Transcripts For BBCNEWS World News Today 20240713

The wounded from the town. Parliamentary elections in switzerland have seen a big rise in support for green parties. With nearly all the votes counted, the two green parties have taken hello and welcome to world news today. Around 20 of the vote. Protestors in lebanon are calling for a revolution for the fourth day in a row in the Rugby World Cup, the hosts, thousands of people japan, have lost to south africa are on the streets demanding that their government stands down. In theirfirst ever world cup quarterfinal. The protests were triggered by the governments decision to tax calls made over the internet such as whatapp or facetime. But the underlying issue of these protests is the governments handling of the countrys economic crisis. Its reported the government is hoping to approve a programme of Economic Reforms on monday. But this might not be enough for the protestors, especially the young 37 of people under 35 are unemployed. Protests are continuing into the evening despite the promises of reform, here are the scenes live in beirut. Our correspondent ali hasheem is in the capital, and told us how the economy is affecting people in lebanon. The protest started with a bill with respect to taxes, yet it wasnt the whole case, because there is a context. In lebanon there is no good electricity service, there is no good water service, at the same time there are problems with respect to the waste also, the other side. Last week there were fires around the country that the government wasnt able to deal with them, in the right way. A lot of problems also with respect to the price of dollars faced the people of lebanon in the past weeks, and the government also showed it was impotent and didnt deal with these challenges in the right way. That caused problems with respect to fuel, also to bresd. So the lebanese were at the end left with this choice, to come out to the streets, and to demonstrate. It started all with the last bill of taxes, with a new tax that was introduced on internet calls, you know, using the apps like whatsapp and telegram, etc. People came to the streets and things started growing and mushrooming day after day, and today it seems that things are out of control. Joining us from washington dc is firas modad, the middle east analyst at the Research Company ihs markit. Thank you forjoining us. How surprised were you see this fourth day of protests . We said round 1 days ago we were expecting unrest to break out, we were not expecting the scale and we were not expecting the cfoss scale and we were not expecting the cross sectarian make up of the protests. Soandso given that surprise, how bad things now, in the country . Lebanon is governed by a coalition of sectarian mafias that collaborate to loot the state. They dont have solutions to offer so things are pretty bad. You say things are pretty bad. You say things are pretty bad, sorry to jump m, things are pretty bad, sorry to jump in, you say things are present 2i bad. Give us an idea what kind of things arent working. Pretty bad. One of the slowest Internet Connections in the world you pay electricity to private generators and to the state. Telephone networks dont really work so well. You have to pay for private water provision and for state water provision. Relatively high taxes on everything thatis relatively high taxes on everything that is imported and the country does not produce very much, so all of the basic necessities are imported. Ok, what kind of measures do you think could help then, because this government is attempting now, we are hoping to hear on monday a raft of new measures to try and deal with this economic crisis, what kind of things could they do . They could start collecting taxes from the wealthier class, they could force the banks to sacrifice a chunk of their profits, that has been leaked as part of the proposed reform plan. They could reduce the number of state employee, and that i could devalue the currency but devaluing the currency would really anger people quite a bit. The economic model of the country is based on the banks which are owned by the politicians, lending to the state, to enrich the politicians, so it is, it has to break down completely before things get better. Finally, just briefly, do you think if these measures are announced or a number of them on monday, that will be enough or do you think these protests will carry on . I have no idea. Ok. I admire your brevity and honesty. Thank you so your brevity and honesty. Thank you so much forjoining the spokesman for kurdish led forces in syria has confirmed that they have evacuated their fighters from the strategic border town of ras al ain, which is in turkeys proposed safe zone in northern syria. This opens the way for a broader withdrawal of kurdish militias from parts of the turkish syrian border. Under a deal brokered by the us, turkey agreed to suspend its offensive in the area to allow the kurdish pull back from the frontier. These pictures are of ambulances arriving in the syrian town of tall tamr carrying wounded kurdish fighters from ras al ain today. Barbara plett usher is at the turkey syria border. The ceasefire was supposed to begin on friday but Kurdish Forces in ras al ayn said they were still under siege. Kurdish forces in the town of ras al ayn said there were still under siege and still coming under attack. With us mediation that has been sorted and a large convoy of at least 50 vehicles has evacuated the fighters and the wounded, reportedly some civilians are also leaving the town. They dont have to under the terms of the us brokered ceasefire but they are afraid of the forces taking over, these are syrian militias which are allied with turkey and include some islamist extremists and have a reputation for carrying out abuse. The kurdish leaders have said that once the evacuation of ras al ayn is completed, they will withdraw from a zone on the turkey syria border in line with the ceasefire. They have until tuesday night to withdraw. And that would leave turkey in charge of an area or territory roughly in the centre of the border. It is not clear what the arrangement will be for the rest of that frontier area, which are still largely under kurdish control. Barbara plett usher there. The British Government says its pressing ahead with efforts to get a brexit deal passed this week in parliament, despite borisjohnson having been forced to send a letter to brussels, asking for another brexit delay. Ministers insist the uk will leave the European Union by october 31st. But the Opposition Labour Party says it will push for a new referendum on the governments brexit deal, when it comes before the commons in the coming days. Heres our deputy political editorjohn pienaar. They dont seem to know when they are beaten, even when they have been defeated. Senior ministers marched into tv studios today with a defiant message. They will deliver brexit on time, by october the 31st, and being forced to send a request to brussels seeking another brexit delay wouldnt stop them. The game changer this week, which we partly talked about, is that he has defied the doubters, got a deal, and notwithstanding the shenanigans in parliament, we now appear to have the numbers to get this through. The only question is, why arent we getting on with it . The ayes to the right, 322, the noes to the left, 306. What he called parliamentary shenanigans, others called an embarrassing defeat yesterday. That vote forced the Prime Minister to send a letter to brussels seeking to extend brexit for as long as it takes to parties deal into law and avoid a no deal brexit on october the 31st. The Prime Minister didnt like it and didnt sign it. His opponents arent impressed. The law is clear. You should have signed one letter in accordance with the law. He is being childlike. Tomorrow, the speaker will decide whether ministers can try again to win the vote they lost yesterday. But either way, the commons will debate the detailed legislation thats also needed to pass a deal. Now labour looks like pushing for another brexit referendum. We need an amendment to say that whatever deal gets through, it should be subject to a referendum where that deal is put to the public and they are asked, do you want to leave on these terms, or would you rather remain in the eu . Next week is going to be busy. Today, the minister for brexit preparations chador planning sessions and conceded that extending brexit or refusing to is up to the eu. It means we are triggering operation yellowhammer, preparing to ensure that if no extension is granted, and we cannot guarantee that it will be, that we have done Everything Possible to prepare to leave without a deal. The architect of the governments defeat yesterday, the mp who drew up the request to extend, cant see the eu saying no. My instinct was that if we got to the end, we were going to crash out otherwise, and we made a request for an extension, very probably, you would say, you will have an extension. Eu leaders want to see how the political struggle at westminster plays out. They want brexit settled, but they will just have to wait, like the rest of us. After two weeks of relative calm in hong kong, tens of thousands of pro democracy protesters have clashed with police. Some protesters have thrown petrol bombs and police have fired tear gas and dyed water cannon to disperse the demonstrators. Shops, banks and metro stations have been vandalised. Nick beake is in hong kong with the latest. They were told they werent allowed to march today. They were threatened with prison if they wore a mask. And they were warned by chinas leader there would be broken bones for those who try to break up his country. But this is a Pro Democracy Movement that believes the world is on its side, and it is not backing down. We are here to fight for freedom and we are not scared about the Chinese Communist party. We want our freedom and human rights. But once again, peaceful protest gave way to petrol bombs, with police stations under attack. This is what eventually cleared the hardcore activists who then rampaged through the streets targeting chinese businesses. They fought the police late into the night. For a 20th consecutive weekend of unrest here in hong kong, the police are really struggling to control the streets here. They brought out the water canon. The protesters are not going home. The question is the one weve been asking for five months now when does this end . How does this end . Hong kongs government claims a housing crisis has unleashed this cycle of violence, but these protesters say it is their deep fear at the type of place they will be living in under greater chinese control, which means they wont be giving up. For the 20th consecutive weekend, hong kongs police have faced parliamentary elections in switzerland have seen a big rise in support for green parties. With nearly all votes counted, the results show a combined vote for switzerlands two green parties of around 20 , making the greens a major player in swiss politics. The rightwing Swiss Peoples Party, which has been the most successful in switzerland for more than two decades, saw its hold on power weakened. Imogen foulkes reports from berne. Climate change was the single most important factor in these elections hand is because the swiss can see its effects with their own eyes, they can see their glaciers melting. Their alpine communities are threatened by rock and mud slides. Today voters took those concerns to the ballot box the the fellow Green Liberal Party gained nine. It sin credible. I am trying to come to terms with what is happening now, with all of the seats we have won, it is really incredible, and it is really moving to see how people are hoping that the greens are the ones who will make the difference now. The traditional parties all suffered. The Swiss Peoples Party lost sleents and although it will remain the Largest Party in parliament these results are a serious blow. It has policies did not appear to resonate with voter, they were scarcely mentioned. As ever in switzerland, no party will have a majority, the Different Group also have to work together. But this new parliament is greener, and younger, and voters will expect and younger, and voters will expect a much greater focus on environmental stay with us on bbc world news still to come. Archaeologists find more than 20 ancient wooden coffins near the egyptian city of luxor. This is bbc world news today. The latest headlines. Huge Anti Government protests are being held in lebanon for a fourth day. Demonstrators are angry at austerity measure and lack ofjobs. The longest nonstop commerical passenger flight has landed successfully in sydney. The qantas plane tookjust over 19 hours to fly direct from new york. The airline is considering whether to begin regular nonstop flights between the cities and its enlisted the help of University Researchers to find out how such a long flights affect passengers and crew. For more on this, im joined by peter morris, former chief economist for the International Air transport association, who now works as an Aviation Industry consultant. Hejoins me from richmond in south west london. Thank you for being with us. This is a technical achievement, is it also just a publicity stunt . Well, it is a question of whether the technical achievement can be be turned into a commercial achievement because the purpose of doing it is to attract passengers both from existing airline and from other airlines, to ta ke airline and from other airlines, to take this option, rather than connect as that i do at the moment. The challenge is, that in order to connect, you can get a flight that ta kes connect, you can get a flight that takes maybe 21, 22 hours for the same kind of distance, rather than 19, so you are trading off the three hours, the amount you are prepared to pay more for that direct flight. Who would be tempted by that . Well, it is going to be the Business Travel her, people that have to be there at a certain time, because if you are offered 500 off for taking a stop in los angeles, the chances are that particularly the leisure travellers will take the time off and save the 500. At the moment, it costs Something Like 5,000 in business class, to go between sydney and new york. Connecting, and it costs about 1,000 in economy, so thatis costs about 1,000 in economy, so that is what qantas has to look at, what that trade off and how many seats they can offer on the plane, because it cant take a full load with the fuel needed. So you dont think future yet is for normal travellers, me and you getting op a 19 hourflight . Travellers, me and you getting op a 19 hour flight . I wouldnt plan to do it myself in economy. I mean some people may wish to do, but i think it is that trade off, because the competition is always going to be there with people that can offer a flight there with people that can offer a flight for a couple of hours longer and some people say they would prefer and some people say they would p refer to and some people say they would prefer to from a break in the flight. Prefer to from a break in the flight. Others would like to get there directly. I think its the ones who are most time department, the Business Travellers who will be the Business Travellers who will be the ones that will occupy that particular nearby. The question is are there enough of them in the there are it will be successfulle. En there are it will be successfulle. En successful. Thank you. Good evening. Wales are through to the semi finals of the Rugby World Cup after dramatically fighting back to beat france 20 19 in oita. A late Ross Moriarty try sealed the victory after france were reduced to 1a men. Wales will play south africa next sunday. Our Sports Editor dan roan reports. A second home nation is through to the semifinals of the Rugby World Cup, wales securing a last gasp, very dramatic victory against their french opponents. It was france who started by far the better, two early tries, wales then responded through aaron wainwright, who scored a try of his own. At that point, it was anybodys, france were 19 10 up at half time, but then the turning point, early in the second half, sebastien vahaamahina, the giant french lock, elbowed wainwright during a maul on the wales line, there was no need for it, but during the remaining half hour, of course, there were reduced to 1a men. It looks like time was running out, wales struggling to make that advantage count, but in the final reckoning, moriarty it was who popped up to score the decisive try, dan biggar converted to edge wales head for the very first time in the match, and so they are through to a second semifinal in the last three world cups, and they will now believe, having not been at their best but somehow finding a way to prevail, they can go all the way, reaching first World Cup Final and give coach Warren Gatland the defining moment in this, his final tournament that his long and successful tenure deserves. The hosts japan, meanwhile, are out. They were defeated 26 3 in tokyo, from where, andy swiss reports. This was a night whenjapans thrilling world cup adventure finally came to an end as south africa proved one test too far for them. Four years ago japan africa proved one test too far for them. Four years agojapan pulled off one of the great upsets when they beat south africa at the world cup, but south africa soon took control with the first try after just three minutes. At that stage japan would have been fearing the worst, but they battle back, a penalty narrowed the gap to 5 3 at half time. Japan were still very much in it. But in the second half south africa stretched clear, three penalties from pollard and two late tries, sealed their passage through to the last four. The first from de klerk through a second try to seal their victory, so south africa go through to the semifinals where they will face wales. As forjapan it has been somejourney for will face wales. As forjapan it has been some journey for them. This their first been some journey for them. This theirfirst quarterfinal been some journey for them. This their first quarterfinal in world cup history but their brave evident effo rts cup history but their brave evident efforts of making it through to the last four have ended in disappointment andy murray has described his victory in the european open as one of the biggest wins of his career. The former world number one broke down in tears after winning his first singles title since career saving hip surgery. He came from a set and a break down to beat three time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka in three sets. I mean,obviously it means a lot. The last few years have been extremely difficult, both actually me and stan have had a lot of injury problems in the last couple of years, and amazing, obviously, to be back playing against him in a final like that. Liverpool now have a six point lead at the top of the premier league, after being held to a 1 1 draw against manchester united. A late equaliser from adam lallana five minutes from time cancelling out Marcus Rashfords first half goal at old trafford. Thats all the sport for now. Thank you. In egypt, 30 ancient wooden sarcophagi have been put on display following their recent discovery near the nile. The ornately decorated coffins of men, women and children are around 3,000 years old, and well preserved. Nina nanji reports. tx it is the biggest find of its kind in more than a century. Perfectly preserved mummies discovered in 30 ancient wooden coffins in the valley of the kings the egyptian city of luxor. The trove was unearthed by a team of egyptian archaeologists on the west bank of the river nile. The coffins date back around 3000 years but despite this they were found in Good Condition sealed and intact and adorned with vibrant colours and inscriptions. It is believed to contain the remains of high priests and their families. This will enrich our knowledge about the belief of the afterlife and the workshops that make these beautiful scenes, the colour and the religious scenes. It is for the common people, for a king orfor a priest . And that is why i believe this discovery is very important. Egyptian authorities will be hoping the discovery, along with other finds of ancient relics, will help revive the countrys Tourism Sector hit in recent years by political instability. The sarcophagi will undergo restoration before being moved to a showroom at the grand egyptian museum, due to open next year. Before we go. Madrids streets were left baa dly congested on sunday, as more than 2,000 sheep and some goats passed through its bustling city centre. The spanish capital sits on ancient migration route where shepherds would move their livestock south for the winter. The festival started in 1994 and is designed to pay homage to the areas rural heritage. It exploits a medieval rule which allows shepherds the right to cut through the city. Dont forget, you can get in touch with me and some of my team on twitter im lvaughanjones. This is bbc world news. Bye. Hello there. Some quieter weather on the way to start the week. Something we havent seen for a while, an area of High Pressure builds in across the uk, and for most it will mean a dry monday. But this area of low pressure will spoil things towards parts of southeast england, as well see in a moment, with some rain heading in. Later in the night, well see some outbreaks of rain pushing in towards kent. Lots of cloud across england and wales, a northeasterly breeze, a few showers still, so temperatures hotting up here. Lighter winds, clearer skies in Northern Ireland and scotland allow temperatures to dip away. In rural aberdeenshire could be down to minus two or minus three degrees celsius as we start the day tomorrow. Although cloud is going to increase from the west, itll be a fine day across much of scotland and Northern Ireland. Some rain heading towards the Northern Isles late in the day. Remember that area of low pressure . East anglia, south east england, the chance of seeing some rain, especially the further east you are, some heavier bursts into kent and essex, for example, maybe coastal suffolk. And as for the temperatures, well, most of the places will see some sunny spells developing, and well be around ten to 1a degrees. Now, a cooler night in england and wales monday night and into tuesday with a few fog patches developing in places, parts of the midlands and southern england. They could be slow to clear, and perhaps dense in a few spots, because winds are light here, and into tuesday High Pressure is holding on, low pressure getting closer to northern scotland on tuesday morning, so more cloud here and some outbreaks of rain. But for most of us its looking dry, and after any of that fog clears from england of wales, well see some sunny spells developing, so for the most part tuesday is looking like another fine day, and actually temperatures are starting to creep up a degree or so. Now as we go on through the rest of the week, low pressure does get closer to us and starts to feed in, especially across parts of scotland and Northern Ireland. Its only wetter for some of us here. And theres another weak weather front heading towards east anglia and the south east on wednesday, it may produce a few showers. So two things going on on wednesday, in between theres a slice of sunnier weather and as for those temperatures, again mid to low teens. So some quieter weather around to start the week, but from midweek in scotland and Northern Ireland expect the wind to pick up, and you will be seeing some rain at times. For england and wales, well get to see the quieter face of autumn. Its not going to be dry all week, but its going to be drier than its been. 00 28 27,713 2147483051 50 58,571 but remember therell be a few fog 2147483051 50 58,571 4294966103 13 29,430 patches around at times