this is bbc news. eu leaders call for humanitarian causes in the fighting to get aid into gaza as food and supplies run dangerously low. police surround the home of the maine shooting suspect as they step up shooting suspect as they step up their hunt for the gunman who killed 18 people on tuesday. us secretary of state antony blinken welcomes his chinese counterpart to washington in the latest high—level efforts to stabilise relations. breaking news from china, former premier li keqiang has died at the age of 68. according to state media, he

died of a sudden heart attack in shanghai. china's long—time second—in—command, he was known for his pragmatic economic policies. he rose through the party ranks despite not having any power base. at one point he was even earmarked for the top role as president. in his final term, he was the only leading politician who didn't belong to xijinping's group of xi jinping's group of loyalists. xijinping's group of loyalists. more on that later. now to the latest on the war in the middle east. calls for a ceasefire to allow aid into gaza are growing amid warnings from israel that it is preparing for what it calls the next stage of combat against hamas. these are pictures from the ismay israeli military as tanks entered northern gaza on wednesday. israel says it was a targeted rate, not the start of the ground invasion. inside gaza, the humanitarian situation is dire as food and

fuel supplies are running low. the palestinian red crescent says it will be forced to shut down ambulance services in 2a hours. 12 more trucks entered from egypt with ade on thursday. 7000 have been killed since the israeli air strikes began according to the hamas health ministry. israel reports more than 220 people are still being held hostage in gaza. jeremy bowen spoke to civilians and soldiers on the ground about what lies ahead. for hours, we could hear the explosions around ten kilometres away in israel. it was the biggest israeli raid into the gaza strip so far in this war. the army released this video, it said of the battlefield being prepared, presumably for the invasion of gaza that the government says is coming. the soldiers pulled back into israel sometime before dawn. in khan younis in southern

gaza, more raids and death in a place where israel told palestinians to go to be safe. "we want to live beautiful lives," said this girl, "not have rockets hitting our heads. the building fell on our heads." the un says nowhere is safe in gaza and the siege violates the laws of war. israel has killed thousands of palestinian civilians. just a few miles away in israel, sally partrush lives in one of the communities hamas attacked. this is me, this is one of my friends, gil, and he was murdered. i'm all the time thinking how they... what they did to them, how they suffered. with so much loss, whole families, she is furious that israel's response has been questioned.

this time we realise that, after that, it's us or them. if it is, as you say, us or them, is it ok to ignore international humanitarian law? i'm tired of it, of what the law, the international law said. the international law didn't prevent these murders, these brutal murders. where was the world? people were happy about it. along the gaza border, civilian volunteers are bringing home comforts to the troops. the soldiers�* commanders say they're ready and that it's a waiting game until the war cabinet orders them into gaza. the men i spoke to are certain that israel's actions since hamas attacked were legal, morallyjustified and vital for the security of their families. most of the soldiers here were reservists, called out of civilian life. you said you're

a social worker. you must deal with people with trauma. how long will it take israelis to process this national trauma, if ever? generations. i think something is broken here. we want to protect. i we don't want to fight. we don't want to kill. but if we need to do it, - so here we are, here we are. do you want to side with people like you? we are the same, we have the same values of freedom, free speech, women's rights, lgbtq rights. ahead is complex urban warfare. when might depend on the success or failure of talks to free the hostages. israelis get behind their soldiers, especially at times like this. almost everybody has been in the military or has a son or a daughter in uniform. it's a different thing when it comes to politicians. prime minister benjamin netanyahu makes carefully

choreographed appearances, but he avoids his many political enemies who say he left israel vulnerable to hamas. israelis, though, are united in their fight against hamas, but their country faces big challenges, and their leader is under crushing pressure. jeremy bowen, bbc news, in southern israel. eu leaders have called for a pause in fighting in gaza to allow aid to come in. the 27 member states expressed their gravest concern in brussels for the deteriorating humanitarian situation. that call came as the general assembly held an emergency session of the deadlock in the security council. the general assembly is debating a draught resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in gaza, and also called for unrestricted humanitarian aid, compliance with humanitarian

law and accountability. it emphasises that civilians must be protected. assembly resolutions are not legally binding but do hold the weight of world opinion. talks are expected to last several days before a final vote. in the opening session, the permanent observer on the state of palestine to the un criticised those standing by israel, listing the number killed and saying they were almost all civilians. is saying they were almost all civilians. , , ., ., civilians. is this the war that some of— civilians. is this the war that some of you _ civilians. is this the war that some of you are _ civilians. is this the war that some of you are defending? civilians. is this the war that - some of you are defending? can this war be defended? these are crimes. this is barbarism. if you do not stop it for all those who were killed, stop it for all those whose lives we can still save.— can still save. but israel's ambassador _ can still save. but israel's ambassador reiterated i can still save. but israel's - ambassador reiterated israel's position that it was not the time for a ceasefire. the resolution _ time for a ceasefire. the resolution calls - time for a ceasefire. the resolution calls for - time for a ceasefire. the resolution calls for an i resolution calls for an

immediate ceasefire, a ceasefire means giving hamas time _ ceasefire means giving hamas time to— ceasefire means giving hamas time to rearm itself, so they can massacre us again. this is not speculation. they will do so. not speculation. they will do so you _ not speculation. they will do so. you all know this. he also repeated _ so. you all know this. he also repeated his _ so. you all know this. he also repeated his condemnation i so. you all know this. he also repeated his condemnation of the un secretary—general antonio guterres, who has repeatedly been called on to resign over the way he described the war between israel and hamas. yesterday, he said he stood by his remarks and that he isn't going anywhere. what impact that these discussions in new york have for those in gaza? i spoke to the president of the un general assembly. we saw a war of words erupted this week between the secretary general and israel. was the secretary general right in what he said? the secretary general has sought to explain his intention

when he made this statement in the council. he stands by what he said. and has sought to explain it. er, that is as far as i would like to go on this matter. , ., . . matter. do you agree with what he said? er, i think that... i think that perhaps... there has been a lot of focus on that issue. where i would like the focus to be is where

it really matters. and that is on the people in gaza. the conditions under which, the difficult conditions under which they are having to exist. with the inadequate humanitarian and medical supplies. and food and water. the lack of electricity. the potential, therefore, for public health issues to become really concerning in gaza. and the need to save civilian lives. for me, those are the key and pre—eminent issues that should be occupying us at this time. ., ,., ~ time. on that point, mr president, _ time. on that point, mr president, the - time. on that point, mr president, the world i time. on that point, mr president, the world is | president, the world is

watching, as you outlined there, thousands being killed by bombs, hundreds of thousands of starving, without water, without access to medicine. 0ver without access to medicine. over a million people displaced, nowhere safe for them to go. it begs the question, what is the point of the united nations, if in times like these, the international community is failing, is unable to persuade israel, in this instance, to allow a humanitarian pause, to allow aid into those people who, as you have outlined, so badly need it? ~ , need it? well, the first thing is that the — need it? well, the first thing is that the general _ need it? well, the first thing is that the general assembly need it? well, the first thing i is that the general assembly is sitting on the matter. the question you pose is based on the premise that there has already been an outcome of the discussion and debate in general assembly. there has not

yet been an outcome on that matter. we have to wait to see what course of action, if any, the assembly will take. but let me say this. the united nations have had a long track record of success in matters of this nature in the past. clearly, the situation before us is a difficult one, for a number of reasons. i think we need to be patient. the pervasive concern being to stop the bloodshed and to save human lives. and spare civilians from suffering, pain and harm. mr civilians from suffering, pain and harm-— civilians from suffering, pain and harm. ~ , ., and harm. mr president, so to interruat. _ and harm. mr president, so to interrupt, when _ and harm. mr president, so to interrupt, when you _ and harm. mr president, so to interrupt, when you are - and harm. mr president, so to| interrupt, when you are talking there about saving those civilians from pain and harm,

you are using words like patience, waiting to see what course of action should be taken... those individuals don't have time like that, and we have heard that from un workers in gaza, they don't have time, they don't have fuel, medicine, they don't have aid, they don't have time to wait. , . , ., aid, they don't have time to wait-— soi wait. yes. that is a fact. so what more _ wait. yes. that is a fact. so what more can _ wait. yes. that is a fact. so what more can the - wait. yes. that is a fact. so what more can the united l what more can the united nations do?— nations do? well, it can continue _ nations do? well, it can continue to _ nations do? well, it can continue to press - nations do? well, it can continue to press the i nations do? well, it can - continue to press the case... asi as i have, and others. for there to be a humanitarian ceasefire. it can continue to press the case for there to be an unconditional release of the hostages. as i have. it can continue to press the case for the israeli authorities to

facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance and support, at scale, in order to effectively address the humanitarian needs in the gaza strip. those are all legitimate concerns that the un has, and that the general assembly has expressed itself on. that is why the general assembly will reconvene tomorrow morning, to take up the issue as to what needs to be done in gaza in order to save lives, and to bring the bloodshed to a halt. that is the top priority. qm. that is the top priority. ok, thank you — that is the top priority. ok, thank you so _ that is the top priority. ok, thank you so much - that is the top priority. ok, thank you so much for- that is the top priority. 0k, thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news. iii thank you so much for “oining us on bbc newsh thank you so much for “oining us on bbc news. if you are very

welcome- — this is bbc news. a look at some other stories now. the supreme court in nigeria has upheld the president's election victory in february. his second and third challengers have sought to overturn the result, alleging irregularities. the judgment by seven supreme court judges, which is fine, follows the pattern seen in previous challenges to presidential election results, none of which have been successful. crispin blunt has named himself as the mp arrested on suspicion of rape. he said he raised the incident with police in three weeks ago because he was concerned about extortion. he represents the seat of reigate in surrey and said he was confident he would not be charged. he has been suspended as a tory mp. uk prime minister rishi sunak has announced the uk is creating the world's first artificial intelligence safety institute to test new

types of ai and new types of risk. he said it would bring new opportunities for economic growth, ai, but that it would be easier to build maccoll and biological weapons. a major manhunt is under way in maine as police swarmed the home of the gunman suspected of a mass shooting which left 18 people dead and 13 injured. in the past hour, officers were heard shouting for someone to come out and walk to the front of the property. please consider ao—year—old robert card to be armed and dangerous. he was a sergeant at the nearby us army reserve base, and law enforcement officials say he was temporarily committed to a mental health facility over the summer. local residents are under shelter in place orders and our reporters on the scene say lewiston has become a ghost town. federal law enforcement agencies are aiding the local and state police in the manhunt. joining me live, our

north america correspondent nomia iqbal. what is the latest regarding the search for this individual? i’m regarding the search for this individual?— individual? i'm 'ust outside the property _ individual? i'm just outside the property which - individual? i'm just outside the property which police i individual? i'm just outside i the property which police have surrounded a short while ago. the property does belong to the suspected gunman, robert card. about 15 minutes ago, they started moving out. quite extraordinary to watch. we had the big swot trucks leaving, police cars, there was a helicopter circling in the sky. it's pitch black so i'm not sure if you can see me, but the house behind was lit up with blue lights, now it's gone dark, it's gone quiet, and the media has gathered obviously, but people are leaving. basically to answer your question, the latest is we still don't know where the suspected gunman is. more than 24 suspected gunman is. more than 2a hours since the shooting in the town of lewiston, nearby. i am in the town of bowden, 20

minutes away, where the suspected gunman is from. police still don't know where he is. the us coast guard has confirmed to the bbc that they are involved in a search, also officials at the canadian border, given maine's proximity to canada, also involved and issuing alerts. people here still very much in lockdown while the manhunt continues. it while the manhunt continues. it is more than 24 hours that people have been in lockdown in that region. what is it like there at the moment? that that region. what is it like there at the moment? at the moment. _ there at the moment? at the moment. it _ there at the moment? at the moment, it is _ there at the moment? at the moment, it is really - there at the moment? at the moment, it is really quiet. i moment, it is really quiet. when you drive through, and it's pretty easy to kind of drive through, because it is a small town, the communities in lockdown are pretty close to each other. it almost feels like it was during covid times, it was a really quiet. shops are closed, businesses are closed, schools are closed. so

it kinda feels really eerie, and on top of that, you know there is a suspected gunman on there is a suspected gunman on the loose. people are obviously in huge grief. earlier today, we spoke to a woman who said she had to tell her two children that their dad was no longer coming home. he was one of the people that died in the shooting. what i have seen, when i have covered high—profile mass shootings, you have the anger and the greeks, and then the politics comes. it always ends up that way. earlierthere comes. it always ends up that way. earlier there was a press conference. —— the anger and grief. susan collins was in attendance, and the yellow flag laws in maine flag up to officials, prosecutors and police if someone has mental health problems and if they should be carrying a gun. please confirm that the suspected gunman did have mental health problems and it was known. so i put to her, did the lord's work? —— police

confirmed. she said she doesn't know if the laws were used in that case. —— did the law? work? you would want to know why they were not used if not. a lot of questions will be asked as the manhunt continues. thank you. more now on the political legacy of china's former premier li keqiang who has died at the age of 68. he died of a sudden heart attack in shanghai according to state media. the news comes as china's top diplomat is in washington for high—level meetings and a possible sign of thawing relations. the us secretary of state antony blinken and the chinese foreign minister met on thursday, calling for a stable us ties. he is also set to meet the national security adviser and potentially president biden. he is likely to push for the us to ease restrictions on semiconductors, and washington may be looking to get beijing on side with the israel gaza

war. secretary blinken says he looks forward to having constructive conversations, and standing beside him, mrwang pointed to expanded co—operation between the us and china. translation: ., ., translation: china and the united states _ translation: china and the united states are _ translation: china and the united states are two i translation: china and the united states are two majorl united states are two major countries. we have disagreements, we have differences, but at the same time, we share important common interests. we face challenges we need to respond to together. not only should we resume dialogue, but the dialogue should be in—depth and comprehensive so that, with dialogue, we can increase mutual understanding. for more on this, mutual understanding. for more on this. we _ mutual understanding. for more on this, we can _ mutual understanding. for more on this, we can speak— mutual understanding. for more on this, we can speak to - mutual understanding. for more on this, we can speak to the i on this, we can speak to the chief geo— economic analyst at bloomberg, a former national security director for china and taiwan, and former special adviser to the vice president on the asia—pacific region. thank you very much forjoining us. li keqiang was premier to ten years, retired earlier this year. what do you see as his

legacy? year. what do you see as his lea ? . ~ year. what do you see as his lea ? ., ~' ,., year. what do you see as his lea ? ., ~ i. year. what do you see as his lea ? ., ~ . year. what do you see as his lea ? ., . ., legacy? thank you so much for havin: legacy? thank you so much for having me- _ legacy? thank you so much for having me. this _ legacy? thank you so much for having me. this news - legacy? thank you so much for having me. this news is i having me. this news is certainly a shock that he passed away at a relatively young age. li keqiang leaves behind a legacy of being seen as a premier to xi jinping behind a legacy of being seen as a premier to xijinping but also an official in his own right, someone who many believe was working to help keep the economy on good footing, a reformer, and a man of the people, as some are calling him. ~ . people, as some are calling him. . . . , people, as some are calling him. . ., ., , , him. what was the relationship like between _ him. what was the relationship like between li _ him. what was the relationship like between li keqiang i him. what was the relationship like between li keqiang and i like between li keqiang and president xijinping. like between li keqiang and president xi jinping.- president xi jinping. many think they _ president xi jinping. many think they came _ president xi jinping. many think they came from i president xi jinping. many think they came from a i president xi jinping. many i think they came from a rival political backings in terms of li keqiang coming up through the chinese commonest use lead and xijinping coming from a slightly different group of folks known as princelings. —— chinese communist youth league. there were various representations at the highest levels of leadership. li

keqiang was seen as close to the former chinese president hu jintao, and being one of his main proteges. so a lot of speculation, especially early on in xijinping's speculation, especially early on in xi jinping's tenure, xi jinping are essentially moving past li keqiang to take the top leadership role. and then xi jinping being a major leader, looking to have full control over the reins of power, questions about whether that was shifting roles that are traditionally leveraged by the premier, in particular when it comes to the economy. when li keuuian comes to the economy. when li keqiang retired _ comes to the economy. when li keqiang retired earlier - comes to the economy. when li keqiang retired earlier this i keqiang retired earlier this year, he gave a retirement speech. there was a lot of commentary at the time, reading between the lines of what he said, that he had been frustrated that he hadn't managed to carry out a lot of those reforms, and in fact power has shifted back to the party during his time.- party during his time. that's riuht. party during his time. that's riht. it party during his time. that's right. it was _ party during his time. that's right. it was a _ party during his time. that's right. it was a really - right. it was a really remarkable speech. he was

giving it in a very windy atmosphere, and commented on that being emblematic of some of the headwinds he had a taste as well. it was seen by many as very careful, very quiet and subtle criticism, but also i think in many ways an attempt ijy think in many ways an attempt by li to frame his career and the accomplishments he had, not just as premier, but in the many senior roles he had before that point. many senior roles he had before that point-— that point. how do you think his passing _ that point. how do you think his passing will— that point. how do you think his passing will be _ that point. how do you think his passing will be marked i that point. how do you think| his passing will be marked in china? ., , , china? he will obviously get, i think, a major— china? he will obviously get, i think, a major funeral. it i china? he will obviously get, i think, a major funeral. it will. think, a majorfuneral. it will be very interesting to watch the public reaction to this. it came as quite a surprise. i don't believe people had seen li as having any health conditions. he is relatively young. a bit of a shock to the system, so to speak. it is not without precedent that there

have sometimes been occasions when senior officials passed away suddenly, and that becomes away suddenly, and that becomes a moment of broader political and public mourning for them, and public mourning for them, and a reflection notjust on their tenure, and a reflection notjust on theirtenure, but and a reflection notjust on their tenure, but what they represented. it will be very interesting to watch the public reaction to his death.- reaction to his death. china's foreian reaction to his death. china's foreign minister _ reaction to his death. china's foreign minister is _ reaction to his death. china's foreign minister is in - foreign minister is in washington, dc at the moment. what, if any impact will this have on us china relations, briefly if you can?— have on us china relations, briefly if you can? sure, wang yi met with — briefly if you can? sure, wang yi met with secretary - briefly if you can? sure, wang yi met with secretary blinken| yi met with secretary blinken earlier today, a reciprocal visit to secretary blinken's visit to secretary blinken's visit to secretary blinken's visit to china earlier in the summer. and he will likely be meeting various officials at the white house tomorrow. i think a lot of this is about paving the way for a potential meeting between president xi and president biden on the sidelines at apec in november. the former premier�*s passing,

i'm not seeing an immediate impact... i'm not seeing an immediate impact- - -_ impact... sorry to interrupt but we are _ impact... sorry to interrupt but we are out _ impact. .. sorry to interrupt but we are out of— impact... sorry to interrupt but we are out of time. i impact... sorry to interrupt i but we are out of time. thank you forjoining us, stay with bbc news. we have more unsettled weather on the way for the last few days of october with more rain falling on very saturated ground in areas which still have flooding. and we're likely to see further issues at times. so unsettled, rain at times, but especially wet for eastern scotland. it's all down to low pressure anchored to the west of ireland. it's a huge area of low pressure with showers and bands of rain spiralling around it, and even some little low pressure systems running around it, such as this one, which could impact parts of england and wales on saturday night to bring a spell of very wet and windy weather. now watch out for some very dense fog patches across the east midlands into eastern england, certainly for lincolnshire, certainly through the morning rush, but they should tend to lift into low cloud. we start off with some sunshine, and then we'll see showers develop across southern and western areas where it'll be quite

breezy in the southwest. some of these showers could be on the heavy side. and it stays wet for eastern scotland with some persistent rain there, maybe a little bit of brightness across the highlands and islands, but it stays windy here, too. now, as we head through friday night, the rain keeps on coming across the east of scotland. furthersouth, plenty of showers rattling their way into southern and western areas. but, again, parts of the midlands could stay dry with some low cloud and some mist and fog where the winds will be a little bit lighter. temperatures ranging around 7—11 celsius. into saturday morning, then, similar story, we hold on to windy conditions across the north and east of scotland with some persistent rain here. elsewhere, we start off with some sunshine, and then we'll see showers going into the afternoon, some of which will be heavy and thundery. and then later in the day, an area of more persistent rain starts to push up from the south. temperatures, again, 10—15 celsius. now this area of wind and rain will spread northwards across the country on saturday night. sunday looks particularly wet across the north of the uk. but you'll notice even into monday, the last day of october, we hold low pressure close by to bring further showers at times. so sunday then looks particularly wet across

northern england, scotland, particularly eastern scotland, start to tap into some colder airfrom scandinavia. so some wintriness likely over the high ground. northern ireland, england and wales, another day of sunshine and showers, most of them towards the south and the west. better chance of staying dry towards the east. top temperatures, 14—15 celsius, but much colder across the north. and then you'll notice from the outlook here, as we head into the first week of november, things stay unsettled as low pressure continues to bring showers or longer spells of rain with some strong winds, too.

kate young dies of a sudden heart attack. the emory welcome to asia business report. we start the hour with some breaking news that has come and chinese state media has reported that li keqiang has reported that li keqiang

has died. his economic