Hello, im azadeh moshiri. We start this hour with the latest on the electronic Pager Explosions in lebanon. Multiple reports say that israels mossad Spy Agency placed explosives in thousands of hezbollah pagers, before they detonated across lebanon on tuesday. So far, Israel Hasnt commented. The united states and the us im have called for calm and the russian Foreign Ministry said the aim of the attack was to provoke a big war, and there was, in the Middle East. 11 people have died and almost 3000 people were wounded. Lebanon says hundreds are in a critical condition in hospital. Some were blinded. 0thers lost fingers all required amputations. Separately, israeli and us sources say israel detonated the pagers earlier than planned, fearing that hezbollah had become aware of the plan. In another Development Police Have visited the offices of a company in taiwan, as the pagers seemed to carry a taiwanese brand. The boss of the company, Gold Apollo, has denied any involvement in the attacks. He told reporters that his company had signed an agreement three years ago with a european based company, bac, which has an address in budapest in hungary. Heres a little of what he said at a hastily arranged News A Conference in taipei. Translation Gold Apollo in the past three years has established a long Term Trademark Authorisation with bac company. We have a regional Agency Cooperation and a cooperation agreement. This product is not apollos product, but a product that i authorise our trademark for them to brand. This product is not in our company. It is not our product. Your company no longer produces the Ar94 Model . Its not that we no longer produce it, they are not our product from beginning to end. How can we produce products that are not ours . Are you 100 sure that the product is not made in taiwan . 100 sure. It is not from your company . N0~ the Israeli Military has said it attacked a building in Southern Lebanon overnight where it said a number of hezbollah members were. Well have more reaction from the region shortly, but first this report from graham satchell, and a warning it contains distressing images from the start. Sirens it was an audacious, unprecedented attack. All across lebanon, thousands of pagers exploding at the same time. Many were on the street. Some, like here, in peoples homes. Some in supermarkets. Emergency services struggled to cope with the scale of the attack. Thousands of hezbollah members suffering injuries in the same instant. Israel hasnt commented, but few have any doubts about its role. So how was israel able to target hezbollah in this way . Hezbollah started using pagers, an old technology, after it realised its Mobile Phones were being monitored. The theory is israel knew hezbollah had ordered thousands of new pagers and intercepted the shipment. Assuming that this was more than just making lithium batteries, you know, override and overheat, that they had planted small amounts of explosives in each one of these pagers, then this was unquestionably a calculated attack. 0n the border between israel and lebanon, there have been constant exchanges of fire since the war in gaza began. Yesterdays attack will pile more pressure into a region that is already volatile and precarious. One of the scenarios, that this is just the beginning to disrupt hezbollah� s communication network, a beginning of a much larger Military Operation in lebanon where when hezbollah cannot communicate with each other, the israelis will have a better chance at winning or expanding their operations in lebanon. Funerals are already taking place in lebanon, and with them warnings. We hold the israeli enemy responsible for all of the victims, for all of the martyrs, for all of the wounded. And we believe that the reprisal is coming. In a statement, the Foreign Office said. There is now considerable international concern at what may come next. Graham satchell, Bbc News. Lets speak to fadi Nicholas Nassar Director of the Lebanon Programme at the Middle East institute, who is in beirut. Could you describe some of the reaction given the scale of the attack was happening . Attack was happening . First, thank you attack was happening . First, thank you for attack was happening . First, thank you for having attack was happening . First, thank you for having me. Attack was happening . First, | thank you for having me. The explosion of thousands of hezbollah operatives pages marks the possible start of a wider war. Marks the possible start of a widerwar. It marks the possible start of a wider war. It ranks as a serious Security Breach and possible infiltration of the supply chain. Yesterday beirut and Southern Lebanon were thrown into chaos with nonstop ambulance sirens, echoing the widespread distress in the country. Thousands were reportedly injured including high profile figures like the iranian ambassador 0rtola lebanon. In the rough casualties have been reported including the deaths of the son of a Hezbollah Minister in parliament and the total number of casualties is expected to rise. It was alone and uneasy night in lebanon the growing fear that the conflict, which so far as nas would remain localised is now spiralling Out Of Control and can no longer be contained. Of control and can no longer be contained contained. And given some of the peeple contained. And given some of the people who contained. And given some of the people who have contained. And given some of the people who have been the people who have been injured connected to hezbollah as well as the iranian ambassador to lebanon, what reaction are we hearing from hezbollah as well as from iran . This is no significant Intelligence Breach since the start of the conflict and, once again, i would say that it signals Israels Esker Baiteri dominance. In lebanon questions will emerge that hezbollah, if it cannot protect itself how can i claim to safeguard lebanon and it has failed to deter israel as it claims it has, has its opening of a limited front in support of hamas, despite the widespread aspirations of the lebanese people to avoid war, set them down a dangerous path . It can important adversaries. If israel remains undeterred the could see approach escalating and broadening the conflict with hezbollah. And broadening the conflict with hezbollah. , with hezbollah. Could remind us of some of with hezbollah. Could remind us of some of the with hezbollah. Could remind us of some of the context, with hezbollah. Could remind usj of some of the context, because there has been a lot of Cross Border attacks, between Lebanon And Israel throughout this war, though, could you give us some of that context to understand some of the escalation you were talking about . It escalation you were talking about . ,. ,. , about . It is a great question, to contextualise about . It is a great question, to contextualise these, about . It is a great question, to contextualise these, everl to contextualise these, ever since october last year, when hezbollah opened up a limited front in support of its ally, hamas, israel, hezbollah and to a larger Extent Iran have been fighting an intense struggle over the Balance Of Power and Rules Of Engagement that have defined this conflict since 2006. This attack which comes on the heels of the assassination of a top is by the mac Military Leader in beirut earlier this summer does mark a major escalation. Top hezbollah leader. There is no going back to october six to israel, the massive scale of the attack with thousands injured and scenes of widespread chaos powerfully challenges the claim by hezbollah that their response to the israeli had in fact restored the balance. Fadi Nicholas Nassar Director of the Lebanon Programme at the Middle East institute, thank you. Israel has not commented so far on this. Lets hear now from someone who was in beirut when the pagers started to explode and who has long experience of reporting from lebanon and the Middle East. Kim ghattas has previously worked for the bbc and is currently a Contributing Editor at the financial times and the atlantic. She spoke to my Colleague Amol Rajan on the bbc� s Today Programme and told us what she had experienced on tuesday. I was On My Way Home from a shoot, so it was emotion after immersion and trauma after trauma. It was a scene of chaos across the city, because people did not instinctively understand what was happening. We first thought it was one large explosion in the southern suburbs of beirut which is a bastion of support for hezbollah, the sheer iran backed militant group, and then it became clear there were simultaneous small explosions everywhere, then we started seeing Cctv Footage from inside shops, supermarkets, of these small explosions targeting people doing their groceries, playing at the counter, or riding on the mopeds across the city, and then four hours on the end of the wail of the ambulance sirens, the Internal Security Forces asking people to get off the streets, and hospitals were being overwhelmed, it was really a national, traumatic event. It was targeted in many ways because these pagers were in the hands of hezbollah operatives going about their daily lives and the impact on the country from south to North East and the city was tremendous. Northeast and the city was tremendous. Tremendous. What is your thinking tremendous. What is your Thinking On tremendous. What is your Thinking On who tremendous. What is your Thinking On who carried i tremendous. What is your. Thinking on who carried out this attack, and why . It is hard to see this attack, and why . It is hard to see anyone this attack, and why . It is hard to see anyone else i this attack, and why . It 3 hard to see anyone else being behind this but israel. And we are hearing, reporting now, that the israeli Defence Minister had warned his american counterpart minutes before this was about to unfold, that there was a typical operation about to get under way in lebanon. 0f get under way in lebanon. Of course, Hezbollah And Israel have been having daily military clashes since october the 8th, so there is no doubt that this is part of the larger context of the war in gaza and clashes between Hezbollah And Israel. Monitoring in the united states has reported that this was set p has reported that this was set up by has reported that this was set up by israel, this infiltration of the pagers, set up as a potential prelude to a big Military Operation to create Chaos And Confusion amongst the ranks of hezbollah even when israel decided to launch a large operation against israel and it seems the setup of these had been found out by a couple of hezbollah operatives so israel decided to strike then. It was a case of as one american official put it, to use it or lose it, and use it, indeed they did. The hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah is to make an Address Tomorrow according to a statement from the iran backed group. And we have a live Page Online with the very latest developments and analysis from our correspondents on what we know about the Pager Explosions. You will find that on the Bbc News website and app. Lets turn to the deadly flooding thats hit Central Europe. At least 21 people have died in the czech republic, romania, austria, and poland. The clear up operation is under way in the Polish City of nysa where more than 40,000 residents had to evacuate to higher ground. Unusually heavy rainfall has caused extensive damage across a huge area with the storms set to move onto italy next, with Flood Alerts in place for most of the country. Sarah rainsford reports from poland. 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. Meanwhile, the authorities in the hungary and slovakia are racing to build Flood Defences in low lying areas. 0ur Central Europe correspondent, Nick Thorpe is at one village on the hungary slovak border. It is a beautiful morning, The Sun Is Shining and thats good news for all the people up and down the danube in hungary, this amazing 400 Kilometre Section of a very long river, working very hard on the sand bags. Ive actually climbed over the sandbags to get here, in the village just beyond me, in front of me, some houses have been flooded. Many gardens have been flooded. Where im standing now, every few minutes or so, were edging away. This is normally a ferry crossing. Thats slovakia on the far side there, the danube flowing there from left to right down through here towards budapest. Were about 100 kilometres from budapest. This has been one of the most vulnerable, this is one of the most vulnerable points on the whole river and for that reason, politicians, the leader of the main opposition party, peter magyar, was shown here packing sandbags a few days ago. Viktor 0rban, the prime minister, was here yesterday, so this is one of the most vulnerable points. Weve also seen, just this morning, a convoy of the army. So far, the army only a few hundred soldiers involved so far but they have 4,000 on standby. Returning to our top story, the us secretary of State Antony Blinken is in egypt. He is there to conduct Ceasefire Talks relating to the war in gaza. 0f talks relating to the war in gaza. Of course in the midst of all of this there are reports that israels Spy Agency planted explosive in thousands of pagers used by the armed group, hezbollah. The devices exploded simultaneously, israel has not commented did but this complicates the ceasefire negotiations. As soon as we have any updates or comments from the us secretary of state, we will bring them to you on the Bbc News channel. Around the world and across the uk. This is Bbc News. Here in the uk the rate at which prices are rising remained unchanged last month. The latest figures released this Morning Show prices in august were 2. 2 higher compared to the same time last year. Thats the same rate as it was injuly. Air fares rose sharply but that was offset by a fall in the cost of petrol, hotels and eating out. Our Business Presenter Ben boulos has more. This tells us how much prices for the goods and services that we typically spend our money on, how much those prices have gone up compared with a year ago, on average. And it shows that in August Inflation was at 2. 2 , which is the same rate of Price Increase as it was injuly. Now remember, it is an average, so some things will have gone up more sharply, such as airfares, particularly short haulflights, while other things will have fallen in price, most notably Petrol And Diesel prices compared with a year ago. But across the board, generally speaking, prices are still rising, although nowhere near the rate at which they were rising a couple of years ago. And thats partly because the Bank Of England raised Interest Rates, which made borrowing more expensive. The idea being that reduces demand and slows down the rate of Price Rises. The Banks Target is to get inflation to 2 , which was achieved injune, which then led the bank to cut Interest Rates in august by a quarter of a percentage point. So the fact that inflation is now slightly above 2 means the bank may not be in quite such a hurry to cut Interest Rates further. You may think, well, 2. 2 is not that high above the target. But when you drill down into the detail, you can find that Core Inflation, which excludes the more volatile elements like Food And Energy and Fuel Prices and services, inflation, which measures Price Rises in the services sector, which is by far the biggest part of the economy with Core Inflation and Services Inflation rose in august. So the bank will be looking at that as it weighs up what to do next. The Committee Meets and announces their decision for Interest Rates tomorrow, which is when well find out what those Interest Rates will be doing. And of course, that affects the cost of our mortgages, loans, borrowing a decision taken in the City Of London some breaking news. We have received the Post Office chief Executive Nick Reed will Step Down from the role in march next year. The background of all of this has been the scandal that has mired the Post Office, the Public Inquiry is office, the Public Inquiry is of course still ongoing and before he does Step Down, Nick Reed will be appearing in front of the Post Office inquiry across three days in october. We do not have any more information than this, but he is stepping down from the role in march next year, and as soon as we have more information on the reasons why he is stepping down after his ten year leading the Post Office, we will bring that to you. Again, that news that to you. Again, that news that the Chief Executive of the Post Office, Nick Reed, will be stepping down from the role in march next year. Now, this week represents a big moment for sri lanka. For decades, politics in the country have been dominated by one family, the rajapaksas. But many blame this political dynasty for the Economys Collapse in 2022, and see it as a result of decades of financial mismanagement. Saturdays President Ial elections are the first since mass protests forced the Countrys Leader out of office. People are now hopeful this could be the beginning of a new era. From colombo, our south East Asia CorrespondentSamira Hussein told us more. There are a record 38 candidates running for president , all vying for attention. I have a guest with me, who is a disinformation expert. I want to ask you how important is Social Media in these elections. Really important. Arguably after 2022, there is a broader population that gets its political information from Social Media and there are thousands of first time voters who will vote for the first time the electoral commission says in the President Ial elections, a couple of days hence, and they get all of their political information from Social Media. So in any other President Ial election in history of sri lanka, online content plays an integral role in the campaigning and the elections as well. Do you think people will not make their way to campaign events, making Social Media even more important . What kind of trends have you been seeing when it comes to what the candidates, for example, are putting out on Social Media . They are all very active on Social Media, they have branded campaigns, branded content linked parties, coalitions, or particular individual but there is lot of Unbranded Content so there is Dis Information that is reported to the Social Media platforms by the election commission, but there is a whole lot of content that is more insidious that promotes policies and parties and candidates but is not branded as such, so we are seeing a lot of that activity that amplifies certain candidates and also attacks them in insidious forms but also as official campaign propaganda, the Social Media is active and the campaigns are quite sophisticated. How successful are they . It is debatable. The exercise of franchise is sought to be influenced by these campaign so it is an open question as to whether people will be swayed by what is online but having said that, there is a lot of conversation around the issues the, parties, candidates, both for and against particular candidates, they are perceived and framed in certain narratives promoted over Social Media and these are in the hundreds of thousands. It is not marginal. It is central to the arguments that form the basis of this electoral campaign and as a consequence, you can say that it is going to have a significant impact on how people think of the candidates, as well. This is important information, showing how important Social Media is going to be on these elections that are going to be held on saturday 21st. There are a Record Number of candidates in that election, all vying for space on Social Media. There is plenty more on Bbc News on our top story, the news from lebanon regarding exploding pagers. Hello. Whilst well continue to see a bit more Cloud By Night and first thing in the morning across many areas of the country over the next few days, a lot of that will break up and, like today, Sunshine And Warmth will develop quite widely. 0ut there today, weve got High Pressure in charge, indeed, for the next few days. But as its slipping away, were getting more of an easterly breeze on its southern edge. So for england and wales especially, its that which is helping to generate the cloud and push it westwards. But as we go through the day, with the strength of the sun out there, a lot of the cloud dissipates. Still some lingering this afternoon in easternmost counties and maybe through the english channel. Long spells of sunshine for most, though, to go through the afternoon and it will feel warm out there for this stage in september. 25, 26 in the north of scotland, 24, 25 to the southeast of england. A bit fresher along the coast with that breeze off the sea, and that breeze, again, helps to generate the cloud and push it westwards. Never quite makes it to the far west of england and wales due to the pennines and the cambrian mountains. Clearer skies for scotland and Northern Ireland again, where, like this morning, well see some mist and dense Fog Patches form, and temperatures down into single figures where the skies remain clearest. So into Thursday Morning we go, lots of cloud across a good part of east wales and much of england. Its going to take till late morning, early afternoon for some of that to go, but unlike today, some eastern coasts, including across scotland, we will see some of that low cloud linger and turning cloudier in the far north later on. Highest temperatures in scotland tomorrow, actually, push towards the west where the clearest skies will be, but we could hit 25 or 26 to the west of london. As we go into friday, we do it all over again, but this time, more cloud through central and Eastern Scotland to begin with, taking a while to shift and clear. The cloud may break across england and wales to sunny spells, but a chance, particularly to the west of london, of showers developing. Some of those across the midlands and then later into wales and the south west, could become heavy and thundery. Most away from that, though, will be dry, but temperatures for all dropping a little bit closer back to where we should be for this stage in the year. And that continues into the weekend, but with low pressures developing to the south, the focus for showers are going to be mainly across parts of england and wales, particularly the further south you are. Some of those could be heavy and thundery at times. Further north and west, always the better chance of some sunshine. Parts of Northern Ireland, Western Scotland especially, but rather cloudy along some east coasts. Take care. This is Bbc News, the headlines. Taiwanese Electronics Firm denies any involvement saying the pages were made by A Hungarian firm it signed a deal with. The Post Office says its Chief Executive will Step Down from the role in march next year. He had moved back from front Line Duty is to prepare for the next phase of the inquiry into the horizon it scandal. The Covid Inquiry continues today. Yesterday Dame Ruth may said nurses bore the brunt of the