endorsing kamala harris. america is ready for a better story. we are ready for a president kamala harris. �* u, we are ready for a president kamala harris. �* ., , , we are ready for a president kamala harris. �* .,, , ., ~ ., harris. america, hope is making a comeback- _ comeback. cheering romanian police raid the home of andrew tate. the controversial social media influencer faces a string of new charges, including human trafficking. divers use remote—controlled vehicles to try to find the six people missing since a luxury yacht sank off the coast of sicily on monday. antony blinken�*s warning on the israel—gaza war — there's no time to waste in reaching a ceasefire agreement. hello, i'm lucy hockings. welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction.

we start this hour in the us. the former president barack obama and his wife michelle have given their enthusiastic backing to kamala harris�*s bid for the white house. during his primetime speech at the democratic national convention in chicago, mr obama said america was ready for a new chapter and described donald trump as selfish, dangerous, and weirdly obsessed with crowd size. our senior north america correspondent, gary o'donoghue, was watching. this is about as close to royalty as the democratic party gets. hello, chicago! barack obama paid tribute to his former vice president, joe biden, and he warned the democrats the election would be a tight race in a closely divided country. if we work like we've never worked before, if we hold firm to our convictions, we will elect kamala harris as the next president of the united states. both barack obama and the former

first lady laid into donald trump — misogynistic, racist, whingeing, childish, among the many insults. michelle obama going after him in a more directly personal way than before. see, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard—working, highly educated, successful people, who happen to be black. but there was more — the punch line that sent the crowd wild. i want to know, who's going to tell him, who's going to tell him that the job he's currently seeking mightjust be one of those black jobs? cheering earlier, the convention formally adopted kamala harris as the nominee, and it was down to her husband, the current second gentleman, to tell the hall about the person as well as the politician. she findsjoy in pursuing justice. she stands up to bullies, - just like my parents taught me to.

and she likes to see - people do well but hates when they're treated unfairly. 90 miles up the road, the nominee herself was campaigning in wisconsin — 76 days to prove to the american electorate that she is the right choice. gary o'donoghue, bbc news, chicago. joining me now is gabriela koc, eastern vice president of young democrats of america. she needs young people to come out and vote, they can make a real difference in this election, so what sort of things are you hearing from younger voters? are they feeling this energy and disengagement that we are seeing in chicago? absolutely. not even to mention the poll number is going crazy for kamala harris among young voters. the energy is palpable. you see it on the internet, you see a lot of

young people posting about the dnc, really riled up by the message of optimism and hope that the obamas delivered, and also really bringing some integrity and value to the presidency. some integrity and value to the presidency-— some integrity and value to the presidency. some integrity and value to the residen . , ., . ., presidency. they are box office, and it was good — presidency. they are box office, and it was good for— presidency. they are box office, and it was good for many _ presidency. they are box office, and it was good for many to _ presidency. they are box office, and it was good for many to see - presidency. they are box office, and it was good for many to see them i it was good for many to see them last night and what they were able to do for the crowd. but what do you like about kamala harris? she represents _ like about kamala harris? she represents a _ like about kamala harris? she represents a lot. _ like about kamala harris? she represents a lot. i— like about kamala harris? sue: represents a lot. i think, let like about kamala harris? si2 represents a lot. i think, let alone the really liking herfor making history as the first woman of colour, the first woman would also woman of colour to be the face of the free world. i think it is very powerful. i think kamala harris brings the energy, she brings the professionalism, nothing among young voters, she has been really able to excite us and make us feel hopeful. you saw the second she took the campaign by the horns, less than a month ago, about a month ago, she was in a position and she really came in full speed ahead and really

delivered with the energy, the passion and really created an identity. passion and really created an identi . ~ . �* passion and really created an identi . ~ ., �* ., ., passion and really created an identi .~ ., �* ., ., ., identity. we haven't heard a lot about policy _ identity. we haven't heard a lot about policy from _ identity. we haven't heard a lot about policy from her, - identity. we haven't heard a lot about policy from her, or - identity. we haven't heard a lot i about policy from her, or anything which differentiates her from president biden. what are the young voters wanting to see from her in terms of policy? what issues they want to tackle? i terms of policy? what issues they want to tackle?— want to tackle? i think with regards to mm: want to tackle? i think with regards to young people. — want to tackle? i think with regards to young people, affordability - want to tackle? i think with regards to young people, affordability is - to young people, affordability is a huge issue. especially with regards to young people being able to afford a home or buying their first home as young professionals. amongst the young professionals. amongst the young voters, the ceasefire in gaza is big issue. i think at the dnc, we have seen a lot from the people of our party really stepping up and make sure that they are addressing these issues, committing to ending these issues, committing to ending the war. i think it was really notable, especially, to see democrats on the highest ticket talk about housing. she made this commitment last night to do 3 million housing projects in her

first term. so something like that, which is something that we have been struggling to tackle, it is very refreshing and energetic and empowering to see that. can refreshing and energetic and empowering to see that. can i ask ou about empowering to see that. can i ask you about gaza — empowering to see that. can i ask you about gaza particularly, - empowering to see that. can i ask you about gaza particularly, whichj you about gaza particularly, which so many people are concerned about? all parties are calling for a ceasefire, that is not different, what she is saying. a lot of people, young people, are saying it is time to stop arms sales to israel. do you think she needs to be more in order to secure some of those votes? absolutely, right? ithink to secure some of those votes? absolutely, right? i think that is really amazing to see her speak about and people on stage last night, was that we need to ensure that democrats win in the senate and the house. so ensuring that we have a unified front on that have someone at the top like kamala would be able to intelligibly represent us on the issue to the international world. if you think about someone like trump getting into that seat and having these conversations, it is

impossible, supporters want to see policies in place like seizing arms sales. that would not be possible if we had someone like trump having those conversations with world leaders. ,., ., ., , ., ., , leaders. good to get your thoughts and thank you _ leaders. good to get your thoughts and thank you for _ leaders. good to get your thoughts and thank you forjoining _ leaders. good to get your thoughts and thank you forjoining us. - the search for those on board a luxury yacht that sank off the coast of siciliy is now into its third day, with little hope of finding survivors. these are the latest developments this hour. coastguard vessels have been seen heading off into the sea where the yacht is lying 50 metres down. divers are being helped by remote controlled vehicles that can operate on the seabed for far longer than the rescuers themselves. six people are still missing, but it's now thought rescuers are trying to recover bodies. they include the british entrepreneur, mike lynch and his 18—year—old daughter, hannah. and the chairman of morgan stanley international, jonathan bloomer, and his wife, judy. fifteen other people on board, including british mother charlotte golunski, were rescued.

these are the live pictures from porticello, where the search and rescue people are heading out from. it's believed the people on board the yacht on monday were likely sleeping inside their cabins when the vessel was hit by a tornado—like water spout, which tossed it underwater. witnesses described seeing a waterspout — a tornado over water — during the storm before the sinking of the ship. but how common are these water spouts and could the design of the yacht have contributed to the sinking? our science correspondent, pallab ghosh, reports. it was plain sailing for the bayesian in this promotional video made 15 years ago. its italian makers showing off its sleek design and luxurious interiors, all of which are now under the sea. the bayesian is one of the largest sailing yachts ever built. 56m long, and it has the second tallest sailing mast ever built at 72m.

its sails would have been down overnight, but some experts have said that, because the mast was so tall, it might have caught the high winds just like a sail. and they speculate that this might have helped tip the vessel over. they also wonder whether the yacht�*s keel, which is a flat blade sticking into the water for balance, was retracted and so affected its stability. reports from the survivors was that the sinking happened in a matter of minutes. we now have reports from the divers that the vessel is pretty much intact, so that very much hints at extreme winds on a rather large, large—sized rig, causing the vessel to keel over and then most likely start taking on water, which would then lead to a very fast sinking. but aren't these super yachts built to withstand being able to tilt over as much as 90 degrees and then bob back up? we can get scenarios where, particularly again

with very strong winds, the vessel can go further than 90 degrees, at which point you would obviously be taking on very large amounts of water through a number of the openings that you have on the vessels. the key factors were the ferocity of the winds and possibly a waterspout, like this one, that struck the vessel. they're like tornadoes, but occur at sea, gathering mist and moisture. they have narrow columns — just a few tens of metres. twisting, powerful and life—threatening. 18 waterspouts were reported off the coast of italy on august the 19th alone. and experts say that the higher—than—average sea temperatures might have made them especially powerful. the big question is, is the waterspout in its own right enough? given you had a thunderstorm and a very tall mast pushing up into those thunderstorm clouds, and we don't know the details, and it's not until the vessel's been investigated, hopefully recovered, that we'll learn the true story of what went on. but it is possible that this

intensive tornado, this waterspout, did capsize the vessel. investigators hope to know soon what sent the bayesian down so suddenly. and if there are lessons to learn to prevent such accidents from happening in the future. pallab ghosh, bbc news. let's speak now to bertrand sciboz, an expert diver and founder of ceres, a company specialised in shipwreck research, surveying and salvage based in normandy. good to have you with us. take us through some of the challenges these divers are facing at the moment. pardon, excuse me? tell divers are facing at the moment. pardon, excuse me?— divers are facing at the moment. pardon, excuse me? tell us about some of the _ pardon, excuse me? tell us about some of the challenges _ pardon, excuse me? tell us about some of the challenges that - pardon, excuse me? tell us aboutj some of the challenges that divers will have down there as they try to get to the ship. in will have down there as they try to get to the ship-— get to the ship. in fact, the divers are in clear _ get to the ship. in fact, the divers are in clear water. _ get to the ship. in fact, the divers are in clear water. we _ get to the ship. in fact, the divers are in clear water. we are - get to the ship. in fact, the divers are in clear water. we are not - are in clear water. we are not diving in an island channel of the english channel. so the

mediterranean sea is quite clear. it is easy to go down and it is not so deep. it is deep, 50 metres is deep, but it is not so deep. usually they can go no deeperfor but it is not so deep. usually they can go no deeper for professional divers. in fact, the main problem for divers is all the things they will find inside the rack before going to the lower deck. before going to the lower deck. before going to the lower deck. before going to the lower deck, you have to going to the lower deck, you have to go through the upper deck, and there will be curtains and carpets everywhere floating, so i think it will be difficult for them to go there between ten and 15 minutes, which is the real time that they have on the bottom. and if you can imagine also that every minute you go inside, you will need one more

minute to go outside. so time is divided by two, by the way. so i think, and i suppose, now or in a few hours, and are 0v will be there to see the whole wreck and to help divers... , , ., , , to see the whole wreck and to help divers... , ., , , , divers... just to interrupt, this is a kind of robot _ divers... just to interrupt, this is a kind of robot that _ divers... just to interrupt, this is a kind of robot that you - divers... just to interrupt, this is a kind of robot that you send - divers... just to interrupt, this is a kind of robot that you send out with the divers?— a kind of robot that you send out with the divers? ., ., . , with the divers? pardon? excuse me, es, a with the divers? pardon? excuse me, yes. a robot- — with the divers? pardon? excuse me, yes. a robot- and _ with the divers? pardon? excuse me, yes, a robot. and rop _ with the divers? pardon? excuse me, yes, a robot. and rop is _ with the divers? pardon? excuse me, yes, a robot. and rop is a _ with the divers? pardon? excuse me, yes, a robot. and rop is a robot. - yes, a robot. and rop is a robot. which is swimming around with a camera —— rov. the rov, the divers can only dive between ten and 15 minutes, but the rov can stay all day on the bottom with lights and with some special little rovs that

we have, we can go inside the rack as well. the main problem is all the floating debris on the upper deck. so i think the big problem at the moment for the insurers and families in the divers is to rescue the bodies before salvaging the wreck, rescue the bodies when salvaging the wreck. the other problem is the fact that the wreck is on its side. so you can certainly see out of the wreck, but maybe they will try to put the wreck on its keel so the mast will be 30 metres up the surface but they will have access to both sides of the wreck.— both sides of the wreck. bertrand, really good _ both sides of the wreck. bertrand, really good to _ both sides of the wreck. bertrand, really good to get _ both sides of the wreck. bertrand, really good to get your _ both sides of the wreck. bertrand, really good to get your insight - both sides of the wreck. bertrand, really good to get your insight and thoughts. a really challenging time

for those divers. we have the latest pictures on the website and the latest of elements of what is happening. police in romania have raided the home of the social media influencer andrew tate and announced he faces several new charges. the special prosecution service of the romanian organised crime directorate said police searched tate's four properties in the capital bucharest and in ilfov county on wednesday morning. the new charges include sex with — and trafficking in — underage persons, money laundering, and attempting to influence witnesses. he has previously denied earlier charges, including rape and human trafficking. i think we can show you the seen live right now outside of andrew tate's home in romania. there it is there. these are life pictures coming to us from outside his house as police tell us they have raided his home and announced he faces

several new charges. 0ur central europe correpondent nick thorpe is following the story and told us what he's been hearing from romanian police. we have this statement as you say from the main prosecution, the special prosecution service, that they carried out these raids. they did not actually name andrew tate or his brother tristan in that press release, but we understand from romanian sources those were the targets of the raids. what is the new development is the mentioning of other charges of sex with a minor, trafficking with a minor, attempts to influence witnesses in the existing charges. these are all new developments, specifically on the romanian charges. the british police also want to speak to andrew tate and they have asked for his transfer from romania, but they have accepted that the romanian charges will be dealt with, any legal proceedings in romania that are separate to any

charges or investigation going on in the united kingdom. coming up... as america's top diplomat says no more time can be wasted in reaching a gaza ceasefire deal, we chat to a former us to israel about the latest round of talks.

they're words and phrases we keep hearing — optimism, bridging proposal, narrowing the gaps. yet, with antony blinken's departure from the middle east, there's one that remains elusive — agreement. the us secretary of state has been been trying to broker a gaza ceasefire deal. the israeli prime minister says he's accepted the terms. but hamas has not. and there seems to be some ambiguity surrounding the israeli troop withdrawal from the

egypt—gaza border. both hamas and israel accusing the other of being behind the fact there is no deal so far. as he left the region, antony blinken's message was blunt. 0ur message is simple, it is clear and it is urgent. we need to get the ceasefire and hostage agreement over the finish line and we need to do it now. let's speak to thomas pickering, former us ambassador to the un and israel. simple, clear, urgent, the words of antony blinken, this is his ninth trip to the region and he is leaving once again without a deal. and the pressure he is exerting just doesn't seem to be working. is the us influence in this whole region waning? i influence in this whole region wanin: ? ~ . influence in this whole region waninu? ~ ., , influence in this whole region waninu? ~ ., ., waning? i think that people have beuun to waning? i think that people have begun to conclude _ waning? i think that people have begun to conclude that - waning? i think that people have begun to conclude that fact - waning? i think that people have begun to conclude that fact from j begun to conclude that fact from what has been going on. the us influence may be waning but its interest has not. increasingly, this

is a very important issue, particularly in an election year in the us. and that, i think, is self evident. it is also clear that the administration is increasing what i would call both its attention and its concern, and indeed through that process, it's pressure. but for many observers, it is still lacking insignificant effect, both with israel where that pressure can be very, very important and with hamas where it is almost nonexistent. and one clearly has to depend on arab friends, qatar and egypt in particular, to help out and do everything they can to produce an early result. there is deep concern in the us of a much wider war which,

in the us of a much wider war which, in itself, would take a catastrophe and top it with a disaster.- and top it with a disaster. when it comes to israel, _ and top it with a disaster. when it comes to israel, pressure - and top it with a disaster. when it comes to israel, pressure is - and top it with a disaster. when it comes to israel, pressure is one | comes to israel, pressure is one thing, we keep hearing about the pressure they are putting on benjamin netanyahu, but what actual leveraged they have now, given they have already agreed? the leveraged they have now, given they have already agreed?— have already agreed? the us has enormous leveraged, _ have already agreed? the us has enormous leveraged, certainly i have already agreed? the us has. enormous leveraged, certainly the whole continuation of israel's defence operations in gaza depends clearly, as the prime minister netanyahu has made clear in a number of public statements, over recent weeks, on the continued supply of military equipment and ammunition and technical advice to israel. but do ou and technical advice to israel. but do you think _ and technical advice to israel. but do you think antony blinken would use that leveraged? i do you think antony blinken would use that leveraged?— do you think antony blinken would use that leveraged? i think there is some indication _ use that leveraged? i think there is some indication already _ use that leveraged? i think there is some indication already that i use that leveraged? i think there is some indication already that that i use that leveraged? i think there is some indication already that that isj some indication already that that is something that increasingly prime minister netanyahu cannot consider

totally out of the scenario. there seems to be _ totally out of the scenario. there seems to be this _ totally out of the scenario. there seems to be this sticking - totally out of the scenario. there seems to be this sticking point . totally out of the scenario. there seems to be this sticking point when it comes to the agreement that president biden put forward and was agreed by the un security council, and now this bridging proposal we have, around israel's ability to continue the war if they want to and the us demand that there be a permanent ceasefire. how does that sticking point to get overcome? i think that that isn't important point of how and in what way this process has to be facilitated to go forward. some of that obviously has to do with israel's deep concern about defence and self defence. and commitments by friends and allies like the us, as difficult as it may be, they are certainly likely to add what i call substance to the idea guarantees which would somehow supplement israel's own commitment

but at the same time facilitate an agreement which would depend on continuation of the ceasefire and where the us would undertake to invigorate and indeed employ its capacity to support israel's self defence, if indeed the terms of a permanent ceasefire were broken by the other side. hfierr; permanent ceasefire were broken by the other side.— the other side. very interesting to net our the other side. very interesting to get your thoughts, _ the other side. very interesting to get your thoughts, ambassador. l get your thoughts, ambassador. thanks forjoining us. we've heard a lot from the new labour government about the hole in the uk's finances. it had been hoped that better—than—expected growth figures would close the gap somewhat. but its not proved to be the case. borrowing — that's the difference between spending and tax income — hit £3.1 billion last month. that's the highest level of debt since the 1960s. and it will mean tough choices for the chancellor in her 0ctober budget. let's speak to our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman.

have we heard from the chancellor on this? we have we heard from the chancellor on this? ~ ., ., ., ., this? we have not heard from the chancellor. _ this? we have not heard from the chancellor, we _ this? we have not heard from the chancellor, we have _ this? we have not heard from the chancellor, we have heard - this? we have not heard from the chancellor, we have heard from l this? we have not heard from the l chancellor, we have heard from her number two, chancellor, we have heard from her numbertwo, darryljones, chancellor, we have heard from her number two, darryljones, who is the chief secretary to the treasury. he has used these figures to advance the argument we heard a lot of the chancellor before parliament broke up chancellor before parliament broke up for the summer, which was that the economic inheritance from the conservative government was even worse than they had expected. he says, "this is yet more proof of the dire inheritance left to us by the previous government and taxpayers' money is being wasted on debt interest payments rather than on our public services." i think that latter bit is really key. if you look at where this is going politically, you can see there is a budget coming at the end of october where rachel reeves the chancellor will set out her tax and spending decisions for the year, and i think you can see a labour government which is shaping up to increase taxes, perhaps even cut spending in some areas, and we are making the

argument that that is because of what they have inherited from the conservatives, rather than because of particular choices that they want to make. . «a of particular choices that they want to make. ., ~', ,., of particular choices that they want to make. ., ,., . of particular choices that they want to make. ., . ., ., . to make. thanks so much for that. we have some breaking _ to make. thanks so much for that. we have some breaking news _ to make. thanks so much for that. we have some breaking news to _ to make. thanks so much for that. we have some breaking news to bring i to make. thanks so much for that. we have some breaking news to bring in l have some breaking news to bring in from the uk from the city of bradford in yorkshire. a murder investigation has now been launched after four people have died in a house fire in bradford. this happened in the early hours of the morning here in the uk. a29—year—old woman was pronounced dead at the scene and tragically we are hearing that three children, two girls aged nine and one and a five—year—old boy were taken to hospital and that all three died from the injuries that they suffered in the fire. we are now hearing a murder investigation has been launched in bradford after four people died in a house fire. stay with us here on bbc news. hello again. the weather in the next couple

of days is going to be pretty wet and windy across many parts of the country. what's happening is low pressure is driving the weather. we've got various weather fronts which are all coming our way, bringing the wet and windy conditions. although some of us started off on a sunny note this morning, it is clouding over from the west as the rain continues to push in across northern ireland, much of scotland, north—west england and eventually north—west wales. come further south, it's drier, it's brighter, but it's blustery in the south. windy in the north — these are the gusts of wind you can expect. so, some coastal gales particularly in the northwest. temperatures today ranging from 13 to about 22 degrees. so, as we head on through the evening and overnight period, the rain will continue to push steadily eastwards, and then hot on its heels comes in the next band of rain, taking a very similar track. the wind is going to strengthen, there will be gales through the irish sea, the rain eventually getting in through northern england, wales, and later into the southwest. but there will be some clear skies in the southeast.

temperatures a little bit higher to start the day tomorrow than they were today. so, here is this weather front. it's got the remnants of hurricane ernesto embedded in it, and it's going to produce heavy rain as it moves from the north, pushing south—eastwards. but as it heads towards the southeast, it will start to break up and fragment, and behind it we are looking at sunshine and blustery showers driven in by the wind. it's also still going to be quite windy down in the south of the country with highs here getting up to about 21. ia in the north. moving on, then, as we head on into thursday night and friday, this system comes in, bringing wet and windy weather. it will be particularly windy for a time across northern england to start the day. we could have gusts as much as 50 miles per hour, plus this heavy rain, but it does push away into the north sea by lunchtime. the rain across southern england also clears and once again we are back into some sunshine and also some showery outbreaks of rain coming in across the northwest.

temperatures — 13 to 23 degrees, north to south. the rain in the northwest will push across england and wales during the course of saturday. and then for sunday and monday, it's a mixture of sunny spells and also a few showers.

this is bbc news. the headlines...

divers use remote controlled vehicles to try to find the six people missing since a luxury yacht sank off the coast of sicily on monday. a new law comes into force in hungary, restricting support for ukrainians in the country. the tide is turning — we head to copenhagen where hundreds of projects are under way to soak up or carry away heavy rainfall. and bennifer is no more — hollywood stars jennifer lopez and ben affleck are divorcing, after two years of marriage. hello, i'm lucy hockings. let's turn to the war in ukraine now. kyiv has attacked moscow with dozens of drones, in what russian officials said was one of the biggest drone strikes on the capital since the war began. at least 11 drones were shot down by air defences according to russia. ukraine has been increasingly using drones against russian refineries and airfields but attacks on the moscow region are rarer. russia is also fighting to repel ukraine's incursion into the kursk region, the biggest foreign attack