Hello. Im sally bundock. The United States says its involved in intensive diplomatic efforts to prevent a further escalation in the conflict between Israel And Hezbollah in lebanon. The national Security SpokesmanJohn Kirby said the White House didnt believe the crisis could be solved by additional military operations. He was speaking after a second day of explosions across lebanon triggered in Walkie Talkies used by hezbollah. More than 32 People have been killed, thousands have been left injured. Israel hasnt confirmed it was behind the blasts. But the Defence Minister Yoav gallant said it was opening a new phase in its year long war, with the centre of gravity shifting to the North. Our reporter simonjones has more. A Simon Jones has more. A simonjones has more. Funeral in Southern Lebano is a funeral in Southern Lebanon is about to be interrupted. An explosion injuring a hezbollah soldier, causing panic and fear. In beirut, another blast caused by a walkie talkie. A new form of technological warfare. Scenes at this mobile Phone Shop where several devices went off. Communication weaponised. On tuesday it was pages used by hezbollah that were exploding. Old School Technology that the group recently turned to because it feared its Mobile Phones could be tracked. But it is thought the supply of pagers were intercepted and a tiny amount of explosive hidden inside. Two children were among the dead. Hezbollah has blamed israel. It has not commented but the israeli Defence Minister said this translation i israeli Defence Minister said this translation i believe we are at this translation i believe we are at a this translation i believe we are at a new this translation i believe we are at a new start this translation i believe we are at a new start of this translation i believe we are at a new start of the we are at a new start of the phase of the war and we must adapt. The central gravity is moving towards the North-meaning'>North Meaning we are diverging forces, resources and energy towards the North. Towards the North. Israel has released this towards the North. Israel has released this footage towards the North. Israel has released this footage of towards the North. Israel has released this footage of its i released this footage of its Troops Training near the lebanese border. A Second Division of the army has moved to the area leading to growing fears of all out war. Has fuller, backed by iran has been Trading Fire with his role across the border since last october. The leader is due to give a Speech Today in which he may indicate the group will do next. The us is urging restraint. Next. The us is urging restraint. ~. ,. , restraint. We want to see the War End restraint. We want to see the War End. Everything restraint. We want to see the War End. Everything we restraint. We want to see the War End. Everything we have | War End. Everything we have been doing since the beginning has been designed to prevent the conflict from escalating. We still believe, for instance, that there is a diplomatic path forward. Particularly here in lebanon. In forward. Particularly here in lebanon forward. Particularly here in lebanon. � ,. , lebanon. In beirut the Security Forces carried lebanon. In beirut the Security Forces carried out lebanon. In beirut the Security Forces carried out a lebanon. In beirut the Security Forces carried out a controlled | forces carried out a controlled explosion on a page of outside a hospital. All devices are seen as a potential threat. A diplomatic path to peace will not be easy to tread. Meanwhile the Un General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding that israel end its illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories within a year. 124 countries voted in favour. 14 voted against it and another 43 abstained, including The Uk. The resolution takes up an advisory opinion by the uns highest Court Injuly that said Israels Occupation was illegal and that israel must end its unlawful Presence And Cease settlement activities. Im joined In The Studio by said shehata, from bbc arabic. Good morning. Lets, first of all, talk about what the us says our intensive diplomatic efforts to try and prevent further escalation. Antony blinken and still in the region. This fear of escalation, because i think israel think it is a chance for them to gain more presence, pushing hezbollah further from the border and this is the aim of israel since 2006 when an agreement a resolution of the Security Council ended the war but not the conflict. But not the conflict. After october but not the conflict. After october last but not the conflict. After october last year, but not the conflict. After october last year, there i but not the conflict. After| october last year, there is pressure on israeli, to move about 60,000 to the North so mr netanyahu, the israeli Prime Minister, vowed to return them securely and safely there. And Yoav Gallant the Minister Of Defence and the chief of the military and all of them want to return them so. The plan is to return them so. The plan is to push hezbollah further and this may escalate the situation. Because the disruption of the Communication System of hezbollah so israel thinks it is a good opportunity to do that. But the United States and other countries, the secretary of the United Nation a warning of serious escalations and call for all parties to restrain, and not gauff forward the wall. So it is dangerous. American involvement,. There is no normalisation with israel unless a Palestinian State is established. So it is more pressure from the international community but it seems israel has redeployed some troops from gaza and also the Israeli Minister of defence said that we started a new phase of the war. ~. ,. , we started a new phase of the war. ~. , war. What are People saying about what war. What are People saying about what that war. What are People saying about what that might war. What are People saying. About what that might mean . What are you hearing in the arabic press and media about what this new Phase Term means . It is to move from gaza to the North. They want to make a decisive settlement for them because as i told you, the Security Council resolution did not end the conflict. It ended the war in 2006 it is focused on the North and they want to stop avoiding any threat from hezbollah in the future. It is to stop the threat, they want to stop the threat, they want to do that in the Northern front. So there is a problem in the escalation because escalation may lead to tension and an all out war which needs to be avoided. But it seems israel are insistent to do that. ,. ,. , ~ israel are insistent to do that. ,. ,. , that. For now, thank you very much for that. For now, thank you very much for your that. For now, thank you very much for your thoughts that. For now, thank you very much for your thoughts on. That. For now, thank you very | much for your thoughts on the latest details. Lets now discuss this further. Lets speak to amin saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian studies at australian national university. Good to see you again. So you were listening into my conversation there. What are your thoughts on what may happen next . Your thoughts on what may happen next . What israel has done is unprecedented. Happen next . What israel has done is unprecedented. It happen next . What israel has done is unprecedented. It is l happen next . What israel has| done is unprecedented. It is at the intersection of technological Innovation And State terrorism. And that has resulted in the death of not only many hezbollah fighters but also many civilians. I think now hezbollah will definitely retaliate. And israel is likely to use that retaliation is a further pretext to launch massive attacks on lebanon. But i think what israeli leaders have not really realised and also the american leaders, as the supporters of israel, that hezbollah is a very important central piece in lahris National Security and regional security complex. The iranians are unlikely to give up on hezbollah and there for we are very much now on the brink of an escalation of this conflict which has been going on for nearly a year. Into a regional wall. ,. ,. , wall. Interesting you should sa that wall. Interesting you should say that because wall. Interesting you should say that because we wall. Interesting you should say that because we were. Wall. Interesting you should say that because we were having conversations about this after the assassination of the leader of hamas and the day before a senior leader within hezbollah. At that time it was thought that that would be the trigger for retaliation on the part of iran, lebanon et cetera. A regional escalation. And yet that did not happen. But why do you think this is now the trigger . I you think this is now the trigger . You think this is now the Triu Aer . ~. ,. , trigger . I think the reasons are Piling Trigger . I think the reasons are piling up trigger . I think the reasons are piling up and trigger . I think the reasons are piling up and moving i trigger . I think the reasons | are piling up and moving the combatants into the direction of escalation. Simply because at this time what has really happened is that not only targeting Hezbollah But Israel has gone much further than that. They are trying to create panic among not only hezbollah fighters but also among lebanese People. [30 fighters but also among lebanese People. Fighters but also among lebanese eole. ~ lebanese People. Do you think american efforts lebanese People. Do you think american efforts will lebanese People. Do you think american efforts will have lebanese People. Do you think american efforts will have an l american efforts will have an impact at all . Antony blinken is in the region still and there are intensive diplomatic efforts. ,. , , efforts. Could that diffuse this . This efforts. Could that diffuse this . This is efforts. Could that diffuse this . This is his efforts. Could that diffuse this . This is his 11th efforts. Could that diffuse this . This is his 11th Visit| efforts. Could that diffuse | this . This is his 11th Visit to the region and every time he has come out and the main reason is that he has not been able to persuade or Pressure Israel to restrain itself and to certainly move towards a ceasefire in gaza as the foundation for bringing about stability to the whole region. I dont think the United States at this stage as much with hezbollah and its international supporters all with israel. The israeli Prime Minister continuously defied the United States called for a ceasefire and the only way that i think a resolution could be achieved is for the United States to stop supplying arms to prime Minister Netanyahu because as long as that continues i think the war will continue. We appreciate the war will continue. We appreciate your the war will continue. We appreciate your view on the situation. Thank you very much indeed. Lets bring you some other news now. The uks foreign Secretary David Lammy will use his first trip to brussels since taking office to try and finalise Post Brexit agreements about gibraltar� s border. In key meetings with his Spanish CounterpartMr Lammy is expected to draw a Red Line over keeping The Uks Military Base on the island. Talks had been postponed during The Uks General Election earlier this year. The Bank Of England is widely expected to keep Interest Rates on hold this morning after the latest Uk Inflation figures remained stubbornly high. The Bank Cut rates from 5. 25 to 5 last month, the first cut since 2020. We will bring you that announcement later today live here on Bbc News and we will talk a lot more about their pending decision later on in the programme. Around the world and across The Uk. This is Bbc News. Here in england there has been a stark warning about the state of maternity services, with a Report Finding almost two thirds of Hospital Units have poor Safety Ratings. The Care Quality Commission says there are widespread problems across the country to avoid preventable harm becoming normalised. Our Health Correspondent Catherine burns report. Fiona designed this nursery when she was pregnant, picking out outfits for her baby. Her daughter never lived to enjoy any of this. Daughter never lived to enoy any of Mi Daughter never lived to enoy any of and daughter never lived to enoy any of this. Things that i made for her. Birth any of this. Things that i made for her. Birth announcement i for her. Birth announcement pictures. For her. Birth announcement ictures. ,. For her. Birth announcement pictures pictures. Fiona went into labour at pictures. Fiona went into labour at home. Pictures. Fiona went into labour at home. Her pictures. Fiona went into i labour at home. Her waters broke and she was worried because she did not think her baby was moving as much as normal. She should have been assessed then but was not. When she was in hospital her baby had an abnormal heart rate. This should have been escalated, it was not. The child was pronounced dead within 30 minutes of birth. When they came over and said my name i turned around them and she is dead, isnt she . And they said yes. And this primal scream, probably the only way i can describe it, just came out of me with no sort of control over my body. A tiny piece of her hair. Over my body. A tiny piece of her hair her hair. The hospital said it is sorry that her hair. The hospital said it is sorry that the her hair. The hospital said it is sorry that the care her hair. The hospital said it is sorry that the care it is sorry that the care it provided was not at the standard it would expect and that it has learned lessons from what happened. But stories like fionas happen too often. Over recent years we have seen high Profile Maternity scandals. Yesterday bereaved families and nodding him her to progress review of what has become the biggest investigation into Maternity Failings in an h is history. Almost 2000 cases are being reviewed there. The Healthcare Regulator was worried about this so we carried out a national maternity inspection. It focused on about two thirds of Hospital Maternity units. Any that had not been inspected since march 2021. Of the 131 units it inspected, not a single one was rated as outstanding for safety. 35 had good Safety Ratings leaving 65 as either requires improvement or inadequate for safety. In other words, two thirds of Maternity Units are not safe enough. This report does not hold back saying that unless things change, poor Care And Harm will become normalised. In some ways, none of this is new. There have been winnings about Maternity Savings for years now. We have reported on this over and again. The problems still remain. This Report Picks out certain key issues. Women not getting assessed quickly enough. Trusts not learning with mistakes. Not enough staff. Discrimination based on race. It says that disappointingly none of these problems a new. It is disappointingly none of these problems a new. Problems a new. It is one of the biggest problems a new. It is one of the biggest issues problems a new. It is one of the biggest issues that problems a new. It is one of| the biggest issues that keeps me awake at night worrying about the quality of care being delivered today and the risk of Disaster Greeting women in labour tomorrow. Disaster greeting women in labourtomorrow. He Disaster Greeting women in labour tomorrow. Disaster greeting women in labour tomorrow. He says trusts will be supported labour tomorrow. He says trusts will be supported to labour tomorrow. He says trusts will be supported to make labour tomorrow. He says trusts will be supported to make rapid | will be supported to make rapid improvements so that all women can feel confident using a maternity service. But fiona and otherfamily maternity service. But fiona and other family say that for things to improve there should be a public enquiry into the state of maternity care. Catherine burns, Bbc News. Americas largest labour union, the international brotherhood of teamsters, has declined to issue a us president ial endorsement for the first time since 1996. The union, which boasts around 1. 3 million members across the us and canada, said its received Few Commitments On Top Teamsters Issues from either democratic nominee Kamala Harris or republican nominee Donald Trump. The move is a major blow to the harris campaigns efforts to win over Working Class voters and the former president was quick to tout it as a major It Isa it is a great honour. They are not going to endorse the democrats, that is a big thing. And this is the first time, i think, in 50 or 60 years this has not happened. I was at 60 or more and it is a great honour. I mean, i had a lot of teams work for me, a lot of the trucks are built all these villas you see in new york city, the teamsters. Live now to Los Angeles where we can speak with drexel heard, democratic political strategist and former Executive Director of the Los Angeles democratic party. Is this a Big Blow for Kamala Harris . ,. ,. , ,. , harris . This is not a Big Blow. They have harris . This is not a Big Blow. They have been harris . This is not a Big Blow. They have been endorsed harris . This is not a Big Blow. They have been endorsed not| they have been endorsed not only by every major union across the country but also the western state teamsters in every Battleground State in the last few hours. So we know that the harris Bolts Team is the ticket of the Working Class american worker. You heard Donald Trumpjust there, american worker. You heard Donald Trump just there, i would be surprised if he paid those workers for the new York Buildings he had. And we know that he did not because we have evidence that he was not paying workers. We know that the Trump Vance Ticket is not the ticket of the Union Worker so we are looking forward to having that conversation about Working Class families and making sure deliver a windfall, the harris in november. Irate deliver a windfall, the harris in november. Deliver a windfall, the harris in november. ,. , in november. We cannot say one wa or in november. We cannot say One Way Or Another in november. We cannot say One Way Or Another whether in november. We cannot say One Way Or Another whether he in november. We cannot say One Way Or Another whether he paid i way or another whether he paid his workers or not and i imagine he would counter you straightaway on that point if he were in this conversation with us now. But when it comes to the overall union, from what we have been hearing it is saying it cannot support one of the other because many members say they will vote for Donald Trump. Say they will vote for donald trum. ,. , say they will vote for donald trum. ,. , , say they will vote for donald trum. ,. , trump. They polled less than 2096 of trump. They polled less than 2094. Of their trump. They polled less than 2096 of their members trump. They polled less than 2096 of their members from | trump. They polled less than i 2096 of their members from 103 20 of their members from 103 million. So that is a small Sample Size of The Union members that will be voting for, harris and Tim Walz in november. So Donald Trump, of course there will be a handful, this race will be close and there will be a handful of members from different unions in different states and different voters who are obviously going to vote for Donald Trump. But the vast majority are Working Class members and Union Members are Team Harris bolts and we will see that result in november. What do the polls say at the moment about how the two candidates are doing . There were a few candidates are doing . There were a few polls candidates are doing . There were a few polls that candidates are doing . There were a few polls that came i candidates are doing . There i were a few polls that came out today that has come the harris and Tim Walz leading slightly in Battleground States. Democrats are looking for florida and North-carolina'>North Carolina and we are continuing to make calls about arizona and nevada. So the polls will be very close and we are confident of a win in november. The us president ial election is as close as ever with polls showing a race that overall is too close to call. As you were just hearing there. Any leads the candidates may appear to have are still within the margin of error. So to try and win over undecided and marginal voters both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are crisscrossing the Battleground States. One of those Battleground States is michigan, from where Bbc Chief PresenterCatriona Perry now reports. The city Of Dearborn is home to the biggest Arab American and muslim american populations in the United States. The economy, cost of living, immigration, all our issues concerning voters here. But the middle East Crisis is top of the list. Concern for family and friends in gaza has spread to worries about those in lebanon as Exploding Devices killed dozens and injured thousands this week. It and inured thousands this week. ,. , week. It is heartbreaking. Just knowina week. It is heartbreaking. Just knowing that week. It is heartbreaking. Just knowing that our week. It is heartbreaking. Just knowing that our texts week. It is heartbreaking. Just knowing that our Texts Tax | knowing that our Texts Tax money and hard work is helping fund this. , , fund this. These business owners. Fund this. These business owners, longtime fund this. These business. Owners, longtime Democrats Fund this. These business owners, longtime democrats feel abandoned by the Biden Harris Administration and its continued support for israel. You have somebody claiming to be a democrat, someone was meant to be a Republic King and they are parroting the same platforms. Who can cause more damage, who can cause more destruction . Destruction . The thought of Votin Destruction . The thought of voting for destruction . The thought of voting for Someone Destruction . The thought of voting for someone who destruction . The thought of voting for someone who is i voting for someone who is directly voting for someone who is directly contributing right now. Directly contributing right now, directly contributing to the Death And Destruction of our Home Country and of our relatives our Home Country and of our relatives overseas. I have made a decision relatives overseas. I have made a decision to vote Forjoe Biden a decision to vote Forjoe Biden and i know there are Peopie Biden and i know there are People who will say it is for People who will say it is formi People who will say it is forJill Steiner and People who will say it is forJill Steinerand i People who will say it is forJill Steiner and i know for Jill Steiner and i know there forJill Steiner and i know there are People who will say it is a there are People who will say it is a wasted vote. We there are People who will say it is a wasted vote. It is a wasted vote. We asked for a ceasefire it is a wasted vote. We asked for a ceasefire and it is a wasted vote. We asked for a ceasefire and we it is a wasted vote. We asked for a ceasefire and we neverl for a ceasefire and we never received for a ceasefire and we never received a for a ceasefire and we never received a ceasefire. For a ceasefire and we never received a ceasefire. We for a ceasefire and we neverj received a ceasefire. We are running received a ceasefire. We are Running Out received a ceasefire. We are Running Out of received a ceasefire. We are Running Out of words. Received a ceasefire. We are Running Out of words. This received a ceasefire. We are Running Out of words. Running out of words. As a local employer Running Out of words. As a local employer he Running Out of words. As a local employer he says local employer he says inflation is crippling him. I use a lot of flower and i break my own bread here back own bread here. September 21 appellate of £40 bags of Flour Cost 13. 78 per bag. Today it is 21. 92 are bad. This man runs an auto parts manufacturing business. He has created 1000 jobs in the last 25 years. Each Na Jobs in the last 25 years. Each party has jobs in the last 25 years. Each party has pros jobs in the last 25 years. Each party has pros and jobs in the last 25 years. Each party has Pros And Cons jobs in the last 25 years. Each party has Pros And Cons and L Party has Pros And Cons and some positive stuff and some negative stuff. So were still which way to go. It is a clear choice for this doctor full stop Donald Trump is offering to stop the war so three, four years of presidency we have not experienced any wars in the economy was booming. In 2020 Joe Biden Economy was booming. In 2020 Joe Biden won economy was booming. In 2020 Joe Biden won michigan economy was booming. In 2020 Joe Biden won michigan by Joe Biden won michigan by 2. 78 . In 2016 Donald Trump won byjust 0. 23 . And the campaigns know it will be tight again this year. They are peppering this date with multiple visits. In the last week alone Donald Trump, colour harris, Jd Vance and Tim Walz have all made trips to michigan. Moving North in flint there is anger that ten years on from the contaminated Water Crisis many still do not have clean water to drink and have not received Compensation Due to them. Cities still show the scars of the long gone motor heyday. Scars of the long gone motor he da. ,. , scars of the long gone motor he da. ,. , scars of the long gone motor heda. ,. ,. , heyday. This is a union town. Youve got heyday. This is a union town. Youve got to heyday. This is a union town. Youve got to care heyday. This is a union town. Youve got to care enough. It is about a humanitarian element. And i hear, harris constantly talking about the relief for the People. And that is what i am looking for and thatis is what i am looking for and that is why i am leaning towards her. That is why i am leaning towards her. ~. , towards her. Whatever their view, towards her. Whatever their view. Both towards her. Whatever their view, both trump towards her. Whatever their view, both trump and towards her. Whatever their| view, both Trump And Harris towards her. Whatever their view, both Trump And Harris are courting the People of michigan in an election they are calling a battle for the soul of america. Something that has happened in the United States the benefits all americans regardless of who they are supporting in this election is the fact that the cost of borrowing has dropped by 0. 5 . So we have us Interest Rates coming down. Much more than expected. So we will be unpacking that with top economists next. Plus, of course, already mentioned that the Bank Of England meets today so what will Andrew Bailey and his team decide estimate we will unpack all that and all the other Business Stories here on Bbc News. Hello, there. Thursday promises to be another unusually warm September Day for large parts of The Uk, although in the North of scotland, it may not be quite as warm as it was on wednesday when aviemore got above 25 degrees celsius some nine or ten degrees above the seasonal average. But Notice Lake Vyrnwy languished at 14 degrees because in those parts of Mid Wales we saw a bit more cloud lingering for a good part of the day. Some of that cloud returning from the east as well, so england and wales seeing a pretty cloudy start, actually, in some places. But that Cloud Tending to retreat by the afternoon towards the east coast, some Cloud Rolling onto the coast of Eastern Scotland. Elsewhere, though, some good spells of sunshine, just a very, very small chance of seeing a shower across southern counties of england. But it really is only a very small chance. Now, where youre exposed to the breeze along the North sea, temperatures may only get to 17 or 18 degrees. Compare that with 25 in parts of southeast england. And then through thursday night, we do it all again, we bring more cloud back in from the east, may turn a little bit misty and murky in places. That cloud will hold the temperatures up 15 degrees in london as we start friday morning, maybe 8 or 9 in aberdeen and glasgow, a little Bit Cooler where we start with clear skies overhead. But the focus of our weather does start to shift as we go through friday. We start to turn our eyes to the south with this developing area of low pressure, and that will start to bring some showers and some thunderstorms across parts of southern england, perhaps getting into the midlands, perhaps into the southern half of wales as we go on through the day. Eastern scotland, Northeast-england'>Northeast England holding on to a lot of Mist And Murk and low cloud. That will peg the temperatures back. Conversely, Western Scotland and Northern ireland should see plenty of sunshine. Now, into saturday, those showers and thunderstorms in the south perhaps becoming more frequent, pushing a little bit further Northwards. Still rather cloudy for coasts of Eastern Scotland and Northeast-england'>Northeast England, Western Scotland and Northern ireland seeing plenty of sunshine. But those temperatures generally down just a little bit by this stage. And then by sunday, our area of low pressure really makes its move, bringing showers or longer spells of rain, particularly across england and wales. The Odd Shower and some extra cloud in Eastern Scotland, but generally in the North of The Uk it will stay largely dry. Bumper cut. The Federal Reserve slashes the cost of borrowing by half a percentage point. We take a look at what this says about the us economy. Stick or twist. Next up its The Uks turn as the Bank Of England is set to make its next call on the cost of borrowing. Ev trade war. Can china convince the European Union to water down electric vehicle tariffs ahead of a crucial vote . And catching a break. We take a look at australias billion Dollar Surf Industry and those trying to protect it. Live from london this is business today, im sally bundock. We start in the us and a big move by the Central Bank in cutting the cost of borrowing for the first time