BBC News Briefing

18 September, 2024

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. As Lebanon reels from deadly pager explosions across the country, debris from the devices offers insights into their origins. My colleagues detail what we know. From Sri Lanka, Samira Hussain reports on hopes pinned on the first election since the 2022 mass protests. In Somalia, Justin Rowlatt explores how climate change exacerbates the country's struggles. Finally, we've gathered some of the best pictures of last night's supermoon.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

What we know about exploding pagers

Debris from an exploded pager held in the palm of a perosn's hand shows writing reading: GOLD

The pagers seemed to carry a Taiwanese brand, Gold Apollo. Credit: EPA

A Taiwanese company has distanced itself from the pagers used by Hezbollah members that exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday, resulting in the death of at least nine people and thousands of injuries. Debris from the devices indicate they could have been "Gold AR-924" models, Taiwan correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports, prompting Taiwan police to search the offices of manufacturer Gold Apollo. The company claims it signed an agreement three years ago with a Hungarian firm called BAC to manufacture its pager design and use his company logo. As more countries become entangled in this web of intrigue, all signs point to the involvement of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, writes security correspondent Frank Gardner. Israel’s military has declined to comment. With tensions escalating, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is expected to make a speech tomorrow. Get the latest.

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Summary: What we know so far about how the explosions occurred and what might happen next.

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Analysis: Diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams reflects on what the attack means for Hezbollah and its conflict with Israel.

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All about the pagers: Cyber correspondent Joe Tidy explains why Hezbollah would favour such low-tech communication devices over mobile phones.

WORLD HEADLINES

US election: The FBI and the US Postal Department are investigating suspicious packages received by election officials in 17 states.

Russia's Tver region: Governor Igor Rudenya has ordered a partial evacuation following reports of a "massive" Ukrainian drone attack.

Montreal's special election: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party has lost a crucial parliament seat, a defeat likely to put more pressure on the Canadian leader to quit.

OceanGate hearing: A former employee of the company behind the doomed Titan submersible said he believed a safety incident was "inevitable" as the firm "bypassed" all standard rules. Also, footage released by the US Coast Guard shows the tail cone of the deep-sea vessel on the sea floor.

Princess of Wales: The British royal has carried out her first work meeting since she began cancer treatment earlier this year.

AT THE SCENE

Colombo, Sri Lanka

A pivotal election in tough times

A crowd of people wave Sri Lankan flags at a rally for Ranil Wickremesinghe in the coastal town of Beruwala

A record 38 candidates are contesting the 21 September election. Credit: BBC News/Aakriti Thapar

Sri Lanka is holding its first election since mass protests two years ago forced the country's deeply unpopular leader, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, from office. The uprising was sparked by the country's worst economic crisis and, for many, financial hardships have not eased.

Samira Hussain, BBC News

Unlike past elections in Sri Lanka, the economy is front and centre in this one. Holding her four-year-old son Nehan, Rangika Munasinghe laments the higher taxes she now pays. “It’s very difficult. Salaries are being reduced, taxes on products and food are high. Kids' meals, milk powder, all more expensive. Taxes are so high, we can’t manage it,” the 35-year-old told the BBC at a busy market in Colombo.

Keep reading

Plotting a comeback: For years, the Rajapaksa family held a vice-like grip over Sri Lankan politics. Despite the 2022 ousting, a new generation of the political dynasty is running in the election.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Somalia's struggle against climate change

A herd of camels gather round a drinking trough

The 2022 drought left farmers and herders fighting for access to water and pasture. Credit: Alyona Synenko/ICRC

From hunger to conflict, climate change is exacerbating virtually every challenge Somalia, the easternmost country in continental Africa, is grappling with. Climate editor Justin Rowlatt reports on people's struggles as a result of a warming planet, and how some citizens are taking action.

Read now

A woman in climbing gear is holding onto a cliff with her legs in the void.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Places to hang

Here are five of the world's most beautiful climbing locations

Explore the list

And finally...

A supermoon has delighted stargazers across the world. The event, which occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, was made more special by a partial lunar eclipse that saw about 4% of the Moon's disc covered in darkness. Take a look.

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– Sofia

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