The crisis in lebanon has intensified with the leader of the militant shia group, hezbollah, now accusing saudi arabia of declaring war on his country. It comes just days after the lebanese Prime Minister saad hariri announced his resignation while in the saudi capital. The un and others in the International Community have warned other countries against using lebanon as a pawn. In a wider regional confrontation between the major sunni power saudi arabia, and shia dominated iran. From the lebanese capital beirut, martin patience sent this report. For a region in turmoil, beirut served as a sanctuary from the violence. But now it finds itself at the centre of the growing struggle between saudi arabia and iran. Speaks arabic. In a move that has stunned lebanon, the Prime Minister resigned suddenly last weekend. Not at home, but in saudi arabia. He lashed out at iran, accusing it of destabilising the entire region. Today, irans proxy in lebanon shot back. The leader of hezbollah claimed riyadh was holding the Prime Minister hostage. In a bid to defuse the crisis, the french president Emmanuel Macron stopped briefly in the kingdom. He met the Saudi Crown Prince mohammed bin salman, who is pursuing a tough line against iran. Many in lebanon share his view that tehran is too influential. Some people are seeking dividends in lebanon for the role that they played in syria. Those people are iran and hezbollah . Yes, theyve openly expressed that. That we fought isis in syria, we drew isis away from lebanese borders and therefore we need to be recognised. During the civil war here in the 1980s, the city was divided by warring parties. And this building was on the front line. But today, lebanon is divided by the regional struggle. And the countrys seen as a pawn by the bigger players. Everyones reassuring us that everything will be ok but that doesnt mean that it is. But weve been through worse, so we are trying, just hanging on there. Its a play of power and were in the middle but its always like this for lebanon. For 30, 40 years. But the fear is the dynamic is far more dangerous than in the past. In the last few decades weve never been so close to the precipice. In many ways the threat of regional war has never been this real, if you like. Beirut famously partied through its civil war. And tonight, its no different, but this is a region on edge, and the International Community is calling for calm. The us secretary of state Rex Tillerson has added his voice to International Warnings against the escalating crisis. Hes urged other countries to avoid getting drawn into using lebanon for proxy conflicts. Mr tillerson said hed received assurances that mr hariri was not imprisoned in saudi arabia and said the us supported an independent lebanon. The Comedian Louis ck has admitted to claims of Sexual Misconduct made against him by five women. The allegations were first brought to light by the New York Times. In responding to the article, louis ck said the bbc has been speaking with cara buckley, a culture reporter with the New York Times and part of the team that broke the story. After harvey weinstein, a lot of women came forward claiming Sexual Assault by harvey weinstein, we heard that women who have negative experiences with louis ck wanted to talk, and we have this through intermediaries, we had a lot of tips following the weinstein story. And louis ck had rumours swirling around him of Sexual Misconduct for years and years. It was said that different people, different names were put to those rumours, none were ever substantiated, but now these women decided that they, it was the time to come forward with it because the landscape feels different now, it feels safer now that other women are stepping forward and being believed. There is a sense of inevitability, as more examples of misconduct and more women step forward. I cannot imagine it is the end of it this is sexism, misogyny, it is a long tradition in the world, and certainly no industry seems immune to it. I would be shocked if this is the end of it, i would definitely expect more women to step forward and more men to have to answer for what they have been accused of doing. Lets get more from la correspondence. The people who are not familiar with this comedian, can you give us a not familiar with this comedian, can you give us a sense not familiar with this comedian, can you give us a sense of how big this scandal is . The scandal is huge. He isa scandal is . The scandal is huge. He is a big star on american television, especially cable tv, where he has it is fair to say a cult following. He is not in a list celebrity in the way that kevin spacey is, who has faced his own allegations, i am spacey is, who has faced his own allegations, iam not spacey is, who has faced his own allegations, i am not saying we are dealing with a celebrity quite as famous as that, but he has been around for a long time, he did a lot of writing for the Late Night Television comedians and then emerged as a personality in his own right, still best known as a stand up comedian, he had his own show for several years and he appeared on other shows. He is known as not only a performer but as a writer and director behind the scenes as well. It is interesting that made it major studios and services are removing him from future productions and also passed once, it looks like hollywood is taking these allegations very seriously. There is no doubt about that, hollywood acted in this case before he released that very lengthy statement acknowledging the allegations against him were true, he had already lost his job on several networks, including netflix, the cream string service that decided not to make a second comedy special that they had commissioned with him, the networks fx, hbo, the Major Cable Network here also dropping him from projects. Hollywood as you say, acting very swiftly. Thank you very much. Lets take a look at some of the other stories making making the news. Protestors in australia have clashed with Police Outside a political fundraising event attended by the countrys former Prime Minister, tony abbott. Demonstrators called on the immigration minister to end offshore detention and bring refugees to australia. It comes after a refugee camp on manus island was closed last week prompting around 600 men to barricade themselves inside. A lawyer representing the former Us National Security adviser, michael flynn, has rejected allegations he was involved in a plot to seize a dissident muslim cleric and return him to turkey. A statement said the allegations, first reported by the wall street journal, were outrageous and false. Reports allege general flynn and his son were offered 15 million to deliver the cleric Fetullah Gulen to turkey, where he is accused of being behind last years failed coup. The uk has two weeks to make it clear what it will pay to the eu when it leaves or talks on a trade deal wont start next month. That is the ultimatum from the eus chief negotiator, michel barnier. He says its vital that the uk make concessions and increase its offer. The brexit secretary david davis says Good Progress has been made in talks so far, though how to resolve the border between ireland and Northern Ireland, remains a Sticking Point. Our europe editor, katya adler, has been following todays talks in brussels. Time is a precious commodity, and dont the uk and the eu know it. Were halfway now between the date of our Eu Referendum and actually leaving the club. Expect many more face offs along the way. By now, round six of brexit negotiations, all attempts at bilateral banter have gone. This is a serious business. Says david davis. It is. The eu is the uks biggest trading partner, security and research and development tyres are tight. All this now hangs in the balance as we untangle ourselves from brussels, the government still hoping to keep european relations at close. The uk wa nts to european relations at close. The uk wants to talk about trade in the future, but the eu response is to make more headway on key Brexit Issues by later this month orforget talk of trade until it listed degree next year. So where are we on the brexit divorce issues, and what is real and sincere progress mean . Citizens rights are not yet resolved but progress has been made. The border of ireland remained a big problem. The eu thinks it can be resolved next year though the uk rejected an eu proposal to keep Northern Ireland in the Single Market and customs union. The massive Sticking Point right now is money, the eu wants cast iron, possibly written guarantees that the uk will honour financial agreements made while an eu member. A lot to ask for in two weeks. The eu is really trying to pile on the pressure, it wants that money. Otherwise brussels threatens to dash the Prime Ministers hopes in this room in december at a summit of eu leaders. What theresa may wants is a green light from their eu counterparts to go ahead with what is known as stage two of the brexit negotiations, that is talk of trade and transition deals. On both sides of the channel, companies ache for news. Uncertainty is very bad for business. But trade experts say eu uk fallout over brexit divorce issues will seem childs play compared to complications when it comes to trade. The real obstacle is to come, when britain tries to negotiate a new trade deal with the eu. And its looking for something thats as good as or better than what it has now, which will be extremely difficult to achieve, because why would 27 countries, each of which has a veto, agree unanimously to give britain Something Better than what they have . Can britain get a new trade deal with the eu by the time it leaves in march 2019 . Not in my opinion. No one can stop time, of course, but when it comes to brexit, time can be stretched, negotiations extended. If everyone agrees. But in brussels and london, there is little appetite for that. Stay with us on bbc news, still to come the answer to a thousand year old riddle may have been found. Why did ancient mayans build mexicos ancient pyramids . People in berlin linked hands and celebrated. With nobody to stop them, it wasnt long before the first attempts were made to destroy the structure itself. It is keeping the candidates name always in the public eye that counts. Success or failure depends not only on public display but on the local Campaign Headquarters and the heavy routine work of their women volunteers. Yasser arafat, who dominated the palestinian cause for so long, has died. The Palestinean Authority state of mourning has been declared for the leader who symbolised the hopes for independent statehood. In the wake of the colombian volcano disaster, rescue teams are trying to reach thousands of survivors who managed to clamber onto rooftops and trees above the sea of mud. After 17 years of discussions, the decision was greeted with an outburst ofjoy. Women ministers, who had long felt only begrudgingly accepted amongst the ranks of clergy, suddenly felt welcomed. This is bbc news. The latest headlines amid growing tension between saudi arabia and the iranian backed hezbollah movement, the United States has warned other countries against using lebanon for proxy conflicts. The american Comedian Louis ck has admitted that accusations of Sexual Misconduct made against him by five women are true. The remaining members of a major pacific trade deal abandoned by the United States have agreed to a new framework, after days of stalled talks to revive the pact. According to the canadian trade minister, Francois Philippe champagne, the breakthrough in vietnam on the sidelines of an annual asian economic summit, is big progress. It comes after President Trump took his America First message to the region and made it quite clear to leaders the us would no longer tolerate what he called chronic trade abuses. From vietnam, heresjonathan head. Fresh from a feel good blast of bonhomie in beijing, President Trump arrived in da nang, the base from where the us waged its war in vietnam 50 years ago, with a much tougher message. Apec is a free trade forum, founded with strong american participation, just as the cold war ended. Past president s have used these summits to promote us values, like free trade and civil rights. But not this one. Speaking to a hall full of east asias business and diplomatic elite, mr trump at first showered them with flattery. But then changed tack with a litany of complaints, many directed at china, though he never named the culprits, of countries taking advantage of america, breaking the rules of free trade. We can no longer tolerate these chronic trade abuses. And we will not tolerate them. Despite years of broken promises, we were told that some day soon, everyone would behave fairly, and responsibly. People in america, and throughout the Indo Pacific Region have waited for that day to come. But it never has. You can come to summit meetings like this, and asia holds plenty of them, and come away with the impression that not very much happened. But not this one with his speech in da nang, donald trump has announced americas withdrawl from the leadership role it has played in asia since the second world war, a role that has profoundly shaped this region. Right after his speech was that of his recent host china. Xi jinpings tone was softer, no threats or warnings here, but an invitation to Asian Countries tojoin a reforming china, and a none too subtle dig at the new american isolationism. Translation openness brings progress, while self seclusion leaves one behind. We, the asia pacific economies, know this too well from our own development experience. We should put in place a Regional Cooperation framework that ensures consultation among equals, wide participation and shared benefits. Mr trumps tough talk on trade will go down well with many americans, but here in asia, while some governments will welcome his no nonsense approach to diplomacy, you can almost feel american influence shrinking, and china waiting to take up the mantle. Jonathan head, bbc news, da nang. Steve herman is White House Bureau chief with voice of america news, and he has been travelling and covering President Trumps asian tour. He joins us now from the press hotel in da nang, vietnam. Thank you forjoining us on bbc news. We are seeing that a framework for a pacific trade deal has been agreed upon. How concerned do you think the american delegation will be that these countries are moving forward with it despite them boycotting . I think the official sta nce boycotting . I think the official stance will be, not at all. Donald trump, in his first days in office, one of the first significant things he did was to pull the United States out of l, had been out of this deal, which had been negotiated by the previous administration, and he has made very clear, as jonathan had administration, and he has made very clear, asjonathan had reported, that he is looking at bilateral, one on one trade deals, and doesnt wa nt to one on one trade deals, and doesnt want to be involved in these multilateral deals. Jonathan head reported. The fact this is agreed to buy these 11 other members while President Trump is here in vietnam, i think that is highly symbolic. By these. Yes, we are looking at pictures of president s and Prime Ministers arriving at the apec meeting in da nang, just seeing Vladimir Putin going in. It was interesting scene donald trump and xijinping outlining their interesting scene donald trump and xi jinping outlining their views for the region and globalisation. Two starkly different approaches there. Absolutely. It is really ironic that president she of china was delivering a speech we might have heard from a us president in previous years. President xi. He was talking about opening trade, levelling the playing field, all of that, while we have the president of the United States talking about a more narrow vision of trade and putting America First, although i thought it was remarkable that he did say that he doesnt blame china and these other countries for taking advantage of the us, but he is blaming previous us administrations. He says he will not allow this to happen under his administration. But really not giving any details about how the us might retaliate against countries which it thinks are engaging in unfair trade. Steve, what do you think regional leaders are making of this new president . For most of them, this is their first opportunity to see him upfront and personal. Some of them have come to washington, and have had conversations. Shinzo abe, most notably, rushed to the United States after donald trump was elected president , and they have a very close relationship. I was in the room, and when he was giving that speech, they were polite, but there wasnt any sort of cheering that donald trump got used to hearing when he was on the campaign trail. I think he knew this was going to be a tough crowd, and they wouldnt necessarily like the message he is delivering. But more broadly, there is concern about what sort of leadership there will be by the United States, strategically, in this region. Tpp was very much linked to being a bulwark against china, not only from a trade perspective, but a long term strategic respective as well. Steve, a lwa ys strategic respective as well. Steve, always good to talk to you. Thank you. Naomi campbell, one of the biggest names in modelling over the last three decades, has been a vocal critic of the inequalities in the fashion business. She took British Vogue to task for its lack of diversity prior to the appointment of its first black editor. Will gompertz has been speaking to her in new york about her views on diversity and Sexual Harassment in the industry, and her own sometimes controversial behaviour. I think its a positive message to put out, an all black cast for the pirelli calendar. Doing alice in wonderland. Are you feeling that there is a change . Thats what i feel. Interesting, isnt it . Thats what im starting to see, which is great. But lets hope that its not a trend, and it remains that way, and they continue to choose with a diverse mind. Have you been turned down because of your colour . Many times in my past. But its not something that i let deter me and stop me. I used it to drive me. Lupita nyongo did an Instagram Post today, criticising a front cover where they have airbrushed out the frizziness of her hair. She wont be happy about that. Shes not happy about that. Why would they do that . She doesnt understand. See, its. I mean, i understand why shes upset. 100 . And what about the darker side of naomi, the angry. . There isnt an angry any more. I dont really let people push that button. Other issues in the fashion industry. The abuse of vulnerable young people, specifically women, but young men, as well. Im saddened, and ive made it clear whatever i can do to use my voice, in supporting models of my industry, and what i do, i will. Its never happened to me. But i dont want it to ever happen to anyone. It shouldnt happen to anyone, period. How big of a problem is it . Well, it seems to be a big problem. And i think, before it gets better, its going to get worse. I think were going to have to hear about it lots, its going to have to come out before. I mean, theyre trying to find a solution, i know. And. I think itsjust the beginning, really. The lids been opened. And so. Lets head to mexico now, and a riddle thats gone unanswered for a thousand years. The mayans were an ancient people who built huge elaborate cities, and there is much we dont know about them. A team of scientists may have discovered crucial information about the ruins of chichen itza. The bbcs tim allman takes up the story. In the jungles of mexico, a marvel and a mystery. This pyramid was built by the mayans sometime between the 9th and 12th centuries. Now archaeologists are going underground to try to answer a crucial question. Why was it built here . It seems the answer is pretty simple. Translation the aquifer, the water that sustained the city, that sustains the life of the peninsula. We can see the consequences, even negative ones, that may come from the fact that these buildings are built above bodies of water. The yucatan peninsula is dotted with underground rivers and natural wells. The mayans seem to have built their city right on top. Scientists developing 3d images showing the cavities underneath the pyramid. There are also tunnels and passageways all around the area. Another mystery that is still to be resolved, as this extraordinary relic of the past gives up some of its secrets. Stay with us on bbc news. Hello. We are having to look into the atlantic for some elements of this weekends weather for some parts of the british isles. What was Tropical Storm rena wont be giving us gale force winds, but it will import some really warm and moist tropical air, which will manifest itself on parts on saturday as a lot of cloud and rain for the southern half of the british isles. A much fresher aspect of the weather as we head into scotland. Wintry showers across high ground. At least theres sunshine to speak of and that persists into the afternoon. Some of the showers turning wintry, down to about 300 metres or so. But at least there will be sunshine to speak of. Northern ireland, a cloudy afternoon. A bit of brightness perhaps and brightening skies coming from the north of england, especially down the eastern side, but generally speaking as you come back through the midlands towards the south of wales and in the southern counties of england it may be one of those afternoons where the rain sticks around for the greater part of the day, so that will be a nuisance in cardiff, but at least there will be brighter skies for the visit of samoa to murrayfield. The thicker cloud thickens even more in southern counties of england and wales for a time through the night. Keeping up the rainfall. Further north the skies remain clearfor some. Showers still perhaps and again wintry across high ground. Once the front in the south pulls into the near continent, the air flows down from the north to the south. Never a warm direction. All of us will experience that marked change in the feel of the day on sunday, remembrance sunday of course. A scattering of showers around the exposed shores, fully exposed to the northerly wind. Down the spine of the country there could be a good deal of sunshine, but it will do nothing for the temperatures. Seven, eight, nine degrees for many. Next week starts cold and frosty, then it gets a little bit milder in the middle of the week and there will be some rain around. So theres a frosty start for the greater part of england and wales and the eastern part of scotland, i tear the first signs of that change into something milder as we bring the fronts into parts of scotland and eventually into Northern Ireland. From monday into tuesday no more than northerly, the isobars are cranked into a westerly, and thats why the weather will become milder. This is bbc news. The headlines there is growing concern that a power struggle between saudi arabia and iran is fuelling the political crisis in lebanon. The american secretary of state has warned other countries against using the country for proxy conflicts, following a crisis triggered by the resignation of its Prime Minister. One of the latest figures in american entertainment to be accused of Sexual Misconduct, the Comedian Louis ck, has admitted that several allegations made against him are true. Five women had accused him of various acts of indecency. In a statement, louis ck expressed remorse for his actions. The European Unions chief brexit negotiator has said the uk has two it looks like a new transit as a trade deal is moving forward without the usa, canada has dropped its actions at a trade conference being held in vietnam. Now on bbc news, its time for hardtalk