Transcripts For BBCNEWS Outside Source 20170404

At least 58 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a suspected Chemical Attack in North Western syria, a Monitoring Group says. This is the town, khan sheikhoun. Its in rebel held idlib province. The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights say that the attack was carried out by either Syrian Government or russian jets. Both deny that this is true. We had this from the Secretary Of State rex tillerson, he said this Chemical Attack shows how sad operates with brittle, unabashed barbarism. I wanted to find out the latest so i spoke to Rasha Qandeel from bbc arabic. The denial by the Syrian Government is still the same. The reaction by the white house combination has flipped everything over. It is quite strong, as you may know. The description that it is intolerable and reprehensible is probably the strongest reaction we have at the moment. I am sure our viewers will have seen some of the pictures that have seen some of the pictures that have come out with children, but difficult to verify those pictures oi difficult to verify those pictures or know where they came from . Verification is difficult at the moment so the un has said probably an independent investigation will Ta Ke An Independent Investigation will take place from the moment the Security Council will be having an urgent session tomorrow morning, probably. After this session, an investigation will take place to be able to verify the pictures since the investigation is going to be almost impossible to get on the ground to get those pictures verified. If we go back to syria in 2013, there was another Chemical Attack and International Condemnation and some rules were set down and also having inspectors come in to rid the country of Chemical Weapons. What happened if, as it is alleged by some, this could have been the Syrian Government . alleged by some, this could have been the Syrian Government . If it is the Syrian Government that permitted the Syrian Government that permitted the alleged attack today, it will be a war crime. Since 2013 actually, the Chemical Weapons organisation following the un said that three Chemical Weapons attacks have been committed between 2014 and 2016 so if it is proven the syrian is cemmittieg if it is proven the syrian i5 i if it is proven the syrian bah if it is proven the syrian be is cryemitting that; it if it is proven the syrian beebah if it is proven the syrian emissiti if it is proven the syrian be a war crime. Iti if it is proven the syrian be a war crime. Hg that. Iti if it is proven the syrian be a war crime. If ite that; iti if it is proven the syrian be a war crime. If it is that; iti if it is proven the syrian be a war crime. If it is proven i will be a war crime. If it is proven it will be taken to the Security Council afterwards. I suppose questions would remain wide those inspectors were not able to rid the country . Of course, yes. The us says it is withdrawing funding for this, the United Nations Population Fund unfpa. Its an agency that promotes Family Planning in more than 150 countries. The us reason is that the agency supports or participates in a programme of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilisation in china. But the unfpa says unfpa refutes this claim, as all of its work promotes the human rights of individuals and couples to make their own decisions, free of coercion or discrimination. Its a big deal because the us is the fourth largest donor to the agency. This is the united states, the fourth largest donor, the United Kingdom on top. My colleague is in new york. Some are wondering if this is the Trump Administration beginning to pull away from the un . He did outline he was planning to cut 28 of foreign aid and a large part of that would be the un. Said the un Secretary General warned at that time against slash and burn cuts. This is the first time we have seen an this is the first time we have seen c this is the first time we have seen an Agency Directly affected. President trump reinstated the gag rule. We have seen strong reaction from the un Secretary General to the us decision. He said this could have devastating impact on the help of vulnerable women, girls and families around the globe. He said he believes the decision is based on inaccurate perception. Is there any turnaround if the un Secretary General puts pressure on the white house, or tries to . It probably wont move those fronts over, we heard that they were going to tra nsfer over, we heard that they were going to transfer them to us aid which is a state Department Agency which would deal with Family Planning in countries abroad . Would deal with Family Planning in countries abroad . Absolutely. If you have looked in the past, the unfpa has had their fronts cut by past republican administrations. It is very unlikely during this administration those fronts would be reinstated. The un Secretary General has told other donors to increase their fronts so they can prevent women in Conflict Areas and other areas having troubled birth is to prevent deaths during pregnancy and provide life saving activities that they do Around The World. What is interesting, we have not heard too much criticism from other un members. The uk, who is the largest donor, when asked about this, they said they will continue their support for the Un Population front. But it is a delicate valance that eve ryo ne but it is a delicate valance that everyone is playing at the un. The us is the largest donor to the United Nations. It relies on a Working Relationship with the us. I think the Secretary General is trying to balance speaking out when these critical fronts are cut, but trying to maintain a Good Relationship with their key partner. Thank you very much. That was a little bit of the political contacts. Little bit of the political co nta cts. I little bit of the political contacts. I want to bring you a bit more about what the front does. Jina moore, is a buzzfeed reporter specialising in global womens rights, who gave her perspective on president Donald Trumps policy. It is important to note that this has been a Policy Change people have been expecting. Like the Global Gag Rule and the mexico city policy, this is a policy that comes in with the republican administrations but tends to go out when democrats come in. It is a funding cut that was expected. Unfpa has always said that funding does not support the kind of policies the Trump Administration is pointing to the justified the funding cut. All this is rooted in a 1985 amendments, whose interpretation changes with different administrations. Unfpa said the matter he is in charge in the united states, which party does not fronts these things, and it does not fronts these things, and it does not fronts these things, and it does not front the chinese government. It does do some work in china, but they support voluntary Family Planning. It isa support voluntary Family Planning. It is a little bit hard to know exactly where and why the Trump Administration has come out apart from the memo they issued about china and its reproductive policies. Would the unfpa have any recourse, i did see the Us Government is planning to front usaid, which is a department within the government which also covers Family Planning Around The World. Is there a way to reverse this decision are to get the jump reverse this decision are to get the jump administration to backtrack . The backtracking would be a Policy Change from the state department. I have to imagine, although i dont have to imagine, although i dont have a lot of inside information, there has been conversations and lobbying going on. An important thing to know about the funding change over to moving the unfpa fronts by the Us Government is all that funding is impacted by the mexico city policy, which also requires that any organisation taking us federal funding for any Global Health activity, as far as we know right now, not use its other funding to discuss, promote or perform abortions. There has been a lot of work that shows it has a detrimental affect on Womens Health and lives as well. So it is a catch 22. And lives as well. So it is a catch22. Thanks very much. The American National Hockey League has announced it wont be taking part in next years Winter Olympics in south korea because of a clash in schedules. It means the worlds best players wont be able to compete for their country in the olympics. Lots of reaction. We got this tweet. hlundqvist30 from henrik lundqvist, a swedish goal keeper for the new york rangers. Lets go straight to Tulsen Tollett in the bbc sport centre. How tight are the schedules that they cant even squeeze in a game at they cant even squeeze in a game at the olympics . Three weeks of the regular season is what the clubs dont want to release their players for. They want compensation for the fa ct for. They want compensation for the fact that players will be playing in south korea during the Winter Olympics next year. But also it means there will be players like Sidney Cosby He was with canada when they won it in 2014. He will not be available. A russian player says he will be playing. We could have a position where players may decide they will boycott the fact the nhl dont want them to play and play for their countries. It is a big tournament. The Winter Olympics, might only come along once for some of these players and maybe the players coming towards the end of their careers, may feel it is a worthwhile opportunity to go and play in south korea. It is certainly going to be a difficult situation. I suspect there will be more mediation in this between the nhl and the ioc president has said he is disappointed. I expect there will be some diplomacy that takes place and maybe his players might go and play in the Winter Olympics. Always an interesting debate. The Republic Of Ireland womens Football Team has threatened to go on strike, after accusing the Football Association of ireland of treating them as fifth class citizens. 11 members of the team fronted a Press Conference earlier, saying theyve been forced to change in public toilets on the way to matches as well as share a kit with the youth womens team. On top of that, they say the fai warned the players taking their grievances public could cost them their careers. Heres a little of the conference. I think we need to recognise that the Womens International team is being treated, not as a second classicism, but a fifth class citizen. They are the dirt of the fias shoe. That is how they see them. It is borderline basics. In them. It is borderline basics. In the past, we have been getting changed in the public toilets of airports the way to matches, been given market there, having to open personal bags, put our kit in. The met The Girls En Route to our final destination in london. Five had to go off destination in london. Five had to gooffi destination in london. Five had to go off i get changed in the toilet. And the same on the way back. It highlights probably the lack of disrespect and that it is not a lot we are looking for, it is just basics. College basketball in america is big business. Arguably bigger than professional basketball. If you needed any convincing, take a look at this. These were scenes after North Carolina defeated Gonzaga University in the nc double a Championship Game on monday. Thousands were in the stadium. As you can see hundreds of people flooded the court to celebrate with the winning team. Those keen Basketball Followers among us will know North Carolina was the same University Michaeljordan attended. But when theres a winner, there must be a loser. These were the scenes among the gonzaga fans. Tears were flowing. This was just their second loss of the season. Its also the first time theyd made the Championship Game in their history. A tough pill to swallow for many of their fans. Stay with us in a few minutes we bring you a report about why older mothers have helped drive chinas baby boom just over a year after the government dropped its one child policy. The former mayor of london, Ken Livingstone has been suspended from the labour party for one year, following a disciplinary hearing over comments he made about adolf hitler. Speaking after the hearing, which was held behind closed doors, Mr Livingstone said he was surprised he hadnt been expelled but stood by his original comments. I expected them to expel me. I now have to consider if i challenge this legally or live with it. You have just been suspended for another year, how do you feel about that . As iam not year, how do you feel about that . As i am not seeking to return to parliament or stand for the local parliament, it doesnt make much of a change. It does seem quite lenient because you expecting to be expelled. It was like sitting in a court in north korea because nobody was listening. Mr livingstone, what is the reason they gave you for a year long suspension instead. Is the reason they gave you for a year long suspension instead. Ij did year long suspension instead. I did the Vanessa Feltz interview and thatis did the Vanessa Feltz interview and that is a crime against humanity and defending naz shah in saying she wasnt anti semitic. They dropped the charges of the anti semitic. Wasnt anti semitic. They dropped the charges of the antisemitic. Do you accept you brought the party into disrepute . Should someone be disciplined for stating an historical truth . I think that is important. I will not make an immediate decision but i have to sit around and think about this with my lawyers. Have they asked you to retract your comments . They have. Are you angry . I would have been angry ifi are you angry . I would have been angry if i had been expelled, but i dont think anyone expected this result and that is the simple reality. I know you are considering your options . On the assumption i was going to be expelled, i was planning a judicial review. But no one should be suspended for stating the truth. I have been suspended for stating the truth, labour mps who tweeted that i was anti semitic, i said hitler was a zionist, i said and that the nazis, no discipline against them and that is double standard. Mps cannot be treated differently from ordinary party members. This is outside source live from the bbc newsroom. Our lead story is a suspected Chemical Weapons attack on a rebel held town in syria is reported to have killed at least 58 people most of them civilians. Theres been strong International Condemnation. Let me show you what else has been reported. South africas president is under growing pressure to step down. Influential members of the anc have told jacob zuma, it is time to go. That is the lead story on bbc swahili. A report that a Media Company paid 30 million to five and he made Harassment Accusations against bill oreilly. He denies any wrongdoing. Its been just over a year since china abandoned its one child policy because of concerns about its increasingly Elderly Population and the decline in numbers of working age citizens. It appears to be having the desired effect with nearly 18 million births last year. Thats up 7. 9 on the previous year. About 45 of babies were born to families that already had one child. And many of those were from older mothers, who stored their embryos after Fertility Treatment and who are now keen to expand their families. Heres our china editor carrie gracie. Heartbeat of an imminent arrival. Last Ultrasound Scan for 48 mother to be. She had herfirst child through Fertility Treatment 16 yea rs child through Fertility Treatment 16 years ago. The hospital kept her frozen embryos and now that chinas one child policy has become a two child policy, she is about to have her second miracle baby. More good news, it is a boy. She tells me she is thrilled. She has a daughter and would be happy with another, but the in laws want a grandson. Two child family is still a great novelty here. So a big fuss at the clinic for special visitor. Especially as this miracle was conceived here in a petri dish and frozen as an embryo for years. Until chinas Policy Changed and she could become somebodys little sister. Translation as soon as i heard about the Policy Change, i was terribly excited. I ran to the hospital immediately. My second child had been frozen there for too long. I couldnt wait to take her home. Not everyone is so lucky. This lady is desperate to have a second child, but there are questions over whether her embryos are viable. Translation i only have three Embryos Translation i only have three e m b ryos left translation i only have three embryos left and the doctor says one is good, one is average and one is poon is good, one is average and one is poor. But i will stay optimistic. I hope heaven will give me this gift. Blessings born from frozen embryos, many of them second children after last yea rs many of them second children after last years Policy Change. Older mothers with Fertility Problems are 110w mothers with Fertility Problems are now suddenly at an advantage, because they have frozen embryos to fall back on, were other older women dont. This lady, back home and getting ready for the new arrival. Baby getting ready for the new arrival. Ba by clothes getting ready for the new arrival. Baby clothes from the first time round, 16 years ago. Hospital bag, ready for the birth and shes already decided if the two child policy becomes a three child policy, she will go for a third. Scientists in manchester have made a remarkable discovery, creating a sieve that can make sea water drinkable. Its made from graphene, and raises the tantalising prospect, of helping millions of people Around The World, who dont have easy access to clean water. Well our science correspondent pallab ghosh is at the Graphene Institute in manchester. Its three times the strength of steel and incredibly flexible, and thats not all graphene has been described as a miracle material. Here in manchester, Graphene Oxide has been used to create a filter to take salt out of water. The aim is to convert sea water into a form thats drinkable. The potential of this technology is giving clean water to millions of people Around The World and were sure that this technology will be available in a couple of years time to sell to people Around The World. Like any sieve, this Graphene Paper has tiny holes in that lets the water through, but not the salt. In the past though, its not worked properly. Thats because the graphene weakens and the holes get bigger. So the researchers here have coated it with a chemical that stop the holes from expanding. So the water here is completely salt free. And this is why it matters. According to the un, Drinking Water will be scarce for 1. 2 billion people by 2025. Its hard to believe that countries dont have water at the moment. If you dont have it, it compromises everything that you do your health and the ability to educate your children. A lot of things rest on this basic human right, so this is why we focus a lot on this. Current desalination plants, such as this one in london, are expensive. It costs £270 million to build and they use a lot of energy, though the technology is improving. The graphene based filter could be a much cheaper and greener solution, but the big question is whether it works just as well in real situations as it does in the lab. Pallab ghosh, bbc news, at the national Graphene Institute in manchester. So ending with that good news story here. Were back again at the same time tomorrow and you can follow up on any of these stories on the bbc website. From me and the team, goodbye. Before we look ahead, we will look back at what happened in march, because the met office have done the Number Crunching on the statistics and it turns out for the uk as a whole, it was the fifth mildest march on record. Further south east it was thejoint march on record. Further south east it was the joint mile this march. In terms of rainfall, it was average. Those records go back . Terms of rainfall, it was average. Those records go backfi 1910. It for but make the 7 17 of ,. W but make the 7 17 of the ,. W because e the 7 17 of the 7 7 77 because e the will; of the 7 7 77 rt south through the day. Hanging onto sunny spells in the south west and the north east. Most places, despite the north east. Most places, despite the cloud will be dry. The North West Quadrant might see a few spots of rain. 11 degrees in glasgow and similar in belfast. Through the evening, cloud on the eastern side of england which will be thick enough for a few spots of rain. Most places will be fine and dry. Cloud keeping temperatures up a bit. Around seven or 8 degrees will be typical to start the day on thursday. It may be cloudy first thing on thursday, and a fair bit of cloud into the afternoon. Not much rain but there will be some for western coasts and hills but many places will have another essentially fine and dry day with variable amounts of cloud, sunshine at times. Temperatures around 11, 12 degrees the glasgow and belfast and 15 or so in the south eastern corner. High pressure is in charge over the next few days and it will stick around towards the end of the week, keeping things fine and subtle. Just a question about the cloud amounts. Looks as if there will be breaks in the cloud so a chilly start to the date of friday. A decent day for most places, dry virtually everywhere. Variable cloud of spells of sunshine. As he had towards the start of the weekend, High Pressure is still with us but drifting towards the near continent. But the start of the weekend that will be the dominant force driving our weather. Might be a chilly start, but it will be a decent day for most places. Light winds, patchy cloud, sunny spells and dry again pretty much everywhere. 11 degrees in glasgow, 13 or so in cardiff. Sign ofa glasgow, 13 or so in cardiff. Sign of a change as we head towards sunday. This weather from of a change as we head towards sunday. This Weatherfrom Creeping into the north west. Maybe bringing outbreaks of rain. You will season sunshine and in the low 20s in the south east. There is a sign of a change in this Weather Front which will make south across the uk. As it does, there is cooler air behind the coffin. It will spread across the uk into the early part of the new week. Looks like the cold air will spill its way across pretty much all part as we go through the week. But for the weekend, High Pressure in charge. It is drifting towards the near continent. Will be pulling in some warm airfora near continent. Will be pulling in some warm airfor a time, but as it pulls away and low pressure starts to ta ke pulls away and low pressure starts to take over into the early part of next week, things are turning u nsettled. Next week, things are turning unsettled. The north westerly wind is from a cold direction so temperatures will be dropping away. That will be a shock to the system as it turns colder and it will turn as it turns colder and it will turn a bit more unsettled buswell. It will be windy as well and that will accentuate the chilly theme. It could be cold enough for a bit of snow over the hills across the uk. The attack was focused on a rebel held town and the un is investigating. What we understood, it was a Chemical Attack and it came from the air. Local reports say a hospital treating the victims was also hit by air strikes. The events have provoked strong criticism Around The World. If proven, this will be further evidence of the barbarism of the syrian regime. But syria and its russian allies deny any responsibility. The un Security Council will meet in emergency session tomorrow. Also tonight. In st petersburg, tributes to the 14 killed in yesterdays bomb attack on the underground system