this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. with us midterm electionsjust days away — the big hitters come to pennsylvania. biden, obama — and trump all push for victory in a critical contest. d for victory in a critical contest. democracy itself is the d democracy itself is on the ballot. the stakes are high. iran admits supplying "a limited number" of drones to russia, but ukraine says it has yet to come clean on the full extent of its involvement in the conflict. british police say extreme right—wing terrorist ideology was behind the firebombing of a migrant processing centre in the south east of england. thousands gather in seoul to remember the halloween crush victims — many are calling for the president to resign.

the crucial midterm elections in the us, which will decide which party controls congress , are just three days away. ahead of the vote, the biggest names in us politics have all chosen to head for the key battleground state of pennsylvania. but within the past hour, not one but two democratic presidents barack obama and joe biden have been holding a joint rally in philadelphia. let's have a listen.

this isn't referendum this year, it's a choice, a choice between two vastly different visions of america. maybe it's in our blood butjohn and i believe it's all about fighting for working and middle class people. the way i have said from the beginning, my objective when i ran for president is to build an economy from the bottom up and the middle out. it's a fundamental shift compared to the oz and the maga, republican trickle—down economics. booing. no, really. if fair economy that gives working people _ if fair economy that gives working people a — if fair economy that gives working people a fair shot. that is on the ballot _ people a fair shot. that is on the ballot. fundamental rights are on the ballot. truth and facts and logic— the ballot. truth and facts and logic and _

the ballot. truth and facts and logic and reason and basic decency are on_ logic and reason and basic decency are on the — logic and reason and basic decency are on the ballot. cheering. democracy itself or on the ballot. the stakes— democracy itself or on the ballot. the stakes are high. let's get more now from lauren wright — professor of politics and public affairs at princeton university. thank you for being with us. what are the polls suggesting about which way it could go? the? are the polls suggesting about which way it could go?— way it could go? they are very high. the trouble — way it could go? they are very high. the trouble for _ way it could go? they are very high. the trouble for democrats _ way it could go? they are very high. the trouble for democrats in - way it could go? they are very high. the trouble for democrats in these l the trouble for democrats in these final days is that polls are tightening and not in their favor. republicans seem to be gaining ground. a lot of that is because polls consistently show that voters across every different group, democrats, republicans, independents care about the economy of the most and they care about crime. those have historically been issues where republicans are perceived to have an advantage perceived to be more credible. we don't know exactly what will happen. we have very close elections in this country. but will happen. we have very close elections in this country.- elections in this country. but it seems that _

elections in this country. but it seems that republicans - elections in this country. but it seems that republicans have l elections in this country. but it. seems that republicans have an elections in this country. but it seems that republicans have an edge. how significant is it for both candidates that they have these big hitters coming out today to support them? it hitters coming out today to support them? , , .., hitters coming out today to support them? , , ., , them? it is significant. i actually think democrats _ them? it is significant. i actually think democrats have _ them? it is significant. i actually think democrats have been - them? it is significant. i actually think democrats have been a - them? it is significant. i actually l think democrats have been a little more careful with this damn republicans have. president tromp, former president trump also has a big rally in pennsylvania today. but he's appearing with both the republican gubernatorial candidates mastery otto and doctor of laws, the senate candidate. those candidates pulling differently for the mastery otto who still denies the results of the 2020 election is way behind. voters perceive them as extreme for the oz has a shot. he is pulling neck and neck with fetterman. whereas democrats you see san biden to let philadelphia were safer ground but not to pittsburgh, donald trump is not been reined in by republicans. that could hurt when they are trying really hard,

republicans are trying to get voters on board who are angry about economy and crime under biden. but typically vote for democrats and are quite sure whether they can vote for a republican. sure whether they can vote for a republican-— sure whether they can vote for a reublican. ., ., ., ., , republican. how engaged are voters in these midterm _ republican. how engaged are voters in these midterm elections? - republican. how engaged are voters in these midterm elections? how. in these midterm elections? how important is turnout? the?t in these midterm elections? how important is turnout?— important is turnout? they are extraordinarily _ important is turnout? they are extraordinarily engaged. - important is turnout? they are extraordinarily engaged. if- important is turnout? they are extraordinarily engaged. if you important is turnout? they are - extraordinarily engaged. if you look at pennsylvania for instance, democrats are racking up quite a few early votes, about 75% of male in couege early votes, about 75% of male in college have been democratic voters so far. they have an advantage there. republicans have the energy on their side, pulling indicates they think the election is extremely important. democrats due to but it seems that those percentages are a little bit higher for republicans. and so republicans tend to vote more often in person. we might not know the results right away. it could be the results right away. it could be the situation where we're waiting

for the very, very late hour results to see how people who go to the polls make their choice. what to see how people who go to the polls make their choice. what kind of im act polls make their choice. what kind of impact does _ polls make their choice. what kind of impact does the _ polls make their choice. what kind of impact does the results - polls make their choice. what kind of impact does the results of - polls make their choice. what kind of impact does the results of the l of impact does the results of the midterms have when you look ahead to the next election across the country in two years' time, the presidential elections? to the often reflect on what will happen in two years' time? well, no. they often don't put up our political landscape changes very fast. right now things are looking very good for republicans in 202a. frankly, if donald trump announces he is running and he seems poised to do so as early as next week, he might win the primary. and lose the general election. it might be a 2020 story all over again. where as this is an extremely advantageous environment for republicans right now, if they remain beholden to tromp and are closely associated

with him, that could alienate them from the types of swing and moderate voters that they need to take back the white house.— voters that they need to take back the white house. interesting to talk to ou. the white house. interesting to talk to you- thank— the white house. interesting to talk to you. thank you _ the white house. interesting to talk to you. thank you for _ the white house. interesting to talk to you. thank you for being - the white house. interesting to talk to you. thank you for being with . the white house. interesting to talk| to you. thank you for being with us. let's bring you some live pictures now from pennsylvania, where former president donald trump is holding a rally — shortly — we'll bring you some of that as and when it starts. he as we were hearing, he is there to support the candidate doctor oz. we're also expecting to hear possibly in the next couple of weeks whether or not donald trump is going to announce a 2024 presidential run. that is expected around the 14th of november. we will go back to that rally when donald trump does appear. we will go back to that rally when donald trump does appear. let's hearfrom bbc persian correspondent, bahman kalbasi, who's in the crowd at the biden—obama rally in philadelphia. a really long rally. we heard for a long time from president barack

obama. tell us what ham and president biden had to say. the?t obama. tell us what ham and president biden had to say. they are makin: a president biden had to say. they are making a case _ president biden had to say. they are making a case for— president biden had to say. they are making a case for the _ president biden had to say. they are making a case for the two _ president biden had to say. they are| making a case for the two candidates for the senate, john federman and josh huw bureau for governor. they are also communicating what they think is the dangers of apathy and people not turning out. a lot of energy by both president biden and former president obama on the fact that people should take this very seriously, the midterms have low turnout. and that hurts democrats it's usually that young people don't pay much attention to it. barack obama comes last because he remains basically the best communicator for the democratic party. and once that was most anticipated here by people who attended. he is the one who comes and does the closing. and emphasises that this has long—term consequences for his party and from his point of view for the country if

people don't turn out the way they do in presidential elections. they both sort of run down the list of things that will go wrong from their opinion if the republicans take over and especially if they lose both houses of senate and house of representatives the urgency for them is not so much to convince people to vote democratic but to get the democratic base and take this seriously. democratic base and take this seriousl . ., democratic base and take this seriously-— seriously. how significant is it that barack obama _ seriously. how significant is it that barack obama has - seriously. how significant is it| that barack obama has turned up there today? we don't see him at rallies all that often these days. does it show how worried perhaps the democratic party are about these elections? , , , , ., ., elections? they simply are worried. if ou look elections? they simply are worried. if you look at _ elections? they simply are worried. if you look at the _ elections? they simply are worried. if you look at the polls _ elections? they simply are worried. if you look at the polls and - elections? they simply are worried. if you look at the polls and look - elections? they simply are worried. if you look at the polls and look at l if you look at the polls and look at the trend of the polls. this race here, which is the wand that may actually decide who controls the us senate, you look like an easy walk for fatah men and now it is neck and neck with a guy that many democrats did not take seriously at

all. that doctor oz. this shows that bringing out the best of their party, the giants of the democratic party in american politics is the sign of how worried they are that they may lose in pennsylvania. and by that in other places in lose both houses, which will make the next two years very difficult to govern for president biden.— years very difficult to govern for president biden. okay. thank you ve much president biden. okay. thank you very much for— president biden. okay. thank you very much for updating _ president biden. okay. thank you very much for updating us - president biden. okay. thank you very much for updating us from i very much for updating us from philadelphia. let's bring you some live pictures now from pennsylvania, where former president donald trump is holding a rally — shortly — we'll bring you some of that as and when it starts. lots of people waiting for him. we understand that his plane has arrived and will return to that scene when he does take to the stage to hear what he has to say. iran has admitted to supplying "a limited number" of drones

to russia, but has continued to challenge claims that these have been used in the war in ukraine. iranian state media reports that although tehran did supply moscow with the weapons a few months before the conflict, there's no evidence that had been used. the us has said that remains of iranian shahed—136 or "kamikaze" drones have been found on the ground in ukraine, along with evidence that iranian military personnel have been assisting russia in their use. ukraine's president zelensky says iran needs to come clean about the extent of its involvement in the conflict. translation: they have decided to admit that they did supply drones for russian terrorism. but even with this confession they are lying. we shoot down at least ten iranian drones every day. and be a radiant regime claims it only supplied a limited number up untila regime claims it only supplied a limited number up until a few months before russia's full—scale invasion began. just yesterday at 11 drones or destroyed. we're certain that a

instructors have been teaching russian terrorists how to use these drone yet to round remains completely silent about it. —— to ron. professor abdolrasool divsallar is an iran and middle east security expert and visiting professor at universita cattolica in milan, italy. he says iran's admission has come after being pressed by the international community. the decision comes after the international pressure on iran increased _ international pressure on iran increased and the threats of un security— increased and the threats of un security council meetings on these drones— security council meetings on these drones exports. and also the sections _ drones exports. and also the sections are there. i think what iranians are doing actually is based on their— iranians are doing actually is based on their very traditional miscalculating the cause, the international because of their actions — international because of their actions we see that in their nuclear programme — actions we see that in their nuclear programme to, they are miscalculated international pressures before they started _ international pressures before they started a _ international pressures before they started a nuclear program. now what

they are _ started a nuclear program. now what they are doing is a sort of cost management action or policy that they aim to reduce the possible collateral — they aim to reduce the possible collateral damage that they may have from this _ collateral damage that they may have from this export. basically, i think that is— from this export. basically, i think that is late — from this export. basically, i think that is late announcement comes not so much _ that is late announcement comes not so much effective in this situation. david _ so much effective in this situation. david insisted that although they've supplied these drones they haven't been used in eu credit role do you think that iran is playing in this conflict at the moment and possibly could do in the coming months? the iranian could do in the coming months? tue: iranian drones could do in the coming months? tte: iranian drones were could do in the coming months? "tt9 iranian drones were used could do in the coming months? tt9 iranian drones were used in helping russians to maintain their strategy of inflecting cost on ukrainian infrastructure. and that is something for sure. of course we need to be realistic in this turn that these military drones are not a one single weapon system cannot change the fate of the war and cannot change the tide of the war in

favour did not favour of russia and for that very heavy cost to ukrainians. what i see more important in this iranian strategy of drawing sheet ukraine is more political in international security dimension of the iran wants to single that it is notjust the power it is the first time it is intervening in european security affairs. it wants to show to the western alliances that it has a capability and can impact beyond the region in the middle east. it is not the only severe that iran can exert power. and that is probably how iranians are justifying looking at that. obviously, they are looking for leverage over europe and us in these strong export. haifa for leverage over europe and us in these strong export.— for leverage over europe and us in these strong export. how does that anal sis it these strong export. how does that analysis it with _ these strong export. how does that analysis it with comments - these strong export. how does that analysis it with comments we - these strong export. how does that analysis it with comments we hearl analysis it with comments we hear from the iranian foreign minister saying iran has not been a supporter of either side in this war and is ready to talk to ukraine? has t of either side in this war and is ready to talk to ukraine? as i said, is a lona ready to talk to ukraine? as i said,

is a long tradition _ ready to talk to ukraine? as i said, is a long tradition in _ ready to talk to ukraine? as i said, is a long tradition in iranian - is a long tradition in iranian foreign policy that they miscalculate the actions they are not good in delivering a realistic abet objective from foreign policy. we're basically saying that in many international crisis that iran is involved in these days, and syria, involved in these days, and syria, in the region and for this fight, they are all crisis that are losing they are all crisis that are losing the fact that iran was not good in calculating how other actors in international relations and international relations and international system will react to its decision. i think that decision, that today's announcement of this fact is coming from the point of view that they just are realising very late the cost and trying to manage it somehow. british police say the firebombing of an immigration processing centre on the south coast of england was motivated by extreme right—wing ideology — and met the threshold for a terror incident.

66 year old andrew leak carried out the attack at the site in dover last sunday — two members of staff were left with minor injuries. he is believed to have later taken his own life. jon donnison reports. an act of terror — this is the moment andrew leak threw one of up to three makeshift firebombs in a drive—by attack on a migrant processing centre in dover last sunday. today, police said leak was motivated by terrorist ideology. in a statement, tim jacques, the senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing, said. the suspect, andrew leak, is thought to have taken his own life shortly after the attack, which police say was likely motivated by extreme—right beliefs. it led to around 700 migrants being transferred from the dover

processing centre to this one at manston, which was already overcrowded. the home secretary flew into manston on thursday but suella braverman is facing a possible legal challenge over detention conditions there. the day after last weekend's firebomb attack in dover, she told mps that britain was facing an invasion of illegal migrants. we have to be really, really careful about the words that we use and the rhetoric when we talk about anything to do with migration. especially people in power should know the weight that their words hold. comments like that i think show the complete disregard, the basic human dignity. but show the complete disregard, the basic human dignity.— basic human dignity. but that government _ basic human dignity. but that government says _ basic human dignity. but that government says the - basic human dignity. but that government says the real- basic human dignity. but that - government says the real problem is the number of migrants continuing to cross the channel and not fixing an asylum system which it describes a broken is a first order priority.

let's look at some of the day's other news. the co—founder of twitter, jack dorsey, has apologised for growing the company too quickly — a day after the new boss, elon musk, sacked half the workforce. in a tweet mr dorsey said he felt responsible for the predicament facing twitter staff. he said. pakistan's government has immediately reversed a ban on the broadcast of speeches by the opposition leader, imran khan. the media regulator had announced the measure earlier on saturday, saying he'd made comments that threatened national security. mr khan was shot in the leg at a protest march earlier this week and has accused the government and military of plotting to kill him. france's far—right national rally party has chosen a 27—year—old member of the european parliament as its new president. jordan bardella takes overfrom marine le pen, marking the first time in its 50—year—history that that party or its predecessor

the national front has not been led by a member of the le pen family. candlelight vigils have taken place in south korea to remember the victims of last week's deadly crush that killed 156 people. the disaster in the capital, seoul, a week ago during halloween celebrations has caused growing public anger. our correspondent nick marsh has the story, from seoul. this city is still in shock. after one of the most terrible weeks in recent memory, adults came together to mourn the young. but the air is also thick with blame. "our children have been sacrificed," this woman says. "i need to mourn. "the korean government has not done a good job. "we want them to truly say sorry and we want "the president to resign. " last weekend, 156 mostly young people went out

and didn't come back. it was supposed to be a fun halloween night out, the first without covid restrictions, but the authorities had made no plans for crowd control. this lone officer stumbled across the crush by chance. you can see him caught amongst the vast tide of bodies, desperately trying to divert them to safety. when i spoke to him a few days later, he was consumed by guilt. translation: i wasn't able to do my duty as a korean police officer. - if somehow there is a way to meet the bereaved families, i would like to express our apologies to them. please pray for them. emotions are running high in south korea. yesterday, a victim's mother tore down the floral wreath that had been laid by the president.

today's gatherings may have been called vigils but really they were protests. over this past week, the grief and shock has turned to anger and a demand for answers as to what could possibly have happened to allow such a tragedy on saturday night. the people who are gathered here are mainly supporters of the main political opposition but throughout south korea, there is the perception that a young generation has been let down by the authorities yet again. the last time south korea saw a loss of life this atrocious was in 2014, when more than 300 mainly schoolchildren died in a ferry disaster. that eventually brought down the then president after a series of weekly protests. the people here say they will be

back next saturday. rail passengers in the uk have faced severe disruption today, despite strike action being called off. tens of thousands of rail workers had been due to walk out in the long—running dispute over pay and working conditions. strikes planned for monday and wednesday have also been cancelled — as negotiations between the rmt union and train operators are stepped up. here's our business correspondent, marc ashdown. no strike, no picket line, but no trains either. today's walk—out was called off with such little notice that rail operators say it was too late to run trains they'd already cancelled. it's left passengers feeling frustrated and confused. we were hoping the strike wasn't going to affect the trains when we heard it was called off, and now we are hoping for the best. we wanted to go to barnsley but nowt doing, no trains at all. fans attending the wales rugby union match against new zealand faced travel disruption.

i expect it will be a slowjourney home. i don't think it will be pretty. we knew the trains stopped at five o'clock so we made the decision to drive in and book a hotel. a reduced strike timetable means just 20% or so of services are running across england, scotland and wales. those which did started much later this morning and will finish by the early evening. thousands of members of the rmt union at 14 rail companies and network rail have been involved in this long—running dispute about pay, jobs, and terms and conditions. the rmt says its previous strikes have helped the rail companies to "see sense" and it says it is now looking forward to intensive negotiations where it says it is finally expecting to be made a pay offer to put to its membership. but make no mistake, this is a big shift for the union. it's the first time it's called off a shift to negotiate in six months of industrial action. there is a whole range of issues. it's cost them a lot of money in striking until now,

and they will never get it back, even with a big pay rise. christmas is coming, energy costs, family pressures, all those things will come into play. maybe there is also a bit of a desire to find a way out of this and an off ramp. network rail has made a pay offer of 8% over two years. it welcomed new talks, as did the rail operators, saying progress is being made. the new rail minister huw merriman said he wants to work positively and constructively with all the unions and he is ruling nothing out in the search for a solution. the mood music might be changing but for passengers the cancellation of further strikes on monday and wednesday is too late to avoid further disruption. marc ashdown, bbc news. let's go back to those live pictures now from pennsylvania, where former president donald trump is holding a rally — shortly — we'll bring you some of that as and when it starts. we're waiting to see the former president leave the plane and head

towards the rally. donald trump has endorsed the republican candidate who is called doctor oz. he's a famously slick tv doctor who is running for the republicans. we're keeping a close eye on that door to see when donald trump emerges to head to that rally. just in the past couple of hours president biden and barack obama have campaigned ahead of tuesday's midterm elections. obviously, endorsing the democrat candidates mr biden urge the cheering crowd in his home state to back the democrats john cheering crowd in his home state to back the democratsjohn fadiman. he said the elections would shape the country for decades to come —— federman. mr obama stressed that fundamental rights, truth and democracy itself were on the ballot. pennsylvania, the reason we're all watching with happening today is expected to be tightly contested for the polls suggest that a

particularly close race between mr fadiman and the republican doctor oz and the winner there in pennsylvania could actually determine which party controls congress. while the former president is taking his time, keeping us all waiting. we will get back to that when he does appear at that rally. the league of legends 12th world championship — also known as "worlds" — is the biggest esport gaming competition. and it will come to an end in a san francisco grand finale later. two korean teams of five players will face off for the grand prize of 500 hundred thousand dollars. in addition to thousands filling the stadiums that host the annual competion, previous iterations have seen virtual audiences attract a hundred million people — with fans across the globe tuning in to watch the very elite of online gaming. naz alletaha, the global head of esports for league of legends, now responsible for maintaining the franchise's dominant position in a i billion

dollars esports industry. she told us more. league of legends is one of the most played pc games in the world. over the last decade that game has grown to be this massive spectator sport, as you mention. we have tens of millions of fans that span every corner of the globe. our season kicks off injanuary corner of the globe. our season kicks off in january with corner of the globe. our season kicks off injanuary with over 100 professional teams who are competing in league of legends as their career. and we're here at the world championship, we kicked off this tournament with 24 teams that we're now here with the final two at a sold—out centre and it's going to be a really special day. these teams have been preparing all year, all week, every single day. unlike traditional sports athletes who physically can only train for a few hours a day. he supports prose, they

are actually investing ten plus hours a day noting their skills, practising and here we're. the two best teams in the world, they are coincidentally both from korea. it will be a korea versus korea final. we have the michaeljordan of our sport here and are really amazing underdog cinderella story for the other team. these teams work incredibly hard. their mastery is just on paralysed by anybody in the league of legends community. we don't have any women popery is here involved. but women are in this industry. over 30% of our fan base is women. and we just want to continue to grow that. we think that esport and gaming is for everyone. unlike traditional sports, esport doesn't have the physical constraints of playing. because of that we really want to figure out how we can continue to lower the

barriers and make this the most inclusive sport in the world. france's far—right national rally party has chosen a 27—year—old member of the european parliament as its new president. jordan bardella takes overfrom marine le pen, marking the first time in its 50—year—history that that party or its predecessor the national front — has not been led by a member of the le pen family. both ms le pen and mr bardella have been talking to their supporters. translation: francis is the sum of people who have laughter and those who love. no one else will defend her in our place. always believe in yourself, always believe in france. if we believe in france we will be capable of building 100 stations and a thousand cathedrals capable of innovations that will change the world, capable of bringing messages of peace and freedom to the planet that will reverberate through all the heart in the world. translation: i know

there is still— in the world. translation: i know there is still a _ in the world. translation: i know there is still a lot _ in the world. translation: i know there is still a lot of _ in the world. translation: i know there is still a lot of work _ in the world. translation: i know there is still a lot of work to - in the world. translation: i know there is still a lot of work to do. - there is still a lot of work to do. i there is still a lot of work to do. i am _ there is still a lot of work to do. i am aware _ there is still a lot of work to do. i am aware of that. and i am not leaving the — i am aware of that. and i am not leaving the parties presidency to go on holiday — leaving the parties presidency to go on holiday. i remade more than ever are mobilised, they will be no rest for me and — are mobilised, they will be no rest for me and for each of us until we have _ for me and for each of us until we have put— for me and for each of us until we have put the country back on track for the _ have put the country back on track for the future, for the movement, as for the future, for the movement, as for france _ for the future, for the movement, as for france it— for the future, for the movement, as for france it goes without saying that i_ for france it goes without saying that i will— for france it goes without saying that i will be wherever the country and the _ that i will be wherever the country and the national cause lead me. let's go back to those live pictures now from pennsylvania, where former president donald trump is holding a rally — shortly — he is there in pennsylvania to back the republican candidate tv doctor oz. we're waiting to hear from the republican candidate tv doctor oz. we're waiting to hearfrom him. as you can see there on that slogan, save america. let's see if it is actually going to say something as he holds up to the podium. i think

he holds up to the podium. i think he might be. let's listen