Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240714

Hello and welcome to bbc news. Nato has condemned iran for seizing a british flagged ship on friday, describing it as a clear challenge to International Freedom of navigation. In a statement, the organisation says it supports british efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue. In another development, the uk has written to the Un Security Council stating its tanker was in omani territorial waters, exercising the lawful right of transit and that irans actions constitute illegal interference. Iran has released footage of the dramatic moment its troops seized the vessel. Our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams, has more. This is the Moment Iranian revolutionary guards took over the stena impero, descending from a helicopter onto the deck of the tanker, as fast boats circled nearby. Iran says the ship had broken International Regulations following an accident involving a fishing boat. The ships owners have not confirmed this and say it was obeying the law. Its now being held at the iranian port of bandar abbas. We are calling on iran to reverse this illegal act. Were looking for ways to de escalate the situation, but were also very clear that we will do what it takes to ensure the safety and security of british and International Shipping. The tanker was making its way through the busy strait of hormuz, in omani waters, when it was intercepted. It made a sharp turn north towards iran, a clear sign that something was wrong. A british warship, hms montrose, was alerted and raced to intervene, as it did successfully with another british flagged tankerjust over a week ago. But this time, it was too far away. The tanker was already in iranian waters. To allow a ship to go out when we knew the iranians wanted to actually take a hostage is extraordinary, and its hardly surprising. They said they would do it. Several times they said they would do it and, lo and behold, theyve done it, and now weve got in this very difficult situation. Tensions started to rise last year, when donald trump pulled the us out of a 2015 nuclear deal with iran and imposed crippling sanctions. Iran grew increasingly frustrated. In may and june, it was blamed for a series of attacks on international tankers. Then, in a dramatic escalation, iran shot down an american surveillance drone. Donald trump briefly contemplated a military response. And earlier this month, off gibraltar, the Royal Marines intercepted a tanker full of iranian oil that britain said was bound for syria. Iran threatened to retaliate. Today, irans foreign minister accused britain of piracy. It is iran, he tweeted, that guarantees the security of the gulf and the strait of hormuz. The uk must cease being an accessory to the economic terrorism of the United States. What we have at the moment are two captured tankers and an angry war of words. Mr hunt says he feels betrayed by his iranian opposite number. He says that javad zarif told him a week ago that iran wanted to de escalate the situation, but that iran had done the opposite. The stena impero and its multinational crew, which does not include any britons, are now prisoners of irans revolutionary guard, hostages in a deepening geopolitical row. Paul adams, bbc news. Mike singh is managing director of the Washington Institute and former director of middle Eastern Affairs at the National Security council. Hes in washington. Thank you very much for your time. Is there a diplomatic way out of this for the uk was yellow these are very difficult circumstances. You have so many issues that are mixed together. I think he first concern that the uk will have will be for the ship and its crew. And i am sure they are already engaging a quite intensive diplomacy to try to win their release and i am sure that iran is probably connecting that to their own tanker which was seized by their own tanker which was seized by the british in the strait of gibraltar a couple of weeks ago. Then you have the issue of trying to deter the iranians from doing this sort of thing again. That cant really be done diplomatically. There the uk will have do look to increasing its naval patrols of the persian gulf doing something to give the iranians an impression that there is a cost to this but of action. When you say something, what do you mean . As i said, you could beefed up patrols. It could also be that the royal navy could be a bit more aggressive in confronting iranian vessels that approach british shipping. So firing . You think it might come to firing on an iranian vessel . That obviously would be the last result for any professional navy, be it the british oi professional navy, be it the british or american. You can escort the tankers more closely stop you can fire warning shots. There are a number of steps up the escalatory ladder before it comes to thinking a ship. On the diplomatic side, one british newspaper is reporting that the uk is considering new sanctions, it is considering asset freezes. Is Something Like that going to work . think the complication is that it gets mixed together with the broader tensions between especially the United States and iran. In the british avenue, in fact, been looking to de escalate that. They have urged washington to perhaps step back from some of the pressure they have placed on iran. British have in fact. Can you punish hurghada for this latest action with out abolishing the policy that you have been taking for the overall situation iran. Have been taking for the overall situation iran. On that point, isnt this just for the uk closer to the us, forcing the uk to work with the us, forcing the uk to work with the us, forcing the uk to work with the us on a policy it doesnt even agree with . Well, i think people in washington are hoping so. That is, in fact, will be from the United States perspective a wake up call for allies about the nature of the Iranian Regime and what is at stake. But i think iran is hoping for the opposite. This will lead to is stronger calls from europe to london to the United States to changes policy because of the changes that have resulted in the persian gulf. Lots of sides to the issue. Mike singh, from the Washington Institute, thank you very much. British airways has suspended all flights to cairo for seven days. In a statement, ba says it was taking the measure as a precaution to allow for an assessment of security there but doesnt give any further reasons. The german carrier lufthansa has become the Second Airline to cancel flights to the egyptian capital over security concerns. Flights are due to resume on sunday though. The bbcs matt cole reports. For some cairo bound passengers, the first sign of trouble was when their boarding passes failed at check in. Others have told of confusion from ba ground staff as news filtered through that all the Airlines Flights to and from egypts capital were being suspended. At one stage, the met police were called to deal with agitated would be travellers. It is very disappointing and frustrating, especially to my kids and family. We have a big family over there waiting to see the children. There was no information, there was no help, there was no advice on any alternative ways of getting there. It was just a case of, ring this number, which of course you couldnt get through to. Ba says it made the decision to suspend flights, but has given few details as to why, save for a short statement which said. We constantly review our security arrangements at all our airports around the world and have suspended flights to cairo for seven days as a precaution to allow for further assessment. The uk government says it is aware of bas flight suspension but, other than acknowledging that, the Foreign Office has made no alteration to its long standing advice for travel to egypt. We understand that ba has helped at least some passengers to complete theirjourney, flying via other countries on ever airlines into cairo. Which seems to suggest that ba is happy for people to land at the egyptian capitals airport, just not on its aircraft. But ba does address the safety of its passenger and crew is its priority. Mark cole, bbc news, at Londons Heathrow airport. With me is our News Reporter ramzan karmali. To give us a little bit more. There must be real concern for ba to do this. How unusual is this . It is very unusual. It was done very a bru ptly very unusual. It was done very abruptly as well. People were turned away with boarding passes in hand at the gates. The Foreign Office has, for some time, given advice to travellers to certain parts of egypt, they should only travel if essential. It is not something you should do willy nilly. It has to be essential travel for certain parts of egypt. It is important to stress this was a decision made by ba, by the airline, not by the Foreign Office, not by governor government officials. The Foreign Office website does say there is a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation. There is obviously a threat there. These warnings, i think they came into force from 2015, with the russianjet think they came into force from 2015, with the russian jet that crashed shortly after takeoff from Sharm El Sheikh airport and there was thought there was a bomb on board that that led to the death of 244 people. It is since then we have had these sort of warnings on the Foreign Office website. I think the lack of detailfrom Foreign Office website. I think the lack of detail from ba kind Foreign Office website. I think the lack of detailfrom ba kind of makes us lack of detailfrom ba kind of makes us ask more questions. It does not tell us much. That is bas action. What about the other airlines . Look has a very temporarily halted all sides as well. It was only on saturday night looks as though. In total last year we know that around 450,000 british tourists flew to egypt. Most went to the red sea resort of hurghada. The majority went there. The main operated there is thomas cook, the uk operator thomas cook. They play daily from manchester but also from birmingham, newcastle, london gatwick. They are carrying on as normal. The significant airline is easyjet and they also fly to hurghada and they have put out a statement saying they will continue flying that they are continuously monitoring the situation. They obviously watching this closely as well. Ramzan karmali, thank you for going through all of that. We will keep an eye out on the situation. Ramzan karmali there, our News Reporter. Lets get some of the days other news. More than 20,000 people have taken to the streets of the russian capital moscow to protest against the exclusion of opposition candidates from registering for local elections. Officials barred around 30 candidates from running, claiming they failed to qualify. Those excluded say theyre being punished for challenging the control of putin loyalists. In london, pro european opponents of brexit have held a no to boris, yes to europe march. It featured this inflatable cartoon of boris johnson, the man expected to become the next british prime minister. He or his only rival, jeremy hunt will take over in number 10 downing street next week. Both have promised to see brexit through but only mrjohnson had his own balloon caricature. The triumphant algerian mens Football Team have received a heros welcome on the streets of algiers after their victory in the african cup of nations. Algeria beat senegal one goal to zero during last nights final in cairo, taking home the trophy for the second time in its history. Forensic experts have extracted bones from a Burial Chamber at the vatican in an attempt to solve the disappearance of a 15 Year Old Girl in 1983. Emanuela orlandis family received an anonymous tip off earlier this month that she might be buried in the tomb. Rhodri davies has more. 36 years missing and still they are searching. These experts are looking through two chambers at the vatican in the case of emanuela orlandi. It follows the opening of two tombs in a vatican cemetery after orlandis family lawyer received an anonymous tipoff pointing to the marble topped graves. But the tombs turned out to be empty and the chambers revealed only centuries old bones of two german princesses. Orlandis family had urged the vatican to open an internal investigation into the disappearance which it did this year. She was the 15 year old daughter of a vatican employee. She vanished in rome in 1983 after her flute lesson. Its a disappearance that has kept italians captivated. Is probably italys most enduring mystery. Everybody has a theory about it, a favourite theory. It was the mafia. It was a paedophile ring inside the vatican, some say. It could have been the stasi or islamic terrorists who wanted the release of popejohn paul iis would be assassin. And so theres enormous sympathy for the family and support for this vatican investigation that were now seeing. Yet the family has regularly appealed to the vatican to provide more information and some people say the holy see knows more than its telling. Orlandis father died still wanting answers. Her brother has now made resolving the case his lifes work. But with the latest attempts lacking a breakthrough hell continue to search for her. Rhodri davies, bbc news. Stay with us on bbc news, still to come 50 years ago almost to the minute the world held its breath as the eagle module touched down on the moons Surface Mission control you can see them coming down the ladder now. Its one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. A catastrophic engine fire is being blamed tonight for the first crash in the 30 year history of concorde, the worlds only supersonic airliner. It was one of the most vivid symbols of the violence and hatred that tore apart the state of yugoslavia. But now, a decade later, its been painstakingly rebuilt and opens again today. Theres been a 50 decrease in sperm quantity and an increase in malfunction of sperm unable to swim properly. Thousands of households across the country are suspiciously quiet this lunchtime as children bury their noses in the final instalment of harry potter. This is bbc news. The latest headlines footage from iran shows the seizure of a tanker in the gulf london says its working to defuse the crisis. British Airways Suspends all flights to and from cairo for a week over security concerns. 50 years ago today, Neil Armstrong took that first, small step onto the moons surface a pioneering moment watched by an estimated 600 Million People back on earth. While originally fuelled by cold war rivalry, its become a source of inspiration across the globe, with events taking place worldwide to mark the anniversary. Our correspondent nada tawfik is at washingtons air and space museum, which is hosting a special the eagle has landed celebration event to mark the occasion. What has been happening . So far we had many people come into take look at Neil Armstrongs spacesuit that is back on display here in the museum. The line wrapped around the hallway, everyone trying to get a look to see the moon dust still on the spacesuit. Bigger than will come inafew the spacesuit. Bigger than will come in a few hours, to mark the moment when Neil Armstrong placed his left foot on the lunar surface. You can see behind me they have it all set up see behind me they have it all set up to people are continuing to strea m up to people are continuing to stream in. We have a lunar module that looks just like the eagle and we have a giant room above me that will be brought down on new years eve style for a ten second countdown to that moment. Everyone here is just hoping to relive that historic journey, one that continues to inspire people. I have spoken to many parents here with their children, children who are going to be experiencing this for the first time. They wanted their children to realise that something we take for granted now was once unthinkable and to inspire them to dream big. Granted now was once unthinkable and to inspire them to dream bigm granted now was once unthinkable and to inspire them to dream big. It was an extraordinary story, the moon landing, and quite fraught as well. How much did humanity learn from that moment . It really was. The journey was dramatic right up until the last second. Neil armstrong had to manually take control, descending down onto the moon despite computer alarms and only having 30 seconds of fuel left. It really did show that even though president john f. Kennedy, when he announced that man would be on the moon by the end of the ten years, nasa had not even had the ten years, nasa had not even had the capacity to go there. Yet they achieve that. It open people s minds to what mankind, when they we re minds to what mankind, when they were united for a common goal, what they were able to rise to the occasion to achieve. Here, certainly you have had many children telling us we you have had many children telling us we have gone to the moon, we have to go to mars now. Looking at the next step in space exploration. wa nted next step in space exploration. wanted to ask you about that because the Us Government has been talking about going back to the moon and pushing on to mars. That is right. The Us Government and nasa have started the Artemis Programme hoping to return to the moon by 2024, using that as a jumping point to later going to mars. We heard Vice President mike pence today at a ceremony at Cape Canaveral in florida next to buzz aldrin saying that in the next five years we will have an american man and woman on the moon again. Really promising a return to the glory days of American Leadership in space. But what is so interesting is why we saw a space race between the us and the soviet union back then, now we see a space race with private companies. The likes of a long mask and spacex and geoff of amazon on with his company, so geoff of amazon on with his company, so many geoff of amazon on with his company, so many are now geoff of amazon on with his company, so many are now working with nasa. It will be interesting to see how that develops over the next 50 yea rs. That develops over the next 50 years. We will keep in touch with you over the next few hours, up until the moment of the moon landing. Police in hong kong say they have found explosives and other weapons in a raid on a warehouse. They dispayed two kilos of explosives, ten petrol bombs, and literature opposing the plans to allow extradition to mainland china. A senior bomb disposal officer said it was the largest seizure of the explosive tri acetone tri peroxide, or tatp, police had come across in hong kong. This is an extremely sensitive and extremely powerful explosive. It will cause exceptional amounts of damage when used. It is also very unstable and it will react to heat, friction and impact. It puts at risk everybody within this building, it puts at risk bystanders outside. Staying in hong kong, and tens of thousands of people have joined a protest in support of the territorys police force, and calling for an end to violence. It comes after a wave of demonstrations against that planned extradition bill. Another big anti Extradition Protest is planned for sunday. Our correspondent Stephen Mcdonell has the latest. Today in hong kong it has been the term of the pro beijing camp to rally. They have turned out to support the Hong Kong Government and the citys riot police who have been criticised for their at times heavy handed suppression of the mass rallies in support of democracy and opposing a controversial bill to allow extradition to mainland chinese courts. While this gathering is not as big as those in the pro democracy camp, nevertheless there are thousands of people here. However, as you can see, many are already leaving after just 30 minutes. One of the reasons for this could be that the weather is driving them back. It is raining and we have heard at times funder. It will be interpreted, i am sure, by the pro democracy camp as a sign of the lack of conviction of those who are here. They would also say there are many in attendance who are actually from the chinese mainland, living in hong kong, and they are traditionally the supporters of the central government. Brazils president , Jair Bolsonaro has launched a stinging attack on his own countrys National Space institute, saying its misrepresenting the scale of deforestation in the amazon. According to new data deforestation has surged to record highs since mr bolsonaro took office. Tiffany wertheimer reports. The amazon is the largest rainforest in the world. The huge trees store carbon dioxide, making it vital in the fight against global warming. Preliminary satellite data by brazils National Space Research Institute found it more than 700 km2 of rain forest was lost in may this year. Thats the equivalent of two football pitches every minute. And in the first two weeks ofjuly, 68 more rain forest was destroyed then in the whole ofjuly last year. But despite the science, president bolsonaro doesnt accept the findings. Translation im convinced that the data are lies, and we will call the president of inpe here to talk about it. The right wing leader is known for attacking environmental agencies. His policies favour development over conservation. So rainforests are being cleared at a faster rate to make space for cattle pastures. Mr bolsonaros government is lenient towards environmental crimes like illegal logging, and penalties have dropped under his leadership. The National Space and Research Institute is standing by the data, saying its 95 accurate. In the same news conference, mr bolsonaro said this. Translation to say that people go hungry here in brazil is a big lie. That some are doing badly and dont eat well, i agree with that, but go hungry . No. According to the united nations, about 5. 2 Million People suffered from hunger in brazil in 2017. Tiffany wertheimer, bbc news. Just reminding you of our top story before we go. Nato has condemned the seizing of a british flag ship by a ride on friday, describing it as a clear challenge to International Freedom of navigation. The organisation said it supported british efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue. We will keep across all of those details and you can get them on our website as well. Iam also can get them on our website as well. I am also on twitter. We are keeping across celebrations of the moon landing 50 years ago today. Saturday brought us a day of sunshine and heavy showers, sunday will be the dry day of the weekend for many this was the picture on saturday in norfolk where there we had huge shower clouds and thunderstorms. Showers have eased away towards the east so what were left with as we head through the day on sunday are spells of sunshine and further rain arriving across North Western parts of the uk later in the day. From the word go, a lot of dry weather was sunshine, lighter winds than we had on saturday. Through the morning the wind picks up and the cloud increases across Northern Ireland ahead of rain arriving in the middle of the day, spreading across the western half of scotland in the afternoon. Wet and windy here in the north west. Eastern scotland and the bulk of england and wales stay dry and fine all day did averages about 20 25 degrees also in the sunshine, high teens where you have cloud and rain. That rain is likely to affect the final day of the open at royal portrush. Dry in the morning but things will turn pretty soggy during the course of the afternoon. Through the afternoon into the evening, the attention turns to Northern Ireland and western scotland in particular where rainfall totals will be mounting up. Could be some localised flooding as we had through into the early hours of monday. Western scotland and North Western england have seen some of those torrential downpours. It will be a humid night and first thing on monday the temperatures already in the high teens. Through the day on monday, the story improves in the rain we got initially will work its way gradually towards the north so for much of england and wales i think a dry day, again a lot of sunshine and with that south westerly wind, the humidity heat increasing. There could be a lot of low cloud around some of these irish seacoast. Averages reaching 29, 30 degrees towards the south east on monday. Even across scotland and Northern Ireland you have temperatures in the mid 20s. Through the middle part of the week, the heat will be rising and much and across much of Central Europe that heat will be setting in and we could break the all Time Temperature record in paris with 41 celsius possible by wednesday. That heat pushing up towards the uk. Into tuesday, another warm day everywhere with temperatures above 30 degrees for several places across southern and eastern england. Hot weather across the uk, it looks dry for most of us but increasing humidity and that means there could well be some heavy and potentially thundery showers throughout the week. Showers around in the north and the north west. Warm and dry towards the south east to an eye on the forecast. This is bbc news. The headlines iran has released footage of the moment its troops seized a british registered tanker in the gulf. The uk foreign secretaryjeremy hunt says britain will do what it takes to keep International Shipping safe. There are 23 crew, mostly indian, on board the tanker which is being held at the port of bandar abbas. British airways has suspended all flights to cairo for a week over security issues. It said the security situation in the egyptian capital would be further assessed but didnt elaborate. The german carrier, lufthansa, also cancelled its saturday flights to cairo. It was 50 years ago today, 600 Million People watched Neil Armstrong take that first, small step onto the moons surface. Buzz aldrinjoined him 19 minutes later. Events to mark that giant leap for mankind are taking place in washington and florida. Ministers have promised to end the building of new developments