to learn lessons from history. i understand from listening to people across the commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate. the german connection — we uncover new evidence about the people smugglers using small boats to cross the english channel. lebanese state media say three journalists have been killed in an israeli air strike in southern lebanon. la's district attorney backs a move to release the menendez brothers who were jailed for killing their parents. welcome to bbc news. king charles has urged a summit of commonwealth leaders to commit to learning the lessons of the past but did not directly address the issue of reparations for slavery.

the king said it was time to find creative ways to right inequalities that endure within the commonwealth of 56 nations — most of them linked to the former british empire. some leaders have said they want the gathering in samoa to debate the issue of reparations for britain's historical role in the atlantic slave trade. our cohesion requires that we acknowledge where we have come from. i understand from listening to people across the commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate. it is vital, therefore, that we understand our history, to guide us, to make the right choices in the future, where inequalities exist, for example, in access to opportunity, to education, to skills training, to employment, to health and to a planet in whose

climate our human race can both survive and thrive, we must find the right ways and the right language to address them. the british prime minister, sir keir starmer, has already ruled out an apology for the country's role in the slave trade and the chancellor, rachel reeves, says britain will not pay reparations. sir keir�*s been speaking to our political editor, chris mason, who has travelled with the prime minister to the summit in samoa. leadership involves many things — decision making, accountability and ceremony. this, the samoan welcome for prime ministers and presidents. some commonwealth members want the uk and others to compensate them for the impact of slavery. there is a debate the king referred to here, in the broadest terms. none of us can change the past, but we can commit with all our hearts to learning its lessons

and to finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure. it wasn't an endorsement of so—called reparations compensation but a nod to the anger the issue provokes for some. the prime minister has ruled out reparations. i think we should be clear from the outset that the slave trade — slave practice — was abhorrent, and it is very important that we start from that place and, of course, that matters hugely to many of the countries that are represented here. my posture, if you like, my focus is on the forward look, not the sort of backward look. i want to understand the nature of your objection. is it a financial one or is it a moral, philosophical one? can our generation be held responsible for the actions of our forebears? well, i think our generation can say, um, the slave trade and practice was abhorrent. and we should. you know, we talk about our history, we can't change our history, but we should

certainly talk about our history. say that, but not apologise, not pay any money. well, look, you know, i think that we recognise that. and of course, apologies have already been made in relation to the slave trade, and that's not surprising, it's what you would expect. but if you then go on to the question, you know, we're 55 countries here represented and say in the conversations i've already had, what are the things that have come up most? i can tell you, their resilience. a real concern, particularly with some of the smaller countries, about the impact of climate on them and how we can help with international institutions, financial institutions, to unlock money that might help them. and the prime minister is still building international relationships four months into the role. this, one of many meetings here, seeing his australian opposite number. joining me live now from samoa is our correspondent katy watson. good having you on the programme. how is king charles�*s statement about the need to acknowledge painful

aspects of the past resonating with leaders under current circumstances?— with leaders under current circumstances? look, officially climate change _ circumstances? look, officially climate change has _ circumstances? look, officially climate change has been - circumstances? look, officially climate change has been top i circumstances? look, officially| climate change has been top of the agenda for chogm, commonwealth leaders meeting. top of the agenda for his state visit in similar too. clearly the king cannot express any political opinion personally and publicly —— in samoa too. but what he can do is talk about the people he spoke to and that is something he said in the speech, listening to people across the commonwealth, talking about painful aspects of our past, they continue to resonate. he is very much taking what he has learned from this trip, the trip to australia as well, and trying to make a speech not politically but clearly speaking to the issues that still are very pertinent here too the commonwealth members.

hold on for a moment, my apologies for interrupting. i will quickly cross live to samoa where the king is addressing leaders. i samoa where the king is addressing leaders. i recalll returned here _ addressing leaders. i recalll returned here to _ addressing leaders. i recalll returned here to deepen - addressing leaders. i recalll returned here to deepen my| returned here to deepen my understanding of samoa and the people. ifirst understanding of samoa and the people. i first visited understanding of samoa and the people. ifirst visited samoa in 1974 as a young naval officer aboard a ship called hmsjupiter. from my naval journal which i kept at the time through my naval career, i recall we held a reception on board at the end of which the two splendid hotel in sister's, andy gray and aunt mary, they got up and danced in the beautiful samoan style —— aggie grey foster a happy coincidence

to be back here on this occasion where i attended an event at a hotel still named in honour of aggie grey some 50 years later. just shows how unbelievably old i am. ladies and gentlemen, it remains a lifelong aspiration to have visited all the countries of the commonwealth, although nowadays, it seems to be a race against our happily increasing numbers, as well as doctor's orders. but i want to offer my heartfelt thanks once again to the government and people of samoa for the wonderful way in which you have welcomed us. applause there is so much to learn from samoa's outstanding

hospitality, the strength of the samoan spirit and the immense pride samoans have for your country, your culture, not to mention the wonderful way in which your villages have decorated the roads and communities. applause and i think and hope i speak for many of us when i say how deeply our experiences have touched us here and how they will stay with us always, in particular, if i may say, the unforgettable magic of the singing and dancing at the end of the opening ceremony. applause studio: we are listening to king charles addressing commonwealth leaders in samoa talking about his memories associated with samoa. i will come back to you now, katy watson. apologies for

cutting you off. we were talking about the statement by the king and the issue about reparations and apologies clearly already dominating headlines. do you get a sense it is likely to also carry forward in the days ahead or other aspects of the agenda are going to dominate as well? well, obviously not going to get an apology from the king, not his role, also some in the uk has said they will not do anyway. i do not think the issueis anyway. i do not think the issue is going to go away. clearly lots of commonwealth members feel this conversation needs to get started, still very early days. but i do not see this conversation going away at all. but, yes, one of the big issues, climate change, thatis the big issues, climate change, that is something that has been top of the agenda and planned top of the agenda and planned to be top of the agenda and many commonwealth countries are small island nations like samoa and they are at the forefront

of climate change when it comes to rising sea levels and that is something the king in the last few days has also seen for himself. he was mangrove restoration project yesterday, he visited the national park, it is clear though is our priority is for him and they are priorities here at the commonwealth heads of government meeting. especially pressure from smaller countries for richer countries, more affluent countries, to do their part in trying to protect some of the smaller nations. a lot of the smaller nations. a lot of criticism heaped on countries especially like australia and the uk for their fossil fuel emissions and a real push to try to move away from those and stand up for the smaller members who are much more vulnerable of course. kat? more vulnerable of course. katy watson, thank _ more vulnerable of course. katy watson, thank you _ more vulnerable of course. katy watson, thank you for _ more vulnerable of course. katy watson, thank you for giving us all of those details from samoa. a bbc investigation has uncovered evidence of how germany is being used to store small boats before they're used by migrants to cross

the english channel. during a meeting that we covertly filmed, two smugglers reveal how boats are being stored in secret warehouses around the city of essen. our berlin correspondent, jessica parker, has more on this. essen, west germany, a place many migrants come to or pass through. it's here ourjournalist is posing as a syrian man who wants to get to britain on a small boat. wearing a secret camera, he meets this man, a boat smuggler, who says his name is abu sahar. these are videos from abu sahar — motors, dinghies, for use in migrant crossings. this one, he's suggested, is being stored nearby, somewhere around essen, ready, for the right price. they end up at a cafe. it's becoming clear someone else is coming. months of groundwork have led up to this moment. our guy is just a couple of streets away, having

a meeting with his contact. we've got a tracker on him. we're parked up here. we don't want to get too close — that could compromise things — but we've got to be close enough in case there's a problem and we have to get him out of there. they'rejoined by a man known as al hal — the uncle, a term of authority. due to strict german law, we can't record the sound of the meeting. so, right after, ourjournalist describes to me what happened. they tell me the equipment comes from turkey. they have about ten warehouses around essen. police raided one a few days ago, but they separate their stock and give bait to police. as our investigation shows, smugglers are moving boats from turkey to west germany. britain's national crime agency has confirmed germany's a central location for storing dinghies later used in channel crossings because cities like essen are near, but not too near, the calais region's more closely watched

beaches, while under german law helping to smuggle people out of the eu to a third country, like the uk, isn't technically illegal. back at the cafe, it's down to business. the smuggler says one option. "i can get you a boat. "you will pay me 15,000 euros. "you will get the boat with 60 life jackets "and all the equipment. "guaranteed delivery to the calais area." this testimony is backed up by videos, messages and voice notes from the smugglers. in various exchanges, the main contact, abu sahar, even discusses the merits of certain engine models and known migrant crossing points. 0n the beaches of north—eastern france, dawn breaks. cooperation to crack down on gangs is good or being accelerated, according to the german and uk governments.

but the remnants of failed even fatal crossing attempts litter these shores, while, as we've shown, smugglers continue to make big money from this misery. jessica parker, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

let's turn to the middle east. lebanese state media say three journalists have been killed in an israeli air strike in southern lebanon. the strikes on friday morning reportedly targeted their residence in the town of hasbaya near the border with syria. israel has not commented on the attack but in the past half hour the military said five soldiers were killed in southern lebanon the previous day. meanwhile, the gaza civil defence agency says israeli air strikes hit two homes at dawn

on friday in khan younis, killing at least 20 people. efforts to re—sta rt negotiations on a ceasefire and hostage release deal in gaza are continuing. us secretary of state antony blinken has arrived in london after holding meetings in doha with qatari leaders. speaking alongside qatar's prime minister, mr blinken said he hopes to find a diplomatic resolution to the war in the wake of israel's killing of hamas leader yahya sinwar. the reason i believe there is opportunity now is because the biggest obstacle to concluding that agreement was sinwar and the fact that he is no longer with us perhaps creates an opening for actually moving forward and concluding an agreement. let's speak to our correspondent in beirut, emir nader. good having you on the programme. give us more details on the latest strikes. this programme. give us more details on the latest strikes.— on the latest strikes. this air strike took — on the latest strikes. this air strike took place _ on the latest strikes. this air strike took place overnight i strike took place overnight hitting a compound where there

was a row of chalets and the first images we have seen this morning show one of them reduced to a scorched rubble of its remains. the eyewitness journalists in the neighbouring chalets talk about the ceiling is falling on them and hearing the sound of fighterjets overhead. the three journalists were from two different lebanese tv stations and staying in the compound where around seven different media organisations based there to report on the fighting happening in the south of the country between israel's ground forces pushing into that area and hezbollah. thejournalists and hezbollah. the journalists said and hezbollah. thejournalists said the journalists thought they believe the area to be safe because whenever we make a movement to go out and report, return back to the compound, they would inform the local un peacekeeping troops who they understood would then inform

all relevant parties. this morning, the lebanese ministry of information has cooled the air strike a war crime. we have not heard any comment from the israeli side on this air strike. we know that the journalists who are in the south of the country are really one of the sole sources of information coming from the area as the vast majority of residents in the south of the country on the border have left, displaced by the fighting, and moved north. very briefl , fighting, and moved north. very briefly, running _ fighting, and moved north. very briefly, running out _ fighting, and moved north. very briefly, running out of— fighting, and moved north. very briefly, running out of time, what is the situation in other parts of lebanon? figs what is the situation in other parts of lebanon?— parts of lebanon? as strikes continued — parts of lebanon? as strikes continued overnight - parts of lebanon? as strikes continued overnight here - parts of lebanon? as strikes continued overnight here as| continued overnight here as well in beirut, hitting the neighbourhood which has been under numerous evacuation orders from the israeli army for the past days, when we see dahieh at night, a dark patch

of the city. mostly emptied of residents. we did not hear about any casualties there last night. but again it was struck by the israeli air force. we will have — by the israeli air force. we will have to _ by the israeli air force. we will have to leave - by the israeli air force. we will have to leave it there, emir nader with the very latest, thank you forjoining us. this is a story we are continuing to track. we are looking at of course us secretary of state antony blinken�*s visit. he is in london after holding meetings with leaders in doha. let us understand what we're looking at by speaking to our diplomatic correspondent james landale. first, how much hope is that from the talks that we expecting? i is that from the talks that we meeting?— is that from the talks that we expecting? i think it is always hard to talk _ expecting? i think it is always hard to talk about _ expecting? i think it is always hard to talk about hope - expecting? i think it is always hard to talk about hope when | expecting? i think it is always i hard to talk about hope when it comes to these kinds of negotiations because these kinds of talks have been happening ever since the attack on israel on the 7th of october last year. hope absent flow. ——

hope absent flows. this idea of whether or not the death of sinwar is an opportunity. that will be tested. we had from antony blinken that is what they hope, people hope he was a blockage and his removal on his killing, means that potentially there can be some diplomatic... that is not a thesis shared by everybody. some hamas voices have said, actually, what this tells us is we need to double down. we have had some israeli voices saying, now is the moment to press home the advantage. and it shows proof the military operation is working, ratherthan the military operation is working, rather than looking down the diplomatic route. the diplomacy antony blinken will be testing, he is meeting two arab foreign ministers today from jordan and the uae and essentially they are looking at two things. one is whether or

not... there are different options doing the rounds. the possibility some people are talking about, not mr clinton, he refused to talk about the detail, possibly a small ceasefire —— not antony blinken. it might allow some hostages to be released and some humanitarian aid in. one idea doing the rounds. 0ptions idea doing the rounds. options are being discussed. we know hamas officials met egyptian officials in cairo yesterday. we know the american and israeli negotiations are going to be meeting in doha on sunday. essentially there is an effort to keep these talks going, to see if some progress can be made. going, to see if some progress can be made-— can be made. james landale, appreciate — can be made. james landale, appreciate you _ can be made. james landale, appreciate you putting - can be made. james landale, appreciate you putting that i can be made. james landale, appreciate you putting that in j appreciate you putting that in perspective. we will come back to you as we get more updates from the meetings between antony blinken and arab and foreign ministers. thank you. the other big story we are tracking... the us election

is at a fever pitch. with less than two weeks to go, it's a tight race, so there's again a big focus on those all important swing states. kamala harris has been holding a star—studded rally in clarkston, georgia, featuring the boss, bruce springsteen, filmmaker tyler perry, as well as former us president barack 0bama, while donald trump has been campaigning on the other side of the country today in arizona and nevada — another important state for both campaigns. he spoke of the issue of immigration in that speech. let us get more from jarred hill, cbs, joining us from new york. thank you for your time. less than two weeks, lots of star—studded campaigning, as we mentioned, what are the big highlights of the last 24 hours? it highlights of the last 24 hours? ., , , hours? it really is discontinuation i hours? it really is discontinuation of hours? it really is - discontinuation of both of hours? it really is _ discontinuation of both of the campaigns at this point really leaning into their bases. 0bviously one of the goals for

both is to try to expand their reach, the electoral map, to try to win over as many undecided voters is might still be out there at this point. also seen than making an effort to get supporters, die—hard supporters, to the polls come election day so they can try and win the election in november. it and win the election in november.— and win the election in november. , , ., . november. it is still a close contest. — november. it is still a close contest, what _ november. it is still a close contest, what is _ november. it is still a close contest, what is the - november. it is still a close contest, what is the mood i november. it is still a close i contest, what is the mood like in both of those camps? abs, contest, what is the mood like in both of those camps? a close contest right — in both of those camps? a close contest right now, _ in both of those camps? a close contest right now, both - in both of those camps? a close contest right now, both of- in both of those camps? a close contest right now, both of themj contest right now, both of them out loud at saying they think they have a path to victory. we know that we are seeing vice president harris making a concerted effort to try to win over as many sway able republican voters as possible, folks who might not like former president trump for various reasons, might have voted for nikki haley in the primaries, still kind of on the fence about whether they support trump, trying to pull them over

to her side, trump, trying to pull them over to herside, but trump, trying to pull them over to her side, but at the same time maintaining a democratic base. trump's site, we are seeing him drilling in on a couple of greatest hits, you could call them, his stance on immigration, as well as saying he would be the candidate who would improve the economy the most. again, the question is going to be whether they can pull over any people who might not be in the core group of supporters to vote for them come election day, it is believed a special of key battleground states, georgia, pennsylvania, north carolina, that will be all the difference. , . difference. getting closer, less than _ difference. getting closer, less than two _ difference. getting closer, less than two weeks - difference. getting closer, less than two weeks to i difference. getting closer, | less than two weeks to go, difference. getting closer, - less than two weeks to go, give us a sense of what we can expect over the next few days and the plan in terms of both of the candidates.— and the plan in terms of both of the candidates. what we are auoin to of the candidates. what we are going to be _ of the candidates. what we are going to be seen _ of the candidates. what we are going to be seen for _ of the candidates. what we are going to be seen for vice - going to be seen for vice president harris, another star—studded event later on today in houston, texas. a state she is not expected to win at all. the campaign is looking to use it as a bit of a

springboard for attention for folks and battleground seats. in texas, we are expecting for her to bejoined by beyonce, that has been a question of if and when she would appear physically with vice president harris, looks like that will be today. on the weekend, we have former president trump doing a big rally in new york city, a state again he is not expected to win either.— to win either. jarred hill, thank you _ to win either. jarred hill, thank you for _ to win either. jarred hill, thank you forjoining - to win either. jarred hill, thank you forjoining us | to win either. jarred hill, | thank you forjoining us on to win either. jarred hill, - thank you forjoining us on bbc news. coming up next, nikki campbell for more on your voice in the uk, we are asking you to tell us the stories you want us to cover. that is next for the viewers in the uk. meanwhile i will be back with more on bbc news shortly. do stay with us. hello. we've got a real mix of different autumnal weather types out there today.

we've had some mist and some fog to start the day for central and eastern areas. that will slowly lift and clear, and through the rest of the day, it is a little cloudier than recent days. some rain in the forecast, but not everywhere, and still mild for the time of year. but we've got this area of low pressure trying to nudge into the south—west here. it's bumping into higher pressure towards the east, so the weather is fairly slow moving. we've got this band of rain across parts of central england, wales, northern ireland as well, but it's pretty light and patchy. windy weather down towards the south—west and a few scattered showers in there as well. we've got more cloud for parts of northern and eastern england and scotland compared to recent days. still very mild, though. we could see 19, 20 degrees in the warmest spots for east anglia, for instance. most of us in the mid—teens. into the evening hours, that area of cloud and patchy light rain continues its progress northwards. we'll see the next front moving into the north—west, so some rain for the western isles, for instance. clearer skies developing for many of us, but like last night, could be some mist and some fog, especially for some eastern areas. through the course of saturday, we've got higher pressure trying to move in, but there's also a weather front approaching from the north—west, so that's

going to bring some wet weather for northern ireland, northern and western scotland as well. a little bit more cloud and drizzly rain, perhaps some mist and murk in the south—east. slowly easing away. in between these two areas of cloud, plenty of sunshine through the central swathe of the uk. so, temperatures a touch cooler than recent days. we're looking at around about 14 to 16 in the south. still only 11 or 12 across the north of scotland. and don't forget, it's saturday night into the early hours of sunday that the clocks go back one hour. so, we're back into gmt from british summertime. into sunday then, and a lot of dry, settled weather. some early morning mist and murk in the south. there'll be some rain and cloud moving into northern ireland. perhaps the north and west of scotland seeing a bit of rain as well. but elsewhere you should stay mostly dry. and although temperatures will be a touch cooler, 13 or 14 for the warmest spots in the south, 11 or 12 in the north, it should feel fairly pleasant as the afternoon sunshine breaks through. so, still a front first thing monday, but as we head

through the course of next week, higher pressure tries to build its way in. a few fronts just pushing across the far north of the uk. so, not a completely dry week ahead, but we should see a more settled spell of autumn weather and temperatures still

welcome viewers on bbc news and bbc two. we cover news stories, we cover this, we cover that, we cover this, we cover that, we cover this, we cover that, we cover the other but what about the stories that you think we do not cover enough, or that we should do a lot better? 0n the radio only and are now 5 live phone in so far, it's good you have joined us, we have been getting some amazing colours and they are notjust niche issues, you might think it is a niche issue, but a niche issued to someone is a massive issue to someone is a massive issue to so many people. some of the stuff that has been said so far has been really chiming with people listening. 0ur brilliant correspondentjim connolly here. just for people who have been, not listening, but have been, not listening, but have been watching, very quickly sum up been watching, very quickly sum up some of the stuff we have had so far. up some of the stuff we have had so far-— up some of the stuff we have had so far. we have had calls about how — had so far. we have had calls about how stats _ had so far. we have had calls about how stats are - had so far. we have had calls about how stats are collected when it comes to breast cancer, questions about overpopulation, autism, care for people in care homes and of young ages. we

have had issues around