we have a special report on a yazidi family suing an islamic state leader's widow for abuse and sex trafficking. welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. we begin in new york, where the united nations security council has voted in favour of an american resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire by israel and hamas in gaza. 1a countries voted in favour, with russia abstaining. speaking after the vote, the us ambassador to the un, linda thomas—greenfield, said the fighting could end now if hamas accepted the three—phase plan. our north america correspondent nada tawfik is monitoring events for us, and sent us this update. the united states, i think, it's no surprise that this resolution, the vote, coincided with antony blinken�*s trip to the region. and what we heard from the united states was that this was the best possible way to secure a durable end to the war, saying that it really is a deal that was israel's initiative, it outlined three phases that they said would eventually, you know, lead to the complete withdrawal of israeli forces, the release of all hostages, in exchange for palestinian prisoners, major reconstruction of gaza, eventually. but i think from different members, you heard different members, you heard different positions. you know, while the united states says this resolution passing means that the international community is united and that this will help put pressure on hamas to accept the deal, you know, algeria said they still had some reservations about the text, but supported it, because they felt it wanted to give diplomacy a chance, wanted to give a glimmer of hope to palestinians. but from russia and china — a lot more scepticism. you know, russia said it didn't want to block this resolution because the arab group of nations supported it, but it questioned whether israel had really accepted the deal as the resolution states, and they pointed to a number of statements by israeli officials, including prime minister binyamin netanyahu, that they will continue the war until hamas is defeated. china as well questioned if, you know, parties will actually implement these three phases of presidentjoe biden�*s proposed deal, and china noting that the other security council resolutions that have been passed weren't implemented, including a permanent ceasefire, including getting more aid in at scale into gaza, questioning, you know, whether this will have a tangible impact on the ground. so i think it remains to be seen if this resolution will, in fact, be different than the other ones. the un vote took place hours after washington's top diplomat, antony blinken, held talks with the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, injerusalem. the us secretary of state emphasising the importance of a post—conflict plan for gaza. earlier on monday, mr blinken met the egyptian president in cairo. abdel fattah al—sisi said he'd agreed to step up attempts to reach a ceasefire and the release of hostages. speaking to reporters, mr blinken said that egypt has been speaking with hamas in the previous hours. the only party that has not accepted, the only party that's not said yes, is hamas. that's who everyone is depending on —— waiting on. that's who the palestinians in gaza are waiting on. it's who the israelis are waiting on. it's who the hostages and the hostage families are waiting on. does hamas want to end this conflict? end this war that it started? or not? we'll find out. but it's clear that virtually the entire world has come together in support of the proposal, and the only open question is will hamas say yes? our state department correspondent tom bateman has been travelling with the secretary and has more from jerusalem. publicly, we're seeing the americans come here and try to press arab leaders to put pressure on hamas to accept this. but hamas is going to want — and basically wants, you know, a far clearer guarantee that this would mean the end of the war and a full israeli withdrawal from gaza. the war and a full israeli withdrawalfrom gaza. clearly, they don't feel like they've got that yet, because we're not seeing a formal response from them, or the resumption of these negotiations. but there is something else going on beneath the surface and this isn't part of the public presentation, but what mr blinken is trying to do is bind the israelis into this and the israeli leadership, because although mr netanyahu has said that his war cabinet has authorised the deal, we haven't heard unequivocal support from him and crucially, in his wider cabinet, that fractious cabinet, that fractious cabinet, including far—right ministers, some of those have outright rejected this proposal already, and some of those who have said they would quit the coalition, precipitate its collapse, if this proposal were to go ahead. so that puts pressure on mr netanyahu potentially to pull back from it all. so i think the white house is trying to bounce the two sides into making progress. that is why mr blinken is here. there are also some strong motivations, really, for the israeli leadership to some extent the top echelons of hamas to play for a bit more time here, but among those who are trying to rush this through, the white house, president biden, desperately seeking an agreement before the us presidential election campaign gets under way proper later in this year. but so far, here from the region, few signs of any here from the region, few signs ofany imminent here from the region, few signs of any imminent breakthrough. in france, political parties are scrambling to get ready after president macron called surprise parliamentary elections across the country, several years before he needed to. he made the move after his ruling alliance was roundly defeated in sunday's european elections, with france's far—right national rally securing an overwhelming victory for seats in the european parliament. president macron�*s decision to go to the polls after such a stinging result is being seen as a huge gamble by some, as he risks becoming a lame duck president if he loses. nick beake reports from the town of coulommiers, east of paris. emmanuel macron visited the site of one of the worst nazi massacres in france, perpetrated 80 years ago today. he's been drawing on the past to highlight what he claims is the current threat confronting the country — from the far—right. in the face of his opponents�* success this weekend, the president has taken an almighty gamble in calling a snap election. a0 miles outside paris, this is coulommiers, the land of cheesemaking, where support for macron has crumbled. the members of the monday club said they hadn't veered to the right. but then we met 31—year—old mum of three noemi, a worker in an elderly care home, who says she's desperate for something new. translation: what frightens people could actually do them good, so we should try the national front because france is getting worse. i'm scared to leave my house and the public transport is not safe. whatever the result of these snap parliamentary elections, emmanuel macron is set to stay on as president for another three years but a national rally victory could have a huge impact here and in many parts of france. it would also be hugely symbolic too because in just six weeks�* time, the country will host the olympic games and by then, france could have its first far—right government since the second world war. this is the 28—year—old who could be france's prime minister in a month. through his social media, jordan bardella has been winning young supporters in particular, focusing on the cost of living — softening the image of a party once condemned as unelectable and working alongside marine le pen. she hopes to replace macron as president in 2027. so can national rally translate their victory at the european elections to the national vote? so they have some kind, say, of a political virginity — people say, we do not know what they will do if they come to power but nevertheless, let's give them a try and if we are not happy, we will have election next time and we'll get rid of them. it's not clear what the president's thinking is but his legacy will be defined in the coming weeks. nick beake, bbc news, outside paris. in the uk, the prime minister has apologised again and asked for forgiveness after leaving d—day commemorations early. during a campaign visit on monday, rishi sunak said it hadn't crossed his mind to resign. in an interview on monday evening, he said it has been a tough few years, but the election was about the future and the country had turned a corner. our political editor chris mason has more. one of the key things we want to do in this election is put your questions to those seeking your questions to those seeking your support. we're calling it your voice, your vote. you've told us how much housing matters to you, so we put that directly to the prime minister tonight. having your own home has got harder under a conservative government, hasn't it? it has not government, hasn't it? it has got harden — government, hasn't it? it has got harder. and _ government, hasn't it? it has got harder. and i _ government, hasn't it? it has got harder. and i want - government, hasn't it? it has got harder. and i want to - government, hasn't it? it has i got harder. and i want to make sure that it's easier and what we will do is notjust build homes in the right places, and do that in a way that is sensitive to local communities, but make sure that we support young people into greatjobs so they can save for that deposit. the brutal truth is that a party that's been in powerfor 14 years has a long track record to scrutinise, but how different things may have been or could be in the future under any government is worth pondering too. so, on housing, why would it be any better under labour? it why would it be any better under labour?— under labour? it was a staggering _ under labour? it was a staggering admission l under labour? it was a - staggering admission from rishi sunak tonight that effectively so many young people are priced out of the housing market. the dream of home ownership is transformative for young tra nsformative for young people. it's transformative for young people. it's why we've said we want to build morehouses, but reforming the planning rules which hold back house—building. these half—hour interviews with all the main party leaders offer the chance to explore plenty of topics, like the prime minister leaving the 0—day commemorations early. d—day commemorations early. do you understand that for quite a lot of people watching, i think, they simply think that the basic duty of the prime minister, the duty, was for you to be in that photograph, and not david cameron?— to be in that photograph, and not david cameron? well, that's wh i've not david cameron? well, that's why i've apologised _ why i've apologised unreservedly for the mistake and i hope people can find it in their hearts to forgive me. my in their hearts to forgive me. my duty is also to make sure that this is a country which looks after our veterans, which is why i'm proud that there is a veterans minister sitting around the cabinet table. find around the cabinet table. and what about — around the cabinet table. and what about the _ around the cabinet table. and what about the reform uk leader nigel farage, who manages to haunt, bamboozle and excite conservatives in roughly equal measure? isn't your problem that many conservatives think he's more of a conservative than you are? well, at the end of the day, or onjuly 5, there is only going to be one person who's going to be prime minister, it's keir starmer... be prime minister, it's keir starmer. . ._ be prime minister, it's keir starmer... �* �* ., ., starmer. .. and i'm asking about niel starmer. .. and i'm asking about nigel farage? — starmer. .. and i'm asking about nigel farage? and _ starmer. .. and i'm asking about nigel farage? and i'm _ starmer. .. and i'm asking about| nigel farage? and i'm answering the question- _ nigel farage? and i'm answering the question. the _ nigel farage? and i'm answering the question. the choice - nigel farage? and i'm answering the question. the choice is - nigel farage? and i'm answering the question. the choice is for i the question. the choice is for keir starmer or myself. a vote for anyone who is not a conservative candidate is just making it more likely that keir starmer is that person. and making it more likely that keir starmer is that person. and so to the conservative _ starmer is that person. and so to the conservative manifesto, that published bundle of promises, coming in the morning. a tomorrow you'll promise more tax cuts? ~ ., ., tax cuts? we will have a manifesto _ tax cuts? we will have a manifesto tomorrow - tax cuts? we will have a | manifesto tomorrow that tax cuts? we will have a - manifesto tomorrow that builds on all the things that you've just gone through, but we've already announced in the campaign that, yes, does continue to cut people's taxes because i believe in a country where people's hard work is rewarded. he where people's hard work is rewarded-— where people's hard work is rewarded. ., , ., , ., rewarded. he has to believe, to ho e, rewarded. he has to believe, to hepe. too. _ rewarded. he has to believe, to hepe. too. that— rewarded. he has to believe, to hope, too, that something - rewarded. he has to believe, to hope, too, that something willl hope, too, that something will turn up for him politically, and quickly. the polls aren't budging for rishi sunak. his manifesto might be one of his last chances to shift the dial. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. you're live with bbc news. we turn now to the korean peninsula where the us and south korea have been discussing how to deal with nuclear threats from pyongyang. the nuclear consultative group finalised its guidelines that spell out how to deter north korea from a nuclear attack, and how washington and seoul should respond to any strike. they've agreed to test the strategy during joint drills this summer. it comes as a propaganda battle escalates on the border involving trash—filled balloons and blaring loud speakers. for more, let's speak to sue thompson, associate professor at the national security college for the australian national university. thank you very much for your time here on newsday. well, south korea and the us working on that joint strategy south korea and the us working on thatjoint strategy — what, in your opinion, have been the highlights for you so far from the meeting?— highlights for you so far from the meeting? highlights? well, the meeting? highlights? well, the united states _ the meeting? highlights? well, the united states has _ the united states has reaffirmed its commitment to support south korea and support the integration of south korean defence with united states nuclear capability. what's also quite interesting is that the united states has come out and said, in any event of an attack, from the north korea against south korea, there will be, quote, "united states department of defence says there'll be "overwhelming and decisive response" which is quite interesting as well and this, of course, as you said in your lead—in, this, of course, as you said in yourlead—in, is this, of course, as you said in your lead—in, is coming at a time of increased propaganda tensions between the north and the south, so it's going to be an interesting summer ahead. yes. and if i could pick a little bit on the specifics, well, joint drills focused on nuclear installations is one aspect. there is talk of deploying some nuclear submarines. would you say there is a risk of possible pushback from pyongyang? how will they view the developments? i from pyongyang? how will they view the developments?- view the developments? i think pyongyang _ view the developments? i think pyongyang will _ view the developments? i think pyongyang will view _ view the developments? i think pyongyang will view these - pyongyang will view these developments as quite... you know, with concern. i think there is potential of pushback. whether it would ever go to any sort of escalation is... not sure about that because, of course, that would get to quite a serious point. the united states and south korea have beenin states and south korea have been in a mutual defence treaty since 1953, since the armistice in the korean war, so, you know, always been those military connections and the united states forces have been stationed in south korea, so how far pyongyang would go is unsure. a lot of people see kim jong—un as, you know, not a very reliable character in terms of what his motivations might be. with this balloon incident, kimjong—un's might be. with this balloon incident, kim jong—un's sister just recently came out and expressed how it was a serious incident, and it could escalate, so, you know, tensions are heightening in this situation.— tensions are heightening in this situation. you mentioned in our this situation. you mentioned in your first — this situation. you mentioned in your first answer _ this situation. you mentioned in your first answer that - this situation. you mentioned in your first answer that this i in your first answer that this was also washington's way of affirming their commitment to south korea's defence. how solid do you see that commitment, given the fact that there are multiple fronts open for the us? you've got the ukraine—russia war. you've got the conflict in the middle east. you've got the south china sea. how do you see this progressing from a us point of view? i progressing from a us point of view? ~' ,, ., view? i think the us would really rather _ view? i think the us would really rather it _ view? i think the us would really rather it didn't - really rather it didn't progress. you know, there is that problem. there's the problem in the south china sea. the united states has problems with taiwan, although a lot of analysts don't believe that china has intentions towards any sort of military activity towards taiwan at the moment. but, as you say, there's a lot of these tensions going on globally and, of course, the united states is just about to embark on their own presidential election campaign and anything could happen as a result of those elections in november. result of those elections in november-— result of those elections in november. ~ �* , , november. we've seen this, you know, propaganda _ november. we've seen this, you know, propaganda war _ november. we've seen this, you know, propaganda war - - know, propaganda war — currently balloons full of garbage. you've got loudspeakers as well. explain to us what we're seeing and whether this is leading up to something more. so what's also behind this — so there's been propaganda warfare has been going on between north and south korea, you know, for decades. and at this recent tensions, this recent tension is a concern because back in 2018, the two sides had a deal to reduce military tensions between them. and just last week, south korea decided to walk away from that 2018 deal, so that is something that is underlining in the back ground of awful this as well. and the rubbish... and north korea's response has been to recent spate of south korean balloons, south korean activists sending balloons over the border, with us drives of propaganda, k—pop and k—cinema with them, so this has been seen as a response. and now south korea is saying that they're going to start blaring, have loudspeakers blaring, have loudspeakers blaring again — they've done it in the past across the border — so it is quite a serious escalation.— so it is quite a serious escalation. �* . . ., �*, escalation. i'm afraid that's all the time _ escalat