A second day of explosions in lebanon — this time involving walkie—talkies used by hezbollah. Lebanon's health ministry says at least 20 people were killed in tuesday's walkie—talkie explosions. More than 400 others were wounded. Hezbollah, coming to bury its dead in south beirut today. Casualties of a new chapter in middle east warfare, killed not by air strikes, but by exploding pagers. Apparently, a message from mossad. Among the dead, an 11—year—old boy. But even the mourners weren't safe. Explosion. Suddenly, the sound of another blast. Chaos and panic filling the street and a rush to evacuate one of the wounded. The authorities say, this time, walkie talkies exploded, not just in beirut. Here, at a cell phone shop in the southern city of sidon. Israel is being blamed for the past 2a hours of unprecedented attacks. Sirens. Well, one more ambulance there passing by. We've been seeing them in the last half an hour or so. Also fire brigade trucks. People have been looking at the sky, worried there are drones. They're beginning to leave the area, to get off the streets. The attacks began yesterday afternoon, with explosions in food markets, in homes, in restaurants. Soon, casualties were streaming to hospitals — almost 3,000 wounded in an hour. Doctors say many lost fingers and many were blinded. 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 to 70% of the patients ended up with eviscerating or removing at least one of their eyes, and we're talking about young population, about patients in their 20s. From israel, no admission of responsibility. But the defence minister, yoav galant, says a new phase of the war is starting. Hezbollah, which is iranian—backed, has been waging war with israel since last october — the two sides trading fire across their shared border. Over the past 2a hours, over the past 2a hours, hezbollah has been shaken hezbollah has been shaken and humiliated, but it's still and humiliated, but it's still better armed than many nations. Border. Better armed than many nations. Israel, too, has plenty israel, too, has plenty of firepower, and today of firepower, and today released released this footage of its troops this footage of its troops training near the lebanese training near the lebanese border. A source told the bbc that a second division of the army has moved to the area. There are growing fears of all—out war. 0rla guerin, bbc news, beirut. The attacks have stunned people in lebanon. They are causing widespread fear. Gordon corera has been looking at this new form of technological warfare. These have been extraordinary attacks, taking communication devices people carry them around and turning them into weapons to be used against them. Today, hand—held radios, walkie—talkies, where exploding suddenly in lebanon. This was what was left of one of them. It follows yesterday afternoon, when thousands were injured by small explosions in peoples hands and pockets. This was the culprit, a pager, which can receive text messages. Pages and walkie—talkies are old school technology, but something hezbollah turned recently because it feared its mobile phones could be tracked. This map details the locations of injuries sustained in yesterday �*s attack. The vast majority in the capital beirut. But how was it done? today, washington said it didn't know. The united states did not know about, — the united states did not know about, norwas the united states did not know about, nor was it involved end, these _ about, nor was it involved end, these incidents, and we are still— these incidents, and we are still gathering the information and gathering the facts. So what do and gathering the facts. Sr what do we know? if we look and gathering the facts. Srs what do we know? if we look at the debris of this page, you can see part of a brand name here. It is called apollo. Now thatis here. It is called apollo. Now that is a company based all the way over here, in taiwan. The owners today said they had not made the pages involved, based in now bac consulting is based in budapest, the capital of hungary, and the bbc�*s nick thorpe went visit today. This is the registered _ thorpe went visit today. This is the registered address of bac— is the registered address of bac consulting here in budapest, and in fact there's very— budapest, and in fact there's very little sign that are based here — very little sign that are based here at— very little sign that are based here at all. Just a piece of paper— here at all. Just a piece of paper with their here at all. Just a piece of paperwith their name, paper with their name, alongside paperwith their name, alongside 12 other company names, _ alongside 12 other company names, behind the geraniums. Very— names, behind the geraniums. Very few— names, behind the geraniums. Very few people have been coming _ very few people have been coming in and out of this building _ coming in and out of this building all day. No one seems to know— building all day. No one seems to know anything about this company at all. So to know anything about this company at all. — company at all. So this is debfis company at all. So this is debris left _ company at all. So this is debris left from company at all. So this is debris left from a company at all. So this is debris left from a pager i company at all. So this is debris left from a pager after it exploded, so israel looks to have intercepted the supply this year of thousands of pages to hezbollah, and hid tiny amounts of high explosive inside. A signal was then sent which meant five seconds after a pager buzzed to say there was a pager buzzed to say there was a message, it blew up. Something similar may have happened with the radios today, supposedly japanese made, happened with the radios today, supposedlyjapanese made, they supposedly japanese made, they also supposedlyjapanese made, they also arrived a few months ago. But why now? one theory is that israel's spy agency mossad had in place the capability to be used in the event of an all—out conflict in neighbouring lebanon, but hezbollah became suspicious about the pages and so mossad decided it was a case of use it or lose it. Triggering first the pages and then today the radios. If that's right, then it's not quite clear whether there is a wider plan behind launching the attack. It has sown confusion and fear and inflicted many injuries but it may also spark a response. To ukraine where president zelensky has achieved what he calls a very important result in russian territory. A ukrainian drone attack on a russian ammunition depot. At least 13 people were injured. It happened in russia's eastern tver region, nearly 300 miles or more than a50 kilometres from ukraine's northern border. The military site reportedly has fuel tanks, artillery shells, ballistic missiles and explosives. 0ur ukraine correspondent james waterhouse has more from kyiv. We are talking about a military site that russia has been putting together for the best part of ten years, spending tens of millions of pounds on a military arsenal, a series of warehouses where it reportedly stored ballistic missiles, explosives and artillery, shells. So there are reasons why ukraine would want to target such an area are obvious. We have acknowledgement from sources in the country's security service, you have building evidence that significant damage has been done. You have this footage appearing online, showing incredibly powerful explosions. There is now satellite imagery showing the extent of the damage. You have officials in the area, in the russian region, which surrounds the site, announcing partial evacuations. I spoke to one former member of the security service here who said the goal of the drone attack is to frustrate russia in the medium—term, in that its missile stockpiles have taken a hit and it will have to spend money to replace that. It will have to look towards allies like iran and north korea. I don't think we will suddenly see relief on the ukrainian frontlines but it has given the military here a much—needed morale boost. President zelensky called it inspiring accuracy, and a very important result, because there is a political backdrop here. Ukraine are still waiting for the green light for permission to use western missiles on targets deep inside russia. This attack signifies ukraine doing it on its own. But it cannot do these kind of attacks all the time with drones it makes domestically. As for russia, we've heard very little from the kremlin officially but responses do not typically come in statements. We could see yet more targeted missile attacks on cities like kyiv or renewed offences on the front line. In the past hour or so we've been getting reports that kamala harris, the vice president, is due to meet president zelensky in washington next week. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Let's look at some other stories making news. A pay raise for sir keir starmer�*s top aide is sparking outrage from government insiders. Sue gray, sir keir�*s chief of staff, was given a salary of £170,000 pounds, 3,000 more than the prime minister himself and more than any cabinet minister. The royal exchange theatre in manchester has scrapped its entire five—week run of a modern retelling of shakespeare's a midsummer night's dream. The theatre says the show was cancelled due to injuries and technical dificulties. However, the manchester evening news reported that the show was cancelled after managers objected to a song with lyrics that refer to trans rights and the phrase free palestine. The decision to cancel has prompted criticism from the actors union, equity, calling to address a growing culture of censorship. Train drivers have accepted a pay deal that will see the end of more than two years of strike action in england, scotland and wales. Aslef union members accepted an offer, which included a 5% backdated pay rise, and future wage increases. The walk—outs started due to a row over pay and working conditions. You're live with bbc news. The us federal reserve cut interests rate for the first time in four years on wednesday. America's central bank lowered its key lending rate — what it charges banks to borrow — by half a percentage point, down to between 4. 75% and 5%. It comes as officials warn about rising unemployment rates, despite a growing economy. As a sign that inflation continues to cool, many analysts say the cut is bigger than anticipated. Soon borrowers across the us will feel financial relief from the lowered rates, after a two—decade high. 0ur north america business correspondent ritika gupta republicans in the us house of representatives have failed to pass a funding bill, sparking fears of partial government shutdown. With democrats united in opposition, the bill failed by a vote of 202 to 220. It is unclear what next steps republican house speaker johnson will take to avoid a partial government shutdown beginning on 0ctober1, when money for many federal agencies would be depleted. I have two politico �*s economics correspondent, victoria. Economics correspondent, victoria— economics correspondent, victoria. Let's go live to politic0's _ victoria. Let's go live to politico's economics politico's economics correspondent. fix, politico's economics correspondent. Politico's economics corresondent. . . . , correspondent. A larger than exnected _ correspondent. A larger than expected rate _ correspondent. A larger than expected rate cut, _ correspondent. A larger than expected rate cut, and correspondent. A larger than expected rate cut, and it expected rate cut, and it suggests the fed wants to be safe because the unemployment market been rising, job market weakening, and chair powell says he wished they raised rates injuly, so there also seems to be an element of making up for the fact they did not cut injuly. Making up for the fact they did not cut in july. — not cut in july. What will this mean for _ not cut in july. What will this mean for everyday _ not cut in july. What will this mean for everyday life not cut in july. What will this mean for everyday life are i not cut in july. What will this mean for everyday life are many people? mean for everyday life are many neale? mean for everyday life are many eole? people? so, the most significant _ people? so, the most significant thing people? so, the most significant thing is people? so, the most| significant thing is that people? so, the most significant thing is that rates are going down, and by that i mean they're going to continue to go down, the fed expects to continue lowering rates, so what that means is mortgage rates are going to keep coming down, credit card rates, which are going to pay, and so the households that have any kind of debt, this is going to mean some kind of relief. For companies, it means they are going to see cheaper debt, which also is a good sign for the workforce, because it means they were potentially over the next couple of years have a bit more room to retain workers or hire workers, and so this hope is that it will extend the fact that we have avoided having a recession so far. — recession so far. What's happening _ recession so far. What's happening with recession so far. What's happening with the recession so far. What's happening with the employment figures? the happening with the employment fiaures? ,. , figures? the unemployment rate has bounced _ figures? the unemployment rate has bounced around _ figures? the unemployment rate has bounced around a _ figures? the unemployment rate has bounced around a little has bounced around a little bit. Injuly itjumped from 4. 1% to 4. 3%, which freaked out the fed and a lot of commentators, but since then we've seen it tick back down to 4. 2%. So it doesn't seem like it's rising at a really alarming rate but at the same time the trend has been weakening. We have seen hirings low across sectors, so the concern is that if unemployment rises much more, that it could start to rise much faster we can start to see an uptake in lay—offs. In can start to see an uptake in layoffe— layoffs. In terms of the politics _ layoffs. In terms of the politics of _ layoffs. In terms of the politics of all _ layoffs. In terms of the politics of all this, layoffs. In terms of the politics of all this, who l layoffs. In terms of the | politics of all this, who is good for?— politics of all this, who is good for? politics of all this, who is aood for? ~ , �*, good for? well, hopefully it's aood for good for? well, hopefully it's good for everyone. _ good for? well, hopefully it's good for everyone. President | good for everyone. President trump has sort of indicated the fed might cut rates to be political. This is a little bit late in the game, and so the odds this will particularly shift people's economic sentiment is not that likely. We actually saw a pretty muted reaction in the stock market, which would have been one of the biggest boosts your expectancy for the democrats, and so really the application politically is hopefully that whoever the next president is that they will inherit an economy that is seeing lower inflation and not as much unemployment. I was the right bigger than many were expecting? rate cuts. It was a tossup going into this meeting and i think it isjust that the fed doesn't want to be behind the curve here. They wanted to. . . They saw there was a bigger risk in going slower than in going faster because rates are restrictive right now, they are cutting into economic growth in the fed know they want to cut rates significantly before we get to a neutral level where rates are not either restricting or boosting the economy, and so because they have so much room to go, they felt like they could go faster. To go, they felt like they could go faster. Wait to get our could go faster. Wait to get your thoughts, _ could go faster. Wait to get your thoughts, victoria. Could go faster. Wait to get i your thoughts, victoria. Thank your thoughts, victoria. Thank you so much. —— great to get your thoughts. One of america's largest labour unions is not endorsing a candidate for us president. It's the first time that the teamsters union, which represents 1. 3 million members, declined to endorse a democratic ticket in nearly 30 years. The teamsters said in a statement that the union's extensive member polling showed no majority support for vice president harris and no universal support among the membership for president trump. Responding to the teamsters' decision, kamala harris�*s campaign highlighted her support of union workers — citing the former prosecutor's long record of support for organised labour. He took the stage following another assassination attempt on his life on sunday. A new poll of likely voters by quinnipiac university shows harris leading trump in three critical key swing states by a small margin. For more on qunnipiac university's polling of likely voters in three key swing states, i spoke to the university's polling analyst, tim malloy. Tim, before we do delve into the particulars of the individual battleground states, give us the big picture. We are 48 days until the election and what we did is we went to the swing state voters, seven or eight states that are critical. That is what this was about, a national poll over five days taken right after the debate, and it was some startlingly good information for kamala harris. Again, a snapshot in time and anything can change but this particular week she is off and running. Is is that the debate that made the difference, do you think? i wouldn't be surprised. We did not ask that question, but i think the debate was clearly a win for her despite what the trump people are saying. Herforward momentum has continued. She has been picking up points and crowding in on his key issues and starting to eclipse him almost. When you say key issues, do you mean the economy and immigration? yeah, economy and the immigration are the two strongest suits that the trump people believe they have, and what has happened here is that she was well behind in previous polling, but now she is a point or two behind him on that and that is basically a tie, a statistical tie given the margin of error. So that would be a red flag for the trump people. There key issues, their cudgel is less fearsome. There's little daylight when you start looking at that data when it comes to those issues. Can we delve into some of the states? firstly, pennsylvania, you can really see from the data there that voters seem to be warming to be warming to kamala harris. She is up five points and pennsylvania. Probably the most critical state of all. Still, that is very good and it is always up for grabs and this time it seems she has the upper hand, but they will both be spending a heck of a lot of time in pennsylvania over the next few days. It is critical, there are so many electoral college points. 44 between the quayside. These are the key states. —— the key states. And what is going on, that you found interesting in michigan? it is to do with the gender differences there isn't it? gender differences are a chasm in all three states as well as the national polls. 20 percentage swing women for kamala harris against donald trump. He does much better with men in the 1617 points ahead of her, but you can see that ground swell building now. And that is the big back story on this. And that leads to abortion and a lot of other things. And in terms of wisconsin, it went biden's way by a tiny margin, what is happening there? wisconsin is the closest one. It is the closest one. They have been there a lot. Both trump and kamala harris have been in wisconsin a lot. It is an interesting state with a lot of colleges and young people, it turns bl