this is bbc news. the us is set to deploy additional warships and fighterjets to the middle east, amid fears of escalation over the killing of hamas political chief ismail haniyeh. three police officers have been hurt in sunderland in the latest violence following the killing of three young girls in southport — the home secretary has condemned those taking part. us vice president kamala harris earns enough support to become the democratic party's nominee for president. she'll be officially nominated on monday. hello, i'm lukwesa burak. the us says it will deploy more defensive military support to the middle east. the department of defence says it aims to strengthen protection for us troops in the region and israel —

in response to growing threats from iran and iranian—backed fighters. the announcement came after a funeral ceremony in qatarfor the hamas political leader, ismail haniyeh, who was killed in iran on wednesday. hamas and iran have vowed revenge for the strike that targeted mr haniyeh. although iran and its allies have blamed israel, the country has not claimed responsibility for his death. the threat of retaliation is causing unease and tension in israel — asjenny hill reports from tel aviv they are uneasy, they know that potentially outstanding on the brink of a much wider regional conflict. it's worth pointing out that there have been a number of similar moments since israel launched its war on gaza following the attacks of october 7. when it's look as though that war could explode into a much wider conflict. but this is without doubt a very dangerous, very significant moment, and we understand that urgent diplomacy is going on,

most of it behind the scenes, to try to defuse the tension. people here will of course be keeping an eye on developments. many flights into israel and some into lebanon have been cancelled or delayed, it's reported that israeli ministers have been sent home with satellite phones for the weekend for use in the event of any kind of attack which takes out communication networks. it feels as though the world is watching the middle east right now and perhaps it's worth thinking about two groups of people whose voices have become perhaps somewhat lost on the vast geopolitics of all of this and they are of course people in gaza for whom the prospect of any kind of ceasefire now seems perhaps as remote as it ever has, and then the families of the israeli hostages, still being held captive by hamas in gaza who know also that the chances of being reunited with their loved ones anytime soon right now seem greatly diminished.

our international editorjeremy bowen is in washington and gave his analysis of the situation. potentially very dangerous indeed, as you have heard in retaliation is coming according to iran and the most optimistic scenario if that is the case is it's calibrated in such a way that it does not bring a massive response from the israeli and military response, what would prompt that is perhaps a large—scale mass casualties civilian attack or perhaps as well as that some damage to civilian infrastructure. back after october seven the israelis wanted to go back into action against hezbollah and they were dissuaded by the americans who

deployed to aircraft carriers and now america is trying to calm things down and let's not forget that at the beginning of the week, the americans were talking at the prospect of a ceasefire in gaza and nowjust at the end of the week once again people are talking about an all—out war in the region. it is a sign of how hard it is to control the pace of events, even for the americans and how i think every time you get closer to the brink there is a real chance that it is hard to put back on that, a greater chance of missed calculations. with me is mohamed taha from bbc arabic. tension is really high in the region? tension is really high in the reuion? , ~ ., region? indeed it is. more american _ region? indeed it is. more american troops - region? indeed it is. more american troops in - region? indeed it is. more american troops in the - region? indeed it is. more- american troops in the region, there are many airliners cancelling their flights to the middle east. many airliners in europe cancelling their flights expecting some response from

hezbollah and iran. now as iran and hezbollah buried their leaders that were assassinated. their attention now will be moved to how they will respond to these assassinations, as we can see previously when the iranian consulate was attacked in syria iran lodged hundreds of drones and missiles towards israel that caused some chaos. the israeli troops at the moment is in high alert, expecting some sort of retaliation from hezbollah and iran and perhaps the question is to what extent the retaliation will be and what the response is also of israel to that retaliation.— to that retaliation. what is the international _ to that retaliation. what is i the international community saying about this? the international— saying about this? the i international community

saying about this? tie: international community is practising lots of pressures to reach a deal, there is a call that happened in the last hours between joe that happened in the last hours betweenjoe biden and the prime minister benjamin netanyahu, wherejoe biden asked benjamin netanyahu to try and reach a deal within two weeks. as we can see, the american president reached that deal with the russians, now we want to end his presidency with that legacy that he is a piece man who managed to bring peace everywhere in the world and the american defence minister and foreign minister in the region trying really hard to contends that conflict. israel already may have a plan to watch a ground attack into southern lebanon, the americans are trying to avoid this happening because if it happens, then the

situation will explode more in the region. the situation in gazais the region. the situation in gaza is really in need to a ceasefire, to allow the aid to come and hostages to go back home. there are 60% of the buildings of gaza according to the un were destroyed and more than 2 million people displaced. around 40,000 people were killed and there are many injured people and people are really in despair and they really in despair and they really want this ceasefire to happen. really want this ceasefire to ha en. . ~' ,, really want this ceasefire to hauen. . ~' , really want this ceasefire to hauen. . ~ , . happen. thank you very much indeed. i'm joined now by abbas milani — director of iranian studies at stanford university. welcome to the programme. what options do you think lebanon, hezbollah and hamas and iran have on the table when it comes to retaliation? i have on the table when it comes to retaliation?—

to retaliation? i think there are options _ to retaliation? i think there are options dictated - to retaliation? i think there are options dictated by - are options dictated by rhetoric. the need to have a response because the leaders have now been killed. i also think none of them want full war with israel. they need action that shows some kind of determination, some kind of reaction but does not get into a full frontal war. whether that will be used, any action will be used by benjamin netanyahu as an excuse to engage in a larger what i think is the big mystery to me. flan is the big mystery to me. can either party _ is the big mystery to me. can either party involved afford a full—scale conflict? i either party involved afford a full-scale conflict?— full-scale conflict? i don't think the _ full-scale conflict? i don't think the iranian - full-scale conflict? i don't think the iranian regime l full-scale conflict? i don't l think the iranian regime can afford it, i don't think hezbollah can afford it and hamas certainly cannot afford it. hamas has been suffering a great deal, hezbollah is under a great deal of pressure

domestically and the iranian regime is weak and i think substantially economically. they feel isolated, the notion that they can now engage with a full war with israel i think is extremely unlikely. one of the videos that went viral in the last 24 hours was an image of the leader when he was doing a prayer in tehran and was anxiously looking at the sky, many anxious looks. people said that he is worried about an attack, the iranian regime said he was looking at buildings but clearly that is part of the reality. they are worried and they need to show some response. they need to show some resnonse-_ they need to show some response. they need to show some resonse. , ., response. does that then tell us that israel _ response. does that then tell us that israel has _ response. does that then tell us that israel has the - response. does that then tell us that israel has the upper l us that israel has the upper hand in this conflict? knowing that any retaliation is merely symbolic and they can carry on if it is proven that they did

indeed assassinate ismail haniyeh? they can continue on this path? i haniyeh? they can continue on this path?— this path? i think israel clearly thinks _ this path? i think israel clearly thinks that - this path? i think israel clearly thinks that it. this path? i think israel| clearly thinks that it has this path? i think israel - clearly thinks that it has the upper hand forced otherwise they wouldn't have taken to te run in the way they did to assassinate ismail haniyeh in tehran. he was in a highly secure place, it was a very embarrassing defeat from the iranian regime and israel has been taking them down for several months and i think their calculation is run back is isolated and we could and can only have a symbolic assche of. ., , can only have a symbolic assche of. . , ., of. there are number of countries _ of. there are number of countries that _ of. there are number of countries that pay - of. there are number of. countries that pay tribute of. there are number of- countries that pay tribute to ismail haniyeh including turkiye which was found upon by some western partners. in terms of regional arabic countries, what are they saying on the latest developments? what are they saying on what could happen next in terms of retaliation? what would you expect them to say?-

retaliation? what would you expect them to say? what you exect expect them to say? what you expect them — expect them to say? what you expect them to _ expect them to say? what you expect them to say, _ expect them to say? what you expect them to say, i - expect them to say? what you expect them to say, i think- expect them to say? what you expect them to say, i think is| expect them to say, i think is the diplomatically to protest the diplomatically to protest the assassination of a foreign guest in the capital but i think most of the capital in the middle east would not be unhappy if someone like ismail haniyeh or hamas is controlled and contained and has less to say about the future of the middle east. i think many in the government have recognised that kind of radicalism early further contributes to chaos. the more moderate parties and in both israel and amongst the palestinians is the only way out of this.— out of this. doctor abbas milani, thank you - out of this. doctor abbas milani, thank you very i out of this. doctor abbas . milani, thank you very much out of this. doctor abbas - milani, thank you very much for your time. milani, thank you very much for your time-— milani, thank you very much for your time. the uk home secretary, yvette cooper, has condemned violent demonstrations in sunderland — linked to the knife attack in southport earlier this week which killed three children.

eight people have been arrested. ms cooper said those involved in the trouble — in which three police officers were injured — would pay the price for their "violence and thuggery". simonjones reports. yelling. trouble spreads to the street of sunderland. people, some in masks, looking for a fight. a car is overturned and set on fire. northumbria police say that officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence. some of the demonstrators say they were there to protest about the killing of three girls in southport earlier this week. the police as the writers were attempting to drive division among the community. i’m among the community. i'm shocked — among the community. i'm shocked and _ among the community. in shocked and appalled by what i have seen on social media, have had was messages from people say they do not represent the views of the people of sunderland and i think that is

really important. look, that is not protest, it is violent crime a dangerous and it stands for absolutely nothing other than thuggery. in for absolutely nothing other than thuggery— than thuggery. in liveable around 200 _ than thuggery. in liveable around 200 anti- - than thuggery. in liveable around 200 anti- races i than thuggery. in liveable i around 200 anti- races and around 200 anti— races and protesters gathered outside a mosque, saying they were protecting from pyrite shredders. the police were keeping the two sides apart but the protest did not descend into the sense seen in sunderland. community leaders are calling for calm saying that the families of the three girls killed in southport on monday do not want to see violent protests. elsie, who was seven years old, bebe was six, and alister who was nine lost their lives. downing street was lit up in pink last night to remember them as was parliament and southport itself. the teenager accused of murdering them is axel, who was

17. video emerged which is believed to show him fronting a campaign for the bbc�*s children in need when he was 11. a spokesperson for the charity told the daily mail our deepest sympathies go out everyone impacted by the shocking case and the video has been removed from platforms. following last night's unrest in sunderland, the home secretary condemned the home secretary condemned the violence. the police are pressed for several more demonstrations this weekend in other towns and cities. with extra prosecutors on standby to bring rapid charges against troublemakers. simonjones, bbc news. us vice president kamala harris earned enough support to become her party's nominee for president. ms harris secured the magic number of 2,350 democratic delegates during friday's virtual roll call vote to

secure the nomination. she'll be able to claim the nomination when voting wraps up monday evening just 15 days after president biden bowed out of the race. here's our north america correspondent peter bowes. whenjoe biden stood down from the presidential race it was obvious that kamala harris would be overwhelmingly supported by a party to step into that role and she stood unopposed in highly unusual circumstances, prompting the party to take the unusual step of having this virtual rollcall of having this virtual rollcall of delegates that continues until next monday but we know already that kamala harris has reached the threshold of 2350 delegates, the threshold necessary to become presumptive nominee. she has said she is honoured to be taken on that role and she will officially accepted next week. i'm proud to be voting for kamala harris.

earlier nancy pelosi the former speaker of the house posted on instagram she was proud to be voting for kamala harris and she said she was someone who would make history as the first woman president of the united states. of course kamala harris is already made history as the first woman of colour to lead a major political parties in this country. in the presidential of action. in the past couple of weeks things have gone well for her in terms of fundraising by the party, more than $300 million raised so far. that is quite a war chest for the upcoming campaign which in american politics terms less than 100 days to go to the election is quite a short period of time they will be the campaign against donald trump. kamala harris in the next few daysis kamala harris in the next few days is expected to make her first major decision in the role and that is to name her running mate, the personhood be her vice president. we know

there is a short list of mostly democratic governors from around the country and we expect a decision by early next week. two russian opposition politicians — freed as part of a prisoner swap on thursday — have said they refused officials' demands to plead for mercy from president putin to secure their release. vladimir kara—murza and ilya yashin said they considered him a war criminal. the two men were released as part of the exchange, which saw 24 people jailed in seven different countries exchanged. our reporter olga malchevska reports on the reaction in russia to the prisoner swap and what russian media has been saying. we can see that the russian president has read it personally those people who arrived and look at that woman here. we can show more later on. we can see about here in

this newspaper, the russian newspaper and what they are saying is it is living in a slipping and according to western media the newspapers as they were accused of being spies. one of them was spot together with her child and it is also interesting russian media are saying that the children of those swapped also did not know that there were russian and vladimir putin greeted them in spanish. here are the passports of these two which was secured in the russian media as well, another paper called insider and their published that screenshot of the passports of herself and her partner. saying that they were accused of being spies. what we're seeing is interesting because it is a reaction of the deputy of the russian security council. he is

to be russian president as well and he offered those people who are swapped to seek protection of the victims pointing that they also have to hide behind different names whatever it means. that is quite a strong statement from the russian senior official as we are seeing the reaction in russian media and among the russian officials is a very different from what we have been seeing in the western papers. also it is interesting that they are pointing out that russia received five spies and also to hackers and one murderer who we are speaking about. it's day eight of the olympics in paris and today there are 31 gold medals up for grabs. our reporter grace harbage is in paris for us — and looks ahead to today's action.

this weekend is going to get really exciting. we will had to the setting for the athletics but back at the arena is where you are superstar simone biles continues herjourney after picking up a gold medal on thursday in the all—round event, saturday will see her in the vault final going back up against brazil's rebecca andrade who also got the silver medal on thursday's event and there will be going head—to—head again in the vault but it's also a good weekend 14 usa, it should be with the men's four x 400 metre relay team usa can dominate in the heat coming up to that. tgv and france featuring but it's the women's 500 metre final on saturday evening and all eyes will be on richardson, who will be herfirst or the will be on richardson, who will be her first or the games after not making it to tokyo 2020. she felt a drugs test, testing positive for the main ingredient in cannabis, a

banned substance so she is coming and looking like the favourites a lot of attention will be on her. meanwhile the basketball, competition is well underway but there are some who are barred from representing their country as a result of france's principle of secularism. the hijab is banned by some sports in france — a decision that was extended last year by the french sports minister to include potential olympic representatives. the human rights organisation amnesty international says it is having a "devastating impact" on muslim women and girls in the country. rhia chohan reports. basketball helped me be a better person, to have discipline in my life and become the best version of myself. isl become the best version of m self. ' . . , become the best version of mself. .. , , myself. 14 france, she is banned _ myself. 14 france, she is banned from _ myself. 14 france, she is banned from competing l myself. 14 france, she is. banned from competing in myself. 14 france, she is - banned from competing in the sport she loves. last year moments before she was to captain her team she was told

she was only allowed on the court if she removed her sports hijab. i court if she removed her sports hi'ab. . , , , court if she removed her sports hi'ab. ,, ,, , hijab. i was upset because this is the country _ hijab. i was upset because this is the country that _ hijab. i was upset because this is the country that i _ hijab. i was upset because this is the country that i was - hijab. i was upset because this is the country that i was born i is the country that i was born and they put me on the side so i was upset because i wasn't there. there is no other option, you see me like this and you are knocking to see me another way. and you are knocking to see me another way-— another way. here at a community _ another way. here at a community basketball| another way. here at a - community basketball court in the 19th district of paris, she is hosting her own session. a safe space she calls or women and girls regardless of whether they wear a hijab. cases like sally's have become increasingly familiar since the french possible governing body banned religious headgear in 2022. ., , ~ banned religious headgear in 2022. ~ ., 2022. people think if you wear the hi'ab 2022. people think if you wear the hijab you _ 2022. people think if you wear the hijab you are _ 2022. people think if you wear the hijab you are only - 2022. people think if you wear the hijab you are only on - 2022. people think if you wear the hijab you are only on the i the hijab you are only on the kitchen, you're doing nothing in your life but i am the example. i'm notjust a muslim, notjust a woman wearing 802, i am working in marketing, i have

have a master degree — but i am wearing a hijab. why are you putting me on the side? the fsb be say the rules uphold the rule of secularism which originates from a 1905 law. and originates from a 1905 law. and stricter government legislation put in three years ago. amnesty international says this violates muslim sports women human rights. after experiencing the same ban a grassroots level, legal professional co—founded campaign group which advocates for hijab wearing athletes. once were targets in minority groups and creates issues and infringes on human rights should be everyone's concern because we are pushing further and away the limits and we are violating and violating even more rights. and so today it is us a tomorrow it may be you. france's ban on the olympic team has been to size is going

against the fundamental principles of the games. but speaking to the bbc earlier this year the paris 2024 chief said it was a domestic matter. it's up to the countries, the national and the committees to decide for the athletes if they were or not to have a rule in place. were or not to have a rule in lace. ,, �* , were or not to have a rule in lace. ,, h were or not to have a rule in lace. ,, �*, ., place. she's en'oyed a successful_ place. she's enjoyed a successful college - place. she's enjoyed a i successful college career place. she's enjoyed a - successful college career in the united states where she made the decision at a later point to where the hijab. having one metal at the youth olympics... she had dreams of representing the french team at our home games. i representing the french team at our home games.— representing the french team at our home games. i never had the opportunity _ our home games. i never had the opportunity playing _ our home games. i never had the opportunity playing with - our home games. i never had the opportunity playing with the - opportunity playing with the french national team, it is the dream of every athlete. representing their country, so i think it would have been just amazing, especially here at home having my family, and support me. it is very

hypocritical to have france call itself the country of secularism and freedom and human rights but at the same time not allowing muslim people or citizens to show who they are and their face. or citizens to show who they are and theirface. i or citizens to show who they are and their face. i feel like there's a huge contradiction. this olympics makes history as the first to achieve all gender parity. with the rules as they are, many french muslim women i've get to feel that sense of equality. the us rock band aerosmith have announced their retirement from touring; a decision brought on by the revelation that — their lead singer steven tyler cannot recover from damage to his vocal cords and a fractured larynx. the band issued a statement saying despite the best medical team, 76 year old tyler had now made the difficult but necessary decision. this is bbc news. more coming up this is bbc news. more coming

up shortly. hello there. much of central, southern, and eastern england yet again saw another warm and very humid day. but as we move through the weekend, certainly after saturday, it'll be fresher for all, with pleasant conditions in the south. but there will be rain at times, particularly across northern and western areas, thanks to atlantic low pressure systems. so, we start saturday off with this weather front that's been crossing the country, taking the cloud and any showers with it and the warm air. so, into saturday afternoon, it'll be much fresher across the south and east. a bright day for many with sunshine and blustery showers — these mainly across scotland and northern ireland, where it will be quite windy. mid—to—high—teens here, but much fresher across the south — 21—24 celsius with lower humidity. that takes us then into saturday night, which will be a cooler, fresher one for many. cloud building out west as the next weather front starts to approach scotland and northern ireland. it'll be a fresher night to come — 8—12 celsius across the south. now, this ridge of high pressure

will build in for sunday — that will bring fine weather for england and wales. next low pressure system will start to push into scotland and northern ireland through the day, the winds picking up here, the cloud building, outbreaks of rain pushing into northern ireland and western scotland. but for eastern scotland, much of england and wales will see variable clouds, some good sunny spells — best of the sunshine towards the southeast corner, and it will feel very pleasant, with 23—24 celsius here with lower humidity, high teens further north with the wind and the rain. we tap into some warmth and humidity again into monday — this moving off france into much of the midlands, southern and eastern england. so here, a warm and humid, rather sunny day — further north and west, very different, windy, cloudy outbreaks are pretty heavy and persistent rain for northern ireland, southern and western scotland. could give rise to some localised flooding in places, but a warmer day to come even further north — we could be up to the mid—to—high—20s again across the southeast. that weather front eventually starts to push across the country on tuesday, eventually reaching the east and southeast with a few showers as it weakens and moves

off into the north sea. and then, it introduces fresher air to much of the country once again. a bright day to come for northern and western areas with some sunshine — vast improvement to how monday is looking. 19—24 celsius from northwest to southeast. as we move through the new week, it looks like much of the north and west of the country will see the wind and rain at times — whereas, further south and east you are, tending to stay warmer, drier, and sunnier.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the us is to deploy additional warships and fighterjets to the middle east to help defend israel from possible attacks by iran and its proxies. tensions remain high in the region over the assassination of the hamas leader, ismail haniyeh in iran and a key commander of hezbollah. a police station has been attacked and the property next to it set alight during clashes between rioters and police in sunderland. three injured officers were taken to hospital and eight people arrested. beer cans and stones were thrown at the officers, and at least one car was set alight. us vice president kamala harris passes the threshold to clinch the democratic presidential nomination in a vote of party delegates. speaking by telephone, ms harris said she was "honoured to be the presumptive nominee", in sight of the of the democratic convention later this month.