live from washington. this is bbc news. an israeli team says it is cautiously optimistic about gaza ceasefire talks while hamas describes suggestions of progress as an illusion. opposition supporters rally across venezuela and the world against the president's claim he won last month's election. and two cases of mpox are found outside of africa, in pakistan and sweden, as fears grow of a wider outbreak. hello. israel says it has killed two senior hamas militants in an airstrike in the occupied west bank on saturday. israeli officials claim the militants were involved in the recent killing of an israeli man in thejordan valley. meanwhile tensions continue to rise

between hezbollah and israel. hezbollah fired more than 50 rockets into northern israel on saturday, after an israeli airstrike on a residential building in southern lebanon killed ten people. israel said it was targeting a hezbollah weapons depot. the lebanese health ministry said those killed were syrian refugees. israeli forces also struck central gaza on saturday. officials say an airstrike killed at least 18 people, including women and children, in buildings where displaced people were sheltering. the israeli military said it hit targets where militants had fired rockets and that its reviewing the incident. meanwhile israeli officials say its negotiators are cautiously optimistic about a possible ceasefire and hostage deal. but a senior hamas official told the bbc there had been no progress in the indirect talks. our middle east correspondent wrye davies sent this report from jerusalem. munitions explode images and reports from across the region

show there are still huge obstacles to peace, despite the positive messages coming from talks in qatar. in gaza, an overnight israeli air strike reportedly killed 15 people in the central area of the palestinian territory. although israel said it had eliminated a number of armed fighters, several women and children were also reportedly killed. translation: what happened is that around 1am in the morning, three rockets hit directly the house of this man and his family. there were many children and women inside, mainly women — around 20 in total. to the north, deep inside lebanon, the israeli air force said it had also struck hezbollah targets including a weapons storage facility. but reports from the scene said that at least ten people were killed, many of them syrian refugees, including a woman and her two children. translation: this is an industrial area, a brick factory, slaughterhouse, metalfactory, aluminium factory and cow farm.

it is an industrial and civilian area. there is an urgency for the next round of talks to succeed amid fears that the conflicts in gaza and either side of israel's northern border could escalate into a much wider regional war. but hamas officials have already dismissed american optimism as an illusion. president biden has welcomed the reported progress in the qatar talks. i'm optimistic — farfrom over, just a couple more issues, i think we've got a shot. are you more optimistic now than you have been in months passed 7 yes. why? if i told you that, i'd give away what was going on. his secretary of state, antony blinken, is heading to the region to promote what is being called a final bridging proposal, hopefully leading to a ceasefire in gaza and the release of hostages in exchange for palestinian prisoners being held in israeli jails. wyre davies, bbc news, jerusalem. i've been speaking with

david hale, former ambassador to pakistan, lebanon, and jordan. i started by asking him about the recent israeli air strike in lebanon. every loss of life and every escalation is serious. and tragic. but we've seen this before. i don't believe that we have reached a new threshold of the tit—for—tat exchanges between hezbollah and israel. i also know, we all know, hezbollah often uses civilians as shields for their own fighters and for their weaponry. so, the court is still out on what really provoked this attack. what do ou think provoked this attack. what do you think these _ provoked this attack. what do you think these strikes - provoked this attack. what do you think these strikes will. you think these strikes will mean for the ceasefire talks that are due to restart next week in cairo? i that are due to restart next week in cairo?— that are due to restart next week in cairo? i don't see a direct connection _ week in cairo? i don't see a direct connection between i week in cairo? i don't see a - direct connection between them. the us administration and our arab friends have been very persistent as they should be, to explore every opportunity to

bring this to an in. what i'm struck by, our european and arab friends seem more motivated to do this than the actual parties of the conflict. while i take the united states seriously, they have information to suggest the talks have some progress, we've been hearing that for a while. i'm sceptical. but this war really come to —— will come to an end. it really come to -- will come to an end. ., , �* ~ an end. it doesn't sound like ou an end. it doesn't sound like you share — an end. it doesn't sound like you share the _ an end. it doesn't sound like you share the optimism - an end. it doesn't sound like i you share the optimism they're close. we have heard this before, as you mentioned. but they do sound optimistic this time. , ., �* ., , time. they do. i'm not trying to be discouraging. - time. they do. i'm not trying to be discouraging. but- time. they do. i'm not trying to be discouraging. but we . to be discouraging. but we heard this so many times. and i don't really see what has changed the calculation on the part of hamas and the israelis that they're actually going to do this. but, you know, we'll see. hopefully that will

happen. but, the next question thenis happen. but, the next question then is what — there will be a ceasefire at some stage — what happens then? and what happens in lebanon after that is a critical uncertainty. secretary of state antony _ critical uncertainty. secretary of state antony blinken, - critical uncertainty. secretary| of state antony blinken, he'll be there, he'll be meeting, we believe on monday with the prime minister of israel, binyamin netanyahu. do you think it may come up with these discussions? what do you think the two will be discussing? this is not the first time blinken has visited the region either. ., �* , , blinken has visited the region either. ., �*, , ,, either. no, he's been tireless, as have bill— either. no, he's been tireless, as have bill byrnes, _ either. no, he's been tireless, as have bill byrnes, the - as have bill byrnes, the director of the cia and other officials. as they should be. they should be applauded for their instincting efforts. the question is whether it will produce. if they're as close as they said, they'll be trying to hammer out the last details. my own experience with negotiating

with binyamin netanyahu and other israelis is probably a lot will come up that will require answers. then the question will be what happens on the northern front of israel after this. that was a key question. it after this. that was a key question-— after this. that was a key cuestion. , ., , question. it should be said as well the humanitarian - question. it should be said as i well the humanitarian situation in gaza continues to worsen. we heard more people killed over the past 2a hours by israeli strikes. there's also now a threat of a polio outbreak. what more can be done, rather than wait for a ceasefire, is too much emphasis do you think being placed on that? can more being placed on that? can more be done to limit civilian harm and potentially get some vaccinations to the children of gaza, where they believe they're on the verge of a polio outbreak now?— outbreak now? that's a very important — outbreak now? that's a very important point. _ outbreak now? that's a very important point. i— outbreak now? that's a very important point. i don't - outbreak now? that's a very important point. i don't see | important point. i don't see any reason why there should be hesitation to do the maximum on the humanitarian front. it raises a broader question, while the day after a ceasefire is of critical importance,

there's also the question, what do you do in the days in between? between now and a ceasefire. what are the security arrangements you're beginning to discuss with critical partners like egypt? what are the political arrangements going to look like after a ceasefire is implemented? and what are the humanitarian and economic reconstruction measures that will be taken after that? we don't have insight into this. but i don't hear a lot in the media about a discussion of that, which does cause some concern. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky says his troops are strengthening positions and expanding further into captured russian territory. he also thanked his soldiers two weeks in to their incursion in russia's kursk region. kyiv claims to have taken control of more than 80 settlements in the last two weeks. the kremlin has vowed a worthy response. russia's foreign ministry claims ukraine used us—made himars rockets to destroy a strategically important bridge in kursk which has been partly taken over by ukrainian forces. russian authorities say more than 3,000 people have been moved away from the fighting to safer areas in the past day alone.

our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse has more. well, it seems that what ukraine is looking to do, alongside drawing in russian troops, is also control its logistics or frustrate supply lines. so we saw, as you saw there, in quite spectacular fashion, a major bridge crossing in the north of the kursk region. it goes over a river that flows into belarus, and that had been used by russia's military to previously feed its invasion of ukraine. but ukrainian forces also control a number of major highways from north to south, connecting to the belgorod region of russia further south, which had been used by russian forces as well. and notjust that — the town of sudzha, which ukraine has captured, is on a hill, so it is allowing ukrainian forces to control the battlefield in that respect

and force russian forces to react, and that is costing them men and machinery. ukraine will be suffering losses as well, but at the moment it's ukraine doing the dictating. and while its advances are slowing, what kyiv will point out is, look, we might be making a kilometre a day, that is still more than what the russian forces are making in a day in eastern ukraine. but crucially, those russian forces are still moving forward. the un's nuclear watchdog says the safety situation at zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in russian—occupied ukraine is deteriorating, following a drone strike near its perimeter last saturday. it said the impact was close to essential cooling water sprinkler ponds and about 100m from the only remaining high—voltage line supplying the plant with power. the international atomic energy agency did not say who carried out the strike, but its mission to zaporizhzhia said the damage seemed to have been caused by a drone with an explosive payload. it reported that military activity in the area — which is close to the front

line — had been intense for the last week. russian forces took control of the nuclear plant shortly after it launched its invasion of ukraine in february 2022. venezuela's opposition leader, maria corina machado, is leading both national and international protests against president nicolas maduro's disputed election victory last month. addressing supporters from the back of a truck in caracas — ms machado promised not to abandon the effort against mr maduro. she has spent most of the time since the election in hiding. the opposition candidate edmundo gonzalez called for an orderly transition and condemned the lack of transparency around the election results. the country's national electoral council is under scrutiny after it declared mr maduro the winner of the election held on 28 july. the organisation of american states is urging the electoral council to publish detailed voting results. donald trump has held a rally in the battleground state of pennsylvania. in a speech that lasted longer than 90 minutes, mr trump responded to

vice president kamala harris�*s economic plans, which she unveiled friday. harris is proposing giving $25,000 to first—time home buyers to help with down payments, increasing tax breaks for families with kids, wiping out medical debt for millions of people, and driving down costs by banning what she called corporate "price—gouging". at saturday's rally, donald trump criticised harris�*s housing plan. who is not going to vote to get some money for housing? it's never going to happen. it's trillions of dollars. who will vote? people will maybe vote for this. vote? people will maybe vote forthis. i vote? people will maybe vote for this. i said vote? people will maybe vote for this. isaid before, vote? people will maybe vote forthis. isaid before, it vote? people will maybe vote for this. isaid before, it may be good politics, but it's going to destroy — it's going to destroy our country. the washington post, one of the most evil printjournalism — i mean — they lost a lot of people over the last couple of years — it's nasty — they came out with an editorial

excoriating her. yonah freemark is a principal research associate at the urban institute, and an expert on affordable housing. he gave me his reaction to harris�*s housing plans, and how effective they could be if implemented. yeah, you know, ithink one thing that's been really fascinating about this campaign is for the first time in living memory, we're taking housing seriously as a national problem. that reflects the reality that americans are facing really high costs of housing, both renters and homeowners. so, the first thing i would like to say is simply that even having this discussion about housing policy is really a big deal in this presidential campaign. for the most part, we're getting it from the harris campaign. trump has been primarily reacting to that. i think the proposals that. i think the proposals that harris has put together reflect the reality out there we're not building enough new homes in the united states. unfortunately, we've seen a decline in new housing starts over the past two years or so. and harris is actually proposing a large increase in

new housing supply. which would actually go up to levels we have not seen since the 19705 if they were to be applied. she's calling for the corruption of three million new homes. why —— the construction home5. why —— the construction of three million new homes. why are not enough homes being built? is there a sitch answer for that? �* , ., , ., for that? there's a number of reasons why. _ for that? there's a number of reasons why. the _ for that? there's a number of reasons why. the first - for that? there's a number of reasons why. the first is - for that? there's a number of reasons why. the first is that| reasons why. the first is that we don't have the financing available to actually get those new homes built. because mortgage interest rates are quite high, and other parts of the economy have been juiced up by inflation. a number of state and local policie5 by inflation. a number of state and local policies have made it quite difficult for developers to go in and build new apartment buildings in different parts of the community. it's going to be interesting to see if harris actually is able to push through ideas that would change those rules at the state and local level, to get more housing build.— local level, to get more housing build. that's really the next — housing build. that's really the next question, - housing build. that's really the next question, isn't - housing build. that's really the next question, isn't it. |

the next question, isn't it. how much control does any president actually have over these sorts of issues? the price of housing or the construction of new homes? well, you know, ithink construction of new homes? well, you know, i think we should be honest — the biggest moves we're talking about here would be changes that have to be implemented by the us congress. when you're talking about giving people $25,000 in down payment a55istance, creating a new $40 billion programme for housing affordability, which harris has proposed, you would need propo5ed, you would need congress to actually pa55 propo5ed, you would need congress to actually pass laws that make those things happen. that said, there are some powers that executive agencies have, and harris campaign has said it supports the use of fair housing laws to ensure that there's adequate new housing being built even in the most exclusive pa rt5 housing being built even in the most exclusive parts of the country. that's something the trump campaign has vehemently been opposed to. we trump campaign has vehemently been opposed to.— trump campaign has vehemently been opposed to. we heard some criticism from _ been opposed to. we heard some criticism from donald _ been opposed to. we heard some criticism from donald trump - criticism from donald trump today, bringing up that washington post article, that calls some of her economic

ideas gimmicks. are these gimmicks? they sound good if you're a voter and you say, "hey, $25,000 for a first home buyer?" could this make an impact? fit, buyer?" could this make an imact? �* ., buyer?" could this make an imact? �* . , ., ., impact? a large share of americans _ impact? a large share of americans can't - impact? a large share of americans can't afford i impact? a large share of| americans can't afford to impact? a large share of - americans can't afford to buy homes at the moment. there's a number of reasons. mortgage intere5t number of reasons. mortgage interest rates are too high, and house high5e5 —— prices have gone up dramatically. i think probably the best way to address the average american's housing concerns is to construct new public housing, which harris has alluded to, but not proposed directly. with respect to the assistance for down payment, i think that can come to help a lot of middle income people who need help actually paying for housing.

but, it is also true if it would widely apply, it may increase the average cost of housing, certainly. pakistan's health ministry has confirmed at least one case of mpox, a day after sweden reported its first case of a more dangerous strain of the virus. the democratic republic of congo has been hit hardest by the new strain of mpox, known as clade1b, and more then a dozen african countries have reported cases. the african union has confirmed over 18,000 mpox cases this year, while the world health organisation says at least 500 people have died since january. for more i spoke to lawrence go5tin — faculty director of the o'neill institute for national and global health law at georgetown university. i'm deeply concerned. i think if cases seed in europe, which they most likely will do, given they most likely will do, given the fact that we've seen cases

probably unreported cases or undetected ca5e5, then with all the travel hub5 via europe it will spread, you know, quite widely, i think, across regions of the world. similar to the way mpox did in 2022. we got a novel strain of this time and i'm quite worried.— novel strain of this time and i'm quite worried. how worried should people _ i'm quite worried. how worried should people be? _ i'm quite worried. how worried should people be? about - i'm quite worried. how worried | should people be? about mpox and its danger to them, if it were to be discovered in their country? is this something as deadly and dangerous as other diseases? ., ., �* ~' diseases? no, i don't think --eole diseases? no, i don't think people in— diseases? no, i don't think people in europe, - diseases? no, i don't think people in europe, on - diseases? no, i don't think people in europe, on an . people in europe, on an individual or personal level, people in europe or in the united states or other high income countries, there's a low risk they will suffer really ri5k they will suffer really serious disease. but if it's a

person with, say, an immune system problem, undetected or unresolved hiv. for example, and children are also at risk, given the epidemiology in africa. so, we really can't be complacent. this does have potential for spreading quite widely around the world and being very disruptive. and it's also a global health crisis in africa that i think will spread, spill—over. africa that i think will spread, spill-over. let's talk about that — spread, spill-over. let's talk about that crisis _ spread, spill-over. let's talk about that crisis within - spread, spill-over. let's talkj about that crisis within africa about that cri5i5 within africa itself. some really 5triking numbers. 18,000 mpox cases acro55 numbers. 18,000 mpox cases across 13 countries ju5t across 13 countries just this year. can you describe the way the virus is affecting people there? ,, ' 4, the virus is affecting people there? ,, ' ~::f . there? seeing 160% increase in m ox there? seeing 160% increase in mpox compared _ there? seeing 16096 increase in mpox compared to _ there? seeing 16096 increase in mpox compared to this - there? seeing 16096 increase in mpox compared to this time i there? seeing 16096 increase in l mpox compared to this time last year, it was epidemic in the

democratic republic of congo. but it's now 5pread democratic republic of congo. but it's now spread to the region. it could spread further, now in around 12 countries and now we see it in europe and pakistan, and probably other places around the world. and the problem is all of the vaccines exist in high income countries. and very few of the vaccines that are urgently needed in the drc and its neighbours are available. so we mightjust get an absolute repeat of what we saw with covid—19, with enormous inequities. i can't even emphasise enough how much african people and leaders feel bitter about that lack of equality and their lack of access to available life—saving vaccines and other

technologies. i vaccines and other technologies. vaccines and other technolouies. , ., ., technologies. i 'ust want to ask ou technologies. i 'ust want to ask you about _ technologies. i just want to ask you about vaccines - i technologies. i just want to l ask you about vaccines - how ask you about vaccines — how effective is the vaccine? why is it they're not making for the countries that need it the most? ., , the countries that need it the most? . , ., ., most? the answer to the latter auestion most? the answer to the latter question is _ most? the answer to the latter question is of— most? the answer to the latter question is of course _ most? the answer to the latter question is of course because l question is of course because we don't have the political will, there's a lot of nationalism and populism — my country first — it's quite expensive and unaffordable. there's only one vaccine at the moment that really got regulatory approval from the usfda, ju5t regulatory approval from the usfda, just one vaccine we know is safe. it's quite effective. and it could be deployed in the region, particularly targeted towards ri5k region, particularly targeted towards risk groups, households where there's expo5ure towards risk groups, households where there's exposure with children, sex workers, men who have sex with men, but it's

also spreading hetero5exually. that's why it poses a risk worldwide.— that's why it poses a risk worldwide. �* ., , ., worldwide. before we get you know, worldwide. before we get you know. what — worldwide. before we get you know, what should _ worldwide. before we get you know, what should the - worldwide. before we get you know, what should the world | worldwide. before we get you l know, what should the world be doing right now to prepare for a potential outbreak? it’s a potential outbreak? it's really clear. _ a potential outbreak? it's really clear. there - a potential outbreak? it�*s really clear. there needs to be a surge of funding and investment. there needs to be co—ordinated action and there needs to be many more medical re5ource5, needs to be many more medical resources, diagnostics, surveillance, laboratories, and first and foremost a fair share and a fairshot first and foremost a fair share and a fair shot at life—saving vaccines. let's turn to some other important news around the world. a paramilitary group fighting government forces in sudan has agreed to cooperate on deliveries of humanitarian aid — during talks in switzerland. the rapid support forces will allow aid to reach people in the darfur and kordofan regions. it comes after the sudanese government said it will open a border crossing between neighbouring chad and north darfur. aid agencies warn that over six million people displaced by fighting are at risk of dying from hunger. the social media platform x has

closed its office in brazil, following a row with the country's supreme court. the site accused the court's president of censorship after he ordered that several accounts — accused of spreading disinformation — remain blocked while they were investigated. brazilian users will still be able to access x. india's health ministry is urging doctors to return to work, after a 24—hour strike shut down non—emergency hospital services nationwide. the industrial action was part of ongoing protests following the rape and murder of a colleague in kolkata a week ago. the most recent statistics show 445,000 crimes against women in 2022. on average that's about 51 crimes every hour. among those, there were 31,000 rapes reported, or — on average — one rape is reported every 16 minutes. our correspondent, archana shukla, has more from mumbai. now the largest doctors' grouping,

which is the indian medical association, hasjoined into the protest. so, today, 24 hours of nationwide strike. the first such where both government as well as private health care institutions will stop all non—emergency services. so all your elective surgeries as well as outpatient departments in both government and private hospitals will be closed today. and that is a mark of protest and literally amping up the protest to put pressure both on the investigative agency as well as the government to do more about safety. we know that the top crime agency is investigating the incident of the rape and murder of the 31—year—old trainee doctor in kolkata, and protesters are trying to amp up more and demand that a speedy trial and justice is given in that matter. and they are also demanding that the government come up with stricter laws to make it safer at workplace. like we heard from one of

the protesters that they spend hours together at the hospital, that's literally like their second home. and if they are not safe even there, then where can women be safe? and, you know, despite laws having come into place, they are not effective on ground. most of the protesters who i have spoken to over the last few days have told me that there are laws, but they are not effective and hence they are demanding that the government come up with one, a central law that can protect doctors against any violence that is levelled at them and, secondly, is to also make it more saferfor women at workplaces and outside. you know, despite laws, violence against women has only gone up if we go by the government statistics over the last one year, it has gone up by 4%. and this is something that the politicians, the government and the public all need to sit up and take notice of. stay with us here on bbc news.

hello there. there was a lot of cloud around on saturday for northern and western areas. the best of the sunshine was further east — and part two of the weekend looks pretty similar. we start dry with lots of sunshine, and then the cloud amounts will tend to build up into the afternoon, producing just one or two showers. now the azores highs continuing to nudge northwards across much of england, wales, northern ireland. so, light winds here, but fresher across scotland. it will remain breezy throughout the day here. we start off with plenty of sunshine after that fresh start, and then clouds will tend to build up into the afternoon. it could turn quite grey in a few places. the odd shower likely for western scotland, maybe western hills of england and wales. otherwise it's mostly dry, up to 25 celsius in the southeast, the high teens further north. sunday night, we do it all again, the clouds tend to melt away for many, and the clear skies,

it'll turn quite fresh again with temperatures of 8—12 celsius. now, some changes taking place to start the new week. the first of a series of low pressure systems will work its way in to the country during the day. so we start off with plenty of sunshine, but the clouds will tend to build in the west, and it'll turn wet and windy through the day. some pretty heavy and persistent rain for northern ireland, and it will turn windy with gales, perhaps around some irish sea coasts, but lighter winds again in towards the southeast, where it will stay dry and sunny all day. so temperatures responding, up to 25 celsius or so — that's the high teens further north and west, picking up a little bit more humidity as well from the south. and then monday night, that area of low pressure and its weather fronts crosses the country. it stays quite breezy into tuesday, with the low sitting to the north of scotland, and that will bring a day of sunshine and showers, some of them will be heavy and thundery, particularly in the north and west, some of them merging together to produce longer spells of rain for western scotland.

temperatures down a touch, i think 22—23 celsius will be the high, mid—to—high teens further north. and then we look out to the atlantic, this next area of low pressure contains the remnants of what was hurricane ernesto. and that potentially could bring quite a lot of rainfall to the northwest of the uk around the middle part of the week, certainly so for western scotland. but further south and east, it will tend to stay dry, i think, with some sunny spells, and it will turn increasingly humid as we pick up these southwesterly winds. stays pretty unsettled for the end of the week across more northern and western areas. a better chance of staying drier towards the southeast.

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. hello, i'm caroline steel, this is the bbc world service and welcome to the engineers. this year we're at the science specialist university, imperial college london, and we're here to focus on the technical revolution defining our era — artificial intelligence. i'm joined by a panel of three world leaders in the field and a large, enthusiastic audience in imperial�*s great hall. applause

already, a computer can defeat the world's greatest player