hello and welcome to newsday. we begin with developments along the israeli —lebanon border ff where the israel defense forces says a "limited, localised and targeted" ground operation is under way against hezbollah in southern lebanon. in a post on social media in the last few hours — the idf said "in accordance media in the last few hours — the idf said, "in accordance "with the decision of the political echelon, "a few hours ago, the idf began limited, localized, "and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence "against hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure "in southern lebanon. "these targets are located in villages close to the border "and pose an immediate threat to israeli communities "in northern israel.

this is the live scene in beirut, as bbc teams report hearing explosions in the capital's southern suburbs — israel has ordered the evacuation of three areas. meanwhile the uk government has chartered a flight to help british nationals leave lebanon, scheduled to leave beirut on wednesday. it's as israeli tanks were seen gathering at the border on monday. israel's defense minister yoav gallant said the military is prepared to use forces "from the air, land and sea" — to allow thousands of displaced israelis to return to their homes in the north. meanwhile, the deputy chief of hezbollah, naim qaissem, said the groups fighters are ready to confront an invasion. he acknowledged the assassination of leader, hassan nasrallah, was a big blow — but said all fallen commanders would soon be replaced. let's get the latest now

from our correspondent on the border between israel and lebanon, lucy williamson. we've been hearing helicopters overhead for a while now and also the sound of artillery, some distance away, otherwise earlier, the a series of loud explosions that we heard here close of the border as israel confirmed that it had launched what it's calling limited and targeted ground raids into lebanon on what it called has belied terrorist targets in the area. it's not clear at this stage what sort of scale form those rates are taking but we have witnessed a buildup of troops and tanks here at the border over the last few days, we saw a couple of dozen tanks by the main road, just earlier today, israel has been inflicting blow after blow on hezbollah for the past couple of weeks but any kind of ground invasion represents a new phase invasion represents a new phase in this war, new risks for the israeli military and new risks

for the region as well. our correspondent anna foster is in beirut, and told me more about how things might develop. the momentum rarely gathered here over the few hours leading up to the announcement that israeli troops had entered lebanon for the first time since the war in 2006 between these two sides and is within the combination of what has been a very fast—moving israeli operation of the last week or so, we've seen airstrikes here in southern lebanon in the east of the country as well where is within the combination of what has been a very fast—moving israeli operation of the last week or so, we've seen airstrikes here in southern lebanon in the east of the country as well were israel said it was targeting hezbollah�*s very successfully removing and killing many of its senior members include hassan nasrallah. now we heard from the idf that that was going to be a precursor to a ground operation, that has happened really quite quickly

in a matter of days since it was first suggested by the idf. there are questions now that we will wait and see the answers to, what does a localised and targeted israeli ground operation in lebanon look like? what kind of challenges for the face? what is that mean for the many civilians were still in that area and i think crucially, what response could provoke both from hezbollah but also from their fellow iranians backed proxies here in the middle east? we are reporting the uk government is looking to extricate or to evacuate its british nationals from lebanon. many civilians don't have such a luxury, how are they or if you can give us summary action to what's been going on in the ground there with response to these incursions and by attacks from the air well from israel? you are right to say that for many lebanese citizens, they don't really have a choice of where to go and for some of them, coming from those poorer areas in the south

or the areas in the cities here, they haven't had any way to go so people have been living on the streets for several days now with their children, with whatever they can grab and take with them when they fled. the lebanese state has been will state of difficulty for several years now, crisis upon crisis, they had economic crisis which still goes on, electricity in this country, state electricity is very short supply, they have been times when medicines have been very hard to get hold of, fuel is been hard to get a hold of and it's really ground infrastructure of lebanese society down so now they suddenly have all the displaced people to try and look after it exited enormously difficult and also talk about foreign nationals there tried to leave as well, you mention that uk government has charted a plane of what it's going to offer seats for payment to vulnerable british nationals and their families and dependents, they said in the first instance.

the us was also doing something similar, i saw on the us embassy social media feed a few hours ago that they were similarly saying they were going to charter civilian planes to get people out. one of the great worries is what people think back to 2006, one thing that happened there was infrastructure was taken out by israel, including things like the airport, there is only one civilian airport here, you cannot get out via the southern border of into israel, you cannot get out via the east because there you have syria so i think there is a concern among other governments when they look at the national cor that if for example, the airport were to be targeted again as it was nearly 20 years ago, it would be enormously difficult to get people out if they wanted to leave and if and when things become dangerous here. let's go now tojerusalem and our middle east bureau. chief, jo floto. i want to get your reaction to what you think the reaction israel will be expecting from

its recent incursion into southern lebanon. we've had a few reactions _ southern lebanon. we've had a few reactions from _ southern lebanon. we've had a few reactions from hezbollah . southern lebanon. we've had aj few reactions from hezbollah in the form of missiles being fired into the north of israel, about ten projectiles in the last hour into the they are, a military base there, the also been couple of explosions reported near tel aviv but we haven't got to the bottom of what those are, the israeli military reporting that they've intercepted a drone, several kilometres off the shore of central israel, we are awaiting more details of that so that could be the initial response and anticipating from everyone is a much larger reaction to the fact that the israeli boots on the ground in lebanon, someone that hezbollah is training for anticipating, whether or not they got the capacity to fire back given the relentless nature of the last two weeks of attack on the leadership, on the

infrastructure and communications and the weaponry and that's what we will find out in the next few hours and days. out in the next few hours and da s. �* , ., . days. and there is a concern that these — days. and there is a concern that these leaders _ days. and there is a concern that these leaders actions i that these leaders actions could increase the likelihood of this conflict spilling out even more broadly? i of this conflict spilling out even more broadly? i think that is what anna — even more broadly? i think that is what anna was _ even more broadly? i think that is what anna was alluding - even more broadly? i think that is what anna was alluding to - even more broadly? i think that is what anna was alluding to in | is what anna was alluding to in her answer is that the nature of that response from hezbollah, it still has access to some very large weapons that could inflict a lot of damage on israel if fired all at once and also has buller�*s main back iran so this is the question, this is the calculation from the israeli military and political establishment is whether they can carry out this operation which they deem necessary to get rid of the threats on the northern border, if they can carry out that operation to destroy hezbollah infrastructure without provoking such a massive response from either hezbollah or iran, that the region

descends into a major military congregation, it's pretty big at the moment but he could get at the moment but he could get a lot worse. at the moment but he could get a lot worse-— a lot worse. just past five o'clock a lot worse. just past five o'clock in _ a lot worse. just past five o'clock in the _ a lot worse. just past five o'clock in the morning - a lot worse. just past five o'clock in the morning in | o'clock in the morning in beirut, what do you see happening over the next 2a hours? i happening over the next 24 hours? ~ , hours? i think this will continue _ hours? i think this will continue where - hours? i think this will i continue where everyone hours? i think this will - continue where everyone is holding their breath as to what the response will be as ijust said but i think we are likely to see this level of operation just across the border, what the israeli military are trying to achieve here, it's trying to disarm and disable the infrastructure that has buller is effectively been building since the end of the last war when israel into thousand and six, just about five years ago and the forces discovered a network of tunnels under the border of northern israel dug into the hard rock there, that could have infiltrated hundreds of hezbollah fighters into northern israel in one go and we know that has buller has long stated ambition to capture

that part of northern israel. that is a risk that israeli forces were prepared to face up to for quite a long time but i think since october 7, since the events there where you saw fighters coming to israel and take over towns, well, that risk is now no longer one that israel is prepared to tolerate so, that is going to be the focus of the israeli military that before this conflict ends and before someone brings it to and before someone brings it to an end with the broken ceasefire that they have inflicted enough damage on that infrastructure is taken years to build so that they don't have to face has buller from tunnels and bunkers again in any future conflict.— tunnels and bunkers again in any future conflict. thank you very much — any future conflict. thank you very much for— any future conflict. thank you very much for giving - any future conflict. thank you very much for giving us - any future conflict. thank you very much for giving us the i very much for giving us the contacts. joining me live is laura blumenfeld, seniorfellow at the philip merrill center for strategic studies atjohns hopkins university. she previously served as a senior policy advisor on the us state department's israeli—palestinian negotiating team.

before that, she was a longtime correspondent covering the middle east. good to speak to you about this and get your knowledge of the subject, i understand that you've just being at the israeli embassy event in dc and spoke to the ambassador, what's the message they are trying to get out? the message they are trying to net out? ., ~ ., .,, ., get out? you know, it was a very humbling _ get out? you know, it was a very humbling scene, - get out? you know, it was a very humbling scene, it - get out? you know, it was a very humbling scene, it wasj get out? you know, it was a i very humbling scene, it was a reception for the jewish new year, and they served honey cake but it was bittersweet and the amasa talked about the jewish new year is known as the days of all and it's a time for atonement and for reflection on the one hand, he was expressing deep gratitude for the us for their backing of israel throughout the past 11 months and going forward and on the other hand, there was a sense of responsibility and looking inward to try and correct the mistakes that israel has made and i think that's part of what this operation is about in the

north, a second chance whether it is for failing to see the threat from the south and gaza or whether it is failing to kind of take on lebanon and the right way into thousand and six and in 1982, israel has learned some hard lessons heading northwards on the ground. can ou northwards on the ground. can you elaborate _ northwards on the ground. can you elaborate about lessons being learned and what that means for the context of what we're seeing at moment? it’s we're seeing at moment? it's very easy — we're seeing at moment? it's very easy that _ we're seeing at moment? it's very easy that is _ we're seeing at moment? it�*s very easy that is rather talking about a limited localised and targeted ground raid but the word lab and israel is almost like the word vietnam in the us, it's getting bogged down in a slot in what seems to be limited in time wise could expand greatly and beyond control so i think what is really trying to do, it's boots on the ground, i would call it a round forces root canal, these are the special forces that has buller has where they have vowed to sort of carry out what hamas did in

october 7 which is infiltration of israel, i think the us as an opportunity here, they may not have succeeded in getting a gaza ceasefire even with the compensation deal but with a short time the white administration has left, they could see brokering some kind of peace along the northern border so that both lebanese civilians can get back to their homes and the israelis can move back and also give assistance to the lebanese government with hassan nasrallah removed from power, assassinated and is an opportunity for on to get out of dysfunction and towards a better tomorrow which would be a great legacy for president biden. ,, , . , ~' a great legacy for president biden. ,, , ., , ,, ., biden. surely any kind of ceasefire _ biden. surely any kind of ceasefire between - biden. surely any kind of ceasefire between has i biden. surely any kind of- ceasefire between has buller and israel will be depleted and predetermined by what's happening in gaza. they said they are fighting in support of palestinians? hat they are fighting in support of palestinians? not necessarily, the twinning — palestinians? not necessarily, the twinning of— palestinians? not necessarily, the twinning of the _ palestinians? not necessarily, the twinning of the two - the twinning of the two conflicts, that is one kind of

way to go out it might defence minister gallant said years ago that when you go for it, you need to go for all the way and is really trying to do is testing this theory of go back and then go home, to escalate in order to de—escalate, all along, the man agreed to reorder the middle east, israel is trying another way which is military might, we will see, it's a huge gamble but desperate man, desperate measures. i think that benjamin netanyahu and all of israel has seen the sales in a desperate state, they see it as a war of annihilation.— annihilation. just one quick question. _ annihilation. just one quick question. you _ annihilation. just one quick question, you mentioned l annihilation. just one quick- question, you mentioned about desperate men make investment decisions, they say political and event to this ground operationally talking about netanyahu and his grip on power on israel? ., �* , netanyahu and his grip on power on israel? . �*, ., on israel? that's always there, while politician _ on israel? that's always there, while politician isn't _ on israel? that's always there, while politician isn't thinking i while politician isn't thinking about preserving power, i think it goes beyond that, for the

us, there has been some measure of frustration because israel has been good at getting up a treat and then we have to come along and get them down or at least deter either run as they get themselves into trouble and on the other hand, has been kind of negotiation where we've been able to moderate weather netanyahu has been politically motivated or otherwise and the last 48 hours, we see negotiations between washington, they were planning on going with the magic round operation was thanks to some of that influence, and there's a lot of talk about what current leveraged we have over israel but to roll back whatever the goals are to keep a precise and targeted. goals are to keep a precise and tarueted. ., ~ goals are to keep a precise and tarueted. . ~ i. , goals are to keep a precise and tarueted. ., ~' ,, , . targeted. thank you very much for our targeted. thank you very much for your thoughts _ targeted. thank you very much for your thoughts on _ targeted. thank you very much for your thoughts on your - targeted. thank you very much for your thoughts on your time | for your thoughts on your time today. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the last remaining blast furnace at britain's biggest steel works in port talbot has ceased production. 2,800 jobs will be lost, and the closure marks the end

of a century of traditional steel making in south wales. operators tata steel says it is �*deeply conscious' of how difficult the closure is for the community, whilst union unite called it �*industrial vandalism'. an accounting system used by post office sub—postmasters before the flawed horizon software was introduced, is also likely to have been faulty. a report into the capture system, which was used from 1992 to 1999, found it could have created cash shortfalls in accounts. an investigation into the it system was commissioned after some subpostmasters said they were wrongly accused of stealing. the uk's top civil servant, simon case, is to step down for health reasons. the cabinet secretary says he's been undergoing treatment for a �*neurological condition�* and will leave by the end of the year. mr case said the decision was "solely to do with health". you�*re live with bbc news.

officials in nepal say the number of people known to have been killed by landslides and floods in recent days has reached 200. more than twenty others are still missing with rescue efforts ongoing. nepal�*s army says more than 4,000 people have been rescued, with helicopters, motorboats and rafts bringing stranded people to safety, after roads and bridges in several areas were washed away. concerns have also been raised by aid groups about providing food, shelter, water and sanitation for those impacted by the floods. roslyn gabriel from world vision international nepal is helping to coordinate the relief operation. the damage occurred in both kathmandu but now in the rule areas that are downstream in nepal. especially in the southern districts and there we are seeing huge amounts of flooding, we have seen landslides across nepal,

across many of the different districts, to the extent that the kathmandu valley is completely blocked, all the roads going in and out are blocked which you can see the picture of the scale of flooding here. this is the second flight that�*s occurred in kathmandu this year. but this one was much, much larger and the reinforcer have been the highest on record in the last 54 years, not only kathmandu valley but across multiple district so we are seeing more extreme weather happening, nepal is very vulnerable to climate change and unfortunately, we are going to continue to see this events unfold. more than 100 people have died and millions are without power in the south—eastern united states, after hurricane helene brought torrential rain and high winds a number of states over the weekend including florida and north carolina. several towns have been flattened and roads destroyed, with the governor of north carolina warning that entire communities had been washed "off the map". the authorities say around 600 people are still missing and the death toll may rise. president biden says he plans to visit flood—ravaged north carolina on wednesday.

days after hurricane helene made landfall, the scale of the devastation is becoming clear. from florida to georgia... ..and here in north carolina, homes and livelihoods washed away. more than 100 people have now died across six states, and with scores still missing, white house officials fear the death toll could rise as high as 600. i�*ve never seen so many people homeless as what i have right 110w. this is the third storm in a year. like, i don�*t know how much more we can take, and then they�*re telling us there�*s another one out there. mountain regions of north carolina are some of the hardest hit — the splintered remains of people�*s homes now floating in floodwaters. even before the officer got to me, the water

was all the way up to my chest inside my car. i couldn�*t even think, "what was going on?" it happened so fast to me and scared the life out of me. rescuers are still trying to reach residents cut off by damaged roads and a lack of cell phone service. some of these states most affected are expected to be decisive in november�*s presidential election, so with just over five weeks until polling day, former president donald trump visited flood—ravaged georgia. his rival, kamala harris, says she�*ll be in the region soon. people hope the worst is over, but with two months of hurricane season left, helene may not be the last storm on the horizon. carl nasman, bbc news. i caught up with carl a little earlier and asked him about the response from us presidentjoe biden and those on the ground. we heard from the president that he does plan to visit north carolina specifically, that will be on wednesday, it was interesting that there was this moment when he was asked whether or not he thought there

was a link between the damage and the storm and climate change and he said absolutely positively yes. we�*re getting some climate studies that are bearing that out. there are the political angle, the campaign angle, we saw donald trump the ground in georgia on monday and we also know the vice president, harris planning her own troop to the region in the coming days. —— kamala harris. let�*s go now to eastern taiwan, where we�*re getting these live pictures. you can see the waves hitting the shore there, as typhoon krathon heads towards taiwan. there are concerns it could strengthen into a super typhoon, after roaring through parts of the philippines. the typhoon passed near the island of sabtang with gusts of up to 134 miles an hour. authorities in taiwan have closed schools ands evacuated hundreds of people in the south and east of the country as a precaution.

we will bring you updates as we get them. let�*s take a look at some other stories in the headlines. nigerian authorities are investigating reports that at least 24 civilians were killed in an airstrike in the northwest kaduna state. nigeria�*s airforce said it has been targeting hideouts for armed gangs in the region based on quote "credible intelligence and reliable confirmatory surveillance." the incident has sparked concerns — following a mistaken airstrike by nigeria�*s airforce lastyear. the man charged in an alleged assassination attempt against former president donald trump — entered a not guilty plea on monday. prosecutors say ryan routh was spotted with a rifle as he hid in the bushes near trump�*s golf course in west palm beach in september. if convicted, routh faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. the rock band oasis says they will ditch dynamic pricing for their tours in the us after it caused �*an unacceptable experience�* for uk fans. the system automatically raised the prices of concert tickets at times of high demands. the band faced backlash and an investigation was opened

in the uk to see if ticketmaster violated consumer protection law. prince harry has made a rare public appearance in the uk, to celebrate the achievements of young people and their families dealing with serious health conditions. the duke of sussex attended the annual wellchild awards ceremony in central london, a charity of which he�*s patron. it isn�*t known whether he�*ll see his father, the king, or his brother, prince william, while he�*s visiting., as daniela relph reports. laughter. he might be a prince, but there was no special treatment for the duke of sussex. six—year—old noah had prince harry in his sights. the trips back to the uk are just occasional now, but the prince�*s commitment to the wellchild charity hasn�*t wavered since his move to america. at the award ceremony to honour the courage of children with complex needs, prince harry called them "little legends" and praised their families.

as a parent, i know a little about the emotional roller—coaster of parenting. but when i hear about the care that some of you mums, dads and family members provide, the level of round—the—clock care that you offer, the skills you�*ve had to learn and the battles for support that you fight every single day, i am truly in awe. any return to the uk sharpens interest in prince harry�*s still strained relationship with the royal family. with the king in scotland and the prince of wales in windsor, family meetings appear unlikely. but he won�*t go home empty—handed — presents for prince harry�*s children, archie and lilibet, from 11—year—old lewis, one of the wellchild winners that prince harry called heroic. daniela relph, bbc news, central london. thank you forjoining me on bbc

news for newsday, a reminder, our top story about israel launching attacks limited attacks it says for southern lebanon, more on our love page including an update from joe who was spoke earlier about israel�*s desire to destroy hezbollah�*s mortar, the threat to itself. thank you for your company. we will see you again soon. hello there. well, as we start off october, things are looking a little drier for a couple of days, but it has been a very wet september across the southern half of the uk. in fact, some spots towards the south of england have seen three or four times the average september rainfall. and it�*s notjust been the wettest september on record for some places, it�*s also been the wettest month on record. there�*s been more flooding in didcot in oxfordshire here on monday, more flood warnings in force as we head through the rest of the night, mostly for central and north—western areas of england, where we�*re seeing the heaviest of the downpours. but that low has now pulled out into the north sea. still strong, gusty winds for these north sea—facing coasts, some more rain gradually sinking further southwards and eastwards across central—southern

england. but some clear skies out towards the north and the west, so, here, a locally chilly start to the day on tuesday. now, on tuesday, that low is still bringing some more cloud and some rainjust swirling around it. some of that rain could push a little further westwards at times, it will be lighter than on monday, of course, and we�*ve still got that brisk north—easterly wind across coastal areas of yorkshire, lincolnshire and down through northern areas of norfolk too. the best of the sunshine out towards the west, for much of scotland, into northern ireland, western wales and south west england. and here, we could see temperatures rise to around 16 or 17 celsius. and then on wednesday, well, high pressure starts to edge down from the north, so we�*re all going to be seeing that dry, sunnier—feeling weather as we head through wednesday and thursday. but it�*s going to take a while, i think, still for that low to clear across south east england, east anglia. still some showers here and

a bit more in the way of cloud. some of the showers blowing a little further westwards at times, but lots of sunshine further north and west, some areas of cloud at times. chance of one or two isolated showers, but temperatures 15 to 17 celsius in the best of the brightness. and on thursday, it�*s going to be a locally chilly start to the day. a touch of frost, perhaps, in the north, a bit of mist around with those lighter winds, but for the vast majority of us, a dry day with plenty of sunshine. cloud developing here and there, and temperatures have now returned to the seasonal average, so 14 to 17 degrees north to south. on friday, we start to see more cloud edging from the north and the west. the best of the sunshine further south and east. and over the weekend, well, we�*ve got rain pushing eastwards again. bye—bye for now.

time is running out to avoid a massive port shutdown in the us. canada imposes 100% taxes on chinese made vehicles. we find out what the impact is likely to be on the consumer. welcome to business today. time is running out to avert

a massive strike on seaports in the us. tens of thousands of dock workers are about to walk off the job at around 14 seaports along the east and gulf coast. that could cause delays and a drag on the economyjust weeks before a divisive presidential election. the two major sticking points between the international association and maritime alliance of wages and automation. workers are unhappy with the current contracts which spanned the pandemics when dockworkers stayed on the job and enjoyed months of soaring inflation. on automation, the union boss has been warning jobs could be replaced by machines. in response, that us maritime alliance says it is offering to keep the current ban on fully automated equipment. a strike could cost $5 billion a day according tojp morgan analyst. everything from raw materials and pharmaceuticals,