Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240714

Hello, good morning. Welcome to bbc news. One of the front runners in the race to become the next prime minister, michael gove, has admitted taking cocaine on several occasions, 20 years ago. In an interview with the daily mail, mr gove said he deeply regretted his actions and insisted it shouldnt rule him out of the contest to succeed theresa may, which begins next week. Our political reporter peter saull explained why mr gove may have decided to talk about his past. His message really in that interview is, judge me on my record in parliament and not what i may or may not have done. Michael gove is clearly one of the front runners in this conservative leadership contest which gets under way this week, with the first round of voting taking place on thursday. He may feel that this is about clearing the decks, so to speak. Putting it out there, past misdemeanours, and i suppose he will still rely on the support of a lot of his colleagues within the conservative party. He does have quite a lot of support within parliament. The question mark really for him is whether he makes it to the final two, the conservative membership at large take a more dim view of his activities in the past, because the clue is in the name. They are conservative members, arent they . They are indeed, and i suppose the other impact of this is that we now have a range of candidates who in their youth, in the last ten or 15 years, some further back, have acknowledged that they have used illegal drugs. Now, as he wasjustice secretary subsequently, in part of his cabinet career, and that raises questions about the ability of somebody to legislate in those sorts of areas, and the credibility of their argument. This is serious issue. We have people like the metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick says that middle class drug users should take responsibility for their behaviour, and looking at the violence further down the supply chain, and the countries where cocaine comes from. But michael gove are not alone in this. Rory stewart, the International Development secretary, has admitted, apologise for taking opium at a wedding he was out in iranis for taking opium at a wedding he was out in iran 15 years ago. Jeremy hunt took cannabis in a form when he was backpacking in india. And in the past, borisjohnson has had to a nswer past, borisjohnson has had to answer questions about claims that he took cocaine. He was on have i got news for you and said, yes, i was given it but it went up my nose andi was given it but it went up my nose and i sneezed, and it may have been icing sugar rather than cocaine i was given. But definitely is past misdemeanours of some of these candidates could become quite a big feature of this conservative leadership contest, given how wide a field that is. The different containers will want to throw mud at their competitors. That was our reporter peter saull talking to me a little earlier. Lets ta ke lets take you to Horse Guards Parade. These are live pictures, where the queens official birthday is being marked by the annual trooping the colour parade. The queen has two birthdays of course, and this is her official one. There was a long time when the queen would ride down Horse Guards Parade herself. She is now leaving that particular task to members of herfamily. That particular task to members of her family. They are that particular task to members of herfamily. They are regimental colonels for four of the most significant regiments in the british military. So she is accompanied by the younger members of the royal family, the prince of wales who is colonel of the welsh guards, the princess royal, Princess Anne is colonel of the dukes and royals, the duke of cambridge, prince william, colonel of the irish guards, and the duke of york, prince andrew, it who is colonel of the grenadier guards. You will see all four of them on horseback as the queen rides among the troops in the carriage. But it is very much obviously an event that is very much obviously an event that is about the history of the british military, and a ceremony that originates in the 18th century, trooping the colour or having the colour trooped down the line was an important way of people in the army who may not be professional soldiers, people in the army recognising, the ordinary soldier, what the colour was that they had to rally behind, and therefore if in close combat they came across somebody who was of the same colour, they knew that they were a friend, not an enemy. But it was very far from an easy task to ensure that every member of an Army Thousands strong would actually be able to tell their own colour. We are expecting her majesty since this is pretty much the format we have had for a number of years now to get out of the carriage shortly so that she can begin her inspection of her troops lined up in front of her. It is turning into a nice, dry morning in whitehall, which im sure will be appreciated by all of the many massed troops, families and loved ones of those who serve this country. Obviously this is the week in which d day commemorations have taken place, so this is another important aspect really of that commemoration of the role the military played in the security of this country. Lets just listen military played in the security of this country. Letsjust listen in. So, the ceremony trooping the colour is an annual event that is marked now as a way of demonstrating the operation of the regimental system which survives in the british army certainly. Gradually declined over the years, just as the size of the army has declined over the years. There will be a 41 gun salute later in one of the royal parks. That will be in green park, not farfrom buckingham palace. The 41 gun salute marks the queens official birthday, thatis marks the queens official birthday, that is that evening. There are also commemorations of various kinds taking place up and down the country at the end of the week in which we commemorated the sacrifice of those who fought on d day to try to reclaim western europe from nazi domination. So we will leave Horse Guards Parade and the trooping of the colour. If you want to watch the ceremony in full, you can watch it live as it goes out on bbc one. Huw edwards and the team are commentating, and there will be an opportunity to see the highlights again later in the course of the evening. Lets move on. Donald trump says the us and mexico have reached a deal on illegal migration. The american president had threatened to impose tariffs on all mexican imports, unless action was taken to stem the flow of Illegal Immigrants crossing into the United States. Heres our washington correspondent, chris buckler. The problems at this border have been the source of deep divisions between the us and mexico. The surge of migrants trying to cross into the United States here led President Trump to threaten tariffs on the huge amount of trade that also comes across from the mexican side. With just days to go, the tariffs have been avoided, much to mexicos relief. Translation an agreement has been reached between the governments of mexico and the United States, with which, as you surely already know, tariffs will not be implemented on monday. On twitter, President Trump said the tariffs were indefinitely suspended. And that mexico had agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of migration through mexico to americas southern border. In the last week the mexico government has made a point of showing it is doing more to try to deterrent groups from making their way from central america. It has promised to deploy thousands of members of its National Guard to mexicos southern border with guatemala as part of a crackdown on smuggling and human trafficking. But it will concern those fleeing countries in an attempt to seek asylum. There had been three days of talks at the white house while donald trump was in europe, but the agreement was not signed off until he returned to washington. The president has long promised his supporters that he would address concerns about illegal immigration. He will see this as a significant step forward, and by saying that he is indefinitely suspending tariffs, President Trump may be warning that he is threatening them again if he does not see the number of migrants fall. Chris buckler, bbc news, washington. Health officials are investigating the deaths of three hospital patients in manchester and liverpool, following an outbreak of listeria, which has been linked to pre packed sandwiches. Three other people are seriously ill. Production at the factory where the sandwiches were made has been stopped. Public Health England says the risk to the public is low. We hope there will be no more cases. One of the problems with his particular infection is the long incubation period. It can be three or four weeks. In terms of the numbers, we are just watching. The head of the International Monetary fund has warned that the worlds Financial System could be significantly disrupted by giant technology firms. Christine lagarde said the Financial Systems payment and settlement arrangements risk being controlled by a handful of Tech Companies with products based on big data and artificial intelligence. Ms lagarde was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting injapan of g20 finance ministers. Tech firms, very large ones, that will eventually be disruptive in the financial landscape, because they will be using a lot of their ample resources, as well as massive access to data, in order to penetrate a field where there is market share up for grabs. Christine lagarde of the imf. The actor Olivia Colman and tv adventurer bear grylls are among a host of famous names to be recognised in this years queens birthday honours list. Theyjoin hundreds of members of the public to be honoured for contributions to the community, as lizo mzimba reports. Olivia colman. Academy award winner Olivia Colman says she is thrilled to have been made a commander of the order of the British Empire for services to drama. Now is the winter of our discontent. Simon Russell Beale has received a knighthood for his acting work. In the world of music, performer and actor alfie boe becomes an obe for services to music and charity. While the grammy and brit nominated performer m. I. A becomes an mbe. But of course, the majority of the honours have gone to people who arent in the public eye. For work in their communities across the country. People like nimco ali, who has become an obe for her work campaigning against female genital mutilation. I spoke out because i was hurt that 20 years after i was subjected to fgm, girls in the uk were still at risk. And now we have a decade to make sure we save the most vulnerable girls on the planet. 15 Foster Carers have been made mbes, including gordon and brenda potter, who have looked after hundreds of children. Something we have enjoyed doing for so long has actually won us this award. I would hate never to have done it. I am very proud of the award, but im glad i have done it. And Liverpool Street cleaner Tommy Mcardle receives a British Empire medalfor services to the community. He is just one of hundreds being recognised for the work that they do that benefits so many others. Im joined now by sir simon woolley, the co founder and director for operation black vote. Hes been knighted for services to race equality. Welcome. , ican welcome. , i can call you sir simon now . You can say it one more time sirsimon now . You can say it one more time sir simon it is truly an honour, i am deeply honoured. But it is a surprise, people get awards often for the kind of work you do precisely because it is not particularly well paid glamorous, it is dull but necessary work, and its a way of showing that values it. Is dull but necessary work, and its a way of showing that values itm is. You dont do it for the honours, but you do it because you think it needs to be done. I want to inspire a new generation to get involved in politics, to change our world, to challenge the institutions to be more inclusive and representative, and that is it. And then when the latter comes through the door. I showed my son, and his jaw dropped, and he looked at me and said, dad, you are with the big boys now so it is an honour, but i do hope i can do much more with the role that i have. To remind people what operation black vote were set up to achieve it is a bit different than just trying to persuade young black and ethnic minority people to vote . It is trying to tackle the deep seated inequality. You were reporting on this on bbc london 20 yea rs reporting on this on bbc london 20 years ago, and now we are working with political leaders and significant work with the prime minister, theresa may, convincing her to establish the race disparity unit as being a game changer, setting up the framework, to lay bare the uncomfortable truths, and then have a lever, a driver, to change it. So her idea was to bring together all the statistics so that people cant dismiss this stuff and say, its kind of apocryphal, there arent any real differences, but the differences can be measured and therefore tackled. How important is it that this work continues . Because theresa may will have left office in seven weeks. Often these things lose momentum when the person you associate with them is gone. You are right, it is about leadership and someone driving it. She empowered me to go to ministers and say, explain the disparities or change, and it was normally change, so you needed that power from the top. Whoever goes into number 10 downing street from whatever political party, i hope they recognise this as a framework, as a lever, and of course you worked with us for over 20 years covering the stories. It benefits everybody, not just covering the stories. It benefits everybody, notjust minority communities, but the whole of society, when you unleash talent and it can fulfil its potential. And it isa it can fulfil its potential. And it is a measure in a sense, sir simon, of what could be achieved. We have an asian mayor of london, an asian candidate to be leader of the conservative party, african caribbean, black caribbean people in all roles in british society. Slow progress, but progress. Big progress. Sir simon, many congratulations to you and for the work of operation black vote. Thank you. Lets have a look at the headlines at 17 minutes past 11. Michael gove, one of the front runners for the conservative leadership, says he deeply regrets his past use of cocaine. Us President Donald Trump lifts the threat of tariffs on imports from mexico after its government promises to act over migrants, Asylum Seekers and border security. Health officials launch an investigation into the deaths of three hospital patients in manchester and liverpool who ate pre packed sandwiches linked to an outbreak of listeria. Now, when finn the police dog was stabbed and seriously hurt while chasing a suspect, the attack could only be treated as criminal damage. Is if the dog was an object. Now, after a campaign, a new law comes into force today, giving more protection to Service Animals, and longer, more serious sentences for those who harm them. More than a hundred Service Animals are thought to have been wounded since 2012. Pc dave wardell is finns handler and has been campaigning to get the new law introduced. He is now very proud to be finns owner now he has retired. I spoke to him earlier, with finn by his side, and asked him why he felt so strongly about this. But when you look at canada, new zealand, australia, most of america, they have specific laws to protect Service Animals. And if we are going to use these animals, and we should because they are incredible, there is no piece of machinery that can do they do. It is right that we protect them. And that is what finns law will do. And we are asking the government to increase the maximum sentences from six months to five years, and if we can do that it will be incredible. And a significant change, that will apply the board. Yes, all Animal Welfare cases. We are calling it finns law, part two. Were almost out of time on the programme, but, bless you, finn. Im sorry we are making you jump through these hoops, but the viewers really want to see you. No disrespect to dave hes about to say good morning he is retired now. He is a family pet. He has had an incredible retirement. Youve been on britains got talent. It was a fantastic experience for us. It enabled us to share his story and talk about Service Animals with millions of people. Cani can ijust can i just ask you this can ijust ask you this interesting question. We all know about police dogs and we know the military have dogs. But how big a role that they play . Everybody gets the dog team out for the local jamboree or whatever, but they are working dogs and dogs that are on the front line. Yes, if you think about finn, during his career he had about 300 of his own arrests. And were not talking about low level stuff, some serious offences. And most of those are arrests that wouldnt have come about any other way. No scenes of crime. Helicopter couldnt find them, that of thing. When we were working with Police Horses at football matches, they are incredible. The horses and dogs together are fantastic and can achieve things that the humans just cant. And technology is not replacing these animals . I can imagine a chief constable saying, i need to save a bit of money here. I need to cut officers, dogs are lovely to have, but maybe. Dogs have suffered. We have lost half the strength due to cuts in this country. Donald trump went to a company in america that are trying to develop stuff to do some of the sniffer work, and he asked the ceo of that company what the best piece of equipment was, and he said, this . And he said, would you recommend that . And he said, now, i would recommend a dog. They really are incredible. Thank you so much, pc dave wardle, and of course finn. What a real pleasure it was to meet both of them. Sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, heres mike. I really enjoy that item, fantastic. Englands cricket is aiming to bounce back from their surprise defeat in their second world cup match last week. Today they are taking on bangladesh in cardiff and faring a lot better. Eoin morgans side put into bat by bangladesh and they made a great start, moving on to 89 without loss in the 13th over, jason roy on 52 and Jonny Bairstow 134. England are still the tournament favourites despite losing tournament favourites despite losing to pakistan on monday. Football, and the womens world cup gets going today in earnest with three more matches to look forward to, and we can first look at germany, the Second Best Team according to the World Rankings in the world, and they play china. They will be hoping to follow the lead of hosts france whose started their campaign in style last night, winning 4 0, campaign in style last night, winning4 0, 11 million watching on tv in paris. It isa tv in paris. It is a tournament that will matter long after the music stops and the smoke clears. That takes planning, including on the pitch. France are among the favourites, especially when up against south korea, and here is why. Here comes le sommer the opening goal of the world cup finals of 2019. The scorer, eugenie le sommer, their biggest star. A beginning so perfect it was almost choreographed. Almost. Of course, football is not a predictable game and now even when you score youre not entirely sure. France thought they had a second but this is the first womens tournament to use var. This was its first use. The decision, somewhat belatedly, offside. A minor delay to the french. They have in their number wendie renard, at six foot one the tallest play in the tournament. An altitude beyond any south korean. Before the break we saw an aerial encore. Head and shoulders above. Just like her team. For a time in the second half it seemed they were too comfortable. Renard allowed south korea a moment a fleeting moment. It passed all too quickly for lee min a. She knew she wouldnt get a better one. Many of this french side play Club Football for lyon, europes dominant team. Among them their captain, who goes by the name henry. Oh, its a wonderful, wonderfulfourth goal amandine henrys goal already feels like a defining one. Hosting tournaments weighs heavy on some sides. France, however, are owning their stage. Patrick geary, bbc news. Eden hazard said it was a dream to play for real madrid after chelsea confirmed they have agreed a deal to sell him to the spanish side. They havent reveal the exact fee, but it could exceed £150 million. It is the womens final at the french open later with Ashleigh Barty playing Marketa Vondrousova who knocked out Johanna Konta yesterday. And no back and Dominic Thiem will complete their semifinal after it was suspended yesterday. The winner faces raff and adele in the final. Jock which has now broken back in that third set. Lewis hamilton was quickest in first practice but hit a wall in second. Damage to his mercedes meant he limped back to the pits. But it was a better day for charles leclerc, who finished fastest. In the super league back home, drum at thejungle we re league back home, drum at thejungle were castleford came from behind to beat huddersfield byjust a single point. 27 26. Hell beat salford in another high scoring game, and leeds got a 10 0 victory at wakefield to an teeth. Trinity. That is all the sport for now, now time for the weather with louise lear. It has been a pretty soggy start to our saturday morning, hasnt it, and i suspect you will be able to put the hosepipes away, because the rain is here to stay, not just through this because the rain is here to stay, notjust through this weekend but much of next week as well. The reason for the rain at the moment is this area of low pressure to the southern flank, unusually gusty winds as well, in excess of 60 mph so far this morning across channel coast. The rain continues to push its way steadily north and east, so we will see an improvement out of the midlands is that rain continues to move its way through the north of england, north wales and into southern scotland. Behind it it is a case of sunny spells and scattered showers, some of those quite sharp, but hopefully they will be hit and miss and we will keep some sunshine, and to the north and west we will see sunshine into scotland, a few scattered showers through northern ireland, windy for all of us, and underneath the cloud and the rain, it will feel disappointingly cool. Top temperatures of 13 degrees in the rain, highest values of 16 18 further south. As we move out of saturday evening, that area of low pressure pushes off into the near continent, and then behind we will see skies clear and wins for so temperatures for many into low single figures, so a chilly start our sunday morning, but it will be a dry one in comparison to saturday. Hopefully some sunshine around early on, and many of us will keep some sunshine in the second half of the weekend. More frequent showers moving their way through scotland and northern ireland, and one or two spells of sharp showers pushing their way in from the south west, some of these with rumbles of thunder, highest values of 12 19d. Moving out of sunday into monday, more wet weather is forecast, this time perhaps pushing into the south east, you will need to keep abreast of the forecast, because that frontal system is going to be an issue monday into tuesday, and the exact location of that rain is still subject to change. But it looks as though we will cease a white weather across much of eastern england. Further north and west, it isa england. Further north and west, it is a case of sunny spells and scattered showers, and again those temperatures struggling for the time of year, 12 17 degrees, and it could by the end of monday into tuesday feel colder still as the winds of spring around to a north easterly direction, and we still keep those showers coming. Hello and welcome to dateline london. Im carrie gracie. For democracy, for liberty, for peace, said western leaders last week at ceremonies to mark the 75th anniversary of the d day landings. Their commemorations were dignified by the presence of the elderly survivors of that Pivotal Moment in history. But away from the normandy beaches, it was not a week for celebrating democracy, liberty and peace. In sudan, paramilitaries killed peaceful protestors on the streets of the capital, and threw some of their bodies into the nile. What will the world do about it . My guests today are political commentator alex deane, Nesrine Malik of the guardian newspaper, Stephanie Bolzen of die welt, and henry chu of variety international. Thank you all for being here. Burned tents and silence. Thats all that remains of khartoums democracy protest this weekend. Back in the heady days of april, the protestors succeeded in sweeping away the 30 year dictatorship of omar al bashir. But then came stalemate over setting the rules for a transition to civilian government. On 3rd june, the hopeful singing of the democracy sit in gave way to gunfire and screams as pa ramilitaries killed scores of protestors and whipped or raped others. Phone networks and the internet were switched off. Nesrine, you are from sudan, they never called it a sit down sprang up, but whatever it was, it is now blood splatter. People are careful not to brand it as an arab spring type moment. Because the dynamic is very different in sudan, there is a history of popular revolt against dictatorships,