a massive power failure. around 10 million people are without electricity after the country's main energy plant failed. the government has declared an emergency, suspending all non—essential public sector services and closing schools in an effort to conserve supplies. it's not known how long it will take to fix the problem. the president has blamed the decades—long us embargo against his country for preventing much needed supplies and replacement parts from reaching the island. our correspondent will grant has more details. rolling blackouts are nothing new in cuba — parts of the provinces have been experiencing them for many hours a day in recent months. however, something on this scale is very rare. essentially from point to point of the island is completely without power, some 10 million cubans without electricity. things went quite quickly from bad to worse. initially, the government told state workers to stay home,

said that schools and universities were going to be closed, ordered that businesses be shuttered in an attempt to stave off the situation. but then it was announced there was an electricity emergency, that the power plant, antonio guiteras — one of the most important in the country — was essentially offline. the president miguel diaz—canel has said that the cuban government is working around the clock, that it is a priority to get the lights back on, but could not put a time frame on when it may happen. and even when the lights do come back on, that won't not have grappled with the heart of the problem. in essence, cuba's power stations can't generate enough power for domestic demand any longer. venezuela, cuba's important socialist ally, is sending about half of the oil shipments it sent a year ago and well down on the high point during the years of hugo chavez. and, of course, the point that the cuban government underlines often, which is the us economic embargo, which makes it very difficult for the cuban state to import

the spare parts and replacement parts it needs to maintain its energy infrastructure. all of this heaps pressure on ordinary cubans. they're suffering shortages of food, shortages of medicine and now, of course, fuel and water too, because many homes require electrical pumps to pump water to the taps. all in all, an extremely difficult situation. next to the war in the middle east. dozens of people are reported to have been killed in fresh israeli air strikes and artillery fire on the jabalia refugee camp in northern gaza. there's been no immediate israeli comment. the hamas run authorities say at least 33 people have been killed and dozens wounded after israeli strikes hit several houses on friday injabalia, gaza's largest refugee camp. on friday the head of the un's office for humanitarian assistance told the bbc that families in jabalia were enduring

"atrocious conditions". in a statement, the leaders of the us, the uk, germany and france said the world would not tolerate "any more excuses" over humanitarian assistance. there are growing fears of famine as winter approaches. this comes as the israeli pathologist who conducted the autopsy on the body of yahya sinwar said the former hamas leader was killed by a single gunshot wound to his head. our international editor jeremy bowen reports. in the remains of a mosque in khan younis, his birthplace, there were pairs for yahya sinwar. funeral rites without the body of the man they regard as a martyr. his death, the americans hope, is a chance to restart ceasefire talks and perhaps extract more concessions, but farfrom here, in qatar, sinwar�*s deputy, who is also the hamas chief negotiator, stuck to his conditions. translation: the hostages will not be free until you

enter the aggression against our people in gaza and fully withdraw from the gaza strip and release our heroes, the prisoners, from the occupation jails. on wednesday, the israelis didn't know who they were hunting when they cornered yahya sinwar at the back of this room. by releasing this footage, the israelis are helping to build a legend. sinwar, fighting to the death, too wounded to stand, throwing a stick at the drone before they killed him. israel doesn't let us cross into gaza to report, so we asked palestinian journalists in there to gauge opinion is for us. translation: its notjust about sinwar or that the war stops. - this isn'tjust a war over food and drink or life itself. we need to restore the dignity of the entire palestinian people. translation: | admit, - i've been wrong about sinwar since the 7th of october, like others, i misjudged him,

we thought he was hiding but he was fighting, he was armed and engaged in battle. translation: there are many others, i don't know if the war| will end or not, everyone wants the water end but we don't know full stop may be god have mercy on all the dead. israel senses weakness in hamas without sinwar and more combat units went into northern gaza, ignoring american pleas for more humanitarian aid instead. hostage families want prime minister netanyahu to prioritise a deal to free them. this is a huge game for the israeli government. it can no longer say that hamas is stopping a deal from happening. this is the moment for us to beg you to do what it takes to reach a deal. there is an opportunity now

and it's an opportunity that must not be missed. but israel's instinct now is to push harder. the army chief of staff visited the troops on the other front inside lebanon. israel feels it has its enemies on the run, which is why it's rejected several ceasefire proposals in lebanon. the next enemy israel wants to hurt izzy run, retaliation for attacking israel with missiles his coming. hopes that sinwar�*s death might be a chance to slow the war down for diplomacy to work could be wishful thinking. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. so what do we know about how israel managed to kill the hamas leader yahya sinwar, inside gaza — and what do his final moments tell us about the group? our analysis editor ros atkins and our gaza correspondent rushdi abu alouf have been looking at the evidence. this is a video filmed by an israeli drone, as it enters the building where hamas leader yahya sinwar was found on wednesday.

he was the key figure behind the october 7 attacks. at bbc verify, we've confirmed the location this building, in rafah, in southern gaza, and we've studied satellite imagery of the area. as the drone enters the first—floor room, we see a man sitting in an armchair. he's moving and appears wounded. he waves an object, then throws it — apparently at the drone. afterthis, israeli forces killed him. according to israel, there were exchanges of fire and then their tanks aimed at the buildings. but it wasn't until soldiers returned on thursday that they realised that the face of one of the men they'd killed strongly resembled that of the leader of hamas. in order to confirm this, they sent for dna testing, and on thursday it was confirmed — it was him. hamas has confirmed his death as well. and for some, it came as a surprise that he appeared alone, as rushdi abualouf, the bbc�*s gaza correspondent,

explains. i met him four orfive times before. he was rarely giving any interview to foreign media. he was always surrounded with a very tight security arrangement around him. so how was sinwar found? the building where sinwar was killed is here, in a northern area of rafah, close to gaza's border with egypt. we've established this by matching known images and videos of the area with the footage released by israel. the israeli military has released images of what it says are weapons found at the scene. also, this sequence of satellite images clearly shows how israeli forces have been operating in the area for weeks. at the end of september, buildings had been destroyed. this video, shared on social media last month, shows extensive damage. and you can see the building where sinwar would later be

found. it appears to have been partially destroyed. there also seems to be a defensive wall constructed by the israelis, suggesting they had a strong presence in the area. but the killing of sinwar appears to have been as a result of a routine patrol, not a targeted assassination, which raises many questions. it was a surprise to everybody to see him just in an ordinary house, in a place called tal al—sultan area in rafah. this place is underfull israeli control since last june. but that is where israel's number one target was found and killed. and now this war continues without yahya sinwar, we watch to see what hamas and israel do next. ros atkins, bbc news. to the united states and the race for the white house. it is the penultimate weekend before the presidential election and both donald trump and kamala harris have been campaigning in the key battleground state of michigan.

it is one of seven states that either of them could win. the latest polls show the race remains on a knife edge with the pair very close in all of them — harris just ahead in four and trump just ahead in three but the numbers are well within the margin of error. vice president harris delivered a speech focused on labour issues in michigan, one of the biggest manufacturing states in the country. ahead, she delivered another speech in grand rapids where a group of pro—palestinian protesters gathered at the venue in protest. the war in gaza is a key issue for voters in michigan, which has the largest proportion of arab—americans in the us. our senior north america correspondent gary o'donoghue was at that rally and has more on the importance of the state in this election. kamala harris will be spending a lot of time in michigan over the next 18 days. this is one of those states that is crucial to the outcome of the election. they call it part of the blue wall, those midwestern states, those manufacturing, industrial states that often vote as a block.

in 2016, they voted for donald trump. in 2020, they voted forjoe biden. whoever wins here will likely win the election, so she's engaging some super high—powered support — celebrities like lizzo, superstars like michelle obama will all be here in the coming days. the key message is one about the economy, about investment in the automotive industry, about wages, about green jobs in these new manufacturing industries. kamala harris herself will be 60 this coming weekend but there's not going to be a lot of time for partying because there's a lot of work to do before election day. gary o'donoghue there. now when she took the stage at that rally vice president harris doubled down on her questions about donald trump's fitness for the presidency. take a listen. he is ducking debates and cancelling interviews. booing. come on!

and check this out — his own campaign team recently said it is because of exhaustion. laughter. well, if you are exhausted on the campaign trail, it raises real questions about whether you are fit for the toughestjob in the world. cheering. talking to reporters as he arrived for his own rally in detroit, mr trump he was asked about those comments by kamala harris about his fitness on the campaign trail. here's his response. what events have i cancelled? i haven't cancelled. she doesn't go to any events. she's a loser. so, all they do is put out sound bites. tell me when you've seen me take even a little bit of a rest. not only am i not — i'm not even tired. i'm really exhilarated. you know why? we're killing her in the polls because the american people don't want her. i also want to show you this rather unfortunate moment

for donald trump as he was speaking during the rally — it all started well until his microphone cut out, have a listen. because to me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary, it's not love, it's not respect... all chant: trump! as you can see he would try again before eventually giving up. the former president roamed around the stage for some 20 minutes, we have sped up the footage for you — we can see him going him round and round the stage waiting for the microphone to start again. and here's what he had to say once he could address the crowd thank you, everybody. thank

you. now what happens is i won't pay the bill for this stupid company that rented us this clap. i won't pay the bill and they will be a story that trump did not pay the bill. both candidates urged their supporters to go to the polls. early voting starts today in detroit. let's speak to a polling expert from the us, john zogby. thank you forjoining us. it really is still on a knife edge in these key seven states. that either of them could win. absolutely. there is no lead greater than 1.4 percentage points. some of .3, .4 percentage points, that is not even margin of error stuff, thatis even margin of error stuff, that is just a tie.— that is 'ust a tie. have you seen that isjust a tie. have you seen this _ that isjust a tie. have you seen this close _ that isjust a tie. have you seen this close is - that isjust a tie. have you seen this close is close - that isjust a tie. have you seen this close is close to | seen this close is close to an election before? it

seen this close is close to an election before?— seen this close is close to an election before? it is 20 four ears election before? it is 20 four years ago — election before? it is 20 four years ago but _ election before? it is 20 four years ago but vice _ election before? it is 20 four years ago but vice president| years ago but vice president gore versus governor george w bush was really on a knife �*s edge right on through the election was not resolved until supreme court and then by only one vote on the supreme court. that was a tie. we had 2004 2012 that were close ones. because they are so close, the key thing is both sides need to actually get people out to vote. how difficult is that for them to do, particularly in those key states where a few thousand votes here and there could help them.— thousand votes here and there could help them. when joe biden was still in _ could help them. when joe biden was still in the _ could help them. when joe biden was still in the race _ could help them. when joe biden was still in the race policies - was still in the race policies identified this phenomenon on doubleheaders, folks hated both candidates with a better dissipated a bit with kamala harris but they are still out there. 80%, 75 and 80% feel the

country is headed in the wrong direction. and really don't see a way out of it from either of these candidates. right now over $1 billion being spent between now and election day. but two campaigns are advertising negative advertising, saying if you don't like my candidate, at least i will make sure you don't like the other candidate as well. that is very hard when you were generally undecided to have to choose between two candidates who dislike. that is about four or 6% of the electorate right now. it could be huge. fin electorate right now. it could be hue. , ., be huge. on those polls, what are the key — be huge. on those polls, what are the key issues _ be huge. on those polls, what are the key issues that - be huge. on those polls, what are the key issues that the - are the key issues that the american public are worried about? is it the economy? the economy _ about? is it the economy? the economy is— about? is it the economy? the economy is number— about? is it the economy? tue: economy is number one about? is it the economy? tte: economy is number one to about? is it the economy? tt2 economy is number one to be sure. numbertwo is sure. number two is immigration. sure. numbertwo is immigration. numberthree is

immigration. number three is reproductive immigration. numberthree is reproductive rights. number four is crime. numberfive is climate change. different segments of the population have a different priority issues. kamala harris needs to when big and get out a big boat amongst young women and right now 10% to 12% are undecided. one of the top issues the government is reproductive rights, number two is the economy, number three is gaza, interestingly. as we get towards the key vote, as they are, do you think, anything that will swing it one way or the other for trump or harris? , ., ~ harris? remember, we talked about october— harris? remember, we talked about october surprises - harris? remember, we talked about october surprises and i harris? remember, we talked. about october surprises and for years we already had multiple surprises. with 17 days ago almost can happen. we could be

on the verge of war, we could be on the verge of another economic report that is not favourable. it all depends on how those undecided voters feel when they wake up one morning and decide they have to vote. again, overwhelmingly they feel the country is headed in the wrong direction. but they also don't love donald trump either. thank you very much for your insight as we head into the penultimate weekend for that vote in the us. all of that on the bbc news website and app. liam payne father has visited the hotel in argentina's capital buenos aires, where the former one direction singer fell to his death from a balcony earlier this week. sent this report. on friday evening william penn's father came to visit the

hotel where he died and also after his visit inside the hotel came outside where fans have been gathering for days leaving tribute and lighting candles, laying flowers, writing messages and even singing one direction songs. there was an emotional moment when he arrived at the hotel where fans created a barrier between them and some of the cameras gathered here at the hotel and that was of course after his family had asked for privacy at this time. the same thing happened when his father left the hotel but at that moment his father decided to go over to victory behind me and read some of these messages and even got up to some of the fans that were also emotional and in tears to greet them and share in some of their collective grief over the loss of liam. earlier today his father visited the place with the body was transported which was part of the formal identification process needed to perpetuate him back home. this grieving process is of course just beginning for those loved ones of liam payne, there has been

what trip is pouring in today and more expected over the coming days as it is expected he will return home to where his family is and be given a proper sendoff. ione wells in buenos aires. liam payne's former partner, the singer cheryl, has said their seven—year—old son bear now has to face the reality of "never seeing his father again". she posted on instagram saying liam was not only a pop star and celebrity but also a son, brother, uncle, dear friend and father. she said that the last few days had been an "indescribably painful time". she also criticised some of the media coverage of his death, calling it exploitative and abhorrent. let's get some of the day's other news now. ukraine is calling on its allies to react strongly to reports north korea has sent troops to help russia's war effort. kyiv wants more military support, and permission to use long—range western weapons inside russia. south korea's spy agency says moscow has transported around fifteen hundred north korean

special forces to russia. the united nations says cocaine production in colombia has reached a new record — growing by more than fifty percent in 2023 compared with the year before. a un report says the country produced two thousand, six hundred tonnes of the drug. colombia is the world's biggest cocaine exporter, with most of the it destined for europe and the united states. the portuguese territory of the azores has approved the creation of a vast protected marine area. the archipelago says it will cover about 300,000 square kilometres, and include underwater mountain ranges, deep—sea corals and hydrothermal vents. almost all fishing and tourism will be banned in much of the protected zone. the volcanic islands are 1500km west of portugal. king charles and queen camilla are on their first full day of their tour of australia. it's the king's first oversea

trip since he began cancer treatment. the visit also re—opened questions about whether australia should become a republic. let's speak tojuliet rieden, a royal correspondent for australian broadcaster abc, and author of the royals in australia. so how has the king's visit gone down. hejust he just arrived last night, hejust arrived last night, he arrived in an uncharacteristic dell huge, the skies opened just as king charles and queen camilla �*s plane touched down. i am afraid it was umbrellas for them. and then he travelled over from the airport over the bridge as the opera house was lit up with images from their majesties previous visits. quite comically there was some cruise liner imports and the cruise liner imports and the cruise liner imports and the cruise liner was queen

elizabeth the two and corners of the second, that got in the way of the kings of you but anyway it was a rather wonderful arrival, very warm arrival and today he and the queen have the off to rest of the tour starting in earnest tomorrow. what is over the agenda in the next few days? they will be underground for only 2.5 days, quite a packed 2.5 days but this is a very short visit because it had to be scaled back to account for the king health issues. on the first day we will see the king and queen going to church and they will meet members of the public as they come out of the church and are a couple of other engagements in sydney and the big stuff happens the following day in canberra which is where they will be going through parliament, there will be a big ceremonial welcome, going to be war memorial to pay

their respects and a lot of meetings and greetings. the following day is back here in sydney with a community barbecue and western sydney that will show the breadth of diversity of australians from all over sydney, inner—city sydney as well. and there will be lots of other engagements throughout the afternoon finishing with the grand finale at the sydney opera house. how has the public — at the sydney opera house. how has the public reacted to them being there? we has the public reacted to them being there?— has the public reacted to them being there? we haven't really seen them _ being there? we haven't really seen them very _ being there? we haven't really seen them very much - being there? we haven't really seen them very much but - being there? we haven't really seen them very much but very| seen them very much but very warmly. there is always a lot of prue car in the buildup to a royal visit and lots of mentioning of the public and all of that but they actually arrive the public get very excited and all want to get out

and be part of this moment in history. and be part of this moment in histo . . ~ and be part of this moment in histo . ., ~ i. ., and be part of this moment in histo . ., ~ ., ., history. thank you for “oining us and wet history. thank you for “oining us and we will * history. thank you for “oining us and we will have h history. thank you forjoiningl us and we will have continuing coverage of the king and queen �*s visit on the bbc news. stay with us. hello. we've got our first named storm of the season, so a notch up on what we've had so far this autumn. we'll all feel the effects of storm ashley. widespread gales, but a met office amber warning for some stormy weather for the western side of scotland. more rain to come with it as well — you can see it developing here in the atlantic. it will rapidly develop in the next 18 to 24 hours, and even ahead of it, some typical autumnal wind and rain with us at the moment, moving its way eastwards to clear across scotland and northern ireland, western fringes of england and wales, by the morning time. so, quite chilly in these areas, and there could be some

low—level fog to watch out for. under our rain band, it's misty, murky, with hill fog, and much milder than it was last night, but it does mean a slow start to saturday for eastern parts of england. it could be that that rain drags its heels into the afternoon, but for most of us, it's the quieter day of the weekend. the winds are lighter, there'll be some sunshine, just a scattering of showers, so i think it will feel quite pleasant. eventually, that rain clears from east anglia, as we head towards the middle part of the afternoon, so 15 to 17, just a little bit above average