this is bbc news. i'm david eades with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. israel's prime minister warns the operation in gaza will take as long as needed to restore calm. at the un, france pushes for a resolution, but washington says it wants to pursue talks behind the scenes. spain says half of 8,000 migrants who crossed into its north african terrritory of ceuta from morocco this week have now been sent back. and — a self portrait like no other. who is behind this ground—breaking exhibition?

hello and welcome to the programme. how much longer will the violence between israel and palestinian militants last? france is now trying its hand at calling for a un security council resolution in an effort to increase pressure for a ceasefire. the body has held its third meeting in a week — but the united states is still holding back — calm the crisis. in the latest violence, three palestinians have been killed and many others injured in clashes between protesters and israeli security forces in the west bank. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu has repeated his warning that the operation against hamas will take as long as needed to restore calm — as a barrage of rockets was fired into israel killing two thai workers and injuring seven others. 0ur middle east editor jeremy bowen reports now from jerusalem. and just a warning — there are some images you may

find upsetting. explosion the israeli army blow up the car of a man who attacked them with grenades. soldiers shot him dead. it was the centre of hebron where soldiers protect a jewish settlement in the heart of a palestinian city. chanting last night, a group called the al—aqsa martyrs�* brigade showed off their weapons in ramallah on the west bank. they have been quiet since the end of the last armed uprising around 16 years ago. their return, if that's what it is, is a sign of the hardening mood on the palestinian side, and competition between rival factions to confront israel. this morning the al—aqsa brigade and israeli troops exchanged fire near ramallah. the israelis said two of their soldiers were wounded. this was at the damascus gate intojerusalem's old city. egypt blames heavy—handed

israeli pressure injerusalem for what it calls palestinian retaliation. the egyptians have used unusually harsh language to condemn israel's behaviour. that matters because egyptian mediators are a critical part of ceasefire negotiations. much more anger in more places is on display in the palestinian territories than during previous wars between israel and hamas. this was bethlehem just outsidejerusalem. this kind of thing just doesn't build up overnight. it comes after years of settlement expansion, land confiscation. what happened injerusalem and what's happening in gaza was the last straw. it's about, for these people, years of israeli pressure. inside israel, jaffa is shared byjews and palestinian arabs. arab businesses across israel were closed in a general strike

that was also solid on the west bank. in the last week, coexistence between israel's arab and jewish citizens has broken down, a disaster for national cohesion. explosion hamas is still hitting israeli towns. this was ashdod. all the pounding of gaza, this was an american—made israeli bomb, has not stopped hamas firing back. that could be an incentive for israel to respond to pressure from its allies for a ceasefire. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. 0ne country that plays an important role in any mediation betweeb israel and hamas is egypt. the country's sinai peninsula shares a land border with the gaza strip, the only way into gaza without having to pass israeli checkpoints. in times of war the injured are evacuated through rafah to an egyptian hospital.

and underneath the border wall there are tunnels, through which a lot of things are smuggled. everything from food, to medicines, to arms — and rockets. the egyptians have confirmed they are in direct contact with hamas — they are the only country that has that kind of direct communication. here's the bbc�*s sally nabil in cairo. so far, mediation talks have not received the make so far, mediation talks have not achieved any progress. no official statement from the egyptians saying that a ceasefire is expect to discern. a minister refused to disclose any details regarding mediation talks at the moment, but we know that the foreign ministry has been in touch with many regional and international

parties, russians, americans, israelis, palestinians. they tried to convince all the parties in the conflict to agree on a ceasefire but that so far has not been successful and israel has reportedly rejected an earlier egyptian suggestion of a ceasefire. to the moment, mediation efforts are under way but they have not yet succeeded on reaching a truce or a ceasefire. joining me now isjon b alterman — director of the middle east programme at the centre for strategic and international studies. he was also a member of the policy planning staff at the us department of state under the administration of george w bush. thank you very much forjoining us. there is plenty of talk about talk and an effort to reach a ceasefire. can you see any movement in the foreseeable? i do. any movement in the foreseeable? ido. i any movement in the foreseeable? i do. ithink any movement in the foreseeable? i do. i think we are talking about days are not weeks, unfortunately. this is sad and it feels like it is following a script, the script we saw in 2014 and 2008 and

what happens is that there is growing international pressure that israel continues to degrade hamas infrastructure and we reach a point, i think we are days away from the point where israel says enough, hamas says enough and there is a piece, truce or something and then they decide to go back to then they decide to go back to the hostility they had previously. there is more than that in a sense, you have used the phrase of mowing the grass, that is how the israelis look at this. that from time to time they need to put hamas in check and that is what seeing here because neven netanyahu language has been forthright. he points to the need for considerable degradation, as he puts it, of hamas forces. i heard israelis use that phrase 15 years ago and they use it more and more. many israelis

felt that with the trump administration and the peace deals with the united arab emirates and bahrain that the palestinian—israeli conflict had gone away and you did not have to worry about it. and i think you saw increasing pressure and tensions which the israelis were not responding to in the last few months because they felt they could put pressure on palestinians with impunity. clearly hamas took the opening to turn what had been an israeli—palestinian confrontation into something that involved hamas and then i think it will take some time to reach an agreement when the violence stops. israel has been taking the opportunity, they have been developing target sets for years, taking out tunnels and communications and making hamas think they have penetrated the communications. at the israelis assume there will a confrontation with hamas

and they have been working towards this for years. what chance, when _ towards this for years. what chance, when we _ towards this for years. what chance, when we hear- towards this for years. what chance, when we hear of. towards this for years. what | chance, when we hear of the french president saying that we are making a push for a resolution at the un, or that make any difference? it is part ofthe make any difference? it is part of the script — make any difference? it is part of the script that _ make any difference? it is part of the script that people - of the script that people follow, that the u has has for many years that the security council is not the place to resolve issues between nonstate actors like hamas and israel. i think the us will veto it but it will be part of this growing sense that the us will support, that we have to begin widening this, within days and then —— quieting this within days and then we moved to whatever piece that follows. d0 then we moved to whatever piece that follow-— that follows. do you think that president biden _ that follows. do you think that president biden is _ that follows. do you think that president biden is acceding i that follows. do you think that president biden is acceding to | president biden is acceding to some of the pressure he may be feeling, whether that is internal domestic measure to do something or international pressure or holding off the pressure solidly? he pressure or holding off the

pressure solidly?— pressure solidly? he is aware of it but this is a pattern. - of it but this is a pattern. this is the traditional american way of dealing with this conflict. i think president biden is following the american script. what is different, i think, the american script. what is different, ithink, is the american script. what is different, i think, is that you start to see the democratic party in the united states shift and that is partly to do with the courtship of israel for republicans and the attitude of young americans towards israel becomes more complicated. the president biden is old school and he is following the script.- biden is old school and he is following the script. thank you very much- _ let's get some of the day's other news. the officers involved in the fatal shooting of a black motorist during an attempted arrest in north carolina will not face criminal charges. the authorities said the police shooting of andrew brown was "justified". mr brown's family disagree with the decision, and say he was "executed". protesters are now on the streets of elizabeth city. a court in moscow has ordered

the jailed opposition activist, alexei navalny, to pay damages for defaming one of president putin's closest allies. yevgeny prigozhin, a catering magnate widely referred to as putin's chef, wanted more than $130,000. mr navalny was ordered to pay $400,000. india is unlikely to resume major exports of covid—19 vaccines until at least 0ctober — as it diverts doses for domestic use. india's largest vaccine producer — the serum institute — said it would scale up production of astrazeneca's vaccine, before beginning exports. india recorded more than 4,300 covid—related deaths on tuesday, another record. residents of two tower blocks in a west german town have been quarantined after a woman in the building tested positive for the indian variant of covid—19. public health officials say all residents have now been tested for the coronavirus but say that sequencing

the samples to establish if they too had the indian variant would take several days. spain says it has returned half of the record 8,000 migrants who crossed into the spanish territory of ceuta from morocco this week. moroccan guards have reportedly begun closing the border again after more than a day in which they turned a blind eye to the crossings. some migrants have also returned voluntarily. earlier, the spanish prime minister vowed to restore order during a visit to ceuta. from there, nick beake reports. this was the day spain sent tanks to its beaches to hold back a human tidal wave. the border with morocco under strain like never before. hundreds of troops scrambling to block the final steps to european soil. the pleas and the prayers, they didn't work. so different 24 hours earlier

when the first of 8,000 people simply walked or waded round the border post at low tide. moroccan officials seemingly did nothing to stop them. some families took with them what they could, saying they were driven by desperation and the hope of a more prosperous future. translation: when you have no money and you have - to pay your rent and you have to take care of your children and parents, you can't afford to be scared. translation: no, i'm not afraid. - if i stayed here i would be afraid. i have to leave to save myself. spain's prime minister flew in and was welcomed by local officials. he warned this was a significant crisis, notjust for spain, but for europe. shouting but he was given a furious reception by local residents in ceuta who feel abandoned and want tougher action. translation: this surge

of irregular migrants - represents a serious crisis for spain and also for europe. in the name of the spanish government, i want to convey to all spaniards, especially to those living in ceuta and melilla, that we will re—establish order in their city and at our borders with the utmost speed. there now more than 1500 members of spent security forces on the streets and as well as that, of young men. hundreds of young men. morocco stands accused of allowing this unprecedented influx. it warned spain of consequences amid a diplomatic row, it seems this is what they were talking about. this evening, the main reception centre is overwhelmed, even though thousands of new arrivals have already been forced back. spain says children are being allowed to stay. they now await their fate. but some have seen enough and are now taking their chances, believing a new life

is within reach. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: almost one year on from the death of george floyd — how a murder in america sparked a summer of protest around the world. this morning, an indian air force plane carrying mr gandhi's body landed in delhi. the president of india walked to the plane to solemnly witness mr gandhi's final return from the political battlefield. ireland has voted overwhelmingly in favour of gay marriage. in doing so, it's become the first country in the world to approve the change in the national referendum. it was a remarkable climax to what was surely the most extraordinary funeral ever given to a pop singer. it's been a peaceful funeral demonstration so far! - but suddenly, the police -

are tear—gassing the crowd — we don't yet know why! the pre—launch ritual is well—established here. helen was said to be in good spirits, butjust a little apprehensive. in the last hour, east timor has become the world's newest nation. it was a bloody birth for a poor country, and the challenges ahead are daunting. but for now, at least, it is time to celebrate. this is bbc news. iam i am david iam david eades. the latest headlines: israeli air strikes on gaza and rocket fire by palestinian militants towards southern israel have continued after a day of protests in the occupied west bank. spain says half of 8,000 migrants who crossed into its north african terrritory of ceuta from morocco this week have now been sent back.

it was a year ago now that a global movement erupted, prompted by the killing of one man. george floyd died after he was pinned to the ground by a police officer in the us state of minnesota. graphic video showed the nature of his arrest and treatment, the officer's subsequent trial returned a verdict of murder. it was a killing that magfnified the focus on racial equity and justice and notjust in the us. here in the uk, there were more than 200 demonstrations. adina campbell reports now on why george floyd's death resonated with so many people. chanting everyone here today can make a difference. whether you have privilege or whether you don't. leamington spa. worlds apart from where george floyd was murdered in minneapolis. i thought 20 people were going to show up, never 700. but last summer, people in this leafy warwickshire town came together, calling for change. because it's ourjob to make sure this does

not happen again. shianne williams organised the protest. she was 17 at the time. i hadn't seen that many people in leamington coming together for one cause. so, and when you've grown up in a place where you thought people didn't really like you... i have been a victim of racism all my life. i've been spat on, i've been racially abused in the streets, bullied in school. there was an incident where someone threw dirt over me. those things have kind of made me stronger and gave me the power to speak up about black lives matter. chanting hundreds of thousands of people in the uk took part in anti—racism marches in the aftermath of george floyd's murder, raising questions about policing. less than 2% of officers in england, wales and scotland are black, a disproportionate representation. as a young, black man i was stopped and searched.

i know the struggles and difficulties. it's helpful for the community to see police officers that look and sound like them. and to acknowledge what the community are saying. in coventry, campaigners have been reflecting on the last 12 months. but the conversations are changing. before, it was just, racism is bad because it's "i hate black people." but now we are beginning to understand that racism is a system and there's levels to it. things like, "oh, sorry, can i shorten your name, it's too hard to pronounce?" the reason why we're even here in the first place is because people are either uneducated or wrongly educated. when i try and talk about these things to other white people my age, they go, "well, i can't be racist because i'm a good person." but there are things that you do, because of the society that we live in, that discriminates against black people.

adina campbell, bbc news. the united states congress has passed a bill to combat hate crimes against asian americans, which have been on the rise the bill, which will now be signed into law by president biden, will speed up the investigation of hate crimes, expanding support for local and state law enforcement agencies. the international energy agency, which represents mainly rich countries, says that no new gas boilers should be sold from 2025. that's one of 400 steps proposed by the intergovernmental agency, if the world is to achieve net—zero emissions by the middle of this century. the sale of new petrol and diesel cars around the world would also end by 2035. now, where does all the plastic waste, the single use plastic bottles and wrapping and cartons which litter and pollute our world, actually come from? a new study has learnt that more than half of all that disposable plastic can be traced to just 20 companies,

who manufacture the polymer which goes to make the plastic. 0ur science editor, david shukman, reports. it all begins with oil pumped from underground, the start of a plasticjourney. in refineries and processing plants, the oil is turned into the raw materials for plastic. and the new research finds that of those destined to make single—use items, half are produced byjust 20 companies. those ingredients are sold to manufacturers who make everything from plastic cups to plastic bottles. most of them used just once and then thrown away, often polluting the environment. the study says the original producers need to take responsibility for that. the future of the plastic waste crisis really sits in the hands ofjust 20 companies who account for more than half of the waste we generate. we need to go after the tap to turn off the tap of fossil fuel plastics, and we need to create plastics from recycled materials.

the producers say they are trying to recycle as much plastic as possible and that they're investing in new ways they say it's not as easy as it looks and that, anyway, we all depend on plastic to keep ourselves safe, and to keep our food fresh. but pressure is mounting on the companies involved to do more. these rivers are choked with plastic waste. and at the moment, there's no end in sight to scenes like this. david shukman, bbc news. one of china's tallest skyscrapers has been evacuated after the 350—metre building began to shake. have a look at this. you can see people fleeing to safety in the southern city of shenzhen. the tower is just 20 years old and is home to an important electronics market with dozens of offices

inside. supermodel naomi campbell has welcomed an addition to herfamily. posting on instagram, she said: "a beautiful little blessing has chosen me to be her mother, so honoured to have this gentle soul in my life, there are no words to describe the lifelong bond that i now share with you, my angel. there is no greater love." right, now for some art with a difference. this is ai—da — the world's first humanoid robot artist. according to its creators, it is capable of drawing portraits using its camera eye and a pencil in hand. and ai—da is about to open her first major exhibition at london's design museum. but is this humanoid truly creative? david sillito has been investigating. meet ai—da, the robot artist. it's a slow and steady process, but effective. these are a few of her recent self portraits. and what's more, she's happy to have a chat. how are you today?

i am well, thank you. how would you rate yourself as an artist? i love to be creative. i enjoy being someone who makes people think. she answers questions. each painting is different, and a surprise. you could almost say she has a personality. fundamentally, that's a funny question. i think the prospect of getting to know her is hilarious, but at the same time, i mean, peering over at her now, i think her makers probably considered that they have some form of relationship. whether that's reciprocated or not. ai—da, could you look across there to the camera? we are all used to, these days, talking to machines and our phones.

but creativity, that's a rather different question. and this is meant to be a little bit unsettling, a little unnerving. the thing that concerns us about technology is the fact that we don't know the domino effect of it. so ai—da foreshadows many technologies coming through, and she opposes those questions by her artwork to say, this is what's coming through, are we happy with that? so, ai—da, the artist. it's painting today. who knows what tomorrow? david sillito, bbc news. now to one of the most famous names in italian music. franco battio has died. he was famous for his philosophical lyrics and wide range of styles. he launched his career in the 60s and retired in 2019 for health reasons —— battiato. we will

have more about his life on our website as well, bbc.com/news. you're watching bbc news. hello. although the weather will be a little quieter across the uk overall today, in contrast to recent days, it's not settling down properly anytime soon. the end of the week looking very stormy indeed, and that will be thanks to this area of low pressure barreling in on thursday and friday. we've kind of got a weak area of low pressure still with us for today. it's going to feed in a band of more organised showers to the south for first thing. this should clear the south—east, though, by the time we get to lunchtime. cloud and some patchy rain drifting south across scotland, and then through the afternoon, livelier, thundery showers develop, particularly across eastern scotland and the eastern side of england. a few elsewhere towards

the west, but generally much drier for wales and the south—west and many parts of the midlands than it has been of late. as we move through the overnight period, clear skies and light winds, actually pretty chilly into the small hours of thursday with a risk of a few pockets of ground frost, particularly for central and eastern areas. in the west, the wind will already, though, be starting to pick up, the cloud piling in and this deep area of low pressure starts to make itself felt first thing on thursday. wind and rain into the west, spreading to all areas through the day. yes, there will be some heavy rain, but potentially not as heavy as some of us have seen out of the recent showers. the big issue is likely to be the wind, particularly gusty in areas adjacent to the irish sea, gusting 45—50mph, strong enough to do some damage and cause some disruption. 0ur temperatures still very unremarkable for the time of year, at least a couple of degrees below where we'd expect to see them. thursday into friday, the area of low pressure continues its progress across the uk, so another windy day on friday. perhaps a little bit drier towards the far south

and to the far north, but overall, plenty of showers still set to swirl around that low. and the biggest headache yet again will be the winds. very strong gusts across southern britain on friday. and still our temperatures, well, we're barely scraping into the mid—teens. for the weekend, it looks like things will become somewhat quieter, certainly on saturday, perhaps some dry weather towards the west. yet more showers, though, on sunday.

emotionally very well this is bbc news, the headlines: israeli air strikes on gaza and rocket fire by palestinian militants towards southern israel have continued after a day of protests in the occupied west bank. three palestinians were killed in clashes with the israeli security forces in ramallah and nearby. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, says palestinian militants have been �*set back many years' by nine days of israeli bombardment. in new york, the latest meeting of the un security council has failed to reach consensus. the spanish authorities say they've returned half of the record 8,000 migrants who crossed into the spanish territory of ceuta from morocco this week. moroccan guards have reportedly begun closing the border again after more than a day in which they turned a blind eye to the crossings. now on bbc news — can

tech turn back time?