The top ten leading democratic contenders hoping to take on donald trump in the 2020 us president ial election have been going head to head in a much anticipated televised debate. Healthcare featured heavily at the start, but all eyes were on how centrist and former Vice President joe biden, seen as the frontrunner, performed against popular hopefuls Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Lets head to houston, and laura trevelyan, who can give us some reaction to the debate. Well, joe biden went into this as the front runner. The former Vice President s Campaign Team said at the beginning of the night that he had a target on his back, and so indeed it proved. And just to illustrate that, here is howjulian castro, one of the ten contenders on the stage, tried to go off tojoe biden, not very subtly, and tried to imply that perhaps he was getting old and forgetting things. Lets listen to that exchange. Barack obamas vision was not to leave 10 million 0bamas vision was not to leave 10 Million People uncovered. He wanted every Single Person in this country covered. My plan would do that, your plan would not. They do not have to buy in. They do not have to buy in. You just said that. You just said that two minutes ago. You just said two minutes ago that they would have to buy in. You said they would have to buy in. You said they would have to buy in. Are you forgetting what you said two minutes ago . Are you forgetting already what you said, just two minutes ago . Sojoe biden so joe biden taking sojoe biden taking some incoming fire there, but in general he did hold his ground and he managed to turn this whole question of healthcare and how his progressive opponents Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, how they would pay for their expansive plans, he did manage to put them on the defensive. And so as well did senator Amy Klobuchar. She took issue with Bernie Sanders and his big vision of mega care for all, that is basically government healthcare for everyone and not just the government healthcare for everyone and notjust the over 65 s, and she actually suggested that this plan would take away private Health Insurance from those who have it. Here is senator Amy Klobuchar taking issue with that vision of Bernie Sanders. And while bernie wrote the bill, i read the bill, and on page eight. 0n read the bill, and on page eight. On page eight of the bill, it says that we will no longer have private insurance, as we know it. And that means that 149 million americans will no longer be able to have their current insurance. That is in four yea rs. Current insurance. That is in four years. I dont think that is a bold idea, i think it is a bad idea. Senator Amy Klobuchar theyre putting the progressives on the defensive over their Healthcare Plans. Now, gun control also defensive over their Healthcare Plans. Now, gun controlalso came defensive over their Healthcare Plans. Now, gun control also came up in this debate in texas. They have been two Mass Shootings this summer alone, one in el paso, texas, and another one in odessa, and beto orourke, formerly the congressman from el paso, he is running for president , one of the candidates on stage, he supports a mandatory buyback of assault weapons, of all of the assault weapons in america. Here is what he had to say. When we see that being used against children, and in odessa i met the mother of a 15 Year Old Girl who was shot by an hour 15 and that mother watched her bleed to death over the course of an hour because so many other people were shot by that ar 15 in odessa, in midland, there werent enough ambulances to get to them in time. Hell yes, were going to take your ar 15, your ak 47. They are not allowed to be used against our fellow americans anymore. Beto 0rourke there on that proposal to ta ke beto 0rourke there on that proposal to take back assault weapons in the wa ke to take back assault weapons in the wake of those Mass Shootings. So for more 110w wake of those Mass Shootings. So for more now on the debate and where it leaves this still crowded field of ten candidates, i am joined by the bbcs anthony zurcher. So anthony, another marathon debate. Joe biden, did he managed to defend his front runner status and blunt Elizabeth Warrens momentum at all . runner status and blunt Elizabeth Warrens momentum at all . I think he had an up and down debate. I think he was much sharper than he has been in the past, certainly much sharper than the last debate where it was kind of a muddled mess between him and harris. You have that exchange you showed of him turning to Bernie Sanders, i think he looks good there. I think Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders both tried to give it to him. I think Elizabeth Warren did a betterjob of kind of explaining the progressive position on this. Later on baden seem to fade a little bit. There was a moment he gave this long, extended rambling answer to a question about the history of Racial Discrimination in the United States which included telling children to listen to record players. But then he brought it back around again towards the end, talking about his personal loss when asked about what sort of adversities he has faced professionally. And anthony, what about all the candidates at the fringes . Did anyone punch through . Is this going to help anyones campaign, get them out of the Single Digits . Well, lets see, andrew young promised to give 1000 a day to ten lucky american families, if that doesnt break through, i dont know what is going to break through. All of the candidates had their moments. It was interesting to see the top ten candidates on the stage and there are still 11 or 12 candidates out there campaigning who wa nt to candidates out there campaigning who want to make later debates, but beto 0rourke, as you have discussed, and showing that clip, he has had a rough debate in the past, but he was talking about gun control, in a passionate, personal sort of way, having come from el paso. I think this was his best debate by far. Cory booker has been good, solid all along. Amy klobuchar, i think she had good moments as well. The question is can she break through . I think the democratic voters are by and large very satisfied with the top three candidates. I dont think anything is to change their mind about it that this debate. So there is some way to go, of course. But what is going to have to happen to change the fact that it is really biden, harris and sanders . Bernie sanders and Elizabeth Warren, i dont know. I mean, biden would have to have a serious stumble. He didnt have that kind of stumble in this debate. He is not going to put concerns about his age and maybe his quickness on his feet entirely to bed with this performance, but he is going to be able to continue on, and so going to be able to continue on, and so far nothing really has dented that 30 35 so far nothing really has dented that 30 35 support he has had. Elizabeth warren again look sharp. I think what is going to be interesting to watch, Going Forward from here, is if the progressives decide to start settling around Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren. Is there one or another that they like more . And maybe this debate help to figure that out, maybe it didnt. But thats a dynamic that, if one of them start to really build up momentum, they could catch biden in the polls. Anthony zurcher, thank you so much for being with us. And by the way, anthony is a texan, and we are here in texas, so that analysis even more apt than usual tonight. Joe biden still the front runner after this debate, still has Elizabeth Warren breathing down his shoulders, and Bernie Sanderss collectability the most important thing, that is what democrats tell pole pollsters, they want someone who can beat donald trump, in this process of choosing who they pick to ta ke process of choosing who they pick to take on donald trump next year. Back to you. Members of the public have been paying their respects to the former zimbabwean president robert mugabe, whose body is lying in state at a stadium in the capital, harare. His family and the government have disagreed over mr mugabes final resting place. State television is reporting that the countrys current president has agreed the mugabe familys wishes should be respected. The government in the bahamas has issued a Tropical Storm warning for the same group of islands where Hurricane Dorian left at least 50 people dead and more than 1,000 others missing. It said the storm had the potential to strengthen into a cyclone within the next day or two and move towards florida. British airways has started cancelling flights scheduled for 27 september, when another strike by pilots is expected. Ba plans to run more flights than they did on strike days earlier this week, but the majority of flights will be cancelled. All six crew members were asleep when a fire broke out last week on board a california dive boat, leaving 34 people dead, the National Transportation safety board has said. Under federal law, the 75 foot conception should have had a nightwatchman who was awake and able to alert others to a fire or other mishaps. Doctors in syria say hospitals in rebel held areas are being deliberately targeted with air strikes by the Syrian Government, even though that is a war crime. The move is the latest atrocity in a conflict that began more than eight years ago and has left hundreds of thousands of people dead. 0ur middle east correspondent Quentin Sommerville and cameraman Darren Conway have travelled to idlib, in the north west of syria, where opposition fighters, islamist extremists and civilians are largely surrounded by government forces. Here is their report. The sick, the injured, the needy. There is little space left for them in idlib. Dr mohib khaddour treats more than 1,000 patients a day, with just a tiny staff. There is a large number of patients and its just a few doctors, specialists. There is we have three orfour, just. The current ceasefire came too late for amal. Her name means hope, something fast diminishing in idlib. She lost her father, her mother and her brother in one years. She just has a sister, also injured in the last attack. Unfortunately, she needs many operations and skin grafts. Its a very sad story, i think. Life is collapsing here. Why is this happening . She whispers. 3. 5 Million People in the province are wondering the same. The world isnt listening. Doctor, do you have any doubt that the regime and russia are targeting specifically hospitals and medical facilities . Never. Im sure that Russian Air Force and the regime, assad regime, attack many times all hospitals and health facilities. Its fact, like sun, like moon. Its fact in syria, and many hospitals destroyed, and still destroyed til now. Syrias war is reaching new depths in idlib. This was a hospital until russia and the regime took it out, one of many we passed that appear to have been specifically targeted. In fields or in hillsides, the onslaught found them. Nearby buildings remained untouched. The United Nations passed on a record of their co ordinates to russia to ensure their protection. Instead, it became a target hit list, as the same places were hit again and again. Russia and the regimes campaign has been horribly effective. Its terrifying. All of these towns and villages that weve gone through have been abandoned, because this is a war against what matters to people their homes, their schools and their hospitals. This was a hospital until a few months ago. Its one of 40 that have been attacked since april this year, and its causing people to flee in their tens of thousands. This is the last refuge of those who oppose a government which has brought their country to ruin. How can you still, in these dire straits, pass over co ordinates to russia, which are then shared with the regime, which will involve more targeting when this ceasefire ends . So, the co ordinates is a preventative mechanism. Many of the facilities. But it isnt preventing attacks on hospitals. At the same time, i think were now upping further strengthening the mechanism, further. 40 hospitals have been attacked in the last few months. And many more schools have been attacked, and many water points have received direct hits. So the system is broken. So the system of preventing and protecting the civilians has completely failed. As humanitarian workers, i dont think we can be blamed for that. I think, as humanitarian workers, we provide life saving assistance, and we really ask everybody with these co ordinates to make sure that this is respected. If anything, sharing the co ordinates should bring more awareness more, also, accountability. That gives little reassurance on the ground. Life here is filled with peril. Going to work is an act of courage. Medical staff say they have a target on their backs, so head nurse nair al aswad takes care when he goes to a hospital in a secret location. His hospital is buried deep out of reach of the bombs. We were told to move fast too. Even under this solid rock, they await the next attack. The un says humanitarian operations are about to reach breaking point. Air strikes arent the only worry. If regime Ground Forces advance a few kilometres, then here will be abandoned too. So people continue to race to the border. We headed south, deep into idlib, escorted by the self styled salvation government. The men who rule here are deemed terrorists by the west, but these camps are full of families and innocents. The assad regime doesnt discriminate. Theres no question that attacking civilians, hospitals, schools is a war crime. Do you think anybody will ever face justice . I dont think. Nobody cares. I hope i can see justice in syria for everyone who injures syrian people, but i dont think i will see it, or in my life, at least. Amal and taznin have known only this war. Its far from over, but already the living, the dead, the injured, have been forgotten here. Stay with us on bbc world news. Still to come can pizza prevent cancer . Can a machine change a babys nappy . These were the questions that winners of this years ignobel prize tried to answer. George w bush freedom itself was attacked this morning, and freedom will be defended. The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible. Bishop tutu now becomes spiritual leader of 100,000 anglicans here, of the blacks in soweto township, as well as the whites in their rich suburbs. We say to you today in a loud and a clear voice enough of blood and tears. Enough translation the difficult decision we reached together was one that required great and exceptional courage. Its an exodus of up to 60,000 people caused by the uneven pace of political change in eastern europe. Iam free this is bbc world news. The latest headlines there have been impassioned exchanges about healthca re at the start of a televised debate involving the ten leading contenders for the Us Democratic partys president ial nomination. Doctors in syria have told the bbc that hospitals in rebel held areas of Idlib Province are being deliberately targeted with air strikes. The british Prime Minister has denied lying to the queen about his reasons for suspending parliament. Boris johnson was speaking after scotlands highest civil court ruled wednesday that the shutdown was unlawful because it was intended to hinder parliamentary debate. Mrjohnson also dismissed concerns about newly released government papers detailing preparations for a no deal brexit scenario that contained warnings of medical shortages, food price rises and major cross channel trade delays. He said the documents were just sensible preparations. 0ur political editor, laura kuenssberg, reports. Almost a year to the day, this document was snapped by a beady eyed photographer in westminster. A hint of the turmoil the government believed might come if we leave without a deal. 12 months later, after leaks and suspicion, at last, ministers have been forced to publish the actual details. Do you understand what on earth were doing . Great, because i dont. Lets hope they do know what theyre doing, because leaving without arrangements in place could mean shortages of some food, protests, severe disruption at the irish border, and much more. If we have to come out on 31 october with no deal, we will be ready. And the ports will be ready, and the farming communities will be ready, and all the industries that matter will be ready for a no deal brexit. All chant stop the coup after clashes in parliament, mps did change the law to make it much harder for the government to take us out if there is no agreement with brussels by the end of october. But the Prime Minister is adamant hed find a way round that to stick to his deadline. So neither side has any intention at this stage of backing down. If we were to allow the country to leave without a deal on 31 october, we would not be serving our constituents w