Have made a range of allegations about brands controlling, abusive and predatory behaviour. Brand has denied the allegations and said his relationships have been always consensual. We now have a statement from Russell Brands agents. That statement from Russell Brands agents. Lets hearfrom our entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba. This joint investigation by the sunday times. The times and channel four dispatches says that four women have made allegations of Sexual Assaults by him between the years 2006 and 2013. During the time of these allegations, Russell Brand was probably one of the best known celebrities in the country. He was presenting on bbc radio two. He was presenting on channel four and many, many other places. And he was also, as you say, acting in hollywood films. You know, his fame had spread across the atlantic. Now, the investigation says that around ten years ago, brand met a businesswoman who theyre calling nadia. She says they did have consensual sex, but when they met again the following month, she says brand kissed her and said that he wanted her tojoin him and anotherfriend in the bedroom, nadia, told the investigation by trying to get away from him. And i slipped away from the wall. And at this point, hes grabbing at my underwear and he has that glazed look in his eye again and i cant move. And i told him, get off, get off. Nadia says he raped her without a condom. The following year, the investigation says a woman theyre calling phoebe says she met Russell Brand at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. She says she did have a brief sexual relationship with him, but it had ended when one night she was at his house. When she realised that they were alone, she says she ended up trapped in a bedroom and she told the investigation. I think he had his hand down my trousers but i was fighting so hard and i was screaming so hard, hoping that i could get through somehow. I dont know what the actual definition of Sexual Assault is, but it feels like that, he didnt rape me. The allegations have been denied by Russell Brand. 0vernight he released a Video Message in which he said the relationships i had were absolutely always consensual. What i seriously refute are these very, very serious criminal allegations. Now, channel four� s dispatches special about Russell Brand is due to go out on the channel at 9 00 this evening. And liza, have we had any response to these allegations . As you said, there Russell Brand, hes responded himself. But what about some of the companies, the broadcasters he was working for . You know, the bbc have responded, saying that they have and had very robust procedures in place for dealing with issues. They also pointed out, of course, that Russell Brand left the bbc, if people remember the incident with himself and jonathan ross, where they left an answerphone message on the actor andrew sachs� voice mail talking about the Sexual Activity of his granddaughter. So were waiting to see whats going to be in this documentary later tonight, what the other people involved are going to say. But these are, as you say, very, very serious allegations made against Russell Brand, allegations which he emphatically denies. We heard there about the response from Russell Brand , heres a clip from a video hes posted online. Ive received two extremely disturbing letters or a letter and an email, one from a Mainstream Media tv company, one from a Newspaper Listing a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks, as well as some pretty stupid stuff like my Community Festival should be stopped, that i shouldnt be able to attack Mainstream Media narratives on this channel. But amidst this litany of astonishing rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that i absolutely refute. Well, Russell Brand is a well known entertainment figure, notjust in the uk but globally as well. Nicky schiller takes a look at his career Russell Brand started his career as a stand up comedian. Hes always been a colorful character. He was asked to leave his first stage school and sacked from his first big tv and radio shows. In the early 2000s, he was taking illegal drugs, including heroin. Thats something hes been quite open about. Speaking in a 2012 bbc documentary about it. He made it following the death of his friend amy winehouse. Nowadays, i dont drink or take drugs. Ten years ago, though, i couldnt get enough of them. Cannabis, booze, acid speed, coke, crack smack. Thats heroin. I took drugs every single day. Russell brand went into rehab for three months in 2003. He says since then, hes been clean and sober. He got his big tv break, hosting a big brother spin off. What followed were radio shows, including on the bbc, and indeed he hosted the brit awards in 2007. A year later, he shot to fame worldwide with the film forgetting sarah marshall. Also that year, he hosted the mtv video music awards, but 2008 was also the year of one of his biggest controversies. During an episode of his bbc radio two show, he and Guestjonathan Ross made a series of obscene phone calls to the actor andrew sachs. Brand later quit, the Station Controller resigned and the bbc was fined. Russell brand stayed in the global headlines for his marriage to katy perry in 2010. They divorced less than two years later. He also voiced a character in the film despicable me. Brand also became more outspoken about his political views. In 2013, he gave a now famous interview to Jeremy Paxman on the bbc� s newsnight, where he called for a revolution. Theres going to be a revolution. Its totally going to happen. I aint got a flicker of doubt. This is the end. This is time to wake up. It was in 2014 that Russell Brand launched his own Youtube Video series. Over the years, it amassed millions of followers, but also attracted criticism from some for amplifying conspiracy theories. During covid, brand was criticised for his anti vax views. Youtube removed one of his videos over its policies on medical misinformation. More recently, brand has swapped to the alternative social media site rumble, so he has swapped the Red Carpet Events of the 2000s to broadcasting from his shed from his home just outside london. So whats the legal position around these allegations against Russell Brand . Weve been hearing from the media lawyer mark stephens. They put detailed allegations to him and his response was to go on to the his Youtube Channel and essentially denounce them and deny them. The details havent yet been made public. And the purpose of a right to reply letter, which we should say in all fairness, is to give a person who is being accused of some discreditable behaviour or criminal wrongdoing the right to respond. And of course, they may never appear in the Public Domain if theres a good and decent explanation. And so we will find out when these allegations are essentially published later today, the detail of it. And, of course, well be able to make more sense of whats going on at that point in time. Hes going to, from the video, make clear that whilst he accepts that that part of his life he was promiscuous, he said that all of those relationships were consensual. So it appears to be that any allegations of non consensual behaviour on his part are going to be comprehensively denied. And of course, you know, people can engage in all sorts of behaviours as long as theyre consensual to consenting adults people and the law doesnt interfere, it only interferes where its non consensual. And so thats where this will have to be examined in more detail once we actually get to the nub of the details. But its unusual for someone to essentially get their retribution in first. Hes obviously got massive multi million followings, and hes been able to say that he denies these allegations, that anything he did, he did consensually and also put it somewhat in the past. Lets move on to iran now where its been one year since the death of mahsa amini, the kurdish iranian woman who died in custody. Her death sparked months of Anti Government protests in the country. She died after being arrested for not dressing in a way that conformed to irans laws. Her family says she was killed by the authorities. Iran tightened security today to try to prevent new demonstrations but some people still gathered in support of mahsas memory. This protest took place in karaj, on the outskirts of tehran. There were also demonstrations around the world. This gathering took place in paris. And this was the scene in berlin. Demonstrators used the slogan � woman, life, freedom, which was prominent at the time of the protests a year ago. So has anything changed for Women In Iran in the year lets got live to new york, we can speak to bahman kalbasi. And bahman youve been at a rally nearby what has been happening there . A raucous rally across the brooklyn bridge, unfortunately that crowd has ended up in this park. They are speaking of the same theme that has followed us across last year. Life, woman, freedom. That is the centre of it. They keep repeating her name and demanding inpatient, the slogan is down with the islamic republic. They want a fundamental change. The idea for many of them coming out todayis idea for many of them coming out today is remembering, notjust what happened to her, but many protesters that were shot and killed by the regime throughout the months that followed. This is both a remembrance and reaffirming the commitment to the ideals of irani and women, and they should have the exact same rights as everyone else, an iranian people should have a democracy. It seems quite loud to wear you out, does it feel the us is listening . Theyve put some sanctions on iran, what could it go any further . The government what could it go any further . The government of what could it go any further . Tue government of the what could it go any further . Tte government of the United States is trying to strike a difficult balance. 0n trying to strike a difficult balance. On one hand, it has imposed many sanctions, mostly symbolic, it doesnt change the calculus of the regime in iran. But also, releasing some of irans own fans in the last few days. Following an agreement for prisoners to swap. The Biden Administration is criticised for that move. Their defences they need to bring citizens from iran where they are in the Balancing Act is difficult. Iranians in the us and europe think more pressure should be put on the regime. Maybe that will resolve their weakening. Any change has to come from within iran, that is a slogan i have heard here all day, that this is a change that comes from iran. We are here to support that. Comes from iran. We are here to support that comes from iran. We are here to support that. The iranian president will be attending support that. The iranian president will be attending the support that. The iranian president will be attending the un support that. The iranian president will be attending the un general. Will be attending the Un General Assembly next week following international protests, what could they be expecting . The international protests, what could they be expecting . They be expecting . The president didnt have they be expecting . The president didnt have much they be expecting . The president didnt have much of they be expecting . The president didnt have much of a they be expecting . The president didnt have much of a positive didnt have much of a positive reception, before this process started even. He came during the first days of the protests last year. Over first days of the protests last year. 0ver10,000 in prison, hundreds of injured people. He wont be getting any openings from international community. They will try to make a case for himself, he will be speaking at the United Nations general assembly. There will be people outside greeting him with a slogan of dan with the islamic republic. A slogan of dan with the islamic reublic. ~ a slogan of dan with the islamic reublic. , ~ ,. , a slogan of dan with the islamic reublic. ~ ,. ,. , a slogan of dan with the islamic reublic. , ~ ,. ,. ,. , a slogan of dan with the islamic reublic. , ~. ,. ,. , fears are growing for the survivors of the catastophic flood in the libyan city of derna, where there is a lack of medicine and clean water, and worries that a Cholera Outbreak is looming. Aid organisations have described coordinating the Relief Effort as a � nightmare. Up to 11,000 people are known to have died after two dams collapsed inundating the city with water. Thousands more are still missing. 0ur correspondent anna foster is in derna and has the latest. A landscape changed beyond recognition. A bustling city, now a wasteland. The destructive power of water has ripped the heart from derna. Its survivors left wracked with grief and anger. Translation we were told to stay inside our homes. Why . They should have told us there was a storm, told us the dam was old and crumbling. Some of these destroyed buildings were 100 years old. And more at five and more. This man lost five members of his family in the raging current. One was his ten month old daughter. He shows me their pictures, first alive and then their bodies. This was what brought him here. A convoy of ministers from the eastern government, one of libyas two opposing authorities. Fighting has decimated the countrys infrastructure. Its proved fatal. Well, i spoke to the eastern Prime Minister, 0sama hammad. How could this happen when the dams were supposed to keep people safe . It was a very strong cyclone, he told me. Too strong for the dams. Here in the center of derna the destruction is total. And when you look down this valley at an area that used to be filled with apartment buildings, homes, cars, thousands of people with lives that have all been picked up and swept out to sea, you wonder how a city like this can ever recover. Down at the port, the dead are still returning to the city. Recovery teams watch the waves and wait for them. This morning, three more bodies were pulled from the debris, but thousands of others swept far from here will never come home. Anna foster, bbc news, derna. A 14 year old has died in a stabbing in northern manchester. Another 14 year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. The dead boys family and friends have described him as the kindest soul. Yunus mulla sent us this update. What is so striking is the age of some of the Young Children whove arrived here today to lay flowers and whove had to choose their words carefully to remember someone theyve lost. But this remains a crime scene this evening. You can see the Forensics Tent over my shoulder. And thats why police say it is crucial they get all the information they need so they can piece together what happened and why someone lost their life. Nathaniel shani, another victim of knife crime. His family say he was a best friend to many kind and caring. Today, his friends and community remembered him with flowers and messages. Nathaniel was stabbed yesterday evening. I spoke to the mother of one of his friends. So he was there. My son cant even sleep since last. Like he wasjust killed last night. What was nathaniel like . He is a quiet, good boy, even when they come to my house. The teenager was taken to hospital and died from his injuries. This local resident lives a short distance away from the scene in the harpurhey area of manchester. I could hearjust like, i what is going on and my electricity was finished and i was coming to get the electricity and i could see theres something, a big fight. And kids were just fighting with each other and one i kid was screaming, call the ambulance, call ambulance. And there was blood on the corner. Itsjust so bad. As part of the murder investigation, Greater Manchester police put in place a section 60 order, giving them greater stop and search powers. Detectives say this action was proportionate and necessary with the aim of minimising the potential for violent behaviour and to prevent further serious incidents. Manchester and harpurhey have to Start Talking about smartphones that arrange altercations and young people Carrying Knives and are getting younger and younger Carrying Knives. And we have to put our Heads Together in manchester and the uk to get on top of this. Detectives say two boys aged 13 and 1a remain in Police Custody on suspicion of murder, but they are appealing for witnesses and support is being given to the 1a year olds family who say their hearts have been left broken. Yunus mulla, bbc news, manchester. Ukraine says its retaken the small, but strategically located village of andriivka, south of the city of bakhmut. Fighting has been raging in this area of Eastern Ukraine for more than a year. The Russian Military still controls whats left of bakhmut. But Ukrainian Forces have been slowly regaining ground to the North And South of the city. 0ur diplomatic correspondent, paul adams, has been looking at videos which show ukrainian soldiers retaking the village. Andriivka is tiny, barely more than a hamlet. But its recapture is being hailed here as something of a breakthrough. And a dramatic series of videos released by the Ukrainian Military shows how it all ended. In the first, we see ukrainian troops making their careful, nervous way into the village. Its an apocalyptic wasteland, like something out of world war one. Nota building, not a tree left intact. These pictures all come from the same ukrainian unit, the third assault brigade. They were all filmed within the last couple of days. After weeks of ferocious fighting, the ukrainians know the village is about to fall by now. The russians Holding Andriivka surrounded. In this video, we see a drone being used to broadcast a recorded message to those russian soldiers Still Holding out surrender. Eventually, with several of their commanders dead and their situation hopeless, russian soldiers emerge from the wreckage and give themselves up. But this is whats left of andriivka. Theres basically nothing there. Its hard to imagine anyone ever living here again. A tiny, shattered place, perhaps. But ukraine says the recapture of andriivka is important. It brings kyiv a little bit closer to the retaking of back mood. Its a slow, destructive process with no guarantee of success. The uks chief vet has said there will not be a culling of the american bully xl dog breed. It comes after the Prime Minister said the dogs would be banned after the death of a man in staffordshire, following an attack suspected to be by two American Bully Xls. 0ur Correspondent Matt Graveling has the details. Ian price was killed in Staffordshire On thursday afternoon, mauled to death by two dogs. He was 52 year old. The owner of the animals suspected to be American Bully Xls was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. The Prime Minister said this breed will be banned by the end of the year. Today, the uks Chief Veterinary Officer said this does not mean animals will be culled. You will need to register and take certain actions. Your dog will need to be neutered, they will need to be muzzled when out in public, and on a lead and insured. But if you comply with these actions, and that means we will know where these dogs are, which will be a massive benefit, then, yes, absolutely, you will be able to keep your dog. The xl bully is the largest type of the american bully dog and can weigh more than nine stone. However, it is not recognised by the main british dog associations, such as the royal kennel club. It would be the first dog added to a list set out in the dangerous dogs act, 32 years ago. The death of ian price and the topic of dangerous dogs continues to dominate the headlines and fuel public debate. The Prime Minister has called the Xl Bully Breed a danger to communities. Now opponents argue it is not the animals fault, but irresponsible owners that create dangerous dogs. As Police Continue to investigate the death of ian price, those responsible for adding American Bully Xls to a banned list have said this could take a while, with theirjob being to identify the characteristics of this specific breed, ensuring no other types are caught up in the process. Matt graveling, bbc news. In south africa, mourners have gathered in ulundi for the funeral of the veteran politician mangosuthu buthelezi. The zulu chief has been granted a State Funeral in honour of his contribution to the fight against white minority rule. Ahead of his burial, hundreds lined the route to watch his cortege arriving at the family home. The funeral has been taking place at a stadium in the ancient capital of the zulu kingdom. Stay with us here on bbc news. Hello. Quite a Temperature Contrast across the uk through the evening hours. The south of the country is still under the influence of air coming off the continent. So its warm, quite humid too. In the north, particularly across scotland, it is going to be a chilly evening, even A Touch Of Frost on the way overnight. So here are the 9 00 temperatures. We will have seen around 11 in aberdeen, 21 in london. And then through the course of the night, the clear skies and the light winds in scotland will lead to A Touch Of Frost in the sheltered glens. Elsewhere to the south, much milder than that, in fact, quite balmy in the south. And also chance of some showers. Here are the morning temperatures, 6 a. M. , 15 in london, 1a in liverpool, 12 in newcastle and aberdeen. A really fresh start, three degrees, but therell be some sunshine around. By 9 00am itll probably be about five. Notice all the fine weather across the north of scotland. But then the lowlands, its cloudier. Some rain around in the morning across Northern Ireland and thunderstorms are looming. In fact, they are reaching south western england, just about nudging into wales through the second half of the morning. And these storms will deliver big downpours, at least locally. Lightning, obviously, hail, gusty winds and they will drift northwards and eastwards through the course of the day. These are the temperatures during the afternoon on sunday, peaking at 22 in london, about that in liverpool, in glasgow, closer to 16 degrees. And through the course of this evening, lets track the storm. So moving across wales, the midlands into northwest england, therell probably be one or two storms further south during the latter part of the evening. And then monday into tuesday, thats the transition period to much more unsettled weather. Well see Weather Front sweeping across the country. This one actually on monday will deliver a spell of wind and rain, at least for a time. Itll push that warm air mass towards the east of the continent. And behind it, well see these westerly winds developing, bringing us sunshine and showers later in the day to the west. But i think the east may hang on to that Weather Front and some wetter weather for a time. Still about 20 to 22 Degrees Celsius in east anglia in the southeast, but a lot fresher there in Northern Ireland, 15 degrees. And if we have a look at the outlook, its going to be an interesting week. Very unsettled, the possibility of ex tropical storms heading our way, bringing a spell of wind and rain. Thats it for me. Bye bye. This is bbc news, the headlines. The british actor and comedian Russell Brand has been accused of rape, Sexual Assaults and Emotional Abuse over a seven year period at the height of his fame. He denies the allegations. Anti government demonstrations have been held in iran to mark the death of mahsa amini, one year after her death in Police Custody. But Security Forces appear to have prevented herfamily from conducting a ceremony at her grave. Authorities in Eastern Libya have restricted access to the city of derna, after last weekends devastating floods. Although Rescue Efforts have been scaled up, the Aid Operation has been described as chaotic. A 14 year old boy who died after being stabbed in manchester has been named as nathaniel shani. His family and friends have described him as the kindest soul. Two teenagers have been arrested. Now on bbc news