Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz to his Chequers country residence northwest of London, a day before he will become the first UK premier since Brexit to attend a European Council gathering as part of his reset of relations with Europe, AFP reports.

Speaking about the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the pair “welcomed the ongoing release of hostages and underscored the importance of seeing through all phases of the deal”, said Downing Street.