hello. i'm caitriona perry. you're very welcome. a gruelling six—week election campaign is now under way in the uk with the two main political parties making their opening pictures to voters after british prime minister rishi sunak called a snap vote for 4 rishi sunak called a snap vote for ajuly. rishi sunak called a snap vote forlijuly. mr rishi sunak called a snap vote for hunt-— for 4 july. mr sunak attended events in _ for 4 july. mr sunak attended events in england, _ for 4 july. mr sunak attended events in england, wales, . events in england, wales, scotland on thursday and is visiting northern ireland on friday. the conservative leader said only his party offers security and economic stability. the leader of the opposition labour party, sir keir starmer, says voters have the choice between what he called continuing decline and chaos under the ruling conservatives or rebuilding the country under his party. a senior labour sources told the bbc that mr starmer plans to take part in two head—to—head tv election debates with mr sunak. after 14 in power the conservative party is polling more than 20 points behind

labour. our political editor chris mason reports. cheering placards and cheers, and babies getting attention from politicians. keir starmer is quite the fan of visiting lower—league football grounds in places he hopes labour can win. he was in gillingham, in kent this morning — his deputy with him, too. thank you. whatever service people try and access these days, they find it's like wading through treacle. red cards aren't usually welcome for folk on a football pitch, but expect to see plenty of these in the next month or so, spelling out labour's core message. we've had 14 years of going round and round in circles, getting absolutely nowhere. chaos and division feeding chaos and division. if you want change, you have to vote for it. and if you vote labour, it's a vote to stop the chaos.

it's a vote to turn the page, and it's a vote to rebuild our country together. thank you very much, thank you! a general election is about winning seats and staying in them. rishi sunakjust about managed that in ilkeston, in derbyshire, as he made the case the economy is on the up. inflation down from 11% when i got thisjob, down back to normal, just over 2%. energy bills now falling by hundreds of pounds. wages have been rising by faster than prices for almost ten months now. the conservatives and labour have a very different approach to dealing with people crossing the channel in small boats. labour would scrap the tory plan to send some migrants to rwanda, which rishi sunak claims could make a big difference. how do we stop the boats? well, i'm very clear, it requires bold solutions. that's why we need rwanda. got to make it crystal clear to everybody —

if you come to our country illegally, you won't get to stay. but the prime minister told us today he didn't expect anyone to be sent to rwanda before the election. within hours, mr sunak was at a brewery in barry, in south wales, having a go with the kit. there was then an awkward moment when he said this... are you looking forward to all the football? not so much my bag. wales have not qualified for the euros, the football tournament starting next month. england and scotland have. and talking of scotland, rishi sunak completed his three nation dash today by flying to the highlands. and having a catch up with the scottish conservative leader at the port of nigg, north of inverness. meanwhile, in edinburgh today, the new look scottish national party had their general election launch.

on july fourth, independence day, make sure your voice is heard. i expect over the next six weeks, we'll see the tories and labour really going at it. they'll be going hammer and tongs to discredit each other. i'll also be going hammer and tongs, but not against anyone. i'll be going hammer and tongs to put scotland first. ready? right, cheering — let's go! cheering and in cheltenham, in gloucestershire, the liberal democrats were sorting out their choreography — some in party colours from head to toe. leader ed davey has a phrase we'll hear a fair bit of. a fair deal where everyone can have a decent home that is secure and clean, and affordable, comfortable retirement when the time comes. a fair deal where every child has a decent school, where they can have the opportunity to realise their potential. the next six weeks will involve

a fair bit of ticker tape and assorted electioneering paraphernalia. luckily, there are those keen to pick it up. chris mason, bbc news. now to the israel—gaza war. us speaker of the house mike johnson says he will host israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu to address congress on capitol hill. he was speaking at an israeli embassy eventin speaking at an israeli embassy event in washington, dc. find event in washington, dc. and toni . ht event in washington, dc. and tonight i'm — event in washington, dc. and tonight i'm happy _ event in washington, dc. fific tonight i'm happy to announce something else to you, we will soon be hosting by minister netanyahu at the capital for a joint session of congress. applause _ . this will be a timely and i think are — . this will be a timely and i think are very _ . this will be a timely and i think are very strong - . this will be a timely and i think are very strong show| . this will be a timely and i l think are very strong show of support to the israeli government at the time of greatest need. democratic senator majority _ greatest need. democratic senator majority leader i greatest need. democratic. senator majority leader chuck schumer would have do sign that too, he has not commented on johnson's and almere. news comes days the biden administration suggested it

would join congress in sanctioning the international criminal court for seeking the rest of the minister netanyahu and his defence minister, ulogie may have committed war crimes. meanwhile, only garson coast. the us central command says three american troops have suffered what it's calling "noncombat injuries" during the operation to build and operate a pier off the coast of gaza to increase humanitarian aid to palestinians. aus a us defence official says one of the three injured on a ship at sea was medically evacuated to a hospital in israel in critical condition. the un says deliveries on the pair have resumed after rachel mccrow day suspension because crowds of palestinian people had overrun the drugs carrying humanitarian aid. the canyon presents three—day visit to the us has continued with the state in on thursday. in attendance were former president bill clinton and former secretary of state hillary clinton and a number of celebrities and other notable gas. this is the first time in 15 years and african leader has made an official state visit to

the us. resident biden is expected to use this opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to supporting africa. earlier in the day, ms caruso and mr biden gave a joint press conference. indie caruso and mr biden gave a joint press conference. we mark 60 is a partnership _ joint press conference. we mark 60 is a partnership between - joint press conference. we mark 60 is a partnership between our| 60 is a partnership between our democracies and we are fulfilling that which together and we are continuing. i'd truly believe that it has brought out the best in both of us, not only in kenya and america, but around the world has had positive impact. through our partnership we are continuing to meet our responsibilities in four key areas. first, i'm proud to announce we are working with congress to designate kenya a major non— nato allies. the major non- nato allies. the president — major non— nato allies. the president emphasised the significance of his state visit amid the growing security facing many african nations. it is important for us to appreciate that many countries in africa, including cania, struggling with an overwhelming convergence of multiple shots,

including extreme climate events, debtor distress, and the disruptive upheaval in europe and the middle east. earlier, spoke about all of theseissues earlier, spoke about all of these issues and the visit with william bellamy, a former us ambassador to cania talking about that allowing —— ellaz between us and cania. the designation of cania as a non— nato allies, what does that change? to nato allies, what does that chance? ., , ., , �* nato allies, what does that chance? ., , �* ., change? to be honest, i'm not sure it changes _ change? to be honest, i'm not sure it changes a _ change? to be honest, i'm not sure it changes a lot. - change? to be honest, i'm not sure it changes a lot. . - change? to be honest, i'm not sure it changes a lot. . i - sure it changes a lot. . i think the purpose of this was to recognise kenya as a special case in terms of the importance of the security cooperation in the united states and others have with kenya. i think event more as an honorific and as a way of underlying that it is a

special security relationship in practical terms they don't think it will change the relationships that exist. in a “oint relationships that exist. in a joint statement, _ relationships that exist. in a joint statement, president biden and president ruto said the designation was a powerful symbol of the close relationship, yet this visit by the canyon president is the first official state visit by any african leader in 15 years. is there really a close relationship between the us and kenya or any african nation? this is a very close relationship and a long—standing close relationship between kenya and the united states. the state visit before that was a kenyan leader who visited washington on a state visit in 2002. but the us — kenya relationship goes back a long way, even before kenyan independence. you can really make a case for that for 60 years kenya has probably

been one of the united states's i will say and ally in africa. so this visit by president ruto has given some impetus to that, but it is not a completely new turn in us— kenyan relations. joe biden has failed to keep his own promise to make a visit to africa while president, saying if he is re—elected he will go early next year instead. is that surprising to you? would you have liked to see him visit? jae you? would you have liked to see him visit?— you? would you have liked to see him visit? joe biden is not the first american _ see him visit? joe biden is not the first american president i see him visit? joe biden is not| the first american president to make that promise and has been unable to keep out. i will say that. i think that most in africa can understand that in an election year and with a couple of the other overarching crises that he is dealing with a visit to africa at this time was probably not a smart move.

so i don't attach too much importance to that. i have no doubt that he does want to visit africa and probably would do so early in a new administration if he is re—elected. administration if he is re-elected._ administration if he is re-elected. . , re-elected. we have seen both russia and _ re-elected. we have seen both russia and china _ re-elected. we have seen both russia and china having - re-elected. we have seen both russia and china having a - re-elected. we have seen both| russia and china having a great influence on many nations in africa, where does the us fit into that relationship, do you think? ,, ., , ., , think? the united states has had relationships _ think? the united states has had relationships with - think? the united states has| had relationships with african countries going back a long time. i'vejust mentioned countries going back a long time. i've just mentioned the example of kenya is one of the best examples. the relationships that russia and china have a somewhat different to the united states. the russian relationships are relatively, i'm not going to compare them to the soviet union, but the russian relationships said to be very transactional, they tend to be almost i—dimensional. the russians are able to offer military muscle to a number of african governments that are

not particularly popular with their own people and are able to offer a few other services. the russians are not there as investors, they're not there as development partners. that is a different kind of a transactional, was a transitory relationship. the chinese relationship. the chinese relationship is different. the chinese are big investors in africa, big players in african development, are there for the long—term. the united states, as i say, has been involved in africa for a long time and has an incredibly variegated type of relationship with most african countries, including kenya. one example of this visit, i was not going to say it was surprised to say that they released 80 or 90 different initiatives or project that were cited as part of the us kenyan relationship. some will be talked about, some will probably not, during the state visit, gives an example of the breadth of the relationship the united states has with nations like kenya and

a number of other african countries.— a number of other african countries. . ,, countries. trade with the us, forei . n countries. trade with the us, foreign direct _ countries. trade with the us, foreign direct investment - countries. trade with the us, foreign direct investment will be of great importance to president ruto, did he get what he came for essentially in this visit for that regard? share he came for essentially in this visit for that regard?- visit for that regard? are you don't have — visit for that regard? are you don't have a _ visit for that regard? are you don't have a full— visit for that regard? are you don't have a full list - visit for that regard? are you don't have a full list of- visit for that regard? are you don't have a full list of whatl don't have a full list of what he got from the visit, but from the news reports i have seen today i think he has probably going to be able to go home, president ruto, make a good case to the kenyan people that he came away with some very substantial benefits from this state visit, this trip to washington.— state visit, this trip to washington. state visit, this trip to washinuton. . washington. 0k, we will leave it there for _ washington. 0k, we will leave it there for tonight. _ washington. 0k, we will leave it there for tonight. william i it there for tonight. william bellamy, former us ambassador to kenya and our senior advisor on the africa programme for the centre for strategic and international studies. answer joining us on bbc news. thank you. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's have a look at some other stories making the news now. a ten—year—old girl who died in a mudslide

in north yorkshire has been named as leah harrison from darlington. herfamily have paid tribute to her as a "happy and bubbly" little girl. her school called it a heartbreaking tragedy. the mudslide happened at carlton—in—cleveland wednesday afternoon during a school trip. cabinet secretary simon case told the covid inquiry that downing street was "definitely dysfunctional" during the pandemic. he also said messages criticising borisjohnson and colleagues were "raw, in the moment" expressions and not the reality of the government's pandemic response. mr case sent whatsapps saying mrjohnson "cannot lead" and calling officials "pygmies" at the height of the pandemic. he told the inquiry he "deeply regretted" the messages. rishi sunak�*s flagship bill to ban smoking for anyone born after 2009 looks likely to be shelved. parliament will be suspended friday for the campaign and all legislation that isn't already passed automatically gets dropped — regardless of who wins. sunak faced backlash over the bill from his own conservative party. labour previously pledged to bring in the ban if they win the general election. you are live with bbc news.

in the mediterranean, a two story building collapsed on the spanish island of yorker, killing at least four people. emergency services at least 16 others were injured in the incident which happened on a restaurant on a beach. the area is usually busy with tourists at this time of year. this week we have been reporting from myanmar, where rebel forces are fighting against the military regime. reporting from the country is extremely difficult but a bbc team has been able to get in has been a month with rebel forces on the front line of this hidden war. thousands have been killed since the military coup three years ago and according to the united nations over 2.5 million people have been displaced. last october several desperate rebel groups united forming a single nationwide insurgency which has made big gains conquering large swathes of territory. many young people have fled the city to join up to fight. quentin

sommerville travelled to the rebels' jungle hideouts. a warning, his report does show the aftermath of violence that has taken place there. like a beacon in the night, a jungle base has become a sanctuary. the final stop on a journey to freedom for young bohme's who refuse to serve in the army. they were spirited here from cities by an underground railroad of safe houses. to escape a new conscription law that would see them fired against the insurgency. instead they have joined its ranks. why don't you want to fight for the military government? translation: ., , , translation: the military is terrorising — translation: the military is terrorising people, _ translation: the military is terrorising people, they - translation: the military is| terrorising people, they bomb using planes and there been villages. i will never fight for them. villages. i will never fight forthem. i villages. i will never fight for them. i will fight alongside the revolutionary

forces. �* , ., ., , forces. and they are the only ones fleeing. _ forces. and they are the only ones fleeing. across - forces. and they are the only ones fleeing. across carini i ones fleeing. across carini state hundreds of camps for the displaced have sprung up. young and old they live in fear. it's and old they live in fear. it's a hardscrabble existence. a ha rdscrabble existence. heartbreak a hardscrabble existence. heartbreak is a way of life here. some 2.5 million people have been forced to say goodbye to their homes since the military coup. they've left their farms and rice military coup. they've left theirfarms and rice patties military coup. they've left their farms and rice patties to avoid the hundreds of army airstrikes that target opposition held territory. a relentless air campaign has civilians running for their lives. tens of thousands have been killed since the coup, many of them children. the bombs fall daily. the state

capital, loikaw, is now a ruin. go, go! come, come. indie capital, loikaw, is now a ruin. go, go! come, come. we follow cobra and his— go, go! come, come. we follow cobra and his best _ go, go! come, come. we follow cobra and his best buddy - go, go! come, come. we follow cobra and his best buddy sam | go, go! come, come. we follow l cobra and his best buddy sam on patrol. they were national karate champions who have taken up karate champions who have taken up arms. karate champions who have taken u- arms. ,., karate champions who have taken u- arms. ~., karate champions who have taken u- arms. a, ., up arms. go. move, move. peaceful— up arms. go. move, move. peaceful protest _ up arms. go. move, move. peaceful protest failed - up arms. go. move, move. peaceful protest failed so l up arms. go. move, move. i peaceful protest failed so they have been on a stand of fear with the army since november. end of the street, the burma army there. so we have to run. this is the heart of loikaw, downtown. look at the state of it though. there's destruction everywhere. if we just look

over here, look at the destruction of the buildings. this is — and century drones were dropped air, artillery, air strikes. we know this was a militaryjunta because the rebels don't have that kind of weaponry. and something else does just silence. because there are no civilians here, there are no civilians here, there have fled because the junta doesn't distinguish between rebel fighters, between resistance fighters and civilians. it is labelled them all as terrorists. in fact, eight kilometres from here, just yesterday, a military strike killed a family of six, including two children. so, wherever they attack on the chinese places into ghost towns. cobra and sam will defend these frontlines whatever the cost. this is a

struggle of the young against the old, a new generation battling a military elite and its myanmar�*s youth that sacrificing most. this man is just 23. he took shrapnel to his femoral artery in an attack on a military base. his comrades comfort him as much as they can. not all revolutionaries carry a gun. this doctor was in his last year of medical school and abandoned his studies to help in this secret hospital, treating fighters and civilians alike. i treating fighters and civilians alike. , ., �* ., treating fighters and civilians alike. , ., ., alike. i 'ust don't want to cive alike. i just don't want to give away _ alike. i just don't want to give away a _ alike. i just don't want to give away a location i alike. i just don't want to give away a location for l give away a location for security measures. so, this is our operating theatre room, it

is underground.— our operating theatre room, it is underground. they take every precaution _ is underground. they take every precaution here. _ is underground. they take every precaution here. the _ is underground. they take every precaution here. the reason i is underground. they take every precaution here. the reason thej precaution here. the reason the o eratin: precaution here. the reason the operating that — precaution here. the reason the operating that is _ precaution here. the reason the operating that is underground . operating that is underground is because if we are overground they can see us and if they see us they will bomb us, so we have to go underground. in the liuht blue have to go underground. in the light blue is — have to go underground. in the light blue is his _ have to go underground. in the light blue is his fiancee, - light blue is his fiancee, doctor tracy. she too did graduate, now she performing surgery. we met some of the wounded here today. they are young men. wounded here today. they are young men-— young men. yes, very young. very voung _ young men. yes, very young. very voung with _ young men. yes, very young. very young with a _ young men. yes, very young. very young with a whole i young men. yes, very young. very young with a whole lives ahead of them and they have horrible injuries. how are you both cope with that mentally? we can cry the whole day, it's ok _ we can cry the whole day, it's ok let — we can cry the whole day, it's ok let it— we can cry the whole day, it's ok. let it cry, let me cry, 0k. let it cry, let me cry, everything is ok. but we have to stand — everything is ok. but we have to stand up again. because if we are — to stand up again. because if we are not here who will treat those — we are not here who will treat those patients?— we are not here who will treat those patients? children, too, have been _ those patients? children, too, have been forced _ those patients? children, too,

have been forced to _ those patients? children, too, have been forced to seek- have been forced to seek shelter from the military�*s warplanes under the jungle canopy. despite the war, songs are still heard and ballads still played by the students at the golden flower music school. the teacher's violin it drowns out the din of war. some of her students are as young as m. this is a refuge for now. we've met a lot of young people here today, some of them very young, but soon i'll have to go and fight. how does that make you feel. translation: , ., ., translation: they have to sacrifice their _ translation: they have to sacrifice their bodies, i translation: they have to sacrifice their bodies, their i sacrifice their bodies, their limbs, their lives, and they have to leave their girlfriends and boyfriends behind to go to the frontline. that shows their dedicated heart and how strong their beliefs are. i will always respect and honour the comrades. always respect and honour the comrades-— always respect and honour the comrades. �*

comrades. and some might never come back- _ comrades. and some might never come back. and _ comrades. and some might never come back. and this _ comrades. and some might never come back. and this is _ comrades. and some might never come back. and this is the - comrades. and some might never come back. and this is the toll- come back. and this is the toll that myanmar�*s fight for freedom takes on her and the young. for cobra and sam is surprised they have to pay now. they are fighting the same battles their parents fought against military rule. and tracy and yoreli hope it's for the last time, that their revelation —— revolution means future generations, their children, might live together in a free myanmar. quentin sommerville, bbc news, carini state, myanmar. let's turn to some other important news. around's late president ebrahim bracey has been buried four days after he was killed in a helicopter

crash. the 63—year—old adelaide cleric was laid to rest. senior western officials were noticeably absent from the so many. french president emmanuel macron has promised more reforms in new caledonia which led to deadly unrest. speaking the capital, is a macrons that he recognises offering many families. he said additional security forces would remain in the territory for as long as necessary. new caledonia has been under state of emergency after the worst civil disturbances in a0 years. finally, some dazzling new images of the cosmos to share with you, the european space agency says its euclid telescope send back the largest images of the universe ever sent from space. they cover last year's sent from space. they cover last yea r�*s of sent from space. they cover last year's of this guy and in unprecedented detail. euclid has a wide field of view and contrast to the farseeing james

webb telescope. astronomers say the images taken by euclid a full—timejob those the images taken by euclid a full—time job those captured using ground—based telescopes. that telescope launched less than a year ago. gorgeous images there. that is it for the moment. i'm caitriona perry. thanks for watching. stay with us on bbc news. hello there. conditions look a lot better for the next couple of days. we should see more sunshine around, lighterwinds, so it should feel a bit warmer as well. friday, it's an improving picture — we should see sunshine breaking through across many areas. and for most areas, it should be dry, just a few showers across northern areas. now, this area of low pressure is continuing to weaken, and the rain is fizzling out, so there'll be barely anything on this weather fronts across scotland, northern england, as we move through friday morning. should see plenty of sunshine developing across southern areas, and some holes appearing in that cloud further north. just the odd shower dotted around, but many places will stay dry. temperatures responding, as well — lighter winds, more sunshine, i9 celsius, maybe 20 celsius, in the south, high teens further north. as we head through friday night, it looks like skies

will clear pretty widely, so it will turn chillier. just the odd shower across scotland, a bit more cloud here — so i think double figure—values in much of scotland and northern ireland, single figures for large parts of england and wales. so, into the bank holiday weekend, it's starting off fine and settled on saturday for most areas, and then, we'll start to see sunshine and showers through sunday and bank holiday monday. we've got this weather front encroaching in slowly during the weekend — but ahead of it, plenty of sunshine around. will be a chilly start, little bit of mist and fog around. this feature moving in from the continent could bring some cloud and rains east anglia, eastern england, and then, later in the day, this weather front moves its way into southwest england. but plenty of sunshine across the country, just the chance of an odd shower. a much warmer 20 celsius for many areas, up to 22 in the southeast. now, as we head into sunday, this weather front starts to cross the country, destabilising the atmosphere. it'll be one of sunshine and showers, i think — and through the afternoon, some of these showers could turn out to be heavy and thundery, some local torrential downpours in places. temperature—wise, because a bit more cloud around and some

showers, i think we're looking at highs of 18—19 celsius. and then, through bank holiday monday, again, sunshine and showers — probably the heaviest of the showers on monday will be across the northern half of the country, a bit more of a breeze as well coming in from the west. so, temperatures 16—17 celsius i think for many places. and then, for the upcoming week, i think it stays fairly unsettled — low pressure always close by, showers or longer spells of rain. however, there will still be some decent spells of sunshine at times. take care.

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. a population of la billion. one of the largest economies in the world. poverty, though still rife, is in steady decline. it's a place so full of life, of soul, of hope, of progress. but all that is under threat.

as our planet warms, india is predicted to become one of the first countries in the world where temperatures will top the safe limit for people simply resting in the shade. and it could start happening in the next decade. it will impact the lives and livelihoods of the poorest first, who will have no choice but to continue working in the dangerous heat. translation: in the hot - weather, the sun burns my body. quite... it is high right now. we will have more kidney disease. we will have more heat strokes. only if we work can we have food on our plates. the world health organization says it's pregnant women and young children who will face some of the gravest consequences of all from climate change. but simple solutions to better protect women are there.