Weve revealed that Keir Starmer� s top adviser, Sue Gray, now earns more than the Prime Minister himself. Weve been told that shes now on a salary of £170,000. Also coming up on the World Today the Uk Wildlife charity is declaring a national Butterfly Emergency after its annual count recorded the lowest numbers in its ill year history. Welcome to the World Today, im sarah campell. An hour of international news. At least nine people have been killed and hundreds wounded in lebanon after a new wave of explosions. This time, its walkie talkies that have been detonated. It comes as israel Defense Minister Yoav gallant has said the country is opening a new phase in the Gaza War and the Centre Of Gravity is shifting to the north. These images filmed in beirut, and which we have speeded up, show the moment when plumes of smoke appeared in several locations across the city. The lebanese News Agencies say they involve walkie talkies made by japanese they involve walkie talkies made byjapanese company icon,. Made byjapanese company icon. And here are the remains of a hand held radio which exploded, we are told, In Baalbek in northern lebanon. These latest blasts came 2a hours after pagers used by the iranian backed Group Hezbollah exploded by the iranian backed Group Hezbollah exploded simultaneously, killing 12 people and leaving more than 3,000 injured. Israel has not expressly commented on the explosions in lebanon, but yoav gallant� s comments will be taken as an indication that israel is moving its focus to hezbollah and the conflict around the border. Wed be to get this report. Crowds gathering in South Beirut, a Hezbollah Stronghold. Tense, suspicious, not willing to be filmed. They came to bury four of those killed yesterday. Among them, an 11 year old boy. But even mourners were not safe. Suddenly, the sound of another blast. Chaos and panic filling the streets. The authorities say this time walkie talkies exploded, Notjust In Beirut but around the country. Israel once again being blamed. At least nine have been killed and another 300 wounded. The tension is being driven up day after day. Well, one more ambulance there passing by. Weve been seeing them in the last half an hour or so, also Fire Brigade trucks. People have been looking at the sky, worried there were drones. Theyre beginning to leave the area, to get off the streets. The funerals have been cancelled. This is a city on edge and full of anger. Lebanon has been that way since yesterday afternoon, when there was a wave of explosions. Pagers used by hezbollah fighters began blowing up. Apparently a message from mossad. Almost 3,000 people wounded in an hour. It has been a nightmare. Probably this is the worst day of my life as a physician. Unfortunately, we were not able to save a lot of eyes. I can tell you that probably more than 60 70 of the patients ended up with eviscerating or removing at least one of their eyes. And we are talking about young population, about patients in their 20s. In the bekaa valley, a young victim was buried this morning. Fatima abdallah was eight. Yesterday was her first day back at school. She was studying in the kitchen, says her aunt fatima, after she came home. A pager went off, she went to check it, and it exploded. I was lucky to have you, my beloved daughter, says her mother zeinab. You were disciplined. You are my whole life. Hezbollah has been humiliated but is promising revenge. Many in Lebanon Fear that israel is dragging this country into all out war. 0rla guerin, bbc news, beirut. They told me about the kinds of injuries theyve been seeing. From yesterdays explosion, We Saw very similar injuries in all patients. Their hands were affected very much, as well as their eyes. Most of them lost many fingers and at least one |, many fingers and at least one i, unfortunately. It was really eyes and hands and all patients. In eyes and hands and all patients eyes and hands and all atients. ,. , , patients. In terms of the types of patients patients. In terms of the types of patients youre patients. In terms of the types of patients youre having patients. In terms of the types of patients youre having in . I of patients youre having in . They were young patients. We received one kid who had minor injuries, but most of them were young male patients all of them were young male patients. You will be aware that the explosions were caused by pagers. We know in some places, medical Staff Use pagers as well. Ijust wonder medical Staff Use pagers as well. I just wonder whether any staff, whether the general population is concerned about any devices they may have be that pagers are walking walkie talkies. That pagers are walking walkietalkies. Everyone is worried walkietalkies. Everyone is worried. We walkietalkies. Everyone is worried. We have walkietalkies. Everyone is worried. We have pagers. Walkietalkies. Everyone is| worried. We have pagers on walkietalkies. Everyone is worried. We have pagers on all times. Yesterday, ithink worried. We have pagers on all times. Yesterday, i think they discarded them for precautions. Youre not having patients in your hospital at the moment, but you will be aware of what colleagues are dealing with today. 0ther other hospitals, but not ours yet. Other hospitals, but not ours et. ~. ,. ,. Other hospitals, but not ours et. ,. ,. ,. , yet. Who works at a hospital in beirut. Lets yet. Who works at a hospital in beirut. Lets hear yet. Who works at a hospital in beirut. Lets hear now yet. Who works at a hospital in beirut. Lets hear now the beirut. Lets hear now the comments that weve mentioned by the israeli Defence Minister addressing troops today. Translation addressing troops today. Translation the Centre Of. Ravi translation the Centre Of aravi is translation the Centre Of Gravity is moving translation the Centre Of Gravity is moving to translation the Centre Of Gravity is moving to the translation the Centre Of | gravity is moving to the north. This gravity is moving to the north. This means that we are diverting forces, resources and energy diverting forces, resources and energy towards the north. We have energy towards the north. We have not energy towards the north. We have not forgotten the hostages and we have not forgotten the hostages and we have not forgotten our tasks and we have not forgotten our tasks in and we have not forgotten our tasks in the south. This is our Duty Tasks in the south. This is our duty and tasks in the south. This is our duty and we are performing both at the duty and we are performing both at the same time. Israels Prime Minister has existed is really what we to the north. Transition iranian backed mac i said it before translation . Tom told me about the reaction in washington to the days developments in lebanon. The mood is pretty reminiscent lebanon. The mood is pretty reminiscent of lebanon. The mood is pretty reminiscent of the lebanon. The mood is pretty reminiscent of the two lebanon. The mood is pretty i reminiscent of the two previous israeli attacks in the course of the conflict. Then the assassination of the political leader of hamas in tehran injuly. And most of those cases, what the us did was effectively distance itself from the action, fearing it could provide the spark to regional war, could provide the spark to regionalwar, but could provide the spark to regional war, but at the same time, bracing for the repercussions and in doing that, preparing to shield the israel allies, that, preparing to shield the israelallies, both that, preparing to shield the israel allies, both military and to phonetically. It was about his meetings with egyptian officials. He was asked in this usual, quite coded language, carefully prepared wording. He said the us was still gathering information about what had happened. A reminder that Antony Blinken is in cairo because of the situation in gaza, so a lot are commenting on how this may affect those talks. Affect those talks. Because remember affect those talks. Because remember the affect those talks. Because remember The Americans l affect those talks. Because i remember The Americans see affect those talks. Because remember The Americans see the key to resolving the crisis on the Israel Lebanon Border not as military action, but instead is a break for the room as military action, but instead is a breakfor the room breakthrough. There is no talk yet, and Mr Blinken was making scant progress on that. He was asked directly about the fact that he has not made a stop in israel on his tenth visit in the region. He was asked if i had to do with tensions in the government. He said no fewer than three times that the remaining obstacle to a Cease Fire Deal in gaza was not the substance of what was being discussed. Political will from both sides. Frustration that they may have been able to bring prime Minister Netanyahu to the line and getting him over it on the Cease Fire Deal. Yes they are yet they are dealing once again. Yet they are dealing once aaain. , a,. , yet they are dealing once aaain. ,. , � ,. ,. , again. Tom bateman. Lets go to our senior again. Tom bateman. Lets go to our senior international our senior international Correspondent 0rla Guerin in beirut. The word people seem to be using is escalation and whether this is likely to make a regional conflict more likely. Whats your assessment . It certainly increases the risk it certainly increases the risk we it certainly increases the risk. We have now had attacks taking risk. We have now had attacks taking place over 24 hours. First taking place over 24 hours. First the taking place over 24 hours. First the wave of Attacks Yesterday in which pagers were blown yesterday in which pagers were blown up. Yesterday in which pagers were blown up, pagers being used by members blown up, pagers being used by members of hezbollah. Today, we had a members of hezbollah. Today, we had a second round of explosions taking place this time explosions taking place this time walkie talkies. We were actually time walkie talkies. We were actually in the Hezbollah Stronghold in South Beirut at the time stronghold in South Beirut at the time when one of those exploded. Krause has been gathering to bury victims of yesterdays glass, including an 11 year old boy. People started to run 11 year old boy. People started to run in 11 year old boy. People started to run in panic and a car went streaming to run in panic and a car went streaming through the crowds, possibly streaming through the crowds, possibly carrying somebody who had been possibly carrying somebody who had been wounded. We so many people had been wounded. We so many people looking at the sky in fear. People looking at the sky in fear, afraid there were drones overhead, fear, afraid there were drones overhead, the perhaps might target overhead, the perhaps might target them. It was here that the group was looking and feeling the group was looking and feeling vulnerable. We spoke to one young Hezbollah Member who told us one young Hezbollah Member who told us nothing like this has ever told us nothing like this has ever happened before. This is the second day in a row, we are telling the second day in a row, we are telling people to go home, to et telling people to go home, to get off telling people to go home, to get off the streets and try to stay get off the streets and try to Stay Safe. Get off the streets and try to Stay Safe Stay Safe. Israel hasnt claimed Stay Safe. Israel hasnt claimed responsibility, | Stay Safe. Israel hasnt i claimed responsibility, but Stay Safe. Israel hasnt claimed responsibility, but the defence Minister Yoav gallant said in the last hour and a statement the country is opening a new phase in the war and that Centre Of Gravity is shifting north. Some have taken this as a recognition that they were behind these attacks. It were behind these attacks. If Israel Hasnt claimed responsibility, he doesnt need to. Responsibility, he doesnt need t0~ i responsibility, he doesnt need t0~ ithink responsibility, he doesnt need to. I think there will be few if anyone to. I think there will be few if anyone in the region who doubts if anyone in the region who doubts this was the work of israet doubts this was the work of israel. They have been fighting a low israel. They have been fighting a tow War Israel. They have been fighting a low war with hezbollah since october. A low war with hezbollah since october, classed as a Terrorist Organisation by many countries. Began organisation by many countries. Began Firing Rockets across the border began Firing Rockets across the border that day. In solidarity, it said. Border that day. In solidarity, it said, with its allies, hamas and it said, with its allies, hamas and gaza it said, with its allies, hamas and gaza and the people of Gaze And Gaza and the people of gaza. Since then, this tit for Tat Exchange has taken Place Tit for Tat Exchange has taken place across the border largely targeting Military Targets on both targeting Military Targets on both sides, but there have been civilians both sides, but there have been civilians killed. There are about civilians killed. There are about 90,000 will have to leave this site about 90,000 will have to leave this site on the side of the border, this site on the side of the border, 60,000 on the other. Israel border, 60,000 on the other. Israel made it a name of the War Israel made it a name of the war to israel made it a name of the war to get the people back into their war to get the people back into their houses in the north of israel their houses in the north of israel. United states and others israel. United states and others believe the best way to achieve others believe the best way to achieve that is by negotiations, but the drumbeat has been negotiations, but the drumbeat has been getting louder and louder has been getting louder and louder from israel. The warnings about military action, the statements about the army, special the statements about the army, special teams being put in position. Some of this is obviously part of the propaganda war, but certainly what propaganda war, but certainly what we propaganda war, but certainly what we have seen Yesterday And Today what we have seen Yesterday And Today is what we have seen Yesterday And Today is that israel apparently wants today is that israel apparently wants to today is that israel apparently wants to target across the country, wants to target across the country, to hit very hard and send country, to hit very hard and send a country, to hit very hard and send a message we can find you send a message we can find you whether you are. Hezbollah has promised retaliation. Israel has promised retaliation. Israel will be expecting that. We dont know when that will, or what we dont know when that will, or what it we dont know when that will, or what it will be. But certainly, every escalation increases the tension, increases the tension, increases the tension, increases the risk that Lebanon And Israel increases the risk that Lebanon And Israel will tip into war even and israel will tip into war even if and israel will tip into war even if neither side wants that and even even if neither side wants that and even iran does not want that and even iran does not want that the and even iran does not want that. The risk is increasing everything the day i would say. International Correspondent 0rla Guerin. Still to come some Breaking News from the Federal Reserve, which has cut its Interest Rate for the first time in four years. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc as we mentioned, there has been some Breaking News in the past few minutes. In a significant move for the us economy, the Federal Reserve has cut Interest Rates for the first time in four years. Lets speak to our North America Business correspondent. Please break down this decision for us and any initial reaction. I know the news has just any initial reaction. I know the News Hasjust broken. Sarah, it was a supersized cut. Two Interest Rates and promised of another by the year end. 4. 7525 . This is the first cut in over four years. 4. 7525 . This is the first cut in overfour years. If 4. 7525 . This is the first cut in over four years. If you 4. 7525 . This is the first cut in overfour years. If you look at the Market Reaction to this initially, we did get a kneejerk reaction of stocks going higher off the back. It was seen as a dovish cut. It sees Interest Rates at 4. 4 at The End of the year and 3. 4 in 2025. The end of the year and 3. 496 in 2025. G ,. , ~ , The End of the year and 3. 496 in 2025. G ,. ~ ,. , The End of the year and 3. 496 in 2025,. ~ ,. , 2025. Just take us through the significance 2025. Just take us through the significance of 2025. Just take us through the significance of this 2025. Just take us through the significance of this particular L Significance of this particular drop, and as you say, big drop. It was a historical decision and partly because there was so much indecisiveness going into this whether we would get a 25 Basis Point Cut or a 50 Basis Point Cut. If we got the 50, there is much more sentences is usually around that. We didnt get that in that. We didnt get that in that case. The first rate cut in over four years that case. The first rate cut in overfour years bringing rate down for a 20 year high. Ricky, what does that tell us about the state of the us economy . About the state of the us economy . Well, what its suggesting economy . Well, what its suggesting is economy . Well, what its suggesting is the economy . Well, what its suggesting is the fed economy . Well, what its suggesting is the fed is l suggesting is the fed is concerned about the risk our growth to the economy. It has that dual mandate of insuring full employment whilst also keeping inflation in target. We saw inflation. Perhaps it is focusing more on Employment And Risk for slower growth. Toast rikita, thank you very much. There is a News Conference shortly. As soon as that starts, we will cross to it. Lets bring you some Money News in the uk the rate remained unchanged last month. The latest figures released this Morning Show that prices in august were 2. 2 higher. That is the same rate as it was in july. Airfares rose sharply, but that was offset by a fall in the cost of petrol, hotels and eating out. The focus, moving on to another story, the Focus Today is certainly on lebanon and i have there have been fears of a major escalation from the Gaza War. Today, the Un General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding that israel end its illegal occupation of palestine territories within a year. 124 countries voted in favour. Lets speak to our correspondent at the un, nada tawfik. Take us to the significance of this resolution. Significance of this resolution. ,. , resolution. The palestinians see this as resolution. The palestinians see this as an resolution. The palestinians see this as an historic see this as an historic resolution. Its the first one theyve ever been able to bring for themselves. Theyve ever been able to bring forthemselves. Ever theyve ever been able to bring for themselves. Ever since they were given the rights and privileges in may. But they do remain an Observer State so they couldnt put themselves in this resolution. Nevertheless, after the icj declared Israels Occupation was illegal, they wanted to move forward with the resolution. It is up to the Security Council to report this to the ifa. We know the Security Council has been paralysed certainly because of the united states, israels strongest ally. The palestinians take this resolution to the general assembly, where the resolutions are nonbinding, they do hold political weight, are nonbinding, they do hold politicalweight, given are nonbinding, they do hold political weight, given all 193 members are able to express their positions. For the palestinians, this was a major victory for them, because you had 124 nations supporting this resolution, which called for israel to end its occupation within a year, call for them to withdraw their military forces, to seize new settlements building. It also called on states to impose changes on anyone violating International Law impose sanctions. Banning importation from Israeli Settlements and seizing the transfer of arms to israel when there is grounds to believe its being used in the settlements. For palestinians, a major movement here by the international community to say that International Law has to be abided by, especially in a time where there is concern about the multilateral system and the international rules we stored are being violated. Mata stored are being violated. Nata tofa , stored are being violated. Nata tofay. Thank stored are being violated. Nata tofay, thank you. Theres consternation in the Labour Party after the bbc revealed that the top adviser Sue Gray know i will order now earns more than the Prime Minister themselves. Thats 3000 more than sir Keir Starmer. Chris mason has more. How this candlelight is absolutely crucial because it tells you rows at government how this came to light. Sue gray is a former senior Civil Servant whos been around westminster for years and years, and wrote the report into what was known as partygate. Then she left the Civil Service and went to work for the Labour Party in opposition, and is now the Chief Of Staff to the Prime Minister and downing street. Its worth reflecting how i came to know about her salary. I had a tip off three days ago spelling out that number and also spelling out a real sense of anger, notjust also spelling out a real sense of anger, not just about the number, but also in the view that she was too dominant in government. We have spent three days cooperating that initial tip off, speaking to a range of people, seeking in independent verification, which we got. We then spoke to figures in government with what we found out and they didnt dispute the central aspect of what we are reporting. The wider context is when the Prime Minister came in, he asked for a reevaluation of the Pay Balance for people doing jobs like this so called special advisers, which means some will get a Pay Rise. There some will get a Pay Rise. There some people who think this is deeply personal in terms of criticism of Sue Gray, but its myjob on criticism of Sue Gray, but its my job on this criticism of Sue Gray, but its myjob on this programme to show you what is really going on in government as much as we can find out, and thats what im trying to do tonight. That was chris im trying to do tonight. That was chris mason. Im trying to do tonight. That was chris mason. Plenty im trying to do tonight. That was chris mason. Plenty more to come after this break, so do stay with hello there, good evening. More warm sunshine around today with temperatures across the board above the seasonal average and some of the highest of those across Northern Areas of scotland. Even towards these North Sea facing coasts, despite the cloudy start, some developing, although here, its always going to be cooler and cloudier. More sunshine around with showers developing later on through the week. Heres the Pressure Chart high pressure dominating, but still a brisk wind blowing across the southern half of the uk overnight. Drawing in more moisture from the North Sea. Towards the North And West of the uk, we will see largely clear skies, the uk, we will see largely clearskies, but the uk, we will see largely clear skies, but here, the uk, we will see largely clearskies, but here, more Mist And Fog developing into tomorrow morning. It will feel chilly is here. Very mild very keep the low cloud. Chilly is. Factory. That low cloud will burn back again to these coast chilliest. It could linger for parts of Lingerfor Parts of aberdeenshire. Some of the best of the sunshine outwards the west, the highest of the temperatures across northwest scotland. Watch out for one or two showers on thursday in the southern half of england. Those will become more widespread on friday and some of them could be heavy and thundery. Temperatures a little lower and some of the best of the sunshine could be across the western scotland. The Butte Look towards the south to see cloud through liberia, producing some thundery downpours. It could turn quite wet on saturday in the showers could continue into sunday. Further north, while it may not be completely dry, its certainly drier with sunshine, butjust certainly drier with sunshine, but just cooler than certainly drier with sunshine, Butjust Cooler than it has beenin Butjust Cooler than it has been in recent days. Bye bye. This is bbc news, the headlines at least nine people are reported killed and hundreds more injured following a fresh wave of explosions across lebanon. Chaos in beirut, reports Say Walkie Talkies used by hezbollah were targeted in the latest attacks. Meanwhile, israel s Defence Minister declares the start of a new phase of the war with a focus on the Northern Front against hezbollah. In other news, a ukrainian Drone Attack is reported to have triggered an earthquake sized blast, at a russian ammunition depot. Paid more than the Prime Minister revelations that sir Keir Starmer s Chief Of Staff received a controversial Pay Rise after the election. Thereve been fresh explosions in the lebanese
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