US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House in April
After 21 months of war, there are growing hopes of a new Gaza ceasefire announcement as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Trump previously told reporters he had been “very firm” with Netanyahu about ending the conflict and that he thought “we’ll have a deal” this week.
“We are working to achieve the deal that has been discussed, under the conditions we have agreed,” the veteran Israeli PM said before boarding his plane. “I believe that the conversation with President Trump can definitely help advance this outcome, which we all hope for.”
Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a US-sponsored proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release deal resumed in Qatar on Sunday evening.
However, it is unclear whether key differences that have consistently held up an agreement can be overcome.
Only cautious optimism is being expressed by weary Palestinians living in dire conditions amid continuing daily Israeli bombardment, and the distressed families of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.
“I don’t wish for a truce but a complete stop to all war. Frankly, I’m afraid that after 60 days the war would restart again,” says Nabil Abu Dayah, who fled from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza to Gaza City with his children and grandchildren.
“We got so tired of displacement, we got tired of thirst and hunger, from living in tents. When it comes to life’s necessities, we have zero.”
On Saturday evening, large rallies took place urging Israel’s government to seal a deal to return some 50 hostages from Gaza, up to 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Some relatives questioned why the framework deal would not free all captives immediately.
“How does one survive under such conditions? I’m waiting for Evyatar to return and tell me himself,” said Ilay David, whose younger brother, a musician, was filmed by Hamas in torment as he watched fellow hostages being released earlier this year during the last, two-month-long ceasefire.
“This is the time to save lives. This is the time to rescue the bodies from the threat of disappearance,” Ilay told a crowd in Jerusalem.
“In the rapidly changing reality of the Middle East, this is the moment to sign a comprehensive agreement that will lead to the release of all the hostages, every single one, without exception.”
AFP
The Israeli hostages’ families are urging the US president to broker a deal that secures the release of all of those held in Gaza
Netanyahu is visiting the White House for the third time since Trump returned to power nearly six months ago.
But the leaders will be meeting for the first time since the US joined Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and then brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
There is a strong sense that the recent 12-day war has created more favourable circumstances to end the Gaza war.
After months of low popularity ratings, the Israeli PM has been bolstered by broad public support for the Iran offensive and analysts suggest he now has more leverage to agree to a peace deal over the strong objections of his far-right coalition partners, who want Israel to remain in control of Gaza.
Hamas is seen to have been further weakened by the strikes on Iran – a key regional patron – meaning it could also be more amenable to making concessions needed to reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, Trump is keen to move on to other priorities in the Middle East.
These include brokering border talks between Israel and Syria, returning to efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and completing unfinished business with Iran, involving possible negotiations on a new nuclear deal.
For months, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have been deadlocked over one fundamental difference.
Israel has been ready to commit to a temporary truce to return hostages but not an end to the war. Hamas has demanded a permanent cessation of hostilities in Gaza and a full pullout of Israeli troops.
The latest proposal put to Hamas is said to include guarantees of Washington’s commitment to the deal and to continued talks to reach a lasting ceasefire and the release of all the hostages.
Nothing has been officially announced, but according to media reports the framework would see Hamas hand over 28 hostages – 10 alive and 18 dead – in five stages over 60 days without the troubling handover ceremonies it staged in the last ceasefire.
There would be a large surge in humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
After the return of the first eight living hostages on the first day of the agreement, Israeli forces would withdraw from parts of the north. After one week, the army would leave parts of the south.
On Day 10, Hamas would outline which hostages remain alive and their condition, while Israel would give details about more than 2,000 Gazans arrested during the war who remain in “administrative detention” – a practice which allows the Israeli authorities to hold them without charge or trial.
As seen before, large numbers of Palestinians would be released from Israeli jails in exchange for hostages.
Reuters
The Israeli military’s chief of staff said last week that it was nearing the completion of its war goals
President Trump has described this as the “final” truce proposal and said last week that Israel had accepted “the necessary conditions” to finalise it.
On Friday, Hamas said it had responded in a “positive spirit” but expressed some reservations.
A Palestinian official said sticking points remained over humanitarian aid – with Hamas demanding an immediate end to operations by the controversial Israeli and American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and a return to the UN and its partners overseeing all relief efforts.
Hamas is also said to be questioning the timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals and operations of the Rafah crossing between southern Gaza and Egypt.
Netanyahu’s office stated on Saturday that the changes wanted by Hamas were “not acceptable” to Israel.
The prime minister has repeatedly said that Hamas must be disarmed, a demand the Islamist group has so far refused to discuss.
EPA
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is continuing to deteriorate
In Israel, there is growing opposition to the war in Gaza, with more than 20 soldiers killed in the past month, according to the military.
The Israeli military’s chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said last week that it was nearing the completion of its war goals and signalled that the government must decide whether to move ahead with a deal to bring home hostages or prepare for Israeli forces to re-establish military rule in Gaza.
Polls indicate that two-thirds of Israelis support a ceasefire deal to bring home the hostages.
In Gaza, some residents express fears that the current wave of positivity is being manufactured to ease tensions during Netanyahu’s US trip – rationalising that this happened in May as Trump prepared to visit Arab Gulf states.
The coming days will be critical politically and in humanitarian terms.
The situation in Gaza has continued to deteriorate, with medical staff reporting acute malnutrition among children.
The UN says that with no fuel having entered in over four months, stockpiles are now virtually gone, threatening vital medical care, water supplies and telecommunications.
Israel launched its war in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 others being taken hostage.
Israeli attacks have since killed more than 57,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry’s figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties.
Israel has carried out its first strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since the Israel-Iran ceasefire, attacking ports and a power plant around midnight local time Sunday night into Monday morning.
The strikes come after at least three Houthi ballistic missiles were launched at Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), including one missile that was intercepted Saturday.
The Iran-backed Houthis also claimed responsibility for an attack on the bulk carrier ‘Magic Seas’ in the Red Sea on Sunday, the first on commercial shipping in the region by the rebels this year.
Israel struck the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, Salif and the Ras Kanatib power plant along the Red Sea. The IDF also hit the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship seized by the Houthis in November 2023.
“Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,” the IDF said in a statement following the strikes.
A short time before the wave of attacks, the IDF’s Arabic language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, issued an evacuation warning for the ports and the power station.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were part of the newly named Operation “Black Flag.” In a statement on social media, Katz said, “The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions” and promised more attacks would follow if the Houthis kept launching drones and ballistic missiles at Israel.
The Houthi military confirmed the strikes but said, “Yemeni air defenses effectively confronted the Israeli aggression,” using, “a massive barrage of locally manufactured surface-to-air missiles,” in a short statement on early Monday morning.
There are no immediate reports of casualties from the strikes.
Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Farah said targeting Yemeni ports, power stations, and other “civilian facilities is an attempt to harm civilians and has no connection to any military activity,” according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV.
Since Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza started in October 2023, the country has come under fire from missiles and rockets from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, who claim to strike Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians.
On Sunday, the Houthis attacked the ‘Magic Seas’ ship, claiming that the its owner had used Israeli ports.
The rebels said they had struck the vessel with unmanned boats, missiles and drones, and it had now sunk. They have warned that they will target shipping that uses ports in Israel, which they describe as “occupied Palestine.”
The vessel’s operator – Stem Shipping – told Reuters that the ‘Magic Seas’ had made a port call to Israel in the past, but the latest transit of the region appeared low-risk as it had nothing to do with Israel.
The ‘Magic Seas’ crew of 19 left the boat on Sunday and were being taken by another ship to Djibouti.
In May, the Houthi group – which controls much of northern and central Yemen – agreed to halt attacks on US warships in the Red Sea after more than a month of airstrikes by US forces on its strongholds and missile infrastructure.
But it did not pledge to end attacks on other shipping with alleged connections to Israel and has continued to fire ballistic missiles at Israel in support of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
One of our favourite wired headphones is enjoying a lowest-ever price deal, and it’s not even part of the Amazon Prime Day deals.
The Grado SR325x open-back headphones are a repeat What Hi-Fi? Award winner and a team favourite for their terrific sound quality, even if the retro-utilitarian looks and foam earbuds aren’t to everyone’s tastes. Now available for £247 at Peter Tyson – a £82 saving over its RRP – this is a great headphones deal that you won’t find on Amazon.
Top 5 hi-fi deals to look out for
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Hi all, Kash here. The Prime Day deals don’t kick off until tomorrow, but as with every year, I always keep an eye on a handful of five-star products to see if they have a discount. These products are great value at full price anyway, but any money off makes it all that sweeter.
So here are my top 5 products to look out for, and what deal price you should expect.
WiiM Pro Plus music streamer – current price £219 Our favourite budget music streamer can do it all. A tiny box that brings you easy wi-fi streaming from all the most popular apps and streaming methods, any money off the Pro Plus is worth pouncing upon. We’ve seen the price drop to £179 before, but I’d personally be happy with any deal price under £200.
WiiM Ultra music streamer – current price £349 WiiM’s top-of-the-range streamer is its best yet, with lively, engaging sound and a powerful platform. The touch-screen interface is a joy to use, and its only con is that it lacks AirPlay. We’ve not seen a deal on the Ultra yet, but I’m hoping it goes down to £319 at least.
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 speakers – current price £499 Award-winning speakers that deliver a punchy, detailed and clear sound, these small-ish speakers are crowd-pleasers that work with a variety of partnering kit and all kinds of music genres. They originally cost £599 and have been £499 for the last couple of years, so I have my fingers crossed that they will go down at least to £449 – £50 off is pretty great savings for such a good pair of bookshelf speakers.
Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M – current price £349 This unit may be a few years old, but I still use the DacMagic 200M at home: it’s the perfect desktop size, has extensive hi-res audio support (and MQA files) and is a dream to use. Used with a good pair of wired headphones, this DAC and headphone amp will boost your laptop-based music performance considerably. It’s a nicely made DAC, too. If the price comes down to £299 – you know it’s a great discount.
Technics SL-1500C turntable – current price £879 Usually, it’s the affordable, fully automatic and Bluetooth-toting Sony PS-LX310BT (£199) that I have my eye on for a turntable deal. But this year it’s the pricier Technics SL-1500C that I’m hoping will come down in price. The SL-1500C is a former Award-winner and is incredibly fuss-free to use thanks to a built-in phono stage and direct-drive operation. Add in a detailed, musical and powerful sound with a rock-solid build, and this turntable will keep you entertained for years to come. I’ve seen the price drop down to £799 before, so if you are looking for a new turntable and see this Technics on a discount? Snap it up.
Meet the team looking after this hub! If you’re curious about which of our experts are handling this hub over Prime Day this week, fear not, you’re in good hands. Read below to know more about the people behind it and why you should be taking their advice.
Kashfia Kabir
Kash is the veteran professional shiny things chaser who runs our hi-fi and audio section. She first joined What Hi-Fi? 13 years and has spent a good chunk of that time reviewing everything from premium stereo amplifiers and turntables to affordable DACs and speakers. If you’re after some hi-fi this Prime Day, she’s the person you want to speak to.
Andy Madden is one of the most seasoned and senior members of the What Hi-Fi? editorial team. Though he’s reviewed pretty much every category we cover in his career, in the past few years, he’s become one of our main headphone expert. Whether it’s a pair of premium wireless headphones from Focal or an affordable but musical set of earbuds, he’ll be on hand here offering his expert advice on which is the best pair to get.
Harry McKerrell
Though he’s the youngest member of our audio team, Harry brings a fresh perspective to our coverage. Though he initially focused on reviewing headphones, he has since branched out and helped us test everything from record players to floorstanding speakers to all-in-one systems. This gives him a fantastic holistic knowledge of the hi-fi market.
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Looking for a set of wireless headphones over Prime Day, but not sure which to get?
Then you’ll want to check out this handy guide by our deputy editor, Andy Madden. In it our veteran hi-fi and headphone reviewer details the five big sets he’s personally keeping an eye on over this year’s deals bonanza.
These range from flagship, five-star pairs from Bowers & Wilkins to affordable options from Sony. We have fully reviewed them all and know first-hand they are worth your hard-earned cash, even at full price. So a good deal on any of these models is worth a look.
On top of that, each choice is based on the product’s price history and Andy’s honed instincts, having covered Prime Day more years than he cares to reveal.
Welcome to our 2025 Amazon Prime Day hi-fi deals live hub! In it, our team of experts will be live reporting on all the latest and greatest deals we’ve spotted this week.
We’re currently in the warm-up period for this year’s sale, which is set to start at midnight and run until the clock strikes 12.00am on Friday.
If you’re worried you’ve gotten here too early, don’t be. Though the sale event hasn’t started yet, our experts are checking all the stores, including specialist hi-fi retailers, to make sure you know about the actual best audio deals doing the rounds – not just the ones on Amazon.
And with that in mind, we’ve already spotted solid savings on everything from affordable bookshelf speakers to top-of-the-line wireless headphones.
Our experts will also use the run up to the event to offer advice, flagging which products they’ll be keeping a particularly close eye on and why.
So make sure to keep this page open and check back regularly!
Multiple factors contributed to these devastating floodspublished at 15:02 British Summer Time
15:02 BST
Matt Taylor BBC Weather
Several factors came together to create the devastating outcome
we saw in Texas last week.
First there was the weather patterns at the time.
The remnants
of an ex-tropical storm had become embedded within a broader area of very
unstable air within the region. Unstable air is air which has the ability to
rise rapidly to form large storm clouds.
Tropical Storm Barry, that caused flooding across the Yucatan
Peninsula in Mexico a week earlier, had tracked across the Gulf of Mexico to decay
over north-east Mexico. This had meant there was already large supply of
moisture in the atmosphere.
Wind patterns across the region at the time also
resulted in a flow of humid, moisture-laden air from Gulf too.
The next factor was the geography and topography of the area: Kerr County, where the worst of the floods occurred, is a hillier area which forced moisture-laden
air upwards helping to build huge storm clouds.
The ones that formed over the area were so large they effectively became
their own weather system, producing huge amounts of rain over a larger area.
It was slow-moving, adding to the rain totals and creating further
thunderstorms along a zone that continued to affect the area containing the
Guadalupe River.
