Transcripts For BBCNEWS Verified Live 20240926

Sovereignty, just as we do for any other nation. We need to withdraw russian occupiers, which will bring an end to the hostilities in ukraine and we must hold those responsible for War Crimes accountable. We need to prevent the destruction of nature because by the war and we must not allow a second or third phase of these russian invasions. And we need to make it clear the war is over this is the peace formula. What part of this could be unacceptable to anyone who upholds the Un Charter . If someone in the world seeks alternatives to any of these points or tries to ignore any of them, it likely means they themselves want to do a part of what putin is doing. The point hides the desire they are hiding. And when the chinese or brazilians tries to grow into a choir of voices, with someone in europe, with someone in africa saying something alternative to a just peace, the question arises what is the question arises what is the true interest . Everyone must understand, you will not boost your power at Ukraines Expense and the world has already been through colonial wars and conspiracies of Great Powers and the expanse of those who are smaller. Every country including china, brazil, european nations, african nations, Middle East, all understand why this must remain in the Past And Ukraine will never accept, will never accept, why anyone in the world believes that such a brutal colonial past, which suits no one today, can be imposed on ukraine now instead of a normal peaceful life. I want peace for my people, real peace, and justice, and i am asking for your support, from all nations of the world. We do not divide the world. I asked the same of you, do not divide the world. The United Nations, and that will bring us peace. Thank you. Applause Un Behalf of the assembly i wish Un Behalf of the assembly i wish to Un Behalf of the assembly i wish to thank Un Behalf of the assembly i wish to thank the Un Behalf of the assembly i wish to thank the president j Un Behalf of the Assembly I. Wish to thank the president of ukraine ukraine. You ukraine. You arel ukraine. You are watching ukraine. You are watching bbc news, where we were watching the live address of Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky addressing the un General Assembly and with that stark warning that really jars with what with that stark warning that reallyjars with what he was saying, President Zelensky saying, President Zelensky saying russia is Planning Attacks on ukraine nuclear plants. Forthosejoining attacks on ukraine nuclear plants. For thosejoining us plants. For those joining us just plants. For thosejoining us just now, welcome to bbc news. We have just been watching President Zelensky addressed the un General Assembly and he was very much talking about the need to uphold ukraines sovereignty. He was talking about the need to bring back captured soldiers and civilians, some of whom he feels have been forcibly deported to russia. We know around 20,000 children have been forcibly deported to russia and he was flagging up his concern about the un Security Council veto, which of Course Russia has. So President Zelensky with that stark warning that russia is Planning Attacks on ukraine nuclear plants. We can cross live to new york. Sumi come a very blunt words from President Zelensky, really getting his message across . Zelensky, really getting his message across . Indeed, this is what we have message across . Indeed, this is what we have been message across . Indeed, this is what we have been hearing message across . Indeed, this isj what we have been hearing from President Zelensky a week. Remember, this was a un Security Council Meeting yesterday where he said essentially the same message we had today, that there cannot be a just peace in the Way Russia is prosecuting this well. A Viewpoint Points were very interesting. He started his address talking about the threat of a nuclear disaster at their zaporizhzhia power plant. We spoke to the Director General of the international energy or atomic Agency Yesterday specifically about this threat and how this hot war has many very concerned about the possibility of a nuclear disaster. That is exactly what President Zelensky were saying today in his address to delegates, he was saying this could bring, it could bring the war to the rest of europe. That was a way to get attention of the delegates. He talked at The End of his address, he has come to this General Assembly with his plan for victory that he is going to present President Biden at the White House on thursday. He talked about this plan for peace a bit. He said this is ukraines plan for peace, it must include accountability for the aggressor, russia, and bringing home ukrainian soldiers and those who have been captured. He really made a point to delegates at this assembly, saying those in africa, for example, brazil and china, if you have alternate plans for peace you are essentially doing russias bidding, in a way, in so many words as what he was saying. We have not seen as much unilateral support in the Global South as you have seen in the west. So an interesting message, certainly tailored for those General Assembly delegates and it is important to note President Zelensky will be heading to the White House to meet with President Biden and present that plan for victory and he believes this Phaseis Victory and he believes this phase is critical. Phase is critical. And one thin. Phase is critical. And one thing he phase is critical. And one thing he did phase is critical. And one thing he did not phase is critical. And one thing he did not mention| phase is critical. And one thing he did not mention was this use of long distance missiles. That is something he had previously been calling for but in these events where he has been speaking, especially just now at the un General Assembly, he did not bring that up, did he . He assembly, he did not bring that up. Did he . Up, did he . He didnt in his speech. Up, did he . He didnt in his speech, that up, did he . He didnt in his speech, that is up, did he . He didnt in his speech, that is an up, did he . He didnt in his| speech, that is an important point. But you have to also look at the audience he was speaking to, specifically to the United Nations General Assembly here and to the delegates. Some of them would be more sceptical and reticent in their support for ukraine. It is anticipated that he very much will bring up that message when he meets with President Biden personally and he is scheduled to meet with Vice President kamala harris. We had at the un Security Council he brought this up in a meeting with his allies there. This will be something he is trying to push across the line is that we ask the nato General Secretary of the us is amenable to this . We are hearing different tones on this. It will be interesting to see if President Zelensky pushes precisely that, they need to use long range missiles into russian territory. Will we see a change of tone from President Biden . Where we see the us allow ukraine to do that . We expect to hear more on that tomorrow. Expect to hear more on that tomorrow expect to hear more on that tomorrow. ~ ,. , tomorrow. When it comes to the meetin tomorrow. When it comes to the meeting with tomorrow. When it comes to the meeting with president tomorrow. When it comes to the meeting with President Biden I Meeting with President Biden and speaking about this Victory Plan that he has, do we have any inclination as to what will be discussed, what will be. A wheel we have the details of that Victory Plan . We wheel we have the details of that Victory Plan . That Victory Plan . We dont have the that Victory Plan . We dont have the exact that Victory Plan . We dont have the exact details. That Victory Plan . We dont have the exact details. We | that Victory Plan . We dont have the exact details. We know the plan will first be presented to President Biden but we have some contours. We understand it includes things like more weapons for ukraine, more support for ukraine. So likely will also include the ability for ukraine to use the long range missiles. That might be part of the plan. We also understand that it will include a path to some sort of negotiations. Now that would be solely on ukraines terms, of course. That is something we had again from President Zelensky in his Speech Today to the delegates, he said this has to be our peace, a just peace in our terms. So that is what we know about the contours of this plan. So more support for ukraine and ukraines piece on its own terms, but beyond that, we havent had very many details. We are expecting that after the meeting with President Biden we might be able to fill in a bit more on that plan. But we expect to hear more about that as well tomorrow. Hear more about that as well tomorrow hear more about that as well tomorrow. ,. , tomorrow. Indeed, and one thing No Doubt on tomorrow. Indeed, and one thing No Doubt on everybodys tomorrow. Indeed, and one thing No Doubt on Everybodys Mind. Tomorrow. Indeed, and one thing No Doubt on Everybodys Mind is| No Doubt on Everybodys Mind is what is happening electorally in the united states. President zelensky has to ensure that whatever happens on the 5th Of November that this Victory Plan will be in place and will work regardless of who wins the us election . ,. ,. ,. , election . Yes, and clearly of course he election . Yes, and clearly of course he is election . Yes, and clearly of course he is meeting election . Yes, and clearly of course he is meeting with i election . Yes, and clearly of. Course he is meeting with Vice President harris in her capacity as Vice President , we should say, but we understand he is also perhaps going to hold a call with president trump, former president trump. So it is important to note that for President Zelensky there is an understanding that Resonant Biden will not be in office much longer. So there is a need to put in place a plan that can be carried through the winter. Remember, we are at this criticaL Point again because ukraine is heading into this winter of Fighting Force that we had him in his addressjust now talking about russia striking Energy Infrastructure so it is critical for President Zelensky to not only get the support of President Biden for the next few months, through the next few months, through the winter, but also looking ahead to a change in the White House after the inauguration on january 20, ensuring the next us administration, should it be led by Kemal Harris or former president trump, that they continue to support ukraine. The former president famously said if he were back in the White House he would have a plan to solve this war in 2a hours. We have not heard more details about what that could look like as well but it seems something President Zelensky would be keen to hear as well. So the us election will be weighing on President Zelensky and his team as he heads to the White House. It and his team as he heads to the White House. White house. It will be. As always. White house. It will be. As always, thank White House. It will be. As always, thank you White House. It will be. As always, thank you so White House. It will be. As | Middle East coming up next. Do stay with us h you so much, always, thank you so much, sumi. Just after president always, thank you so much, sumi. Just after President Zelensky addressed the Un Zelensky addressed the un General Assembly there. General assembly there. Zelensky addressed the Un Generalassembly there. He zelensky addressed the un General Assembly there. He was zelensky addressed the Un Generalassembly there. He zelensky addressed the un General Assembly there. He was talking about this risk of talking about this risk of russia are attacking ukraine russia are attacking ukraine nuclear power plants. He was nuclear power plants. He was talking about the chernobyl talking about the Chernobyl Disaster back in 1986, when of disaster back in 1986, when of course that explosion at course that explosion at Reactor Number four happened Reactor Number four happened and how nuclear clouds do not and how nuclear clouds do not regard borders. So very much a regard borders. So very much a Wake Up Call for the rest of Wake Up Call for the rest of europe, for the rest of the europe, for the rest of the world in order to get behind world in order to get behind ukraine and to support it. Much ukraine and to support it. Much more on this and of course much more on this and of course much more on this and of course much more on this and of course much more on the ongoing tension, more on this and of course much more on this and of course much more on the ongoing tension, the crisis happening in the the crisis happening in the Middle East coming up next. Do Middle East coming up next. Do stay with us here. Stay with us here. Welcome back, you are watching bbc news, Verified Live. We will bring you up to date with all the very latest. We turn to the Middle East now. Israel is calling up two additional Army Brigades to its northern border. The Israeli Defense Forces said the troops would be there to continue Combat Operations against hezbollah. Israel has been conducting extensive strikes across lebanon, hitting more than 100 targets. Lebanons Health Ministry says 51 people have been killed, and more than 200 wounded so far today. Earlier on wednesday, israel intercepted a ballistic missile fired by hezbollah towards Tel Aviv for the first time. Air Raid Siren wails. As you can hear the air Raid Sirens in this footage which shows the missile just after it was intercepted by israeli Air Defence systems. Hezbollah said its target was israels Intelligence Agency in mossad. Its thought to be the first time a his Brother Rocket has reached Tel Aviv. More than 600 people including many women and children have been killed in lebanon this week. Tens of thousands of people have been fleeing their homes in southern lebanon, in the face of israels attacks. The us and britain have urged their nationals to leave lebanon immediately and airlines have suspended their flights to both israel and lebanon. According to the lebanese Health Ministry. The attacks are leaving a trail of devastation. Israel has accused hezbollah of hiding weapons and rockets in residential areas, but people here disagree. Issams warehouse was destroyed in an Attack Injiyeh in the south. This was an auto repair shop, he says, and the equipment was all for civilian use. He saw in the media that the israelis might have suspected that he had weapons there. In beirut, displaced families continue to arrive, fleeing the south. Schools have been turned into shelters, and many dont know when or if theyll be able to go home again. Translation god willing, everything calms down. I hope theres a solution. I really hope theres a solution. The uk is again urging citizens to leave lebanon immediately. For now, theres no panic and many are staying. Iv e ive been part of society here for over ten years. So we hope that sanity can prevailand, um, peace can prevail at at some point. And de escalation. And thats it simply, really. Are you concerned about whats happening . I think wouldnt you be . I live in whats considered a saferarea here in beirut. We can hear things. So last night, we heard the bomb at about midnight injiyeh. As the traffic has quietened down, you can hear more. So, no. We dont we dont feel safe. But in terms of our immediate surroundings, were in a safer area. The conflict between Israel And Hezbollah is intensifying, and neither side seems interested in backing down. Hugo bachega, bbc news, beirut. Lets speak to our correspondent daniel de simone in jerusalem. Daniel, obviously we have been watching their situation escalates before our eyes. We are seeing these additional brigades going up to the north of israel. Are we ahead of a Ground Offensive here . We still dont know Ground Offensive here . We still dont know for Ground Offensive here . We still dont know for sure. Ground offensive here . We still dont know for sure. These Ground Offensive here . We still dont know for sure. These are | dont know for sure. These are reserved brigades that have been called up, the israeli military announcing at this afternoon. That will bolster the numbers in the north of the country, nearthe the numbers in the north of the country, near the lebanese border. Last week, we had a division of the army transferred from the south of the country, had previously been focused on gaza, to the north, meaning there were two divisions in the north and two in the south. So there has clearly been a sequencing going on and there is clearly a far larger number of troops in the north now than there were just over a week ago. Last night, the Defence Ministerfor over a week ago. Last night, the Defence Minister for israel spoke to troops after a simulation of Ground Combat with hezbollah in lebanon, saying that hezbollah is a very different organisation to the one it was a week ago, talking about what it would be like to face them on the ground. So there are certainly reasons to think there may be a ground operation, notjust from things operation, not just from things that operation, notjust from things that have been said but in The End, the aim of this Operation Israel is carrying out is to stop Hezbollah Firing rockets into israel, so that the 60,000 people displaced in the north of israel by those rockets can go home. As things stand, that goal has not been met because hezbollah is still Firing Rockets. Today it fired a missile at Tel Aviv, so that leaves a question about what else might the israeli military be planning, what else might they do beyond the Air Strikes we have been seeing this week. Yes, that air strike, they hezbollah strike into Tel Aviv are shot, the first time they have breached so far . It is the first time have breached so far . It is the first time they have breached so far . It is the first time they have have breached so far . It is the first time they have fired have breached so far . It is the first time they have fired a first time they have fired a missile at Tel Aviv. Tel aviv has been targeted by others before but not by hezbollah. I think that is a significant moment. It is one missile. 0bviously Hezbollah is assessed to have over 100,000 missiles and rockets, that was the assessment prior to the events of the past week. So it can fire more than it has been firing, Ithink Fire more than it has been firing, i think that is widely accepted. But the fact it did this today is a message from hezbollah, saying we are still here, we can still fire rockets and missiles and they have been going further this week than they have before in this conflict. They have been going further south, Firing Rockets further south, Firing Rockets further south, Firing Rockets further south than previously and today Firing A Missile at Tel Aviv for the first time ever. ,. ,. , ~ Tel Aviv for the first time ever. , ~ ,. , ever. 0k, daniel, thank you very much lets speak to nafiseh kohna vard, bbc persian Middle East correspondent. Of course with those strikes hitting lebanon, of course many people are anxious. You are at one of the vicinities where people are trying to shelter . Yes, exactly, and as you can see around me, full of people still waiting to find accommodation. Along the road we were driving towards their school, we saw a lot of stranded people with their suitcases, small belongings that they could bring with them, escaping the south in lebanon. They were just desperate to find a place. A while ago, we witnessed that the Emergency Teams are trying to take people with ambulances to take people with ambulances to another location to find accommodation for them. This shows how difficult the situation is. This is the third day they are here and there are still people arriving, lots of people are arriving. They are tired, they are anxious. These people have fled a few times. They have fled in other wars as well. Ijust spoke they have fled in other wars as well. I just spoke to an elderly woman and she was crying. She was saying that she is so tired, leaving her home over and over, but also, she was a supporter of hezbollah. She was saying that despite she was crying, she thinks they will be victorious. That is the atmosphere here, while others are angry as well. find atmosphere here, while others are angry as well. Atmosphere here, while others are angry as well. And in terms of getting are angry as well. And in terms of getting information, are angry as well. And in terms of getting information, are of getting information, are people getting information there that they need . Information about the locations that they can go, yes, they are receiving it but it is chaos here. 0rganisation receiving it but it is chaos here. Organisation of theirs, organising all these people that suddenly arrived to beirut is very difficult and we can see that. All of the Aid Organisations and the lebanese government are struggling to bring help for these people. I just saw that they brought a lot of water, potatoes and onions but they dont know how long they can provide these people, who will stay here a long time. Many of them have already lost their houses and some people that arrive here, they dont know beirut. They are from villagers on the border, they have never been to beirut, so they are just looking for offices and it is total chaos. Looking for offices and it is total chaos. Thank you very much for total chaos. Thank you very much for speaking total chaos. Thank you very much for speaking to total chaos. Thank you very much for speaking to us. I l total chaos. Thank you very much for speaking to us. I know you will continue to monitor the situation on the ground there. We can develop on this a little further. Lets speak to Tracey Chamoun who was the lebanese Ambassador Tojordan between 2017 and 2020. You know the region welcome ambassador. It is good of You Tojoin us. It must be really difficult watching what we are seeing right now in the Middle East, this crisis at Breaking Point . It east, this crisis at breaking oint . ,. , , point . It is absolutely horrendous point . It is absolutely horrendous because L Point . It is absolutelyj horrendous because it point . It is absolutely i horrendous because it is point . It is absolutely horrendous because it is going to be a repeat of gaza. If things get out of hand, it was the same strategy applied in gaza that is applied to lebanon. We have whole villages which have been completely turned into rubble. There is no discrimination between civilians and fighters and they are using the same rhetoric, saying that their fighters are hiding among the civilians and hiding among the civilians and hiding their weapons among the civilians, as they did in gaza when they bombed the hospitals and killed so many civilians as well. It is the same policy being applied in Lebanon And Thatis being applied in lebanon and that is the scary part of it. How integrated is hezbollah within the local population, then . As you say, that is the reasoning why we had seen what we have been seeing in gaza. Is it as integrated as you see within the Gaza Strip . What eole within the Gaza Strip . What peeple do within the Gaza Strip . What people do not within the Gaza Strip . What people do not understand l within the Gaza Strip . What| people do not understand is this label has been applied, which is hezbollah, but hezbollah is a big political party in lebanon which encompasses a huge percentage of the Shia Population, who make up one third of the population of lebanon. So it is very difficult to distinguish between the hezbollah and the Shia Population. They cannot eradicate the shia from lebanon, that would be Ethnic Cleansing and another genocide. There is this confusion that hezbollah is something separate from their cher but it is an integral part of the Shia Population in lebanon. What Seeinu Population in lebanon. What seeing is population in lebanon. What seeing is hezbollah population in lebanon. What seeing is hezbollah Activelyl Seeing is hezbollah actively taking lebanon into a war . Hezbollah has taken lebanon into a war, that is for certain. Now we have to look at the cost of this war versus the cost of what has happened in gaza, as well. 42,000 people killed, a whole city and area, region decimated. Populations that have been completely turned into constant refugees. So, yes, they are intrinsically linked. This is the Middle East. You cannot separate issues that easily and some people feel convinced that they need to defend the palestinians. There are people in lebanon who do not want to be dragged into this war, certainly do not want war and if we can find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis that would be the best option. But we are intrinsically tied up but we are intrinsically tied up now with the country affecting gaza. Up now with the country affecting gaza. Up now with the country affectin gaza. ~. ,. ,. , affecting gaza. We do not have much time affecting gaza. We do not have much time but affecting gaza. We do not have much time but arguably affecting gaza. We do not have much time but arguably we affecting gaza. We do not have. Much time but arguably we have seen Diplomacy Try and fail, what is the resolution to this . Ijust what is the resolution to this . I just read what is the resolution to this . Ijust read that the israeli ambassador at the United Nations said they would be willing to negotiate over a un resolution 1701, which is the out for everyone. It is the out for hezbollah and four israelis. So if they can bring about that resolution and find about that resolution and find a way to implement it, that would be the best way out for everyone. Would be the best way out for everyone everyone. Tracey chamoun, former ambassador everyone. Tracey chamoun, former ambassador to everyone. Tracey chamoun, former ambassador to lebanon, really good to get your thoughts and Experience And Expertise of the region. Of course, we are continuing to monitor the situation live as the tension escalates in the Middle East. Stay with us here on Verified Live from bbc news. Im back very shortly. Hello. We saw intense Rainfall And Flooding for many on monday. Tuesday brought a slightly drier day for some of us. But now, wednesday, we are seeing the arrival of more rain. Its going to last on and off for many of us over the next few days. The winds are going to be strengthening too. So a fairly unsettled spell of weather, certainly until friday. Lets Take A Look at the rainfall that were expecting to accumulate over the next few days. Some places, particularly northeast england, but also central and Southern England and into wales, could see up to about 80mm of rain and some of that is falling on very saturated ground. So i think were going to see some further problems with localised flooding later in the week. So low pressure is driving our weather at the moment. Its slowly moving its way in from the west, so for the rest of today, were seeing rain across central and northern parts of england into Northern Ireland, some heavy showers rattling into wales and Southwest England overnight as well. Now, this rainfall across the North East of england is going to be particularly persistent, blown in by that fairly brisk easterly wind as well. So a pretty damp start to your thursday, i think, for many areas, with some heavy showers, perhaps some thunderstorms towards the south. Temperatures 10 or 11 in the south. Were going to see single figures across the north of scotland, which is seeing some of the drier and clearer weather at the moment. Now through tomorrow, then, weve still got persistent rain pushing in across parts of northern england, particularly heavy in the northeast. Also Northern Ireland seeing some Heavy Rain. Wales, central and Southern England is going to see a mix of some sunshine, but also some scattered heavy showers and some thunderstorms as well. It is again the north of scotland that is drier but also cooler temperatures there only around 11 degrees. The teens further south because weve got this colder air as we move towards The End of the week. Its going to be filtering its way in from the north. By the time we get to friday, still a Weather Front bringing some Heavy Rain initially for central, Southeastern Parts of england. That should tend to ease away through the day. So were into the clearer skies, but colder conditions. The winds coming in from the north, so temperaturesjust around about 9 14 degrees for most of us north to south. Perhaps just a little bit milder towards the far south west. But by first thing Saturday Morning scenes like this, i think quite a frosty start. Even in our towns and cities, temperatures 2 or 3 degrees first thing saturday. Colder than that, though, in the more rural spots. So into the weekend then, we have got High Pressure thats going to be keeping the Weather Fronts at bay, at least for a time. So largely dry and settled. But with that cold air in place, some frosty nights to come. But for most of us, it is looking drier with some sunny spells. Perhaps a bit more rain in the North West later in the weekend. This is bbc news, the headlines. Israel is calling up two additional Army Brigades to its border in the north, as it carries out further Air Strikes against hezbollah in lebanon. Large numbers of people are continuing to flee the areas close to the border, as fears of war between Hezbollah And Israel grow