Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News at Ten 20240918

Good evening. At least nine people are dead and 3,000 people have been injured across lebanon after electronic paging devices used by the armed Group Hezbollah exploded simultaneously this afternoon. Lebanons Health Ministry says 200 people are in a critical condition and hospitals are being inundated with the wounded after the pagers exploded in peoples hands and pockets. A child is among the dead. Hezbollah, which has been designated a Terrorist Organisation by the uk, israel and other western countries, have called it the biggest security breach. They have blamed israel, which has been engaged in Cross Border Fighting with the iran backed group since the start of the war in gaza almost a year ago. Israel has not commented. Paul adams has the latest a warning, his report contains distressing images from the start. This was a devastating attack. In supermarkets. On the street, in cars, at home and even in barbershops. Thousands of hezbollah members simultaneously injured by exploding pagers. Incidents reported from all over lebanon, from beirut to the bekaa valley, and even in neighbouring syria. Hospitals suddenly inundated. Each explosion may have been small but men lost fingers and eyes. Some had garages in their hips where the pagers were worn. Israel is saying nothing, but it comes at a time when the government is threatening to step up its Military Effort against hezbollah. The Israel And Lebanon border has been extremely volatile. Exchanges of fire every day between Israel And Hezbollah. Civilians on both sides exhausted by almost a year of Tit For Tat fighting. Kiryat shmona has been hit several times by hezbollah rockets. Yesterday, for the first time, israel said its Gaza War aims included allowing israelis to return to homes evacuated close to the border. Translation the Status Quo Cannot continue, benjamin translation the Status Quo Cannot continue, Benjamin Netanyahu Translation the Status Quo Cannot continue, Benjamin Netanyahu said. Translation the Status Quo Cannot| continue, Benjamin Netanyahu said at the continue, Benamin Netanyahu said at the ~. Continue, Benamin Netanyahu said at the ~. ,. ,. , the weekend, which requires a change at our border Todays Wave of attacks will have injured hezbollah� s fighters, wrecked their communications and damaged morale. But will it change the course of the war . Paul adams, Bbc News, jerusalem. The explosions have caused Chaos And Disbelief across lebanon. How could so many devices be made to explode at the same time . 0ur Security Correspondent Gordon Corera has been investigating. The middle of the afternoon when something extraordinary happens in lebanon explosions in peoples pockets. So how did it happen . It appears that what was blowing up were these pagers, older devices which can receive text messages. This is believed to be one of the models targeted. This is the militant Group Hezbollah this summer it was reported to have given orders for its men to switch away from Mobile Phones because it feared they could be tracked and calls intercepted. Instead they were told to use pagers as they believed it offered more security. But that decision appears to have been exploited to target them. This is thought to be one of the pagers that blew up today. But how was it detonated . A cyber Attack Hacking into them remotely to make them overheat would not make them explode in the way seen today. More likely is that the pagers destined for hezbollah were physically intercepted and had small amounts of high explosive maybe just a few grams planted inside ready to be detonated with a signal. So who was behind damage like this . Israel has not commented but few have any doubts about its role. It has used similar methods in targeted killings in the past killing its enemies with explosives hidden in their Mobile Phones or in the headrest of their cars. But no one has ever seen something on the scale of what happened today. There has been a simmering conflict between Israel And Hezbollah for months. So what will todays Events lead to . As well as injuring many hezbollah operatives, this will be a blow to the Organisation Making It harder for its people to communicate and spreading fear. But hezbollah has vowed to respond. And so the question is whether that response will lead to an escalation, even all out war. In france, the man accused of drugging his wife and allowing dozens of strangers to rape her over a period of 10 years, has admitted to all the charges against him. Dominique pelicot, whos on trial with 50 other men, acknowledged that he was a rapist, and said his wife gisele, who has waived her right to anonymity, did not deserve what happened to her. Andrew harding reports. Prison vans arriving at the courthouse in avignon. Inside, some of the 51 men on trial here. Handcuffed, all accused of raping one drugged and unconscious women. But many of those on trial remain free men. Masked, they enter the courthouse through the front door. And look who walks in beside them each day. The woman they are accused of raping, Gisele Pelicot. Boldly refusing anonymity, insisting the shame belongs not to her, but to her attackers. No cameras are allowed inside the courtroom, but today, pelicot� s former husband dominique finally took the stand. He had this to say about the decade he admits he spent drugging his wife, then filming strangers raping her. Translation i regret what i did, even if it is unforgivable. I had nothing but love for my wife. We had a perfect family. It was me who was not good. Pelicot told the court he was not born evil, that he was abused as a child. Significantly, he was quick to condemn his co accused. Translation i am a rapist, like the others in this room. | they knew everything. Gisele then told the court it was hard to listen to a man she had trusted completely for half a century. News from the trial is creating new tensions here in mazan, the nearby village where the couple lived. The sense of shock in this small community is deepening by the day. The french police now say they have evidence that 80 local men took part in the rapes. 50 of them are now on trial, 30 more have yet to be tracked down. Translation we know 30 of them still havent been caught. There are tensions here because we dont know if we can trust our neighbours any more. But some here, strikingly, claim the whole Pelicot Case has been overblown. Translation it could have been far more serious. There were no kids involved, no women were killed. The family will have a hard time, but they can rebuild. After all, nobody died. Such attitudes do persist here. Applause. But the far bigger story is how Gisele Pelicot is becoming a national hero. Breaking into a rare smile as she is cheered on her way out of Court Today. Her poise deliberate, designed to inspire other victims. Andrew harding, Bbc News, france. The american Rapper And Music Mogul Sean diddy combs hasjust been denied Bail Tonight by a new yorkjudge, after pleading not guilty to Sex Trafficking charges. Lets go straight to our correspondent nada tawfik. His lawyer said they will appeal that decision, to hold him in detention, untila that decision, to hold him in detention, until a trial without bail, that appeal will be tomorrow in court. Sean combs in Court Today with his family and sons behind him, pleading not guilty, and his lawyer said the sexual activity outlined by prosecutors was consensual, and they said he should be able to remain in Home Detention and even offered a 50 Million bond but prosecutors say he remained a Flight Risk and they had overwhelming evidence of his guilt including testimony from 50 witnesses, 90 devices that were taken in a raid on his in march. So sean combs, one of the most high profile musicians in music, will be held until the trial. Highprofile musicians in music, will be held untilthe trial. Thanks for oininu will be held untilthe trial. Thanks forjoining us a man has appeared in court charged with the murders carol, hannah and Louise Hunt, the wife and two daughters of the bbc� s racing commentatorjohn hunt, who were killed in a Crossbow And Knife attack at their home in hertfordshire. The court heard that 25 year old Louise Hunt was tied up when she was found injuly. 26 year old Kyle Clifford has been remanded into custody. The Labour Mp Diane abbott has told Bbc Newsnight that she felt Sir Keir Starmer treated her as a Non Person during the row over racist comments made about her by a tory donor. Ms abbott said frank hester� s comments, which emerged in march, Made Herfeel in danger and she had expected more support from her party. I think, initially, i was treated as a Non Person, which felt very strange because at the same time they were writing to party members trying to raise money on the back of how hester had treated me. And victoria has more. 0ne One of the most well known politicians in the country in her own words, Diane Abbott says her suspension as a Labour Mp last year was part of an attempt by Keir Starmer to clear out the labour left, she said. Labour says there was no plan to force her out. Join us for newsnight at 1030. Was no plan to force her out. Join us for newsnight at 1030. Thanks for oininu us. Wildfires are sweeping across large parts of portugal. At least seven people, including three firefighters, have been killed. More than 50 wildfires are burning. They can be seen from space this Satellite Image shows the extent of the fires and the amount of smoke moving over the atlantic ocean. Meanwhile, its water thats causing devastation on the other side of europe with unusally heavy rainfall causing floods in central and Eastern Europe that left a number of people dead. And that rain is now moving into italy. In a moment, we will hear from Mark Lowen on the fires in portugal but first Sarah Rainsford reports from poland on the aftermath of the floods. This is now the only route to safety from another Polish Town cut off by the floods. Boats sent to the rescue of those whod called for help as the Water Rose in their homes. The very edge of town is now the only dry spot left. How much water . Really, so high . Yeah. Scary, scary. Yeah. One of the rescuers described it he said until around about 4 00 in the morning, they were trying to reinforce the River Bank to stop it from flooding, but the Water Burst through and it has flooded this town extremely badly. So thats why this Mass Evacuation is underway. It is well organised, there are lots of people involved, but it is a major emergency that theyre dealing with here now. The military have been drafted in, too, and by nightfall more than 400 people had been evacuated. Adrian didnt wait, though. He walked waist high through the water to get out. Whats it like inside the town . Its terrible. Theres no energy, no gas, no anything. Its nothing funny. We just need to survive, yeah . The rain stopped long ago here, but the floods and the danger are still spreading. Sarah rainsford, Bbc News, lewin brzeski. Night terrors are tearing through portugal. Engulfed by infernos, more than 100, ravaging and overpowering what and who stand in their wake. Bell ringing they sounded the alarm however they could, like a Funeral Bell for a landscape devoured. Im scared, he says, because i never thought the fire would come so close to my house. Theres a lot of wind, which is Enemy Number one. Scorching heat, fanned by high winds, has set parts of central and northern portugal ablaze, hundreds of firefighters armed to fight it. But theyre outgunned, and the flames have already taken lives. Daylight brought no respite. It looked like a bomb had hit the landscape charred as flames licked. Fire crews from france, italy, Spain And Greece are helping, as the Prime Minister warned it could get worse. Translation | would | like to say we need to be calm and also realistic. We will endure difficult hours in the coming days. Portugal is very prone to wildfires. The worst in 2017 killed 120. Climate change has made them more intense and more frequent. And so, as this countrys annual battle rages again, people try to resist. For now, its futile and frightening. Mark lowen, Bbc News, lisbon. 0ur climate Editor Justin Rowlatt is here. Terrible scenes, can we say this is Climate Change . Climate change . That is the big cuestion. Climate change . That is the big question. The Climate Change . That is the big question. The straight Climate Change . That is the big question. The straight answer l Climate Change . That is the big | question. The straight answer is Climate Change . That is the big question. The straight answer is we cant say for certain until we have had a full analysis. But a lot of scientists say the weather we are seeing In Europe are what their models have been predicting. This is after the warmest summer In Europe on record and Climate Change is making heat waves stronger and more likely to happen. Climate change is also making extreme Rain Fall more common and more intense In Europe and across most, but not all, of the world. Because warmer air can hold more moisture and warm oceans feed Storm Systems like those that have hit europe. We have had hot temperatures in the med. The links are affected by Human Factors such as our towns and city. We cant be certain, but it seems likely Climate Change will have played a role in these Events. A seniorjudge has criticised the fees being charged by private Childrens Homes to look after some teenagers, calling them breathtaking and unsustainable. The bbc has been allowed to report on one case being heard by a Family Court in liverpool in which a company has been charging £16,000 a week to look after one teenager in care who is the victim of criminal exploitation. The huge costs are threatening to make some councils bankrupt. Sanchia berg has this exclusive report. He boasts of dealing drugs. Hes violent, sometimes out of control. Hes only 1a, and his place in an unregistered Childrens Home costs £16,000 per week. This is the Council Manager who struggled to find a home to take the boy were calling jack. She spoke out in the Family Court and to us. This is public money this is your money, its my money and they are profiteering off our children without the experience, without the 0fsted regulations to go with it. For legal reasons, we have to protect jacks real identity. This is an actor. Court documents show he ran away repeatedly from his Childrens Home. Hes believed to be part of a county lines drug network. He attacked carers and tried to break out of a moving car. Get in. Staff had to put him in the boot to protect themselves. It was in this Liverpool Courtroom last Month Thatjudge Stephen parker said jack could be placed in a Childrens Home that wasnt registered with 0fsted, even though thats unlawful for those under 16. And he said the boy could be locked in and physically restrained if he tried to run away. There was, said the judge, no alternative. The boy was at risk of significant harm possibly of killing or being killed. The judge said the costs of the placements were breathtaking. In 2021 to � 22, we were paying on average around £7. 5 million for placements. Moving to the present day, were looking at around £16 million. And, unless we do something, we unfortunately will not be able to continue. Wouldnt it make sense just to set up those Childrens Homes of your own as quickly as you could . It does take time to register a provision with 0fsted. But, absolutely, the idea is that we will grow our own provision to try and turn the tide on some of these private costs. The owners of Childrens Homes registered with 0fsted are often reluctant to accept children like jack. Children and young people often have such needs and behaviours and a Risk Profile to other children that theyre not able to take them. Unfortunately, we are operating at capacity at the moment. Its slightly unfair when local authorities have made a choice not to open up homes themselves for these children. This is a problem across england. The government told us they were committed to cracking down on providers excessive profits, and the new Childrens Wellbeing Bill will strengthen regulation. Jacks story is an all too familiar tale, said thejudge in court. There are now more children like him in the Care System and, as demand for places exceeds supply, so prices keep on rising. Sanchia berg, Bbc News. A former director at the company which built the Titan Submersible has told the us Coastguard Hearing into the disaster that the company was rushing to get titan ready for lucrative trips. All five people on board were killed when the submersible imploded during a trip to look at the wreck of the titanic lastjune. 0ur Science Editor Rebecca Morelle reports. It was heading to see the titanic, but 0ceangates Titan Sub suffered a catastrophic failure, killing all five people on board. Nothing but the truth, so help you god. Now for the first time, david david lochridge, the former director of marine operations, has spoken publicly about safety concerns. The way the company were going with this project, bypassing all the standardised rules and regulations, they bypassed it all, it was inevitable something was going to happen and it was just when. 0ceangate said the sub was experimental, but it made 13 previous dives to the titanic, so passengers thought it was safe. However, the material it was made from layers of Carbon Fibre was getting damaged with every descent. So, counterintuitively, people were safer on the first dive, rather than on the last. Youre taking a risk going down in a submersible, but dont take risks that are unnecessary with faulty and i mean faulty deficient equipment in everything that came in had anomalies. He took his concerns to the us occupational Safety And Health administration, 0sh but in his closing statement, he said they failed to act. I believe that if 0sha had attempted to investigate the seriousness of the concerns i raised on multiple occasions, this tragedy may have been prevented. The hearing continues for the next two weeks. Rebecca morelle, Bbc News. The Commonwealth Games is set to return to glasgow in 2026 12 years after the city last hosted the event but it will be scaled down with fewer Events and a smaller number of athletes. The original hosts, the australian state of victoria, withdrew because of rising costs. Heres our Sports News Correspondent laura scott. Praised by many as the best ever Commonwealth Games, glasgow 2014 attracted some of the worlds biggest sports stars. Usain bolt showboating. And was hailed for galvanising the country. A decade on, and the city is already preparing to host again, stepping in to rescue the 2026 games after the australian state of victoria withdrew. I think its a brilliant idea. It brings loads of new tourists here, loads of new faces. It shows glasgow in a good light as well. I read a couple of stories where they were like, oh, i dont know because its quite expensive, but i think its a really good idea. Oh, well, its very good. Good for the city and it will bring the money in, i suppose. The man in charge of sport within the Scottish Government said we shouldnt expect the same again. It will be a different games and i dont think we can shy away from that. Were now coming forward with a model that means that i hope this will be a more sustainable offering, meaning the Commonwealth Games can be sustained going on into the future, and we see a more diverse mix of countries and cities looking to host the games in the future. England have done it englands last Gasp Netball Gold was one of the standout moments of the Gold Coast games in 2018, and those involved in the sport say the commonwealths offers crucial exposure. Its one of the pinnacle Events in the calendar. Its what you build up towards. Its our version of the olympics. Were not in the olympic games, which we often get mistaken for, and it gives us an opportunity to shine as a standalone sport, which is incredible. Plans for glasgow 2026 need to be finalised in the coming weeks, but its expected the number of sports will be cut from 17 in 2014 to 10 in two years time, acrossjust four venues. How concerned are you that a slimmed down Commonwealth Games will be too much a shadow of its former self . Yeah, no. Im not. I mean, i think that our members told us that it was time to change and to innovate, and we know that this is a first step towards what an ideal model would look like. This is a very unusual situation where youre pulling off something in a very short period of time, but we are completely confident that this will be a world class, albeit smaller, Commonwealth Games and a great experience for athletes and fans. Scotland for now, the Commonwealth Games has been given a lifeline, but given the difficulties finding future hosts and scrutiny around the relevance of the commonwealth, doubts remain about how much longer it can survive. Laura scott, Bbc News. Our correspondent Chris Mclaughlin is in glasgow. This has been quite a saga, are the people of glasgow happy about it . It is difficult to tell i think, it has been a saga, youre right, we wont get official confirmation from the commonwealth Games Federation for we think a couple of weeks. 0nly commonwealth Games Federation for we think a couple of weeks. Only then will we have an understanding of what the games will look like. It will be scaled back, but which sports be cut and where will the Opening Ceremony be . Have there been provisions for a legacy for glasgow . Tonight it is safe to say there will be a huge sigh of relief across the Commonwealth Games community, not just because glasgow is saving 2026, but perhaps theyre saving the event in the future. Yes, it will be a scaled back games, but this could be a defining moment for the games. Now it is about delivery and the clock is very much ticking. Instagram says its overhauling the way it works for young people promising more built in protections for teenagers and added controls for parents. Some of the measures being introduced include new Teen Accounts for 13 to 15 year olds. Theyll have strict controls on sensitive content to prevent recommendations of potentially harmful material. The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, has said his party will provide a positive alternative to the Governments Message of Doom And Gloom. He was speaking at the close of his Party S Conference in brighton, where he also criticised the conservatives. Chris mason reports. This is what the Liberal Democrats stonking general Election Performance looks like. Take a chance on me and this is what their leader sounds like when hes singing. Perhaps wisely, he quickly reverted to talking. So here we are having a party after winning our largest number of mps for over 100 years soon, Sir Ed Davey was talking about the topic the lib dems are determined to focus on relentlessly health and care. Carers werent mentioned once in labours election manifesto, but carers did feature in Keir Starmer� s first Prime Ministers questions, because i made sure they would. Social care was mentioned by labour, but Sir Ed wants to politically own the issue. He also wants to be optimistic. We will cut through the governments Doom And Gloom with our ambition for our country. This is a party that hated brexit, but pretty much shut up about it during the election. But a closer relationship with the European Union is popular here. He wants. To boost british businesses and give our young people the freedom to travel and work across europe. There might be a labour government, but the lib dems see their principal opponents as the tories. 0urjob is to consign the conservative party to the history books. And look at this, politicians dont tend to endorse candidates in elections abroad, but Sir Ed Davey did. With the looming Spectre Of A Second Trump presidency, how i hope and pray to see Kamala Harris Defeat him this november. And this was his concluding pitch. Lets build a brighterfuture, and lets keep on winning so we can make it happen this has been a four Day Celebration for the Liberal Democrats, but they now have to work out how to demonstrate influence in a parliament where labour are so dominant. It is, though for them, a nice problem to have after years in the doldrums. Chris mason, Bbc News in brighton. Football now and after a long awaited return to europe s top competition, Aston Villa stormed to a 3 0 victory against Young Boys in the swiss capital bern. Liverpool also won in their Champions League Match against Ac Milan Asjoe Lynskey reports after 41 years, this was Aston Villas welcome back. Their last match In Europes top competition was in 1983. Their last win was a month before the Prince Of Wales was born. Villa fans like him have waited for a Breakthrough Night like this. Commentator tielemans can bring it i down and whack it into the corner i Yuri Tielemans wears number eight, the same as gary shaw, villas iconic former striker who passed away this week. This emotional occasion would turn into a rout. Young boys of switzerland naive at the back. Jacob ramsey there to roll in villas second. Two more were disallowed before Amadou 0nana found the net from range. After villas long wait, this was Champions League Lift off. For liverpool, a slower start. They fell behind to Ac Milan in arne slot� s first match In Europe as coach. But his team would rise to it. Ibrahima konate and then virgil van dijk, the two Centre Backs with goals to Set Liverpool on course. A 3 1victory meant for both Premier League clubs, this First Night was emphatic. Joe lynskey, Bbc News. Time for a look at the weather, heres chris fawkes. This programme continues on bbc one