us secretary of state antony blinken is in israel, amid hopes that a gaza ceasefire deal can be reached. kamala harris arrived in chicago on a monday for the democratic national convention. ukraine strikes another key bridge in russia's kursk region as president zelensky says kyiv wants to create a buffer zone on russian territory. hello, i'm carl nasman. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, is in israel to push for a ceasefire deal and the release of hostages in gaza. he's due to meet the country's leaders on monday before heading to egypt on tuesday, where talks mediated by the us, egypt and qatar are set to continue in cairo.

the us and israel have expressed careful optimism about a deal since talks resumed last week. however, prime minister benjamin netanyahu has accused hamas of being stubborn and warned there were things his government could not be flexible about. in a statement released just hours after blinken�*s arrival, hamas said that a new proposal for a gaza ceasefire was too close to mr netanyahu's recent positions. the armed group has again accused israel of obstructing a deal by adding new conditions to earlier proposals, and rejecting a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal from gaza. president biden maintained that a gaza ceasefire remained a possibility, adding, "we're not giving up." the talks come as air strikes continue in gaza. palestinian health authorities said israeli air strikes killed at least 21 people in gaza on sunday. among those dead were six children and their mother in the central city of nuseirat. our state department correspondent tom bateman is travelling with mr blinken, and he sent this update from tel aviv. well, the air is thick with a bit of optimism

and a lot of expectation when it comes to antony blinken. one senior official i was talking to on the way here used phrases like this being "an inflection point," a critical moment in terms of what they want to get from this ceasefire deal. some are talking in terms of their hopes that they can get this thing over the line as soon as this time next week. now, that may seem extremely optimistic — and perhaps it is, because what we're seeing here, i think, is antony blinken trying to apply as much diplomatic pressure as possible, starting tomorrow morning with a meeting with prime minister benjamin netanyahu. what he will try to urge him to do is drop any final attempts to squeeze more concessions from this deal, to stop going for what he might think is a perfect agreement, and settle for something that the americans think is already very good. so, that will be the diplomatic part of this. but the problem is, these talks are not happening in the diplomatic rooms — they're actually happening in a very technical way,

led by the cia, by mossad, by egyptian spy chiefs. we saw that in doha at the end of last week. very technical and difficult discussions — much of that was about the exchange of israeli hostages for palestinian prisoners. that's known in the language of the deal as "the keys". some progress has been made on that, but when it comes to another quite fundamental point about the situation on the ground at the end of the conflict, that's much more difficult because the israelis want to keep boots on the ground, particularly in the south and in the centre of the gaza strip. and hamas are currently saying, "no way". we've had more defiant statements from both those sides tonight. so no breakthrough seems imminent on that — perhaps this is a bit of a negotiating tactic from the two. but one final point — remember the backdrop to all of this, for the americans, is their electoral politics. it gets much harder to do all of this with the political energy needed close to the american presidential election. and so, for a democratic

administration, i think the clock is ticking that much faster, trying to get an agreement than it is for the two sides involved. effo rts efforts to secure a ceasefire in gaza come amid widespread fears across the region, already conflict between israel and hezbollah which is backed by iran. since october, tens of thousands have fled from both sides of the border, over 500 fighters have been killed in lebanon and its two people have died. as international mediators clutch at a ceasefire in gaza, hezbollah buries its dead. this is dahieh, in south beirut, where many are born into the iranian—backed armed group. and many die for it, fighting against israel. but we found some

mourners hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough. we hope that the international world can play a role to ceasefire. it seems that we are going through a very great explosion and everybody will be loser, no winners. funerals like this are a familiar sight here. hundreds of hezbollah fighters have been buried in recent months. people here say they're not looking for all—out war, but they're not afraid of it, either, and if it comes, they'll be ready to fight. just how ready is on display in this new propaganda video, apparently showing hezbollah�*s network of tunnels, and some of its arsenal of weapons. we can't verify

the contents of this video, but hezbollah is much stronger now than in 2006, when the two sides last went to war. we are in danger and we've been feeling it even more. the minister who has to plan in case of another all—out war says people here know too well how bad things could get. the images they've been seeing, watching on the news, receiving on their phones from gaza... the war that led to more than 40,000 people being killed, a lot of them children and women — civilians — making people afraid. do you think people here expect it will be like gaza, if it happens? i think the images from gaza are being played in the house of every lebanese. and these images, too, are fresh in people's minds — a massive blast four years ago this

month at beirut port. caused by chemicals unsafely stored. we had six people died in this street and in the parallel street we had, like 20 people died. etienne had to rebuild his restaurant from the rubble. he says if beirut becomes a war zone, he will rebuild again but he is worried for his daughter. she's a six—year—old girl. so, every time a sound happen or something, it is training, army training... because i don't want her to understand it is war or something happen. but when it will happen, it will happen. the next move may come from hezbollah or its iranian backers. both have promised to hit israel hard for the assassination of senior militant leaders. without a ceasefire in gaza, they may not hold

fire for much longer. orla guerin, bbc news, beirut. joining me now was a senior fellow focusing on a running security. thank you for being here. if you are looking at these negotiations taking place from the iranians perspective, how do you think they view these talks between israel and hamas? g these talks between israel and hamas? �* , these talks between israel and hamas? , ., these talks between israel and hamas? �* , ., , hamas? a pleasure to be with ou. hamas? a pleasure to be with yom the _ hamas? a pleasure to be with you. the talks _ hamas? a pleasure to be with you. the talks are _ hamas? a pleasure to be with you. the talks are still - you. the talks are still indirect and mediated by the americans and the egyptians but make no mistake, it comes amid a much more important backdrop which is likely to use overt military action against israel. about two weeks ago, the

killing of the militant chief in a tehranis, largely believed to be done by intelligence agencies in israel, is something that the islamic state still wants to avenge and wash away with blood. what they try to do now is get the prospect of another direct attack that happened in april and get the americans to use their restraints against israel, america's ally, rather than use a restraints against the islamic republic. the islamic republic is looking to weaponised the fear of potential war to get the partners to be limited and accept something late handcuffs on israel as a result of the ceasefire.— on israel as a result of the ceasefire. ,, . ., ., ceasefire. we has speculation, and i am curious _ ceasefire. we has speculation, and i am curious what - ceasefire. we has speculation, and i am curious what you - and i am curious what you think. do you think iran and hezbollah are waiting to see if there is a ceasefire and maybe they would not go ahead with any retaliation? i they would not go ahead with any retaliation?— any retaliation? i think it is increasingly _ any retaliation? i think it is increasingly likely - any retaliation? i think it is increasingly likely this - increasingly likely this

political strategy that is underwriting the statements we see from both leaders in beirut and tehran but also the desire for the vengeance, make no mistake, they are embarrassed by the way that the militant chief was killed. they are still looking to see a public atoning for that but what they think they can accomplish is dissonant between israel and dissona nt between israel and america dissonant between israel and america if there is a ceasefire and ultimately bailout hamas which is another element of the act of resistance. this entire war that israel has been amazing and orchestrated by the islamic republic to generate more political costs, there will not achieve, it is the military political aims in gaza which of the destruction of hamas. that is the larger goal here. i hamas. that is the larger goal here. ., ., ., ., here. i want to ask you about something — here. i want to ask you about something that _ here. i want to ask you about something that the _ here. i want to ask you about something that the chairman | here. i want to ask you about l something that the chairman of the us has intelligence committee said today, he spoke about iran and so they could declare itself a nuclear weapon

estate by the end of the year as a result of the biden administration policies. take a listen to what he told a us news partner see me yesterday. under the biden policy at iran cord. — under the biden policy at iran cord, reports are out that they could — cord, reports are out that they could declare itself a nuclear weapon— could declare itself a nuclear weapon seen by the end of the yeah _ weapon seen by the end of the yeah you _ weapon seen by the end of the year. you would not have had that_ year. you would not have had that under_ year. you would not have had that under the proper administration of maximum pressure _ administration of maximum pressure campaign.- administration of maximum pressure campaign. what do you make of that? _ pressure campaign. what do you make of that? do _ pressure campaign. what do you make of that? do you _ pressure campaign. what do you make of that? do you think - pressure campaign. what do you make of that? do you think he . make of that? do you think he is right? how close you think iran is becoming a nuclear armed state? i iran is becoming a nuclear armed state?— iran is becoming a nuclear armed state? i am glad you mention — armed state? i am glad you mention the _ armed state? i am glad you mention the nuclear - armed state? i am glad you mention the nuclear issue l mention the nuclear issue because unfortunately they are quite capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time, as much of the orchestrating this war, but we see in the middle east, it is critically advancing its nuclear programme, based on the reporting that the us allegedly detected some computer modelling they could be tied to

weaponisation and they want the run begins to knock it off. that was followed by statements talking about the oppressive national intelligence to revise some of its language as to the direction of the nuclear programme. they are able to advance both these threats, the regional and nuclear threats, and if the world remains fixated on a ceasefire, we have to remember that you're still quite interested in developing some of the most dangerous weapons of existing man. there are elections — weapons of existing man. there are elections here _ weapons of existing man. there are elections here in _ weapons of existing man. there are elections here in the - weapons of existing man. there are elections here in the us - weapons of existing man. there are elections here in the us in l are elections here in the us in november, there was a recent report by google and microsoft that showed a running backed attackers have targeted the trump campaign and the biden campaign, how serious do you think this threat could be and compose to the us elections? it is a critical threat, also with russia and china. there is a willingness by the islamic

republic to divide americans against each other, notjust on the street but social media, to take advantage of the ways in which miss information and disinformation are unfortunately disinformation are u nfortu nately real disinformation are unfortunately real elements of our political debate. when the left and right writer to own each other, you will see the islamic republic used fake news outlets and spoofing social media accounts, amplifying narratives from the far—left and right get a coalition that amplify voices that have a foreign policy disposition that is favourable to the islamic republic. they are looking at the fault lines in american society and looking to press upon them. back in 2020, then knew enough about the threat of political violence in america they spoofed an e—mail coming from the proud boys. interesting stuff. thank you, as always. kamala harris has

arrived in chicago. the 2024 democratic national convention gets under way in less than 2a hours. these are live pictures from outside the united center in chicago, illinois. it is dark now but it will be lit up tomorrow. the democratic party will gather to vote on the party platform and formally nominate vice president kamala harris as its presidential nominee. pro—palestinian protesters have been demonstrating in chicago. reports on either 40,000 demonstrators are respected as though the convention centre on monday, organising the number could be closer to 100,000. sarah smith is in chicago and i caught up with her earlier. the convention starting tomorrow, what can we expect from the democrats during this big week for the party? i democrats during this big week for the party?— for the party? i think you will see a positive _ for the party? i think you will see a positive mood - for the party? i think you will see a positive mood here - see a positive mood here because democrats have

completely changed how we feel about the election since revise and four weeks ago. difficult to remember that much can change is such a short amount of time. joe biden ran if you points behind donald trump in most polls and the party was divided whether he should be the candidate and really down in the dumps about what their chances were in the november election. suddenly with kamala harris as a candidate, she is read with excitement and enthusiasm at the events she has been doing, democrats feeling revived as they can see a path to victory now in november. it will be with excitement and relief they greet her. excitement and relief they greet her-— excitement and relief they ureet her. ., ., , ., ~' greet her. how do you think the republicans _ greet her. how do you think the republicans will _ greet her. how do you think the republicans will counter - greet her. how do you think the republicans will counter this - republicans will counter this celebration fully democrats? it seems as if donald trump had difficulties finding his footing, finding a way to campaign against kamala harris.

he seems to have been totally wrongfooted by the democrats changing their candidate and facing a different opponents, very different, she is younger than him as well as a female and black and south asian descent and he just does not seem to know what his line of attack against their will be, what it ought to be. while his campaign advisors and strategists are going on tv and pleading with him to concentrate on the issues, talk about policy and the economy in particular, he is flailing around and throwing out insults against kamala harris. hejust does not really seem to know what he is doing. for someone who was in a shorter campaign, it is intriguing to watch him looking lost. he is promising he will do events every day that the democratic convention is happening in chicago to steal some of the spotlight but whether they will be effective adverts for his campaign remains to be seen. irate

adverts for his campaign remains to be seen. we expect there to be _ remains to be seen. we expect there to be some _ remains to be seen. we expect there to be some protests - remains to be seen. we expect| there to be some protests there in chicago. maybe not on the level of the last aquatic convention that took place there but do we expect some discord within the party? the larae discord within the party? the large protests _ discord within the party? iia: large protests by discord within the party? "iia: large protests by go discord within the party? i““i2 large protests by go into labour the division is still within the party because although they have managed to cover less around one candidate, but does not mean it is all harmony. among the deepest divisions are over america's support for the war on gaza. there are many activists who are so furious about that, they say they will find it difficult to vote for democrats in november and they want to make their voices are clearly heard. kamala harris has tried to distinguish herself from joe biden on this, certainly be more vocal about civilian casualties in gaza, more critical of israel about that but she supports the same policy. she would not change american support for israel as he talks about their right to go after hamas as well. this is

something that cannot be won over easily this week and something the democrats will have to face, they are not united on everything, and very much not on gaza.— united on everything, and very much not on gaza. let's take a look now _ much not on gaza. let's take a look now whether _ much not on gaza. let's take a look now whether campaign i look now whether campaign stands. our partners at cbs news published new polling data on sunday, along with the analytics firm yougov. nationally, 51% of likely voters surveyed said they'll be voting for kamala harris. 48% said they want donald trump back in the white house. but in the battleground states, it's a 50—50 tossup. seven states are considered most critical for candidates to reach the 270 electoral college votes to win the presidency. the poll found few voters are open to switching over, and that means turnout will be important. before arriving in chicago, kamala harris delivered a speech in pittsburgh. we know our country is going to be as strong as our willingness

to fight for it. and to fight for what we stand for. you know, when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for. when you stand for working people, you fight for working people. when you stand for freedom, whether it be to make decisions about your own body or love who you love, you fight for those things. when you believe in ending child poverty, you fight for that. when you believe in what we need to do to lift up the middle class, you fight for the middle class. these are the things we stand for, and these, therefore, are the things we fight for. so who can we expect to hearfrom at the dnc? presidentjoe biden will deliver the primetime address on monday night. a large tribute is reportedly planned for the outgoing president, four weeks after he stepped aside and endorsed vice president harris for the white house. other speakers on monday night include the democrats' 2016 candidate, hillary clinton and california governor gavin newsom. on tuesday, former us president barack obama and the former

first lady, michelle obama, are expected to speak. vice presidential nominee tim walz will give his acceptance speech on wednesday. and on thursday, kamala harris delivers her acceptance speech. harris would be the first female us president—elect if she wins in november. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's take a look at some of the days headlines. the remaining 31 ted baker stores in the uk are to close this week, putting more than 500 jobs at risk. all of the fashion brand's stores are expected to have shut by the end of tuesday. the fashion retailer was put into administration in march this year. ted baker began as a menswear brand in glasgow in 1988. police say more than 400 homes have been evacuated in newtownards in northern ireland, following the discovery of a suspected world war two bomb at a housing development on friday. a bomb disposal unit

is on site, with army personnel using diggers to pile sand on top of the device ahead of a planned controlled explosion. the home office says it will include extreme misogyny — the hatred of women — among types of extremism which the government should take steps to tackle. it's started a rapid review to address gaps in the current system and will develop plans to "map and monitor" extremist trend, both on and offline. the home secretary yvette cooper said that "for too long" governments had "failed to address" the issue. you are live with bbc news. the ukrainian armed forces say they have just read another bridge in the coastal region, used as a supply read by russian forces and the hamper the movement of weapons. it has been two weeks since the surprise incursion into the area. 120,000 local residents have evacuated. the offensive like the first time a

foreign army has seized and occupied russian territory since the second world war. ukraine destroyed another bridge over the river cm lastly, shockingly public. the is a lengthy on sunday that ukraine hopes to create a buffer zone against further attacks by russian forces. steve rosenberg has been speaking to people in the local town. this is aleksin, a 700—year—old town about 100 miles from moscow. and i've come here to find out what people think about the dramatic situation which has been unfolding in kursk region with the ukrainian incursion. with ukrainian soldiers now in russia, lyubov tells me that she's worried. "i can't even watch the news on tv "because i start crying," she says. "how is this possible? someone let this happen". "people here trust our soldiers to finish the job," andrei says. "and to win".

at the market, regina is selling vegetables from her garden. "the most important thing," regina says, "is that war doesn't come here, that they don't get "all the way here." "our soldiers, especially the commanders, must "be more vigilant". keep in mind, this is a nation which is constantly being reminded by those in power here of the horrors of the second world war — the horrors of invasion. world war two is very much part of the national psyche here and now, for the first time in more than 80 years, you have foreign fighters on russian soil seizing russian territory. that's quite a shock. vladimir is worried but thinks that russia will achieve victory. what exactly is victory in this war, i ask him. "victory is when there will be peace," he says.

on the town square, a patriotic pop concert. but the atmosphere is pretty subdued. people do seem worried, very worried by the situation in kursk region, by the ukrainian attack. people do want peace, there's no doubt about it. but here's the thing. they still seem to trust the man at the top, the man running the country, president putin, to secure that peace for them. the same leader who, 2.5 years ago, launched the full—scale invasion of ukraine. steve rosenberg, bbc news, aleksin, russia. a paramilitary group fighting in sudan has agreed to co—operate on deliveries for humanitarian aid. the rsf will allow aid to reach people in regions across the country, after the government said it will open a border crossing between neighbouring regions.

un agencies have warned more than 25 million people in sudan are facing acute hunger. earlier this month they declared there is famine in one displacement camp. the us and saudi arabia are in talks in switzerland, aiming at a ceasefire between the rsf and sudanese military, although it did not join the negotiations. violence in the civil war is continuing. officialsaid violence in the civil war is continuing. official said on saturday that 85 people had died on thursday. the 2024 world five champions have concluded in a glasgow, including entries from australia and hong kong as well as plenty of bands from a closer to home. scotland triumphant head of bands from northern ireland and canada. you can see them there. plenty

more to come on bbc news. hello there. with schools in england and wales still on holiday, i'm very aware that the vacation season is still in full swing — and if you're about to set off on yours, certainly worth bearing in mind, particularly if you're in this country, and particularly if you're under canvas. heavy rain and gales are forecast for some of us throughout this week — please keep abreast of the forecast and tune in to your bbc local radio station for further updates, as areas of low pressure start to push in from the west. we'll start off largely fine and quiet on monday. eastern england clinging onto the sunshine and, once again, the warmth throughout the day — and that's where we're likely to see highest temperatures. so, if we stretch a line from hull down to the isle of wight anywhere south and east of that, keeping some sunshine and highs of 25 celsius. clouding over across much of south west england and wales, with some heavier bursts of rain starting to push in. it will turn increasingly windy through the irish sea and up into north—west scotland. for northern ireland and scotland,

there'll be some heavier bursts of rain at times, strong winds, and temperatures certainly more subdued. that heavy rain continues through scotland overnight. it will weaken as it moves its way down through the south—east to just a band of showery rain. but certainly again here, the notable thing will be the feel of the weather. quite a warm night monday night into the early hours of tuesday morning, with overnight lows of only 17 celsius. now, for england and wales on tuesday, it's a case of sunny spells and a few scattered showers. some of those showers, perhaps heavy with the odd rumble of thunder. close to this area of low pressure, we see a frequent rash of showers being driven in along west—facing coasts — and here, noticeably cooler once again, 14—16 celsius. highest values of around 23—24, with the best of the sunshine once again in the south—east. now, as we go through wednesday, on the whole, we've got this little ridge of high pressure quietening things down. but there is another spell of very wet and very windy weather developing. so, towards the latter stages of the day, the winds will strengthen

close to gale force. that's going to drive in some showers across north and west scotland. elsewhere, we keep some sunshine. the winds strengthening, but not a bad day on wednesday — highs of 14—22 celsius. it's overnight wednesday into thursday where we see a real spell of wet and windy weather. that will linger in the northwest towards the end of the working week, somewhat drier and brighter conditions further south.

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