this is bbc news, the headlines: on his second day in hospital, donald trump has tweeted a video thanking well—wishers, and says he‘s making progress but admits he still expects to remain at the walter reed medical centre for a few this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching more days to come. here in the uk, on pbs in america or around the globe. i'm james reynolds. our top stories: and in other news — donald trump says he's doing despite international calls well in hospital where he's for calm, fighting has being treated for coronavirus intensified in the disputed but expects to remain region of nagorno—karabakh for the time being. with reports of civilians being targeted. armenia‘s prime minister says the country is facing a decisive moment as it battle azerbaijan for control you don't know, over the next of the region. period of a few days, i guess that's the real test, so we will be seeing what happens over those next couple of days. at least three people have died meanwhile, as more senior republicans test positive, and dozens are missing we ask — was last week's unveiling of the president's after a powerful storm hit southern france and north—western italy. supreme court nominee at the white house a number of villages suffered a super—spreader event? serious damage around the southern french city of nice, with the mayor calling and in other news, civilian areas come under fire as the conflict in the disputed region of nagorno karabakh intensifies. at least three people are killed and more than 30 missing after storm alex hits parts of south—eastern

france and northern italy. president trump is free of fever and improving after being hospitalised with covid—19 — but is not yet out of danger, according to his physician, dr sean conley. in a statement released in the last couple of hours, he said mr trump was ‘not yet out of the woods‘, but his medical team remains ‘cautiously optimistic‘. earlier, the president released a video in which he said he feels much better, but that the next few days would be a "real test". let‘s listen to mr trump now. i want to begin by thanking all of the incredible medical professionals — the doctors, the nurses, everybody — at walter reed medical centre — i think it‘s the finest

in the world — — for the incrediblejob they‘ve been doing. i came here, wasn‘t feeling so well. i feel much better now. we‘re working hard to get me all the way back. i have to be back, because we still have to make america great again. we‘ve done an awfully good job of that, but we still have steps to go, and we have to finish thatjob. and i‘ll be back — i think i‘ll be back — soon. and i look forward to finishing up the campaign the way it was started and way we‘ve been doing, and the kind of numbers that we‘ve been doing. we‘ve been so proud of it. but this was something that happened, and it‘s happened to millions of people all over the world, and i‘m fighting for them, notjust in the us. i‘m fighting for them all over the world. we‘re going to beat this coronavirus, or whatever you want to call it, and we‘re going to beat it soundly. so many things have happened. if you look at the therapeutics which i‘m taking right now,

some of them, and others are coming out soon that‘re looking like, frankly, they‘re miracles, if you want to know the truth. they‘re miracles. people criticise me when i say that, but we have things happening that look like they‘re miracles, coming down from god. so i just want to tell you that i‘m starting to feel good. you don‘t know — over the next period of a few days, i guess that‘s the real test, so we‘ll be seeing what happens over the next couple of days. i just want to be so thankful for all of the support i‘ve seen, whether it‘s on television or reading about it. i most of all appreciate what‘s been said by the american people, by almost a bipartisan consensus of american people. it‘s a beautiful thing to see, and i very much appreciate it, and i won‘t forget it — i promise you that. i also want to thank the leaders of the world for their condolences. they know what we are going through.

they know, as your leader, what i have to go through. but i had no choice, because i just didn‘t want to stay in the white house. i was given that alternative — stay in the white house, lock yourself in, don‘t ever leave, don‘t even go to the oval office. just stay upstairs and enjoy it. don‘t see people, don‘t talk to people and just be done with it. and i can‘t do that. i had to be out front. and this is america, this is the united states, this is the greatest country in the world, this is the most powerful country in the world. i can‘t be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe and just say, "hey, whatever happens happens" — i can‘t do that. we have to confront problems. as a leader you have to confront problems. there‘s never been a great leader that would have done that. so, that‘s where it is. i‘m doing well. i want to thank everybody. our first lady is doing very well. melania asked me to say something as to the respect that she has for our country,

the love that she has for our country. and we‘re both doing well. melania is really handling it very nicely. as you‘ve probably read, she‘s slightly younger than me — just a little, tiny bit — and therefore, we know the disease, we know the situation with age versus younger people, and melania‘s handling it statistically like it‘s supposed to be handled, and that makes me very happy and it makes the country very happy. but i am also doing well, and i think we‘re going to have a very good result. again, over the next few days, we‘re going to probably know for sure. so i just want to thank everybody out there — everybody — all over the world, specifically the united states. the outpouring of love has been incredible. i will never forget. thank you very much. our north america correspondent, peter bowes, joins me now.

i‘m sorry about the alarm sorry that rosa laurie and will we saw that video in the last hour oi’ saw that video in the last hour orso, saw that video in the last hour or so, there has there has been a statement from the president‘s physician saying he is a fever free. will that statement and confusion over the president‘s health or is confidence now so shattered in the . for the next two days 48 hours, it will be crucial. crucial to know the course of his recovery. there seemed to be having the same message, if you like. for many americans, certainly mr trump‘s supporters, that is the kind of message they have been hoping to hear over the last few days.

different to the mixed messages we had earlier on the day on saturday. the very nature of the trump administration and everything that swirls around it, it will mean that many people will continue to be sceptical in terms of they what have then told by the white house, perhaps even is —— sceptical of what the white house doctors have to say about trump‘s position because that has been something all the way through his administration, the m essa 9 es through his administration, the messages sometimes don‘t add up. are there, somewhere in america, a bunch of coronavirus detectives now going through the footage of that rosa garden ceremony a week ago in which president trump nominated a supreme courtjustice which might now be seen as a super spreader event? we had very quickly after the news that president trump had tested positive that contact tracing was under way. this is a statement from the white house a couple of days ago now so you can imagine those detectives

that you talk about have been ha rd that you talk about have been hard at work for a couple of days, scrutinising the footage of that particular event and we talk about that because it does seem to be the super spreader event, as we described them, where lots of people turn up to be positive. we can only assume the virus would be passed from person to person, they were sitting closely together, some people not wearing masks during that event but of course there have been other events as well. the debate, a rally that president trump attended and fundraiser as well, very close to the time, just the day before he was diagnosed as positive. those virus detectives will be hard at work and they have a lot of ground, potentially a lot of people, thousands of people, to check out. ruefully, we have seen a line saying the secretary of state mike pompeo is cutting short his trip to asia. what should we make of that? yes, he is due to go tojapan, he should we make of that? yes, he is due to go to japan, he was

going to go to mongolia and south korea as well, a couple of extra legs on this particular trip. they have been cancelled. we have been told they will be rescheduled later in the month. this will be a short trip for mike pompeo, he will be back in just a couple of days lupus time. what we can ta ke of days lupus time. what we can take this is a couple of things. —— a couple of days lupus tabletop he is being careful about simply mixing with other people. he did a videoconference speech when he was asked about his health and he says he is in good health and has been tested frequently. also there is the element of perhaps him just not wanting to be too far away from home during these very difficult and uncertain times for the president. peter bowes, thanks so president. peter bowes, thanks so much. so what can we say about the president‘s medical condition? a little earlier before the most a little earlier before the m ost rece nt a little earlier before the most recent statement by the white house, i spoke to doctor cedric dark is an emergency medicine physician and assistant professor at baylor college of medicine in houston, texas.

i‘m happy to see that the president is looking good. however, not knowing any of the details of his medical condition, not knowing what his chest x—ray looks like and all his vital signs, it‘s inappropriate to completely speculate about that. what i will say is that knowing someone that has been hospitalised, who has been on oxygen, this isn‘t going to be an easy road for him. when you look at some of the science behind this, and the study of remdesivir from the new england journal of medicine, the mortality rate for people in mr trump‘s position was somewhere around 7% for the next 14 days of the disease. in the recovery trial, which studied dexamethasone in hospitalised patients with coronavirus, we are talking at mortality rate of nearly 25% over the span of a month. right now he is looking 0k, but you have to remember this is extraordinarily early in the disease phase.

the second week tends to be the worst for people that have coronavirus because of the inflammatory effects that the body puts out, so i think next week is going to be the true test of what will happen to the president. he himself has essentially made that point in the video, saying the next few days are crucial. what difference does it make to that stage, knowing he is actually hospital and the doctors can monitor him minute by minute? does that help? i do think that has some help to it, because he can be more monitored than he is in his home or the white house. but at the same time this is a disease that for the most part we in the medical profession watching and waiting to see what happens to the patient and reacting to them as opposed to something we are able to control. a lot of medicine is waiting and hoping the therapeutics we have do theirjob, but right now there is no cure. the best thing that people in america and around the world can still do is to make sure you are wearing a mask, staying socially distant

and avoiding contact with people, like the president and his inner circle, who are now starting to demonstrate the effects of being at a super spreader event. what is the significance of the reports we‘ve been getting saying he was given oxygen at the white house on friday? all that means realistically is his oxygen levels may have been lower. he may have felt a little bit short of breath. i wouldn‘t read too much into that, other than the fact that people who require oxygen tend to be sicker than people that do not require oxygen. butjudging anything beyond that is a little bit difficult to speculate upon. thank you so much forjoining us. you can keep up to date with donald trump‘s condition by heading to our website. there‘s also analysis on how these events may affect the us presidential election. go to bbc.com/us2020. let‘s get some of the day‘s other news. guatemala says it has deported more than 2,000 migrants who entered the country

illegally in the past few days as part of a caravan heading north towards the us border. local media reported that hundreds of hondurans agreed to leave, and others were put on military trucks and sent back. a peace deal has been signed between the government of sudan and an alliance of rebel groups aimed at ending decades of conflict which have left hundreds of thousands of people dead. several heads of state attended the ceremony which took place in juba, the capital of neighbouring south sudan. the prime minister of armenia says his country is facing a decisive moment, as it battles azerbaijan for control of the disputed region of nagorno—karabakh. clashes have intensified despite international calls for calm. azerbaijan says it will continue its offensive until the region is under its control. 0ur correspondentjonah fisher sent this report from the region‘s capital stepanakert — which has come under heavy shelling. one of the world‘s oldest conflicts... explosions ..is very much alive.

we are being shelled in stepanakert, nagorno—karabakh. stepa na kert. it‘s an ethnic armenian town that under international law belongs to azerbaijan. the reality of life in nagorno—karabakh for the last few days, under assault from the air — it sounds like artillery but there have been drone strikes too. those azeri shells hit this residential building near our hotel, killing one and destroying the homes of dozens of others, like 78—year—old rita, who once had azeris as neighbours. we had many friends from azerbaijan here but now we are enemies. great enemies.

that is why we— i, personally, don‘t want to live with them and don‘t want to speak to them. this first week of war has been marked by azerbaijan‘s use of military drones striking at will. nearly three decades after losing nagorno—karabakh, the azeris appear intent on claiming it back. they are trying to invade, and they do everything to invade, to terrorise the people, civilians here. and you think that‘s why they are using drones and aerial strikes in this way? for sure. some have seen enough and are leaving to find safety. anoush tells us her husband has gone to the front line and she must get out with their children. but the aerial threat is never far away. this soldier is warning that drones have been spotted, and shortly afterwards there is an explosion nearby.

everybody is scrambling to come in here. a real reminder, as they were fleeing, as to why this place is increasingly dangerous for people, under attack, day and night. jonah fisher, bbc news, stepa na kert. this is bbc news. our top story: donald trump has tweeted a video from hospital saying he‘s doing well, but still expects to remain at the walter reed medical center for a few more days. so, i just want to tell you that i‘m starting to feel good. you don‘t know, over the next period of a few days, i guess that‘s the real test, so we will be seeing what happens over those next couple of days. let‘s stay with our top story and speak to neilj young, a writer, historian and co—host of the podcast past—present. a president in hospital one month before an election struck

by the same disease which defines the vote. has america seen defines the vote. has america seen anything like this before? no. this feels unprecedented, certainly presidents have been struck ill in campaigns before but i think never in a way that is the biggest news story of a year, of a campaign cycle, i‘ve really a n year, of a campaign cycle, i‘ve really an era. this feels very unprecedented. you've got what 240 yea rs of unprecedented. you've got what 240 years of history to choose from if i ask the following question, and you think of any era which is like the one but we are living through, or you are living through? it is hard to, if we are thinking about american history, 2020 seems particularly unique in terms of all of the things that are happening for this nation and for this world and i think all of the things that are under consideration for voters as they go into the election in they go into the election in the coming weeks. it is only the coming weeks. it is only the fourth of october. surely, all the october surprises have

now been done! there are usually won every election but have we have —— have we had it oi’ have we have —— have we had it or will they be twist in the coming weeks? i'm scared to make a prediction on those grounds because who knows what 2020 has left to give us? but this is one for the record books for sure. can you remember a time, neil, books for sure. can you remembera time, neil, in books for sure. can you remember a time, neil, in which politics was boring and drama— free? well, it's hard to remember because i think first of all the live in a different media age, i different political culture, you know, there are different consensus cultures of the mid—20th century but even then i wouldn‘t say american politics we re wouldn‘t say american politics were boring. i think what is happening now though is more than just exciting, for many americans, it is terrifying and thatis americans, it is terrifying and that is a different dimension it comes to politics and to campaigns and to an upcoming election that again feels not unprecedented, there have been

high—stakes unprecedented, there have been high—sta kes elections before, certainly, but one in which i think so many americans feel real terror about not just who is in the office of the presidency but how that office is going to dramatically shape a pandemic that has not been curtailed at all. one of the remaining few weeks of the campaign going to be like if one of the candidates is in hospital and the other is under restrictive movement because of the pandemic? will it be a return to front porch campaigns that we have not seen for 100 yea rs ? that we have not seen for 100 years? i think we have seen it already. it‘s important to remember thatjust already. it‘s important to remember that just because trumpism the hospital now, is already an unusual election in terms of what the candidates are able to do —— trumpet is in. although trump is testing the bounds of that by holding these rallies. —— trump is in. i think biden‘s campaign will

do things a little bit more slowly in the coming days out of respect but i think it is important to remember two things, one is that many americans have already voted. millions of votes have already been cast either by mail or early election states like virginia and the second thing i think that is important to remember is i do not think the democrats and certainly biden i going to make trump‘s prognosis 01’ going to make trump‘s prognosis or his diagnosis rather a campaign issue. the dnc is not going to run commercials on this. biden is certainly not going to campaign on this. i bring that all up just to say i think it is important to remember that were the situation reversed, if biden we re situation reversed, if biden were the one with coronavirus, ido were the one with coronavirus, i do not think we would expect the same thing from republicans and certainly not from trump. he has already put that out there for several months now that trump is an old, sick, doctoring man and so we can imagine how he would have

handled this scenario, had biden been the one that came down with coronavirus. thank you so much. at least three people have died and dozens more are missing after storm alex struck brought devastation to south—eastern france and northern italy, destroying bridges, blocking roads and leaving communities isolated. mark lobel reports. catastrophic scenes for this french commune. an intense rescue effort to get out in time. roads, bridges and homes washed away. an elderly couple took refuge on the roof of this house but their home was swept down the river. translation: we tried to convince them to come out and unfortunately, we didn‘t succeed. the road manager managed to reach his hand out to the lady and tried to tell her to come out but nothing.

and in the end, the whirlwind crashed right through the house and the house floated away, and them with it. france‘s prime minister has announced financial support and deployed the army to help these crushed communities. "the priority is to find the victims," he says, "and provide accommodation for those affected, as well as restore the means of communication for those hardest hit." in northern italy, roads and bridges were swept away too. residents rescued from their roofs. but not everyone was so lucky. a firefighter lost his life, and a man in his 30s, whose car was swept into a river. beach clubs were flooded. towns destroyed. and on italy‘s coast, it was not business as usual.

this woman says she has to laugh not to cry. this man says his food products are unsellable. and this woman says water came up and this woman says water came up to her knees, ripping down shelves. as calm follows the storm, they are left to count the cost of the clear—up. mark lobel, bbc news. 0ne place that‘s avoided flooding is venice — thanks in no small part to a new but long—delayed barrier system that was used for the first time. a network of 78 barriers now guard the entrance to the venetian lagoon and stopped high tide inundating the city with water. venice has suffered with perennial flooding and the multibillion—dollar defence system was supposed to be up and running in 1999. now let‘s take a look at all the sports news. —— the authorities in each of have unveiled dozens of conference recently discovered near cairo.

—— the authorities in egypt have unveiled dozens of ancient coffins, recently discovered at a burial ground near cairo. it‘s thought they contain the remains of priests and other senior figures who lived around 2,500 years ago. it‘s the first such discovery to take place since the coronavirus pandemic. tim allman reports. archaeologically speaking, the sands of saqqara are the gift that keeps on giving. for around 3000 years, the dead were buried here. and now, once more, it gives up its secrets. dozens of ornately decorated coffins, found buried deep below the surface. not just an important historical find, but the source of some national satisfaction, too. i‘m very proud that this discovery of today, with 59 wooden coffins in perfect condition of preservation, was done by egyptian mission and egyptian hands. the coffins are believed to date back to the 6th or 7th century bc, around the time of the 26th dynasty, the last native rulers of egypt before the persian conquest.

their occupants were most likely priests, dignitaries, traders, important figures, and there may well be more to come, with other coffins still to be found. so today is not the end of the discovery. i consider it is the beginning of the big discovery. these sarcophagi will now be moved to the soon—to—be—opened grand egyptian museum. another chapter in the ancient history of a country truly blessed with reminders of its past. tim allman, bbc news. a reminder of our main story, president donald trump is now beginning his second night in hospital at walter reed in the north of washington. a statement released by the white house physician says the president is now free of fever and improving. doctor sean conley also said mr trump was not yet out of the woods. mr

trump himself has released a video on twitter. please stay with us. hello there. it‘s been a thoroughly wet night up and down the country and we continue with more heavy rain through this morning, in fact maybe across western and southern areas, where we‘re likely to see more transport disruption, some further flooding in places. and it‘s here where the winds will be strongest as well. all tied in with this area of low pressure. you can see where the isobars are closest together across more western and south—western areas, and this is where we will have that weather front as well, bringing that heavy and persistent rain. now, the amber warning across south—west england and wales is likely to persist up until around midday today, so we could see further flooding here through the morning period, whereas further north, the amber warning across eastern scotland should expire early this morning as the rain begins to pivot away and push towards the west.

so we should see a little bit of brightness appearing here as the day wears on. the heaviest of the rain will tend to be across northern ireland, down into wales, south—west england, across the south and south—east as well. but even here, the rain should start to move away as we head on into the afternoon. central areas — lighter winds, some sunshine around and it‘s here where we will see some heavy, slow—moving showers. temperatures reach around 15 or 16, but feeling quite chilly across the south—east. into sunday night, it looks like those rain bands begin to spread away from the uk but we will continue to see lots of showers spiralling around the centre of the low. some lengthy clear spells in between and when that happens, it could turn chilly in one or two spots — generally 8—10 for most. low pressure still with us then as we head on into the new working week for monday. it will be slowly filling, which means it will be gradually weakening through the day, so conditions should slowly improve as we move through the week. but for monday, again, we will see scattered showers around, the winds not quite

as strong, some of the showers that develop could be on the heavy side again. some could merge together to produce longer spells of rain. but in the sunshine, again, we could see 15 or 16 degrees, and that is where we could see some of the heaviest of the showers. if we move out of monday, i will show you our area of low pressure begins to fill more and drift northwards. it opens a north—westerly wind across the uk which will drive in a few showers, but we should also see good spells of sunshine as well, so i think it‘s really a slow improvement as we move through the week. that low pressure system moving away. and if anything, by the end of the week, high pressure will start to build in, so that will settle things down. 00:29:25,196 --> 2147483051:51:27,313 jonah fisher, 2147483051:51:27,313 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 bbc news, stepa na kert.