problem hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy. hello, i'm geeta guru-mu thy. hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy. you're watching the context on bbc news. there was a lot of chaos, a lot of confusion earlier today in beirut after this new wave of attacks, and perhaps there is the expectation that there is more to come. it has been a nightmare. probably this is the worst day of my life as a physician. in my past 25 years in practice, i never removed as many eyes as i did yesterday. translation: the centre of gravity is moving - towards the north. this means that we are

diverting forces, resources and energy towards the north. these events confirms that there is a serious risk of a dramatic escalation in lebanon, and everything must be done to avoid that escalation. hello and welcome. on the context in the next hour. after a second day of deadly explosions across lebanon, targeting hezbollah, we'll be live injerusalem, lebanon and washington. israeli leaders say they're "opening a new phase in the war", and the "centre of gravity is shifting to the north". we'll ask what does that mean? also on the programme: the us central bank goes big with its first interest rate cut in four years, lowering its key lending rate by half a percentage point. and who is briefing against the labour chief of staff sue gray and why? as the bbc is told she earns more than her boss the prime minister. we start in lebanon, where there's been a fresh wave

of explosions across the country, which have killed at least 1a people, with more than a50 injured. hand—held radios or walkie talkies have been detonated in the last few hours. this is said to be one of them. the latest blasts came 2a hours after at least 12 people were killed when pagers used by the armed group hezbollah exploded simultanously across the country. more than 3,000 were hurt, many with serious injuries to their eyes and hands. iran — which backs hezbollah — has described the attacks as "mass murder". hezbollah is blaming israel and has vowed to retaliate. hezbollah is designated as a terrorist group by western and arab governments. amid rising tensions in the region, israel has said a "new front" is opening up, with the "centre of gravity" moving northward. prime minister benjamin netanyahu says israel will return the tens of thousands of people displaced from the northern border to their homes. we start our coverage with this report from our senior international correspondent

0rla guerin. 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. 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 were drones. they are beginning to leave the area, to get off the streets. 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. "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 0rla guerin, bbc news, beirut. let's hear now from israel's leaders. defence minister yoav gallant delivered this message to troops at ramat david airbase today — explaining a shift in focus in the war. translation: the centre of gravity is moving _ towards the north. this means that we are diverting forces, resources

and energy towards the north. we have not forgotten the hostages, and we have not forgotten our tasks in the south. this is our duty, and we are performing both at the same time. prime minsiter benjamin netanyahu insisted that israeli citizens will be returned to the north, where more than 60,000 people have been forced from their homes by skirmishes with hezbollah. translation: i have said it before, we will turn - the citizens of the north to their home safely, and that is exactly what we are going to do. to stress that the updated figures from today's attack since the report from 0rla guerin a few hours ago. the letters numbers _ guerin a few hours ago. the letters numbers we - guerin a few hours ago. the letters numbers we have is that 14 people have been killed and over a50 ia people have been killed and over a50 people injured in today's attack. joining me now: from washington our state department correspondent tom bateman and — from jerusalem — our correspondent daniel de simone:

daniel if i can start with you. just tell us more about what we have been here and from the israeli political leaders, it's their first comment since the initial attacks yesterday. that's right, and no official comment on the explosions in lebanon over the past 2a hours or so. lebanon over the past 2a hours orso. i lebanon over the past 2a hours or so. i don't think that is a surprise. i don't think it is any surprise that israeli leaders are not commenting on and operation of this kind, it is being widely blamed on israel throughout the region and the world, and i think people here in israel also think it was the israeli spy agency, my side. you have gallons, the defense minister and the prime minister, their comments today are consistent with a ruptured vision of of rhetoric, over a period of time, but particularly this week by israeli leaders. earlier in this week like the security cabinet containing both man made a return on israeli citizens displaced in the north from their homes,

made their return is a core or goal, and that is one of only four were goals. the other three are related to guys or hamas, so they are officially making the northern front is a key goal in this war. and what is happened over the past year is happened over the past year is there's been a conflict between hezbollah and israel in the north. there has been thousands of cross—border attacks, hezbollah has fired in rockets and jones, israel has been striking hezbollah targets in lebanon and has killed a number of senior hezbollah figures in lebanon, included in beirut, and there has been a debate here about given the fact that this is just going on and on, thousands of people have been displaced, notjust in israel but lebanon as well, about when it can and at how it could end. there has been a democratic process but that is very much tied to what is happening in gaza. the hezbollah leader has made ——

has said there conflict with israel, the fact they are firing rockets and israel can to gaza, and if there was a cease—fire in gaza, there may be a cease—fire between israel and height and or, so given there's been no cease—fire in gaza, there has also been no stop and cease—fire in the north, and because of that, the defense minister earlier said that with diplomacy, according to him, apparently feeling, that military action may be the only cause of action last —— left, and we are seeing today this increase in rhetoric you of galante saying at an air force base in northern israel that the shift of focus moving to the north, the center of gravity moving there, and we confirmed this evening that a division of the israeli army —— army focus on gaza till now, has moved today to the north, meaning there are no two divisions now in the north and divisions now in the north and divisions in gaza, so a

significant strengthening just today in the forces in the north. . , , ., north. that is bringing tom bateman — north. that is bringing tom bateman in _ north. that is bringing tom bateman in washington, i north. that is bringing tom . bateman in washington, tom, north. that is bringing tom - bateman in washington, tom, any response since we heard the israeli comments, and how concerned is the white house? we have been waiting for a pretty— we have been waiting for a pretty delayed briefing from the white house, and the national security council spokesman, john kirby, that hasn't. — spokesman, john kirby, that hasn't. or— spokesman, john kirby, that hasn't, orat spokesman, john kirby, that hasn't, or at least when i walked _ hasn't, or at least when i walked into the studio, got under_ walked into the studio, got under way i walked into the studio, got underway i said, walked into the studio, got under way i said, but a few more — under way i said, but a few more comments, but i have to say that— more comments, but i have to say that i— more comments, but i have to say that i think the public remarks _ say that i think the public remarks from us officials on this— remarks from us officials on this are _ remarks from us officials on this are extremely guarded. and it feels_ this are extremely guarded. and it feels to — this are extremely guarded. and it feels to be pretty reminiscent of the mood around to previous significant israeli attacks, _ to previous significant israeli attacks, namely when the israelis _ attacks, namely when the israelis carried out a deadly strike — israelis carried out a deadly strike on— israelis carried out a deadly strike on an iranian diplomatic facility— strike on an iranian diplomatic facility in _ strike on an iranian diplomatic facility in damascus, and then injuty. — facility in damascus, and then injuly, when the israelis assassinated ismail haniyeh, the political leader of hamas

in tehran. and in both of those cases. — in tehran. and in both of those cases. you _ in tehran. and in both of those cases, you had the americans trying — cases, you had the americans trying to— cases, you had the americans trying to desist —— distance themselves from the israel actions _ themselves from the israel actions might fear it could spark— actions might fear it could spark a _ actions might fear it could spark a regional war, actions might fear it could sparka regionalwar, but actions might fear it could spark a regional war, but at the — spark a regional war, but at the same _ spark a regional war, but at the same time bracing for the response _ the same time bracing for the response to it by doing everything to shield its israeii _ everything to shield its israeli ally both diplomatically and militarily, and i— diplomatically and militarily, and i expect we are in the same holding — and i expect we are in the same holding pattern of the moment because — holding pattern of the moment because the americans are no recent— because the americans are no recent from a response from hezbollah, and they had responses —— concerns about the reunion — responses —— concerns about the reunion responses in the past, and they— reunion responses in the past, and they have ramped up american assets in the middle east, — american assets in the middle east, to— american assets in the middle east, to aircraft carrier strike _ east, to aircraft carrier strike groups sent close to israet— strike groups sent close to israel there in the eastern mediterranean, so they will be scrambling at the moment, but i dissent _ scrambling at the moment, but i dissent them what they are seen publicly— dissent them what they are seen publicly is— dissent them what they are seen publicly is to say that the us has nothing to do with it and they— has nothing to do with it and they are _ has nothing to do with it and they are gathering information about — they are gathering information about it. — they are gathering information about it, they say. crucially, they— about it, they say. crucially, they said _

about it, they say. crucially, they said they had no advance warning. _ they said they had no advance warning, though it emerged they had some — warning, though it emerged they had some warning about it, with a us— had some warning about it, with a us official confirming to our colleagues at cbs that there was communication from the israeiis — was communication from the israelis to the americans that they— israelis to the americans that they were going to carry out something in lebanon, but according to the american account, _ according to the american account, they weren't told exactiy _ account, they weren't told exactly what or given specific details — exactly what or given specific details so the notion is that the americans knew something may occur, but they did not know — may occur, but they did not know it _ may occur, but they did not know it would be this wave of attacks — know it would be this wave of attacks on explosive pagers, which — attacks on explosive pagers, which it _ attacks on explosive pagers, which it seems an extraordinary place _ which it seems an extraordinary place for— which it seems an extraordinary place for the americans to have been, _ place for the americans to have been, because you would've thought— been, because you would've thought they would've asked them — thought they would've asked them what the operation would be, but — them what the operation would be, but that is a detail about what — be, but that is a detail about what they did or did not know beforehand that we have at the moment — beforehand that we have at the moment. ., a, ., ., beforehand that we have at the moment. ., ., ., moment. tom bateman and daniel de simone. — moment. tom bateman and daniel de simone, thank— moment. tom bateman and daniel de simone, thank you _ moment. tom bateman and daniel de simone, thank you both - moment. tom bateman and daniel de simone, thank you both for- de simone, thank you both for now. for more on this i'm joined by hanin ghaddar who's a senior fellow at the washington institute how significant is this move by the israelis, and in terms of what we have heard from mr yoav

gallant and netanyahu over the last few hours?— last few hours? thank you for havin: last few hours? thank you for having me. — last few hours? thank you for having me, let— last few hours? thank you for having me, let me _ last few hours? thank you for having me, let me start - last few hours? thank you for having me, let me start by i having me, let me start by saying this is the biggest israeli operation, breach of hezbollah security, since the beginning not only of this war but said since the beginning of the conflict between hezbollah and israel emma it's a big blow to hezbollah and the city to recover. no matter the objective of the operation, it would have a serious impact on you or. there are two scenarios, two possible objectives of this. one is that it is the deterrence message from israel to hezbollah, saying that we have infiltrated you more than you can have imagined and this isjust you more than you can have imagined and this is just to let you know that we can do more, and this isjust some of the stuff that we can actually —— some of the ways we can harm you, and this is a deterrence

message that hezbollah needs to reconsider its involvement in this conflict. another scenario, which is becoming a likely scenario at this point, is that as we speak, the cause for war and military movement to the north and the tanks and the soldiers, moving to the israeli— lebanese borderfrom israeli— lebanese border from the israeli— lebanese borderfrom the israeli side, is happening as we speak, and they cause for an appetite for work, so this might actually be a first step, or a tactical step for opening the doorfor a larger escalation. because, the door for a larger escalation. because, you know, when you start bigger military operations, the best thing to do is to break the communication system of your enemy, and this is what they have done today. they cannot use their cell phones because they discovered five month ago it was infiltrated, there pagers are exploding, their walkie—talkies are exploding, basically hezbollah a network is broken, so no matter what

the objective is, at the beginning of something, or this is it, the operation, it's a big blow to hezbollah. if is it, the operation, it's a big blow to hezbollah. if there is a bigger— big blow to hezbollah. if there is a bigger move _ big blow to hezbollah. if there is a bigger move by _ big blow to hezbollah. if there is a bigger move by israel, - is a bigger move by israel, will hezbollah still be in a position to respond, and if so in what way? it position to respond, and if so in what way?— position to respond, and if so in what way? it depends. i do not think— in what way? it depends. i do not think they _ in what way? it depends. i do not think they can _ in what way? it depends. i do not think they can respond i not think they can respond today, unless they are suicidal, because they still have to figure out the objective of this operation, they still need to understand what they have really lost. these pagers were not used by low—level people, they were used by senior and mid—level hezbollah officials and commanders, so the loss has been huge, lots of them lost their sight, so they're out of service. they have to figure out how to communicate with each other, they cannot do anything without the proper communication system, so they have to figure out how to recover from this. without answers to these three questions, they cannot really do anything. if they do, and use their military assets they

have not used in order to respond properly, it has to be big, which means they have to use their position missiles, guided missiles and none read —— long—range missiles which are having you so far, and i don't think they're ready for that for two reasons. one emma this is a propagation and it is —— israel is waiting for any propagation to launch a work, and two, these weapons and assets are not religious for hezbollah conflict with israel, these are iran's insurance policy in lebanon, and iran cannot expose itself by losing these assets and expose its nuclear programme basically the way it protects itself. in a way, they are cornered, they need to respond and have to respond, but they cannot really do anything before figuring out their current situation and challenges, but they really their current situation and challenges, but they really lost. the trust issue among lost. the trust issue among their commandment, between them their commandment, between them and their people, it is huge in and their people, it is huge in any military operation. any military operation. hanning

that are, thank _ any military operation. hanning that are, thank you _ any military operation. hanning that are, thank you from - any military operation. hanning that are, thank you from the i that are, thank you from the washington institute. —— hanging gutter. . around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

more on our top story: a fresh wave of explosions across lebanon. walkie talkies have detonated at a number of locations. we can cross live to beirut now and our middle east correspondent hugo bachega: hugo, just, do we know first of all is there possible to assess at this stage whether the people who have been injured are mostly hezbollah members, hezbollah fighters, or are there also any number of civilians? officially, we do know some children have been hit and indeed killed it yesterday. hit and indeed killed it yesterday-— hit and indeed killed it esterda. , yesterday. yes, so we don't have those _ yesterday. yes, so we don't have those details - yesterday. yes, so we don't have those details yet, - yesterday. yes, so we don't have those details yet, we i yesterday. yes, so we don't - have those details yet, we know that 1a have those details yet, we know that ia people have been killed and the lebanese health ministry said around a50 others

have been injured as a result of these attack. in one of the locations hit, was a funeral earlier today in debt here, a hezbollah stronghold in beirut, i was there, and there was a lot of panic and chaos when we heard that a large explosion that happened as people were gathered for that funeral, and there was a lot of panic because people simply did not know what was happening. people believe that any kind of device could exclude so many hezbollah members were stopping us, our team, telling us don't use your phone, put your phone down, and i think this sort of captures the feeling, really, i'm in many people here in lebanon today after a secondary of those attacks. so, yesterday we had those pagers, which

ironically had been distributed by hezbollah to many members because there were concerns that the communications network of the group had been infiltrated, had been breached by the israelis. they believed that they were being used to track down some members of the group and kill them, as we have seen with those targeted assassinations tactical carried out by the israeli military and israeli intelligence agencies, so there was a fear that those summers —— sophisticated smartphones would be used by the israeli authorities, so the were distributed by hezbollah and they were then used to carry out those attacks, so today we see the walkie—talkies were targeted i know across the country tonight reports emerging that the army is carried out the controlled definition of many devices, so i think that gives you a sense of the affair and concerns on

the many across lebanon as a result of today's next two days of these attacks.— result of today's next two days of these attacks. hugo bachega in beirut, thank _ of these attacks. hugo bachega in beirut, thank you. _ of these attacks. hugo bachega in beirut, thank you. we - of these attacks. hugo bachega in beirut, thank you. we will i in beirut, thank you. we will keep you across developments on that, and much more online. in the past hour or so, the us central bank has cut interest rates for the first time in four years, a milestone moment for the world's largest economy. the federal reserve lowered its key lending rate — what it charges banks to borrow — by half a percentage point to between a.75% and 5%. it follows a sustained reduction in inflation in the united states. fed interest rates govern the cost of borrowing at home, but also have a huge effect on markets abroad. the bank had held the rate around 5.3% for more than a year — the highest level since 2001 — since jumping from near zero at the start of 2022. let's hear from the fed chairjerome powell: sot chairjerome powell.

as inflation has declined and the labour market has cooled, the upside risks to inflation has diminished and the downside risk to employment have increased. we now see the risks to achieving our employment and inflation goals as roughly in balance. we are attentive to the risk of both sides of our dual mandate. in light of the progress on inflation and the balance of risks, in today's meeting, the committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by a half percentage point to a.75% to 5%. this recalibration of our policy stance will help maintain the strength of the economy and the labour market, and will continue to enable further progress on inflation as we begin the process of moving toward a more neutral stance. here in the uk, the bank of england is due to decide its next decision on interest rates tomorrow. like the fed, it's been battling to bring inflation under control. last month it cut the cost of borrowing after a steep fall in the rate at which prices are rising — but new figures

suggest it might hold off from further cuts for now. uk consumer price inflation came in at 2.2% for the year to august — unchanged from july — and slightly above the bank of england's 2% target. we can cross live to our north america business correspondent ritika gupta in new york. thank you for being with us. first of all, jerome pollard has been given a press briefing, just give us a summary of the key points he has said, and the reasoning behind this cut.— behind this cut. overall, jerome _ behind this cut. overall, jerome pollard - behind this cut. overall, jerome pollard said - behind this cut. overall, jerome pollard said in i behind this cut. overall, l jerome pollard said in the press conference that the economy is humming along and is in a good place. the labor market is solid and inflation is coming onto target, and expect that for next year. they are saying they want to maintain strength in the economy and the way to do that is to get interest rates down to a normal level over time and he did address concerns which came after thejulyjobs report came after the july jobs report was came after thejulyjobs report was a disappointment that the fed was perhaps behind the

curve and could endanger the labor market. so he to today's move is a reflective of a commitment not to fall behind, thatis commitment not to fall behind, that is why we got that bigger and more aggressive rate cut. he did warn not to see the half—point cut as it fed new pace. half-point cut as it fed new ace. ,, . ., ., half-point cut as it fed new 'ace. ,,, . ., ., .,, half-point cut as it fed new ace, . ., ., ., half-point cut as it fed new ace, . ., ., ., pace. speculation as to whether there will be _ pace. speculation as to whether there will be further— pace. speculation as to whether there will be further cuts - there will be further cuts until the end of the year? yes, in addition _ until the end of the year? yes, in addition to _ until the end of the year? yes, in addition to cutting _ until the end of the year? yes, in addition to cutting by - until the end of the year? yes, in addition to cutting by 50 - in addition to cutting by 50 basis points, they promised under the 50 basis points by the end of the year, so that would bring us to a rate of a.a%. in terms of the economic projections, they say inflation returning to the target next year and that the unemployment rate could be a.a% by the end of next year as well, so overall, they are quite positive on the economy, and they want to... they think inflation is receiving and coming down, so they want to focus on the other side of

their dual mandate, ensuring that your full employment and that your full employment and that the risks don't go to the downside for growth. obviously, it is election-year _ downside for growth. obviously, it is election-year in _ downside for growth. obviously, it is election-year in a _ downside for growth. obviously, it is election-year in a few - it is election—year in a few weeks, will this have an impact, briefly, by the time people go to vote? the timing very interesting, _ people go to vote? the timing very interesting, coming - people go to vote? the timing | very interesting, coming ahead of the election, and we have an independent central bank, but that has not stopped politicians from speaking out and seeing what they want the fed to do. we have heard from candidate donald trump seen that he did not want the fed to cut interest rates, feeling it would be added to because i had of the election, but we are seeing those from kamala harris saying they have supported that decision today.— decision today. thank you ritika gupta _ decision today. thank you ritika gupta in _ decision today. thank you ritika gupta in newark. . decision today. thank you i ritika gupta in newark. we'll bring the latest on the events in the middle east and also to say that there is that us briefing going on at the moment. we would bring you all the latest lines on the us response to events in lebanon

and the israeli announcement, but they are in a new phase in a war. stay with us. hello there, good evening. more warm september sunshine around again today, with temperatures across the board above the seasonal average, and some of the highest of those again across northern areas of scotland. even towards these north sea—facing coasts, despite the cloudy start, we've seen the cloud burn back sunshine develop, although here towards eastern coast it's always going to be cooler and cloudier as we head through the next few days. but more sunshine around for most with some showers developing later on in the south through the week — more on that in just a moment. but here's the pressure chart. so, high pressure dominates, still, but it gradually drifts further northwards and eastwards. still a brisk easterly wind blowing across the southern half

of the uk overnight tonight, just drawing in more moisture from the north sea. so there will be a lot of low cloud just drifting further westwards. and towards the north and the west of the uk, then we'll see largely clear skies, but here more mist and fog starting to develop into tomorrow morning. and here, of course it will feel chilly as temperatures possibly mid single figures, but very mild where we keep the low cloud across the southeast of the uk in particular. a mild start to the day — ia degrees, so it's quite murky. could be quite grey wherever you are tomorrow morning, but the mist and the fog will lift and clear readily, and that low cloud will burn back again to these north sea facing coasts as we head through the day, but it could linger on for a while, particularly perhaps across parts of aberdeenshire, where it will be feeling cooler. some of the best of the sunshine out towards the west, the highest of the temperatures in the far south and the east and across north west scotland. but watch out for one or two showers on thursday in the southern half of england. those showers will become more widespread on friday, and some of them could be heavy and thundery, drifting further westwards throughout the day from east anglia, perhaps through into wales and

the far southwest of england. temperatures a little lower, of course, on friday, and again some of the best of the sunshine could be across western scotland and down through these irish sea coasts. then we look towards the south into the weekend to see this area of low pressure drifting from iberia. and that's going to produce, again, some heavy, thundery downpours across much of the southern half of the uk. so, for england and wales, it could turn quite wet on saturday, and those showers could potentially continue into sunday, but further north, then, while it may not be completely dry, it's certainly drier with some sunshine, butjust feeling cooler than it has been in recent days. bye— bye.

hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy. you're watching the context on bbc news. it's been revealed that keir starmer�*s top adviser, sue gray, now earns more than the prime minister. we've been told that she's now on a salary of £170,000. we will have more on that in the coming moments. more on uk politics and lebanon in the next few minutes, first let's catch up with all of the sport. from the bbc sport centre, will perry is here. hello from the bbc sport centre. six games to tell you about in

the champions league taking place today.