we are close to a deal, and it can get done this week. i'm not making a promise or a prediction, but it is there for the taking, and we are going to work to make it happen. pressing hard to close this. the deal we have structured would — the deal we have structured would flee _ the deal we have structured would flee the _ the deal we have structured would flee the hostages, . the deal we have structured. would flee the hostages, halt the fighting, _ would flee the hostages, halt the fighting, provide - would flee the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security| the fighting, provide security to israel. _ the fighting, provide security to israel, and _ the fighting, provide security to israel, and allow- the fighting, provide security to israel, and allow us- the fighting, provide security to israel, and allow us to - to israel, and allow us to significantly— to israel, and allow us to significantly search - significantly search humanitarian - significantly search - humanitarian assistance to significantly search _ humanitarian assistance to the palestinians. _ israel and hamas appear close to reaching a ceasefire deal in gaza. a palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told the bbc that, for the first time since 2011, the two delegations are conducting in the same building.

in washington, the us national security adviser, jake sullivan, struck a cautiously optimistic note, saying a deal was entirely possible within the next few days. meanwhile in los angeles, the fire threat level for the whole of the county is at critical, as officials fear strong winds in the next few days could spark new fires. let's begin with that developing story in the last hour or so. the white house national security advisor has said that a deal to halt fighting in gaza and release israeli hostages could be reached in the final days ofjoe biden�*s presidency. jake sullivan said an agreement was close. an israeli official says that gaza ceasefire talks are in "final stages" for the release of up to 33 hostages. we'll be live in jerusalem in a moment. but first here's jake sullivan. we are now at a pivotal point in the negotiations

for a hostage deal and a ceasefire in gaza. the president spoke with prime minister netanyahu yesterday, and just got off the phone with the emir of qatar. he'll be speaking soon also with president sisi of egypt. we are close to a deal, and it can get done this week. i'm not making a promise or a prediction, but it is there for the taking, and we are going to work to make it happen. let's speak to the bbc�*s jonah fisher, injerusalem, and our gaza correspondent, rushdi abualouf, who's in istanbul. i want to get from both of you the latest you are hearing from the latest you are hearing from the respective sides in this negotiation.— the respective sides in this negotiation. the respective sides in this neuotiation. ., , . negotiation. today has been a da in negotiation. today has been a day in which — negotiation. today has been a day in which we _ negotiation. today has been a day in which we have - negotiation. today has been a day in which we have heard i negotiation. today has been a i day in which we have heard some pretty strong voices against this deal, here in israel, including prominent members of benjamin netanyahu's cabinet. one of them came out this

morning with a tweet, saying he thought it would be a catastrophe for israeli national security if this deal would ahead. clearly, mr netanyahu has a job to do. there was also a letter written to him by ten members of his own coalition urging him not to make that deal. yes, there are certainly opposition here. it remains to be seen as the students progress if we do get to the point of the being possibly agreed, as to whether those people missing an mesen yahoo's cabinet against it will actually take up a fuss and potentially even bring the government down. or when push comes to shove, they make their objections heard but allow the deal to get through.— deal to get through. you've been speaking _ deal to get through. you've been speaking to _ deal to get through. you've been speaking to a - deal to get through. you've i been speaking to a palestinian official with close knowledge official with close knowledge of the negotiations. what have they been saying about the shape of this potential deal?

they said it is almost done. and — they said it is almost done. and the _ they said it is almost done. and the egyptians, the americans, the qataris and everybody involved are in the same — everybody involved are in the same building time to put the final_ same building time to put the final touches, as this official told — final touches, as this official told me _ final touches, as this official told me. we have very exclusive information about this deal. the — information about this deal. the israel army will remain in the area — the israel army will remain in the area called the buffer zone. _ the area called the buffer zone, something like 800 metres to the _ zone, something like 800 metres to the border. her masts rejected _ to the border. her masts rejected this idea and insisted they— rejected this idea and insisted they wanted a complete israeli withdrawal from gaza in the first — withdrawal from gaza in the first stage. but most likely this— first stage. but most likely this is— first stage. but most likely this is not going to happen. according to this official had a chat—

according to this official had a chat with the head of the hamas_ a chat with the head of the hamas delegation, he said the israeti — hamas delegation, he said the israeli army will remain in the buffer— israeli army will remain in the buffer zone, israeli army will remain in the bufferzone, in israeli army will remain in the buffer zone, in the corridor between _ buffer zone, in the corridor between gaza and egypt. and for the first — between gaza and egypt. and for the first 20 to they will remain— the first 20 to they will remain on the road separating gaza _ remain on the road separating gaza from _ remain on the road separating gaza from the north to the south _ gaza from the north to the south. the people displaced over— south. the people displaced over a — south. the people displaced over a year ago from their villages— over a year ago from their villages and towns in the north, _ villages and towns in the north, they will be allowed to id north, they will be allowed to go back— north, they will be allowed to go back to the north. but there is also — go back to the north. but there is also a — go back to the north. but there is also a lot of complication in this, _ is also a lot of complication in this, because they will be subject— in this, because they will be subject to x—ray screening machines that will be put in place — machines that will be put in place on _ machines that will be put in place on the road to allow cars to pass — place on the road to allow cars to pass freely. we understand that egyptian and qatari security delegations should arrive — security delegations should arrive irr— security delegations should arrive in gaza on the first day of the — arrive in gaza on the first day of the deal to facilitate the

screening and to coordinate with —

screening and to coordinate with the _ screening and to coordinate with the local police, who in fact — to give them something which you can celebrate, he likes to be seen as a peacemaker, and i think there's also an element in which donald trump wants to get on with a bigger regional plan for the middle east, which includes normalising relations between israel and saudi arabia, which can really only start to begin to happen if the gaza war is sorted in some way. thank you both very much for the moment. of course we will keep you right up to date with any developments on those negotiations. joe biden has been speaking in the last few minutes about closing a deal between israel and hamas.

they deal would allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the palestinians, who have suffered terribly in this war that hamas started. they have been through hell, soaring many people have been killed, so many communities have been destroyed. the palestinian people deserve peace and at the right to determine their own features. if your desires peace and real security. the hostages and real security. the hostages and the families deserve to be reunited. taste and the families deserve to be reunited. ~ . ., ., reunited. we will have more on that story _ reunited. we will have more on that story for — reunited. we will have more on that story for you _ reunited. we will have more on that story for you throughout i that story for you throughout the programme. nearly one week after the devastating wildfires began in los angeles, authorities say the fire threat for all of la county remains critical. planes continue to dump fire retardant and water on hillsides across los angeles and firefighters are cutting vegetation to slow the spread of flames, but with the strong planes continue to dump fire retardant and water winds that fanned the flames last week expected to pick up

again, the worry is that the existing fires will spread or new ones will start. at least 2a people have been killed so far. and this is where the fires are still burning. the palisades fire, which began at 10.30 local time last tuesday, is only 14% contained. the eaton fire is 33% contained. but further north, the hurst fire is almost fully under control, and the kenneth fire has now been fully contained. but with the winds growing in strength again, the chief of the la fire department has been speaking about the plans the palisades fire, your laf d remains committed to this fire. we have a significant number of engines dedicated to this fire. we have crews from up and down the state, outside of the state, they have made excellent work overnight, mopping up flare—ups and hotspots. the

primary focus was on the mandeville canyon area, and this file is now at 23,713 acres, with 14% containment, with 5123 personnel assigned to the palisades fire. let's speak to my colleague, helena humphrey, in los angeles. i know you have been at that donation centre behind dewar, a much needed resource for many people. much needed resource for many --eole. ~ . people. much needed. in the ast few people. much needed. in the past few hours, _ people. much needed. in the past few hours, more - people. much needed. in the past few hours, more and i people. much needed. in the i past few hours, more and more people have been coming, either donating things or people needing to pick things up, i doubt they have lost their homes and everything, or they are in evacuation centres right now with very little. so many people fleeing in at the dead of night when they get those evacuation orders. things like

shoes, basic essentials, water. beyond that, we have got an ultrasound van perhaps for women who had to flee who still need pregnancy care, for example. the concern is about those winds picking up. in this area we have seen 77 tankers flying. essentially they can drop off a lot of water to get on top of those blazes. i want to talk but they need to two guests. thank you for being with others. talk to us about the needs and what you have seen. ., . , seen. right now we are still assessing — seen. right now we are still assessing more _ seen. right now we are still assessing more areas i seen. right now we are stilll assessing more areas people have — assessing more areas people have hot— assessing more areas people have not been at yet. but overall— have not been at yet. but overall it _ have not been at yet. but overall it is just have not been at yet. but overall it isjust more on the clean-up— overall it isjust more on the clean—up side. people here can obviously— clean—up side. people here can obviously get anything they need — obviously get anything they

need immediately. the first stages _ need immediately. the first stages of disaster, it is always— stages of disaster, it is always food, water, essential items — always food, water, essential items. then into the clearing, buckets, _ items. then into the clearing, buckets, anything people can utilise — buckets, anything people can utilise to _ buckets, anything people can utilise to get into their homes _ utilise to get into their homes-— utilise to get into their homes. ~ . . homes. we are resource providers. _ homes. we are resource providers, we _ homes. we are resource providers, we get i homes. we are resource providers, we get a i homes. we are resource providers, we get a lot l homes. we are resourcel providers, we get a lot of corporate _ providers, we get a lot of corporate donors. - providers, we get a lot of corporate donors. we i providers, we get a lot of. corporate donors. we work providers, we get a lot of- corporate donors. we work and large _ corporate donors. we work and large semi—loads— corporate donors. we work and large semi—loads of— corporate donors. we work and large semi—loads of cargo. i corporate donors. we work and large semi—loads of cargo. we i large semi—loads of cargo. we will be — large semi—loads of cargo. we will be sending _ large semi—loads of cargo. we will be sending in— large semi—loads of cargo. we will be sending in some - large semi—loads of cargo. we will be sending in some water| will be sending in some water and is — will be sending in some water and is shelfstable _ will be sending in some water and is shelfstable notebook. will be sending in some wateri and is shelfstable notebook for people — and is shelfstable notebook for people coming _ and is shelfstable notebook for people coming here. _ and is shelfstable notebook for people coming here. this i people coming here. this facility— people coming here. this facility is _ people coming here. this facility is only— people coming here. this facility is only open - people coming here. this . facility is only open through friday. _ facility is only open through friday. i_ facility is only open through friday, i believe, _ facility is only open through friday, i believe, and - facility is only open through friday, i believe, and they. friday, i believe, and they will— friday, i believe, and they will be _ friday, i believe, and they will be shifting _ friday, i believe, and they will be shifting to - friday, i believe, and they will be shifting to a - friday, i believe, and they will be shifting to a more i will be shifting to a more permanent— will be shifting to a more permanent site. - will be shifting to a more permanent site. that i will be shifting to a more permanent site. that is i will be shifting to a more i permanent site. that is where we come _ permanent site. that is where we come in _ permanent site. that is where we come in and _ permanent site. that is where we come in and start- permanent site. that is where i we come in and start delivering more _ we come in and start delivering more long-term, _ we come in and start delivering more long—term, high- we come in and start delivering more long—term, high volumel more long—term, high volume assistance _ more long—term, high volume assistance. we _ more long—term, high volume assistance. we have - more long—term, high volume assistance. we have several. assistance. we have several other— assistance. we have several other citesm _ assistance. we have several other cites. . ._ other cites... our goal is to be able _ other cites... our goal is to be able to _ other cites... our goal is to be able to help _ other cites... our goal is to be able to help as - other cites... our goal is to be able to help as many i be able to help as many different areas, the cause that are just — different areas, the cause that are just so many displays at this— are just so many displays at this time _ are just so many displays at this time-— are just so many displays at this time. ~ , ., , ~ this time. when people think about los — this time. when people think about los angeles, - this time. when people think

about los angeles, they i this time. when people think| about los angeles, they think about los angeles, they think about holyrood, the glitz and glamour. but this is impacting people from all different people from all different people and the road a layer two ahead will be long. it is ahead will be long. it is heartbreaking. - ahead will be long. it is heartbreaking. i'm i ahead will be long. it is| heartbreaking. i'm from ahead will be long. it is heartbreaking. i'm from this area, — heartbreaking. i'm from this area, beeh— heartbreaking. i'm from this area, been through - heartbreaking. i'm from this area, been through a - heartbreaking. i'm from this area, been through a lot i heartbreaking. i'm from this area, been through a lot of. area, been through a lot of different— area, been through a lot of different disasters- area, been through a lot of different disasters here. i area, been through a lot of. different disasters here. this one different disasters here. this ohe is— different disasters here. this one is really— different disasters here. this one is really catastrophic. i different disasters here. this one is really catastrophic. toj one is really catastrophic. to see — one is really catastrophic. to see the — one is really catastrophic. to see the number— one is really catastrophic. to see the number of— one is really catastrophic. to see the number of people i one is really catastrophic. to i see the number of people who have _ see the number of people who have lost — see the number of people who have lost their— see the number of people who have lost their homes, - see the number of people who have lost their homes, these i have lost their homes, these are people _ have lost their homes, these are people who... _ have lost their homes, these are people who... we - have lost their homes, these are people who... we are i have lost their homes, these are people who... we are ini have lost their homes, these i are people who... we are in the altadeha — are people who... we are in the altadena site, _ are people who... we are in the altadena site, a _ are people who... we are in the altadena site, a lot _ are people who... we are in the altadena site, a lot of— are people who... we are in the altadena site, a lot of these i altadena site, a lot of these people — altadena site, a lot of these people can't— altadena site, a lot of these people can'tjust _ altadena site, a lot of these people can't just go - altadena site, a lot of these people can'tjust go into- people can'tjust go into housing _ people can'tjust go into housing without - people can'tjust go into housing without havingi people can'tjust go into- housing without having some assistance _ housing without having some assistance. it _ housing without having some assistance. it makes- housing without having some assistance. it makes a - housing without having some assistance. it makes a big i assistance. it makes a big difference. _ assistance. it makes a big difference. in— assistance. it makes a big difference. in these - difference. in these situations, - difference. in these situations, the i difference. in these i situations, the recovery, difference. in these - situations, the recovery, the rebuilding _ situations, the recovery, the rebuilding for— situations, the recovery, the rebuilding for these - situations, the recovery, the rebuilding for these people i rebuilding for these people will be _ rebuilding for these people will be years. _ rebuilding for these people will be years. i _ rebuilding for these people will be years. i have - rebuilding for these people will be years. i have a i rebuilding for these people. will be years. i have a friend in the — will be years. i have a friend in the venture _ will be years. i have a friend in the venture afire, - will be years. i have a friend in the venture afire, they. will be years. i have a friend . in the venture afire, they have not read — in the venture afire, they have not read out _ in the venture afire, they have not read out and _ in the venture afire, they have not read out and it— in the venture afire, they have not read out and it has- in the venture afire, they have

not read out and it has been. not read out and it has been five — not read out and it has been five years _ not read out and it has been five years-— five years. you have been involved _ five years. you have been involved in _ five years. you have been involved in aid _ five years. you have been involved in aid efforts i five years. you have been involved in aid efforts all| involved in aid efforts all around the world. i wonder what it is like to see a crisis like this come to the us, your own back yard? it this come to the us, your own back yard?— back yard? it is hard. we are here, back yard? it is hard. we are here. we _ back yard? it is hard. we are here, we adhere _ back yard? it is hard. we are here, we adhere to - back yard? it is hard. we are here, we adhere to help i back yard? it is hard. we are here, we adhere to help in l back yard? it is hard. we are i here, we adhere to help in any way— here, we adhere to help in any wavwe— here, we adhere to help in any way we can. but to see everybody going through this, it isjust — everybody going through this, it isjust very everybody going through this, it is just very difficult. we try to _ it is just very difficult. we try to be _ it is just very difficult. we try to be as resilient as we can, — try to be as resilient as we cam this _ try to be as resilient as we can, this is what we do for a living, — can, this is what we do for a living, but— can, this is what we do for a living, but it is not easy. you are speaking _ living, but it is not easy. you are speaking about _ living, but it is not easy. mt. are speaking about your field experience and i know how touched you feel for the communities here. thank you so much for sharing your expertise with others. as you can see, still so many people in need. we were discussing that it is notjust we were discussing that it is not just the we were discussing that it is notjust the here and now. the road to recovery here will be a very long one i had.— very long one i had. helena humphrey. _ very long one i had. helena humphrey, thank— very long one i had. helena humphrey, thank you i very long one i had. helena humphrey, thank you very l very long one i had. helena i humphrey, thank you very much. around the world and across

the uk, this is bbc news.

isa is a revolution is coming, whether we like it or not. artificial intelligence may have the potential to transform the world and the uk and tends to be at the forefront that transformation. the prime minister — sir keir starmer — setting out his government's intentions — what's called the ai opportunities action plan. leading tech firms are said to be investing leading tech firms are said to be investing $14 billion. let's listen to some of what the prime minister said. the investors. — the prime minister said. the investors, the _ the prime minister said. the: investors, the entrepreneurs, the researchers who will make

those breakthroughs. they are looking around the world. they are choosing where to make their home. trillions of pounds worth of investment at stake. a battle for the jobs of tomorrow is happening today. joining me now is dr eleanor drage. she's a senior research fellow at the university of cambridge and co—host of the good robot podcast. the prime minister they are saying that is a vast potential for al to transform the way public services operate. do you agree? and to what extent is al already in use in our public services?— services? this is a crucial time for _ services? this is a crucial time for the _ services? this is a crucial time for the government| services? this is a crucial- time for the government and keir starmer is time for the governm