his brother infiltrated by israeli intelligence. the exploding pagers have injured thousands across lebanon. another escalation that puts the middle east on red alert. how did they do it, what are the implications? we will bring you some expert analysis. also tonight, the vortex in american politics. where is this cycle of violence taking us and who is to blame? we will speak to robert right the former us labour secretary. and home from work, or work from home. how does britain get the best out of its workforce? good evening. it may have taken you a few minutes, to comprehend the news coming out of lebanon this afternoon. his brotherfighters

hezbollah fighters targeted by exploding pagers. there aren't many parts of the world where pagers are still a thing. but a few months ago the his brother leader hassan nasrallah called on his fighters, those on the front lines, to stop using smartphones because israel he said had the technology to infiltrate the signal. but it seems israel also had access to the company manufacturing the pagers, or some part of the supply line. each was fitted with a small amount of explosive, that was somehow triggered by a signal israel controlled. unwittingly his brother have done israel's bidding. handing out pagers to loyalists who for weeks would be carrying them on their person. until today when simultaneously they exploded. almost 3000 people have been wounded. including many who were standing near the target. a little girl is said to be among the dead. leavens to be among the dead. health minister said the leavens health minister said the explosion was a major escalation in the region. we're

seeinu escalation in the region. we're seeing among _ escalation in the region. we're seeing among dems _ escalation in the region. we're seeing among dems are - escalation in the region. we're seeing among dems are old i escalation in the region. we're seeing among dems are old or people who are very young like the child that unfortunately died. there are some ——. this died. there are some --. this 2024 and _ died. there are some --. this 2024 and pages _ died. there are some --. this 2024 and pages are _ died. there are some --. this 2024 and pages are old - 2024 and pages are old technology for that we're told that his brother uses them because they are most secure for them to other people in lebanon use pagers?- for them to other people in lebanon use pagers? they are still in hospitals _ lebanon use pagers? they are still in hospitals with - lebanon use pagers? they are still in hospitals with up - lebanon use pagers? they are still in hospitals with up some | still in hospitals with up some of the hospital personnel who use pagers. we cannot comment more on the subject because this is not... from health secretary we're very much interested in. it secretary we're very much interested in.— interested in. it is a ma'or security d interested in. it is a ma'or security breach i interested in. it is a ma'or security breach for i interested in. it is a major security breach for your i security breach for your country, isn't it? i security breach for your country, isn't it? i think it's a major _ country, isn't it? i think it's a major escalation. - country, isn't it? i think it's a major escalation. at - country, isn't it? i think it's a major escalation. at the i country, isn't it? ithink it's- a major escalation. at the time everybody was hoping that things are moving towards a cessation of hostilities or some kind of a cease fire. this is clearly a move in the

opposite direction. who do you blame for _ opposite direction. who do you blame for what _ opposite direction. who do you blame for what happened? - opposite direction. who do you blame for what happened? i i blame for what happened? i think the obvious culprit has to be the israelis. i think the security people will have more to say on this issue. it security people will have more to say on this issue.— to say on this issue. if that is true. — to say on this issue. if that is true, how _ to say on this issue. if that is true, how worried - to say on this issue. if that is true, how worried are i to say on this issue. if that l is true, how worried are you about escalation along lebanon southern border with israel with all the casual that might entail? ~ ., , . ., entail? we in the health sector have been _ entail? we in the health sector have been quite _ entail? we in the health sector have been quite worried i entail? we in the health sector have been quite worried since l have been quite worried since day one. that is why we have been holding these drills in preparation for the health sector and preparing for mass casualties that unfortunately we experience today. lebanon is as everybody knows passing through multiple crisis including financial. the ability of the health care sector to bear more stresses is quite concerning. that is why i

really hope that a solution to a de—escalation, a cease fire would be the option that hopefully can lead us out of this mess that we're into. hopefully can lead us out of this mess that we're into. let's go tojerusalem and our correspondent daniel de simone. what has the response been from the israeli side and why now? there's been no response from israel authorities at all. there's been no comment. the context for this is that overnight there was in israeli security cabinet that made the return of israeli citizens in the north to their homes. 0ne the north to their homes. one of the four core war goals in this war that started last october for that it's the only one of the four goals to relate to the north of israel and not to the north of israel and not to relate to gaza or hamas. there's been an ongoing debate in israel about this conflict with his brother at started a year ago, the day after the

october seven attacks. what 0ctober seven attacks. what happened in that period is there's been daily cross—border attacks from his brother into israel and israel carrying out air strikes and other things in lebanon. that means thousands of people on the border have had to leave their homes and they been displaced. within israel there's been a debate on what should happen. there's been some arguing for a military operation that would lead to a buffer zone in southern lebanon that would degrade my current�*s capabilities and ability to strike in israel. that's the context for that there's been fears of escalation for that but certainly what his brother said today they regard this as an escalation from israel. what about security _ an escalation from israel. what about security tonight? - an escalation from israel. what about security tonight? after . about security tonight? after the assassination of a few weeks ago security was stepped up weeks ago security was stepped up in israel for that holiday

responded tonight? we haven't heard anything _ responded tonight? we haven't heard anything quite _ responded tonight? we haven't heard anything quite yet. i responded tonight? we haven't heard anything quite yet. there is clearly going to be a concern about what happens next. his brother have said that israel will pay a price for what has happened. although there's been a conflict that's lasted a year that involves thousands of cross—border attacks i think it's fair to say both sides have not been operating at full capacity. it's really a war but an undeclared war. i think the fear is that if they both go full capacity and go into a full capacity and go into a full war we just full capacity and go into a full war wejust don't full capacity and go into a full war we just don't know what's going to happen. and everyone have certainly been regarded as a more powerful military force than hamas. it is trained by iran was of its thought to have better military capabilities. if there is an escalation and relate there is fear about what could happen next. certainly the united states has been quite clear in a statement released yesterday

by the defence secretary of the united states warning against in escalation and the devastating consequences of people in israel and lebanon of such an escalation.— such an escalation. daniel, thank you _ such an escalation. daniel, thank you very _ such an escalation. daniel, thank you very much i such an escalation. daniel, thank you very much for i such an escalation. daniel, i thank you very much for that. with me is security correspondent frank gardner. they have a well burnished reputation for targeting their enemies overseas. i can't think of anything on this scale. it seems to be unprecedented in the way they've gone about this. , �* , the way they've gone about this. , �*, , . this. yes, it's unprecedented in scale as — this. yes, it's unprecedented in scale as you _ this. yes, it's unprecedented in scale as you say _ this. yes, it's unprecedented in scale as you say but i this. yes, it's unprecedented in scale as you say but not i this. yes, it's unprecedented in scale as you say but not a | in scale as you say but not a method. there is a president for this, which was back in january 1996 when sinn with the domestic intelligent agency or mis, domestic intelligent agency or m15, they targeted an engineer, he was a hamas bomb maker. they

got inside his mobile phone, they were able to sabotage that with about 50 grams of high explosives, enough to kill him. in this particular case, this mass sabotage of thousands of his brother pagers. pagers by the way, most of us... these are almost belong in a kind of museum. their 20th—century technology but they are one—way of response communicators where they receive a message but said went out. his brother ordered them for their members because it was thought that as low—tech that it would be much safer, they can be interfered with by tbs and israel wouldn't be able to track their members. but these pagers appear to have been tampered and inserted with somewhere between ten to 20 grams of military high—grade,

probably hmx or something like that disguise as an electrical component. so somebody got into the supply chain and was able to sabotage these on a massive scale. it is a severe intelligence blow to his brother and iran.- intelligence blow to his brother and iran. ., , ., brother and iran. not 'ust that the 've brother and iran. not 'ust that they've intercepted i brother and iran. not just that they've intercepted but - brother and iran. not just that they've intercepted but then l they've intercepted but then there is a signal presumably thatis there is a signal presumably that is sent to all the devices simultaneously. you're talking about a complex multi agency operation. i about a complex multi agency operation-— operation. i don't think there is multi agency _ operation. i don't think there is multi agency but _ operation. i don't think there is multi agency but yes, i is multi agency but yes, whoever did this needed to things, they needed very good timely intelligence on what shipment was coming, order by whom, where was going on but when was the best possibility, when was the best possibility, when was the best possibility, when was at most vulnerable in that supply chain to intercepted and they needed the technical capability to do this. on top of that you need the logistical capability to source that military grade high explosive. this is not something that could be done by

an amateur actor. even if we're talking about two or three phones, it's a professional job. which is why... no doubt it was israel behind us. the sianal, it was israel behind us. the signal, would _ it was israel behind us. the signal, would that - it was israel behind us. the signal, would that be i it was israel behind us. the signal, would that be the mobile phone operator or a signal that israel would've controlled themselves? that i don't know- — controlled themselves? that i don't know. what _ controlled themselves? that i don't know. what i _ controlled themselves? that i don't know. what i am - controlled themselves? that i don't know. what i am told i controlled themselves? that i j don't know. what i am told by experts in this field, it's a murky field all of the stuff but what i'm told by people in this area is it would have taken what's called in alphanumeric signal message put in a text message sent to all these mobile phones which armed these mobile phones which armed the militia bomb inside it. the next two touch it would have triggered it. which is why it's not quite accurate to say they went off simultaneously. they all went off within a saw two small time frame of each other. but there was some time lag

because not everybody immediately responded to that alphanumeric text message. right. you talked about the psychological blow to his brother and iran. specifically, let's talk about iran. assassinated in the heart of tehran by a bump that it been supposedly hidden there for some time. if you suppose that most of the things that is applied, via iran then fair are going to be big questions tonight for the iranians, aren't there?— tonight for the iranians, aren't there? yes. it's very clear that _ aren't there? yes. it's very clear that both _ aren't there? yes. it's very clear that both his - aren't there? yes. it's very clear that both his brother| aren't there? yes. it's very i clear that both his brother and iran, the entire islamic republic security apparatus are penetrated to some extent by the agents of their enemies. there is no question about it. july the 30th, the air strike, the assassination which israel

did claim response ability for in southern suburb of beirut. they knew exactly where he was going and when. so they got informants for whatever reason, people recruited either by blackmail of my money. i'm sure israel would probably deny that there are various reasons why people do these jobs. 0r there are various reasons why people do these jobs. or it could even of been israelis had operatives themselves. then of course the severe embarrassment a day later for i course the severe embarrassment a day laterfor i run course the severe embarrassment a day later for i run that they are guests, the leader of the political wing of hamas was there at the inauguration of there at the inauguration of the new president he is killed in a guest house the heart of tehran. extremely embarrassing for them. tehran. extremely embarrassing forthem. if tehran. extremely embarrassing for them. if you go further backin for them. if you go further back in recent years, look at the assassinations of a number of iranian nuclear physicist, nuclear scientists who were

suspected of being involved in a military programme to possibly work toward some kind of military nuclear capability that iran is suspected of having, which iran denies with the clearly there is an ongoing israeli operation in those countries, whether it was them who did this or not.— who did this or not. fred, thank you _ who did this or not. fred, thank you for _ who did this or not. fred, thank you for that. i makram rabah — is assistant professor of history with the american university of beirut. thank you for being with us. i want to get some impression to you how widescale this was without one of the videos that are bbc verified team is looking at comes from inside the hospitalfor that looking at comes from inside the hospital for that use the injured and dead people in corridors and doorways, doctors squeeze and pass to treat them. we're talking about an attack that has affected hundreds and hundreds of people here. the massive scale _ hundreds of people here. the massive scale of— hundreds of people here. tue:

massive scale of this attack has descended all across lebanon, to adjacent syria. anywhere that these pictures could actually be connected to the his brother network this attack for the up and while many of these injuries happen in southern peru where it has the last stronghold is they had to go outside its own safety zone to dispatch many of these injured hospitals this attack has proven contrary to what they claim their so—called health care sector is not really geared towards such a massive attack. not really geared towards such a massive attack. but imagine many people had to go and donate blood certainly anyone who is in possession of this pager, which belongs to the 20th century was targeted. there injuries were less fatal for some but many of these people have been mutilated. and many could lose their lives or limbs.— their lives or limbs. looking at these _ their lives or limbs. looking at these statements - their lives or limbs. looking at these statements and i, l their lives or limbs. looking i at these statements and i, the group clearly considers us an

escalation. what happens next is less clear. the ones that i would point out is if you are going to take on the might of the israeli defense forces need some means of communication. they can't use smartphones. they can't use smartphones. they don't have pagers. how do you do that with no communication? ~ ,, you do that with no communication? �* ,, ., communication? assuming that his brother— communication? assuming that his brother does _ communication? assuming that his brother does want _ communication? assuming that his brother does want to - communication? assuming that his brother does want to take . his brother does want to take israel on, the lassie has confirmed that everyone in lebanon knows that iranian proxy militias are not there to really fight israel but rather to be a kind of forward position to protect iran's interest. in the manner, despite the fact that many people claim that his brother have the technology to actually harm or destroy israel, they use low—tech and even an inability to use smart technology has proven they are actually the consumers of technology. they are the manufacture of security for that if his brother or iran

decide to use it is no longer a confrontation of haslett and israel, as a confrontation between international community and nato and states and iran directly. and nato and states and iran directl . �* , ., ., directly. are you there for suggesting. _ directly. are you there for suggesting. if— directly. are you there for suggesting, if you're i directly. are you there for. suggesting, if you're reading it right, there's many people in lebanon who will now question the purpose of taking on israel in the international setting? do you think psychologically people with justice is a war and obviously by default and has black cannot win? �* , ., ., ., win? it's not a fight that should take _ win? it's not a fight that should take place i win? it's not a fight that l should take place because win? it's not a fight that i should take place because his brother have claimed this so called war of support for palestinians and the people of gaza. as you see the entirety of the so—called arabian has not contributed positive in helping to follow palestinians with a at the end of the day his brother has proven it is all talk and no play. and his

brother and iran has lost face in a way through the suspension or what happened today which is similar to a hollywood movie. all over the streets of beirut. makram rabah, good to talk to you. thank you for coming on the programme. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's take a look at some of the other stories in the headlines. the social media app, instagram has announced a boost in privacy and parental controls, including an automatically restricted account for 13 to 16—year—olds. companies are under pressure to improve the safety of their apps with some countries believed to be considering an all out ban for younger people. the changes will affect teens in the uk, us, canada and australia. the liberal democrat leader, sir ed davey, has told his party's conference he will offer a positive alternative to the labour governments doom and gloom. he also urged the prime minister to take action to prevent a winter crisis in the nhs. the party is celebrating the election of 72 mps injuly�*s election,

a record number. the commonwealth games is returning to glasgow in 2026. the scottish government has agreed to stage a scaled—down event after a multi—million pound investment was agreed with australian authorities. the state of victoria pulled out as hosts, citing rising costs. last week president donaldj trump was on television vilifying democrats, with false stories about migrants they had allowed into the country, who were now eating dogs and cats. in springfield ohio where that baseless story first emerged someone began threatening to blow up hospitals and universities. the hatian migrants who are in america legally, are now too scared to send their children to school. days later, a disaffected former trump supporter, hid himself away on the trump

international golf course in palm beach, lying in wait for the president, evidently looking to take a shot. he was spotted and engaged by an eagle eyed agent. a lucky break. but that was a week in american politics, bomb threats and attempted assassinations, and the second in as many months. donald trump blames democrats, democrats blame him. it is a vortex of resentment and hate, that is threatening to spiral out of control. our next guest political commentator, was a former secretary of labour in the clinton administration. i read your piece which raises some alarms about where american politics is headed at the moment. let's start with your some of the week. it’s your some of the week. it's been a terrible _ your some of the week. it�*s been a terrible week in the sense that there is absolutely no excuse, nojustification sense that there is absolutely no excuse, no justification for political violence in a democracy, any democracy. the

united states does have a history of political violence for american presidents have been assassinated. —— four american presidents. we've never seen anything like this in terms of two attempted assassinations of a republican orany assassinations of a republican or any candidate for office within two months. that is what has happened with donald trump. what is feeding the vortex, who do you blame principally? there is a lot of blame _ do you blame principally? there is a lot of blame to _ do you blame principally? there is a lot of blame to go _ do you blame principally? there is a lot of blame to go around. | is a lot of blame to go around. trump blames democrats. i honestly, i am trying to put my nonpartisan hat on for this but the real source of a lot of the violent rhetoric in america certainly over the last eight years has been donald trump himself. after all, it was on

january six, 2021 that he incited his followers to go to the capital and attack the united states capital. he knew that they had weapons when he addressed them and told them to go to the capital. it was donald trump who mocked the near killing of paul pelosi, the husband of nancy pelosi, the husband of nancy pelosi, the speaker of the house. it was donald trump who has threatened his general who we felt was disloyal to him with he publicly should be executed. he has said all sorts of things. shoot looters. and undocumented migrants are to be shot. this is a man of violence and violent rhetoric, really comes as a second nature. just two weeks ago at the debate he was talking about migrants in

springfield, ohio eating pets for that i mean, springfield, ohio eating pets forthat i mean, i springfield, ohio eating pets for that i mean, i completely ludicrous story that did cause bomb threats in springfield, ohio. , ,., ., ohio. there is something more sinister about _ ohio. there is something more sinister about this _ ohio. there is something more sinister about this line - ohio. there is something more sinister about this line on i sinister about this line on migrants, which again we picked up migrants, which again we picked up this morning. we've seen it in history. it's that sense of the other, the outsider. and again and again he returns to that theme.— again and again he returns to that theme. how dangerous is that? i that theme. how dangerous is that? l think _ that theme. how dangerous is that? l think it's _ that theme. how dangerous is that? i think it's enormously l that? i think it's enormously dangerous. not only for immigrants to this country for that let's be clear, the united states apart from native americans is a country of immigrants. when you start demonising people, when you start saying that immigrants or any group of people are subhuman you are playing with fire. you are doing what

dictators certainly in the tragedy of the 1930s did in europe. and you are in a sense creating a climate of potential violence. ., . , ., , ., violence. how much you blame the social— violence. how much you blame the social media _ violence. how much you blame the social media companies? l the social media companies? well, they do take a share of the blame as well as easy access to guns in the united states for the up there are a lot of potential sources of blame for this. if you really want to say, what is new, what distinguishes this period of politics from previous period of politics? it is violent rhetoric. and it is mostly again, coming from the current republican candidate for president of the united states was up i wonder if it was more in the face of people that it was imprisoned two previous years. was imprisoned two previous ears. ., h ., years. now it's of her presence. _ years. now it's of her presence. there i years. now it's of her presence. there are l years. now it's of her| presence. there are a years. now it's of her i presence. there are a lot of people who look at us from the outside and wonder where it

ends. i wonder if you thought about that. it ends. i wonder if you thought about that-— about that. if you want to be apocalyptic _ about that. if you want to be apocalyptic and _ about that. if you want to be apocalyptic and say - about that. if you want to be apocalyptic and say this i about that. if you want to be apocalyptic and say this and | apocalyptic and say this and what donald trump is a bloodbath in america, a civil war. no one wants that. if they are rational. in fact, what we have to have in america and democracy requires it, not only does the mockery doing democracy required but humanity requires it, peace and respect for other people, for institutions. we have to have much more trust than we have in american politics right now. i've been in and around american politics for 50 years. i don't remember the period in which there has been more anger and distrust then there has been recently.— been recently. robert, will have to leave _ been recently. robert, will have to leave it _ been recently. robert, will have to leave it there. i been recently. robert, will have to leave it there. a i have to leave it there. a fascinating article you wrote today. you can read it in the guardian. many thanks for coming on the programme. robert

right the former secretary. we will take a short break for the on the other side of the break we would talk about where we work for them from home or from the office and get you split it? we will be right back. hello. last week brought us lots of heavy showers, and a real autumn chill developed across the uk. but this week, things look and feel very different. it is as if summer has made a return. this is just a selection of the weather watcher pictures we've had from across the uk during today. blue skies and sunshine thanks to high pressure, which is firmly in charge of the scene right now. quite breezy around the edges of this area of high pressure, and some areas of cloud just drifting around as well. a bit of cloud just moving in across parts of east anglia, the southeast of england overnight. cloud that has been affecting the north of scotland tending to retreat, becoming mostly confined to shetland. a few fog patches are possible through northern ireland,

northern england, up into southern and eastern scotland, where temperatures will be dropping away, but where we have more cloud to the northwest and to the southeast of the uk, those temperatures holding up in double digits for many locations. into wednesday, a bit more cloud in the mix for england and wales, but much of that will retreat to the east coast. northern ireland and scotland should see a lot of sunshine, particularly sunny skies, i think, in the north of scotland. will be quite breezy in the south. this feed of winds off the north sea will also peg the temperatures back across some eastern areas, so 17 degrees there for newcastle and for hull, but close to the london area, also northern scotland, highs of 24—25 degrees. now during wednesday night, just keep an eye on developments here in the north sea. it looks like we'll see more cloud forming and then rolling its way westwards, particularly across england and wales. some of that cloud getting into eastern scotland as well. at the same time, we see more cloud rolling back into the north of scotland, but many places will still see some sunshine during thursday.

highest temperatures likely to be in western and southern parts. we could get to 24—25 degrees, but as we look towards the end of the week, things do start to change. high pressure drifts northwards. low pressure developing across iberia starts to edge its way in our direction. and across england and wales particularly, we will see some showers, possibly even some thunderstorms as we head on through the weekend. now further north across northern ireland and scotland, where we will see a bit of mist and murk and low cloud for eastern coast of scotland. 0therwise, some spells of sunshine but starting to feel a bit cooler.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. european commission takes its new top team. we will ask what it tells us about where power lies in europe. the champions league is back, let's find out what's going on. let's go to the sportscenter. this season's uefa champions league is officially underway with wins already for aston villa and juventus. villa marked their return to european football 5 top club competition after a 41—year absence with a 3—0 victory over swiss champions young boys. 3—1 to juventus it finshed

against psv eindhoven. 4 games taking place as we speak. former chelsea winger christian pullusic gave milan the lead over livepool but ibrahima kounate has levelled at san siro. harry kane's scored his 6th goal of the season for bayen munich who are 1 up against dinamo zagreb. no goals in the other games so far manchester city's star midfielder rodri says players could go on strike over the number of matches they're being made to play in a season. he was speaking at news conference ahead of city's champions league opener against inter milan on wednesday. the competition has been expanded with more games added in a new format, but he says the players weren't consulted and could refuse to take part: i think we are close to that. i mean, because we are asking

something,