Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240925

Were hezbollah Sites Housing were hezbollah Sites Housing cruise missiles, cruise missiles, rockets and drones. It released this footage of some of the Air Strikes which it says took place at numerous locations across lebanon. The attacks across lebanon have led to thousands of people moving away from border areas. This footage was filmed late on monday evening, with long tailbacks of vehicles around the coastal city of gaziyeh. There have also been a number of Hezbollah Missile and drone launches against israel. This video shows israeli anti missile systems in use in the skies over the city of haifa. World leaders are trying to defuse tensions with the White House saying that president biden will present concrete plans for ending the crisis later this week. Aru na iyengar reports. Israel said it hit around 1,300 hezbollah targets In Lebanon yesterday. There were Warnings Phone messages to residents to leave areas where hezbollah weapons were stored, and this from israels Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Dont let hezbollah endanger your lives and the lives of your loved ones. Dont let hezbollah endanger lebanon. Please, get out of harms way now. 0n the roads, a mass exodus. Tens of thousands heading north towards beirut. And in the Port City of sidon, people took whatever transport they could to get to safety. This school opened its gates to give shelter to families. This woman said, they struck right next to our house and our building was shaking. We got very stressed. This is why we had to leave and we came here. We were told its safe here. Across northern israel, sirens wailed and rockets fell. 0vernight, missiles were intercepted over the northern israeli city of haifa. Israel has acknowledged the high number of casualties In Lebanon. It says hezbollah had hidden weapons inside peoples homes and says its strikes were precisely targeted. You can see here that the rocket is stored on a hydraulic system and is prepared for a launch out of an opening in the roof directed at the communities in northern israel. And more than that, under this attic, a family lives and serves as a Human Shield for hezbollah. Meanwhile, World Leaders are viewing these events with unease. Us president Joe Biden met with the president of the United Arab Emirates yesterday. The two leaders say theyre discussing ways to bring down tensions in the region. Ive been briefed on the latest developments at the Un General Assembly in new york, theres been calls by france and from the uks foreign secretary, david lammy, to bring about a ceasefire. Israel and hezbollah are old enemies. This looks like a new chapter of the war. Its the people of lebanon and northern israel who are caught in the middle. Aruna iyengar, Bbc News. Lets go To Beirut and speak to marwan abdallah. He is the head of foreign Affairs Department at the lebanese kataeb party, a centre right christian party. Thank you very much forjoining us. How divided is the lebanese public about the engagement of hezbollah with israel . Hezbollah with israel . Thank ou for hezbollah with israel . Thank you for having hezbollah with israel . Thank you for having me. Hezbollah with israel . Thank you for having me. Since hezbollah with israel . Thank you for having me. Since Day One and even since before the war in gaza broke out we had a problem with having a militia dictating War And Peace on the lebanese people. The militia is called hezbollah, it operates outside the control of the lebanese government, the lebanese government, the lebanese parliament and it gets its orders, weapons and financing from iran, it acts as a proxy for iran so since Day One we had a problem with this entity. So since the war between hamas and israel. inaudible . We saw the total destruction in gaza, a total wipe out of the Population And Infrastructure in gaza and no positive consequences. They opened without getting back to the lebanese people in the lebanese legitimate authorities. We have an issue with this scenario, with having our country gives us a platform to send messages between Iran And Israel and iran and the westjust for the sake of having better cards on the Negotiation Table for their nuclear project under the enlargement projects. Enlargement proects. Sorry, i ust want enlargement proects. Sorry, i just want to enlargement projects. Sorry, i just want to come enlargement projects. Sorry, i just want to come in, enlargement projects. Sorry, i just want to come in, there i enlargement projects. Sorry, i just want to come in, there is| just want to come in, there is so much you said i want to try to examine if possible. You had said your view of hezbollah, it is prescribed as a Terrorist Organisation by some governments but it is also a political movement and there is support for it in some quarters In Lebanon, so my question is that it In Lebanon, so my question is thatitis In Lebanon, so my question is that it is about the divisions in society. What choice do people have other than to evacuate, as Benjamin Netanyahu has advised civilians In Lebanon to do . {131 has advised civilians In Lebanon to do . Of course. Vegetable. Lebanon to do . Of course. Vegetable, Eddie Lebanon to do . Of course. Vegetable, Eddie Cibrian I vegetable, Eddie Cibrian leaving their home and coming to the region will not be met with any hostility, of course of course, any civilian leaving their home. Our problem is the problem, hezbollah� s control over the community is not accepted naturally by the community In Lebanon. It is not a lebanese project so whatever support they get from the community is not organic, it is the character or the stick. Maybe some would be a geologically aligned with hezbollah but we have seen how hezbollah but we have seen how hezbollah treats any opposition within the community, either assassination, intimidation or kicking them out of the areas so any support for the Hezbollah Project within the shia community, groups which supports hezbollah, is being met with oppression by hezbollah. So you cannot see the people against what hezbollah is doing within the community. And that the other communities present In Lebanon, including the sunnia and christians. Including the sunnis and christians. We are still against whatever hezbollah is giving ample Support Hezbollah is getting to do endless wars which do not benefit the lebanese people. We are hearing from the Afp News Agency that israel is saying more than 50 projectiles were fired from lebanon this morning, tuesday morning. So even at this time of day, that is what israel is saying. Briefly, what is your Fear Or Hope for what will happen next . The fear is of course the total destruction of my country. If anybody is following the news in the past five years, some would say the past decade, lebanon is suffering the most intense economic crisis, financial crisis, we have our own political crisis, we do not have a president. We are suffering from all types of problems here and you add to this a devastating war and an unequal war. This a devastating war and an unequalwar. Hezbollah this a devastating war and an unequal war. Hezbollah and iran have been doing propaganda for decades that they can defeat israel and wipe israel out, but the first day of the war, the escalating started, you have seen 1300 targets hit by israel or 50, seen 1300 targets hit by israel or50, 60, seen 1300 targets hit by israel or 50, 60, 100 rockets fired by lebanon and we do not know how many are hitting their targets so it is an uneven war. It is our right as lebanese citizens to ask for the end of this insanity. If there should be a Deal It should be negotiated between the lebanese government and other counterparts to bring peace to our country. It is not for an iranian Proxy And Iran to dictate the rules of peace in my country. Marwan abdallah, thank you. Thank you. Lets speak to our Middle East correspondent, hugo bachega, who is in beirut. An extremely deadly 2a hours . Yes, the deadliest day In Lebanon since the end of the civil war. Almost 500 people confirmed dead by the lebanese authority, hundreds more wounded and we see now images of the main roads connecting south lebanon To Beirut, still congested with thousands of people trying to flee those areas in the south of the country. Yesterday we met some families, many of whom were carrying only some bags with some belongings. They describe the intensity of the israeli Air Strikes and the lebanese Government Minister described what happened yesterday as an israeli atrocity, the lebanese authorities are saying that most of the sites hit by the israeli attacks were residential sites, although the Israeli Military is saying it targeted hezbollah positions and accused hezbollah of Hiding Weapons in houses, using the population as Human Shields. We see the attacks continue, the Israeli Military says more attacks were carried out this Morning And Hezbollah has remained defiant. More attacks from hezbollah, the group is saying these attacks will continue until there is a ceasefire in gaza and the indications from the israeli authorities are that this is just the beginning of a wider offensive against hezbollah and the speculation is that we could see a Ground Invasion of Southern Lebanon to create a so called Buffer Zone to push hezbollah fighters away from the border. I think for many of those residents they will flee Southern Lebanon and there is the very real possibility that many of them may never be able to go back home. We many of them may never be able to go back home. To go back home. We have ust broken the fi to go back home. We have ust broken the news i to go back home. We have ust broken the news that i to go back home. We have just broken the news that israel to go back home. We have just broken the news that israel is. Broken the news that israel is saying more than 50 projectiles have been fired from lebanon on tuesday morning. What is the lebanese government are able to do to bring any pressure to bear on this situation . It is a very tricky bear on this situation . It is a very tricky situation, bear on this situation . It is a very tricky situation, very very tricky situation, very difficult situation for the lebanese authorities because they have very little if any influence over hezbollah. This is a Powerful Militia Political Party supported by iran, it acts as a state within a state that they have been carrying out these attacks on israel for almost a year, saying they are showing solidarity with the palestinians in gaza. Many here In Lebanon have been saying they fear these attacks, that hezbollah were dragging lebanon into a conflict with israel that it into a conflict with Israel Thatitis into a conflict with israel that it is not in the countrys interests, that is something we heard yesterday from some of the people we interviewed here in beirut, people concerned that we could see a similar situation to the one in 2006 when hezbollah went israel fought a month long war that brought lots of destruction to parts of lebanon and parts of southern beirut. A very difficult situation for the lebanese authorities, they are calling this israeli Aggression And Hezbollah again saying these attacks will continue, this israeli offensive against the group will not stop them. Hugo bachega, thank you. 0ur Correspondent in beirut. Now lets turn tojerusalem, and speak to our Middle East correspondent, yolande knell. We are hearing there were nearly 500 people killed in Southern Lebanon as a result of israeli strikes on monday. How can israel claim they are being precise and trying to protect civilians . Civilians . The warnings that came out civilians . The warnings that came out from civilians . The warnings that came out from the civilians . The warnings that came out from the israelis, | civilians . The warnings that came out from the israelis, and we know there were these automated messages sent to peoples telephones, some peoples telephones, some people received calls, the claims were hezbollah was hiding some of its missiles, even cruise missiles, in civilian areas, whole villages were being used to as Storage Areas for different hezbollah weapons and that israel was attacking mainly with these hundreds of Strikes Yesterday Southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Region both known to be strongholds of hezbollah. There were videos put out by the Israeli Military, obviously very aware of the criticism is that there could be, which they said showed there were homes being used by hezbollah which even a roof could open up so msl could be fired presumably towards israel from the roof of one of these buildings. Hezbollah has previously denied to uses Civilian Homes for its weapons. But this is a very difficult situation. We know there are a number of women and children, about 90, among those who have been killed and there have been complaints by some on the lebanese side but although those Evacuation Warnings came in, they did not come in fast enough for people to be able to leave from some of those areas. How likely is it that there will be some form of Ground Incursion . Incursion . What israeli Officials Incursion . What israeli officials including officials including the Military Spokesperson have been saying when asked about whether there will be a limited Ground Incursion is they will do whatever is necessary in order to return tens of thousands of israeli civilians to their homes in the north of the country. They have been displaced by 11 months of fighting, we are told over the course of these 11 Months Something like 9000 rockets have been fired at israeli communities by hezbollah In Lebanon and we saw a continuation of that rocket fire, about 250 rockets fired yesterday with hezbollah saying it was also targeting Military Bases and a Defence Firm in haifa. These places, people have been told to stay near bomb shelters, the whole of israel at the moment is under special situation guidelines meaning they have to listen carefully to what the Israeli Military says in terms of whether public gatherings are allowed, what happens to schools etc. People very much on edge to see what happens next but there has been brought israeli public support for the country to intensify its Military Action against hezbollah and to push it away from israels northern border. Yolande knell, thank you. Around the world and across the uk, this is Bbc News. In singapores biggest political Corruption Trial in almost 50 years, a former minister has been convicted after pleading guilty to bribery charges. Subramanian iswaran had faced 35 charges and now a possible jail sentence. Now lets cross live to outside singapores Supreme Court to speak to our Correspondent Sura Njana tewari. Tell us a bit about the defendant who he was and how prominent a member of government. It isa it is a fascinating case. Subramaniam iswaranjust it is a fascinating case. Subramaniam iswaran just left Subramaniam Iswa ran just left the Subramaniam Iswaran just left the Supreme Court behind me. His trial is taking place in the High Court which is in the same building. He walked into the court to face trial with 35 charges against his name including taking gifts as he was a public servant, also corruption and obstructing justice. But after entering the trial his prosecutors actually reduce those charges. He now only faces five charges and they drop the Corruption Charge so it is just taking gifts as a public Servant And Obstruction to justice. Public Servant And Obstruction tojustice. He pleaded guilty and thejudge convicted him of all five. But after many deliberations the judge said they needed more time to decide what his sentence would be on the Court Case has been adjourned until october the 3rd. Subramaniam iswaran held many portfolios in the government, most recently the transport minister, and he was famed for bringing the grand Prix Race To Singapore and many of the allegations relate to that event. He is accused of taking gifts while in Public Service of more than 300,000 us dollars including flights, hotel stays and musical Tickets and Grand Prix Tickets. It hotel stays and musical Tickets and Grand Prix Tickets. And Grand Prix Tickets. It has become a and Grand Prix Tickets. It has become a very and Grand Prix Tickets. It has become a very high and Grand Prix Tickets. It has become a very high profile i become a very high profile case, then . Become a very high profile case. Then . Become a very high profile case, then . ~ ,. , case, then . Absolutely. One of the most highprofile, case, then . Absolutely. One of the most highprofile, in case, then . Absolutely. One of the most highprofile, in fact i the most high profile, in fact the most high profile, in fact the last political Corruption Trial was in 1975 so there is very little precedent regarding these types of allegations. Subramaniam iswaran initially denied all wrongdoing but he pleaded guilty in the child today. This has really rattled singapore because public servants are paid an awful lot of money, some of them earn more than 700,000 per year and lawmakers justify the handsome salaries, saying they deter corruption. There has been a lot of attention on this case, especially given that singapore lawmakers put themselves at a much higher standard when it comes to things like corruption and bribes while in Public Service. Suranjana tewari, thank you. Here, three months after winning the general election, Sir Keir Starmer will use his first Labour Conference Speech as Prime Minister to say there is light at the end of the tunnel. But he will also warn that tough decisions will need to be taken now to build a brighter britain. Mr starmer is trying to move the focus away from the row over donations to him and other senior ministers, and the decision to cut Winter Fuel payments for millions of pensioners. 0ur political correspondent Iain Watson reports from liverpool. Hes won a massive majority, but with headlines about who pays for his specs and his suits, Keir Starmer has to take the opportunity to move on to the substance of labours message. So its no wonder hes rehearsing his big speech. And while he says things will be hard and he wont give false hope, it wont all be doom and gloom. Hell say his government will build a new britain, that theres light at the end of the tunnel. Good morning. Children good morning. How are you all . Yeah . He visited a school here in liverpool to stress his commitment to expanding opportunities for the next generation, though he will also lecture us a bit about what hes done in government so far. But questions are still being asked about his future direction. So what do the rank and file, the delegates, the members, the Labour Councillors want to hearfrom him today . Weve heard a lot about the deficit and the big black hole, but what we want to hear is what are we going to do about it . At the next election, ill be knocking on doors somewhere and i want to be able to to say, look, this is what weve achieved over five years. And i dont want that to be risked by going for short term, flashy things that arent dealing with those fundamental problems. Id like him to be much more optimistic. People have been in the realm of 14 years of complete devastation, with no hope,. Not being able to put food on the table for their families, i not knowing what the Interest Rate is going to be. For their mortgages. So its about giving people hope. There will be some announcements in Keir Starmer� s speech, including legislation to crack down on welfare fraud, more flexible apprenticeships and a restated commitment to bring net migration down, but without a specific target. Standing ovations for Keir Starmer during and after his speech are guaranteed. He has brought labour back to power for the first time in 1a years. But there has been some disquiet here, too, about decisions he says were difficult, such as cutting Winter Fuel payments. Hell try to convince the audience here and the wider country that short Term Pain will lead to long term gain. Chanting tax the rich and make them pay i and perhaps more in hope than expectation, some want the short Term Pain on Winter Fuel payments eased. What id like him to say is that the Winter Fuel pay cuts are reversed, they are not going to be happening. Prime minister, have you underestimated the Publics Anger at your decision to accept freebies . Keir starmer has removed the conservatives from power. Now, he has to make some of his own supporters feel good about being in government, and convince voters that a difficult Start Wont define the future. Iain watson, Bbc News, liverpool. For viewers in the uk, well have full coverage from the labour party conference, starting in just a few minutes. I think we can show you what it is like in the conference centre. Well bring you the speeches from the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thats at ten oclock and the Prime Ministers speech, at 2pm. After weeks of rather gloomy messaging, Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, will probably attempt to strike a rather more upbeat tone but still having to warn of what he calls a shared struggle, saying the politics of National Renewal are collected. We have a live page running on the website if you want to follow the Conference Minute by minute. There is a really interesting debate about what is the point of political conferences. They have a long tradition here, they have been taking place in the uk for more than a century. Initially designed so the parties could decide on policy. A much more widerfunction these decide on policy. A much more wider function these days. Tv cameras very much part of the picture. This is Bbc News. Hello again. Where it was so wet yesterday across parts of england in particular, it is a lot drier today. Mind you, it is fairly cloudy. What we have as we go through the rest of the week is of further rain as we go through the middle part, and it is going to turn colder, especially so by friday, when we will be adding in some Wind Chill to the lower temperatures. So today we have yesterdays low pressure pushing away, another Weather Front moving south across scotland, introducing some rain that will turn showerier as we go through the day, but who gets the Odd Heavy Burst across fife and lothian. Eventually that will get into northern england, and for Northern Ireland, the rest of england and wales it is a mixture of bright spells, sunny intervals and some scattered showers. It is also going to feel fresher than yesterday, especially in the north, because we are starting to pull in a northerly wind behind our Weather Front. That Weather Front is going to continue to sink southwards tonight, with its showers. There will be clear skies around, showers across south West England, drifting into central southern england, and it will be cold enough in sheltered glens and rural parts of Northern Ireland for a touch of frost, as temperatures slip just below freezing. But again, a Cooler Night across the board in recent nights. As we head from wednesday into thursday, you can see how we have got the next low pressure pushing steadily northwards and eastwards, Cooler Air comes in right behind it, across the country, so you will feel the draught literally during the course of friday. But back to wednesday, we have Rain Coming in from the south west. Some of this will be heavy as it pushes into south West England and wales, getting into central, southern england by the end of the day. Moving north, it is bright spells and showers, with temperatures 10 to about 17, so temperatures dipping once again. Into thursday, The Rain continues to push northwards, into northern england, scotland and Northern Ireland. There will be heavily showers following on behind. To the west, some brighter skies, but also, quite blustery winds, especially along the east coast, and these temperatures 11 to about 17 degrees. Moving on, then, into the latter part of the week, it is friday that you will notice the Wind Chill. It will feel cold, and it is going to turn colder as we go through the weekend, with the chance of wet and windy weather coming our way, sunday into monday. Good morning. Youre watching Bbc News with me, sarah campbell. Lets go straight to liverpool. In his first Labour Conference Speech as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer will say there is light at the end of the tunnel in the form of faster economic growth and falling nhs Waiting Lists , but hell warn there are no easy answers. The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is also expected to address the conference in around half an hours time. 0ur political Corerspondent Alex forsyth is in liverpool. Good Alex Forsyth is in liverpool. Morning. So, it is a Bi Day good morning. So, it is a big day isnt it, what is the mood there at conference, waiting for Keir Starmer, to address them, their lieder and of course Prime Minister. Good Morning Course Prime Minister. Good morning. Yes, course Prime Minister. Good morning. Yes, this course Prime Minister. Good morning. Yes, this is course Prime Minister. Good morning. Yes, this is the course Prime Minister. Goodj morning. Yes, this is the big day if you like at conference, we have the Chancellor Yesterday significant speech when the chancellor stands up, but of Course Everybody is waiting for the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer who is going to take to the stage about 2. 00 this afternoon, as you say i think the central point of this speech is going to be about shaping the narrative of this government. Trying to explain to the country why they are doing what they are doing and trying to get people onboard, so we can talk through all of this with a couple of guests i have with me. We have lara