hello, i'm helena humphrey. several hundred people — and possibly even thousands — are now feared to have died in a powerful cyclone that hit the island of mayotte, a french indian ocean territory. winds of more than 140 miles per hour and heavy rain battered the island — causing widespread devastation. authorities there say the final number of victims may never be known. mayotte is a french territory, and a member of the eu. many people there lived in makeshift homes, and the french government says they have all been destroyed. cyclone chido has now moved to south—east africa. greg mckenzie reports. the french indian ocean territory of mayotte. cyclone chido made landfall here on saturday. the devastation and aftermath clear to see. entire communities flattened by gusts of more than 140mph,

islanders sheltering any way they can. officials fear the death toll will be in the hundreds, or even higher. located northwest of madagascar, mayotte is an archipelago comprised of one main island and several smaller ones. most of the island's 300,000 or so inhabitants live in shacks with sheet metal roofs. tens of thousands of people have lost their homes. electricity, water and internet connections are all down. translation: no matter how the houses were built, everything - has been destroyed. i think that you can see a little bit of that all around me. people are doing their best to try and rebuild their houses, but the work is going to be extremely long. the government in paris has sent a military transport plane

with supplies and emergency workers as mayotte hasn't seen a storm this intense in more than a decade. strict lockdowns in place for the whole population, including emergency services, have now been lifted as some try to buy what little provisions are available. translation: we've come to get something to eat for the kids, - for us adults, for everyone. we've got nothing left. we had stocked up, but the wind has taken it all away. translation: we've had no water for three days now, so it's - starting to be a problem. we're trying to get the bare minimum to live on because we don't know when the water will come back. now, those in its path in the mozambique channel brace themselves with more heavy rain and flooding predicted. greg mckenzie, bbc news. the cyclone has now reached northern mozambique. i've been speaking with save the children's country director there, ilaria manunza, who's in the capital, maputo.

we understand that this cyclone is now bringing torrential rains to mozambique, just paint a picture of the situation on the ground, what people there are facing. thank you. this cyclone has been quite strong and it was quite substantial in mozambique due to its strong winds. we had wind gusts we had wind gusts more than 200 kph. more than 200 kph. bringing a lot of destruction bringing a lot of destruction among houses, schools among houses, schools and health centres and and health centres and all other infrastructure. all other infrastructure. and nearby province. my staff has also been my staff has also been impacted, our offices and impacted, our offices and sub—offices have been damaged. sub—offices have been damaged. some areas that have some areas that have been hit by the cyclone been hit by the cyclone are more dense than others, are more dense than others, densely populated than others. such as the capital densely populated than others.

other areas are less densely populated but also much poorer.

internet in some cases is working, cases is working, particularly starlink. other services have been disrupted entirely. water is still, it seems still ok but we don't have, we don't know the extent of the damage as of yet. this cyclone struck early hours in the morning, around four o'clock in the morning, and we lost contact with our staff from 5:1i5am until very late in the early afternoon. the area that has been struck and hit by this cyclone is very large and very difficult in terms of access, both for logistics but also for security reasons. therefore we have to be determined. you just mentioned security of the impacted region, just tell us more about that, some of the challenges that it

could pose for humanitarian responders trying to access that area for people who need that help. yes, the cyclone has hit a quite based area, ranging from the coastal area until the inland and inland districts are also those that are currently experiencing security due to activity of insurgent groups. some organisations like save the children have presence in there, nevertheless, depending on the extent of the destruction of the infrastructure, housing, etc, we have to assess whether those areas would be fully accessible or not to provide humanitarian aid.

therefore in addition therefore in addition to the logistics, insecurity to the logistics, insecurity poses a major hindrance poses a major hindrance humanitarian aid humanitarian aid in certain areas. in certain areas. the un envoy for syria the un envoy for syria says he supports lifting says he supports lifting sanctions on the country, sanctions on the country, a week after bashar al—assad a week after bashar al—assad was outsted by islamist rebels. was outsted by islamist rebels. geir pedersen geir pedersen is on his first visit is on his first visit to damascus since mr assad to damascus since mr assad fled, amid international fled, amid international efforts to support a smooth efforts to support a smooth transition of power. transition of power. he urged justice, not revenge — he urged justice, not revenge — and called for increased and called for increased and immediate aid. a delegation from qatar a delegation from qatar has also been in the syrian capital, meeting has also been in the the transitional government. russia — which was a backer russia — which was a backer of assad — has evacuated some of assad — has evacuated some of its diplomatic staff. of its diplomatic staff. the main rebel group — hts — the main rebel group — hts — remains a proscribed terrorist organisation in the uk, but the country's foreign secretary, david lammy, says british diplomats have nevertheless established contact with the group, saying officials would deal with the group "where we have

to". remains a proscribed terrorist

the main rebel group — hts — remain making :ribed terrorist the main rebel group — hts — remain making ofled terrorist the main rebel group — hts — remain making of what rrorist around making of what appears to be a failure for the regime? there are basically two camps here. if you listen to officials including the supreme leader, he is focused on essentially what he thinks is a conspiracy. he is much more focused in terms of how did the fall of the assad regime come about, israeland fall of the assad regime come about, israel and so forth. he is not taking much time to talk about essentially the horrible track record of the assad regime and the fact that millions of syrians are joyful today that assad is gone. on the other side and i think that is clearly the largest camp if you will, are the uranium public opinion including many observers, who are saying why choices ahead. —— tough choices ahead. he needs tc saying why did you support assad? why did observers, who are saying why did you support assad? why did we spend 13 years supporting a we spend 13 years supporting a dictator, essentially, and it dictator, essentially, and it all came to nothing? that's a all came to nothing? that's a debate right now. it's not a debate right now. it's not a

done deal, whether there will done deal, whether there will be lessons that are more be lessons that are more significant in terms of islamic significant in terms of islamic republic's future, that's republic's future, that's roughly where we are right now roughly where we are right now in terms of irani reactions to in terms of irani reactions to events in syria. mil events in syria. mil in terms of irani reactions to events in syria.— events in syria. all of this -la ed events in syria. all of this in terms of irani reactions to events in syria.— events in syria. all of this -la ed events in syria. all of this played out _ played out _ events in syria. all of this played out so _ events in syria. all of this played out so _ events in syria. all of this played out so publicly, i events in syria. all of this | events in syria. all of this played out so publicly, i events in syria. all of this | played out so publicly, iran appeared to be caught off guard played out so publicly, iran appeared to be caught off guard here. �* , ,., , ~' here. �* , ,., , ~' here. absolutely. i think if ou no here. absolutely. i think if ou no here. absolutely. i think if you go back _ here. absolutely. i think if here. absolutely. i think if you go back _ here. absolutely. i think if you go back to _ here. absolutely. i think if you go back to october- here. absolutely. i think if. you go back to october 2023, you go back to _ here. absolutely. i think if you go back to october- here. absolutely. i think if. you go back to october 2023, the last 1a months iran's axis the last 1a months iran's axis of resistance which basically of resistance which basically means various proxy groups in means various proxy groups in some countries have essentially some countries have essentially fallen. from hamas, hezbollah, fallen. from hamas, hezbollah, now assad, the islamic republic now assad, the islamic republic spent about 20 years and spent about 20 years and billions of dollars creating billions of dollars creating this axis of resistance and in this axis of resistance and in about one year's time, it's about one year's time, crumbling. iran has some test this axis of resistance and in about one year�* has 1e, this axis of resistance and in about one year�* has some test crumbling. iran has some test choices ahead. —— tough choices choices ahead. ahead. he needs to see

crumbling. iran has some test choices he ead. crumbling. iran has some test choices he needs to see whether ahead. he needs to see whether he can salvage some of the axis of resistance, or go in another direction. were focused on what the uranium public opinion once, poking you issues at home, ratherthan once, poking you issues at home, rather than these ventures supporting political projects in the region that are falling apart at the moment. what do you think will happen? you say it is remains to be seen whether lessons will be learned seen whether lessons will be lear going in terms of foreign iran going in terms of foreign policy, strategy, ambitions? yeah, i mean, look, the supreme leader�*s call, and the decision of the leadership in the revolutionary guards. we have to remember he has been in power since 1989, for 35 years. and he is essentially stayed on course. his core belief in pushing the united states out of the middle east, looking for ways to essentially bring about the end of israel, these have been consistently part of his agenda. is he going to make it,

make a u—turn? it�*s unlikely. could he make some adjustments? for example, making compromises with other regional powers, even western powers for iran to essentially roll back some of its influence in the region for the sake of essentially keeping the sake of essentially keeping the islamic republic safe. because surely, the worst thing that could happen to the islamic republic republic is, which is what netanyahu is clearing, this could lead to the fall of iran and the islamic republic. if they believe that�*s going to happen, they have good reasons to start looking for exit strategies to essentially as i said earlier, to take the plunge and go to very different direction from here onwards.— very different direction from here onwards. were it to reach out, for example, _ here onwards. were it to reach out, for example, to _ here onwards. were it to reach out, for example, to the - here onwards. were it to reach | out, for example, to the syrian transitional government, what reaction would you anticipate from damascus?—

reaction would you anticipate from damascus? look, ithink it's a really— from damascus? look, ithink it's a really early _ from damascus? look, ithink it's a really early days. - from damascus? look, ithink it's a really early days. one i it�*s a really early days. one thing i have to point out is when you look at the history of the islamic republic for the last 45 years, where they have been able to come in and become an actor, a player if you will, is where there are areas, countries that are in despair, when there is civil war, lebanon in late 1980s, iraq and the 2000 �*s, number lebanon in late 1980s, iraq and the 2000�*s, number of countries post arab spring. for the future of syria, the most important thing is to make sure you don�*t have that security vacuum. in worst case scenario, if syria doesn�*t go towards the democratic system but ends up becoming not a failed state with local actors fighting one another, the game plan of the islamic republic would be to look for local actors who might once again look to iran for support, arms, money, so forth. that�*s the key issue

from the village of hadar where she encountered israeli troops on syrian territory. an hourfrom damascus on a syrian country road, we met israel�*s army. an impromptu checkpoint on the only route into hadar village. military vehicles and troops in full combat gear. earlier this week, israel said it was seizing control of syrian territory in a demilitarised zone set up in a ceasefire agreement 50 years ago. hadar overlooks this buffer zone. parts of the village even jut into it. the village chief points out the territory israel occupied in 1967 from the mountains of the golan to the galilee. many residents in this druze community have relatives still living there.

now they see israeli forces moving around their own village. a week after president assad�*s regime fell, the sense of freedom here comes tinged with fatalism. maybe they leave. maybe they stay. maybe they go away. maybe they make the area safe and then go away to the border. we want to hope. but in the future, we will wait and see. israeli bulldozers are clearly visible above the village. many syrians fear israel simply wants to grab more land. israel says it�*s motivated by the threat from jihadist groups and that its incursions would be limited and temporary. the iran—backed groups that israel was fighting here have been weakened by the fall of assad. israel is taking advantage of this moment to extend its reach here and deal with new potential threats. the village chief said dozens

of men, including his own son, died defending the village from militia of all kinds during syria�*s war. translation: israel is a state. we can�*t stand up to it. we used to stand up to individuals, but israel is a superpower. israel�*s prime minister has talked about a new front in syria. syria�*s new islamist leader has warned of unnecessary escalation — its long awaited freedom overshadowed by talk of war. lucy williamson, bbc news, hadar. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let�*s look at some other stories making news. a two—year—old boy has died and four adults have been injured in a hit—and—run incident involving a stolen car.

it happened in smethwick, in the west midlands, on saturday night. detectives said the driver of the porsche, which was stolen earlier this month, fled the scene of a crash with a toyota car, and are appealing for them to come forward. a woman has died and a man�*s been critically injured after a shooting in north west london. the woman, in her 405, was pronounced dead at the scene in brent, after police were called just after 9pm on saturday. another man in his 30s was also injured. no arrests have been made and a murder investigation is now under way. a vigil has been held outside the family house of ten—year—old sara sharif in surrey. around 500 people laid flowers and cards to pay tribute to the little girl, whose body was found at the house in 2023. sara�*s father, urfan sharif, and step—mother, beinash batool, were found guilty of her murder earlier this week following a ten—week trial. you�*re live with bbc news. in the uk, the home secretary, yvette cooper, has refused

to set out a timetable to reduce the number of boats crossing the channel, despite describing the figures as "far too high". it comes as the government said it had returned 13,500 failed asylum seekers to their home countries since the election injuly. damian grammaticas reports. immigration enforcement raids, seeking to root out those in the uk without the right permissions. this is one arm of the government�*s strategy. it says deportations have gone up. and in italy this weekend, the other arm of the strategy, the home secretary, shared a stage with ministers from front line mediterranean states, france, italy and malta. how are you? this is about building partnerships with countries either where migrant roots start or which they pass through. yvette cooper, meeting her italian counterpart, said it�*s about recognising migration is complex and can�*t

be solved by empty slogans. there is a history of home secretaries and prime ministers making grand promises but never actually having a proper plan. the approach we�*re taking to this is really step by step. we are putting in place the things that we need, the agreements with other countries, the stronger returns arrangements, the much stronger law enforcement. earlier in the week in london, it was ministers from northern europe she was meeting. germany has agreed to change its laws so it can try to stop the supply of small boats used to cross the channel. arrivals this way have totalled over 34,000 this year. last year it was 29,000. two years ago, a record 45,000. while the number returned is 13,500 since the election. the conservatives say they would seek to reinstate their rwanda scheme, which labour scrapped. certainly a deterrent scheme like that, where if somebody crosses the channel dangerously, illegally

and unnecessarily, unnecessarily because france is safe, they will rapidly be removed somewhere else. and if you do that, it�*s common sense that the people who are thinking of crossing simply won�*t do so. but the government says with rwanda, not a single enforced return happened despite hundreds of millions spent. the idea was a gimmick that did nothing to deter. and as yvette cooper was in italy, another rescue and more lives lost in the mediterranean. all part of the chain the government is trying to break. damian grammaticas, bbc news. let�*s turn to some other important news around the world. the sale of british postal service royal mail�*s parent company to a czech billionaire has been approved by the government. the £3.6 billion takeover by daniel kretinsky�*s ep group will be announced on monday morning, the bbc understands. the government will retain a so called "golden share" that will require it to approve any major changes to royal mail�*s ownership, hq location

and tax residency. the five remaining members of the so called "bali nine" drug ring have been freed and flown back to australia — after almost 20 years in an indonesian prison. they were jailed for their roles in a heroin smuggling plot in bali in 2005. after years of advocay after years of advocay from the australian government, from the australian government, after years of advocacy after years of advocacy from the australian government, from the australian government, the group were flown back the group were flown back to australia today, after a deal struck to australia today, after a deal struck between the two governments. between the two governments. the gang�*s two ringleaders the gang�*s two ringleaders were executed by were executed by firing squad in 2015. firing squad in 2015. seven people have been taken seven people have been taken to hospital in fiji after to hospital in fiji after suspected alcohol poisoning. suspected alcohol poisoning. it�*s believed all those it�*s believed all those affected were guests affected were guests at a resort where they drank at a resort where they drank cocktails in the bar cocktails in the bar on saturday night and fell on saturday night and fell ill shortly afterwards. ill shortly afterwards. it comes just a few intensified political it comes just a few weeks after the death of six tourists in laos weeks after the death because of suspected methanol poisoning. methanol poisoning. prosecutors in south korea say prosecutors in south korea say the impeached president, the impeached president, yoon suk yeol, has failed yoon suk yeol, has failed to respond to a summons to respond to a summons for questioning. for questioning. mr yoon was removed from office on saturday after a failed attempt to impose martial law earlier this month.

his impeachment has

united in fighting the case but there are challenges ahead for president yoon and his supporters. it�*s a very rough neighbourhood here where the korean peninsula is it located by all these big powers with nuclear weapons. this is a slight setback, not only for south korean politics and for the people, but also for south korea�*s alliance with the united states and its relationship with japan. two russian oil tankers have sunk in bad weather in the kerch strait, that separates russia from occupied crimea. footage shows one tanker split in half, with oil spilling into the water. at least one crew member was reportedly killed. a rescue operation evacuated 13 crew from one vessel, before being suspended due to bad weather. both tankers are believed to have drifted before running aground offshore. the kerch strait is a key route for russian exports — for russian exports. the pope has wrapped up the first—ever papal visit to the french island of corsica.

pope francis arrived in the papal plane on sunday morning before moving through the packed streets of the capital city in his pope mobile. he held an open—air mass, before meeting with president emmanuel macron at the airport ahead of his departure. you�*re watching bbc news, i�*ll have more for you at the top of the hour, and you can get the latest news on our website, thanks for your company and i�*ll see you soon. bye for now. hello. sunday brought temperatures as high as 14 degrees in some parts of the uk, and the new working week is getting off to a similarly mild start. now we are going to see some wet and windy weather at times this week. it will then turn colder for a while towards the end of the week, but for the time being, we find ourselves within this area of mild air. across the north of the uk, though, notice this weather front a very slow moving

weather front which is going front — a very slow moving weather front which is going to continue to deliver some heavy and persistent rain across the north west of scotland. some western parts of the highlands through monday and into tuesday could be looking at up to 150mm of rain that could give rise to some transport disruption and some flooding issues. elsewhere, a largely dry but rather cloudy start to the day. however, we will see that cloud thinning and breaking to give some spells of sunshine, maybe just a bit grey and murky for parts of south—west england and wales. breezy, in fact windy up towards the north but temperatures widely11, 12, maybe 13 celsius. now during monday night, the rainjust keeps on coming in the north of scotland. further south, a lot of dry weather, some clear spells for a time, but we will see cloud thickening up as our next weather system begins to work its way in towards the west. some rain into northern ireland, south—west

scotland as we start tuesday morning, that first band of rain pushing its way northwards and eastwards, then a somewhat drier gap, maybe with a little bit of brightness before our next band of rain swings its way in from the west. the winds will be strengthening, in fact quite gusty around some western coasts. with those winds coming up from the south, it�*s 10—13 degrees. wednesday, exceptionally mild. there will be some spells of sunshine. scattered showers too. looks like an area of heavy rain will start to push its way in towards the south—west and parts of wales later in the day. if you get yourself some brightness, 10—15 degrees will feel very mild indeed for the time of year. however, that mild air for the middle part of the week is not going to last because the wind direction changes. into thursday, we bring down more of a north or northwesterly wind, and it is going to feel a little bit colder for the end of the week. so the week starts on a mild note. we�*ll see some wind and rain, and then it turns a little bit colder later.

this is bbc news. the headlines follow at the top of the hour, after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i�*m stephen sackur. what does it feel like to be a palestinian living under israel�*s military occupation? the year—long idf assault on gaza, triggered by

hamas�*s october 7th attack on israel, generates images of death and destruction every day. but the grim reality of news footage, whetherfrom gaza or the west bank, doesn�*t capture the deeper context, can�*t flesh out those human stories. my guest is farah nabulsi, a british—palestinian film—maker who wants audiences to see the palestinian experience in intimate, human, emotional detail. but is that possible in the current climate? farah nabulsi,

welcome to hardtalk. good to be here.