18/09/2016 BBC Weekend News

Heightened security in New York after a bomb

The motive is still unknown but the city authorities say

All the casualties have now been released from hospital.

This is a very serious incident, it's going to take a lot of careful

investigation to get to the facts, to get to the truth.

There's no evidence of links to international terrorism -

but with world leaders heading to New York for the UN

General Assembly, hundreds more police will be

A special report from Iraq on the final preparations to retake

For the last half-hour we've been aired dropping millions of these

propaganda leaflets, promising that victory lies ahead

Less than a week to go in the Labour leadership contest and a former

leader has a stark warning about the re-election

A Games to remember for Paralympics GB, who'll bid

Security across New York City has been stepped up,

with more police deployed to airports and the transport

network after last night's bomb attack in Manhattan.

29 people were injured in the explosion -

The Governor of New York says the blast was, by its own nature,

an act of terrorism, but the authorities have found no

links to international groups and are as yet unclear

The bomb was detonated in the early hours of this morning

in the residential district of Chelsea.

Our New York correspondent Nick Bryant has this report.

These are the sort of scenes that New Yorkers have dreaded for years.

The frightened aftermath of an explosion in the heart of Manhattan.

This was the moment the bomb went off.

A fireball that came with an incredibly loud bang.

The aim clearly was to maximise casualties.

It was close and people were running for their lives.

I turned round and I saw smoke shooting up over

The blast ripped through Chelsea, a fashionable neighbourhood

where the bars and restaurants are always crowded at the weekend.

The police released a photo of a mangled container, the possible

Into the New York night rushed the emergency services

Dozens were injured, though none sustained

As forensics teams began to comb the scene for clues,

reports started to come through that a second device had been found

Well, we're just approaching one o'clock in the morning

and the police have just issued an emergency alert saying

that there is a suspicious package a couple of streets away

and they are telling people to stay away from their windows.

A pressure cooker with wires and a mobile phone attached.

Similar to the home-made bombs left at the finish line

at the Boston Marathon three years ago.

The device was taken away by the bomb unit in a specially

designed trailer so that robots could examine it.

The New York authorities are saying that at this stage there is no

evidence of a connection with international terrorism

but the investigation is still in an early phase.

We know there was a bombing but we have a lot more work to do

to be able to say what kind of motivation was behind this.

Was it a political motivation, personal motivation?

But last night's bombing has been described as an act of terrorism

A bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism.

But it is not linked to international terrorism.

In other words, we find no Isis connection, etc.

An extra thousand police officers are now protecting the city -

a high visibility presence at tourist sites like Times Square.

September is always a time of heightened security

Only last week New York remembered the most dramatic

day in its history - 9/11.

This week, world leaders gather here for the United

The police say that no group or individual has claimed

responsibility and that is significant because in Minnesota

last night in the midwest and man went on and knifing spree, my think

eight people at a shopping centre before being shot dead by police and

today, the group calling itself Islamic State has claimed

responsibility for that attack, saying that was one of their

supporters and they have not made such a claim for this New York

bombing and as yet authorities are not giving any indication as to what

the possible motivation might have been. Thank you. Nick Bryant in New

York. Six days after the start

of a fragile truce in Syria, air strikes are reported to have

targeted anti-government The deal agreed by the United States

and Russia is also being threatened by tensions over a US-backed strike

that killed more than 60 Washington says it regrets

the 'unintentional loss of life' and the incident has led

to an astonishing war of words between diplomats

at the United Nations. Our diplomatic correspondent

James Robbins reports from there. A fragile ceasefire now

looks all but smashed. Under its terms, Syrian government

forces are permitted to attack jihadists,

including so-called Islamic State. The Syrians were not expecting

the United States, also targeting IS, to bomb their ground forces

by accident instead. Russia says American warplanes

killed at least 60 Syrian soldiers. Washington expressed regret

and called it unintentional The Syrian government called it

deliberate and the war of words Russia called for an emergency

session of the Security Council, even accusing the United States

of colluding with jihadists. It is quite significant and frankly

suspicious that the United States chose to conduct this particular air

strike at this time. Why, all of a sudden,

would the United States choose Russia really needs to stop

the cheap point-scoring and the grandstanding and the stunts

and focus on what matters, which is implementation

of something that we negotiated That ceasefire deal agreed

by the US and Russia went It was meant to stop air strikes

by President Assad's Russian-backed It should be leading to co-ordinated

air strikes by the US and Russia against UN-designated terrorists,

including so-called Islamic State. The United States and Russia have

been trading insults here at the UN for decades but the timing of this

breakdown could hardly be worse. Just as President Obama and other

world leaders start to gather here for their annual

September Global Summit. So no relief for the people

of Aleppo, now reported to be under Syrian air attack for the first time

since the ceasefire. They were meant to benefit

but all that depended on growing trust, particularly

between the US and Russia, And there seems to be even

less of that trust now. James Robbins, BBC News,

at the United Nations in New York. Meanwhile, the fight to free Iraq's

second largest city from so-called Islamic State will begin

within the month, according to Major General Rupert Jones,

the senior British officer there. Mosul has been in the hands

of IS for the last two years and our Middle East correspondent

Quentin Sommerville has been witnessing final preparations

for the assault on it. The final countdown for the battle

of Mosul is underway. And at Baghdad Airport, the Iraqi

Air Force are on a mission. Their target is Mosul,

but this isn't a bombing run. The captain and his crew have flown

this mission more than Our mission is going to be

delivering some leaflets, supporting our guys

on the ground over in Mosul. And telling the guys,

telling the good people over And that's the message

being dropped from 17,000 feet. Even if it doesn't always

hit its mark. In the last half-hour they have been

air-dropping millions of these propaganda leaflets,

promising that victory lies ahead What is certain, though,

is the biggest battle yet with the Islamic State is coming

and it's coming soon. The scale of the task

shines brightly below. Mosul, the so-called

Islamic State's Iraqi stronghold, It is two years since IS swept

across Syria and Iraq, That brought back British soldiers,

who are helping get ready Major General Rupert Jones says

Iraqi forces will make It's the really important battle,

it is the capital of their so-called caliphate in Iraq and Daesh have

proved themselves an So the big question is how

they adapt as they are squeezed out British and American troops

are bringing firepower and training. But Iraqis will do the fighting

and they are on a winning streak. Two years ago it was

quite different. They dropped their weapons

and ran as IS advanced. But now, Falluja is the latest big

city to be cleared of the militants. This weekend, the first families

returned home here in years. Seven-year-old Hassan

is one of them. For the Hamid family,

it is the first time in their house Thank God they didn't get in here,

he tells me. Everything looks like it is here

but it is covered in dirt. But Falluja fell early

and the family fled in a rush. As bad as things were for people

in Falluja, Mosul is more There, people are being encouraged

to stay in their homes Here, American artillery men

are targeting IS bunkers. Taking Mosul was the moment that

made the Islamic State. Losing it would be

the beginning of its undoing. Quentin Somerville,

BBC News, Falluja. Jeremy Corbyn has said he'd

like to give ordinary party members 'greater representation',

if he wins his party's It's understood he's

considering giving grassroots members a role in choosing

the Shadow Cabinet. With the contest in its final days,

Labour's former leader Lord Kinnock has told the BBC that if Mr Corbyn

is re-elected, he doesn't think he'll see another Labour

government in his lifetime. Our deputy political editor

John Pienaar reports. He doesn't look too

worried, does he? Jeremy Corbyn learns for sure

whether he has been re-elected Urged on by the devoted army

of left-wing followers who have packed into campaign rally

after campaign rally. Unite people together,

united we are strong. United as a party we go forward

to create a decent, better society. Mr Corbyn looks unstoppable,

but can Labour reunite? End the civil war that has

paralysed the party? Owen Smith calling from the Labour

Party. Owen Smith launched his

leadership challenge, warning Jeremy Corbyn was too

divisive, too left-wing, too incompetent to lead Labour,

let alone win an election. To a former leader it is worse

than the 1980s, when Neil Kinnock fought hard-left infiltrators

and faction fighting By any examination, this

is the greatest crisis You believe you may not see another

Labour government in And unless things change

radically and rapidly, it is very doubtful that

I will see another Labour Here in Brighton, the local Labour

MP Peter Kyle is a critic of Mr Corbyn and local left-wing

activists want him I think we're standing absolutely

at the edge of a cliff and it might well be that one or other

of the factions or both of us end up Left-wingers in the town

are campaigning hard for Jeremy Corbyn but,

as in other parts of the country, there are fears some have

infiltrated the party to take control and push Labour further

to the left. The local party chairman faces

the threat of expulsion. He is under investigation for links

to a controversial far-left group. I think the Labour Party is a place

where my politics will be most effective, it is a place

where my politics have a history. I don't think you should ban people

because you don't like their ideas. The leader's inner circle want

loyalty from Labour MPs, And as an olive branch,

there is this extraordinary promise that Mr Corbyn will try

to polish up his act. We have all got to raise the level

of our game, we have And I am being extremely honest

but I've had enough of politicians who think they are God's gift

to politics and the earth, etc. We have made mistakes,

like everybody else. We are willing to learn the lessons

from our own Parliamentary Labour Party, particularly members who have

been in this position before us. There is no sign that Labour can

unite here, locally or nationally. And without unity, without reaching

the millions of voters the polls say have turned away, the party

is facing a dark future. Broken as a force in

British politics. And you can hear more on Panorama

tomorrow night at 8.30pm on BBC One. India has accused Pakistan of being

behind... India has accused Pakistan

of being behind a deadly attack on an army base

in the Indian-controlled Kashmir. 17 soldiers died when gunmen stormed

a brigade headquarters in the early The attack came in the midst of the

largest protest against Indian rule in years.

Early results in Russian parliamentary elections

are pointing to victory for Vladimir Putin's ruling party.

Exit polls suggest United Russia is on course to win an absolute

majority in the Duma, or lower house.

But there have been reports of violations in voting

What has President Putin said about this outcome? Bannerette Putin says

this is a good result for his party in difficult times. Election

officials say this is a valid result and one of the cleanest elections in

Russia for years, they point to the fact that many polling stations were

equipped with webcam is pointing directly at the ballot boxes so that

Russians can follow the voting online and in real-time. Yet, some

of those webcams have captured what appear to be blatant violations,

including cases of election officials getting up and walking to

the ballot boxes and stuffing those boxes with ballot papers. Tonight,

Russian police are investigating some of those cases. Five years ago

it was vote rigging which sparked anti-government protests, that Putin

will hope that this time, his popularity and general apathy will

mean that Russians will accept the result. Steve Rosenberg, thank you.

Great Britain have lost their defence of tennis's Davis Cup.

They were beaten 3 matches to 2 by Argentina in the

Andy Murray had earlier battled through injury to beat Guido Pelle

But despite a good start in the deciding match,

Dan Evans lost to Leonardo Mayer 3 sets to 1 to mean Argentina face

Britain's Paralympians have been been celebrating

their best ever Games for nearly three decades on the final day of

Para GB finished up 2nd in the medals table,

Andy Swiss joins us from the Paralympic Park.

Well come to Rio, it has been some Paralympic Games for the British

team, the target was to beat the 120 medals at London 2012 and they have

done that in some style. Amid the celebrations, this was a day that

began on a very sombre note. As a phantom ride for the final day, the

Paralympic flag and the Iranian flag where both flying at half-mast. The

tribute the cyclist who died in a crash in yesterday's Road race. The

tragedy cut a shadow over the remaining events, including the

men's wheelchair marathon, where there was more frustration for David

Weir, in the black helmet at the back, this incident left him with a

damaged chair and he leaves Rio without a medal. Such disappointment

has been referenced and, in the final swimming event there was a

third gold medal for Bethany Firth. And a silver for the 13-year-old

Abby Kane, the youngest member of the team. They will be led into the

closing ceremony tonight by the flagbearer, Kadeena Cox, who won

titles in both cycling and athletics. I was so overwhelmed, it

has been such an amazing team and there have been some in the amazing

performances. To be selected to represent them, it is just an

honour, I cannot even put in towards how that may be filled. And so for

Britain's massive medallists, a final chance to signings and

selfies. A picture perfect end... To the golden games.

It has been some Paralympic Games for Britain but what about Brazil?

Has hosting changed how disability is perceived here and has changed

the daily lives of disabled people? Nikki Fox reports on the legacy of

the games. Carlos is a tour guide

who lives in Rio. Today, he is going to try

and get me to the top of his city, but

it doesn't look easy. I last saw Carlos

one year before the But I'm happy, because with this

Paralympic Games, I think the people The people of Brazil have

well and truly taken to Over two million tickets

were sold, making it the most successful Games

outside of London. For Paralympics GB, they have had

a record-breaking ten days, but The Paralympic movement

is growing and I think people are starting

to understand it's not really about disability at all,

it is about athletes who happen I'm incredibly proud to be part

of something that is so enormous. But as the competition comes

to an end, thoughts turn to legacy. Can the achievements of elite

athletes have an impact on the The number one legacy

is the change of attitude. And I think we're doing that

through sport, but we cannot rely Paralympics and say, oh,

the Games were really a success and the society

will But one small change

is the addition of an However, in a city where only

22 out of 102 train stations are fully accessible,

it's still a difficult place to There was never any doubt Rio's

backdrop would be sensational, but there was doubt over

whether the City could hold such We have come here to see

the wonderful view. But for Carlos, it was

the right decision. Paralympic is very important

to show how difficult is Sometimes you get tired,

because you fight, fight, fight, The main legacy was this

hope that we have now. It has been a challenging Games for

Brazil, it is easy to forget that one month ago there were such

concerns over ticketing and financed but against the odds, these Games

will be regarded as a success by both the organisers and, of course,

the British team. Andy Swiss, thank you.

You can see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News Channel.