in beirut on tuesday. hezbollah a powerful paramilitary and political group in lebanon has blamed that attack on what it says was flagra nt israeli aggression. israel has not commented. both hamas and hezbollah proscribed terrorists organisations in many countries have close ties to iran which itself is holding a day of mourning, after 84 people were killed by explosions near an event to mark the anniversary of the death of the iranian general qasem soleimani. alongside this several nations have issued a warning to the houthi militants in yemen who are also close to iran to stop the attacks on shipping in the key lanes in the red sea. and of course the fighting in israel and gaza which has played a role in sparking all this there are reports of dozens more deaths from air strikes in southern gaza as israel continues its military operation. live now to our middle east correspondent hugo bachega in beirut. explain who this man, the leader of hamas was, t
Our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, sent this report from doha. The first steps to freedom. Finally, leaving iran. Two hours later, touching down in doha. Imagine the emotion inside this plane. Opening the door on a new life, five former prisoners. Relief and joy palpable as they embraced american and qatari officials. The success of months of indirect talks here between arch enemies, iran and america. These are three of the freed prisoners. Two others did not want their identity revealed. 67 year old, morad tahbaz, arrested five years ago, in a crackdown on environmental activists. 58 year old, emad shargi, a businessman arrested in 2020, also on charges of spying. And 51 year old Siamak Namazi, who spent the longest in tehran s notorious evin prison. He issued this statement today. We spoke to one of his relatives who also spent time in evin prison. It is a joyful day but knowing Siamak Namazi and his strong personality and his values, im sure that he will try to come
A damning report on the mistreatment of detainees at an Immigration Removal Centre has recommended a time limit on the length of their stay. A Public Inquiry found a toxic culture among staff at brook house near gatwick airport. It follows a bbc Panorama Investigation in 2017. Our Home Affairs Correspondent tom symonds has seen the report which has just been released in the past hour, and joins me from central london. Tell us more first of all about the findings of this inquiry . Findings of this inquiry . Well, jane, it findings of this inquiry . Well, jane. It is findings of this inquiry . Well, jane, it is worth findings of this inquiry . Well, jane, it is worth saying findings of this inquiry . Well, jane, it is worth saying that i findings of this inquiry . Well, l jane, it is worth saying that this jane, it is worth saying that this inquiry would not have happened if an 18 year old Detention Custody Officer called callum telly had not contacted the bbc and then agreed to take hid
Earlier, i spoke with the Executive Director of the center for human rights in iran, hadi ghaemi, about the prisoner swap, and what it means for both countries. Let mejust open let me just open first and foremost by saying how happy we are and congratulate the families and individuals s hostages that should never have beenin hostages that should never have been in this place and they were just been in this place and they werejust in been in this place and they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Regarding the deal, i would say that the proof is in the pudding. I have two concerns, one is that world are 6 billion really be used only for humanitarian trade and necessities that. Because this money really belongs to the iranian people, not the iranian government, and the iranian government, and the iranian people have risen up against this government for the past year, for sure, so we better make sure that if any money travels in the geography of that direction, it benefits the
The metropolitan police has confirmed its received a report of an alleged Sexual Assault in 2003, and is in contact with the woman, following Media Investigations into claims made against the comedian Russell Brand. Four women have accused him of Sexual Assault and emotional abuse, allegations he denies. One of them, who was 16 at the time, has told the bbc that brand said people close to him discussed how to keep the fact she was so young, out of the public eye. His Current Uk Live Tour has now been postponed, and hes been dropped by his publisher. Well assess the significance of the met s involvement, but first, heres our media correspondent, david sillito. I can pretend to be nice for a little bit. Russell brand. On this weekends Dispatches Programme he was accused of rape and multiple counts of Sexual Assault. Ill sleep on the sofa. The comedian now faces further allegations. More women have come forward. The metropolitan police say a complaint has been made to them of a Sexual Ass