Israel and Hamas extend their truce for a seventh day, minutes before expiration. Mediation with Qatar facilitates the release of hostages, with 102 Israelis and 210 Palestinians freed. The temporary ceasefire, initially four days, has been prolonged twice. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken applauds the positive developments, emphasizing the need for continued humanitarian assistance. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomes the truce extension but calls for a "true humanitarian ceasefire" amid Gaza's "epic humanitarian catastrophe." Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates plans to resume war post-truce. The UN estimates over 1.8 million displaced in Gaza over the past seven weeks.

As migration levels hit record highs, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak strongly defended skilled migration in a speech to business leaders, praising the UK's "most competitive visa regime" for attracting top global talent. However, he faces pressure within his Conservative Party to curb migration, with former Home Secretary Suella Braverman allegedly having agreed to crackdowns when Sunak took office. Sunak singled out visas like the High Potential Individual route as making the UK the world's most appealing destination for innovation and growth. His remarks indicate determination to confront anti-immigration factions in his party as migration emerges as a dominant issue before elections.

The Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza is set to expire on Thursday after Hamas alleged Israel rejected its offer to extend the pause in return for releasing 7 more Israeli women and children hostages. The 4-day truce was already extended by 2 days on Wednesday which saw 16 hostages freed including 10 Israelis. In total, about 97 captives have been released since the start of the truce though 145 still remain per Israel. With the truce ending despite international calls for an extension, the 7-week Israel-Hamas war would resume in Gaza bringing back violence. Hamas said the 7 names it presented were the only Israeli women and kids left, along with 3 bodies, but Israel apparently turned down the offer leaving the temporary peace set to unravel.

Henry Kissinger, former U.S. Secretary of State and 1973 Nobel Peace laureate, has died at age 100. As Secretary of State under Nixon and Ford, Kissinger left an enduring imprint on American diplomacy through his role in historic events like China opening up, U.S.-Soviet arms control, Arab-Israeli ties and Vietnam peace agreement. Hailed for brilliance by some and decried as a war criminal by others, Kissinger remained influential in policy circles though his global travels were later constrained. Even in advanced age, he met world leaders, published a book and testified in Senate till July 2023. Despite a controversial Nobel, Kissinger was considered a transformative albeit divisive figure.

The Taliban-appointed Deputy Political Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai has said the country's consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad have reopened, dismissing claims of embassy closure in India. In an interview, he said Afghan missions are in contact with the Taliban government and functioning. This counters the Afghan Embassy's recent statements declaring permanent closure from November 23 due to Indian government challenges. Earlier in September, the Embassy had stopped operations hoping India's stance would change. However, India hasn't recognized the Taliban regime and the Embassy was run by previous Ghani government staff. MEA has not commented on the issue which remains ambiguous.

Yocheved Lifshitz, an 85-year-old Israeli woman recently freed after being kidnapped by Hamas, courageously confronted the group's leader, Yahya Sinwar. Lifshitz, a dedicated peace activist, questioned Sinwar on the violent treatment of advocates for peace. She recounted the encounter, stating, "I asked him how he is not ashamed to do such a thing to people who all these years have supported peace. He didn't answer. He was silent." Despite the harrowing ordeal, Lifshitz acknowledged humane treatment during her two-week captivity, shaking hands with a masked captor upon release. The incident highlights the complex dynamics in the ongoing conflict.

Hamas declares the heartbreaking death of 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, his 4-year-old brother Ariel, and their mother Shiri Bibas in a past Israeli bombardment in Gaza. The group alleges their demise, while Israel verifies the claim. Kfir's extended family had fervently appealed for their release after reports of them being handed over to another Palestinian militant group. Hamas had initially captured the family during an October 7 attack, and Kfir's abduction symbolized the brutality that triggered a subsequent Israeli military offensive. Tel Aviv witnesses gatherings demanding justice and the family's release.            

Nepal has achieved a landmark milestone, officially registering its first same-sex marriage, five months after the Supreme Court's groundbreaking legalization. Trans-woman Maya Gurung, 35, and her partner, 27-year-old gay man Surendra Pandey, secured their marriage certificate in Dordi Rural Municipality, Western Nepal. The move follows Nepal’s 2015 constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. Blue Diamond Society President Sanjib Gurung (Pinky) lauded the decision, emphasizing its significance for the third-gender community. The Supreme Court's interim order in June paved the way, with Pinky expressing hope for further legal recognition as laws evolve.

Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon, 57, declared a hunger strike outside the White House, passionately appealing for a lasting ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. "Almost 15,000 Palestinian civilians, 70% children and women, killed in seven weeks – unprecedented and unacceptable," Nixon stated. Joined by five state representatives, they implored President Biden to act. Representative Zohran Mamdani emphasized, "We starve ourselves to shed light on Palestinians' suffering." Author Sumaya Awad added, "Biden must heed hundreds of thousands of Americans protesting." Nixon's hunger strike aims to spotlight the crisis's urgency, advocating for immediate relief from both violence and the threat of starvation.

Israel has received a list of hostages that Hamas will free today, Israeli media has reported, citing the prime minister's office. They are the last captives to be released under the 48-hour extension unless another one can be agreed upon before tomorrow morning. As per reports by Sky News, mediator Qatar's foreign ministry is seeking to negotiate additional ceasefire days and more releases. However, with fewer women and children in captivity, this may require negotiating to free at least some Israeli men for the first time, reports Sky News. Reports suggest that the chances of an extension are complicated by the fact that the whereabouts of some hostages remain unknown, as different terror groups entered Israel alongside Hamas on 7 October. Qatar said it is unsure of how many hostages Hamas is holding beyond today's list. At least 40 hostages are not in the hands of Hamas, Qatar has previously said. This includes 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage, and his family being held hostage in Gaza. The Bibas family — parents Yarden, 34, and Shiri, 32, along with four-year-old Ariel and Kfir were transferred to another Palestinian terror group in Gaza, according to the Israeli military. Palestinian Islamic Jihad has claimed it is holding 30 hostages captive. Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director at the transatlantic thinktank the Counter Extremism Project, told Sky News there was also a "well-developed smuggling economy" in Gaza. "So it's possible hostages are neither under the control of Hamas nor Islamic Jihad - but these crime organisations."