crowd, joe biden took to the stage in the swing state of north carolina, seemingly unfazed by the torrent of bad headlines his disjointed debate performance had generated. crowd: joe! joe! folks... i don't walk as easy as i used to. i don't speak as smoothly as i used to. i don't debate as well as i used to. but i know what i do know. i know how to tell the truth! crowd: yeah! he seemed for all the world like a new man, reading from the teleprompter with a passion that had been all too absent the night before. i know, like millions of americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up. it was a far cry from the rasping and rambling performance on the debate stage that was all too often painful to watch. everything we have to do with, uh... look... if... we finally beat medicare. it's left his party in a state of crisis. yet, despite rumblings about replacing their candidate, publicly, at least, democrats are circling the wagons. referring to his own lacklustre performance in a presidential debate in 2012, joe biden�*s former boss barack obama tweeted, "bad debate nights happen. "trust me, i know." but this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself." despite being just three years younger thanjoe biden, donald trump has consistently condemned his rival as too old to be re—elected. but addressing supporters in virginia, he said the question was less one of age and more one of competence. the question every voter should be asking themselves today is not whetherjoe biden can survive a 90 minute debate performance, but whether america can survive four more years of crooked joe biden in the white house. crowd b00. and the calls forjoe biden to pull out of the presidential race are growing. this, the headline in an editorial in the new york times, which goes on to declare, mr biden is not the man he was four years ago. i don't think so! the word from the biden camp is that their candidate has no intention whatsoever of pulling out of the race, but much may depend on how he fares going forward and what the opinion polls make of his debate performance. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. crowd: four more years! and david told us more about how mr biden has addressed the criticism over his performance during that debate. it was like a differentjoe biden that we saw there in that swing state in north carolina today, speaking from the autocue in front of a group of faithful supporters. he appeared to be relishing the adulation he was getting from the crowd and the reception, and it was nothing like the terrible performance that he exhibited during that presidential debate on thursday night. mr biden made the point that he may not be, he may be somewhat older than he once was, he may be a little less energetic, but he still knows right from wrong and he is the man who he believes can defeat donald trump in the election in four months�* time. i have to say, there are those in the democratic party who are beginning to wonder if, indeed, that is going to be the case. they are wondering as well, is he really the man to head the ticket going into the election in november? and privately, those sort of concerns are being kept private for now, publicly democrats are circling the wagons. we heard from the file billie former boss ofjoe biden, barack obama, today, basically saying, badge debates do happen, i remember one is to free myself, he was referring to his debate back in 2012 against mitt romney when he put up 2012 against mitt romney when he put up a somewhat lacklustre performance. but there is deep concern amongst members of the party and there are calls now from the new york times editorial board as well forjoe biden to step down from the race. that is significant because the new york times, a left—leaning liberal newspaper, has supported joe biden against donald trump four years ago. now it believes that he is really not fit to lead this country for another four years. for its part, the biden campaign is saying their candidate has no intention whatsoever of leaving the race, but much could depend on what the opinion polls, what the voters make of that dismal performance on the debate stage on thursday night. yes, regarding the speculation that he could be asked to step aside, how has joe he could be asked to step aside, how hasjoe biden and his team responded to that? has joe biden and his team responded to that? ~ , ., has joe biden and his team responded to that? ~ , . ., to that? well, they have said that that is not going _ to that? well, they have said that that is not going to _ to that? well, they have said that that is not going to happen - to that? well, they have said that that is not going to happen and i to that? well, they have said that| that is not going to happen and we have had senior democrats rallying round, saying publicly at least, yes, it wasn�*t the best performance in the world, but he got better and these things do happen. the point was made that too much attention has focused on style rather than substance and democratic leaders have sought to draw attention to the many lies that donald trump perpetrated during that debate. for his part, mrtrump perpetrated during that debate. for his part, mr trump has said this only serves to underline his central complaint, thatjoe biden at 81 years of age, is simply too old to lead this country for another four years. somewhat ironically, of course, bearing in mind that mr trump is only three yearsjoe biden�*sjunior. iran�*s interior ministry has confirmed that a run—off presidential election will be held on friday, after none of the candidates in the snap poll secured 50% of the vote. the reformist massoud pezeshkian, a heart surgeon, won the highest number of votes. one of his hardline rivals, saeed jalili, came second, after taking an early lead. the election was called after the death of ultra—conservative president ebrahim raisi in a helicopter crash last month. the four candidates were all vetted by an influential committee of clerics before they could stand. turnout was about a0%, according to an interior ministry count, the lowest on record since the 1979 revolution. raising questions about the legitimacy of iran�*s system of government. let�*s talk to siavash mehdi—ardalan from bbc persian. so we now know that there will be a run—off on friday. what does that mean, how will that take place? well, the second round of elections always traditionally will be held a week later. as it stands, now, from the 24 week later. as it stands, now, from the 2a million votes that have been counted, 10.5 million went to the heart surgeon, and 9.5 to the far right candidate, saeed jalili, and 3 million to the second to the right candidate which will be the kingmaker because 3 million people who voted for the centre—right candidate, we have to see whether they will choose pro—reform and a modern candidate who is in support of relations with the west, in trying to resolve iran�*s nuclear deal, those devastating sanctions that are crushing people in iran, whether they will choose to vote for saeed jalili, who was a former nuclear negotiator, hard line taff negotiator who doesn�*t believe sanctions are an issue, who thinks the country has enough potential to advance on its own through alliances with russia and china without any help from the west.— with russia and china without any help from the west. when the ma'or talkin: help from the west. when the ma'or talking points — help from the west. when the ma'or talking points about i help from the west. when the ma'or talking points about the i help from the west. when the ma'or talking points about the selection]- talking points about the selection is the low turnout, of course. that has been the _ is the low turnout, of course. that has been the main _ is the low turnout, of course. twat has been the main takeaway from this election, this is a historic event, unprecedented. the lowest turnout last time around was 48% and now this. on the back of huge massive nationwide protests two years ago over the death of mahsa amini, over the introduction of mandatory hijab, which led to a lot of iranians to soul search what kind of society they want, whether they want to live with a clerical theocracy which dictates foreign policy and their lifestyle or whether they want to completely change the system and go for something even more secular and more democratic. and through this election and this low turnout at 40%, election and this low turnout at ao%, not even counting the spoilt ballots, which might bring the turn out to 30%, it sends a very big message to the iranian establishment, particularly the supreme leader, who had said just a few days before the selection that the high turnout will mean confirmation of the system�*s legitimacy and a low turnout would be bad news. legitimacy and a low turnout would be bad newe— be bad news. what the do these results so _ be bad news. what the do these results so far _ be bad news. what the do these results so far show _ be bad news. what the do these results so far show about - be bad news. what the do these results so far show about the i results so far show about the tensions within iranian politics? well, it shows that society has become radicalised. radicalised because a lot of people are staying away from the ballot booth, they are against the entire political system and also because the conservative votes have also become radicalised more towards the right, so the majority of the people who always voted conservative are now voting for a very hard line candidate and really banishing the centre—right candidate, who was kind of hard line, at the same time was in favour of relations with the west as well. so it really depends on whether that segment of, the two radicalised segments of society, how the dynamics between them will play and whether that will favour eventually a moderate candidate or a very hard line candidate.— line candidate. make you very much for the line candidate. make you very much forthe update. _ line candidate. make you very much for the update, siavash _ for the update, siavash mehdi—ardalan. let�*s take a closer look at the run—off contenders. reformist candidate massoud pezeshkian is a former heart surgeon and health minister. he is faithful to iran�*s ruling clerics, but supports ties with the west, as well as economic reform. he�*s also said the actions of iran�*s morality police, who enforce strict dress codes on women, are "immoral". the conservative candidate is hardliner saeed jalili. he is a former secretary of iran�*s supreme national security council and a former nuclear negotiator. he served for four years in ayatolla khamenei�*s office. jalili was opposed iran�*s 2015 nuclear deal and to striking deals with the west. rouzbeh parsi is head of the middle east programme at the swedish institute of international affairs. he explained the significance of the voter turnout for iran�*s elections. the supreme leader has often touted the fact that iranians tend to go and vote is a sign of how popular and vote is a sign of how popular and legitimate the system is, so now obviously that is not a line he can use. and of course he himself has made this situation by alienating a lot of the electorate by simply not allowing potential candidates to stand. the important thing with the iranian system that we need to keep in mind is that it is a very collective system, it is not something that is going to stand for one single person. but the president gets to modulate the baseline of what the system is accepting or wants to do, so that makes a huge difference, whether it is someone like saeed massoud pezeshkian, who is more moderate and more willing to listen to what people want, but whether he can realise that is it different thing. orsomeone whether he can realise that is it different thing. or someone like saeed jalili, who has a very set idea of a nostalgic resolution from the 1980s and does not believe there is anything beneficial to be had many had a serious relationship with western countries. let�*s many had a serious relationship with western countries.— western countries. let's turn now to the uk general — western countries. let's turn now to the uk general election. _ the reform uk leader, nigel farage, has insisted that secret filming that caught one of the party�*s campaigners using racist language about the prime minister, was a "setup". the video provoked condemnation from other party leaders. in a special edition of the bbc show, question time, mr farage suggested the video could have been arranged to smear his party. our political correspondent leila nathoo reports. the leader of reform uk, nigel farage. the final weekend of the election campaign and for one party leader, difficult questions are piling up. what is it about you and your party that attracts racists and extremists, whether you say you want them or not? i�*ve done more to drive the far right out of british politics than anybody else alive. i took on the bnp just over a decade ago. i said to their voters, "if this is a protest vote, "but you don�*t support their racist agenda, don�*t vote "for them, vote for me." and we destroyed them. nigel farage was challenged last night over homophobic and racist remarks made by reform uk canvassers, secretly recorded by channel four news. one campaigner implied gay people were paedophiles, and another suggested army recruits should shoot at people crossing the channel in small boats, and used a racist insult to describe the prime minister. the prime minister. mr farage insisted that man was an "actor", and described the channel 4 report as a deliberate attempt to smear his party. this was a comedy act, but it was designed to hurt us and sadly — sadly — some people believe it. let me promise you... so who do you think would have done this, nigel farage? i want nothing to do with people like him and he has nothing to do with us. he�*s somebody who turned up. we didn�*t know who he was, and by sheer coincidence, he happened to get teamed up with channel 4. elsewhere, nigel farage was questioned about his party�*s manifesto and how he would pay for his promises. there's a lot of stuff in your manifesto, but how do you actually plan to pay for all this stuff? we can comfortably save £30 billion a year by growing up and being sensible, and recognising if we want carbon free energy — reliable, not intermittent — carbon—free energy, the only way to go is small modular nuclear reactors. also fielding questions on stage last night was someone whose views could not be more different — adrian ramsay, the co—leader of the green party. i think we all know that we need |to step up action on the climate| crisis, both to adapt to the changes that are already happening, - but to avoid the runaway climate change that will affect us - all dreadfully if we don't get to grips with this. i and he defended proposing to raise some taxes in his party�*s manifesto. we're talking about £5 extra a week for someone earning £55,000. - now, what would that get you? at the moment, people can't access an nhs dentist, - and if you can afford to do so, you might be forking out- for a private dentist. well, how much does that cost you over a year? - how much does it cost you over a year to pay extortionate - train ticket prices because we're not - investing in our railways? or to have to heat your home - and see your bills going up and up every month, because we've got the leakiest homes in europe . and we haven't insulated them? so we're setting out a different vision, sonia, for where yes, . we ask those earning a little bit more to pay a little bit more, . including the multi—millionaires and billionaires, but it's- about a different type of society. the liberal democrat leader, sir ed davey, meanwhile, for all parties, the journey to polling day is nearly over. leila nathoo, bbc news. our political correspondent damian grammaticas described what the reaction had been to mr farage�*s appearance on question time. i think what is interesting, you see this morning politicians of the other parties out on the airwaves and they are very much turning the focus onto nigel farage, his leadership, his party, reform uk, his activists, his candidates and thatis his activists, his candidates and that is now what is in the spotlight. now, they obviously have an interest to do that, but it is really quite uncomfortable i think for mr nigel farage. you have the shadow defence secretary, labour�*s john healey, who has been out saying nigel farage�*s comments about this as being a stitch up and act, he says he thinks those are just an attempt to distract from the fact that there are officials, candidates at the heart of the reform uk party that have been responsible for racist, anti—gay and other deeply offensive statements. mr healy says this is a question for nigel farage, a question of leadership and how he deals with this and he says he needs to get a grip and he says he is failing to do that at the minute. of course, nigel farage says he has nothing to do with these people, but remember it is notjust this one individual, andrew parker, who said a racist slur about the prime minister. there were others caught on camera too. in the question time debate last night nigel farage seem to distance himself from three candidates. the questions there will be what does that mean, how far is that distance? so more questions for mr farage on that and in the undercoverfilming by mr farage on that and in the undercover filming by channel 4 there was something else as well, there was something else as well, there was something else as well, there was another individual who apparently is closer to nigel farage who had made anti—gay comments, so what about that individual? that is not someone who was just, nigel farage was saying in this one case was someone who had walked into the office as an actor. the conservative position on this as well it is interesting, so we have heard from them as well, tom tugendhat, the security minister, he has also been saying this needs to focus people�*s attention on what sort of party and members reform uk actually is and that for the conservatives is a useful message for them at this stage because they are facing considerable electoral threat from voters deserting them to go to reform uk and this gives them an opportunity to say, consider that, consider what you are voting for if you do that. you heard nigel farage say, vote for me as a protest vote. here with the conservatives with this, it enables them to put a squeeze on reform uk and get people to think hard about their choices. a temporary us pier, designed to deliver aid to gaza, has once again been removed because of high seas. these are newly—released images of the pier in operation this month, showing aid being off—loaded from a ship. it�*s the third time weather conditions have forced the pier to be detached from the gaza coast since it became operational in mid—may. distributing the aid to gaza�*s population has also been problematic, because of israeli military operations nearby. as a result, aid is piling up at a depot onshore. a pentagon spokesperson has acknowledged that the marshalling area is almost full. if there is not enough room on the marshalling yard, then it doesn�*t make sense to put our men and women out there when there is nothing to move. there is still room. i don�*t want to give the impression that it is at capacity. it is certainly full. but we do need to see that marshalling yard opening up to allow for aid groups to continue that distribution so that we can get more aid in as we get it from cyprus. a court has acquitted all 28 people charged with money launde