Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240704

Also coming up in half an hour on bbc london. The mother of a seven year old who died after being electrocuted by faulty wiring at a Pub Near Romford is calling for stricter regulations. And coming up on bbc news. Paris Saint Germain agree a deal to sell brazil forward neymar to Saudi Pro League side al hilal for a fee understood to be over £77 million. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. Two thirds of nhs cancer waiting time targets are expected to be scrapped in england in a move the Health Service says is designed to catch the disease earlier. Its thought that the nine current targets will be reduced to three. The proposals have been worked on by clinicians and have been out for consultation since last year. Some Cancer Charities, though, say more investment is needed in treatment capacity. Our Health Correspondent Dominic Hughes has the details. Nhs england says it wants to simplify and update cancer Waiting Time Standards following the advice of expert doctors. The nine standards that exist at the moment are said to be confusing for patients and staff. A Consultation Exercise on scrapping some of them was started last year. The outcome is set to be published in the next few days but it will need to be approved by ministers. What we have is a consultation at the moment with leading clinical figures in the cancer world and with the Cancer Charities asking whether the checks weve got are driving the right outcomes in terms of Cancer Survival or whether there are better ways of measuring those. So, this is something led by clinicians working in cancer, its not something being imposed by the government. Three targets would be maintained. Diagnosis of cancer within 28 days of referral. Start of treatment within two months from an urgent referral. And treatment starting one month after a decision to treat. But other targets, for example, a two week wait from an urgent gp referral to see a consultant, including for Breast Cancer patient, will be dropped. Nhs england says the changes would remove the need for unnecessary Outpatient Appointments in order to meet waiting time rules allow more patients to get a faster diagnosis. But the reality is that most Cancer Targets have been missed for some time, and labour believes thats whats behind this change. And under the last Labour Government we had targets, we hit those targets, we didnt walk away when the going got tough. With this government what weve got is targets that theyve repeatedly failed to hit, and now what theyre doing is moving the goalposts. Recent figures show that just 59 of Cancer Patients in england waited less than two months for their first treatment to start after being referred by their gp, well below the target of 85 . Everyone wants simpler targets, that will be easier for patients to understand. But the problem is, were in the worst consequences of my lifetime and simply changing targets wont cure patients, we need to treat them faster and quicker. There is some support for the idea of simple fine targets for Cancer Treatment if it helps improve the focus on diagnosing and treating patients faster. But Cancer Charities say too many targets is not the reason that patients are facing longer waits, thats down to a shortage of trained staff and resources. Dominic hughes, bbc news. Our Health Editor hugh pym is here. It is quite complex, hugh, what is the motivation here for reducing the number of targets . Number of targets . Jane, Cynics Miaht Sa number of targets . Jane, cynics might say we number of targets . Jane, cynics might say we have number of targets . Jane, cynics might say we have got number of targets . Jane, cynics might say we have got nine number of targets . Jane, cynics i might say we have got nine targets and hardly any of them have been met, some of them not met since 2015, so why not make the whole thing simpler and scrap some of them . But i am told by nhs leaders and senior Cancer Experts that this has been worked on for a year, there has been worked on for a year, there has been worked on for a year, there has been consultation out there, it is not politically driven, i am told this is nhs england want to do simple if i things and make things easierfor patients to simple if i things and make things easier for patients to understand and easierfor hospitals easier for patients to understand and easier for hospitals and easier for patients to understand and easierfor hospitals and doctors to actually administer the treatment. And in fact Cancer Research uk has come out and said actually, the focus on fewer targets including faster diagnosis, because one of them is getting a test within 28 days, so you know whether you have got cancer or not, that will really help patients understand where they are, and that will be a priority. But Cancer Research uk go on to say that treatment is the real issue and it needs an ambitious strategy to take that forward, and that has been echoed by other cancer campaigners. Targets are one thing but treatment and investment in people and equipment to deliver that is another. ,. ~ the death toll from the devastating wildfires in hawaii is likely to rise significantly according to officials on the islands. At least 96 people are known to have died but hundreds are still missing on the island of maui. Those who survived are turning their thoughts to how to rebuild the historic tourist town of lahaina, which was razed to the ground, work that it is estimated could cost more than 5 billion. Sophie long has been speaking to a congregation whose church was destoyed in the wildfires. The fire that left more than a city devastated and charred, black buildings behind. Questions hover above the emptiness. How can you rebuild from this . What will exist here in the future . A now churchless congregation gathered at a coffee shop to share their pain. One of the Police Officers sent me pictures. Of what used to be. My house. I wept. But weeping is not a lack of faith. Thank god that he gave us tears. Amazing grace. There are so many questions that remain without answers. Why did one survive to sit in a makeshift church when their neighbour didnt . What will become of their community so crippled by a loss that is still being counted . I dont think it will ever be the same. I hope it will be better, so thats my prayer, and i believe that. I think one day it can be an even better lahaina than it was. That is what i hope at least. How do they explain to those too young to understand what their parents cant comprehend . Children live in the moment, mostly, when theyre young, so you may have to explain it more than once with them, but all you can do is be straightforward and tell them, the fire took the house. And the terrible thing is that its going to be hard because the next fire, the next time they hear a fire, that fear is going to come back. There was one lady beating on herwindow, save me, save me. These people may have lost their homes but they havent lost their hope. Were going to build ourselves up, were going to shake ourselves up and were going to keep going forward. Were not broken. The place might be for now, but, you know, it wont stay that way. And even the elderly with other places they could go will stay and rebuild. Family on the mainland are trying to get me to move back and my son told my daughter, he said, you dont get it, dad is going to die there because thats his home. Its our home. But well come back, well survive, well get through this. They will tell their children that there has been mass death and destruction but out of it came heroes and hope. Sophie long, bbc news, maui. Here, the university and College Union, which represents academics and support staff, is meeting this lunchtime to discuss its next steps in its pay dispute with universities. Members have been Boycotting Marking exam papers since april meaning many students have Left University this summer without being given a grade or have been unable to graduate at all. 0ur correspondent harry farley is at the unions headquarters in Central London. And this is a dispute which has caused huge upset and uncertainty for students when they are trying to plan their future, for students when they are trying to plan theirfuture, many for students when they are trying to plan their future, many of them . That is why, jane, those students who are graduating this summer without knowing their final grade or indeed having to postpone their graduation entirely, it might affect potentialjob offers, future career decisions, it might affect their other future plans. Decisions, it might affect their otherfuture plans. The meeting happening this lunchtime is for the union to decide its next steps, and that includes the possibility of balloting for further action that would extend beyond 0ctober. Balloting for further action that would extend beyond october. This is really about pay and conditions for University Staff. The university and couege University Staff. The university and College Employers association say the current offer of between 5 and 8 pay rise is the highest of its kind for nearly 20 years, they are calling for a wider review of the sectors finances. The university and College Union have agreed to that wider review but they are asking for at least a pay rise of 12 asking for at least a pay rise of i2 for University Staff and an end to zero our and temporary contracts. They tell me this morning that they are willing to compromise and negotiate on that position, but for now at least it seems there is no end in sight to this dispute that is affecting so many students. Harry, thank yom now to a snapshot of stupidity people taking selfies, texting, and even doing push ups On Level Crossings. Network rail has released some of its cctv footage to highlight the dangers. And the report were about to see from navtej johal is drawn from images from just one county, worcestershire. Theres a train is coming children playing. One armed press ups. And selfies with dogs. Just some of the incidents seen On Level Crossings around worcestershire so far this year. These shocking videos were captured on covert cameras by network rail. Train horn blares. Theyve released them as a Safety Warning to the public. You wouldnt go out into the middle when cars are coming and start doing press ups or taking a selfie with your dogs and whatnot, so i dont understand why you would do it on a railway, when trains are much heavier, faster, and they cant stop or swerve out the way. This is a location where network rail has seen some of these incidents occur, and they say one of the reasons behind it may be peoples desire for interesting videos or photos to post on social media, but it says that this sort of behaviour comes with huge risks. Its really disheartening to see stuff like that, because ourjob is to make sure it is safe for people. It doesnt bear thinking about, the consequences that could happen. Nearly 50 cases of misuse have been reported by Train Drivers or caught on cameras in the county and the West Midlands so far in 2023. Safety teams are now visiting the problem crossings to directly warn people of the dangers. The hope is that it may prevent more dangerous incidents, especially over the School Summer holidays. Navteonhal, bbc news, droitwich spa. There has been a huge growth in the gig economy over the last few years driven by Delivery Companies and the Service Sector as much as buying films online. It is characterised by freelance work and short Term Contracts classed by unions as insecure employment. Now data from the tuc shows that the number of people from ethnic Minortity Backgorunds in this type of work has more than doubeld in the last ten years compared with than a less than 10 increase in white workers. Our Community Affairs correspondent Ashitha Nagesh reports. I start seven oclock. So, 12 hours, its a long shift. Yes, 12 hours. Its 7am in Central London and Security Guard abraham has just finished his night shift. Hes on a zero hours contract which allows employers to hire people with no promise of work. Abrahams hours have just been cut. Ive been in this country for about 32, 33 years. I decided to retire in thisjob. But now he feels his employers dont value him. So i decided to give my all to protect people. But you know, its like they are blind, they dont see anything that we are doing, we are offering to them, they dont see it. They dont recognise it at all very bad. Abrahams job is just one of many that is considered insecure, where there are no guarantees of hours or earnings. Insecure work is growing and new data from the tuc shared exclusively with bbc news shows that growth is being driven by minority ethnic workers. The number of ethnic minority people in insecure work increased by 132 between 2011 and 2022. By comparison, for white workers this number went up byjust 9. 5 . The tuc says this is Structural Racism enacted in action. The tuc says this is Structural Racism in action. So, ive been given a minute to accept the order. But some feel this kind of work is ideal for their lifestyle. 19 year old tahir delivers for Takeaway Apps in stevenage. If the weather is good enough he works until 1am every day including weekends. I like the flexibility, i get to meet new people and basically thats it. The downsides are there isnt a fixed income so sometimes it might be busy, sometimes it may not be busy, you never know, you just leave home and you hope for the best every day. Sociologist professor grimshaw says while these jobs may work for some in the short run, there are long term considerations. Some people think that insecure work is perhaps concentrated on young people and its a Stepping Stone into more secure work, but for many ethnic minority groups thats not the case, its entrenched and insecure work is going all through a persons lifetime, theyre not able to get out of rented accommodation, so you get stuck and entrenched in patterns of poverty and inequality. Theres your drink. So, ive just given the food and with this order luckily theres a code so that just confirms that ive actually given the food to the customer. Whether it gives ethnic minority workers flexibility or pushes them into a cycle of poverty, the takeaway is that insecure workers, now more than ever, are a fixture in these communities. Ashitha nagesh, bbc news. Our top story this afternoon. Most cancer waiting time targets are likely to be scrapped in england. The nhs says it will simplify the system and improve detection. Coming up. The woman fitted with a stoma after a traumatic childbirth hoping to be the first person to swim solo across the english channel. Coming up on bbc news. He wont be playing in the red of liverpool after chelsea agree a deal to Sign Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo for a british record fee of £115m. From Driverless Cars to 3d printing, Artificial Intelligence has been transforming how we live our lives. But could it one day be capable of also reading our minds . Research is under way in the United States to investigate just that. Bbc click� s Lara Lewington reports from texas. Hi, lara. Hi, good to meet you. Thank you for having us. Come on in. Thanks very much. Neuroscientist Alexander Houth has spent a decade trying to understand how the brain works. We want to build intelligent machines, maybe we want to make things that act more like human brains, so that is kind of what got me into neuroscience. This year his team had a breakthrough. Using Ai Technology that can understand language they built a computer that can read minds. We scan peoples brains with an mri scanner while theyjust listen to stories so we track how their brain responds while they are listening to hours and hours of stories. The team has trained the al on their own brains. As they listen to stories inside the scanner the computer watches what happens. What sort of Brain Activity are you looking for . We are looking for activity that is related to specific ideas with specific words that appear in the stories. So, for example, whenever you hear somebody talk about parking a car, there are certain patterns of activity in the brain that will be present that reliably correspond to that kind of idea. We are trying to build up that mapping from very large data. The computer looks for patterns in the vast amount of data from the scanner. With enough training it can translate Brain Activity into words, so the lead scientist is listening to a story for us. The war of the worlds. Creepy music. The martians in the pit have turned their heat ray on. A Deep Throbbing sound, a silver pencil flight. I a silver pencil of light. And a narrow ribbon of bracken and grass and trees and houses stretching as far as the eye could see was scorched. And this is the text that the ai created from the brain scan. And the Decoded Version misses a lot of things but it gets some of the good stuff. He fired the bullets out of the clip he had on him as he ran and then i heard a huge crack as a large piece of concrete hit my forehead and then a giant ball of fire. The general idea of big noise got hurt is there in both of them . Yeah. And then also the idea that something was on fire. The scorched versus the giant ball of fire, it captured all those things. But clearly not exactly the right words. So far it has only analysed the brains of a handful of volunteers who have all spent 16 hours being scanned, but they hope it will unlock the secrets of how our minds work. We are really pushing on and a lot of our effort in the lab goes towards using this to actually understand the brain better. That is our scientific goal in the end, we want to know how does the brain work . How do our brains process language . How do we understand ideas . How do we think . Sounds great, but what happens if it ends up in the wrong hands . Some people are scared or thinking the Thought Police are coming. You know, i think its a fair reaction to this to say, like, this is scary, and that was kind of our reaction too. Like the first thing we thought when got this working was like, this is fantastic, its working. And then like, my god, this is working are the thought Police Coming . Not yet. None of the Current Technologies that we have would be effective at actually policing peoples thoughts. Lara lewington reporting there. And you can watch the Panorama Programme beyond human Artificial Intelligence and us on bbc iplayer now and on bbc one at 8pm this evening. For months now, Hundreds Of Thousands of israelis have been joining weekly mass protests against controversial government plans to overhaul the countrys justice system. Now there are signs that secular israelis are thinking about emigrating. Increasingly theyre a minority, because of the higher birth rate among religiousjews who largely support the right wing government. 0ur middle east correspondent Yolande Knell sent this report from tel aviv. Another takeover of downtown tel aviv. For six months, weekend Family Outings for this top israeli radiologist have been at these huge Anti Government protests. But now Professor Hoffman is planning a more radical step, moving to a hospital in the uk. Im going to london for a sabbatical, and this will be my laboratory to see if i can live outside israel. He may leave for good. In the long term, if the situation will be so bad, its worsening every day, we will find a place to live outside israel. We all have european passports. And others also think of emigrating as hardline ministers pushed through highly controversial laws. They say theyre fixing a system in which elected politicians are too easily overruled by the supreme court. Protesters argue theyre Weakening Oversight of the government. Unfortunately, many, many of my friends check the options in other countries. I will not raise my kids in a country which is not democratic. What do we want . People are coming out on the streets week after week to protest the dramatic changes that are being made to israels justice system. But there are also deep social divisions that are opening up in the country. People are worried about the future direction that israel is taking. Israels current Governing Coalition relies on Ultra Orthodoxjews and religious Ultra Nationalists who represent fast growing parts of the population. As liberal, secular israelis become a smaller minority, they fear the courts will no longer be able to protect their rights. Experts warn if it happens, an exodus could be devastating. When the truly talented people, who carry on their shoulders the innovation and the Economic Development that this country is so dependent on, when they decide theyve had enough, then we could see a collapse, an economic collapse. This is the main square. I visit Professor Hoffman at the israeli hospital where he currently works as a foetal neuro radiologist. He says like him, many medics now consider heading overseas. Even now we have we have a shortage of doctors. So if, you know, even 5 will not come back, it will be a disaster. Back at the big protests in tel aviv, the fight for the government to change track goes on at full volume. But another challenge is also building, with more israelis quietly planning an exit. Yolande knell, bbc news, tel aviv. When gill castle had to be fitted with a stoma bag after a traumatic childbirth, she was determined to show her son that it wouldnt stop her from achieving anything in life. She is now attempting to become the first person with a Colostomy Pouch to swim solo across the english channel. And alongside herfamily, she has a famous fan cheering her on, as Alison Freeman discovered when she went to see her in training. Gill is unstoppable. 12 years ago, she was so badly injured during the birth of her son that she had to have a stoma fitted. It diverts her bowel to a bag on her abdomen. But, in just over a weeks time, shes aiming to become the first woman with a stoma to swim the channel. Theres a lot of people with stomas are really, really fearful to be active and to go out there and to do things. They think theyre going to bejudged by people, particularly swimming. A lot of people wont go to the local pool. And this is kind of like my really in your face way of saying, if i can swim the channel, you can go to your local pool. But really, ultimately, my everything is to show my son that his birth didnt ruin my life. Times were tough for gill at first, she found it hard to manage her stoma, her Mental Health suffered, and she was no longer able to keep working as a police officer. Gill also felt frustrated by the lack of support available to her. People didnt really know what to do with me, people kept saying, youre really unique, which is not what you want to hear, because you want you want to feel safe and looked after and that people know what theyre doing. But nobody talks about the fact that things go wrong. So when i did come out in public, i was flooded with contact from other mums saying, wow, im so pleased that somebody is actually speaking out. And i guess this is why i do what i do. Gills efforts to raise awareness and understanding of people fitted with stomas has led to a friendship with the artist tracey emin. She had one fitted after surgery for bladder cancer. When i found out i had to have the ileostomy stoma, i said, no, i dont want it, im not having it. Anything, anything. But they said, well, there is one other option. Iwent, right, ill take it. I dont care what it is, ill take it. Ill have that. They said, you wont like it. I said, i dont care. He said, its death and i said, you know what, ill take the bag the fact that you swim 8 to 8 mile swims and all this kind of thing, and its a major inspiration for anybody that has the stoma or anybody that has a disability. And so i would just already congratulate you on that. And whether you do that bloody swim or not, you still get 100 of the money that im going to sponsor you with. So there you go. I dont even know what to say. The channel now isnt as important as the journey that ive already been on and taking other people on with me. Ive got a lot of attention already on birth trauma, on childbirth injuries. So really in many ways myjobs kind of already done and getting to france will be the icing on the cake. Im ready bring it on fantastic, good luck tojill castle. Now, its not been the hottest of summers in this country, despite the soaring heat across much of europe, but there is one bit of good news. You can now get insurance against it raining too much during your holiday. Popular in the us, the insurance is now being offered by one Holiday Parks company here. Duncan kennedy is at one of their sites in the new forest. Wet, wet, wet. The summer of 2023. For most of the uk it has been a wash out. But what if you could take out insurance against the rain . That is what is on offer at this new forest holiday centre. This couple did it and now get compensated nearly every time it pours. To get something nearly every time it pours. To get Something Back nearly every time it pours. To get Something Back if nearly every time it pours. To get Something Back if it nearly every time it pours. To get Something Back if it doesnt nearly every time it pours. To get Something Back if it doesnt work| nearly every time it pours. To get i Something Back if it doesnt work as you plant we thought was really good. It you plant we thought was really aood. , you plant we thought was really mad,. , , you plant we thought was really aood. ,. ,. , good. It has been raining all mornin good. It has been raining all morning here, good. It has been raining all morning here, you good. It has been raining all morning here, you could good. It has been raining all morning here, you could be| good. It has been raining all morning here, you could be quids in. The first thing we said this morning was we the first thing we said this morning was we think we have made the right decision was we think we have made the right decision. ~ ,. , decision. Absolutely. It works like this. The holiday decision. Absolutely. It works like this. The Holiday Parks decision. Absolutely. It works like this. The Holiday Parks insurance | this. The Holiday Parks Insurance Company forecasts if it is going to rain for at least three or more hours every day. They will pay out the entire day plasma holiday. 0ne the entire day plasma holiday. One man received thousands when it rained on his holiday parade. The total cost for rained on his holiday parade. Tue total cost for the rained on his holiday parade. Tte total cost for the holiday rained on his holiday parade. Tt2 total cost for the holiday was £3360. They paid us out on six and a half days and we got a total return of £3000 185. It was a no brainer to take it out because of the british weather today. We will be utilising the money for a further holiday. There is a drawback. The rain Insurance Scheme costs 10 of the holiday and in winter months the number of hours of rain predicted goes up before any payout. We will forecast the goes up before any payout. We will forecast the weather goes up before any payout. We will forecast the weather and goes up before any payout. We will forecast the weather and if goes up before any payout. We will forecast the weather and if it goes up before any payout. We will forecast the weather and if it rains | forecast the weather and if it rains more than three hours in a single holiday day they will get one day plasma rebate. No questions asked. No questions asked. Tt plasma rebate. No questions asked. No questions asked. No questions asked. It guarantees auainst no questions asked. It guarantees a. Ainst the no questions asked. It guarantees against the british no questions asked. It guarantees against the british summer. No questions asked. It guarantees against the british summer. It no questions asked. It guarantees against the british summer. It is l no questions asked. It guarantees against the british summer. It is aj against the british summer. It is a great idea. Against the british summer. It is a treat idea. , against the british summer. It is a great idea great idea. It was started in america five great idea. It was started in america five years great idea. It was started in america five years ago. Great idea. It was started in america five years ago. Whether it will work for the british summer, rental itself is difficult to forecast. It could be an Insurance Policy more suited for some than others. Duncan kennedy, bbc news, in the new forest. Now more than ever we want to know what ben rich is going to tell us. Thank you. If few payouts to date no doubt because it is a really soggy day out there for some places. Parts of North West Wales and north england have already seen a lot of rain on the Radar Picture shows where we have seen rainfall over the last couple of hours. It is across parts of north wales, Northern England and the far South Of Scotland where we will see heavy downpours through the rest of the day. Enough