Lucy Williamson

Israel says three hostages are expected to be released on Sunday, the first day of the ceasefire, with more small groups freed at regular intervals over the next six weeks. It's also named the first group of Palestinians due to be freed from Israeli jails in return. The deal that hung for so long on politics and logistics, now peopled with names and faces.

Israel says three hostages are expected to be released on Sunday, the first day of the ceasefire, with more small groups freed at regular intervals over the next six weeks. It's also named the first group of Palestinians due to be freed from Israeli jails in return. The deal that hung for so long on politics and logistics, now peopled with names and faces.

Take a deep breath and you will be captivated by the Sumerian air blowing in the hills.

Take a deep breath and you will be captivated by the Sumerian air blowing in the hills.

This is a very special example of Stradivarius' violin making because it comes from his golden period between 1700 and around 1720. This dates from 1714, so it's right in the pinnacle of his maturity as a maker. And he innovated in his creations to improve the sound.

This is a very special example of Stradivarius' violin making because it comes from his golden period between 1700 and around 1720. This dates from 1714, so it's right in the pinnacle of his maturity as a maker. And he innovated in his creations to improve the sound.

And that's basically what people are looking for with Strad is this magic around the brilliance of the sound coupled with the warmth and the depth of colour, which a great violinist can tease out of an instrument of this quality. This instrument was owned by the renowned Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim, who was the leader of the modern violin school in a way.

And that's basically what people are looking for with Strad is this magic around the brilliance of the sound coupled with the warmth and the depth of colour, which a great violinist can tease out of an instrument of this quality. This instrument was owned by the renowned Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim, who was the leader of the modern violin school in a way.

He collaborated very closely with Brahms, was a friend. He most likely played on the Strad at the world premiere of Brahms' Violin Concerto in 1879, which Brahms wrote for Joachim.

He collaborated very closely with Brahms, was a friend. He most likely played on the Strad at the world premiere of Brahms' Violin Concerto in 1879, which Brahms wrote for Joachim.

And he was one of the great 19th century violinists. So having that provenance, knowing that this instrument was owned by Joachim, I mean, it gives one a sort of direct lineage through to the 19th century violin school. And then in the 20th century, it was owned by the Chinese violinist and pedagogue, Si Hon Ma, who was an alumnus of the New England Conservatoire in Boston.

And he was one of the great 19th century violinists. So having that provenance, knowing that this instrument was owned by Joachim, I mean, it gives one a sort of direct lineage through to the 19th century violin school. And then in the 20th century, it was owned by the Chinese violinist and pedagogue, Si Hon Ma, who was an alumnus of the New England Conservatoire in Boston.

And he actually bequeathed this instrument to the conservatoire, where it has been played by some of its best students, but with the proviso that it could eventually be sold to fund... a scholarship fund for students attending the Conservatoire. It's a wonderful thing, actually.

And he actually bequeathed this instrument to the conservatoire, where it has been played by some of its best students, but with the proviso that it could eventually be sold to fund... a scholarship fund for students attending the Conservatoire. It's a wonderful thing, actually.

The proceeds will go to support students at the New England Conservatoire, which is an incredibly worthwhile and important mission.

The proceeds will go to support students at the New England Conservatoire, which is an incredibly worthwhile and important mission.

An hour from Damascus, on a Syrian country road, we met Israel's army. Military vehicles and troops in full combat gear on the only route into Hadar village.

An hour from Damascus, on a Syrian country road, we met Israel's army. Military vehicles and troops in full combat gear on the only route into Hadar village.

Riyad Zaydan lives in Hadar, one of several thousand residents from Syria's minority Druze community, watching Israeli military vehicles move around their village and armoured bulldozers working on a hillside above.

Riyad Zaydan lives in Hadar, one of several thousand residents from Syria's minority Druze community, watching Israeli military vehicles move around their village and armoured bulldozers working on a hillside above.