this is bbc news, the headlines... it's election day in america. with millions due to vote, donald trump and kamala harris make their final pitch to voters. more heavy rain hits spain — now barcelona follows valencia and suffers major flooding. boeing's strike finally ends — a majority of workers vote in favour of a 38% wage increase, spread over four years. after months of campaigning the wait is finally over. it's election day and america will decide the country's 47th president. in what has been one of the closest run races in living memory, the final polling shows it's a toss—up between donald trump and kamala harris.

in the last hours of the campaign both candidates have held their final rallies. a lot of focus will be on the seven key states — swing states — that will decide the election. so there'll be extra attention on voters in georgia, arizona, nevada, wisconsin, michigan, north carolina, and pennsylvania, where the result could have particular influence on the overall outcome. in a long—held tradition, the small new hampshire town of dixville notch opened its voting booths at midnight local time. six voters turned up — and in a reminder of how tight this race is, their votes were evenly split between harris and trump. remember there's also been a provision for early voting — in person or by mail — and millions of americans have already voted. this election campaign has been filled with claims and counterclaims. with less than 2a hours to go until the first results are called, bbc verify�*s merlyn thomas has looked at some of the key claims from donald trump and kamala harris.

immigration, abortion, inflation — three issues that have been central to the us election campaign. in an election with many twists and turns, bbc verify has been fact checking speeches and interviews made by donald trump and kamala harris. these are some of the key claims they've been making. trump has repeatedly attacked the biden—harris government over illegal immigration and crime. kamala let in the 13,099 convicted murderers. this is misleading. the number comes the number comes from the immigration from the immigration and customs enforcement, and customs enforcement, which said there were this many which said there were this many noncitizens convicted noncitizens convicted of homicide on its database, of homicide on its database, but not detained by them. but not detained by them. but the department of but the department of homeland security has said this homeland security has said this data has been misinterpreted, data has been misinterpreted, and includes people who entered and includes people who entered the us under previous the us under previous administrations, notjust under administrations, notjust under biden and harris. biden and harris. this claim. experts also told bbc verify experts also told bbc verify thatjust because they weren't thatjust because they weren't in ice detention, doesn't mean in ice detention, doesn't mean they are all on the loose. they are all on the loose. many will be held by other many will be held by other agencies or in prison. agencies or in prison. abortion rights are a key abortion rights are a key issue for the democrats, issue for the democrats, with kamala harris repeating with kamala harris repeating

this claim. if he is elected again i am certain he will sign a national abortion ban. which would outlaw abortion in every single state. this is misleading. during this campaign trump has not said he would introduce a nationwide abortion ban, instead saying abortion rights should be left up to individual states. but trump has given mixed messages about this in the past. this is the first presidential election since the supreme

linked to covid and the war in ukraine. harris has had to defend the government's record on illegal immigration. there's been a particular focus around what's been happening at the us southern border with mexico. we have cut the flow of illegal immigration by half. this needs context because it doesn't give a full picture of illegal immigration under the biden—harris administration. the flow of migrants the flow of migrants encountered at the us southern encountered at the us southern border was down by half border was down by half in august 2024 compared in august 2024 compared with the end of last year, with the end of last year, which was the highest monthly which was the highest monthly total on record. total on record. but if you look at the biden but if you look at the biden administration's overall administration's overall record, it shows about 8 record, it shows about 8 million encounters at this million encounters at this border compared with border compared with about 2.4 million under about 2.4 million under the trump administration. the trump administration. these are just some these are just some of the claims that have been of the claims that have been made across the campaign, made across the campaign, but the real question is, but the real question is, what will voters make of them what will voters make of them and will they make a difference and will they make a difference at the polls? at the polls? merlyn thomas, bbc merlyn thomas, bbc news, washington. news, washington. let's speak to cbs let's speak to cbs correspondentjarred hill correspondentjarred hill

who's in alexandria, virginia. who's in alexandria, virginia. nice to see you again. what's the latest on the harris campaign?— the latest on the harris campaign? the latest on the harris camaiun? , ., , campaign? yesterday the harris camaian campaign? yesterday the harris campaign wrapped _ campaign? yesterday the harris campaign wrapped up _ campaign? yesterday the harris campaign wrapped up its - campaign wrapped up its campaign wrapped up its campaign only about 100 or so days worth of campaigning they have done, in the state of pennsylvania. they had multiple stops in pennsylvania yesterday. she specific.

michigan, to be specific. this is the same exact location he ended his 2016 campaign, as well as his 2020 campaign. in his final speech he hit on a couple of high points, i guess you would call it, of his campaign so far, talk about immigration, talking about inflation. also sowing doubt already in the results of the election if he were to lose this. essentially saying that democrats would have to cheat in order for him democrats would have to cheat in orderfor him to lose democrats would have to cheat in order for him to lose will stop at the same time saying turn out from his supporters needs to be incredibly high, really emphasising from both sidesjust really emphasising from both sides just how really emphasising from both sidesjust how think really emphasising from both sides just how think they —— how close they think the election will be. imagine how close, election will be. imagine how close. just — election will be. imagine how close, just how _ election will be. imagine how close, just how close - election will be. imagine how close, just how close is - election will be. imagine how close, just how close is it - close, just how close is it when you compare to other elections in recent times? yes, i mean, elections in recent times? yes, i mean. this — elections in recent times? yes, i mean, this is _ elections in recent times? yes, i mean, this is one _ elections in recent times? yes, i mean, this is one of _ elections in recent times? yes, i mean, this is one of those - i mean, this is one of those where i believe in the story you were talking about before, this could potentially be one of the closest elections in recent american history. looking at these battleground

states in particular we are seeing essentially numbers that say this is a toss—up. and so the question is going to be, and this is something we have heard from both of these campaigns, how many people can get to actually show up, just because of the fact that it seems as though american sentiment is so split, it is going to be a matter of how many people from either side of the aisle turn out to polling places like this throughout the course of the day and cast their votes for either one of these candidates. so their votes for either one of these candidates.— their votes for either one of these candidates. so when do olls these candidates. so when do polls closed — these candidates. so when do polls closed and _ these candidates. so when do these candidates. so when do olls these candidates. so when do polls closed — these candidates. so when do polls closed and _ these candidates. so when do polls closed and when - these candidates. so when do polls closed and when can - these candidates. so when do polls closed and when can we | polls closed and when can we hope to know the winner? that's polls closed and when - these candidates. so when do polls closed and when can - these candidates. so when do polls closed and when can we | polls closed and when can we hope to know the winner? that's a ureat hope to know the winner? that's a ureat hope to know the winner? that's a great question. _ hope to know the winner? that's a great question. and _ hope to know the winner? that's a great question. and that's - hope to know the winner? that's a great question. _ a great question. and that's a i a great question. and that's a question a lot of us are a great question. and that's a question a lot of us are asking! a lot of people want to asking! a lot know when is this going to be question a lot of us are askin when»t question a lot of us are askin when is this going to be know when is this going to be over. we know polls will close over. we know polls will close over. we know polls will close over the course of the day. we over. we know polls will close over the course of the day. we are still many hours away from are still many hours away from polls closing. it is likely to polls closing. it is likely to be in the evening when we start the evening when we start to see some of these results be in the evening when we start to see some of these results coming in. there is the coming in. there is the possibility that depending possibility that depending

again on how some of the votes again on how some of the votes get counted in some— get counted in some of these estates that we may not know an official answer for a day or two after election day. that's if this ends up being as close as we currently think that it is. but there is the possibility always that this could be a blow out in either direction and we could know something much sooner, we could potentially know something as soon as this evening. but i think patience is the word that we stressing to americans, two brits who are watching, and to ourselves as we go through this long election day.— long election day. that side of ours long election day. that side of yours told _ long election day. that side of yours told us _ long election day. that side of yours told us a _ long election day. that side of yours told us a great - long election day. that side of yours told us a great deal. - yours told us a great deal. jarred hill, cbs correspondent, in alexandria, thank you. as jarred was saying the polls are still incredibly tight.

the latest polls published over the weekend have slightly different takes on the figures. if you draw out the overall trends, rather than the individual points, you see vice president kamala harris just a point ahead in the national polls. but the candidates' shares of the national vote won't determine the winner. let's turn to the battleground states, that s the seven that were very close last time around and could be decisive in this election. former president donald trump has an edge of between one and three points in each of georgia, arizona and north carolina. the other battlegrounds are even tighter —— and well within the margin of error. the international media has descended on washington,

but this one really is? yeah, if you look at the polls leading up to the election, i mean, there hasn't been a closer race in this century so far. the polls have stagnated really with kamala harris and donald trump tied. even if you see kamala harris a little bit ahead here, or donald trump a little bit ahead here, all we know is that this is going to come really right down to the wire. we will have a tonne of information coming into the bbc on the night and it's about getting it out as much as possible to our audiences. would you have done something differently than president biden during the past four years? there is not a thing that comes to mind. they're eating the cats! | they're eating the pets! so on the night i will be here at the touch screen going through all the results as they come in state—by—state, east to west, and of course

we are going to be focusing on the seven battleground states. we have been looking at the various routes the two candidates have to the white house. i'm sarah smith, the bbc's north america editor and i have been travelling around all the key swing states trying to get a sense of how voters are feeling. and i think the thing to look out for tomorrow is the result from the state of pennsylvania. it's the biggest and most important of the swing states and the polls suggest it's absolutely on a knife edge. caitriona, whoever wins, it is history? it really is. both candidates are setting this out as a battle for the soul of america. but either way you're potentially going to have the first female president in this country, the first black woman, the first indian american woman. or you are going to have an individual who was already president, sat out for one term and is back in again, a twice—impeached, convicted felon. it is dramatic, dramatic time for the united states and of course what that means for the world as well.

and you will be able to watch live coverage of the results of the us presidential election across the bbc. join us in the bbc's us election studio as we find out who will be america's next president. now, whether the winner is vice president kamala harris or former president donald trump, it will be an historic night. right across the country, we'll have all of our top correspondents and editors correspondents and editors bringing you the unfolding drama as soon bringing you the unfolding drama as soon as the polls close. as the polls close. we'll have all the results we'll have all the results as they come in, and christian as they come in, and christian fraser will look in depth fraser will look in depth at what they mean in the race at what they mean in the race for the white house. for the white house. here is the map wiped clean. here is the map wiped clean. in the race to 270, these in the race to 270, these in grey are the seven in grey are the seven battleground states we think just too close to call. battleground states we think will decide who wins the white house. will decide who wins so, for expert analysis so, for expert analysis and for what the story means to america and the rest and for what the story means of the world, join me, caitriona perry... caitriona perry... ..and me, sumi somaskanda, in ..and me, sumi somaskanda, in washington, dc, for the bbc's washington, dc, for the bbc's us election results programme. us election results programme.

it's a contest that is it's a contest that is just too close to call. this is bbc news.

let's get more now on the end of the industrial dispute at boeing. workers there have voted to accept a deal to end a seven—week walkout. the agreement will see them receive a 38% pay rise during the next four years, as well as a substantial bonus and improved retirement funding. with me is our business correspondent theo leggett. what's the background to this? it has been a long—running dispute. boeing workers are supposed to be negotiating a new four year contract with managers. in the past when boeing went into these

negotiation rounds it was in a position of strength, it could hold things over on the workforce, for example say the next plane to be built will be built outside of washington state, away from its seattle heartlands and get workers in those regions to accept having their terms and conditions reined in. this time the negotiation happened in a climate where boeing was in many respects the weaker party. and the workers held out. they dismissed the original offer boeing put to them, they voted down another offer, and finally we have had this one, which has not building planes, planes not leaving the factory, noti finally down another offer, and finally we have had this one, which has been approved, which is been approved, which is significantly better than what significantly better than what boeing originally suggested. it boeing originally suggested. it was a negotiation process but was a negotiation process but you can say the workforce are you can say the workforce are the winners here.— winners here. how costly the winners here. how costly the winners here. how costly has the process _ the winners here. how costly has the process been - the winners here. how costly has the process _ the winners here. how costly has the process been - the winners here. how costly has the process been to - the winners here. how costly - has the process been to boeing? extremely costly. in the first has the process been to - the winners here. how costly - has the process been to boeing? extremely costly. in the first six weeks of the strike alone six weeks of the strike alone which we have figures for, it which we have figures is estimated to cost boeing and six weeks of the strike alone w estimated 'e figures for.,, , ,, s. , six weeks of the strike alone w estimated to igures fork , ,, s. , six weeks of the strike alone w estimated to cost as for.,, , , , s. , six weeks of the strike alone w estimated to cost boeing , , , s. , its suppliers, don't forget six weeks of the strike alone w estimated to cost boeing and s. , is estimated to cost boeing and its suppliers, don't forget them, about $8 billion. and the them, about and the us economy as a whole about 10 them, about $8 billion. and the us economy as a whole about 10 billion. if the workforce are �* the workforce are not building planes, planes not billion. if the workforce are not building planes, planes not

leaving the factory, nothing leaving the factory, nothing is being sold and suppliers building up inventory are not getting money either. you building up inventory are not getting money either. building up inventory are not getting in oney either. building up inventory are not getting in some either. building up inventory are not getting in some respects in said building up inventory are not getting in some respects this id boeing in some respects this time around where on the back foot. how so?— time around where on the back foot. how so?_ and to deal with a major safety and quality control crisis triggered at the start of the year when a disused doorfell off a plane, a 77 max, a offa plane, a 77 max, a brand—new off a plane, a 77 max, a brand—new plane climbing out of portland, oregon. that put a focus on what boeing has been doing in the last few years in terms of trying to improve its safety and quality control standards. regulators have clamped down on the company in a very big way, so it was trying to ramp up production. it was under the spotlight from regulators and then it had to deal with a serious dispute with its own workforce in some of its most important regions, which shut down factories. it has had an awful lot to deal with, and what it didn't need was that strike to be going on and dragging on. now it has got that out of the way, in theory it can reset relations with the workforce and start dealing

with it so the problem is. but its problems _ with it so the problem is. but its problems are _ with it so the problem is. but its problems are not over yet? its problems are definitely not over yet. its problems are definitely not overyet. it its problems are definitely not over yet. it needs to get planes leaving the factory, and build up production levels a lot was up it has a huge backlog of planes, a500 planes on order that have not been built. it needs to ramp up production in the way that satisfies regulators that it is being done in a safe and controlled manner. theo leggett. _ controlled manner. theo leggett, thank _ controlled manner. theo leggett, thank you. - the polish authorities have warned that incendiary packages placed on cargo flights earlier this year were possible practice runs by russia's spy agency for attacks on tra nsa ntla ntic planes. 0ne package caught fire in a warehouse in birmingham injuly, another on the ground in germany and two more were found in poland. russia has denied involvement. let's speak to our security correspondent frank gardner. details are just details arejust coming details are just coming to light of these attacks. well, back in july. _ light of these attacks. well, back in july, on _ light of these attacks. well, back in july, on july - light of these attacks. well, back in july, on july the - light of these attacks. well, i back in july, on july the 22nd, back injuly, onjuly the 22nd, there was a suspicious package that caught fire, itself

ignited, and it was at a dhl warehouse at men with south of birmingham full so that was put out, there were no injuries, it was dealt with at the time. at that time another one exploded in a container in leipzig. again, a package that was due to be placed on a cargo flight. then there were also two other packages in warsaw in poland and a number of arrests have been made there. so this is all feeding into a pattern that both the polish authorities and the us authorities suspect 1533 00:18