Transcripts For BBCNEWS Newsday 20240927

A warm welcome to the programme. The White House says negotiations with israel over a ceasefire in Southern Lebanon are continuing despite the israeli Governments Rejection of international calls to end hostilities. The us, France And Other Allies have proposed a three week ceasefire. The israeli Prime Minister said the army would keep hitting hezbollah with Full Force until residents of Northern Israel could return to their homes. The french president whos also been heavily involved in negotiations said he would not tolerate Southern Lebanon becoming another gaza. Meanwhile on the ground, strikes have been ongoing in lebanon, with israel saying in the last few hours that its fighterjets have hit around 220 hezbollah targets in the last day. Theyve mainly been in the south, in the eastern Bekaa Valley and in the capital beirut. Around eighty missiles were fired the other way from lebanon into israel. Our first report is from the bbc� s Anna Foster in beirut, who witnessed an israeli airstrike on an apartment block, which the Israeli Army said killed a top hezbollah commander. Fear in the heart of the lebanese capital. Moments after an israeli missile strike, dust from a destroyed home fills the air. Its less than an hour since this Air Strike was reported in the southern suburbs of Beirut And Ijust want to show you, you can see there, this is an apartment on the first, second floor, and you can really see the damage thats been caused. Now, the idf have described this as a precision strike. When they carry out these operations in the southern suburbs theyre normally targeting the senior leadership of hezbollah. The israeli military released these pictures of the building being hit, killing, they say, the head of hezbollah� s aerial command, muhammad hossein sarur. At least two people were killed here and 15 injured. Talk of a ceasefire feels far away from the streets of beirut. Today was supposed to be about de escalation, a pause to calm tensions, but scenes like this make it hard to see how either side plans to step back from the brink of a new war. In Northern Israel, Security Forces and Fire Fighters were deployed to a site of a Rocket Strike from lebanon that damaged a house in the israeli town of rosh pina, in the upper galilee. Rockets were fired by hezbollah on israeli towns residents were trapped inside a house in the town of safed. Smoke trails were also visible in the sky after the interception of some rockets fired by hezbollah. In lebanon, the Health Ministry says 92 people have been killed as a result of israeli strikes over the past 2a hours. Israel says its only Targeting Hezbollah Infrastructure and launch sites, but many civilians are among those killed 7 which includes at least 50 children. 0ur Chief International Correspondent 0rla Guerin reports now, from sebline in Southern Lebanon. Firefighters rushing to another Air Strike. This one in nabatieh. They carry out the wounded. Not fighters, but children. Israel says its Targeting Hezbollah sites. But its bombing many residential areas. How old are you . He asks. Three fingers are raised. A young generation, now threatened by a war that has already killed at least 50 children this week, like the members of this family, who died together in a strike in beirut. Ali, jalal, fatima and farra, all gone. And iman and talia nasser, who took their last breaths together, also killed by israels bombardment. But some have made it to safety, having run for their lives. My name is Mehdi Ahmad and my years old is ten years old. And what has been happening in the last two days . You had to leave your house. The war is very big and very scared and i cry. How did you feel, having to leave your home . Were you sad . Yes, i was very sad, he says. We left behind half our belongings. A missile landed near us. We went quickly so we wouldnt be hit. His biggest fear, he tells me, is losing his family. Instead of going to school, many lebanese children, like mehdi, are now living in schools and colleges. This could be home for some time. International calls for a ceasefire came to nothing today. 0rla guerin, Bbc News, sebline, lebanon. The uk prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for a ceasefire between Israel And Hezbollah. Hes been speaking at the un general assembly. Lets have a listen. I call on Israel And Hezbollah to stop the violence. Step back from the brink. We need to see an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement. And we are working with all partners to that end, because further escalation serves No One. It offers nothing but more suffering for innocent people on all sides, and the prospect of a wider war that No One can control. 0ur Chief Presenter sumi somaskanda, is at the Un Headquarters in New York. She told me more about what else starmer said. He talked about The Uk taking its role again as a responsible leader on the global stage, and in doing so he talked about the conflicts that have been dominating the agenda here. Of course, what is happening in the middle east, but also in ukraine, the humanitarian crisis in sudan. But of course, all eyes really on what will be said here in the diplomatic efforts to deescalate the situation in lebanon and, of course, the war in gaza. And there, as you just heard in that clip, sir Keir Starmer, the british Prime Minister, very clear that he is sticking by the statement that was released by The Uk, the u. S. So 12 allies calling for a 21 Day Ceasefire between Israel And Hezbollah to allow a path for diplomacy. And i thought it was interesting that he said the prospect of a wider war that No One can control. It is intimately linked with the situation in gaza, where we need to see an immediate ceasefire. So he was very clear not only about the need to see a release of hostages, but to end the suffering of palestinians in gaza, linking the two as critically important for his efforts here. And all of this hangs in the balance. Of course, because the israeli Prime Minister, benjamin netanyahu, has arrived in New York, he is holding bilateral meetings here today, tonight, as we understand, and will be addressing the general assembly himself tomorrow, Friday Morning here in New York. And the question remains whether all of these diplomatic efforts, that message from the british Prime Minister, whether it actually will lead to a de escalation, an Off Ramp to the situation. I do want to ask you about the status of the ceasefire. But before that, we understand that Keir Starmer is going to be meeting Donald Trump. What might they discuss . Well, thats a good question. We would love to be a Fly On The Wall of that discussion. But of course, its not unusual that sir Keir Starmer, the new british Prime Minister, would want to meet Donald Trump, not only the former president but the republican candidate. And it is such a tight race that it is absolutely possible that you could have either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump win this president ial election in november. Likely, theyll be discussing some of the global issues that are being discussed here at the united nations. But this is part of, of course, a courtesy for sir Keir Starmer, for the british Prime Minister, to ensure that he has links and ties to both the biden harris administration. So clearly he has met with us president Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, but also Donald Trump. Should he become president , i anticipate it could be that sir Keir Starmer would raise some of the issues, as i said, like ukraine, like the situation in lebanon and in gaza. But we wont know until we get a readout of that meeting. It should certainly be interesting. President biden announced fresh Military Aid for ukraine ahead of his meeting with President Zelensky at the White House and said ukraine not russia would prevail in the war. The Ukrainian Leader has also held talks with Vice President Kamala Harris and on Friday Morning he will meet her rival in the us election, Donald Trump. Jessica parker reports. Arriving at the White House, President Zelensky has come carrying a plan, a plea, designed to boost ukraine on the battlefield. I raised with the President Biden the plan of victory. Today we are preparing to discuss the details. But hes counting on an ally whos gotjust a few months left in office. Let me be clear, russia will not prevail in war. A key ukrainian request, it wants permission to use western made long range missiles on military targets inside russia. An idea that angers moscow, as it unleashed another shattering drone attack on kyiv. The Air Raid sirens have been pretty relentless overnight into today. With all thats going on, some will wonder whether President Putin is trying to send a warning, a message. If he is, for people here, they feel its a Message Theyve heard many times before. Translation a fragment flew into our window breaking the glass. Fortunately, miraculously, it didnt hurt my child. President zelensky is in the us. How crucial is western support for ukraine . Translation we need help from other countries, absolutely. Otherwise we will not win. We will have to improve our own military industry. Ukrainians are waiting. Notjust forJoe Biden� s decision but the us election, as republican candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly indicated he could cut aid to kyiv. Theres something bizarre about knowing that so much about the future of your country and your nation, your own safety depends on the results of a vote that will happen, you know, all the way across the ocean. So many times people here have had to clean up and hope things will look better soon, even if much feels beyond their control. Jessica parker, Bbc News in kyiv. Lets take a look at some of the stories in the headlines around the world. A court in Hong Kong has givenjail terms to two journalists for publishing what the authorities say was seditious material. The pair Chung Pui Kuen and Patrick Lam ran stand news, once a leading online media outlet. Elon musk has hit out at The Uk after reports he has not been invited to the governments international Investment Summit next month. Writing on x he said the country releasing convicted paedophiles in order to imprison people for Social Media posts without providing any evidence. Supermodel, naomi campbell, has been banned from acting as a Charity Trustee for five years. The regulator in england and wales found widespread financial misconduct at her charity, fashion for relief�. Tens of thousands of pounds were allegedly spent providing her with security, hotel rooms, Spa Treatments and cigarettes around the world and across The Uk. This is Bbc News. A harley Street Doctor who worked for the Harrods Owner mohammed Al Fayed has denied carrying out intrusive Sexual Health tests on women who worked for him. Several women have told the bbc that Dr Ann Coxon carried out the medical checks while working for him, including a woman who was just 16 at the time. Al fayed is accused by female staff of multiple rapes and sexual assaults raising questions about what those around him at the time knew, and how they may have enabled his actions. Those closest to him included his security team, his senior personal assistants, in his private office. The Press Office who defended him over stories of alleged Sexual Harassment and assault. And doctors who would allegedly carry out intrusive medical examinations, including Wendy Snell whos since died, and Dr Ann Coxon, who as Helena Wilkinson reports, the bbc spoke to today. Do you have anything to say to the victims, Dr Coxon . This is Dr Ann Coxon, who worked for the former Harrods Boss mohamed Al Fayed. Multiple women have told the bbc that she carried out medical checks on them when he owned the store. I have no comment. Do you regret working for mr Al Fayed . No. You dont . Bbc news has been trying to contact Dr Coxon since the documentary was broadcast. Today, we managed to track her down. Did you carry out Std Testsl on Harrods Staff members . No. I did not. Youre being accused of doing so, do you have anything to say on that . No comment. Dr coxon� s denial about carrying out Std Test contradicts women the bbc has spoken to, including kate not her real name who was 16 when she says she was raped by Al Fayed. She also said she was sent for an intrusive medical examination with Dr Coxon. Kate is portrayed by an actor. When i first started working for mohamed Al Fayed, he soon 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. Dr coxon asked me to do 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. I remember feeling very confused. According to the women weve spoken to, in many cases their confidential medical results were sent directly to Al Fayed. Today, the current harrods Managing Director made a public statement for the first time since the Bbc Documentary a week ago. Michael ward said. Also today, harrods said that, following a review over the past year, it had introduced 50 Sexual Harassment officers. Theyre specially trained to deal with workers who have complaints about Sexual Harassment. Harrods has also got a Settlement Process in place for alleged victims. The growing number of women who accuse Al Fayed of horrific attacks now want answers. Helena wilkinson, Bbc News. I9 19 women have made cases against Al Fayed over the past two decades but he is never convicted. And seeing whether anyone has been affected. Ten years ago on the 26th of september, 2014, 43 male students from a Teachers Couegein students from a Teachers College in Southwestern Mexico disappeared after being forcibly abducted in the town. It is been seen as one of the most infamous Human Rights Cases and they were alleged to have been taken into custody by local Police Officers in collusion with organised crime gangs. Later evidence implicating mexican army, officials concluded there was no indication that the students were alive but exactly ten years later, the remains of three students have been identified and their deaths confirmed. Earlier, spoke to a Latin American correspondent who had the latest. Who had the latest. These are the Latest Who had the latest. These are the latest families who had the latest. These are the latest families gathering i the latest families gathering behind me towards the president ial palace towards the national palace in the main area of Mexico City to make clear their feelings that they have been for ten years calling for the same thing, for clarity and what happened to their loved ones. The 43 students who were abducted by the local police in Western Mexico and independent investigations of there was a collusion between there was a collusion between the local police, the army and organised crime and then they had to leave the country, those who are conducting that investigation saying they came up investigation saying they came up against official obstacle after official obstacle into this day, theyve never been able to fully establish the facts of what happened in these families are calling for justice, for the 43 who are disappeared that day. Ten years is not for long disappeared that day. Ten years is not for long time disappeared that day. Ten years is not for long time and disappeared that day. Ten years is not for long time and the is not for long time and the families must continue to have many demands with the investigation. What is the atmosphere like and what impact has this case had on the country . Has this case had on the count . , country . The atmosphere in the sense that country . The atmosphere in the sense that this country . The atmosphere in the sense that this has country . The atmosphere in the sense that this has been country . The atmosphere in the sense that this has been ten sense that this has been ten years of fighting is one of defiance in many ways an extremely hard to keep up a battle against the authorities for a decade and extremely hard to call forjustice without your voice wavering, without your voice wavering, without your spirit faltering in ten years he had the families of attempted to do that and high hopes about the president and his administration because he said this was a crime of the state in his administration we get to the bottom of it and he is about to leave office in a matter of days and there still is not clarity in them to pin their hopes yet again on an incoming administration and in essence, that is the spirit in one of exhaustion and yet Defiance And Determination to carry on. Defiance and determination to car on. Carry on. Prosecutors in the united states carry on. Prosecutors in the united states have carry on. Prosecutors in the united states have charged | carry on. Prosecutors in the united states have charged the democratic mayor of new York Eric adams with five counts of criminal offences, including bribery and receiving Campaign Contributions from foreigners. The indictment says he sought and accepted illegal contributions for his mayoral campaign in 2021. He is also a centre of accepted funding from false donors pretending to use their own money. Mr adams is called the allegations against him lies. Eric adams has vowed to fight the charges and remain in office. He was speaking outside of residence outside of his five charges were revealed. This is an unfortunate day and a painful day. And it is the day we will finally rebuild for ten months i have gone through this. And i look forward to defending myself in defending the people of the city. As i have done throughout my entire professional career. Professional career. Giving us the background professional career. Giving us the background to professional career. Giving us the background to the professional career. Giving us i the background to the charges. It was a little less than a year ago that all of this started and he was put under this Cloud Of Federal Investigation and he was leaving an event in manhattan about ten months ago when the fbi seized his phone and also raided the home of one of his top Campaign Advisers and in the last few weeks and months, his Inner Circle has also found themselves under investigations with the Police Commission and resigning and this is something thatis resigning and this is something that is been, New Yorkers have kept a close eye on now that he has been indicted come The Big Question is what happens now. Prosecutors have said this was a Grave Breach of Public Trust and this is a sombre day for New York when Eric Adams solicited, allegedly, foreign money to help him in the campaign here in New York and not only that, he also tried to compound those illegal gains by using a new York Programme that matches funds of New Yorkers to steal 10 million. We are keeping our eye on Hurricane Helene which is on the big Bend And Florida in the northwest of the state and it has strengthened over the past two days from a tropical storm and has not become a major category three hurricane. If by the warm waters in the gulf of mexico. By waters in the gulf of mexico. By the time it makes landfall in the coming hours, is going to be travelling quick, more than 120 mph. That will make it a category four storm which means its going to travel well in the land before it starts to weaken. There are fears a big Storm Surge travelling ahead of it which could reach up to 20 feet. Floridians, especially those living in the coastal areas along the path have been warned that it will bring an un survivable Storm Surge and life threatening weather. That is all for now and please stay with Bbc News. Hello there. The month of september can often be quite a turbulent one. The transition from summer into autumn and the final full week of september has been just that. Look at thursdays rain. A lot of Heavy Rain Drifting Out of Northern England and northern ireland. This darker blue here, a line of torrential thundery showers with some hail in there as well. Already still with days to spare, woburn in bedfordshire has had its wettest september on record, but its also had its wettest month ever on record, and weve got an Amber Weather Warning which will remain in force for the next few hours. And so we are just going to continue to add to those rainfall totals. So a line of heavy rain will move its way south out of the midlands, Down Into Southern England and south east england. Behind it, the Wind Direction Swinging around to a northerly. A few scattered showers with elevation could turn a little wintry as well, as it turns colder from the north, so this Weather Front slowly eases away during the day this friday and then behind it, that colder air starts to tuck in. A real noticeable difference to the feel of our weather story. So yes, it will be a wet start across east anglia, south east england. For a time that Rain Clearing perhaps away from the Kent Coast by lunchtime and then quite an improvement, actually. Some sunshine coming through. A few scattered showers, but a brisk northerly wind making it feel quite cool out there. Eight to 14 degrees below par for this stage of the month. Now, as we move out of friday into the weekend, we start with this ridge of high pressure. A quiet start to the weekend, but theres more wet weather to come as we move into sunday. But with that high pressure, well, that means we could have quite a chilly start first thing on saturday morning. Temperatures and sheltered glens of Scotland And Northeast england down below freezing, so a frost is not out of the question here. We will continue to see the Wind Direction Swinging around to more of a North Westerly that will drive in showers on saturday across exposed west coast, and one or two running down through the Cheshire Gap as well. Top temperatures on sunday at around 15 degrees, the best of the sunshine in sheltered southern and eastern areas. Then, as we move out of saturday into sunday, heres that rain. And it means an unsettled start into next week slowly improving. New us tariffs against china are set to kick in, affecting billions of dollars of imports. Plus, how do you feel about Al Clones posing as humans . Its dividing the business world. Hello and welcome to business today. Us tariffs on chinese made electric cars, solar panels, steel and other goods will go into effect in the coming hours. Policies around tariffs have become part of the debate on the economy in the upcoming us election. The bbc� s Michelle Fleury has morphed from New York. From New York. When the measures from New York. When the measures were from New York. When the measures were first from New York. When the measures were first announced in may, the us said it was in response to chinas unfair Trade Practices and to protect usjobs. The chinese Trade Practices and to protect us jobs. The chinese said they opposed the hikes and wood retaliates. Analysts said that harris, including a 100 duty on electric vehicles made in china, are largely symbolic, especially since chinese vehicles like that are not sold in the united states currently. Levies on solar cells will increase to 50