Hello. Iran has launched a barrage of missiles at Tel Aviv and the rest of Israeli territory this evening. Despite no injuries being reported so far, the attack marks a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Frank Gardner assesses what may come next. You can also follow developments on our live page. Later on Tuesday, US vice-presidential nominees Tim Walz and JD Vance take part in their only debate before election day. Anthony Zurcher tells us why it matters. We're also reporting on an 81-year-old beauty queen in Seoul.

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Vance and Walz face off in only US VP debate

The two candidates will face off for 90 minutes. Credit: BBC 

US Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance and his Democratic rival Tim Walz will debate each other in New York City on Tuesday night. It likely will be the last debate before election day on 5 November. 

Why is this debate important?

In a tight race that could be decided by tens of thousands of votes in a handful of states, every opportunity to generate political momentum is precious. With no further debate scheduled before the election, the running-mate face-off could be the last chance for American voters to see the two tickets face each other. At the very least, tonight's debate will be a fascinating contrast between two men with very different styles and political beliefs.

How did the two candidates end up on that stage?

Donald Trump picked Vance back in July, just a day after his near-assassination. The former president was riding high in the polls, and his choice was viewed in part as a play to the white working class in the industrial Midwest - a key demographic in a region that is a top electoral battleground. Walz’s nomination was considerably more unlikely. The governor of Minnesota was not a leading contender for the job but his viral appearances on television, deriding Republicans as “weird”, and his ability to defend liberal policies in moderate-friendly language won Harris over.

What can we expect from them during the debate?

During the debate, Vance is likely to continue to hammer Democrats on the economy, immigration and crime - areas where polls show Trump and the Republicans are favoured. Walz may counter by highlighting Vance’s past controversial statements - on Ohio Haitians and his derisive remarks about Democratic women who don’t have children being “childless cat ladies”.

• Watch: My BBC Verify colleagues look at the claims made by the candidates on rally stages - which could come up in the debate.

• The world watches on: Several diplomats at the UN General Assembly last week told Nada Tawfik they were resigned to working with whoever is the next occupant of the White House. Here's why they seem disillusioned.

• Small-town America: With her Walz pick, Kamala Harris hopes to reach out to rural voters. John Sudworth speaks to Nebraskans to assess whether this might work.
   

THE BIG PICTURE

The 'mastermind' behind India's biggest jailbreak

Ajay Kanu escaped during the infamous jailbreak. Credit: Swastik Pal

On the night of 13 November 2005, 389 prisoners - many of them far-left rebels - escaped from the Jehanabad prison, in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. It's the largest jailbreak in the country's history. Soutik Biswas speaks to the Maoist rebel leader who Indian authorities accuse of being the "mastermind" behind the escape.

And finally... in South Korea

When the Miss Universe beauty pageant scrapped rules banning entrants over 28 this year, that was great news for Choi Soon-hwa, an 81-year-old former hospital worker. This week she competed to become Miss Universe South Korea, hoping for a place in the finals in Mexico. She lost out to a 22-year-old - but triumphed in the Best Dressed category.