hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. the us vice—president kamala harris says she will not be silent on the suffering of palestinian civilians and says she conveyed that message to israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, in a white house meeting thursday. in a signal of the change of tone that might come if she's elected in november, the vice—president told reporters that, while she continues to affirm israel's right to defend itself, was time to end the "devastating" war and get a hostage deal done. it is time for this war to end, and end in a way where israel is secure, all the hostages are released, the suffering of palestinians in gaza ends, and the palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity, and

self—determination. there has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal. and as ijust told prime minister netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done. anti—war protesters were gathered outside the white house for the meeting. tom bateman was there. well, it was another day of protest that has followed benjamin netanyahu around washington — not least here at the gates of the white house over many hours, during which mr netanyahu was meeting president biden and kamala harris later after that meeting. that meeting, of course, taking on increased importance because of her run for the democratic nomination and the presidency itself. what the us administration is trying to do here is pressure mr netanyahu to accept a ceasefire and hostage release deal. they believe that he is now becoming the biggest block

to this thing moving forward and they're desperately trying now to get it over the line — that's the key focus of these discussions between mr biden and mr netanyahu. the problem for the american president is he doesn't have a strong track record in persuading mr netanyahu, in cajoling him, to get him to do what he wants. it's been a very fraught and fractious relationship, particularly over the issue of the desperate situation in gaza, with the very large number of palestinian civilians killed by the israeli offensive, the lack of humanitarian aid in gaza. every time mr biden has tried to get mr netanyahu to change tack, he's really struggled. will he have been any more successful today? we'll have to wait and see. but certainly, this has always been a very fraught relationship. but one that — it continues to be underpinned by that bedrock of the tie between these two countries — that is, us military assistance to the israelis — and that has continued virtually untouched.

let's get more from david makovsky, ziegler distinguished fellow at the washington institute and director of the koret project on arab—israel relations. good to see you. let's start with the vice—president, kamala harris. she signalled a different tone in her remarks today. how much daylight do you see between her and president biden in their messaging to the israeli prime minister?- israeli prime minister? look, i think, you _ israeli prime minister? look, i think, you know, _ israeli prime minister? look, i think, you know, it's _ think, you know, it's interesting to pick up on the tone. the truth is that both biden and her have been consistent on two big ideas, one is identifying this is a war of israeli self—defence against hamas, that both call a terrorist organisation, and the vice—president said that again today. so, identifying with israel on the objective of the war but questioning the conduct of the war at the same time. and i think, she may be says, you know, both a little more starkly, but i think there's substantively, they're both substantively, they�* re both very substantively, they're both very much in the same place,

but i think it was very important for both the vice—president and the prime minister to meet. and we'll see if, you know, there was that joint meeting with the prime minister, the president, and the hostage families of americans. and we'll, you know, the hostage families emerged more hopeful that israel is sending a new offer to hamas and we'll see in the coming hours if israel is adjust be the offer as the media reports claim, that would take down two of their key questions that stood between israel and hamas. david, do we have a sense right now of how close those negotiations are to an agreement?— negotiations are to an agreement? negotiations are to an aureement? , , agreement? look, we basically know the main _ agreement? look, we basically know the main points. - agreement? look, we basically know the main points. i- agreement? look, we basically know the main points. i mean, | know the main points. i mean, the prime minister's basically saying, you know, hamas is on the ropes, and therefore the hamas position is going to keep getting weaker, and israel can insist on two points it has insisted upon earlier, but drop

them when it looks like they were at a deadlock. what the white house is trying to say, i speak to people at the white house — what they're trying to say is we need do get this deal done, we don't know if netanyahu is right, that hamas is weakening. they're counting on the fact that the knesset, the israeli parliament, is going into a three—month recess, and that would disarm the two hard right critics of the two hard right critics of the prime minister, that say if you bring this deal down, we'll bring you down. there's no mechanism once there's a recession. they're counting on the fact he could compromise more starting next week. we'll see if that kind of assessment proves to be true. i do see quotes from the hostage families coming out of the meeting, they were much more up—beat than in months. we'll see if that's warranted and

maybe the fact that the clock is changing in israel with the knesset going on recess will give more flexibility to the prime minister to get this deal done. at least phase one, where most — many of the hostages are supposed to be out. six weeks of pause, so we can see a surge in humanitarian aid into gaza as well. �* ~ , as well. and the prime minister is auoin as well. and the prime minister is going to _ as well. and the prime minister is going to visit _ as well. and the prime minister is going to visit with _ as well. and the prime minister is going to visit with donald - is going to visit with donald trump, the former president, before he ends his visit to the us. can you tell us a bit about the political calculus of what binyamin netanyahu is looking to achieve on this trip. and if he did so. to achieve on this trip. and if he did 50-— he did so. it's important, understand _ he did so. it's important, understand this - - he did so. it's important, understand this - i - he did so. it's important, understand this - i know| he did so. it's important, l understand this - i know a he did so. it's important, - understand this - i know a lot understand this — i know a lot of people on the outside, they think, well, they must buddies. they're not buddies at all. trump has not spoken to netanyahu in four years, because netanyahu had the temerity a week after the election results to congratulate biden. he saw this as an act of betrayal, given all the things he did for

israel during his term in office. netanyahu is going to mar—a—lago to try to rehabilitate his relationship with the former president. but i think it's very important for your viewers to realise that it's that trump also is calling to get this deal done, and let's end this war. it's fascinating here, you've got three people, whether it's biden, harris or trump, three people, whether it's biden, harris ortrump, saying very much the same thing, and would like to see this fighting come to an end. israel has basically ended its major operations in rafah. it doesn't announce it. but it's more into kind of lower intensity raids, and we'll see if indeed, you know, this is a new phase. but i would say from the prime minister, what did he want to achieve, he wanted to reassert the israel narrative in the court of public opinion with his congress speech. he wanted

to rehabilitate ties with trump and create ties with harris, and create ties with harris, and reaffirm ties with biden. but third, the main thing is the hostages. and that's the substance here. and that we still are not 100% sure of. and hopefully we'll know in the coming days. hopefully we'll know in the coming dim-— hopefully we'll know in the coming days. we'll have to leave it there. _ coming days. we'll have to leave it there. david, - coming days. we'll have to| leave it there. david, thank you so much for your analysis tonight. delighted to be with you. vice—president kamala harris told reporters thursday that she's ready to debate donald trump. it comes as polls begin to show ms harris and mr trump in a tight race. a new york times siena college poll shows donald trump leads with the support of 48% of likely voters. while 47% said they'd vote for kamala harris. earlier i hosted a politics panel with republican strategist matt terrill, who served as chief of staff to marco rubio's 2016 campaign, and ameshia cross, a democratic strategist and former campaign advisor for barack obama. these poll numbers obviously still everything very early. what do you think they tell us?

this is early yet. this race has been reset with respect to presidentjoe biden stepping aside and kamala harris now the presumptive democratic nominee. i think there's a honeymoon period with vice—president harris. there's no question she's a stronger candidate. but i think this race will come down to a handful of voters in places like wisconsin, mitch and —— michigan and pennsylvania. those independent undecided voters will decide this. vice—president harris has united her base, a big step for her, but both cases are going to turn out for their respective nominees, it comes down to independent unsided voters. inflation, immigration, the economy and crime. president trump is doing quite well on these issues. this will be a referendum on the incumbents in office, that's still biden and harris, we'll see how this takes shape. i5

see how this takes shape. is this part of a honeymoon phase for kamala harris?— for kamala harris? absolutely not. for kamala harris? absolutely not- these — for kamala harris? absolutely not. these poll— for kamala harris? absolutely not. these poll numbers - for kamala harris? absolutely not. these poll numbers and l not. these poll numbers and poll numbers in general especially this far out don't really equate to much when the election�*s earliest votes start at the end of october. but i do think even though poll numbers are not predictive, they can show a window into the work that needs to be done. at this point, and throughout this race, we always knew it was going to be really tight. i agree with the other guest there's going to be a very small number of voters across this country in battle ground states who decide who the next president will be. most will be moderate and undecided. we're seeing sizeable fundraising in record time. she beat some fundraising goals within two days of any presidential candidate in history. there's over 165,000 white women on a zoom call fundraising for her, and organising and strategising in the same way there were latino voters just yesterday and the day before, black male

voters, and black female voters. zoom has broken down twice tonight while this is going on, because there's so many people trying to get into that call. the organising is happening. i don't think this is a honeymoon process. i think what we're seeing is a very seismic shift in the way the excitement is happening for the democratic party, as well as individuals who may have counted out this election as not mattering, who are now coming back and very interested in the process and will show up in the process and will show up in november.— in november. coming back to ou, in november. coming back to you. what— in november. coming back to you. what do _ in november. coming back to you, what do you _ in november. coming back to you, what do you make - in november. coming back to you, what do you make of. in november. coming back to| you, what do you make of the messaging we're seeing from the trump team and the harris team? saying she's further left than even bernie sanders. and from the harris team saying, look, he's a convicted felon, i'm a prosecutor. he's a convicted felon, i'm a prosecutor-— prosecutor. some of it will -la prosecutor. some of it will ila to prosecutor. some of it will play to their _ prosecutor. some of it will play to their political - prosecutor. some of it will| play to their political base, some will be tailored to independent undecided voters. what you're seeing from trump is authentic trump. like him or not, this is who he is. this

isn't going to change. with vice—president harris, both vice—president harris, both vice—president harris, both vice—president harris and former president trump are going to try to define vice—president harris on the trail. she's got a moment to do that, but she's also got a record. that's a record that many americans probably disagree with, in terms of key policies. and also a record as a vice—president. again, this will be a referendum on what elections are always a referendum on, that's the incumbents in office. she's been number 2 incumbents in office. she's been number2 in incumbents in office. she's been number 2 in this administration. you've seen this administration skyrocketing inflation, skyrocketing inflation, skyrocketing border crossings, in terms of immigration. those are the two key issues the independent undecided voters care about. i think it's a real achilles heel for the current administration.— administration. how do you think vice-president - administration. how do you think vice-president harris | administration. how do you l think vice-president harris in think vice—president harris in particular is going to take this on? because immigration will be one of the more difficult issues for her to message on. i difficult issues for her to message on.— difficult issues for her to message on. difficult issues for her to messae on. ~ , �*, ., message on. i think she's going to talk about _ message on. i think she's going to talk about the _ message on. i think she's going to talk about the policies - message on. i think she's going to talk about the policies that l to talk about the policies that biden harris put forth, many of which in tandem with republicans in the senate, that the house republicans decided

they were going to rip to shreds when they got a phone call from donald trump, who told them not to support it. i think she's also going to speak to that not only the border issues that exist, but what needs to be done in the cities to support the cities that republican governors sent migrants too. we're talking about cities like chicago, new york and others. she has a very interesting position because she does sit at the right hand of power right now, but she also has the unique advantage of being able to shape policy of being able to shape policy of what a future administration can look like. it is very important that people understand that the vice—president does not set policy. that's set by the president of the united states. and the vice—president is a right hand in leadership, in carrying out those policies. but is not the person who makes those decisions. and i think being — having that person herself is going to be very different. we've seen her lean in on some of the conversations we've heard from the protests across the country, as it

relates to the people speaking out about gaza. she says, "i hear you." she accepted their calls for a ceasefire. i hear you." she accepted their calls for a ceasefire.— calls for a ceasefire. i will ask you — calls for a ceasefire. i will ask you both _ calls for a ceasefire. i will ask you both - _ calls for a ceasefire. i will ask you both - do - calls for a ceasefire. i will ask you both - do you - calls for a ceasefire. i will i ask you both - do you think ask you both — do you think we'll see a debate between kamala harris and donald trump? absolutely not. right before i came onto this show, a tweet was released with a letter from donald trump. he says he's not going to debate anyone who has not been named the official democratic nominee. that's ironic because he debated joe biden and he was not nominated yet. i biden and he was not nominated et. , , , . , yet. i suspect they will. that's uo _ yet. i suspect they will. that's up to _ yet. i suspect they will. that's up to the - yet. i suspect they will. - that's up to the candidates. i suspect there's negotiations here. in that first debate, former president donald trump agreed to pretty much everything in terms of the negotiations. i think we'll see what happens here. former president trump has done well on the debate stage far. i think it will likely be in september and then we're off in the races. there's early voting

coming up. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news in the uk. 24—year—old anthony esan has been arrested and charged with the attempted murder of uniformed army officer lt col mark teeton. mr esan is due to appear at maidstone crown court on august 22nd. lt col teeton was stabbed on tuesday in sally port gardens, near brompton barracks. he remains in serious but stable condition in hostpital. former immigration minister robertjenrickjoined the race for the conservative party leadership. mrjenrick was an ally of former prime minister rishi sunak, but resigned from his cabinet over concerns that the government's rwanda legislation did not go far enough. he is now the third contender to announce his candidacy, joining ex—home secretaryjames cleverly and former security minister tom tugendhat. the number of deaths in drink—driving collisions has reached its highest level in a decade, according department for transport figures. in 2022 there were 300 deaths

in great britain where at least one driver was over the limit. that is the highest since 2009 when there were 380 deaths.drink—driving deaths accounted for about 18% of all road fatalities. you're live with bbc news. us attorney—general merrick garland says two of the world's biggest drug traffickers have been arrested by us drug enforcement agents in el paso, texas. ismael zambada garcia, also known as el mayo, is considered one of the most powerful drug lords in the world. and joaquin guzman lopez, the son of his former partner el chapo, was also arrested. they are alleged leaders of the sinaloa cartel. i discussed their arrests with the bbc�*s will grant. what do we know about what happened? hugely significant. i mean, as you mentioned in the introduction, el mayo probably, arguably, the most important drug trafficker in the world. so the very fact that he has evaded arrest for this length of time, to have him now

detained in el paso, it's a massive step for us law enforcement. we don't know all of the details of the arrest yet but it does look that he was arrested and they came in on a flight from mexico, we believe, into el paso and was arrested alongside el chapo's son and we are beginning to hear it looks like it may have involved some kind of deal, that this was a sting operation and they may have been some kind of deal between us law enforcement and one of those two men giving up the other and we have to hold off from speculation a little bit at this stage but certainly, i mean, these things always found credibly dramatic and i think in this case, the drama is necessary. it was el chapo who was the public face of the sinaloa cartel but in many ways it was el mayo who was the real power behind it. tell us more about why it was so significant and what the cartel means. how significant and powerful it is as well? if you think about drug trafficking as an enterprise, in a way, what the sinaloa cartel has done so well is be

able to adapt and grow and become so powerful and part of that is el mayo zambada and his leadership of it so it has been cocaine at other times on heroin and more recently fentanyl and i think these will be the charges that are brought against him and el chapo's son. specifically to do with money laundering, of course drug—related violence, and, of course, drug trafficking itself. but, yeah, i think it really lies and underpins why this has been such a significant scalp why the organisation has been so powerful, so resilient for so long, and a lot of it comes down to, frankly, the innovation of a cartel like the sinaloa cartel and his leadership of it. ukraine's air force says it shot down dozens of russian drones during a second wave of attacks as many days, targetting ports in the southern region of odessa. now, the bbc�*s quentin

sommerville and camera journalist darren conway examine how drones have changed the way that war is fought. russia's invasion has cast ukraine into darkness. a new deadly threat from above has thrown its people deep into war�*s bleak future. thrown its people deep into war�*s bleakfuture. hidden in underground command centres in kharkiv, the national guard's drone teams battle day and night to keep the danger at bay. a drone can take one or two killo grams bomb that go directly to enemy shelter, infantry, and vehicle. and they're cheap and devastatingly precise. here, his team hunts a russian soldier. there's no way to be alive after the drone hitting. to be alive after the drone hittini. �*

to be alive after the drone hittini. ~ ., ., ., hitting. and another threat, . lide hitting. and another threat, glide bombs, _ hitting. and another threat, glide bombs, fitted - hitting. and another threat, glide bombs, fitted with - glide bombs, fitted with guidance systems allow russian aircraft to attack from beyond the battlefield. literally gliding onto their target. they're turning things to dust. with drone jamming equipment on their vehicle, with drone jamming equipment on theirvehicle, he with drone jamming equipment on their vehicle, he takes us for a closer look. we're going very fast. why is that? is it because... fast. why is that? is it because. . ._ fast. why is that? is it because... , ., ., , because... because of drones. ..of because... because of drones. --of yes- _ because... because of drones. ..of yes. it's _ because... because of drones. ..of yes. it's dangerous - because... because of drones. ..of yes. it's dangerous here. | ..of yes. it's dangerous here. there's a _ ..of yes. it's dangerous here. there's a lot _ ..of yes. it's dangerous here. there's a lot of _ ..of yes. it's dangerous here. there's a lot of russian - there's a lot of russian drones. b, there's a lot of russian drones-_ there's a lot of russian drones. �* ., ., ,, ., �* drones. a lot of russian fpb drones. a lot of russian fpb drones- a — drones. a lot of russian fpb drones. a lot _ drones. a lot of russian fpb drones. a lot of _ drones. a lot of russian fpb drones. a lot of them. - drones. a lot of russian fpb| drones. a lot of them. that's why we're — drones. a lot of them. that's why we're using _ drones. a lot of them. that's why we're using now- drones. a lot of them. that's why we're using now our - drones. a lot of them. that's - why we're using now ourjamming system. why we're using now our “amming s stem. �* ., , �* why we're using now our “amming sstem. system. but it doesn't stop all drones. and _ system. but it doesn't stop all drones. and once _ system. but it doesn't stop all drones. and once out - system. but it doesn't stop all drones. and once out in - system. but it doesn't stop all drones. and once out in the i drones. and once out in the open, they're exposed. so we have to move fast. this is what drones and glide bombs have done to him. crossing open

ground can be deadly. ga. done to him. crossing open ground can be deadly. go, go. gettin: ground can be deadly. go, go. getting to _ ground can be deadly. go, go. getting to shelter, _ ground can be deadly. go, go. getting to shelter, moving - ground can be deadly. go, go. i getting to shelter, moving deep under ground, is the only protection against these weapons. what kind of mission is this today? is it surveillance, is it attack? it's an attack. a probable position of russian army in the forest. command centre. yes. drone after drone is sent forward to attack. we drone after drone is sent forward to attack. we should go to the safe _ forward to attack. we should go to the safe place. _ forward to attack. we should go to the safe place. go, _ forward to attack. we should go to the safe place. go, go, - forward to attack. we should go to the safe place. go, go, go. l to the safe place. go, go, go. go, go, go! to the safe place. go, go, go. go. go. go!— go, go, go! we watch in real-time, _ go, go, go! we watch in real-time, they - go, go, go! we watch in real-time, they have . go, go, go! we watch in - real-time, they have russian real—time, they have russian vehicle in their sights. real-time, they have russian vehicle in their sights.- vehicle in their sights. every da , vehicle in their sights. every day. about _ vehicle in their sights. every day, about 100 _ vehicle in their sights. every day, about 100 enemy - vehicle in their sights. every day, about 100 enemy died | day, about 100 enemy died because of these drones. only in our front—line. because of these drones. only in our front-line.— in our front-line. this is a battlefield, _ in our front-line. this is a battlefield, a _ in our front-line. this is a battlefield, a war - in our front-line. this is a battlefield, a war being . battlefield, a war being transformed by technology. detection, one drone. multiple pilots. high signal strength.

unseen, but identified above, a russian drone. it's time to head for cover. it's outgoing fire. along these front lines, ukrainians have gained about 500m of territory from the russians. it's not a lot. it's been hard fought over. the commander here says when it comes to drone warfare, the ukrainians have the advantage. but as far as glide bombs are concerned, well, russia has the serious upper hand. but now we can hear the drone directly above us. everyone freezes. it's looking for any kind of movement before it strikes. eventually, we get the all—clear.

so that drone we heard has passed over head. so we need to get out of here fast. drones were barely a factor in this war a year ago. now they're everywhere, always. detection, multiple drones, multiple pilots. high signal strength. multiple pilots. high signal strenith. �* , ., , ., strength. any “ourney over . round strength. any “ourney over ground is _ strength. any journey over ground is nerve _ strength. any journey over ground is nerve wracking. | strength. any journey over i ground is nerve wracking. it's a game of chance. but here, even closer to the front, russian glide bombs are a greater threat. , ten kilograms bomb. russian calls it boogie man drone. the boogie man is big enough to take out an armoured vehicle or a command post. it has to be launched fast before the russians find their position. they fly manually while keeping

watch for russian glide bombardments and soon they come. , , ., , come. this is a glided bomb. it's on the — come. this is a glided bomb. it's on the battlefield - come. this is a glided bomb. it's on the battlefield now. . it's on the battlefield now. they're hitting the trenches with symbols. now we can hear the sounds. the window shook. ~ ., ., , , , the window shook. what happens if russian glide _ the window shook. what happens if russian glide bombs _ the window shook. what happens if russian glide bombs strike - if russian glide bombs strike this area? i if russian glide bombs strike this area?— if russian glide bombs strike this area? i think we will die. ok. this area? i think we will die. 0k- let's _ this area? i think we will die. 0k- let's go- _ ok. let's go. and now russia responds with drones too. and now russia responds with drones too-— drones too. fast, fast, drone is coming _ drones too. fast, fast, drone is coming back. _ drones too. fast, fast, drone is coming back. on _ drones too. fast, fast, drone is coming back. on ukraine's| is coming back. on ukraine's battlefield, _ is coming back. on ukraine's battlefield, the _ is coming back. on ukraine's battlefield, the rules - is coming back. on ukraine's battlefield, the rules of - is coming back. on ukraine's battlefield, the rules of war l battlefield, the rules of war are being rewritten. here they say all wars will soon be fought this way. let's turn to some other important news around the world. dozens of people have been detained in the capital of uganda, kampala, afterjoining anti—corruption protests in defiance of an official ban. lawyers say around 60 people including three young protesters and a tv presenter remain in custody

following the march on the country's parliament on tuesday. the protest was organized amid anger over long—running allegations of corruption involving high—profile public officials. infant mortality rates in the us increased by 3% in 2022, new data shows. a report released by public health agency centers for disease control and prevention shows that more than 20,000 babies died before the age of one. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. thursday brought with it quite a humid feel and a lot of cloud across the country. at times, it was thick enough for some heavy rain, some poor visibility across the channel isles and some choppy seas, so not a day for being by the seaside. but as we move into next week, high pressure is going to build. that will quieten things down considerably with some sunny spells around and certainly

warming up, particularly down to the south. but for friday, we're still under this influence of low pressure. still the wind direction coming from the west, so not the warmest of sources. and that is going to drive in a few scattered showers, chiefly to the far northwest to begin with. but as we go through the day, anywhere along the west we'll see those showers drifting further inland, perhaps across east anglia and south east england staying fine and dry, but still those temperatures disappointing for this stage injuly. a scattering of showers into wales, 20 degrees the high here. more frequent showers into northern ireland and southern scotland and some of these possibly heavy. so, temperatures again a little bit more subdued — we're looking at highs of 15—19 degrees. so, that is how we close out friday afternoon. friday evening into the early hours of saturday sees the isobars open up, the winds fall light. clear skies for a time. but we have got this little weak weather front starting to develop, enhancing more showers out to the west but it means low single figures to greet us first thing for the start of our weekend.

a quiet start for many, particularly in sheltered eastern areas but, once again, we'll continue to see a few showers breaking out from the west and these will move through the irish sea into wales, across north west england and into scotland by the afternoon. again, to the east of the pennines, we are likely to see the best of the drier, sunnier weather but those temperatures still not particularly exciting for this time of year — once again ranging from 15—23 celsius the high. but after saturday, an area of high pressure will start to build in from the west. as we go into next week, that's going to quieten things down considerably. weather fronts will try to topple in across the high but all in all, it looks quite decent with that southwesterly flow allowing those temperatures to climb potentially into the high 20s. and for many of us, there's going to be a good deal of dry, settled, sunny weather to look

forward to for at least a few days.

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

welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. not so long ago, the rest of the world regarded japan as an inspiration, a powerhouse economy based on cutting—edge technology. well, how times change. today, japan is struggling to adapt to the demands of the 21st century. innovation too often stifled by bureaucracy and political paralysis. an ageing, declining population slow to embrace change. my guest is taro kono, japan's minister for digital transformation. is japan ready for a national reboot? taro kono in tokyo, welcome to hardtalk.