Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240919

Hello, im azadeh moshiri. Welcome to the programme. 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. And given the simultaneous explosions, hospitals in lebanon have been overwhelmed with casualties. The Countrys Health ministrys says at least 11 were killed among them an eight year old girl. Thousands more were wounded, with hundreds in a critical condition in hospital. Some were blinded, others lost fingers or required amputations. The context here is hezbollah, which is a proscribed Terrorist Organisation by The Uk and other Countries, had been using the pagers instead of Mobile Phones to communicate with each other. Thats due to the Risk Phones could be hacked. A senior lebanese Security Source told the Reuters News Agency they were brought into the country months ago. 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. But 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 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 united states and the un have called for Restraint And Calm after the Pager Explosions. Well have more reaction from the region shortly, but first this report from graham satchell, and a warning it contains distressing images 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. On 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 nada attulah, Beirut Correspondent for the Middle East based the national, who visited some of the hospitals where some victims of the blast were taken. Thank you for your time, i want to ask what you have witnessed at that hospital and that the reaction from lebanese civilians. Reaction from lebanese civilians. ,. ,. , civilians. That you for having me. I visited civilians. That you for having me. I visited some civilians. That you for having me. I visited some hospitalsj me. I visited some hospitals yesterday. There was chaos in the country and in the capital and in hospitals, the constant silence from ambulances wailing in beirut, hospitals were overwhelmed, i visited three hospitals and they wouldnt let me in for Security Reasons because they would not let anyone enter, not even the families would they let in, because they had Family Members worried for their Loved Ones but they would not let anyone in, so people were gathered outside. It was complete chaos. I interviewed some of the Family Members. They told me of these harrowing scenes of injuries, people with blood everywhere on their face, people with blood on their hands, and very serious injuries. So very late at night yesterday, we were hearing the constant sound of the sirens of the ambulances, still taking patients during very late at night. Patients during very late at niuht. ~. Patients during very late at niuht. ~. , patients during very late at niuht. ~. ,. ,. , night. What you are describing is a largescale night. What you are describing is a largeScale Attack night. What you are describing is a largeScale Attack that is a large Scale Attack that has affected civilians, in terms of those linked to hezbollah, what to be no in terms of how many and who has been injured . 50 terms of how many and who has been injured . Been injured . So far, ithink currently been injured . So far, ithink currently there been injured . So far, ithink currently there is been injured . So far, ithink currently there is a been injured . So far, ithink currently there is a press currently there is a Press Conference, the numbers are nearly 3000 injured, 200 seriously, and nine killed, among them, eight fighters that hezbollah had announced, and one Little Girl who is eight years old. When i went to hospital yesterday, many of the injuries they were critical so it is possible that there might be more, more deaths, that might increase. Be more, more deaths, that might increase. And an iranian ambassador might increase. And an iranian ambassador or have might increase. And an iranian ambassador or have been might increase. And an iranian I Ambassador or have been injured by the attack. What are we hearing in Terms Response from hezbollah or even from iran . He has hezbollah or even from iran . He has been injured. He said that it was a light injury. Regarding the response, hezbollah has said that they will respond to the attack, we dont know what it would do, of course. Hassan Nasrallah De Hezbollah Chief said he would be speaking tonight about the most recent developments so we expect more information tonight. The relations between Hezbollah And Israel have been at the edge of a full scale war, so we dont know if that is going to be a fully fledged war or another loop of violence when more people will die, so we could have these loops of violence. It is really uncertain what is going to happen next. Uncertain what is going to happen next uncertain what is going to happen next. Uncertain what is going to ha en next. , , happen next. Thank you for your time, happen next. Thank you for your time. Nada happen next. Thank you for your time, nada attulah, happen next. Thank you for your time, nada attulah, beirut time, nada attulah, Beirut Correspondent from the national. 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 somalia now. The country has been torn apart by more than three decades of conflict. But now the country is facing a different kind of challenge. Somalia is the eastern most country in continental africa. And its been hit hard by climate change. After its worst drought in a0 years, it then suffered torrential rain and floods. Our climate editor, justin rowlatt, has travelled to somalia for this Special Report on . How climate change can fuel existing conflicts. Im in Somalia One of the most dangerous Countries in the world to report on how climate change is making conflict in places like this even worse. But weve got to stay safe, and that means bringing some serious security. Out in the dry scrub that covers much of the country, the Climate Challenge is clear. Singing climate change is disrupting the patterns of rain that have kept Water Holes like this full. Somalia recently experienced its worst drought for a0 years an event scientists estimate was made 100 times more likely by human caused climate change. It has left farmers and herders fighting for access to water and to pasture. Translation there is no respect if you dont have a gun. The herders who lead their animals into the farm stay back when they see my weapon they get scared of you. For the last 30 years, somalia has been experiencing a brutal islamist insurgency, a civil war, and a whole series of regional and clan conflicts. It means these local disputes easily spiral into full blown battles. And somalia doesnt just face drought. We have come way down to the south of somalia. This place, kismayo, is a port town. It has been bitterly fought over. At one stage, islamist militants from the lethal Alqaeda Affiliate Al Shabaab overran the place. Al Shabaab Forces still surround the town. The Front Line is just 60km away. It means the town is like an island, Cut Off from the rest of the country, but not from the weather. The year after the drought, somalia was hit with terrible floods caused by rains made twice as intense by human caused global warming. The floods killed hundreds, and displaced A Million people. The most vulnerable bear the brunt. The un has developed a special classification for different degrees of hunger. It says Four Million somalis one in five of the population, face either acute or emergency food insecurity. It says 1. 5 million children under the age of five are acutely malnourished. This humanitarian crisis means theres no shortage of people willing to fight. The impacts of climate Change And Conflict have driven around Four Million somalis into vast, makeshift refugee camps. Theres little international help. Residents here pay rent, and for their food and water. It is why halimas husband and four of her five sons have taken up the only opportunities open to them, as fighters in a local militia. Translation they are rural people with no skills, so the only work they could get was in the army. They were desperate. And when you are without food long enough, and your children are looking at you, you will do anything. Now, the people of Somalia Cannot be held responsible for climate change. Ivejust been doing the numbers on my phone, and the entire country has emitted as much Carbon Dioxide since the 1950s as americans have in wait for it the last three days. But somalia is taking action. This Power Station is moving over to wind and solar Power And Training up a new generation of Renewable Energy engineers. I found entrepreneurs setting up new businesses, including this Makeshift Cafe in the refugee camp. I dont subscribe to the notion that somalia is unfixable. I think its fixable, and its showing significant progress on pretty much every front that you can look into. So there is hope. But with climate Change Turbo charging the conflict in somalia, the country will need continued international help in the effort to find peace, and to build resilience against our changing climate. Justin rowlatt, Bbc News, somalia. Alyona synenko, regional spokesperson at the africa international committee of the red cross, joins me from nairobi. Thank you for your time. More on that point about international help. This cycle is happening in particularly vulnerable Countries, isnt it . Yes, unfortunately, this is something that we have been observing in the last decades, that Countries that are most affected by the effects of climate change are also Countries that are experiencing conflict and violence, and they dont have the institutions, the people, and resilience has been stretched to the limit, they are extremely vulnerable to the effects of these extreme weather events. find to the effects of these extreme weather events. Weather events. And a lot of that means weather events. And a lot of that means that weather events. And a lot of that means that is weather events. And a lot of that means that is an weather events. And a Lot Ofj that means that is an impact weather events. And a lot of. That means that is an impact on the hospitals in these Countries. The hospitals in these Countries. , Countries. On the hospitals, they are Countries. On the hospitals, they are doing Countries. On the hospitals, they are doing absolutely i they are doing absolutely everything, talking about a country like somalia that has experienced 30 years of Armed Conflict, it has undermined the institutions across the country, and it means that people are affected by the effects of climate change. They have only small public services available to them, like people in other Countries would have, and this is something that we are experiencing today, with flights taking place in West Africa where, once again, we see how it is the most vulnerable communities, people who are already displaced sometimes, a number of times, who are experiencing this weather shock, and it is very difficult for them to take on this new challenge because they are prepared for that. What this new challenge because they are prepared for that. Are prepared for that. What is the support are prepared for that. What is the support that are prepared for that. What is the support that needs are prepared for that. What is the support that needs to i are prepared for that. What is the support that needs to be l the support that needs to be provided to these communities, not only from nonprofit organisations like your own, but from governments around the world . , , ,. , , world . First, our organisation is an Emergency World . First, our organisation is an Emergency Response i is an Emergency Response organisation providing help to people affected by Armed Conflicts, we are not climate specialists, and actually, in the last years, we just saw that all of the areas where we are working, we can no longer ignore the effect of climate change because the same communities affected by Armed Conflict are also experiencing these weather shocks, so we have been doing a lot of Advocacy Work trying to advocate with the governments, with the institutions, that when the climate change Conversations are taking place, when resources are allocated, people who are marginalised, who are living in the Countries affected by Armed Conflict, sometimes in some very remote areas, they must not be forgotten. They should be part of these Conversations. Of these Conversations. Thank ou so of these Conversations. Thank you so much alyona synenko. And, youll be able to watch the full programme now, all that is going on in lebanon the top story. The us Secretary Of State is in cairo, to salvage efforts for a ceasefire in gaza. Those negotiations are going on and on the back row, that is now complicated by these deadly explosions targeting hezbollah in lebanon. This is his tenth trip to the Middle East since the start of the war. He is not expected to visit any other capitals, but he is expected to hold a Press Conference with the Foreign Minister there in egypt and we expect to hear some comments from the united states on these explosions in lebanon, as soon as we have those comments, we will bring them to you. Around the world and across The Uk, 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. 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. Our South Asia Correspondent Samira Hussain is in the capital, colombo. 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 and these Elections. These Elections. Really important. These Elections. Really important. Arguably i these Elections. Really i important. Arguably after these Elections. Really important. Arguably after 2022, it is up important. Arguably after 2022, it is up population that gets its political information from social its political information from Social Media and there are thousands of first time voters who thousands of first time voters who Will Thousands of first time voters who will vote for the first time who will vote for the first time the Electoral Commission says time the Electoral Commission says in time the Electoral Commission says in the President Ial Elections, and they get all of their Elections, and they get all of their political information from their political information from Social Media. So in any other from Social Media. So in any other President Ial election in history other President Ial election in history of lanka, online Content History of lanka, online content plays an integral role in the content plays an integral role in the campaigning in the Elections as well. History of sri Elections as well. History of sri lanka. Elections as well. History of sri lanka. Elections as well. History of sri lanka. Use think people will not make of sri lanka. Use think people will not make their of sri lanka. Use think people will not make their way i of sri lanka. Use think people will not make their way to i 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 a Social Media . They are very active on Social Media, they are very active on Social Media, they have branded campaigns, branded content linked campaigns, branded content linked to Political Parties or particular individual but there is iot particular individual but there is lot of particular individual but there is lot of Unbranded Content so there is lot of Unbranded Content so there is is lot of Unbranded Content so there is this information that is reported to the Social Media platforms by the election commission, but there is a whole commission, but there is a whole lot commission, but there is a whole lot of content that is insidious that promotes policies and parties and candidates but is not branded as such, candidates but is not branded as such, so we are seeing a lot of that as such, so we are seeing a lot of that activity that amplifies certain of that activity that amplifies certain candidates and also attacks certain candidates and also attacks them in insidious forms but also attacks them in insidious forms but also as campaign propaganda, the Social Media is active propaganda, the Social Media is active and propaganda, the Social Media is active and the campaigns are sophisticated. Active and the campaigns are sophisticated. How successful are they . Sophisticated. How successful are they . It sophisticated. How successful are they . It is sophisticated. How successful are they . It is debatable. I are they . It is debatable. Every franchise are they . It is debatable. Every franchise is are they . It is debatable. J every franchise is thought are they . It is debatable. I every franchise is thought to be influenced by this campaign so it be influenced by this campaign so it is be influenced by this campaign so it is an be influenced by this campaign so it is an open question as to whether so it is an open question as to whether people will be swayed by what whether people will be swayed by what is online but having said by what is online but having said that, there is a lot of conversation around the issues the, conversation around the issues the, parties, candidates, both forand the, parties, candidates, both for and against particular candidates, they are perceived and framed in certain narratives promoted of a Social Media narratives promoted of a Social Media and these are in the hundreds of thousands. It is not marginal. It is central to the argument and that form the basis the argument and that form the basis of the argument and that form the basis of this electoral campaign and as a consequence, you can campaign and as a consequence, you can say campaign and as a consequence, you can say that it is going to have you can say that it is going to have a you can say that it is going to have a significant impact on how have a significant impact on how people think of the candidates, as well. This is important candidates, as well. This is important information, i candidates, as well. This is i 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. Now, Back To You. Space on Social Media. Now, Back To You Back To You. Thank you for that, samira Back To You. Thank you for that, Samira Hussain. I Back To You. Thank you for i that, Samira Hussain. There is a long read by Samira Hussain with more Context And Background on this for you. Stargazers have been treated to a rare phenomenon, as the evening Saw A harvest moon, a supermoon and a Lunar Eclipse all rolled into one. The spectacle was visible across the world, in locations from salford here in The Uk to Santa Fe and even norway. They will pass on Bbc News. We will they will pass on Bbc News. Will continue to see some Cloud By Night and first thing in the morning across many areas of the country over the next few days. Much of that will break up days. Much of that will break up and Sunshine And Warmth were developed quite widely. We have high pressure in charge of the next few days, but as it slips away we have an easterly Breeze Search for england and wales, Thatis Search for england and wales, that is helping generate cloud and putting it westwards. Going through the day with the strength of the song, much of the cloud you dissipate, still some lingering in eastern most counties and through the english channel, long spells of sunshine for most as we go through the afternoon and it will feel warm out there for this stage of september, 26 to the north of scotland, 2a, 25 to the South East of england. Fresher along the coast with the sea breeze. That helps generate the cloud and push it westwards. It never quite makes it to the far west of england and wales due to the pennines and wales due to the pennines and cambrian mountains. Clear skies for scotland and Northern Ireland where, like this morning, we will see some missed and dense Fog Patches warm with temperatures down to single figures with skies remaining clear. Into thursday morning, of cloud that parts of eastern and much of england. It will take until early afternoon for some of that to go but some eastern coasts, unlike today, across scotland will see some of that low cloud lingering, and turning cloudy in the far north later on. Temperatures pushing towards the west were the Clear Skies will be, looking at 25, 26 to the west of london. Going into friday, we do it all over again but this time, more cloud through central and eastern scotland, taking some time to shift and clear. Cloud may prick across england and wales or sunny spells but a chance to the west of london of showers developing, some of those across the midlands and wales at the South West could become heavy and country. Most away from that will be dry with temperatures dropping closer back to where they should be for of the year. That continues into the weekend, but with low pressure developing to the south the south the focus for showers will be mainly across parts of england and wales, particularly the further south you are, some of those could be heavy and fondly at times. Further north and west over the better chance of sunshine, parts of Northern Ireland and Western Scotland especially, but rather cloudy over the east coast. Take care. This is Bbc News. The headlines the us and the un call for � Restraint And Calm after pagers used by hezbollah fighters explode simultaneously, killing nine and injuring thousands in lebanon. A taiwanese Electronics Firm denies any involvement, saying the pagers were made by A Hungarian firm it signed a deal with. A Night Injailfor The American rapper sean � diddy� combs after pleading not guilty to charges of Racketeering And Sex trafficking. The princess of wales returns to work following her Cancer Treatment earlier this year. And Star Gazers are treated to a rare phenomenon a harvest moon, a supermoon and a Lunar Eclipse all rolled into one