you i'm caitriona perry. are very welcome. british prime minister rishi sunak has set a general election for ajuly. he made the announcement in the pouring rain outside ten downing street, hailing his economic record. the prime minister is trailing in the polls to the opposing labour party, as his conservative party seeks its fifth consecutive term. the bbc�*s political editor chris mason has been following the days developments from westminster. the lectern in place after a downpour of anticipation. cameras, reporters, brollies, the downpours coming from the skies too. at teatime, this. earlier today, i spoke with his majesty the king to request the dissolution of parliament. the king has granted this request and we will have a general election on the fourth ofjuly. music blaring from campaigners in nearby whitehall, rain tumbling onto the prime minister's sodden suit. you must choose in this

election who has that plan. who is prepared to take the bold action necessary to secure a better future for our country and our children? now, i cannot and will not claim that we have got everything right. no government should. but i am proud of what we have achieved together. the bold actions we have taken, and i am confident about what we can do in the future. over the next few weeks, i will fight for every vote. i will earn your trust, and i will prove to you that only a conservative government led by me will not put our hard—earned economic stability at risk, can restore pride and confidence in our country, and with a clear plan and bold action, will deliver a secure future for you, yourfamily and our united kingdom. so, this is it — a general election is on.

power will leave this most powerful of streets, and you will be able to decide whether he stays or whether he goes. and so the arguments, the persuasion begins. on days like this, one lectern leads to another, and the thrust of labour's message hangs on one word. a chance to change for the better. your future, your community, your country. it will feel like a long campaign, i'm sure of that. but no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about. over the course of the last four years, we have changed the labour party, returned it once more to the service of working people. all we ask now, humbly, is to do exactly the same for our country, and return britain to the service of working people.

and of course, the next six weeks are about lots of parties, notjust labour and the conservatives. the liberal democrat leader has been in surrey. in so many parts of the country, it's the liberal democrats who can beat the conservatives, and i think people are crying out for change. they want to vote for someone who championed them, theirfamily and community, to sort out the crisis in the nhs and care, to get our economy back on track and end environmental scandals like the sewage scandal. it's a welcome opportunity to remove the tory government and to put scotland first. and that's what i will be saying to the public. but i also have to say that i think this is perhaps the latest act of disrespect from a conservative government, to call an election during the scottish school holidays. tonight, campaigning is already under way. prepare to see plenty

of events like this. friends, friends, thank you, it is great to be with you all this evening. elsewhere, from norfolk to london, placards of a different colour, a different message. the promising and persuasion starts here. polling day is six weeks tomorrow. here goes. chris mason, bbc news. here goes indeed. let's discuss theissues here goes indeed. let's discuss the issues now. with me is laura beers, professor at american university and executive director of the north american conference of british studies. laura, thanks indeed for joining us. let's look at the timing of this election, it will be a summer like and, there was much speculation it would not happen until the autumn, untilthe would not happen until the autumn, until the fall, as you see here. what kind of decisions have led to rishi sunak going for that date, do you think?— you think? the language that has been used _ you think? the language that has been used is _ you think? the language that has been used is he - you think? the language that has been used is he is - you think? the language that has been used is he is taking| you think? the language that.

has been used is he is taking a gamble, right. there is no good time for rishi sunak to call an election, the polls have been disastrous. but he has had some good economic news, inflation has been lower than anticipated. the hope that the disruption of summer travel and other distractions may under helping the conservatives as opposed to hurting them and is a calculated risk. you're right, everyone assumed it would be in the autumn, the business taken the political world by surprise.— business taken the political world by surprise. rishi sunak is kind of going _ world by surprise. rishi sunak is kind of going into _ world by surprise. rishi sunak is kind of going into this - world by surprise. rishi sunak is kind of going into this on i is kind of going into this on the back foot, even though the conservatives abena bougherra for so long, the polls and the recent by—elections all point to a labour flip you, don't they? to a labour flip you, don't the ? , ~ �* , to a labour flip you, don't the? , ~' , they? yes, think it's because they? yes, think it's because the conservatives _ they? yes, think it's because the conservatives had - they? yes, think it's because the conservatives had been l they? yes, think it's because | the conservatives had been in power for so long, the conservatives had been in powerfor so long, a the conservatives had been in power for so long, a fifth election win, which would be for conservatives, is unprecedented in modern politics and things have not been great in britain in terms of the impact of inflation, in terms of pressures on mortgages, a lot of things we have seen around the globe, but britain has had particularly difficult and there is a desire

for change, that is something that keir starmer, the leader of the labour party, is trying to capitalise on in his speech this afternoon.— this afternoon. what kind of campaign — this afternoon. what kind of campaign you _ this afternoon. what kind of campaign you think - this afternoon. what kind of campaign you think we - this afternoon. what kind of campaign you think we willl this afternoon. what kind of. campaign you think we will see for the next six weeks? i campaign you think we will see for the next six weeks?- for the next six weeks? i think ou will for the next six weeks? i think you will get — for the next six weeks? i think you will get cernak_ for the next six weeks? i think you will get cernak saying - you will get cernak saying stick with the devil you know, essentially, you can trust the conservatives, you do not know what you will get with labour, labour has emphasised it is a james bailey from the last general election in 2019 and is a party that can be trusted by the broad population and i think labour is going to make a hard case for the need for change and the conservatives are going to push an argument about the need for stability. —— rishi sunak. d0 about the need for stability. -- rishi sunak.— about the need for stability. -- rishi sunak. do you think we will see as _ -- rishi sunak. do you think we will see as we've _ -- rishi sunak. do you think we will see as we've seen - -- rishi sunak. do you think we will see as we've seen in - -- rishi sunak. do you think we will see as we've seen in other. will see as we've seen in other parts of europe arise in right—wing parties and messaging? right-wing parties and messaging?— right-wing parties and messauuin? ., , ., _ messaging? reform, previously the brexit party, _ messaging? reform, previously the brexit party, has _ messaging? reform, previously the brexit party, has been - the brexit party, has been pushing the conservatives from the right and has shown itself to some appeal within —— significant portions of the electorate. in terms of a first past the post legal system it

makes it hard for parties other than the principal political parties and it will be a largely centrist debate between labour and the conservatives, both of them arguing they can represent the broad majority of the population. i think you will see a less divisive politics than you have in parts of continental europe or the united states. iii of continental europe or the united states.— united states. if the signals are pointing _ united states. if the signals are pointing in _ united states. if the signals are pointing in the - united states. if the signals are pointing in the right - are pointing in the right direction and there is a labour government at the end of that what will it look like the uk, it has been such a long time? it has been a long time. 1a years. one of the things that will be notable will be will have the first female chancellor of exchequer, among the big parliament position it is the one that has never been held by a woman and rachel reeves as shadow chancellor is poised to step in as first female chancellor. i think you will see an emphasis — the labour party has been very clear about the economic constraints under which it will operate when it comes into power and not making reckless commitments, but think you will see an emphasis on more investment in infrastructure,

investment in infrastructure, investment in infrastructure, investment in the nhs, a commitment to growing a green economy and we willjust commitment to growing a green economy and we will just see how things, you know, pan out. i think there is a real cautiousness on the part of labour about promising too much that it can't deliver after years of financial austerity. what about international relations then? the conservatives with the party that presided over brexit, what would be likely see andre labour government, we are in the us, particularly us uk relations, what more they look like? i relations, what more they look like? ~' relations, what more they look like? ~ ., , ., like? i think with regards to breakfast — like? i think with regards to breakfast it _ like? i think with regards to breakfast it has _ like? i think with regards to breakfast it has a _ like? i think with regards to breakfast it has a line - like? i think with regards to breakfast it has a line draw| breakfast it has a line draw under it and it will not be really litigated. the foreign policy, the labour party and the conservative party are both committed to ukraine, they are both supportive of israel in the conflict in gaza and in terms of foreign policy you are less likely to see a dramatic shift than perhaps with upcoming elections in some other countries. there will be more continuity on that front. and is there anything that

maybe we should look out for in this election campaign, do you think? i this election campaign, do you think? ~' this election campaign, do you think? ~ ,., this election campaign, do you think? ~ , think? i think in some ways the auestion think? i think in some ways the question will — think? i think in some ways the question will be _ think? i think in some ways the question will be the _ think? i think in some ways the question will be the role of- question will be the role of the smaller parties, so the liberal democrats, the scottish national party, the ulster unionists in northern ireland. the labour party needs to win significantly more vote in order to form a majorityjust because of the way the constituencies are drawn. so it's possible if things break very well for the tories that there could be a hung parliament in which nobody has an outright majority. in which case, labourwould an outright majority. in which case, labour would be reliant on those smaller parties either to allow it to form a minority government or to go into coalition.— government or to go into coalition. ., ., ., coalition. 0k. thanks for all of those _ coalition. 0k. thanks for all of those insights, _ coalition. 0k. thanks for all of those insights, laura - coalition. 0k. thanks for all. of those insights, laura beers from american university, thanks forjoining us. thanks for “oining us. thanks forming— thanks forjoining us. thanks for having me _ thanks forjoining us. thanks for having me on. _ less than two weeks until mexico's general election and violence against political figures and candidates is increasing — most of it coming from drug cartels in the region. on tuesday, 12 bodies were discovered in the coastal city of acapulco in the latest explosion of violence.

the most dangerous state to look for votes is the western state of guerrero, where acapulco lies. our correspondent will grant reports. another grisly discovery on acapulco's violent streets. in just 2a hours, police found 12 bodies scattered across the city where not a night goes by without a murder. and in this most brutal of elections, scores of candidates have also been in the firing line. even a leading candidate for city mayor was murdered as he ate dinner. cynthia juarez, who's standing as a local opposition candidate in place of a murdered friend, knows full well the risks of running for office. translation: of course i'm afraid. i'm scared that one day i'll leave my house and never come home, she says. but politics is the only way we have to raise our voice.

this is the most dangerous state. he was standing for congress when armed men appeared at his home. he has since abandoned the race. translation: i since abandoned the race. translation:— since abandoned the race. translation: i don't want to become just — translation: i don't want to become just another - translation: i don't want to become just another motor i become just another motor statistic. i: the authorities for protection and the security detail, but it fell on deaf ears. they have taken no action at all. political violence perpetrated by the drug cartels is nothing new in mexico. but the extent of the problem in this campaign has shocked even seasoned politicians here. names have been removed from the ballot by the bullet, and that means some voters will have to choose candidates who best serve the interests of organised crime rather than the needs of their communities. the violence spans the political spectrum, though candidates from the governing party, morena, have been the most affected. in guerrero, felix salgado macedonia is likely to be re—elected as senator. some 60% of voters consider their cities unsafe.

but he denies president lopez obrador�*s security strategy has failed. translation: we have to move forward little by little _ until we pacify the entire country. but we have another big problem. our neighbour to the north. for the drugs to be bought and sold, there must be supply and demand. so who's consuming the drugs? voters in acapulco have had a tough year. eight months ago, they were battered by hurricane otis. the damage still evident across the city. lives and livelihoods lost. this lady's mother and brother were killed in a landslide. while she's grateful for the government's response, she says security will also influence her vote. translation: we can't go out without fear. - even if you're not looking

for trouble, you could be in the wrong place at the wrong time. voters will soon choose the men and women to lead mexico in the coming six years. but whoever wins in acapulco, the endless war with the cartels will continue posing a deadly risk to politicians and the electorate alike. will grant, bbc news, acapulco. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news in the uk. survivors and families of the victims of london's grenfell fire will have to wait until at least 2026 for a final decision on whether anyone will face criminal charges. the metropolitan police and crown prosecution service say the delay of almost ten years since the tragedy happened is down to the increasing "scale and complexity" of the investigation. the separate public inquiry into the fire is expected to publish its final report this summer or autumn. wylfa on anglesey in wales has been chosen as the preferred site for a large—scale nuclear power plant which the uk government say will bring

thousands ofjobs to the area. wylfa's previous power station stopped generating energy in 2015. international energy companies have begun talks with the government to start building the new plant. junior doctors across northern ireland have walked out for a two—day strike over pay. the department of health has warned that services will be affected during the strike and in subsequent days. further strikes are also be planned forjune after pay talks broke down. you're live with bbc news. ireland, norway, and spain have all announced plans to recognise a palestinian state next week. spain and ireland said the decision was not against israel — or in favour of hamas — but in support of peace. israel has reacted angrily and recalled its ambassadors to the three countries. lucy williamson has more. and a warning — some of the footage in her report may be distressing. there are things a future palestinian state won't change.

the loss of a daughter. a son—in—law. her grandchildren. ten members of this family, bombed in deir al—balah as they sought shelter from the war. but the creation of a palestinian state living peacefully alongside israel is, for many western nations, the only way to end decades of conflict. spain's prime minister today said it was time to recognise that future state. benjamin netanyahu, he said, was creating so much pain, destruction and bitterness in gaza and the rest of palestine, and the two—state solution was in danger of becoming unviable. but there's little support in israel, the mood dominated today by newly released footage from the bodycams of hamas attackers as they took female soldiers hostage on the seventh of october.

translation: the intention| of several european countries to recognise a palestinian state is a reward for terrorism. 80% of the palestinians injudea and samaria support the terrible massacre of october the seventh. this evil cannot be given a state. more than 140 countries have already recognised a palestinian state, but in the west bank town of ramallah, full of palestinian flags and ministries but lacking power, faith in diplomatic gestures was mixed. translation: i welcome this recognition with much respectj and appreciation for these countries, and i ask other states to follow their example and recognise palestine. translation: palestinian diplomacy is weak. - we have embassies in many countries across the world, but they are just useless. theyjust hire employees who live a luxury life.

in the west bank too, near daily reminders of dwindling peace and israel's increasing control, of an unresolved conflict that ends lives and starts wars. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. one of the hostages shown in that report is agam berger. the 19—year—old israeli soldier was abducted by hamas gunmen military base on 7 october. the video was filmed by hamas and shown to the families by the idf. but it was released publicly wednesday by the hostages' families in a bid to push for their release. earlier, i spoke with agam's father, shlomi. asa as a parent you are living through an unimaginable time right now. tell us a little bit about your daughter, about

agam. b5 about your daughter, about auam. �* , about your daughter, about auam. a ., about your daughter, about aam. m ., , agam. as you have seen the icture, agam. as you have seen the picture. a — agam. as you have seen the picture. a young. _ agam. as you have seen the picture, a young, beautiful. picture, a young, beautiful girl. she is a teenager, 19. well, now19 girl. she is a teenager, 19. well, now 19 one half. when she finished high school she decided to do one year with kids with special needs and volunteers to help the community. so after she finished it shejoined community. so after she finished it she joined the community. so after she finished it shejoined the idf when she was 19, not 18 like most of the girls did. and agam is a twin sister, she has another sister, is a twin sister, she has anothersister, her is a twin sister, she has another sister, her twin. we have another girl, she is 18 and another boy, he is 13. and me and my wife. this is the

family. she was in the nahal oz base only one, one and a half days. on 7 october at 6:30am they started a missile attack on israel and she called us and said, that they were in a safe zone, a safe room, and everything is ok, by full ok. there has been a while, it is 7:45 a.m., another phone call from agam. it said mother, father, i hear schotts blasting. and we didn't hear what she said because it was about five or sechin —— seven seconds of recording and it was disconnected and that was the last time we heard from agam.

you received this video of where she is now being held captive by hamas in gaza. it must have been so hard to look at the video when it arrived. we saw that video about one month ago. ok, the idf showed it to us. for me, the hardest thing is to see my daughter and all the young girls fight for them, there were taken to gaza at the start. and surrounding them all of these terrorists that are very aggressive, shutting on them. you see the translation of what they spoke of, that they can get them pregnant and they want to kill them and they are so beautiful. i see in her eyes that she is

thinking, ok, iam in that situation, what should i do? what are my doing here? what is happening. i can see it on her face. very hard to see this film clip as a father. and you cannot do anything for a girl, for your daughter. this is the hardest thing again feel because you know as parents you will do anything for your kids, but in this situation i can't do anything. anything. this is very hard for me. so do anything. anything. this is very hard for me.— very hard for me. so why did ou and very hard for me. so why did you and the _ very hard for me. so why did you and the other _ very hard for me. so why did you and the other families i very hard for me. so why did i you and the other families take the decision now to release and edit of this video? we the decision now to release and edit of this video?— edit of this video? we feel that in this _ edit of this video? we feel that in this situation - that in this situation everything is stuck and we don't see something is happening, no talks or action

that will make them come home. and in the world, the world has behaved to this situation, we feel that the world forgot what is happening here. the world forgot that there is still 128 people in captivity in gaza. and we decided to do that — this is a wake—up call for the israeli government and to the world. wake—up! this is not a picture that we are talking about. this is life, young people, in this case young girls that can be your daughter.— girls that can be your dau:hter. ~ ., ~ , girls that can be your dau:hter. ~ .,~ , , ., daughter. wake-up. the israeli prime minister, _ daughter. wake-up. the israeli prime minister, benjamin - prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, says he has two priorities, bringing home the hostages putting an end to hamas. we see what is happening

in gaza, the resulting humanitarian crisis there, but is he doing enough for your daughter and all the other hostages that are still held? my hostages that are still held? my daughter is not here, in the bottom line. so for me the israeli government is not doing enough because if agam was here it is enough, so it is not enough stop i don't want to replace netanyahu and all the other government people. they have their mission and their mission for us is to bring all the kids and fathers and sisters home. when it will happen it will be enough. so this is the bottom line. nothing else. i know it's hard. we need to fights. only then will we bring them back. so

what you — will we bring them back. so what you say to prime minister netanyahu when there are compromise options for a temporary deal available to him? ., ., ~ , temporary deal available to him? , , him? look, every day -- every deal is hard. _ him? look, every day -- every deal is hard. all _ him? look, every day -- every deal is hard. all the _ him? look, every day -- every deal is hard. all the deals - him? look, every day -- every deal is hard. all the deals are l deal is hard. all the deals are barred, there is no good deal. it is notjust benjamin netanyahu, we have a leadership, they should do it together and decide that the hostages are the most important thing right now. i don't care the day after, ok. this is what they should do, it will happen. this is my message to benjamin netanyahu and my leadership. 0k, netanyahu and my leadership. ok, shlomi berger, father of agam still held by hamas in gaza. thank you so much for speaking on bbc news. and it was not easy. speaking on bbc news. and it was not easy-— the kenyan president, william ruto is in washington on a three—day trip the first official state visit to the us by an african leader

in more than 15 years. ruto has been meeting with president biden, as well as top democratic and republican lawmakers. mr biden is expected to designate kenya as a major non—nato ally during the visit. that is it for the moment. thank you very much watching. i'm caitriona perry. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. for most of us, wednesday was a particularly miserable day. quite wet, in fact, in hertfordshire and warwickshire, we had a months worth of rain in a 24—hour period, ranging from 55 to almost 65 mm of rainfall. throughout the day, the rain gradually drifted its way steadily north and west. here, it is going to linger for quite some time, so we still have weather warnings out. in fact, the met office has an amber warning now, with the emphasis on the heavy and persistent rain across parts of north wales and northwest england. we could see, to higher ground, as much as 100 mm or more, and that could lead to some localised flooding. so that weather warning and will remain in force until lunchtime on thursday.

the brighter colours denoting the intensity of the rainfall. some clearer skies further south, so it could be a misty and murky start, but a relatively mild start to thursday morning. on the whole, quite grey for most of us and some of the rain persistent, but it will gradually start to ease as we go through the day, and hopefully the cloud across east anglia and southeast england should break up to allow for some glimpses sunshine from time to time. winds light to moderate, but the strongest gusts perhaps to the far northwest, where the heaviest bursts are likely to be. we are going to see temperatures peaking at around 18 or 19 degrees, but where the cloud and rain lingers, certainly a disappointing feel. as we go to thursday evening into the early hours of friday morning, gradually, that low pressure will drift its way further north and east and start to pull away, but it stays rather cloudy, damp and murky. so, a pretty murky start to friday morning, and we will be chasing cloud

around on friday. cloud thick enough further north for a spot or two of light drizzle at time to time. hopefully some brightness down to the south, but it will be dry here, and top temperatures once again likely into the high teens. into the start of the weekend, this little ridge of high pressure keeps things quite on sunday. it is a bank holiday weekend, i know, there is a weather front starting to push in from the west giving us a level of uncertainty. it is likely the beginning of the three—day weekend will be the best in terms of drier and sunny weather, and there is the potential for some sharp, possibly thundery showers to develop a little later on.

there was another blockbuster quarter for nvidia as demand for its ai chips to stay strong. and as a trolley move towards becoming a cashless society, would take a look at who's left behind. —— australia. hello and welcome to business today. i'm steve lai. we begin with nvidia, the shares now at an all—time high after the company's latest after the compa ny�*s latest quarterly after the company's latest quarterly results beat sales and profit forecast. the

chipmaker that its dividend and announce a ten for one stock split. michelle fleury has more on these stellar report card. the number of times that al has been mentioned on earnings call this quarter is up sharply from the previous one, which helps explain why investors are so obsessed with nvidia's earnings. it's seen as a bellwether for the ai industry, and the chip giant's latest results show that demand is off the charts. nvidia reported a net income of $14.9 billion. now, put that another way — the company is making around $6.8 million in profit every hour. as for its revenue for the last three months, it came in at $26 billion, up a whopping 262% on the previous year. about the results, founder and ceo said the next industrial revolution has begun. its business, once built around chips tailored to gaming consoles, has been transformed by demand from data centres, which are at the heart of the generative ai boom and have sent its share

price on a tear. the stock? well, it's up 97% this year alone.