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Israel identifies dead hostage returned Saturday

Israel on Sunday announced the identity of one of two dead hostages returned by Hamas the previous day as 54-year-old Ronen Engel.

The military "informed the family of hostage Ronen Engel... that their loved one has been returned to Israel and his identification has been completed", Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Israel would spare no effort "until all the fallen hostages are repatriated", it added.

Hamas has said it needs time and technical assistance to recover the remaining bodies from under Gaza's rubble

Iran's new metro station honours Virgin Mary

Shiite Islam may be the official religion in Iran, but entering Tehran's brand-new Maryam Moghaddas metro station, you could be forgiven for feeling as if you're stepping inside a Christian church.

Maryam Moghaddas in Persian translates as "Holy Mary". And the station's vaulted and arched concourse, with a dome decorated with Persian motifs, features religious frescoes and artworks honouring Christianity's Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ.

At Tehran's Maryam Moghaddas metro station religious frescoes and artworks honour Christianity's Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ

Israel says Rafah crossing to remain closed until further notice

(Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Gaza's Rafah crossing will remain closed until further notice, shortly after the Palestinian Embassy in Egypt announced that it would reopen on Monday.

"The crossing's opening will be considered based on the manner in which Hamas fulfils its part in returning the deceased hostages and implementing the agreed-upon framework," Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Saturday.

(Reporting by Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Alison Williams)

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid enter the crossing into the Gaza Strip at the Rafah border on the Egypt side, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Rafah, Egypt, October 17, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer

Gaza's Rafah border crossing to reopen on Monday, Palestinian embassy in Egypt says

(Reuters) -Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt will be reopened on Monday, the Palestinian embassy in Egypt said in a statement on Saturday.

The crossing, which has been largely closed since May 2024, will allow Palestinians residing in Egypt to return to Gaza, the embassy said.

(Reporting by Nidal Al-Mughrabi; Writing by Hatem Maher; Editing by Jan Harvey)

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel line up at the crossing into the Gaza Strip at the Rafah border on the Egypt side, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Rafah, Egypt, October 17, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer

Israel receives bodies of two more hostages returned by Hamas

The Israeli government said on Sunday that Hamas has handed over more hostage remains, as delays in finding bodies buried under the rubble of Gaza threatened the fragile ceasefire.

The issue of hostage bodies still in Gaza has become a sticking point in the ceasefire implementation, with Israel linking the reopening of the main gateway into the territory to the recovery of all of the deceased.

Relief agencies have called for the Rafah border crossing from Egypt to be reopened to speed the flow of food, fuel and medicines.

Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza Saturday, bringing the total handed over to 135

Afghanistan, Pakistan to hold peace talks in Doha after fierce fighting, says Afghan government spokesperson

KABUL (Reuters) -Afghanistan and Pakistan will hold peace talks in Doha on Saturday, an Afghan government spokesperson said, after the countries extended a ceasefire to their fierce fighting.

"As promised, negotiations with the Pakistani side will take place today in Doha," Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.

A high-level delegation of the Islamic Emirate, led by the Minister of Defence Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, has left for Doha, he said.

(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul; Writing by Asif Shahzad; Editing by William Mallard)

Afghan Taliban's Deputy Minister of Information and Culture and spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks during the death anniversary of Mullah Mohammad Omar, the late leader and founder of the Taliban, in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 24, 2022. REUTERS/Ali Khara

Premature end to Iran nuclear deal after reimposed UN sanctions

A landmark 10-year deal world powers signed with Iran to rein in its nuclear programme officially ends Saturday.

But the deal began to fall apart years ago, and wide-ranging United Nations sanctions were reimposed last month on the Islamic republic, effectively burying the agreement but creating space for something new, according to experts.

- What does 'Termination Day' mean? -

The deal's "termination day" was set for October 18, 2025, exactly 10 years after the adoption of resolution 2231, with which the UN Security Council enshrined it.

US court bars NSO Group from installing spyware on WhatsApp

A US judge on Friday granted an injunction barring Israeli spyware maker NSO Group from targeting WhatsApp users but slashed a $168 million damages award at trial to just $4 million.

District Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled that NSO Group's behavior fell short of a "particularly egregious" standard needed to support the jury's calculations on a financial penalty.

Israeli spytech firm NSO's Pegasus phone-hacking software has stirred global outrage

UK government working with police to ensure Maccabi Tel Aviv fans can attend Aston Villa match

LONDON (Reuters) -The British government said on Friday it is working with police and looking at the additional resources needed so that fans of Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv can attend a match in Birmingham next month, after an earlier ban, which had sparked criticism from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other politicians.

English soccer team Aston Villa said travelling Maccabi fans would be barred from the Europa League match on November 6 after West Midlands Police expressed concerns about public safety from potential protesters outside the stadium.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Burnley - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 5, 2025 General view outside the stadium as the Aston Villa team bus arrives before the match Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra