Welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. The un has warned that the middle east is on the brink of imminent catastrophe amid fears of an all—out war — as israel and the iran—backed group hezbollah in lebanon carry out large cross—border strikes. Israel said hezbollah launched more than a hundred rockets from lebanon towards them. Hezbollah said the attacks were in response to the wave of explosions of pagers and walkie—talkies that's widely believed to have been carried out by israel. In haifa, hospital patients have been moved to underground facilities, schools have been closed and gatherings restricted, as well as in other northern areas up to the lebanese border. Meanwhile, israel said it carried out more air strikes on targets in southern lebanon, destroying thousands of hezbollah�*s rocket launchers. The un chief antonio guterres said he fears the conflict between israel and hezbollah could risk lebanon becoming another gaza. Our senior international correspondent orla guerin reports from beirut. Hezbollah today, in mourning, but unbowed. This was the funeral of a top military commander, ibrahim aqil, killed on friday in an israeli air strike. The armed group's deputy leader said it was entering a new phase of open—ended battle against israel. And resounding support for that in its stronghold in southern beirut, where hezbollah fighters, living and dead, are heroes. Many have lined the streets here to say goodbye to ibrahim aqil. His killing is a major loss for hezbollah at a time when the organisation is suffering blow after blow. There is anger here, and grief, but also defiance. The message is, hezbollah is not broken and will fight on. And it's been doing that today, firing missiles deeper into israel. Hezbollah says its targets are military. But this residential area in northern israel was hit. This too was a residential area in beirut, until friday's israeli strike, which killed the hezbollah commander and 15 of his men, as they met below ground. A lebanese government minister linked to hezbollah says israel is dragging the region to war. At the end, lebanon is not seeking the war. Even the lebanese people. But israel is calling us, come to war, come to war. And do you think it will happen? i don't know. We will see. Around 30 civilians were killed here too, including entire families. Some of their relatives are still waiting at the scene today, hoping for remains to be found. Orla guerin, bbc news, beirut. Our international editor jeremy bowen is injerusalem — and considers where these cross—border strikes between israel and hezbollah leave tensions in the region. I think they are right to be worried. I think that both sides in the past have pulled back from the brink and there is nothing to say that will not happen again but that, i am afraid to say, is not how it looks tonight. The progresses in one direction, towards a bigger wall. The damage done to hezbollah means i think that would struggle to take defensive action but they are missiles deeper into israel. As for the israelis, i think they feel they have an advantage here, that maybe they could push forward and they have said the time has come to push hezbollah back from the northern border so that the 60,000 israelis who have been forced to leave their homes in the course of the last year will be able to return. Now, if hezbollah does not buckle, and i do not expect them to because fighting israel is deep in their dna, then israel says it will do more. That might be some kind of ground operation involving sending tanks and troops into lebanon and that, i think then, goes into an escalatory and dangerous situation and that is what the americans, particularly, i worried about. They still say there should be some kind of diplomatic solution but, quite frankly at the moment, i don't think anyone is listening. Next to sri lanka — where the presidential election has been won by a left—wing anti—corruption candidate. A warning there is some flash photography in the following pictures. Anura kumara dissanayake said his victory belonged to all sri lankans and promised a fresh start for the country. The poll, which went to a second count for the first time in sri lanka's history, has been described as one of the country's closest. In his first comments, the president—elect said he would put the demands of the sri lankan people first. There was a need for a government with a mandate from the people. If you want to rescue the country from the crisis, we know in the recent past the mandate was distorted. The distortion of the people's mandate affected the parliament and other institutions beyond that, the people's mandate that is needed to take this country forward is being established. That was the main point of the presidential election, and i think the general election should be held immediately after. Our correspondent is following developments and explained how big a shift interlink and politics is. This is where they announced the next president of sri lanka. 3 the next president of sri lanka. �* , a , lanka. A leftist marxist candidate _ lanka. A leftist marxist candidate although he l lanka. A leftist marxist i candidate although he has lanka. A leftist marxist _ candidate although he has moved away from some of the more extreme messaging that he used when he first came onto the political scene and has now become the voice of the working class here in sri lanka. He very much campaigned on being someone who can rebuild the country's economy after that crushing economic crisis two years ago. He is a candidate thatis years ago. He is a candidate that is not part of the usual sri lanka political dynasties and very much seen as a candidate of change. This election has really been marked with a lot of firsts. A first time an election interlink is not fought on ethnic and religious lines and it was all about the economy. This is also the first time we are seeing a peaceful election. Past elections interlink have been marred by violence. Now that aad has won the election, he now has the arduous task of making good on his promises, not only to rebuild the country's economy but to also rebuild the trust of the people in government. Chulanee attanayake is a political analyst, at swinburne university of technology in melbourne she told me how much a change the victory for dissanayake represent. This is a big change. For sri lanka's political history. First and foremost he is considered as one of us by the people because he does not come from a privileged political background. He does not have any political family history and like other presidents or prime ministers we have had in the past. Secondly he is also changing the political landscape of the country. Since independence, sri lanka has been governed by two political parties but this is the first time that we are seeing people giving a mandate to a leftist party, a marxist leftist party in the past but obviously they have come along the way. So this is a big change. In the future i do not think the political race in the country will be between two camps anymore, it will also be three or more parties competing for power in the future. It does bring a lot of change to sri lanka. Iwonder does bring a lot of change to sri lanka. I wonder if you think a new election will be called for parliament which will then sort of cement a further opportunity for change? yes. I remember a further opportunity for change? yes. I remembera kd during his campaign mentioning he will call for a general election within 45 days, if i'm not wrong, and also they have to do that because there are only three seats they have in the parliament so they do not have the majority support. In order for them to deliver promises they have made to the people it is important that they have the power within the parliament. It would be very important for them to call for a fresh election. — them to call for a fresh election. _,. , , , election. The economy will be his key priority. _ election. The economy will be his key priority. Economy election. The economy will be his key priority. Economy and | his key priority. Economy and also. . . His key priority. Economy and aiso _ his key priority. Economy and aiso he _ his key priority. Economy and also. . . . He anticorruption. . His key priority. Economy and | also. . . . He anticorruption. He ran his campaign on those grounds and it will be paramount for him to deliver that promise because one of the keyissues that promise because one of the key issues for sri lankan people in the past has been that no—one who promised to end corruption has actually done that when they came into power. The first six months— one year will be crucial for the government of will be crucialfor the government of akd and will be crucial for the government of akd and showcases that they are actually delivering the promises of people who are responsible for corruption and bringing them before the law. And then the economy, of course, because sri lanka, they have said that they believe they have the ability to bring the economy back into track. In the uk — the crown prosecution service says it twice considered bringing charges against the former harrods owner mohammed al fayed, but on both occasions, it concluded there was no realistic prospect of a conviction. All of this has come to light since a bbc documentary this week led to dozens of women coming forward with allegations of being sexually assaulted or raped by the billionaire, who died last year. Our business reporter, ben king, has more on this latest round of revelations. That's right. We learned today that in 2008 the metropolitan police looked into the case of a 15—year—old girl who said that she was sexually assaulted by mohammed al fayed in the harrods boardroom. That case file was passed to the cps but they took no further action. They have said today that the reason for that is that they didn't believe there was a realistic prospect of a conviction based on the evidence that they had at the time. There was another case in 2015 which got as far as the cps but no further, and three other cases which didn't even get to the stage of having a file presented to the cps. Now contrast that with the more than 20 women who have got in touch with the bbc and told their stories of sexual assault at the hands of mohammed al fayed while working out harrods. And dozens more who have contacted the corporation since the documentary was broadcast. Now, angela rayner who we have just heard from, she was asked about this on the television this morning and she said that she found the allegations horrifying and said that she was concerned about powerful people who seem to get away with a time and time again. Harrods is no longer owned by mohammed al fayed, he passed away last year and it was sold in 2010 to the government of qatar, the gulf state. They have said they have admitted that victims were let down and they have said that legal claims will be settled. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. You are alive with bbc news. India's prime minister has addressed thousands of members of the indian community in new york on sunday praising the power of the diaspora ahead of the us november election. Speaking at a packed event that also featured indian songs and dances he said the diaspora in the us had the strongest brand ambassadors of the country, connecting india with america and vice—versa. He is on a three—day visit to the united states. On saturday he met presidentjoe biden in his home state of delaware for bilateral talks on the sidelines of the quad lead assignment that also included the leaders of australia and japan. On monday he will also attend the united nations general assembly in new york and will address the summit of the future organised by the un. For more on this we will bring in the executive director of a research foundation in america. Thank you so much forjoining us to talk about this. The renderer mode is a big supporter of the quad, the security summit i mentioned. The indo pacific being the main focus of concern there. What does moody want to get out of that relationship? the quad is in some ways are coming together of a number of india's most important partners in the indo pacific including the united states, japan and australia. These bilateral relations have grown over the past two decades and strengthen and now encompass a wide range of issues from science and technology to security, maritime security, critical and emerging minerals are another area, infrastructure and so forth. The four con trees have a meeting, a summit sincejoe biden has become prime minister, it is a signature policy of biden. And we see the cooperation that began during the pandemic on health and vaccines and now working on a number of new areas. The latest summer, showed that not only forward movement in many of the existing initiatives but a few in new initiatives added to the mix. . ,. , , in new initiatives added to the mix. . ,. ,,. , in new initiatives added to the mix. . ,. , , mix. The quad has also been accused of — mix. The quad has also been accused of being _ mix. The quad has also been accused of being designed i mix. The quad has also been| accused of being designed to content with china. How does india sit without?— india sit without? india has not rejected _ india sit without? india has not rejected that _ india sit without? india has not rejected that notion india sit without? india has| not rejected that notion and india sit without? india has l not rejected that notion and i don't think, notjust india but the other countries as well, other participating countries, they have all ag knowledge dealings with china and all have said that in this day and age in a globalised world, containment did not start with the cold war, it is an art aided concept. All four countries do have shed concerns about china and china's growing role and assertiveness in international affairs including on territorial issues. And there was appointed language in there was appointed language in thejoint statement there was appointed language in the joint statement about territorial revisionism but more than that i think their concerns about global governance including the indo pacific and what the quad has been trying to do is provide public goods in the indo pacific in a manner that is transparent, in a way that can collectively compete with china whom they collectively believe is sometimes not abiding by international norms and rules, not abiding by market economics. That is creating the distinction that india and other countries would draw there. �*. ,. ,. , there. And away from the quad what were _ there. And away from the quad what were other _ there. And away from the quad what were other main there. And away from the quad what were other main areas. There. And away from the quad what were other main areas of| what were other main areas of note in that meeting in delaware?— note in that meeting in delaware?. , ,. ,. , delaware? there was a bilateral statement _ delaware? there was a bilateral statement as _ delaware? there was a bilateral statement as well _ delaware? there was a bilateral statement as well included, statement as well included, there was some new initiatives on semiconductors including military grade semiconductors that india will develop for the united states military. But it has also been some forward movement within the quad on a number of issues. On biotechnology, that would be a new one. Crisco cooperation is another major. Job—training exercises and other areas. More importantly than that i think the biden administration has really placed a lot of emphasis on the partnership with india for something that biden began investing in within days of becoming president and this is really the last opportunity for modi to meet with president biden before the november election. �* , , biden before the november election. , , ,, election. And briefly, speaking ofthat election. And briefly, speaking of that election _ election. And briefly, speaking of that election that _ election. And briefly, speaking of that election that is election. And briefly, speaking of that election that is fast of that election that is fast approaching, do we know if mr modi will meet with, harrison donald trump, the presidential hopefuls and you know what he thinks about each candidate was to mark i believe they have announced they will not be a meeting with either candidate at this time. He meeting with either candidate at this time. — at this time. He has met with both in the — at this time. He has met with both in the past _ at this time. He has met with both in the past and at this time. He has met with both in the past and donald l both in the past and donald trump �*s last visit as president in his previous term was to india. He seemed to enjoy a constructive and warm relationship with modi. He also met with vice president harris including last year when he was on a state visit to washington. So he and india do have construction of constructive relationships with both and in that sense i do not see the broader trajectory of us indian relations to be significantly affected no matter the outcome of the election in november. Let's turn to germany now — chancellor olaf scholz looks to be in position to secure a narrow victory over the far right afd in a key regional election. Brandenburg in the country's north—east has been safely in social democrat hands since german reunification more than 30 years ago — but two regional elections earlier this month saw major gains for the far right. The chancellor's party appears to be ahead in latest projections for the results. Our correspondent mark lowen is in potsdam, the capital of brandenburg state, with more details on the projected results. The spd, the social democrats have won with a very narrow victory, 30. 7% of the votes. Just behind them, the afd, the far right, 29. 6%, and others after that, the cdu, the centre—right and the new populist party on the left, so there is almost, there's just over 1% between these two parties. So that will provide some respite for olaf scholz given the fact that there were increasing calls for him to stand aside and not to be the candidate, for the spd in the federal elections next year, he is deeply unpopular according to opinion polls, and the spd avoided all mention of him in this regional election. But it shows the afd, even though they have been beaten into second place, have massively increased their support. In the space of three regional elections this month, they have won one and came narrowly in second in another area. So it shows the old political order in this country, as it is in much of europe, is crumbling, and the far right is on the rise. Capitalising on voter concerns about immigration, which consistently top the polls in terms of the main worry here. And the cost of living crisis with the afd�*s opposition to germany's support for ukraine. These were all concerns and these were all issues that really chimed with voters here, particularly young voters who support they have captured in large swathes. Injapan in japan torrential downpours have caused massive floods and mudslides across the region. At least six people have reportedly been killed and two are missing. More than 40,000 people across the cities have been ordered to evacuate after at least a dozen rivers burst banks. In one city alone more than 120 millimetres of rain was recorded on saturday marking the heaviest downpour in the region since records began. Two recent security breaches involving former us president donald trump — including one in pennsylvania in which he was shot — have sparked a whole new wave of disinformation and hate online ahead of november's election. Bbc�*s social media correspondent marianna spring has been to colorado — a state which has become a hot bed for conspiracy theories — to investigate how two people, one republican and the other democrat, have been drawn into them. This moment, when donald trump was shot at injuly, triggered a whole wave of speculation, conspiracy theories and false claims online, drawing in people across the political spectrum. This is actually where i walked to from our cabin. That includes desiree. Under the pseudonym wild mother she regularly posts about natural medicine. Now she also shares unproven theories about major news events. I had been extremely passionate about trying to figure out the real truth about september 11. Everything about this town. . . She thinks donald trump is the best option for president and when the first assassination attempt happened, she was led to the unevidenced theory that trump's own team staged the attack in order to frame his hidden enemies. Do i hope that that's the case? yes. Why? because i think our country needs rescuing from our government right now. It's a horrible mess. It's like going to a magic show as a kid and then you find out for the first time that the magician is pulling one over on you. Now, every time you go to a magic show, you know what they're doing. 70 miles away in colorado's capital, denver, camille has voted democrat for the last 15 years. She says she's never believed in conspiracy theories like this before. What started as questions about security failings after donald trump was shot at led to camille being recommended baseless theories on x. Some of these racked up more than 25 million views in total. Well, that's staged. That was my first reaction. Because the secret service, if they weren't involved in some sort of staged event, they wouldn't have let him pose for a picture and expose his body to the open air with an active shooter nearby. These conspiracy theories feed into the wider belief that anything and everything can be staged or rigged, including elections. Election centres, like this one in nearbyjefferson county, are upping security ahead of the vote as their workers are subject to abuse and threats online. Let's make sure that we are all voting in ways that align with our values. But what's not ok is when you're sending horrifying e—mails or when you are making threats on the internet or coming to an office. Camille and wild mother say they wouldn't threaten anyone. But social media's algorithms are drawing new people deeper into an online world detached from reality, where hate can feeljustified. Marianna spring, bbc news, colorado. Hello there. Big thunderstorms are on the way for monday and that brings the threat of some significant flash flooding. The storms that we had on sunday were heavy enough but didn't affect everyone. Western scotland, the skies have been like this for days in the highlands. Another still day, you'll be wondering what all the fuss is about, i'm sure. But further southwards, the radar picture showed some intense storms, particularly going through the south midlands. And in woburn in bedfordshire, we recorded over the space of two hours 59mm of rain. That's more than the average for the entirety of september. And over the 24 hour period, the same site had 102mm of rain, so nearly double the monthly average rainfall. And nearby in dunstable, well, there was some severe flooding with the high street underwater at one point. Now looking at the picture at the moment, lots of showers across england and wales again with some thunderstorms — quieter weather further northwards. But the met office have got an amber weather warning out in force for monday. Some communities could see around 80mm—120mm of rain, and it could well be that this risk of extreme rainfall extends into central, southern england as well. So through the day, some torrential thundery downpours focussed across parts of england, some communities having a high risk of flash flooding, probably some river flooding, some disruption. It's one of those days where you want to check on travel conditions before heading out. Northern ireland, west scotland, bright with some sunny spells. East scotland continues to be rather cloudy with mist. North scotland, we're seeing a weather front move in, bringing outbreaks of rain and ultimately cooler weather conditions. On into tuesday, well, the thundery rain is clearing out of the way across england and wales, so in that respect, it's a drier kind of day. In scotland, we get this cold front continuing to push its way southwards, really dumping the temperatures here — just ten degrees in aberdeen and 12 for glasgow. Still relatively mild, i suppose for northern ireland, england and wales. Middle part of the week sees active areas of low pressure bringing further heavy rain, particularly focussed again on england and wales. And once those systems have pushed through, well, then we get chilly northwesterly winds diving southwards, and so through the week it is going to stay unsettled, and through the week it is going to turn a lot cooler as well, with temperatures across the board well below average. But for monday, it's that risk of flash flooding we really need to pay attention to. Stay in touch with the latest forecast, please. Sri lanka has a new president who has made big economic promises. We'll look at the challenges he faces to keep them. Plus, i caught up with one of the most recognisable names in formula 1 as the race wrapped up in singapore. Hello and welcome to business today. I'm steve lai. Let's begin intra longer which has elected a new president, anura kumara dissanayake faces the grim task of writing an economy which collapsed in 2022. Anura kumara dissanayake once at a selection after the second round of counting which telling voters second and third choice candidates, the bbc�*s sent this report. Sri lanka's voting for change and am anura kumara dissanayake signals that political overhaul. He is the first left leaning lawmaker to take charge and has won on his pledge to address corruption and reduce economic burden