Transcripts For BBCNEWS Verified Live 20240904

Treatment. Hello and welcome to todays verified live. We start in ukraine where russia has carried out one of the deadliest strikes in months. Ukraines Defence Ministry says 49 people have been killed and 219 people have been injured. It Happened in poltava a city in the east of ukraine. Many people are believed to be trapped under rubble. The countrys Defence Ministry called it a barbaric strike against an educational establishment. President zelensky said it was a very difficult day for ukraine. Translation i have received preliminary l reports on the russian attack on poltava. According to the information available now, two ballistic Missiles Hit the territory of an educational institution and a neighbouring hospital. One of the buildings in the institute of communications was partially destroyed. People were trapped under the rubble. Many of them were rescued. More than 180 people were injured. Unfortunately, there are many dead. As of now, 41 people have been reported dead. My condolences go to all the families and friends. Information and updates are coming in all of the time. Just a little earlier, i spoke with our abc verified correspondence, merlyn thomas, to find out what we know about the aftermath of todays attack. ~ ~. , the aftermath of todays attack. ~. ,. , attack. We know the attack was on a city in attack. We know the attack was on a city in the attack. We know the attack was on a city in the east attack. We know the attack was on a city in the east of on a city in the east of ukraine and what we know so far are details shared by President Zelensky who says that preliminary reports show the attack was caused by two russian ballistic missiles and Resort Chatter about this attack start at about 9am uk time and that started to circulate on Social Media and in one video that we verified, you can see a large Balloon Outbuilding with a gaping hole in the side of it and it is a 6 Storey Building and there is to pre piled around and revel next to the building and in some of the photos, it is worth saying that there is a lot of Graphic Imagery and we have seen dead bodies on the floor and we have seen what appear to be Emergency Responders in the area as well, carrying blankets and stretchers, and in one photo, you can see a building completely charred out and burned out with the interior floors collapsed in on each other. ~. , other. We have seen some footaae other. We have seen some footage we other. We have seen some footage we are other. We have seen some footage we are able other. We have seen some footage we are able to footage we are able to broadcast from the facility which shows ambulances and things like that, but what you have described to me now, we havent been able to broadcast that video and just remind viewers wife. That Video And Ust remind viewers wife. That Video And Ust remind viewers wife. You are right that we havent viewers wife. You are right that we havent been viewers wife. You are right that we havent been able | viewers wife. You are right i that we havent been able to broadcast that footage and there is a specific reason for that, because there are specific restrictions in the Use And Broadcasting footage in the aftermath of the tax on ukraine. Remind viewers why. The ukrainian government has asked international media to follow that in the aftermath of a tax on ukraine, meaning we cant assure you footage of civilian targets in attacks until three Hours after the attack, and in the case on Military Targets, not until 12 i was after the attack, and that goes along with identifying any locations of attacks which may allow the russian military to plan a future attack and we have spoken to the Defence Ministry this afternoon who said that imagers of this attack should not be spread, as not spreading them will help to prevent further attacks. I also spoke with the former Prime Minister of ukraine, arseniy yatsenyuk, to get his reaction to one of the deadliest russian strikes on the country in months. Its another despicable, horrendous and then just terrible crime Committed personally by War Criminal Vladimir Putin, a dictator, who has no limits at all. I do understand that the west is always concerned about the red lines, but War Criminal Vladimir Putin has already crossed all death lines, not red lines. So the Death Toll is rising, as The Ukrainian officials already reported. So the number of those who had been killed by russians is around 41. But its definitely on the rise escalatory. And those who have been injured is 180. And let me remind you that this is a college. Yeah, thats true. Thats a military college, but full of cadets of young ukrainians who decided to fight for their country, who decided to serve in The Ukrainian military. Those Men And Women in the uniform who wants their country to be free. So thats a despicable act. And i urge i urge our western partners to do everything that is needed. Thats not a trickle down approach, to supply ukraine with ammunition and necessary military equipment. We need a full fledged approach to give everything that is needed for The Ukrainian military to stop this dictator, to stop this massacre that is Committed personally by putin and his bloody military. Ill come to that final point and well talk about that more in a moment or two. But the First Lady has been talking, and even the figures that you were using, shes updated those. So exactly as you were intimating, the figures are rising and perhaps will rise even further, because we know that there are people trapped under the rubble. But in terms of what was hit, tell me a little more about that, if you can. Well, thats a communication military college, 0k . Once again, those who had been killed, these are young ukrainians. Thats cadets. The area is poltava. Poltava is not directly on the front line. Its around 100 miles far from the front line. But the thing is that russians used ballistic missiles with the Travel Speed of around 60 miles per minute. So the time between the Air Raid Siren and when these bloody missiles landed was less than a minute. So it actually inflicted a huge, huge damage. So the cost is just unprecedented. And we and i personally we mourn for those who are dead, and we pray for those who are injured to heal. We spoke a week or so ago when President Sir Lenski had again urged the west in terms of those long range weapons the west has applied to be able to use that to hit targets inside russia, a change of the rules. President zelensky. Does what has Happened today again add more fuel to that basic demand we hear repeatedly from ukraine . ,. , ukraine . Correct, that is another ukraine . Correct, that is another Wakeup Ukraine . Correct, that is another wakeup call. It | ukraine . Correct, that is i another wakeup call. It is another Wake Up Call. It is another Wake Up Call. It is another Wake Up Call for the global community, so we need to urgently change the rules of engagement. Ukraine has to get the right to hit legitimate Military Targets of russia. Instead of killing the error, we need to undermine and destroy the archer. Killing the aggro. And i think the free world needs to recognise this. The price is unprecedented. We are losing the lives of innocent ukrainians, of ukrainian youth, of this ukrainian youth, of this ukrainian generation. Let me ust ukrainian generation. Let me just update ukrainian generation. Let me just update you ukrainian generation. Let me just update you with ukrainian generation. Let me just update you with The Ukrainian generation. Let me. Just update you with the latest information coming from ukraine, this time are coming from the Poltava Regional governor, who has been talking of a cunning and cynical russian strike and goes on to say, according to the preliminary information they have had on the ground, where these missiles struck, up to 18 people could still be under the rubble. The Search Groups are there on site and that search is going on. He adds one more line seeing ten residential buildings have been damaged. We note that that Communication Centre that was very busy, there was teaching going on, it was the main targets of the strike but also ten residential buildings have been damaged and the crucial line that 18 people could still be under the rubble and the searches go on. I have also spoken to an English Teacher there in that city who told me about what it was like in those first moments after the Missiles Hit. It in those first moments after the Missiles Hit. The Missiles Hit. It was a regular the Missiles Hit. It was a regular morning the Missiles Hit. It was a regular morning like the Missiles Hit. It was a i regular morning like every morning since the war started and we had another Air Alert but with two or three minutes, there were two explosions heard and i wasnt very close to the place of this misfortune it event. I was taking the kid to the kindergarten and i later read on the news that there were two rockets that hit right after the alert, one after the other, and i started contacting with all my friends who are volunteers in poltava, what Happened. Volunteers in poltava, what Happened volunteers in poltava, what hauened. ,. ,. , Happened. What part of town did It Hit . It hit Happened. What part of town did It Hit . It hit in Happened. What part of town did It Hit . It hit in a Happened. What part of town did It Hit . It hit in a suburban It Hit . It hit in a suburban area, It Hit . It hit in a suburban area. Not It Hit . It hit in a suburban area, not the It Hit . It hit in a suburban area, not the central It Hit . It hit in a suburban| area, not the central part. It hit . It hit in a suburban area, not the central part. But still, it is one of the places where there are a lot of houses, civilian houses, like, you know, blocks of flats, so around ten of them were damaged, and these blocks have no windows at the moment. Luckily, No One was injured. We luckily, No One was inured. We are luckily, No One was inured. We seeing luckily, No One was injured. We are seeing pictures from just nearby, not the actual buildings that were struck, but all of the reports suggest they are still looking for people trapped under the rubble. That Rescue Operation must still be going on as we are talking. Yes, that is what is happening and i have spoken to a friend of mine who has been there who is one of the volunteers as well. He has been there since all this Happened and he said that first of all there was a huge amount of panic, dust, rubble, so on. Luckily all the services and service people worked very efficiently and so we could hear the sirens wailing all over the town, all over the city, because people wounded and injured were taken to the hospitals. At the moment, the rubble is still being cleared, so exact number of the casualties is not known yet, but the volunteers are already helping out those who are experiencing probably the worst time of our city within these full scale invasion. The these fullscale invasion. The latest on these fullscale invasion. The latest on the these full scale invasion. The latest on the ground. Let me point you to be bbc website, because we have a live page on that story with the latest on ukraine and all of the developments, because that is such a major attack, killing 49 people so far, with 18 still trapped, and we are getting updates all the time from our team on the ground and from the regional governor that i just read out and from various officials in the regional authority. In about 15 minutes, we will get the latest from another ukrainian mp so you can find all of the latest there on the Bbc News Website and the app. Lets turn to Breaking News about a statement from the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, who has said in the last few minutes and describes the death of at least 12 migrants in the English Channel as a horrifying and deeply tragic. She goes on to say, our hearts go out to be loved ones of all those who have lost their lives and all those who have been seriously injured. She says, i am those who have been seriously injured. She says, iam in touch with my french counterpart and i am being kept updated on the situation. Let me show you the picture is still coming to as from the coastline, the search and Rescue Operation going on for Hours. Yvette cooper says, we can pay tribute to the french coastguard who undoubtedly saved lives but could not save everyone and we await the results of the french investigation into how this particular event unfolded. She continues, the gangs behind this callous trade in Human Lives have been cramming more and more people onto increasingly unseaworthy dinghies and sending them out into the channel in poor weather and they dont care about anything but the profits that they make and that is why, as well as mourning the awful loss of life, the work to dismantle these dangerous smuggling gangs and strengthen Border Security is so vital and must proceed at a pace. A statement theyre coming in from the Uk Home secretary, Yvette Cooper. Frances Interior Minister says at least 12 people have died, after a Boat Carrying migrants capsized in the English Channel. Two other people are missing, and a large search and Rescue Operation is in its finishing stages. A spokesperson for the french coastguard says over 50 people are being rescued, and are in need of medical treatment. Several people are understood to be in critical condition. Lets get the latest from our correspondence, simonjones. We correspondence, simon jones. We got correspondence, simonjones. We got the update from the french authorities and you are there in dover. Just give me a sense of what has been happening in the last few Hours. I of what has been happening in the last few Hours. The last few Hours. I Ust Soke the last few Hours. I ust spoke to i the last few Hours. I ust spoke to one i the last few Hours. I ust spoke to one charityh the last few Hours. Ijust| spoke to one charity that the last few Hours. I just spoke to one charity that works here in dover supporting refugees once they arrive in The Uk, and when they heard the news of In Mortalities in the channel, more mortalities in the channel, the response was, not again, because this is the worlds busiest shipping channel. I think the surprise was that more boats set out to this morning because here at this morning because here at this morning because here at this morning it was very windy and i spoke to one fisherman who was set to go out on a Fishing Expedition Today but you cancelled that trip because it was so windy but despite that, a number of boats set out from northern france, those dangerously overloaded boats, full to the brim, and once again, one of those boats got into trouble. In terms of the reaction here, we have had the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, talking about this being horrifying and another tragedy and once again, people talking about what needs to be done to stop people risking their lives in these dangerously overloaded boats, and i think that question will become even more pertinent. So far this year, 20,000 people have made this crossing, showing the desire of many people to cross from france into The Uk, looking for a better life, some saying they want to be reunited with Family Members and others thinking they will have a better life and The Uk than staying in france, but that desire to get to The Uk has once again proven deadly today and people asking what more can be done to stop it. , ,. , it. I was Ust Reading in detail it. I wasjUst Reading in Detail Yvette it. I wasjUst Reading in detail Yvette Coopersl detail Yvette Coopers statement, but we know with this new Uk Government, they ditched the scheme, but Yvette Cooper talking about what can be done to replace it, such as cooperation with the french government the rwanda scheme. But in terms of concrete initiatives, where are we . I concrete initiatives, where are we . ~. , we . I think the government says that is their we . I think the government says that is their longterm that is their long term strategy, setting up a new Border Security command, bringing together expertise on this side of the channel involving the Border Force and other intelligence forces to go after those criminal gangs working with the french properties but i think the problem for them at the moment is that this is a long term goal, because it takes some time to try to infiltrate those gangs and it is often not under britishjurisdiction gangs and it is often not under british jurisdiction because these gangs are operating all over the eu and further afield, so that is one problem. The other thing is that this is such a lucrative trade, called a lucrative trade in human misery, but as soon as you take one gang out, and there has been success in the past of taking out some of these gangs, another gang is quick to move in and filled the role of the gang that has been taken out and want Border Force official said it is like a game of Whack A Mole where you take one out and another one springs up and if you consider that those organising these Border Crossings are often judging £3000 for each person to get on board that boat at these gangs increasingly have 50, 60 people on board each boats, multiple boats launched when the weather is ok, and you can see how quickly that money adds up for the criminal gangs and that is why the government says it wants to go after them, but i think what it also needs to urgently do is get in more talks with the french authorities about what more can be done to stop the boats launching from the north of france and we know there are french authorities trying to stop those boats getting into the water but the french will say quite candidly, we have a huge stretch of coastline to police and we cant be everywhere at once. But some questions about the french approach of refusing to intervene want a boat is in the water and some saying it is too dangerous to intervene in that way but some wanting to have another look at that. Once a boat is in the water. Another look at that. Once a boat is in the water. Boat is in the water. Around the World Boat is in the water. Around the World And Boat is in the water. Around the world and across boat is in the water. Around the world and across the boat is in the water. Around | the world and across The Uk, you are watching bbc news. Lets turn to the Middle East here now on bbc news. Israels Prime Minister, benjamin netanyahu, has attacked The Uks decision, to suspend some Arms Sales to his country as shameful and misguided. Posting on x, he said, the decision will not change Israels Determination to defeat hamas, adding that, britains misguided decision will only embolden hamas. The uks defence secretary, john healey, has defended the legaljudgment. The uk has suspended 30 out of 350 Arms Export licences to israel, saying there is a clear risk the equipment could be used to commit serious violations of international law. Lets bring you more of the reaction we have seen through the course of today, because Bill Rosenberg is the deputy of the board of british dues and he criticised them for sending the wrong signal to israel in their time of need. Board of britishjews. The timing of the decision could hardly be worse. Yesterday, israel was burying four young people who had been kidnapped from a Music Festival like Glastonbury Or Reading and held for 11 months in the hamas terrorist organisations dungeons and forced to film videos begging for their lives and then machine gunned to death and they were being buried yesterday as The Uk decided to announce it was suspending Arms Sales to its key ally, and im afraid that decision sends a painful message to israel but also a difficult message to hamas who will read from that that they can commit these atrocities and it will be israel that will be punished. We all want to see a swift resolution to this conflict that sees the hostages returned and aid into gaza. We also want to see a two State Solution that sees a permanent end to this Conflict Riven israeli state alongside a Viable Palestinian State and the attacks of chaos, as they wanted it to, sponsored by iran and we have seen the houthis attacking Shipping And Chaos in the region and we need to see all those things brought to an End And Israel and other partners must play a part in that too. Sacha deshmukh is ceo of Amnesty International and i asked him if this was the right decision from the Uk Government. I decision from the Uk Government. Decision from the Uk Government. I think the decision government. I think the decision taken government. I think the decision taken was government. I think the decision taken was an i government. I think the decision taken was an important step. This is recognition by the Uk Government, frankly, after some time, that there is considerable evidence that israeli actions are in contravention of international humanitarian law, and clearly having very, very severe implications for the civilian population affected, so it is an important step. However, it is a step that is limited, and we believe that the evidence is considerably there that there should not be some of the limitations that we have seen in the action in the Uk Government has taken thus far. The crucial word missing out in your answer was, there is a risk of those things, as opposed to those things already having Happened. To opposed to those things already having Happened. Having Happened. To correct ou, having Happened. To correct you. What having Happened. To correct you. What i having Happened. To correct you, what i said having Happened. To correct you, what i said is having Happened. To correct you, what i said is that having Happened. To correct| you, what i said is that there is considerable evidence that israels actions have constituted War Crimes, so it is notjust constituted War Crimes, so it is not just a constituted War Crimes, so it is notjust a question of risk, there is considerable evidence that War Crimes have been Committed. I that War Crimes have been Committed. That War Crimes have been Committed. , , Committed. I am simply quitting what david Committed. I am simply quitting what David Lammy Committed. I am simply quitting what David Lammy said Committed. I am simply quitting what David Lammy said in Committed. I am simply quitting what David Lammy said in the i what David Lammy said in the house, and he and the government has said this decision is based on legal advice. Do you accept that legal advice . And in this instance, would it be advisable to publish it . The instance, would it be advisable to publish it . To publish it . The legal advice and any legal to publish it . The legal advice and any legaljudgments to publish it . The legal advice| and any legaljudgments made and any legal judgments made that and any legaljudgments made that there had been contraventions of international humanitarian law and, indeed, that risk continues, is important. I certainly believe that that legal position extends notjust that that legal position extends not just to that that legal position extends notjust to the arms that have been subject to the restrictions that we have seen over the last 2a Hours, but also, for example, to The Uks contribution to f 35 aircraft, of which there is considerable and alarming evidence of the impact of their use. Impact of their use. That is, but the defence impact of their use. That is, but the defence secretary, l impact of their use. That is, but the defence secretary, john healey, address that on an interview this morning on the radio, saying that effectively the Spare Parts For The 35s Go Into A Pot for 20 countries to access and said it would be to hard to sting which what actually goes to israel stop im not sure i accept that is the case. To distinguish. I understand there is that bullying of parts but im not sure a System Couldnt be developed which could apply to other situations, including those that mr healy referenced, while also applying to ones where there is a clear Risk Or Evidence of their use in War Crimes already and that decision was stated by the government that it would continue to be and that needs to be something urgent because it should not be a justification for the supply of arms where there is such danger of them being used in ways that contravene international humanitarian law. Contravene international humanitarian law. That was the ceo of amnesty humanitarian law. That was the ceo of Amnesty International i ceo of Amnesty International and in half an Hours time, we will have the latest from jerusalem, Westminster And Washington on that story. Queen camilla says king charles is doing very well with his cancer treatment. She made the comments during a visit to an Nhs Trust in bath, which specialises in cancer treatment. The king is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, and has been Receiving Care as an outpatient since early february. The queen was asked by a Charity Support Worker about her husbands health, and gave a short answer yes, hes doing very well. Iam back i am back in a short while with all the days headlines but next appear on bbc news, it is time for the business headlines. Good afternoon. Some differences in the feel of the weather, today of the Weather Today depending on where you are. That was certainly the case last night. Parts of Eastern England only got down to around 18 celsius. Compare that with three degrees in parts of Northern Ireland and the highlands of scotland. Now that cooler, fresher air is slowly but surely sinking its way southwards and eastwards for the middle part of the week. But it is unlikely to last long, because for the end of the week, we will pick up this feed of humid air once again from the near continent. With that, some of us will see some outbreaks of rain. In the short term, high pressure trying to build from the west, but still the remains of a couple of Weather Fronts bringing some cloud and some showers. This band of showery rain pushing across Northern Ireland, the Western Side of scotland. Also some pretty sharp showers down towards the South East of england. Here, a warm afternoon 23, 2a, 25 degrees, but that cooler, fresher air in place further north and west, and that will steadily push a little bit further southwards and eastwards overnight. Therell be some areas of low cloud, mistand murk, south West Scotland and into some showers, perhaps most especially across south West Scotland and into Northern Ireland. But temperatures in the highlands again could get down to around four degrees celsius. M in london, so not quite as warm or as muggy as it was last night. Into tomorrow, well, really it is a sunshine and showers day. Some of the showers will be on the heavy side. Little cluster here of heavy showers and thunderstorms likely to move across eastern, central and eventually southern parts of scotland. But it is going to be a fresher day across the Board M to 20 celsius. Now, this little frontal system here through Wednesday Night into thursday, its going to sink its way southwards and will then start to join forces with this broader area of low pressure developing over continental europe. For a time, that could bring some pretty wet weather across southern parts of england, the midlands, into wales. There could be enough rain to cause some localised disruption, but further north, something a little bit drier. The winds in the north, relatively light, but it will be blustery in the south and we will start to pick up a humid feel, which will take us towards the end of the week. Temperatures for some could get into the mid 20 celsius, but there will be some rain, especially in the south. The