this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. my name is mike embley. with one week to go until the us election, campaigning intensifies for donald trump and his rivaljoe biden. we are going to have a great red wave. people that want to go out and vote, vote. the divisions in our nation are getting wider. angry people are upset. anger and suspicion are growing. a warning from scientists that levels of covid—19 antibodies in people who've been infected diminish rapidly. crowds build on the streets of philadelphia as the city braces itself for another night of protests over the killing of a black man by police. an american cult leader who had women branded with his intials

and forced them to have sex with him is sentenced to a 120—yearjail term. in exactly one week's time, an election will decide who the most powerful leader in the world is to be. choosing the next president of the united states has already proved remarkable for the record number of postal votes and early voting in many states. while the democratic candidate joe biden is currently leading president trump in the national polls, that doesn't guarantee victory. the race is very much still on, and our north america editorjon sopel is in one of the states being watched very closely — georgia: one week to go, and joe biden has georgia of all places on his mind. no democrat has won here in decades, yet polls suggest

this once rock—solid republican state is there for the taking. joe, go home! though famous southern hospitality was markedly absent from the trump supporters who lined the roads leading to where he was speaking. so where are we with the race between donald trump and joe biden? the key to this election is what happens in the swing states. joe biden has a steady lead in wisconsin, michigan and pennsylvania, the three northern industrial states that propelled donald trump to victory in 2016, but he's also level or ahead in iowa, georgia, north carolina and arizona. and it is the same picture in florida and texas. and werejoe biden to win one of the last two states, it's hard to see how donald trump can win. the remarkable phenomenon about this election is early voting. in 2016,135 million americans cast a ballot

in the presidential election. with a week to go, so far more than 60 million americans have already voted, and that means if turnout remains the same, well, nearly half of americans have already voted. what is also astonishing is the number of young people who voted early. in 2016, in michigan, 7000 people aged between 18 and 29 went to the polls before polling day. this time round, it is over 140,000 so far. in other words, a 20—fold increase. and it's a similar story in florida and north carolina. and in georgia, that number is 31,000 in 2016. it's already 170,000 this year. these are numbers thought to favour the democrats massively, but donald trump says he's confident that next tuesday there will be a red wave of his supporters coming

to vote that will propel him to victory. he's doing multiple rallies per day. today he's en route to michigan, wisconsin and nebraska. and there is a sophisticated data mining operation that takes place at these events, ensuring that everyone who attends is also registered to vote. this was his successful 2016 playbook. the president is campaigning in three mid—west states today — here he is speaking in omaha, nebraska in the last hour. this election is a choice between the trump super recovery which is what we're having or a biden depression, sad to say. booing and some bad newsjust came out oi'i and some bad newsjust came out on biden, but i want to tell you about that. you'll find that out tomorrow. —— i will not tell you about that. man,

that's something. biden has pledged the biggest tax take in the history of our country. the first man that i've ever seen campaign on the fact, i'm going to raise your taxes. what's going on? i gave working families record—setting tax cuts and in my second term, i will cut working—class — — middle—class taxes vary substantially more. joe biden‘s running mate kamala harris was speaking in las vegas where where she offered a blistering criticism of the president's response to the pandemic. the commander—in—chief of the united states has as their first responsibility to concern themselves with the health and safety of the american people and he failed and therefore has forfeit his right to re—election. lebo diseko is in washington for us.

how is it looking, would you say? laughter i wish i knew! look, laughter iwish i knew! look, i laughter i wish i knew! look, i think that anybody who was brave enough to predict the outcome of the election at this point isa of the election at this point is a lot braver than me. certainly, both campaigns really pushing, trying to get the last bits of their base energised to get out and vote. even donald trump saying to his supporters in nebraska dots mag sorry, supporters in nebraska dots mag soi’i’y, excuse me, supporters in nebraska dots mag sorry, excuse me, yes, nebraska, they have been to so many, get out and vote, do not ta ke many, get out and vote, do not take it for granted. that was something that president 0bama, former president 0bama pushed home as well. i think every vote counts, they are so close in so many places. interestingly, with georgia, the last time a democratic candidate for president won there, boys two men were in the

chart. the factual biden has been there just shows they think they have a chance and are trying to get that state as well. a sign that the trump campaign sensed trouble when the president is appearing in states that he would not normally expect to campaign in. nebraska is an interesting one because unlike most of the other states, nebraska and maine splits the number of electoral college votes at the award, so last time, donald trump won all of nebraska's five volts. the fact he is there in a pretty reliably republican state shows that perhaps he is worried that his rival could pick up some of those votes. the republi kids on their website at elsewhere are celebrating the fact that, as they put it, they controlled the pandemic but ijust looked at the latest figures with the us reporting 500,000 new coronavirus cases in the past

week, numbers in hospital up 1596. week, numbers in hospital up 15%. it does not sound controlled, that sounds a very tricky claim to defend as i gather the website has been to some extent defaced. yes, two parts to that question, there was, it seems, it hacked which happened earlier on this evening. hackers broke into the site and said they were tackling false information, fa ke tackling false information, fake news that was being posted by the campaign. the trump campaign has said that has been reported to law enforcement and they are dealing without. 0n they are dealing without. 0n the coronavirus, look, there is certainly, i think, the coronavirus, look, there is certainly, ithink, some the coronavirus, look, there is certainly, i think, some kind of distance between the different messages that the campaign is giving. donald trump in that nebraska stop saying, on the one hand, we are going to crush the virus, on the other hand seeing he is sick of hearing about covid, covid, covid, covid. the us

reaching a new seven—day high when it comes daily figures, 70,000 people a day being diagnosed with coronavirus, hospitalisations up, 26 states having problems with the number of people in hospital, some states even having to turn to field hospitals that we start right at the beginning of this pandemic, so i am not sure if we are pandemic, so i am not sure if we are turning the coder. i am not sure that the coronavirus really cares that we are sick of hearing about it, it is here. thank you very much indeed. and you can find plenty more coverage about the us election on our website including this article about how the polls are shaping up ahead of election day. 69 million americans have already voted, of course. the strict covid lockdown imposed nearly four months ago on the australian state of victoria has been lifted. four, three, two, one...yay!

people in the city of melbourne, began flocking to restaurants and pubs at the stroke of midnight local time. victoria was at the epicentre of australia's second wave, and saw cases sui’ge to more than 700 per day injuly. scientists have found that immunity to coronavirus may decline sooner than had previously thought. a study by imperial college london found the number of people with covid—19 antibodies had fallen by around a quarter betweenjune and september. adults under the age of 2a had the highest levels of antibodies — but those over 75 the lowest. here's our science correspondent rebecca morelle. antibodies are the immune system's best defence against covid—19. they block the virus from entering our cells, and stay around in case of reinfection, but the latest research has found they don't last long. it does suggest that immunity is likely to wane over time after you've been infected, and we're now about six months past that first wave of infection.

this is not particularly surprising because seasonal coronaviruses, which we've known about for a long time, do tend to produce some immunity, but it does wane after 6—12 months. this is one of the largest surveys of its kind, carried out across england on more than 350,000 people. in june, scientists found that 6% of adults who had been tested had detectible coronavirus antibodies. by september, though, that had fallen to 4.4%. that's a drop of more than a quarter in a matter of months, and the fastest decline was seen in people aged over 75, and in those who'd had the virus with no symptoms. so does this mean you can get covid twice? there have now been a few confirmed cases of reinfection, but it's not yet clear whether symptoms are less severe the second time around because the body's defences are already primed, and scientists are studying other parts of the immune

system, like t—cells, to see if they play a longer lasting role. all of this has implications for the vaccines in development around the world. if natural immunity doesn't last long, what does this mean for them? i think we should remain optimistic about the up—and—coming sars—cov—2 vaccines. they will work in very different ways to drive the immune response. and so we can remain hopeful that they will indeuce a more robust and more long—lasting immune response that will protect people for much longer than natural infection would. it may well be that future covid vaccines need to be administered more than once. achieving herd immunity is unlikely without a vaccine, especially if antibodies to natural infection are shortlived. so for now, it means everyone's sticking to the rules of hands, face and space, as there's still much we need to learn about coronavirus and immunity. rebecca morelle, bbc news.

the fall in antibodies suggests people will be regularly re—infected, just as they are with the common cold. i'm joined now by dr michael mina, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the harvard th chan school of public health. thank you very much for your time. ican thank you very much for your time. i can only imagine how busy you are. what do you make of this study? there have been a number of studies at this point and this is reaffirming something that really comes from the first chapter of many immunology textbooks and that is after people get a first infection, antibodies are expected to wane. but i think it is important to recognise that it does not mean that immune protection is totally disappearing. it's just that immunity is on ingredient, it's a continuum, and this is reinforcing that. the immune system, just like i brains when we system, just like i brains when we wa nt system, just like i brains when we want to learn something new,

we we want to learn something new, we have two train them and this is often through immunity, it's through re—exposures with, ideally, less severe disease, the second and third exposures, for example, that people get. so we should take from this, should we, the lesson that it will be entirely possible to get covid—19 again? it may be less severe though. that's exactly right. i believe what we exactly right. i believe what we will see is that this virus is acting like many that we have seen before and when people get re—exposed, we expect their bodies will retain through b cells and t cells some of that memory, even if it is antibodies that we are not necessarily detecting in their blood. what implications does that have, if any, for vaccines? i think it's totally, rightly so, has a lot of people on the edge of their seats, wondering if vaccines are going to work and the important thing

is that vaccines will. .. to work and the important thing is that vaccines will... they are being built in a way that will help to solidify an immune response in a way that perhaps a natural infection will necessarily be able to do as well and i think we will certainly be aware that it is possible that people will likely need to be boosted with vaccines, for example, which is similarto vaccines, for example, which is similar to how we give children their vaccines today. it sounds like from what you are saying that the idea of herd immunity isa that the idea of herd immunity is a bit ofa that the idea of herd immunity is a bit of a nonstarter or at least much more complicated than many have suggested. well, i think herd immunity, i do agree that it will not be a clea n agree that it will not be a clean cut, if you will. people have to be exposed multiple times, many times, but i do think we will achieve some level of herd immunity, hopefully through vaccination is my hope and then i’e—exposui’es is my hope and then re—exposures after that might actually serve to boost those

immune responses, but first things first is that we want to attain herd immunity through vaccination and not first infections. thank you so much for your time. absolutely, thank you. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: the latest from philadelphia — as the city braces itself for another night of protests following the killing of another black man by police.

this is bbc news. the latest headlines: with one week to go until the us election, campaigning is intensifying for donald trump and his rivaljoe biden. levels of covid—19 antibodies in people who've had the virus diminish quite rapidly, say scientists. more on our top story which is of course the us election campaigns and i'm joined by republican strategist,

esther valdes clayton. very good to talk to you. thank you very much for your time. likewise. i suspect you are contractually obliged to say you are not worried about the polls, you do not believe them, they were wrong for years ago, but you must be a bit worried. definitely. the clear politics poll is showing biden is pulling ahead of the president by eight percentage points, but really that is reflected in the strategy the two candidates are taking. while joe strategy the two candidates are taking. whilejoe biden continues to tamper down a lot of his rallies and continues to social distance himself, the president continues to hold rallies to the tune of three in pennsylvania and a number in battle ground states which are really going to decide this election. yes, and whether you support president trump or not, his energy is hugely impressive, the enthusiasm of his crowds is usually impressive, but you know his c0 i’e impressive, but you know his core voters are not enough, are they, too get him back to the

white house? what do you see is his path to victory this time? a lot of the polling is showing that the rallies are attended by approximately 25% registered democrats are undecided voters. not only that, but there is a clear path to victory here, not just with his regular base but also inroads that the republican party has made with minority voters such as african—americans of which approximately 56% approve of how the president has handled the economy in the last three yea rs of the economy in the last three years of his administration and also the latino voters as well. this is going to offset a number of the white suburban voters that have been lost to the biden campaign stop latinos voted for the president in spite of his immigration rhetoric in the last election. close to 30%, those numbers are set to go higher and the pivotal state where we are going to see these higher latino numbers are in the battle ground state of florida with its large cuban population. we think it will safely return to the

president's site of an electoral victory. yes, he president's site of an electoralvictory. yes, he has done, hasn't he, lots of the things he would say he would do, but! things he would say he would do, but i am looking at the list he has not done. he has not replaced 0bama care, certainly not drained the swamp and got rid of lobbyist, has not forced mexico to pay for a border well, has not brought back manufacturing jobs and has massively increased the deficit and the national debt. that is going to matter to people, isn't it? absolutely, but he has also focused on his strengths in terms of the strong economic strengths in terms of the strong economic recovery strengths in terms of the strong economic recovery other g7 nation, having the strongest economy g7 nation, having the strongest economy prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the lowest unemployment rates for latinos and black voters, the highest homeownership rates and offering a number of prosperity initiatives of foreign minority voters along with 400 miles of border world that he promised and he is rapidly trying to deliver on as well and also his handling of the pandemic. instead of politicising

intellectual biden —— instead of politicising it likejoe biden has said, he has promised a vaccine within a short order, so a vaccine within a short order, so he is focusing on his strengths and one of those is the economic results that he has delivered to the american people. well, we will know in a week or so, maybe a few weeks after election day, of course. thank you very much indeed. philadelphia is braced for another night of unrest after the fatal police shooting of a black man. police say officers opened fire on 27—year—old walter wallace when he ignored orders to drop a knife he was holding. mark lobel reports. 0n on monday afternoon in the neighbourhood of west philadelphia, this happened. two officers respond to a report of a man with a weapon. he breaks free from his mother after she says she tried to shield him. police say they then tell the 27—year—old to drop his weapon. then there's.

he was pronounced dead at hospital. his father asked later why police did not first use a later why police did not first use a taser. mr wallace's family lawyer said they had called for an ambulance, not the police. this was an unjustified shooting. we have a person who had mental health issues. we are going to get those out as the process continues, but we have officers who i think i not probably trained to deal with those mental health issues. philadelphia's mayor called it a tragic incident, pledging a full investigation. this is not only a matter which is being carefully considered by the head of our special investigations unit and the assigned prosecutor, it is a matter i am looking at personally and carefully. this office has made clear that we believe in fairness, we believe in evenhanded justice. we are not out to cover for anybody and we are not out to get

anybody. there was visible anger on the streets of philadelphia. hundreds of protesters face down riot police injuring several officers and looting multiple businesses. the white house had said they are prepared to deploy federal resources to enforce the law. in a statement released on tuesday, joe biden and kamel harris said... at the same time, they added, addressing the looting... it's above all another tragic early end to a black life in america, ofa end to a black life in america, of a father, twin and son, leaving another city on edge. the founder of a cult—like group in the united states has been sentenced to 120 years in jail after being convicted of sex trafficking

and other crimes. keith raniere was the founder of the invm group which forced women to have sex with him, branded them with his initials and kept them on starvation diets. the bbc‘s tim allman reports. in some ways, it's dehumanising. keith raniere described himself as a motivational speaker, a self—help guru who to make the world a better place. the stage actor who goes out on stage can touch each individual in the audience and every performance is different because of that human—to—human contact. what the world needs, i believe, is more human—to—human contact. this was keith raniere in court in brooklyn. the convicted leader of a sex cult. he had to sit and listen to 15 of his victims describe what they had endured as part of the invm group, also known as the avowal. mostly young women who he abused, exploited and even

branded. the judge's sentence, which in effect incapacitate keith raniere for the rest of his life, should hopefully give them some sense of security and should stand as a warning to others who would participate in similar conduct that when justice catches up with you, as it did today, it is severe. described as his second—in—command, the television actress allison mack, one of several other people who pleaded guilty to their part in the sex trafficking organisation. she recruited women who raniere with then abuse and treats like slaves. his lawyers say he is innocent and a media campaign forced witnesses to give false testimony. but keith raniere now faces reality of spending the rest of his life behind bars. there is more for you

anytime on the bbc website and on my twitter feeds. anytime on the bbc website and on my twitterfeeds. thank anytime on the bbc website and on my twitter feeds. thank you for watching. hello there, it's going to remain very unsettled for the rest of this week thanks to areas of low pressure which will bring spells of rain and gales at times. today also very unsettled. we've got sunshine and blustery showers, these heavy and thundery across western and southern areas. all tied in with this area of low pressure which actually contains the remnants of what was hurricane epsilon. some extremely strong winds on its southern flank racing across the north atlantic and that is generating some very big waves today across some western coastlines. you could even see some disruption to the ferry services for western scotland at times. and if you are walking out near the coastline in the west, just take extra care. now, lots of showers will be affecting many western portions of the uk. some merging together to produce longer spells of rain for parts of wales, central and southern england

though some brighter echoes indicating some hail and thunder mixed into some of the heaviest of the showers. the best chance of seeing the lengthier sunny spells will be across the eastern parts of england but it will be a cooler day today than we what had yesterday, 10—13 celsius. the showers continue on for a while during wednesday night but then they begin to fade away. the skies clear and it turns a bit chilly in the far north and east but further west, temperatures begin to rise with the next weather system arriving, bringing more wet and windy weather. you can see it here on the pressure chart racing up from the south west, lots of isobars on the chart. so, it's going to turn very windy once again. so, wet for southern and western areas to start thursday, dry and bright in the north. the rain will eventually reach much of scotland, all but the northern isles. behind it, it will tend to turn a little bit drier, perhaps a little bit brighter but it will be windy. you will notice milder airgetting in the mid—teens celsius here. 11 degrees across the north of scotland. thursday night will remain very windy and mild, and it will stay wet across northern

and western areas. in fact, rainfall totals really starting to mount up across parts of western scotland, northern and western england, and wales where we could see some minorflooding by the end of friday. it starts to brighten up for scotland and northern ireland into the afternoon, and we could see some brighter spells across the south—east. and given that very mild air mass, we could see 18 or 19 degrees across the south and east. as we head on into the weekend, more low—pressure systems racing off the atlantic, some very deep ones here which could bring a spell of gales or even severe gales in places.

this is bbc news, the headlines. a week before election day in the us, 69 million people have already voted and the rivals for the white house are campaigning hard — the pandemic the topic of the day. donald trump claimed to voters they had a choice between a trump boom or a biden lockdown. mr biden visited georgia, a state not won by democrats for decades, and accused mr trump of mishandling the crisis. researchers at imperial college london have found levels of protective antibodies in people who've fought off coronavirus "wane quite rapidly" after infection. the team say the drop was most noticeable in people over 65 and in those who hadn't shown any symptoms. extra police as well as the national guard are being deployed in philadelphia, as the us city sees another night of unrest after the fatal police shooting of a black man. there are reports that protests have turned violent and that shops and properties are being looted.