this is bbc news — i'm james reynolds. our top stories: addressing their supporters — joe biden holds a campaign rally in north carolina, as president trump attends his second rally of the day in nevada. thousands gather in cities across france in support of the school teacher beheaded after showing cartoons of the prophet mohammed to pupils. as protestors defy a ban on gatherings for a fourth day, thailand's prime minister says the government is ready to talk. and israel and bahrain sign an historic agreement on establishing diplomatic relations in the bahraini capital manama.

there are just over two weeks to go before main voting day in the us presidential election. president donald trump has embarked on a tour of battleground states. in the coming days he'll be in arizona, pennsylvania and north carolina. today, sunday, the president has been in nevada. another rally is under way, this time in carson city. nevada itself only has six electoral votes but president trump lost it narrowly by 27,000 votes in 2016 so clearly hoping to get votes there this time around. the democratic presidential candidate, joe biden, has accused president trump of lying to americans about the state of the coronavirus pandemic in the united states.

campaigning in the swing state of north carolina, where 20% of registered voters have already voted, biden has urged americans to cast their ballots as soon as possible. the other night, trump said at one of his rallies, "we've turned the corner." my grandfather would say, "this guy's gone around the bend if he thinks we've turned the corner." we've turned the corner? things are getting worse. he continues to lie to us about the circumstances. experts say we're likely to lose as many as 200,000 additional lives nationwide between now and the end of the year. all because this president cares more about his park avenue perspective on the world, the stock market, than he does about you. because he refuses to follow the science. that was former vice president, democratic nominee, joe

biden. let's back into the rally given by the president in nevada. let's back into the rally given by the president in nevadam is time we sent them a very strong message because they're hypocrites in washington, dc, and in silicon valley. add in silicon valley... section 230. on election day, not everybody understands that but we have some great politicians here today that would understand that. but on election day you can send a message to the fake news media right there are to the big tech companies and to the big tech companies and to the washington swamp, we never knew it could be this deep. when i said drain the swamp, i didn't know it was this bad. but send them a message that they will never forget, show them that the american people are still in charge by delivering sleepyjoe biden and the democrats a thundering defeat on november three. that is the president speaking in nevada where he was hoping

to win the state after losing it in 2016. we have heard from both candidates. our north america correspondent, peter bowes, joins me now. i think it is important for us to say that we don't know who is going to win but by looking at where each candidate spends time and money, i guess we get a sense of what each campaign thinks is the state of the race. yes and i think both candidates are really showing us candidates are really showing us their style in this final couple of weeks and you're absolutely right, they are both focusing on those estates that could ultimately be crucial in terms of the number of electoral college votes. like nevada, not so many boats, but every vote will count, i think, if the election is very, very close. —— not so many votes. president trump thinks he seems to have a chance with nevada, a state with many high unemployment problem, in part because of the coronavirus to stop hillary clinton wonder state narrowly lost time and president trump has made a number of visits to that area.

the speech he has been making is all over the place in terms of his focus. he has been riffing on everything from how handsome he is to how he felt like superman when he recovered from coronavirus in hospital to how california should be better managing its forest to prevent wildfires and it is interesting, heard a senior republican earlier today suggesting that president trump should be focusing more on the economy than he is in a lot of these campaign speeches will stop the republicans believe economy is his strongest point, especially where it was before the coronavirus. he clearly mentions the economy but it is not a major focus mentions the economy but it is not a majorfocus in mentions the economy but it is not a major focus in the same way that coronavirus is a key focus from joe biden. we hear time and time again what he thinks about the president's failings in that respect. and —— expand on whatjoe biden's

losing strategy is stop mr biden's strategy. -- mr biden's strategy is to visit those key states that could swing the election in his favour. he talks more about criminal justice reform, whereas we might hearfrom justice reform, whereas we might hear from the justice reform, whereas we might hearfrom the president about law & order and i think that goes back to what we saw around the summer months and around the summer months and around the summer months and around the country. joe biden's strategy really is i think to focus on covid—19, to explain his policy moving forward and how he would be different if president trump remains in the white house will stop thing is like the wearing of masks. we talk about it repeatedly. joe biden talks about a much firmer message around the country, that americans should be wearing masks at all times whereas the president's m essa 9 es whereas the president's messages much more relaxed in that respect. peter bowes, thanks so much. and you can find more news and analysis about the us election on our website: just go to bbc.com/us2020 — where you can find the latest details of the

elections and analysis by our correspondents. the french prime minister, jean castex, has told huge crowds rallying around the country that france is not afraid and will not allow itself to be divided by the decapitation of a teacher by a suspected islamist. people gathered in towns and cities across france, including paris and marseilles, to show their support for the country's secular values, and their revulsion at the murder on friday. our paris correspondent, lucy williamson, reports. applause once again, around the figure of marianne, a sea of defiance. this statue, this square, a homing point for a nation whose values have come under attack. since his death on friday, samuel paty, like others before him, has become a symbol of france itself. translation: it's important to be here today to show our collective strength because that's what can help us follow our principles during tough times. translation: we're here

to defend the values of the republic — liberty, equality, fraternity and secularism. the government is too inactive. something must be done. the prime minister, jean castex, arrived in place de la republique in a mask printed with the french flag. his message on twitter today read, "you won't scare us, we're france." the newest slogan on posters here, "i am samuel" or, simply, "i am a teacher", an echo of the rallying cry sparked by the attacks on charlie hebdo five years ago. this sombre rally is a show of unity in the wake of samuel paty‘s death, but it's also proof of the power of social media to deliver a message and bring people together. the same power that enabled a one—man campaign against a local teacher to spiral out of control. samuel paty was killed by a man who knew him only through social media, the result of an online campaign launched by an outraged parent that spread

quickly outside conflans. across france, tens of thousands of people have joined the rallies in his name. a man who stood for the values of the nation, remembered today by a nation standing with him. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. let's get some of the day's other news. italy has announced a new raft of measures to tighten restrictions amid a surge in coronavirus cases. mayors will get powers to close public areas after 9pm and the opening times of restaurants and the size of groups allowed will tighten. the moves come as italy recorded over 11,000 seven hundred new cases — its highest daily infection rate for the second day in a row. czech police have used tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators protesting against coronavirus restrictions imposed by the government in prague. the rally turned violent after the authorities began trying to disperse the crowd, with the police chief claiming it contained "radical" football fans. the czech republic on friday set a new record for daily infections with more than 11,000

cases. the un secretary general, antonio guterres, has urged armenia and azerbaijan to observe their latest ceasefire, saying indiscriminate attacks on civilians are totally u na cce pta ble. both countries have accused each other of violating a humanitarian ceasefire in the disputed region of nagorno—karabakh. but clashes continue, as rayhan demytrie reports from tbilisi in neighbouring georgia. an azeri officer announces to his country's president the liberation of another piece of territory, which for the past 26 years had been under armenian control. the ancient bridge leads to the border with iran. kara bakh is azerbaijan, he declares. the armenian defence ministry released this footage, which it claims shows the azeri forces advancing on armenian

positions early on sunday, in violation of a ceasefire agreed the day before. but things were quieter on sunday in civilian areas in the disputed nagorno—karabakh region. they have been under constant bombardment from azerbaijan in recent days. dozens of civilians and more than 700 armenian servicemen, many of them young recruits, have been killed. translation: there are children dying, women, elderly people. our guys die who are 18,19 years old. stop this war. azeri people have also suffered. this was the scene in ganja, azerbaijan's second largest city, that was struck by armenian missiles on saturday, killing at least 13 civilians and destroying more than 20 houses. this woman lost her home. translation: our people are humanist. we have a beautiful nation. armenia should know that we will not bow to them as people

of ganja. we will take back kara bakh from them if it comes to that. azerbaijan's military casualties remain a secret, but it's been very public about its territorial gains. this is jabrayil, another town re—taken from armenian forces. the more azerbaijan advances, the less incentive it has to stop fighting. rayhan demytrie, bbc news, tbilisi. tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of bangkok for the fourth day in a row demanding political reform. the rallies took place in defiance of a government ban on gatherings there. the protesters, who are mostly young people, want power to move away from the military and the monarchy. from bangkok, jonathan head sent this report. friday night in downtown bangkok. police advance on a political rally. screaming. never mind it was mostly students, schoolchildren and commuters dropping in on their way home.

they got the full treatment. yelling water cannon laced with blue dye and tear gas. it hasn't put them off though. they gathered again this weekend, demanding notjust a change of government, but a radical overhaul of the political establishment which has ruled this country throughout the modern era. this show of youthful defiance could be in hong kong or anywhere in the world where a younger generation feels let down by their rulers. but these young protesters are going up against one of the most powerful and untouchable institutions anywhere in the world — the thai monarchy. by demanding that their king's power and spending be accountable for the first time, these people have put a bomb under the political

debate in this country. king vajiralongkorn succeeded his much—loved father four years ago. he cuts a very different figure. his decision to increase his already considerable power and wealth, then ride out the covid crisis living abroad, have cost him public support. he's been back this past week and urged that young thais be taught to love the monarchy. most of these youngsters will have been taught exactly that at school. yet they‘ re unimpressed. flashing the hunger games salute that's become the symbol of their defiance, they want their king to behave more like a modern monarch. they used our tax in the wrong way. it should be with the people who really need it, and they still don't support us, and they want us, like, to be quiet, and that's not right, that's not our freedom, that's not how

it's supposed to be. in the past, saying even that might have got these protesters a long prison sentence — or worse. thailand's history has been punctuated by violent suppressions of dissent. this time, perhaps, there will be a different ending. jonathan head, bbc news, bangkok. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: dancing the night away — while social distancing, brazilian style. a historic moment that many of his victims have waited for for decades. the former dictator in the dock, older, slimmer, and, as he sat down, obedient enough. dawn, and as the sun breaks through the piercing chill of night on the plain outside korem, it lights up a biblical famine, now, in the 20th century.

the depressing conclusion, in argentina today, it's actually cheaper to paper your walls with money. we've had controversies in the past with great britain. but as good friends, we've always found a good and lasting solution. concorde bows out in style. after almost three decades in service, an aircraft that enthralled its many admirers for so long taxis home one last time. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: joe biden's supporters see their candidate's campaign rally in north carolina, as president trump's fans in nevada arrive for his. it is president trump's second rally of the day.

israeli and bahrain have formally established diplomatic relations. an agreement was signed in a ceremony in the bahraini capital manama on sunday. the move is part of a us brokered normalisation deal established last month, which has also seen israel and the united arab emirates set up close ties. mark lobel reports. flying in to formalise their friendship. israel's national security adviser sets foot on bahraini soil, with a key american official alongside, ushering in a fresh wind of diplomacy. translation: israel is offering its hand for real peace to the bahraini people and their courageous leadership. together we will change the face of the nation for our people and neighbouring countries. we do so with the optimism that such a piece will bring a new stability and prosperity to the region. —— peace. allowing our young

people across the middle east to achieve the potential and aspirations which they have been denied for too long. aspirations which they have been denied for too longm was incredible experiencing the first commercial flight coming from israel to bahrain, and first commercial flight coming from israelto bahrain, and i know we will look forward to many more trips in both directions. a fist bump, a visual proclamation of diplomatic ties following egypt and jordan's bilateral agreements with america's biggest ally in the region. it was at donald trump's white house last month but the world first witnessed both bahrain and the united arab emirates' public declaration of support after decades of disputes. standing shoulder to shoulder with the israeli prime minister. sunday's ceremony marks an important shift for

the former foes that have come so far. the use of el al flight 973 it was a friendly nod to bahrain's dialling code, the use of saudi airspace to get you a suggestion of potentially bigger things to come. —— get here. but this latest agreement isa here. but this latest agreement is a stab in the back, according to palestinian officials. arab states had said they would boycott israel until they would boycott israel until the palestinian dispute was settled. bahrain is still calling for a two—state solution, but it is no longer its price for cooperation. instead siding with a country also at odds with thereon. —— iran. this new chapter in bahrain's relationship with israel could be lucrative. as the gulf kingdom says it will be looking for fruitful bilateral cooperation with its new ally in every field. mark lobel new ally in every field. mark lobel, bbc news. the presidential run—off election

in turkish controlled northern cyprus has been won, according to preliminary results, by the challenger, who is the current prime minister. he has won nearly 52% of the vote to defeat the incumbent. the results would appear to damage prospects for the island's reunification. there are just two and a bit two weeks to go to till main voting day in the us presidential election. president trump has been campaigning in the battleground states that will decide this contest. one of the most important areas is the so called rust belt — that's america's old industrial heartland in the north—east of the country. four years ago the state of pennsylvania was unexpectedly won by donald trump. it was the first time the state had voted for a republican candidate in almost 30 years. nick bryant reports now on how pennsylvania could play a critical role in this year's election. an ugly american election is being fought amidst this beautiful american landscape. what often feels like a shared continent occupied by warring

tribes. this is the trump house in rural pennsylvania — a site of pilgrimage for a political base that often exhibits a near cult—like devotion, a shrine decorated with the iconography of the modern—day american right. its owner, leslie rossi, points to how the republicans have registered more than twice as many new voters in pennsylvania as the democrats, a portent of victory. they love what president trump has done, that he kept his word, that he kept his promises, that he did all the things he said, or tried to. he is, you know, the people's president and they get that. this is the post—industrial landscape that provided the seedbed for the trump presidency. the rusting steel works became echo chambers for the slogan "make america great again". but this year, he hasn't come up with a ringing phrase that's reverberated through these valleys.

the 2020 election is not a rerun of the 2016 election. donald trump is not an insurgent, he's the incumbent. he has a record to defend. and then there's that question that often decides presidential contests — is the country better off now than it was four years ago? some plants have seen new investment, but the steel industry now employs almost 2,000 fewer workers than it did four years ago, largely as a result of the trump trade war. this isn't coming back. places like this will never come back. this style of manufacturing that existed throughout the 20th century is gone. has donald trump revived these communities? no, not in the way that these communities wanted to be revived. manufacturing hasn't come back. steel hasn't come back — and it

won't. the political rationale forjoe biden's candidacy was that he was the democrat best placed to win back white voters in the rust belt, former trump supporters like chuck howenstein. in 2020, i think it's a perfect storm forjoe biden because i think people are tired. they want to see normalcy back in this country. they want to see decency. they want to see this hatred stop. they want to see this country united, and i think all of that together is going to bring joe biden the presidency. many voters here still cling to the nostalgic nationalism that donald trump offers and view him as a president of american resurgence. but are there enough of them in these broken communities to win him four more years? nick bryant, bbc news, pennsylvania. brazil is one of the countries that's been hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. more than

150,000 people have lost their lives, a death toll second only to the united states. lockdown restrictions are being eased, although things are still far from normal, as the bbc‘s tim allman explains. samba music. this is probably the sort of thing that comes to mind when you think of rio dejaneiro. beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, and a carnival like no other. the virus brought everything to a halt, but it seems that was only temporary. this is how you go to a concert in rio these days. the audiences out in the open hour, socially distanced and separated into boxes. entertainment and therapy, all

at the same time. translation: what we do here is notjust a party. we are promoting mental health. people can't stand staying at home anymore. there's 150 staying at home anymore. there's150 of these boxes, went up to six people allowed in each one. you are never going to break any attendance records, but no—one here is complaining. translation: it's the second time i've come to this great event. i love being here, in the open air with my friends. as restrictions are raised further, these unusual music boxes may no longer be necessary. but they approve, if proof were needed, that brazilians will always find a way to party. —— they are proof. dancing boxes, now, that is an innovation. we will continue to keep you right up to date with all of our main stories, including the last two weeks of the us presidential

election campaign. i am on twitter, do let me know what you are up to. i'm @jamesbbcnews. stay with bbc news. hello. this spell of quieter weather continued on sunday, but with all the cloud around, the brightest thing many of us saw was the autumn colour, here on view in staffordshire, though competing with a postbox. it's all change now. we've had some quiet weather, but low pressure is taking over. the weather fronts are gathering, and although there will be some sunnier days in the week ahead, there'll be some very wet days around as well. and it's getting windier, too. and for monday, some of the heaviest rain will be in scotland and northern ireland. this is how it looks as the day begins. some outbreaks of rain into parts of northern england,

particularly, to begin with. and there may be a bit of a lull in the rain first thing in northern ireland, but it will come back. heavy, persistent rain. outbreaks of rain across scotland, heaviest and most persistent in the west. so, through western scotland and northern ireland, as the rain continues into monday night, there is a risk of some flooding and some travel disruption. see some rain pushing back in towards north—west england into the afternoon. patchy rain reaching into parts of wales, whereas elsewhere a bit of hazy brightness around. temperatures just creeping up a few degrees, but it's getting windier. as we just look into monday evening, this area of rain will start to just push in across parts of south west england. overnight monday into tuesday, well, it's this weather front that will bring a splash of rain across those parts of england and wales that stayed dry during monday. and the rain continuing in scotland and northern ireland, though by end of the night, it should be easing from northern ireland. so, on tuesday, then, some early rain affecting parts of eastern england slowly pulling away. further heavy and perhaps prolonged downpours running in towards particularly northern ireland and scotland, just fringing north wales and north—west england as well. windy and wet still across the far north of scotland and northern isles, easterly winds here. mild south—westerlies elsewhere, and temperatures, particularly across much of england and wales, into the mid to high teens

with sunny spells and a few showers. but gales through the irish sea. as we look through tuesday night and into wednesday, focus for the heaviest rain will be shifting into parts of england and wales. could well be some quite heavy rain moving through, exact position of this uncertain at this stage, but some of that may fringe northwards towards northern ireland and scotland again as we go through wednesday. so, we'll keep an eye on that. it could be quite windy again with that, too. so, again, it is all change. our weather's been quiet. it isn't any more. some of the rain this week is going to be quite heavy. windier conditions at times, too. milder at least to start the week.

this is bbc news, the headlines: president trump is addressing his followers in carson city, nevada, on the latest stage of his election campaign. joe biden has been addressing a campaign rally in north carolina, where he accused his rival of lying to americans about the state of the coronavirus pandemic in the united states. vigils and rallies have been held across france after a teacher was beheaded in an islamist attack close to his school in a paris suburb on friday. prime minister, jean castex, says france is not afraid and will not allow itself to be divided. tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of bangkok for the fourth day in a row, demanding political reform. the rallies took place in defiance of a government ban on gatherings there. the protesters, who are mostly young people, want power to move away from the military and the monarchy.