hello and welcome to bbc news. i'm duncan golestani. our top stories: the rhetoric heats up ahead of next week's midterm elections. president trump says the american economy is the best its ever been. president trump says the american economy is the best it's ever been. a blistering attack on donald trump from iran's supreme leader, as the us prepares to re—impose sanctions on the country. eight children have been injured and a major incident declared after an inflatable slide collapsed at a fairground. and a minute's silence as leicester city play their first game since the death of the club's owner last saturday. hello. it's the last weekend of campaigning ahead of tuesday's midterm elections in the united states.

president trump continues his tour of the country to rally support for the republicans. he's been focussing on economic growth and his hard—line stance on immigration. ina in a montana he spoke about the margaret caravan in mexico. they had mexican police, military, very badly. you saw, it was on television. it was terrible. mexico is trying, they are trying, but we are different. we have our military now on the border. and i noticed all that beautiful barbed wire going on today. barbed wire used properly can bea today. barbed wire used properly can be a beautiful sight. our correspondent dan johnson, in washington,

explained the strategy. he is determined to get out as many core republican voters as he can by using those messages around how well the economy is doing. we can argue about whether certain statistics actually are accurate or not, but certainly unemployment it at a 48 or 49 year low. so there is a lot to celebrate there on the economy. those messages around immigration, the threat of migrants, something he has returned to again and again. the troops he's now sending to the mexican border. some have said that whole operation is a political stunt, really, to shore up that message. he's talked about barbed wire there because there isn't a wall. remember all the talk about the wall two years ago? it has not been built yet so it is troops and barbed wire for the time being, even though the stream of migrants that is heading through mexico is still thousands of miles away and would not be at the american border for perhaps months, yet, and only numbers the few thousand people, anyway, but yet the president has talked of it as an invasion, something will play easily

to the core republican support in the states that he has mostly visited over the last few days. and more rallies to come. the pace is not slackening at all. he's got a lot of people to talk to over the next couple of days. the democrats too, trying to get as many of their voters out as they can and using former president barack obama — he's been front and centre in theircampaign, over the last few days, trying as much as they can to get people out. they seem confident that they can take control of the house of representatives, although the senate seems like that might be more difficult for them. the signs are that turn—out is going to be perhaps a record high for a mid—term election. already early voting has reached record numbers in many states. so some people have made their minds up and have already cast their vote. they won't be swayed by whatever is said in the next couple of days. but certainly the emphasis is there from the campaigns on both sides to try and reach as many of their own natural supporters as they can with this message that

you need to get out and vote. unsurprisingly, perhaps, both of the chief campaigners have said this is the most important election of their lifetimes. well, i'm sure they've said that at every other election they have campaigned in. but certainly that message is there that, if you want to have your say in the future of america — ba rack obama talked about this is the crosswords ba rack obama talked about this as a crosswords for the country, and donald trump has said this is an important moment and that if you want to keep the democrats out of office so that he can plough through his policies and reforms in future, you need to turn out and vote on tuesday, if you have not done it already. that is the message to the american people, that there are still time to make a difference here, that they want to see as many people as possible at the ballot box, on tuesday. benjohnson there. iran's supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei has launched a blistering attack on president trump ahead of the united states reimposing sanctions on the country's economy. they're due to take effect on monday. more from the bbc‘s middle east analyst, sebastian usher.

as the hours tick away to the reimposition of sweeping us sanctions on iran, the rhetoric from the country's supreme leader has been predictably fiery and defiant. translation: the us is much weaker today than it was a0 years ago when the 1979 revolution was victorious. the power of the us is on the decline. this is the important point. most of the world's politicians and global affair analysts believe that the us‘s soft power is worn out. it is being destroyed. president trump himself was singled out by ayatollah khamenei, who described him as bringing disgrace on his country and to the very notion of liberal democracy. certainly, mr trump's aim from the moment he pulled the us out of the nuclear deal has been to exert maximum pressure on iran, notjust to curtail what he sees as its continuing quest for nuclear weapons, but to rein in its involvement in conflict

across the middle east. at this year's un general assembly, mrtrump rammed home that message once again. all us nuclear related sanctions will be in full force by early november. they will be in full force. after that, the united states will pursue additional sanctions, tougher than ever before, to counter the entire range of iran's malign conduct. any individual or entity who fails to comply with these sanctions will face severe consequences. the sanctions are hitting iran's most vital source of income, oil. the trump administration has said it wants to reduce its output to zero but it has already given waivers to eight countries, allowing them to continue trading with iran in diminished quantities. the other signatories of the iran deal have said they will still honour the agreement and are setting up ways to do so. but iran's businesses are already in dire straits.

the currency has been in freefall for months. anti—government protests have sporadically taken place across the country since the start of this year, fuelled by the failings of the economy. this is the vulnerability of iran's political leaders that the us is hoping to exploit. in his customary style, president trump is presenting his iran policy as if it were a prime—time tv drama. but, on the streets of iran, the latest showdown with the us is a bitter finale to the hopes for a better life raised by the nuclear deal in 2015. sebastian usher, bbc news. eight children have been injured in an accident at a fairground here in the uk. it's thought a giant inflatable slide collapsed at the site, south of london, ahead of a firework display. some of the youngsters have been taken to major trauma centres in the capital, with serious injuries. andy datson was at

the fireworks event. he told us what he saw. there were three or four children that i could see on the floor, there were eight, but from what i could see there were three or four. they were being treated by emergency personnel. there was...then they came over and asked people to leave, to evacuate as soon as possible. thankfully woking park has a got quite a few exits, so we were able to do that. but there were at least nine or ten ambulances, dozens and dozens of emergency personnel, and it was very, very clear that the situation was very serious. ireland's prime minister, leo varadaker, has warned that britain's planned departure from the european union has undermined the long—standing peace

deal that ended decades of violence in northern ireland. negotiations between the eu and the uk have stalled over how to avoid the return of a hard border between northern ireland and the republic. the bbc‘s political correspondent chris mason says there is concern that a hard border could signal the return of violence to northern ireland. he is well aware to how exposed island is to practise it and particularly to a no deal. he said, as the british government side, he is confident there will be ideal but crucially have not yet arrived at this thing called backstop to ensure that border remains open if the recent trade deal negotiated. the eu is insistent that absolutely has to bea

is insistent that absolutely has to be a policy which both sides agree upon. they have a an idea but they cannot agree on one. let's get some of the day's other news in syria, a united nations aid convoy has managed to reach a refugee camp holding more than fifty—thousand people. it is the first aid delivery to make it to rookbaarn camp in nine months without being blocked by one of the various sides. in recent weeks, shortages of food and medicine in the camp have led to at least a dozen deaths. people in the french pacific islands of new caledonia are voting in a referendum on whether to remain part of france, or become independent. long queues have been reported at polling stations. the vote was promised as part of a peace deal reached in 1988, after a violent campaign by separatists. the island chain is home to the world's largest nickel mine. a new public transport system in the northern italian city of bologna, rewards citizens for taking sustainable modes of transport.

the bbc‘s ‘world hacks‘ team has been exploring the social and environmental benefits of taking residents out of their cars — and encouaging them to move aroud the city in a greener way. travelling green can now and you free stuff, like beer, ice creams or cinema tickets. so how does it work? only the italian city of bologna, and antipollution scheme is rewarding people who get out of their cars and cycle, walk or take public transport. it is called bella mossa all good work. you lock your

green journeys and swap your points for rewards. for the first time we have been able to involve all people. everybody will have the possibility to change a trip to a bike trip, plus trip and be able to get rewards for good behaviour. 100 local businesses have signed up and people compete against each other to see who can earn the most points. we decided to try it out. travelling green around the city over a few days. 200 points. istill green around the city over a few days. 200 points. i still need a few more to get a cinema tickets. the point collection is based not on the distance travelled but on the single trip because it is important that even a short trip, you do it in a sustainable way. a gps tracker makes

sure people do not cheat and using the form of transport they say they. the out also shows how much co2 is saved. they need to keep using it over time to win rewards. that cost me about 3000 points. bella mossa only runs for six months of the year and is funded by the eu and bologna's local government. is it making a difference? 3.7 million kilometres of sustainable journeys last year. 16,000 reward points acclaim. so far this year 10,000 people have already used. translation: and encourages people to get moving. lots of physical activity is good. it is fun but we

also do it for the rewards. i think all and more discounts would be better not stay with us on bbc news. still to come: how an argument between friends led to the creation of paintball. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: the rhetoric heats up ahead of next week's midterm elections. president trump claims the american economy is the best its ever been. and there's been a blistering attack on donald trump from iran's supreme leader, as the us prepares to re—impose sanctions on the country. leicester city players and officials are flying to thailand to attend the funeral of the club's owner who died in a helicopter crash. the team beat cardiff 1—0 in theirfirst game since the crash, which also killed four other people. it was an emotional day at the stadium, with many players and fans in tears. joe wilson has more. saturday afternoon, going to the game. nothing could appear so normal, except, for leicester city right now, nothing is normal. there is consolation in a familiar routine, familiar faces. and everywhere still was the image and the memory of the man whose

investment made leicester champions. all our thoughts are obviously still with the family. the funeral is today. we have just come to support the boys because i think leicester has been through a tough week and we just want to show our love and support for leicester and the leicester team. applause. the coach bringing the leicester team to cardiff stadium this afternoon was applauded by supporters from both sides. what happened last weekend in leicester has touched football as a sport, as a community. in cardiff's match day programme, a tribute to vichai srivaddhanaprabha. around the ground, supporters voicing their own. this is no ordinary foot while match. the outpouring of grief, the support for him, leicester city, and everybody connected with it,

this is no ordinary football match. of course it is there to win, but i think, going back to his memory... do you know what? he became one of us. inside the stadium, all those who died were honoured, and every travelling member of leicester city's staff and squad joined the minute's silence. these expressions don't need words. for the same man, a different ritual was unfolding in thailand. a royal temple for the funeral of vichai srivaddhanaprabha. an elaborate ceremony. in his home country he may have been perceived differently — as a skilled businessman, but a private person, successful at making political connections. the rituals there will continue and leicester players will attend. two very different cultures, connected by football. many leicester fans in wales talked to me today about their owner's legacy, a legacy which belongs in football grounds near and far. of course, it matters to fans that leicester city won a close, competitive match here this afternoon but, beyond that,

today's game proves that leicester city football club remains, after everything that has happened, just that. a club proudly playing football. that was a tough game, notjust on the pitch but i think mentally it was a tough game for all of us. you know, i think there is a lot of exhausted people in there now. but, yeah, i'm immensely proud of this team, i'm immensely proud of this club. the way everybody has handled themselves has been unbelievable. remember, leicester city's triumph was built on a bond between players, supporters and owner. after a week of despair, that bond remains. and maybe it is actually deeper than ever. joe wilson, bbc news, cardiff. now, being able to create music without hearing it worked for beethoven and now it's working for one londoner, kevin walker. he goes by the name of ‘signkid', and his story is inspiring others and notjust those with hearing impediments. passion kevin was 11 when he

realised music was his passion. he had already watched michaeljackson videos and said he could hear the beat of the music removes its topic he special —— studied at a special course in hackney. i think one of the advantages of music production is that it is very music based —— vision —based. you can see what you are doing. he is a natural beat maker, the lyrics he writes about other much reflecting on life, his experiences and the way he sees things and he is a very churned in individual. soon, kevin was

performing as a music in front of thousands of people and he explained how his attitude helped him achieve his ambition. one summer in the early 1980's, two american friends argued about who could survive better in the wild. to try and settle the matter, they got two agricultural paint guns, shot at each other and a unique sport was born. it is of course, paintballing and is enjoyed by millions around the world. our witness team spoke to charles gaines, paintballing's coinventor. paintball originated with a bet between myself and my best friend charles gaines. he was a very successful stock

trader on the new york stock exchange. he believed the capacity to survive and do well is an inherent, inborn talent. he would argue he could be a survivor anywhere. i spent my life in the woods hunting and fishing. i argued, on the other hand, that survival is more a function of learning certain behavioural tactics. and that they are environmentally specific. and i said to him, if you came up to new hampshire and went out in the woods with me, you wouldn't have a chance. a friend of mine sent me a catalogue that had a pistol, and it shot a little ball of paint about this big, and it was used by foresters to mark trees to be cut down and so forth. and i had one of those eureka moments.

two things coming together. i called him up and i said, i figured out how we're going to prove this argument one way or another. so i ordered two of these guns and a bunch of the pallets and he came up to my house and we decided we would test these guns out, because as far as we had known, nobody had ever shot a person with them. he shot first and he missed. and i shot him right in the butt. and it hurt. so then, what we did, we went out into a0 acres of woods, and he went at one end and i went out the other and we hunted each other. within about 20 minutes i came around a big maple tree and he was sitting on a rock and i walked right up behind him, put the barrel of the gun right on his neck and said, all right, i don't want to shoot you. who wins?

we had so much fun doing this that we decided we didn't want to just drop it there. what we would do, we would invite ten other people who had demonstrable survival capacity, who had distinguished themselves by succeeding in whatever chosen line of work they got into more than normally. the first official game of paintball was played injune of 1981. the original game required four flag stations and those flag stations were marked on a topographic map and each competitor was given, along with a gun, i think we gave them ten pallets, a pair of goggles, a compass and this map. so that game rewarded stealth, woods skills, strategy.

we started up a company called national survival games, and set up franchises. and what we quickly found out was that what people wanted to do was shoot. we had fields all over the country. the idea of running through the woods, competing and, in a way, sort of symbolically surviving. those go way back into our genetic development. the history of paintball there. he has triumphed at the tour de france and holds a clutch of world and olympic titles, now cyclist geraint thomas has taken a new challenge on ona thomas has taken a new challenge on on a visit ofjapan, as andy reports, it didn't exactly go to plan. swapping bikes for paintball,

geraint thomas and his colleagues in japan to try his hand at the nation ‘s favourite sport. the idea of hitting balls straight into the crowd perhaps a little off a set. as the front row took cover, the welshman channelled his best babe ruth, only to connect with the fan base in a whole new way. 0 an apology and a hasty invitation to meet the team. i enjoyed that, well, i managed to hit one person in the face but apart from that it was good. a good reason, perhaps to get back to what he does best. charity event with the champion facing some young challengers. he is a bit better than he is making out, so, again mac. well, it is a race now. on sunday, thomas is set to don the yellow jersey again and on sunday, thomas is set to don the yellowjersey again and face stiffer competition, as japan host a series of world—class races. not dented his popularity, has it?

let's get a look at the weather. hello there. the weekend so far has brought a real mix of weather. dry for some, wet for others. for a few, very wet indeed. this is the satellite picture. look at this beautiful swirl of cloud. a deep area of low pressure just here, drifting to the north—west of the british isles. this band of cloud, a frontal system which has brought quite a lot of rain in some places during saturday, and is still sitting in place for the first part of sunday. the rain fizzling away, at least for a time. patches of rain across lincolnshire, the midlands, east wales as we start the day. sunny spells throughout the day, parts of the south—east getting away with a completely dry weekend. and further north, sunshine and a much drier and brighter day across scotland on sunday. lots of sunshine to be had. the odd shower in the north—west. black wind arrows indicate wind gusts in excess of a0 miles an hour. wind still quite gusty across the north—west. 12 degrees in belfast,

a nice looking afternoon for northern ireland. a bit more cloud across england and wales, with the odd spot of rain. east anglia and the south—east escaping dry and fine. this rain pushing into the far south—west of england, likely to turn heavier as we get into the first part of the evening, drifting into western wales. maybe getting a bit further east. i think for most places, if you're off to a fireworks display on sunday evening, it'll be dry and relatively mild as well. that sort of thing continues for bonfire night itself. let's pick up the story weatherwise as we go through late sunday evening into the early hours of monday. rain fringing across western parts of the uk. further east, largely dry. the odd patch of mist around, and those temperatures not dropping fast, while they're continuing to come in from the south. this is the pressure pattern on monday morning. another area of low pressure, a new one, developing to the south—west. this front just grazing its way across western parts of the british isles. parts of south—west england,

west wales, particularly northern ireland and western scotland. we could see a bit of rain through the day, that rain coming and going, not raining all day long. further east it will be dry with spells of sunshine and very mild indeed, 15 or 17 degrees. really, it's more of the same on tuesday. bands of rain scraping their way into western parts of the uk. further east, largely dry with some spells of sunshine and, wherever you are, once again, it will be mild. mild is the big theme to take us through the week ahead. wind and rain at times, but not all the time. this is bbc news, the headlines: in the last weekend of campaigning ahead of tuesday's mid—term elections, president trump focused on economic growth and his hard—line stance on immigration. democrat leaders have warned the character of america was at stake. polls suggest the democrats may win control of the house of representatives. iran's supreme leader,

ayatollah ali khamenei, has attacked the united states after its decision to reimpose economic sanctions against iran. the trump administration will reinstate all us sanctions which were removed under the 2015 nuclear deal on monday. ireland's prime minister has warned that britain's planned departure from the european union has undermined the long—standing peace deal that ended decades of violence in northern ireland. negotiations between the eu and the uk have stalled over the irish border issue. to businessman aaron banks has returned to the uk as it faces allegations that he may have broken election law. he denies any

wrongdoing, insisting the money of was his but the national crime agency is investigating whether the donations came from