Transcripts For BBCNEWS Beyond 100 Days 20240713

The only ones who should be doing so. China should start an investigation into the bidens. Also on the programme. The high court in belfast rules that a near total ban on abortion in Northern Ireland breaches the uks human rights legislation. The us is imposing 7 billion of new tarrifs on eu goods, as part retribution for the illegal subsidies paid to airbus. Scotch whisky will be one of the hardest hit. And Jason Donovan, dressed only in his pants, rushes to put out a housefire in london thats when Good Neighbours become good friends. Hello, im Michelle Fleury, Christian Fraser is in london. As with most nights recently, theres two big stories on both sides of the atlantic. More on brexit in a moment, but First Washington and the impeachment inquiry. It is just 10 days old yet new developments keep coming thick and fast. Today, Congress Hears from its first impeachment witness. Kurt volker was the special us envoy to ukraine until he resigned last week. Hes not a household name, but is well known in Foreign Policy circles. Now, hes a central figure in the inquiry. He is mentioned five times in the whistle blowers complaint and he is testifying in private today before 3 congressional committees. The involvement of Vice President mike pence is also becoming an issue. The Washington Post says that earlier this year pence was instructed to tell president zelensky that us aid was being withheld until there was more aggressive action on corruption. Was that code for an investigation ofjoe biden . All of this comes after the president s robust performance at his press conference last night. Today, the president is on his way to florida. But before he left, he was again calling for foreign governments to investigate his opponent joe biden, notjust ukraine, but china too. China should start an investigation into the bidens because what happened in china isjust about as bad as what happened with ukraine president zelensky. If it were me, i would recommend that they start an investigation into the bidens because nobody has any doubt that they werent crooked. Well, perhaps no one knows the agencies and branches of government involved in the impeachment inquiry better than leon panetta. His many roles have included congressman, white house chief of staff under bill clinton and cia director. Hejoins us now from california. Welcome to the programme. If i could start by asking you about that clip we just heard there from donald trump. Now he is bringing in china ata time trump. Now he is bringing in china at a time when the us is about to restart trade negotiations. He seems to be doubling down on the body behaviour that is at the heart of this impeachment enquiry . behaviour that is at the heart of this impeachment enquiry . I dont think theres any question that the president at this point really does not have a defence to the basic charge that is being investigated, which is the charge of asking a foreign leader to investigate a political opponent. Which is pretty clear. I think what the president is doing and he did it yesterday, as flailing and throwing it as much as he can. Create a diversion. So he is going to now ask the chinese are to investigate, he is going after the whistle blower, investigate, he is going after the whistle blower, he investigate, he is going after the whistle blower, he is attacking adam sheth, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee and he is continuing to basically throughout as much as he can in order to divert the publics attention from the basic charge that is being investigated. It took about this idea of diverting attention, how do you deal with a president who is, essentially, questioning the processes of how the Intelligence Community works, attacking the very impeachment process and attacks attacking the checks and balances that congress has in its authority . When you have at these norms being undermined, how do you respond to that quiz ladder i think it is very important for our leaders in congress to recognise that they have a very heavy responsibility to protect our constitution. And to apply the laws of this country. It is not going to be easy with this president. Who is going to be throwing out all kinds of attacks and charges and are trying to divert attention from the issue, so the responsibility is largely going to fall only members of congress to hopefully remain calm, be responsible and continue their investigation and determine, not only the basis of any charges here, but what the processor should be moving forward. And the responsibility is going to rest with the congress to determine whether or not our constitution is going to be protected. The former us special on by kurt volker as testified before the statement is today and he was the statement is today and he was the liaison between the white house and the ukrainians, what would you like to know from kurt volker . The important thing to find out from him and the former ambassador is whether or not the president was continuing to proceed with this cd, this Conspiracy Theory, that had been planted by the russians that somehow, it was the ukrainians who we re somehow, it was the ukrainians who were responsible for what happened oii were responsible for what happened on the 2016 election, not the russians. The president seems to have attached himself to that conspiratorial kind of approach and it will be interesting to see whether others who were at the state department recognised that the president was pushing a debunked Conspiracy Theory and whether or not they were advising the president not to do that. Until recently he was out there in eastern ukraine, advising the ukrainians about how to face up to the russian threat, but at the same time, he was, presumably, explain to the Ukrainian Government by these crucial military aid that congress had signed off and was being withheld this crucial military aid. Well, that raises the other issue of whether or not the president was abusing his powers as commander in chief by using our National Security interests as a vehicle to try to get the ukrainians to conduct this investigation into joe biden. The reality is, that the agent was withheld. 400 million in aid to the ukrainians was put on hold stop aid to the ukrainians was put on hold stop the reality is that the aid was withheld. It was suddenly put on hold and, during the conversation, the transcript of the discussion that the president released, there is a discussion about additional aid and it has in the middle of the discussion that the middle of the discussion that the president says, but i would like to ask a favour of you though, which clearly indicates the tie between the investigation and the i think that be another issue to be investigated by the congress. We will see what comes out of that congressional meaty. It was a great pleasure to have you in the programme, thank you for being with us. Borisjohnson has been laying out his brexit proposals, which he hopes will solve the conundrum of the irish border. The Prime Minister told mps that post brexit, britain will be seeking a Free Trade Agreement with the eu. The plan would see Northern Ireland stay in the european Single Market for goods but leave the Customs Union with the rest of the uk resulting in some customs checks within ireland. They do not deliver everything we would have wished. They do represent a compromise, but to remain a prisoner of existing positions is to become a cause of deadlock, rather than breakthrough. And so, we have made a genuine attempt to bridge the chasm, to reconcile the apparently irreconcilable and to go the extra mile as time runs short. Hear, hear. Eu leaders are wary of issuing too harsh an assessment on mrjohnsons blueprint, worried it will make brussels the victim of a blame game in the uk. But it was clear that serious doubts are spreading across eu capitals. Within the european parliament, the influential brexit steering group, led by guy verhoftstadt, said the last minute proposals did not in their current form represent a basis for agreement. And on a visit to sweden, the irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was sounding a similar tone. Our objective is very clear we dont want to see any customs posts between north and south and nor do we want to see any tariffs or restrictions on trade north and south. They were all abolished in the 1990s, we dont want to go back to that. The majority of people in the north dont, the majority of people in the republic of ireland dont. But if were going to be in two different Customs Unions, i think that creates a real difficulty that is going to be very hard to reconcile. It does not sound too positive, does it . Sir graham brady is chair of the 1922 committee, an Influential Group of tory backbench mps. Good to have us this evening. The only brexit deal that has ever won a majority in the house of commons was the amendment that you tabled, the brady amendment, which advocated replacing the irish backs up with alternative arrangements, so was this the kind of proposal that you had in mind . Absolutely. My amendment on the 29th ofjanuary, which did many majority of 16 votes, which did many majority of 16 votes, which in the current climate sounds like a princely majority, was deliberately fairly open. It allows the possibility that you might have a time limit to the backs up, you might have had a unilateral right of exit from it or you could put in place alternative arrangements a time limit to the backstop. This certainly fits within that rubric and my abs in the house of commons today sent to the premise that he should be quite confident telling eu leaders that if they come to the table and reach an agreement on what i think is an eminently sensible compromise, it will get through the house of commons. So the numbers are important, as you say. That one by a majority of 16. We know that the dup and the e rg, the eurosceptics, are on board. He hinted at it today that the payments, testers numbers and how they vote before he goes to the summit on the 17th of october at the Prime Minister said he might those numbers. It was suggested that he do that and the Prime Minister said that he would think about it and there is very little time because parliament is only setting for two days before it will be product leading up to the queens speech. If it would help elite if it would help elite is a beyond this if it it would help elite is a beyond this if it would help the eu leaders above beyond this because they do not think that the house of commons can reach an agreement. Now we seem to be any situation where it may not fly in europe. What were really redressing this downturn now is looking at whether people genuinely wa nt looking at whether people genuinely want to allow brexit with a deal or whether there are people who want to prevent exit with or without a deal. In the house of commons we are seeing some labour members who are making it clear that they are prepared to be flexible, they want to reach a compromise, they want to respect the vote of the people three years ago. But they want to do so any way that enables an orderly brexit, which will be in the interests of business, unlock investment and on. We are seeing some of that common sense starting to break out, not only the whole spectrum of the conservative benches from people who have been very unhappy about leaving the eu and the first place, right the way through to the e r6, the more committed eurosceptics. But also, a significant grip on the other side of the house. You also have people like Jeremy Corbyn her, even though he has been a lifelong eurosceptic and always voted against the eu for his first part of his career, is now prepared to do anything to try to cause difficulties for the government. That is still only have at the equation. The other half, of course, i know that this is the europeans who do not seem to be in favour of this. Does this make it a nonstarter . In my view, obviously, our relationship with the republic of ireland is very important. They are a very important trading partner for the United Kingdom. Are a very important trading partner forthe United Kingdom. There are a very important trading partner for the United Kingdom. There are many, many family links and other connections, obviously, particularly oii connections, obviously, particularly on the island of ireland. It is critically important that we maintain those good relationships and, in particular, protect the Peace Process and the good friday agreement. 0ne Peace Process and the good friday agreement. One of the critical things about this proposal, as opposed to the so called backstop, which theresa may had negotiated, the backstop was a breach of the good friday agreement and that this is entirely consistent with the good friday agreement. Because the good friday agreement. Because the good friday agreement. Because the good friday agreement says there must be consent for any arrangements around the border. This provides for things to happen with consent, whereas the backstop could be imposed from outside. Without the stormont assembly, there is no consent without the assembly. We very much need to get the assembly back. The pressure on Northern Irish politicians to make sure that they do come back to consider this will be immense. I think that the dup certainly, who have indicated their support for this plan, are entirely conscious of that. These assembly has to come back anyway, there are so has to come back anyway, there are so many has to come back anyway, there are so many reasons has to come back anyway, there are so many reasons it should, but this is yet another one, which adds to the pressure. Thank you so much for joining us. Damian grammaticas is in brussels for us. You just heard for some grim payday talking about growing support in parliament. From sir graham brady. I think it is worth pointing out that it looks like from here that the Uk Parliament is making this a mistake it made back when all the. Back in the same position when Graham Bradys amendment was passed. It might look like it has support in the uk, but can it pass your . Back then it was passed, but it was not something it was going to fly in the eu, they viewed it as unworkable and impractical are not a cce pta ble unworkable and impractical are not acceptable to them. Again, the messages that were getting from the eu are saying very clearly that borisjohnsons planner, eu are saying very clearly that Boris Johnsons planner, now, eu are saying very clearly that borisjohnsons planner, now, maybe there is a majority in parliament, is not workable for the eu we have a very clear statement for the irish position, saying that the arrangements on this, that you are hearing again theyre briefly about the governance, the consent of Northern Ireland, for the eu, that is not acceptable. It gives a veto, as the irish had put it, to one community, the democratic unionist party, one party, that could bring the whole thing down. The eu signal receiving as that would have to change, and so too with the arrangements around the customs arrangements. The eu says that those simply are not there in detail. They would have to be put in place something that they know is workable from day one and those are the two key things that the eu, i think, your cycling needs to change. Negotiations will happen your tomato with the uks chief negotiator and i think well see coming out of that very clear signals of whether the eu that there is room for movement on the site and leading towards a deal and if there is not that, were into very difficult territory did because it is signals from all sides, the irish in particular, that what is on the table so far does not do the trick. Thank you for that. A penny for the thoughts of theresa may today. A study in how to keep a pokerface may today. A study in how to keep a poker face today. She just kept in silence watching it going on. There is just silence watching it going on. There isjust a hint silence watching it going on. There is just a hint of a smell, imperceptible, i think, is just a hint of a smell, imperceptible, ithink, but is just a hint of a smell, imperceptible, i think, but almost it has there. I think, perhaps some suppressed satisfaction the hint ofa suppressed satisfaction the hint of a smile. The backstop, taking britain out of its eu and all its frameworks and the difficulties of that, borisjohnson frameworks and the difficulties of that, Boris Johnson is frameworks and the difficulties of that, borisjohnson is beating some of the same scars. What do you think of the same scars. What do you think ofa of the same scars. What do you think of a body line which expert would make of that . We often talk on this programme about the battle over abortion rules in us states such as georgia, louisiana and ohio. Its Northern Ireland though, which currently has even tighter restrictions than these states. Its abortion laws are among the strictest in the world, banning it outright apart from when a womans life is at risk. A change in the law now seems inevitable after belfasts High Court Ruled today that an almost total ban on abortion is incompatible with the uks human rights committments. The case was brought by a belfast woman, sarah ewart, who had to travel to britain for an abortion after being told her baby would not survive outside the womb. Emma vardy has more. Sarah ewart became the public face of a debate about a deeply personal issue. Six years ago, she travelled to london from her home in Northern Ireland to have an abortion. Her unborn baby had a condition that meant the child couldnt survive outside the womb. Its not something that i ever would have ever even dreamt of. Id rather have the memory of seeing it move on screen and hearing a heartbeat. Than see the end. She allowed her experience to be filmed because she believed Northern Irelands near total ban on abortion was wrong. Today, belfast High Court Ruled that Northern Irelands abortion laws had led to a breach of her human rights. Its a massive relief that weve actually heard today the judges recognise that we did have the standing and that my human rights were breached. Whats a few more days waiting on this to come through . But there remain strongly supported anti abortion campaigns in Northern Ireland, where many believe an unborn childs right to life should be protected. For the people of Northern Ireland, its a very sad day for the future unborn children with special needs when a court would make a decision to deny the very personhood and deny the right to life of unborn children here. And marking the strength of feeling, thousands marched on stormont recently to protest against legislation passed by westminster, which means the law on terminations is set to be relaxed later this month. The change will come in if Northern Irelands devolved government at stormont which collapsed two and a half years ago isnt restored in the next few weeks. Women in Northern Ireland have been able to access free abortions by travelling to england since 2017. Although the law is set to change in 18 days time, its likely Services Wont be set up locally until the spring. At the moment, more than 1,000 women a year for a multitude of reasons leave Northern Ireland to seek an abortion elsewhere. Todays ruling is another mark of the change taking place in what was a very socially conservative Northern Ireland. Conservative Northern Ireland. Access to abortion remains one of the most divisive issues here, but its now on the brink of change, decades after the rest of the uk. Emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. For more on this case and the rising number of states trying to implement new laws in the us, we arejoined now by mary ziegler in florida. She is author of after roe the lost history of the abortion debate and specialzies in reproductive rights law. Thank you forjoining us in the programme. Why do you think were moving further and further apart on the abortion debate right now . Their are a variety of factors. American abortion politics have always been a more polarised in many ways than uk abortion politics, even in Northern Ireland. I think, abortion politics, even in Northern Ireland. Ithink, at abortion politics, even in Northern Ireland. I think, at the abortion politics, even in Northern Ireland. Ithink, at the moment, at least in the United States, probably the most important variable is the changing composition of the Supreme Court due to donald trump as magnificent nominations and accompanying expectations that the courts are going to do almost precisely the opposite of what we sawjust precisely the opposite of what we saw just happen in precisely the opposite of what we sawjust happen in Northern Ireland. Do people like you who specialise in the law in this area, do you look at the law in this area, do you look at the case in Northern Ireland in the high court, as some crossover, and wonder at thejudgment high court, as some crossover, and wonder at the judgment that came down today could be used in some way in the United States . |j down today could be used in some way in the United States . I think people in the United States . I think people in the United States are aware of what is going on the United Kingdom in part because of her long standing historical ties, in part because of her long standing historicalties, especially in part because of her long standing historical ties, especially when it comes to the law, in terms of its Persuasive Authority, about rebuttable depend on whether the courts and general View International law as understanding what rights should exist in the United States and there has been a history of conservative justices havoc and scepticism about that. Even the idea of human rights isnt something that really comes into play quite often when we talk about womens right to choose abortion in the United States, it is usually framed as a constitutional right, knotty human right. While there is a good argument to be made, that american lawyers and judges who should pay more attention, the Persuasive Authority of this kind of judicial decisions were limited a constitutional right, not a human right. The traditional ban in georgia was blocked. What is your view . It unsurprising. It is likely that they were introduced so that they could be struck down by lower courts so that the Supreme Court could consider them. The lower courts had no choice but to block the law and state is unconstitutional and then the question becomes if and when the United States Supreme Court will dismantle that. Great to get your thoughts. Thank you for being with us. This is beyond 100 days from the bbc. Coming up for viewers on the bbc news channel and bbc world news the us gets the green light to slap billions of dollars worth of new tariffs on a range of eu goods. And one small step for man a Royal Air Force pilot is appointed to lead a new us led Defence Programme in space. Thats still to come. Storm lorenzo is heading slowly into the uk but has not having much of an impact in most parts of the uk. It is when theyre out towards Western Areas towards the coast and we had similar rain airtheir areas towards the coast and we had similar rain air their own here. Incurred while it looked very dark very well in Northern Ireland and we had some of the strongest winds this evening. Gusts of 60 miles per. The centre of that storm, deep area of low pressure early on was kept out towards the west very well with the strongest winds across western parts of ireland. That is where this term was named by the irish met service. That area of the pressure is heading its way towards Northern Ireland. The winds will be strong very well and enable ease down overnight as the storm begins and will keep some rain going. Further south and into the south west of england and wales, we will have the strongest winds here later. Gusts of over 60 mph perhaps, but nothing unusual but this time of year. A lot of cloud and rain overnight, a lot milder thanit and rain overnight, a lot milder than it has been for the past couple of nights. When sizing down from many places, when the across the path by south west of england and wales. The event that we start the day with will edge off tash easel and anyplace is becoming dry in the afternoon. A little bit of sunshine and thus have just been a little bit higher than they were today. The weather coming down a little bit of the day because on friday as that term we can that we head into the weekend. Each eye start fanatics in scotla nd weekend. Each eye start fanatics in scotland and eastern parts of the uk. Likely to be dry on saturday. And when stuck to pick up a little bit. Ahead of that, ten are porting to 16 celsius. That rain band that is coming in from the west will stagger its way across further england and wales. The main light of the main driving down those fronts and into continental europe. By sunday morning, it maybe die with santander in Northern Ireland it may be dry. Elsewhere, cloud and epics of easing from the authentic wet in the afternoon towards the south east of england. Temperatures no great shakes unless you have the sunshine towards the west where 17 in wales and the south west should feel quite pleasant. 0r in wales and the south west should feel quite pleasant. Or it is a the pressure coming in next week from the atlantic, that means were going to find more wind and rain. They went as and when this weather is likely to be in the north west. The wettest and windiest weather. This is beyond 100 days, with me Michelle Fleury in washington, Christian Fraser is in london. Our top stories. President trump has publicly suggested a second foreign power, china, should investigate one of his main political rivals, joe biden, and his son. China should start an investigation into the bidens. European Union Leaders have said theyre unconvinced by britains latest proposals to get a brexit deal by the end of the month. We are very sceptical about this proposal because mainly it is a repackaging the old proposals. Coming up in the next half hour. Tragedy strikes the Paris Police Headquarters as four employees were stabbed to death. 0ne victim is in undergoing surgery. Plus, us eu trade war widens as the Trump Administration slaps 25 tariffs on on single malt scotch, so you better start stocking up. When republicans began their enquiry into president clinton in 1998, Public Opinion was divided. Into president clinton in 1998, but by the time the house had voted to impeach, in december 1998, americans had reached a verdict. Only 30 favoured removing him from office, even though a large majority thought him guilty. In the case of richard nixon, the opposite was true, Public Opinion moved the other way. Such is impeachment, it is a political not a legal process. So donald trump will have an eye on the polls that are turning against him. Fivethirtyeights tracker of impeachment polls shows that since july last year a majority of americans have largely opposed president trumps impeachment. Last week it changed, now an average of 46. 6 of americans support it 44. 9 oppose it. The republicans worry the white house doesnt have a coordinated strategy to fight back. Mr trump is the only empowered communicator, responding to developments hour by hour on twitter with minimal coordination between the president s Legal Advisers and his political ones. Lets speak to a man who has spent his time communicating for the republican party, ron christie, former Legal Adviser to george w bush. Where are you today ron . Is that la . It is los angeles, we are and how a. Ijust want it is los angeles, we are and how a. I just want to keep track of where you are. If you are sitting in the white house right now and youre seeing things getting more serious for the president , what would you wa nt to for the president , what would you want to do as a Communications Specialist and how would you want to manage this . Good evening to you and the first thing i would do is tell the first thing i would do is tell the president to get off twitter and stay off the airwaves. The more the president talks, the more he tweets and it reminds the American People he seems more focused on what the democrats are doing in Congress Regarding impeachment as opposed to what he is doing to lead the American People on trade and health and Kitchen Table issues they care about so less is more particularly in crisis mode as ive learned a nearly 28 years in politics. It is not just hand, it nearly 28 years in politics. It is notjust hand, it is Rudy Giuliani who keep speaking words or am i going on fox and the Cable Networks and it seems like he was freelancing or maybe he was tied to the state department which causes an awful lot of problems for the secretary of state. Certainly any time youre a politician any of the surrogates to go on the airwaves, you want them to stay on message and i think we have seen stay on message and i think we have seen about the president and his tea m seen about the president and his team in the last couple of weeks is that there is no message, we careen hour to hour, i tweaked each week, press co nfe re nce hour to hour, i tweaked each week, press conference to press conference as opposed to saying here is why i believe this impeachment inquiry is wrong and here are the constitutional limits that should be imposing here is the focus on the issues that we should talk about that if he did not or a message, you have right now which is just something we have never seen before in american politics. Illustrating yesterday to try to recap some of the things that we have seen going after adam schiff who is leading the impeachment inquiry and going after the whistle blower and it was the expletive laden tweets and now the today we have hand doubling down and essentially saying on the evil of trade talks may be china should look into the biden family . Good afternoon to you michelle, there are certain things that should be set in public and certain things that should be held in private and counsel. If you wanted to have the Chinese Government look into an american citizen, that is one thing if there is prevent impropriety but if there is prevent impropriety but if you want to look into a citizen who is a political opponent that sets off alarm bells, is it illegal . No, it doesnt look right, no. And he seems to be the worst enemy here, the way he talks and tweets about political opponents rather than again asi political opponents rather than again as i said to christian, focusing on Kitchen Table issues that americans are concerned about right now. Going back to what he was saying about Rudy Giuliani and all this, now there is a Washington Post reporting and talking to paul ma nafort reporting and talking to Paul Manafort and talking about contacting ukraine. There is certainly nothing wrong with Rudy Giuliani reaching out to paul ma nafort giuliani reaching out to Paul Manafort and they are allowed to speak to each other but theres the notion of is there a message or a strategy and if i was a president of the United States, the thing i would do to talk to my personal attorney to talk to someone in jail because of involvement of the principle of the president the United States, and it generates headlines not favourable to the president and it makes you wonder what is going on on whether they understand the actions and words and deeds have on Public Opinion. Ryan christie, as always thank you for your insights from la today. There were good to see you both. What is striking is we have not heard much from joe biden who is talked about and all of these impeachment discussions but last night he was an nevada and had this to say. I am not going anywhere. Cheering you are not going to destroy me and youre not going to destroy my family. He is not going to walk away but here is a problem forjoe biden, he was paid for 50,000 at a time when he was Vice President so donald trump does not necessarily have to prove that there was anything wrong here, he just needs to prove or to chip away if you well at joe bidens vulnerability and did not forget that you can have a situation where days or weeks before the first primary, where he is sitting on the stand in the senate trying to explain himself and this is a poll that came out the other day, so he is already starting to slip behind it was a of course Elizabeth Warren theirand it was a of course Elizabeth Warren their and theyre well republicans rubbing their at that, if they can chip away at his venerability and Elizabeth Warren rights in the middle, great for them. Yet strategists are making the point that if you are facing some like donald trump, you also need to speak out my to make sure that he does not shape the narrative around you and i think that is the reason why you are starting to hear from joe think that is the reason why you are starting to hearfrom joe biden. Turning back to brexit. It might be being wrangled over in westminster and brussels, but its in Northern Ireland and the republic where the full impact of any brexit deal will be felt. According to the Prime Ministers plans, Northern Ireland would leave the eus Customs Union alongside the rest of the uk, meaning that customs checks of some kind would be needed on the irish border. Whatever is finally agreed about the border and how those checks might work, it will be the businesses on the ground that will have to put them into fruition. As things stand, theyre worried about the prospect of any extra controls. Heres our Northern Ireland business correspondentjohn campbell. Theres already a sort of border between Northern Ireland and the rest the uk. All live animals coming in from Great Britain are checked at this inspection post. Under the Prime Ministers plan, these checks would be extended to food and other goods. Thats because Northern Ireland would continue to follow the eus standards and rules needed to keep the land border open. The rest of the uk would not. But for businesses like this, near the border with the irish republic, it is the other part of the plan, to do with customs, thats the big worry. The proposal would mean the whole of the uk leaving the eus Customs Union. That inevitably means a new Customs Border in ireland. Is this a good deal . Well, you know, whats a good deal . With new requirements for cross border traders. We would be exporting on a daily basis to the republic of ireland. And at some times, we would have orders for the republic of ireland which would possibly go to donegal, then come back in at strabane. I cant imagine how were going to be to put export orders and Northern Ireland orders on the same truck in the future. The Prime Minister believes the impact of this Customs Border can be minimised. Instead of customs posts at the frontier, the border would effectively come here, to the factory or warehouse. Most customs checks and formalities would take place in the company premises. But even if this can be made to work, it will add cost and complexity to cross border trade. There are other worries for businesses like this printing firm. Northern ireland wont automatically follow the eu rules necessary to keep the border open. Instead, the Northern Ireland assembly at stormont will have to approve this arrangement every four years. Ijust dont think that will be accepted by the European Union at all. Stormonts not a sovereign government. Its a regional government. The European Union only works with sovereign governments. You know, we have not had a Stormont Executive for over 1,000 days. They cant decide on very, very small things. How in gods name would we ever be able to get them to decide on something as significant is this . How to solve Northern Irelands border issue has been the question that has bedevilled this brexit process. The Prime Minister may think hes found his answer. Much of Northern Ireland business disagrees. John campbell, bbc news, londonderry. Just had some from the correspondent listening to the Michel Barnier meeting and use as many questions remain about the proposals for the backstop and he has said that the focus for the next few days will be testing the uks rim to manoeuvre. Eu officials are concerned that the consent mechanism for the assembly will be a blatant veto for the dup but obviously as you know the Prime Minister has moved away from this is the deal take it or leave it, it is a launch pad he says for a compromise so they are going to test whether they are serious about the compromise in the days ahead. A few weeks ago on this programme we reported on a conflict with the eu that could push up the price of european cheese for americans. Now it looks like the Trump Administration will follow through on its threat. And notjust tarrifs on cheese. The World Trade Organisation has given the green light for the us to impose tariffs on 7. 5 billion worth of eu goods annually, as punishment for illegal loans and subsidies to airbus a competitor of american rival boeing. The countries likely to face the heaviest tariffs are the four Airbus Consortium members britain, germany, france and spain. Britain is facing levies on its sweaters and woollens, as well as scotch whiskey. In germany, tools and coffee are among the products affected. French cheese and certain wines are also on the list. As are olives and olive oilfrom spain. Well out of that list the one that may hit close to home for many is whiskey. To discuss this further, we can speak to Mark Gillespie a journalist and host of the podcast whiskeycast. He trains us from philadelphia. It let me ask you what sort of threat is pose to Scotch Whisky in the United States . It is a major threat because the us is the largest export market for scotch which ski by value and in 2018, the Scotch Whisky industry exported about 1. 3 billion worth of whiskey to the United States and now about 30 of that will be subject to the tariff on single malt Scotch Whisky and the rest of that would be blended with skis that as of right now are not subject to the tariff. It must be strange for many that this is to do with the Aviation Industry and not the scotch industry but this is an opportunity for american bourbon makers . Keep in mind that american bourbon sales have been booting stomach blooming and have problems keeping up with supply and demand anyway, and let the tariffs imposed last year, but i really do not think they are going to see the impact of this until early next year. Keep in mind that 0ctober, this until early next year. Keep in mind that october, november, and december are the busiest sale months for whiskeys of all times for the us and elsewhere around the world because of a festive season. A lot of larger producers have already started and anticipation for this in the festive season, overloading shipments of the us ahead of time to make sure they avoid any tariff because they have done this is coming for some time and we will see this really hurt is coming for some time and we will see this really hurt as the smaller producers who did not have that ability to get across the ocean and beat the ta riffs before across the ocean and beat the tariffs before they take effect in a couple weeks. As you say that brand name manufacturers over there must be conscious and the wta after rule on the subsidies that they pay to boeing and the eu already says they will look at tit for tat ta riffs they will look at tit for tat tariffs and presumably they will mirror the tariffs that have been put on United States. They could increase the serifs in theory and remember when the eu imposed a tariff on american whiskey and bourbon exports to europe lastjuly, a year ago bourbon exports to europe lastjuly, a yearago in bourbon exports to europe lastjuly, a year ago in 2018, that has cut export sales to the region by 21 according to the distilled Spirits Council and the United States. That isa council and the United States. That is a big number but what we do not know is that whether the ee will increase at tariff from 25 to saves them ask a 50 or go to other goods. Thank you. It would be ironic if a brexit deal with the United States, post brexit would wipe out some of these tariffs. And breed new life into the Scotch Whisky industry and perhaps other industries as well would want to watch. Well, as you can imagine, Scotch Whisky producers over here in the uk are deeply concerned about the new tariffs. A statement from the chief executive of the scottish whisky assosciation reads, the us is our largest and most valuable Single Market, and over £1 billion of Scotch Whisky was exported there last year. The tariff will put our competitiveness and Scotch Whiskys market share at risk. We expect to see a negative impact on investment and job creation in scotland, and longer term impacts on productivity and growth across the industry and our supply chain. The trade representative to the wto michelle has said they could go further and had not put the whole load of tariffs on things and they could select other industries and this could get quite messy. And i think we are at the start of discussions here, and we are expecting border trade talks to take place between europe and the us and europe. But they are about to restart next week. He is quite busy with that. This is beyond 100 days. Still to come fifty years after the Lunar Landing the Royal Air Force is taking its first small steps into space. Weve been speaking to the pilot wholl be taking that giant leap. Scotland has become the first country in the uk to ban parents from smacking children after the Scottish Parliament voted overwhelmingly to change the law. Todays decision follows a failed attempt to change the law in scotland almost 20 years ago. The legislation removes the defence of reasonable chastistement that, until now, had offered protection from prosecution. Critics argue the move risks criminalising good parenting. Scotland correspondent, lorna gordon, reports. At the moment parents and carers are allowed to use reasonable physical force to discipline their children, this bill will mean that smacking a child will become illegal illegal here in scotland, no matter what the circumstances. It will give children the same protection as adults. In 2002, an attempt to ban smacking in scotland proved so controversial it had to be abandoned, not this time around though, and campaigners believe will make a real difference in protecting children. What this law does is to make it clear that physical punishment is not acceptable and it is symbolic as much as anything, this is a message to society, a message to our children to say that your rights are really important and you do not deserve to be physically punished. Opponents of the legislation voted through at holyrood believe it is an intervention to far. It is very dangerous, i think. We already have laws in this country that outlaw beating your child, what this law does is criminalise the slightest smack. So if you smack a child on the hand like that, that will be a criminal offence. This has been described as an historic vote. And the children equal protection from assault scotland bill has passed. And while there are moves to try to bring in a ban on smacking in wales, england and Northern Ireland have no plans for similar legislation. It is expected to be a year until the law in scotland comes into force, sending the message that violence against children is never acceptable. Donald trump says the next war fighting domain is space. Now as part of an american Led Coalition the raf is making its first steps into orbit to launch a satellite. They have selected a typhoon pilot to lead this new Space Programme in collaboration with virgin 0rbit. Flight lieutenant Mathew Stannard is being seconded to the programme which will use a modified boeing 747. The plane, called cosmic girl, carries a rocket attachment beneath its left wing which will be fired into space once the plane reaches cruising altitude. The mod has announced that the uk would be the first formal partner involved in the the us led 0peration, 0lympic defender. The aim said the raf is to strengthen deterrence against hostile actors in space, enhance resilience and preserve the safety of space flight. He spoke with us a short time ago and i put it to him that swapping a typhoon for a 747 is a bit like swapping a ferari for a mondeo. Iam not i am not sure, i iam not sure, i have i am not sure, i have not flown a 747 yet, i am looking forward to obviously flying in and i am sure it will be a new challenge for me. So tell us about the satellite you would be taking at there. How is it attached and how will you fire it into space and what is it for . We call it a small satellite which means it is a washing machine sized object rather than a car and it is attached by a rocket on the left wing of the 747 and it will be launched into space from about 30,000 feet, from the 747. It is a range of things that will do on satellite and this for me is getting involved in the launch provider to get satellites at there. You said its about getting involved and am i right in thinking this is part of the raf attempts to get involved, pa rt the raf attempts to get involved, part of the space ambitions . This is the next logical step and there and their satellites have now got to a place we think which means we can be a real utility to the raf. The space domain is changing and in our introduction, donald trump sees it asa introduction, donald trump sees it as a new fighting domain and is this pa rt as a new fighting domain and is this part ofan as a new fighting domain and is this part of an attendant, the satellite you are launching, i guess it is for communications but the idea would be to go much further than that, when nate . I think that is absolutely right and it is not necessarily a new domain but it is reliant on space now is huge and everything we do, using your iphone, to what we use in ourjets to fly and i think it is right that what the raf is really getting involved with companies are are at the forefront of what is going on in space at the moment. I am glad you mention getting involved with the companies because you have private sector players here who wrote the micro freight as the billion dollar space race and you also havejeff does as an iran mask and what do you think about that . I think it is a unique opportunity for the raf, we cannot do this and getting involved in these projects and using their expertise and experience seems like a right way to go. We have been watching developments and you might be familiar with what indiana has been doing and they fire a rocket and space to take out one of their oh stomach on satellites and low orbit and that is the way that defence is going, do you think that the way for the raf plate satellites into space quickly, that might be taken out . That is not the primary objective, and certainly one of the benefits, and you cannot take the benefits, and you cannot take the benefits, losing a satellite with a hugely valuable asset but replacing a satellite and not years means it is not valuable each argument because i can put anyone up there and that is part of that. The other pa rt and that is part of that. The other part is how quickly we can innovate, asa part is how quickly we can innovate, as a new map comes out for the iphone, we have a new satellite data slightly better and do something slightly better and do something slightly for other. Thank you, 30,000 feet at 747, and we might see he fires his rocket. 0fficers called to a late night fire in notting hill in london were met by a good samaritan, a man who has been known to wear an amazing technicoloured dreamcoat. But on this particular night Jason Donovan was dressed only in his underpants. There he is in his tighty whiteys. The australian actor and singer who of course starred in the australian soap neighbours, spotted the flames from his house opposite and rushed to help after all next door is only a footstep away. From a house opposite. From a house opposite. You had to go there. Fortunately he had his own fire extinguisher. Following the incident he tweeted his thanks to the london fire service. And add this, this is a good reason, he said, to always wear pyjamas to bed. This reminds me of covering the earthquake in haiti, and there are out there sharks aftershocks and in the house i was in, it started to shake andi in the house i was in, it started to shake and i ran out and the boxers and you get out there and suddenly it stops and the birds are singing and there you are and your underpants and there is your producer and her bra and knickers and it is very revealing about who you work with but my boss was in the shower and he did not get to the Assembly Point and i said where were you and he said i was lathering up with the soap and i thought either i go or with the soap and i thought either i goori with the soap and i thought either i go or i die here in my bubbles. So it was a fate with two death to the Assembly Point. He would be thrilled that you shared this with the world. Sell i spare a pot friend. Well done. We will see you next time. So done. We will see you next time. Soi done. We will see you next time. So i spare a thought for him. Storm lorenzo is hiding slowly into the uk but it is not having much of an impactfor the uk but it is not having much of an impact for many parts of the uk. Always windier out towards Western Areas near the coast. Weve had some rain earlier on here in cornwall. Its looked very dark for a while in Northern Ireland. And its here, weve got some of the strongest winds this evening gusts of around 50 60 mph. There was the centre of the storm, that deep area of low pressure, earlier on. It was kept out towards the west for a while, with the strongest winds across western parts of ireland, which is why the storm was named by the irish met service. But that area of low pressure is heading its way towards Northern Ireland. The winds will be strong for a while and then theyll ease down overnight as the storm weakens, but we will keep some rain going. Further south and into the south west of england and wales, this is where we will have the strongest winds later gusts of perhaps over 60 mph. Nothing that unusual, though, for this time of the year. A lot of cloud, rain overnight. It will be a lot milder than its been for the past couple of nights. The winds easing down for many places, still windy across the far south west of england and wales. This the rain that we will start the day with will edge its way further south and is off. Many places, actually, becoming dry in the afternoon, cloud breaking a little bit tell and sunshine and temperatures probably going to be a bit higher than they were today. So, the weathering calmdown as the day goes on on friday. That storm weakens as we head into the weekend. A chilly start for North Eastern scotland and many eastern parts of the uk likely to be dry on saturday not a great deal of sunshine. Further west, one or two pockets of rain before the main rain band comes into Northern Ireland and the winds start to pick up a little bit. Ahead of that, temperatures of 14 or 16 celsius. That rain band thats coming in from the west will stagger its way further across england and wales and then it sort of grinds to a halt, the main weight of the rain then driving down along those fronts into continental europe. And by sunday morning, it may well be dry with some sunshine for Northern Ireland, much of wales and the south west of england. Cloud elsewhere, outbreaks of rain, easing from the north, but staying quite wet in the afternoon towards the south east of england. And for many, temperatures no great shakes unless youve got the sunshine towards the west where 17 in wales and the south west should feel quite pleasant. But more areas of low pressure coming in next week from the atlantic and that means were going to find more wind and rain. The wettest and windiest weather likely to be in the north west. This is bbc news. Im martine croxall. The headlines at 8pm. Borisjohnsons brexit plan faces opposition in both parliament and the eu. Labour says it will damage the economy, but the Prime Minister calls it a compromise. We have made a genuine attempt to bridge the chasm, to reconcile the apparently irreconcilable, and to go the extra mile as time runs short. In brussels, the European Council president said he was still unconvinced by the uk plans, and his doubts were echoed by the irish government. We now have written proposals that we can engage on. But they do fall short in a number of aspects. Three officers and a member of civilian staff have been killed in a knife attack on Police Headquarters in central