the head of mossad intelligence services ahead of the team. this shows the seriousness in israel's part. it comes as we're getting reports that there is a real kind of shift in the hamas position. my sense from what the americans are saying now is hamas have conceded on that. they would now accept a negotiation phase into full israeli withdrawal and permanent end to the war, so that does feel like a breakthrough. and that is where we start tonight. president biden has welcomed an announcement by israel's prime minister that he'll send a negotiating team to resume talks aimed at securing the release of hostages held by hamas in gaza.

israel will send a delegation to resume talks. ballots are being cast in the uk's firstjuly general election since 1945 — with up to 46 million people eligible to vote. there's just under an hour of voting left and we'll then get the first hint of the potential outcome with the publication on the exit poll. french leaders are calling for a rejection of violence, after some candidates were physically assaulted during the campaign for sunday's election. a candidate for the far right national rally has decided to suspend her campaign — saying she'd been attacked while out leafleting and had also faced death threats. the european union says it will impose new tariffs on imports of chinese electric cars. taxes of up to 38% will come into force from friday as brussels takes action to protect the bloc�*s motor industry. millions of voters have been to the the polls in the uk general election today.

let me take you to downing street where there will be a flowing of activity tomorrow. there's just under an hour to go until over 40,000 polling stations close — but if you're inside the polling station, or even in the queue, you will be allowed to cast your vote. the bbc, like other broadcasters, isn't allowed to report details of campaigning or election issues while polls are open. you have just a few hours left to cast your ballot, and photo id is needed to vote in person. here's iain watson. democracy in action. at seven o'clock this morning, 40,000 polling stations opened across the uk. some in unlikely places, from a hair salon to a launderette to someone�*s house. if you haven't voted yet, don't forget — for the first time at a general election, you'll need to produce a form of id. this electoral commission video demonstrates how it works. driving licence, passport, bus passes for older or disabled

people are all accepted ways of proving your identity. 150,000 staff are on duty to enable you to cast your vote in the privacy of the polling booth, while pets faithfully wait outside. but from leeds to leaders... in yorkshire, rishi sunak chose to vote early, but you have until ten o'clock tonight to cast your ballot. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, voted in north london. while today, another knight, sir ed davey, the lib dem leader, voted in south—west london. the snp leader, john swinney, made his way to his polling place, a village hall in perthshire. the co—leader of the greens in england and wales, carla denyer, cast her ballot in the west of england. the plaid cymru leader, rhun ap iorwerth, cast his vote in north wales. but many people have already voted by post, and that includes reform uk's nigel farage. global media has descended on westminster to cover the election result. 650 mps will be elected,

so a party needs 326 of them to form a majority. but whatever the result, there will be lots of new faces in there, because one in five mps in the last parliament chose to step down. votes will be counted overnight, and if you are able to stay up overnight, seat by seat, the bbc election programme will bring you the results. iain watson, bbc news. injust under an hourfrom now, we'll have the first indication of how people have voted by way of an exit poll. you can find all the latest including how the bbc reports polling day on the bbc news website and app. and a reminder, you can watch the general election results programme live on bbc one in the uk and here on bbc news internationally. that's from 9.55pm which is 2055 gmt.

you can also scan the qr code to take you to all the details on the website. a breakthrough has been made in ceasefire talks according to a senior us official, who says hamas has made significant adjustments in its position over a potential hostage release deal. the us is expressing hope this could be a step closer to a permanent ceasefire. meanwhile, president biden has welcomed an announcement by israel's prime minister that he's sending a negotiating team to resume talks aimed at securing the release of hostages held in gaza. the two men talked over the phone earlier. his announcement follows new proposals that were earlier put forward by hamas, but it's not yet known what new ideas the group's offer contains. more details now on this, and the dangers posed by continued action across israel's northern border, by our middle east correspondent yolande knell. as the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu says he is going to be sending a negotiating team to a new round of indirect talks via mediators on this ceasefire and hostage release deal. what i think is important

is that he is saying that he's going to be putting the head of the mossad intelligence service as the head of that team. that shows a sign of seriousness on israel's part. and it comes as we are getting reports of a real kind of shift that shows a sign of seriousness on israel's part. and it comes as we are getting reports of a real kind of shift in the hamas position, that it's showing more flexibility in its approach to this three phase deal that is currently on the table. so, at the same time as things are moving in a more positive direction there, things are going more negatively across the israel—lebanon border. amid more fears that this could lead to a full—scale war there. and we've had more than 200 rockets and attack drones, some 20 attack drones launched by hezbollah at northern israel. most of those intercepted. israel says although one soldier was killed. now, hezbollah�*s action was taken in response to the killing of a senior figure in his brother commander. he was killed in an israeli air strike a day ago. and as much as we've got both sides saying they want to avoid a full scale war, we've got a lot of international diplomacy going on to try to avoid that. but the actions that are taking place are leading us potentially in the other direction.

let's go to washington and we can speak to laura blumenfeld — a middle east analyst and a former senior advisor on the israeli—palestinian negotiating team at the us state department. thank you for being with us, laura. what is your assessment of what we've heard from the top between the us president and the israeli prime minister tonight? us president and the israeli prime ministertonight? i us president and the israeli prime minister tonight?— minister tonight? i think it's fascinating _ minister tonight? i think it's fascinating that _ minister tonight? i think it's fascinating that took - minister tonight? i think it's fascinating that took place | minister tonight? i think it's. fascinating that took place on minister tonight? i think it's - fascinating that took place on the 4th ofjuly. it's our day of independence. it underscores how dependent these two beleaguered head of states are on each other. netanyahu is coming to address congress in three weeks and he wants

a meeting with the president of the united states, and the united states want him to go easy on him. biden told netanyahu from what i understand, close the deal, it's time to clinch the cease—fire. netanyahu, if i had to guess, he said keep the weapons. we netanyahu, ifi had to guess, he said keep the weapons. we now know a us delegation — said keep the weapons. we now know a us delegation will _ said keep the weapons. we now know a us delegation will take _ said keep the weapons. we now know a us delegation will take part _ said keep the weapons. we now know a us delegation will take part in - us delegation will take part in the talks too. there is also the warning that they always get in these things that they always get in these things that this is not an easy deal to do. it will take some time. even though he told there has been a significant concession on the side. buti he told there has been a significant concession on the side.— concession on the side. but i think there is some _ concession on the side. but i think there is some incentives _ concession on the side. but i think there is some incentives here. - concession on the side. but i thinkj there is some incentives here. the israelis have an opportunity not only to free hostages, but resources, which they desperately need militarily. things are really escalated on the nubbin on border.

second of all, i think there is a deliverable, and i can't underscore how important it is netanyahu is coming to washington. he would like to deliver something to the american public. it isn't the three—way peace deal that we were hoping for and expecting between saudi israeli —— israel, saudi arabia and the us, but if it's the truth, that is something. you could end two wars with this, because hezbollah has said they could stop the cross—border attacks what's the war dies down. the cross-border attacks what's the war dies down. , ., ., dies down. the use of the word truth is important- — dies down. the use of the word truth is important. the _ dies down. the use of the word truth is important. the initial— dies down. the use of the word truth is important. the initial demands - is important. the initial demands was there must be a cease—fire. we now understand perhaps there is some movement on that. might get to deal over the line, but how confident are

you? we have been here before where we've seen both sides come a little closer together. we've seen both sides come a little closertogether. how we've seen both sides come a little closer together. how significant does this feel? i closer together. how significant does this feel?— closer together. how significant does this feel? i believe the only way forward _ does this feel? i believe the only way forward is — does this feel? i believe the only way forward is through _ does this feel? i believe the only way forward is through the - does this feel? i believe the only way forward is through the fog. l way forward is through the fog. ambiguity gives you the maneuverability that you need for a cease—fire or a truth or whatever you want to call it. hamas, for the first time, does seem set of eyes. is it because of the resolution, the g7 supporting biden's cease—fire was marked as a sense of the whole world is holding hamas accountable for the next step. we as americans trying to mediate, and ifirmly believe next step. we as americans trying to mediate, and i firmly believe this. you can't wanted more than the parties. it seems like at least for right now, we have a window where they seem to want to. you right now, we have a window where they seem to want to.— they seem to want to. you talked about the two _ they seem to want to. you talked about the two beleaguered - they seem to want to. you talked i about the two beleaguered leaders.

they seem to want to. you talked - about the two beleaguered leaders. i wonder what your assessment is a what happens next. we know forjoe biden, this has not been anything thatis biden, this has not been anything that is going to throw gloria on his operations at the white house. it's been a very challenging time facing rogue nations. —— thorough glory. we have support for this war is waning. give me your assessment about how both men need a resolution quickly. it may not be the win they were hoping for, but at least we're taking away a loss. for biden, it's a bandwidth issue. he's been so distracted by this blow out that he wasn't expected. netanyahu is all about the get out ofjail free card. both of them, again, it's almost

like a lifeguard of double drowning. sometimes when you try to rescue somebody, they are thrashing around somebody, they are thrashing around so much that they can bring the lifeguard down. i think both are in danger of that, so they are going to tread water and get to a better place. tread water and get to a better lace. ., ., ., tread water and get to a better lace. ., . ., ., tread water and get to a better lace. ., ., ., ., ,., place. laura, good to have you with us. thank place. laura, good to have you with us- thank you- _ place. laura, good to have you with us. thank you. great _ place. laura, good to have you with us. thank you. great to _ place. laura, good to have you with us. thank you. great to be - place. laura, good to have you with us. thank you. great to be here. i president biden's discussions with the israeli prime minister come after he insisted that he won't withdraw from the us presidential race — despite appeals from a growing number of fellow democrats. mr biden, who's 81, said he would not be pushed out of november's election. democratic party governors who met mr biden at the white house said they had pledged their support. 0ur north america editor, sarah smith, has more from the white house. president biden, it seems, realises that the next few days are going to be absolutely crucial. i mean, he insists, absolutely he is staying as the candidate, but it seems he accepts he has to get out there and prove that he's up to it. allies have been pretty unimpressed, actually.

by the last few days he's done a few public events. there was a medal ceremony at the white house yesterday. on monday, he gave a brief scripted tv statement. none of these things really go any way to demonstrate that he is fit to be re—elected as president, and senior party figures who are speaking out in supportive terms, like those democratic governors who visited him in the white house last night, they are apparently behind closed doors, not telling him that he has to go, but telling him they are very worried that he could lose the election and that he needs to turn this around. so, mr biden is going to sit down with abc news and record an interview that will be broadcast in primetime tomorrow night. that's going to be his first big test. but even if that goes really well, that's not going to be enough to overcome that disastrous performance in the debate. he's got a couple of campaign stops over the weekend, but supporters are saying he should do much more, maybe some hours long town hall meetings with voters, taking

all of their questions, showing that he can think on his feet and that he's got the stamina and the mental acuity to be re—elected president. and then on monday, all the senators and the representatives who are currently away on a break, they'll be back in washington. and if president biden hasn't impressed them, then that's when the plotting to replace him could start in earnest. sarah smith there. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

hurricane beryl continues to sweep across the caribbean. currently it's the turn of the cayman islands to be lashed with heavy rains and powerful winds, even though it has been downgraded to a category three hurricane. ten people are known to have died across the caribbean so far. beryl has continued on a north—westerly path.

it has already hit the southern coast of jamaica with sustained winds of 220 kilometres an hour, killing at least one person there. this map shows the route of the storm, sweeping upwards through the caribbean passing the cayman islands and on its way to mexico. well, in the past hour, i spoke to the prime minister of jamaica, andrew holness, who told me about the impact the hurricane has has on his nation. we will never be able to avoid damage like what you are witnessing behind me now, a fallen light pole, there is no electricity in this area, and if our cameras could pan a bit, you would probably see a roof that was lifted in a hurricane, but outside of those kinds of damage, our road infrastructure remains largely intact. we should return to normalcy with our airports by early tomorrow and our tourism industry has largely been spared, and indeed, most of our industries, or economic base has been spared except for agriculture, which during a hurricane, would take a hit. so that may have an impact on our economy going forward.

that was the prime minister of jamaica. in the past few hours, hurricane beryl has also made land in the cayman islands with reports of heavy rains and roaring winds. despite being downgraded from a category four hurricane, locals say that some areas have lost power. pictures coming out of the island show extensive flooding and streets strewn with debris. emergency workers evacuated people from flood—prone areas, especially around the coast. you can see form these pictures that the whole island took a huge battering. well, we can speak now to the man who took those pictures you've just seen. kevin watler is a resident who lives

in the cayman islands. kevin, it's good to have you. you were just telling our team thatjust got very dark there and the rains have begun to fall. give us a sense of how you are feeling that storm right now in cayman. to of how you are feeling that storm right now in cayman.— of how you are feeling that storm right now in cayman. to be honest, we are feeling _ right now in cayman. to be honest, we are feeling quite _ right now in cayman. to be honest, we are feeling quite blessed, - we are feeling quite blessed, because it didn't take over our island. we did not get the eye of the storm. most of the very strong winds i have stayed about 50 miles. that gave us some gusty horror gain force when, so overall, the island fared quite well. 0nly force when, so overall, the island fared quite well. only about 10% of the electrical went down. we had power throughout much of the hurricane, so we do feel very fortunate to have been... it could have been a lot worse. we are currently experiencing the hurricane

pushing away from the island. we have the all clear, but we still have the all clear, but we still have to be very careful if we do go out and about. we have a squall coming in. occasionally, the leaves the government and we have torrential rainfall, —— of the leaves pick up. we came out much better than some brothers and sisters in other caribbean islands. what preparations were you able to make knowing the storm was coming? i know many meteorologists were shocked and it tookjust know many meteorologists were shocked and it took just 42 know many meteorologists were shocked and it tookjust 42 hours from being a tropical depression into one of the biggest hurricanes seen this early in hurricane season. how are you able to prepare? {line seen this early in hurricane season. how are you able to prepare? one of the dangers. — how are you able to prepare? one of the dangers, unlike _ how are you able to prepare? one of the dangers, unlike some _ how are you able to prepare? one of the dangers, unlike some other- the dangers, unlike some other paths, we had a lot of time to prepare. pretty much over the weekend, as we saw this developing before it hit the islands, we saw

that thing had a possibility of coming and impacting us in the cayman islands. we start preparation from over a weekend, and the government and did a greatjob at putting out declaration to take this seriously. forthose putting out declaration to take this seriously. for those who are around backin seriously. for those who are around back in 2004 who remembered hurricane ivan, this took a very similar track to it. cayman was told they don't need to have to worry about as much, and then that was devastating, catastrophic hurricane. it was likely going to pass jamaica, they said, and it did pass category four. at the same time, we took every bit of precaution. we wanted

to make sure we were being prepared. prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and we feel we came out of this much better than a lot of the other caribbean islands. we this much better than a lot of the other caribbean islands.- this much better than a lot of the other caribbean islands. we are told it's a other caribbean islands. we are told its a result — other caribbean islands. we are told its a result of _ other caribbean islands. we are told it's a result of warmer _ other caribbean islands. we are told it's a result of warmer sea _ other caribbean islands. we are told it's a result of warmer sea surface . it's a result of warmer sea surface temperatures of the frequencies of the storms, expecting many more than usual. is there a structural change? how are you able to make sure the island remains more resilient, given that we expect there will be more and much stronger storms. ? absolutely. one wonderful thing about our building cold, it's very annoying when you are building your own home, our code is very strict. it's probably stricter than a lot of people related to the miami—dade code. our codes are so strict that

our homes are concrete. so, a lot of times, we get maybe these storms once a decade and the impact... we actually fared quite well. we are more concerned about the storm surge. there's not much more we can do because we can hide from the win, but we cannot out run those cds. it is of concern. we have to make sure we have to stay up to we cannot out run the sea. we have to stay up to we cannot out run the sea-— run the sea. kevin, good to talk to ou and run the sea. kevin, good to talk to you and save _ run the sea. kevin, good to talk to you and save -- — run the sea. kevin, good to talk to you and save -- they _ run the sea. kevin, good to talk to you and save -- they say. -- - run the sea. kevin, good to talk to you and save -- they say. -- stay| you and save —— they say. —— stay safe. the heading of beryl after the cayman islands is likely to be towards mexico, from where our correspondent will grant joins us live. what preparations are they making there? the what preparations are they making there? ., ., , .,

there? the ma'ority of the preparations _ there? the majority of the preparations obviously - there? the majority of the preparations obviously are there? the majority of the i preparations obviously are in there? the majority of the - preparations obviously are in the states that look like they will receive the brunt of this storm, even though it does appear to be downgrading. i think there's no complacency, at least among the communities. they are very aware of the destruction that this has brought across the caribbean. there's efforts to create evacuation shelters and make sure people in places like cancun are safe. things of that nature. pools have been out in three days for a good couple of days. i read that it restrainer operating in the area has been suspended —— a tourist train. nobody is underestimating this storm. yes. is underestimating this storm. yes, liven the is underestimating this storm. yes, given the destruction _ is underestimating this storm. yes, given the destruction that it's because, it's about $4 million worth of aid for this. we have any sense

of aid for this. we have any sense of where that money will be spent? is this just about rebuilding or these islands more resilient? i’ee these islands more resilient? i've been speaking — these islands more resilient? i�*e: been speaking to people particularly in st. vincent and the grenadine say the needs are so urgent that that kind of money is needed for blankets, for tents, for generators, for ten food and bottled water. —— later on, some of that money might stretch to reconstruction, but $4 million isn't a huge amount of money considering the size of this —— tinned food. grenada, st. vincent, the grenadines and other smaller islands really aren't wealthy places. more funds will be needed.

whether or not they can make domestic funds available is another question. a lot of residents of those affected parts, as always, feel like the task will fall to them to pick themselves up, dust themselves off as a community and rebuild. , ., ., ., ., rebuild. yes, and i wonder what aid, health and heavy _ rebuild. yes, and i wonder what aid, health and heavy machinery - rebuild. yes, and i wonder what aid, health and heavy machinery is - rebuild. yes, and i wonder what aid, health and heavy machinery is able i health and heavy machinery is able to get to the people who need it. money is one thing, but getting actual manpower there to fix this is quite another. i read getting a sense that the islands are self—sufficient given their experience? self-sufficient given their experience?— self-sufficient given their experience? self-sufficient given their exerience? ., ., ., experience? yeah, some of them are. i think experience? yeah, some of them are. i think there — experience? yeah, some of them are. i think there is — experience? yeah, some of them are. i think there is a _ experience? yeah, some of them are. i think there is a sense _ i think there is a sense particularly in the communities that they must look themselves because there will be no great amount of money moving in unless the hurricane in question is considered devastating beyond the level of their own community. i:e., national devastation, the like of which was

the in 2017 in the caribbean and hurricane maria. i think when it comes to individual communities and nations that have been affected, it often comes down to that. i think we're seeing getting the power back to some of these parts of the caribbean, so those are the pressing efforts being made by the government in question right now. will. efforts being made by the government in question right now.— in question right now. will, for now, in question right now. will, for now. thank _ in question right now. will, for now, thank you. _ in question right now. will, for now, thank you. will _ in question right now. will, for now, thank you. will grant. i of course we're keeping across all things election tonight. in about half an hour, we're expecting that first exit poll to be released. you can find all the latest including on the bbc news website and app. and a reminder — you can watch the general election results programme live on bbc one in the uk and here on bbc news internationally. see you very soon for the headlines. hello there. many of us have seen some decent spells ofjuly sunshine today. however, there have been

lots of showers, particularly across the northern half of the uk and especially in western scotland, where some of those downpours really quite heavy. gusty winds gusting into the 40s of miles an hour, and those temperatures rubbish forjuly. glasgow saw temperatures around 14 degrees through the afternoon. the average of this time of the year is 19 degrees. and this coolish run of weather is going to continue through friday and into the weekend beyond as well. suppose where thejuly sunshine comes out, it is still going to feel ok. it's just temperatures be a little bit lower than normal. now, looking at the weather picture overnight tonight, the rain continues for western scotland, driven in by those blustery winds. further southwards, we've got a new band of rain that starts to push into southern england, perhaps affecting parts of southern wales, and temperatures broadly similar to those of last night. now, this area of rain that we have across the south of england friday will actually develop into a new area of low pressure by the time we get to saturday. what all this means is we do have more rain on the way. the rain initially across southern parts of england, maybe the south wales area, and perhaps wriggling into east anglia through the day. further north, it's a much brighter day for scotland, northern ireland, northern england. the winds a good deal lighter, there'll be much more in the way of sunshine,

and temperatures a couple of degrees higher. so we are ticking lots of boxes here. however, there is still a risk of a few passing showers affecting northern areas. not as many, though, as we've seen today. on into saturday, that low pressure really winds up, and so we've got more general outbreaks of rain across parts of scotland, central and eastern england, cold winds coming down the north sea. probably the best of the driest and sunniest weather, will be across wales and south west england — a few showers this time affecting northern ireland. and our temperatures 18 in london, average forjuly is 24. so again we are getting short changed. probably starting off the day on sunday dry with some sunshine, but sunday is a showery day. the showers become quite widespread, some of them turning heavy and thundery come the afternoon, and little change

with the temperatures. i'm afraid once again it will be relatively cool forjuly, and that kind of pattern of cool and settled weather is set to continue through much of next week as well. that's the latest. bye—bye.

hello, i'm ben thompson. you're watching the context on bbc news.

the european union hits chinese electric cars with new tariffs,