hello, i'm carl nasman. we start in the uk, where the governing conservative party has suffered a shock defeat in the west midlands, losing the mayoral election to the labour party. the contest between the conservatives�* andy street, who was seeking a third term as mayor, and labour's richard parker went right down to the wire — with a recount ordered for one area. the outcome of this particular race had been cast as pivotal for the prime minister, rishi sunak. the bbc�*s political editor chris mason reports. how chris mason reports. are you feeling, andy? we how chris mason reorts. are ou feelin: , and ? ~ see. how are you feeling, andy? we will see. out how are you feeling, andy? we will see- out of — how are you feeling, andy? we will see. out of his _ how are you feeling, andy? we will see. out of his hands. _ the conservative andy street arrived here at lunchtime awaiting the verdict of voters. it was to be a long wait for mr

street and his labour rival, richard parker. votes rechecked, a recount in coventry and this result in the last hour or so. the number of votes recorded for each... we've waited all day for this moment. it's happening now. the result. and i do hereby declare that richard parker... cheering this is the most important thing i will ever do. - this week, people here voted for the person and the party. | they recognise that a labour mayor can make a positive . difference in this region. so where do i go? a winner and a loser and the finest of margins. mr street, commiserations. what do you put your loss down to? very straightforward, chris, isn't it? we didn't persuade enough people across the west midlands of our record and our plans for the future to give them confidence to go and vote on thursday. i've always said it was my campaign

and we didn't get over the line. bluntly, is rishi sunak to blame? no, this was my campaign. idid it. the famous words. i did it my way, and it was always going to be like that. and in the end it wasn't quite enough. but i'll tell you what, it was bloody close excuse my language and no one would have expected that. to be clear, do you want rishi sunak to lead the conservatives into the general election? yes, there is. it would be complete madness to have another moment of introspection. khan, sadiq labour party... elsewhere, labour's sadiq khan has won again in london. thank you from the bottom of my heart. thank you, london. it's the honour of my life to serve the city that i love. therefore, i declare that andy burnham is duly. elected as the mayor- of the greater manchester combined authority. there was another labour victory in greater manchester. it has been hard to keep greater manchester moving forward when the country has been going backwards, but we have managed it, and our economy

is growing faster than the uk's. labour also won in liverpool, salford, south yorkshire and west yorkshire. but the eye—catching result today is in the west midlands. chris mason, bbc news in birmingham. well, let's now take a closer look at all the results — almost all of them are now in — and find out what they tell us about the state of the parties�* fortunes as we approach a general election. here's nick eardley. as you can see, it's a real knife edge. as you can see, it's a real knife edae. , , as you can see, it's a real knife edie,�* , ' i1 i as you can see, it's a real knife edae. , ' :: :: ., , as you can see, it's a real knife edae. m11: ., ,, edge. just 1500 votes between the labour victor _ edge. just 1500 votes between the labour victor and _ edge. just 1500 votes between the labour victor and andy _ edge. just 1500 votes between the labour victor and andy street - edge. just 1500 votes between the labour victor and andy street for l labour victor and andy street for the conservatives, despite the fact that more than half a million votes were cast. in terms of percentages, this is how it shakes out, 37.8 and 37.5. note the 12%, that this is how it shakes out, 37.8 and 37.5. note the i2%, that was an independent candidate, critical of labour's policy on the war in gaza, and despite that labour did manage tojust make it and despite that labour did manage to just make it through. and despite that labour did manage tojust make it through. let and despite that labour did manage to just make it through. let me show you on the next slide how things

have changed. the labour vote is actually down a wee bit. the conservative vote is down so much, ii%, that conservative vote is down so much, ii%, that has allowed labour to take the west midlands, and finally let me just the west midlands, and finally let mejust quickly show the west midlands, and finally let me just quickly show you the swing that we got there, 4.6 from the conservatives to labour, enough to get them over the line. it wasn't just the west midlands, though. as we were just hearing from chris, london today as well. sadiq khan being returned for a third term, the margin there was a lot bigger, 275,000 votes in it in the end, and this is why. let me show you the swing quickly. it's a big one, 3.2% conservative to labour, and that matters because the conservatives were hoping to close the gap with labour in london, but the opposite has happened. as you can see there. across the country, across england, we have now got a pretty good picture. 106 of 107 councils have declared, and here is how it looks. labour up 185, a good result for

them. the conservatives down 473, they've lost almost half of all the seats they were defending on thursday. that's a really bad result. as you can see, the lib dems on thursday's results have just overtaken them. it is worth pointing out down here as well the greens are up out down here as well the greens are up 74. and finally this, this is what they will study in the party headquarters and what it might mean for a general election. look at that. conservative vote right down, 12%. the lib dem up 2%, the greens up 12%. the lib dem up 2%, the greens up too, but they will be quenching where the 3% is. they sound confident that it is in the right places, the places they need to win if they are going to win a general election. the results have seen the conservatives suffer their worst local election results in 40 years. the latest council results — all but one of which have now been declared, show that the tories have

been pushed into third place. so where does this all leave the conservatives and rishi sunak? chris mason explains more. they knew these results in the round were going to be difficult, but they pointed in advance to what they hoped would be some rare beams of light in the gloomiest of political scenes, and one of them they hoped was here. so psychologically this matters, even if it was always going to be a tall order given the national trends for andy street to hang on here. contrast that with labour. you will not be surprised that keir starmer is wearing a broad smile, and you won't be surprised either that he has been here in birmingham. 50 either that he has been here in birmingham-— either that he has been here in birminuham. , ., ., birmingham. so the message out of these elections, _ birmingham. so the message out of these elections, the _ birmingham. so the message out of these elections, the last _ birmingham. so the message out of these elections, the last elections i these elections, the last elections now, the last stop before we go into that general election, is the country wants change. i hope the prime minister is listening and gives the opportunity to the country to vote as a whole in a general election as soon as possible. the

least surprising thing you will hear tonight is a leader of the opposition calling for a general election. they always do. little wonder keir starmer would do that in the light of the last couple of days. ijust wonder given the light of the last couple of days. i just wonder given what we have seen in the last couple of days, coupled with the fact that conservative mps as things stand don't seem to have the appetite to bring the prime minister down that the prospect of a general election in the coming weeks has perhaps receded. it of perhaps more likely to come now i suspect in the autumn. let's turn tensions to the east now. efforts are intensifying to secure a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in gaza as the israel—hamas war approaches the seven—month mark. a delegation of hamas negotiators arrived in cairo on saturday. cia director william burns is also in the egyptian capital to mediate. the talks are reported to have ended for the day, with a senior hamas official telling the afp news agency there have been "no developments". let's take a look at where things stand. the main sticking point

is whether a ceasefire deal will be permanent or temporary. a hamas official says the group will not agree to a truce that does not fully end the gaza war. israel is reluctant to agree to this. israeli forces remain active in gaza. mediators have been waiting for hamas to respond to an israeli proposal to halt the fighting for 40 days, and to exchange hostages for palestinian prisoners. but even if a deal is reached, israeli prme minister benjamin netanyahu insists there will be a fresh military offensive in rafah. there has been widespread international concern that an israeli ground operation could endanger more than1 million palestinians sheltering there. our correspondent anna foster is injerusalem has the latest on where negotiations stand. we're at that point in proceedings where through the afternoon i've been watching in the regional media various briefings, everything from saying that we are on the verge of an agreement of a framework of an agreement, everything through to no, israel say they will not agree to a ceasefire that will permanently end the war. i think the key thing to remember

at this point in time is this is the moment where we hear these various briefings, we hear different things from different sides, but until we get some sort of official word potentially from the egyptian mediators who are actually in charge of these talks in cairo, really all of that is just background noise. what we do know is that one of the key sticking points is that idea of a permanent ceasefire. we know that is a key part of what hamas is asking for out of this deal. the idea that there would be an eventual end to this war rather than just a temporary ceasefire while that exchange goes on. we know that israel equally say that without a ground offensive in rafah, which benjamin netanyahu, the israeli prime minister, has been talking about for months, they say they can't conclude their military operation, they can't deliver on that promise of fully removing hamas from gaza. in fact they are saying in the last few days that even if there is a deal, that military operation will still go ahead. so at the moment there is a lot

going on behind closed doors, a lot of rumour and speculation and conjecture. but in concrete terms, right now we are no further forward. bbc arabic�*s abdelbassir hassan has also been following negotiations and has the latest from cairo. we couldn't hear anything from the talks in cairo which have started already earlier today. hamas are taking it serious at this time as well, and a statement from, or remarks made to reuters by the hamas leader today admits some complications on the scene here in cairo, because they have said that they are coming with their basic demands of a full cessation of the war, a full and complete withdrawal of the israeli troops from gaza and full access to the north of the

strip as well as free movement, which seemingly had election from the israeli side, and the media quoted a diplomatic official from israel saying they will not stop the offensive against rafah as long as hamas is demanding an end to the war. this led benny gantz, the cabinet war official, to urge israel to exercise restraint because they didn't get any clear answer from hamas so far. joining me to discuss the negotiations is frank lowenstein, former us special envoy for israeli—palestinian negotiations and senior advisor to the secretary of state.

the main sticking point seems to be whether a ceasefire deal would be permanent or temporary why is that such a hold up? how optimistic are you that we could see a ceasefire deal? we how optimistic are you that we could see a ceasefire deal?— see a ceasefire deal? we have seen encouraging — see a ceasefire deal? we have seen encouraging signs — see a ceasefire deal? we have seen encouraging signs in _ see a ceasefire deal? we have seen encouraging signs in the _ see a ceasefire deal? we have seen encouraging signs in the past - see a ceasefire deal? we have seen encouraging signs in the past day i see a ceasefire deal? we have seen j encouraging signs in the past day or two from hamas. previously rejected the proposal outright, and now they are viewing it with positivity, so thatis are viewing it with positivity, so that is encouraging. but as your correspondent pointed out, it is far from clear that this has resulted in a way of whether the ceasefire is going to be permanent or not. netanyahu is saying that they will do rafah no matter what. it is really unclear whether they have reached a meeting of the mines on that, or alternatively whether hamas is just posturing here. that, or alternatively whether hamas isjust posturing here. haifa that, or alternatively whether hamas isjust posturing here.— isjust posturing here. how much do ou think isjust posturing here. how much do you think that _ isjust posturing here. how much do you think that ground _ isjust posturing here. how much do you think that ground invasion - isjust posturing here. how much do you think that ground invasion of. you think that ground invasion of rafah that is likely to go ahead according to benjamin netanyahu, how

much is that hanging over this, how likely is it to go ahead? i much is that hanging over this, how likely is it to go ahead?— likely is it to go ahead? i think it is definitely _ likely is it to go ahead? i think it is definitely hanging _ likely is it to go ahead? i think it is definitely hanging over- likely is it to go ahead? i think it is definitely hanging over this i is definitely hanging over this because from a united states perspective, that would result in far more than casualties which obviously they want to avoid, but the biden administration are saying that this could become another vietnam for him, and they want to have a ceasefire as far as possible. i think we are doing everything we can to get the parties there, but whether we will succeed or not is an open question. haifa whether we will succeed or not is an open question-— whether we will succeed or not is an open question. how much urgency is that on the part _ open question. how much urgency is that on the part of _ open question. how much urgency is that on the part of both _ open question. how much urgency is that on the part of both hamas - open question. how much urgency is that on the part of both hamas and i that on the part of both hamas and israel, and of course there is domestic pressure tone for prime minister netanyahu to get hostages home, but this has dragged on for many months. is there enough for either side to really push for a deal, to really make some sort of concession?— deal, to really make some sort of concession? . , ., , ., concession? that is a good question. what i'm concerned _ concession? that is a good question. what i'm concerned about _ concession? that is a good question. what i'm concerned about is - concession? that is a good question. what i'm concerned about is that - concession? that is a good question.

what i'm concerned about is that we | what i'm concerned about is that we care about this more than either of the parties do, and in 2014 when we were negotiating a ceasefire, we pushed hard for the parties to agree to something they didn't want to agree to, and the ceasefire fell apart quickly, so the concern here is that if both sides feel forced to do some who didn't otherwise want to do, it may not last, and that is a concern for the biden administration, if the sides are not really in a place where they want to try to get this result. for their own domestic political reasons, how must think they are winning the war and they don't mind having thousands of palestinian civilians slaughtered to advance their aims, and i think netanyahu has concerns of his own, so neither side really wants this. let's talk about what is going on in the us right now. in the past few days we have seen massive protests erupting at us universities coast—to—coast, really. there is a lot of pressure right now on president biden. is there more that the white house could be doing to try to get these two sides to agree

on a ceasefire deal? i think you will see president biden do everything he can to try to tamp down on these protests, and the only way that we are really going to be able to get the momentum out of these protest is a ceasefire here that would allow obviously a lot of humanitarian assistance to go in. it would prevent a war with hezbollah and islay hostages to be released. there are a lot of things that would be positive for president politically. and i think it is important to remember that biden could still do this grand bargain, saudi relations with israel in return for a bunch of stuff we can give the saudis, and he wants to give the saudis, and he wants to give a speech giving out a choice for the israelis, a two state solution which is the promise, or continuing to go down the dark path they are on right now. he can't do that if the war is raging, so i think you are going to see biden doing everything he possibly can to

get this over the line. we doing everything he possibly canto get this over the line.— doing everything he possibly can to get this over the line. we have time for one last — get this over the line. we have time for one last question. _ get this over the line. we have time for one last question. we _ get this over the line. we have time for one last question. we haven't i for one last question. we haven't seen the actual document where there is discussion about exchange of hostages for palestinian prisoners, conversation about allowing people to return to areas of the north of gaza. do you think that the rumour details here would be enough to lay a foundation for a more lasting peace in the region? i a foundation for a more lasting peace in the region?— a foundation for a more lasting peace in the region? i think if they have reached _ peace in the region? i think if they have reached agreement - peace in the region? i think if they have reached agreement on - peace in the region? i think if they have reached agreement on the i peace in the region? i think if they l have reached agreement on the core issue of whether this is going to be a permanent end to the war, and i think the united states hopes it would be, then i think there's other issues can get resolved. however it issues can get resolved. however it is important to understand that there is a devil and all of those details, every single one of those is a core negotiating point as far as the israelis and hamas are concerned, so if they are looking for a way to blame the other side for a way to blame the other side forfailure, follow—up for a way to blame the other side for failure, follow—up negotiations on those second—order points can provide ample opportunity for either side to bail out and blame the other, so again we will see whether either side is interested in the ceasefire in the days ahead. frank

lowenstein, _ ceasefire in the days ahead. frank lowenstein, thank _ ceasefire in the days ahead. frank lowenstein, thank you _ ceasefire in the days ahead. frank lowenstein, thank you very - ceasefire in the days ahead. frankj lowenstein, thank you very much. thanks for having me. we turn now to the situation in the democratic republic of congo, where a deadly bombing of a displacement camp in the eastern city of goma on friday killed at least nine people, including children. the congolese army and the m23 rebel group blame each other for the attack. the attack has been internationally condemned. the us says it is "gravely concerned" about the expansion of m23 fighters and army forces from neigbouring rwanda in eastern dr congo. french president emmanuel macron has also urged rwanda to end its alleged backing of m23. rwanda rejects claims that it is involved. congolese president felix tshisekedi cut short his visit to europe following the attacks. government officials are urging people in goma to remain calm until it carries out a proportionate response. the humanitarian situation is deepening amid violence

between the congolese army and various militia groups that are trying to take control of mineral—rich land. more than 6.5 million people are internally displaced overall. for more on the situation, i spoke to founder of ngo focus congo, pappy orion. he's currently in goma visiting displacement camps. thank you for being here. i know that you are currently in goma visiting counts of internally displaced refugees there. what have you been seeing? first displaced refugees there. what have you been seeing?— you been seeing? first of all, thank ou for you been seeing? first of all, thank you for having _ you been seeing? first of all, thank you for having me, _ you been seeing? first of all, thank you for having me, and _ you been seeing? first of all, thank you for having me, and i _ you been seeing? first of all, thank you for having me, and i am - you for having me, and i am currently in goma, and the situation in goma is dire. when you go to the camps, you see desperation. you see thousands of people with no shelter, no food, no clean water, and it is just desperate. for me, someone who was born here and has been in this

situation, it isjust was born here and has been in this situation, it is just inhuman to see how the people are living here. is humanitarian aid making it to those people there? what do they need, what is the situation like? i people there? what do they need, what is the situation like?- what is the situation like? i think some humanitarian _ what is the situation like? i think some humanitarian aid is - what is the situation like? i think some humanitarian aid is there, | what is the situation like? i think i some humanitarian aid is there, but it is not enough for all the people in the displacement camp, with around almost 7 million internally displaced people in the drc, and one of the camps, we have around 800,000 people, and the humanitarian aid is not reaching all of those people, but there are some organisations, international and on the grassroots level, that i doing work here, but

it is just not enough to reach all the people. we it isjust not enough to reach all the people-— it isjust not enough to reach all the ”eole_ . ., ~' ., , ., the people. we also know several --eole the people. we also know several people were _ the people. we also know several people were killed _ the people. we also know several people were killed in _ the people. we also know several people were killed in an - the people. we also know several people were killed in an attack i the people. we also know several people were killed in an attack on the people. we also know several. people were killed in an attack on a camp in goma on friday. how dangerous is the situation right now? has a where you buy that attack? i now? has a where you buy that attack? . , now? has a where you buy that attack? ., , ., now? has a where you buy that attack? ., , , , attack? i was not too surprised because we — attack? i was not too surprised because we know _ attack? i was not too surprised because we know that - attack? i was not too surprised because we know that this - attack? i was not too surprised - because we know that this situation has been occurring. in fact, three days ago, a bomb fell, it didn't reach any people, but yesterday unfortunately the bomb even though it fell into the displacement camp, and that was a huge blow for us who are working there to see the people who were there, now they have gone, and most of these people were children that were in the displacement camp at that time, and today we went to visit and we could

see the scars of the people there and people who died during that time, and so it was really scary to know that at any given time, a bomb could be dropped, not only on the displacement camp, because it is only about two kilometres now, so it is really a scary situation. find only about two kilometres now, so it is really a scary situation.— is really a scary situation. and do we know any _ is really a scary situation. and do we know any more _ is really a scary situation. and do we know any more about - is really a scary situation. and do we know any more about who - is really a scary situation. and do i we know any more about who might is really a scary situation. and do - we know any more about who might be behind that attack? there are several dozen armed groups operating that territory, right? yes. several dozen armed groups operating that territory, right?— that territory, right? yes, a lot of different arms _ that territory, right? yes, a lot of different arms groups, _ that territory, right? yes, a lot of different arms groups, and - that territory, right? yes, a lot of different arms groups, and i - that territory, right? yes, a lot of. different arms groups, and i cannot confirm myself exactly how many, this is from what i hear from witnesses on the ground, that the bombs came from the m 23 rebels. and

people say that the government has the work of the red cross in this camp, and the bombs fell into the displacement camp and took the lives of all of these people. the displacement camp and took the lives of all of these people.— of all of these people. the m 23 rebel group _ of all of these people. the m 23 rebel group has _ of all of these people. the m 23 rebel group has taken _ of all of these people. the m 23 rebel group has taken over - of all of these people. the m 23 rebel group has taken over a i of all of these people. the m 23 l rebel group has taken over a town of all of these people. the m 23 - rebel group has taken over a town in east which is an area for mining. what roles do these minerals play that her mind on the eastern part of the drc, many crucial things like smartphones? the drc, many crucialthings like smartphones?— the drc, many crucialthings like smartphones? the drc, many crucialthings like smarthones? , ., , ., ., smartphones? these minerals are one ofthe smartphones? these minerals are one of the most important _ smartphones? these minerals are one of the most important factor _ smartphones? these minerals are one of the most important factor of - smartphones? these minerals are one of the most important factor of what l of the most important factor of what is happening right now in this region. many multinational companies are scrambling for these minerals,

and so i believe many companies are sponsoring these rebels in orderfor them to keep on extracting this mineral, and i know that we all know that these minerals play an important role to our daily lives, and i'm talking to you here now because of those minerals, and all the smartphones, the electronics that we need, and in electric automobiles, so this is part of it. and potentially part of the instability there in that region. thank you very much for being here. thank you very much for being here. thank you very much for being here. thank you for having me, appreciate it. let's turn to some important news around the world. flooding and landslides triggered by days of heavy rain in brazil's southernmost state, rio grande do sul, have killed at least 57 people. officials say another

67 people are missing. nearly 70,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes since the storms began last saturday. at least 500,000 people are without power and clean water. in mexico, three bodies have been found during a search for two australians and an american who went missing last week during a surfing trip. the three were on vacation near the coastal city of ensenada in the northwestern state of baja, california, when they failed to turn up at their planned accomodation. the bodies have not yet been identified. a huge diplomatic row has erupted after spain's transport minister suggested argentina's president had used drugs. oscar puente said javier milei had ingested "substances" during his election campaign last year. mr milei hit back condemning the "slander and insults" and attacked the policies of spain's socialist prime minister, pedro sanchez. tens of thousands of madonna fans in brazil are gathering on rio's copacabana beach for the us pop star's free concert.

some gig—goers have camped out overnight to ensure a prime spot, as well as watch the star rehearse on stage. more than 1.5 million people are expected to attend. the free show is a thank you to her fans for decades of support — she is winding up her global celebrations tour, which has visited 14 countries since its launch in october. i'm carl nasman here in washington. stay with us, we have plenty more coming up on bbc news. hello there. saturday saw much cooler weather across scotland and northern ireland. friday was a really warm and sunny day. one of the warmest we have seen actually this year with temperatures widely 23 degrees in western scotland, while temperatures are around 9 degrees lower today. the reason for that change is we had much more extensive cloud and the cloud was thick enough to bring some quite persistent rain to northern ireland,

extending southwards from scotland to the north of both england and wales. the best of the sunshine to the south of that. overnight tonight, we will keep those cloudy skies in place across scotland and northern ireland. still with a few patches of rain around, a few mist areas as well. across wales, the midlands, east anglia, southern england, dry to start off with tonight. we will probably start to see some rain arrive towards south—west england and by the end of the night and that rain is all tied in with the weather front moving up from france. through sunday, that weather front will extend northwards, bringing rain across from south—west england into southern wales, central southern england. scotland and northern ireland stay cloudy with a few patches of rain. the best of the sunshine will be across north wales, parts of northern england, the midlands, east anglia and south—east england. where the sunshine comes out, it should feel quite pleasant. heading into bank holiday monday, low—pressure to the south of the uk with this weather front still bringing the threat of some rain across southern counties of england. the rain may turn more showery in nature through the afternoon but those showers could be heavy and thundery.

further north, we are likely to see some thunderstorms break out across parts of scotland and northern england as well but that still leaves part of wales into the midlands and parts of northern england where we will have the best of the day's sunshine breaking through. temperatures not doing too badly. highs between 15 and 17 degrees but then as we look at the forecast deeper into next week, high pressure is going to start to dominate the weather picture. not the strongest high you have ever seen so there will still be some showers around. and for tuesday, those showers are most likely to form across western areas of the country. the best of the sunshine, east anglia, southern counties of england. northern ireland not doing too badly as well. top temperatures ranging from around 16 to 19 degrees celsius, feeling pleasant in any sunshine. and the trend is for there to be quite a lot of dry weather through the rest of the week ahead with temperatures rising and the warmest spots more likely into the low 20s.

hello and welcome. this week we're coming from the bbc�*s radio theatre for a special event focusing on press freedom. an information iron curtain has fallen across large parts of the globe. for billions of people, access to impartial news reporting is now restricted.

state disinformation has reached industrial levels and we're going to focus on three countries — iran, china and russia. and we'll also hear how people are taking on the censors, how they're bypassing the firewalls and doing everything they can to access the truth. hello and welcome. well, this week, katie and i have left our normal studio in new broadcasting house, and we've come a few floors down to the bbc�*s radio theatre. we are broadcasting from an event called bbc world service presents, which is focusing on press freedom, the reasons why it's under increasing pressure around the world. press freedom means journalists being able to report without threats to their safety, without government interference, without laws designed to punish them for their work. for many, though, press freedom is elusive. the reuters institute for the study ofjournalism talks of democratic backsliding in some parts

of the world, and the economist