presidential debate. its being held unusually early, before either candidate is officially named as the nominee of his respective party. it also comes just two weeks before mr trump is sentenced for his conviction of 3a counts of falsifying business records. microphones will be muted except for when the candidate is asked to speak. the debate will take place without an audience, and neither candidate is allowed to bring notes or props, though they will have a pen and paper. let's go live to my colleague katrina perry, who is in the spin room. tonight this is the cnn spin room, ordinarily a basketball arena here at georgia tech university, locally known as the thriller dome. we would be tonight? we will have to wait and see. we do know it doesn't idea firsts, the first time ever in the area of television debates that there is a sitting president taking

on a former president. that means it's going to be a dramatic day. both have a body of work that can be defended and criticised. voters know just what to expect. first—time campaigns have gone outside of the commission for presidential debates and on the deal themselves with only one media organisation. that being cnn. that's why there's so much cnn branding everywhere else because they've been very much in control of this. and it's the first debate as well where the candidates microphones will be muted when they go over time. so we will have to wait and seejust go over time. so we will have to wait and see just what impact that has on the debate. let's have a look now i just what has on the debate. let's have a look now ijust what is in store for us injust a now ijust what is in store for us in just a couple of hours' time. we have this report from our north america editor. two old men whom the voters already know very well — well enough to say they really don't like the choice they're being given.

and each man now is hoping to make his opponent look even worse. the campaigns try to weaponise what they see as their opponent's greatest wea kness. social media's flooded with images ofjoe biden looking old and infirm, along with claims he's also mentally incompetent. images unfairly taken out of context, complain the biden campaign. i think he should take a cognitive test like i did. i took a cognitive test and i aced it. doc ronny. . . doc ronnyjohnson. .. it was doc ronny jackson who gave him that cognitive test. democrats love to disseminate trump's verbal slips and more bizarre statements. if there was a shark or you get electrocuted, i'll take electrocution every single time. # start me up # if you start me up, i'll never stop. # the rolling stones don't stop. currently touring america, they're also in their 80s — just about as old as the candidates. their age has not withered fans' enthusiasm outside the gig in philadelphia, but many are worried president biden is too old for another term. i think we just do need some new candidates, some young candidates. nobody talks about his policies or what he's doing.

theyjust talk about the fact that he's walking around confused half the time. that's why they call him sleepyjoe. he's too old. but donald trump is only four years younger. if you look at the two, i there's no comparison. so donald trump may be as old, but he's not...he doesn't act- as old, he doesn't act as feeble. he's...it'sjust different, i think. his agility is not a 27—year—old kid. no, it's not. he's a senior citizen. but he is smart. he knows what he's doing. he's experienced. i've got confidence in him so far. in the courtroom, we see donald trump for who he is. he's been convicted of 34 felonies. democrats hoped a series of guilty verdicts against donald trump would repel voters. so far, it has not had a huge impact on the polls. for some of the independents, it might make a little - bit of a difference, _ maybe just around the margins that matters, but it's a close race, - so that margin might actually come

to play come november. what happens here tonight will be the most pivotal moment yet in this campaign, and could define the race from now on. well, here in the spin room after the debate is finished, supporters of both candidates will come and spin, say that their guy one and why they did so. but that's already starting. we have been speaking in the last few moments to representatives of both candidates. we spoke first to kevin munoz, the national campaign spokesperson for the biden campaign and he explained why those who may be have doubts about voting for democrats how he would address that. we about voting for democrats how he would address that.— would address that. we know our aaenda would address that. we know our a . enda is would address that. we know our agenda is a _ would address that. we know our agenda is a winning _ would address that. we know our agenda is a winning agenda - would address that. we know our agenda is a winning agenda and l would address that. we know our - agenda is a winning agenda and when you put— agenda is a winning agenda and when you put it _ agenda is a winning agenda and when you put it on — agenda is a winning agenda and when you put it on the ballot box, it wins — you put it on the ballot box, it wins. when donald trump and his extremist — wins. when donald trump and his extremist agenda of a national abortion— extremist agenda of a national abortion ban of cutting taxes for billionaires, of taking away the affordable care act from the american people the ballots, it loses — american people the ballots, it loses. but this will be a close

election _ loses. but this will be a close election. this is about which campaign _ election. this is about which campaign will put in the work on the ground _ campaign will put in the work on the ground in_ campaign will put in the work on the ground in support of those battleground voters. look at this week_ battleground voters. look at this week alone from joe biden. more than 1600 events across the battleground states _ 1600 events across the battleground states a _ 1600 events across the battleground states. a $50 million ad buy for the month— states. a $50 million ad buy for the month of— states. a $50 million ad buy for the month ofjune alone. these are the tynes _ month ofjune alone. these are the tynes of— month ofjune alone. these are the types of things that win elections and donald trump isn't doing any of that _ and donald trump isn't doing any of that. �* ., , ,, and donald trump isn't doing any of that. �* ., , , , ., ,, ., that. i've also been speaking to congressman — that. i've also been speaking to congressman byron _ that. i've also been speaking to congressman byron donald's. l that. i've also been speaking to l congressman byron donald's. his that. i've also been speaking to - congressman byron donald's. his name is on a so—called long list of potential vice presidential candidates and he explained to us just what donald trump is doing in these last few hours before the debate begins. he these last few hours before the debate begins.— these last few hours before the debate beains. ~' ., , ,, , debate begins. he knows the issues. he sent debate begins. he knows the issues. he spent on — debate begins. he knows the issues. he spent on the _ debate begins. he knows the issues. he spent on the campaign _ debate begins. he knows the issues. he spent on the campaign trail - he spent on the campaign trail realty— he spent on the campaign trail really for— he spent on the campaign trail really for months, except for that episode _ really for months, except for that episode in— really for months, except for that episode in lower manhattan. he spent on the _ episode in lower manhattan. he spent on the campaign trail talking to the american _ on the campaign trail talking to the american people. he's been talking with advisers. donald trump's prep has been _ with advisers. donald trump's prep has been engagement, engagement with everybody— has been engagement, engagement with everybody across our country and hearing _ everybody across our country and hearing from people what is going on in america _ hearing from people what is going on in america. obviously he has observed _ in america. obviously he has observed it first—hand watching the new5, _ observed it first—hand watching the news, knowing what is going on in

the business world. he is going to come _ the business world. he is going to come in _ the business world. he is going to come in tonight talking about the issues _ come in tonight talking about the issues that are really plugging our country _ issues that are really plugging our country. what does hurting every men and women _ country. what does hurting every men and women in america, especially the working _ and women in america, especially the working class men and women of our country _ working class men and women of our count . , , ., ., ., ., country. this is a ma'or moment in the campaign. _ country. this is a ma'or moment in the campaign, but _ country. this is a major moment in the campaign, but it's _ country. this is a major moment in the campaign, but it's also - country. this is a major moment in the campaign, but it's also a - country. this is a major moment in the campaign, but it's also a major event of itself, made for television but with a huge entourage that goes behind that. i can go to my colleague, our north american correspondent who is somewhere behind me on the floor of the spin room. what is going on where you are? $5 room. what is going on where you are? �* , , ., room. what is going on where you are? n room. what is going on where you are? as you say, this is a basketball _ are? as you say, this is a basketball court - are? as you say, this is al basketball court normally, are? as you say, this is a - basketball court normally, today, does the venue for a sport of a different kind. you can see it is filling up now, the various camera crews and reporters for the networks recording their pieces to camera. a few interviews going on. we had the

governor of the state of georgia here a short while ago, a republican who has had his differences with donald trump. you know, making his case for what he would like to see tonight. a focus on the issues, he was suggesting. over there, you've got the cnn studio, which is where they are going to be doing their postdebate analysis, getting those representatives from both sides, just the way we have heard from the commons to the bbc earlier, making their case for each of the two candidates. and although katrina, there can often be a certain kind of hyperbole about these debates, they —— their importance can be overstated particularly in a race where minds are already made up. i think this one, have we have been hearing, really does matter. the polls are deadlocked, the candidates themselves know this is an opportunity to speak over the heads

of those pundits and pollsters directly to the american people and what happens here tonightjust might shift the decisions being made, particularly in those marginal states where this election will be won or lost. states where this election will be won or lost-— won or lost. john, we have been focusin: won or lost. john, we have been focusing a _ won or lost. john, we have been focusing a lot — won or lost. john, we have been focusing a lot on _ won or lost. john, we have been focusing a lot on style _ focusing a lot on style and character, but as you say it's about the substance of the debate as well. what cognitive issues will be discussed tonight? chin what cognitive issues will be discussed tonight? cnn hasn't released a _ discussed tonight? cnn hasn't released a list _ discussed tonight? cnn hasn't released a list of _ discussed tonight? cnn hasn't released a list of the - discussed tonight? cnn hasn't| released a list of the questions discussed tonight? cnn hasn't - released a list of the questions the candidates are going to be asked, but you can make a pretty good guess as to what the main topics are going to be. the economy, of course. president biden is likely to find himself under attack from former president trump over his record, particularly their periodic bouts of inflation that we've seen on mr biden's watch. migration is well will be an attack point for mr

trump. you know, on the other hand, this is not the same world we were living in back in 2020 when these two men mask debated. one of the most notable things that has shifted, of course has been the constitutional right to abortion with the sweeping away of roe v wade and i think a lot of analysts just —— a lot of analysts are expecting mr biden to take that issue to mr trump and to try to pin it on him and to suggest that he owns that decision. mrtrump and to suggest that he owns that decision. mr trump himself is sometimes suggested indeed he does. so they are the kind of things we are likely to see discussed. of course that question of the tight control over the microphones over how long each candidate will have to speak, the hope from the hosts here is that by constraining them in that way, we can get a discussion that is focused on the issues rather than what we saw in 2020, which was a bit

of a shouting match.— of a shouting match. well, we don't have too much _ of a shouting match. well, we don't have too much longer— of a shouting match. well, we don't have too much longer to _ of a shouting match. well, we don't have too much longer to wait - of a shouting match. well, we don't have too much longer to wait to - of a shouting match. well, we don't| have too much longer to wait to find out. we will chat to you later on, but for now on the floor of the spin room, thank you for that. wherever you are in the uk or right around the world, you will be able to watch the world, you will be able to watch the cnn presidential debate on bbc. you will be able to seejoe biden take on donald trump. we will have live coverage. our special programming begins at one o'clock to five o'clock british time on the bbc news channel and also on bbc .com. in the uk, you can watch it on bbc one. on the bbc iplayer or the bbc news app. and you can also listen in on bbc five live and on bbc sounds. for now, it is back over to you in the studio. the bbc has tracked down and confronted a people smuggler — responsible for organising a small—boat crossing to the uk in april in which a seven—year—old girl died. our paris correspondent andrew harding was on the beach in france during that initial incident, and, in a lengthy investigation, tracked the smuggler through europe to luxembourg — and a warning this report does

contain flashing images. excuse me, sir. andrew harding from bbc news. we've come to luxembourg to confront a man we've been chasing across europe. we know who you are, you're a smuggler. no. he's responsible for putting hundreds of people in small boats heading from france to england. and responsible for one boat in particular. this one. we came across it back in april on a beach in northern france. police, battling with a group of smugglers. chaos as people clambered onto the boat. we saw a girl here in a pink coat. she was one of five to die at the scene. her name was sara, seven years old, born in belgium, raised in sweden. a few days later, we found her father, ahmed, an iraqi man consumed by grief —

and also by guilt. but what of the smugglers? multiple sources tell us the man paid to arrange sara's journey is still active and working from a distant city. so we've come now to antwerp, a city in northern belgium, to try and track down the smuggler, the man who organised the boat and who, to some extent, was responsible for sara's death. and so we set a trap. one of our team poses here as a migrant looking to cross the channel. wearing a hidden camera, he goes to meet a middleman in antwerp. someone who can put us in touch with the smuggler. and the plan works. we are now waiting for the smuggler to call us. he's just sent us a text message, so it could be any moment now.

finally, he does call. believing he's talking to a potential client, he offers us seats on his next boat. so, the smuggler is still in business. but he's not in belgium any more. we now hear he may be on the run, that he's heading to luxembourg — and we're in pursuit. we've received a photo and video suggesting he's hiding in some sort of camp. an online search directs us to this migrant reception centre in the city of luxembourg. our new plan is a stakeout. we've been watching for three whole days now. still no sign of him. but by now we have more evidence. this photo of the smuggler and his passport. he's called rebwar, from iraq.

and then we catch this glimpse of him inside the camp. and a few hours later, we're racing to catch him outside. that's my colleague ahead of me, in black. we know who you are, you're a smuggler. no. he insists we have the wrong man. "i swear it," he says. do you want to call him? just check that he's got the same number that we've been calling. but then we call him on his mobile. the same number he used when he offered to smuggle us to england. who are you? so he's answering the phone. we know that this is you, sir. we know 100% that you are a smuggler. that you are responsible for the death of this seven—year—old, that you put her on a boat, that you took money from her parents, that she and four other people died. that's you. we know this is our man. he's getting on a tram now. we're going to let him go. there's not much more we can do. so, he leaves.

and while we don't follow him, we do inform the french authorities, who've declined to comment. as for the family sara left behind, they're being housed temporarily in this tiny french village. ahmed has claimed that hiring a smuggler was his only option. true or not, he now says he's learned a hard lesson. "the smugglers only care about money," he says. "i hope they'll be arrested and my daughter's death will not be in vain." but his other children have no access to school here and no idea what comes next. what do you miss most? to have, like, a normal life, like everybody. that's what you miss? do you think you will have one soon? where do you think?

in england. i'm sorry. but there's little chance of that right now. her sister's body has been buried here in france. but this grieving family has no permission to settle anywhere in europe. instead, they wait in limbo while the smuggling industry thrives. andrew harding, bbc news. in northern ireland, the leaders of the five main political parties standing in the election have taken part in a televised debate tonight. one of the main focuses was on health and the nhs and our ireland correspondent chris page was watching. under the lights and behind the lecterns, for the last big tv events of their campaign. although this is an election to the uk parliament, in northern ireland there is still a focus on what the parties are doing in the devolved assembly.

how do the parties justify voting to cut the health service budget? westminster decides the overall budget for the government in belfort, but its local politicians who decide how the money should be divided up and spent. the most important thing to have been achieved is a recognition in the british government that stormont has been underfunded and, with a new labour government coming into play, there is an risk of getting a better deal so we can invest in our health service and continue with transformation. hospital waiting times here are the longest in the uk but the party controlling the health ministry said of the parties are starving it of funds. the finance minister gave a project which doesn't take account of this year's pay rise, so we are faced with pressure with the pay rises for nurses, doctors and all of the staff may not be met, and those are precious those people are facing in a cost of living crisis, with all the other pressures. we need real leadership,

real resources and to take tough decisions. two leaders competing directly in the westminster election accused each other of not being significantly committed to the devolved government. we can tackle the financial challenge we have talked about with respect to health but also our public services and also that trust deficit that the institutions will be there in future. we don't have a deputy first minister as a candidate, we don't have our education minister as a candidate and we didn't have any ministers abandoning their pitch three months. five parties vying for votes across 18 constituencies in seven days' time. reform uk have condemned campaigners for the party who were apparently recorded making racist, homophobic and islamophobic comments while campaigning to elect nigel farage as mp. let's speak to our political

correspondent, hannah miller. tell us more about what has happened. tell us more about what has happened-— tell us more about what has ha ened. , . ., , happened. these were comments recorded by _ happened. these were comments recorded by a _ happened. these were comments recorded by a channel— happened. these were comments recorded by a channel for- happened. these were comments recorded by a channel for news i happened. these were comments i recorded by a channel for news when they sent an undercover reporter to work alongside campaigners and clocked in where nigel garages standing to be an mp. the really kind of two groups of accusations that are going on here, the first is comments made by a man identified as andrew parker who makes racist slurs about the prime minister, rishi sunak and suggest that people coming across the channel in boats, there should be target practice used on them, essentially suggesting that they ought to be shocked. now, nigel farage, the reform uk leader has described those comments as very prejudiced and very wrong and said that andrew parker will not be welcome working on his campaign in future. but then there is a separate

set of allegations. i should also say andrew parker says that he hadn't made his views known to reform uk and apologise for bringing the party into disrepute, if that is what has happened. the second set of allegations, though, are about homophobic comments. a police car appears to go past and this footage filmed by channel for news displaying a pride flag and there are some homophobic comments that are some homophobic comments that are made by a more seniorfigure, slightly closer to nigel farage, someone who he has known. nigel farage has again said that that person won't be working on his campaign infuture. person won't be working on his campaign in future. but he described the commons initially as crass and then kind of had to be pushed into admitting that perhaps they could be described as homophobic. so his response on the one hand to the racist language really quite clear—cut, less clear cut around

some of the other accusations, perhaps. but this is something that nigel farage clearly doesn't want to be seen to be associated with as he is standing for the eighth time to try to become an mp.— is standing for the eighth time to try to become an mp. briefly. tell us a little bit _ try to become an mp. briefly. tell us a little bit about _ try to become an mp. briefly. tell us a little bit about the _ try to become an mp. briefly. tell us a little bit about the commons| us a little bit about the commons made by rishi sunak aimed at nigel farage, claiming that he has been appeasing vladimir putin. so farage, claiming that he has been appeasing vladimir putin.- appeasing vladimir putin. so this comes after _ appeasing vladimir putin. so this comes after last _ appeasing vladimir putin. so this comes after last week, _ appeasing vladimir putin. so this comes after last week, nigel- appeasing vladimir putin. so this i comes after last week, nigel farage suggested that the west had provoked to russia by expanding nato and the eu towards russia. he suggested that president zelensky in ukraine should seek a peace deal. rishi sunak has said that that would amount to appeasing vladimir putin and said that those comments are wrong. particularly notable that in not necessarily would expect rishi sunak to be taking that kind of stands, he has been quite steadfast in his support for ukraine, but notable to see the prime ministers speaking to the telegraph in the papers tonight

and actively criticising nigel farage for those comments in a sense he has been reluctant to take on nigel farage and criticise him quite so directly as we are seeing in those comments this evening. hannah, for the those comments this evening. hannah, forthe moment. _ those comments this evening. hannah, for the moment, thank _ those comments this evening. hannah, for the moment, thank you _ those comments this evening. hannah, for the moment, thank you very - those comments this evening. hannah, for the moment, thank you very much. | let's take a quick look at some of tomorrow's front pages. the times leads on the comments made by campaigners for reform uk, that illegal migrants should be used for army target practice and that mosques should be turned into wetherspoons pubs. nigel farage described the comments as appalling. rishi sunak tells the daily telegraph that nigel farage is appeasing vladimir putin with his comments about the russian invasion of ukraine. the paper says the prime minister draws a parallel between the reform leader and those who argued against a tough stance to nazi germany in the 1930s. nigel farage has denied the accusation, saying he's horrified by what putin has done. the guardian reports that labour have pledged to ban managers who silence nhs whistleblowes if they win the election. the paper has an interview

with the shadow health secretary, wes streeting — who says the managers will be out and never work in the nhs again. the daily mail says a new poll shows one in ten voters are still unsure who to back in the election, which the paper says senior tories havejumped on as proof there is �*still a huge amount to play for�*. the eye says labour will tax private schools at 20% vat if it wins the election, but the policy won't take effect until next year. it also says a labour government would close a loophole to stop parents getting around the tax by paying the fees years in advance. the financian times says the number of people paying the top rate of income tax is set to pass a million for the first time this year. the paper reports that three years ago, there were around half that number paying thr 45% levy. and the metro leads with a story about a paramedic and his girlfriend who have been found dead at their home in staffordshire. daniel duffield had appeared on the channel 4 reality show, 999 on the front line. a double murder investigation

has been opened. workers at tata say they've been told the company will take steps to cease operations at the port talbot steel plant in south wales earlier than expected — next month — because of a planned strike by unite. around is—hundred workers are due to begin indefinite action over the firm's plans to cut thousands ofjobs. prince harry has been ordered to help explain to a court why messages between him and the ghostwriter of his book — "spare" — were deleted from the app, signal. the prince and dozens of other claimants are currently suing news group newspapers over claims of unlawful information—gathering tactics, including phone hacking. a lawyer for ngn accused him of having "deliberately destroyed" evidence potentially relevant to the case. the full trial for the hacking claims will begin injanuary. nasa has selected elon musk�*s spacex company to return the international space station to earth, at the end of its useful life. the california—based company will build a vehicle capable

of pushing the iso—tonne orbiting platform into the pacific ocean early in the next decade. engineers say the laboratory remains structurally sound, but plans need to be put in place now for its eventual disposal. without assistance, it would eventually fall back to earth on its own, however this poses a significant risk to populations on the ground. you could say that, yes. well there's been times during the euro's, when some players just wanted the ground to swallow them up. but perhaps not like this. cctv caught the moment when a massive sink—hole appeared on a football pitch in the us town of alton. it's 100 feet wide and could be just as deep. it's thought it was caused by a disused mine collapsing. nobody was hurt, but a whole floodlight disappeared. now it's time for a look at the

weather. hello. it was a slightly cooler day across the board on thursday, but still warm enough with 25 degrees across the southeast. friday will be a little bit cooler still, but quite a lot of sunshine around generally. most of the showers and strongest of the winds will be across the northern half of the uk, courtesy of this area of low pressure, which will continue to pull northwards and take the strong winds and showers with it as we go through the day. but it's a blustery start to many areas, certainly across the northern half of the country for friday. the showers, the strongest of the winds, pushing northwards across scotland, some of these heavy and thundery across north eastern parts of scotland. but england and wales, certainly for wales, the midlands southwards should stay mostly dry, with a top temperature of 22—23 degrees, mid—teens further north. now, as we head through friday night, the showers begin to fade away, the winds turn lighter and skies will clear. so it will turn quite chilly under those clear skies by the end of the night, with temperatures out of town dipping into single digits for some of us. but in town around 9—i2 degrees.

so it's a cool start to the weekend, but however, the weekend isn't looking too bad. there will be quite a bit of dry and sunny weather around. just a bit of rain at times through central areas of the uk, particularly on saturday. and that's courtesy of these weather fronts, which will wriggle in from the west at times. now, as we look to the north of the uk, that area of low pressure will be pulling away, taking the strong winds and the showers away from the northern isles as we go through saturday. a lot of sunshine for scotland, northern ireland, patchy cloud and rain for northern england, the midlands and wales. but southern and south—east england will be warm and increasingly humid through the day. plenty of sunshine, top temperatures 25 degrees here, again, mid—teens further north. now as we move into part two of the weekend, this ridge of high pressure will topple in. that will kill off any showers. lighter winds as well with fewer isobars. so it should be a fine day on sunday.

cool start, but plenty of sunshine around. bit of cloud building into the afternoon. thickest of the cloud, northwest scotland, where it will be breeziest, but lighter winds elsewhere. top temperatures on the cooler side, we're looking at 16—21 degrees. then as we head into next week, i think low pressure will be close by, certainly to the north and the west of the country. this is where we're likely to see most of the showers. better chance of staying dry and warmer towards the south and the east. take care.

election campaign. now on bbc news, newscast. newscast, i'm joined by a trio of seasoned political observers who can hopefully answer the question, "why have three of the main party leaders all ended up doing pottery today"? do you have any theories, like big china involved? big ceramics? terrible metaphor that they're all going for, but i can't quite work it out. the keir had a mug and rishi had| a teapot, so maybe if they didn't, maybe afterwards, at some point | they can build bridges and bringl those two bits of pottery together. don't see it. i haven't watched the great... is it called the great pottery throw down? because one of the potters from that was involved, and i...

have you...? no. not yet, shall we say politely. lucy's high brow. uh. as far as ed davey the lib dem leader was concerned, i thought that was quite a sort of, quite sort of safe for him. like, normally he's throwing himself off something or into something. he's dry. he can remain dry, at least. yeah. he'sjust like painting some nice, nice, delicate pottery. anyway, right, we will, um, up the level of analysis from that on the rest of this episode of newscast. newscast from the bbc. hello. it's adam in the studio, and i'm joined by a trio of newspaperjournalists, except they're also all podcasters as well now. we've got lucy fisher from the financial times, who does... the political fix podcast twice a week at the moment for the election. excellent. you're getting into the plugging lark. that's good. a big part of podcasting. we've gotjohn stevens from the mirror who does...

the division bell, also twice a week during the election.