live from london. this is bbc news. in his first major speech of the uk election campaign — the labour leader sir keir starmer — says his party will deliver security and stability. we will also provide the certainty that working people, businesses and communities need. a clear direction. not the endless spinning around that successive tory governments have subjected us all to. european and arab leaders condemn israel's ongoing bombardment of rafah, as the hamas run health ministry says at least 45 palestinians were killed by an air strike at a camp for displaced people. israel says its air strike targeting hamas set off a fire, killing civilians. papua new guinea now estimates that more than 2,000 people were buried by a devastating landslide in a remote village.

the fbi says it is investigating the sale of hundreds of treasures that could have been stolen from the british museum. hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy, welcome to bbc news now. three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. we start here in the uk, as the first full week of campaigning gets under way ahead of the general election on july the 4th. the labour leader sir keir starmer has focused on security in his first major campaign speech. he's been telling undecided voters in west sussex — on the south coast of england — that his party will deliver stability. the labour party says if elected it will carry out a 100—day national security review, looking at all the threats facing britain. sir keir said m years of conservative "chaos" had damaged trust in politics

and british institutions. and he said voters faced a choice about the future of the country . i have changed this labour party, dragged it back to service and i will do exactly the same for westminster. that is the choice at this election. service or self—interest. stability or chaos. a labour party that has changed, or a tory party that has run away from the mainstream. the choice is yours. you can stop the chaos. you can turn the page. you can join with us. and together, we can rebuild our country. thank you so much. the snp leader has told voters that the quickest way to "rid scotland of the tories is to vote snp". speaking at a campaign event in dumfries, john swinney said the party would challenge every conservative seat north of the border. the snp are currently the third largest party in westminster — with 43 seats. that compares with the conservative party's seven seats in scotland. the liberal democrat leader

sir ed davey has told voters that it's time for change and urged voters in scotland to send a message that the snp government isn't doing a good enoughjob. at the party's scottish launch, sir ed davey said voters north of the border had been doubly let down by the tories at westminster and snp at holyrood and said that the liberal democrats would fight for a fair dealfor communities. the snp are so out of touch and, like the conservatives in england, people want to get rid of them. and in many parts of the country, it's the liberal democrats who can do that. in mid dunbartonshire, for example, we've got the amazing susan murray who already people think she's the mp — she's so, so active. if you go to to the highlands and islands, if you go to inverness, skye, you see angus macdonald knocking on doors in places like fort william. people are really turning to the liberal democrats and to candidates like angus macdonald. if you go to argyll and bute and see my former parliamentary colleague who's now standing again, allan reed, you'll see liberal democrats

really on the march. so i'm really confident that we're going to make gains across scotland in these elections. earlier i spoke to our political correspondents ione wells — she's travelling with the prime minister rishi sunak, and iain watson, who's in southeast england. he started by telling me whether there were any surprises in sir keir starmer�*s speech. now, there's no new policies in this speech, but it was an attempt to try to convince those people who aren't yet ready to vote labour, that labour can be trusted with the nation's finances, with the nation's defence and can be trusted on illegal immigration. they're going to be setting up this border control, new border control body within 100 days of labour taking power should they win the general election. and these kind of messages that are aimed at people who are worried that labour perhaps were weak on some of those issues under the previous leaderjeremy corbyn who's now been expelled, back in 2019. and the reason keir starmer came here to this part of southern

england is that labour won control of the local council here for the first time in its history. so he believes that people are willing to listen to his message — perhaps a bit more closely than they had in recent years. and that's why also he took this opportunity to reintroduce himself as a politician to the public. talk about where he grew up in 0xted, in surrey, an affluent town, but nonetheless an area where some people were struggling. and effectively his message was, well, if he can come from an area like that and notjust vote labour, but even lead the labour party, then it's perfectly ok, it's perfectly safe for people to defect, to change their vote at this general election. "you heard the choice," he said. the two c words "change" with labour, "chaos" with the conservatives, we're going to be hearing that, quite frankly, until he's blue in the face, over the next five or six weeks. iain watson, indeed. thank you. ione wells, you are clearly on the bus. where are you heading to with the prime minister? i don't know how much you can say because obviously there's always a security concern about locations. but what's the mood also

with the tory team at the moment, because they are behind in the public opinion polls at the moment? that's right. apologies for the slightly bumpy ride here. we're just going around a couple of bends, but we are on the conservative campaign bus heading to the home counties — essentially those areas around london, which traditionally were seen as conservative heartlands, where a lot of the sort of tory so—called big beasts, people like the chancellor, jeremy hunt, cabinet ministers gillian keegan, michael gove — although he is standing down — have their seats, and that's one of the reasons that these areas are big target seats for the liberal democrats and for labour as well. they really want to try and win some seats off the conservatives in some of those areas, particularly some of the more marginal ones. now as a result, i think the conservative party are feeling on the defence here in this particular part of england. i think the economy is something which most polls suggest is a top priority for voters in the area at the moment. so it's likely that might be something that comes up on the campaign trail. but i think the main thing

that the prime minister will want to be talking about today and responding to, will be questions around this eye—catching policy the tories announced on the weekend, about national service for 18—year—olds — spending a year in the military or a weekend every month volunteering. that is something that the conservatives announced on the weekend. it was the first major policy announcement so far during this election campaign, and it's not yet something that the prime minister himself has been asked about. now, cabinet ministers were defending it over the weekend, but it has had some criticism too, with labour calling it a gimmick, criticising the cost of it and even some ministers seeming a little bit unsure. we have steve baker, for example, the northern ireland minister, today raising concerns about what he seems to see as a challenge, particularly implementing this policy in northern ireland. let's speak to geraldine scott, senior political correspondent at the the times newspaper.

you have broken a story in the last couple of hours which is about a leaked e—mailfrom couple of hours which is about a leaked e—mail from conservative headquarters tell us more. yes leaked e-mail from conservative headquarters tell us more. yes this was an e-mail _ headquarters tell us more. yes this was an e-mail which _ headquarters tell us more. yes this was an e-mail which was _ headquarters tell us more. yes this was an e-mail which was sent - headquarters tell us more. yes this was an e-mail which was sent out l was an e—mail which was sent out from conservative headquarters and it had attachments on it that seemingly went supposed to be there and in these documents it detailed concerns that conservative staff had about the willingness of some candidates and mps to campaign and about the funds that they had for campaigning and essentially whether they were willing to go out and knock on doors. there are some can sitjuries niece in there that are represented by ministers. the conservative deputy chairman for example and the environment minister. the concern was that they won't pulling their weight. it is important to note that some of these

concerns were noted before the election was called, so there is an argument that now it has been because people will be more willing to get out and knock on doors. but it underlines the feeling of some mps. fix. it underlines the feeling of some mps. �* , , it underlines the feeling of some mps., , it underlines the feeling of some mps. m , ., ., mps. a pretty embarrassing e-mail to have emerged — mps. a pretty embarrassing e-mail to have emerged into _ mps. a pretty embarrassing e-mail to have emerged into the _ mps. a pretty embarrassing e-mail to have emerged into the public- mps. a pretty embarrassing e-mail to have emerged into the public domain. what has been the reaction been? what has been the reaction been? what we have heard so far is that some of the mps who have been named have said that the situation has improved but from speaking to mps over the last day on this, what they have told me is that they feel quite put out by the fact that they are being accused of not pulling their weight. at the start of this campaign it has been quite rocky for the conservatives and i don't think a lot of the mps feel that it is therefore that it has gone that way. how much is funding a problem? the how much is funding a problem? tie: conservative how much is funding a problem? tue: conservative party has brought in a

lot of money over the last few years. this is talking about local funds. in the last half an hour they were saying on the radio that he had more than £2000 were saying on the radio that he had more than e2000 and had spent money on leaflets in the last year. the funding picture is mixed and you would expect parties to file their money into seats that they think are marginal or they want to hold onto. this is going to be an inexpensive election campaign. what the conservatives have done is raise the limit on what can be spent so we are seeing lots more is being spent on digital ads and the ground.- digital ads and the ground. johnny mercer is one _ digital ads and the ground. johnny mercer is one of _ digital ads and the ground. johnny mercer is one of the _ digital ads and the ground. johnny mercer is one of the people - digital ads and the ground. johnnyl mercer is one of the people named and regarded as an issue with mp cooperation with conservative party headquarters. there was something about him leaked last week

criticising headquarters? this about him leaked last week criticising headquarters? this was a sto in criticising headquarters? this was a story in the — criticising headquarters? this was a story in the times _ criticising headquarters? this was a story in the times of _ criticising headquarters? this was a story in the times of a _ criticising headquarters? this was a story in the times of a memo - story in the times of a memo that johnny mercer had been writing while on a train and was pictured doing so. he essentially accused number ten of placating the prime minister and that he was taking too much of the focus in campaigning and that other colleagues such as penny mordaunt should be out on the media more. it does paint a picture of not quite a happy family in the conservative party.- quite a happy family in the conservative party. quite a happy family in the conservative pa . :, ~ , :, , conservative party. thank you very much indeed- _ there's growing international condemnation of an air strike near rafah in gaza, which palestinian officials say killed at least 45 people — including women and children — at a refugee camp. the israeli government says the initial findings of its investigation are that an air strike against a hamas compound nearby set off a fire which killed the palestinian civilians. egypt has called on israel

to implement the order by the international court ofjustice to halt its military offensive in rafah. french president emmanuel macron says he is outraged by the israeli strikes on rafah and qatar says it could hinder reaching a ceasefire deal. dan johnson reports. explosions. this was israel's air strike late last night in southern gaza — it says, targeting senior hamas figures with precision weapons. but look what it did to the nearby camp where thousands of palestinians were sheltering. israel says it was striking legitimate targets in line with international law. but many of these people had already been uprooted many times through this conflict. "suddenly, we heard the sound of a missile," this man says. "we ran and found the street covered in smoke. we couldn't see anything. then we found a girl and a young man who had been blown to pieces." women and children are among

the casualties here in what they believed was a safe humanitarian zone. this morning, israeli drones surveyed the damage as people questioned how this could happen. translation: we heard a very loud sound and some fire, _ the kids were screaming and all the rooms surrounding us were made out of metal sheets, the sound was terrifying. translation: we set up our tents here and it has been targeted. - they killed our children and burned our women and elderly in the place they claimed was safe. this is our seventh time being displaced. earlier yesterday, hamas reminded israelis that it remains a threat. tel aviv came under rocket attack for the first time in months. there are questions over israel's military strategy and an international court ruling against it. israel continues in military action

that has been asked to stop. also, hamas is launching rockets against israel, so both sides do not respect the rule of law. israel says a review will examine this loss of life. but it is palestinians who count their dead and wonder where in gaza they can find safety. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

the authorities in papua new now believe more than 2,000 people were buried in a landslide that swept over a remote hillside village on friday. there are fears that few survivors will be found because of the treacherous terrain and the difficulty of getting help to the area. the landslide hit the yambali village in in enga province in the early hours on friday while most of the community was asleep.

a warning katy watson's report contains some distressing images. help is desperately needed here in enga province. but while people wait for it to arrive, there is nothing else for it. they are digging through debris with any tool they can find. nearly four days on from the landslide, few bodies have been pulled from the rubble. while this family is able to bury their loved one, not many here are being afforded this moment. translation: l have 18 - of my family members buried under the debris and soil that i'm standing on, and a lot more family members in the village i cannot count. i am the landowner here, but i cannot retrieve the bodies, so i'm standing here helplessly. it was three in the morning on friday when the landslide struck, wiping out well over 100 houses while residents were asleep. the problem is, it is so deep, it is really difficult

to recover the bodies from underneath the heavy debris. and the land is still sliding, rocks are continuing to fall. papua new guinea has called for international assistance. neighbouring australia has already responded and humanitarian agencies are on the ground. but more help is needed in what's looking more like a recovery than a rescue mission. this is a community in mourning and people here are still waiting to say their goodbyes. katy watson, bbc news. king charles has released a message saying: "my wife and i were deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the devastating landslide in enga, and the tragic loss of so many lives, homes and food gardens. " he goes on to say they send their "most heartfelt condolences to the families and communities who have suffered so much as a result of this

appallingly traumatic event. papua new guinea is very much in our special thoughts and prayers." to georgia, where a parliamentary vote is to take place on tuesday, which is almost certain to overturn a presidential veto on a controversial law that has sparked weeks of protests in the country. this was tbilisi on sunday. it comes after the legal affairs committee decided to allow the parliamentary vote on the "foreign influence" law to go ahead. the legislation will require non—government and media organisations receiving more than a fifth of their funding from overseas to register as foreign agents. critics argue that it will stifle dissent. the president had vetoed the legislation last week, describing it as "russian in spirit". but the government insists the law will protect georgia from foreign interference.

kashmir has seen its highest turnout in decades. these are the first general election since the modi government took away kashmir�*s special status in 2019. voting has become a way for some commission movies to protest against that. samir hussein reports. political common in general elections. this one is different. for people in indian administered kashmir, voting has become a form of protest. garlands and sweets. for a voice for their anger. garlands and sweets. for a voice for their anger-— their anger. clearly there is a huge a a . their anger. clearly there is a huge gap between _ their anger. clearly there is a huge gap between what _ their anger. clearly there is a huge gap between what they _ their anger. clearly there is a huge gap between what they claim - their anger. clearly there is a huge gap between what they claim and i their anger. clearly there is a huge - gap between what they claim and what is the reality on the ground. what you see is not because of the bjp it is in spite of them. in 2019 the government revoked kashmir�*s

economy. —— autonomy. but the crackdown on dissent against the move was swift.— crackdown on dissent against the move was swift. government forces took over- — move was swift. government forces took over. there _ move was swift. government forces took over. there was _ move was swift. government forces took over. there was a _ move was swift. government forces took over. there was a complete i took over. there was a complete communication blackout for months hundreds were arrested, including this man. the hundreds were arrested, including this man. , ., :, :, ., this man. the shadow of what happened _ this man. the shadow of what happened on _ this man. the shadow of what happened on the _ this man. the shadow of what happened on the 5th - this man. the shadow of what happened on the 5th of- this man. the shadow of what | happened on the 5th of august this man. the shadow of what - happened on the 5th of august 2019 has given fresh voters, young voters a new impetus to come out and make their voices heard. the crowds that you are seeing now are out because they won the restoration of kashmir�*s special status. we are voting for the young people who are in jail for speaking

out. 50 people who are in “ail for speaking out, . people who are in “ail for speaking out. . , . , ., out. so much in'ustice has been done to us. our out. so much injustice has been done to us. our rights _ out. so much injustice has been done to us. our rights have _ out. so much injustice has been done to us. our rights have been _ out. so much injustice has been done to us. our rights have been taken - to us. our rights have been taken away _ to us. our rights have been taken away this — to us. our rights have been taken away this is _ to us. our rights have been taken away. this is why we are here. to send _ away. this is why we are here. to send our— away. this is why we are here. to send our representative to parliament.— send our representative to parliament. ~ :, ., . parliament. without an elected government — parliament. without an elected government since _ parliament. without an elected government since 2018. - parliament. without an elected l government since 2018. kashmir parliament. without an elected - government since 2018. kashmir has ruled directly from the central government. foreign media need special permission to visit the region. i applied for a permit two months ago. i am still waiting. my team is there, i rely on them to tell the story from afar. enthusiasm for these elections is not widespread. many are sceptical. we widespread. many are sceptical. e kashmiris feel hopeless because we have no voice. kashmiris feel hopeless because we have no voice-— kashmiris feel hopeless because we have no voice. speaking to us on the condition of— have no voice. speaking to us on the condition of anonymity _ have no voice. speaking to us on the condition of anonymity he _ have no voice. speaking to us on the condition of anonymity he tells - condition of anonymity he tells us he did not cast a ballot. essen condition of anonymity he tells us he did not cast a ballot.— he did not cast a ballot. even if --eole he did not cast a ballot. even if people are _ he did not cast a ballot. even if people are coming _ he did not cast a ballot. even if people are coming out - he did not cast a ballot. even if people are coming out to - he did not cast a ballot. even if people are coming out to vote, he did not cast a ballot. even if- people are coming out to vote, the bjp will say look we have brought democracy to kashmir, whether you

vote for us or someone else you are harming the kashmiri movement. tt is harming the kashmiri movement. it is this bringing of democracy that the bjp are champion. taking credit for high turnout despite people casting a vote against government policies. people were suppressed before, controlled by militants, controlled by pakistan, now these elections are controlled by the will of a photo, they have to go out to vote or they don't have too. it is their wish. elections are the will of the people, integralto elections are the will of the people, integral to a functioning democracy. but so is being able to speak freely and without fear. a guarantee that most kashmiris say not necessarily afforded to them.

the bbc has learned that the fbi has been investigating the sale to us buyers of hundreds of treasures the british museum believes were stolen from its collection. the british museum confirmed last year that a large number of objects were missing and a police investigation continues. many were ancient greek and roman objects — removed from its storerooms, with some put on ebay. for a new bbc news investigation, our culture editor katie razzall has had special access to the museum. shejoins me now. hi katie, thanks for coming in. you've been looking into gems the british museum believes were taken from its storeroom — where have they ended up? it wasn't just ancient gems that went missing, it was also jewelry. we only know about the gems because they are easier to trace because there is an equities dealer who want their museum, he was buying things on ebay and then started to realise,

he started to recognise objects. he warned them and they ignored his warnings. we have been working with him for this investigation and been on a treasure hunt and found gems in denmark, he had more than 300 in his collection that he has given back to the museum. we found them in paris, hong kong, washington, dc, a couple that we think were bought in new orleans. it has been a truly global 0rleans. it has been a truly global story. the british museum says it has recovered 628 items and i can tailor they are all gems stop there are fears that the jewellery has been melted down. fih are fears that the jewellery has been melted down.— are fears that the jewellery has been melted down. oh my gosh, that is criminal for _ been melted down. oh my gosh, that is criminal for many _ been melted down. oh my gosh, that is criminal for many historians. - oh my gosh, that is criminal for many historians. how long was this going on for and how could this have happened? the british museum said they estimated for at least a decade. we know that he first bought them from somebody that he believed to be the thief back in 2010. the british museum has accused a senior curator

of being the insider safer. he denies any wrongdoing. the police are investigating and there have been no arrests or charges. there are clearly questions for the museum, amongst them, a lack of cataloguing. many of the objects aren't fully catalogued. they are now embarking on a cataloguing process which will cost millions. these were not enormous marble statues, the accusation is that they were tiny, little ancient gems, bits of jewelry that are less traceable, particularly if you haven't registered. t particularly if you haven't registered.— particularly if you haven't reuistered. :, :, , :, , registered. i have more questions but we have _ registered. i have more questions but we have no _ registered. i have more questions but we have no more _ registered. i have more questions but we have no more time. - registered. i have more questions but we have no more time. invite| registered. i have more questions i but we have no more time. invite me on aaain but we have no more time. invite me on again and — but we have no more time. invite me on again and asked _ but we have no more time. invite me on again and asked people _ but we have no more time. invite me on again and asked people to - but we have no more time. invite me on again and asked people to watch i on again and asked people to watch my programme on bbc iplayer and bbc sounds. tt is my programme on bbc iplayer and bbc sounds. , :, , sounds. it is worth listening. it has been _ sounds. it is worth listening. it has been a _ sounds. it is worth listening. it has been a huge _ sounds. it is worth listening. it has been a huge scandal- sounds. it is worth listening. it has been a huge scandal but i sounds. it is worth listening. it. has been a huge scandal but the british museum is still a marvel, controversial though it is, for all sorts of reason. we will be back in

a few minutes. hello. it's a bank holiday monday of sunshine and showers, but as we go through the afternoon the heaviest, most persistent showers are likely to be across eastern scotland. you can see rather threatening—looking skies in edinburgh just a few hours ago. this has been the shower distribution so far today. most frequent showers across the far north. fewer showers, but most of those out to the west, but some of them are starting to push further inland. for the remainder of the afternoon, it's sunny spells and scattered showers almost anywhere, but the heaviest, most frequent, with maybe the odd rumble of thunder, across eastern scotland. lighter winds here, so if you get some showers they could be slow moving. slightly brisker winds, particularly on exposed south coasts, that should help push those showers through at quite a pace. top temperatures today between 16 and 18 degrees. if you dodge the showers and keep some sunshine with a little shelter, it will still feel quite pleasant.

clearer skies across the far north—east through the night, but cloud and rain gathers out to the west, so that means it's going to be a wet, but mild start to tuesday. clearer skies, a chillier start further north and east, but at least you will have some early morning sunshine. it's not expected to last. the rain will push in from the west. some heavier bursts as it gradually drifts its way north and east. even once the rain eases away, it will be a case of sunny spells and scattered showers following on behind. again, temperatures peaking at around 18 degrees. moving out of tuesday into wednesday, still low pressure dominating the story as these frontal systems sweep their way steadily eastwards. as we go through the day on wednesday with the front to clear, the most frequent showers look likely to be along exposed east coasts, particularly as we go through the afternoon. a light north—westerly wind, a little more shelter, the drier, brighter weather out to the west, but temperatures a little bit subdued for this time of year. again, we're looking at highs of 15 to 18 degrees,

maybe 19, if we're lucky, in the far south—east. that low pressure will push away. as we head towards the weekend, high pressure is going to build in and quieten things down really quite considerably. as we look further ahead, there is some welcome news. as we move into the new month ofjune, it looks likely to dry up, brighten up and, fingers crossed, warm up too.

a warm welcome for plans to strengthen europe's economy. france's president emmanuel macron is in germany for talks to bolster the single market. "we can move down" — the ecb's chief economist says the bank is ready to start cutting rates. and up on stage, keep calm — we'll look at the technology helping musicians cope with stage fright. welcome to business today, i'm mark lobel. let's start in germany where the french president emmanuel macron is on the second day of a state visit. he's there to meet chancellor 0laf scholz for talks aimed at stregthening the eu's economy and help it catch up with the us and china. also on the agenda, the two european heavyweights will be talking