And as First Minister of scotland when his party faced the latest in a series of crises. John swinney, welcome to political thinking. Lovely to be with you, thank you. It has been something of a rollercoaster six months, havent it . You retire from Front Line politics, then the First Minister of scotland is forced from office and you decide to come back into Front Line politics, come to your partys rescue. Then Rishi Sunak calls a surprise early election in the summer, then you have a bit of a kick in the general election, the westminster election. Has it all been very stomach churning . Its been absolutely a whirlwind. A whirlwind, i think is the best way to describe it, because i quite literally, in the days before Humza Yousaf resigned as First Minister, was making further plans about what would be my gentle scaling down of political activity. And i was actually on the day that he resigned, giving a reflective speech about 25 years of devolution in scotland down here in london. And
These are the latest pictures we can bring you showing a large explosion following one of those strikes. Earlier on saturday, the Israeli Military had issued orders to residents of specific buildings in Southern Beirut to evacuate. We dont yet know what was hit in the strikes, but israeli forces have bombed areas reported to be Hezbollah Strongholds. They have also clashed with hezbollah fighters in lebanons southern border region. The Israeli Military says it has killed 440 hezbollah fighters since the start of the ground invasion. Meanwhile, hezbollah has fired rockets into northern israel, with reports that residential buildings were hit. Also on saturday, israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed iran s missile on his country earlier this week, saying israel has the duty and the right to defend itself and respond to these attacks and we will do so. We can go live to our correspondent In Beirut, Anna Foster now. Anna, what is the latest you can tell us . Just after 1am he
Hello, Im nIcky schIller. Welcome to the programme. Israel has carrIed out further BombIng RaIds on beIrut, as fIghtIng wIth hezbollah contInues on the ground In southern lebanon. Israel claIms Its kIlled 440 hezbollah fIghters sInce the start of Its Ground InvasIon. WhIlst the un says lebanon faces a terrIble refugee crIsIs. These are todays maIn developments In the MIddle East conflIct. Israel agaIn struck the Southern Suburbs of beIrut. Clashes were also reported around lebanons southern border. Hezbollah has fIred rockets Into Northern Israel, wIth reports that resIdentIal buIldIngs were hIt. Israel says 90 rockets have so far been fIred. IsraelI prIme MInIster BenjamIn Netanyahu has tonIght vowed to respond to Irans MIssIle Attack on hIs country earlIer thIs week he saId, Israel has the duty and the rIght to defend Itself and respond to these attacks and we wIll do so. Israel meanwhIle has called on palestInIans to evacuate parts of central gaza, as the mIlItary saId It was prepar
Showing a large explosion following one of those strikes. Earlier on saturday, the Israeli Military had issued orders to residents of specific buildings in Southern Beirut to evacuate. We dont yet know what was hit in the strikes but israeli forces have bombed areas reported to be Hezbollah Strongholds. They have also clashed with hezbollah fighters in lebanons southern border region. The Israeli Military says it has killed 440 hezbollah fighters since the start of the ground invasion. Meanwhile, hezbollah has fired rockets into northern israel, with reports that residential buildings were hit. Also on saturday, israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed iran 5 Missile Attack on his country earlier this week saying israel has the duty and the right to defend itself and respond to these attacks and we will do so. Shortly after that blast took place in beirut i spoke to our correspondent there, anna foster. What have you been seeing and hearing what you tell us there on the gro
Out the deadly disease. Welcome to our coverage on bbc news. Irans Supreme Leader has defended Tuesdays Missile Attack on israel, saying it was the minimum punishment for what he called israels crimes. Addressing a crowd in tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei said that iran would not hesitate on further action. Overnight there were more israeli Air Strikes in lebanon. Us officials say israel was targeting the potential successor to hassan nasrallah, the hezbollah leader, who was killed last week. The attacks happened in Southern Lebanon and also in beirut where buildings have been flatted. Lebanons Health Ministry says 37 people have been killed in israeli Ground And Air attacks. Lebanons Transport Minister said missiles have hit the Main International Road to syria , a key road where people are are fleeing from lebanon. There have also been reports of 20 rockets being fired from lebanon into israel with some intercepted as they travelled towards the city of haifa. Lets speak to Sir Peter westm