With big interviews and our regular panel of newsnighters, and of course look at what the papers are saying about tomorrows news. Just a few hours ago, huge plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the Capital Today after israel fired a series of rockets into beirut. Israel said it was targeting the headquarters of hezbollah and its leader but its not clear whether he is alive or dead. The initial Death Toll from the explosion is that two people were killed but that is expected to rise. We are told 70 injuries have been reported so far and in the last hour the idf has issued warnings for people living in certain parts of those Southern Suburbs to evacuate their homes, which suggests more strikes may be due overnight. Iran, which backs hezbollah, has called the attack on the capital in the Southern Suburbs a dangerous, Game Changing Escalation. In a moment well speak to our international editorjeremy bowen, who will give us the latest on whats happened and look ahead to whats happened and look ahead to what this could mean for escalating tensions in the region, but first, Hugo Bachega reports from the area close to the attack. Explosions. Scenes of war in beirut. Hezbollah� s conflict with israel returning to its stronghold of dahieh, with a series of massive explosions and an escalation with unpredictable consequences. Explosion. An attack so powerful that it was seen and heard across the city. Lebanon now on the brink of another war. Chaos on the streets and here is what they are running from. Dahieh, in southern beirut, now looking like gaza. But amid so much destruction, jubilation. Two children rescued from the rubble alive. Hezbollah� s backers, iran, say this strike marks a dangerous Game Changing Escalation in the conflict. For israel, its a strike targeting the heart of hezbollah� s operations. Moments ago the Israel Defense forces carried out a precise strike on the Central Headquarter of the Hezbollah Terror Organisation that serves as the epicentre of hezbollah� s terror, hezbollah� s Central Headquarter was intentionally built under residential buildings in the heart of the dahieh in beirut as part of hezbollah� s strategy of using lebanese people as human shields. This was apparently the target, one of israels main enemies. Hezbollah� s long time and powerful leader, Hassan Nasrallah, seen here for the last time a week ago. Israel says it is still checking whether he was hit and remains alive. Hezbollah in iran say reports he is dead are not true. This is one of the roads leading to dahieh full stop we tried to get out of the car but we were stopped by a group of men. There is chaos there is tension. Weve seen crowds gathered by the road with rucksacks and bags, apparently trying to leave dahieh. Minutes before the attack, the israeli Prime Ministerfinished a speech at the United Nations. Benjamin netanyahu said his country wanted peace but had no choice but to fight its enemies. Hours later there was some response from hezbollah in the way of dozens of rockets on northern israel. One hit this building in the town of safed. For almost a year there has been concern that something like this could spark a wider regional conflict. Tonight, there are two unanswered questions whether Hassan Nasrallah is still alive, and if The Middle East will be engulfed by war. Hugo bachega, Bbc News, beirut. The strike came as The Sun was setting in Beirut And Onlyjust after an hour after Benjamin Netanyahu gave a defiant speech at the United Nations general assembly in New York. He didnt refer to the ceasefire that had been talked about in recent days. Instead saying israel would continue to fight hezbollah and telling World Leaders we are winning. From New York, Tom Bateman reports. The israeli leader walked straight into the question all the diplomats here at the un are asking. Prime minister netanyahu, are you agreeing to a Ceasefire Deal or not . And he wasnt answering it in the hall either. As he took to the stage, many delegates walked out. Order, please. But he was defiant and had a warning for hezbollah� s backers. I have a message for the tyrants of tehran. If you strike us, we will strike you. There is no place in iran that the long arm of Israel Cannot reach and thats true of the entire middle east. Watching were some relatives of israeli hostages held in gaza. Mr netanyahu said only surrender by hamas would stop israels offensive. He scolded Irans Role in the region. Its a map of a curse. And defying us pressure, made no mention of The Call for a ceasefire in lebanon, saying Rocket Fire had to stop. Yet israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for nearly a year. Well, ive come here today, to say enough is enough. Chanting palestine will be free. And where Mr Netanyahu goes, so does dissent against israels military offensives. Now, lebanese flagsjoin the palestinian ones. They accuse the us of keeping the weapons flowing to israel despite Mr Netanyahu ignoring much of what america has wanted. First over gaza, now they believe hes Making A Mockery of the us� s calls for a truce in lebanon. After his speech Mr Netanyahus office released this picture of him here in New York giving The Go Ahead for the strike On Beirut. The snub to his american ally, which wants restraint, could hardly be stronger. And in the last few Minutes President biden has said that the us had no advanced knowledge of the strike On Beirut and he added he was concerned now about escalation. Meanwhile, here in New York, his top diplomat has said the sides here have a choice, between diplomacy or more conflict. The americans are urging restraint and talks, but what is clear tonight is that there is allies are not listening. Tommy New York, thank you. Lets Head Tojerusalem and our international editorjeremy bowen. A significant target, a potential response, what is likely to happen next . Well, first of all, as far as where things are at, we talk a lot about The Middle East being on the brink. It feels tonight as if they are tumbling Over The Edge of it. As far as israel is concerned, they seem to believe that they have inflicted so much damage now on hezbollah that their beauty is very much on the throat of the organisation their boot is very much on the throat of the organisation and they would be daft and take it off and go for the kind of truce the us has been pushing for. Israels next decision may be about launching a Ground Offensive in southern lebanon. For hezbollah, whether or not its leader Hassan Nasrallah is still alive and we dont know, the decision is what to do with the rest of its arsenal. It is believed to have a very formidable arsenal still of missiles it could use against israel. As israeli pressure continues there might be a feeling of use it or lose it, as far as those weapons are concerned. That decision, they have to take. And as for the americans, as youve been hearing, even though secretary of State Blinken has said there is still room for diplomacy and he repeated tonight his belief that israel, that americas combination of Deterrence And Diplomacy has staved Off Micro A wider middle east war, the fact is that as Tom Bateman said, his israeli allies, americas israeli allies, are not listening to them, they are pushing ahead it seems very strongly. They are pushing ahead it seems very stronal. ,. ~ they are pushing ahead it seems very stronal. ,. , they are pushing ahead it seems very stronul. ,. , they are pushing ahead it seems very stronal. ,. , ~ ,. , strongly. Jeremy, thank you stop all bein felt strongly. Jeremy, thank you stop all being felt very strongly. Jeremy, thank you stop all being felt very strongly strongly. Jeremy, thank you stop all being felt very strongly here strongly. Jeremy, thank you stop all being felt very strongly here in being felt very strongly here in Beirut Tonight as rescuers continued to dig through the rubble throughout the evening to look for survivors of what has been a biggest attack, reeta, that beirut has seen during this phase of the conflict. Thank you, Anna Foster reporting there. Tributes are being paid to Dame Maggie Smith, whos died at the age of 89. A legend of stage and screen, she won two oscars during a career that spanned seven decades. She was known to younger audiences for her roles in the Harry Potter films and downton abbey. King charles described her today, as a national treasure. Our Culture Editor Katie razzall looks back at her life. That was bloody brilliant. Thank you for that assessment, mrweasley. Her Professor Mcgonagall in the Harry Potter films introduced Dame Maggie Smith to a whole new generation. Little girls, i am in the business of putting old heads on young shoulders. But it was another Teacher Role that won her her first oscar the prime of Missjean Brodie was an acting masterclass. No, no, dont be alarmed. And over seven legendary decades, she admitted her nerves at being her best often got to her. I think ijust get extremely grumpy and very tetchy, and just furious with myself, really. I have a definite hump on my left shoulder. She may have seemed haughty and in charge of everything, but i think inside there was an anxiety to get it right. But she always did. She was so bloody good you can forgive somebody for being The Best Of the best, cant you . She made her name on the stage. I love you with so much of my heart. There is nothing left to protest. One of the finest Theatre Actors of her generation. In her great performances, you think youve got the measure of her, but you never have, because shes always ahead of you, shes always taking you somewhere thrilling, strange, interesting and unexpected. Put the van in your drive . That never occurred to me. I mean, truly, i neverworked with anybody like her. Quick, come here, whats that, there . Damejudi dench, her contemporary and equal, was a lifelong friend. Were going to work forever if were asked, but youre always asked first, if i may say so. No. Don� t im turning on you now. Its all coming out now. That Droll Wit and waspish humour became her trademark, a Scene Stealer as the Dowager Countess in downton abbey. And of course, i will have the weekend. We will discuss this later. We mustnt bore the ladies. What is a weekend . Have you ever watched downton . Laughter. Have you not . Ive got the box set. Witty to the end. I presume you have a reason for returning, potter. What is it you need . Time, professor, as much as you can get me. Amongst the many tributes, Daniel Radcliffe called her a legend with a fierce intellect and a gloriously sharp tongue. Michelle dockery said there was no one quite like maggie. And the King Tonight said the curtain has gone down on a national treasure. Dame maggie smith, whos died aged 89. Its emerged that Sir Keir Starmer received an additional £16,000 worth of clothes from the labour peer, lord alli. Lets speak to our deputy political Editor Vicki young. This issue has been a political embarrassment for the Prime Minister already and now we learn there was more . Thats right, and its the details of how this money was spent that is causing the embarrassment and it seems it would have been betterfor labour if they had been more transparent from the beginning. All parties take political donations. The rules are that they have to declare those within a certain amount of time and Sir Keir Starmer did do that, so he hasnt broken any rules. But we have learnt today that on top of the £16,000 for clothes from Lord Ali which we already knew about, theres another £16,000 which was originally declared as money for his private office that has now been re categorised. Labour said that that has happened because they went back to check that it had been properly registered, so they say they are being proactive about all this. They also say that all parties do invest in presentation. But we now know that the Prime Minister, the chancellor, the deputy Prime Minister have all said they will no longer take donations for clothes, which does suggest that none of this was the image that they were looking for. ~. , was the image that they were looking for. ~. ,. , and Faisal Islam will have more on that story on Newsnight On Bbc Two shortly. Thanks, reeta. More investment and fewer tax hikes. We are getting the outline of labours first budget and we will assess un assembly, where Israels Pm has departed to deal with the strikes in Beirut Targeting hezbollah� s leader. With the strikes in Beirut Targeting hezbollahs leader. Hezbollahs leader. Thank you, faisal. Two boys have been sentenced to life with a minimum of eight and a half years in custody for killing a stranger with a machete in a park in wolverhampton. The boys were 12 years old at the time, and they are the uks youngest knife murderers. They launched an unprovoked attack last november on 19 year old shawn seesahai, whod come to britain from anguilla for medical treatment. Phil mackies report contains distressing detail. This is the last image of shawn seesahai, taken a few minutes before he was fatally attacked. Hed come to the uk from his home in the Caribbean Island Of Anguilla for treatment after suffering a detached retina playing basketball. He was repeatedly stabbed in a savage attack after an encounter with the 12 year olds. After i hear that call that says shawn got stabbed, i dont know what happened after. I think i maybe threw the phone down, i dont know, i cant remember what happened. I, like, was left in shock. Just hours before it was used to take his life, One Of The Boys posed for this photo with the machete. It was nearly a foot and a half long and was found hidden under one of their beds. They chopped his leg, they chopped his arm, they chopped a piece of his head out. They stabbed him through and through. They killed my son like theyre killing a dog or something, you know . Because they were so young, in court the judge and barristers didnt Wear Wigs and gowns, and specially trained Staff And Family members sat with the boys for support. Today they were told they must serve at least eight and a half years before they could be released. It is then for the Parole Board to decide when a defendant can leave custody, and their decision depends on a Defendants Behaviour in custody and whether its safe for that person to leave custody. Shawn was only 19 when his life was taken at the hands of two boys, then aged just 12, who had armed themselves with a machete. It is both shocking and saddening. The Seesahais Couldnt afford to leave anguilla for todays sentencing. Theyd spent all their savings on attending the five week trial. Shawns body was repatriated and he was cremated, and his family came here to one of his favourite spots to scatter his ashes. But half a world away from the uk, theyre still struggling to cope with what happened. Its so hard right now. I cant even explain, but its very hard now. It brings back all memory, from the day he died and everything i did, and bring his ashes here, its so hard. Today the family said the boys sentences were too lenient, and didnt reflect the Loss Theyd suffered. Phil mackie, Bbc News. French prosecutors are being urged to launch an investigation into allegations of rapes and Sexual Assault by Mohammed Al fayed at the paris ritz. Victims have spoken of their rage over what they claim was a cult like management at the hotel which enabled his attacks. The bbc understands at least five more women have come forward with new claims of incidents in france. The ritz has not provided any additional comment in response to these claims. Tonight, Mohammed AlFayeds Son omar has released a statement saying hes horrified by the allegations, which have Thrown Into Question the loving memory he had of his father. Andrew harding reports from paris. The ritz still a Paris Landmark and still owned today by Mohamed Al fayeds family. It was here, of course, back in 1997 that Princess Diana spent her last evening with al Fayeds Son, dodi, before their deaths. But today The Ritz is facing a very different form of scrutiny. Kristina svensson, who began working at the hotel in 1998, has already told of her abuse by al fayed in a bbc documentary. He enjoyed. I guess the fear in my eyes, or our eyes. Now shes campaigning forjustice. We are in enough of a rage that nothing is going to stop us. She believes at least 50 people working at the hotel alongside her knew of the abuse. And people need to decide if they were culpable in any way. If they chose to remain silent, they need to understand that the legal teams that we have will leave no stone unturned. The ritz has made only one short comment last week, condemning behaviour that does not align with its values. The bbc approached The Ritz about the most recent allegations but they did not provide any additional comment. We understand that within the past few days, at least six more women have come forward with new allegations about what happened here in france. And the focus in paris, as In London now, is notjust on Mohamed Al fayed but on those around him who may have either covered up or enabled his crimes. A french lawyer is now urging prosecutors here to investigate. If there are a lot of women, the prosecutor has the moral duty to open an investigation. A lot of people could have known what happened. Some of them couldnt speak. I can understand that, but others maybe tried to help al fayed to commit his crimes, so thats why its very important that we identify them. But that could be a long process, which may yet depend on how many people here decide its time to speak out. Andrew harding, Bbc News, paris. Michelle oneill of Sinn Fein has become the first irish nationalist to address a Party Conference as first minister of northern ireland. She took on the role in february, when the devolved government was restored. Speaking to the Sinn Fein conference at athlone in the republic of ireland, Ms Oneill said westminster must give more powers to the coalition in belfast. This new british government must contribute to how devolution will evolve over time rather than retreat, and the financial limitations that have been placed upon the executive restrict our ability to be able to act. So further financial powers are required, but it all points to one thing that only through governing ourselves can we build a betterfuture. Applause. Us Vice PresidentKamala Harris whos running to be president is in arizona on the Border with mexico later tonight, pledging to spend millions on tougher Border-security'>Border Security and immigration reform. Under her and joe biden� s administration illegal immigration Hit Record Levels and it is one of the issues that voters care about most. Will theyjudge her promises to be too little, too late . Our North America EditorSarah Smith has been finding out. Food and water from volunteers for people who are waiting till nightfall before they cross through this gap in the Borderfence. It is not difficult to get into america, but it can be dangerous. Hundreds die in the Desert Heat every year. All i want is to help my family and give them a better life. Give them a better life. These are recisel give them a better life. These are precisely the give them a better life. These are precisely the scenes give them a better life. These are precisely the scenes that give them a better life. These are precisely the scenes that Voters L precisely the scenes that voters want the next president to end. A medieval vanity project, Kamala Harris once called Donald Trumps wall. Now she is promising more security, aware that this is her weakest issue. When you hit Donald Trump or even Kamala Harris saying, i will put more resources in, i will secure the Border, what do you think . I secure the Border, what do you think . , , ~ 2 think . I laugh, because i think its really hard think . I laugh, because i think its really hard to think . I laugh, because i think its really hard to do. Think . I laugh, because i think its really hard to do. Its think . I laugh, because i think its really hard to do. Its easy think . I laugh, because i think its really hard to do. Its easy to think . I laugh, because i think its really hard to do. Its easy to say. Really hard to do. Its easy to say and hard to do. That one is really solid. � ,. , and hard to do. That one is really solid. fl. ,. , and hard to do. That one is really solid. 3. ,. ,. , and hard to do. That one is really solid. � ,. ,. ,. ,. , solid. Its not hard to cut this fence and solid. Its not hard to cut this fence and climb solid. Its not hard to cut this fence and climb through solid. Its not hard to cut this fence and climb through it. I solid. Its not hard to cut this fence and climb through it. Whoa. That is where you cut. Because its hollow there. That is where you cut. Because its hollow there hollow there. Yeah, there is no cement there. Hollow there. Yeah, there is no cement there. This hollow there. Yeah, there is no cement there. This is hollow there. Yeah, there is no cement there. This is where. Cement there. This is where rhetoric meets reality. You cement there. This is where rhetoric meets reality. You have cement there. This is where rhetoric meets reality. You have the cement there. This is where rhetoric meets reality. You have the fence i meets reality. You have the Fence Constricted by Donald Trump, and then a Big Gap that they left because there is a stream over here. Well, now there is a Construction Project ongoing, paid for by the biden administration, to fill in the Trump Gap where everybody is arguing about who can be trusted to secure the Border properly. As well as upgrading the infrastructure, president biden also cracked down on asylum claims a few months ago, cutting by two thirds the number is coming in. Kamala harris has to explain why they left it over three years to take action. Years to take action. Whats this . This is a water years to take action. Whats this . This is a Water Trough years to take action. Whats this . This is a Water Trough and years to take action. Whats this . | this is a Water Trough and drinking fountain. Jim this is a Water Trough and drinking fountain. ,. ,. ,. , this is a Water Trough and drinking fountain,. ,. ,. , ~ , fountain. Jim chilton wants to keep mirrants fountain. Jim chilton wants to keep migrants off fountain. Jim chilton wants to keep migrants off his fountain. Jim chilton wants to keep migrants off his land, fountain. Jim chilton wants to keep migrants off his land, but fountain. Jim chilton wants to keep migrants off his land, but he fountain. Jim chilton wants to keep migrants off his land, but he has. Migrants off his land, but he has also instilled Water Fountains because he doesnt want them to die here either. Motion activated cameras show thousands, all in similar camouflage clothing, crossing his ranch. He blames the policies Ofjoe Biden and Kamala Harris and does not believe she would secure the Border. Would secure the Border. Shes chanauin would secure the Border. Shes changing her would secure the Border. Shes changing her mind would secure the Border. Shes changing her mind just would secure the Border. Shes changing her mind just to would secure the Border. Shes changing her mind just to get l would secure the Border. Cil changing her mind just to get votes and lie to us. Changing her Mind Ust to get votes and lie to us. And lie to us. Outrageous. Why are ou so and lie to us. Outrageous. Why are you so sure and lie to us. Outrageous. Why are you so sure its and lie to us. Outrageous. Why are you so sure its a and lie to us. Outrageous. Why are you so sure its a lie . And lie to us. Outrageous. Why are you so sure its a lie . I and lie to us. Outrageous. Why are you so sure its a lie . I have and lie to us. Outrageous. Why are you so sure its a lie . I have seen i you so sure its a lie . I have seen the evidence. You so sure its a lie . I have seen the evidence. This you so sure its a lie . I have seen the evidence. This vast you so sure its a lie . I have seen the evidence. This vast landscape you so sure its a lie . I have seen i the evidence. This vast landscape is a key electoral the evidence. This vast landscape is a key electoral battleground. The evidence. This vast landscape is a key electoral battleground. Its a key electoral battleground. Its territory where ms harris knows she is vulnerable, so can she now convince voters she would get tough on immigration which is, after all, Donald Trumps Signature Issue . Sarah smith, Bbc News, arizona. On the final day of the hearing into the Titan Submersible disaster, witnesses have given evidence about the five Day Search near the site of the titanic. A senior us Coast Guard Officer defended the operation, saying they could not be sure that the sub had imploded until they found its wreckage on the atlantic sea bed. Heres rebecca morelle. An underwater robot recovering the wreckage of oceangates Titan Submersible, in pieces, lying at the bottom of the atlantic. Vital evidence for the investigation into exactly what went wrong. What have we learned about the Titan Submersible . We now know there were a lot of technical issues during dives. During dives in 2021 and 2022, 118 different problems were reported. They ranged from the thrusters failing to the front dome of the sub falling off. But the investigation has been concentrating on the hull where the passengers were. In 2022, a Loud Bang was heard during the dive. It was picked up by the multiple sensors fitted to the sub. Data from them suggests that something had happened that changed the fabric of the hull, and this affected how the sub could respond to pressure. The hull was made from Carbon Fibre. It was five inches, 13 centimetres thick, and each inch was made up of multiple layers. But a problem with this material is that these layers can come apart. Wreckage of the hull recovered from the Sea Floor also been analysed. On this large piece, you can see where the layers of Carbon Fibre are separating. Its not been confirmed if a failure in the hull caused the sub to implode, but its a key focus of the investigation. The truth, the whole Truth And Nothing but the truth, so help you god. Thank you. You may be seated. On the final day of the public hearing, the us Coast Guard defended their lengthy search at the time, even though theyd been told about a Sonar Signal that suggested titan had been lost. The Navy Couldnt tell us that it was a 100 definitive answer that it was an implosion. I know its been widely reported in the media that we had some information that somehow, we were holding on to and we continued to search when we knew what the answer was, and i would tell you no one knew what the answer was. In the coming months, a report will answer how a sub destined for failure was allowed to dive, and find a way to stop a tragedy like this from happening again. Rebecca morelle, Bbc News. More than 160 Flood Warnings and alerts are still in force in England Tonight after Heavy Rain caused Flash Flooding and disruption to travel, affecting some areas for a second time this week. Joe inwood has spent the day with residents in bedfordshire. This is what days of torrential rain has done to bedford. From above, you get a sense of the scale, from the ground, of the Damage Water can do. So this is probably as far as i can go in these wellies, but those guys in their waders can get all the way down, and thats lucky because you go a few houses further, and theyre getting properly flooded. Its a fate Toms House managed to avoid, but onlyjust. And he knows the danger has not gone away. Were still really concerned. Again, Rainfall Last Night means that in the next couple of days, were still going to be experiencing more water coming down. We hope that its moving on. All the signs show that it is possibly going to move down and give us that little bit of relief that we need, but this is still going to be till next week that were having the impact of this water coming down. Its a picture that was repeated across much of england today. In telford, the local Football Club was left underwater, with fans coming to help with the clear up. Shefford in bedfordshire sits between two rivers. The local mayor said the Water Levels were totally unprecedented, while in all stretton in shropshire, a Care Home had to be evacuated during the night after the weight of water caused a wall to collapse. Back in kempson, the rescue teams are still on the ground. Theyve been here since wednesday, making sure that as many properties as possible are protected. Its something they say were going to have to get used to. I think each household needs to undertake a proper Risk Assessment of flooding. Even if they think its not likely to happen to them, actually, just do a proper assessment. Look at it, be aware of the reality that it is going to be flooded. In truth, Todays Flooding has generally caused inconvenience, not catastrophe. But its not over yet. Joe inwood, Bbc News, in bedfordshire. And if you want to continue watching the Bbc News at ten, please turn over to Bbc One or you can watch on iplayer. Next, its newsnight