a general election forjuly 4th. he made the announcement in the pouring rain outside 10 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 day's 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 4th 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. now, 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've 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's been in surrey. well, 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, and they want to vote for someone who will champion them, theirfamily and community, to sort out the crisis in the nhs and care, to get our economy back on track and to 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. 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. earlier i spoke to laura beers, professor of british history at american university. laura, thanks, indeed, for joining us. let's look first of all at the timing of this election. it's going to be psalmer election. there was much speculation that it wouldn't happen until the autumn, till the fall as you'd say here. what kind of decisions has led to rishi sunak to go for that date, do you think? i sunak to go for that date, do you think?— you think? i think - i mean, the language _ you think? i think - i mean, the language that's - you think? i think - i mean, the language that's been i you think? i think - i mean, i the language that's been used is that he's taking a gamble, right? there is no good time for sunak to call an election at the moment. the polls have

been disastrous. but he's had some good economic news. inflation has been lower than anticipated. you know, there's anticipated. you know, there's a hope that perhaps the disruption in some of the sort of summer travel and other distractions maybe might end up helping the conservatives as opposed to hurting them. and it's a calculated risk. but you're right that everyone had assumed it would—be in the autumn, so this has taken the political world by surprise. and rishi sunak is kind of going into this on the back foot, even though the conservatives have been in power for so long. the conservatives have been in powerfor so long. the polls and the recent by—elections all point to a labour flip here, don't they?— point to a labour flip here, don't the ? , ., ~ don't they? yes. i mean i think it's in some — don't they? yes. i mean i think it's in some ways _ don't they? yes. i mean i think it's in some ways because - don't they? yes. i mean i think it's in some ways because the l it's in some ways because the conservatives have been in mpower for so long. conservatives have been in mpowerfor so long. i conservatives have been in mpowerforso long. i mean conservatives have been in mpowerfor so long. i mean a fifth election win, which this would be for the conservatives, is unprecedented in modern politics and things have not been great in britain in terms of the impact of inflation, in terms of impacts on mortgages around the globe, but britain has had it particularly difficult and there is a desire for change and that's clearly something that starmer, the

leader of the labour party, was trying to capitalise on in his speech this afternoon. what kind of campaign _ speech this afternoon. what kind of campaign do - speech this afternoon. what kind of campaign do you - speech this afternoon. what kind of campaign do you think we're going to see, then, for the next six weeks? i we're going to see, then, for the next six weeks?- the next six weeks? i think ou're the next six weeks? i think you're going _ the next six weeks? i think you're going to _ the next six weeks? i think you're going to get - the next six weeks? i think you're going to get sunak i you're going to get sunak saying, you know, stick with the devil you know, essentially. you know, you can trust the conservatives. i don't know what you're going to get with labour. labour has emphasised, again, the fact that it emphasised, again, the fact thatitis emphasised, again, the fact that it is a changed party 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. d0 an argument about the need for stabili . , ., ~ an argument about the need for stabili . ,, ~' �* stability. do you think we'll see, as we've _ stability. do you think we'll see, as we've seen - stability. do you think we'll see, as we've seen in - stability. do you think we'll| see, as we've seen in other parts of europe, a rise in right—wing parties and the more kind of populist messaging? well, reform, previously the brexit party, has been pushing the conservatives from the right and has shown itself to have some appeal in significant portions of the electorate but i think in terms of first—past—the—post political 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 that they can represent the broad majority of the the population. i think you'll see less divisive politics than you have in continental europe or the united states. 50 continental europe or the united states.— united states. so if the sianals united states. so if the signals are _ united states. so if the signals are all - united states. so if the signals are all pointing | united states. so if the i signals are all pointing in united states. so if the - signals are all pointing in the correct direction and there's labour government at the end of all of that, what's that going to look like for the uk? it's been such a long time? it has been such a long time? it has been such _ been such a long time? it has been such a — been such a long time? it has been such a long _ been such a long time? it has been such a long time. - been such a long time? it has been such a long time. we're| been such a long time. we're looking at 1a years. one of the things that will be notable is we'll have the first chancellor of the exchequer. the big cabinet pigses it's november been held by a woman and rachel reeves as shadow chancellor is poised to step in as first female chancellor. i think you'll see an emphasis, you know, the labour party has been very clear about the economic constraints under which it will operate when it comes into party and not making reckless commitments, but i think you'll 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'lljust see how things pan out. i think there's a real cautiousness on the part of labour about promising too much that it can't deliver after years of financial austerity. after years of financial austerity-— austerity. what about international - austerity. what about| international relations austerity. what about - international relations then? i mean the conservatives were the party that presided over brexit. what would we likely see under a labour government? particularly — we're in the us, us-uk particularly — we're in the us, us—uk relations. what might they look like? i us-uk relations. what might they look like?— they look like? i think in terms of _ they look like? ithink in terms of brexit, - they look like? ithink in terms of brexit, there's| they look like? i think in | terms of brexit, there's a they look like? i think in - terms of brexit, there's a line drawn under that and it's not going to be relitigated. but in terms of foreign policy, the labour party and the conservative party are (both speak at once) committed to ukraine, they're both supportive of israel in the conflict with gaza. and i think in terms of foreign policy, you're less likely to see a dramatic shift a dramatic shift than in some other countries. there'll be more continuity on that front. i5 continuity on that front. is there anything that maybe we should look out for in this

election campaign, do you think? in election campaign, do you think? , , think? in some ways, it will be the role of _ think? in some ways, it will be the role of the _ think? in some ways, it will be the role of the smaller - the role of the smaller parties, so the lib dems, the scottish nationalists, the unionists in northern ireland. the labour party needs to win significantly more votes 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 no party has an outright majority, in which case labour would be reliant on those smaller parties, a either to allow it to form a minority government or to go into coalition. 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 7th 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 7th. 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. gunfire. 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 along with six other young women from the nahal oz military base on october 7th. the video was filmed by hamas and shown to the families by the idf. but it was released publically wednesday by the hostages' families, in a bid to push for their release. earlier i spoke with agam's father, shlomi.

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 other young girls, five of them — there were seven, ok, and it was taken to gaza at the start and surrounding them, all of these terrorists that are very aggressive, shouting on them. you see the translation of what they spoke of, that they can get them pregnant and then they want to kill them and they're so beautiful. i see in her eyes that she is thinking, ok, i am her eyes that she is thinking, ok, iam in her eyes that she is thinking, ok, i am in that situation, what should i do? what am i doing here? what is happening? i can see it on herface. it's very hard to see this as a

father. you cannot do anything for a girl, for your daughter. this is the most hardest thing that i can feel because we know as parents, you know, you will do anything for your kids but in this situation, i can't do anything, anything. this is very hard for me. so what did you and the other families take the decision now to release an edit of this video? ~ ., , video? we feel that in this situation. _ video? we feel that in this situation, everything - video? we feel that in this situation, everything is - video? we feel that in this i situation, everything is stuck. the situation is frozen and we don't see something is happening. no talks or not actual talks that will make them come home and in the world, the world is be haved to

this situation, we feel that the world forgot what is happening here. the world forgot that there are 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're talking about. this is lives of young people, in this case young girls, that can be your daughter. wake up. the israeli prime minister _ daughter. wake up. the israeli prime minister binyamin - prime minister binyamin netanyahu says he has two priorities — bringing home the hostages and putting an end to hamas. we see the campaign that he's mounting in gaza, the resulting humanitarian crisis there. but is he doing enough for your daughter and all of the other hostages who are still held? in the other hostages who are still held?— the other hostages who are still held? ,., ., still held? in the bottom line, my daughter _ still held? in the bottom line, my daughter is _ still held? in the bottom line, my daughter is not _ still held? in the bottom line, my daughter is not here - still held? in the bottom line, my daughter is not here so, i

still held? in the bottom line, | my daughter is not here so, for me, the israeli government is not doing enough because if agam was here, it was enough. so it's not enough. i don't want to replace his place, netanyahu and the all the other government people. they have their mission and their mission for us is to bring all our kids and fathers and sisters home. 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. china has begunjoint military drills around taiwan, just days after william lai was sworn in as the new president. it said the exercises would take place in the taiwan strait, as well as to the north and south of the island. taiwan has condemned the drills as "irrational provocations" that undermine regional peace. beijing claims taiwan as part of its territory, and sees president lai

as pro—independence. live now to china correspondent stephen mcdonell1. stephen, what can you tell us about these drills? just what's planned? about these drills? just what's lanned? ~ �*, planned? well, the people's liberation _ planned? well, the people's liberation army _ planned? well, the people's liberation army is _ planned? well, the people's liberation army is making i planned? well, the people's| liberation army is making no secret that this is an exercise in surrounding taiwan. you just have to look at the map that the pla has provided. it's online. and the sections where the drills are taking place all around taiwan. now, what the message here is is that if we wanted to, we could blockade that place, so we could stop supplies getting in and essentially, potentially, force the government to its knees. now, the other thing that's, you know, being tested in these drills is an invasion, because there are amphibious craft involved, there are rockets involved. the taiwan defence ministry has responded by saying that they've put all of

their own military on high alert. but also in a bit of a sort of a cheeky comment from them, they said they're vigorously gathering intelligence at this time. now, what they're saying there is if the pla is preparing to invade taiwan and this is a dress rehearsal, well, we can see how they're going to do it and in they're going to do it and in the future, they can be ready and it helps us to prepare so we sort of welcome this opportunity, i suppose, perhaps opportunity, isuppose, perhaps a bit of bravado from the taiwan military. a bit of bravado from the taiwan milita . ,, , ., taiwan military. stephen, would ou taiwan military. stephen, would you exoeet _ taiwan military. stephen, would you expect there _ taiwan military. stephen, would you expect there to _ taiwan military. stephen, would you expect there to be - taiwan military. stephen, would you expect there to be any - you expect there to be any reaction from the international community to this? i mean this is a situation that has been ongoing for quite some time now. . �* now. yeah, well, we're getting these drills _ now. yeah, well, we're getting these drills more _ now. yeah, well, we're getting these drills more and - now. yeah, well, we're getting these drills more and more - these drills more and more happening around taiwan involving the pla. they're getting bigger and bigger and they're getting closer and they�* re getting closer and closer to they're getting closer and closer to taiwan. so you can imagine the international community voicing concern about

this, but that's like water off a duck�*s back to baking because they say, well, that's our territory anyway, we can do whatever we like. now, territory anyway, we can do whateverwe like. now, of course, the reality of the situation is that mainland china does not control, you know, the democratic island of taiwan. if they did control them, they'd be able to walk in there tomorrow. what taiwan's got to try and do is match a sort of... organise the balancing act of having enough force of its own to try to stop the pla from attacking them, or saying that we could actually give you quite a bloody nose, because they know they can't beat the mainland. i mean, mainland china's military is enormous. but the point is that they would be so prepared and they would be so prepared and they would be so prepared and they would have such good jets and the like, submarines, that they could really inflict some pain on china should beijing decide to try to take taiwan by

force. all right. thanks for bringing us up to speed there. our china correspondent stephen mcdonnell. thank you. let's turn to some important news around the world. 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. our us media partner cbs is reporting that the usjustice department will file an anti—trust lawsuit against entertainment conglomerate live nation. live nation is a parent company of ticketmaster, which the doj is accusing of dominating the ticketing market. the ticketing industry has come under scrutiny after glitches blocked millions in the us from buying tickets for taylor swift's tour and criticism about high ticketing fees. breakdancing — or breaking, to give it its official name — makes its olympic debut in paris this year.

among the competitors will be manizha talash, afg hanistan's only female breaker. she was forced to leave her country when the taliban returned to powe and is part of the refugee team. kawoon khamoosh saw hertraining in spain. an intense work—out for the world's biggest competition. manizha is training nonstop to develop and master her skills. she will be taking these moves to the olympics this summer. she knows the whole world will be watching her. translation: by going - to the olympics, i want to show that afghan girls will never surrender. they will win despite any challenge or obstacle. and this is how herjourney started four years ago. from this hip—hop club in kabul. the only girl on the stage,

but already taking confident steps towards her olympic dream. but things haven't been easy. here's our club, a car explosion... in a conservative society, hip—hop fans have many enemies. many faced attacks. manizha continued despite the threats. but when the taliban returned to power, they banned women's sport. manizha and her friends were forced to flee. translation: this is my bedroom. - i moved here a month ago, but i would like to be surrounded by the things i like. relics of home never far. translation: some posters that remind me of afghanistan - - like bombs and afghan dancing girls. i'd like to remember what i have been through. this is the moment the olympic committee made the announcement.

and now it's my great honour to announce the athletes of the ioc refugee olympic team, paris 202a. manizha talash — breaking. a dream comes true. manizha will be part of the olympic refugee team and will represent all those who have been forced to flee their home country globally. the announcement is a source of immense pride for her couch. in 2021 you say you will go to the olympics and in 2024, you are in the olympics. imagine. you say it and you did it. breaking was categorised as an olympic sport in recent years and added to the paris 2024 olympics games. it will be a tough competition, but it is a proud moment for the hip—hop community of afghanistan. for them and for many women in the country, it is already a big win.

kawoon khamoosh, bbc news, madrid. 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 month's 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 of sunshine from time to time. winds, light to moderate, but the strongest gusts perhaps to the far north and west, where the heaviest bursts are likely to be. now, 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 through 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 quiet 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, so it is likely the beginning of the three—day weekend will be the best, in terms of drier, sunnier weather, and there is the potential for some sharp, possibly thundery showers to develop a little later on.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm sarah montague. norway, spain, and ireland say they will recognise a palestinian state from may the 28th. the co—ordinator

announcement has been welcomed by palestinian leaders, but it's sparked fury from israel, his foreign minister said the decision sent a message to the world that terrorism pays. yisrael katz says these countries have decided toward a gold medal to the hamas murderers and rapists. my guess todayis murderers and rapists. my guess today is no way�*s foreign minister, espen barth eide. will his government's move help or hinder the path to peace in the middle east? espen barth eide, welcome you hardtalk. ., ~ , .,

espen barth eide, welcome you hardtalk. ., ~ .,