Top diplomat is part of washingtons latest effort to help caribbean leaders navigate mmp help caribbean leaders navigate ramp and gang violence threatens to overtake haiti. A meeting with the new haitian prime minister, secretary blinken announce m5 million in new monetary and aid. Patient authorities have expanded a state of emergency order across the entire country, the military situation that is rapidly deteriorating since the former prime minister resigned backin former prime minister resigned back in march. Agencies reported that 580,000 people have an internally displaced by conflict with close to five million facing severe hunger, about 400 kenyan troops arrived to the country injune as prime ——as you went back security mission boost. Before he left, he reaffirmed the united states his commitment to supporting the haitian people and fostering the secure and peaceful country. We fostering the secure and peaceful country. Fostering the secure and eaceful count. ~. , , peaceful country. We have seen the council _ peaceful country. We have seen the council be _ peaceful country. We have seen the council be stood _ peaceful country. We have seen the council be stood up, the council be stood up, government, prime minister, the arrival of kenyan colours to support the police and the security mission, starting to see results from that, all with the objective of putting haiti on a path to elections next year but also to secure environment not only to the elections but to make sure that services can be delivered to the haitian people and that's what's needed in the government can afford and life and return to greater moments. I can afford and life and return to greater moments. Can afford and life and return to greater moments. I spoke to jacqueline — to greater moments. I spoke to jacqueline charles, _ to greater moments. I spoke to jacqueline charles, haiti jacqueline charles, haiti correspond for the miami herald. Realistically, what is hoped that this visit can actually achieve there in haiti? ~ 4' actually achieve there in haiti? ~ ~ , haiti? well, i think the first thin he haiti? well, i think the first thing he wanted _ haiti? well, i think the first thing he wanted to haiti? well, i think the first thing he wanted to do haiti? well, i think the first thing he wanted to do is haiti? well, i think the first i thing he wanted to do is select fire underneath the interim haitian the as far as the election so, think you will accomplish that but there's a more practical question which is can you pull off elections? in a country word just in the capitol alone, gangs control more than 85% of the capitol and if you take the take the capitol, the whole region will put in the last elections which was 2016, the represented about 60% of the electorate so how do 60% of the electorate so how do 60% of the electorate so how do 60% of the electorate go and vote in a place where gangs control practically everywhere and that's the real question, today we have 400 opinions, evenif today we have 400 opinions, even if you have up to 1600 wallets 2500, that still doesn't be enough to cover voting centres and that's something that we have not heard from us authorities in terms of practically speaking, how do you expect the haitian population to go if they desire to be because right now, this is a lasting that a lot of people mind, a level of despair is incredible. Tell people mind, a level of despair is incredible. — is incredible. Tell us more about that _ is incredible. Tell us more about that because is incredible. Tell us more about that because the i is incredible. Tell us more i about that because the state is incredible. Tell us more about that because the state of emergency has been expanded across the entire country, you are very familiar as you mention with the situation on the ground, has it improved at all since march, was the sense that you've been getting about how people are feeling? today, secretary blinken said that there is a renewed sense of hope and i have to tell you, i did not get this, i went outside of port—au—prince the southeast where they not have the cams but people told me psychologically, they are feeling the consequences of this gang violence in port—au—prince and then i went to a community that's received 44,000 displaced asians from the town next door since may, people are literally living in the mud because they left our homes with nothing but the clothes on the back, the homes of the bill with her money, the hard earned money is now overtaken by gangs, they don't know whether going to go, whether going to be next, there is such a loss of humanity for them whether they are in the cams or whether they are living with somebody, i did not face this 2010 earthquake despite all the lost people had a reason to hope, they saw ncos, the heard of inspirations, today, they are not hearing any of this, they feel abandoned and they don't know whether going to run to next, one woman said to me well, let the people of israel, like the gangs come, the only choice is going to be to plunge into the ocean of face to firies quad, that's how they feel at this point. Clearly devastating situation, the sense of hopelessness that you're describing among the population there, tell us more about why they do feel so hopeless and also how that kenyan security force backed by the united nations has been received there, whether they have been able to make any kind of impact?— of impact? well, that was it a lot of hepe — of impact? well, that was it a lot of hope for— of impact? well, that was it a lot of hope for the _ of impact? well, that was it a lot of hope for the kenyan lot of hope for the kenyan forces but we are talking about 400, people have seen is since the arrival of contention arrival on the 25th ofjune, their actual committees are full into the gangs, just a few miles east of the us embassy, in turn, they resisted to gangs for two years and then injuly blacktown was completely taken over now, you have a stand—off between the gang, 400 and residents in the town next door which is close to the border so nothing is getting through, the drum drivers are telling me they have to take this roundabout way through the mountain and now it's a five day journey while mountain and now it's a five dayjourney while it's passed on to the consumers. So prices are going up, people do not feel secure and even if they don't have densities of the level of gang violence you're seeing in port—au—prince, they basically feel that if any particular moment, though committees can be taken over, they are trying the best they can with the citizens, their scrutinising strangers who are coming in but if you take again, like the southeast example, 61,000 people have fled their, estimated 25,000 of them are school children, from what i talk to parents, they tell me even with the assistance of unicef talking about providing to them in terms of go back to school kids, they don't even have the basic money for school uniforms for school fees, a lot of students left a home without a identification papers or any sort of record so that's what you're looking out and people are actually homeless. Are actually homeless. Well, here in the — are actually homeless. Well, here in the us, _ are actually homeless. Well, here in the us, police are actually homeless. Well, here in the us, police and i are actually homeless. Well, | here in the us, police and the state of georgia say they have arrested the father of colt gray, the team suspect in the apalachee high school shooting which happened on wednesday. Colin gray was 54 faced four counts of involuntary manslaughter, to have second—degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children. His son was arrested at the scene of the shooting and taken into custody, police say that colt gray was armed with a semiautomatic star weapon when he shot and killed four people and injured nine others, both father and son questioned last yearin father and son questioned last year in connection with an online thread to commit a school shooting by the fbi sat at the time there was no reason to arrest them, here's the county sheriff speaking a short time ago. fix, county sheriff speaking a short time auo. �* ,, county sheriff speaking a short timeauo. �* , time ago. A young person brou:ht time ago. A young person brought a — time ago. A young person brought a gun _ time ago. A young person brought a gun into time ago. A young person brought a gun into a time ago. A young person i brought a gun into a school, committed an evil act, and he took lives and injured many other people, not only physically but mentally. But am proud ——of the county, i'm proud ——of the county, i'm proud of these teachers, i'm part of the schools and am proud of where i left. And we'll get past this, you see behind me, appear on the hill, visual going on in our flagpole, i welcome you to go see those kids and those young people that are hurting. Michelle —— rebecca cheptegei has been named as france's new prime minister. 0utgoing prime minister scene here made a successor in a handover meeting earlier on thursday, president emmanuel macron following two months of political deadlock in the country. Months of political deadlock in the country— the country. After snap elections _ the country. After snap elections and the country. After snap elections and that the country. After snap elections and that in i the country. After snap elections and that in a | the country. After snap elections and that in a hum parliament. The 73—year—old one winner has been tasked with forming a new coalition government including rival parties. The french parliament could still veto president macron�*s choice and a vote of no—confidence, our correspondence in this report. Michel barnier. A household name across the uk. Michel barnier, the eu's former chief brexit negotiator, has walked into our studio in london. Michel barnier, welcome to hardtalk. Mr barnier. . . I'm sorry but i don't want to answer questions now. I'm sorry, we are late to work. Let me work, please. Not something french politicians can normally boast unless they are the president. But mr barnier was the point man for the eu during the years and years of painful brexit negotiations. Charged with keeping eu member states united and the uk in check. It is quite ironic that the man who became nicknamed triple b, barnier, the brexit man in brussels, is pretty much better known in the uk and in eu circles then here in france. I've come to valenciennes, a town in northern france, to ask what people know of their new prime minister. Excusez—moi. Michel barnier is the new prime minister. No. You don't know him? merci. Do you know mr barnier, michel barnier? no. He's your new prime minister. Ah, 0k. No, sorry. Thank you, bye—bye. But mr barnier is no newbie to politics. Ahead of the last french presidential election, he tried and failed to get nominated as a centre—right candidate. So he is known here by people who follow politics closely. But his manner is more officious than personable, as we in the uk may remember. And he is viewed as president macron�*s prime minister of last resort. A predictable pair of hands hoping to calm even momentarily the political chaos and street protests since the snap parliamentary vote in july. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Let's take a look at some other stories making use. The ministry of defence says that a member of the british royal navy has died in a training exercise in the english channel. But after a helicopter ditched during the nighttime operation with the hms queen elizabeth aircraft carrier. Three crewmembers were on one of the time with two survivors taken to the hospital but facing no serious injuries. A proposed antipollution warning could ban what accompanies bosses from receiving bonuses and subject them to present time in a new effort to combat pollution. The governments's new water bill would have the proof in several cases so that the environment agency can more easily bring criminal charges against what accompanies bosses. And the indie band english teacher has won a 2024 coree price for the debut album — this could be texas. Recorded to lead in 2020, the first action outside of london to win the price of 2014. It's awarded every year to albums in uk and ireland. Your live with bbc news. Here in the us, kamala harris campaign is continuing a nationwide bus tour called fighting for reproductive freedom. Kamala harasses as surrogates are ready to porters to abortion, the tour which keep asthma kicked off, near the mar—a—lago resort and the campaign was stopped in 50 cities leading although out to election day, reproductive rights are a key concern in the country and more voters living in swing state to say that the issue of abortion access will be central to how they vote come november. Democratic senator had lied reproductive rights rally in palm beach fraud, let's take a listen. This is a national movement, americans have shown us time and time again that they will not tolerate a country where our daughters have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers, that they believe that women have the right to make their own healthcare decision and not politicians. Meanwhile in louisiana, new state law will limit the use of a drug often used in the case of miscarriage or to stop postpartum haemorrhaging, a drug widely use from women letting out after labor will be classed as a controlled dangerous substance sensed a drug can also be used for abortions, conservatives and state have targeted use this by the fact the surgical and medical abortion is banned in louisiana with few exceptions, the law goes into effect on the first of october. For more on what is happening on louisiana, we can bring in michelle ehrenberg, the director of the reproductive rights organisation, lift louisiana. Thank you for being with us. Other to start by touching on other to start by touching on the situation in your state, abortion, illegalwith the situation in your state, abortion, illegal with few exceptions. As of the first of october, these will be 0ctober, these will be reclassified as controlled substances, what will that mean?. , ~' substances, what will that mean?. ,. . , mean? thank you so much for havin: mean? thank you so much for having me — mean? thank you so much for having me it _ mean? thank you so much for having me. It is— mean? thank you so much for having me. It is a _ mean? thank you so much for having me. It is a huge having me. It is a huge difference in the way that pregnancy, care and particularly pregnancy complications will be managed in louisiana. This is the drug thatis in louisiana. This is the drug that is prescribed daily as we understand and across the state of louisiana. They used to manage miscarriages, to induce labor, the use and even to insert iuds. This is a medication and other medical conditions including pushing syndrome so the scheduling of this medication will make it much more difficult for providers to be able to prescribe this medication and for patients to be able to access it. For patients to be able to access it— for patients to be able to access it. Michelle, i was reading _ access it. Michelle, i was reading that _ access it. Michelle, i was reading that around access it. Michelle, i was reading that around 200 | access it. Michelle, iwas reading that around 200 doctors in your state have signed a letter against this, i wonder now, how they preparing for this law to come into force from october? we have been having conversations with doctors both in private practice and those affiliated with large hospitals and it ranges. The law requires the department of health will provide guidance on the new law and what is required of them under the new law but as far as we can tell none of the providers have received any guidance from the louisiana department of health and instead hospitals and physicians i kind ofjust winging it. They are removing mifepristone from haemorrhaged parts which are often readily accessible. They work from room to room because when haemorrhaging occurs in labour and delivery, it is absolutely essential that this medication is quickly available to people to deal with the most significant impact of haemorrhaging or other serious pregnancy complication and they are removing this medication from the haemorrhaging card and this will have a time delay for patients to be able to receive the medication that could be life saving. Irate the medication that could be life saving— the medication that could be life saving. We do have to say this is a situation _ life saving. We do have to say this is a situation where this is a situation where maternal mortality is one of the worst in the country in this state, particularly for black women, black mothers, so presumably the objective of this is to get more women to have babies but ijust wonder, you are describing the risks here and when you speak to people, does that impact the process of thinking about getting pregnant? i process of thinking about getting pregnant? process of thinking about getting pregnant? i think it is something — getting pregnant? i think it is something that _ getting pregnant? i think it is something that we _ getting pregnant? i think it is something that we really getting pregnant? i think it is| something that we really need to consider and, yes, you are right. In louisiana black women are free—4 times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than that white counterparts in that state and if there are a lot of things we can do to address these issues, things that have worked in other states and other countries. We are increasing the risk by having medically lost to stop life—saving medication. I think this is something. . . There is a balancing act into these kinds of situations. Of course, we want to support people into their decisions about pregnancy and becoming mothers and we want to applaud that and celebrate that and provide them with all of the resources but we also have to be realistic about the risks that the louisiana abortion ban and if this law in particular poses to people. This law in particular poses to eole. . ,. ,. , people. You are in a conservative people. You are in a conservative state l people. You are in a l conservative state but people. You are in a conservative state but if you take a look at the numbers right now and how the issue is shaping across the country when it comes to abortion, for women under 45, abortion is overtaken the economy as the single most important issue for voters. Are you seeing that in your community?— you seeing that in your community? you seeing that in your communi ? ,. , community? let me tell you, abortion is — community? let me tell you, abortion is an _ community? let me tell you, abortion is an important community? let me tell you, | abortion is an important issue evenin abortion is an important issue even in a red state like louisiana. Polling was conducted in april 2023 and what we found is 53% of likely voters in louisiana actually wanted abortion rights to be constitutionally protected in our state. That is not reflected in the way that our elected officials are voting on this issue but absolutely people in louisiana are concerned about this. It is an important issue for them and we hope it will be a voting issue for them. Hope it will be a voting issue for them— hope it will be a voting issue for them. . ,. , ,. ,. , for them. From left louisiana, thank you _ for them. From left louisiana, thank you for— for them. From left louisiana, thank you for sharing for them. From left louisiana, thank you for sharing your thank you for sharing your perspective with us. —— the united states secured the release of 135 nicaraguan political prisoners on thursday on humanitarian grounds. The white house says those freed are all nicaraguan citizens and include members of a texas—based christian evangelical organisation, catholic lay people and students. A majority of prisoners arrived in guatemala on thursday morning, where they will have the opportunity to lawfully request to go to another country. The release comes after months of negotiations between the us and nicaragua. Nicaragua's president daniel 0rtega has been engaged in what is being described as a brutal crackdown of critics. Central america and cuba correspondent will grant. This goes back to 2018 went mifepristone with wide spread protests and scored killed in the street and that marked the moment when he and his wife strengthen the crackdown on opposition in the media, in civil society and of course the church. . , ~. , church. Specifically, we know that 135 people _ church. Specifically, we know that 135 people have church. Specifically, we know that 135 people have been that 135 people have been released under the step negotiated by the biden administration. Negotiated by the biden administration. The vast majority _ administration. The vast majority of _ administration. The vast majority of gone administration. The vast majority of gone to administration. The vast majority of gone to guatemala where they have been received as refugees. Those related to texas—based metallica group, mounting getaway, they have been sent to the united states. Some of those who have gone to guatemala will apply for the us and other countries around the world. —— texas—based evangelical. In the wake of the election in venezuela, the presidential election which washington says it has not been free and fair, that president nicolas maduro, who is a close ally of daniel 0rtega in nicaragua, in essence stole the election. That is the inference from washington. 0f election. That is the inference from washington. Of course the night in venezuela and denied ijy night in venezuela and denied by daniel 0rtega. The fact this has been achieved at this moment is significant and of course for those who were held and their families, course for those who were held and theirfamilies, it is a very important day, one they have been hoping for several years. Distressing estimate from front from a woman whose husband is accused of enlisting dozens of strangers to rape her after having her drug. The abuse is said to go on for more than a decade with husband recording everything. Today the woman told the court of her horror at discovering what had been done to her. And to viewers of distressing images from the very start. 0ne woman's voice shook france to court today. She is walking tour, choosing to face the cameras as she came to tell her bone chilling story. On trial here are these 51 frenchmen, all accused of raping her as she lay unconscious in her own bed, drugged by her own husband. In the courtroom, facing that husband, pictured standing here, she described the moment her happy marriage collapsed when a french policeman showed her pictures from her husband's laptop. Because of strangers raping her. Hertestimony spoken because of strangers raping her. Her testimony spoken here by a translator. Translation: it was hard to recognise myself. Then the officer showed me a second photograph and a third. I asked me a second photograph and a third. Iasked him me a second photograph and a third. I asked him to stop. It was unbearable, i was lifeless in my bed and a man was raping me. My world fell apart. I am speaking are not for myself but for all the women who are drugged and abuse. For all the women who are drugged and abuse. After giving evidence, she _ drugged and abuse. After giving evidence, she kept _ drugged and abuse. After giving evidence, she kept her evidence, she kept her composure in front of the media. Translation: i composure in front of the media. Translation: i thinki have said everything _ media. Translation: i thinki have said everything i media. Translation: i thinki have said everything i could. . Have said everything i could. It is not easy. There is a lot of pressure. We're going to have to fight to the end. This role will last for months. Her husband has _ role will last for months. Her husband has really _ role will last for months. Her husband has really to confess to everything, to repeatedly drugging his wife over the course of more than a decade but many of the other men also on trialfor raping but many of the other men also on trial for raping her have told police that either they did not realise she was unconscious or they assume her husband's consent was enough. But that kind of argument has provoked fury. Today, the husband's lawyer argued other accused may argue it was sex not rape but when the videos i showed in court, there will be no doubt. The daughter has campaigned for the issue of drugging and raping to be taken more seriously in front and outside court activist called for the courage showed by one woman to lead to wider changes to laws and attitudes. Two other important news around the world. The first batch of mpox vaccine arrived. The first batch of mpox vaccines arrived in congo 1000 doses were donated by the european union. More are expected to be delivered on saturday. Nearly 23,000 mpox cases and over 620 deaths in africa up with a majority in the drc. President biden �*s son hunter is bleeding guilty to nine charges in his tax evasion cases, surprising prosecutors. He is accused of failing to pay one million in taxes at a time when he was spending on drugs, sex workers and luxury goods. Stay with us, more at the top of the hour. Hello. The weather across the uk is certainly pretty varied right now. Looking back at thursday, some places got to see blue skies and sunshine. Gorgeous scenes there in the highlands. Compare that with the heavy downpours that affected not only kent, but many southern counties of england, the southern half of wales as well. It's all because the low pressure is swirling to the south of us. Instead of this area of low pressure moving through and clearing away, it willjust continue to churn around, and that means further outbreaks of rain across southern counties of england, pushing up into the south of wales and the south midlands. Further north, though, yes, some areas of low cloud, mist and fog, which may linger for some northern and eastern coasts. But further north and west, we see a good deal of sunshine, whereas these showers and thunderstorms will continue down towards the south right through into the late afternoon. Just to the north of that band of rain, 25—26 degrees. We could also get to 26 in western scotland, and it is going to feel quite humid. Now through friday night, this band of showers and perhaps still the odd thunderstorm drifting a little bit further northwards. But many spots will be dry with some mist and murk, again, some areas of fog. It's going to be another pretty warm and humid night. A humid start to saturday with our area of low pressure still churning to the south. That means there is the chance that we'll see further outbreaks of rain pushing up from the south across the channel islands into southern counties of england as we go through the day. Spots further north after early mist and murk clears should see, once again, some spells of warm sunshine, although i think it will stay quite grey for some of these eastern coasts. Again in the sunny spots with that humid air, temperatures could get to around 23—24 degrees. By sunday, it looks like our area of low pressure will start to move northwards. That will introduce outbreaks of rain, particularly across england and wales. Could see some of that into southern scotland later on. Some hefty thundery downpours following on into the south. Still quite a warm feel for the time being. That is set to change because as we head into next week, we change the wind direction, we bring the winds down from the northwest, and so things are going to feel very different. Temperatures, if anything, looks set to drop back to values below the average for the time of year, and it will still be quite unsettled. Showers or longer spells of rain and often breezy. Voiceover: this is bbc news. We'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. This week, lara's sniffing around the scientists who are bringing historic smells back to life. So, i guess ijust put my nose in here. Yes. Hmm. Delightful. We're on the high—tech farm in iceland where they're turning algae into something more appetising. This is hummus, and it's blue. It's not a bad thing. But it is blue. Anyway, we'll also meet the actors who say their voices have been manipulated by ai.