escalates. and, with just three weeks to go until the us presidential election, kamala harris and donald trump hold duelling rallies in the battleground state of pennsylvania. we start in the middle east — where we're following several developments. we'll have the latest on those strikes in northern lebanon shortly, but first — let's take a look at what's happening in gaza. there's been increasing condemnation from the united nations of israel's operation in northern gaza. the un says ten of thousands of people are trapped with little access to food or supplies. the hamas—run health ministry says at least 62 people have been killed in two attacks

in the last 2a hours — one on a camp next to the al—aqsa hospital, and a second on a food distribution center in northern gaza. israel is not allowing internationaljournalists from media organizations, including the bbc, independent access to gaza. however, there is a team of freelance journalists filming for the bbc there. our special correspondent feargal keane sent this report on the last 2a hours in gaza — and a warning, it contains upsetting images. people are burning. the israeli strike set the refugee tents on fire. helpless to stop the flames spreading. gas canisters exploding. a figure enveloped by the inferno. too distressing to show here, but all of it witnessed by the refugees. translation: it was around 1am and we were sleeping in our tent.

i have eight daughters. we woke up to the fire over our heads. our daughters are all burned and our sons are injured. israel says it targeted a hamas command centre next door to the hospital. the eu's top diplomat said violations of international law, disregard for civilian casualties, wouldn't make israel safer. this 11—year—old, carried by a relative, was wounded along with her mother, father and six other family members. we first met her eight months ago, when she was seeking food for herfamily. a confident child then, but terrified of the bombing. last night, the bombing came to her. small wounds on her body. to her spirit, the wounds that last.

the dozens of casualties in central and northern gaza are being treated in hospitals already under huge strain. among them, al—ahli hospital, run by the anglican church. a senior british cleric said he's alarmed by the escalating violence. i met him injerusalem. i'm terrified by where they are at the moment. i mean, the level of suffering is unprecedented. we don't know what the ultimate aim is for the civilian population. you know, what are they supposed to do? where are they supposed to go? in gaza, no safety — not in hospital grounds or un schools.

a grandmother mourning 18—month—old yamam. "i'm the one who raised you, yamam," she says. "i'm the one who raised you." to the north, the children killed by a strike in the al—shati camp. among the casualties, boys who were playing marbles at the time. wael naim was grieving his 14—year—old son, rami. translation: he wasn't holding a weapon or anything else unless children's toys have become a threat to them. that's something else. in this place, childhood vanishes fast. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. israel denies it's carrying out a plan to force civilians out of jabalia. speaking earlier to the bbc — idf spokesperson retired lieutenant colonel peter lerner

defended the latest strikes. what hamas was planning on seven octoberjust last on the anniversary of the massacre of last year was to conduct another launch launch another attack against israel from northern gaza specifically from the areas of jamarlia orcher. we are currently in the effort of dismantling and preventing them from regrouping. and it is happening in northern gaza, that's where we operate and i would say we will continue to operate anywhere we need to in order to protect israeli lives. peacekeepers say they will not move from any positions. several un peacekeepers have been injured during the defence against hezbollah.

meanwhile, the lebanese health ministry says 21 people have been killed in a presumed israeli airstrike in northern lebanon. the strike hit a christian—majority village in the mountains near tripoli. israel has not commented. our correspondent wyre davies is following developments from jerusalem. israel is fighting a conflict on two fronts, the north in lebanon after that hezbollah attack and the drone attack on am israeli military base yesterday in which four israeli military personnel were killed, israel has continued attacking various points in lebanon at the christian village in northern lebanon, the israelis said they discovered large hezbollah tunnels, heavily equipped tunnels in the south of lebanon and of course, dozens of rockets are still being fired into israel by hezbollah from lebanon. so no end in sight in the war theatre in southern lebanon on between hezbollah and israel and no end in sight no imminent peace agreement either for

gaza. i peace agreement either for gaza. . r' �* peace agreement either for gaza. ~ ., gaza. i asked andrew thomas from deakin _ gaza. i asked andrew thomas from deakin university- gaza. i asked andrew thomas from deakin university on - gaza. i asked andrew thomas from deakin university on his| from deakin university on his reflections for israeli stripes in lebanon on. it reflections for israeli stripes in lebanon on.— reflections for israeli stripes in lebanon on. it is emblematic from the connection _ in lebanon on. it is emblematic from the connection between i from the connection between gaza and lebanon on and the wider regional conflict developing there does not seem to be a clear strategic objective from the israeli side, it's not entirely clear what they want to achieve what they wish to achieve in southern lebanon on. �*s not even entirely clear what they want to achieve within gaza. this lack of strategic direction is not only contributing to chaos on both fronts, but it is also confusing and alarming adverse and iran, hezbollah, and other actors in the region and that is causing tension, that is causing rising tension and an escalation in the conflict. so,

as you said we are unlikely to see a reservation anytime soon, in fact we are probably looking at and is ratcheting up even further. , . , further. israel might say they are trying _ further. israel might say they are trying to _ further. israel might say they are trying to make _ further. israel might say they are trying to make sure - further. israel might say they. are trying to make sure hamas hezbollah are unable to be equipped to inflict harm on israel would not not be a clear objective on their part? it’s israel would not not be a clear objective on their part?- objective on their part? it's a clear objective _ objective on their part? it's a clear objective to _ objective on their part? it's a clear objective to state - objective on their part? it's a clear objective to state it's i clear objective to state it's still unclear how they are trying to do that. hezbollah is a complicated organisation. is woven into lebanese sovereignty, they are part of the government in lebanon on so does that mean israel is attempting to overthrow parts of the government in lebanon on? does that mean that they are simply trying to secure the south, but that is also putting aside the source of morality of any parts of this conflict,

lebanon on his under international law the ability to defend its sovereign borders. we have seen through some of the controversy happening with the peacekeeping force in lebanon, netanyahu says he doesn't recognise resolution 1701 that created unifil, but it is not israel's choice it is a un security security council mandated operation, and they are not moving because their mandate is to stay their mandate is to prevent price icily this from happening. while israel said it wants to remove the threat to the north cannot actually do that through its ground operations? is it in —— violating some of the core international principles the un security council is trying to protect with that mandate there. ., .,

there. you mention unifil, the un peacekeeping _ there. you mention unifil, the un peacekeeping force - there. you mention unifil, the un peacekeeping force there, l un peacekeeping force there, the un quite outspoken about israel's activities in lebanon on and israel and gaza, do they actually have any influence on what israel is doing?— what israel is doing? quite little it's — what israel is doing? quite little it's no _ what israel is doing? quite little it's no problem, - what israel is doing? quite little it's no problem, it's l little it's no problem, it's been a problem with the un since the un was conceived, the un is basically simply a representation a collection of member states, representation a collection of memberstates, but representation a collection of member states, but some member states and you and have more importance than others depending on whether conflict is or where issue is. in this case really, the un has significantly less influence than the united states does, the united states also sits on the united states also sits on the un security council which obviously has an alternate amount of power compared to the general assembly but the general assembly but the general assembly but the general assembly in case of a voting block has been consistently critical of israel since december 2023, and its voting patterns even some of the allies of the united states have been quite critical of

israel, howeverseems have been quite critical of israel, however seems to be much more in the hands of a very small group of states, primarily the united states and its allies, in terms of exerting enough pressure on israel especially in lebanon on, although that has happened before, underthe on, although that has happened before, under the reagan administration there was significant push from the united states to stop israel from shelling beirut. and that was quite successful it did result in a withdrawal from israel. so it is possible but united states has not quite signalled they are putting that pressure on israel.— signalled they are putting that pressure on israel. moving away from the events _ pressure on israel. moving away from the events in _ pressure on israel. moving away from the events in the _ pressure on israel. moving away from the events in the middle i from the events in the middle east. india and canada have expelled each other�*s top envoys, along with other diplomats. it comes after justin trudeau's government accused india's ambassador and other agents of homicide and other acts on canadian soil. the canadian prime minister addressed the evidence that indian agents were directly involved in the killing of a sikh separatist leader — hardeep singh nijjar, a canadian citizen.

they have clear and compelling evidence that agents of the government of india have engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety. this includes clandestine information gathering techniques, coercive behaviour targeting south asian canadians, and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts including murder. this is unacceptable. the foreign ministry in delhi described the allegations as preposterous. last year, india briefly curbed visas for canadians and forced ottawa to withdraw diplomats. on monday, delhi threatened further action over the accusations. david cochrane is a senior political journalist at canada's national broadcaster, cbc. an extraordinary day and an extraordinary move we haven't seen specific

evidence of the claim but allegation against the indian high commissioner and other top diplomats expelled from canada today they were acting as information gatherers for the indian government, they were getting the names, the photos, the movement patterns and whereabouts of sikh canadians were part of the seek separatist movement in passing that information back to officials in india. because earlier this year in may, there was a series of men arrested who had been hired, career criminals with allegation as have been hired by the indian government to kill hardeep singh nijjar in british columbia last year, in some ways the allegation today is the high commissioner and other officials were through the eyes and ears of that intelligence gathering operation, while the specific information and evidence was not revealed today it was of high enough level there was a remarkable meeting in singapore over the weekend when the deputy minister of foreign affairs for canada and the national security adviser to the prime minister went all the way to singapore to meet with narendra

modi's national security adviser representing the evidence they had against his officials. this was rejected out of hand by india they refusing to co—operate with the investigation, the national police force said the threats against canadian are only increasing so they took the extraordinary step to go public because of the imminent threat to public safety. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. ajury�*s heard a recording of a phone call to police made by the father of a ten—year—old girl — in which he confessed to killing her. sara sharif�*s body was found at herfamily home in surrey last year. herfather, urfan sharif, her step—mother and uncle are all charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. they deny the charges. the british government has hailed a major conference on investment opportunities as a "vote of confidence" in the country. ministers says almost 38,000 jobs are likely to be created by projects, worth about 63 billion pounds,

that have been announced by companies during the event and in the run up to the talks. local authorities across the uk — responsible for services from adult social care to bin collections and pothole repairs are planning additional cuts to services. the bbc found they are making around 3 billion pounds worth of savings this financial year alone. but there'll still be a total shortfall of more than five and a half billion pounds by 2026. you're live with bbc news. to japan — where the first day of campaigning is underway in the country's snap general election. the japanese parliament was dissolved by new prime minister shigeru ishiba last week, triggering a october 27 vote. it follows the resignation of previous prime minister fumio kishida — whose governing party had been dogged by several corruption scandals. all a65 lower house seats are up for grabs,

we're joined live now by our tokyo correspondent, shaimaa khalil. catch us up on the political scene and how things stand at the moment injapan? it’s scene and how things stand at the moment in japan? it's been a whirlwind _ the moment in japan? it's been a whirlwind of— the moment in japan? it's been a whirlwind of political- the moment in japan? it's been a whirlwind of political events l a whirlwind of political events in japan, and a whirlwind of political events injapan, and express elections if you well, altogether 12 days of campaigning that start to day end on the 26 of october, a day end on the 26 of october, a day after the voters will take to the polls, the voters verdict is what the prime minister shigeru ishiba has called, for 65 seats up for grabs, you need to 33 for a majority. politics here has been going at quite the part —— the fast pace, in the fallout of the corruption scandal of the political funding scandal the political funding scandal the then prime minister fumio kishida whose approval ratings

had plummeted decided he would not go for a third term, he was not go for a third term, he was not going to go for leadership of the ruling party and that's in motion the political wheels that saw shigeru ishiba, the elected as leader of the ruling party which then made him prime minister and within days he called for a snap election. it is the people's verdict as he calls it for a reason, this at quite a turbulent and frankly embarrassing time for the ruling party. they are reeling from a series of scandals, biggest among which is that fallout from the political funding scandal that implicated senior members of the party and some of them had to step down. there has been internal party conflict but all of that time, the japanese public has been watching as they struggle financially slow economy and stagnant wages that have not changed or been raised almost 430 years now or more. also

rising prices, the ldp has ruled japan for most of the postwar era and they are likely to win the upcoming election but they can't edit humbled and wounded. they have a lot of convincing to do they have changed and that they will be a different party going forward. the ldp have a long history but also been struggling of late, it is such a short campaigning period, what are the main things they have to get across to the electorate and what is on the mind of the electorate? forefront on the electorate �*s mind as the economy, the fact a reasonjapanese broadcaster nhk a recent poll said japanese households because they are struggling financially and struggling financially and struggling with the rising prices they have had to change their shopping patterns if you well, they buy this meet, they buy this chicken, they have to replace it because they can't afford things. shigeru ishiba

promised one he will address the upcoming in the upcoming election address the slowing economy, address the stagnant wages but address the fact the public trust has really been rocked, if you think about the two main scandals, the amount of influence the controversial unification church has had to the party and revelations from that in the financial scandal and corruption scandal that revealed millions of dollars have been pocketed by senior members of that party, and you look at the electorate, if you are voting you will say i have no other choice because the opposition is not convincing because the opposition is quite weak and fragmented i will go to the ldp but i am coming to that party with my trust not fully in it. i think the upcoming election are going to be a recalibration for the ruling party, can they convince ruling party, c