Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News Now 20240927

200 former employees have come forward with accusations after a Bbc Documentary about Mohamed Al fayed. This is some of the Police Statement. The current Managing Director of harrods also the current Managing Director of harrods also issued the current Managing Director of harrods also issued a statement today. His first statement today. His first statement since the allegations were made public. He said Mohamed Al fayed presided over a toxic culture of secrecy and intimidation, fear of repercussions and sexual misconduct. He worked with the late billionaire fought some four years and said he was not aware of any criminality and abuse for. Two important statements on the situation at harrods. Lets go through the Police Statement from the metropolitan police in a bit more detail, what is the significance . More detail, what is the significance . They say they will fully explore significance . They say they will fully explore whether L Significance . They say they i will fully explore whether any individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences, and as you touched upon, Mohamed Al fayed Cannot Be pursued criminally because he died last year. The police will now look into, as a company, whether harrods could have done more and any other individuals could have done more, when they heard about these allegations. If they knew what was going on. That is what the met police are being very clear about. They are effectively encouraging anyone who may have allegations to come forward and saying that although criminal Proceedings Cannot Take place at this stage, there is perhaps more that could be done. We stage, there is perhaps more that could be done. Stage, there is perhaps more that could be done. We also had the statement that could be done. We also had the statement from that could be done. We also had the statement from the that could be done. We also had the statement from the currentl the statement from the current boss of harrods. It is under new ownership, of course. Tell us a bit more about that. We have heard us a bit more about that. Have heard from the new boss of harrods, Michael Ward is distancing himself from the old boss, Mohamed Al fayed, and in doing so he is distancing himself from these allegations, and he says in the past harrods had a toxic environment, and he says that Mohamed Al fayed presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct. He says basically that this is not what harrods stands for today. It is important to say that Mr Ward worked for Mohamed Al fayed overfour worked for Mohamed Al fayed over four years but he also says he had no knowledge of these allegations either then or now from the police, the cps or now from the police, the Cps Orany or now from the police, the cps or any internal procedures, but he does say there will be an investigation that will take place now to look into what was known in what could have been done about this. And what could have been done about this. ,. ,. , well, that statement came after bbc heard harrowing testimony from a woman who says she was raped by the former Harrods Owner when she was 16. Kate, which isnt her real name, is one of the five women who revealed to a Bbc Documentary team of the serious sexual attack. 0ur Correspondent Helena Wilkinson has been working with the Documentary Team and here is her report. A warning that it contains details of a serious sexual nature. Before being attacked, kate, like many women weve spoken to, was sent for intimate examinations. Kate says hers was carried out by Dr Ann Coxon. When i first started working for Mohamed Al fayed, he soon asked. Started asking me inappropriate questions. Like, did i have a boyfriend . Had i been sexually active . I was only 16 years old and i was a virgin, and he soon discovered that. So, it was organised for me to see Dr Ann Coxon of Harley Street for a medical examination. This was offered to me as a perk for working in the chairmans office. Kates new testimony adds to accounts already broadcast in the Bbc Documentary, which has started to uncover the role of other people around Al Fayed who helped facilitate his abuse. And ijust remember the doctor, you know, saying how wonderful he was, and didnt he look after his employees so well . I think the doctor who did my medical should be held accountable for providing information to mohamed, which he used to take advantage of us. Two of the doctors dr wendy snell, who has since died, and Dr Ann Coxon have been repeatedly named by the women whove spoken to the bbc. Dr coxon asked me to do an internal examination. She wanted to test for hiv and stds, but i said that i wasnt sexually active yet so therefore it was unnecessary. My concerns were brushed off and i was told that an internal examination was necessary. According to the women weve spoken to, in many cases their confidential medical results were sent directly to Al Fayed. 0nce Al Fayed received their results, he abused them. And one night he summoned me to his apartment. Well, i was scared, but i knew that i didnt have an option to say no. And he started to pressurise me into having sex with him, but i kept saying no. And then his mood changed and the threats started, and he had become angry. The doors were locked and i couldnt get out. Thats when he raped me. The role of the doctors has raised further questions about who else facilitated Al Fayeds abuse. Women have told the bbc that some senior pas would send them up to his office, where they would then be abused. In previously unseen footage, one of the women, natacha, whos going to report Dr Coxon to the doctors regulator, and katherine, says others around Al Fayed have questions to answer. We were so taken advantage of, so taken advantage of by this army of people. It was like, as you said, a production line. Looking back, thats exactly what it was. The client agency, to the doctor. The doctor. To the Lead Pa and even the security guards. What about the drivers . The drivers, the security guards, nobody let on. The bbc has contacted Dr Coxon for a comment. So far, we have not had a response. The growing number of women who accuse Al Fayed of horrific attacks now want those who enabled his abuse to be held accountable. Its affected so many areas of my life, but having to live with the deep shame of what happened to me from when i was young, being paranoid about walking by myself at night, not trusting men in any form, its changed the course of my Life And Career in its entirety. The latest on the allegations against the former owner of harrods, Mohamed Al fayed. To the middle east, where there is little sign that internaitonal pressure for a ceasefrie between Israel And Hezbollah is having much of an impact. The united states, France And Other Allies have called for an immediate 21 Day Ceasefire across the israel lebanon border. But the office of israels Prime Minister says his country is still fighting with full force, and the Foreign Minister has said there will be no ceasefire in the north. Benjamin netanyahu is now heading to the un in New York. Lebanon has just said 20 people, almost all syrians, were killed in an israeli strike. And there are reports of a large explosion in the southern suburbs of the lebanese capital, beirut. It appears to have been targeting another Hezbollah Commander in the city. Hugo bachega reports from beirut. Calls for de escalation, unable to stop the war. Across lebanon, more israeli Air Strikes today, hitting places like tyre in the south, the east, beqaa, two strongholds of hezbollah. In northern israel, sirens went off again this morning, fresh rockets from hezbollah. As the attacks continue, so do efforts for a ceasefire. At the un in New York, intense diplomacy. The us, the uk and the eu proposing a temporary truce between Israel And Hezbollah but it is still unclear whether this will be enough to oppose the fighting. The rockets must stop now. The Air Strikes must stop now. Talks must start now. With an immediate ceasefire on both sides now. It is time to pull back from the brink. In lebanon, public services are struggling to cope with rising numbers of casualties and residents fleeing the conflict. But people are coming together, doing what they can to help. This is another shelter that is housing people coming from the south and east, Tens Of Thousands of people have already been displaced. If this conflict continues, many more will be forced to flee their homes. Translation i am exhausted, i am concerned for my village. I im very tired and upset to see the bombardment. When the war is over, we will go back to our village, what can we do . This is the way it is. Translation we have been living in our village for a while. It has been so stressful, it has been a horrendous week for my village in the south. You are 22, are you concerned about your future . Yes, for sure. We might be dead tomorrow. So far, israel has been fighting only from the air but it may launch a Ground Offensive to push hezbollah away from the border. The uk is urging citizens to leave the country while commercial options remain available. For the lebanese who cannot escape, there is Hope Diplomacy can stop the war. Hugo was talking about diplomacy which is focused on the united Nations Headquarters in New York. Those attempts to get a 21 Day Ceasefire between Israel And Hezbollah, and in fact any kind of ceasefire at all, but the chances, many experts are not too optimistic. Lets speak to sumi somaskanda, whos at the Un Headquarters in New York. What is the latest . It is remarkable, what is the latest . It is remarkable, we what is the latest . It is remarkable, we saw what is the latest . It is| remarkable, we saw the what is the latest . It 3 remarkable, we saw the wheels of Diplomacy Turning Yesterday surrounding the Security Council Meeting and the statement released with 12 allies supporting the call for allies supporting the call for a 21 Day Ceasefire so there is room for diplomacy and to find a solution to the fighting, then we saw the response from then we saw the response from the israeli Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu, saying the idf will continue to strike those targets, those hezbollah targets in lebanon, and we know the Prime Minister will be speaking here on Friday Morning but until then we will see what the us and france and the eu and the uk are saying about these efforts for diplomacy. 0ne these efforts for diplomacy. One of the concerns we have heard from some of the speakers, especially humanitarian speakers, is the Civilians in Lebanon And Israel are the ones who are suffering, and humanitarian organisations say they often feel they are not getting the access they need and they themselves are being targeted. I have a guest here. The president of the international committee of The Red Thanks Forjoining us. The red cross, thanks for joining us. The situation has been dominating the agenda here at the un. What is the impact of the current Displacement Crisis that we are witnessing in lebanon . We crisis that we are witnessing in lebanon . Crisis that we are witnessing in lebanon . We are extremely concerned in lebanon . We are extremely concerned about in lebanon . We are extremely concerned about the concerned about the humanitarian situation and the lack of humanitarian situation and the lack of protection for the Civilian lack of protection for the Civilian population. We are calling Civilian population. We are calling on all parties to spare the Civilians to make sure they can go the Civilians to make sure they can go to the Civilians to make sure they can go to safe places and that they can go to safe places and that they have access to medical sunplies they have access to medical supplies and services in particular, but also Food And Water particular, but also Food And Water and protection. Particular, but also Food And Water and protection. What is the Situation Water and protection. What is the situation it water and protection. What is the situation it like water and protection. What is the situation it like for water and protection. What is the situation it like for the. The situation it like for the groups that you are working with on the ground . We groups that you are working with on the ground . With on the ground . We are providing with on the ground . We are providing access with on the ground . We are providing access to with on the ground . We are| providing access to hospitals and surgery for wounded kids and surgery for wounded kids and we and surgery for wounded kids and we see a lot of people who require and we see a lot of people who require surgery now given the wounds require surgery now given the wounds caused by explosives but we also wounds caused by explosives but we also see problematic destructions of Civilian infrastructure. Destructions of Civilian infrastructure. This is all while the infrastructure. This is all while the war infrastructure. This is all while the war continues | infrastructure. This is all. While the war continues in gaza, and in december you spoke out after youve visited a hospital in gaza and you said nowhere in gaza was safe, and it has now been nearly a year since the war started, can you describe the situation now and what the access is for humanitarian workers . For what the access is for humanitarian workers . For me it is mentally. Humanitarian workers . For me it is mentally, intellectually humanitarian workers . For me it is mentally, intellectually and i is mentally, intellectually and morally is mentally, intellectually and morally crashing to see that a year morally crashing to see that a year after morally crashing to see that a year after the 7th of october, there year after the 7th of october, there is year after the 7th of october, there is still this unimaginable level of suffering on both unimaginable level of suffering on both sides. It has got to stop on both sides. It has got to stop and on both sides. It has got to stop and we need to provide meaningful humanitarian assistance and be able to provide assistance and be able to provide meaningful protection to the provide meaningful protection to the people which is not the case to the people which is not the case at to the people which is not the case at the moment. You have called on case at the moment. You have called on the case at the moment. You have called on the World Case at the moment. You have called on The World to case at the moment. You have called on The World to commit| called on The World to commit to humanitarian law, you have been speaking about that this week, and humanitarian workers are coming underfire, are coming under fire, struggling are coming underfire, struggling with access, so what do you want to see World Leaders do here . I do you want to see World Leaders do here . Do you want to see World Leaders do here . I want World Leaders do here . I want World Leaders to leaders do here . I want World Leaders to declare leaders do here . I want World Leaders to declare the leaders to declare the implementation of international humanitarian law, the protection of Civilians in armed protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict and the protection of neutral and impartial humanitarian workers, to impartial humanitarian workers, Lo Respect impartial humanitarian workers, to respect that law because it allows to respect that law because it allows us to respect that law because it allows us to operate and it allows allows us to operate and it allows us to operate and it allows us to operate on the ground allows us to operate on the ground and bring hope to the People Ground and bring hope to the people who are in very extreme need people who are in very extreme need. Whether this is in Gaza Or Lebanon or sudan, or Ukraine Or Lebanon or sudan, or Ukraine Or Lebanon or sudan, or ukraine. ,. ,. , ukraine. Indeed. We have got to leave it there ukraine. Indeed. We have got to leave it there but ukraine. Indeed. We have got to leave it there but thanks ukraine. Indeed. We have got to leave it there but thanks for leave it there but thanks for joining us. Clearly the escalation in lebanon is not the only crisis on the agenda, and she talked about humanitarian workers in Sudan And Ukraine and they are all topics that we will be following today but what we will be looking at really is how the situation develops with diplomacy regarding the situation in lebanon in particular. Situation in lebanon in particular situation in lebanon in articular. ,. ,. , particular. Indeed. Important hours ahead particular. Indeed. Important hours ahead at particular. Indeed. Important hours ahead at the particular. Indeed. Important hours ahead at the united. Hours ahead at the united nations in New York. Thanks for joining us. Much more on the situation in lebanon to come in the coming hour. Around The World and across the uk. This is bbc news. Ukraines President Zelenskiy has thanked Joe Biden and the us congress for a new military Aid Package Worth more than 8 Billion. But its still not clear if Mr Zelensky� s trip to the White House will help him get the green light to fire us made long range missiles into russia. Hes also facing another issue in the united states increasingly chilly relations with the republican party. Its candidate for the White House, Donald Trump, has accused Mr Zelensky of refusing to do a deal with moscow and has also once again questioned why the us is giving billions of dollars in aid to ukraine. And the House Speaker Mikejohnson has accused Ukraines Ambassador In Washington Of Organising what he called a partisan Campaign Event to help the democrats. Earlier i spoke to 0rysia lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at chatham house. I asked her what kind of impact the new Aid Package would have on the war in ukraine. This war of russia against ukraine is very high intensity, and it costs a lot of money. The annual needs of ukraine to really be able to repel russian invasion are calculated at more than 100 billion, so you can see that 8 Billion is a lot of money and it can make a difference, but it is still not something that is needed, because president zelensky is asking to equip ukraine for victory, but they are interesting capabilities, like new air to surface missiles, that have about 100 kilometres range, that President Biden announced, and what is interesting, he says he can deploy quickly some of the weapons that are in us storages as part of his president Ial Drawdown authority. We may see changing dynamics on the ground quite quickly depending on those capabilities that will arrive and depending how fast they arrive because it is one thing to make a statement, and another thing to organise the logistics so they are on the battlefield. Logistics so they are on the battlefield. President biden has been relatively battlefield. President Biden L has been relatively generous, you would agree. Are you worried that if Donald Trump walks into the White House he will be a lot less generous . He said, every time president zelensky comes to the us he walks away with the hundred billion dollars, i think hes the greatest salesman on earth. That sounds like Donald Trump would not be giving that kind of money to president zelensky. Yes, from the statements and from his approach to The World of geopolitics, it is clear that he would try to engage what he can win, so theres a certain ambiguity about what will actually do, and understanding the implications of Ukraines Defeat for the american power, but of course it is risky. It is clear that Donald Trump holds grudges against ukraine and he personally believes it did interfere in the us elections interfere in the us elections in 2016, although all evidence was pointing to russian interference, there is a kind of toxic relationship personally between him and ukraine, and zelensky was trying to overcome this but he spectacularly failed and was entangled now again into us domestic politics. These are the latest pictures from beirut. There was another israeli Air Strike in the southern suburbs of beirut where they have been targeting Hezbollah Commanders in the last few days and this appears to have been another strike and we are told it was targeting the head of the Drone Unit, according to a source close to hezbollah, talking to the afp news agency. It is not clear whether the head of the Drone Unit was killed in this attack. The source said the israeli strike targeted the commander of the Drone Unit, and his fate is still unclear. The Israeli Military say they are still carrying out strikes in beirut. Hurricane helene is continuing to strengthen as it makes its approach towards florida. Its forecast to be a powerful category it storm by the time it makes landfall tomorrow. Officials are telling residents along its path in coastal areas to evacuate. There are fears that a Storm Surge could reach more than six metres. The united states national Weather Service has warned that the hurricane could be catastrophic and deadly. The correspondent from our Partner Station cbs, Nicole Valdes has the latest on the hurricaine from tampa in florida. Tampa bay looking at potential record Storm Surge as Hurricane Helene barrels towards the sunshine state, anywhere between five to eight inches of Storm Surge, five to eight feet of Storm Surge is what we could be facing injust a matter of hours here. This is a storm that is growing and moving quickly. It is why we have seen Evacuation Orders issued for about a dozen or so counties, especially those living in lower line communities, they have been told to come out yesterday. A range of people along this coast are in the path of feeling some sort of impact here. Further north could be looking at a whopping 20 feet of Storm Surge, that is enough water to submerge two buildings. The situation, a nightmare scenario, according to forecasters here. They are warning seriously, get further inland if they can, if they are choosing to stay, preparing for some significant damage with the storm. We know it is going to get bad here in just a few hours. Not only seeing a lot of rain and the stronger winds but again, that Storm Surge is the key message and the key threat for so many across the state. Helene forecasted to be one of the larger storms to hit the region in years. Widspread impact is expected from northern parts of the state all the way down to south west florida. Hello there. Good afternoon. Well, it will turn colder and drier into the weekend, but in the meantime, plenty more Heavy Rain to come in the forecast. And there are still a number of Flood Warnings in force, too, mostly across central england, where weve seen the recent flooding. And of course, the ground is saturated. More Rain Piling into northeastern areas of england on a brisk easterly wind stretching right across to Northern Ireland to the north, across scotland, largely dry away from the Far North, some brighter skies. But for england and wales, heavy, thundery showers. They could be slow Moving And Merge at times. Temperatures milder in the south, much cooler across scotland. Were seeing a developing northerly wind, but this is the area of most concern tonight. This Amber Warning issued for a full 12 hours from 6 00 tonight until 6 00 on Friday Morning within the Amber Weather Warning area. We could see 30 to 40mm of rain within three hours, double that within a six hour period. It will lead to some more flooding. That all sinks its way further southwards as we head through tonight. A cold northerly wind developing, chillier feeling air, temperatures dropping back into single figures for many and even out towards the south and the east, welljust see 10 or 11 degrees, but therell be some Cloud And Rain here into tomorrow morning. Still, this is the picture on friday, you can see that northerly wind start to develop and of course drier Feeling Conditions as well, with a few showers and some brightness, but still wet and cloudy to start the day across east anglia, southeast england. That all clears away by the time we get to lunchtime for most of us, and there will be some sunshine developing as well. Sunshine elsewhere, and a few showers, particularly for coastal areas and towards Far North of scotland. Its feeling colder, 9 13c and its more of the same as we head through the weekend. Look at this high Pressure Start to build in on Friday Night from the southeast. That means lighter winds, so there could be a touch of frost, particularly for northern england, scotland, Northern Ireland and as we head into saturday morning, a localised frost further south. A drier looking day on saturday. There will be some brightness around, still some cloud and a few showers out towards the far North And West across Irish Sea coasts, and these temperatures probably no higher than 11 15c. So a different feel to things as we head into the weekend. Sunday looking cloudier, still some brighter spells at times. Unsettled, wet and windy for many on sunday night. Live from New York at the opening bell, this is business today. Solid economic data and chipmakers lead us stocks higher. And openai changes direction. Another top executive leaves as the Chatgpt Creator works to become a � for profit� company to become a � for profit� company. Also coming up turning ai into a Spectacle Meta Boss Mark Zuckerberg thinks smart glasses are the gadget we all need. Could they one day replace the smartphone . Welcome to business today, live from New York, i m michelle fleury. Markets in the us are opening in the green after a mixed Trading Session on wednesday. Investors feeling confident after some solid economic news. The latest data shows the us economy is still expanding. Gdp grew at a 3 annual pace in the spring and it looks like that will continue. Meanwhile, the number of americans who applied for Unemployment Benefits last week fell to 218,000 a near four month low. To understand what this all means, im joined by ryan dykmans, chief Investment Officer at dunham associates