Transcripts For BBCNEWS The 20240704

And current Un Special Envoy for Global Education gordon brown tells us he believes they can. Well speak to the lawyer who prosecuted slobodan milosevic. Also on the programme. Joe biden issues an Order Banning Private Equity and Venture Capital investments in some Chinese Technology companies, escalating washingtons efforts to Prevent Beijing from developing Cutting Edge Technology for its military. But what effect will it have on the American Economy . And will the uk follow suit . First the latest in a series of extreme weather events around the world that experts say have been intensified by Climate Change. Firefighters continue to battle wildfires in hawaii. At least 36 people have been killed. The popular tourist town of lahaina, on the island of maui, has been largely burnt to the ground. Us President Biden has approved a Disaster Declaration for the state of hawaii. That makes federal funding available for people in maui county. Us soldiers have joined search and Recovery Efforts as well. Lets take a listen to what President Biden has had to say. I want to say a word about the devastating wildfires that have claimed at least 36 lives in maui in hawaii. We have just approved a major Disaster Declaration for hawaii which will get aid in the hands of people who desperately need the help now. They have lost, anyone who has lost a loved one whose home has been damaged or destroyed is going to get help immediately. And i directed that we assert support to these Emergency Personnel working around the clock theyre risking their lives. Ijust got off the phone before i got here for a long conversation with Governorjoss Greene letting him know that i will make sure the state has everything it needs to recover. The fema administrator will be in maui tomorrow and i have directed her to streamline any process with requests to health and survivors to register for assistance without delay. Fema is on the island and will help survivors access to federal assitance. And for anyone who wants to know out there where to go if this is televised, they can go to disasterassistance. Gov. Disasterassistance. Gov to learn if you are eligible for assistance. I have ordered all available federal assets on the island including the us coast guard, the us coast guard, the Navy Third Fleet and the us army to assist local Emergency Response crews through the Hawaii National guard. We are working as quickly as possible to fight the fires and evacuate residents in tourists. In the meantime, our prayers are with the people of hawaii but notjust our players, every asset we have will available to them and we have seen homes and businesses destroyed and some have lost loved ones and its not over yet. Some unbelievable images we are seeing from hawaii. Some unbelievable images we are seeing from hawaii. Devastating to seeing from hawaii. Devastating to see this kind of Destruction Fire is just blazing out of control so rapidly and rampage through an area that many people have visited and know as well from vacations. But the multiple deaths and this devastation, it really is hard to bear. When seeing it in hawaii is a state that is near and dear to the heart of all americans and it is a special place. So yes, this is hard to watch. ,. , special place. So yes, this is hard towatch. ,. , special place. So yes, this is hard towatch. ,. , to watch. This echoes some scenes that we saw to watch. This echoes some scenes that we saw here to watch. This echoes some scenes that we saw here in to watch. This echoes some scenes that we saw here in europe to watch. This echoes some scenes that we saw here in europe earlier| that we saw here in europe earlier in the summerfor example that we saw here in europe earlier in the summer for example in greece. Paul are you able to hear us . Sorry, es. Its paul are you able to hear us . Sorry, yes its almost paul are you able to hear us . Sorry, yes. Its almost a paul are you able to hear us . Sorry, yes. Its almost a carbon paul are you able to hear us . Sorry, yes. Its almost a carbon copy paul are you able to hear us . Sorry, yes. Its almost a carbon copy of yes. Its almost a carbon copy of what yes. Its almost a carbon copy of what has yes. Its almost a carbon copy of what has happened in greece and europe what has happened in greece and europe this summer. The real problem is while europe this summer. The real problem is while President Biden is trying to influence this Emergency Measures the long Term Solution to a lot of the long Term Solution to a lot of the global the long Term Solution to a lot of the Global Warming that makes this into such the Global Warming that makes this into such a the Global Warming that makes this into such a tinderbox, these regions, into such a tinderbox, these regions, is things like the inflation regions, is things like the inflation reduction act. At least president inflation reduction act. At least President Biden is looking at the medium President Biden is looking at the medium to long term to prevent these things medium to long term to prevent these things from medium to long term to prevent these things from happening. 0f medium to long term to prevent these things from happening. Of course the focus now things from happening. Of course the focus now is things from happening. Of course the focus now is on Emergency Measures and help focus now is on Emergency Measures and help in focus now is on Emergency Measures and help in the long term use underlines yet again that this is a global underlines yet again that this is a global problem which needs Global Solution global problem which needs Global Solution. ~ solution. Stay right there. We will come back solution. Stay right there. We will come back to solution. Stay right there. We will come back to talking solution. Stay right there. We will come back to talking just solution. Stay right there. We will come back to talking just a solution. Stay right there. We will i come back to talking just a moment. Werejoined now byjennifer marlon, a Research Scientist and lecturer at the yale school of the environment. Thank you forjoining us. We know hawaii is usually viewed as a wet and tropical place why have we seen these wildfires . That and tropical place why have we seen these wildfires . These wildfires . That is the question these wildfires . That is the question. This these wildfires . That is the question. This is these wildfires . That is the question. This is very these wildfires . That is the l question. This is very Strange Weather behaviour. Even though the island is a tropical typically wet island, there are a lot of Dried Grasses in now, especially there a a lot of dry invasive grasses that are fire prone and can carry fire when the conditions are right. A fire of the conditions are right. A fire of the severity and magnitude is really, really unusual. This is not natural and there is nothing normal about it. It is the confluence of the severe drought that hawaii is experiencing and the strong winds that Hurricane Dora has brought and when you put these things together you can actually get a hurricane fuelled wildfire. Does the Background Warming of Climate Change thatis Background Warming of Climate Change that is putting all of these factors together in this strange way. You said there is together in this strange way. You said there is nothing normal about this as we are looking at these dramatic images. Art Drought Conditions becoming more common in hawaii . Are Drought Conditions becoming more common in hawaii . Drought conditions are becoming more common everywhere and certainly hawaii experiences at drought, this is a severe drought, its not unprecedented in the historical record, but when you look about the heat waves and think about the extremely warm ocean temperatures, thats what fuels these hurricanes are perhaps in a World Without Climate Change, this hurricane would have been a little bit weaker. It would not have the wind gusts that has has. The drop may have been a little less severe. So we are starting to reach up against these thresholds that cause really outbreaks happen. And they are deadly. Outbreaks happen. And they are deadl. ,. , outbreaks happen. And they are deadl. ,. ,. , deadly. Could you tell us more about how the state deadly. Could you tell us more about how the state cosmic deadly. Could you tell us more about how the state cosmic geography how the state cosmic geography actually made these fires worse . Tell us more about how the states geography actually made the fires worse . Its really the passing hurricane, its causing these severe gusts of wind. If you just had dry conditions and grasses burning, we probably would not have seen wildfires or we could have seen wildfires, whether it is a spark from arson or some other human cause or a lightning strike, we do not know yet what the cause was. But it is the edge of the hurricane winds that are sweeping across the island, you could is very powerful, Strong Downslope Winds from the mountains coming toward the coast because we are on the dry side of the island and it is the downward pushing wind that is really, hot and dry and farming the flames in pushing the fire out and as a result we have stories of people jumping into the ocean and just complete devastation as we have seen. And into the ocean and just complete devastation as we have seen. And it haened devastation as we have seen. And it happened at devastation as we have seen. And it happened at such devastation as we have seen. And it happened at such a devastation as we have seen. And it happened at such a rapid devastation as we have seen. And it happened at such a rapid pace. Devastation as we have seen. And it happened at such a rapid pace. We always asked this question, what can be done . Edi always asked this question, what can be done . , always asked this question, what can be done . ,. , be done . Of course there are the shortterm be done . Of course there are the shortterm measures be done . Of course there are the shortterm measures which be done . Of course there are the shortterm measures which are l short term measures which are absolutely needed, but this is also absolutely needed, but this is also a window of opportunity to help people understand that it is really the Background Conditions of creating immense amount of carbon pollution, burning coal oil and gas, we have to transition to renewables and we have to do it faster. Especially in the United States we need to accept the idea that humans are causing these changes. The Scientific Evidence is completely conclusive that we are causing the air and the land in the oceans to heat up very quickly. When you heat up heat up very quickly. When you heat up the clinic you are going to eat more wildfires, heat waves and they will be deadly so we need to reduce our carbon pollution. Our carbon pollution. Thank you so much forjoining our carbon pollution. Thank you so much forjoining us our carbon pollution. Thank you so much forjoining us tonight. Afghanistan in a moment. But first. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making news. The overall nhs waiting list, has hit a new record high, though a e times and Cancer Referrals have improved. An estimated 7. 6 Million People were waiting to start treatment at the end ofjune, up from 7. 5 million in may. These are the highest number since records began in august 2007. Wilko, one of the uks Biggest Discount retailers, has gone into administration putting at risk some 12,000 jobs. The household and garden products chain, started with a single Hardware Store in 1930. The business has been struggling and warned, last week, that it was on the brink of collapse. The home secretary, Suella Braverman has said that those responsible for the disorder witnessed in londons Oxford Street area should be hunted down and locked up. Nine people were arrested following the incident. It came after social media videos encouraged people to turn up and cause disruption in one of londons busiest shopping areas. Youre live with bbc news. Now to afghanistan as the country nears the two Year Anniversary of the Taliban Takeover Following the withdrawal of western troops. And according to human rights watch, extreme restrictions on afghan women and girls have only worsened since then. Women and girls are prohibited from entering amusement parks, gyms, and working in non governmental organisations. They must adhere to a strict dress code. Last month, the taliban ordered hair and beauty salons in afghanistan to close. And crucially, they cannot access secondary and higher education. Now, former british Prime Minister and current Un Special Envoy for Global Education gordon brown is calling on the International Criminal court to prosecute those responsible for Crimes Against Humanity. When we spoke to mr brown earlier today, he described the plight of women and girls in afghanistan. They are living a terrible life, because they have been denied education, they have been denied the opportunity to walk in public places, most recently, they have been denied the ability to even visit cemeteries of loved ones, they are prevented from getting jobs, at university they are prevented from studying, and more recently, girls in medical classes have been prevented from taking exams, so they cannot qualify. And of course, the tightening up of Dress Restrictions and every other restriction from the change to the ministry of Womens Affairs to the ministry of the prevention against vice, this shows how deep and intense this violation of human rights is. And that is why, i think because it is Gender Discrimination, what someone at the United Nations has also called gender apartheid, we need to the International Criminal court to investigate. It is a crime against humanity and once evidence is brought to bear then we will not only put pressure on the Taliban Regime and the religious clerics who are behind this, but hopefully get a change of policy as quickly as possible. You have said that you are going to publish a legal opinion in the next few days, but why are you confident that Gender Discrimination would be considered a crime against humanity . I think all of the experts who have now looked at it, and some of the opinions that are already existing, said that when you are looking at crimes against individual rights, then Gender Discrimination or gender persecution, as it is called, is something that has got to be taken into account when you are looking at Crimes Against Humanity. Girls are basically being prevented from leaving anything approaching a normal life. There are many girls and women who have stood up against this and some have been tortured, some have been arrested, some are now in prison. In fact, the leader of the biggest ngo that is supporting women in education is now in a prison and has been for some months. So i dont think there is any doubt that we have got something approaching a crime that the International Criminal court should investigate, they did of course take action by seeking a mandate against putin for removing children from ukraine to russia, so there is a precedent fund dealing with crimes against young people. You have said that you would also consider sanctions, for example, against individuals in the taliban government responsible for these policies. Even if there were to be prosecution and sanctions against these individuals, this is a regime, of course, that has fully implemented this policy. So how do we know that they would change the Gender Discrimination facing afghan women and girls . Well, i think the reason that we want sanctions against individuals in the Ministry Of Education and the Ministry Ofjustice and so on is to ram home the point that we hold them directly responsible for the abuse of and violation of girls rights. But the biggest change that could happen is notjust the pressure that comes from judical action, that the delegations that should go to afghanistan, particularly from the muslim majority countries, where they can show the religious clerics and the politicians that there is nothing in islam that dictates that girls should be denied education, indeed in all of the other islamic countries, girls are being educated and it is important that, from muslim to muslim, its understood that the interpretation made by the clerics in kandahar about what is justifiable in terms of Banning Education is something that is totally against the religious values that islam represents. So i think the change that were going to see if were going to see it is a combination of pressure from judicial action and pressure from the muslim majority countries, where i do think that their intervention, theyve made it clear theyre against what the Afghan Government is doing, but their intervention at a higher level and with delegations to afghanistan and particularly talking to the clerics, could make a difference. Mr brown, who would take part in such a delegation and have regional governments expressed a willingness to carry out such a mission . The governments of the middle east, obviously qatar and uae and saudi have been much involved in discussions and have made clear their objection to the policy carried out by the Afghan Government. There have been some delegations there was a meeting in qatar only a few days ago. America sent a delegation to afghanistan. Britain has sent a delegation and there is some dialogue taking place. But weve got to get it through to people that right round the world there is nothing worse happening to girls now than what is happening to girls in afghanistan and this fundamental abuse of human rights if we allow it to continue and theres been far too Little International opposition to this. We havent done enough to make it clear this is unacceptable. But if its allowed to happen in afghanistan, then youre creating the precedent in 2023 for this to happen in other countries where the rights of girls are at risk. So its very important notjust for afghanistan girls, but for girls and women around the world that we take this action now. And as i say, ive been surprised how Little International attention has been given to the plight of afghan girls when we know theyre facing such difficulties. Lets talk to sir geoffrey nice, a barrister who took part in the International Criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia, and was lead prosecutor at slobodan milosevic� s trial. Thank you forjoining us. You heard his calls there for charges on Crimes Against Humanity for members of the taliban do you agree . Absolutely. 0f of the taliban do you agree . Absolutely. Of course he speaks with the delicacy and caution of a politician, probably wisely but looking at it objectively, there is a right to education in article 26 of the universal declaration even if its not binding it identifies the rates we have. This is persecution by reason of the gender of people and by depriving them of their right to education this is a crime. A serious crime. 0ne to education this is a crime. A serious crime. One thing that i particularly agree with is where he says, we have to act now. Of course you do. There is a limited time where it is possible to be most efficient in learning and if you cannot learn, you cannot perform as a proper human being. Of course all of the other rights to which we are entitled to reflect the fact that all human beings are equal in all have to be allowed to function properly. We are referring and denying education is a serious crime. What evidence would have to be presented to prove the case . Is that evidence at hand . I dont think there is any problem with proving the withdrawal of education rates. As for the persecution i think the definition is the intentional and severe Declaration Of Human Rights contrary to International Law by means, reason of the identity of the group. The group is identified by gender and Everything Else in that definition is very clearly made out. Mr brown is very sensible in recognising that there is no International Rule of law, it is a muddle of bits and pieces some of which work and some dont. The best thing is to focus her attention as he is encouraging us all to do on something that would work. Having done that, the rest of us have a real duty for these unfortunate girls and women not to muck about and say this is a crime in these people purporting to justify their crime by a religion have no justification. The biden, International Criminal court which has already made a decision to divert previous interest concerning the previous regime and forces operating there, the icc should be encouraged to Pay Attention to this, in order to get people deemed, subject to warrants of arrest. If possible if they know they can be arrested brought to trial. This is an important matter and mr brown should be congratulated on bringing it to our attention. [30 should be congratulated on bringing it to our attention. It to our attention. Do you think prosecuting it to our attention. Do you think prosecuting individuals it to our attention. Do you think prosecuting individuals in it to our attention. Do you think i prosecuting individuals in targeting individuals responsible for these policies would actually achieve the aim of ensuring the education continues for women and girls . The continues for women and girls . Tie International Order continues for women and girls . Ti2 International Order only allows prosecution of individuals, not of states was of you can get individuals by sanctions and sometimes by sanctions of the state of itself. But theres absolutely no guarantee that prosecuting individuals for workarounds for this kind of internal country crime is effective in the overall objective. But if you do not try, you will not succeed. If you try you may succeed. I think mr brown has also pointed, he hasnt but i will point to another way we can start to look at this terrible problem. Of course no one has said that this is genocide of the women and that is for important reasons, women, gender is not an identification for purposes of the groups for genocide and also there is a real problem with a single ethnicity committing genocide against part of its own ethnicity. But, what is happening here is an attempt to destroy the group of women, to deprive them of their real existence as a church and culture and humidity and they are a group who previously enjoyed it. Should start thinking about whether you can approach the General Assembly who have the power to amend the Genocide Convention to consider this. But generally what he has done is the right thing, focus on something we can do and get on with it. Its right thing, focus on something we can do and get on with it. Can do and get on with it. Its been valuable to can do and get on with it. Its been valuable to get can do and get on with it. Its been valuable to get your can do and get on with it. Its been valuable to get your insight can do and get on with it. Its been valuable to get your insight on valuable to get your insight on this topic and thank you so much for joining us. Lets bring back our panel, paul and joel lets bring back our panel, paul and joel. Paul, are you convinced that mr browns suggestion is some sort of accountability . He mr browns suggestion is some sort of accountability . Of accountability . He is to be congratulated of accountability . He is to be congratulated for of accountability . He is to be congratulated for raising of accountability . He is to be congratulated for raising the | congratulated for raising the profile of this important issue he is right as his role as the un envoy to put the spotlight on this and that people can too easily forget about what are Crimes Against Humanity and that are accepted norms across the international community. What is interesting is that with every autocratic regime there are good guys and bad guys. And less good guys and bad guys. And less good guys, shall we say. The interesting thing is that his twin pronged approach to this is whether or not it will work on the one hand he wants to name individuals and prosecute them and they will get a lot of support from lots of people in the west for that. On the other hand he will try to engage with some parts of the regime to use muslim countries to apply pressure and say, but these are not the norms of our religion. So the interesting question for me is, just how much, how effective that would be within the regime and whether or not he is managing to tease apart The Good Guys from the bad guys. Not sure whether that is actually part of the strategy but it feels like it is. Ads, strategy but it feels like it is. A complicated approach there. Joel, we heard from gordon brown that the us of course is also recently sent a delegation to afghanistan. Is this a priority for the Biden Administration . It priority for the Biden Administration . , , priority for the Biden Administration . , administration . It certainly is a riori administration . It certainly is a priority and administration . It certainly is a priority and what administration . It certainly is a priority and what the administration . It certainly is a priority and what the former i administration . It certainly is a i priority and what the former Prime Minister priority and what the former Prime Minister did is open up this discussion. We have been stuck in washington for the last years on debate washington for the last years on debate on what to do regarding afghanistan. Some say we should never afghanistan. Some say we should never have left and we should still have our never have left and we should still have our military there, that would resolve have our military there, that would resolve the have our military there, that would resolve the issue of oppression of women resolve the issue of oppression of women and girls and others say we needed women and girls and others say we needed to women and girls and others say we needed to get out, 20 years is too long. Needed to get out, 20 years is too long. Lets needed to get out, 20 years is too long, lets turn our backs and walk away long, lets turn our backs and walk away and long, lets turn our backs and walk away and wiped her hands. I think now is away and wiped her hands. I think now is about the time and fortunately with mr brown leading the way fortunately with mr brown leading the way in this op ed in his work to really the way in this op ed in his work to really have the way in this op ed in his work to really have a the way in this op ed in his work to really have a practical discussion about really have a practical discussion about this really have a practical discussion about this. It is part of our diplomacy of carrots and sticks. What diplomacy of carrots and sticks. What are diplomacy of carrots and sticks. What are the carrot and sticks that are going what are the carrot and sticks that are going to enact a change in behaviour are going to enact a change in behaviour by the taliban reverse this horrifying discriminatory behaviour towards half of the population. It is unconscionable. Are there population. It is unconscionable. Are there ways to penalise them and brin are there ways to penalise them and bring in are there ways to penalise them and bring in those and those golf allies of the bring in those and those golf allies of the us bring in those and those golf allies of the us and they talk to the Tatiban Of The Us and they talk to the taliban and get the impression on them taliban and get the impression on them while also making it clear to these them while also making it clear to these leaders that they can be targeted for their impression. We heard targeted for their impression. 2 heard gordon brown say that is far too Little International attention on this issue and indeed he is now bringing back into the spotlight but why do you think that is . I bringing back into the spotlight but why do you think that is . Why do you think that is . I think it is the nature why do you think that is . I think it is the nature of why do you think that is . I think it is the nature of global why do you think that is . I think it is the nature of global events. I is the nature of global events. Things move on, there is another crisis to look at. There is Climate Change we have already discussed, it is too easy to have a goal for spring when it comes to international affairs, you can move on thickly to one to the next. 0ut on thickly to one to the next. Out of sight and out of mind and the fact that we do not have troops from western countries their means we no longer have a effective strong Media Presence there is much as we did. So it is inevitable that there is not as much as a personal but that is why he has done a service for us to raising this today. The key thing is whether or not those allies that joel was talking about, how committed are they in offering some of these carrots as well as the sticks. Gordon brown talked about sanctions, but at the same time, and the guardian today talked about maybe being prepared to offer the taliban government extra funding to finance the return of these girls to school. So you have to work out how thatis school. So you have to work out how that is going to work in terms of a balance. , ,. Balance. Interesting perspective. Thank ou balance. Interesting perspective. Thank you so balance. Interesting perspective. Thank you so much balance. Interesting perspective. Thank you so much paul balance. Interesting perspective. Thank you so much paul and i balance. Interesting perspective. | thank you so much paul and joel, balance. Interesting perspective. I thank you so much paul and joel, we will stay there stay there we will stay there stay there we will come back and we will come back and speak on the us Protective Order preventing investment in certain chinese to anthonys. Tech companies. Hello. Todays weather might have felt like something of a novelty because for many places, its been the warmest day for quite some weeks, under blue skies and sunshine. That was how it looked in norfolk, but not everywhere has been as sunny as that. In fact, parts of Northern Ireland saw quite a lot of cloud as this Weather Front approached from the southwest. And through the next few hours, this frontal system is expected to bring some really quite heavy bursts of rain across Northern Ireland, some heavy thundery downpours drifting northwards and eastwards as the evening wears on. There could be enough rain to bring some localised flooding and some travel disruption, and that wet weather is set to spread across the isle of man, just clipping in to parts of north wales, north west england, but more especially that rain will spread northwards and eastwards across scotland as we head through the night. Further south, not too much rain, a lot of dry weather, but some areas of cloud floating around on what will be quite a warm and muggy night. Lows of 15 17 degrees in places. And so for tomorrow, well start off with cloud and rain in the north of scotland. In fact for 0rkney and shetland, some pretty wet weather continuing for a good part of the day. Also this hang back of cloud across parts of South East England giving rise to some spots of rain. Elsewhere, sunny spells and scattered showers, particularly out towards the west. Northern ireland, i think seeing most showers of all. And temperatures in the west a little lower than there have been. Still, though, up to 26 celsius in parts of eastern england. And then into the weekend, low pressure is set to be in charge of the scene, but that doesnt mean its going to be raining everywhere all the time. In fact, there will be some dry gaps. The further south and east you are, its likely to stay just about dry with very few showers. But further north and west, there will be some showers or longer spells of rain, some heavy, possibly thundery bursts of rain at times. Quite breezy in the west, temperatures of 18 24 degrees in most places. And for sunday, our area of low pressure continues to swirl close by. That will bring further showers at times, particularly in the north and the west, further south and east, more in the way of dry weather. But it could be that we see some more persistent rain just approaching the far South West Of England later in the day. Its going to be quite an unsettled start to next week. But there are some signs that later in the week it may start to warm up again for some of us. Thats all from me. Bye for now. Im sumi somaskanda. Youre watching the context on bbc news. Coming up a look into the world of tech as china vows to protect its interests after the us announces a policy to restrict investment into Chinese Technology. China is vowing to protect its interests after the us announced a policy to restrict investment into Chinese Technology. Beijing has Accused Washington of attempting to engage in anti globalisation. That comes after us President Biden announced an Executive Order restricting us investments in sensitive high tech sectors like semiconductors, quantam computing, and artificial intelligence. Beijing says the move undercuts the Market Economy and fair Competition Principles that the us promotes. Washington says the policy is a necessary safeguard to prevent china from using us dollars for its own military development. Joining me now is Sarah Stewart she is the Chief Executive of silverado, a non profit focused on advancing americas global leadership. Great to have