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. manchester city are opening their european campaign against inter milan, a repeat of the 2023 final which city won as they completed the treble. it's still goalless at the etihad. no goals in the game between last year's runners up borussia dortmud who are in belgium to play club brugge, but liam scales has put celtic 1—0 up against slovan bratislava. psg girona still 0—0. earlier sparta prague were 3—0 winners over rb salzburg and it was all square between bolgna and shaktar donesk. vivianne miedema scored on her manchester city debut to help her side to a big lead over paris fc in their champions league second round qualifier. city travelled to paris without record goal—scorer khadija shaw after they failed to file a visa application. they still won 5—0. arsenal were beaten by swedish side hecken. juventus were 3—1 winners against psg. roma won by the same scoreline against swiss side servette. two games under way in the english leaue cup 3rd round. an all—premier league tie between brighton

and wolverhampto wanderers. carlos baleba and simon adingra put brighton two goals in front at the amex before gonzalo guedes pulled a goal back. and, on the back of their north lond derby defeat tottenham are being held at championship side coventry. now to the sad news that 1990 world cup hero — toto schillaci has died at the age of 59. the italian scored six goals to win the golden boot at the world cup. italy lost in the semi—finals on home soil, but schillaci was also awarded the golden ball as the best player and gained hero status. he was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. domestically schillaci helped juventus to claim the coppa italia and uefa cup in 1990 before winning the latter trophy again four years later with inter milan. serie a described him as, "a champion who lit up the magical nights of the 1990 world cup in italy". what makes him so different

was he was considered a mere mortal. a man who was described as not the most handsome or talented but he won his place in italian hearts for all that he did in 1990 and those magical nights in the world cup. he was just a man who always lived for goals. he fought so hard to score each one. former australia captain ricky ponting has a newjob in the indian premier league — he's been appointed head coach of punjab kings after leaving the delhi capitals. ponting had been linked with the previoulsy vacant head coach role for england's white—ball side, but ruled himself out. he left delhi after they finished 6th in this year's ipl. in his seven years with the franchise they reached the playoffs three times, but none of those have come in the last three years. his new team finished ninth in the 10—team tournament this season. six—time 0lympic medallist laura kenny has called on the commonwealth games organisers to prioritise non—0lympic sports when the games come to glasgow in 2026. the scottish city will host a scaled—back edition

of the games after taking over from the australian state of victoria. as few as 10 sports could make the cut. i just hope that they take into consideration non—0lympic sports, because the commonwealths, for the likes of netball, are the only light they really get shone on them. i hope it is done in a way that is fair, i guess. the olympics is huge and that is where lots of people will watch, but ultimately the commonwealth games for a lot of these sports is their 0lympics. and that's all the sport for now. more now on our top story — fresh explosions in the lebanese capital, beirut, and elsewhere in the country. the health ministry says nine people have been killed and more than 300 injured. this was a blast at the funeral of one i think that number has been adjusted to 1a deaths in 415

people injured. this was a blast at the funeral of one of the twelve victims of tuesday's synchronised pager explosions. a car thought to be carrying the injured speeds through the mourners. multiple sources say mossad, the israeli spy agency, was targeting hezbollah fighters in tuesday's explosions. the attacks have stunned people in lebanon and caused widespread fear. 0ur security correspondent, gordon corera has been looking at how the attacks have been carried out in the past 2a hours and who's orchestrating them. it is an extraordinary attack taking communications devices, people, people are carrying around and turning them into weapons to be used against them. today, hand—held radios, walkie—talkies were suddenly exploding in lebanon. these images are reported to be two of them. it follows yesterday afternoon when thousands were injured by small explosions in people's hands and pockets. this was the culprit then.

a pager which buzzes when it receives a text message. 0ld—school technology, but something the militant group hezbollah had turned to because it feared its mobile phone calls could be tracked. this map details the location of injuries sustained in that 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, nor was it involved in these incidents. and we're still gathering the information and gathering the facts. so what do we know? if we look at the debris of this pager, you can see part of a brand name gold apollo. that's a company based over here in taiwan. now, the owners today said they had not made the pages involved. instead, they said they'd licence making them to another company called bac consulting. bac consulting is based in hungary.

the bbc�*s nick thorpe has been to the capital, budapest, today. this is the registered address of bac consulting here in budapest. and in fact, there's very little sign that they're based here at all. just a piece of paper with their name alongside 12 other company names behind the geraniums. very few people have been coming in and out of this building all day. no one seems to know anything about this company at all. so this is debris left from an exploding pager, and it seems israel infiltrated the supply of pagers and radios to hezbollah and hid tiny amounts of high explosive inside, which could be triggered with a signal. but why now? one theory is that israel's spy agency, mossad, had put 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, it's not quite

clear if there was a wider plan behind launching the attack now, it will have sown confusion and fear and inflicted many injuries, but it also may spark a response. the washington security adviser john kirby has been speaking warning against escalation. what is the white house response to to the exploding walkie—talkies today and of course _ walkie—talkies today and of course the pagers yesterday, was the — course the pagers yesterday, was the latest us assessment and does the us consider this a 'ust and does the us consider this a just file — and does the us consider this a just file full escalation? but i can tell — just file full escalation? but i can tell you _ just file full escalation? but i can tell you is _ just file full escalation? but i can tell you is we - just file full escalation? pm i can tell you is we were not involved in the incidence of yesterday or today and i have nothing more to share. == nothing more to share. -- justifiable. _ nothing more to share. -- justifiable. have _ nothing more to share. —— justifiable. have the israeli let you _ justifiable. have the israeli let you know about the operations was macular like i have — operations was macular like i have nothing more to share. he

israeli have nothing more to share. he: israeli defence minister said today that this is a new error of war, what the white house response to that and how concerned are you that this will cause escalation? mil this will cause escalation? all i will say is — this will cause escalation? all i will say is we want to store and — i will say is we want to store and in — i will say is we want to store and in everything we have been doing _ and in everything we have been doing since the beginning has been — doing since the beginning has been designed to prevent the conflict — been designed to prevent the conflict from escalating. we still — conflict from escalating. we still believe that there is a diplomatic path forward and we still believe that while it is increasingly difficult and we are certainly to a finality that _ are certainly to a finality that we _ are certainly to a finality that we believe his cease—fire deat— that we believe his cease—fire deal and _ that we believe his cease—fire deal and a negotiation to get the hostages out is still the test— the hostages out is still the best outcome and will keep pursuing that.— pursuing that. how does a diplomatic _ pursuing that. how does a diplomatic solution - pursuing that. how does a diplomatic solution move | diplomatic solution move forward?— diplomatic solution move forward? �*, , . :, forward? it's difficult for me to stand here _ forward? it's difficult for me to stand here and _

forward? it's difficult for me to stand here and tell - forward? it's difficult for me i to stand here and tell you how incidence _ to stand here and tell you how incidence over the last few days — incidence over the last few days will affect incidence of the next, alli days will affect incidence of the next, all i will tell you as we _ the next, all i will tell you as we are _ the next, all i will tell you as we are putting our shoulder to the — as we are putting our shoulder to the will— as we are putting our shoulder to the will to get hostages home _ to the will to get hostages home and a cease—fire in place as daunting as this is and we are still— as daunting as this is and we are still involved in diplomacy from — are still involved in diplomacy from a — are still involved in diplomacy from a second front opening up in lebanon. with me is senior fellow at the foundation for the defence of democracies and former idf spokesperson, lt col jonathan conricus. thank you for being with us. is israel effectively admitting it is behind these attacks today and yesterday now because we have heard from the defence minister saying they are opening a new phase in the war and from the prime minister saying they are focused on return people to the border? yeah, i don't know how necessary it is for israel to say so. i think his brother, the iranians, the syrians involved and everyone else around the world understand what happened and i don't think anyone else in the world has

the interest or capacity to attack hezbollah and such a precise way, its commanders and rank—and—file officers and to do it two days in a role —— row. whether israel takes responsibility or not the more important point is, what does this mean for hezbollah's military capabilities and will it be enough to push hezbollah to saying, you know what, we have been firing rockets at israel for 11 and a half months, we will stand down now and take the american offer to de—escalate the situation. [30 de-escalate the situation. do ou de—escalate the situation. do you believe it is an israeli attack, to be clear.- you believe it is an israeli attack, to be clear. yes, yes i do. attack, to be clear. yes, yes i d0- you _ attack, to be clear. yes, yes i do. you mention _ attack, to be clear. yes, yes i do. you mention all _ attack, to be clear. yes, yes i do. you mention all of the - do. you mention all of the --eole do. you mention all of the people targeted, - do. you mention all of the people targeted, we - do. you mention all of the people targeted, we have| do. you mention all of the - people targeted, we have seen funerals for children and civilians caught up in this. yes. _ ., civilians caught up in this. yes. ., , yes. some will say that is be ond yes. some will say that is beyond was _ yes. some will say that is beyond was acceptable. l

yes. some will say that is beyond was acceptable. i | yes. some will say that is - beyond was acceptable. i would resond beyond was acceptable. i would respond to _ beyond was acceptable. i would respond to that _ beyond was acceptable. i would respond to that sum _ beyond was acceptable. i would respond to that sum that - beyond was acceptable. i would respond to that sum that that l respond to that sum that that is a preposterous thing to say after hezbollah has been firing thousands of rockets indiscriminately at israel and caused approximately 70,000, not one or two, 70,000 israelis to flee from their home in northern israel and they have been doing so since october eight without provocation from israel or any dispute between lebanon and israel and started doing so out of their own directive. last time it happened was when he killed 12 children in israel.— children in israel. what is the --urose children in israel. what is the purpose of — children in israel. what is the purpose of this _ children in israel. what is the purpose of this move? - children in israel. what is the purpose of this move? it - children in israel. what is the purpose of this move? it is i purpose of this move? it is obviously an extraordinary attack, people are trying to look at how it has been carried out, is this a warning to has below? is there a limit to the aim of trying to move them back and allow israelis to move into the border area or is it the opening of a bigger, new front

in the war. i opening of a bigger, new front in the war-— in the war. i think it is important _ in the war. i think it is important to - in the war. i think it is i important to understand in the war. i think it is - important to understand the context, where israelis are and where the israeli leadership is. there is tremendous pressure and frustration in israel from the population towards the military and government or, why have you not done anything to get us back home, it has been almost a year and we are still not safe in our homes. that is what israeli civilians are telling the government and demanding they are allowed to return to their homes. nothing to do with gotze, these are communities in northern israel that have been under relentless fire and what is real as was sending another message that has been a lot of of messaging and rhetoric over the last two months where israel is basically saying to the world, the us, tehran, beirut and anyone else interested, if you don't help us find a diplomatic solution, the only other option israel will have to return civilians to their homes is to use force.

had israel wanted to use force, surely it would not have waited 11 and have months to do so. israel could have done that and many say israel should have done that half a year ago, eight months ago when israelis were first out of their homes, but they happens. i5 were first out of their homes, but they happens.— but they happens. is the cease-fire _ but they happens. is the cease-fire deal, - but they happens. is the cease-fire deal, are - but they happens. is the i cease-fire deal, are those cease—fire deal, are those talks being meaningfully held by netanyahu because you know the hostage families they want the hostage families they want the government to do more and there will be a real fear by them and others in israel about any reprisals from hezbollah or iran. i any reprisals from hezbollah or iran. , :, :, iran. i understand it and i have read _ iran. i understand it and i have read it _ iran. i understand it and i have read it and - iran. i understand it and i have read it and have - iran. i understand it and i - have read it and have spoken with hostage families and i feel their pain. what i think we have to remain clear about is that the organisation that took those hostages and is preventing a deal from preventing a dealfrom happening as hamas. it is not because of israel. they are seeking pretext after pretext... seeking pretext after pretext. . ._ seeking pretext after pretext. . . seeking pretext after retext... �* :, ., pretext... but to even open a new front — pretext... but to even open a new front with _ pretext... but to even open a new front with hezbollah - pretext... but to even open a new front with hezbollah now with this... new front with hezbollah now with this. . ._ with this... it's not a new front, it _ with this... it's not a new

front, it has _ with this... it's not a new front, it has been - with this... it's not a new front, it has been a - with this... it's not a new front, it has been a front| front, it has been a front opens 0ctober eight when they started firing. opens october eight when they started firing.— started firing. this is an audacious _ started firing. this is an audacious attack. - started firing. this is an audacious attack. this | started firing. this is an| audacious attack. this is started firing. this is an i audacious attack. this is a mess is — audacious attack. this is a mess is to _ audacious attack. this is a mess is to hezbollah - audacious attack. this is a mess is to hezbollah that| audacious attack. this is a - mess is to hezbollah that this has gone on for too long and if you don't cease it will continue to go on this is what israel wanted to say, short of going to work, if they went to to go to where they would use their military capacity to do so and in international law israel is beyond legitimacy when it comes to israel defending itself. israel is under attack from hezbollah, thousands of rockets have been fired at israeli citizens and israel has been absorbing those attacks and refraining from taking action against hezbollah protect itself. this taking action against hezbollah protect itself.— protect itself. this though, the start — protect itself. this though, the start of _ protect itself. this though, the start of more _ protect itself. this though, the start of more military l the start of more military action, because we have seen troop units being moved, that is what people are asking now. there is definitely that possibility but i think we are still in the stage where israel is trying, i would say desperately, to signal global and regional powers that there is still time to avert this.

there is still the option to abort —— avert a war. there is still the option to abort -- avert a war. by abort -- avert a war. how? by hezbollah _ abort -- avert a war. how? by hezbollah stop _ abort -- avert a war. how? by hezbollah stop firing - abort -- avert a war. how? by hezbollah stop firing at - abort -- avert a war. how? by hezbollah stop firing at israel| hezbollah stop firing at israel in by implementing security council resolution 1701 which clearly states they are not supposed to be in southern lebanon. had that security council resolution been implemented and had has a left been away from the border, we would not have founders selves in the situation we are in now. what israel is to do, it is a limited aim, allow israeli civilians to go back to their homes. this is not about taking the area or at having coffee and babe ruth, this is about allowing israeli citizens to go back to their homes. they have not been able to do for several months —— having coffee in beirut. sue gray's name has been become well known in british politics first because of her report

into borisjohnson's partygate scandal during covid, and now as chief of staff to the new prime minister sir keir starmer. and amid a spate of briefings to journalists in recent weeks, the bbc has learnt that sue gray, received a pay rise following the general election which means she is now is being paid more than the prime minister. her annual salary of 170,000 pounds a year also means she is earning more than any special adviser in government history, though some have said when adjusted for inflation, previous tory advisers would be earning more. let's speak to chief political correspondent at the times, aubrey allegretti. 0n the question of the briefings, why do you think we are seeing fees and where do you think they are coming from? it has been a tough few months for those special advisers brought into government with labour and it is only in the last fortnight or so that they have been receiving their

contracts. a lot of them immediately set to work helping out new secretaries of state and ministers trying to get the sort of gears of operation in a new government turning smoothly. but it was only very recently that they have discovered they are being paid significantly less than they were in their previous jobs at the labour party and some say by their conservative predecessors. so it is that frustration and anger that is the backdrop to discovering that the sue gray, the most senior special adviser has such an inflated pay packet herself compared to them will stop obviously compared as you have mentioned in previous paper who did herjob adjusted for inflation it does not declare the article to even with senior civil servants in her department but it is the disharmony and unfairness that the special advisers around her feel. ,, ~' ,

the special advisers around her feel. ,, ~ , :, feel. see think it is from junior is. _ feel. see think it is from junior is, you _ feel. see think it is from junior is, you don't - feel. see think it is from j junior is, you don't think feel. see think it is from i junior is, you don't think it is from other senior staff in the rivalry for power and access to the prime minister? there is a wider context of that, i think the special advisers who occupy a range of positions on the pay band scale are frustrated. there is obviously more to this story than just this incident. obviously more to this story thanjust this incident. it is part of a wider picture of claims of briefings and frustrations being aired about sue gray. she came to the job about one year ago. we have seen she was part of the labour's team of preparing for government. there has been more and more frustration government —— given the government's difficulties, the pull readings that have sunk the election with people feeling she did not prepare well enough and they are looking at her in frustration and it is against is background we are seeing this briefings notjust on this

issue but on others as well. can i ask you the question of pay in politics. you will know there are many people in the private sector who dabble into politics not only because of the brutal nature of it, but because they cannot afford to take the pay cut and the salaries that people get weather on front line politics or working as advisers were in the civil service actually do not necessarily draw the best talent and is about not what every country wants an these tough jobs?— every country wants an these tou:h'obs? :, , :, .,~ tough “obs? two points to make on toughjobs? two points to make on that front. _ toughjobs? two points to make on that front. first, _ toughjobs? two points to make on that front. first, the - toughjobs? two points to make on that front. first, the sums i on that front. first, the sums of money we are talking about are very large by comparison to the median wage in this country. the median wage in this country-— the median wage in this count. :, :, country. not as big as some of the journalists _ country. not as big as some of the journalists that _ country. not as big as some of the journalists that are - the journalists that are reporting this, though. some of that may be _ reporting this, though. some of that may be true. _ reporting this, though. some of that may be true. in _ reporting this, though. some of that may be true. in the - reporting this, though. some of that may be true. in the bbc's l that may be true. in the bbc's case, those who earn a certain amount have their pay information published. paid advisers also. their pay information published, the last time that was done wasjuly

2023 as we have not had publication of that of 2024 indeed after the election so it is a question of what it's the government doing of transparency on reporting that pay ends on the broader point of broader sector people that the government may wish to attract by being able to pay competitive rates, that is certainly true and it is part of a delicate balancing act. i'm told under previous conservative governments the civil service became frustrated with exceptions and loopholes being found in the pay band structure, so much so it effectively, say civil servants became broken. part of the reason the issue has come to a headis reason the issue has come to a head is sue gray wants to transform the paper and structure so it is proper but what that has ended up doing is needing some staff is being paid less than they want to. thank you so much forjoining us and talking us through it from times. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

researchers say radio waves from elon musk�*s growing network of satellites are blocking scientists' ability to peer into the universe. the scientists say the new generation of starlink satellites, which provide fast internet around the world, are interfering more with telescopes. they say the thousands of orbiting spacecraft may be hindering astronomical research. spacex, which owns them, hasn't commented. we can speak to dr emma gatti, a former nasa scientist and editor at spacewatch global. thank you forjoining us. how much of a problem is this? it is a problem. it is a problem because radio astronomy especially relies on the ability to see stars that are very far away, very far distance from us and with all of the satellites, they are basically blinded because the satellites are so much closer to earth than what they are trying to observe so is a

problem. trying to observe so is a problem-— problem. obviously the sidelights _ problem. obviously the sidelights have - problem. obviously the sidelights have a - problem. obviously the l sidelights have a function problem. obviously the - sidelights have a function in terms of providing fast internet, often troubled parts of the world, how could this be sorted out, should it be regulated, is it regulated? it is a complex answer because what is it regulated is the fact that satellites cannot transmit in certain bands. certain radio bands are completely off for satellites, these are reserved for science, these are reserved for science, the problem is we are having so many satellites that they cannot meet as a sort of mistake so it is not the satellites admitting because directly it cannot, but all of the equipment and electrical circuits in the satellite are producing a backdrop of a mission and this is impossible to regulate, they cannot stop

it. this is where the problem arises. it is a secondary effect. ~ :. arises. it is a secondary effect. ~ :, :, arises. it is a secondary effect. :, :, effect. what sort of research is not being _ effect. what sort of research is not being able _ effect. what sort of research is not being able to - effect. what sort of research is not being able to be - effect. what sort of research | is not being able to be carried out as a result? the is not being able to be carried out as a result?— out as a result? the entire field of radio _ out as a result? the entire field of radio astronomy i out as a result? the entire field of radio astronomy is| field of radio astronomy is struggling completely. at the moment we are having 11,000 satellites and they are really struggling and plan to have 100,000 satellites in ten years so you can imagine this means fundamentally, a complete stop of the field of radio astronomy, it is the kind of astronomy, it is the kind of astronomy that uses radio frequencies to observe the furthest objects in our universe. that his entire of science that is struggling and will more. science that is struggling and will more-— will more. explain what is a satellite. — will more. explain what is a satellite, we _ will more. explain what is a satellite, we are _ will more. explain what is a satellite, we are seeing - will more. explain what is a i satellite, we are seeing some fly by and you say they are blinding the researchers, and cannot see it, is it as simple as that?—

cannot see it, is it as simple as that? ., :, , as that? there are two ways it can disturb _ as that? there are two ways it can disturb come _ as that? there are two ways it can disturb come the - it can disturb come the satellite is not bright, but it gets hit by the sun and becomes bright, so visual, but also radio emissions so there are several ways to disturb. i’m radio emissions so there are several ways to disturb. i'm so sor , i several ways to disturb. i'm so sorry. i asked _ several ways to disturb. i'm so sorry, i asked you _ several ways to disturb. i'm so sorry, i asked you a _ several ways to disturb. i'm so sorry, i asked you a big - sorry, i asked you a big question and i only had 30 seconds so, my fault entirely. thank you for talking us through it, it is a complex area and there is a piece on line if you wish to find out more. be back in a few minutes with all of the very latest updates. goodbye for now. 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. 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 — 14 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. 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.