hello. welcome to the programme. presidentjoe biden and vice president kamala harris have been briefed by their national security team as the us focuses efforts on proposed ceasefire talks between israel and hamas due to take place on thursday. cia director william burns and america's middle east envoy are on their way to qatar, as hopes are pinned on a deal to end the conflict in gaza and de—escalate tensions in the region. nearly 40,000 people have been killed in the war, according to gaza's hamas—run health ministry. american qatari and egyptian mediators have invited israel and hamas for the talks. hamas has indicated it won't take part in the current round of negotiations and wants to stick to a ceasefire proposal put forward byjoe biden months ago. israel says it will attend. earlier the us secretary of state and the qatari prime

minister warned other countries in the middle east to not undermine ongoing efforts to reach a deal. diplomacy is being stepped up in the region to prevent a wider war between israel and lebanese armed group hezbollah, which is backed by iran. tensions have soared following killing last month of hamas�* political leader ismail haniyeh during a visit to tehran. israel has never confirmed it was behind the assassination. from jerusalem, our middle east correspondent lucy williamson reports on the impacts of war in gaza. and a warning — viewers may find some of the content of her report to be upsetting. in gaza, peace is for the dead, not the living — not for faras and his five siblings, laying theirfather to rest today in khan younis. majid baraka was killed in israeli artillery strikes, they said, as he went to help the wounded.

"we were just sitting around," faras said, "he was playing with us. "when the first strike happened, "he went to rescue people. "in the second strike, he was killed." but this push for a ceasefire is being driven by events outside gaza, by israel's growing conflict with hezbollah in lebanon, by threats of iranian retaliation for the assassination of key hamas and hezbollah leaders. a ceasefire in gaza could prevent regional war. the deal would also help enable a diplomatic resolution here in lebanon, and that would prevent an outbreak of a wider war. we have to take advantage of this window for diplomatic action and diplomatic solutions. that time is now. since the last ceasefire negotiations, the stakes involved in a deal have grown, but so have the sticking points. benjamin netanyahu says the wrong deal would harm israel's security.

his critics say it would also harm his governing coalition and that mr netanyahu is protecting himself. the prime minister wants israeli troops to keep control of gaza's southern border and to filter unarmed civilians moving back to the north. hamas says these are new demands and that the time for negotiation is over. there are also disputes over israeli hostages and palestinian prisoners and over conditions for resuming the war. a former israeli negotiator says outsiders are driving this deal. it seems that the mediators, the united states, egypt and qatar, have decided that they need to change the rules of the game, put an ultimatum on the table, put a bridging proposal on the table and tell hamas and israel that they have to do it. it is obvious that the mediators want the agreement more than the parties do, and that is a big part of the problem.

these talks have been billed as the last chance for a deal. the price of failure will be paid by the hostages, by the region, by teenagers like faras. success may depend on the leaders of israel and hamas risking their own political survival. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. mediation efforts have repeatedly stalled since a week—long ceasefire in november. it has been the only pause so far in the war. dozens of israeli hostages captured on october 7 were released in exchange for palestinian prisoners held in israeli jails. joining me live is laura blumenfeld, former senior policy adviser for the middle east peace process at the us state department. welcome to the programme. there is a lot of effort now particularly from the us side

to make sure these talks go ahead on thursday. what is your assessment of whether they will? , . ., ., will? the big challenge all alon: will? the big challenge all along has _ will? the big challenge all along has been _ will? the big challenge all along has been canned - will? the big challenge all| along has been canned the parties synchronise their watches to make as your report noted there has been more of a sense of urgency perhaps by the negotiators, the moderators, the us and others than the parties themselves. i am optimistic because i think these negotiations are different than all others. first, the lives of the hostages. it is true they are under lock and key but they hold the key to unlock the region to piece. prime minister netanyahu held a five—hour meeting with his key coalition partners to discuss the opportunity to give him more room to manoeuvre because according to intelligence assessments the hostages' lives are at stake now. there are indications at least one male hostage was killed by a capture and two female hostages were wounded and i think those

female hostages are particularly had a sensitive point. the second i would say is the august 15 date in doe ha is the august 15 date in doe ha is a shot marriage, no ordinary negotiation. he has guns to his head. hezbollah and iran are poised to return a rate. if he so chooses, to show the compromises necessary, that could be also the key, if they reach a ceasefire, it gives both iran and potentially hezbollah a face—saving way to say they regain dignity, they shifted that kind of paralysing moment of weakness that they were exposed to through these assassinations back into balance, perhaps removing the need for revenge and the third reason i am optimistic again is for perhaps pessimistic reasons but one of those too big to fail which is the economies of the region, oil prices going up, the israeli credit rating going down, and although we

don't always recognise how important economics are, i think that could make a difference. at think that could make a difference.— think that could make a difference. �* ., ., difference. at the moment would be are hearing — difference. at the moment would be are hearing is _ difference. at the moment would be are hearing is hamas - difference. at the moment would be are hearing is hamas will- be are hearing is hamas will abstaining from those talks, though. abstaining from those talks, thou~h. , ., , though. yes. i feel that is more technicality - though. yes. i feel that is more technicality than - though. yes. i feel that is i more technicality than giving any real concern here. they did shoot the messenger, israel killed ismail haniyeh, so they did negotiator but there are folks in dough how in the wings and nearby and they are able to convey whatever they need. —— doha. convey whatever they need. -- doha. , , . convey whatever they need. -- doha. , ,, doha. this is about the us applying — doha. this is about the us applying pressure - doha. this is about the us applying pressure on - doha. this is about the us. applying pressure on israel. doha. this is about the us - applying pressure on israel. we know william burns, the cia director, is on his way. does that show you the gravity of how the us sees this particular moment and do you see this as a make or break stage then? i think it is important. even if you zoom out for president biden, his legacy, after president trump, i think president trump, i think president biden�*s top goal in

terms of foreign policy was to restore trust. the quote was, america is back. what that means is america has your back, to allies whether israel or frankly the ukraine, before his presidency is over, you see bold amir zelensky is poking the bear and bold amir zelensky is poking the bearand iran bold amir zelensky is poking the bear and iran is being gougedin the bear and iran is being gouged in the eye. i think they are all raising the stakes and it is up to america to say either way, whether it is president trump or president harris, who will be next, there is uncertainty but president biden has a moment and this is a moment to set things right. there has been a lot of concern about the conflict in the middle east spreading even wider after the killing of the hezbollah commander and ismail haniyeh from hamas. while these talks going to perhaps stores that possible retaliation people are anticipating from

around? �* . , people are anticipating from around? 1, , ., people are anticipating from around? ., , , . around? based on my experience as a middle _ around? based on my experience as a middle east _ around? based on my experience as a middle east negotiator - around? based on my experience as a middle east negotiator in - as a middle east negotiator in the state department under president 0bama i would recommend they have a plan b, side from reaching negotiations, looking at that ceasefire deal is as much as i wanted, we spent three days haggling over a, so i think you need to think of another way. the western allies are saint iran stand on. i think we have to think of a way how else can they say the face if it is not a ceasefire deal? that would be a ceasefire deal? that would be a practical thing and in terms of his well i think there are more options frankly for hezbollah to retaliate without it going the region into a major war. it going the region into a majorwar. i it going the region into a major war. i think they have more options. the growth in that could go for a military target which would with the limited but i would caution that easily could spiral out of control because israeli military planners our inaudible for his life. they have been

waiting for over a decade. thanks very much for sharing yourfirst hand thanks very much for sharing your first hand experience working on these issues. we appreciate it. the world health organization has declared mpox, the disease which was once known as monkey pox, a global public health emergency. it follows the african cdc calling the mpox outbreak a public health emergency. the highly infectious disease is spreading across other parts of central and east africa. the who's declaration of the mpox outbreak as a global emergency means that research, funding, and public health measures will be prioritised. the bbc�*s global health correspondent dominic hughes has more. what it represents a call to arms, to marshal resources, both medical, political and financial, to try and get a grip on this outbreak. that is what underpins this startling announcement, a really big rise in the number of cases. more than 14,000 cases so far this year alone. that number outstrips all of the cases in the year before and sadly, more

than 520 deaths as well. most of those cases have been restricted to the democratic republic of congo, the drc, but what is really causing concern is that cases have also been seen now in at least 15 other countries. now, there was a global outbreak of mpox in 2022—23. for more on this, i can speak now with dr anne rimoin the director of the center for global and immigrant health at ucla. we spoke a couple of days ago and at that point the who had not made a declaration. how serious is this getting and how quickly? serious is this getting and how cuickl ? . ., ., ., , ., quickly? the declaration is an appointment _ quickly? the declaration is an appointment moment. - quickly? the declaration is an appointment moment. there | quickly? the declaration is an - appointment moment. there have been two declarations one by the african cdc declaring a regional emergency and now who declaring a regional health emergency of national concern.

it is not that the situation has changed in the last several days it is now we have the international community standing firmly behind the idea this is an important moment, to act now and release resources and be able to put emphasis on the importance of stopping the spread of mpox.— the importance of stopping the spread of mpox. what would the hel that spread of mpox. what would the help that these _ spread of mpox. what would the help that these african - spread of mpox. what would the help that these african nations l help that these african nations where there is an outbreak, what would that help be required from the international community?— community? what is needed? there are _ community? what is needed? there are a lot _ community? what is needed? there are a lot of— community? what is needed? there are a lot of things - there are a lot of things needed. we have seen mpox increase steadily over the last several years in drc and exponentially in the last several months, so what we really need is better situational awareness and that is through better disease surveillance, providing resources to the drc and neighbouring countries to be able to better understand what is happening on the ground, be able to track transboundary spread, so spread between countries which can be very

difficult to track, better access to testing so we know if there is a case of rash or illness, is this mpox or something else? better social mobilisation so public health campaigns to give the community is at greatest risk awareness of what is going on and how to protect themselves and very importantly, getting these countries access to vaccines and therapeutics which have been these tools available in high resource settings when we had the outbreak in 2022 —— 2022 we had a lot of access to vaccines and therapeutics. these things have not been available in these countries so this declaration will be very important in unlocking all of these resources.— important in unlocking all of these resources. you mention 2022 and _ these resources. you mention 2022 and the _ these resources. you mention 2022 and the outbreak. - these resources. you mention 2022 and the outbreak. whatl 2022 and the outbreak. what lessons can be learned from then? �* , , ., ., then? i've said this before on this programme _ then? i've said this before on this programme and - then? i've said this before on this programme and i - then? i've said this before on this programme and i will. then? i've said this before onj this programme and i will say it again. i think the outbreak in 2022, the global outbreak, and how an infection anywhere

is potentially an infection anywhere in the world in every way so i think it is really important. back in 2022 we waited until we saw the emergence globally to get in front of this virus. this time hopefully we will get in front of it before we see emergence elsewhere in the world. qm. elsewhere in the world. 0k, thank you — elsewhere in the world. 0k, thank you very _ elsewhere in the world. 0k, thank you very much - elsewhere in the world. 0k, thank you very much for - elsewhere in the world. 0k, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on those latest developments when it comes to the spread of mpox in africa. thank you. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a woman from cheshire has been jailed for 15 months after suggesting on facebook that a mosque "should be blown up with the adults inside" after the violence that followed the southport stabbings. it is one of severaljail terms that have been given out in the last few days for social media posts during the recent unrest. train drivers are to vote

on a new pay deal aimed at ending long—running national rail strikes. it follows talks between the aslef union and the government. the offer will now be put to members for a vote. under the deal, they'd get two increases of between 4.75% and 5% for the first two years of the dispute with 4.5% for 2024-5. the scottish government has scrapped a universal winter fuel payment and is introducing emergency spending controls to make up for budget shortfalls. it's understood a number of other projects will also be cut. scotland's finance secretary, shona robison, said the snp government faced "the most challenging financial circumstances "since devolution". you're live with bbc news. ukraine says it will establish humanitarian corridors in the russian region of kursk to let civilians escape its cross—border military offensive. president volodymyr zelensky said on wednesday that

ukrainian forces continue to move forward in several directions. ukraine's operation inside russia — which began just over a week ago — is the biggest foreign incursion into the country since the second world war. in a moment, a report from steve rosenberg in russia reporting on the latest. but first we have our correspondent james waterhouse in ukraine. no border checkpoint on this crossing to russia. just a burnt out russian tank. a different assignment for ukrainian war reporter natalia nahorna. "this is a historic moment," she tells the camera in the city of sudzha. such a claim might be premature, but ukraine is talking up this land grab while it can. it's providing humanitarian aid and organising evacuations. there are even plans to set up military offices. but on the battlefield, success always comes at a cost, as this injured soldier attests.

translation: fear, adrenaline. you realise when you enter their territory, how much we have suffered, how much our women and children have suffered, but now it's their turn. the head of ukraine's armed forces is having even more regular meetings with the president. translation: since i the beginning of today, troops have advanced around i to 2km in some directions. after the body blow of losing territory, russia is now moving resources to try and take it back. as fighter bombers drop glide bombs on ukrainian forces on its own soil, kyiv today claimed to have shot one of them down. the su—34s are thought to be £30 million each. kyiv is trying to change the politics of this war by shaking up the fighting itself. it's certainly done the latter. james waterhouse, bbc news, sumy region.

it feels like ukraine's incursion is changing the equation. and putting the kremlin under pressure. a brief appearance today by president putin but no comment on the ukrainian assault, which his troops are struggling to repel. the russian military released these images, claiming to show it targeting ukrainian troops in kursk region. moscow blames the west, too, for the incursion. when it started in the united states, the main rule was don't poke the bear. what the west is doing today, they are poking the bear. the public sense of shock is growing. "i feel incredible anxiety," yulia says. "as if my hands are tied because there is nothing i can "do about this." "it's frightening to see the images of people " panicking , " tatiana says.

"of people being evacuated." for some here, what is happening in southern russia is a wake—up call. over the last two and a half years, many russians have tried not to notice what is happening, to get on with their lives, to pretend that there is no war, but with what is happening now in southern russia, not noticing is no longer an option. especially here in kursk. "it is the air raid sirens," she says. "get inside, fast!" ukrainian soldiers haven't reached this city but no one here knows what lies ahead. tens of thousands of russians have fled the fighting in the border area. some have taken refuge in kursk. viera left home in such a rush, she had no time to pack. "i have nothing but the clothes on my back," she says. "i am looking for something warm." the kremlin insists it will achieve its aims in this war. russians are wondering when. steve rosenberg,

bbc news, moscow. now to politics here in the us. former president donald trump is back on the campaign trail in the key battleground state of north carolina. it's a state he won by one percentage point in the 2020 election againstjoe biden. caitriona perry is in asheville nc — she was at the rally. welcome to downtown asheville where president trump held those remarks, a liberal have been saito, a democratic stronghold in a state that otherwise leans republican. as you say donald trump won here in the past, two general elections in 2020 by a margin of 1.3% and it was here he chose to make these remarks

today, laying out his economic policies. he has been criticised for airing personal grievances of late rather than focusing on policies following that switch on the democratic ticket. this was designed to be a reset, taking on kamala harris as his new rival, a more focused donald trump who were tackled her in terms of the biden administration poz make handling of economic policies and what he intends to do about the cost—of—living crisis, rising prices in this country and in the state in particular and in the state in particular and he began by doing that but quite quickly turned on his rival. ~ �* ., ., ., rival. we're not going to let incompetent _ rival. we're not going to let incompetent social - rival. we're not going to let incompetent social list - rival. we're not going to let l incompetent social list lunatic keep — incompetent social list lunatic keep breaking our economy for four more _ keep breaking our economy for four more years. it will destroy— four more years. it will destroy our country. on election— destroy our country. on election day we are going to tell her. _ election day we are going to tell her, we have had enough. we cannot_ tell her, we have had enough. we cannot take it any more, kamala _ we cannot take it any more, kamala harris, you are doing a horrible — kamala harris, you are doing a horrible job, you were a

terrible _ horrible job, you were a terrible attorney general, terrible _ terrible attorney general, terrible district attorney, the worst — terrible district attorney, the worst vice president in history _ worst vice president in history. harris, you are fired! get _ history. harris, you are fired! get out — history. harris, you are fired! get out of— history. harris, you are fired! get out of here. go, get out of here! — get out of here. go, get out of here! get _ get out of here. go, get out of here! get out.— here! get out. just a little flavour of _ here! get out. just a little flavour of what _ here! get out. just a little flavour of what we - here! get out. just a little flavour of what we heard l here! get out. just a little - flavour of what we heard from the republican nominee, former president donald trump today. we spoke for about an hour 15, 20 minutes at that event, billed not as a rally but a campaign event to discuss this more now i'm joined by ap national politics to bill barrow. he will aim at. he began by saying he was going to make intellectual remarks about his economic policies. did you hear any new policies? he his economic policies. did you hear any new policies?- hear any new policies? he hit on what he — hear any new policies? he hit on what he has _ hear any new policies? he hit on what he has already - hear any new policies? he hit| on what he has already thrown out at — on what he has already thrown out at no — on what he has already thrown out at no taxes on social security, _ out at no taxes on social security, no taxes on tips, he promised _ security, no taxes on tips, he promised vague promises to unleash— promised vague promises to unleash an economic boom the likes_ unleash an economic boom the likes of—

unleash an economic boom the likes of which america has ever seen _ likes of which america has ever seen it— likes of which america has ever seen it is— likes of which america has ever seen. it is all very like him, if you — seen. it is all very like him, if you will, _ seen. it is all very like him, if you will, and was overshadowed but what we are accustomed to seeing from former— accustomed to seeing from former president trump which is a litany of grievances about the 2020 election, president biden, — the 2020 election, president biden, about vice president harrie _ biden, about vice president harris. there was a point in the — harris. there was a point in the speech where he even said almost, — the speech where he even said almost, an inner monologue coming _ almost, an inner monologue coming out louder, they said i am supposed to talk about the economy— am supposed to talk about the economy and it is the most important issue but i am not so sure _ important issue but i am not so sure it — important issue but i am not so sure it is, — important issue but i am not so sure it is, something to that effect — sure it is, something to that effect. i'm not sure he accomplished at least what his top campaign aides wanted him top campaign aides wanted him to accomplish today. we top campaign aides wanted him to accomplish today.— to accomplish today. we have heard a lot — to accomplish today. we have heard a lot of _ to accomplish today. we have heard a lot of reporting - to accomplish today. we have heard a lot of reporting about| heard a lot of reporting about what is going up on inside the campaign. the focus had been on fighting againstjoe biden and that has changed now. it is fighting against joe biden and that has changed now.- that has changed now. it is a totally different _ that has changed now. it is a totally different dynamic - totally different dynamic and you can _ totally different dynamic and you can see the former president has been thrown off his game _ president has been thrown off his game a bit. it is almost as

if his— his game a bit. it is almost as if his campaign work too well and certainly president biden's a-e and certainly president biden's age and — and certainly president biden's age and the way things played out in — age and the way things played out injune played right into donald _ out injune played right into donald trump's hands until it did not— donald trump's hands until it did not because it was so bad the democrats pressured joe biden— the democrats pressured joe biden and he gave in and now it is a totally— biden and he gave in and now it is a totally different campaign and we — is a totally different campaign and we have seen over the last few weeks it is almost like donald _ few weeks it is almost like donald trump doesn't know yet how to — donald trump doesn't know yet how to run _ donald trump doesn't know yet how to run against kamala harris _ how to run against kamala harris |f— how to run against kamala harris. . ~ how to run against kamala harris. ., ,, , , harris. if we talk briefly about the _ harris. if we talk briefly about the polling. - harris. if we talk briefly about the polling. we l harris. if we talk briefly . about the polling. we have harris. if we talk briefly - about the polling. we have seen ever since she became the party's candidate and nominee donald trump has been sliding a little and she has been gaining ground on him. today we hear from the cook political report that here in north carolina she has stepped ahead of him. what has stepped ahead of him. what does that mean? _ has stepped ahead of him. what does that mean? a _ has stepped ahead of him. what does that mean? a horse - has stepped ahead of him. what does that mean? a horse race is difficult — does that mean? a horse race is difficult to — does that mean? a horse race is difficult to measure. what is safe — difficult to measure. what is safe to — difficult to measure. what is safe to say is there is obvious enthusiasm among democrats that did not— enthusiasm among democrats that did not exist nearly a month ago — did not exist nearly a month ago so — did not exist nearly a month ago so it— did not exist nearly a month ago so it means states like this— ago so it means states like this where he won by as you

referenced 1.3% are now toss ups again _ referenced 1.3% are now toss ups again. there is a lot of time — ups again. there is a lot of time to— ups again. there is a lot of time to go. neither candidate can win — time to go. neither candidate can win but it is a different landscape. can win but it is a different landscape-— can win but it is a different landscae. ~ ., ., , landscape. we will wait to see what happens- _ landscape. we will wait to see what happens. that _ landscape. we will wait to see what happens. that is - landscape. we will wait to see what happens. that is it - landscape. we will wait to see what happens. that is it from | what happens. that is it from here. thanks for watching bbc news. we will have more for you a little later. do stay tuned. hello there! wednesday was a cloudier and fresher feel for most of us, but east anglia still clung on to some sunshine and some heat. 26 celsius was the high on wednesday afternoon in parts of suffolk. but the story will continue to change for thursday. under this influence of low pressure, some wet and windy weather will move its way into scotland and northern ireland. that will gradually sink its way south and east. as it bumps into high pressure, the rain will weaken somewhat. so first thing on thursday morning, we'll have a slightly brighter story northwest of the great glen. the rain turning showery from aberdeen down to glasgow and into northern ireland. heavier bursts of rain through the scottish borders into northwest england, and there will be a fair amount

of cloud through northern england, the midlands, wales and southwest england. so if we draw a line from hull down to southampton, anywhere south and east of that should start the morning off dry with some sunshine. but the cloud will tend to build up as we go through the day. 0ur weather front continues to sink its way south and east, weakening all the time, but a band of showery rain will push its way across wales and into the midlands. but we mightjust cling on to some sunshine. 26 celsius in east anglia, once again, fresher for most. now, that weather front will continue to push its way through the south and east during the overnight period thursday into the early hours of friday morning. it's the dividing line between fresher conditions to the far northwest. here we'll start friday morning in single figures, but still a relatively warm night for sleeping 17—18 celsius in the southeast corner. early morning cloud and rain will ease away. high pressure then builds once again. a few scattered showers into the far north and west, but on friday, a good deal of dry,

settled and sunny weather for most of us. we've lost that humidity. that fresher feel will still continue 14—21 degrees for most in the north, 20—25 across much of england and wales. now into the weekend, high pressure will continue to build in from the west and continue to quieten things down. so not a bad weekend in prospect for pretty much most of us, really. a few scattered showers from time to time in the northwest, but on the whole, dry, settled and sunny with highs once again peaking at 25 celsius, 77 fahrenheit. enjoy.

japan's economy rebounds in the second quarter, as prime minister fumio kishida announces he'll be stepping down in september. plus — we take stock of how the chinese consumer is doing, ahead of retail sales data due today. hello and welcome to business today. i'm steve lai. let's start injapan. the country's economy grew 3.1% annually in the april tojune quarter, beating estimates. on a quarterly basis gdp rose 0.8%, reversing the contraction we saw in the first quarter

of the year. the stronger data comes a day after prime minister fumio kishida made a surprising announcement to step down next month. economic columnist william pesek explained how the ldp will navigate the upcoming leadership change. we've seen this interesting period the last 12 years when the liberal democratic party has been in power and promising very big reforms. prime minister shinzo abe took power in 2012, pledging to becomejapan's version of margaret thatcher and ronald reagan wrapped together, and we saw very little structural change, large military easing, the boj doing a lot, the yen falling 30%. we did not see enough reform, in terms of increasing innovation, empowering women, and the next leader is going to have to figure out how to reinvigorate that process at a moment when china is slowing, when the us labour market is showing signs of strains. and it is not clear if the market he has an appetite for

a big risk. two women have thrown their hats in the ring