.

“I’m disappointed in not only the plaintiff but the janky lawyers who made the made the conscious decision to take on this suit, even though it was evident long ago that these claims had no legs or merit and would not end up going anywhere,” he said, later expressing gratitude for his own legal team.

Metro Boomin rose to prominence in the mid-2010s, working with rap stars including Young Thug, Future and Nicki Minaj. Over the years, he has also racked up collaborations with Drake, Kanye “Ye” West, Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Lil Wayne. Most recently, he reunited with Young Thug as a producer for Thug’s new album, “UY Scuti,” the rapper’s first since his release from Georgia’s Fulton County Jail last October.

With the case behind him for now, Metro Boomin concluded his statement by sending “peace and love to the actual victims out there as well as the innocent and accused.”

We Were Liars left Prime Video subscribers distraught in the last few moments of its agonising finale.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from We Were Liars.

We Were Liars star Caitlin Fitzgerald has addressed fans’ emotional TikTok videos as they film themselves reacting to the drama’s final episode.

Based on author E. Lockhart’s novel of the same name, We Were Liars revolves around the extraordinarily rich Sinclair family who spend their summers at their private island off the coast of Massachusetts.

One summer, Cadence Sinclair (played by Emily Alyn Lind) was involved in an incident that she can remember nothing about and no one will tell her what happened.

But it was the last episode of the Prime Video drama where her world really came crashing down when she discovers that she and her cousins Johnny (Joseph Zada) and Mirren Sinclair (Esther McGregor) and family friend Gat Patil (Shubham Maheshwari) set the mansion on fire.

In a devastating turn of events though, Cadence was the only one who was able to get out in time with Johnny, Mirren and Gat all dying in the blaze.

Throughout the series, Cadence had simply been imagining her friends were by her side, and was beside herself when she realised the truth.

Understandably, subscribers who hadn’t read the book were shocked, with an ongoing TikTok trend of fans filming themselves sobbing at the finale.

When Screen Time spoke to Penny Sinclair star Caitlin Fitzgerald about the reaction on social media, she admitted she wasn’t surprised.

“I always feel like I have to slightly apologise for what we put you through with that show. It’s a rough ride”, Fitzgerald laughs.

“A few years after the book came out during Covid, there was a similar kind of reading the last chapter and filming yourself weeping.

“So I was somewhat prepared for it but we knew because we couldn’t get through the script.”

Fitzgerald continues: “We did a read through of the final episode and all of us were beside ourselves.

“Even David Morrissey who is quite a stoic guy, was just like ‘give me a second’, had to kind of compose himself.

“And we knew what was coming so I can only imagine what it was like the first go around if you didn’t know.”

An official renewal hasn’t been given to We Were Liars just yet but there are talks of a prequel in the works, based on Lockhart’s novel Family of Liars.

So fans are just going to have to wait for now to find out if there will be more on the way from the Sinclair family.

We Were Liars is available to watch on Prime Video.

José Caballero was a member of the Tampa Bay Rays at the start of Thursday’s game against the New York Yankees.

He was a member of the Rays when he turned a double play to end the fifth inning.

He was a member of the Rays when he popped out to second base to start the sixth inning.

He was a member of the winning team when he spoke to reporters after the game.

That team was not the Rays. In a bizarre scenario that played out as the MLB trade deadline came and went, Caballero was dealt to the opposing team during a game in which he was playing.

“I was winning today regardless,” Caballero said following the Yankees’ 7-4 victory. “We won the game, I guess. That’s what I feel right now.”

As part of the deal, the Rays received triple-A outfielder Everson Pereira and a player to be named or cash.

Caballero is tied for the MLB lead with 34 stolen bases this season. He has played in 86 games at six positions (shortstop, second base, third base and all three outfield spots) and has a batting average of .226 with two home runs and 27 RBIs.

After entering Thursday’s game in the bottom of the fifth inning, Caballero could be seen in the Tampa Bay dugout during the top of the seventh, giving hugs and saying his goodbyes. Shortstop Taylor Walls looked particularly stunned by the development.

Caballero, who was acquired by the Rays in a trade with the Seattle Mariners before the 2024 season, bid his final farewell Friday on his Instagram Stories.

“Grateful for every moment, every game, every memory, every person,” he wrote. “Y’all made it special. Forever part of my journey. Thank you Rays!!”

Caballero also had a message for his new team.

“Honored to join such a legendary organization,” he wrote. “Thank you, Yankees, for the warm welcome. Let’s get to work! #NewChapter”

The Panama native is now a member of the team he grew up rooting for (Derek Jeter was his favorite player, Caballero told reporters). He is also now teammates with Gerrit Cole, the Yankees pitcher who famously wagged his finger in annoyance at then-Seattle Mariners rookie Caballero during a June 2023 game.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters he spoke briefly with Caballero after the trade.

“I said, `We’ve had some battles but I like your game,’” Boone said. “So I think he brings a lot to the table and I think he’s going to be a very useful player for us, just a lot of different things he can do on a diamond and provide a lot of position flexibility.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Mirror spoke exclusively with Hollyoaks’ Rex Gallagher actor Jonny Labey and Jacob Omari star Ethaniel Davy about the return of Clare Devine, their emotional storyline and what’s ahead

We got the lowdown on Hollyoaks villain Clare Devine from two co-stars working closely with actress Gemma Bissix currently on the Channel 4 soap.

Clare made her big return months ago, as part of a dark trafficking storyline involving other characters and some of the teenagers in the village. Clare’s sister Grace black and half-brother Rex Gallagher were also caught up in the drama, with us soon learning all about Rex’s past and backstory.

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Rex actor Jonny Labey praised the move to explore what Rex faced when he was younger, and how it shaped him – leading to him taking a criminal path. Jonny discussed how fans finally saw why he was the way he was, calling him “a product of his environment”.

He added how Rex’s “unexpected” romance with Ste Hay changed things, and gave Rex something to push for. That said, Jonny loves the drama his role brings, and was thrilled to get to work with co-star Gemma as she made her comeback.

READ MORE: Hollyoaks star hints at unexpected twist for Tom amid Clare and Grace drama

He wasn’t the only one as newcomer Ethaniel Davy, whose character Jacob Omari took centre stage in the sad trafficking plot, also shared how much he loved working with the soap icon. Jonny shared: “Another long-lost sister! It’s honestly the best working with Gemma.

“She is such a joy, she brings such a bouncy energy to set. She gets stuck in to storylines, she holds no prisoners, she’s just a ruthless and fantastic character. It really brings in that female power character to the show.”

Ethaniel agreed: “Gemma is so lovely. Clare can be sympathetic as well though. She’s not just pure evil, she has a soft side and a bit of a backstory, and she has another side to her. Sometimes she’s got the wrong intentions but for the right reasons.”

Actor Ethaniel was thrilled to rejoin the show recently, having first joined earlier in the year. He told us: “It’s definitely a new experience for me. It’s lovely, I’ve enjoyed it.

“It’s great and I am very grateful. We’ve just got to see how the storyline goes!” On the fans backing his character, he went on: “It was lovely because to get the role was a big thing, and then it was brilliant to keep going after a few months of not working.

“I got called back, and so getting good feedback was great to hear.” He also praised co-star Jonny for “showing him the ropes” and looking after him on set.

As for Jonny, he welcomed the changes to his character as fans have gotten to see a different side to him. He told us: “You have got this thing with Rex where he is a product of his environment and unfortunately, even since doing the storyline, the sex trafficking storyline, it’s way more common than people realise.

“It seems like such a wild storyline but it’s something that affects so many people in the UK, specifically the younger generation. It’s that passed-on trauma. I’m glad we’ve got to see these sides to Rex now.

“We can understand where it all comes form because when I first joined it was six months of arguments, fights and him being a villain. It was cool but he’s got a nice undertone now. The love interest with Ste has taken him by surprise.

“But it has shown him there is a way out from that life. I think that roundedness now is really beautiful to play. He still doesn’t back down easy and he’s not a push-around though. It is just a dream role honestly, to play a character like that. I have always wanted to play a troubled character with depth.”

His comments about Ste, and Rex turning his life around could be a hint at what’s ahead with a happy future. But with Rex currently in prison, will he find a way back to the village?

Hollyoaks is available to stream on Channel 4’s streaming service now, while it also airs Mondays to Wednesdays on E4 at 7PM. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

A roundup of key international reactions after Israeli air strikes near the defence ministry and presidential palace in Syria’s capital.

Israel has launched several air strikes in the heart of the Syrian capital, Damascus, as clashes continued in the southwestern city of Suwayda after a truce between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces struck near the entrance to the Syrian Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, hours after he had demanded Syrian government forces withdraw from Suwayda.

Another strike hit near the presidential palace, on the outskirts of the city.

At least one person was killed and 18 others were wounded in the attacks, Syrian state media reported, citing the Ministry of Health.

The attacks on Syria’s capital come amid continuing unrest in the city of Suwayda, where local Sunni Bedouin tribes have been engaged in fierce clashes in recent days with fighters from Syria’s Druze minority, whom Israel views as a potential ally in Syria and claims to be intervening to protect.

Damascus deployed its forces to the city on Tuesday and declared a ceasefire, but the fighting quickly resumed.

Here is how the world is reacting to Israel’s attacks on Damascus:

United States

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was “very concerned” about the escalation in violence.

“We’re going to be working on that issue … I just got off the phone with the relevant parties. We’re very concerned about it, and hopefully, we’ll have some updates later today. But we’re very concerned about it,” Rubio said

Turkiye

Turkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks and said they were an attempt to sabotage Syria’s efforts to achieve peace, stability and security.

“The Syrian people have a historic opportunity to live in peace and integrate with the world,” the ministry said.

“All stakeholders who support this opportunity should contribute to the Syrian government’s efforts to restore peace.”

Omer Celik, spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s governing AK Party, also condemned the attacks.

“Israel’s attacks pose a security threat to the entire region and the world,” Celik wrote on X.

GCC

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – condemned the attacks in the “strongest terms”.

In a statement, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the Israeli attacks were a “flagrant violation” of Syria’s sovereignty, “a breach of international laws and norms, and a serious threat to regional security and stability”.

Albudaiwi reiterated the GCC’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity, adding that the continuation of Israeli attacks constituted an “irresponsible escalation” and disregarded international efforts to achieve stability in Syria and the region.

Norway

The Norwegian foreign minister said that Israel’s recent strikes could undermine efforts towards a peaceful transition of power in Syria.

“Deeply concerned about recent Israeli airstrikes and rising domestic tensions. The escalation risks undermining efforts towards a peaceful, Syrian-owned transition,” Espen Barth Eide wrote on X.

He said he was “alarmed” by the “escalating violence” in Syria and urged all actors to exercise “maximum restraint”.

The United States has bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, further escalating the war between Israel and Iran.

President Donald Trump late on Saturday said the US attacks “obliterated” the Iranian facilities in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz as he threatened more strikes to eliminate the country’s nuclear enrichment capacity if Tehran “does not make peace”.

Iran acknowledged the attacks, saying its personnel working at the nuclear sites were evacuated before the attacks.

The US strikes came more than a week after Israel launched a military campaign against Iran, which retaliated with missile attacks, resulting in hundreds of casualties on both sides.

Here are some key reactions from around the world following the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites:

Iran

In his first public remarks after the strikes, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi accused the US of breaching international law.

“The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations,” Araghchi said in a social media post.

“The events this morning [Sunday] are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior.”

He added that Iran “reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people”.

Israel

“Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement.

“History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons.”

United Nations

“I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

“This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security”, he said, adding that there is a “growing risk” that this conflict could “rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world”.

Guterres called on member states to “de-escalate” and “uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law”.

“At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”

Hamas

In a statement, the Palestinian armed group said it condemned “in the strongest terms the brazen aggression of the United States against the territory and sovereignty of Iran”.

“The US aggression against Iran is a dangerous escalation, blind obedience to the occupiers’ agenda, and a clear violation of international law,” Hamas said.

“We declare our solidarity with Iran, its leadership, and its people, and we have full confidence in Iran’s ability to defend its sovereignty.”

US Democrats

The top Democrat in the House of Representatives accused Trump of pushing the country towards war.

“President Trump misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East,” Congressman Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement.

“Donald Trump shoulders complete and total responsibility for any adverse consequences that flow from his unilateral military action.”

China

A flash commentary from China’s government-run media asked whether the US is “repeating its Iraq mistake in Iran”. The online piece by CGTN, the foreign-language arm of the state broadcaster, said the US strikes mark a dangerous turning point.

“History has repeatedly shown that military interventions in the Middle East often produce unintended consequences, including prolonged conflicts and regional destabilization,” it said, citing the American invasion of Iraq in 2003.

It said a measured, diplomatic approach that prioritizes dialogue over military confrontation offers the best hope for stability in the Middle East.

Australia

“We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security,” the Australian government spokesperson said.

“We note the US President’s statement that now is the time for peace,” he said, adding that the security situation in the region is “highly volatile”.

“We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy,” the spokesperson said.

New Zealand

“We acknowledge developments in the last 24 hours, including President Trump’s announcement of US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran”, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.

“Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical further escalation is avoided,” he said, adding that New Zealand “strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy”.

“We urge all parties to return to talks. Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action.”

Mexico

“The ministry urgently calls for diplomatic dialogue for peace between the parties involved in the Middle East conflict, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on their X account.

“In keeping with our constitutional principles of foreign policy and our country’s pacifist conviction, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region,” the ministry said.

“The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region is the highest priority.”

Venezuela

“Venezuela Condemns US Military Aggression Against Iran and Demands an Immediate Cessation of Hostilities,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said in a Telegram post.

“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan complexes,” he said.

US groups CAIR and AIPAC

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a US Muslim rights group, said the US attack is an “illegal and unjustified” act of war that comes under pressure from the “out-of-control” Israeli government, and despite the longstanding conclusion of the US intelligence that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon.

On the other hand, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the powerful pro-Israel group in the US, praised the strikes ordered by Trump and said the US “must now work with our allies to protect our troops and regional interests against Iranian attacks”.

Cuba

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel strongly condemned the US bombing, saying it constituted a “dangerous escalation” and a serious violation of the UN Charter.

He added that it “plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences”.

Chile

Chilean President Gabriel Boric also called the US action illegal.

“Chile condemns this US attack,” he wrote on X. “Having power does not authorise you to use it in violation of the rules that we as humanity have given ourselves. Even if you are the United States.”

Governments and NGOs condemn Israel’s interception in international waters of the ship, which sought to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Israel has intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship, preventing the 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, from reaching the blockaded Palestinian territory.

Israeli forces “forcibly intercepted” the Madleen in international waters overnight about 100 nautical miles (185km) from Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition NGO said in a statement on Monday. Al Jazeera lost contact with the vessel at 7:00 GMT.

Apart from Thunberg, those taken into custody by Israel are Palestinian French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, Baptiste Andre, Pascal Maurieras, Yanis Mhamdi and Reva Viard from France; Thiago Avila from Brazil; Suayb Ordu from Turkiye; Sergio Toribio from Spain; Marco van Rennes from the Netherlands; Yasemin Acar from Germany; and Omar Faiad, a journalist with Al Jazeera Mubasher, also from France.

Israel has detained the crew for “interrogation”.

Here’s how the world has reacted:

Palestine

The interception of the Madleen is a “flagrant violation of international law”, Hamas said in a statement, calling for the activists on board to be released and saying it holds Israel “fully accountable for their safety”.

“Israel has no legal authority to restrict access to Palestine since such is within the exclusive right of the Palestinian people,” said the rights organisation Al-Haq, which is based in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

Iran

“The assault on this flotilla, since it happened in international waters, is considered a form of piracy under international law,” said Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Turkiye

Israel’s interception of the Madleen is a “clear violation of international law” that “once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terror state”, Turkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

France

President Emmanuel Macron “has asked that our six French nationals be allowed to return to France as soon as possible,” said the Elysee Palace in a press release. “We have asked to be able to exercise our consular protection over them” and to “visit them”, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot added.

Spain

Spain has summoned Dan Poraz, charge d’affaires at the Israeli embassy in Madrid, reported the Spanish newspaper El Pais and Al Jazeera Arabic, quoting a source at Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Australia

The Jewish Council of Australia has expressed “grave concerns for the activists on board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla” and called “on the Australian government to urgently intervene to secure the immediate release of the vessel and safety of the crew”.

United States

“We strongly condemn the cowardly and illegal Israeli attack on the Madleen as it approached Gaza with desperately needed humanitarian supplies,” the Council on American-Islamic Relations said. “We applaud Greta Thunberg and the other activists of the Madleen who bravely risked their safety and freedom to help the starving people of Gaza.”

European Parliament

Israel’s seizure of the Madleen “outside Israeli territorial waters” is a “blatant violation of international law”, said The Left, the European Parliament faction that Hassan belongs to. “The arrest of the crew members and the confiscation of aid intended for a population in immediate humanitarian distress is unacceptable and is clearly part of a wider strategy to starve and massacre Palestinians in Gaza while hiding Israeli war crimes from the world.”

United Nations

“Madleen must be released immediately,” United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Francesca Albanese said. “Breaking the siege is a legal duty for states and a moral imperative for all of us. Every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity and humanity to Gaza. They shall sail together – united, they will be unstoppable.”

Amnesty International

“As the occupying power (as recognised by the ICJ [International Court of Justice]), Israel has a legal obligation to ensure civilians in Gaza have sufficient food and medicine. They should have let Madleen deliver its humanitarian supplies to Gaza,” said Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International, asserting that Israel’s interception of the Madleen “violates international law”.

FORMER PSG star Kylian Mbappe has broken his silence after the Parisian giants made history in Munich.

Luis Enrique’s side thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 on Saturday night to secure a first-ever Champions League crown.

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Mbappe spent six years with PSG as the club tried in vain to end its European hoodoo.

The 26-year-old was a beaten finalist in 2020 when Bayern Munich broke French hearts.

Mbappe left for Real Madrid last summer after his contract expired in Paris.

And he sent a gracious message to his former employers as they beat him to a maiden Champions League title.

Taking to Instagram, Mbappe told his 124 million followers: “The big day has finally arrived.

“Victory – and in style – for an entire club. Congratulations @psg.”

Mbappe’s exit from Paris was soured by a spat over unpaid wages.

The forward made a claim of £46.5million against his former club, believing he was owed a signing bonus, his final three months’ salary and an “ethical” payment.

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Enrique was asked about Mbappe following his team’s history-making win on Saturday.

The Spaniard replied: “We would have loved to have him, but his decision was different.”

He then added: “We’ve shown that we have stars at the service of the team, and not the other way around.”

The win was Enrique’s second Champions League triumph after leading Barcelona to glory 10 years ago.

He used the moment to pay tribute to youngest daughter Xana, who tragically died in 2019 at the age of nine from bone cancer.

Champions League final REACTION – PSG 5-0 Inter

Following his blockbuster move last summer, Mbappe has hit the ground running at the Bernabeu.

He scored 42 goals in 55 games across all competitions this term.

But Los Blancos went trophyless, missing out on LaLiga to rivals Barcelona and crashing out of the CL at the quarter final stage to Arsenal.

GEORGE RUSSELL “won’t be saying thank you” anytime soon after blasting Formula One’s swearing rules as too “ridiculous” in the first place.

The Mercedes star, who sits fourth in the Championship standings, showed no gratitude to F1‘s governing body after labelling the walk-back on rules as “suspect” ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

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On Wednesday, the FIA climbed down on its previous stance of drivers facing potential bans and point deductions for swearing or criticising officials, and dramatically reduced the possible fines that can be issued.

Crucially, the stewards are now able to differentiate between ‘controlled’ and ‘non-controlled’ environments, meaning drivers are highly unlikely to be punished for swearing while competing, but will still face action for using offensive language in press conferences.

But Russell, was unmoved by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem cutting the first time fines from £33,700 down to £4,200.

The 27-year-old said: “I didn’t really have any reaction to the announcement because it was so ridiculous in the first place that we are just basically reverting on that.

“At the end of the day we’re not going to be saying thank you for something that was so crazy in the first place.

“We’ve just gone back to something that is slightly more in the name of common sense

“But we should never have moved away from that in the first place. You know, we shouldn’t even be having this conversation.”

Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, also revealed that he “wonders if the change was strategic timing” given that Ben Sulayem is up for re-election at the end of the season.

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Ben Sulayem said when the rule change was announced that he had “led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA World Championships”.

But, Russell has refused that claim, saying: “We’ve still had no correspondence with anyone from the senior level at the FIA. So yeah, it’s all a bit suspect.”

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, 40, also agreed that the situation was “ridiculous”.

The seven-time champion said: “It seems a bit of a mess there at the moment. There are lots of changes that are needed, for sure.”

Red Bull‘s Max Verstappen – who last year was the first driver to be punished for saying his car was “f***ed” with a form of community service – said the change was “a bit better and it’s a start”.

Incredibly, Russell and Verstappen both backed the potential bid of Carlos Sainz Sr, the father of Williams driver Sainz, in this December’s FIA presidential election.

When asked if Sainz would be a better president, the world champion Red Bull star bluntly replied: “You can fill that in yourself.

“He’s very well respected in the world here and in the rally world as a former rally driver.

“Of course people always say it’s conflicting with his son but I think he’s professional enough to keep that separated from each other.

“I think it would be a great addition to run for president.”

Russell also dismissed the idea there could be a conflict of interest because of Sainz’s son, who is also a GPDA director.

The Brit said: “You’re so far removed from a technical standpoint. It’s down to the technical people within the FIA to be the rule makers.

“The president in years gone by has probably been far less involved than what we’ve seen recently and far less visible.”

F1 2025

THE new Formula One season is well underway – and one team appear to be running away with it.

A massive summer of change saw Lewis Hamilton move on from Mercedes and join Ferrari, while the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have a big chance to end Max Verstappen‘s recent dominance.

The Red Bull ace is aiming for a record-equalling FIFTH consecutive world title.

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