hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. hezbollah has been hit hard this week. notjust in terms of the dead end though wounded but the attack on his communication systems was a major humiliation. translation: with this operation the enemy across both rules_ operation the enemy across both rules and — operation the enemy across both rules and redline so that it didn't_ rules and redline so that it didn't care about anything at all. didn't care about anything at alt not— humanely, not legally. israel is responding _ humanely, not legally. israel is responding by _ humanely, not legally. israel is responding by force - humanely, not legally. israel is responding by force to - humanely, not legally. israel is responding by force to his| is responding by force to his brothen _ is responding by force to his brothen we _ is responding by force to his brother. we will— is responding by force to his brother. we will use - is responding by force to his brother. we will use all - brother. we will use all means necessary— brother. we will use all means necessary to _ brother. we will use all means necessary to restore _ brother. we will use all means necessary to restore security l necessary to restore security to our— necessary to restore security to our northern _ necessary to restore security to our northern border- necessary to restore security to our northern border and l to our northern border and safely— return our citizens to their homes _ return our citizens to their homes. _, , ., ., return our citizens to their homes. ,., , ., ., ,., homes. the population in both northern israel— homes. the population in both northern israel and _ homes. the population in both northern israel and southern l northern israel and southern lebanon has had to flee their homes and we all want to see them be able to go back to

their homes. that requires a secure environment. will discuss whether american diplomacy has any role to play. leader hassan nasrallah vows the rocket attacks on israel will continue until the war ends, in gaza. the israelis say his brother feels hunted and there will be no let up in their response. we will get the thoughts tonight, from the region. and we'll discuss whether american diplomacy still has any role to play? also tonight, new polling in the battleground states, spells good news for kamala harris especially so on the economy. we will talk to democratic

congressman brendan boyle, who derives from the crucial state of pennsylvania. and we will bring you an exclusive interview with the team in saudi arabia, behind the worlds first fully—robotic, heart transplant. we start in the middle east, where israel has launched fresh air strikes today on his brother targets in southern lebanon. and there have been missiles fired the other way. the leader of his brother, sheikh hassan nasrallah gave his first response this afternoon, to the coordinated explosions of hand—held devices belonging to his fighters. there will be retribution he said, but he did not go into any detail. at least 37 people have been killed and thousands injured by the exploding pagers and walkie talkies. nasrallah said it could be considered a declaration of war. and as he spoke, israeli fighter jets flew low over beirut, causing huge sonic booms. from lebanon our chief international correspondent, orla guerin has this report. israeli fighter planes flying low over beirut this afternoon. dominating the skies.

carefully timed, as sheikh hassan nasrallah was making a televised address. he admitted hezbollah had suffered a major blow and said the enemy, israel, had crossed all red lines with attacks this week. first it was pagers exploding. then yesterday, walkie—talkies blowing up at funerals. a new form of warfare in the middle east which the eu says has caused heavy collateral damage among civilians. hezbollah�*s communication systems may have been the target, but a lebanese minister told us the attacks, widely blamed on israel, break international law. minister, are you saying that these attacks are a war crime? i think they are.

you know, i think that the whole world can see that these attacks occurred in markets, they occurred in hospitals, they occurred in people driving their cars. these were not people who were at the battleground fighting. in its stronghold in south beirut, hezbollah is still mourning its dead, killed on and off the battlefield. of another fighter. hezbollah has been hit hard this week, notjust in terms of the dead and the wounded, but the attack on its communication systems was a major humiliation. there is anger here and there is uncertainty. many are wondering what might come next. she said, "we can expect anything from israel, but we are prepared, both men and women." "as for the wounded," she said,

"we pray god will heal them. i would donate my own eyes for all of those who lost theirs." hezbollah, which is classed as a terrorist organisation by the uk and the us, will regroup. and despite the high—tech, high—profile attacks this week, it's still firing across the border into israel. nine times so far today. orla guerin, bbc news, beirut. speaking in paris, us secretary of state antony blinken said he believes a gaza ceasefire is still possible — but the relationship between israel and southern lebanon needs to be resolved. we continue to work to get a cease—fire for gaza over the finish line, and as we discussed with some of you just a day ago, in egypt, we believe

that remains both possible and necessary. but meanwhile we don't want to see any as actions by any party that make that even more difficult. there is a real problem that needs to be resolved when it comes to northern israel and southern lebanon, and that is the fact that since october the 8th, hezbollah has been firing rockets into israel, israel has been firing back, the population in both northern israel and southern lebanon has had to flee their homes, and we all want to see them be able to go back to their homes, and that requires a secure environment. france and the united states believes strongly and working together toward a diplomatic resolution and an agreement that would create the conditions for security that would allow people to return to their homes. joining me from washington our state department correspondent tom bateman and — from jerusalem — our correspondent there daniel de simone. daniel, let me start with you as a reporter at the top major

offensive bombing in recent hours, what are you hearing about the outgoing fire and what that amounts to? there have been — what that amounts to? there have been intended - what that amounts to? there have been intended bombingj what that amounts to? there i have been intended bombing in southern lebanon. as you said, there were fighter jets flying low over beirut as well. that is a continuation of action we have seen for quite a long time now. israel has been targeting his brother targets effectively daily. there have been daily fire from his brother and northern israel. in fact it was very much timed as the speech and it was very much a show of force i don't know if it is a change in the actual military strategy we have seen. the thing where there has been a change is this week the israeli government has made the return of its citizens who are displaced in the north of former blueback formal war goal. it's put a division of the israeli army to the north. and there has been open talk by

the minister about a new phase of the war, the centre of gravity moving north of the injustice evening comments released to the israeli military talking about how this new phase contains opportunities but also risks. if you look at what israel is saying and what israel is doing this is sort of escalating. that is contrary to what the united states is asking. but we don't still know exactly what form it will take for the obviously all this back talk about the new form of war in the middle east with the bombings in lebanon this week. we don't know yet what else is can happen. the air strikes alone today are not a change in the military strategy.— the military strategy. tom, -len the military strategy. tom, plenty of — the military strategy. tom, plenty of diplomacy - the military strategy. tom, plenty of diplomacy today. | the military strategy. tom, . plenty of diplomacy today. but to what end? i plenty of diplomacy today. but to what end?— to what end? i think the message _ to what end? i think the message you _ to what end? i think the message you heard - to what end? i think the | message you heard from to what end? i think the - message you heard from antony blinken. — message you heard from antony blinken, i've heard it repeated from _ blinken, i've heard it repeated from officials here in the state _ from officials here in the state department and the last few hours is one of restraint

and — few hours is one of restraint and calling on all parties for that— and calling on all parties for that in— and calling on all parties for that in a _ and calling on all parties for that in a sense they know it is a bit — that in a sense they know it is a bit too — that in a sense they know it is a bit too late for that, given the scale _ a bit too late for that, given the scale of these many thousands of explosions that took— thousands of explosions that took place over two days in lebanon _ took place over two days in lebanon. i think the tactic here — lebanon. i think the tactic here by— lebanon. i think the tactic here by the americans is basically to say as little as possible about the nature and walkie—talkie explosions, while at the — walkie—talkie explosions, while at the same time trying to intensify their diplomacy. largely— intensify their diplomacy. largely involving their man in the region, hochstein who has been _ the region, hochstein who has been many months shuttling between the israelis and the lebanese trying to get a resolution to the crisis on the israet— resolution to the crisis on the israel - — resolution to the crisis on the israel — lebanon border. but the americans have always seen the americans have always seen the key— the americans have always seen the key to— the americans have always seen the key to that is getting a cease—fire deal between israel and hamas in gaza. that effort is stalled — and hamas in gaza. that effort is stalled for that is making no progress at all. they are back — no progress at all. they are back into _ no progress at all. they are back into crisis management mode — back into crisis management mode and i think watching very

closely— mode and i think watching very closely now his brother to what do next — closely now his brother to what do next. we had a briefing from the pentagon in which they were asked _ the pentagon in which they were asked if— the pentagon in which they were asked if us is moving any other military— asked if us is moving any other military assets to the region. they— military assets to the region. they already have one aircraft carrier — they already have one aircraft carrier in _ they already have one aircraft carrier in the mediterranean. they— carrier in the mediterranean. they said _ carrier in the mediterranean. they said in their words, tracking _ they said in their words, tracking any request for that to take _ tracking any request for that to take place was up there staying _ to take place was up there staying at the moment no further— staying at the moment no further intensification of us forces — further intensification of us forces around that part of the region — forces around that part of the region. that is notable. just one — region. that is notable. just one of— region. that is notable. just one of the point, i pressed the spokesperson again on the issue of how— spokesperson again on the issue of how they assess what's happened in lebanon against international humanitarian law. remember, there are international treaties that the us, israeland lebanon are international treaties that the us, israel and lebanon are all signed — us, israel and lebanon are all signed up _ us, israel and lebanon are all signed up to that prohibit the use of— signed up to that prohibit the use of booby—traps in everyday devices — use of booby—traps in everyday devices because of the chance that ordinary civilians get caught— that ordinary civilians get caught up in all theirs. the spokesman said they take that very seriously and that would always — very seriously and that would always be part of their

assessment in incidents like this without maybe put that to congressman boyle who is coming on shortiy~ — congressman boyle who is coming on shortl . . ~ congressman boyle who is coming on shortl . ., ,, five women say they were raped by the late owner of harrods, mohamed al fayed, when they for worked for him at the luxury department store in london. the bbc has now heard testimony from more than 20 female ex—employees who say the billionaire sexually assaulted them — as well as claims that harrods helped cover up the allegations of abuse. mr al—fayed owned harrods until 2010, and died last year at the age of 94. the store s current owners say they are utterly appalled by the accusations. this report from helena wilkinson does contain descriptions of sexual violence. ijoined habits i joined habits because ijoined habits because i wanted to be a buyer and i ended up working for an absolute monster. when mohamed al—fayed took over harrods, he quickly embraced his high profile role and the status that came with it.

to his customers and the celebrity guests he was all charm, but to many of his female employees, he was a different man, a predator. we've heard testimony from more than 20 of al—fayed's female ex—employees. he tried to rape me more than once. and he pushed me in and onto the bed so that i couldn't move. you know, he was 79, i nearly 80, and i was 15. mohamed al—fayed was rich and powerful. that power allowed him to carry out assault at scale over decades. i think is a serial rapist. gemma worked as al—fayed's personal assistant for two years. just a small dictaphone i had in nry— just a small dictaphone i had in my pocket. 0ne just a small dictaphone i had in my pocket. one of them was in my pocket. one of them was in paris. — in my pocket. one of them was in paris. in— in my pocket. one of them was in paris, in his residence there _ in paris, in his residence there near windsor. in paris, in his residence there nearwindsor. i in paris, in his residence there near windsor. i said in paris, in his residence there nearwindsor. i said i just— there nearwindsor. i said i just want— there nearwindsor. i said i just want to go to sleep on my

own _ just want to go to sleep on my own i— just want to go to sleep on my own. i don't want to. he kept saying — own. i don't want to. he kept saying relaxed, please relax. how — saying relaxed, please relax. how can— saying relaxed, please relax. how can you relax with you in that— how can you relax with you in that situation? he walked out and he — that situation? he walked out and he was angry. not long after this incident, gemma says al—fayed raped her. the bbc has heard testimony from four other women who say he raped them at his properties. in 2009, gemma contacted a lawyer who told harrods she was leaving herjob on the grounds of sexual harassment. she didn't feel able to disclose the more serious allegations at the time. they agreed to pay a settlement if she signed a non—disclosure agreement. there was also one other condition. the lawyers organised for a shredding truck to come to my lawyer's office. it was shredded in front of us, including tapes i had of him. someone from hr was present for the shredding of all of the evidence i had. i thought i'd lost the transcripts, but actually what i did have was the transcriptions sent

to my lawyer in my sent items of my email account. at the time. in a statement, the current owners of harrods said... they also said... there were several attempts to expose al—fayed before his death, but it is only now that many of the survivors feel able to speak publicly about the abuse. for those who have, the silence and the taboo are finally broken. helena wilkinson, bbc news. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

new polling in the three battleground states that will likely decide the upcoming us election, suggest kamala harris is eeking out something of a lead. it is still extremely tight. but there are signs in at least one poll she is closing the gap in two policy areas where donald trump is thought to be stronger. lets start with the nyt sienna poll, out today, two—and—a—half thousand people questioned. harris leads the key battleground state of pennsylvania, she has a li—point advantage which is just outside the 3 point margin of error. in a quinnipiac poll, similar figures in both pennsylvania . and michigan with the vice president 5 ahead. butjust one point in wisconsin. what stands out though is some of the analysis. quinnipiac says "the gops most go to attack strategies against democrats on immigration and the economy may be losing momentum. likely voters now see little daylight between trump and harris on who can

handle those key issues. which is strange because yesterday the teamsters union, refused to endorse either presidential candidate, ending a 25—year run of backing the democratic hopeful. largely because a majority of their members are backing trump. it's a great honour, they are not going to endorse the democrats. that's a big thing. this is the first time in, i guess, 50 or 60 years that this has happened. the democrats automatically have the teamsters. they took a vote and i was at 60% or more and that's a great honour. i have had a lot of teamsters work for me, a lot of the concrete trucks, built all these buildings that you see in new york city, the teamsters. we can speak to the democratic congressman from philadelphia, brendan boyle who sits on the budget committee: he on the budget committee: also sits on the budget committee. he also sits on the budget committee. great to have you. it seems to me when you look at the polling that the more people here from kamala harris on the economy the more they like her. why is she only done three tv and print interviews when he started around 14th

century became the nominee? great to be back with you. i can confidently say as goes pennsylvania so goes the selection. this was the case in 2016, 2020 and it will be again in 2024. what you've seen evidence that sunday afternoon when she became the de facto nominee a couple of months ago in increasingly sense then the american people have gotten to know her better. and the more they get to know about kamala harris than what they like about her. in terms of what interview she sits down to whether his local media or national the sort of tactical questions i'm less interested in and will lead to her campaign for that i know whatever they've been doing it has been working. it whatever they've been doing it has been working.— has been working. it 'ust fascinates i has been working. it 'ust fascinates me, i has been working. it 'ust fascinates me, she'sh has been working. itjust fascinates me, she's notj has been working. itjust - fascinates me, she's not too many interviews was that it feels like a ming vase strategy that labour employed the side. if you are waiting to stay out of the limelight. do what you need to do but don't go in any territory that might be

dangerous. i territory that might be dangerous.— territory that might be dangerous. territory that might be dancerous. , ., , territory that might be dancerous. dangerous. i can proudly say as a pennsylvania _ dangerous. i can proudly say as a pennsylvania democrat - dangerous. i can proudly say as a pennsylvania democrat i - dangerous. i can proudly say as. a pennsylvania democrat i would be more than happy to take keir starmer does majority from the last general election. frankly, i would be happy with the one general election. frankly, i would be happy with a one—point win in pennsylvania. interviews as important as they are are not the only way to reach voters, especially those who tend to not pay attention to cable tv news. 0r tend to not pay attention to cable tv news. or to the traditional sources. cable tv news. or to the traditionalsources. i cable tv news. or to the traditional sources. i think the campaign has been taking a very balanced approach. i would also point out that the one—way you can ensure media coverage is doing life events for trump by some measure has actually run one of the least active campaigns in modern history. he's only done four events of the last couple of weeks. this time eight years ago he had done four times that number. i would also take a broader look in terms of the activity of both campaigns. i in terms of the activity of both campaigns.- in terms of the activity of both campaigns. i want to talk about one _ both campaigns. i want to talk about one of _ both campaigns. i want to talk about one of the _ both campaigns. i want to talk about one of the key - about one of the key battleground states and that is

michigan. the uncommitted vote has said this afternoon they cannot back kamala harris because of her policy on the middle east. they don't see enough differentiation from joe biden stares for that that's a big setback in a state he won with only 50,000 votes in 2020. i believe the uncommitted who have been also saying there avoiding voting donald trump and third party. if you take the natural extension of those two things the only place to go would be kamala harris. there is no question that ever sense the israel— hamas war began some 11 months ago, it is been a divisive issue here in the united states for that indeed i think in many countries in the west. i think that kamala harris is in a good place politically on that issue. the reality is, most voters see that this white house has worked night and day to attempt to achieve a cease—fire, the

release of the hostages and building towards a more permanent scenario. donald trump would absolutely take us in the wrong direction. you 'ust sit in the wrong direction. you just sit on _ in the wrong direction. you just sit on the _ in the wrong direction. you just sit on the budget - just sit on the budget committee our correspondent was just saying that there are international treaties which the united states has signed up to on putting booby—traps in devices like phones and hand—held devices. should the spending commitment to israel be open ended and are you at all worried right now that the united states has lost leverage of the decisions that israel has taken?— of the decisions that israel has taken? , ., ., ._ has taken? first, i have to say i have has taken? first, i have to say i have not _ has taken? first, i have to say i have not yet _ has taken? first, i have to say i have not yet received - has taken? first, i have to say i have not yet received a - i have not yet received a classified briefing, no member of congress has in terms of what exactly is happening in lebanon, how many rockets we're seeing from his brother. what is the full extent of the response from israel. i would really think it's responsible

to deferjudgment until i get a classified briefing. iwas to deferjudgment until i get a classified briefing. i was say more generally however, the sooner that we can finally have a leadership both wage and hamas go to a brutal terrorist organisation and the israeli government, which by its own admission has the most right wing government and the nations 80 year history, the sooner that we can get parties willing to accept a cease—fire and the release of all the hostages the better off we all will be. congressman boyle, i hope we will speak more before the election. thank you for coming on the programme tonight. thank you for coming on the programme tonight. now to something pretty astonishing. a surgical team in saudi arabia, have carried out the world's first fully robotic heart transplant. an operation lasted roughly two and half hours, it was performed on a 16—year—old patient with end—stage heart failure. the patient had requested the heart team not open up his chest. speed is of the essence. the surgeons at the king faisal specialist hospital and research centre in riyadh

had practised seven times on dead bodies before they felt able to perform the procedure. but what it means now for the patient — and for those who undergo similar treatment — is reduced pain, shortened recovery time, and a much lower risk of complications. the man who led that team is dr feras khaliel, who led the surgery and is head of cardiac surgery at the king faisal hospital. but what it means now for the patient — and for those who undergo similar treatment — is reduced pain, shortened recovery time, and a much lower risk of complications. the man who led that team is dr feras khaliel, who led the surgery and is head of cardiac surgery at the king faisal hospital. many congratulations on an extraordinary achievement. at got to ask the obvious question, how does a robot handle in oregon as sensitive as a heart and get it into the cavity with such speed? good afternoon _ cavity with such speed? good afternoon and good _ cavity with such speed? good afternoon and good evening, | afternoon and good evening, ladies and gentlemen. thank you for hosting me at your show. just to answer your question, it is rather delicate. but after having above 500 cardiac procedures we did develop the know—how to handle delicate lee these organs —— delicately these organs —— delicately these organs. especially when we conduct cardiac bypass when

you are at less then eight mm diameter of vessel and threads are not seen by either eyes. honestly, especially with this such as a robotic heart transplant performing it has to be practised prior to conducting.- be practised prior to conductinu. . ., ., conducting. are you doing all this by video? _ conducting. are you doing all this by video? you _ conducting. are you doing all this by video? you doing - conducting. are you doing all this by video? you doing it i conducting. are you doing all| this by video? you doing it by looking at video?— this by video? you doing it by looking at video? correct. the robot has _ looking at video? correct. the robot has a — looking at video? correct. the robot has a consult _ looking at video? correct. the robot has a consult for- looking at video? correct. the robot has a consult for the - looking at video? correct. the robot has a consult for the it | robot has a consult for the it is the control of the main robot and the main robot becomes docked next to the patient through forearms that goes between the ribs. each arm has eight mm diameter with in goes between the ribs. each arm has eight mm diameter with in the length goes up to 45 of 47 the length goes up to 45 of 47 cm. . �* , the length goes up to 45 of 47 cm. . �* , the length goes up to 45 of 47 cm. . �*, ._ the length goes up to 45 of 47 cm. . �*, ._ the length goes up to 45 of 47 cm. that's extraordinary. what do ou cm. that's extraordinary. what do you plan — cm. that's extraordinary. what do you plan to _ cm. that's extraordinary. what cm. that's extraordinary. what do ou cm. that's extraordinary. what do you plan — cm. that's extraordinary. what do you plan to _ cm. that's extraordinary. what do you plan to do _ cm. that's extraordinary. what do you plan to do with - cm. that's extraordinary. what do you plan to do with the - do you plan to do with the style that you've perfected a? do you plan to do _ cm. that's extraordinary. what do you plan to do with - cm. that's extraordinary. what do you plan to do with the - do you plan to do with the style that you've perfected a?

first of all we each first of all we have to continue doing it and develop knowledge transfer. we need to invite all robotic cardiac surgeons who are experts in the field from all around the world and bring them overfirst into our research centre to conduct as an experiment and then we give them case observation. and give them case observation. and our give them case observation. and your patient _ give them case observation. and your patient is — give them case observation. and your patient is already back on his fee, is he?— his fee, is he? oh, yeah. the atient his fee, is he? oh, yeah. the patient from _ his fee, is he? oh, yeah. the patient from day _ his fee, is he? oh, yeah. the patient from day one - his fee, is he? oh, yeah. the patient from day one he - his fee, is he? oh, yeah. the patient from day one he wasl patient from day one he was starting to eat and drink and talking to his family. from day two and three started to mobilise. he left icu on day four. 0n mobilise. he left icu on day four. on day four? correct. usually in a heart transplant the patient

done. thank you for coming on. thank you. good evening. it has been another day when things have felt more like summer than september. most places got to see at least some sunshine. and along the south coast today, temperatures got pretty close to 25 degrees. but in the southern areas, things are set to change as this area of low pressure pushes northwards over the next few days. that will bring some showers, some thunderstorms, and see how the rain is set to accumulate in some locations. it is possible that some places in the south could get close to a month's worth of rain, but notice, further north, not much rain at all. it is going to stay largely dry across northern england, northern ireland and scotland. warm sunshine up towards the north west, often quite cloudy and cool close to these north sea coasts, and with the chance for those showers and thunderstorms down towards the south. now, in the shorter term tonight, we are going to see a lot of cloud filtering

in across many parts of the uk, and even where we keep hold of some clear skies — say, across parts of northern ireland — we could see a few fog patches. a little bit on the chilly side across northwest scotland, down into northern ireland. further south and east, though, with the cloud and the breeze, a mild start to friday morning, a lot of cloud around first thing — that tending to retreat towards the east coast, but staying pretty murky, i think, for parts of north—east england and eastern scotland. and then we start to see these showers and thunderstorms breaking out across parts of wales, southern and southwestern parts of england. we could see a lot of rain in a short space of time. and those temperatures, if anything, a little bit down on where they have been. during friday night, we continue to see this feed of cloud into parts of north—east england, eastern scotland, staying quite murky here. through saturday, sunshine for western scotland and northern ireland, but further south across england and wales, i think we'll see more of these heavy downpours and thunderstorms — perhaps the worst of those from the midlands, westwards into wales and the south—west of england. temperatures north to south around 16 to 22

degrees. into sunday it looks like we'll see the showers joining into longer spells of rain. again, though, confined to southern parts of england, the midlands, wales. further north, largely dry. best of the sunshine to the north—west. quite murky for some of these eastern coasts. and then, as we head on into next week it does look very unsettled. low pressure is set to be in charge. we'll see some rain at times. it could potentially be quite windy and it is also set to turn quite a lot colder.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. you are watching the context. it is time for al decoded. welcome to the programme. freely available, largely unregulated, the creative tools of generative ai, now amplifying the threat of disinformation. how do we tackle it, what can we trust? and how are our enemies using it to undermine our elections and our freedoms? this week governor gavin newsom signed a bill in california that makes it illegal to create and publish deepfakes related to the upcoming election. and from next year the social media giants will be required

to identify and remove any deceptive material. it is the first state in the nation to pass