an geyser as he lays out an israeli ceasefire proposal. donald trump said he will appeal his historic conviction which has stunned the us presidential race. —— the war in gaza. washington gives key have permission to strike inside russia using its own weapons. israel and hamas has responded positively to a new israeli peace proposal unveiled byjoe biden on friday. he urged both sides to accept the deal, saying it's time for the war to end. the proposal has three parts, it would begin with a six week ceasefire, leading to a permanent truce, the withdrawal of israeli troops from gaza, the return of hostages held by hamas and the

rebuilding of gaza. the us has worked with mediators to negotiate an end to the war in which more than 36,000 gazans have been killed according to the hamas run health ministry. it began after an attack on israel by hamas and other armed groups on october seven which killed 1200 people. for more details, our middle east correspondent sent this report. he said israel had submitted a comprehensive new proposal for a ceasefire to end its war with hamas. it includes a first phase which would include a six—week temporary ceasefire in gaza that would see the release of some hostages being held in gaza, in exchange for palestinians being held in israeli jails. this would pave the way for a second phase, and this is the key point in this

proposal. president biden talked about a permanent ceasefire. in other words, the end of the war in gaza. that the americans would guarantee this permanent ceasefire. president biden also said hamas has been degraded to an extent that it doesn't have the ability to carry out another attack like 0ctober ability to carry out another attack like october the 7th, so obviously trying to address security concerns from the israeli authorities. still, this plan is likely to face opposition from some far right supporters of benjamin netanyahu, who have rejected a deal with hamas. they say the war must continue and that military pressure is the only way to guarantee the release of the hostages who are still in gaza. for hamas, the president is trying to flame this proposal as something that is impossible to be rejected. ——

to the same this proposal. he described it as a truly decisive moment and he said it's time for the war to end and the day after in gaza to begin. and the day after in gaza to beuin. ., , ,, and the day after in gaza to beuin. ,, ., ,, ., ., begin. the top us congressional leaders invited _ begin. the top us congressional leaders invited israeli _ begin. the top us congressional leaders invited israeli prime - leaders invited israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu to address a joint session of congress at an undisclosed date. for more perspective on these negotiations, i spoke to a special envoy for middle east peace underformer us president barack 0bama. what do you make of the details in this ceasefire proposal? this 3—phase plan? does it seem workable to you? it’s 3-phase plan? does it seem workable to you?— workable to you? it's a reflection _ workable to you? it's a reflection that - workable to you? it's a l reflection that president workable to you? it's a - reflection that president biden is desperate for a ceasefire at this point, to prevent a war with hezbollah, and to release the hostages. but i'm not sure we are any closer than we were before the president made this

announcement. the three phases have been in play for the last few months and it's not clear to me they have moved forward in terms of resolving the core issue, whether this is going to be a permanent ceasefire. we heard from — be a permanent ceasefire. we heard from hamas saying it views the proposal positively, but you don't think the two sides are any closer to agreeing on this? that's exactly what _ agreeing on this? that's exactly what hamas - agreeing on this? that's| exactly what hamas said agreeing on this? that's - exactly what hamas said last time when they accepted a ceasefire and netanyahu ceasefire and neta nyahu refused. ceasefire and netanyahu refused. ijust don't ceasefire and netanyahu refused. i just don't think it's clear that hamas actually wants a ceasefire right now or that the netanyahu government does. biden is trying to pressure netanyahu and his coalition partners to agree to a ceasefire that they are very reluctant to agree. the israelis are moving forward with the invasion of rafah as we speak, so we are a long way away from having a ceasefire or even serious negotiations. when it comes to _ even serious negotiations. when it comes to the _ even serious negotiations. when it comes to the white _ even serious negotiations. when it comes to the white house, - it comes to the white house, you said president biden is desperate for a ceasefire deal. how much influence do you think

he can have over this process? he has really been trying to get these sides to agree to something for months. it’s something for months. it's true, something for months. it's true. we — something for months. it's true, we only _ something for months. it's true, we only have - something for months. it�*s true, we only have limited leverage. in 2014 we were negotiating a ceasefire between israel and hamas, and we wanted it much more than either side, and at the end of the day we ended up chasing our tails. president biden is doing his best to move the ceasefire on, but there is something else going on, domestic politics for the president. he has a real problem with some of the younger voters in america, who are very displeased with the way he has handled this war. it's the first time he has come out to say, i support a permanent ceasefire and an end to this war. there is a domestic angle. and it's important to remember, trump had just gone out and given a bizarre press conference at trump tower, and biden wanted tojuxtapose him as trump tower, and biden wanted to juxtapose him as a trump tower, and biden wanted tojuxtapose him as a president trying to make peace, with donald trump as a convicted felon ranting and raving, so there was an element of that. i

want to go back to something you mentioned, priorto want to go back to something you mentioned, prior to this, the two sides had a bit more desire to reach a ceasefire deal when you were working with the secretary of statejohn kerry. why do you think there is in that same level of desire for a ceasefire deal now on behalf of hamas and israel? i think from the israel perspective, benjamin netanyahu perspective, benjamin neta nyahu is perspective, benjamin netanyahu is beholden to a bunch of extreme zealots in his coalition. israel want to destroy hamas, the zealots want to destroy hamas. i don't think hamas want to be involved unless there is guarantee of the end of the war. there were protests in the united states, and the world really isolating israel more and more, and i don't think... inaudible. we heard president biden say in a statement today, it's time

for this war to end, and then he said, and for the day after to begin. is there anything in this proposal that lays out some sort of road map for what might happen after the fighting does eventually end?— might happen after the fighting does eventually end?- does eventually end? sure, it's asnirational. — does eventually end? sure, it's aspirational, though. _ does eventually end? sure, it's aspirational, though. the - aspirational, though. the israelis have said publicly as recently as yesterday that this war was going to go on for six months. so you might find the end of intense combat operations in rafah in the near future but you still have 15,000 hamas guys active in the gaza strip and israel are clear it will take months before they have defeated hamas in any meaningful way. you might get a temporary ceasefire, but as for the longer—term, the day after, i think we are a long way away. the other big news of the day, benjamin netanyahu has been invited by congress to address a joint session there, date and determine so far. what do you make of that? i determine so far. what do you make of that?—

make of that? i think it's good that he waited _ make of that? i think it's good that he waited for— make of that? i think it's good that he waited for an - that he waited for an invitation from the democrats, because in 2015 he did something which turned israel into a political football. something which turned israel into a politicalfootball. at least it is bipartisan. there were different agendas, because netanyahu has an opportunity to take his message to a friendly republican congress, so i think biden will do some counter messaging around the speech. donald trump is the first ever us president to be convicted of a crime after a new yorkjury found him guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to adult film star stormy daniels to cover up an alleged affair. his attorneys say they will appeal that verdict, and on friday the former president repeated his claim that he is the victim of a political witchhunt. 0ur correspondent was at trump tower and sent this report.

this was a sometimes rambling speech, with a loose relation to the fact and a core message of personal grievance. he said that the verdicts were nothing short of a white house orchestrated plot to trip up his campaign, a claim he makes without evidence of course. the verdicts were delivered on evidence by a jury that his defence team had just as much of a hand in selecting. there is a dangerfor america in of a hand in selecting. there is a danger for america in all of this, the constant undermining of thejustice undermining of the justice system. undermining of thejustice system. that is a point mr biden made in his first response to the verdicts. but i think there was something else you could notice in mr trump's demeanour today. you could notice in mr trump's demeanourtoday. it you could notice in mr trump's demeanour today. it seemed at times just as demeanour today. it seemed at timesjust as much demeanour today. it seemed at times just as much wearied as he did angry. might that be a sign that the weeks of evidence in that courthouse and the verdicts themselves have taken their toll? verdicts themselves have taken theirtoll? 0r verdicts themselves have taken their toll? 0r might it be a sign that portraying himself as a somewhat downcast sense of

victimhood is good for business? he made the point himself in that speech that just a few hours after the verdict was delivered, campaign funding on his website had raised close to $40 million. the verdict puts the presidential election season in uncharted territory. so far, opinion polls show it really hasn't moved the needle very much with the voters. president biden leading by 2% according to a national poll conducted just hours after trump's convictions. 41% of registered voters say they will vote for biden, 39% in favour of donald trump, the rest either undecided, considering third—party candidates or say they may not vote at all. discussions are being held across the globe on the war in ukraine, but on friday, china said it would not take part in a peace conference on the war next month because kyiv is

blocking russian attendance. moscow says it is pointless if it can't have a seat at the table, which swiss officials are working on. nato foreign ministers are meeting in prague where they are expected to agree on another aid package for ukraine. it comes after the us announced on thursday that its allowing ukraine to use its weapons to strike targets inside russia, along with landline near kharkiv. 0n landline near kharkiv. on friday germany said it would follow suit. russia is a using nato and the us of provoking a new level of tension. —— accusing nato and the us. kharkiv, the second largest city in ukraine, came under deadly missile attacks. let's go live to the senior adviser for the centre of eurasian russian and eastern european studies. this really was a big decision by president biden, wasn't it? but if you look at this from the ukraine perspective, could this

becoming a bit too late? figs becoming a bit too late? as with most _ becoming a bit too late? is with most things with the biden administration, the weapons, a little bit too late. the russians started attacking kharkiv in a concerted way a number of weeks ago. it's taken this long to allow the ukrainians to use short—range us weapons to strike back inside russia, just in the short range, to prevent more attacks on kharkiv. but it is true that secretary blinken also said today that the us could reconsider and permit ukraine to strike deeper as time goes on.— ukraine to strike deeper as time aoes on. ~ ., ' . time goes on. what effect might this have when _ time goes on. what effect might this have when it _ time goes on. what effect might this have when it comes - time goes on. what effect might this have when it comes to - time goes on. what effect might this have when it comes to the l this have when it comes to the actual battlefield?— actual battlefield? there were 40 explosions _ actual battlefield? there were 40 explosions tonight - actual battlefield? there were 40 explosions tonight in - actual battlefield? there were 40 explosions tonight in a - 40 explosions tonight in a russian town over the border, so it may enable the ukrainians to stave off further russian attacks on kharkiv, which have been quite devastating and have already forced thousands of people to leave what is the

second biggest city in ukraine. there is another tricky decision coming up as well, when it comes to these f 16 fighterjets when it comes to these f 16 fighter jets that when it comes to these f 16 fighterjets that ukraine is expected to receive soon from western allies. how do you think nato countries will go about deciding how far fighter jets will be allowed to fly over the russian border, and what sort of targets the planes might be able to strike? this is clearly _ might be able to strike? this is clearly something - might be able to strike? t1 s is clearly something that the foreign minister's probably discussed today in prague, the nato foreign ministers. it will come up as a subject at the nato summit injuly here. this has to be carefully calibrated, but i think most of the nato allies by now agree in terms of the all—out war russia is waging on ukraine, ukraine has to be able to fight back, because at the moment it is in a very difficult situation militarily, and the russians have made gains in the past few months. ~ ., ., , , ., ., months. what about russia? how do ou

months. what about russia? how do you think _ months. what about russia? how do you think they _ months. what about russia? how do you think they will— months. what about russia? how do you think they will respond? i do you think they will respond? president putin today warning that western policy is provoking a new level of tension, presumably part of the reticence by president biden in the first was a fear of retaliation by russia? putin is alwa s retaliation by russia? putin is always threatening _ retaliation by russia? putin is always threatening things, . retaliation by russia? putin is| always threatening things, and yes, the biden administration and european governments have been restrained by theirfear of escalation. we heard more threats from putin today, from dmitry medvedev, once president and now one of the hawks. most of the nato allies realised that these threats are meant to intimidate, that we have felt deterred because of them, and that russia is already attacking very fiercely in ukraine, and probably the russians are not going to escalate that much despite all the bluster._ the bluster. today, the nato secretary — the bluster. today, the nato secretary general _ the bluster. today, the nato secretary generaljens - secretary generaljens stoltenberg said, we are working on how to move ukraine closer to membership. what would nato membership for

ukraine mean? and how realistic is it in the short—term? mata is it in the short-term? nato membership _ is it in the short-term? nato membership for— is it in the short-term? nato membership for ukraine - is it in the short—term? iisgtf: membership for ukraine would have meant, before 2022, that russia would not have invaded ukraine, because it hasn't touched any nato countries yet. ukraine is not going to get a membership offer at the nato summit. but it will get encouraging words at least, and jens stoltenberg himself said ukraine will one dayjoin nato, but of course he is the outgoing general secretary. the russians have of course warned about this all the time, they claim they invaded ukraine fully in 2022 because of their concerns about ukraine's nato membership. but i think this is still largely aspirational. i don't think anyone has a good idea on the timetable, as long as ukraine and russia are at war with each other. aha, as ukraine and russia are at war with each other.- war with each other. a quick final question. _ war with each other. a quick final question. we _ war with each other. a quick final question. we were - war with each other. a quick . final question. we were hearing about some of these potential peace conferences, involving china for example. what role do

you think these might play? are we getting closer to a point where the side might sit down and find a diplomatic way to end this conflict? i and find a diplomatic way to end this conflict?— end this conflict? i don't think we _ end this conflict? i don't think we are _ end this conflict? i don't think we are anywhere l end this conflict? i don't i think we are anywhere near end this conflict? i don't - think we are anywhere near that yet, because i don't think russia is interested, and at the moment ukraine isn't, because it doesn't want to concede so much territory to russia. but this is a preliminary conference. 0nce russia. but this is a preliminary conference. once in a series which started in saudi arabia last year. —— one in a series. they are going to discuss things like nuclear security, humanitarian missions, prisoner exchanges. the swiss have said the next conference after this should include russia, but at the moment of course, the russians have just criticised it, moment of course, the russians havejust criticised it, and the chinese, as already said, have said they are not going to send representation, even though they did last year to a similar conference.— similar conference. angela, former us _ similar conference. angela, former us government - similar conference. angela, - former us government adviser, now senior adviser to the centre for eurasian, russian and eastern european studies,

thank you very much. in south africa, parties are getting ready for unprecedented coalition talks. the anc is set to fall well short of the majority for the first time in 30 years. the latest tally gives them 42% of the vote. the leader of the next largest party, the democratic alliance, said his party would only enter coalition talks with parties that share its values and principles. final results expected on sunday. mexicans go to the polls on sunday for their own historic election, both the front runner, the former mayor of mexico city, and the main challenger, are women. mexico almost certain to choose its first woman president. but what impact will it have in a nation with deeply embedded problems of machismo

and sexual violence against women and girls? this report from the eastern state of veracruz. i think it's a symbol for the world. i see it in young girls. they are excited that a woman is going to be president. it changes culture for women and men. you have to develop policies to reduce violence. in mexico, that's easier said than done. the former mayor is confident of victory, promising to continue the social development policies of her mentor.

other nations in latin america have had women presidents in the past. brazil, chile, argentina. but there's something about the ingrained machismo in mexican society, particularly these rural indigenous community, which makes this so historic. few know how hard it is to break the culture better than the members of this cafe, a women's coffee cooperative in veracruz. women are usually not allowed to vote and hold decision—making roles in agricultural co—ops. but here, they control the entire enterprise, and they had the advice for next president. translation: it's not. just about being a woman but being gender conscious, which is very different. for example, the agricultural ministry has never been led by a woman. for the rural sector.

the bbc requested an interview with her rival, which she declined. like most credits, she accuses claudia sheinbaum of being a puppet, something she denies. i feel sure about myself. i don't care about the things that they say. of course i'm of the same movement with lopez 0brador. we fought together for 20 years or more than 20 years. to have the government and opportunity for mexican people. of course, i'm going to lead a different time in history. a woman president in mexico is hugely significant and long overdue, yet the biggest challenge still lies ahead — undoing centuries of sexism and gender inequality in one of the most patriarchal societies in the americas. and willjoins us where

campaign is wrapping up. other latin american nations have had a female leader, but never in mexico. walk us through the significance. it mexico. walk us through the significance.— significance. it is usually important. _ significance. it is usually important, it's _ significance. it is usually important, it's historic i important, it's historic obviously for the specific women involved, and who is going to take victory on sunday, everything points to the fact it will probably be claudia scheenbaum, but it's historic for the entire nation, after so many decades, so much embedded machismo, to finally have a woman at the helm. what will it mean in terms of policies? that is what people are asking. will it make any inroads whatsoever in terms of the terrible problems that you heard in my report? the defence some people like claudia scheenbaum and her supporters is that it will matter and she will be aware of the importance of these issues and do things

to tackle them. 0thers of these issues and do things to tackle them. others say she has been appointed by a man, she is the candidate because she is the candidate because she is the protege of manuel lopez 0brador, but we will have to see what she does if she wins. , . ., , to see what she does if she wins. , .., , wins. this election season has been very _ wins. this election season has been very violent, _ wins. this election season has been very violent, or- wins. this election season has been very violent, or than - wins. this election season has been very violent, or than 30| been very violent, or than 30 candidates killed. do either of these top candidates have an answer for this wave of violence the country has been experiencing? both sides say they do. i think the electorate is waiting and wondering in that area. even the campaign launch event of claudia sheinbaum, they were saying the one thing they wanted to see action on, the people, was security. so many candidates have been killed or intimidated out of the race. the role of the cartels in mexican politics perhaps worse than it's ever been, it's incredibly insidious. it's also

incredibly insidious. it's also in things like the day—to—day economy. the construction industry in the state of mexico, oragriculture, industry in the state of mexico, or agriculture, things like that. it's going to be very hard and potentially very violent to remove organised crime from the economy and society. crime from the economy and socie . , , crime from the economy and socie. ,, society. this is probably something _ society. this is probably something you - society. this is probably something you are - society. this is probably something you are very| society. this is probably - something you are very aware of, but mexico city also in the middle of a historic drought. headlines saying the city could run out of water in a month. how is that playing out politically? well, it's playing out in this city. and also in surrounding communities and parts of the country that are also affected by the water issue, the drought. in this city it is a political football. drought. in this city it is a politicalfootball. but drought. in this city it is a political football. but the candidate for mayor, she says in the neighbourhood where she was mayor, she did very well, she was a defender of people's writes in terms of access to

water. she made a difference. —— rights in terms of access to water. it will be one of those issues, outside of security and people's pocket books, that will influence people, particularly in this sprawling capital city where so many people are struggling to find enough clean water to make sure theirfamilies have got enough clean water to make sure their families have got access to water. of course, it's not been much of a vote winner, the idea of investing in the infrastructure of water. suddenly you reach a crisis point like this and it's a critical electoral point. we have about _ critical electoral point. we have about 45 _ critical electoral point. we have about 45 seconds, but another story making headlines, the uk ambassador to mexico reportedly leaving his post earlier this year after pointing a gun at a local member of embassy staff. what more can you tell us? it’s member of embassy staff. what more can you tell us?— more can you tell us? it's a really shocking _ more can you tell us? it's a really shocking one. - more can you tell us? it's a really shocking one. john . really shocking one. john benjamin, he was ambassador,

and this video has emerged on and this video has emerged on an anonymous x account, it believed it might have been posted by a disgruntled employee at the embassy, showing him brandishing a weapon at his staff apparently. it appears to be him. we know he is now no longer in mexico. he hasn't commented yet. the embassy in london is only saying there were protocols in place with hr to deal with such incidents, and not elaborating any further at this stage. thank you very much, will. that historic election taking place on sunday. that's all we have time for, stay tuned, more headlines coming up at the top of the hour on bbc news. hello. in weather and climate terms, the beginning ofjune marks the start of summer, and the weather is going to feel fairly summer—like this weekend. it will be dry for most of us,

warm in the sunshine, but the nights will still be quite chilly. and saturday getting off to a rather chilly start. these are the temperatures in the towns and cities. out in the countryside, some spots a little bit colder than that. but after that chilly start, most places will see some spells of sunshine — any early mist will clear. this area of cloud, across east anglia and the south—east, that should tend to break up to give some spells of sunshine. but then we've got this zone of cloud pushing out of southern scotland, into northern england, affecting parts of northern ireland, north wales, the north midlands, maybe producing the odd shower. temperatures for some northern and eastern coasts, around 14, 15, 16 degrees. in shelter, southern and western parts, highs of 20 or 21 degrees. now, through saturday night into sunday, a few mist patches, but largely clear skies overhead. that will allow temperatures to drop down into single digits for many. high pressure in charge of the weather this weekend, centred to the west of us. but as we get into sunday, the orientation of that high

will allow this clump of clouds to roll its way into the northern half of the uk. so, clouding over, i think, across parts of northern ireland, certainly northern and western parts of scotland. a little bit of patchy rain, perhaps some more persistent rain, into the north—west later. eastern scotland should see some brightness, and for england and wales, we'll hold on to some spells of sunshine and it is going to feel warm out there — highs of 22 or maybe 23 degrees. always a bit cooler towards the north and the west of the uk, where this frontal system will be bringing some outbreaks of mostly light and patchy rain. that front sinking a little bit further southwards into monday. not much rain left on it by this stage, but certainly a band of cloud pushing southwards. that cloud likely to affect parts of wales, southern england by monday afternoon, with the odd shower. further north, some spells of sunshine, temperatures down a little bit but still getting to 20 or 21 degrees. but those temperatures do have further to fall. the summer—like warmth not lasting all that long for some of us, with this cooler air sinking its way southwards.

so temperatures will be dropping, actually, towards the middle and the end of the week, and particularly in the northern half of the uk, we will see some showers.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme.

i'm alice morrison, an adventurer and writer. i've cycled across africa and run across the sahara. now i'm on the trail of a mysterious and forgotten arabian civilisation, the nabataea ns. are we standing in the birthplace of written arabic? i think i would say that, yes. they were nomads who forged a rich civilisation here in the harsh desert conditions of western arabia from the fourth century bce. they ruled for around three centuries until they were swallowed up by the roman empire. now all that's left are the enigmatic remains of their great desert cities of petra and hegra, in modern—dayjordan and saudi arabia. and this is where i have come to explore, to find out how they survived and thrived here, who they were, and even

what they looked like.