doing the same. and a colourful display in the sky — hundreds of hot air balloons take flight in new mexico. hello, i'm carl nasman. us defense secretary lloyd austin has told his israeli counterpart that he's concerned over reports that israeli forces fired on un peacekeeping positions in lebanon. the messaging from secretary austin comes as a fifth soldierfrom unifil — the un peacekeeping mission in southern lebanon — has reportedly been wounded. it's not yet known who is responsible for the fire. the incident took place at the un base in naqoura, near the border between israel and lebanon. four un peacekeepers were wounded in previous incidents, which unifil blamed on israeli forces. meanwhile, lebanon's health ministry says at least 15 people have been killed in israeli strikes in different parts of the country.

one of the targets was deir billa, in northern lebanon, which had not been hit before, while the israeli military says hezbollah has fired dozens of rockets into northern israel. and in the last few hours, a0 nations that support unifil in southern lebanon have released a joint statement, calling for an immediate halt to the attacks on peacekeepers. our correspondent anna foster is following from beirut. well, unifil, which is the un peacekeeping mission in south lebanon, have once again issued a statement today. it's the third in three days because they are increasingly concerned about their peacekeepers coming under attack from israeli forces. now, they say again, their headquarters at naqoura — which is a well—known base that has been there for many years — has again, it seems, come into the crossfire of some sort of fighting that was going on between hezbollah and the idf. we know that the us president, joe biden, said that he was asking israel not to hit peacekeepers, because it's important to know

that the peacekeepers, in this case, they are not fighting israeli forces and they are not defending the lebanese population. they are there to assist the lebanese army in maintaining that buffer zone in the south of lebanon. so there's been real international condemnation and concern that their safety might be at risk, after five of them have been injured in just two days. and also, while there's so much focus in lebanon, of course, in gaza, the war there is continuing and the world food programme has said today that they are increasingly concerned about a fresh hunger crisis. they say they haven't been able to get food and supplies into the northern part of the strip since the beginning of this month. we know that 400,000 palestinians have been told again that they have to move from that area in northern gaza. and the hamas—run health ministry says that 30 people were killed today in israeli air strikes injabalia. so again, real concern for the civilian population in gaza as that israeli military operation, it seems, starts to intensify once again there.

israel has denied accusations that it is deliberately targeting un buildings along the 2006 ceasefire line with lebanon, saying that the un mission should move to safer areas further north. it's been nearly two weeks since israel invaded southern lebanon — with the aim, it said, of removing hezbollah weapons and infrastructure there. trying to press that message home, the israeli army has, for the first time, taken international journalists to an undisclosed location across the border. 0ur middle east correspondent lucy williamson and cameraman joe phua were among them. their access was restricted, and the pictures — though not the editorial content — were checked for military security. we hugged the old ceasefire line dividing israel from lebanon, driving fast, under the threat of hezbollah attack. israel's army broke through this border less than two weeks ago. now they're taking us in to show us one of the villages under their control, a couple of miles into lebanese territory.

the army had taken control here just a day or two before. the area still not clear of hezbollah fighters. we are literally in an area which still hasn't been neutralised. blast war zone. it's a war zone, with all the implications you can hear in the background. there was hidden terrorists here in this village, face—to—face battles. it means that my troops are seeing in their eyes, terrorists, and fight them in the streets. israel says these are limited, targeted raids. limited geographically, perhaps, less so militarily. wow, wow. you can see the kind of fighting that has taken place here just in the last couple of days or so. hezbollah were clearly well—prepared and well—armed.

the army told us they'd found dozens of booby—trapped houses here and demolished them. we only have their account of what happened here and were restricted in where we could go. this is 81mm mortars. this is what they wanted to show us. caches of weapons, including sophisticated anti—tank missiles, shoulder—launch rockets and night scopes. some of them, brand—new, still packed into boxes. anti—tank missile. 0ne anti—tank missile, already semi—assembled. preparations for a cross—border attack into israel, the army said. this is, i can say, two times more or three times more than gaza in the weapons that this village contains. this, the army says, is why it's here, not for occupation. we don't want to hold these places. we want to clean them out from all the weapons and ammunition. that's what we want.

after that, we are expecting that the people will come back and understand that peace is better for them and terrorists controlling them is a bad thing. but i leave it to the diplomats to solve. these are my guys. these are my guys, fighting. there's been bursts of small arms fire and artillery very close by. he says his forces are fighting hezbollah 500 metres away. despite israeli control on the ground here, this is still very much an active combat zone. the fighting gets closer. we're told to leave fast. please, gentlemen, go faster. despite israel's small successes here, hezbollah has not disappeared from this fight, and israel's conflict with iran hangs over it. this is not a border war, but a regional one, playing out along a border. go, go, please go.

lucy williamson reporting. meanwhile, the un world food programme says no food aid has lucy williamson reporting. meanwhile, the un world food programme says no food aid has been able to enter northern gaza since the start of this month. the warning comes as up to 400,000 palestinians still living in the area have been told to evacuate for their own safety. israel has been carrying out a major offensive to try to prevent hamas from regrouping. health officials in gaza say that around 150 people have been killed in the israeli operation, which has focused onjabalia — the biggest refugee camp in gaza. as the threat of starvation grows in gaza, ive been speaking with unrwa usa senior director of philanthropy hani almadhoun. the world food programme saying that no food has been able to enter northern gaza since the start of this month. ijust want to get your reaction to that. . ~ , ., ., ., that. thank you for having me. yes, this _ that. thank you for having me. yes. this is _ that. thank you for having me. yes, this is correct. _ that. thank you for having me. yes, this is correct. the - that. thank you for having me. yes, this is correct. the world| yes, this is correct. the world food programme and unrwa, the

backbone of the humanitarian response inside gaza, is struggling to be allowed to bring in relief and aid to northern gaza. there is famine and famine conditions back in north gaza is the israeli military goes back and start yet another military campaign. i believe this is the third military campaign in north gaza. it is a dire circumstance where people are not able to find food. every single soup kitchen we know of in north gaza has closed because of safety concerns. these are real safety concerns. these are real safety concerns. these are real safety concerns. people are out of places to go search for safety, about 56% of the crop in gaza has been damaged. about 70% also damaged so people are not finding much locally and aid is not coming in from outside and is not being delivered, causing a lot of people to have starvation, especially kids and elderly folks. we have had this for a

while, but it has gotten worse since october. and this complicates conditions for folks when it comes to hunger. in addition to drones and various military weapons firing people in north gaza and in 65 mr schleicher and all parts of gaza as we speak. in mr schleicher and all parts of gaza as we speak.— gaza as we speak. in your opinion. _ gaza as we speak. in your opinion. why _ gaza as we speak. in your opinion, why is _ gaza as we speak. in your opinion, why is the - gaza as we speak. in your opinion, why is the aide i gaza as we speak. in your i opinion, why is the aide not getting there, is it simply too dangerous? we have seen and heard of other efforts. air drops, temporary peer being built in gaza, that didn't seem to work so well. why is it and you think enough is being done to try to get that aid to the people that need it? h0. to try to get that aid to the people that need it? no, not enou:h people that need it? no, not enough is — people that need it? no, not enough is being _ people that need it? no, not enough is being done. - people that need it? no, not enough is being done. you i people that need it? no, not. enough is being done. you have seen the un called out a lack of humanitarian aid. vice president harris mentioned we need to have more aid going into north gaza. the israelis will tell a different story. this is not really factual, what you are hearing. the reality is israelis are not allowing access to north gaza. they claim aid is being stolen

and this is true, but that at the end of the day, that is what happens when you create conditions like chaos and not allow un agencies to go have their staff have access to safe passage. this is a struggle not only that unrwa faces, but the world food programme and even non—un agencies doing a good job in gaza, even the financial times reported about private traders that used to be given permits by israel. there are five private traders given permits to bring in food, but even they are not able to bring in aid because it has gotten so expensive. 0ne banana in gaza is $12 before october, imagine one tomato being $20. so this is a condition created by the israeli military. this is not rocket science. bring in more aid, stabilise the market, you allow people to eat. there might be some flower left in north gaza, but not much beyond that. as you know, my family

runs a soup kitchen. they have closed because they do not want to be targeted do not want to create unsafe conditions. i believe your brother had been running that soup kitchen and you say now that has been closed? , . .,, ., . closed? yes, we closed that. we 0 erated closed? yes, we closed that. we operated a _ closed? yes, we closed that. we operated a soup _ closed? yes, we closed that. we operated a soup kitchen - closed? yes, we closed that. we operated a soup kitchen and - operated a soup kitchen and early this morning, the idf asked the people in the west of gaza to evacuate. so that has created another difficulty for us where we try to step up and provide some rice and basic things. maybe we can provide a need for 100 people now those people are being asked to evacuate. to wear? that is the question. the south has not been shown to be a safe place. alex salmond — the former leader of the scottish national party, who led scotland to the brink of independence in the 2014 referendum — has died, at the age of 69. he reportedly collapsed after speaking at an event in north macedonia earlier on saturday. this is one of the last pictures taken of him at that event. mr salmond was a formidable

campaigner for independence in scotland and led the snp to power there in 2007, becoming the country's first minister for seven years. among the dozens of tributes, the king said in a statement: "my wife and i are greatly saddened to hear of the sudden death of alex salmond. his devotion to scotland drove his decades of public service. we extend our deep condolences to his family and loved ones at this time." 0ur scotland correspondent lorna gordon looks back at alex salmond's life. in 300 years, no—one came closer to ending scotland's union with england than alex salmond. this, in my estimation, has been the greatest campaign in scottish democratic history... a formidable political figure who guided a party that for decades was on the fringes of politics to the heart of power, changing the political landscape of the united kingdom and delivering a referendum on independence. this is desperately sad news

that alex salmond has died, and i extend my deepest condolences to his wife, moira, and to his family. this is a moment that individuals will reflect on the exceptional leadership and contribution that alex salmond has given to public life in scotland, with his service in the house of commons and in the scottish parliament. and especially as the first minister of scotland. it was while studying economics at st andrews university that alex salmond joined the snp. he worked for a time as an oil economist, but politics soon exerted its pull. the mp for banff and buchan alex salmond has won the leadership of the scottish national party. mr salmond first led the snp in the 1990s, the snp in the 1990s... we are going to win the battle for the hearts and minds of the scottish people.

..but it was during his second stint that his party became a major political force. well, folks, it's good to be back. within three years, the snp were in government in edinburgh. and, in 2011, he pulled off a feat that was thought impossible, winning a majority at holyrood. alex salmond negotiated the referendum on independence with the then prime minister david cameron. how dare they state that this country is not capable of running its own affairs?! he was a formidable and inescapable voice in the debate that followed, on the airwaves and in towns and cities across scotland. in the end, the referendum result was "no." and alex salmond stepped down as first minister and snp leader. as leader, my time is nearly over. later carrying on the fight for independence with a new political party, alba. i was talking to somebody, it so happens, the other day, who was telling me the story of alex as a 24—year—old, sitting next to a colleague

at the royal bank of scotland, outlining his strategy for achieving independence for scotland. and i think he thought about that every day of his life, since being a young man. and nearly, nearly brought it to fruition. in more recent years, there were controversies. he was cleared of sexual assault in 2020, and he also fell out with his protege and successor as first minister, nicola sturgeon. in a statement, she said... the former mp and msp died after being taken ill in north macedonia. it is understood he collapsed after giving a speech. alex salmond led the snp to political dominance in scotland, and pushed independence to the top of the agenda. an orator, strategist and campaigner, whose voice travelled far

beyond the boundaries of scotland. the former first minister of scotland alex salmond, who has died at _ scotland alex salmond, who has died at the age of 69. the last physical exam of vice president harris was back in april and the summary says she remains in excellent help and that she possesses the physical and mental resilience required to successfully execute the duties of the presidency. miss harris is looking to draw a bit of a contrast with her republican opponent donald trump, who has not released extensive records this campaign season. here she is speaking to reporters a short while ago on her way to a campaign event. so today, i released my medical records as has, i believe,

every candidate for president of the united states except donald trump in this election cycle. and it's just a further example of his lack of transparency. that, on top of his unwillingness to debate again, his unwillingness to do an interview with 60 minutes which, again, is part of the norm of anyone running for president of the united states does. and i think it's obvious that his team, at least, does not want the american people to see everything. about who he is. donald trump's most detailed records came more than six years ago, in 2018. his campaign released a statement saying the former president "has voluntarily released updates from his personal physician". it goes on to say, "all have concluded he is in perfect and excellent health to be commander in chief". there's been no word from trump himself yet. he's been attending a roundtable event with latino voters in las vegas. he has also been speaking in california today. here's some of

what he had to say. november5th, i believe, is going to go down as maybe the most important day, i hope, right, mr congressman? but i hope it will because it will show what we do. but it will be the most important day in the history of the country. and i said that with 2016 and i meant it. but this blows it away because 2016, we had problems. but we didn't have this kind of a problem. but we have a problem of survival of our country, because we're run by very stupid and probably evil people. 0ur correspondent rowan bridge has been looking through harris' medical records, published on saturday. i asked him about the details in the report. i think it's surprising about the level of detail and personal information that it does give out. it largely gives her a clean bill of health, to be honest, it says she has a skin condition which can cause a rash.

she's previously had issues with seasonal allergies, but both of those are under control and none of them are causing an issue. she also has a family issue of colon cancer, but it says she is up—to—date with all preventative measures, including colonoscopies. and it also says she maintains a healthy lifestyle, which is no mean feat on the campaign trail. and it concludes saying that she possesses the physical and mental resiliency to be president. it's not the easiestjob in the world, so why did she release these records, and why do it now, with 2a days to go until election day? i don't think there is a coincidence that there's only a few weeks between the presidential vote and when these records have been released. for the harris campaign, they see it as a way of trying a contrast with former president trump in terms of transparency. and what they would say is their candidate's healthiness. and there is a 20—year age gap between kamala

harris and donald trump, and kamala harris wants to portray herself as the vigorous candidate, in a way thatjoe biden could not have done credibly in the same way. and briefly, do we expect to see donald trump's medical records before november 5th? you said we haven't seen his full medical records being released. i think we're unlikely to see them before election day. they have released updates from his personal physician and the physician who treated him after the assassination attempt, but that was not as detailed as what we've seen from kamala harris, and i think it's unlikely we'll get more details from him. hundreds of hot air balloons have dotted the skies above new mexico this week for the annual albuquerque international balloon fiesta — said to be the largest in the world. 0rganisers say more than 500 hot air balloons have ascend to the skies. the festival concludes on sunday. let's go live to albuquerque, new mexico, and speak to tom garrity, who is a spokesperson for the international balloon fiesta.

it's great to have you on. as spectacular as some of these pictures are, we have looked in the background and we concede the background and we concede the scene of berlin's lighting up, explain what is going on behind you. up, explain what is going on behind yon-— behind you. yes, this is the second last _ behind you. yes, this is the second last event, - behind you. yes, this is the second last event, the - behind you. yes, this is thej second last event, the 52nd albuquerque balloon fiesta. behind me, we have 200 balloons in static display and this is what an old bird looks like. we have 200 hot air balloons lined up have 200 hot air balloons lined up with their bonus at the same time, it is really quite magical. time, it is really quite magical-— magical. absolutely spectacular. - magical. absolutely spectacular. just. magical. absolutely l spectacular. just from magical. absolutely - spectacular. just from looking at these images, what is this festival like to be there in person? we hear it draws hundreds of thousands of people. hundreds of thousands of eo - le. , , hundreds of thousands of --eole. , , ., �* , people. yes, it is the world's lari est people. yes, it is the world's largest event _ people. yes, it is the world's largest event for _ people. yes, it is the world's largest event for hot-air - largest event for hot—air balloon is. we have 566 hot—air balloons. the reason everybody likes to fly in albuquerque is the hospitality, but also because of the weather pattern that allows balloons to take off and land from the same location. it is hard to believe

that 566 macro two, it all started in 1972 with 13 hot—air balloon. —— that 566 buildings. more than 500 balloons, creative shapes and designs, what some the most unique once you have seen this year?- you have seen this year? well, we have a _ you have seen this year? well, we have a dog _ you have seen this year? well, we have a dog chew— you have seen this year? well, we have a dog chew toy - you have seen this year? well, we have a dog chew toy that i you have seen this year? well, we have a dog chew toy that is| we have a dog chew toy that is probably one of the more unique ones. but we also have a very popular character up in santa fe. we also have vehicles. we have dogs, we have a lot of different types of special shapes. and they are from all over the country and all over the world. we actually have 16 countries represented in this event this year. we countries represented in this event this year.— countries represented in this event this year. we should say there was _ event this year. we should say there was i _ event this year. we should say there was i believe _ event this year. we should say there was i believe a _ event this year. we should say there was i believe a close - there was i believe a close call on friday, wasn't there? one of these hot—air balloon is a hit and ended up collapsing a radio tower, is that right? nobody was hurt, but tell us how difficult it can beat keep these balloons under control

and away from danger.- these balloons under control and away from danger. yes, you know, and away from danger. yes, you know. our— and away from danger. yes, you know. our goal— and away from danger. yes, you know, our goal is _ and away from danger. yes, you know, our goal is to _ and away from danger. yes, you know, our goal is to make - and away from danger. yes, you know, our goal is to make sure l know, our goal is to make sure that we have 100% safe launches and safe landings. the things that make albuquerque a little bit of a challenge at times but not a big challenge for pilots are the winds, the same winds that create the spectacle for our guests and can sometimes increase ever so slightly, and it will test the skill of the pilot. we have had over 3200 lunches from balloon fiesta park this year. if you landings didn't quite go the way we planned, but we still think it is a fantastic success and a great time to be in albuquerque —— a few landings. i great time to be in albuquerque -- a few landings.— -- a few landings. i guess there is — -- a few landings. i guess there is no _ -- a few landings. i guess there is no steering - -- a few landings. i guess there is no steering wheel -- a few landings. i guess i there is no steering wheel in these hot air buildings! i understand one of the reasons this festival takes place now is the weather is a bit cooler, but that is not the case this year, how does the weather affect the way these balloons operate? affect the way these balloons o erate? , affect the way these balloons oerate? , ,., affect the way these balloons oerate? , ., operate? yes, so you are absolutely _ operate? yes, so you are absolutely correct. - operate? yes, so you are absolutely correct. the i absolutely correct. the balloons have the opportunity to increase the heat and go up

or down. you cannot go sideways, it is all determined by the winds. the warmer weather we have had this year has really created more shorter flights because the pilots have to be able to make sure the temperature inside the balloon envelope is warmer than the air on the outside. we have been having record high temperatures here in the afternoons, the mid—80s fahrenheit, which is really unusualfor this mid—80s fahrenheit, which is really unusual for this time of year. typically, it is temperatures in the 40s and 50s, everybody has a jacket on. but now, everybody has short sleeves on and some are even wearing shorts. sleeves on and some are even wearing shorts-— sleeves on and some are even wearing shorts. hot-air balloon is, ou wearing shorts. hot-air balloon is, you mentioned _ wearing shorts. hot-air balloon is, you mentioned this - wearing shorts. hot-air balloon is, you mentioned this goes - is, you mentioned this goes back to 1972, this is very old technology. what do you think it is that keeps people coming out this festival —— hot air balloons. out this festival -- hot air balloons-— balloons. part of it is this ri . ht balloons. part of it is this right behind _ balloons. part of it is this right behind me. - balloons. part of it is this right behind me. the - right behind me. the opportunity to see all of these balloons light up. but also, it is the friendships and camaraderie, the chance to be involved. you can see right behind me the guests can

actually go right up to the balloons and interact with the pilots, be a part of the lunches as seeing the balloons when they launch and the launch director is wearing these black—and—white striped uniforms give mums up. the pilot says, 0k, great, we can fly now. so it is really the camaraderie, the pilots of the stars of the show. and of course, the cuisine is actually quite unique at the balloon fiesta as well. the breakfast burrito was a real grab and go at the balloon fiesta. brute burrito was a real grab and go at the balloon fiesta.- at the balloon fiesta. we will have to leave _ at the balloon fiesta. we will have to leave it _ at the balloon fiesta. we will have to leave it there, - at the balloon fiesta. we will have to leave it there, tom i have to leave it there, tom garrity. a fantastic scenic new mexico, we have more coming up on bbc news. —— seen at new mexico. hello. it's been an unsettled start to the weekend, with low pressure pushing several bands of rain southwards across the uk on saturday, but we did manage some spells of sunshine between these successive areas of rain. it was a mild day, particularly across southern areas of england and wales. top temperatures reached 17 degrees, but in cardiff,

we've got a drop of four degrees celsius on the way as we head into sunday. low pressure then clears off out of the way. a ridge of high pressure follows, bringing a better day for many of us on sunday. however, it is going to be a chilly old start to the day underneath these clearing skies, temperatures are dropping like a stone at the moment. we've got a few showers coming and going across the far north coast of wales, parts of coastal cheshire and into northern areas of scotland, but otherwise, it's dry. lowest temperatures heading into sunday morning, about minus threee degrees celsius. so, a cold start to the day, then, for sunday. but underneath this ridge of high pressure, a lot of fine weather and, for some, a fine sunrise. some of this high cloud in the west getting illuminated by the rising sun. through the day, well, there probably will be a few patches of rain getting into northern ireland and western scotland, but nothing particularly heavy in the afternoon. and for the most part, i think temperatures will probably reach around ten to 13 celsius. well, that takes us into sunday night, and we're looking at a more substantial pulse of rain, as a weak area of low pressure scoots its way eastwards across england and

wales. scotland and northern ireland having largely dry weather, with a few mist and fog patches, and again, a few patches of frost. into monday, the worst of the rain will clear away from central and eastern england, but it might well stay damp, even into the afternoon, for some. the best of the weather on monday for scotland and northern ireland, where it should stay dry, with spells of sunshine. if anything, temperatures coming up by an odd degree or so, and generally getting close to or a little bit above average for the time of year. tuesday looks like being a drier day for all of us. however, there's likely to be quite a lot of low cloud first thing. some mist and fog patches around as well. probably see a few bright or sunny spells breaking through that, particularly to the north of high ground, so northern scotland might be one of the sunniest places. it's turning milder, though — 1a degrees for glasgow and edinburgh, a 17 for cardiff and for london. it gets even milder into the middle portion of the week, could hit 20 degrees in london. but the week's often going to be quite wet and, at times, really quite windy. bye for now.

this is bbc news. the latest headlines follow at the top of the hour, after this programme. hello, and thanks forjoining us here at the bbc�*s headquarters in central london for unspun world. after an appalling year in which ordinary people — israelis, palestinians and lebanese — have borne the brunt of the suffering, what are the prospects now? right now, its war

that's on prime minister netanyahu's mind. those in his right—wing coalition who keep him in power, that's what they want too. ukraine might not like it but is land for peace the solution to russia's war of invasion? at the moment, the positions — the starting positions — are irreconcilable. ukraine wants all its territory back. and tunisia's president has been re—elected. but in the birthplace of the arab spring, is democracy really working? tunisians tried democracy but their standard of living didn't improve. as they say, you know, it doesn't put food on the table. man: oh, my god! 0ur century so far has been marked by three major acts of violence with global repercussions and by the

overwhelming response to them — the 9/11 attacks in 2001,