them, and recently from this week, european leaders, "don't strike, . don't make the situation worse". iran has dismissed calls from western leaders to hold back from retaliating against israel, in response to the killing of the leader of hamas in tehran last month. there's been a flurry of international diplomacy, trying to de—escalate tensions in the region — with leaders from the us, uk and across europe appealing for calm. amongst all that though, it's now being reported by american media that us secretary of state antony blinken has postponed a planned trip to the middle east ahead of key israel—gaza ceasefire talks. elsewhere, ukrainian forces say they entered russia easily —

as troops continue their incursion across the border. president zelensky says his country now controls more than 70 towns and villages in the kursk region of western russia, and are continuing to advance. and we dig into the two—hour long discussion between presidential hopeful donald trump and billionaire elon musk. hosted on x, the website formerly known as twitter, mr trump made a series of false and questionable claims — as he tried to refocus his campaign on new opponent, kamala harris. israel is on high alert for a possible attack by iran — vengance for the assassination last month on its soil of the hamas political leader ismail haniyeh. iran blames israel for the killing and says retaliation is its legal right.

the us has warned that it is preparing for "a significant set of attacks" by iran or its proxies as soon as this week. the powerful iranian backed hezbollah group in lebanon could also take part in any attack, after israel's killing of one of its top commanders in an air strike in beirut. world leaders — including joe biden and sir keir starmer, have been trying to persuade iran not to do anything that might ignite a wider conflict. but it's now being reported in the us that the secretary of state, antony blinken, has postponed a trip to the region because of the uncertainty there. talks on a possible ceasefire in gaza are scheduled for thursday. in the last few minutes, the white house said national security officials will be travelling to the region to work on a ceasefire deal. but for now israeli forces are continuing air and ground offensives there.

the israeli military claims to have killed around 100 hamas fighters in rafah in recent days — while palestinian medics say 19 people were killed by israeli air strikes on tuesday. let's go to washington and speak to laura blumenfeld, a middle east analyst and former senior policy adviser on the state department's israeli—palestinian negotiating team. we would be talking to her in a few minutes. i'm afraid we havejust lost to length but will be back as soon as we can. let's move to the situation in ukraine. ukraine's president zelensky is claiming his troops now control 7a russian settlements — after its surprise cross border incursion that began last week. ukraine says it does not want to occupy russian territory — but that it will continue its military action until moscow agrees to peace. a key part of the strategy appears to be to force russia

to divert its forces from the eastern front , marked here in red , to protect its own territory. ukraine's invasion of russian territory in the kursk region is seen here in yellow. ukrainian commanders say they control over 1,000 square kilometres of russian land. moscow has evacuated 120,000 of its citizens from the area. ukrainian troops are crossing over the border into russia from the sumy region close to kursk. and our ukraine correspondentjames waterhouse is there. the central square of sudzha. a ukrainian armoured vehicle drives through a russian town. it's a military inversion which has restored momentum and morale to kyiv�*s war effort. and instead of directing events in ukraine, moscow's reacting to surprises at home.

more of its kursk region is falling in the most dramatic of battlefield changes. "we've just been to this russian supermarket, "and the selection isn't very good," remarks this soldier. slava ukraini! russia is struggling to contain this weighty offensive, but it is trying. across the border in ukraine's sumy region, evidence ukraine is deploying some of its best troops for a goal that is still unclear. military equipment is branded with a triangle, the symbol of this operation. ukraine is committing to this gamble, but success might not come here with the capturing of territory across the border. it may well come elsewhere, where russian forces might be forced to redeploy. if this gamble doesn't come off, the consequences for ukraine's war effort could be catastrophic.

for the border villages habitually hit by russian glide bombs, there is no fear of what moscow's response might be. translation: i want them to take it and do this. - translation: russia attacked first, not us. i now our guys responded, showed what we're capable of. if we had permission to do this earlier, we would have captured russia a long time ago. in the city of sumy, evacuees give their details to be rehoused. as with across the border, tens of thousands have been moved after an increase in air strikes. ukraine has benefited from secrecy, but its civilians less so. at this judo class, pupils seek to use their opponent's power against them. effectively what ukraine's forces are doing 50km away. but quick thinking

can work both ways. russia is still the bigger fighter and could grapple to regain its balance. let's speak to former us ambassador to nato and former united states special envoy to ukraine, kurt volker. thank you for being with us. our correspondent james ward—prowse use the word gambler, is that what you think this is? i the word gambler, is that what you think this is?— think this is? i would not cut it to gamblers. _ think this is? i would not cut it to gamblers. it _ think this is? i would not cut it to gamblers, it was _ think this is? i would not cut it to gamblers, it was at his _ think this is? i would not cut it to gamblers, it was at his choice, i think this is? i would not cut it to gamblers, it was at his choice, a | gamblers, it was at his choice, a decision to show to the world that russia is more vulnerable than it looks a lot to show to the russian people that this is indeed a war, and it can come to them as well, and to kind of expose putin as the only russian leader since world war ii who actually provoked an invasion of russia and lost russian territory, so i think it was a decision to make a step that would change the narrative in a significant way compared to what we have been seen

of the slow erosion of the front in the east of ukraine, where russia has been making gains. so is the east of ukraine, where russia has been making gains.— has been making gains. so is the chance in has been making gains. so is the change in narrative _ has been making gains. so is the change in narrative but _ has been making gains. so is the change in narrative but can - change in narrative but can ukrainian troops hold onto this territory question mark are the moments, they seem to advance further and further inside russia. they have advanced quite a bit dirty, 1500 km2 i understand, taking several villages, and i think they would dig in and hold it for a long time. i don't think they want to keep the territory, it is not like putin seeking territorial expansion of russia, i think it is positioned ukraine for the future because there would have to be to enter this war, some kind of negotiation, and i think they want to put the idea that russia just gets to take territory and that is all it is going to have to be given back territory. what you think ukraine's _ to be given back territory. what you think ukraine's western _ to be given back territory. what you think ukraine's western allies - to be given back territory. what you think ukraine's western allies make of this? a, where they sold in

advance, and b, their hardware appears to be in use, certainly german fighting vetoes an american fighting vehicles as well involved in this incursion inside russian territory? i in this incursion inside russian territo ? ~' ., ., , ., territory? i think there are lots of --eole in territory? i think there are lots of peeple in the _ territory? i think there are lots of people in the west _ territory? i think there are lots of people in the west holding - territory? i think there are lots of people in the west holding their. people in the west holding their breath right now. you have not heard it lots of commentary coming from western capitals are washington. they don't want to undermine the ukrainian effort but don't want to see to be encouraging it's an pain inputting's narrative that it's israel of the west at tech than ukraine,. ~ israel of the west at tech than ukraine. -_ israel of the west at tech than ukraine,. ~ . , .,, ukraine,. we gathered this was lanned ukraine,. we gathered this was planned months _ ukraine,. we gathered this was planned months ago, _ ukraine,. we gathered this was planned months ago, this - ukraine,. we gathered this was - planned months ago, this incursion, we have described it as a surprise but clearly ukrainians had been planning it for some time, do you think it is credible that the united states did not know anything about it? i states did not know anything about it? , , , . ., states did not know anything about it? , ., it? i suspect that people were workin: it? i suspect that people were working with _ it? i suspect that people were working with ukraine - it? i suspect that people were - working with ukraine operationally day—to—day, intelligence and military. they probably had some

idea this was going on, whether it was discussed at the highest levels, i honestly don't know, i would be surprised. i honestly don't know, i would be surrised. , ., , surprised. president putin has described this _ surprised. president putin has described this as _ surprised. president putin has described this as a _ surprised. president putin has i described this as a provocation, surprised. president putin has - described this as a provocation, so far his troops have not responded effectively or efficiently to its, but presumably in time they will because putin cannot allow this to stand, he cannot allow each chunk of russia to be seized and held onto for the first time since the second world war. it for the first time since the second world war. , for the first time since the second world war-— for the first time since the second world war. , ., , ., world war. it is remarkable for them to call it a provocation _ world war. it is remarkable for them to call it a provocation when - world war. it is remarkable for them to call it a provocation when russia l to call it a provocation when russia has been occupying parts of ukraine for over ten years, and in the last two years has been engaging in daily wherefore next warfare against ukrainian cities and civilians and infrastructure, so to see anyone russia is a provocation is quite remarkable. i heard john kirby the national security council spokesperson put it right yesterday, when he said that if russia is

concerned about ukrainian forces inside russian territory, they should get out of ukraine. some --eole should get out of ukraine. some peeple and _ should get out of ukraine. some people and military _ should get out of ukraine. some people and military and - should get out of ukraine. some people and military and is - should get out of ukraine. some people and military and is is -- l people and military and is is —— analyst might say that russia has been making very slow but some progress inside ukraine and on other fronts, and other words, it is been advancing, so maybe ukraine would have better using its best troops and these troops involved in this incursion are apparently some of their best, in the defence of ukraine rather than going on the attack inside russia. i ukraine rather than going on the attack inside russia.— ukraine rather than going on the attack inside russia. i don't think so to be honest. _ attack inside russia. i don't think so to be honest. we _ attack inside russia. i don't think so to be honest. we have - attack inside russia. i don't think so to be honest. we have seen . attack inside russia. i don't think. so to be honest. we have seen the pattern over the last 18 months or so to stop russia make small and incremental gains at great cost, losing 1000 plus soldiers a day for most of the spring and summer of this year, and the ukrainians have let them do that in the sense of bringing up all of that resource if they are willing to make that commitment. and i think if they committed more troops to the defence

of those areas in the east that are already well fortified by russia, it would not have mattered very much, where he is using them as they have in a completely different purpose and location, they have made a spectacular gain, and they are not going to force russia to move forces away from elsewhere, from don bass and maybe even crimea to shore up the defences inside russia. kurt volker, the defences inside russia. kurt volker. good — the defences inside russia. kurt volker, good to _ the defences inside russia. kurt volker, good to talk _ the defences inside russia. kurt volker, good to talk to, former us ambassador to nato and special envoy to ukraine to stop this collector other story of the day the tensions across the middle east and iran is missing because from western leaders to hold back from retaliating against israel in response to the killing of the political leader of hamas in iran last month. let's go to washington — and speak to laura blumenfeld, a middle east analyst and former senior policy adviser on the state department's

israeli—palestinian negotiating team thank you for being with us. first of all, israel is bracing itself for an iranian attack. do you think iran will in some shape or form retaliate for what's happened? that will in some shape or form retaliate for what's happened?— for what's happened? that is the ruestion for what's happened? that is the question of _ for what's happened? that is the question of the _ for what's happened? that is the question of the day, _ for what's happened? that is the question of the day, and - for what's happened? that is the question of the day, and in - for what's happened? that is the question of the day, and in the i question of the day, and in the middle east of the knights, because every night it seems the moment is,. the west is asking iran to but how can they say face? the point of revenge and they vowed revenge is to shift dignity back into balance, and to achieve that balance, are they getting there by the psychological torture, the swarming that there been watching as the israelis brace for the attack or do the take it one step further?— step further? when iran retaliated back in april. _ step further? when iran retaliated back in april, in _ step further? when iran retaliated back in april, in the _ step further? when iran retaliated back in april, in the end _ step further? when iran retaliated back in april, in the end it - step further? when iran retaliated back in april, in the end it was - step further? when iran retaliated back in april, in the end it was a i back in april, in the end it was a bit about damp squib, most of the drawings and missiles were shut down by israel. drawings and missiles were shut down b israel. ~ , , ~' by israel. absolutely, revenge, like any currency. _ by israel. absolutely, revenge, like any currency. can — by israel. absolutely, revenge, like any currency, can be _

by israel. absolutely, revenge, like any currency, can be debased, - by israel. absolutely, revenge, like any currency, can be debased, and| any currency, can be debased, and the iranians are looking at retaliation inflation, and they would feel like in order to exact that price, they would have to up the ante, so the big question is we are on a toggle switch between negotiating and decimated, and sometimes it seems that were doing both at the same time. secretary antony blinken has postponed his trip to the region, which i will read optimistically, not there there is an imminent attack but that there are details to be hammered out for that cease—fire deal, that is the off ramp and face—saving move to see the region and iranians from having to strike back if they can negotiate that deal, the hostages are released, we would have at least a pause or if not a complete and into the war in gaza and we can start think about reconstruction, i worked for secretary carey under president 0bama for israel and palestine in negotiations, and i

spent three days haggling over,, so i'm not sure it will be right away, but that made their way to go. there are the peace _ but that made their way to go. there are the peace talk _ but that made their way to go. there are the peace talk supposedly scheduled for thursday in delhi, but we have seen so many false dawns when it comes to peace talks and trying to secure a cease—fire in gaza, trying to secure the release of hostages, we have seen optimism from the white house that a peace deal is around the corner and then it never quite happens.— it never quite happens. there are few things _ it never quite happens. there are few things happening, _ it never quite happens. there are few things happening, not - it never quite happens. there are few things happening, not for - it never quite happens. there are j few things happening, not for the white house but from the region itself that give me optimism. one is that the minister of defence might you have deadlines, for the first time is coming out publicly against prime minister netanyahu to take pressure on him to take the deal. he said in notion of absolute victory is unreachable, and on to know you could see the ends as a by the means, but if you agree the ends are unattainable then the means are unsustainable, so if there is that and also the hostages, though they

are under lock and key, they hold the key to stopping the harmon region. one was apparently killed by the guards, and two female hostages were wounded by the hamas guards within them, which puts pressure on israel. on the other hand, with ismail haniyeh as a cemented, there is pressure for it sinwar to root through first people.— is pressure for it sinwar to root through first people. thank you for 'oininr us, through first people. thank you for joining us. laura — through first people. thank you for joining us, laura blumenfeld. - through first people. thank you for. joining us, laura blumenfeld. thank you. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

as the race for the white house intensifies, the momentum at the moment seems to be with the democratic contender kamala harris, while many analysts believe donald trump's campaign has been thrown onto the back foot. well last night he tried to reenergise that campaign by spending two hours on x —

formerly twitter — in conversation with its owner elon musk. the discussion, not on camera, ranged from topics like immigration and global politics, to the attempted assassination of mr trump. here's our north america editor sarah smith. this technical fail for over a0 minutes was a poor start for a candidate badly in need of a hard reset. for the last three weeks, donald trump has struggled to adapt his campaign to his new opponent, kamala harris. he clearly wishes he was still running againstjoe biden, whom he repeatedly accused of being senile, and now he is complaining about him being removed as the democrat�* candidate's. say what you want, this was a coup of the president of the united states, he didn't want to leave and they said we can do this the nice way or the hard way. mr trump said he believed america needs a tough

and intimidating leader, suggesting that would stop resident suggesting that would stop president putin from invading ukraine. i said to vladimir putin, you can't do it, vladimir, you do it, it's going to be a bad day, you cannot do it. and i told him things that, what i do, and he said, "no way, and i said, "way". donald trump did describe kamala harris as a radical left lunatic, who he says is soft on crime and immigration, but he has not yet settled on a consistent line of attack. i call her laughing kamala, have you ever watched her laugh? she's crazy. lying kamala is a total radical. he is questioning her racial identity instead of her policies. she was always of indian heritage and always only promoting indian heritage, i didn't know she was black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn black. she has in fact always called herself black, and this was reminiscent of the lies mr trump directed at barack 0bama when he was running for president.

kamala harris is currently enjoying a significant surge in opinion polls, overtaking donald trump nationally and in key swing states. this remarkable and fairly surprising political honeymoon may not last all the way until the election but it has certainly wrong—footed donald trump for now. and when we fight, we win! god bless you, and god bless america. vice president harris is so far playing it safe on the campaign trail, no radical policy ideas, all uplifting slogans and optimistic promises, but it does seem to be working for voters who wanted a fresh choice and see her as a candidate for change. sarah smith, bbc news, washington. let's speak to political analyst and commentator calvin dark, and technologyjournalist, will guyatt. well, let us go to you first, because there were some technical problems at the start of this, it

was delayed about a0 minutes, not a great advert for x and not a great way for donald trump to reboot his campaign. way for donald trump to reboot his cam -rain. , , ., way for donald trump to reboot his cam-rain. , , ., ., ., campaign. definitely not a great advert for x. — campaign. definitely not a great advert for x, and _ campaign. definitely not a great advert for x, and of _ campaign. definitely not a great advert for x, and of course - campaign. definitely not a great advert for x, and of course elon| advert for x, and of course elon musk, with the alternative fact engine came out suggesting it was a denial of service attack, he really agriculturalform of denial of service attack, he really agricultural form of destruction of agricultural form of destruction of a website by overloading it with traffic. lots of experts, including those who want —— monitor network traffic i've come up today and highly question that statement. even elon musk has slightly rolled back ijy elon musk has slightly rolled back by suggesting several hours later with another post that they had a few errors, but that did not stop people leaving on the idea that this attack was some sort of deep estate denial trying to stop donald trump from talking to stop do we know how big the audience for this was? at the time 21.2 people were watching it, and elon musk should decide the

platform had been tested up to imminent users, and it wasn't accurate, it was struggling at one stage at the 900,000 mark. once of next lots of complaint since that must was complaining this morning uk time that those of tweets and posts were shared because of it, and they will not all be positive, because let's face it, elon musk is not a bbc channel interviewer, and the first few newness of the interview was elon musk going yeah, aha, to each donald trump nine in his manifesto as it were. it each donald trump nine in his manifesto as it were.- each donald trump nine in his manifesto as it were. it will be interesting _ manifesto as it were. it will be interesting to _ manifesto as it were. it will be interesting to see _ manifesto as it were. it will be interesting to see elon - manifesto as it were. it will be interesting to see elon musk l manifesto as it were. it will be l interesting to see elon musk on manifesto as it were. it will be - interesting to see elon musk on the bbc channel, is the? maybe he would be offered a show, but let's eat it calvin dark about the content of the conversation, calvin, what did you make? critic said it was rambling and a love in between the two men. i

think both of those characterisations are correct. there were _ characterisations are correct. there were so _ characterisations are correct. there were so many things that the harris campaign _ were so many things that the harris campaign has used and will continue to use. _ campaign has used and will continue to use, sound bites and everything from _ to use, sound bites and everything from climate change to making comments about electric cars with elon comments about electric cars with eton musk. — comments about electric cars with elon musk, to his suppose it conversations with vladimir putin, but the _ conversations with vladimir putin, but the most important thing to remember is that donald trump and publish _ remember is that donald trump and publish at _ remember is that donald trump and publish at least one of his goals, and that— publish at least one of his goals, and that was to take away a new cyclic _ and that was to take away a new cyclic from — and that was to take away a new cyclic from vice president kamala harris. _ cyclic from vice president kamala harris, because he knows whether the headline _ harris, because he knows whether the headline is _ harris, because he knows whether the headline is good or bad, if they headline — headline is good or bad, if they headline is good or bad, if they headline is about donald trump, it is one _ headline is about donald trump, it is onetime — headline is about donald trump, it is one time were not talking about her crowd — is one time were not talking about her crowd sizes and the enthusiasm on the _ her crowd sizes and the enthusiasm on the democratic side. do her crowd sizes and the enthusiasm on the democratic side.— her crowd sizes and the enthusiasm on the democratic side. do you think his campaign — on the democratic side. do you think his campaign needs _ on the democratic side. do you think his campaign needs a _ on the democratic side. do you think his campaign needs a reboot - on the democratic side. do you think his campaign needs a reboot and - on the democratic side. do you thinkj his campaign needs a reboot and has been on the back foot since kamala harris emerged onto the scene after joe biden pulled out?— joe biden pulled out? definitely, and declares _ joe biden pulled out? definitely, and declares evidence _ joe biden pulled out? definitely, and declares evidence of-

joe biden pulled out? definitely, and declares evidence of that - joe biden pulled out? definitely, i and declares evidence of that easy he is _ and declares evidence of that easy he is still— and declares evidence of that easy he is still talking about joe and declares evidence of that easy he is still talking aboutjoe biden. at one _ he is still talking aboutjoe biden. at one point last night during the composition, he was criticising joe biden— composition, he was criticising joe biden and — composition, he was criticising joe biden and saying that joe composition, he was criticising joe biden and saying thatjoe biden was in a vegetative state, and ijust kept _ in a vegetative state, and ijust kept thinking to myself, i bet his campaign — kept thinking to myself, i bet his campaign manager is hoping that he starts _ campaign manager is hoping that he starts talking about his actual opponent and not the person we know it would _ opponent and not the person we know it would not— opponent and not the person we know it would not be on the ballot in november. it would not be on the ballot in november-— it would not be on the ballot in november. �* , ,, , ., november. and will, 'ust like you, elon musk november. and will, 'ust like you, non musk is h november. and will, 'ust like you, elon musk is a h november. and will, just like you, elon musk is a fascinating - elon musk is a fascinating character, but he has become such a donald trump friend. bear character, but he has become such a donald trump friend.— donald trump friend. bear in mind that two years _ donald trump friend. bear in mind that two years ago, _ donald trump friend. bear in mind that two years ago, donald -- - donald trump friend. bear in mind| that two years ago, donald -- elon that two years ago, donald —— elon musk was saying that if donald trump stands for election in 202a, he would be too old, and those were the words of a tweets posted by elon musk about what you find yourself in these alternative reality world. kamala harris has been invited by elon musk to speak on next, i don't think she should given that musk said it was destiny that donald trump should be reelected, and another great thing for me, the

harris cam did one of the sickest internet burns of all time, obviously quality donald trump camping weird, but they made a post last night that you cannot even live stream in 2010 to four, and that is a burn for donald trump.— a burn for donald trump. great -- treat to a burn for donald trump. great -- great to have _ a burn for donald trump. great -- great to have you _ a burn for donald trump. great -- great to have you both _ a burn for donald trump. great -- great to have you both of - a burn for donald trump. great -- great to have you both of us, - a burn for donald trump. great -- great to have you both of us, will| great to have you both of us, will guyatt and calvin dark, you are watching bbc news. good evening. in recent nights, we've had some fantastic displays of the aurora borealis, even into southern parts of england. and the opportunity may well be there again for the next few hours this side of midnight, and even in the south. but there's a fly in the ointment. there's a lot more cloud and rain straddling the uk at the moment. either side, perhaps some clearer skies. scotland, northern ireland, eventually northern england and early in the evening further east. but our band of cloud and rain, even some rumbles of thunder initially are tracking their way eastwards through the night, so it will be a warmer, cloudier end to the night

across central and eastern areas, but a chilly one further north — down to a—5 under the clearing skies. and that bodes well fora drier, brighter, sunnier day across scotland, for northern ireland and for northern england and wales. eventually that cloud, although dragging its heels initially, will clear towards the east. some early rain, some mist and murk over the hills. that's something that we'll see through the night as well, underneath that cloud band, and even underneath that remnant cloud, 23—2a, still quite warm. not as warm as it's been, of course, today — a fresher feel futher north. but lighter winds than today, so pleasant in the sunshine. but that window of drier weather here under this brief ridge of high pressure doesn't last for long because, as you can see, through tomorrow night into thursday, the next area of rain is working its way in across northern ireland and scotland — quite a wet night and a wet start to thursday. it does brighten and dry up to the north, and after a cooler start in the south and the east, we hold on to some sunshine. just east anglia and the south east from the looks of things, but there will be some heavy rain

on this weather front and some brisk winds as well. so, a fresherfeel once it clears, quite muggy underneath that weather front. again, it's warm, moist air, so we might see 25—27 in the sunshine ahead of that. that shows you that that warm air�*s not too far away. and that muggy air is with us then through thursday night into friday and still around, potentially in, the south on friday on that weather front. so still some heavy rain potentially, and more getting into the north and the west. but for many, it looks like some drier weather again is on the way on friday. so, you can see how it's changeable day to day, our weather. but it looks then as if we'll see high pressure building in for the weekend. so, yes, there will be a few showers, but for many, there'll be a lot of dry weather with some sunshine, and feeling warm in that sun, too.

hello, i'm ben brown. you're watching the context on bbc news. firefighters and soldiers battle the flames in greece, around the capital, athens. sport — and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's olli foster. big night of eurpean football — ten second—leg ties in champions league qualifying,

with the winners moving into the play—offs — that's one step away from the group stages. we've had a couple of results, bodo glint have eased through — winning the second leg a—1 against poland's jagiellonia bialystok — to reach the next round where they'll face red star belgrade next. salzburg drew 3—3 with fc twente — to go through 5—a on aggregate. the winner will face rangers or dynamo kyiv. they're playing at hampden park because ibrox is having some building work done, 1—1 after the first leg, it is goalless, they are in first—half injury time. manchester united have completed the signing of bayern munich defenders mattias de ligt and noussair mazraoui. the dutch centre back de lijt has signed a five—year contract whilst morrocan full—back mazraoui has signed for four, the combined fee is believed

to be about £60 million,