the biggest wildfire to hit california this year is continuing to spread rapidly, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes. hello. thousands of people have gathered in the town of majdal shams, in the israeli—occupied golan heights, for the funerals of 12 young people killed by a rocket attack on saturday. the victims are from the druze arab community and were playing football at the time of the strike. israel has blamed hezbollah for the deaths and says it has struck a series of targets linked to the group deep inside lebanon. hezbollah had denied involvement in saturday's attack. us secretary of state antony blinken has warned against further military escalation. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams is in the israeli occupied golan heights at the site of saturday's attack.

so this is where the explosion happened at about 6:30 last night here in majdal shams. you can see the crater where the rocket landed. it blew this fence right out. and you can see children's bicycles and scooters, all among the wreckage here. and also, if you look at the fence, you can see shrapnel holes. and over in the corner, there are little pools of blood that they've tried to clear up. and there's blood also spattered on the walls. there is a bomb shelter right here next to the football pitch, and we're told that there was a siren moments before the explosion, but that no one had enough time to react. we're seeing a steady stream of visitors here in majdal shams today. government ministers, military officials and others coming to offer their condolences and also to talk about what israel does next. this is a part of the world where a conflict with lebanon, with the hezbollah fighters in lebanon has been

raging ever since the war in gaza began in october. lebanon isjust over the mountain there. this is mount hermon. lebanon is really close. the israelis say that the rocket that was fired came from a position not very far in that direction. syria is not much further in that direction. it's a very sensitive area. and at various times over the past nine, ten months, people have wondered, feared that this simmering conflict might explode into an all out war. israel has threatened a severe response in the wake of what happened here to the children here. the question is when and what form will that take? speaking at press conference us secretary of state antony said the us is working to prevent escalation. one of the reasons we are continuing

to work so hard in gaza is notjust for gaza but also so we can have an opportunity to bring calm, lost income, across the blue line between israel and lebanon. we are determined to bring the gaza conflict to a close, it's gone on for far too long, conflict to a close, it's gone on forfar too long, cost conflict to a close, it's gone on for far too long, cost far too many lives. we want to see israeli, we want to see palestinians, we want to see lebanese live free from the threat of conflict and violence. as we heard, israel says that overnight, it struck hezbollah targets deep inside lebanon's territory. our correspondent injerusalem barbara plett usher has the details. the israelis carried out these strikes overnight in lebanon, in the southern part of the country, where those cross—border conflicts has been happening over the past months with hezbollah, but also further north in the beqaa. according to the the air force. and that is less common for the israelis to strike there.

so i think that was probably a message that they are preparing for a larger operation. and certainly that is what the israeli officials are saying. the language that they're using is very tough. the defence minister has said, "we'll ensure that hezbollah pays a heavy price for this loss." the finance minister is is calling for the the leader of hezbollah to pay with his head. the foreign minister's saying an all out war is approaching. so the rhetoric is pretty steep. there's going to be a security cabinet meeting later today when the prime minister returns from the united states to talk about what the next step will be. but i think everyone is expecting that the strikes that we saw overnight could be just the beginning of how the israelis will respond. and what more details do we have about the rocket attack on the golan heights, in which at least 12 people died?

well, that rocket struck a football pitch where where children and teenagers were playing football. it frankly, it could hardly have been worse. all of the casualties are young people. many of the names have been released as well as the ages. the youngest was ten, the oldest was 16, and there was one family that lost four children. so it's a real tragedy. the funerals have started last night and they will continue later today. an eyewitness said that the sirens did go off when the rocket was in the air, but there wasn't enough time to get to the shelter. the children were running towards the shelter, but the golan heights is very close to lebanon, and so the time before the warning came and the time that the rocket struck wasn't enough, and it struck between the children and the shelter. so it was a very, very tragic and, uh, strike. and the leadership of the community has responded with great anger and great anguish against those who, hezbollah — or they didn't name hezbollah — but they said against the terrorists who launched the strike, but also

against the israeli authorities, saying that, "we really don't have enough protection here, because we're right next to the border with lebanon. we need to have more protection. we've had strikes before, but this is just the deadliest one." yeah, hezbollah denying it was them. but israel, the idf giving details about the rockets and the bomb and saying it could only have been them. that's right. hezbollah had been carrying out some strikes earlier in the afternoon on saturday, for which it claimed responsibility, but it very strongly denied that it had hit the town of majdal shams. so when the extent of the damage became known, based on what it had said earlier, it was targeting an israeli military base in the area. so it's possible that one of the rockets misfired. in fact, that seems probable. it's interesting to see the reaction in lebanon, because this conflict has been taking place between hezbollah and the israelis. but other constituencies in lebanon have responded clearly because they're very alarmed that this is going to lead to a bigger conflict,

if not an all out war. the head of the druze community in lebanon, and i should say that the community that was hit in israel, in the israeli occupied golan heights, which is where majdal shams is located, was a community of arab druze. there are many druze also in lebanon, and the leader of that group did come out and condemn the killing of civilians. but he also said, "look, hezbollah�*s statement said they weren't responsible. we have to remember that the israelis try to divide, incite discord and fragment the region with their efforts." and so he was putting the emphasis on israel rather than on hezbollah, and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire. the lebanese government also has made various statements. it usually stays out of this ongoing conflict, but it again condemned the killing of civilians, but said that there must be a cessation of hostilities. the foreign minister has spoken recently and he said, look, i don't think hezbollah would have

targeted this community. it's a community of arab druze, as i mentioned. and we have a large number of them in the country. perhaps it was a mistake either by hezbollah or by israel, but he clearly was worried that this would lead to a bigger conflict. and he said, "we are talking with hezbollah and asking them not to retaliate at this present time." so i think the expectation is of a strong israeli strike. and clearly the lebanese authorities are trying to convince hezbollah not to respond to that. sami nader is the director of the levant institute for strategic affairs in beirut. he gave me his analysis on the escalating tensions between israel and hezbollah. up to now, the space for compromise is practically null. all the diplomatic efforts to find a diplomatic solution for this conflict have failed because of the fact that the position of both parties are very far apart. on one hand, hezbollah is determined

to come back to the status quos that was prevailing before october 7th. it wants to come back to october sixth. while israel is fully adamant to change this rule of engagement in order to facilitate a return of all those people who were living in that north corridor, and who fled their home. and this is to say the area of compromise hasn't been found yet and things are on an escalation track. and it is getting more and more dangerous by the day. the likelihood of an open scale war is higher than ever. and because we are here in face of a different scenario,

but all are related to war, either a full—scale war or a limited war that could derail into a full—scale war at any moment, because all the efforts to find a diplomatic solution have failed so far. let's go now to our other main story today and the paris olympics. for the latest on day two of the games, let'sjoin maryam moshiri in paris. high. thank you very much indeed. welcome to — high. thank you very much indeed. welcome to paris, _ high. thank you very much indeed. welcome to paris, day _ high. thank you very much indeed. welcome to paris, day two - high. thank you very much indeed. welcome to paris, day two of- high. thank you very much indeed. welcome to paris, day two of the l welcome to paris, day two of the olympic games. where, after days of torrential rain, which affected the opening ceremony on friday, the sun is finally shining. the beautiful weather has brought out the visitors, but it has come a bit too late for the triathlon athletes. their training session in the river seine had to be cancelled because the rain increased the pollution levels in the river. organisers said the levels should go back to normal by the actual event on tuesday.

let's take a moment now to bring you the top stories from the sports here, and there are plenty of medals up for grabs today and lots of sporting legends in action. team gb's adam peaty qualified fastest for tonight's final, as he chases a sensational third consecutive 100 metres breaststroke gold in paris. he is aiming to become the second man, after the us star michael phelps, to win the same individual event at three games in a row. in the tennis, andy murray begins the final tennis tournament of his career as he competes with dan evans againstjapan. while rafael nadal makes his singles return, which could set up a second—round match with rival novak djokovic. global gymnastics star simone biles is competing today. the most decorated gymnast in history had a difficult time in tokyo in 2020 but is back to her best and hoping to add to her 37 olympic and world golds. and if you like star spotting then you will love the gymnastics

venue in paris today — it is a veritable who's—who of celebrities. mission impossible and top gun star tom cruise is there, as are the wicked musical actors ariana grande and cynthia erivo. anna wintour, editor in chief of british vogue, is also there, as well as snoop doggy dogg to cheer on simone biles and i'm sure all the other gymnasts competing today too. as i mentioned, it was a busy night in the pool over at la defense arena to the west of paris last night, which is hosting the swimming events. it was gold for the usa in the men's axioo relay, whilst australia took the top podium with an olympic record for the women. there was also a gold for australia in the women's 400 metre freestyle, and germany's lukas maertens took

the gold in the men's race. there were also a lot of qualifying races setting up the finals for the next few days. team gb�*s adam peaty is looking for that third consecutive 100 metres breaststroke gold. after qualifying for tonight's final, he described himself as "the person with the bow and arrow and not the one being fired at". what could he mean by that? someone who knows adam better than most is adam peaty�*s best friend, jack stevenson. it's so good to talk to you, you are adam's best friend, you have grown up adam's best friend, you have grown up with him. what does he mean by that? , �* , up with him. what does he mean by that? , �*, ., ., up with him. what does he mean by that? , a a, ., that? yes, so he's come a long way, he has come — that? yes, so he's come a long way, he has come from _ that? yes, so he's come a long way, he has come from a _ that? yes, so he's come a long way, he has come from a point _ that? yes, so he's come a long way, he has come from a point where - that? yes, so he's come a long way, he has come from a point where he l he has come from a point where he was sort of the bottom of the pack and no one relied on him, and now he has moved forward, he is the one that everyone is chasing rather than the other way around. {lila that everyone is chasing rather than the other way around.— the other way around. 0k, thank you for explaining — the other way around. 0k, thank you for explaining that _ the other way around. 0k, thank you for explaining that to _ the other way around. 0k, thank you for explaining that to me. _ the other way around. 0k, thank you for explaining that to me. tell - the other way around. 0k, thank you for explaining that to me. tell me i the other way around. 0k, thank you for explaining that to me. tell me a l for explaining that to me. tell me a bit about what adam was like to grow up bit about what adam was like to grow up with. he bit about what adam was like to grow u- with. . , ~ bit about what adam was like to grow u- with. ~ ., , .,

up with. he was like any other friend, really. _ up with. he was like any other friend, really. we've - up with. he was like any other friend, really. we've known i up with. he was like any other i friend, really. we've known each other all our life. friend, really. we've known each otherall our life. he friend, really. we've known each other all our life. he has always been the funny one, always made the jokes, always been better than everyone else at everything he does. he is probably the best friend i could ever have asked for. i would probably say that's the same for a lot of other people as well. he is loving and caring and once nothing but the best for everyone around him. . , ., him. tell me a bit about the swimming- _ him. tell me a bit about the swimming. it _ him. tell me a bit about the swimming. it must - him. tell me a bit about the swimming. it must have - him. tell me a bit about the i swimming. it must have taken him. tell me a bit about the - swimming. it must have taken him away from your friendship, from swimming. it must have taken him away from yourfriendship, from his friends. it's gruelling, having to train for swimming. what was that like for him and for your friendship as well? , ., ., ~ ~ as well? very hard work. i think when you're _ as well? very hard work. i think when you're that _ as well? very hard work. i think when you're that young - as well? very hard work. i think when you're that young and - as well? very hard work. i think i when you're that young and you're getting into anything, really, it's difficult. especially with swimming, because his whole life sort of revolved around it. it's not like anything after school. it was before school, after—school and everything around it. it was difficult. he has given up a lot to get to where he is today, and he is still giving up a plot to be where he is at this

moment in time. i think when you're that young you don't really understand what people are doing around you. you want to be a little bit selfish. and it's not fair that you can spend time with your best friend and things like that. it's challenging. yeah. it's very difficult, especially when you at such a young age, from he started. what do you think it is that makes adam the winner that he is? the absolute drive. _ adam the winner that he is? the absolute drive. i _ adam the winner that he is? tue: absolute drive. i have adam the winner that he is? tte: absolute drive. i have never adam the winner that he is? t'te: absolute drive. i have never met anyone quite like him. he has to be the best at everything, everything that he does isn't good enough, he wants more and he's always pushing himself for more. i think we always say, he gets from his dad. the peaty drive, the peaty mentality, it's literally that. you are striving to be the best. it's pretty much ingrained in him. he can never lose. it hurts him, i think, to lose. he has to be the best and he pushes himself for that, that's why he is

where he is today.— himself for that, that's why he is where he is today. before i let you no, i where he is today. before i let you go. i know — where he is today. before i let you go. i know you're _ where he is today. before i let you go, i know you're going _ where he is today. before i let you go, i know you're going to - where he is today. before i let you go, i know you're going to be - go, i know you're going to be watching. will he bring back the gold? t watching. will he bring back the old? ., , watching. will he bring back the told? ., , , ., watching. will he bring back the old? ., , watching. will he bring back the told? .,, ., , ., watching. will he bring back the old? ., gold? i hope so. i really do hope so. i not gold? i hope so. i really do hope so- i got all— gold? i hope so. i really do hope so. i got all the _ gold? i hope so. i really do hope so. i got all the faith _ gold? i hope so. i really do hope so. i got all the faith in - gold? i hope so. i really do hope so. i got all the faith in the - so. i got all the faith in the world for him and i really think he will. fantastic. jack, adam's best friend, it's been so lovely to talk to you. thanks so much for taking the time to speak to us today.— to speak to us today. you're very welcome- — to speak to us today. you're very welcome. thank— to speak to us today. you're very welcome. thank you. _ now let's bring you a bit more news from the games. morgan ayre is a freelance journalist who is at the games. she's been soaking up the atmosphere, and today is following the rowing at the nautical stadium to the east of paris. you can see if there wonderful map, let's listen to what she has to say. paris has been really buzzing the last couple of days. i'm actually at the rowing at the minute. it's a real family atmosphere. the river is just back there, where they're competing. there's also lots of families around. there is even a tent where you can practise your rowing on the machines

to see how fast you are, see if you can get up to olympic standards. we've already seen the women's sculls, the men's sculls, and we're waiting a little bit later for the women's four heat, where we'll of course see britain's helen glover. and it'sjust a really great atmosphere. and after two days of absolutely miserable weather, the sun has finally come out in the city and everyone seems to be having a really great time. now, one of the things that people like to see at any olympics is of course the cauldron burning after being lit by the olympic flame during the opening ceremony. and paris is no different. hundreds of people have been queuing to the see the seven metre wide cauldron which is attached to a 30 metre tall balloon and is flying more than 60 metres in the air in gardens in the city centre. we can see it from the bbc studio, just towards the left. organisers say 10,000 people a day will be able to get a free ticket to see it up close. it is the first time in olympic history that it's lit up

without the use of fossil fuels. let's hear what visitors make of it. super excited to see it, it's so beautiful, i've never seen this type of olympic flame before so it's really unique to paris. tt is of olympic flame before so it's really unique to paris. it is very impressive _ really unique to paris. it is very impressive to _ really unique to paris. it is very impressive to see. _ really unique to paris. it is very impressive to see. it's - really unique to paris. it is very impressive to see. it's a - really unique to paris. it is very impressive to see. it's a lot - really unique to paris. it is very impressive to see. it's a lot ofl impressive to see. it's a lot of fire _ impressive to see. it's a lot of fire yes. _ impressive to see. it's a lot of fire yes. i_ impressive to see. it's a lot of fire. yes, i mean, many people are here, _ fire. yes, i mean, many people are here, watching it. it's kind of interesting. i here, watching it. it's kind of interesting.— here, watching it. it's kind of interestinu. ~ �* , . , interesting. i feel like it's really nice, it's such _ interesting. i feel like it's really nice, it's such a _ interesting. i feel like it's really nice, it's such a historic - interesting. i feel like it's really| nice, it's such a historic moment and we _ nice, it's such a historic moment and we are — nice, it's such a historic moment and we are here _ nice, it's such a historic moment and we are here and _ nice, it's such a historic moment and we are here and just- nice, it's such a historic momentj and we are here and just passing nice, it's such a historic moment. and we are here and just passing by it, and we are here and just passing by it. it's _ and we are here and just passing by it, it's really. — and we are here and just passing by it, it's really, really— and we are here and just passing by it, it's really, really nice. _ and we are here and just passing by it, it's really, really nice. [it’s - it, it's really, really nice. it's one of my — it, it's really, really nice. it's one of my favourite - it, it's really, really nice. one of my favourite parts. i it, it's really, really nice.- one of my favourite parts. i really enjoyed it, ithought one of my favourite parts. i really enjoyed it, i thought it was a unique and different way for them to light the flame. and so it's cool to see it in person. there are 20 gold medals up for grabs today, it's a very busy day for sports. the gymnastics and rowing are happening right now. we will bring you the latest updates from the sport and stories behind the sport from paris throughout the day. but for now, back to you in the studio. thanks very much, we will see you a little later.

the polls have opened in venezuela, as the nation heads to the polls, in what's being seen as a pivotal presidential election. president nicolas maduro, who's been in office since 2013, is seeking a third consecutive term. he has told voters they have a choice between war and peace, and warned of a bloodbath if he loses. the opposition candidate, edmundo gonzalez, said it's time to re—establish democracy and prosperity in the country after a quarter of a century of socialist rule. tensions across the country are high — there have been clashes at polling stations, as people wait in long queues to cast their votes. our correspondent ione wells reports from caracas. venezuelans are going to the polls in the presidential elections. president maduro is seeking re—election, but the opposition feel they have real, real momentum in this campaign, and for the first time in decades, feel that there is potentially the chance of change. the opposition leader, though, maria corina machado, was banned from running as a candidate. she has been replaced with the candidate edmundo gonzalez. and that's one of a number of ways in which the opposition has been

slightly deterred in their campaign so far. for example, food stalls that have served the opposition on their campaign rallies, on theirjourneys around the country, have been closed down in some cases. millions of venezuelans who live abroad have been unable to register to vote. eu election observers were disinvited by the government. so there are quite big concerns about whether or not this election will be free and fair. the last election was widely dismissed as neitherfree norfair. the economy has been in freefall for the last decade, causing millions of venezuelans to move abroad. so there is a lot at stake in this election, both the economy here in venezuela, the democratic process as well, whether this will be a free election and whether venezuela and its government will be recognised again by the international community, but also migration, too. as i mentioned, nearly 8 million venezuelans have moved abroad, particularly, for example, to the us. and there are questions about whether if president maduro

is re—elected, that surge of migration could increase. polls are open until 6pm, so people will be voting all day, and it may be a while until we have declarations of results, both by the official electoral authorities, who are controlled by president maduro and his government, and also by the opposition, who are doing their own independent counting process in this election. they argue that they will independently verify results. if they feel like there has been an unfair result they may well be trying to challenge that after the event. of course we will have the latest from venezuela throughout the day. now, though, a devastating wildfire has ripped through bushland in northern california, forcing around 4,000 residents to flee their homes. it's been described as the biggest blaze to hit the state this year and is thought to have been started deliberately. our correspondent duncan kennedy has more. it's california's biggest wildfire this year, already burning through more than 300,000

acres of land. and it looks like some of it was started deliberately. a lot of our crews are what's doing called prepping, basically getting out ahead of the fire, um, finding those structures, communities, making sure those areas are more survivable should the fire go through. the centre of the fire is in northern california, in places like butte county, leaving homes and cars burning. . .and burned out. the same county was hit by another fire in 2018 that killed 80 people. agh! your house down there, too? and even when vehicles can move around in this cauldron of flames and smoke, the very sides of the roads are themselves on fire. in chico, brian is now sleeping out in the open, just his dog rescued from the inferno. right about the time i go out the door, i got two city pd officers at the door telling me i needed to get out. and, uh, well, i packed up

what i could pack up in the car — me and the dog — and i got out. sherry made sure she got out with all of her 12 dogs, her most precious companions, amid the other physical loss. as long as i have the dogs and they're safe, i don't really care about many material things, you know. a 42—year—old man has been arrested on suspicion of starting the butte blaze by rolling a burning car into a gully. it's already too late for many properties — here, just the brick chimney is left standing. elsewhere, rows of homes are evacuated, their owners in shelters. i want to go home right now, but, uh, those things can be replaced. lives can't, pets can't. you know what i mean? that structure will be replaced eventually. a state of emergency has been declared, as around 2,500 fire crews and emergency workers try to contain what they can, when they can. in some places, that means creating fire breaks and hosing down the ground to try to stop embers

building back into fires. but wind and very dry shrub are making this another summer of destruction. duncan kennedy, bbc news. now, how much would you pay for a bikini? how about $175,000? that's how much a gold bikini worn by carrie fisher in star wars: return of the jedi has been sold for. the star wars costume is one of the most famous outfits in film history. fisher's character, princess leia, wore the outfit as she was chained to jabba the hutt�*s throne in the 1983 film. quite the iconic bikini. before we go, two paddleboarders say they felt like they won the jackpot when they came across something very special, while out on the water in dorset. ben felton and nick woods werejoined in their session by a pod of dolphins.

the friends said they had "never experienced anything like it before" in 12 years of paddleboarding. that will be a session they do not forget in a hurry. wonderful pictures there. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. it's a sunny sunday out there for the vast majority of us, and over the next few days, a lot of dry weather to come, and for some it's going to turn increasingly hot as well, particularly to the south and the east of the country. this morning, though, the dry weather has been courtesy of an area of high pressure, that high pressure lasts throughout the day. it means that the skies have been fairly clear, a little bit of fair weather cloud building up into the afternoon, although in the northern and western isles and the fringe of the high pressure, we still have a bit more cloud. but even here some sunny spells, possible temperatures in these areas around 15 to 17 degrees with a little bit more breeze, more so light winds, strong sunshine overhead

and temperatures more widely into the 20s today, peaking at around 26 or 27 celsius towards the south east corner, around 22 in the north east of scotland. now into this evening and overnight, we will see some clear skies across scotland, northern ireland. but cloud actually increases later in the night, maybe some patchy light drizzle into the western isles before dawn. we'll see clear skies elsewhere. coolest conditions probably towards the south in rural areas, but maybe 13 to 15in northwest of scotland. we've got these weather fronts moving in for monday morning, so it brings a change here for monday across scotland and northern ireland. a lot more cloud compared with today. some outbreaks of rain, the western isles and then later in the day in the west of northern ireland. but most will be dry. and even though we'll have more clouds, still some sunny spells breaking through. a bit more high cloud across england and wales compared with today. but it's still going to be a sunny one nonetheless. and if anything, temperatures climb even further. 2a in the north east of scotland, 28, maybe 29, in the south east of england, and the humidity then builds through monday night into tuesday, the nights becoming warmer. that's warmth coming up

from the near continent. tuesday could be the hottest day as far as temperatures are concerned, especially towards the southeast corner. we could see 29, 30, maybe 31 celsius down a little bit, though, compared with monday across scotland and northern ireland. that's because we still have more cloudier and slightly fresher air pushed in off the atlantic as we go into tuesday itself. for england and wales, though, plenty of sunshine but hazy in places and we could just start to see a few showers and thunderstorms brew in around the english channel late in the day. that's as this area of low pressure drifts its way up for the middle part of the week. wednesday could be a stormy one. it does bring about a change. introducing atlantic air for the end of the week. so as we start dry, sunny and for some hot temperatures will drop, but still warm in the sunshine between the downpours.

this is bbc news. the headlines — funerals are taking place for a dozen young people killed by a rocket attack in the israeli—occupied golan heights. israel has blamed the lebanese militant group hezbollah, which denies involvement. it's day two of the paris olympics, and one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, simone biles, has returned to competition to try to add to herfour gold medals. new video has emerged of the events leading up to a police officer kicking a man in the head as he lay on the floor

at manchester airport last week. the mayor of greater manchester called it a "complicated situation." at called it a "complicated situation." least we have g picture at least we have got much fuller picture of this morning. let's allow investigators to do their work, and then bring the recite —— the right actions as a result of those investigations. you're watching bbc news. let's get more now on an incident at manchester airport last week, and new footage has emerged which ended with a police officer kicking a man in the head. the cctv appears to show how three officers were trying to make arrests, when two men punched two of them to the floor. speaking to ben boulos on bbc breakfast, the mayor of greater manchester, andy burnham, has urged people to allow the authorities to continue their investigation. it is an extremely difficult situation, but at least this morning

it has moved forward a degree, because people now have