a bbc investigation uncovers fresh evidence about small boats crossing the channel — some organised out of germany. the stars come out for kamala — bruce springsteen and barack obama appear with the vice—president at an election rally. and — your voice, your bbc news — asking you to tell us the stories you want us to cover. some of your ideas coming up. hello and welcome to bbc news now, 3 hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. the us secretary of state anthony blinken is here in london for talks on ending the fighting in the middle east — amid american hopes that the death of hamas leader yahya sinwar could be an opportunity for a breakthrough. in qatar this weekend, mediators will reconvene this weekend for the first time in weeks, trying to revive

lapsed negotiations on a ceasefire in gaza. mr blinken has spoken to the lebanese prime minister, najib mikati, and is also talking to the foreign ministers from jordan and the united arab emirates. the secretary of state promised to work with real urgency to get a diplomatic resolution of the conflict in lebanon... we have had very good and important conversations this week including this morning on ending the war. in gaza. charting a path for what comes next. those conversations will continue but i think this is a moment of importance and urgency for what we are working to seize. i also had the opportunity to speak to prime minister of lebanon, there's a sense of urgency in getting to diplomatic resolution. the

resolution of 1701 such that they can be real security along they can be real security along the border between israel and lebanon. the people on both sides of the border to have the confidence to build and return to their homes. meanwhile lebanon has accused israel of deliberately targeting journalists after three people were killed by an air strike on a building where members of the media were staying. footage shows collapsed buildings and cars marked �*press�* covered in dust and rubble. the israeli army did not issue a warning before the strike. israel did not comment on the attack but said five of its soldiers were killed while fighting the previous day. in gaza, dozens of people have been killed in the latest israeli air strikes. the hamas run health ministry say children are among the 23 people killed in the north of the territory. while health officials in the south say at least 38 people have been killed in khan

younis. let's focus on those peace talks first and speak to our state department correspondent, tom bateman, who has been travelling with antony blinken. tom, when she was killed, in gaza, it was seen widely especially by the americans as an opportunity for turning points in the middle east. if that was antony blinken is trying to build on? it that was antony blinken is trying to build on?- that was antony blinken is trying to build on? it is, they felt they could _ trying to build on? it is, they felt they could surprise - trying to build on? it is, they felt they could surprise open | felt they could surprise open this moment because remember we had weeks of stalled over a ceasefire and hostage release deal gaza and when he was killed the americans thought that would remove the chief obstacle to getting that deal done. but i have to say that with the haste that which they have done this trip together, i think it has shown any sense of making real progress in that

diplomatic effort has not been as apparent as they might have liked. having said that, they did manage to say that they would get the mediators back around the table probably over the weekend in doha so crucially the head of mossad from israel and bill burns the head of the along the will talk again but the fact is they had again but the fact is they had a plan that had ceased to make any progress and the question now is, is that some of the table? it is not entirely clear. it is still not clear if they have any real engagement from hamas to make the decisions within them with the lisa dead. so, there are lots of unanswered questions. we had a moment this morning and antony blinken has left to go to the amaretti house in london. before that, a meeting

with ivan sephardic, the foreign minister ofjourdan and looked him in the eye at the start of the meeting and accused the israelis of carrying out what it called ethnic cleansing and said it had to stop. they said they weren't listening to anyone. i felt like it amounted to a snub for the american counterpart sitting across this table and give a sense of the anger across the arab world. he was giving voice to bat directly to the american. at the us has to do now is create a post—war plan. that is what they're talking about with the leaders. i suppose antony blinken trying to bring out a ceasefire but also to stop the fighting in lebanon. israel of course are fighting on two fronts at the moment. fighting on two fronts at the moment-— fighting on two fronts at the moment. . �* ., moment. yeah, i've heard the americans _ moment. yeah, i've heard the

americans at _ moment. yeah, i've heard the americans at various - moment. yeah, i've heard the americans at various points i americans at various points talk about trying to land three planes at once. because they've got the crisis in gaza, they've got the crisis in gaza, they've got the crisis between hezbollah and israel and lebanon and they also have, i get to take place in attack on iran. the americans have been trying to dial down the scale of that. all of this is happening at the same time. the americans are trying to de—escalate the restraint when it comes to lebanon, they not calling for immediate ceasefire. they basically support the israeli invasion to disarm hezbollah. they got the israelis to stop basically those attacks are about seven days. they then saw what the israelis said was an assassination attempt on benjamin netanyahu with a drone strike. they blamed it on hezbollah. he since then, we have seen israeli air strikes

mmp have seen israeli air strikes ramp up again on beirut. the americans are trying again to pull them back, restrain them from this. but so far i think there are few signs of that. thank you very much for the update. let's speak to amjad al shawa now — he is the director of palestinian network of non—governmental 0rganisations — which is the partner organisation of action aid in gaza. what is the latest situation on the ground in terms of humanitarian aid coming into gaza? is much relief can begin at the moment?— gaza? is much relief can begin at the moment? thank you. no less relief— at the moment? thank you. no less relief is _ at the moment? thank you. no less relief is getting _ at the moment? thank you. no less relief is getting on. - less relief is getting on. different areas, we have 700 drugs a day in the 2a days of

october which we used to have 0ctober which we used to have them one day before. all of that, before october, we were under tight siege. we have more than 700 drugs not. in such critical conditions, with such catastrophes, we have only 700 drugs which limited items that get in for the humanitarian organisations and from the private sector which we are talking about the huge deals resulting in this attacks on the palestinian civilians and the palestinian civilians and the infrastructure, which was destroyed. 0ne the infrastructure, which was destroyed. one more person became more dependent. what destroyed. one more person became more dependent. what are our aid became more dependent. what are your aid workers _ became more dependent. what are your aid workers able _ became more dependent. what are your aid workers able to _ became more dependent. what are your aid workers able to do? - your aid workers able to do? they are saying there's not nearly enough relief but what are your people on the ground able to do in terms of humanitarian work? that's a

very good — humanitarian work? that's a very good question. - humanitarian work? that's a very good question. there i humanitarian work? that's a i very good question. there are hundreds of aid workers who were killed and 200 of them from the staff who were killed by the israeli attacks. we have very limited capacity, to respond to the huge lead. the north of gaza will tell you the truth. we have nothing to deliver to our people there. all that we have, we have tens of thousands of people most of them are children and women. they are in very critical condition. since the beginning of this month, nothing has entered the north. limited quantities of magical items to the main hospital only yesterday. with some fuel and medical items that hospital which was invaded this morning by the israeli troops. it is very critical that we are passing through and we did not

witness such escalation from the israeli occupation and army since the beginning of this war. we are talking about 900 people killed in the north only from the beginning of this month and we have handcuffed, we can do nothing. 0ur hospitals there are the targets and people have been injured. they are very critical conditions also people in shelters were attacked so we witnessed these tremendous situations and escalation by the israeli military and we lost so many families. and at the same time, people are suffering from famine, from first and from also the absence of medical treatment. they cannot go out to do anything. they cannot get medical

treatment, they are killed or injured. we are in danger and this is real time to start such a war. ., ~' this is real time to start such a war. . ~ ,, this is real time to start such a war. ., ~ ,, y this is real time to start such awar. . ~ , . a war. thank you very much. talkin: a war. thank you very much. talking to — a war. thank you very much. talking to us _ a war. thank you very much. talking to us from _ a war. thank you very much. talking to us from gaza. - a war. thank you very much. i talking to us from gaza. thank you very much. more than 29,000 migrants arrived in the uk after the channel crossing. that is according to the latest figures that show actually 509 people made that journey that show actually 509 people made thatjourney on one day. in 11 votes, the total of 2024 so far is just over 29,000. that isjust the so far is just over 29,000. that is just the comparison is 10% higher than 26,000 recorded this time last year. about 24%

lower than the number who made thatjourney in 2022. meanwhile, 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 dinghies are being stored in secret warehouses around the city of essen. 0ur 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. 0ur 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. to get him out of there. they'rejoined by a man known they'rejoined by a man known as al hal — the uncle, as al hal — the uncle, a term of authority. a term of authority. due to strict german due to strict german law, we can't record law, we can't record the sound of the meeting. the sound of the meeting. so, right after, ourjournalist so, right after, ourjournalist describes to me what happened. describes to me what happened. they tell me the equipment they tell me the equipment comes from turkey. comes from turkey. dinghies later used in channel they have about ten they have about ten warehouses around essen. warehouses around essen. police raided one a few days police raided one a few days ago, but they separate ago, but they separate their stock and give their stock and give bait to police. bait to police. as our investigation shows, smugglers are moving boats as our investigation shows, smugglers are moving boats from turkey to west germany. from turkey to west germany. britain's national crime agency britain's national crime agency has confirmed germany's has confirmed germany's

a central location for storing 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.

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. she has written a piece on the news website online so go there for more details. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

with just a couple of weeks to go till the us presidential election, both donald trump and kamala harris will be in texas today: she'll be with pop superstar

beyonce, while mr trump will sit down with the podcaster joe rogan. meanwhile the focus is also very much on the all important �*swing' states — the battleground in this election. kamala harris has held a star studded rally in clarkston, georgia, featuring and former us president barack obama. while donald trump has been campaigning in arizona, and nevada — and repeating his message on immigration. let's speak to cbs correspondent jarred hill who's in new york. we have been saying this throughout, too close to call and it seems to be getting even closer. ., , and it seems to be getting even closer. . , ., ., closer. that is right. you are talkinu closer. that is right. you are talking about _ closer. that is right. you are talking about this _ closer. that is right. you are talking about this trip - closer. that is right. you are talking about this trip that i talking about this trip that both of them are taken to texas, this is actually a play for the battleground states as well. and interact kind of way, especially harris campaign.

want to use the platform of platform of texas of the oversized state that beyonce's parents to make an appeal to battleground voters who might be number to all tired of seeing all the ads on their own state. in particular, they are going to be focusing on a couple of issues. one, immigration, and the other is abortion. when it comes to the state as you mentioned it is incredibly tight in particular incredibly tight in particular in those battleground states which is why we are seeing these two campaigns doing two different things. 0n these two campaigns doing two different things. on one hand, there really even into their bases to make sure that they get the votes actually shop to vote and as they say bring money with them. then, trying to expand their map as much as they can. the former president trump, that is like appealing to young latina voters especially young men. who are both latina, black, and those people to come out on his site

and then for harris appealing to some of the soft republican voters. some of those nikki haley voters. people who may not like trump's rhetoric, they think he is a danger to the country and saying forget policy, come with me and i can make sure that we are safe. you're suggesting that kamala harris�*s were may have stalled somewhat. harris's were may have stalled somewhat-— somewhat. she's bring out the stars to get — somewhat. she's bring out the stars to get that _ somewhat. she's bring out the stars to get that going - somewhat. she's bring out the stars to get that going again. i stars to get that going again. beyonce most others. that's when the questions and there was the question about how much do celebrities play into swaying any sort of vote for folks. 0ne swaying any sort of vote for folks. one thing we have heard from analysts is that this typically tends to be more of an effort to keep candidates and their message out there the conversation because an appearance like beyonce or barack obama or a number of the other stars. barack obama or a number of the other stars-—

other stars. that get picked up on in news _ other stars. that get picked up on in news and _ other stars. that get picked up on in news and sites _ other stars. that get picked up on in news and sites as - other stars. that get picked up on in news and sites as well. other stars. that get picked up on in news and sites as well as the votes included into the political debate is more effort to continue to keep the names in the public zeitgeist similar to what we're seeing with president and his podcast with joe rogan again. there was an immense appeal and audience, folks who may not be paying attention as closely to the traditional forms of media. thank you very much for that. just also coming it was, this is from the kremlin because there was a report in the wall streetjournal that the russian street journal that the russian president streetjournal that the russian president vladimir putin and elon musk the billionaire founder of space x have been in regular contact since 2022. the kremlin are denying that, kremlin are denying that, kremlin spokesman saying it is all in true absolutely false information published in the newspaper according to the kremlin. he says putin had one

contact with musk before 2022 and this book on the phone about technology for the future but had no contact since then so they are denying that. the report in the wall street journal that vladimir putin and elon musk had been contact. the chief prosecutor in los angeles has recommended erik and lyle menendez should be resentenced by a judge and released on parole. the brothers were convicted of murdering their parents more than three decades ago. their case was recently brought back into the spotlight when it was retold in a netflix series. emma vardy reports from la. this 911 call in 1989 sparked a murder case which gripped the world.

brothers erik and lyle menendez, aged 18 and 21, claimed they'd found the bodies of their parents shot dead in their beverly hills mansion, but they later admitted carrying out the killings themselves. the defendants are in court with their attorneys, and the people are represented. during their trial, which was televised, the brothers said they'd been physically and sexually abused by their father and argued it was manslaughter. at the time, they were not believed and were eventually convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole. but last year, new evidence was revealed which backed up the brothers�* claims of abuse and there were calls from some family members for them to be released. lyle and erik have already paid a heavy price. discarded by a system that failed to recognise their pain. they have grown, they have changed, and they have become better men despite everything that they've been through. this is a case which divided america and continues to create

a huge amount of debate. today, the district attorney for los angeles said he was recommending a lighter sentence for the brothers, which could now mean they walk free. they have been in prison for nearly 35 years. i believe that they have paid their debt to society. eric and i killed our parents together, so i'd say that makes us pretty close. erik and lyle menendez recently gained widespread attention once again, with two netflix series made about the brothers�* story. now seen as a case which, had it been held with society's modern understanding of abuse, may have had a very different outcome. emma vardy, bbc news, los angeles. in breaking news... a court in uganda has sentenced a former rebel commander to 40 years in prison for a catalogue of crimes

including murder, torture and rape. thomas kwoyelo is the first lord's resistance army leader to be convicted in uganda. he was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity in a landmark decision in august. let's speak to anne soy in nairobi. just talk us through what has happened and why it is so significant. it happened and why it is so significant.— significant. it is very significant _ significant. it is very significant because i significant. it is very i significant because as significant. it is very - significant because as you mentioned he is the first commander of the notorious army group that carried out atrocities across northern uganda for many years. having been founded in the late 80s by just some people because he himself was a victim of this movement. it captured him when he was 12, he said when he was walking to school and turning into a child soldier the group was notorious for recruiting

child soldiers in their tens of thousands. they turned even some of the children openly had kidnapped into sex lives. this is a landmark case in uganda, he was convicted of 44 of 78 accounts that included murder, kidnap, pillaging, and rape. thank you very much indeed. that is our senior africa correspondence with the latest on the case. stay with us here on bbc news.

it is lifting. we are seeing some sunshine coming in from the south—west and there is a change in the weather here. we have an area of low pressure close to the south—west, that is going to pull away this weekend. the is coming in behind this weather front reaching a bit of rain. either that, there is a lot of cloud. temperatures are going to be typically 15 may be 16 degrees. with some sunshine ahead of that rain in east anglia, temperatures are likely to reach 19 or 20 celsius. most of the weather front, that is what is left of the rain, that continues to push northwards pushing the club northwards and clearer skies following from the south. in the south, and across east anglia, there more clout. maybe a few spots of rain. 0therwise, most of the rain. 0therwise, most of the rain is in the north west of scotland. mild but not as mild as it was last night. heading into tomorrow, and between these two areas, there will be some sunshine it's going to get wetter towards the north—west during the day. across eastern

parts of england, we will see more cloud probably is a great deal of rain but it will be cooler underneath that cloud. temperatures generally not quite as high as today, still mild at 14 to 16 degrees. as we head over night, we've got that weather from head over night, we've got that weatherfrom pushing down the north—west prince of men. there is an extra hour of sleep because the clocks go back and into sunday we are going to find thickening cloud with rain. it is quite sunny for many parts of the country, it is going to be a much sunnier day for the eastern side of england. we will see cloud increasing in northern ireland with rain coming in here to western scotland and heading over the roc later on. temperatures lower on sunday, around 11 to 14 celsius. into next week, it's looking very quiet with the reins to left on monday across the south. high pressure is then going to build across the uk and we're going

to find strong winds picking up for scotland where they could be a bit of rain but otherwise we'll be drawing in mild air. these are the temperatures into next week. we are looking at around 14 to 16 degrees and for many parts of the country, it will be dry with a little bit of sunshine.

this is bbc news. the headlines:

a witness to despair — the medic who filmed the immediate aftermath of an israeli strike on a school in gaza. with only days to go until the us presidential election, we will be talking to a pollster about the state of the race. still born to run — bruce springsteen tells the bbc about life on the road at the age of 75. hello. on monday, a harrowing video emerged from northern gaza of the immediate aftermath of an israeli strike on a school injabalia which had been turned into a shelter for displaced civilians. the footage was filmed by a paramedic, the first on the scene and it showed the pain and grief and panic in the minutes after the blast. nowjournalists working for the bbc have found that paramedic.

this report from jeremy bowen shows graphic images of