Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240714

Iran hoists its flag on the masthead of the captured uk registered tanker in the gulf. Irish golfer shane lowry wins the open at royal portrush. Full details coming up in sportsday at 7 30pm. Good evening. The chancellor Philip Hammond says hell resign this week if Boris Johnson becomes the new conservative leader and Prime Minister. Mr hammond says he could never sign up to a no deal brexit, something borisjohnson has refused to rule out. Mr hammond plans to resign on wednesday, just before theresa may leaves downing street. Heres our Political Correspondent chris mason. Philip hammond has been chancellor for the last three years, appointed by theresa may injuly 2016. This was him packing up for the weekend. On wednesday, hell pack up for good. Assuming that borisjohnson becomes the next Prime Minister, i understand that his conditions for serving in his government would include accepting a no deal exit on the 31st of october. That is not something i could ever sign up to. Its very important that a Prime Minister is able to have a chancellor who is closely aligned with him in terms of policy. And i therefore intend to resign to theresa may before she goes to the palace to tender her own resignation on wednesday. The result of the leadership race will be announced on tuesday, but its notjust the chancellor preparing for Prime Ministerjohnson. Others are ready to resign. So, the new leader will face old problems. A divided party and this, the border between Northern Ireland and the republic, and the existing insurance policy, the backstop, to keep it as it is under all circumstances. Mrjohnson and plenty of mps hate it. The eu and ireland says it is essential. If the approach of the new british Prime Minister is that theyre going to tear up the Withdrawal Agreement, then i think were in trouble. I think were all in trouble, quite frankly, because thats a little bit like saying, either give me what i want going to burn the house down for everybody. Borisjohnson is willing to contemplate a no deal brexit, a prospect that frightens ireland but excites some of his supporters, not least because they hope preparing properly for it means theres a better chance of a better deal. The deal, as it stands right now, is dead, and theres no point in trying to fiddle or twiddle it. The reality is there are huge elements in it which simply are inoperable in the uk. The eu is a masterat hard nosed negotiation. As we now know. And i think we got taken for a ride because we werent. Downing street will be rather busier than this come wednesday afternoon, as one Prime Minister leaves and another arrives. This is the week where everything changes and rather a lot stays the same. Chris mason, bbc news. And chris is with me now. The same problems facing the new Prime Minister and they will likely haveif Prime Minister and they will likely have if it is borisjohnson have Philip Hammond to deal with too. Noisy parliament with plenty of opposition to the new Prime Minister and there is a lot of conservatives you are happy to rebel potentially. Different faces but adding up to the same problem, which is a body with barely any majority to speak of, and just a handful of their own mps decide to vote in a different way. Orjust makea decide to vote in a different way. Orjust make a lot of noise. So theresa may has for the last few yea rs theresa may has for the last few years looking nervously over her shoulder at people like jacob rees mogg, if it is Prime Minister johnson as we expect and make you be looking at Philip Hammond or david gauke people who reeked of the semi cement if you like in the conservative particles up there with that as a couple met and they are going to become the rebels or they could become the rebels. So the Prime Minister or indeed jeremy hunt but especially borisjohnson could have this problem because of how a switch that he has been about a no deal breaks it will face many of the same problems as theresa may. So a change of personnel but similar problems to wrestle with. And that deadline remains october the 31st at the moment. And so from Boris Johnsons perspective, we noticeably very significant about that they will happen. He has said the uk will leave the European Union on its over sist leave the European Union on its over 31st with or without a deal. So what has to happen between now and october the 31st . Three things, all of which will be quite something. Either he manages to get a new deal with the European Union in a vanishingly short amount of time and get it through parliament. Anything thatis get it through parliament. Anything that is highly unlikely. If he pulls off, it will be extraordinary. Or he goes for a no deal breaks and he is in the volume cranked to the max the likes of Philip Hammond saying it is terrible and contributing to try and bring down the government. Or he brea ks bring down the government. Or he breaks his promise and he says in mid october, i tried breaks his promise and he says in mid october, itried my breaks his promise and he says in mid october, i tried my best. You know trusted to deliver brexit but labour wont help and conservatives wa nt labour wont help and conservatives want help me and the wont help me andi want help me and the wont help me and i have to ask for more woody had the political capacity to be able to survive that kind of thing . He is very nimble politically and he would have just been elected Prime Minister and he is a brexiteers and bridget tears my have more faith in him breaking a promise and pleading for more sound than they did with theresa may. Lori might go for know the way might get a deal. But any one of those three options is quite something and it is coming quickly. Labour, less than about the opposition for a minute, another initiative to try and tackle the anti semitism claims that continually are made against the party. The familiarity on the conservative side with the wrestle over brexit and the new leadership in the next few days and familiarity on the labour side around these allegations of anti semitism. This whole question that has never gone away pretty much sinceJeremy Corbyn became a leader. What happened today if he has written to Party Members pointing them to the educational material so they are described. They are going to be dreamt up by the party to try and address issues around bigotry in the first topic they will look at is anti semitism. Some quite Strong Language from Jeremy Corbyn is Party Members acknowledging there has been a problem with anti semitism amongst a small number of his Party Members and a problem amongst a larger number of those who perhaps are not familiar with typical anti semitic tropes and perhaps therefore use them ina tropes and perhaps therefore use them in a more casual way they would be sensible quite frankly. The context of this is tomorrow, he has to really potentially awkward meetings, one with the shadow cabinet talking about anti semitism and another with the whole Parliamentary Party talking about anti semitism and there are plenty of labour mps anti semitism and there are plenty of labourmps and anti semitism and there are plenty of labour mps and broader labour activist who simply thinkjimmy corbin has not done anywhere near enough to tackle the problem. There are others who saved his critics of which there are many in the party use the issue of anti semitism as a stick to be in with to try and undermine him. And there is an overla p undermine him. And there is an overlap between some of the most vociferous people on anti semitism and some of the most is it for us critics ofJeremy Corbyn but a simple political reality is this is an issue that has not gone away for him and this is his latest attempt to try and grapple with it. And you are watching all of this play out as are watching all of this play out as a punter, rt . Im going on parental leave so i will sit on this of the watching you report and present all the exciting political news of the next six weeks whilst i changing nappies. You will be kept very busy but im sure you will be champing at the bit. Good luck with it and good on you for doing it. Nice to see you. And well find out how this story and many others are covered in tomorrows front pages at 10 30pm and 11 30pm this evening in the papers. Our guestsjoining me tonight are rob merrick, whos the deputy Political Editor at the independent, and anne ashworth, the associate editorfor the times. Police in hong kong have fired tear gas to Disperse Protesters after another mass protest at the way the territory is being run. Tens of thousands of protestors have been on the streets, the latest in a series of demonstrations that have been going on for two months. Stephen mcdonells report contains some flashing images. The days of only peaceful protest now seem a thing of the past for hong kong. Many pro democracy agitators, especially amongst student groups, have decided that escalation is the way forward. And in a clear provocation, they attacked beijings most visible presence in the city. This is the chinese Central Government headquarters and it has been graffitied by protesters, including here referring to president xijinping as a dog. It was always going to call for a tough response, and this is the response. Riot police have come in to clear people out of this area. And this is now whats happening every weekend in hong kong. The threat of injury or arrest is not deterring demonstrators and the police are not backing down either. Earlier, a large, peaceful march made its way through the streets. What was a movement opposing extradition to mainland chinese courts has morphed into a broader defence of hong kongs freedoms and a push for democracy. We need to stand for what we want and keep going on. Because we are hong kongers, and we love our homes and we need to fight. Every major protest here seems to be leading to greater levels of violence and its hard to see an end for this citys deteriorating political crisis. Stephen mcdonnell, bbc news, hong kong. The defence minister Tobias Ellwood says iran committed a hostile act when it seized a british flagged oil tanker. It comes as a recording has emerged of radio exchanges between a Royal Navy Warship and irans revolutionary guard moments before the stena impero was seized on friday in the strait of hormuz. Paul adams reports. It was forced to turn north towards the iranian coast. Iranian revolutionary guards boarding the tanker on wednesday carrying out a two week old threat to seize a tanker. The ships owners and the British Government said this is simply not true. Earlier, tense exchanges as a british warship tried to keep the ship from being taken. But the revolutionary guards were determined. The ship was too far away to make a difference in the tanker was sailing through the straight of hormuz in oman at waters when it was boarded. It was forced to turn north towards the iranian coast. Translation we followed the ship every second, every minute, and the tanker never Left International waters. We understand that the crew are in relatively good condition, but its a stress situation for everyone. A larger british warship, hms duncan, is on its way to the gulf to replace hms montrose, the government facing criticism for failing to protect british shipping. If we want to continue playing a role on the international stage, bearing in mind that threats are changing, all happening just beneath the threshold of all out war, then we must invest more in ourdefence, including our royal navy. Iranian television has broadcast these pictures showing the tanker now flying an iranian flag. Iranian tv says the investigation to could take a month or more. Officials here in whitehall have spent the weekend trying to figure out britains response. The foreign secretary, jeremy hunt, is due to make a statement tomorrow. I understand hell say that britain is working with other countries to improve Maritime Security in the gulf and he will emphasise the kind of international, diplomatic response britain is trying to achieve. Paul adams, bbc news, at the foreign office. A 15 year old boy has been shot and wounded in coventry in a suspected drive by shooting. West Midlands Police say theyre treating it as an attempted murder and are investigating whether the attack was linked to an earlier robbery in the area. Lindsay doyle reports. Its being described as attempted murder. Shortly after iipm last night, a 15 year old boy was standing near a Coventry City Centre burger bar when a motorbike carrying a number of people fired a shot at him, believed to have him hit in the face. His injuries are being described as potentially life changing. Its just not safe. You have to think before you go out now, just like is it worth going out . When i first got the coventry, i dont think it was like this. I didnt really hear about this stuff. Hearing about it now is a bit, like, wow. Its honestly heartbreaking. Kids are being shown being the victims of these knife attacks, even shootings as well. A second person, whos thought to be aged about 20 whod been standing by the teenager, suffered superficial injuries. Just around the corner at the cosy club, a knife was recovered from a bag and three people were arrested. Police are trying to establish if the incidents are linked. There was no one available from west Midlands Police for comment today, but in a statement, they described the attack on the 15 year old as appalling and reckless, happening as it did in a part of the city centre which was busy with people enjoying a night out. Officers are currently examining cctv footage and are keen to hear from anyone who may have dash cam footage, as there were a number of taxis in the city centre at the time. Lindsay doyle, bbc midlands today, coventry. Wildfires are raging in central portugal, with strong winds spreading flames in the Castelo Branco region. Its close to an area of the country where wildfires two years ago killed more than 60 people. Portugal has experienced similar fires every year since 2016. Rhodri davies reports. Summers bring combustible forests in portugal, and wildfires can make the daytime skies look like night. Hundreds of firefighters are battling these fires across the countrys centre. But others are having to take up the fight themselves. Amid the groups of the brave, some asked why they were confronting these annual infernos. Translation there must be something that can be done. I do not know if there is anyone interested in doing it. But those in power should see that all this is against peoples interests. Firefighters managed to get two fires under control, but only after several people were injured. By fire that had started on saturday in the mountainous Castelo Branco region north of lisbon. They spread elsewhere, abetted by high temperatures and atlantic winds. Police say theyve arrested a 55 year old man on suspicion of starting a fire. Another year, another wildfire, another arrest, leaving portuguese wishing their beautiful were less cruel. Rhodri davies, bbc news. Police in ireland say several people have been injured amid reports a car collided with crowds at a cemetery in dundalk, county louth. The incident occured at 4pm today. Police say one pedestrian was seriously injured and a number of other pedestrians received minor injuries following the collision. The headlines on bbc news Philip Hammond says hell resign as chancellor on wednesday if borisjohnson becomes Prime Minister. More violent clashes in hong kong. Police fire tear gas at protesters during another huge pro democracy rally. Iran hoists its flag on the masthead of the captured uk registered tanker in the gulf. Polls have now closed in ukraines snap parliamentary election, with exit polls suggesting president Volodymyr Zelenskys party has secured almost 44 of votes cast. Mr zelesnky announced the snap election during his inaguration speech in may, with his new servant of the people party having no representation in parliament at that time. The exit polls also predicts that the opposition platform for life, former president poroshenkos party, received just ii. 5 , with just five parties overall reaching the 5 National Threshold needed to secure any seats in parliament. Our moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg has been giving us the latest from the capital kiev. If this exit poll is correct and the National Exit poll has in the past proved to be very correct then five parties will be getting into the new parliament, clearing the 5 barrier. Volodymyr zelenskys party, servant of the people, is a way out ahead with 43. 9 , according to the exit poll. A long way ahead of the opposition platform for life, which is a pro moscow party bloc down on ii. 5 . Now, its too early to say, i think, how many seats servant of the people will actually have, because this exit poll is based on roughly half the mps in parliament. According to the party list. But there are also another 199 individual races, individual candidate races going on around the country, which may affect the actual number of seats that servant of the people get. Well have to wait and see. But certainly its clear that president zelenskys party is way out ahead. It doesnt appear to have an outright majority, but certainly a big gap between it and the other parties. The government is planning new laws to stop companies gagging employees who want to speak out about wrong doing in the workplace. Theres been growing concern about the use of non disclosure agreeements, or ndas, by Company Bosses to silence staff, particularly over issues such as Sexual Harassment and racial discrimination. Heres our Business Correspondent katy austin. Anahid kassabian used to work at the university of liverpool, but after illness, she lost herjob. She felt she was forced out of herjob after illness but signing a non disclosure agreement meant she could not talk about it. She felt she she was bullied out, but signing a nondisclosure agreement meant she couldnt talk about it. She has since broken that nda. In my case, if i didnt sign, i wouldnt get my years severance package, or i was told i wouldnt get my years severance package, and that meant i wouldnt be able to put food on the table or to pay my mortgage. The use of ndas in this kind of setting just should be banned. The university of liverpool has refuted her allegations in the strongest possible terms. A series of high profile cases has led to scrutiny of ndas used by employers. For example, last year, sir philip green was accused of using them in relation to bullying and Sexual Harassment allegations, which he denies. Ndas have various legitimate uses. They can apply to commercially sensitive details, such as inventions. But there has been growing concern, including from mps, that they are sometimes being used inappropriately to cover up allegations of harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Last year, theresa may promised reforms to prevent their misuse. Now, proposed changes to the law would stop them being used to prevent people talking to police or other services about their claims, and make sure people fully understand what they are signing and their rights. One lawyer who has been calling for reform says this doesnt go far enough. The good thing is that you can tell the police, you can talk to your doctor, you can go to a lawyer. You can even go to a priest. The problems are that very many people in the real world will want to talk to their nearest and dearest, and this reform does not allow them to do that. The law change is designed to tackle an imbalance of power between employees and their former employers. It wont satisfy those who feel non disclosure agreements simply shouldnt be used. Katy austin, bbc news. A man has been airlifted to hospital after falling 500 feet from the top of pen y fan, the highest peak in south wales. The dog walker was peering over the edge looking for his dog marshall, who had fallen from the mountain summit, when he tumbled after him. The man, who brecon mountain rescue said stayed conscious throughout, had injuries to his face, shoulder and legs. Marshall escaped with cuts and a broken toe. It isntjust the smoke from cigarettes which can damage the environment. From cigarettes which can 11. 5 trillion cigarette butts are dropped across the world every year and can take decades to break down. New research from Anglia Ruskin University shows that plant growth can become stunted because of the plastic found in cigarette filters. Louise hubball explains. Theyre the most common form of litter on the planet. And it seems cigarettes are not only bad for the environment when theyre lit. And now, new research is looking at the impact they have when people throw them down onto the soil. This is a husband and wife team at Anglia Ruskin University leading the study, the first of its kind. In a series of experiments, they studied how cigarette butts prevent plants from growing properly. And by using a piece of wood as a test, showed it wasntjust the weight holding back the shoots. By extracting the chlorophyll from the plants and shining a light through it, you can see how healthy the plant is. And by testing all different brands of cigarette, including menthol ones and even unsmoked ones, they came to the conclusion it was the plastic filter that was causing the problem. Cigarette butts can decrease plant growth. They can decrease germination and the length of those plants in the short term. The cigarette filter itself is made out of a bio based plastic called cellulose acetate. And this, on its own, separately, in a different form, has been found to reduce plant growth. So, we need to raise awareness that cigarette butts are not made of paper. They dont degrade quickly in the environment, and they can have toxic effects on plants and animals. The plants tested were rye grass and clover, most commonly found in urban spaces, which has big implications for us all. Well, rye grass is a very important crop, especially for cattle. They feed on it, they graze. Clover is a nitrogen fixing plant. So, basically, it aids in the fertilisation of the grasslands. And they also add to the nutrient content of the food. If you pollute our plants and the soils and the environments that theyre in, then were ultimately actually polluting ourselves. When they are tossed aside, cigarette butts can take up to a decade to break down. The scientists now want to carry out further research to see if the plants recover after initial exposure to the plastics hidden inside. Louise hubball, bbc news. In the united states, thousands have joined celebrations to mark 50 years since man stepped on the moon for the very first time. At washingtons air and space museum, a special ceremony marked the exact moment that Neil Armstrong stepped out of the lunar module. Nada tawfik was there and has sent us this report. Counting down the final seconds to mans first steps on the moon, 50 years later. Americans gathered at the national air and space museum in washington, dc to relive the historic moment. The journey was dramatic. After two computer alarms, and with just 30 seconds worth of fuel, astronaut Neil Armstrong manually piloted the eagle down to the sea of tranquility on the lunar surface. The eagle has landed. More than a billion people around the world watched as armstrong stepped off the ladder and spoke those famous words that travelled hundreds of thousands of miles back to earth. Thats one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Edwin buzz aldrin followed him, and together they planted the american flag, but this was an achievement for all of mankind. This anniversary has been marked with events around the world, reminding people of a time when anything seemed possible. The apollo 11 astronauts propelled the world into a new era of space exploration. 50 years later, theyre inspiring the next generation to discover new frontiers. Nada tawfik, bbc news. They were slugging it out for the annual world championships, but there could only be one winner among the 160 snails racing yesterday. Ready, steady, slow sammy the snail made it through an afternoon of heats before winning the grand final in congham, norfolk. He couldnt beat the 1995 Guinness World record holder archie, but english teacher maria welby, who picked him out on the morning, was pleased nonetheless. I mean, i always believed in him. From the moment i met him, earlier today. Its not what i expected to do with my saturday, but you know, it really is perhaps a new career for me in snail racing. My snails havent been winning yet. I think maybe i shouldve chosen larger ones which would have more stamina and power, and you know, more muscle. So, i might do that next year. Now its time for a look at the weather with sarah keith lucas. Hello. We have got some pretty hot midsummers weather in the cards for you through the coming week. Its not going to be dry everywhere, but the heat and humidity are increasing, so lots of warm sunshine around. Some rain across the north west of the uk, and some wind as well over the next 2a hours or so. Middle of the week sees thundery downpours with all that heat and humidity around. Now, through the rest of this evening and overnight, we have got a bit of rain across Northern Ireland, scotland as well. A few showers possible for north west england into north wales, too. But further south and east, you should stay dry overnight, and temperatures staying in the mid teens. Monday morning starts off on a bit of a grey note, but it will be an improving day, the rain clearing out of Northern Ireland and northern england, but still sitting across the west of scotland, where it could be quite heavy at times. In the developing sunshine and further south though, those temperatures likely to reach 29 30d on monday. Its going to get even hotter as we head on into tuesday. Lots of sunshine, dry across the uk, i think, on tuesday. Top temperatures could reach as high as about 33 34 degrees, watch out for some thunderstorms overnight. Hello this is bbc news with martine croxell. The headlines. Philip hammond says hell resign as chancellor on wednesday if borisjohnson becomes Prime Minister. Irelands foreign minister warns the uks next Prime Minister, that if they tear up the brexit Withdrawal Agreement were all in trouble. More violent clashes in Hong Kong Police fire tear gas at protesters during another huge pro democracy rally. Iran hoists its flag on the masthead of the captured uk registered tanker in the gulf. Now on bbc news its time for sportsday with sarah stone. Hello and welcome to sportsday, im sarah stone. Irelands shane lowry has become the open champion at a jubilant royal portrush. Adam peaty has become the first man to swim 100metres breaststroke in under 57 seconds. And new zealand win the netball world cup beating australia byjust one goal also coming up in the programme. A better day for britain on the Tour De France as simon yates claims his second stage win, and defending champion ge righnt thomas clause back time on the leader. And harry kane scores a wonder goal from the halfway line againstjuventus in singapore