Earlier on friday, huge plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the capital of lebanon, after israel said it fired a series of rockets into beirut. The israeli Defence Force says it was targetting hezbollah� s headquarters, as huge explosions leveled buildings in beirut� s densely populated Southern Suburbs. Hezbollah� S Leader, Hassan Nasrallah was reportedly the target of the explosions. Neither Israel Nor Hezbollah has formally confirmed his status. At least six people died in the attack and more than 90 have been injured according to lebanese officals. The embassy of iran which backs hezbollah called the attack a dangerous, game changing escalation. Our bbc teams on the ground describe the situation as chaos, with ambulances rushing to the scene through roads packed with people trying to flee. Our Correspondent Hugo Bachega has the latest from beirut. 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. 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 Minister finished 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. As we heard from hugo there, the israeli Prime Minister minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to Defeat Hezbollah in a speech to the Un General Assembly in New York. The attack has prompted mr. Netanyahu to cut a trip to the us short. The israeli government released this photo, where it says prime Minister Netanyahu was approving the strike in beirut from New York. The israeli Prime Minister made no mention of a ceasefire during his speech, standing firm on the idea that israels offensive against hezbollah in lebanon would continue until its objectives were met. He also accused the United Nations of antisemitism and said israel was defending itself against a common enemy in iran. Meanwhile, united States Secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin told reporters the us had no prior i spoke by phone earlier with my counterpart in israel. The united states was not involved in israels operation. We had no advanced warning. My call took place while the operation was actually already under way. What i will say as you heard me say a number of times that an all out war should be avoided. Diplomacy continues to be the best way forward and it is the fastest way to let displaced israeli and lebanese citizens returned to their homes on both sides of the border. I spoke with journalist at the English LanguageLorient Today in lebanon wael taleb. Can you tell us what is the current situation like there . Currently, those South Of Beirut is been bombarded and the israeli army warned residents of some of the neighbourhoods and beirut south to evacuate and there was a state of panic in these neighbourhoods, people who were running out of the area with their cars and you could see it a lot. I should say im here and i should say that one of the neighbourhoods, i moved away because of the situation because it could be a target. I wanted to ask you, its a shame that the house we lived is being targeted, is that area Residential Area, what are those where people going . Hat those where people going . Not my house. Those where people going . Not my house. I those where people going . Iirrt my house, i dont know if My Houseis my house, i dont know if my house is struck i have to check my neighbourhood. But it is a Residential Area and like the others that were struck earlier, six buildings were destroyed and there is, i know targeted Areas Today like, i mean hezbollah� S LeaderHassan Nasrallah, but the Residential Area with residents and yet, northern areas. Northern areas. People in beirut, northern areas. People in beirut. Is northern areas. People in beirut, is there northern areas. People in beirut, is there a northern areas. People in beirut, is there a Sense L northern areas. People in | beirut, is there a sense of theres a further escalation that things have stepped up . Yes, in terms of intensity in the strikes and the amount of casualties and six were killed but the published estimates from the israeli defence people saying that 300 were killed in one strike and earlier, if the hezbollah leader is killed, the bombardments alone, it is a huge escalation. And theyre seeing a lot of strikes in areas we would not think that is a target like Mount Lebanon and it seems like no place is safe in the country and the capital is yet to be bombed and the capital is yet to be bombed and israeli army and the military purposes i also spoke to mara karlin, former us assistant secretary of defense strategy, plans and capabilities under the biden harris administration, to discuss the wider implications of the current strikes. This is a precarious moment for the Middle East and the president of iran is called a game changing and what is your reading of the fragility of the current situation . Current situation . Thank you for having current situation . Thank you for having to me. Since hamas attacks on israel on october seven and the subsequent israeli response, Hezbollah And Israel have been treating potshots on their border. For nearly a year or so. Those largely have been below a certain level of violence and nevertheless, we have seen folks from across Southern Lebanon in northern israel unable to be in their homes. Tens of thousands of people. What we have seen over the last week in particular has been mind boggling, frankly. Scores of folks, hezbollah members with pagers and Walkie Talkies were blown up in various weapons, because shes being hit in spectacular attacks aiming for hezbollah Leader Secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah. Jae Leader Secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah. Joe biden has directed the Hassan Nasrallah. Joe biden has directed the pentagon Hassan Nasrallah. Joe biden has directed the pentagon to Hassan Nasrallah. Joe biden has directed the Pentagon To Assessj Directed The pentagon to assess and adjust as necessary, posturing in the region. What does that mean in a practical way . Does that mean in a practical wa . �. , does that mean in a practical wa . ~. , way . And a practical way, the team at the way . And a practical way, the team at the pentagon way . And a practical way, the team at the pentagon are way . And a practical way, the L Team at the pentagon are going to be looking at the Military Posture around the Middle East and what are the naval capabilities, what are the air capabilities, what are the air capabilities, the Ground Capabilities, the Ground Capabilities and given that the situation is grown more complicated, is there a need to search any specific capabilities for increased forces in certain areas . Frankly, the us system is a couple of times since october seven and right after those attacks, and an assessment of the Posture Secretary of defence Lloyd Austin sent not one but two aircraft, Carrier Strike groups to the Middle East. � ,. ,. ,. , east. Theres been a fear of escalation east. Theres been a fear of escalation in east. Theres been a fear of escalation in the east. Theres been a fear of escalation in the region east. Theres been a fear of. Escalation in the region since october seven and the Military 0ctober Seven and the military presence increasing shortly afterwards, how concerned is the us about the regional escalation at this point as we are tonight . I escalation at this point as we are tonight . Are tonight . I think quite concerned. Are tonight . I think quite concerned. Everything i are tonight . I think quite | concerned. Everything we are tonight . I think quite concerned. Everything we have seen between hamas and israel and we have seen incessant attacks by shutting the Red Sea down by the houthis. Whats happening between Hezbollah And Israel, it appears that they got deep into Hezbollahs Communication System and was able to really injure so many members and tonight, frankly the strike against Hassan Nasrallah would probably be the biggest thing to happen to hezbollah since there predecessor was killed in 1992. Looking at the current live seen from beirut. Looking at his screens now they can see the Southern Suburbs and beirut where we are getting reports from the israeli military that its launching a number of strikes and sites that says Buildings Housing Hezbollah weapons in the statement from the Media Arm said however, there are no weapons in these buildings. The Defence Force is targeting. And bringing you in future developments as they happen. And donald former President Donald Trump met with ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in New York on friday. Trump greeted Mr Zelensky at Trump Tower and said it was time Russias War in ukraine was settled. The republican president ial nominee has repeatedly criticized Mr Zelensky on the us campaign trail. Zelensky said he thought they had, a common view that the war has to be stopped and putin cant win. Before the meeting, which lasted less than an hour, the former us president had hailed his alliance with zelensky but added, i also have a very good relationship, as you know, with president putin. Around the world and across the uk. This is Bbc News. Lets look at some other stories making news. Two boys who murdered 19 year old Shawn Seesahai with a machete, have been given the equivalent of life sentences. The pair, aged 12 at the time of the unprovoked attack in wolverhampton, must serve a minimum of eight years and six months. The boys are the youngest convicted killers since Robert Thompson and jon venables, who murdered James Bulger in 1993. Keir starmer received an additional Sixteen Thousand pounds worth of clothes from labour peer, lord alli. The donations, first reported by the guardian, were initially declared as money for his private office aS Leader of the opposition. The gifts were declared on time, but will now be recategorised. The Prime Minister has insisted he has always followed the rules on donations. The partner of Nicola Bulley has described the online obsession with her disappearance as a monster. Paul ansell told the bbc that despite initially thinking the interest would help the search, it was quickly overtaken by hurtful and misleading claims being posted on social media. The mother of two disappeared in January 2023 while walking her dog near her home in lancashire. Youre live with Bbc News at least Forty Three people have been killed across florida, georgia and North Carolina as Storm Helene brought Flash Flooding and fierce winds to much of the southeast. The Storm Barrelled into floridas Big Bend as a category four storm on Thursday Night before weakening as it travelled north. Cleanup operations are under way in florida this was the scene in perry around 50 Miles Souteast of talahasee as residents returned home. There has also been severe flooding in parts of georgia with some areas in atlanta completely underwater. The Vice PresidentKamala Harris is visiting arizona on Herfirst Trip to the us Mexico Border in three years. Ms harris is expected to call for tougher rules at the border and more resources for agents. The visit comes as republicans continue their attacks on the president and Vice President over their record on migration. A recent Cbs Poll shows 58 percent of americans put policies on immigration and Border Security as a major factor in deciding who theyll vote for in november. Border crossings have fallen dramatically in recent months after record highs earlier in the biden administration. Executive action issued by the President Injune caused crossings to fall by a fifth in just one month. 0ur North America editor Sarah Smith has been finding out what voters make of Kamala Harris� s policies on migration. Crossing 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. These are 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 laugh, because i think its really hard to do. Its easy to say and hard to do. That one is really solid. Its not hard to cut this fence and climb through it. Whoa. That is where you cut. Because its hollow there. Yeah, there is no cement there. This is where rhetoric 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. Whats this . This is a Water Trough and drinking fountain. Jim chilton wants to keep 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. Shes changing her mind just to get votes and lie to us. 0utrageous. Why are you so sure its a lie . I have seen the evidence. This vast landscape is 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. And if you want more Analysis And Insight on the race to the White House check out the latest episode of our Podcast Path to the presidency with me, Sumi Somaskanda and katty kay. For viewers in the Uk Youll find it on Bbc Iplayer and around the World Head to the Bbc News page on youtube. Lets turn to some other important news around the world. New York City mayor Eric Adams has pleaded not guilty to five criminal charges. He was indicted earlier this week on allegations he accepted illegal Campaign Funds and Luxury Travel benefits from turkish nationals in exchange for his influence as mayor. The former Police Officer has denied any wrongdoing and rejected calls to step down as mayor of americas most populous city. Two climate activists from thejust Stop 0il Group have been jailed for throwing soup at Vincent Van goghs sunflowers painting. One of them received a two year sentence, while the other was handed 20 months. They were convicted of criminal damage for throwing Tomato Soup at the 1888 piece, before gluing their hands to the wall beneath it at the national gallery in london. The 2022 attack damaged the frame of the painting, but not the artwork itself. Dame Maggie Smith, a british legend of the Stage and screen, has died at the age of 89. In a statement her sons said she died peacefully in hospital on friday morning. The star of the Harry Potter films, downton abbey, and much more won two 0scars during a career that spanned seven decades. King charles on friday described her as � a national treasure,� whose � Warmth And Wit shone through both on and off the Stage. � our Culture Editor Katie razzall looks back on 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, lam in the business of putting old heads on young shoulders. But it was another Teacher Role that won her her first 0scar 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, can� t 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, j because shes always ahead of you, shes always taking i 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 who has died at age 89. Live shot of the scene, a number of explosions and various flames and fires witnessed in the past semester so on the screen there as the Israel Defense force says it is striking buildings in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut Tonight and says those buildings are Housing Hezbollah weaponry and the Israel Defense forces are striking and will keep an eye on that and keep up with that on that and keep up with that on the Web Page as well and thatisit on the Web Page as well and that is it for the moment will be back shortly thank you for watching. Hello. On friday, we had some furtherflooding problems, causing disruption on some of our Road And Railway networks, particularly focussed around parts of the midlands. This was how one of our Flood Hit Communities in warwickshire looked like, and we still have a number of Flood Warnings currently in force, again tightly clustered around the midlands. And of course it� s here where we� ve seen extreme rainfall so far this month, the wettest place in woburn, bedfordshire, we� ve had over four times the September Average rainfall, well over three times the Average Rainfall in 0xfordshire. And that� s what� s caused the flooding issues. Now we have something of a quieter window of weather into saturday. Chilly north westerly winds weathers, yes, and a few showers draped around our coastal fringes. Many inland areas dry, clear and cold. Yes, heading into the first part of Saturday Morning in the countryside, temperatures well down into single figures cold enough for a nip of frost into parts of scotland and northern england. So saturday, a very cold start to the day for september. But plenty of sunshine for most. The exception is scotland, where weak Weather Fronts will move in, bringing some thicker cloud and a few patches of light rain. And although there could be an Odd Shower for northern ireland, the northwest of both england and wales should be mostly dry here and certainly fine for southern parts of wales, southern england, the midlands and eastern england. Lots of sunshine, but it will be another chilly day for this time of the year. Sunday second half of the weekend is dominated by this next area of low pressure. It� s going to be another cold morning, plenty of morning sunshine, but then it turns cloudier from the southwest. The winds start to pick up and it becomes very windy for wales and southwest england. Gusts here reaching around 50 or 60 miles an hour through the afternoon. Eventually we� ll start to see some rain getting into northern ireland, wales and western areas of england, leaving the North And East of the uk dry, with some hazy spells of sunshine through Sunday Night and into monday. That� s when we� ll see some of that rain falling on our Flood Hit Communities. One thing i would say is the rain isn� t going to be as extreme as it has been, but clearly any extra rain is probably not going to be too helpful. A wet and windy day then for most of us on monday, and it will continue to be cool for the time of year. Temperatures from around 12 in edinburgh to about 16 in london. Heading then into the first part of october. Yeah. Where has this year gone . It looks like it should be dry but on the chilly side. Bye for now. This is Bbc News. We� ll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. I� m on the portuguese island of madeira. This is why we travel . An Atlantic Isle off the coast of morocco. Do you want to hold it . Ugh yep it� s earned the nickname the hawaii of europe, and it� s one of the few places that actually thrived during Covid Travel restrictions. We had the green corridor. We had all the facilities, everything ready. They arrive here and say, oh, my god, where am i . To portugal i� m here to meet the people that call this place home. Shouting. To experience the wonder of its landscapes. Knock on Door Mmm that� s nice. And see how tourism is now pushing locals to walk that delicate line between preserving natural beauty and boosting economic growth. Now, around the world, there are many airports named after significant historical figures jfk in New York, for example, or Indira Gandhi Airport in new delhi. Well, here in madeira, they� ve got an airport named after an iconic hero, too, except this one is