The Standard

London relatives of pensioners kidnapped by Hamas in Israel told how their elderly parents were forced from their beds and taken to Gaza as hostages.

Noam Sagi, whose 75-year-old mother, Ada, along with Sharone Lifschitz’s mum and dad, aged 83 and 85, were kidnapped as squads of heavily-armed Hamas gunmen launched terror attacks across southern Israel.

The British-Israelis spoke out to highlight the desperate plight of 17 Britons, including children, are dead or missing - while at the London press conference it was revealed a six-month-old baby is among Hamas captives.

As Israel’s war with Hamas escalates with retaliatory rockets pounding the Gaza Strip and infrastructure’s cut off for Palestinians living there, what now the military strategy - and chances of rescuing what’s believed to be around 150 hostages? 

In-depth analysis with Evening Standard defence editor Robert Fox.

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The glamour of international air travel is bouncing back - and Heathrow Airport bosses say they’ve got the passenger numbers to prove it.

LHR revealed on Wednesday that the number of travellers was back above pre-pandemic levels for the first time.

Airport bosses say more than seven million passengers took off or landed over September, soaring past 2019’s figures of nearly 6.8 million travellers.

The Leader podcast’s joined by Evening Standard business editor Jonathan Prynn.

Plus, latest on a major fire sparked by an exploding car at Luton Airport, where five people were taken to hospital and firefighters spent 12 hours battling the flames.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service say their current hypothesis is the blaze started accidentally in the £20million Terminal Car Park Two.

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This edition of the Leader podcast examines safety concerns for Jewish Londoners following the weekend’s attacks that saw squads of heavily-armed Hamas gunmen launch a massive terror attack in southern Israel.

More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing - among over 900 hundred now believed to have been killed - with Hamas threatening to kill hostages if Israeli forces continue bombarding the Gaza Strip, with more than 700 Palestinians already dead and descent into war.

We’re joined by Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, to discuss their work in this crisis and Evening Standard crime correspondent Anthony France on the Met police response.

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It’s day two of Labour’s conference in Liverpool as the party faithful congregate in the hope it will be their final gathering before Sir Keir Starmer’s installed in Downing Street.

After the weekend’s devastating attacks in Israel, we ask about reaction on the conference floor and among the shadow cabinet.

There’s also been domestic big picture speeches, including shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves on the economy.

For the latest from the conference floor in Liverpool, the Leader podcast’s joined by Evening Standard political editor Nicolas Cecil.

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This is a repeat taken from our Let Girls Learn series. This is episode is brought to you from Zimbabwe with journalist Farai Shawn Matiashe.

Street Set Football Club in Bulawayo, equips girls not only with skills in dribbling and passing, but also helps them to navigate adolescence in an environment where early marriage, teen pregnancy and drug abuse are rife. Farai finds out from those involved and families who have benefited from the organisation about the difference it’s making to the community. 

You can find out more about this story online at www.standard.co.uk/optimist/let-girls-learn

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In Mozambique’s brutal civil war, nearly all of the wildlife in Gorongosa National Park was destroyed by soldiers and poachers. We discover how an unusual rewilding project - with women’s empowerment at its heart – has helped nature to roar back to life.

Ros Russell presents a special episode as part of the Let Girls Learn series, where the Evening Standard is hearing stories from around the globe that shine a light on innovations and solutions that are helping girls to fulfil their right to healthy, productive futures.

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Will the ‘Paris bed bug infestation’ hit London?

The Deputy Mayor of Paris, has warned that the French Capital is in the midst of a 'bed bug infestation', calling it  “widespread”, and adding that “in reality no one is safe”. 

There are now growing concerns in London that the creepy critters could soon be on their way here. Eurostar has announced preventative methods are in place to stop the spread of the pests.

Dr Richard Naylor, entomologist, and director of the Bed Bug Foundation - which provides free advice on what to do about the pests, explains just how worried we should be about the insects.

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The Evening Standard’s Political Editor, Nicholas Cecil, gives his analysis of Rishi Sunak’s high-anticipated speech at the Conservative Party conference.

From the cancelling of the Manchester leg of HS2 for a new ‘Northern Network’ and redevelopment around Euston Station, to a proposed change in the legal age of smoking, and the replacement of A-levels. 

Nicholas Cecil, runs through the key announcements, breaks down all the reaction so far, and gives his thoughts on where this all leaves the Conservatives now.

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Is the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2 about to be scrapped? The Prime Minister has refused to confirm a decision either way but speculation is rife around potential changes to High Speed Rail 2. 

In part one, our Deputy Political Editor, Jitendra Joshi, discusses why Rishi Sunak is considering the amendments, and what the political ramifications could be of this move. 

In part two, Ross Lydall, the Evening Standard’s City Hall Editor and Transport Editor, explains what the potential changes could mean for Londoners.

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The Conservative Party conference is officially underway. The Chancellor has announced an increase to the National Living Wage and tougher sanctions for people on benefits who do not take steps to find work. 

But, despite usually being high on the Tory priority list, Jeremy Hunt has said tax cuts won't be coming this year.

The Evening Standard’s Political Editor, Nicholas Cecil, shares his insight from the conference in Manchester.

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