overacting - icture overacting -icture and the ”urose, ”urose is picture and the purpose, purpose is to serve our country. this is the last upper for the election and we have made significant and very real progress. and why a north korean propoganda song has become a tiktok hit. hello, i'm samantha simmonds. we start with the latest on the israel gaza war, as efforts to secure a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in gaza are intensifying. the head of the us central intelligence agency, william burns, is in cairo to help try to mediate a ceasefire deal between israel and hamas. hamas negotiators have also arrived in egypt for talks. foreign mediators have been waiting for a response from the group to an israeli proposal to halt the fighting for a0 days and to exchange hostages

for palestinian prisoners. unconfirmed reports in us media say israel has given hamas a week to agree to the current proposal or it will begin its long—threatened offensive in rafah. but there has been widespread international concern over the fate of the more than one—million palestinians sheltering there. our correspondent, anna foster is injerusalem. i asked her about the increasing pressure on hamas to reach a deal. yeah. we're at the same stage samantha where an israeli deal has been put on the table. it was described at the start of the week by the us secretary of state, antony blinken, as extraordinarily generous. and it seems to be that in this latest iteration of the deal, there had been some movement in terms of potentially agreeing to talk about a permanent ceasefire. now, from israel's point of view, of course, its priority at the moment is trying to ensure the release of all the remaining hostages that are being held in gaza. one of hamas�*s key priorities is to try and get some sort of agreement towards a permanent ceasefire rather than a temporary one.

so while it seems that the two sides are moving closer together, there is still a disconnect, i think, on that point. and i think also on the number of hostages to be released. now, originally we were told the number that was being talked about was around 40, then the briefings were that that had come down to around 33. these are people who are in what's considered the humanitarian category, women, the elderly, and people who are suffering from particular medical conditions. of course, the question is how many of those hostages hamas actually has access to in gaza and how many of them are still alive? equally, the number of palestinian prisoners who would be freed from israeli jails, that number sounds like it's still being discussed as well. so while these proposals are on the table, while they were being welcomed at the start of the week as a step closer, the fact that the talks are going on is positive. i think the fact that william burns, the head of the cia, is in cairo again, is potentially a positive move because he, i think, is there to try and facilitate and iron out those last few details.

but it's worth saying we've been in the last few months at this point before when when things are looking good, when the sides are looking like they might agree and things crumble at the last minute. so that hope is always, i think, always a cautious hope rather than than one without sort of thinking about what could happen and how close things can get before they fall at the final hurdle. and anna, what more can you tell us about these us media reports that israel has given hamas a week to agree to a proposal or it will begin its long threatened offensive in rafah? long threatened is absolutely right. the president, benjamin netanyahu, has been talking about the rafah offensive for months now. but even though we heard in the media several weeks ago that it had a date attached, that date has never been publicly confirmed. and there are questions really about whether or not that is a date or or whether, of course, this continues to be part of israel's leverage with the international community

when it comes to actually reaching a deal. what we know is that the us government, in particular israel's biggest military and diplomatic partner, is not wholly supportive of that rafah offensive. israel says it's essential if they're going to remove the last of hamas from gaza. but the us points to the fact that there are still around 1.4 million displaced people in rafah. in terms of timings, could it be a week? well, there are two things that need to happen. they need to move a large number of those people out of the way back further north in the strip before they can start an offensive. and the idf, the israel defense forces, would also need to move their brigades back into position inside gaza for another ground offensive. so while we hear these reports of timings, i think until it actually starts, it's always incredibly hard to tell. rishi sunak is insisting the conservatives have "everything to fight for" — despite the party losing nearly half the seats contested in local elections in england. with results expected in several mayoral races today, the tories will be hoping that andy street can cling on as mayor in the west midlands but they suffered a further loss

in the east midlands speaking at a rally to celebrate the election of claire ward as east midlands mayor he cited the win, and victories in the blackpool south by—election and the york and north yorkshire mayoralty, as evidence the party is on the "last stop on the journey" to power in westminster. we have won significantly in all places across the country, whether that's by—elections, whether that's mayoralties, whether that's councils, and of course the police and crime commissioners. now, in some places we didn't get all the votes that we wanted, and of course we will fight to get those votes back, but if you look at the overarching picture and the purpose, the purpose is to serve our country, it's the last stop before the general election, and we have made significant and very real progress everywhere that we needed to do so, so i'm very pleased with that. my colleague rajini vaidyanathan and bbc political editor, rob mayor are now in birmingham at the count.

we are expecting the result of the mayoral contest here in the west midlands. sometime this afternoon. we don't know when exactly but what we do know is that it could be a really close result. now, the incumbent mayor, the conservative is hoping for a third term in the job and throughout the campaign, labour's richard parker has been pushing really hard. the labour party, for a long time, was really hopeful that it might take this may oral seat from the conservatives. of course, we don't know what that result will be until the county made me has concluded but we do know that it will be very close and some labour sources indicated that they think they might be closer than anything and they this to the conservatives, partly because, as harry was mentioning in his report of cert kea stammer�*s position on the ongoing conflict in and that is because one of the independent candidates for mayor here has been

very, very firm in his position on the war in gaza. these use this as his platform and there are some who believe he could take votes away from the labour party and in the end that could leave andy street as the winner but it is worth pointing out that when it comes to me a race as it is also about figurehead. it is about personality and andy street has been a big face here in the west midlands and one that has been quite popular. he is in many ways the anti—politician. he was the head of john lewis before he took over as the mayor here. welcome to discuss all of this in a bit more detail i am by rob, the political editor of the west midlands. very appropriate name for the day that we are on. let's tug by the news overnight and the controversy here. they were having to apologise for a source making some comments about the way they think the vote will go. it was

you who spoke to the labour source. this was a story about yesterday morning — this was a story about yesterday morning. labour sources telling us early— morning. labour sources telling us early on _ morning. labour sources telling us early on yesterday that they thought they had _ early on yesterday that they thought they had lost this contest and putting — they had lost this contest and putting the blame sorta firmly on the party's position in gaza and there _ the party's position in gaza and there was— the party's position in gaza and there was a quote from the source that said _ there was a quote from the source that said it— there was a quote from the source that said it was the middle east that said it was the middle east that would win for the conservatives, not the west midlands. once again, how hamas are the villains _ midlands. once again, how hamas are the villains was what this quote said _ the villains was what this quote said it — the villains was what this quote said. it was pretty quickly slapped down _ said. it was pretty quickly slapped down by— said. it was pretty quickly slapped down by the labour party who described it as a racist comment and they said _ described it as a racist comment and they said this person does not share they said this person does not share the values _ they said this person does not share the values of the labour party. in the values of the labour party. in the campaign team here, richard parker's— the campaign team here, richard parker's campaign team here are confident— parker's campaign team here are confident this is a close race. there — confident this is a close race. there are _ confident this is a close race. there are certainly not conceding anything this morning. let's talk about that independent candidate. by the wording of that statement did

cause offence and the party has apologised for using language, including hamas, the underlying sentiment we've seen across parts of the countries that sir keir starmer�*s refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire back in october may have cost the party votes and other places and potentially could have led to my support for this independent it is definitely, definitely a factor and there are some indications that the independent candidate has done quite well that at the health warning, i think, and that, if he has done my part to birmingham, for example, is that we don't know if they are labour voters who have lent their support to him of that particular whether they are people who just would not have voted in the first base that is yet to be determined but elsewhere in the west midlands, places like walsall, for example, we've had some cancers in the labour party resigned last year over the gaza issue. pm party resigned last year over the gaza issue-— party resigned last year over the gaza issue. . , ., ,

gaza issue. an independent group standinu gaza issue. an independent group standing on _ gaza issue. an independent group standing on a _ gaza issue. an independent group standing on a pro-palestine - gaza issue. an independent group standing on a pro-palestine ticket standing on a pro—palestine ticket in local_ standing on a pro—palestine ticket in local elections which were counted _ in local elections which were counted yesterday and up making in bed so_ counted yesterday and up making in bed so it _ counted yesterday and up making in bed so it is — counted yesterday and up making in bed so it is an issue for the labour party~ _ bed so it is an issue for the labour party~ we'tt— bed so it is an issue for the labour party. we'll find out for that they've _ party. we'll find out for that they've managed to get that under control— they've managed to get that under control in— they've managed to get that under control in this election. for the conservatives, it is for the vacancy of their— conservatives, it is for the vacancy of their challenge of reform uk. talking — of their challenge of reform uk. talking about the incumbent, andy street, when you look at is campaign literature, look at some of the speeches he has made them many ways he has distanced himself from the conservative party, trying to kind of, if he does win, win this on his personal appeal. of, if he does win, win this on his personal appeal-— of, if he does win, win this on his personal appeal. absolutely. it has been known _ personal appeal. absolutely. it has been known as _ personal appeal. absolutely. it has been known as brand _ personal appeal. absolutely. it has been known as brand andy - personal appeal. absolutely. it has been known as brand andy here i personal appeal. absolutely. it has been known as brand andy here in| personal appeal. absolutely. it has i been known as brand andy here in the west midlands will debate as equine as leaflets, he does not and mention that he _ as leaflets, he does not and mention that he is— as leaflets, he does not and mention that he is conservatives. green rather— that he is conservatives. green rather than blue. that he is conservatives. green ratherthan blue. no that he is conservatives. green rather than blue. no pictures of the prime _ rather than blue. no pictures of the prime minister. he says it is is about— prime minister. he says it is is about the _ prime minister. he says it is is about the person, not the party. and you might _ about the person, not the party. and you might remember, depict a very public— you might remember, depict a very public row— you might remember, depict a very public row with the by minister of the cancellation over the northern le- the cancellation over the northern leg of— the cancellation over the northern leg of h52— the cancellation over the northern leg of h52 two just last year so i think— leg of h52 two just last year so i think is— leg of h52 two just last year so i think is fairly successful at

putting _ think is fairly successful at putting some distance between him and the _ putting some distance between him and the party. it putting some distance between him and the party-— putting some distance between him and the party. it be enough? we will find out this — and the party. it be enough? we will find out this afternoon? _ and the party. it be enough? we will find out this afternoon? interesting l find out this afternoon? interesting point is there because, of course, even though andy street has, some ways, distance himself from the conservative party, if he does when and becomes the mayorfor another term, it will be a real glimmer of hope and success for the conservative party after a night of results which were not so favourable across many parts of the uk. let's get some analysis on the results that have come through overnight and this morning. our political correspondent, nick eardley, is in the newsroom. bring us up to date on the picture so far. ~ ., ., , , bring us up to date on the picture so far. . . ., , , so far. we have a pretty good icture so far. we have a pretty good picture now — so far. we have a pretty good picture now about _ so far. we have a pretty good picture now about what - so far. we have a pretty good picture now about what the i so far. we have a pretty good i picture now about what the local elections for councils in england have thrown out. there was only five orso have thrown out. there was only five or so left it to claire. five left to declare and this is the picture. they were up 173, that is a good result for them. they're confident

that that shows they are on track to win a westminster election. maybe not as good as it could have been. there is a world in which labour could have done better but they are pretty happy so far. not happy, conservatives. look at that number their foot up down 449. they are losing of all the seats that they were defending. a result for the conservatives, towards the west end of their expectations. at the moment, the lib dems are slightly ahead of the conservatives. the greens, worth flagging as well put up greens, worth flagging as well put up with a good result for them. up 65 seats. this is what it means in terms of the vote share change for the last time. these elections were contested in 2021. you can see there the conservatives down 12% of labour up the conservatives down 12% of labour up three. a good result but may be again not quite as good as some in the labour party would have hoped for w the greens are up as well. this is interesting, though. because

this is part of the country where the conservatives had been in power in local councils and they are not any more and what is interesting to me as it is mixed. you've got places like dorset, in the south—west, where the lib dems took that council late last night. you've got hampshire, redditch which is about other bellwether seat which tends to vote the same way as the rest of the country so this is a pretty grim picture if you are a tory waking up this saturday, trying to figure out what this all means for you. let's drill in two some of the examples, actually. i think the kind of show a bit of a picture. you can see down the bottom, despite small writing but if you seal the blue there, conservative control for years. they lost eight seats on thursday. labour took seven. that is up to give labour control of that council. dorset, as i wasjust labour control of that council. dorset, as i was just talking about, what you would probably call the blue walcott parts of the south of

england where the conservatives are pretty safe but there is for cause that into question because look what has happened. conservative down 13 seats, lib dem up 13, enough to give them power. really interesting result. just one final example want to give you. this is where the defence secretary grand chaps has his seat. we've gone to some keywords and spoke and figured out how people are voting and conservatives are down 15%. labour are up seven and that equates to an 11 point swing to labour which will make how his seat looks at a general election. i want to talk briefly about tactical voting. this is areas where the conservatives were first but labour were second. the conservative's vote is down by more than the national average and they

rose up in more than the national average. the lib dems and greens don't go out much at all which can means that people don't want to vote conservative are coalescing behind labour in these areas for a labour was the closest last time. advocate this, though. in the lib dems were second to the tories last time, conservatives are still down but the lib dems are the main beneficiary. they rose up a bit but the lib dems are, as i say, the main beneficiary. i find that for the interesting put up i find that for the interesting put up suggest that there is tactical voting going on for people who want to get a conservative incumbent out. and just finally on the big picture, from the results we have so far, this, the projected national share. this has been put together by all the bbc experts and election team trying to figure out if everybody had voted on that it had voted in the same lines of the people who did vote voted then this is what they would have that fight. this is

interesting. conservatives, 25%. thatin interesting. conservatives, 25%. that in context, that is theirjoint lowest result ever in a bbc projected national share from a local election result. so that is bad. labour, ahead by 9%. same lead as they had last year. 34% is good but it is not quite the same levels that we were seeing when tony blair was in charge of the labour party in 1986, i997 was in charge of the labour party in 1986, 1997 before his landslide. just one final thing. the 24% of others, but half of is the greens so they are very happy this morning. thank you very much for taking us through all of that. time to catch up through all of that. time to catch up on all the sporting action. arsenal have the chance to go four points clear at the top of the premier league when they host bournemouth in just over an hours time. mikel arteta's side lead the league ahead of the day's games, but manchester city have a game in hand. the arsenal manager says he wants his side to focus on their own results and not

on their title rivals. we just want to when and to when you need others to drop points and you're hoping for that to happen and then you have to manage your emotion because it doesn't matter what happens on the day. there are other games and points to play put up to perform, prepare and when the next match in order to maintain the momentum and this is what trying to do. momentum and this is what trying to do. after arsenal's game, nottingham forest have the chance to go three points clear of the relegation zone if they beat sheffield united. then all eyes will be on manchester city as they host wolves. city defender rico lewis says that arsenal challenging them motivates the reigning champions to be at their best. they are pushing us to the limit, just like last season and they're showing how dedicated they are as well to try to take the crown off as but, if anything, that is given is more of a reason to not let them and play even harder, play better and work harder. play even harder, play better and work harder. notjust a big day

in the premier league but also in england's second tier, the championship. still a lot to be decided there, with all games kicking off injust over an hour's time. ipswich town will return to the premier league for the first time in 22 years, if they avoid defeat against already relegated huddersfield town. their boss kieran mckenna is relishing the chance to play in the premier league and to secure — what will be — back—to—back promotions. we know it would be an incredible achievement. we know what it would mean to the town, to the football club, to the players, to the staff, to everyone. and we're going to do our absolute best to try and make that happen, as we have done all year. there's no more we can do than that. we can't give more than 100%. a group have been giving 100% day in, day out for a really long period of time and showed an incredible, consistent level of that. it is an end of an era for chelsea women. manager emma hayes is leaving, defender maren mjelde is departing as well, and in the last hour, their record goal scorer fran kirby has announced she will be leaving the club too.

kirby has been at chelsea for nine years, making more than 200 appearances, and scoring 115 goals. she's helped the club win six wsl titles, four fa cups and two league cups. kirby said it had been an incrediblejourney. kyren wilson and dave gilbert will finish their semifinal later in the afternoon session of the snooker world championship, but in the other semifinal, stuart bingham and jakjones have resumed their match. they started the session at 8—8. these are live pictures from the crucible. stuart bingham, the 2015 champion, took the first frame of the morning session, but a couple of mistakes from him, has allowed the qualifier jakjones to get back in it. he fought back to take the next frame and they're back to all square for the moment. the other semi—final between kyren wilson and dave gilbert will resume in a few hours. in the nba, the orlando magic

levelled the series against the cleveland cavaliers after a 103—96 win. it sets up a decider 7th match. meanwhile, the mavericks secured a 4—2 series win in the first round of the nba play—offs after beating the los angeles clippers. kyrie irving scored 28 of his 30 points in the second half of the game for the mavs, whose win books their place in the western conference semi—finals and a match—up against the oklahoma city thunder. clippers coach tyronn lue has been linked with taking the vacant la lakers job, after they dismissed darvin ham. this was his response when asked if he could leave. i don't fully have a comment on that. i mean, it is great to be wanted, you know. that is really great feeling but, like i said, i want to be here and, hopefully, we are able to solidify that. want to be here and, hopefully, we are able to solidify that. and that's all the sport for now. finally this half hour to one

of the most read stories on the bbc news website and app. and it involves the latest song from north korea's kim jong—un — take a listen. this is called friendly father and it has gone viral on tiktok — with gen z users loving the synthy—electro pop. most are clearly quite oblivious to the korean lyrics which include "let's sing kim jong—un, the great leader, let's brag about kimjong—un, ourfriendly father." it the latest in a line of propaganda pop songs churned out by the communist state in the past 50 years. let's speak to keith howard, an emeritus professor of musicology at london's school of oriental and african studies, who is known predominantly for his works on korea. isa is a bit more about the songs and why they are created. that

is a bit more about the songs and why they are created.— why they are created. that is accompanied _ why they are created. that is accompanied a _ why they are created. that is accompanied a question. - why they are created. that is - accompanied a question. basically, if think of north korea as a monolithic state with one leadership, and everything going down from the top, then you've got people coming up from the bottom so young musicians, your composers, your groups, they are all there. they are all appointed by the state and songs are created from the bottom up but the lyrics are approved from the top down. so the lyrics have to be i ideologically sound and they tend to be distributed around and everyone has to compose a song, sometimes it is a competition or a group of composers are approached. and everyone chooses which song is most appropriate and initially, the sort of censorship of what is right comes to the bottom and moves up until it is approved at the top. and moves up until it is approved at the to. �* and moves up until it is approved at the to -. �* ., and moves up until it is approved at the to. . ., , and moves up until it is approved at theto.�* ., , ., , the top. and of course media is tiuhtl the top. and of course media is tightly controlled _ the top. and of course media is tightly controlled in _ the top. and of course media is tightly controlled in north - the top. and of course media is| tightly controlled in north korea the top. and of course media is - tightly controlled in north korea so how are people accessing the sums? how are they disseminated? iloathiie how are they disseminated? while there are some _ how are they disseminated? while there are some is _ how are they disseminated? while there are some is at _ how are they disseminated? while

there are some is at the _ how are they disseminated? wi ie: there are some is at the beginning television programmes every day and songs at the end. north korean centre wake up to songs on loudspeakers both in villages and in cities, obviously from apartment blocks it is much easier. in apartment blocks you have speakers which are put out, which put out ideology, which put out announcements but also wake you up and you can't turn those figures are. you change your radio or your television stations. they are fixed. and they are fixed at the factory. they are checked every so often, your television and radio is. they are checked by the authority to make sure haven't tampered with them in case you could get something from south korea or china or anywhere else. so you only get the diet of songs and other material that is decided by state bodies that is appropriate for you. bind decided by state bodies that is appropriate for you.— decided by state bodies that is appropriate for you. and do the work as propaganda _ appropriate for you. and do the work as propaganda tools? _ appropriate for you. and do the work as propaganda tools? get _ appropriate for you. and do the work as propaganda tools? get the - appropriate for you. and do the work as propaganda tools? get the well, i as propaganda tools? get the well, es, the as propaganda tools? get the well, yes. they do- _ as propaganda tools? get the well, yes. they do- and _ as propaganda tools? get the well, yes, they do. and part _ as propaganda tools? get the well, yes, they do. and part of— as propaganda tools? get the -ii yes, they do. and part of the point here is that the sum has to be incredibly catchy and catchy not just as pop but readily graspable

melodies, simple melodies but catchy and waves that go with them, refrains that go round every verse. and fairly simple dance moves which i think a comment south korea we signed wheels are, basically, with gangnam style many years ago when ever be too that the dancers and created their own in north korea can do that, of course, but you can grasp those dance moves are hand pointing, the fist, everything like that which makes the song sort of universally appreciated, that is appreciated but everybody takes it up, everybody sings it and everybody gets used to it. just up, everybody sings it and everybody gets used to it— gets used to it. just be there, ou're gets used to it. just be there, you're saying _ gets used to it. just be there, you're saying it _ gets used to it. just be there, you're saying it works - gets used to it. just be there, you're saying it works as - gets used to it. just be there, you're saying it works as a - gets used to it. just be there, you're saying it works as a bit| gets used to it. just be there, i you're saying it works as a bit of propaganda, inside north korea, and we are talking about how popular this has become on the likes of tiktok. how does it bugs a bit of propaganda outside of north korea? it doesn't unless we consider what the words are and i suspect most of the words are and i suspect most of the genesee people are not

considering the words. the worst micro—change in north korea. it is —— gen z. it is considering kim jong—un as the father of all the people which is something that has been reserved until now for his grandfather who was in control of in 1994. there is a change in ideology going on there. 1994. there is a change in ideology going on there-— going on there. absolutely fascinating. _ going on there. absolutely fascinating. we _ going on there. absolutely fascinating. we are - going on there. absolutely fascinating. we are out. going on there. absolutely fascinating. we are out of| going on there. absolutely - fascinating. we are out of time. we have to leave it there. stay with us on bbc news, plenty more to come. it's the bank holiday weekend and i think mix is probably the way way to describe the weather over the course of the weekend because while there is warm sunny spells for many, some sunshine and showers as well. this morning certainly has been wet across parts of northern england and northern ireland, that rain

will continue this afternoon. the risk of some showers in the far north—west of scotland with sunny spells and sunshine in the south, there may be showers in the far south—east. those could be heavy and thundery, but one sunny spells across many southern areas. temperatures 17, 18 degrees. the warmest may be in the west of scotland, 19 or 20 degrees. rain will continue tonight in northern ireland and scotland, but beneath cloudy skies, temperatures down to 9—11 , but clearer skies, quite a chilly night. temperatures tomorrow starting at 4—6 celsius. some cloud on sunday morning in devon, one or two showers developing. heavier showers in the north—east of scotland with thunder. the maximum temperature of 16—18 c and once again will feel quite pleasant when the sun comes out.

interbank holiday monday, we have this weather front hello there. the weather at this time of the year really can be very fickle, it's looking dry, it's looking fairly sunny, and actually quite warm as well. temperatures will be responding quite nicely to that sunshine. so you can see here that the temperatures will start to rise. 17 to 22 degrees celsius by the end of the week into next weekend. so on the whole, a pretty settled week to come. that's it for me.

bye—bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines: efforts to secure a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in gaza are intensifying, with the focus on talks in cairo. the head of the cia, william burns, is already in the egyptian capital, while a delegation from hamas is expected there later today.

thousands of pro—palestinians demonstrators have marched through new york city following the shut down of another protest encampment. it comes after a turbulent week of protest on us university campuses. as labour celebrates victories across england, rishi sunak has insisted the conservatives have "everything to fight for" — despite the party losing nearly half the seats it contested in local elections on thursday. there'll be more mayoral results today. and police in canada have charged three indian nationals with murder over last year's killing of a prominent sikh activist in vancouver — which sparked a diplomatic row now on bbc news, talking business. hello, a very warm welcome to talking business weekly with me, aaron heslehurst. let's go and take a look at what's on the show. there's a magic to cities which is that by concentrating people and jobs and infrastructure and buildings and amenities together, they start to magnify and multiply each other.