welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm live from singapore. monica miller. the headlines. president putin blames ukraine's intelligence services for saturday's crimean bridge explosion. translation: there is no doubt that this | is an act of terrorism. and they are destroying russia's critically important civilian infrastructure and it was devised, taiwan prepares to celebrate its international day in the shadow of the threats from china. �* , ., , shadow of the threats from china. �*, ., , ., ., �*, china. it's not 'ust taiwan's democracy — china. it's notjust taiwan's democracy that _ china. it's notjust taiwan's democracy that is - china. it's not just taiwan's i democracy that is threatened china. it's not just taiwan's - democracy that is threatened by she xijinping. it's democracy that is threatened by she xi jinping. it's all of the rights and freedoms that people enjoy here, their whole way of life. �* , . . enjoy here, their whole way of life. , . ., ., ., ,

life. australian authorities warn peeple _ life. australian authorities warn people without - life. australian authoritiesi warn people without rising floodwaters after days of rain in new south wales. and we catch up with the crowd who turned up at london's trafalgar square to the if»; %* ez�*z'fléz $5; "’ ' " of president vladimir putin said saturday can be no doubt to the occupied crimean peninsula was conceived and carried out by ukraine's intelligence services. he called it an act of terror. meanwhile rescue teams in the ukrainian city of zephyr region has been searching person fibres in the

ruins of residential buildings that were destroyed by russian missile strikes overnight. paul adams read reports from the ukrainian capital kyiv. this is what escalation looks like. a gaping hole where once there were homes. rescue workers searching for the dead and the living. moments after the blast in the middle of the night stunned, furious reactions. they destroyed a building at night, at two a:m., he says. they simply destroyed a multistory building. we they simply destroyed a multistory building. we ran out into the street, _ multistory building. we ran out into the street, when _ multistory building. we ran out into the street, when we - multistory building. we ran out into the street, when we left i into the street, when we left the court or a neighbour ran out with her elder son and screamed at her husband was dead. in the whole wall was turn out. their apartment fell into ours. turn out. their apartment fell into cum-— into ours. this was a civilian area, into ours. this was a civilian area. not — into ours. this was a civilian area. not a _ into ours. this was a civilian area, not a military - into ours. this was a civilian area, not a military target. l area, not a military target. volunteers help to clear the rubble. local officials say

scores of people were wounded. this industrial southern city is used to being hit but it civilians are now bearing the brunt of russia's anger, more than 60 killed in and around the city in the past nine days. 0fficials the city in the past nine days. officials say 12 missiles were fired from russian warplanes flying safely over nearby occupied territory. hearing kyiv president zelensky said these were merciless strikes on peaceful people. this he said was absolute evil perpetrated by savages and terrorists. it all came less than 2a hours after yesterday's dramatic attack on a key bridge linking russia with the crimean peninsula. russia said this was the result of a truck bomb. 0thers spoke of in audacious act of ukrainian sabotage. tonight vladimir putin directly at cures two accused kyiv. translation: there is no doubt that this is an act of terrorism. aimed at destroying russia's critically important

infrastructure and this was devised, carried out and ordered by the ukrainian special services.- ordered by the ukrainian special services. some road traffic has — special services. some road traffic has resumed - special services. some road traffic has resumed the - traffic has resumed the physical damage can be repaired. this was a profound psychological blow for bosco. up psychological blow for bosco. up above work on the ravaged railway bridge goes on. russia says freight and passenger services have resumed. this bridge is vital to moscow's war effort and it cannot afford to lose it. paul adams, effort and it cannot afford to lose it. pauladams, bbc effort and it cannot afford to lose it. paul adams, bbc news, kyiv. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg has more on what president putin has been saying. the fact that we saw putin on a sunday evening, that's interesting, that's unusual, that's important. it suggests i think the kremlin wants to show that president putin is in control of the situation and he takes this attack seriously. how is he going

to respond to it? let's look at what he said, he called this an act of terror. i wonder whether he's now going to reframe what he calls at the moment, the special military operation into in anti—terrorist operation. there's been a lot of speculation about that in the russian press in recent days. it's unclear though what difference that would make for that we may get some clues about how he's going to tomorrow because vladimir putin will be chairing a meeting of the powerful russian security council, although not everything that said at these meetings is made public. but obviously, this is a tense moment reflected by the fact that russian state television tonight said that the world had frozen on the threshold of nuclear armageddon. but interestingly, other pro—kremlin tv channels were trying to play down the attack on the bridge. one of them said tonight, "the attackers had planned damage on a massive scale but they failed because the bridge is still standing. and later in the programme we'll have a report from the front line close to the liberated city of lyman — as ukrainian forces become increasingly confident

about the progress they are making in driving by russian forces. monday is "national day" in taiwan when — despite recent threats and intimidation from china — the island will celebrate its democratic political system and open society. it comes as recent opinion polls suggest a greater number of people than ever now identify as taiwanese and want the country to remain separate from china. in response, beijing is not just threatening war — it's waging an economic conflict and recently banned the import of some 2,000 taiwanese products. 0ur correspondent rupert wingfield hayes sent this report from taiwan. it may not look like it, but these ponds in southern taiwan are filled with gold. the huge fish thrashing around in su gou—zhen�*s ponds are called grouper.

0n the tables of beijing and shanghai, each one can fetch up to 2,000 us dollars. 80% of taiwan's grouper used to go to china. now it's zero. beijing's import bans are hitting taiwan where it hurts the most. so, is it working? 0lderfishermen like me are nervous, he says, but the younger generation, they're not worried. they think, fine, if china doesn't want to buy our fish, we'll sell to other markets all over the world. china isn'tjust threatening taiwan's economy. since august, it's made repeated threats to take the island by force, test firing dozens of missiles across the taiwan strait. but if taiwan people are scared, they're not showing much sign of it. it's election season here, and at nightly rallies, candidates are on stage appealing to voters. unlike in china, people here get to choose who rules them.

and they're not about to give that up. taiwan is justifiably proud of its democracy. there is nothing like this anywhere else in the chinese—speaking world. but it's notjust taiwan's democracy that is threatened by xijinping. it's all of the rights and freedoms that people enjoy here, their whole way of life. at their home in the south of taipei, mota and sitti are playing with their two—year—old daughter. in 2019, taiwan became the first country in asia to legalise same sex marriage. sitti is now expecting baby number two. being homosexual was something you had to hide, says mota. but things have changed now. we're out in the open and the government has accepted and recognised us. for couples like this, the stakes couldn't be higher. sitti says if china wants taiwan, it will have to invade. and if that happens, people like them will have no choice but to leave.

rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in taipei. let's ta ke let's take a look at some of the stories making headlines. north korea says recent missile test were part of a tactical nuclear drill. two ballistic missiles were fired in the direction of the sea of japan flying around 350 km. they launch came after the end of joint military exercises between the united states and south korea. nigeria's president has ordered a review of safety measures on the countries waterways after a boat capsized among heavy flooding in the iran state on friday. at least 76 people are confirmed to have died in the accident pulled up most of them were women and children trying to escape rising waters. 0fficials to escape rising waters. officials say the boat suffered from engine failure and hit a

bridge. us broadcaster cnn has apologised forfilming bridge. us broadcaster cnn has apologised for filming inside a tight nursery which was a scene of a mass killing on thursday. a reporter and cameraman from cnn had had their visas revoked but face further charges put up a spokesperson for the broadcaster said it read credit causing offence and admitted the film crew did not have the proper permission to enter the crime scene. emergency services in pakistan have put out a large fire that broke out in a mall in the capital of islamabad. the fire spread rapidly up the building to hotels and apartments above. everyone was evacuated safely. pakistan's prime minister has ordered an investigation. austria is presidential election the incumbent vanderbilt —— vander ballin, rather, the former leader of the greens is one a second term in office avoiding a runoff with most of the votes counted

projected results show him with 55% of the vote giving him a decisive victory. the presidential post in austria is largely ceremonial. still to come a bit later in the programme. but first, to australia now and the authorities in new south wales continue to warn people about rising waters as days of rain and much of the most popular states of swollen rivers and cause flooding. for more on this i am joined by abc news australia reporter who is in new south wales covering the flood. thank you forjoining us on the programme. australia's east coast is no stranger to flooding. what have we seen on a scale so far, is it worse than the floods you've experienced earlier in the year? experienced earlier in the ear? �* , , , year? absolutely. this is comparative _ year? absolutely. this is comparative to - year? absolutely. this is comparative to the - year? absolutely. this is comparative to the 2010 | year? absolutely. this is - comparative to the 2010 floods,

which the floods and new egg cells wells that's been building for almost a year. the local ses who are tasked with trying to help with these type of rescue efforts, they have beenin of rescue efforts, they have been in flood operation since november of last year. that's because australia has just entered its third consecutive el nino and it's been an incredible amounts of water. fortunately dams have been used to hold back water and release it down rivers at times when it can handle it without causing the communities that live alongside these rivers to be inundated. but it'sjust alongside these rivers to be inundated. but it's just been a situation where the rain has continued rated do not continue to soar. it's more than the countries i can deal with. it is completely saturated. they are was huge rainfall, even the tiniest amounts is translating into huge flooding. so a large flash flooding events also occurred on top of those river

rises. it is caused flooding right across to him in new south wales but also along the east coast which hasn't been impacted like that. that's flash flooding from the situation that is just popped up situation that is just popped up with the rainfall. situation that isjust popped up with the rainfall. emergency services have _ up with the rainfall. emergency services have just _ up with the rainfall. emergency services have just been - services have just been inundated with requests for assistance. how are they handling the situation? they laruel handling the situation? they largely rely _ handling the situation? they largely rely on _ handling the situation? they largely rely on volunteers. i largely rely on volunteers. it's been a very difficult situation and they are calling in the defence force, helicopters to try and help. there are farmers that have been isolated for more than a month now. it's a very sad situation for them because first they live through the draw. this landscape less than three years ago was completely parts. these dams that are now in many cases spelling or completely full, they were empty less than three years ago. people had lived through the worst drought in memory in australia three years ago and

they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to keep their stock alive. less than three years later they are dealing with flood waters. they are flooded in their homes, they put their stock to the highest ground possible, where there is been livestock losses already. there is a warning that the situation could continue untiljanuary. there continue until january. there is continue untiljanuary. there is more rain to come later on this week and is quite a daunting prospect given just how much there is already been. the difficulty with floods is obviously the pace, the wait—and—see. people who have done everything they can but now there is just water coming. there is nothing more they can do. ses has been helping, there been drops to stop but also resource drops to people who have been stuck in their homes without very, very difficult situation.— situation. abc news in australia, _ situation. abc news in australia, thank - situation. abc news in australia, thank you i situation. abc news in | australia, thank you for situation. abc news in - australia, thank you for that update. the venezuelan government says 22 people have been killed in recent torrential rains.

the figure comes after six more people were killed by landslides on sunday. 52 people are missing in one of the worst affected areas, las tehereeas. venezuala's vice president has been visiting the area. the el pato river, south of caracas, burst its banks and floodwaters swept away several houses and shops. a thousand emergency personnel are taking part in search and rescue operations. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... celebrating the festival of lights — we catch up with the crowds who turned up at london's trafalgar square to celebrate diwali. parts of san francisco least affected by the earthquake are returning to life. but in the marina area where most of the damage

was done, they are more conscious than ever of how much has been destroyed. in the 19 years since he was last year here, he's gone from being a little known revolutionary to an experience in successful diplomatic operator. it was a £20 bomb which exploded on the fifth floor of the grand hotel ripping a hole in front of the building. this governmentl will not weekend, this government will not weaken, i democracy will prevail. it fills me with humility and gratitude to know that i have been chosen as the recipient of this for most honor. this catholic nation held its breath for the man they called the 33. and then... bells tolled nationwide to announce the first rescue in chile let out in almighty roar. this is newsday on the bbc.

0ur headlines. president putin blames ukraine's intelligence services for saturday's crimean bridge explosion — calling it an act of terror. authorities in australia have warned about rising floodwaters after days of rain in new south wales. after days of rain in new south wales. more on ukraine and kyiv says moscow is targetting civilian areas because its forces are unable to respond on the battlefield. in recent weeks, ukraine has managed to regain some territory in the south and east, including the strategically important town of lyman. 0ur defence correspondent jonathan beale reports from close to the front line. distant explosion. ukraine's still advancing, still hunting down russian positions. here, using a drone

to spot them. ukraine's retaken another dozen miles of territory over the past week here in the east. but the retreating russians are still putting up a fight. it's quite intense, the fighting here. yeah, yeah, yeah. it's, uh. it's russian artillery work now. russian guns haven't been silenced, but this barrage seems indiscriminate. the troops say, unlike theirs. they also see a huge difference in morale. in ukraine, we name their army, it's meat — only meat because they don't save their people. do you think they're capable of retaking any of this territory you've liberated? i'm sure that cannot. why are you sure?

because they are weak. they're weak now. they're scared about us. you feel safe? yeah, ifeel safe because i'm on my land, so even the ground will help me. this is the same ground president putin recently declared forever russia. but all that's been left by russia is trash. this was a russian position, and you can see just the rubbish strewn around — rations. there's even a russian cap here. there's something for artillery shells there, just strewn across the area. and the ukrainian forces say that's what makes them such an easy target, because they can see this rubbish when they're flying the drones and spot the russian positions, making it easier for them to attack. want to see russian helmet? it's from the future. that's a russian helmet?

yeah. what's the difference? but very bad future! they laugh. of a depleted russian army. ukraine's now captured more russian armour than they've been supplied by the west. dozens more vehicles lie wrecked, rusting, destroyed. along with discarded ammunition, the donbas is also littered with lethal mines. but liberation comes with a costly legacy. bombed out homes and ruined infrastructure, downed bridges, stations without trains, and the remnants of a population nowjust trying to survive. the people of lyman, those who stayed behind, have now gone through invasion

and liberation — and constant bombardment. now they don't even have the basics — food, electricity and water. this isjust a queue for bread, and there's not enough to go around. winter is coming, and life isn't going to get any easier. katarina worries for her children's future. but more than that, she still fears what russia might do next. translation: they have a lot of i power, which is why it is scary l that they might return. because the city has already suffered very badly, and if the city will be passed back and forth from hand to hand, then nothing will remain, including people. i no longer know who to believe or not to believe. wejust want silence, peace, peace and electricity, at least. help is slowly coming.

here, a couple of volunteers are spraying over the pro—russian graffiti, but it'll take much more to erase the recent past. and russia is still at their doorstep. jonathan beale, bbc news, lyman. we bbc news, lyman. will turn to iran where protest we will turn to iran where protest by the death of a young woman in police custody are continuing across the country and defiance of cans of violent crackdown by security forces with iranian human rights group based in norway says 185 people have been killed since the unrest began more than three weeks ago. the authorities say at least 20 members of the security forces have died our correspondent has been monitoring events close to the iran, iraq border.— iran, iraq border. they are to their fourth _ iran, iraq border. they are to their fourth week _ iran, iraq border. they are to their fourth week now - iran, iraq border. they are to their fourth week now we - iran, iraq border. they are to | their fourth week now we saw yesterday one of the most significant day so far because geographically these protests really are spreading. were also seeing a new demographic getting involved as well.

they've been very much driven ljy they've been very much driven by young women like the 22—year—old who died in police custody. in schools and universities have been at the forefront of the protest for that what we saw yesterday was bizarre holders in iran actually closing their shops and support. you can really see the size of these protests i've been talking on the border to some iranians who are on their way out of the country of course those testimonies are so hard to get, so hard to hear because of the situation in the country. they were telling me that they came from one of the cities that's our protest yesterday, they believe that ten people were killed in that protest. and they said their lies at the moment are absolutely intolerable under the iranian regime. they said it's more thanjust the iranian regime. they said it's more than just the head job it's about corruption and the fact that they are scared to go onto the street because they fear they could be picked up they fear they could be picked up and killed by a radiant intelligence. what they are

hoping is that these protests spark sub —— iranian intelligence so that they want the international community to speed that along because they believe it might not happen within iran based on these protests alone. crowds descended on london's trafalgar square on sunday to celebrate the hindu, sikh and jain festival of diwali. it's the first time since the pandemic that the celebration has been allowed to take place in person. we spoke to some of those celebrating the festival of light. celebrating diwali. many are here in london for the very first time. i've come here from india, and i love the atmosphere here. it reminds me of home. you just get a sense of home and the culture and the food, just to be around this many people. so ijust have a really nice feeling inside. a big part of today's festivities is celebrating with traditional food, and what's being served has proven popular with many.

this is my first time and i'm basically here for food only! and i'm loving that the whole of india and pakistan is together on this platform. i really love, enjoy, like, enjoying this weather, and this beautiful music, and the food, of course. this is the latest free festival here in a busy calendar of events paid for by city hall. it's clear people are enjoying the music, the atmosphere, the food and the sunshine, but is this value for money at a time when budgets are being squeezed and people are feeling the pinch? it means that people can, forfree, celebrate the these important events. it's part of the glue that binds our city together. but a small sum of money from city hall goes towards creating wealth and prosperity for small businesses, but also think about the restaurants, the bars, the hotels is benefiting from

namaste. bye for now. sunday was a tale of two halves weather—wise for the night hours of sunshine in southern and eastern areas but heavy rain and strong winds in northern ireland and scotland. places had another one of so of rain adding to what has been a very wet first week of october. in fact, that's not far away, about three quarters of the a rich 0ctober rainfall that rainfall still heading southwards. it will drag its heels before dragging southern and eastern areas with that much milder overnight, a bit of missed units i had. chilly at the at the end the night further north and still windy. those wins buffeting the northern isles in far north of scotland in particular,

that rain giving a lot of spray and sealing waters as it continues his journey southward and eastward, particularly on the faster roots. once it clears away a day of sunny spells and showers for the much brighter for scotland and northern ireland. still quite a rash of showers in the north and west but not that many reaching the east of the grandparents or through the central eastern part of northern ireland. not that money at all across england or wales with the temperatures will be a degree or two down because of the winds coming from the northwest with the windfalls a little lighter as we go through monday we may pick a little bit more cloud up towards the north and west. it struck at a stop at temperatures falling much for them it looks like a chilly night. quite widely a touch of grass for us, close to freezing in some rural parts of england and wales and with a ridge of high pressure overhead as well there is more light at this time of year without that strength in the sunshine they can linger till mid morning and because hazard on the road. dry and bright where the company was a champ,

more cloud in the sky from northern scotland drizzly rain coming in later in the day, it particular to the north or west. that takes shape through the night tuesday and into wednesday for that law for england and wales and again, a few issues with mist and fog, quite chilly and rural parts. much milder with the cloud and rain further north, which will then meander its way southwards during the day on wednesday to most areas with up we look towards the atlantic, some uncertainty as to where this next batch of wind and rain is going to go but it looks like something arius could see significant rain. some strong winds, even gales and more rain for the northern half of the country on friday. it looks more unsettled later for midweek on, really.

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