welcome to bbc news. i'm lewis vaughn jones. our top stories: donald trump and joe biden embark on a final dash around crucial swing states, appealing to voters ahead of tuesday's election. the british government warns the new lockdown in england might last longer than a month if infection rates continue to rise. rescue work continues in the turkish city of izmir, but hopes of finding more survivors of the earthquake are fading. security forces in belarus clash with demonstrators in the 12th sunday of protests since the discredited election of president lukashenko.

donald trump and joe biden are appealing to voters in crucial battleground states as the us presidential campaign enters its closing stages. but there's also a real fear of violence in washington from supporters of whoever loses. president trump has promised to deliver the "greatest american comeback in history" after the coronavirus pandemic. joe biden urged african american voters to end a presidency he said, that had "fanned the flames of hate". our north america editor jon sopel is in the capital. the nation's capital is preparing itself for tuesday. maybe they should be bracing themselves because wherever —— maybe that should be bracing itself because wherever i look, shops and businesses are all boarded up. the fear of violence is serious, whoever loses the selection. —— loses this election. meanwhile, on the road, the candidates are out seeking to get every last vote. the ponderous marathon

that is a us election campaign is now a sprint. hello, michigan! hello, iowa! hello, pennsylvania! hello, garrard county! multiple stops, a whirl of swing states, and the person running fastest is donald trump, with polls suggesting he's lagging behind. not that you'd know it from his confident, bullish demeanour. he's so angry. you know why he's angry? because he's losing, that's why he's angry. no, he's very agitated. i don't think he knows he's losing — i don't think he knows anything, actually! joe biden has also upped his pace and is now being helped in these closing stages by the former president barack obama. tweeting at the tv doesn't fix things! making stuff up doesn't make people's lives better! you've got to have a plan! you've got to do the work! even off—stage, redefining political long shot. 0h! no—drama obama, still able to command attention. that's what i do! and america's third president

and founding father of this nation would surely look down with delight at the millions who've already voted, suggesting that turnout is going to be way up in 2020. wherever you go, there are long lines of people, but there's also a mood of deep apprehension. you can tell the tension. i mean, i think the world can even feel the tension in the us. it's like a pressure cooker everybody‘s feeling. to me, it's kind of like voting for, uh, the lesser of two evils. i think it's very important that people, you know, come out and vote — but especially for this year. it'sjust almost like crisis is going on. this is the great celebration of any democracy — the moment when we, the people, decide whether our rulers get another term in office or get turfed out. it is empowering. but there is a fear stalking america, a deep unease about what might come next in this bitterly contested presidential election.

and how is the nation's capital preparing for this celebration of democracy? well, everywhere you go, you see teams of workmen boarding up shops and offices — something similar happens in the deep south during hurricane season, with acts of god. but on tuesday, america seems to be bracing itself for a very different type of storm, and one that's entirely man—made. and in that election, it looks like turnout is going to be way higher than four years ago. and just a word about the polls — we have had the final polls in the key swing states, which are fascinating. they showjoe biden ahead in all of the key places, but not by such a margin that he can take anything for granted. and donald trump is not so far behind that he would think all is lost. tuesday is going to be a nail—biter. john sobel there. —— jon sopel there. a little earlier, i spoke to us

political commentator and journalist max kutner. i asked him how unusual it was to see property being boarded up ahead of an election. this is unusual generally for an election year. it's not unusual for this 2020 election year, when there is such a divide in the country and also such a spirit of demonstration and protest. we've been seeing this for months in the us with regard to racism, police violence and so, it makes a lot of sense to me that in 2020, we're going to be seeing this. also interestingly, it relates to the pandemic in that, at least in new york, police have said in particular for all the restaurants and shops that have put things outdoors because of the pandemic, lock those things up, secure those things down — things like planters, garbage cans — so this locking down also relates back to the pandemic. that's interesting. let's turn to the election itself and the issue of early voting, mail—in ballots, early voting in person. how do you assess it right now?

what kind of impact will this have? so the messaging, lewis, from the republicans so far has been vote on election day and even today, the head of the republican party was tweeting out "we're expecting a huge turnout on election day". this is very different from what we are hearing from the democrats who have said "make a plan for voting, vote in person, vote early, vote by mail", so come up with a plan. joe biden was tweeting out "today is the last day to return ballots, or at least make sure they are in by today". so democrats are saying vote early. republicans are saying vote day of. and this is — this could cause what some analysts are calling ‘a red mirage‘ — that it's the republicans who are turning up on election day, this could make it seem like trump has won, and then in the days or even weeks that follow when all of the votes are counted, if it appears

to change to a joe biden victory, well, that could cause a lot of nastiness. and we know from president trump throughout his whole career — if you look at his lawsuits, the mueller investigation, he tends to declare victory prematurely or even when there has been no victory so i think on election night, we can expect a victory speech from president trump, even if not all of the votes are in. and sure enough, we do know from supreme court decisions that two important swing states — of pennsylvania and north carolina — they have days after the election to still count ballots coming in by mail. so this will be days after the election that we know a winner. well, if that does happen — it is of course hypothetical as you did say, max — but if that does happen and an early victory speech is declared, how destabilising do you think that could be? it puts the republicans and president trump in a position to be able to control the narrative

and to be able to say in the days and weeks that follow if that victory changes, that it was a hoax, that it was a fraud, that it was the phoniest election of all time, that the democrats are trying to steal it, just like they tried to do in 2016 with the russian investigation and with impeachment. so this is going to put president trump on the offensive and again, lewis, this is something we have seen him do throughout his career, both in politics and business. and this tactic should come as no surprise because he's already been setting this up for weeks and months that maybe we shouldn't be able to trust the results on election night. only a couple of days to go. max, thank you very much as always for coming on. let's just take a quick look at how the polls are shaping up. two days ahead of the general election, donald trump has yet to narrow the gap on his democratic challenger. joe biden holds a 9—point lead against mr trump nationwide — although, as ever, it should be remembered winning the popular vote does not neccessarily make you win the presidency. here in the uk, england is due to head into another lockdown

on thursday with questions being asked about how long it could last. at the moment, the scheduled end date is december 2. the cabinet minister michael gove said ministers will be "guided by the facts". he said the government wanted to get the coronavirus reproduction number, below the critical level of i. the main opposition labour party said the government should have listened to its plan for a 2—week lockdown last month. this report from our political correspondent jonathan blake contains flash photography. a round of golf while it's still allowed. here in hertfordshire, only the minimum restrictions are currently in place but, like the rest of england, people are now preparing for a new national lockdown. i think it's frustrating here because the cases aren't that bad and we have all been, you know, following the rules that we were given. so while people may not agree with it, we've got to stick with it. so it's a bit frustrating, yes, but rules are rules. the lockdown is due to last until the second of december but a senior government minister said that was a hope,

not a guarantee, and left open the option of restrictions staying in place for longer. if we ensure that all the steps that we're taking now are taken appropriately, we'll have an opportunity in advance of december 2 to review the progress that we're making. and in advance of december 2, we can then communicate to those areas where some restrictions may be required what they will be, and also other areas where we've managed to beat back the virus, we can explain where liberties can be restored. labour say they'll support the plan, but their leader is adamant it should have happened sooner. if what they announced yesterday had been announced when i said it should have been, two or three weeks ago, we could have had the lockdown and schools shut because of the natural break of half term. and you know, people will be waking up this morning and thinking "how on earth did it get to this?" the government has to keep its side of the bargain here because if they don't use this time to fix test, trace and isolate, then i think december 2 will be a review date, not an end date.

with labour's support, the national lockdown is likely to pass a vote in parliament later this week, but some conservatives are dead against it. the senior tory backbencher sir graham brady has told the bbc this repetitive cycle of lockdowns is immensely damaging to people's livelihoods and causing a huge toll. he and others are unlikely to be able to stop the government's plans, but they are speaking out in the strongest terms. there is concern, too, about where the lockdown leads. 0ne scientist advising the government said a return to regional restrictions is unrealistic. what mustn't happen is whenever that date comes, december 2 or a little bit later, that suddenly the world goes back to normal. it's not going to go back to normal immediately. i think it will be at least what is currently tier 3 or tier 3+ across the country. i don't think it makes sense to go back into regional variation in the restrictions that are in place immediately after this set of more draconian measures are lifted.

in scotland, a new five—tier system of regional restrictions comes into force tomorrow. and slightly looser restrictions are in place across northern ireland. police said up to 700 people attended this illegal rave near bristol last night, openly breaking the rules already in place. but this week will bring new limitations for everyone in england, as the government's last resort becomes a reality. jonathan blake, bbc news. a buckingham palace source has told the bbc that prince william contracted covid—i9 earlier this year, but his condition was not revealed. first reported in the sun newspaper, it is believed the prince was infected in early april. that's around the same time as his father prince charles and the prime minister were diagnosed. prince william's condition was not broadcast. it may have been that, given the national mood, there was no desire

for further alarm. he is second in line to the throne. nearly half of slovakia's 5.5 million residents took coronavirus tests on saturday in the country's largest peace—time military operation. the defence minister says i% were positive and swabbing continued on sunday. testing is voluntary but anyone who refuses must quarantine for ten days. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: the former manchester united and england footballer, the legend sir bobby charlton, has been diagnosed with dementia. the israeli prime minister, yitzhak rabin, the architect of the middle east peace process, has been assassinated. a 27—year—old man has been arrested, and an extremist —— a 27—year—old jewish man has been arrested, and an extremist jewish organisation has claimed responsibility for the killing. at polling booths throughout the country, they voted on an historic day for australia. the monarchy would survive. of the american hostages,

there was no sign. they are being held somewhere inside the compound, and student leaders have threatened that, should the americans attempt to rescue, they will all die. this mission has surpassed all expectations. voyager! is now the most distant man—made object anywhere in the universe, and it just seems to keep on going. tonight, we prove once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but the enduring power of our ideals. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: donald trump and joe biden are making a dash around battleground states in the last days of campaigning before tuesday's presidential election. the british government warns the new lockdown in england might last longer than a month if infection rates

continue to rise. rescue teams are continuing to search for around 100 people missing since friday's earthquake which struck just off turkey's aegean coast causing widespread damage in the city of izmir. at least 69 people were killed, and thousands have been made homeless. in izmir, survivors have been pulled out of the rubble of collapsed buildings, including a 70—year—old. 0ur international correspondent 0rla guerin reports from the scene. they have been praying here for miracle rescues. 0vernight, they got one — a 70—year—old man called ahmet citim who had been buried for 33 hours, carried out alive. he was reclaimed from this — the wreckage of an eight—storey apartment block, now all but erased from the landscape.

a local official told us residents were worried and asked for an inspection over a year ago. it concluded the building wouldn't survive an earthquake. well, the search is continuing here, hour after hour. the rubble is several storeys high, and standing here, seeing all of this crushed concrete, it's hard to imagine that anyone else could be brought out alive. but the teams are still searching by hand, with heavy equipment, and with dogs. and nearby, relatives are keeping an anguished vigil. many haven't left the site since the moment of the earthquake at 2:51pm on friday afternoon. erdil taner is one of them — waiting for news of his beloved sister. she worked in a dental office on the ground floor of the building. my sister's university friend and other friend,

every time call me, every time calling me, writing, on instagram, on the phone, every time, writing, calling me, every people call me. we arejust waiting. i have a hope, i need to pray. every people need to pray because we have a chance. nearby we met raheema. she hasn't lost any loved ones but isn't sure she can bear to stay in the neighbourhood. "now, opposite me, there will be a building that isn't there," she said, and people who aren't there. tonight, rescue teams are still grappling with the rubble and turkey is suffering a collective after—shock. across this ea rthquake—prone country many now asking, could we be next? 0rla guerin, bbc news, izmir.

let's get some of the day's other news world health organization director—general tedros ghebreyesus said on sunday he'd been identified as a contact of someone who tested positive for covid—19, but added that he was feeling well and didn't have any symptoms. he tweeted that in line with who protocol he would self—quarantine over the coming days. at least 10 people are reported to have died, as the strongest typhoon so far this year, pounded the philippines. typhoon goni made landfall before dawn on sunday ripping off roofs, toppling power lines and causing flooding in the hardest—hit areas where hundreds of thousands have fled their homes. mexico's day of the dead festival has begun in subdued fashion, with tourist parades cancelled and many cemeteries closed because of the pandemic. president andres manuel lopez 0brador had declared three days of national mourning for the 90,000 mexican

victims of coronavirus. belarus‘s security forces have been using flash grenades and firing warning shots to disperse some of the latest mass demonstrations in minsk. they've also tried to prevent protesters gathering at a site on the outskirts of the capital linked to stalinist repression. many thousands continue to demonstrate against the country's long—term leader, alexander lu kashenka. mark lobel reports. for a 12th week, many thousands making their voices heard in minsk, calling for an end to president lukashenko's rule as he threatens to leave protesters without hands, sharpening rhetoric angered too by a nationwide strike. he promised, he ordered his army and security forces to be more brutal, and actually since the election day, more than 16,000 people have been arrested. if they stop, authorities

will react more harshly. they would detain more people because now the protesters are successfully scaring the authorities. riot police failed to prevent protesters from reaching the outside of minsk where a wooden memorial stands remembering victims executed a century ago by the soviet secret police. protesters defiant. continuing to call the shots. the regime is making more and more mistakes. the belarus winter is very hard, it is very difficult to sustain the number of protesters, but i think the form of protest will change. people will resist economically and we can expect some sabotage or boycotting state enterprises. people will not pay taxes. over 200 people were reportedly

detained this sunday. 84 days after the disputed election result result that president lukashenko claims is valid. the opposition‘s will seemingly undiminished some say getting stronger. england world cup winner, and manchester united legend sir bobby charlton has been diagnosed with dementia. sir bobby spent 17 years at old trafford, winning three league titles. his wife norma said she hopes the diagnosis could help others. charlton is arguably england's greatest ever player. he's the fifth member of the 1966 world cup—winning side to be diagnosed with dementia. while we can't link his diagnosis to his former career as a footballer, the question of whether heading footballs can damage the brain has been debated for years. and we can now speak to dr dan daneshvar, from the harvard medical school and who researches on the long—term effects of repetitive head impacts in athletes.

thank you so much for coming on the programme. what does the research at the moment suggest? when we're talking about a mentor it is most imported make sure we have a good idea of what we are talking about. dementia is something that is a in the brain that is significant enough to impair your ability to take care of yourself, problems of memory, problems with thinking and when we look at the reasons types of dementia, the most common cause is alzheimer's disease, and the best known risk factor is age, so best known risk factor is age, so the rate of all simon's disease is only a couple of present in your mid— 60s but with every five years of age it doubles, so when we're talking about folks who are aged 85 and older, up to a third are estimated have alzheimer's disease, so the page is a major risk factor but one of the things we are studying is how sport is related to dementia as well —— age. sport is related to dementia as well -- age. and how is sport

related? what we're finding is there are increased associations between athletics atan associations between athletics at an elite level and dementia, so at an elite level and dementia, so for example, a study came out from some colleagues of oui’s out from some colleagues of ours where we looked at this scottish former soccer players, and they found that there was a very significant relationship between dying of dementia and playing professional soccer, to the tune of about three times higher risk of dying with dementia in these former professional soccer players. that sounds quite startling. the increase in risk, but i notice you chose your words quite carefully. there is a... could you just say those words again, so we're clear on that you don't want to walk away saying you are definitely three and a half times more likely if

you played sport. exactly right. this is a specific group, professional scottish soccer players, or european football players, and the important thing to take note of is that these folks played at a very elite level and were exposed to a lot more contacts through sport than a normal individual might be. we also don't know specifically what was responsible for this increased risk of having dementia. 0ne increased risk of having dementia. one of the things that we study specifically is how repetitive head impacts might bea how repetitive head impacts might be a specific factor or response. thank you very much for indulging me there. how worried would you be if you just played casual football up until your 30s and 40s, at a relatively low level? should you be concerned ? relatively low level? should you be concerned? we know for a fa ct you be concerned? we know for a fact that there are very

significant cardiovascular and physical and mental benefits to playing sports, so i can speak as someone who got exposed to repetitive head impacts as a high school american football player, and as a collegiate wrestler, so when you play at a lower level, if you are not playing for a lot of time and not being exposed to a lot of repetitive hits, to the head, you are probably 0k, repetitive hits, to the head, you are probably ok, but the problem is when you start playing for a longer duration of time and start getting exposed to more and more hits to the head, we are learning that those repetitive hits could accumulate and that in some people it would increase the risk of them having dementia. we really appreciate your time dementia. we really appreciate yourtime and dementia. we really appreciate your time and good luck with your time and good luck with your continuing research into this important area. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @lvaughanjones. i will be back with the headlines injust a couple i will be back with the headlines in just a couple of

minutes. hello. there's some drier, colder weather to come in the week ahead. but before then, still some rain in the forecast courtesy of this frontal system continuing on itsjourney south and eastwards through the early hours of monday morning. ahead of this, still some very mild air — so temperatures not much lower than 15—16 celsius across south east england, and the cloud and rain will clear from here through the morning. behind that, we will all see some spells of sunshine, but also plenty of showers — these most frequent across southern scotland into northern ireland, northern england, north wales, and may well merge to give a longer spell of rain. nowhere is immune from a heavy, blustery shower. the winds are quite strong across the southern half of the uk, still exceeding 50 mph across southern and western coasts, a little bit lighter than they have been further north. but it will be a cooler—feeling day, 9—111 celsius after that mild start across the east anglia and south east england, the temperatures falling

away through the day. we keep outbreaks of rain going as we go through the night, tending to become more showery the further north you are full some persistent rain moving into parts of southern england. elsewhere, some clear skies, leading to a colder night than recently — 4—7 celsius the overnight low. so through tuesday and into wednesday, it is still a messy picture with the rain to clear way from south east england, still some showers around. but what is noticeable is that colder air starting to spread across the uk and, by the time we get to wednesday morning, it's the return of overnight frost. let's take a closer look at tuesday. still that rain to clear away from east anglia and southeast england, could be heavy for a time. elsewhere, it's a day of sunshine and showers, and those showers most frequent the further north and west you are — some could well escape with a mainly dry day. wind is still quite brisk at first, particularly for western coasts, but they will be tending to ease as the day wears on. so where you've got the sunshine on and out of the wind, even though temperatures won't get much higher than 9—11 celsius, should feel pleasant enough in the sunshine.

now as you go through tuesday night and into wednesday, this is where we start to see this area of high pressure building and from the southwest. notice how the isobars become more spaced apart. the winds will fall lighter, most will have clear skies, and we will wake up on wednesday morning for some sunshine but also a frost, and potentially some mist and fog, as well, that will become more prevalent as we go through thursday and friday. so generally for the week ahead, once we've got tuesday out of the way, wednesday through friday for most are looking dry with some sunshine. but it will be feeling much colder, both by day and by night. goodbye.

this is bbc news,

the headlines: donald trump and joe biden are making a dash around battleground states in the last days of campaigning before tuesday's presidential election. joe biden, the democratic candidate, has a solid national lead in the polls, but this advantage is narrower in key states which could decide the result. the british government has warned the new lockdown in england might last longer than a month if infection rates continue to rise. strict measures come into force on thursday when pubs, restaurants, gyms, non—essential shops, and places of worship will close — but schools, colleges and universities can stay open. rescue work is continuing in collapsed buildings in the western turkish city of izmir following an earthquake on friday. 69 people are known to have died, and more than 200 are being treated in hospital. hopes of finding more suvivors in the rubble are diminishing. now on bbc news, it's dateline london.