the prospect of israel striking iran's oil facilities sends crude prices higher, as the global ripples from conflict in the middle east spread ever wider. we will be a live in washington and beirut. also coming up, britain agrees to hand over the check off the island to mauritius, ending a bitter dispute dating back more than half a century. global oil prices have risen sharply, after president biden said he was talking to israel about potential strikes on iran's oil facilities in response to tehran�*s ballistic missile attack in response to —— iran's ballistic missile attack on israel on tuesday. mr biden�*s comments led to an immediate spike in the price of oil,

brent crudejumping as much as 5%, though it's since fallen back. iran is the seventh largest oil producer in the world. the markets fear a further escalation of the conflict in the middle east could mean iran blocks the straits of hormuz — a key waterway for oil and gas shipments. meanwhile, israel's military offensive against the iranian—backed hezbollah militia goes on after the killing of its leader hassan nasrallah last week. lebanese officials say at least nine people were killed and 14 injured in an israeli air strike on a building in central beirut. the multi—storey block housed a hezbollah—affiliated health centre israel said was hit in a "precision" attack. it's thought the target was a hezbollah official who lived in the building. this is a rare israeli strike in the heart of the city in the bachoura district, close to lebanon's parliament building. our middle east correspondent hugo bachega

let's go live. we can cross to beirut and my colleague anna foster. we have seen strikes right in the city of beirut — notjust in the southern suburbs. the city of beirut - notjust in the southern suburbs. that's riuht. in the southern suburbs. that's right- this _ in the southern suburbs. that's right- this is — in the southern suburbs. that's right. this is the _ in the southern suburbs. that's right. this is the centre - in the southern suburbs. that's right. this is the centre of - right. this is the centre of beirut. with that building was hit last night, it was about 20 past midnight. i look across here and saw the orange flame and the windows of the surrounding buildings. a lot of these strikes have been focused on the southern suburbs of beirut, where hezbollah is based. it was really unusual to see a strike like this in the heart of beirut in the downtown area. very close to parliament. there's a big you building close by. so far, the majority of those strikes have been

concentrated in one area. the idf have said today they have hit 15 different hezbollah targets here in beirut itself. down in the south as well, those air strikes that continued intensely really throughout the day. just before israel launched its ground invasion into lebanon, the head of the army said they were doing it to try to degrade hezbollah�*s military infrastructure ahead of its troops going in. even though that has started, we still see these air strikes continuing at pace and notjust in that area, but here in the capital as well. ., , . ., , but here in the capital as well. , ., well. in the last couple of hours, reports _ well. in the last couple of hours, reports of - well. in the last couple of hours, reports of an - well. in the last couple of. hours, reports of an israeli strike on a warehouse close to beirut airport, so not surprisingly, the airlines have cancelled flights in and out. that's making it harderfor people who want to get out.

yeah, it's really difficult. that area is naturally very close to the airport. they are almost next to each other when you look at the map. at the moment, if you want to get a flight out, you would probably be looking at at least ten days or two weeks. most commercial airlines have stopped flying now altogether. there's only mea, the lebanese national carrier, still flying routes. but everything else has stopped. what we have seen his government organising charter flights. the nationals of that particular country are lifted by the seats and they take them out. it's also worth mentioning that many countries — the uk, the us and others — have told their nationals for weeks to leave. they said leave while you still can, leave while commercial options are available. a lot of people dead, but a lot of people didn't. that's why you're

seeing a lot of them taking steps of their own to get people out —— a lot of people did. people out -- a lot of people did. �* ., ~ , ., joining me now is frank lowenstein, former us special envoy for middle east peace under president barack 0bama. frank, let me just ask you first of all. we heard joe biden at the beginning of the programme saying that they were talking with israel about the possibility of hitting iranian oilfacilities in possibility of hitting iranian oil facilities in retaliation for the iranian strikes on israel. that is a real global consequence, isn't it, of this continuing conflict in the middle east?— continuing conflict in the middle east? , ., , , middle east? yes, absolutely. it's a middle east? yes, absolutely. it's a really — middle east? yes, absolutely. it's a really pivotal _ middle east? yes, absolutely. it's a really pivotal moment i it's a really pivotal moment over there. we're sort of on a knife edge either way. hopefully what we are trying to do is get on the path of de—escalation. i think the oil facilities is not only a problem in the world, it's acute in the united states. the

last thing bite and then here right now is a big spite aiden got —— big spike in gas prices. the hope is the iranians can back down and we can move more and more peaceful result. [30 and more peaceful result. do ou and more peaceful result. do you think _ and more peaceful result. do you think that was unwise of joe biden to even talk about the possibility of strikes on oil facilities? the possibility of strikes on oilfacilities? the immediate oil facilities? the immediate impact oilfacilities? the immediate impact was to put up prices. it's an interesting question. we're probably trying to err that out now. in the hopes that might hope the israel... we're —— might help. that would likely elicit a very strong reaction from the israelis, which would spend probably out of control. ., �* , which would spend probably out of control. ., v ., of control. that's an interesting - of control. that's an interesting point - l of control. that's an i interesting point - why of control. that's an - interesting point - why would interesting point — why would the us not want to see iran's

potential and facilities for creating a bomb? why would it not want to see those degraded and attacked by the israelis? i think we would very much like to see that if there was a way to see that if there was a way to do it that didn't result in a run sending —— iran sending 1,000 ballistic missiles to israel. when they sent 200, some didn't make it through. it's really the escalatory spiral we are most concerned about, more so than taking out the iranian facilities.— the iranian facilities. what then would _ the iranian facilities. what then would you _ the iranian facilities. what then would you expect - the iranian facilities. what i then would you expect israel the iranian facilities. what - then would you expect israel to do and the united states perhaps to accept in terms of what israelis do? it's clear they're going to do that and i think we're very supportive of that. the

question is whether the attacks on iran military sites, can be complemented by us sanctions in a way that enables the israelis to do less damage military. maybe a lighter israel military response. we'll see if that works or not.— response. we'll see if that works or not. frank, good to talk to yom _ works or not. frank, good to talk to you. thanks - works or not. frank, good to talk to you. thanks so - works or not. frank, good to| talk to you. thanks so much. former us envoy for middle east peace under president barack 0bama. one of the most senior leaders of hamas — which is designated a terrorist organisation by the uk and other governments — has told the bbc that the crisis they provoked in the middle east, which has led to the deaths of thousands of people in the last year, is justified. the deputy leader of hamas, khalil al haya, said the october 7th?attacks, which killed 1200 people — mostly israeli civilians — were necessary to place the issue of palestinian

statehood back on the global agenda. he insisted without it, the cycle of violence in the middle east would not end. 0ur international editorjeremy bowen has sent this report. with an israeli attack looming, iran and its allies are trying to rally. the iranian president was in qatar, embracing khalil al—hayya and the political leadership of hamas, whose attack on israel last october started a year of war and a crisis that is deepening. khalil al—hayya became the most senior hamas leader outside gaza after israel assassinated his predecessor, ismail haniyeh, in july. his leg was broken in the attack, and he was still in a surgical boot when we met him in doha a few hours before iran attacked israel on tuesday. let us go back to the 7th of october last year. why did hamas attack israel? translation: we had to send an alarm to the world to tell. them that we are a people

with a cause and demands. it was a blow to israel, the zionist enemy, and a wake—up call to the international community. we had to do something that would tell the world that there is a people that has been under occupation for decades. why did your men kill so many civilians, children as well? we ordered our resistance fighters on 7th of october not to target civilians, women and children. the objective was the occupation soldiers who were always killing, bombing and destroying in gaza. we don't endorse harming civilians. 0n the ground, there were certainly personal mistakes and actions. the fighters may have felt that their lives were in danger. your men who weren't in danger, they were standing with terrified civilians who were sitting on the ground, and they were standing over them with weapons — that is not a battle. and we've all seen how the fighters went into the houses. they spoke to the families, they ate and drank.

sorry, they were shooting them, there are videos. when they went into some of the houses, none of the women and children they dealt with were terrified. those videos were published by the israeli occupation. they weren't published by us. almost a year later, gaza is in ruins. there are more than 40,000 dead — many, many of them are civilians. your capacity to fight israel has been massively diminished. was it worth all of that? who is responsible for this? it was the occupation and its army. who destroyed gaza, who killed its people? who is now killing civilians in shelters, schools and hospitals? ask the world and those who created international law. we're defending ourselves. if 1,200 people from the occupation are killed, how does thatjustify israel killing 50,000 people and destroying all of gaza? isn't that enough for them? they're motivated by the lust to kill, to occupy, and the lust to destroy.

the israelis say very clearly that they respect the laws of war, and they also say that the reason why so many civilians have died is because you and hamas fight from within the civilian population and you use them as human shields. that is not true. they destroyed mosques on top of the heads of their owners when there were no fighters. they destroyed houses and high—rise buildings when no—one was in them. they bombed houses when there was not a single fighter in them. it's all israeli propaganda. israel says that, under the right circumstances, they would have a ceasefire. what about a ceasefire, for example, where you simply give back the hostages and and the war ends? would you accept something like that? that's been talked about i know. the question is, when will netanyahu decide to stop the war? when will the world compel him to stop the war? it is the decision of netanyahu and the israeli occupation to continue the war.

you could do it, you could surrender. how can we surrender? people who resist the occupation don't give up. if we surrender, which is impossible, our children and our people won't give up. if the world gave us our legitimate rights, this cycle of violence would stop. but israel doesn't want that. the return of refugees and self determination, the region will not calm down no matter how much killing and death takes place. the world needs to understand that israel wants to burn the whole region. for you, is the israeli state part of the future? the hamas charter said that the zionist state had to be destroyed. we say that israel wants to eliminate hamas and the palestinian people. israel is crying and claiming that hamas and the palestinian people want to destroy it. let's ask what israel thinks of the palestinian people. give us our rights, give us a fully sovereign palestinian state.

the israelis say that the reason why they don't accept a two—state solution is because they fear that people like you want to destroy their state and kill their people. so far, israel does not recognise a one—state solution or a two—state solution. israel rejects it all — international resolutions, international law and our rights. do you think of yourself as a terrorist? that's what israel calls you. i am seeking freedom and defending my people. to the occupation, we're all terrorists — the leaders, the women and the children. you heard what israeli leaders called us. they said we were animals. air-raid siren. about an hour after the interview, iran attacked israel. as the middle east war widens, the israelis still insist on total victory over hamas.

the us and its allies, including the uk and saudi arabia, all say middle east peace requires a secure israel alongside an independent palestine. but right now, military action, not diplomacy, is setting the pace. jeremy bowen with that report. jeremy bowen with that report. jeremy explained why he asked the leader but many countries described as a terrorise or —— terrorist organisation. we felt — i did too — it was important to speak to people from hamas to see what they have done things that they have done, why they attacked last october, why they killed so 0ctober, why they killed so many people, what they are planning, what they are thinking about the current situation, whether they're prepared to fight. i think we got some answers. i tried to challenge him as much as i could on the things that he

said. you know what, if israel allowed international journalists like myself and or their organisations into gaza, which they do not, then i think more routinely, we would speak certainly to hamas supporters and also those people in gaza who oppose what they've done. in general, what i would say about interviewing a man like thatis about interviewing a man like that is that it's a very important part of fair, impartial reporting. that's a jeremy bowen, our international editor. just seeing a line from the g7 saying it is voicing its deep concerns over what it calls the deteriorating situation in the middle east. much more on the middle east. much more on the middle east. much more on the middle east to come. but around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news.

it has been the centre of a bitter dispute for over

half a century, but now britain has agreed to hand over sovereignty of the remote but strategically important chagos islands to mauritius. the chagos archipelago is made up of over 60 islands. they lie in the indian ocean, 1,000 miles south of the indian subcontinent. the handover will include the island of diego garcia, home to a crucial american military base which the united states will retain. 0ur correspondent andrew harding reports. a scattering of tiny islands deep in the indian ocean. british, for now, but after today's agreement, not for much longer. the chagos islands are all uninhabited, save for one, an important one, diego garcia. it is home to a big and secretive american military base. today, britain agreed to hand the whole archipelago over to mauritius, but crucially, the americans will

remain in place. this is a very, very important agreement between our countries. crucially protects the national security interests of the united kingdom and our allies and has been reached in full agreement with the united states retaining the crucial base on diego garcia. also closes down a potential route for migrants. but some have warned that china could exploit the deal to extend its influence. it is over half a century since the inhabitants of the islands were deported forcibly by the colonial power, britain. this deal will now give them the right to return home at last. perhaps even to resettle there. it's about a sense of belonging. it's something that was robbed from me, a place we can call home. we will be free and we will be able to participate and get back what really belonged to us.

that's happiness. mauritius has been campaigning for this day for years, recently planting their flag on one of the atolls and winning growing international support. not least at the united nations and its top court, which called on the uk to end its illegal occupation. finally, negotiations began and today, reluctantly but peacefully, the government agreed to hand over one of the very last scraps of britain's old empire. joining me now is jean—francois nellan. he's a member of chagossian voices, a grassroots organisation representing the chagos islands community in the uk. thanks very much for being with us. what was your reaction when you heard this news and do you welcome it?— welcome it? good afternoon. listening _ welcome it? good afternoon. listening to _ welcome it? good afternoon. listening to the _ welcome it? good afternoon. listening to the news - welcome it? good afternoon.

listening to the news this - listening to the news this morning was a bit... the way it was announced, we only learned this through the media outlet. it was without a meeting with the speaker. i had a meeting with him on monday, but they never mentioned anything of our sovereignty. but this morning, got an e—mail saying we had an interview, and it was a shock. so, you're not welcoming this decision. i think i'm right in thinking you're saying your community want independence and sovereignty for the islands. is that right?_ sovereignty for the islands. is that right? the ma'ority of the community h that right? the ma'ority of the community want _ that right? the majority of the community want the _ that right? the majority of the community want the island - that right? the majority of the community want the island to | community want the island to stay under british protection,

british territory. 50. stay under british protection, british territory.— british territory. so, you don't want... _ british territory. so, you don't want... you - british territory. so, you don't want... you don'tl british territory. so, you - don't want... you don't want the change in their status? correct. we want british protection, since 1840, when france sent over the map islands to the uk. —— the chagos islands. islands to the uk. -- the chagos islands.— islands to the uk. -- the chagos islands. islands to the uk. -- the chaos islands. ~ ., ., ., chagos islands. what do you not feel the people _ chagos islands. what do you not feel the people of _ chagos islands. what do you not feel the people of the _ chagos islands. what do you not feel the people of the chagos i feel the people of the chagos islands were treated very badly over the years? irate islands were treated very badly over the years?— islands were treated very badly over the years? we were forced to move to _ over the years? we were forced to move to mauritius, _ over the years? we were forced to move to mauritius, but i over the years? we were forced to move to mauritius, but there was some deal on the back office for compensation and there were agreements to relocate the chagossian, but they were treated worse in

mauritius. we were treated as second—class citizens. we were living in poverty —— in poverty. the people did not receive any penny from compensation. we still have not received anything. still have not received anything-— still have not received an hina. ., , . anything. thank you very much for bein: anything. thank you very much for being with _ anything. thank you very much for being with us, _ for being with us, jean—francois nellan, who is from chagossian voices, a third generation chagossian who was born in mauritius. thank you very much for your time. let me tell you is not for the first time, but after a four month delay in belfast, the cruise ship 0dyssey has finally set off on its three and a half year cruise. there was a full start the other day. where is it going? the owners say it's heading for france and in the

bahamas, which sounds rather nice. passengers appeared to be told they're heading for scotland. we are lifting anchor and sailing away. we've got the full go ahead and we are making our way to scotland first. . sailing away, baby! let's just show you the scene in beirut right now. we were talking to anna foster they're a little bit earlier on about some of the latest israeli air strikes and reports of one warehouse in the last few hours close to the airport as israel continues its attack on hezbollah. some of the global repercussions of the conflict in the middle east really making themselves known today

with crude overall prices —— oil prices rising before falling back. much —— much more to come, but do stay tuned. good evening. well, after a chilly start today, we all got the long—awaited sunshine we've been craving after such a wet september. this was staffordshire a little earlier on, but it was a fairly familiar story right across the country — all thanks to high pressure, which is slowly starting to drift its way steadily eastwards. and it will allow the door to open to this weather front into the northwest, bringing some showery outbreaks of rain. it will prevent temperatures from falling too far, but elsewhere, under those clear skies, expect the temperatures to fall away once again. low single figures in sheltered rural areas of england and wales. a touch of frost and patchy fog is likely first thing in the morning. but as we go through the day, we'll continue to see this north—south divide across england and wales.

after that sunny start, we'll have fair—weather cloud developing. but temperatures are still likely to peak between 15—17 celsius. maybe cloudy skies and a few scattered showers into the isle of man, more overcast and damp with showery outbreaks of rain into western scotland. sheltered eastern areas should stay driest for longest. highs here of 13—14 celsius. so, as we move out of friday into the start of the weekend, the high pressure continues to lose its grip and allows anotherfront to push in — this one will bring some more heavy and persistent rain with it. so, once again, we'll see double digits to greet us first thing on saturday. but still a chilly start for england and wales — that's where we'll have the best of the sunshine throughout the day on saturday. some of this rain could turn quite heavy, though, on saturday, through northern ireland and into scotland, gradually pushing its way steadily northwards and eastwards. steadily northwards the wind direction swinging around to a southerly —

it might feel a degree or so warmer, despite the temperatures suggesting a similar story, 14—17 celsius. but saturday night is the night where that front will continue to push its way quite widely across the country, and it will bring a spell of wet weather as it does so. so, wet and windy through the early hours of sunday morning — that trails away, and you can see how it'll stay pretty unsettled with plenty of showers developing. and thatjust opens the floodgates for yet more unsettled weather as we move through the week ahead, particularly from wednesday onwards. that's it, take care.

hello, i'm ben brown. you're watching the context on bbc news. ai is the new film—maker — how to create stunning videos from mere ideas. we will talk to the ceo of once of a video—gen startup. sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's lizzie. hello, it's a busy night

of european football with plenty of europa and conference league fixtures. the 8pm have been going around half an hour. manchester united are playing porto hoping to get their season back on track, and it's going well so far as they are 2—0 up. so far as they are 2—1 up. rangers are losing to lyon. but the 2022 winners eintracht frankfurt are up at besiktas. and in the earlier kick—offs, tottenham hotspur hung on for a 2—1win against the hungarian side ferencvaros. the latest in the later europa conference league games are chelsea are leading the belgian side gent 1—0. fiorentina against welsh champions new saints is goalless. and the pick of the earlier kick—offs, scottish premiership side hearts won at dinamo minsk. but larne's first foray into european action ended in defeat and ten men. the northern irish side were beaten 3—0 by molde. well, tottenham's dominic solanke wasn't in action for his club tonight, but he has been named in the england squad for this

month's nations league matches against greece and finland.