The World Tonight

Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East flew to Moscow to collect American prisoner Marc Fogel. Could Fogel’s release signal a thaw in US-Russian relations, and what does it mean for American support for Ukraine? We speak to former US ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul.

Also on the programme: we'll be live in Jerusalem as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the ceasefire in Gaza will end if Hamas doesn't release hostages on Saturday; and we hear from the Essex headteacher whose school gives detention to pupils who score less than 90% on their maths homework.

Hamas says it's postponing the next scheduled release of Israeli hostages, blaming what he said were Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal. Three hostages held in Gaza are due to be freed on Saturday in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Israel's defence minister called the announcement "a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement". The uncle of an Israeli hostage tells us US President Donald Trump should avoid commenting on Gaza until all the hostages are released.

Assisted dying cases would no longer have to be signed off by the High Court under changes suggested by the bill's supporters. We speak to Labour MP Jess Asato who says the change undermines assurances the bill would be tough on safeguarding.

And would you attend a concert in the dark?

President Trump says he might meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, next week, telling reporters he wanted the war in Ukraine to come to an end. Mr Zelensky said Washington and Kyiv were planning talks, but did not give further details. Trump's envoy for the region will be at the Munich Security Conference next Friday.

As Ukrainians reckon with the cost of almost three years of war, we speak to a British man whose teenage son volunteered to fight there only to be killed on his first mission.

And a premiere at last for Morgiane, the first complete opera composed by a Black American - unsung, in more ways than one, for nearly 140 years.

The Bank of England has halved Britain's growth forecast for 2025 as it also predicted a spike in inflation due to rising gas and utility bills. On the day the Bank cut interest rates from 4.75% to 4.5%, governor Andrew Bailey stressed he believed the underlying trends still pointed towards reduced inflation long term. However some economists said the economy could be heading for a bout of "stagflation" - that's when growth is low but inflation is high.

As a judge in the US pauses the Trump administration's offer to pay off potentially thousands of federal workers, we examine Elon Musk's takeover of the international development agency USAID.

And we speak to conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya about the refugee orchestra she formed, as she prepares to conduct Shostakovich's wartime sixth symphony at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

The White House says America won't fund Gaza's reconstruction or put US boots on the ground - after President Trump suggested taking over the territory and relocating Palestinians. We get reaction to that idea from a Gaza resident.

Also on the programme:

Seven years after the deadly fire, Grenfell Tower looks set to be demolished - we have reaction from the community.

The Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch unveils a plan to make it harder to become a British citizen.

And a Ukrainian filmmaker on why he chose to tell the story of his country's war through the eyes of animals.

The future of the Gaza ceasefire deal is in the balance as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump in the White House. We're live in Washington, assessing what both leaders want from the meeting.

Also in the programme:

A mass shooting in Sweden - in which around ten people were killed - has been described by the country's prime minister as the worst in the country's history.

We have a report from Spain - where scientists are trying to protect Andalusia's olive trees from a bacteria that's helped to drive up the price of olive oil.

And as rare earth metals get dragged into the US-China trade war - why is access to them so important?

President Trump has agreed to pause the imposition of tariffs on Mexico and Canada by a month, in return for increased efforts to stop drug trafficking into the US. We ask whether President Trump is winning a trade war - and what lies behind his decision.

Also tonight:

The sister of Ruth Perry - the headteacher whose suicide prompted changes to Ofsted's school grading system - gives us her view on the proposed new system.

And a pub scores an own goal by offering free pints for all seven goals Nottingham Forest scored at the weekend.

Rwanda's Foreign Minister says suggestions his country is training and funding the M23 rebel group in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo are "laughable". Speaking to The World Tonight, Olivier Nduhungirehe claimed Rwanda was threatened by a build-up of forces on the Congolese side of the border, and suggested threats by Western nations to withhold aid from Rwanda over the violence are "blackmail".

As AstraZeneca walks away from a deal worth £450 million to develop a flu vaccine manufacturing plant near Liverpool, we explain what went wrong.

And the pianist in his 90s who spent the last four decades entertaining guests at a celebrated Glasgow nightclub, reflects on the club's closing.

President Trump has blamed diversity recruitment policies for the deadly crash between a passenger plane and an army helicopter in Washington DC. We speak to the mayor of the town from where the American Airlines plane took off.

Also on the programme:

Five Thai hostages have walked to freedom under the Gaza ceasefire deal. We speak to the head of the hospital where they're now being looked after.

The Traitors finalist Alexander on how his appearance on the show has led to tens of thousands of pounds in donations to a learning disability charity.

And the singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78. We have a tribute from her friend, the DJ Bob Harris.

Germany’s parliament descended into heckles and recriminations as politicians from the right-wing Christian Democrats were accused of undermining the “firewall” against co-operation with the far-right Alternative for Germany. The CDU tabled a non-binding motion calling for toughter border and asylum rules after a spate of stabbings linked to foreign nationals in the country. The motion passed with the support of the AfD, prompting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to slam the move as an “unforgivable mistake”.

As the government puts its weight behind a third runway at Heathrow, as well as expansion of other UK airports, we ask whether the ambition contradicts its climate commitments.

And as the fourth instalment of Bridget Jones premieres in London, why is the character’s appeal so enduring?