live from washington, this is bbc news. hamas submits its response to a us—led ceasefire proposal but says it still requires israel's commitment to completely stop the war. us presidentjoe biden�*s son, hunter, is found guilty on all three charges in his federal gun case. and malawi's vice president, saulos chilima, was killed in a plane crash, along with nine other passengers. thank you forjoining us. the white house says its evaluating an official response by hamas to the latest proposal for a truce in the gaza conflict. us presidentjoe biden submitted the proposal about 12 days ago. and earlier on tuesday, hamas said it has a positive view of the plan but wants several guarantees. citing israeli officials, two us media outlets report that hamas has rejected an israeli proposal for a ceasefire and hostage exchange. hamas has not confirmed the claim and said the proposal "opens up a wide pathway" to reach an agreement. from jerusalem, our middle east correspondent hugo bachega has more. hamas has expressed readiness to reach a deal, but it's sticking to its initial demands, and they include a guarantee that there will be a permanent ceasefire in gaza, and also the complete withdrawal of israeli forces from the territory. now, qatar and egypt, which have been mediating the talks, say they have received this response from hamas, and that they will co—ordinate the next steps in these negotiations with the united states. now, the deal being discussed is a three—stage plan that was announced by president biden. he described it as an israeli proposal. the first stage of this plan would see the release of hostages being held in gaza, and then pave the way for a permanent ceasefire. now, hamas wants a guarantee of a permanent ceasefire because they fear that once the hostages are out, the israeli military may return to gaza to continue with its military operation against the group. now, the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu had previously said that israel would not commit to an end of the war without achieving its goals of destroying hamas�*s military and governing capabilities in gaza. despite prime minister netanyahu's hardline stance that the war will not end until hamas is fully defeated, us secretary of state antony blinken says the plan has israel's backing and that it is hamas who is holding up any agreement to a plan. secretary blinken is in the region for an all—out push for a ceasefire in gaza. a day after talks with mr netanyahu, america's top diplomat travelled to jordan tuesday for an emergency humanitarian aid conference. while there he announced more than $40 million in aid for palestinians and called on others to provide more assistance. un secretary general antonio guterres was also in attendance, and backed the truce proposal put forward by the us. his appearance came as he released his annual report on children and armed conflict, where for the first time, israel and hamas were added to the list of offenders responsible for violating children's rights. here's mr guterres discussing the crisis facing children in this war. over 50,000 children require treatment for acute malnutrition. and despite the ocean of needs, at least humanitarian aid missions have been impeded, cancelled due to operational or security reasons. the horror must stop. it is hard time for a ceasefire along with the unconditional release of hostages. i welcome the peace initiative recently outlined by president biden and urge all parties to seize this opportunity and come to an agreement. we can speak now to frank lowenstein, a former adviser to us secretary of statejohn kerry, who also previously served as us special envoy for middle east peace. good to have you back on bbc news. i want to get the latest on the back and forth proposal. hamas and the palestinian islamichhad expressing readiness to positively reach a deal to end the war in gaza. they have submitted a response to mediators and sources saying it contains amendments. thoughts? the fundamental issue between israel and hamas has not been resolved and that is whether it is a permanent or temporary ceasefire. in effect, what you haveis ceasefire. in effect, what you have is both sides shifting blame to other side rather than taking any serious efforts to reach an agreement. they are putting their best to put the onus on yahya sinwar an hamas. but they do not care what happens in the un or what anybody else says and yahya sinwar says today he thinks he has israel where they wanted. we are coming to the point at the end of the line for the ceasefire effort.— the end of the line for the ceasefire effort. they can get to a temporary _ ceasefire effort. they can get to a temporary ceasefire - ceasefire effort. they can get to a temporary ceasefire that i to a temporary ceasefire that would lead to negotiations for what the end of the war look like? , ., , what the end of the war look like? , . , , , like? yes, that is the premise but the problem _ like? yes, that is the premise but the problem is _ like? yes, that is the premise but the problem is that - like? yes, that is the premise but the problem is that the i but the problem is that the israelis have made clear in any number of different ways they have no intention of moving to phase two. they plan for the negotiations to fail and to resume the while. they continue say they will continue until they destroy hamas. hamas, they understand what israel is saying and what is going on it which is this is a short—term ceasefire at best for them and i think yahya sinwar does not want to let benjamin netanyahu and israelis of the hook. what and israelis of the hook. what about antony _ and israelis of the hook. what about antony blinken, - and israelis of the hook. what about antony blinken, he - and israelis of the hook. what about antony blinken, he has| about antony blinken, he has expressed optimism to reach a ceasefire whether temporary or down the road, is that a brave face? i down the road, is that a brave face? . , face? i have been in the same situation _ face? i have been in the same situation secretary _ face? i have been in the same situation secretary blinken - face? i have been in the same| situation secretary blinken has beenin situation secretary blinken has been in 2013 trying to negotiate a ceasefire between israel and hamas and if we wanted more they do, i think the biden administration is done literally everything they possibly could to get the parties to agree. there is a fundamental disagreement at the core that remains unresolved and there is not much they can do about that.— do about that. any guns has ste ed do about that. any guns has stepped down _ do about that. any guns has stepped down from - do about that. any guns has stepped down from his - do about that. any guns has i stepped down from his position which complicates things. —— benny gantz. they are willing to collapse the government if they accept the ceasefire but there is popular from they accept the ceasefire but there is popularfrom families of the hostages to accept it. i think his goal is to have hamas be blamed for the failure of the ceasefire. i do not think benjamin netanyahu really wants a ceasefire. he is blocked in a little bit because the us has presented its own offer back to hamas and they are not able to really walk away from it but at the same time that an of thing that will make it impossible for hamas. they will want to continue the war, israel. they are trying to keep this coalition is quite as a cancer we can put the blame on the bigger issue with benny gantz is he was really a force of moderation inside of the wall cabinet and i think without him, some of the right—wingers will get even louder. israel killed a very senior hezbollah command. but they may be looking at another war. but pressure — looking at another war. but pressure can _ looking at another war. but pressure can antony blinken still have at his disposal? irate still have at his disposal? we ossibl still have at his disposal? - possibly played our last card. if they did not agree they threatened to get rid of the leadership. there are terrorists hiding in tunnels are prepared today and prepared to sacrifice their own people and they will continue to push as hard as they can. i do not think that will ever say we will not try anymore but i do not think they have any cards left. �* ._ , not think they have any cards left. �* , , ., not think they have any cards left. �* , ., ., ., not think they have any cards left. �* . ., . left. always great to have you on bbc news. _ left. always great to have you on bbc news. thank- left. always great to have you on bbc news. thank you - left. always great to have you on bbc news. thank you for l on bbc news. thank you for joining us again tonight. the son of the us president is facing up to 25 years in jail, after being found guilty of lying about his drug use in order to purchase a firearm. a federaljury found hunter biden guilty on all three felony charges brought against him for failing to disclose his drug use when buying a gun in 2018. it's the first criminal prosecution of the child of a sitting us president. hunter biden�*s lawyers say they are disappointed by the verdict and will pursue legal challenges. while hunter could face 25 years in prison, as a first—time offender, typicially do not receive jail time. president biden commented on the verdict in a statement saying: the charges were brought by special counsel david weiss, a prosecutor appointed by the justice department. the appointment was intended to investigate the president's son without interference from the white house. mr weiss is a republican nominated to the post of delaware's us attorney by donald trump in 2018. some democrats have accused mr weiss of playing politics by aggressively prosecuting the case. as faith gay, a forwmerfederal prosecutor, explains, ——as faith gay, a former federal prosecutor, explains, the prosecution is relatively unusual. this probably 300 or 400 cases like this prosecuted a year and most resolved by plea deals that do not involve incarceration. it is fairly ready to take one of these cases to trial without an underlying incidence of violence, using the gun that was unlawfully obtained. having said that, this is a very serious crime. the only way to sort of control the traffic of anger is for people to be truthful when they deal with the federal arms dealer and on the federal arms dealer and on the federal arms dealer and on the federalforms the federal arms dealer and on the federal forms clearing them to possess the gun. so it is certainly a crime from a policy perspective that should be prosecuted but the tendency of the department ofjustice is to prosecute when it has been an underlying incidence of violence associated in the legal gun. for more let's go to delaware to our correspondent carl nasman. good to see you. what do we know about how the jewry reached this verdict? irate know about how the jewry reached this verdict? we know it came pretty _ reached this verdict? we know it came pretty quickly, - reached this verdict? we know it came pretty quickly, after. reached this verdict? we know it came pretty quickly, after a | it came pretty quickly, after a week long trial. —— jewry. three hours of deliberations to reach the guilty verdict. —— jury. juror number ten told us that despite the last name of the defendant in this case, politics did not play a role inside the room itself. this is some of what he told us, he said, "i was never thinking of presidentjoe but even that mrs biden was there in the courtroom. somehow you block it out of your mind. his dad was not on trial." so despite all the dog and the announcements of our political this role might be, in terms of the 12 jurors, six men and six women, they tell us, at least one juror says, they tell us, at least one jurorsays, it they tell us, at least one juror says, it was not a political discussion but about the facts in the case. 50 political discussion but about the facts in the case. so much attention _ the facts in the case. so much attention paid _ the facts in the case. so much attention paid to _ the facts in the case. so much attention paid to this - the facts in the case. so much attention paid to this case. . attention paid to this case. what are some of the reactions to the verdict? the what are some of the reactions to the verdict?— to the verdict? the reaction is caettin to the verdict? the reaction is getting pretty _ to the verdict? the reaction is getting pretty political. - to the verdict? the reaction is getting pretty political. if - getting pretty political. if you talk about the democrats, for a long time they really did not want to discuss hunter biden and his criminal issues, his behaviour issues, that was something that was a bit embarrassing but now we're starting to him democrat partitions coming out and be activist. 0ne partitions coming out and be activist. one of them alexandria 0casio—cortez, she said, look, this verdict does a lot to disprove, president donald trump is may claim that somehow the justice system is rigged against them, that it is out to get them. she says, the son of the current sitting president has just been convicted of his own crime and that you go along way to disproving those in terms of republicans, what some of them are saying, it has been a mixed reaction, but they have been trying to link presidentjoe biden to his son for a long time. the rhetoric ramping up again. calling it the biden crime family. that is something we have been hearing a lot. today and over the past few years. what happened next? == years. what happened next? -- happens- _ years. what happened next? » happens. we do not have a sentencing date yet. it will happen the next days or so and thatis happen the next days or so and that is when will find out what the centres could be. it could be up to 25 years injail but it is not likely to get to that. he has another trial expected to begin in september in california.— in california. thank you so much. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at a story making news in the uk. historians in england have found eight perfectly preserved giant stone balls in warwickshire which they believe were catapult missiles in the year 1266. they've been found by english heritage and its believed the were used to attack kenilworth castle. historian will wyeth has been telling us about them. they talk about how want the king henry iii set up the siege of the castle he told his machines to fight continuously for 172 days so it would have been cinematic quality siege, really. the seige on kenilworth castle was one of the longest in english history and happened when the country was in the grip of civil war. the occupents eventually surrendered the castle to the king. the uncovered stone projectiles range in size from 1 kilogram to 105 kilograms or about 2 to 231 pounds. they were found while english heritage was working on a project to promote accessibility at the castle. they were able to link them to the seige because of a previous discovery at the site. you're live with bbc news. ukraine's far east has come under intense russian bombardment over the last few months. but now, the mayor of kharkiv says there have been fewer russian attacks ever since the us allowed ukraine to strike targets across the border using american weapons. it comes as president volodymyr zelensky is in germany to appeal for more support to protect ukrainian cities, hoping to encourage european nations to invest in the country's post—war reconstruction. 0ur david mcguinness has more details on mr zelensky�*s push for recovery efforts in berlin. thousands of delegates from all over the world were in berlin to plan the reconstruction of ukraine after the war. they include governments officials from around 60 countries, as well as business leaders, and that's because the main point of this conference is to get private investment into ukraine. politicians say that state funds are not going to be enough. no matter how many billions of euros and dollars get pumped into ukraine, they need businesses to get involved. and on the one hand, its immediate reconstruction for bond infrastructure, for example, to provide energy, say, or water to people here and now, on the other hand, it's about rebuilding ukraine in the future, when the war finishes. and that's more difficult because no—one knows how long this is going to last. after the conference, president zelensky went to the bundestag, the german parliament, to deliver a speech. the mps there applauded, gave him a standing ovation, it was a moving moment. but not all mps attended. mps from the far—left and the far—right boycotted president zelensky�*s speech, accusing him of escalating the war. and i think as we see national elections here in germany approaching next year, those voices on the extreme are going to get louder. mainstream germany, though, still very much supports ukraine, and they back german chancellor 0laf scholz�*s line that peace in europe is only possible if ukraine is fully supported. both mr zelensky and german chancellor 0laf scholz will attend the group of seven summit of major western powers later this week. boosting support for ukraine is top of the g7�*s agenda, and the white house said on tuesday it plans to announce new sanctions during the conference, including steps to use frozen russian assets to benefit ukraine. also later this week, switzerland will host a summit that aims to create a pathway for peace in ukraine, although russia won't be in attendance. for more on ukraine's recovery and economic situation, i spoke to tymofiy mylovanov. he was ukraine's former minister of economic development and trade. looking at the ukraine recovery conference taking place in berlin, how is it possible for ukraine and its partners to talk about recovery and rebuilding when the war is still raging on? it rebuilding when the war is still raging on?— rebuilding when the war is still raging on? it is actually a resilient _ still raging on? it is actually a resilient conference - still raging on? it is actuallyj a resilient conference rather than recovery and president zelensky today spoke about air defence. it goes to protect ukrainian civilians and also the economy. you cannot have resistance without a viable economy. the second one is about energy generation. it has been systematically targeted. these are extremely interconnected. you mention ukraine's energy infrastructure which has been the target of russian attacks. at this point in the war, is to give us any idea of the scale of money it would take to rebuild the infrastructure? it would take to rebuild the infrastructure?— would take to rebuild the infrastructure? it is a bit of a sensitive _ infrastructure? it is a bit of a sensitive topic— infrastructure? it is a bit of a sensitive topic but - infrastructure? it is a bit of a sensitive topic but there | infrastructure? it is a bit of. a sensitive topic but there are still numbers. for example, recent research which shows the numbers in the range of $50 billion. that is what you will need to recover. in terms of the amount or percentage of generation capability and capacity affected is about 50%. it is a significant amount. if you look at where the father got to come from, the european commission said injuly the first 1.5 billion euros from frozen russian assets will be transferred to ukraine and the white house as this will be a topic of discussion at the g7 but ukraine's reminisces that you between $10 billion and $30 billion of investment over the next ten years. beyond frozen assets, where do you think those funds will be generated from? ., . , those funds will be generated from? ., , those funds will be generated from? ., from? frozen as it is actually $300 billion _ from? frozen as it is actually $300 billion so _ from? frozen as it is actually $300 billion so it _ from? frozen as it is actually $300 billion so it is - from? frozen as it is actually $300 billion so it is aplenty. | $300 billion so it is aplenty. now politicians are talking about some proceeds which are really minuscule, it is almost a job. really minuscule, it is almost ajob. it really minuscule, it is almost a job. it is great to have this 1.5 or $5 billion but $300 billion are there. if that resistance is overcome, these assets will be confiscated otherwise it is taxpayers money. otherwise it is taxpayers mone . ~ . otherwise it is taxpayers mone .~ . , money. what is the most important _ money. what is the most important message - money. what is the most important message to i money. what is the most important message to be money. what is the most i important message to be taken away from this recovery conference, especially as we look ahead to the summit taking place in switzerland this weekend?— place in switzerland this weekend? �* . ., . weekend? after the conference there will be _ weekend? after the conference there will be the _ weekend? after the conference there will be the peace - weekend? after the conference there will be the peace formall there will be the peace formal meeting in switzerland focusing on three aspects, security, nuclear security maritime security and children protection. this isjust going to go immediately after the conference. what the conference shows is the european attack on to france from russia seriously. i'm willing to engage with ukraine and support its economy. that stash the threats. how we can both resilient and how ukraine can produce more defence equipment. this conference this week complement each other. == this conference this week complement each other. -- these conferences- _ complement each other. -- these conferences. beijing _ complement each other. -- these conferences. beijing has - complement each other. -- these conferences. beijing has said i conferences. beijing has said it is not sending anyone to this conference. at least that is the latest we had from beijing. do you think that takes away from what the conference can achieve? i do not think— conference can achieve? i do not think so. _ conference can achieve? i do not think so. i _ conference can achieve? i do not think so. ithink- conference can achieve? i do not think so. i think that i not think so. i think that there will be about 100 countries participating in the summit. it shows a commitment and importance of the summit and importance of the summit and it is important to recognise that to first build a coalition and agree on your position and then you go to negotiate with your opponent. i am not saying we're quite there yet but it is important that first the countries who were on the side of democracy and the rule of they have to get together to converge in that position. together to converge in that osition. ~ ., together to converge in that osition. ~ . , ., ~' position. what you think president _ position. what you think president zelenskyy's i position. what you think - president zelenskyy's messages going to be two countries in the global south who have until now be hesitant to criticise russia to grieve ukraine support? the stash give. —— give. support? the stash give. -- rive. ~ ., support? the stash give. -- rive. ., ., support? the stash give. -- rive. ., . ., give. most of them had tried to state out at _ give. most of them had tried to state out at least _ give. most of them had tried to state out at least publicly. i state out at least publicly. and if not siding with russia not to cite openly with ukraine. russia is a major disruptor and destabilising factor and it will go after the global south as it sees fit. it is dangerous for those countries to support the order of some kind of security stability. plus there are very pragmatic implication for security. russia is trying to weaponised food security, especially in the global south, arguing to be the only state which can provide food security which can provide food security which is actually not true. it is the only state which undermined food security globally. the president of malawi has confirmed that vice president saulos chilima has been killed in a plane crash. in a sombre address to the nation, lazarus chakwera said the aircraft, which was carrying chilima and nine others, had been completely destroyed. the plane came down in a forest in the north of the country on monday. a search and rescue team has found the aircraft in a forest and they have found it completely destroyed with no survivors. all passengers on board were killed on impact. words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is and i can only imagine how much pain and anguish you all must be feeling at this time. for more on the search mission, the bbc�*s kalkidan yibeltal sent this update. the search mission has been complicated because of the landscape of the area. the aircraft was believed to have followed in the forest because of bad weather. the plan was not found and even today the government came out and said because the area was foggy, they were having reduced visibility which was making the effort difficult. however, there were fears the plane might�*ve crashed in the forest and maybe the people on board may have died. we do not know what caused the air crash and any investigations are waiting for the results of the investigations to tell us but we can understand now that the vice president and his fellow passengers are all killed in this incident. and there is an expectation that will be a funeral in the coming days. say a fire next to a — the coming days. say a fire next to a famous _ the coming days. say a fire next to a famous market . the coming days. say a fire i next to a famous market killed around 1000 caged animals and damaged more than $100. authorities believe it was started by an electrical short shortage, had an argument were reported. it has been criticised for poor living conditions. us media reporting that manhattan district attorney will testify before congress onjuly 12, attorney will testify before congress onjuly12, one day afterformer president congress onjuly12, one day after former president donald trump is centres in his hush money case. the hearing before a republican lead subcommittee will give allies a chance to rally against what they say was a politically motivated trial. the case convicted the former president on charges of falsifying business records to cover up hush money agreement. stay with us on bbc news. hello there. it's felt quite pleasant in any strong june sunshine. but generally temperatures have been below par for this time of year and wednesday looks pretty similar to the last few days. some spells of sunshine, variable cloud and further showers mostly across eastern areas. i think there'll be fewer showers around on wednesday because this is a ridge of high pressure, will tend to kill the showers off. the winds will be lighter, but we're still got that blue hue, that cold arctic air hanging around for at least one more day before something milder starts to push in off the atlantic, but with wind and rain. so it's a chilly start to wednesday. temperatures could be in low single digits in some rural spots. these are towns and city values. a little bit of mist and fog where skies have cleared overnight, but it's here where you'll have the best of the sunshine, northern and western areas. a bit of cloud across eastern scotland, eastern england, one 01’ two showers. through the day, it'll be one of sunshine and showers, but the clouds will tend to build most of the showers eastern areas, tending to stay drier towards the west with the best of the sunshine. so it could be up to 17 or 18 degrees in the sunniest spots, but generally cool, ten to 15 or 16 celsius. and then as we move through wednesday night, any showers fade away, lengthy, clear skies. the temperatures will tumble against mist and fog developing. temperatures in rural spots dipping close to freezing in a few places. generally, though, in the towns and cities, we're looking at 4 to eight degrees. now we'll start to see some changes into thursday. we change the wind direction, we lose that cooler air, something a bit milder. but this frontal system tied into low pressure will start to bring wet and windy weather initially into northern ireland, spreading across the irish sea, into western britain and pushing its way eastward. so we start dry with some early sunshine across eastern areas and it should stay dry, i think in eastern england, eastern scotland until after dark. we change the wind direction despite more cloud around, 17 or 18 degrees. and it means thursday night will be milder. so a milder start to friday, but low pressure across the country bring stronger winds, sunshine and showers or longer spells of rain. some of these showers will be heavy and thundery, particularly across southern and western areas. but despite that, in the sunshine, it'll feel a little bit warmer, maybe 19 or 20 degrees. not much change into the weekend, low pressure dominates the scene. it'll be breezy at times. there will be showers or longer spells of rain again, some of them heavy and thundery. but in the sunnier, brighter moments, it'llfeela bit warmer, 19 or 20 degrees. and another thing you'll notice, it will feel milder at night. take care. the fight to be the world's most valuable company heats up, after apple announces new ai tools on its devices. and as smartphones get smarter — can you survive without one? we put a group of teenagers to the test. hello and welcome to business today. apple shares have surged to a record high, after it unveiled new ai tools. the tech giant is now valued at $3.18 trillion just behind microsoft, which remains the world's most valuable company. from new york, erin delmore has the details. have been waiting for months to see