for him to withdraw from the race for the new york times, the leading newspaper in the city he's visiting today, ironically, calling forjoe biden to withdraw from the race saying it would be a reckless gamble as a editorial put it were he to stay as a candidate for the and urging him to move aside to make way for somebody younger who could really take on donald trump. those sentiments have been echoed in the last few hours by another leading newspaper the chicago tribune. you mentioned joe biden is robust performance in north carolina yesterday for that you're absolutely right, he bounced back quite spectacularly for the taking to the stage seeming energised, everything but the shambling old man we saw on thursday night to tell his loyal supporters that yes, he wasn't drunk as he once was, he wasn't a great a debater as you'd once been but he was in honest man and he told the truth. well, whether that goes down well with the very anxious candidates will have to wait and see. we've seen people like barack obama, coming out to tamp down the flames to say look, there's a long way to run for the four months still to go to the selection but the concern is palpable. —— wasn't as young as he once was. to hear more about calls mr biden drop out of the race, i spoke with hugo lowell a senior political correspondent for the guardian. calling for president biden to drop out of the race, what kind of effect these will have? that kind of newspaper will certainly end up on the desk of the oval office at some point. it on the desk of the oval office at some point.— at some point. it will. i don't think it's _ at some point. it will. i don't think it's going _ at some point. it will. i don't think it's going to _ at some point. it will. i don't think it's going to have - at some point. it will. i don't think it's going to have the i think it's going to have the effect that the times wanted to. i think president biden famously among congressional campaigners doesn't like listening to the new york times. orany kind listening to the new york times. or any kind of major media he thinks they are naysayers and always questioning his ability. if anything the times running an editorial like this based on conversations over the weekend will probably encourage them to stay in it more. the people who have influence with biden and his thinking are his family and closest advisers with up those people like president obama say, joe, i think you need to step down, that will have influence but not the new york times. ~ ., ., , ., ~' influence but not the new york times. ~ ., ., ~ , times. what do you think comes next? was _ times. what do you think comes next? was still _ times. what do you think comes next? was still sorting _ times. what do you think comes next? was still sorting the - next? was still sorting the fallout of this debate. the president attending fundraisers today. what does he need to do today. what does he need to do to start to move ahead and really prove to his own party that he is the man to take on and defeat donald trump? president biden needs a reset. that is abundantly clear. i cannot tell you the number of millionaires, billionaires, the people who are big dollar doughnuts to the campaign had a collective freak out after the debate. the one thing that president biden has to do is convince people that his age is not going to be an issue. he struggled and frankly failed at that at the debate the other point he has to make of it this is where he is doing well and you should get credit his democracy is on the ballot in this election. his campaign and surrogates have always made the case that is a contest between an authoritarian like figure with donald trump who wants to reset the way the us government works to his own benefit and biden is the guide that is going to keep democracy as it is. that's the point he has distress to donors to keep them on his side. distress to donors to keep them on his side-— on his side. donald trump, his performance — on his side. donald trump, his performance was _ on his side. donald trump, his performance was filled - on his side. donald trump, his performance was filled with i on his side. donald trump, his performance was filled with a l performance was filled with a number of falsehoods. do you think on the other hand donald trump might be let off the hook a little bit here for a performance that maybe it wasn't as strong as some people think it was? i wasn't as strong as some people think it was?— think it was? i think that is fair. think it was? i think that is fair- trump _ think it was? i think that is fair. trump had _ think it was? i think that is fair. trump had somebody| fair. trump had somebody falsehoods and lies in every response he gave during that debate. and yet it got overshadowed by bidens performance. that'sjust overshadowed by bidens performance. that's just not the place that biden needs or wants to be. the fact of the matter is, trump is going to lie all the way through this. it ended up being incumbent on biden to fact check him because the moderators work to do that. loops wasn't a debate where the moderators were going to fact checked and biden struggled on that front as well.— that front as well. we're seeinu that front as well. we're seeing some _ that front as well. we're seeing some calls - that front as well. we're seeing some calls in - that front as well. we're seeing some calls in the j that front as well. we're - seeing some calls in the media from republicans calling on the presidents cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment of the constitution. this was basically to clearjoe biden unfit to serve and remove him from office now, not even talking about the election. is this a political ploy on the behalf of the republicans? filth. behalf of the republicans? oh, es. this behalf of the republicans? oh, yes- this is _ behalf of the republicans? oh, yes. this is pressure _ behalf of the republicans? oi yes. this is pressure from republicans to try and cause chaos in the democratic ranks and inside the west wing. it is clear that we're nowhere near that point where the president has to be removed. at worst he had a bad debate night where he struggled to finish some answers. he struggled to recollect things late at night. he is old. they are both similarly the closing date for the biden has been pretty good at legislating and governing for got a good team around him, he's been doing the nuts and bolts of government a long time. i don't think there is a competency question there is an age question were he to return to the white house next year for second term, whether that would be continual bold through four years. would be continual bold through four years-— four years. hypothetically, you can tell me _ four years. hypothetically, you can tell me the _ four years. hypothetically, you can tell me the odds _ four years. hypothetically, you can tell me the odds but - four years. hypothetically, you can tell me the odds but if- four years. hypothetically, you can tell me the odds but if joe| can tell me the odds but ifjoe biden were to step down who might be able to step into that void and actually run on the ticket? fix, void and actually run on the ticket? �* . , ., ticket? a tricky question. the likelihood _ ticket? a tricky question. the likelihood of _ ticket? a tricky question. the likelihood of that _ ticket? a tricky question. the likelihood of that happening i ticket? a tricky question. the | likelihood of that happening is zero. from a logistical standpoint and a president biden perspective, for biden to step down that is a decision he's got to make himself with at the moment as of right now he is nowhere close to that. we spoke to multiple people close to the president today and he is not in that frame of mind for that he thinks it was just one bad night and he can ride it through until november. with respect to the convention, what are democrats going to do? president biden won those primary states. he's got the delegates, you can't take them away, you can put up a new candidate the only way biden is not the nominee on the democratic ticket is if biden himself steps down and that is not close to happening. with just five days until the uk general election, prime minister rishi sunak and opposition leader keir starmer have been out campaigning on defence and support for veterans. at an event in london earlier the labour leader warned that nothing had been decided, even though opinion polls suggest labour is on course to win. visiting a temple on saturday night, the prime minister said his hindu faith guides him in his public service and said he is proud that the united kingdom was the world's most successful multi—ethnic, multi—faith community, adding "we should all be uplifted by that". meanwhile, reform uk has withdrawn support from three of its candidates because of offensive comments they reportedly made. our political correspondent, ben wright, reports. the finishing line is in sight. we've had the manifestos, the pitches and promises. now the campaigns are all about persuading supporters to get out and vote. change is possible. most of all, they need to be convinced. to vote for it because change doesn't happen unless you vote for it. labour's leader, sir keir starmer, has been rallying his party at an event in london this evening. there is a buzz within labour, confident but terrified of complacency, too far ahead in the opinion polls, but knowing it still needs to mobilize the party's voters. rishi sunak has been on the stump tonight too, at a temple in west london. the conservatives have spent the last few weeks defending the seats they currently hold, and warning voters not to risk a change of government. education, hard work, family. those are my values. those are your values. those are conservative values. still having more fun than any other leader on the campaign trail, the liberal democrats ed davey began his final tour of the country in scotland. we're here to win as many seats as we can, because if we have lots of liberal democrat mps in the next parliament, we will be able to get changes in our nhs and care system. we will be able to tackle the sewage scandal. meanwhile, the snp leader said only his party would stand up to spending cuts at westminster. people will only get that if they vote for the scottish national party and elect a strong group of snp mps. one thing that has united all party leaders today is fierce criticism of reform uk. this was a comedy act, but it was designed to hurt us and sadly, sadly, some people believe it. i've always been a tory voter. what annoys me... nigel farage has insisted a reform uk canvasser a reform uk canvasser racially insulting rishi sunak in an undercover report for channel racially insulting rishi sunak in an undercover report for channel 4 was a set up. channel 4 has again strongly rejected that claim, saying it was rigorous, impartialjournalism. but last night mr farage was also challenged about racist or offensive comments made by three of his candidates. the party now says they've been dropped. you know, we've been running, as it were, to catch up with the electoral timetable and it seems that we have made some mistakes, but we've, you know, uh, corrected those mistakes to the extent possible at this stage by dropping those candidates. but as we speed towards polling day, this is not the sort of scrutiny reform uk wants. iran will hold a run—off presidential election, after results released on saturday showed the lowest turn—out in decades. voters will now choose between conservative candidate saeed jalili and reformist massoud pezeskian on july the fifth. both failed to secure a majority in the first round, which saw only around 40% of iranians vote — a record—low since the 1979 islamic revolution. the election will decide who replaces ebrahim raisi who was killed in a helicopter crash last month, along with iran's foreign minister and six other people. i talked about the run—off presidential elections with negar mortazavi — an iranian—american journalist who's a senior fellow at the center for international policy. what more can you tell us about these two candidates now in this runoff election and the big differences between them? as you said, one of them, saeed jalili former nuclear negotiator and ultra hardliner negotiator and ultra ha rdliner and negotiator and ultra hardliner and conservative belonging to the core of that faction of the regime and by many believed to be the favourite or one of the top favourite candidates for the supreme leader. in the hardline regime for the massoud pezeshkian, a former health minister in the reformist administration, the reformist president, is a reformist five times member of parliament it was a surprise even that he was allowed to run for the that he was qualified for the election as a sole reformist candidate. the expectation was nobody would be able to run for that he essentially brought this upset result, the surprise result and is leading, he is not the winner, not the president yet they have to go to war runoff but he came out with the highest number of votes. in an election as you said with the lowest voter turnout for the you said you are surprised that massoud pezeshkian did as well as he did. , ., , ., pezeshkian did as well as he did. , .,, ., ., , did. he seen as a reformist what does _ did. he seen as a reformist what does that _ did. he seen as a reformist what does that actually - did. he seen as a reformist l what does that actually mean did. he seen as a reformist - what does that actually mean in iran? i've heard he is someone who's actually spoken out against the against the way the regime has treated some of those protesters seen in recent years. if those protesters seen in recent ears. ., ., ~' those protesters seen in recent ears, ., ., " ., those protesters seen in recent ears. ., ., , years. if we look at what is allowed — years. if we look at what is allowed within _ years. if we look at what is allowed within the - years. if we look at what isj allowed within the system, years. if we look at what is - allowed within the system, the regime of the islamic republic, what is considered legal oppositions, these reformist factions within the regime are the relative moderates, have different economic, political, social and cultural policies and views when it comes to comparison with the hardliners for that they are seen as the more liberal faction within the islamic republic. and massoud pezeshkian is one of those without the economic policies he promotes, foreign policy, as far as relations with the world, talking to the world, not fighting everyone, not in conflict with everyone, with our neighbours as he says. also critical of the social and cultural policies including the morality police. as he says the weight women and girls are being treated on the street, which is also a reference to the death of mo salah meeting two years ago. the the death of mo salah meeting two years ago-— two years ago. the turnout for this preliminary _ two years ago. the turnout for this preliminary route -- - two years ago. the turnout forj this preliminary route -- masa this preliminary route —— masa for that this seems to be a big movement to boycott for that do you think people might come off the sidelines if they have a chance to vote for somebody who they see is a reformist?— they see is a reformist? well, deafinu they see is a reformist? well, dealing with _ they see is a reformist? well, dealing with hybrid _ they see is a reformist? well, dealing with hybrid apathy - they see is a reformist? well, dealing with hybrid apathy for| dealing with hybrid apathy for all these reasons without a lot of grievances that the state is not responding. they've closed the space for what was relatively competitive elections in the past by eliminating an disqualifying reformist and moderate candidates for really giving very few options to the constituents to choose for the alto protest after protest has been met with violent crackdowns and really brutality by the state. this high level of apathy is seen in the low turnout at this presidential election and the one before. the runoff usually has a specific feel to it. maybe part of the constituency of the voters of the reformist will realise that their vote is really critical right now. that massoud pezeshkian was indeed able to pass through that filtering, that he was able to deliver this leading vote within that framework for them and if they don't come to the ballots they will have to live with someone like saeed jalili, ultraconservative, very hardline candidate for the next port to eight years of their lives. there is potential that massoud pezeshkian can pull this off and even come off as the winner in the runoff next week. if the winner in the runoff next week. , ., . ., , week. if you could 'ust remind us, it week. if you could 'ust remind it has * week. if you could 'ust remind us, it has been _ week. if you could 'ust remind us, it has been an _ week. if you could just remind us, it has been an interesting | us, it has been an interesting time for iran, just embroiled in all kinds of turmoil. just remind us of the background of what iran is going through in these elections.— these elections. they say cominu these elections. they say coming out _ these elections. they say coming out of _ these elections. they say coming out of about - these elections. they say coming out of about a - these elections. they say l coming out of about a year these elections. they say - coming out of about a year of protest, though women life freedom protest and the incarceration of the young woman by the morality breeds two years ago. iran is indirectly involved in the middle east war and what's going on between israel and not just thomas but the so—called axis of resistance to our allies and supported by iran. economic sanctions, very strict economic sanctions have been impacting the countries economy, in time but my combined with corruption. all things that have been discussed in debates but nevertheless not able to bring a big majority of voters to the polls. palestinian health officials say israeli strikes. in gaza killed at least 35 people on saturday. the israeli military says two soldiers were killed during fighting in the shejaiya neighbourhood of gaza city on friday. both hamas and the palestinian armed group islamichhad say they are fighting israeli forces. the united nations humanitarian agency estimates �*60,000 to 80,000�* palestinians were displaced this week and that people are living in �*unbearable' conditions. a senior hamas official based in neighbouring lebanon said on saturday that negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal with israel have not made any progress. a report by us media outlet axios says us officials have drafted new language in the ceasefire proposals to bridge the gap between israel and hamas. humanitarian workers have started to move tons of aid that piled up at a us build pier off the gaza coast to warehouses. the temporary pier, designed to deliver aid to gaza, has once again been removed because of high seas. it's the third time since it became operational in mid—may that weather conditions have forced the pier to be detached from the gaza coast. officials in kenya are preparing for more protests despite the president's withdrawal of controversial plans to raise taxes. kenya's defence minister says the army will stay on the streets until calm is restored, following a week of unrest and political turmoil. but human rights groups warn that using force could worsen the situation on the ground. at least 23 protesters were killed at the peak of the demonstrations on tuesday, when activists broke into the parliament building and set part of it on fire. lawyers estimate that an intelligence police unit ab