Labour. Our Political Editor chris mason reports. Cheering placards and cheers, and babies getting attention from politicians. Keir starmer is quite the fan of visiting Lower League Football grounds in places he hopes labour can win. He was in gillingham, in kent this morning his deputy with him, too. Thank you. Whatever Service People try and access these days, they find its like wading through treacle. Red cards arent usually welcome for folk on a football pitch, but expect to see plenty of these in the next month or so, spelling out labours core message. Weve had 14 years of going round and round in circles, getting absolutely nowhere. Chaos and Division Feeding Chaos and division. If you want change, you have to vote for it. And if you vote labour, its a vote to stop the chaos. Its a vote to turn the page, and its a vote to rebuild our country together. Thank you very much, thank you a general election is about winning seats and staying in them. Rishi sunakjust about managed that in ilkeston, in derbyshire, as he made the case the economy is on the up. Inflation down from 11 when i got thisjob, down back to normal, just over 2 . Energy bills now falling by hundreds of pounds. Wages have been rising by faster than prices for almost ten months now. The conservatives and labour have a very different approach to dealing with people crossing the channel in small boats. Labour would scrap the tory plan to send some migrants to rwanda, which Rishi Sunak Claims could make a big difference. How do we stop the boats . Well, im very clear, it requires bold solutions. Thats why we need rwanda. Got to make it Crystal Clear to everybody if you come to our country illegally, you wont get to stay. But the Prime Minister told us today he didnt expect anyone to be sent to rwanda before the election. Within hours, mr sunak was at a brewery in barry, in south wales, having a go with the kit. There was then an awkward moment when he said this. Are you looking forward to all the football . Not so much my bag. Wales have not qualified for the euros, the Football Tournament starting next month. England and scotland have. And talking of scotland, rishi sunak completed his three nation dash today by flying to the highlands. And having a catch up with the Scottish Conservative leader at the port of nigg, north of inverness. Meanwhile, in edinburgh today, the new look Scottish National party had their general election launch. On july fourth, independence day, make sure your voice is heard. I expect over the next six weeks, well see the tories and labour really going at it. Theyll be going Hammer And Tongs to discredit each other. Ill also be going Hammer And Tongs, but not against anyone. Ill be going Hammer And Tongs to put scotland first. Ready . Right, cheering lets go cheering and in cheltenham, in gloucestershire, the Liberal Democrats were sorting out their choreography some in Party Colours from head to toe. Leader ed davey has a phrase well hear a fair bit of. A fair deal where everyone can have a decent home that is secure and clean, and affordable, comfortable retirement when the time comes. A fair deal where every child has a decent school, where they can have the opportunity to realise their potential. The next six weeks will involve a fair bit of ticker tape and assorted electioneering paraphernalia. Luckily, there are those keen to pick it up. Chris mason, bbc news. Now to the israel gaza war. Us Speaker Of The House mike johnson says he will host israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu to address congress on capitol hill. He was speaking at an Israeli Embassy eventin speaking at an Israeli Embassy event in washington, dc. find event in washington, dc. And toni. Ht event in washington, dc. And tonight im event in washington, dc. And tonight im happy event in washington, dc. fific tonight im happy to announce Something Else to you, we will soon be hosting by Minister Netanyahu at the capital for a joint session of congress. Applause. This will be a timely and i think are. This will be a timely and i think are very. This will be a timely and i think are very strong. This will be a timely and i think are very strong show|. This will be a timely and i l think are very strong show of support to the Israeli Government at the time of greatest need. Democratic senator majority greatest need. Democratic senator Majority Leader i greatest need. Democratic. Senator Majority LeaderChuck Schumer would have do sign that too, he has not commented on johnsons and almere. News comes days the Biden Administration suggested it would join congress in sanctioning the International Criminal court for seeking the rest of the Minister Netanyahu and his defence minister, ulogie may have committed war crimes. Meanwhile, only garson coast. The Us Central Command says three american troops have suffered what its calling Noncombat Injuries during the operation to build and operate a pier off the coast of gaza to increase humanitarian aid to palestinians. Aus a us defence official says one of the three injured on a ship at sea was medically evacuated to a hospital in israel in critical condition. The un says deliveries on the pair have resumed after Rachel Mccrow day suspension because crowds of Palestinian People had overrun the drugs carrying humanitarian aid. The canyon presents three day visit to the us has continued with the state in on thursday. In attendance were former president bill clinton and former Secretary Of StateHillary Clinton and a number of celebrities and other notable gas. This is the first time in 15 years and african leader has made an official state visit to the us. Resident biden is expected to use this opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to supporting africa. Earlier in the day, ms caruso and mr biden gave a joint press conference. Indie caruso and mr biden gave a joint press conference. We mark 60 is a Partnership Joint press conference. We mark 60 is a partnership between joint press conference. We mark 60 is a partnership between our| 60 is a partnership between our democracies and we are fulfilling that which together and we are continuing. Id truly believe that it has brought out the best in both of us, not only in kenya and america, but Around The World has had positive impact. Through our partnership we are continuing to meet our responsibilities in four key areas. First, im proud to announce we are working with congress to designate kenya a major non nato allies. The major non nato allies. The president major non nato allies. The president emphasised the significance of his state visit amid the growing security facing many african nations. It is important for us to appreciate that many countries in africa, including cania, struggling with an overwhelming convergence of multiple shots, Including Extreme Climate events, debtor distress, and the disruptive upheaval in europe and the middle east. Earlier, spoke about all of theseissues earlier, spoke about all of these issues and the visit with william bellamy, a former Us Ambassador to cania talking about that allowing ellaz between us and cania. The designation of cania as a non nato allies, what does that change . To nato allies, what does that chance . ,. , � nato allies, what does that chance . , �. , change . To be honest, im not sure it changes change . To be honest, im not sure it changes a change . To be honest, im not sure it changes a lot. Change . To be honest, im not sure it changes a lot. Change . To be honest, im not sure it changes a lot. I sure it changes a lot. I think the purpose of this was to recognise kenya as a special case in terms of the importance of the Security Cooperation in the United States and others have with kenya. I think event more as an honorific and as a way of underlying that it is a special security relationship in practical terms they dont think it will change the relationships that exist. In a Oint Relationships that exist. In a joint statement, relationships that exist. In a joint statement, President Biden and president ruto said the designation was a powerful symbol of the close relationship, yet this visit by the canyon president is the First Official state visit by any african leader in 15 years. Is there really a close relationship between the us and kenya or any african nation . This is a very close relationship and a long standing close relationship between kenya and the United States. The state visit before that was a kenyan leader who visited Washington On A State Visit in 2002. But the us kenya relationship goes back a long way, even before kenyan independence. You can really make a case for that for 60 years kenya has probably been one of the United Statess i will say and ally in africa. So this visit by president ruto has given some impetus to that, but it is not a completely new turn in us kenyan relations. Joe biden has failed to keep his own promise to make a visit to africa while president , saying if he is re elected he will go early next year instead. Is that surprising to you . Would you have liked to see him visit . Jae you . Would you have liked to see him visit . You . Would you have liked to see him visit . Joe biden is not the First American see him visit . Joe biden is not the First American president i see him visit . Joe biden is not| the First American president to make that promise and has been unable to keep out. I will say that. I think that most in africa can understand that in an Election Year and with a couple of the other overarching crises that he is dealing with a visit to africa at this time was probably not a smart move. So i dont attach too much importance to that. I have no doubt that he does want to visit africa and probably would do so early in a new administration if he is re elected. Administration if he is reelected. Administration if he is reelected. , reelected. We have seen both russia and reelected. We have seen both russia and china reelected. We have seen both russia and china having reelected. We have seen both russia and china having a reelected. We have seen both| russia and china having a great influence on many nations in africa, where does the us fit into that relationship, do you think . ,. ,. , think . The United States has had relationships think . The United States has had relationships with think . The United States has| had relationships with African Countries going back a long time. Ivejust mentioned countries going back a long time. Ive just mentioned the example of kenya is one of the best examples. The relationships that russia and china have a somewhat different to the United States. The russian relationships are relatively, im not going to compare them to the soviet union, but the russian relationships said to be very transactional, they tend to be almost i dimensional. The russians are able to offer Military Muscle to a number of african governments that are not particularly popular with their own people and are able to offer a few other services. The russians are not there as investors, theyre not there as development partners. That is a different kind of a transactional, was a transitory relationship. The chinese relationship. The chinese relationship is different. The chinese are big investors in africa, big players in african development, are there for the long term. The United States, as i say, has been involved in africa for a long time and has an incredibly variegated type of relationship with most African Countries, including kenya. One example of this visit, i was not going to say it was surprised to say that they released 80 or 90 different initiatives or project that were cited as part of the us kenyan relationship. Some will be talked about, some will probably not, during the state visit, gives an example of the breadth of the relationship the United States has with nations like kenya and a number of other African Countries. A number of other African Countries. , countries. Trade with the us, forei. N countries. Trade with the us, foreign direct countries. Trade with the us, Foreign Direct Investment countries. Trade with the us, Foreign Direct Investment will be of great importance to president ruto, did he get what he came for essentially in this visit for that regard . Share he came for essentially in this visit for that regard . Visit for that regard . Are you dont have visit for that regard . Are you dont have a visit for that regard . Are you dont have a full visit for that regard . Are you dont have a full list visit for that regard . Are you dont have a full list of visit for that regard . Are you dont have a full list of whatl dont have a full list of what he got from the visit, but from the news reports i have seen today i think he has probably going to be able to go home, president ruto, make a good case to the kenyan people that he came away with some very substantial benefits from this state visit, this trip to washington. State visit, this trip to washington. State visit, this trip to washinuton. Washington. 0k, we will leave it there for washington. 0k, we will leave it there for tonight. Washington. 0k, we will leave it there for tonight. William i it there for tonight. William bellamy, former Us Ambassador to kenya and our Senior Advisor on the Africa Programme for the centre for strategic and international studies. Answer joining us on bbc news. Thank you. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Lets have a look at some other stories making the news now. A ten Year Old Girl who died in a mudslide in North Yorkshire has been named as Leah Harrison from darlington. Herfamily have paid tribute to her as a happy and bubbly little girl. Her School Called it a heartbreaking tragedy. The mudslide happened at carlton in cleveland wednesday afternoon during a school trip. Cabinet secretary simon case told the Covid Inquiry that Downing Street was definitely dysfunctional during the pandemic. He also said messages Criticising Borisjohnson and colleagues were raw, In The Moment expressions and not the reality of the governments pandemic response. Mr case Sent Whatsapps saying mrjohnson cannot lead and calling officials pygmies at the height of the pandemic. He told the inquiry he Deeply Regretted the messages. Rishi sunak� s flagship bill to ban smoking for anyone born after 2009 looks likely to be shelved. Parliament will be suspended friday for the campaign and all legislation that isnt already passed automatically gets dropped regardless of who wins. Sunak faced backlash over the bill from his own conservative party. Labour previously pledged to bring in the ban if they win the general election. You are live with bbc news. In the mediterranean, a two Story Building collapsed on the Spanish Island of yorker, killing at least four people. Emergency services at least 16 others were injured in the incident which happened on a restaurant on a beach. The area is usually busy with tourists at this time of year. This week we have been reporting from myanmar, where rebel forces are fighting against the military regime. Reporting from the country is extremely difficult but a bbc team has been able to get in has been a month with rebel forces on the front line of this hidden war. Thousands have been killed since the Military Coup three years ago and accord