soften and we've seen kamala harris soften that attack line a bit but that is very much the view in democrat and liberal circles in america. the other side generally millions of them believe that kamala harris were joe biden, these guys are a threat to democracy and stole the last election. millions of americans believe that so nick was talking about who is the candidate for a change here. donald trump presents himself as the candidate who believes, the avatar for the himself as the candidate who believes, the avatarfor the people who believe that the system is so rotten that it has to be taken down. this whole project 2025 is all about dismantling the administrative state, the instruments of democracy. the reason people want this is because they believe the system is rotten. so that is donald trump is the kind of agent of change. kamala harris by contrast, the democrat,

essentially the conservative party want to conserve the system and they are saying that the system is good, it works and let's stick with it. and millions of americans do not buy into any— and millions of americans do not buy into any of— and millions of americans do not buy into any of these conspiracy theories _ into any of these conspiracy theories and they are very happy to vote for— theories and they are very happy to vote for donald trump. because they 'ust vote for donald trump. because they just believe _ vote for donald trump. because they just believe that he is in the lead and more — just believe that he is in the lead and more credible on the economy. and the _ and more credible on the economy. and the frustration of stephanie was interesting reflecting the frustration in the republican party to focus_ frustration in the republican party to focus on the issues are not on the heritage of kamala harris because _ the heritage of kamala harris because the top issues are immigration in the economy and donald — immigration in the economy and donald trump is ahead on those. the donald trump is ahead on those. immigration donald trump is ahead on those. tie: immigration issue, which may donald trump is ahead on those. tt9: immigration issue, which may be loading with conspiracy theories about people eating ducks and chickens, but the conspiracy theory there relating to election fraud is they are saying that the democrats, that kamala harris open the border flooding america with immigrants to make it democrat forever. find flooding america with immigrants to make it democrat forever.—

make it democrat forever. and 20 seconds what _ make it democrat forever. and 20 seconds what does this _ make it democrat forever. and 20 seconds what does this tell - make it democrat forever. and 20 seconds what does this tell us - make it democrat forever. and 20 l seconds what does this tell us about how america is going to handle the outcome of the election whatever it is? :, : :, outcome of the election whatever it is? :, . :, , ., outcome of the election whatever it is? ., , :, . . ., is? the outcome is even more crucial than the election _ is? the outcome is even more crucial than the election itself. _ is? the outcome is even more crucial than the election itself. if— is? the outcome is even more crucial than the election itself. if donald - than the election itself. if donald trump loses do we think he will accept? i do not think you will then the question is what his supporters do who already believe that the last election was stolen. tmeii do who already believe that the last election was stolen.— election was stolen. well we are caettin election was stolen. well we are getting ahead — election was stolen. well we are getting ahead of _ election was stolen. well we are getting ahead of ourselves - election was stolen. well we are i getting ahead of ourselves because we have not had the debate yet but the bbc will have full coverage of that debate later on tonight. special coverage starts at 1am on bbc one and on bbc news. that's it for tonight. thank you to everyone in the programme. victoria's here tomorrow — till then, goodnight. sleep well.

live from london. this is bbc news how you doing? come here. let's go. 1,700 prisoners across england and wales walk free early in an effort to ease overcrowding injails. kamala harris and donald trump gear up to go head—to—head in theirfirst tv debate in just a few hours' time. as the government wins the vote on cutting winter fuel payments, millions of pensioners face higher bills. and we'll take a look at what's making headlines on tomorrow's front pages.

hello, i'm catherine byaruhanga the first of thousands of prisoners in england and wales have been allowed out ofjail early today as part of a new government scheme to try to ease prison overcrowding. more than 1,700 have been released today in the first wave. around 2,000 more are set to be let out early over the next two months. those released today had been senteneced to up to five years in jail. they've served 40% of their time rather than the usual 50%. those jailed for more than four years for serious violent offences, sex offences and domestic abuse are not eligible for early release. the justice secretary says every available measure is being taken to protect the public. here's our uk correspondent daniel sandford. at wandsworth prison today... 0h!

..inmates walking free early from their sentences, celebrating with their friends. some hiding theirfaces as they left the jail. let's go! let's go. let's go home! 0thers making up for lost time with their partners, while a few were worried about their future. i'm going to be sleeping on a bench tonight, do you know what i mean? there's no messing about. i'm going to go to probation, and if they've got an address for me, i'm the pope. one man was immediately rearrested by the police at the prison gate. in liverpool, men being freed months earlier than expected. did you come out under the early release scheme? yeah. so, how much earlier did you come out than you were expecting? two months. so, is that a bit of a relief for you to get out a bit early? of course, yeah. so, how full are the prisons at the moment? chock—a, absolutely rammed. you out under early release? yeah. how much earlier did you come out today than you were supposed to? 80—odd days. how much? 80 days early? i'm desperate now to get

my life back together. hopefully i'll not come back here again. they came out in groups every half an hour or so. all day there's been a steady release of inmates from prisons across england and wales — one of the biggest mass releases of prisoners ever seen on a single day. and even while they were still coming out, the minister in charge of prisons was explaining why to the house of commons. if we had not done this, we faced courts unable to hold trials, police unable to make arrests and a total breakdown of law and order. this is not the long—term solution, there is more that we must do, but it was the necessary first step that we had to take following the disgraceful dereliction of duty by the previous government. hear, hear. ministers had promised victims that people convicted of domestic abuse wouldn't be released early. but elizabeth hudson has received this letter saying that her ex—partner martin underwood will be set free under the scheme next year. this is a dangerous,

dangerous violent man that attacked me, for many years, notjust on that morning, and then his future girlfriend, whilst on police bail. there's no... there's a pattern of behaviour, there's no grey area about whether or not it's domestic abuse. the ministry ofjustice said her attacker had served his time for the domestic abuse offences of strangulation and threats to kill and is being released early from an additional sentence for assault. being released early today was lawson natty, convicted of manslaughter for supplying the machete used to kill 14—year—old gordon gault, whose mother is outraged. fair enough, let petty crimes out, not somebody who has killed a 14—year—old child, who purchases machetes. no. and with prisoner numbers at record levels, there will be another mass release next month. daniel sandford, bbc news.

so, almost double the usual number of prisoners have been released today. it's raised many concerns — not least among some of their victims. it's also put a serious strain on probation services with questions about where the prisoners will all go. navtej johal has spent the day with one as he tries to find shelter for the night. terry started the day in a prison. he's ending it in a hotel. he's one of around 20 prisoners released early from hmp nottingham today under the government's new scheme to help ease overcrowding in prisons. he was convicted of arson in march and sentenced to 12 months injail. he was due to serve half that time but has been released a week early. what do you make of some people being angry that prisoners like you are being released early today? in a way, we shouldn't be released yet, because the system ain't ready. they're just chucking everybody out. it doesn't matter who we are,

what we are, and they know we're going to come back in. after his release, terry attends a meeting with his probation officer, but at the same time, he's supposed to be at a meeting at a job centre 11 miles away. totally impossible. what does that tell you about how the system works? it's telling me they're setting us out to fail. a later meeting is now arranged at a differentjob centre, in the hope of finding somewhere for terry to stay. no accommodation was arranged for his release and his licence conditions mean he cannot return to his home. making it impossible. they're making it impossible. the government said hotels would be available if there isn't space in bail hostels. after meetings with the job centre and local council, terry has been loaned money to book a hotel room for a few nights. hello. have you got any rooms available, please? how are you feeling about this? 0h, a lot better. i'll be warm and not waiting to... you know. if it weren't for these guys here, i don't know. i don't know where i'd be. and he's hoping to have a place in supported accommodation from friday.

terry says he's sorry for what he did to his victim. the bbc has confirmed that they were told a week ago of his early release. what do you say to people who might be concerned that you and other prisoners might reoffend? never, ever do owt like that again. not to go to prison. you're not concerned about re—offending? no. all i want to do is go to work, go back home. navteonhal, bbc news nottinghamshire. the cut in the winter fuel payments will go ahead after the government won a vote in the house of commons this afternoon despite more than 50 labour mps being absent from the chamber. 0ne labour mp voted against the proposal to cut the £300 payment, which was introduced by the last labour government in 1997. 0ur political editor chris mason reports. autumn by the seaside — a tad grey and bleak,

even for the hardy. the tuc is a collection of trade unions representing around five million people. slogans and labels of loyalty aplenty. the last prime minister to roll up at this get—together was gordon brown in 2009. today, keir starmer, with a familiar, rather bleak message. i have to level with you. this will take a while. it will be hard. the light of a fairer britain, a more prosperous, secure and dynamic country is at the end of the tunnel. that doesn't mean that it's easy to get there. the light at the end of the tunnel hasn't been turned off, but it's not exactly blinding, the gist of it. his reception here, warm and upbeat, not rapturous. the winter fuel payment gone for millions of pensioners. i think in this room, there are a lot of concerns about the winter fuel payment. we've called on the chancellor to think again. do you quite believe a labour government has done it? to think again about making sure

that they use the budget so that no pensioner goes into the winter worried about putting the heating on. the truth is, right now, there are pensioners with just that worry. down the road at a cafe for older people run by a charity, more than a few opinions on the prime minister's decision. i voted labour all my life. do you feel let down by them now? i felt very surprised. i'm outraged. i couldn't believe it when i heard it. they say it's means tested, but that's because they've based it on pension credits, but like many a pensioner, i'm not poor enough for pension credits but i'm still poor enough to get the means tested housing benefits. do you thank you are going to struggle as a result of not getting it? yes. i'm lucky in that i've got a south facing window, double glazed, on my flat, which means when the sun shines, my flat can warm up a bit. there is no easy answer, i mean... it sounds like you have some sympathy with the government. well, yeah, i think it looks professional. he's being honest with us to say it's not going to be easy and it's not, really, because we haven't got the money.

plenty of labour mps are deeply uncomfortable about this, some unwilling to vote for it. it's with my conscience that i cannot vote for these measures, but i am determined to work with government to find the mitigation, which is absolutely crucial. 0pposition parties don't like it, either. these measures are going to lead to untold hardship for millions of elderly and vulnerable people right up and down this country. it is wrong to strip support from many of the poorest pensioners, just as energy bills are set to rise again. it is wrong to force elderly vulnerable people to make that choice between heating and eating this winter. and so the result? the ayes to the right, 228. the noes to the left, 348. victory by 120 votes for the government. when you've got a colossal majority, you can win by a mile even

with grumbling on your own side. that was our political editor chris mason stop. let's turn to the us now, where we're just a few hours away from tonight's crucial primetime us presidential debate between vice president kamala harris and republican nominee donald trump. it's the first time the rivals for the white house go head to head. what are you the latest poll of polls suggests that kamala harris is three points ahead — but many pundits say in reality it's too close to call. here's our north america editor sarah smith. after all the showbiz razzmatazz of the summer conventions, this race is about to get a lot more scrappy as they go head—to—head in what may be the pivotal moment of this very close race, and the stakes could not be higher. the last time donald trump took part in a tv debate, his opponent's candidacy collapsed.

president trump? i really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. i don't think he knows what he said, either. kamala harris insists she is more than ready to meet donald trump face—to—face for the first time. as the saying goes, "if you've got something to say, say it to my face". american voters say they do want to see major change, and that could be tricky for a candidate who has been in office as vice president for the last four years. kamala harris wants voters to focus instead on the dangers of re—electing donald trump. donald trump is an unserious man but the consequences. but the consequences of putting donald trump back in the white house are extremely serious. donald trump has appeared unsettled by kamala harris. lying kamala harris, lying. i call her laughing kamala. you ever watch her laugh?

she's crazy. i'm a better looking person than kamala. philadelphia loves this famous landmark sculpture. well, the summer love—in enjoyed by kamala harris, both in voter enthusiasm and fundraising, is inevitably fading. in fact, this debate feels so crucial because both candidates are now neck—and—neck in the polls. this will be donald trump's seventh presidential debate, kamala harris's first. with hillary clinton in 2016, he loomed intimidatingly behind her. because you'd be injail. four years ago, in the vice presidential debate, mss harris wasn't taking any nonsense from mike pence. and i want to add... mrvice president, i'm speaking. i'm speaking. the manner in which both candidates are preparing for this debate tells you a great deal about them. kamala harris has been carefully practising for days on a purpose built stage while donald trump is discussing policy with some aides, but he won't actually rehearse. he wants to rely on his gut reactions on the night.

both candidates know they cannot afford any mistakes. it could be this debate that decides who claims victory in eight weeks' time. that was our north america editor that was our north america editor sarah smith there. sarah smith there. 0ur chief presenter sumi somaskanda 0ur chief presenter sumi somaskanda will be leading our special will be leading our special coverage of the debate, coverage of the debate, and shejoins us live and shejoins us live from philadelphia. from philadelphia. hi, so we are less than three hours hi, so we are less than three hours away from that debate, just describe away from that debate, just describe the mood and build—up to the events, the mood and build—up to the events, and what we are hearing from both and what we are hearing from both sides in this debate.— sides in this debate.— and what we are hearing from both sides in this debate. absolutely, so ou can sides in this debate. absolutely, so you can feel — and what we are hearing from both sides in this debate. absolutely, so ou can sides in this debate. absolutely, so you can feel — sides in this debate. absolutely, so you can feel the _ sides in this debate. absolutely, so you can feel the anticipation - you can feel the anticipation sides in this debate. absolutely, so you can feel the _ sides in this debate. absolutely, so you can feel the anticipation - you can feel the anticipation building, and we are in the building, and we are in the convention centre here where all the convention centre here where all the press are located mark abc news seen press are located mark abc news seen there are around a thousand there are around a thousand journalists on hand tonight, and is journalists on hand tonight, and is also where the spin room is, where also where the spin room is, where you will see surrogates from the you will see surrogates from the

campaigns, democrats and campaigns, democrats and republicans, big names in the party, republicans, big names in the party, and i had of the debates and after the debates to talk to the media and convince the media high—stakes,

and you can feel the high—stakes, because this is probably the last big opportunity for donald trump and kamala harris to speak to voters on such a big stage. d0 kamala harris to speak to voters on such a big stage-— such a big stage. do they know almost immediately _ such a big stage. do they know almost immediately who - such a big stage. do they know almost immediately who has i such a big stage. do they know i almost immediately who has won such a big stage. do they know - almost immediately who has won this debate? of course, journalists from the spin room, as you say, surrogates from both campaigns will be there speaking to the media, how much room will there be for them to define the narrative after this debates? , :, debates? there is more room in the sin room debates? there is more room in the spin room as — debates? there is more room in the spin room as has — debates? there is more room in the spin room as has been _ debates? there is more room in the spin room as has been said, - debates? there is more room in the spin room as has been said, but - spin room as has been said, but looking at the last debate between donald trump and joe biden, it was clear about 50 minutes in thatjoe biden had a disastrous performance, and then biden drops out after —— of the raise a few months after, and thatis the raise a few months after, and that is why he's facing kamala harris right now, we are not expecting that dramatic effect in this debate, but we are going to see surrogates from both campaigns trying to spin the narrative to see

their candidate made the best argument. but we have asked both campaigns is what success looks like for their candidate and donald trump's campaign cell he was tight kamala harris that it is used, the failing economy and fitting border, and kamala harris's team said there was sand in narrative form to the american people that camera that kamala harris stands for the future in the middle class, so that would be the gauge as to how well they performed. be the gauge as to how well they performed-— performed. that is our chief presenter — performed. that is our chief presenter sumi _ performed. that is our chief| presenter sumi somaskanda performed. that is our chief - presenter sumi somaskanda here. here on bbc news you'll be able to watch rolling coverage of the abc news presidential debate simulcast. news coverage will start at 1am here in the uk — and the actual debate will start an hour later. let's take a look at some other stories now. the "tenacious lobbying" of senior consultants may have prevented the killer nurse lucy letby from attacking yet more babies, a public inquiry has heard. the first live hearing has taken place in the thirlwall inquiry, which aims to understand how letby

was able to commit her crimes on the neonatal unit of the countess of chester hospital. letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder another seven betweenjune 2015 and june 2016. the race to become conservative party leader and leader of the opposition was whittled down again today in the latest round of voting by conservative mps. robertjenrick came out on top with 33 votes. kemi badenoch came second with 28 votes. the former work and pensions minister mel stride was knocked out. there will be further voting after the party's conference later this month before party members pick one of the final two to be the new leader in early november. the tv presenterjeremy kyle has said that he feels 'exonerated' after a coroner ruled that his show was not a "contributory factor" in the death of one of its guests.

63—year—old steve dymond, from portsmouth in hampshire, died of an overdose a week afterfilming for the jeremy kyle show in 2019. he had failed a lie detector test about being unfaithful to his fiancee, and is believed to have taken his own life. at least 19 people have been killed in an overnight israeli strike in gaza according to the hamas—run health ministry. the strike obliterated an area within the designated humanitarian zone for displaced palestinians. the israeli military said it was attacking a "number of hamas terrorists" operating there. the al—mawasi humanitarian zone is in the south—west of gaza. it's being increasingly reduced by the israeli army, and according to the un now spans just 16 square miles. with the latest, here's lucy williamson. they searched for survivors in the place people fled to survive.

gaza's mawasi safe zone, hit by israeli air strikes last night. an encampment of displaced families who went to sleep in tents and woke up in this. even the living stood even the living stood lifeless this morning. lifeless this morning. the loss after 11 months of war the loss after 11 months of war impossible to avoid, impossible to avoid, difficult to take in. difficult to take in. there had been no warning, there had been no warning, survivors said, of the air strikes survivors said, of the air strikes that buried families, that buried families, set fire to shelters. set fire to shelters. local staff at a uk field hospital local staff at a uk field hospital said shrapnel sliced said shrapnel sliced through their tents. through their tents. screaming "mama, mama." "there are no fighters "there are no fighters here," this man says, here," this man says, "just displaced people." "just displaced people." "these are the rockets "these are the rockets they drop on children." they drop on children." aya madi, displaced from rafah, aya madi, displaced from rafah, said she dug her seven said she dug her seven children out of the rubble. children out of the rubble. translation: we woke up| translation: we woke up|

to nothing but sand and fire. to nothing but sand and fire. my children were my children were screaming "mama, mama." i couldn't tell if they were alive or dead. i held my two—month—old son, thinking he was dead, covered in sand. thank god he was still alive. israel's army said it used precise weapons to target three hamas commanders directly involved in the 7th october attacks.

since being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. the trip to australia will be the first of his reign to one of the commonwealth realms, where he is head of state. buckingham palace says that among the events he will attend will be meetings with environmentalists, and a barbecue. the trip to samoa will coincide with the commonwealth heads of government meeting — an organisation of which charles is the ceremonial leader. here's our royal correspondent daniela relph. cheering and applause. wherever he went in llanelli, there were cards, well—wishers and questions about his wife. the prince of wales told the crowds catherine had a long journey ahead, but life was looking more positive. i shook his hand and i wished him all the best and i said to give our regards to kate. i said how pleased we were to see

that catherine was feeling better and recovering from her treatment, and how much she is loved, how much we all love her. and what did he say to that? thank you — yes, she is better. children sing. a musical welcome at a local primary school... very nice to see you. ..where he met pupils and was given presents for his own children — although he warned he would have to keep an eye on his youngest son. keep them away from louis, because he will try and steal all his sisters'. from the princess of wales yesterday, there was cautious optimism about the future. the personal family film marked the end of her treatment and the next stage of her recovery. cameras click. but for the king, his cancer treatment is ongoing. doctors, though, have said he is well enough to visit australia and samoa next month, with changes made to his schedule. a palace spokesperson said they were tying to preserve the king's energy as much as possible. he won't now visit new zealand, to reduce the amount of travelling. rest periods have been

built into his schedule. and in australia, engagements will be limited to sydney and canberra. pipes and drums play. it has been a challenging year for the royal family, but the king and queen's tour of australia and samoa, a sign that normal royal business has resumed. daniela relph, bbc news, buckingham palace. let's take a look at some of tomorrow's newspaper front pages. the daily mail covers the early release of some prisoners, saying it happened on the day winter fuel payments were axed for ten million pensioners — and it coins the phrase, starmergeddon. ahead with cuts to public spending afterfacing down rebel labour mps in the vote over those winter fuel allowances. the telegraph notes that 50 labour mps defied their leader by refusing to back the winter fuel payments cut. its main picture story shows

a prisoner being released early — and it also says that a ban on sending certain sorts of missiles to ukraine may be scrapped, in the face of iranian exports of weapons to russia. the daily express pictures campaigners and some mps who oppose the move to remove winter fuel payments to millions of pensioners. the times says that the us is likely to, within weeks, give ukraine permission to use long—distance cruise missiles to launch attacks deep into russia. the guardian's headline — pm faces calls to aid poorest as winter fuel cut approved. it also suggests that the restructuring of the steel plant at port talbot could result in 2,500 jobs being lost at the site. the financial times says tata, the group which owns the port talbot steel works, is close to securing £500 million of aid for the plant.

it also reports on apple being ordered by an eu court to pay 13 billion euros in taxes owed in the republic of ireland. and the mirror follows on from yesterday's video release by princess catherine, with a picture from it, and a comment from prince william that she has had good news on cancer, but there is still a long way to go. now time for the weather with tomasz. hello. it's going to be quite chilly over the next few days. in fact, it'll feel more like 0ctober rather than the first half of september. wednesday is going to bring some sunny spells, but also brisk winds and quite a few showers, especially in the afternoon. so, here's the big picture across our neck of the woods. here's that stream of chilly air all the way from the arctic, spreading across ireland, the uk, and many northwestern parts of europe. and the early morning forecast for wednesday shows clearer skies across many eastern and southern areas of the uk, but showers

spreading into the northwest. early morning temperatures typically between 6—10 degrees, but it will be colder in rural spots, particularly in the north. so right from the word go, yes, lots of sunshine, but brisk winds and showers from the word go in the northwest of the uk. and some of these showers will become more widespread right across the uk. i think your best chance for dry weather will be along the channel coast and perhaps the southeast and east anglia, but i wouldn't rule out one or two showers here as well. here are the temperatures — really disappointing for this time in september — 15 in london, more typically around 13 in the north, perhaps as low as 10—11 on the north coast of scotland. now on thursday, the winds will be lighter. i think showers will be less frequent. there will be more sunny spells around, so it'll feel better, but on the thermometer i think it'll be about the same. so 15, 13 or 15 across the bulk of england and wales, perhaps no higher than ten degrees again for many central and northern parts of scotland.

now, come the end of the week, we are anticipating the winds