Outspoken journalist. Opinion to step back. Ive never seen such a reaction to a royal interview. I mean, there have not been that many royal interviews but the reaction was just so condemnatory and he came across so badly. Not once expressing regret female artists dominate for those, or sympathy, the grammy nominations. Among the front runners for the victims of epsteins behaviour. Buckingham palace will be hoping that andrews statement and his withdrawal lizzo and Billie Eilish. From public duties will stem the criticism. They will be hoping, too, that the epstein allegations it was a day of explosive testimony in the impeachment inquiry, as the Us Ambassador have now run their full course. To the eu Gordon Sondland gave tonights decision has been taken evidence. The ambassador said he was acting after discussions between andrew, at the express direction of the president on ukraine. The queen, the prince of wales whos in new zealand and senior officials. The democratic led house of representatives is investigating in practical terms, he is not whether or not the president resigning any of his patronages improperly put pressure on ukraine but i am told if charities to investigate his political rival the former Vice President joe biden. Want to find a new patron that will be fully understood. The bbcs north America Nicholas witchell, bbc news, editorjon sopel reports. At Buckingham Palace. The day a simmering pot boiler became a blockbuster drama, with this unlikely character as the leading man. Lets get some of Gordon Sondland, a wealthy hotelier, the days other news. Was made ambassador efforts to form a coalition to the European Union government in israel have collapsed again, two months after the most recent general election. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus on the strength of 1 million main challenger, benny gantz, announced hed been unable to form an administration. Mr netanyahu was given the first chance to build a coalition and also failed. Donation to Donald Trumps inauguration committee. Now hed come under oath to eviscerate the president s account of his dealings with ukraine. I was acting in good faith. As a president ial appointee, i followed the directions of the president. We worked with mr giuliani it brings israel closer to a yet another general election, because the president which would be the third in a year. Myanmar says the countrys directed us to do so. Civilian leader, we had no desire to aung san suu kyi, will set any conditions. Personally lead a legal team we had no desire to set any at the International Court conditions on the ukrainians. Ofjustice next month to argue the president has denied repeatedly against accusations of genocide committed against the rohingya people. There was a quid pro quo, the case was filed last week by the gambia on behalf or as democrats now of the organisation call it, bribery. In other words, unless of islamic cooperation. The leader of the liberal the ukrainians delivered democrats in the uk has described brexit as a national embarrassment. Launching her partys election manifesto, jo swinson said that remaining in the eu would free up what donald trump demanded, vital military aid and a white house to 50 billion pounds for schools meeting would be withheld. And an extra 20,000 was there a quid pro quo . Teachers in england. Australias biggest city, sydney, as i testified previously has again woken to a thick with regard to the requested layer of smoke from bushfires. White house call and the white house meeting, the answer is yes. Visibility is extremely low and with more hot and windy weather and according to sondland, forecast, the authorities have everyone was in on the plan warned people with respiratory the president , the Vice President , and heart conditions to remain inside with their windows closed. Secretary of state, chief of staff. They all knew what was going on. The fire service says around fifty bushfires are burning in the state of new south wales. Everyone was in the loop. Angry protesters in malta have it was no secret. Demanded the resignation everyone was informed of the Prime Minister, via e mail on july 19th, joseph muscat, after Police Arrested days before the president ial call. A prominent businessman but one important source of comfort in connection with the murder of a journalist, daphne ca ruana galitzia. For the white house demonstrators who accuse the prime sondland said he never heard directly from the president minister of protecting those conditioning aid on an enquiry into the bidens, responsible for the murder and thats been seized gathered outside parliament on by the president , in valletta, shouting who had his script lines mafia and get out. Carefully prepared. Gareth barlow reports. Ready . You have the cameras rolling . I want nothing thats what i want from ukraine. Thats what i said. Protesters gathered outside the maltese parliament, swarming around the justice ministers i want nothing maltese parliament, swarming around thejustice ministers carr, chanting assassin, mafia, get out. I said it twice. Political responsibility, they must Gordon Sondland was faced with a binary choice shoulder. There is so much going on. In his evidence today. Tie himself to donald trump, be vague about the decisions made how can they let this happen . Angry and hope forfuture protection. Or he could throw the president and his personal emissary, at the investigation into daphne rudy giuliani, under the bus caruana galitzias at the investigation into daphne and take the Vice President ca ruana galitzias murder, at the investigation into Daphne Caruana galitzias murder, they and secretary of state with them. Accuse politicians of protecting those responsible. They are all in he chose option two. It together. They must shoulder its hard to believe he will be Eu Ambassador for much longer. Political responsibility and resign jon sopel, bbc news, washington. Insta ntly. Political responsibility and resign instantly. We cannot go on like this. Earlier on wednesday, armed Police Arrested a prominent sincejon sent this report, the Deputy Assistant secretary of defence, laura cooper, businessman, jurgen pfennig, aboard gave her testimony to the panel, his yacht. The Prime Ministerjoseph in which she blew holes into President Trumps defence muscat has promised to leave no that the ukrainians werent aware about the withheld aid until this stone unturned in the investigation. Was made public. Daphne caruana stone unturned in the investigation. Daphne ca ruana galitzias stone unturned in the investigation. Daphne caruana galitzias son welcome to the arrest. The rest of jurgen pfennig is obviously a i have, however, since learned some Additional Information about this subject from my staff. Prior to my Welcome Development into the investigation in my mothers assassination. Its overdue and its deposition testimony, i avoided very important. 2017 car bombing discussing my testimony with members of my staff or anyone other than the that killed the prominent attorney. Its based only on my investigative journalist and Anti Corruption blogger investigative journalist and anti corru ption blogger rocked investigative journalist and Anti Corruption blogger rocked the small mediterranean state. Three men personal knowledge. My deposition have been charged with detonating testimony was publicly was leased on the bomb. The suspected middleman has also been arrested. But the november 11, 2019. Members of my Prime Minister said he could be staff read the testimony and have come to me since then and have pardoned if information is provided provided Additional Information. To prosecute the mastermind. Two yea rs specifically on the issue of to prosecute the mastermind. Two years on from Daphne Caruana ukraines knowledge on the hold door galitzias murder, the desire to uncover the truth of her death and ukraines knowledge on the hold door ukraine asking questions about possible issues with the flow of assistance, my staff showed me to the cases she worked to expose unclassified emails that they continues. Gareth barlow, bbc news. Receive from the state department. One was received onjuly 25 stay with us on bbc news, still to come lizzo receive from the state department. One was received on july 25 at 2 31pm. That email said that the leads the charge as the nominations are announced Ukrainian Embassy and house foreign for next years grammys. Affa i rs Ukrainian Embassy and House Foreign Affairs committee were asking about security assistance. The second email was received on july security assistance. The second email was received onjuly 25 at az25pm. That email said that the hill knows about the fmf situation to an extent and so does the Ukrainian Embassy. Benazir bhutto has claimed victory in pakistans general election, we can now speak to Amy Mackinnon from Foreign Policy and shes asked pakistans president magazine, shejoins to name her as Prime Minister. Us from washington. Jacksons been released on bail of 3 million after turning himself in amy, for those who arent able to follow this second by second, how to police in santa barbara. Important is what we just heard from it was the biggest demonstration so far of the fast growing laura cooper . That was an explosive european anti nuclear movement. Revelation from laura cooper because it cant have been agreed to grow the South African government has announced that its opening the countrys remaining whites only because the ukrainians didnt know that the aid had been stalled. Her beaches to people of all races. Testimony today rings the timeline right back into july this will lead to a black majority government in this country testimony today rings the timeline right back intojuly and suggests as ofjuly 25, the day when trump and and the destruction of the white civilisation. Zele ns ky part of the centuries old ofjuly 25, the day when trump and zelensky had a phone call which windsor castle, triggered the complaint, the one of the queens residences, ukrainians would have been aware has been consumed by fire there was something going on with for much of the day. 150 firemen have been aide richard installed the week battling the blaze, before. Does this make her words a which has caused millions game changer . Before. Does this make her words a gamechanger . Her words could of pounds worth of damage. Potentially be a game changer, certainly undercuts, one of the key republican lines of defence here, and are beginning to grasp at straws here in defending the president and this is bbc news, the latest headlines a top us diplomat has told sometimes the president s defenders the trump impeachment inquiry have been zooming out to say, why he was acting under president ial orders when pressuring ukraine to launch would anyone be interested, that its boring and too complicated, investigations against a rival. Americans arent interested. You are Queen Elizabeths son seeing them shifting their lines of Prince Andrew has announced hes defence. How does what she said stepping back from public duties amid renewed controversy build on what the ambassador said. Over his links with a convicted sex offender. Its been an explosive day in lets have more on that story. The Bbcs Emily Maitlis washington. To be honest, i wasnt who conducted the interview expecting when these hearings went with Prince Andrew last week public to hear a lot of new information. Everybody referred from spoke to gloria allred, the lawyer representing publicly had already testified Jeffrey Epsteins alleged victims. Behind closed doors and those she asked for her reaction testimonies were released publicly and poured over by the press but whats been interesting in the public phase now of these hearings is how the testimony has given, kind to the announcement. Of triangulate each other, and they are corroborating each other and for those who have had gaps in their testimony behind closed doors or had some inconsistencies, you are seeing their mind that out as we saw today i dont know if he is requiring a subpoena or not. My clients have with Gordon Sondland who decided to been victims ofjeffrey epstein and not only throw the president and they did speak to law enforcement. Rudy giuliani under the bus, but the criminal investigators for the other administration officials. Where is the case the democrats are justice department, for the southern trying to make a stand . Its looking district of new york. And they did inevitable that the democrats will not require a subpoena or anything d raft inevitable that the democrats will draft articles of impeachment and else. They recognise that it was that may well past the house but the important to assist the big question is what happens when investigation by providing any this reaches the senate which is information that may be relevant to controlled by the republicans and it seems to be unless there is a the criminal prosecution of anyone who may have conspired with mist significant change of heart among republican senators which seems epstein to sexually traffic underage unlikely, we may end up in a girls. Soi situation where President Trump is epstein to sexually traffic underage girls. So i dont know why he did technically impeached and has the that. All i can say is that he mark against his name and is not removed by a senate trial. Amy mckinnon in washington, thank you should volunteer to co operate with very much. Law enforcement without any Prince Andrew has announced he will not undertake any royal condition and without any more duties for the foreseeable future. Delay. Let me ask you then, if he the prince acknowledged that his links with the late, does not volunteer himself, what would that next step be . We disgracied financierjeffrey epsteen understand that one of his victimss had become a major disruption to the royal family. Legal teams have approached him in the past. Do you understand the this follows the princes subsequent steps now . There are two widely criticised interview with bbc tracks. One is the criminaljustice newsnight last week. In a statement, andrew said he deeply sympathised with epsteens victims. Our royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell has the story. Investigation to see if charges driving himself into should be filed in reference to Buckingham Palace yesterday, the only sighting of Prince Andrew anyone who may have knowingly since the newsnight interview was broadcast. Hostility towards him has shown conspired with mr epstein to recruit no sign of lessening. Poison prince and pariah prince were just two of the newspaper and to sex traffic underage girls to headlines this morning. Him. The other is the civil pathway, at the same time, sponsors of his various initiatives and charities have continued to distance themselves from him. In other words, civil lawsuits such all this in response as the one ijust filed this week to a notably misjudged interview forjane doe number 15 and i did a in which he failed to find either the right tone or the right words to news c0 nfe re nce forjane doe number 15 and i did a News Conference with her. And she respond to his association alleges that she was sexually used with jeffrey epstein. Tonight, he and Buckingham Palace by mr epstein when she was only 15 accepted that his position yea rs by mr epstein when she was only 15 years old. So we will be doing had become unsustainable. Discovery in that case and seeking in a statement, Prince Andrew said i have asked her majesty if i may step back from public duties to have anyone deposed, meaning for the foreseeable future and she has given her permission. 00 09 52,636 4294966103 13 29,430 he went on taking their testimony under oath as pa rt taking their testimony under oath as part of the discovery in our case in order to prove our case. And so anyone who thinks that Prince Andrews testimony might be relevant toa andrews testimony might be relevant to a civil lawsuit that they are pursuing against mr epstein should voluntarily agree to be deposed, in other words, give testimony under oath, even prior to trial. So i have not made a determination yet as to whether we will seek, in our civil lawsuit on behalf of our client, and by the way, others will be filed by us by the way, others will be filed by us as well, other lawsuits, whether we would need to take in sandras their position. But i say he should provided for any civil cases well where his testimony may be relevant. Mighti where his testimony may be relevant. Might ijust where his testimony may be relevant. Might i just asked where his testimony may be relevant. Might ijust asked what reaction there has been from your clients to there has been from your clients to the interview . I assume that many of them will have been the interview. Does it change anything for them in terms of what was said . Of course, you know, it has been upsetting to at least some of them. To hear what he said. Obviously he did not show very much feeling, sympathy, empathy for the victims in it. Except for, you know, speaking about the allegation of rape which has been made against him, by one of the victims of mr epstein, essentially there was little or no reference to there was little or no reference to the many, many other victims of mr epstein. So that is upsetting. They are not a footnote, it is essential that they receive a justice that they learn all of the truth about how this could have happened, why it happened and anyone who might have information should provide it. Two years after the head of the grammys said women need to step up if they wanted to be recognised, female artists are dominating the 2020 nominations. Five of the eight album of the year nominees are women, Ariana Grande and lana del rey among the front runners. Meanwhile, lizzo and Billie Eilish are shortlisted in all of the ceremonys big four categories best new artist, best song, best record and best album. The grammys were mired in controversy in 2018, after only one woman won an award during the televised ceremony. We can now cross to los angeles and speak to Claudia Rosenbaum whos a Senior Correspondent for the American Music and entertainment magazine billboard. Ijust said it in the introduction, two years ago women were told to step up in the man who said that is gone. Women have most of the nominations. That is quite a step full up it has been a huge yearfor the grammys for women. There has been many changes since that happened, that president step down and we have a new female president out the grammys and, actually, after the former president stepped down in 2018, the grammys started this diversity and Inclusion Task force where they invited 900 new people to become voters and this was, you know, people under the age of 35, women, people of colour, people of all backgrounds and that clearly has had an effect on what we are seeing today. These nominations the sign of a lasting power shift in the industry . I think these women, lizzo, Ariana Grande, they put together amazing music but they also have a Cultural Movement behind them. Lizzo for her body inclusivity and bille eilish isjust embracing. I mean, she is 17 and one of the youngest nominees in the whole group. So hopefully it will have a lasting impact. A question i thought i would never ask about the grammys, but what about the men . There are many men still nominated. So. Many of the categories such as hip hop area so. Many of the categories such as hip hop are a lot of male nominees. And what about behind the scenes, production, produces. Do you see a rise in female producers reflected in the nominations . Another thing that the grammys did was when they started their diversity and Inclusion Task force they also started making headway and including more producers and engineers and doing what they could to encourage more women to be involved in that aspect. So it has resulted in more nominees for women in this category as well. I tried to count it up. Lizzo has eight nominations. Can she win them all . She is one of the front runners. Lizzo bille eilish has a lot of sway and she is great too. It is hard to say. And let me stop you there. We could have gone on all night and we will watch them iam sure on all night and we will watch them i am sure injanuary. Thank you for joining us. Plenty to talk about with those awards and plenty to try and get through on whether or not lizzo will win those awards. If you wa nt to lizzo will win those awards. If you want to talk about that or anything else, please come find me on twitter. I will be happy to talk to you about the grammys or anything else in our programme. Thank you very much forjoining us. Hello again. Earlier this week we saw the coldest weather of the autumn so far but since then things have been turning a little bit milder in most places yesterday had a dry day with a little bit of sunshine coming through. We will see the temperatures continuing to rise a little big day and night but it is turning milder because the warmer weather is more unsettled with more rain in the forecast. Most of the rain in the forecast. Most of the rain today will be near the area of low pressure that has been with us for a while, sitting to the south western that is we will see most of the rain. Few showers coming in off the north sea threatening towards the north east of scotland and we have a few showers to come across Northern Ireland. They should fade away, getting blown away by brisk south easterly winds. A great day for the midlands, towards the south east of england, feeling chilly in the breeze, sunshine further north but the rain will be in the south west and south wales and this is where we will find the highest temperatures, perhaps double figures. The rain can be heavy and will push its way overnight towards the south west of england, further north across males into the midlands and a few showers in the Northern Areas as well. A lot of cloud around, ray never far away so not too cold as temperatures 3 6d. Showers to come on friday. A massive sort of day. Things could develop wetter towards the south west with those showers heavy for a while merging into longer spells of rain through the south west of england. The west midlands, into the west country and wales through the day. That is an area to watch as things get wet up with temperatures typically nine, 10 degrees. Heading into the weekend and the weekend is dominated by low pressure. We have one slow moving area of low pressure of the uk which is why we see that rain develop. How far north it gets, uncertain. Could see most of the rain across england and wales perhaps heading towards Northern Ireland as far north as the central belt, allowing something a bit drier and brighter to arrive across southern parts of england and wales with temperatures again typically 9 11 degrees. Some rain around on saturday. And while that rain will peter out, as the low pressure tends to fill, we have another one coming in from the atlantic and this one looks a little deeper and it means the wind will be stronger. Again, the wind will be stronger. Again, the position could change but at the moment it looks as if why we have residual rain to clear away from scotland, the wet and windy weather should be towards the south west of england, spoiling the afternoon in wales and into the midlands but temperatures again better than they have been, typically 9 11. I yes this is bbc news, the headlines. A top us diplomat has told the trump impeachment inquiry that he was following president ial orders when the us put pressure on ukraine to open investigations against a political rival. Democrats have described the testimony as troubling. Queen elizabeths son, Prince Andrew, says hes stepping back from public duties over his links with a convicted us sex offender. A recent attempt to clear the air in a bbc interview was widely deemed to be a Public Relations disaster. He said he unequivocally regretted knowing jeffrey epstein, who killed himself injail. Protesters in malta have demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister after Police Arrested a prominent businessman in connection with the murder of a journalist, Daphne Caruana galitzia. Demonstrators accusejoseph muscat of protecting those responsible for her death in 2017