as the prime minister visits germany. paris prepares for the paralympics with the opening ceremony just hours away. also coming up, 30 also coming up, 30 marathons in 30 days. marathons in 30 days. we'll talk live to we'll talk live to the reality tv star the reality tv star spencer matthewswho�*s spencer matthewswho�*s just completed that just completed that extraordinary feat. extraordinary feat. surrounding hospitals. at least nine people have been killed at least nine people have been killed in the biggest israeli in the biggest israeli operation in the occupied operation in the occupied west bank for 20 years. west bank for 20 years. a series of co—ordinated raids a series of co—ordinated raids took place in at least four took place in at least four cities —jenin, nablus, cities —jenin, nablus, tulkarm and tu bas. tulkarm and tu bas. the israeli military the israeli military has been using drones has been using drones and armoured bulldozers, and armoured bulldozers, and there are reports and there are reports of israeli forces of israeli forces

surrounding hospitals. israel claims it has killed, what it says, are nine palestinian "terrorists". its foreign minister, israel katz, has described the situation as a "war" that must be won. a senior palestinian official, has accused israel of trying to escalate the war in gaza and warned of "dire

but this operation, but this operation, looks a bit different, looks a bit different, it is a part of a wider, it is a part of a wider, coordinated operation coordinated operation across the northern west bank. across the northern west bank. these kinds of operations these kinds of operations going on in several cities. going on in several cities. what is not entirely clear what is not entirely clear at the moment is why this at the moment is why this operation is taking place now. operation is taking place now. the kind of extensive the kind of extensive operation that people here haven't seen in decades. operation that people here haven't seen in decades. israel's foreign minister says israel's foreign minister says it is a counterterrorism it is a counterterrorism operation against what he calls operation against what he calls terrorist infrastructure terrorist infrastructure backed by iran. backed by iran. but over the past ten months, moments ago where he spoke but over the past ten months, these cities have had weekly these cities have had weekly incursions by the israeli army, incursions by the israeli army, it is not clear what it is not clear what has changed in terms has changed in terms of their targeting, in terms of their targeting, in terms of their methods. of their methods. and the palestinian authorities and the palestinian authorities are warning that continued are warning that continued violence here is going to have violence here is going to have dire and dangerous dire and dangerous consequences. consequences. israeli government israeli government

spokesperson, david mencer, spokesperson, david mencer, gave a press briefing some gave a press briefing some moments ago where he spoke about the operation in the west bank. 0ur our policy is clear, there will be no safe place, no places of sanctuary and no places where terrorists can feel safe when they feel they are in control. as such, a targeted operation is taking place to thwart terrorist activity. the idf and our security forces are operating injenin and other places from which murderous attacks have been lodged. we will fight to eliminate terrorism wherever it emerges. we know iran is working to make this another front from which to attack israel. israel is on high alert, our security forces are deployed extensively to thwart another terror attack

and we will settle accounts with any terrorists responsible for terror attacks against our people. let me show you the live pictures coming in from jenin, because we can still see those armed bulldozers with that operation. we will talk to our correspondent injerusalem in correspondent in jerusalem in the correspondent injerusalem in the next moment or two. let's have a quick reminder about the west bank. it's land on the west bank of the riverjordan, and bounded by israel and jordan. it's been occupied by israel since the 1967 middle east war, but decades of talks between israel and the palestinians have left its final status unresolved. the international court ofjustice has ruled israel's occupation of the west bank — and the building ofjewish settlements there are illegal under international law. let's speak to our correspondent in ramallah jon donnison in terms of the operation, is

it still ongoing?

from jenin, very much in evidence by those armoured bulldozers making their way through the narrow streets. we heard from david mansour, the israeli government spokesman justified the operation. but given everything that is happening in gaza with the threat of a wider war in the region, it is yet more instability, isn't it? it is. you will _ instability, isn't it? it is. you will remember - instability, isn't it? it is. you will remember we l instability, isn't it? it is. | you will remember we had instability, isn't it? it is. - you will remember we had antony blinken, the us secretary of state in israel last week and one of the things he said as he called for all parties in the region to refrain from provocative actions, and america's concern is what is happening in gaza could spread into a wider regional conflict, and we had that big escalation in violence between israel and his brother wide in lebanon over the weekend. many palestinians will see this as a

provocative action. israel says it is determined to fight what it is determined to fight what it calls the terrorist threat in the west bank but they are using strong language. the israeli foreign minister culling for people to be evacuated from these palestinian cities so they can carry out operations similar to what is happening in gaza. as lucy said in her report from jenin, these kinds of raids have been happening in palestinian towns and cities for the past ten months but not on this scale, and i think it is another dangerous moment. thanks very much for the very latest. we will talk again through the course of our programme. here in the uk, doctors are calling on the government — to ban flavoured and disposable vapes — to protect children against what, they say, is a "growing epidemic". in a report last year, the world health organization said vapes were banned in 3a countries including india, brazil and thailand however, according to the report, 7a countries — mostly in africa, but also elsewhere including pakistan, colombia

and mongolia — did not regulate e—cigarettes at all. let's speak to nick hopkinson. he's the chair at action on smoking and health and also a professor of respiratory medicine at imperial college. thank you for being on the programme. i know your organisation has looked at some of the statistics about how many adults, how many children are using vapes, but what is the latest data on that? there are basically _ the latest data on that? there are basically two _ the latest data on that? there are basically two issues - the latest data on that? there| are basically two issues around vaping, one is a positive one, the increasing number of adults who were smoking have eyelet cut down or managed to quit smoking completely so that is an enormous step forward for their health by switching from smoking to vaping. at the same time, there is understandable

concern that a substantial number of young people have tried vaping and around 7—8% of 11-17 tried vaping and around 7—8% of 11—17 —year—olds are vaping ii—i7 —year—olds are vaping either occasionally or regularly but i doing it more than once or twice to try it. it has welcomed the bma is adding its voice to calls for the government to get this under control and to introduce the appropriate regulations, particularly to accelerate the process they have already set out in bringing in a tobacco and vapes bill that addresses these problems.— and vapes bill that addresses these problems. very briefly, ou live these problems. very briefly, you give us — these problems. very briefly, you give us the _ these problems. very briefly, you give us the numbers - these problems. very briefly, you give us the numbers in i you give us the numbers in terms of children. that is a big jump in terms of children. that is a bigjump infew terms of children. that is a big jump in few years. yes, there has — big jump in few years. yes, there has been _ big jump in few years. yes, there has been a _ big jump in few years. yes, | there has been a substantial increase, particularly in the last three or four years, where disposable vapes have become much more common.

interestingly, we have been monitoring youth uptake for a long time, and as soon as this uptake happens, help to introduce some amendments to the health and social care bill in 2021 that would have given the secretary of state power to regulate vaping, but unfortunately the government at the time voted those down. we are playing catch up here. we are playing catch up here. we are three years behind where we would have been if those regulations had been introduced backin regulations had been introduced back in 2021 when vaping started to be a problem. the chair of the _ started to be a problem. the chair of the bma's _ started to be a problem. the chair of the bma's board of science said the industry is busy targeting children with colours, flavouring, branding. do you share the assessment and assessment that all of that should be banned? broadly yes. clearly the _ should be banned? broadly yes. clearly the industry _ should be banned? broadly yes. clearly the industry is _ should be banned? broadly yes. clearly the industry is trying - clearly the industry is trying

to attract new users and much of the packaging and marketing, never mind the illegal sales, is clearly encouraging young people to try this and get into the habit of vaping. we know what worked to get young people not to smoke, to bring levels down and that was issues around packaging, marketing. find down and that was issues around packaging, marketing.— packaging, marketing. and all of this should _ packaging, marketing. and all of this should be _ packaging, marketing. and all of this should be behind - packaging, marketing. and all of this should be behind the i of this should be behind the counter, that is another of the basic suggestions and recommendations. ., recommendations. yeah, we need to make sure _ recommendations. yeah, we need to make sure that _ recommendations. yeah, we need to make sure that vaping - recommendations. yeah, we need to make sure that vaping is - to make sure that vaping is something that is available to aduu something that is available to adult smokers who want to use it to quit smoking, and we need to have a range of flavours it to quit smoking, and we need to have a range of flavours that are available so people that are available so people who want to switch from smoking who want to switch from smoking to vaping have a favourite they to vaping have a favourite they can tolerate, that is palatable can tolerate, that is palatable to them and different people to them and different people will want different flavours. will want different flavours. so not a total ban on all so not a total ban on all

flavours?— flavours?— so not a total ban on all flavours? ., ., ., ., so not a total ban on all flavours? ., ., ., ., flavours? you need a range of flavours. _ flavours? you need a range of flavours. and _ flavours? you need a range of flavours, and it _ flavours? you need a range of flavours. _ flavours? you need a range of flavours. and _ flavours? you need a range of flavours, and it _ flavours? you need a range of flavours, and it is _ flavours? you need a range of flavours, and it is not - flavours? you need a range of flavours, and it is not to - flavours, and it is not to relate the flavours that is the flavours? you need a range of flavours, and it is _ flavours? you need a range of flavours, and it is not - flavours? you need a range of flavours, and it is not to - flavours, and it is not to relate the flavours that is the issue, it is the marketing of issue, it is the marketing of the flavours. it is the huge the flavours. it is the huge proliferation of descriptors, proliferation of descriptors, of candy flavours, of what of a of candy flavours, of what of a better word exciting better word exciting descriptors of the flavours need need descriptors of the flavours that are designed to appeal to that are designed to appeal to children. have you tried this children. have you tried this one? what you basically need one? what you basically need for adults is for vaping to be for adults is for vaping to be quite boring but effective. so quite boring but effective. so there is no need for the glitz there is no need for the glitz and glamour and the and glamour and the descriptors, but i think descriptors, but i think banning all flavours would mean banning all flavours would mean essentially anyone who was essentially anyone who was smoking who could only access a smoking who could only access a notionally tobacco flavoured notionally tobacco flavoured vape and found it unpleasant, vape and found it unpleasant, would go back to smoking which is much more harmfulfor them and the people around them. regulations when they come in

is highly unlikely present. it is highly unlikely this will go before the election itself. when it comes to the politics, it is up in the air. we have seen pulling in the past that suggested republican voters are not swayed in a negative way by any of these legal challenges, lawsuits or convictions related to former president donald trump. a bit of a reminder of what we are talking about, this goes back to january six and the alleged attempts by former president trump to overturn the results of the 2020 election unlawfully so. the supreme court ruling that came outjust over the summer suggested that there is this level of immunity that presidents have, so what we're seeing this new indictment is to take away any official acts by a president and look at this from the perspective of a potential candidate. meanwhile kamala harris and her running mate tim walz

are expected to give to their firstjoint tv interview on thursday — after weeks of demands by political opponents that they should do so. republicans have repeatedly accused kamala harris of avoiding serious questions since she replaced joe biden on the democratic ticket nearly five weeks ago. she and mr walz will appear on cnn while on a campaign stop in georgia. and the next big test in this election race — is the debate between karmala harris and donald trump — lodged in the diary for september the 10th. they're still wrangling over exact rules for the debate — we'll have more on this we'll have more on this with former republican with former republican and democratic strategists and democratic strategists later this hour. later this hour. around the world around the world and across the uk. and across the uk. this is bbc news. this is bbc news.

in a news conference, where he announced a new uk—germany treaty — calling it a �*once in generation chance to deliver for working people.�* both leaders say, they hope to sign it by the end of the year. germany laid out the red carpet for the british prime minister — who is heading to paris — for talks with french president, emmanuel macron. in the news conference, sir keir starmer outlined the aims of the treaty and touched on shared goals around illegal migration, climate change, and a new defence agreement focussing on support for ukraine and resolving the conflict in the middle east. he also said he wants to turn a corner on brexit... a new uk germany treaty, a once in a generation chance to deliverfor working people in britain and in germany, a new agreement, a testament to the depths of the potential of our

relationship with deeper links on science, technology, development, people, business, culture, a boost to our trading relations. for more let's speak tojill rutter, senior research fellow at uk in a changing europe. welcome to the programme. what did you make of the trip, the objective of what you heard from keir starmer?- objective of what you heard from keir starmer? clearly they have not from keir starmer? clearly they have got a _ from keir starmer? clearly they have got a good _ from keir starmer? clearly they have got a good relationship, i have got a good relationship, this is not his first meeting with 0laf scholz, he has been seeing a lot of the german chancellor and clearly there is a desire on to have a positive relationship. the german government had a complex, that it took rishi sunak a long time to go to berlin, so the fact the new government has made germany such a priority is really welcome over there. i think clearly there is going to be something on defence, we

have already had a defence operation agreement signed in the very early days of this government, the really interesting thing is where are the productive areas for future cooperation and for that corporation given germany has to operate within a framework set by the eu rather than in its own national control. sure, but by ruling _ its own national control. sure, but by ruling out _ its own national control. sure, but by ruling out that - its own national control. sure, but by ruling out that he - its own national control. sure, but by ruling out that he is - but by ruling out that he is not under an brexit or re—entering the single market or customs union, does that take a lot of the political heat out of this? because in areas like trade and travel and security, quite obviously there are areas where better cooperation would be for the benefit of just about everybody? i benefit ofjust about everybody?- benefit ofjust about everybody? benefit ofjust about eve bod ? . ., , everybody? i am not sure it takes the — everybody? i am not sure it takes the heat _ everybody? i am not sure it takes the heat out - everybody? i am not sure it takes the heat out of - everybody? i am not sure it takes the heat out of it, - everybody? i am not sure itj takes the heat out of it, but you might say it is a glimpse of the possibilities about what substantive reiki can deliver to make a real difference that we would notice. it is quite interesting, he was asked about mobility and said i am very much in favour of exchanging

comments on whether they will make it easierfor comments on whether they will make it easier for school groups to travel. with france they have done that, they want to tackle illegal migration, that has been a big thing for the british minister mack. he wants to access the german market, but that is difficult because germany is operating single market rules, eu custom code rules and if the uk is ruling out to bejoining the single market or the customs union, and keir starmer is clear he was doing that, then there may be some slight admin changes that the germans can make but nothing that is going to make huge big difference, similarly things like british citizens having to do all these hassles at the boarding that are going to come up in november and again next year when we have to pay to get our entry permit into the eu, that is not in germany's gift to do

anything with that eu rules, and germany has to go with the collective rather than do a bilateral deal on that with the uk. , , bilateral deal on that with the uk. so broadly into your view nothin: uk. so broadly into your view nothing really _ uk. so broadly into your view nothing really substantial - uk. so broadly into your view nothing really substantial in i nothing really substantial in changing a lot of people's lives, given he is meeting with 0laf scholz and emmanuel macron, and are critical to both the eu project actually is. i both the eu pro'ect actually is. ~ , , is. i think it is interesting whether— is. i think it is interesting whether he _ is. i think it is interesting whether he can _ is. i think it is interesting whether he can persuade j is. i think it is interesting - whether he can persuade both of them that they should be dietrich cooperation between the eu and the uk without the ukjoining the eu's customs union and single market, kenny actually persuade that the uk should be allowed to do what in the past they have dismissed as cherry picking. it will be interesting to see whether his full on diplomacy can deliver lots of changes.—

full on diplomacy can deliver lots of changes. thank you for “oininu lots of changes. thank you for joining us _ lots of changes. thank you for joining us on _ lots of changes. thank you for joining us on the _ lots of changes. thank you for joining us on the programme. | paralympians from across the globe are gathering in paris ahead of the games�* opening ceremony this evening. 0ur disability correspondent, nikki fox, has been taking a look at what the athletes and spectators can expect. there's a real buzz in the city. paris is getting ready to host its second major sporting event in under a month. the party continues. it's time for the paralympics. archie! good to meet you! hello, how are you? archie is so excited, he's already arrived. you are in it for the long haul. you are staying for the whole thing? i'm so excited. i really cannot wait for the games to actually start. we're all in that little bubble that nothing else matters but sport. and i wish it could be

like that all the time. but it's paris. it's back with a bang. it's... we're all ready to get started again. someone who's been to more paralympic games than most as an athlete and a presenter is tanni grey thompson. right, tanni, is this going to be the best paralympics of all time? i'm so excited about the paris games. i really hope it's going to be the best paralympics of all time. london raised the bar, but i don't want it to be the best games ever. i want it to be one of the best. but it's really important for movement, for the athletes, that we keep evolving, and i think france has the potential to do that. we're on the cusp of something really special. do the athletes sit around and eat tart tatin with a nice, sweet little drizzle there? no. you see, in competing days, you couldn't touch this, no! in the build up to the games, there have been concerns from charities here in france about how the hundreds of thousands of disabled fans will get around the city. money has been spent

on making sure all buses and trams are accessible. there'll be more accessible taxis and there'll be shuttle buses taking people to and from the venues. wheelchair racer sammi kinghorn is going to be busy. she's competing in four events this year. yeah, i'm so excited to go in there and just hear that roar. i just want to enjoy this whole experience. and more spectators will get to enjoy the competition, because this year, a record number of broadcasters from around the world will be covering the paralympic games. but sammi wants to see more para sport on tv throughout the year. do you think that we are getting closer to sort of equality between the olympics and the paralympics? i think we're getting there with some things. i think there's still obviously a disparity and there always will be, i think, which is really sad. i'd love, i'd love to say i don't think there'll ever be. i think we'll always be equal. and i would love that. um, but it's hard, i think, because we don't have the same sponsorship and the same money and that's the kind of thing we're fighting for. and i think because we're

not on the telly all through the year, people can't relate to us. for the organisers, these games are a real chance to change attitudes. we truly believe that it could be a revolution also for france, because that will be the first time that this country will deliver the paralympic games in our country, and maybe the first time that they will be also confronted to so many people with disability. the paralympics is a world class, highly competitive event, but it's also an opportunity for disabled people to have their moment in front of a global audience. nikki fox, bbc news. let me take you life to paris and show you the pictures because a beautiful afternoon just ahead of the opening ceremony, the president of the international paralympic committee promising these will be the most spectacular paralympic games ever. more on that here any moment or two.

good afternoon. it's a messy mid—week picture for most of us today. weather fronts out to the west, often producing some rain, some of it heavy still at times, but further east we've had morning sunshine and warmth. temperatures perhaps across parts of eastern or south east england getting into the mid possibly high 20s. but these weather fronts still slowly pushing their way inland, will turn the sunshine increasingly hazy, and once they move through, noticeably fresher. but as we go through the rest of the afternoon, then the heaviest of the rain to the far north and west of scotland and northern ireland, the first frontal system will start to ease into a band of cloud, maybe one or two isolated showers. but look at the warmth. temperatures widely into the mid 20s maybe as high as 28 degrees in the southeast, 82 fahrenheit. noticeably fresher, particularly where you've got the rain persisting. that will move its way east out of scotland through the night,

we have some clearing skies, temperatures not falling too far though, few scattered showers starting to gather into the far north west. double figures quite widely across the country for first thing on thursday morning. so thursday will be a quiet day for many. yes, we've got these showers out to western scotland that will drift their way inland, one or two into northern ireland, and maybe for northern england. but on the whole england and wales — dry, settled, sunny and pleasant enough. highs of 20 to 23 here, we're likely to see 1a to 19 across scotland and northern ireland. moving out of thursday into friday, similar story. a lot of dry weather around. 0n the whole, we'll keep some sunshine. could be a little bit misty across parts of northern ireland, southern scotland, maybe a bit of early morning drizzle here as well, but temperatures similar values to thursday — 15 to 2a degrees the high. as we go into the weekend, the high pressure stays with us. wind direction might swing around to more of an easterly so a slightly fresher feel on those exposed east

coasts, but a lot of dry weather in the forecast, as you can see. a pleasant weekend ahead for many of us and as we go into next week, the first full week of september, what a surprise, most of the schools now heading back after the summer break and the high pressure is going to stay with us. it will stay settled and warm by day, but cooler through the night.

this is bbc news, the headlines... israel carries out the largest military operation in decades — in the occupied west bank — at least nine people have been killed. donald trump says the us justice department is trying to resurrect a dead witch hunt — against him, after revised charges are filed over election interference in 2020. how do you get children off their smartphones? nokia teams up with barbie as it tries to protect them against the dangers of social media. also coming up — 30 marathons in 30 days. we'll talk live — to the reality tv star — spencer matthews — who's just completed that extraordinary feat. all is coming up. now with all the latest sport here's tanya. hello from the bbc sport centre. the opening ceremony for the paralympics takes place in paris later with the city

promising a games to remember.