Plus: Sri Lanka's pivotal election, and supermoon lights up the sky ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| 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. | |
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TOP OF THE AGENDA | What we know about exploding pagers | | 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.
Summary: What we know so far about how the explosions occurred and what might happen next.
Analysis: Diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams reflects on what the attack means for Hezbollah and its conflict with Israel.
All about the pagers: Cyber correspondent Joe Tidy explains why Hezbollah would favour such low-tech communication devices over mobile phones. | |
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| A pivotal election in tough times | | 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. |
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| | | 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. |
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BEYOND THE HEADLINES | Somalia's struggle against climate change |
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| | | 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. |
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT | Places to hang | Here are five of the world's most beautiful climbing locations | |
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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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World of Business | Gain the leading edge with global insights for the boardroom and beyond, every Wednesday from New York. | |
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