Transcripts For BBCNEWS World News Today 20240714

And Serena Williams is about to take to the court at flushing meadows. Well have more coming up in a few minutes. Hello and welcome to world news today. An Iranian Oil Tanker which was seized by britains Royal Marines off the coast of gibraltar injuly appears to have been spotted off the coast of syria. The tanker had been detained because it was suspected of travelling to syria against eu sanctions. The ship is carrying 2. 1 Million Barrels of Iranian Crude Oil and was only released from gibraltar on the condition it would not take oil to syria. The British Foreign office said sailing the ship to syria would be a morally bankrupt course of action and against international norms. Satellite photos released by the Us Company Maxar technologies seem to show the tanker two nautical miles off the port of tartus. Our Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale reports. This is the Iranian Oil Tanker at the heart of the latest tensions the grace 1, as she was then known, but now renamed. Detained injuly by gibraltar with the help of british marines. Suspected of heading for syria in breach of eu sanctions, released in august after iran gave written assurances that this was not the case. But look at this. New satellite images appearing to show the tanker moored a few miles from the syrian port of tartus, potentially there to off load its cargo. A Foreign Office spokesman said the reports were deeply troubling and any breach of irans assurances would be morally bankrupt and a violation of international norms. This is hugely disappointing and demonstrates why the uk government was right to impound the vessel in gibraltar and wrong to release it. In a terse tweet clearly pointed at european allies, the Us National Security adviserjohn bolton said anyone believing the ship was not headed for syria was in denial. Tehran thinks its more important to fund the murderous assad regime than providing for its own people. So far there has been no comment from tehran, which is desperate to evade tough us sanctions curbing its ability to export oil that have hit its so economy hard. Iran also announced today a further breach of the deals agreed in 2015 breach of the deal agreed in 2015 to curb its nuclear programme. Western officials said the move had been expected. But tensions with iran are deepening and optimism remains thin on the ground. Lets take a look at some of the other stories making the news. El salvador wants to put a woman cleared of murdering her newborn child on trial for a third time. 21 year old evelyn hernandezs baby was found dead in a toilet in 2016 after she fainted. She said she had been raped by a gang member and didnt know she was pregnant. Prosecutors will appeal against the acquittal in a bid to send her back to jail. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his countrys space scientists he was proud of a programme that had come so near to putting a probe on the moon. Contact with the craft was lost moments before its vikram module was due to touch down at the lunar south pole. The fate of the craft is not yet known. A Us Congressional Committee is investigating another possible conflict of interest between Donald Trumps role as president and his businesses. It wants to know why an airport on the west coast of scotland, close to a golf course owned by president trump, has been paid 11 million for fuel by the us military since he took office. The Committee Says the fuel would have been cheaper at a us military base. Pressure is growing on the british Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to clarify that he would follow a law requiring him to seek a further brexit extension if theres no deal with the eu. A group of mps from his own conservative party are preparing legal action if the Prime Minister refuses to carry out the instruction, which is expected to become law on monday. Jonathan blake reports. Another stand off in westminster. Protest and counterprotest today, over the Prime Ministers plans to suspend parliament and mps attempts to force a delay to brexit. Borisjohnson has spent the week in campaign mode, preparing for an election he wants but opposition parties wont allow, before an extension to brexit is secured something hes adamant he wont ask for. Id rather be dead in a ditch. As many of that opinion will say content. To the contrary, not content. The contents have it. But parliament has now passed a bill compelling the prime minster to ask for a delay if a new deal cannot be reached. The law means borisjohnson has until october 19th to get a new deal with brussels. If not, he must write and request more time till at least january 31st. But yesterday he said this. This bill would in theory mean the government was obliged to write a letter asking for a pointless delay. Some fear the Prime Minister is looking for wriggle room and are preparing a legal challenge if he does not comply. He cant ignore the law. He is as bound by the rule of law as anyone else in the country. Parliament has passed primary legislation. Once it has received royal assent, its the law of the land and he is under an obligation. If he doesnt obey, he can be taken to court and the court will pursue an injunction ordering him to do it, and if he doesnt obey the injunction, he could be sent to prison. Those behind the anti no deal bill are confident it will not allow mrjohnson a way out. He must write a letter on that day to donald tusk specifying the wording he must use to apply for an extension. Im very, very concerned and troubled by the fact the Prime Minister is going around the country saying he will never ask for an extension. Either we have the rule of law in this country or we dont. In aberdeenshire, the traditional spectacle of the highland games. The queen arrived, having hosted the Prime Minister at balmoral overnight. The constitutional crisis caused by brexit is sure to have been discussed. Where it will lead next, we cannot predict. Russia and ukraine have completed a prisoner swap involving 70 detainees. Its hoped the swap will ease tensions between the two countries. More than 13,000 people have died in fighting since russia annexed crimea in 2014. The freed prisoners include captured ukrainian sailors and a man who dutch prosecutors want to speak to about the downing of a passenger plane in 2014. Jonah fisher reports from kiev. This swap had been rumoured for weeks. So when the plane finally touched down from moscow, relief echoed across the tarmac. The families of 35 ukrainian prisoners had come to see their loved ones return. Among them, high profile detainees like film maker oleg sentsov, and 2a sailors, like andre, who was captured in the black sea late last year. And we are happy, too. We cant even understand that this has already happened. This is clearly a very emotional moment for the relatives of these ukrainian prisoners, but it is also politically significant. It opens the door for meaningful talks between ukraine and russia and the prospect of an improvement in relations between the two countries. This man, volodymyr tsemakh, was russias price. A potentially important witness in the downing of the passenger plane mh17 five years ago, he was flown today to moscow. For ukraines president , the swap is a sign ofjust how serious he is about trying to end the long conflict with russian backed rebels. We have to do all the steps to finish this horrible war. But do you think this is a new chapter in relations between russia and ukraine . I think this is the first chapter. Jonah fisher, bbc news, kiev. Several hundred Climate Change activists have held a sit in on the red carpet on the final day of the venice Film Festival, ending it before the closing ceremony to avoid a clash with security forces. It was in protest at the huge cruise ships they say are damaging the very foundations of the city. Ships they say are damaging the very Robert Sutton mattocks has more. Ships they say are damaging the very venice ships they say are damaging the very Film Festival Hollywood Venice Film Festival is used to hollywood stars and red carpet glamour but probably not to the white boiler suit. As hundreds of activists took over and demanded Climate Change action. We tell them that the world is not ok, it is not just nice films. We love films and movies but we also have to say there isa movies but we also have to say there is a climate crisis. We have to do something right now translation our world is sinking and burning, as we can see by what is happening in the oceans and the amazon. You can also put the same attention is on the Film Festival on the climate crisis. Some have come from outside italy but there are locals as well. Like the protest group who claim cruise ships damage the foundations of this historic city. A campaign which got worldwide attention back in june, city. A campaign which got worldwide attention back injune, when huge attention back injune, when huge a huge cruise ship lost control trying to dock and crashed into the city. We are on the red carpet today, we will stay here and we ask them to do the red carpet with us. We ask them to take a position. Climate activists have already picked up star support. The Rolling Stones singer mickjagger said he was absolutely behind them. Star backing to turn the red carpet green. Stay with us on bbc world news, still to come. A plea from the pope to stop deforestation as he visits madagascar, where species like the mouse lemur are being driven to extinction. Freedom itself was attacked this morning, and freedom will be defended. The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible. Bishop tutu now becomes spiritual leader of 100,000 anglicans here, of the blacks in soweto townships, as well as the whites in their rich suburbs. We say to you today in a loud and clear voice, enough of blood and tears. Enough. The difficult decision we reached together was one that required great and exceptional courage. Its an exodus of up to 60,000 people, caused by the uneven pace of political change in eastern europe. Iam free this is bbc world news today. The latest headlines. Britain says its deeply troubled by reports that an Iranian Oil Tanker is breaking guarantees that it will not deliver its cargo to syria. New hope for easing tensions between russia and ukraine, as a long awaited prisoner swap is completed. Health officials in the United States are urging people to stop using e cigarettes after another death from a mysterious lung illness linked to vaping. Thereve now been two deaths confirmed in recent weeks across the us, with 215 cases of people falling ill after vaping. But the problem could be much greater, with experts investigating a50 cases of lung illness that may have been caused by e cigarette use around the country. Dr albert rizzo is the chief medical officer of the American Lung association. Hejoins me now from philadelphia. Thank you for talking to us. How strong is the link between these recent deaths and e cigarettes . The main commonality between these deaths and the sickness being investigated is we dont know if it is one product or device, but vaping seems to be the behaviour that links all of these. Over 400 instances at this point. But cdc are working with state Health Officials to try to determine what exactly is the ingredient that might be in the device leading to the damage in the airways and the lungs, and it could be multiple substances working together after being heated by the device. So why exactly are Health Officials urging people not to use them . It seems there is still some research to be done. A lot of research to be done. A lot of Research Needs to be done with regard to these cigarettes, notjust because of the recent problems, but because of the recent problems, but because we dont know what the mid to long term problems of using them are. The more recent crisis has to do with the fact that we believe some of these devices are either being manipulated or adjusted by the users and they could be devices being bought off the streets of the black market, or the use of the device is taking a different turn from what had been utilised in the past. We just dont know enough about making it safe at this point, so about making it safe at this point, so the advice is, if you dont vape, dont start. If you are vaping, please stop. And certainly if you have any symptoms relating to what has been described, talk to your pa rents, has been described, talk to your parents, your child and to your doctor, and be very honest about what you have been doing, and that might help bring a link to the a nswer might help bring a link to the answer as to what has been going on. Considering not much is known, is the regulation around vaping keeping up the regulation around vaping keeping up with what we do know so far . We have been concerned for a number of yea rs have been concerned for a number of years at the association that the number of products in the United States market have not been regulated. It has been very slow to eliminate the number of flavours that attract young people and we are concerned that a Younger Generation of individuals are becoming addicted to nicotine. We know that the cigarettes have been studied and are harmful. We dont know the long term effects but we also know they could bea effects but we also know they could be a gateway drug to more smoking because nicotine is the main ingredient of all of these devices and nicotine is a very addictive substance, especially in the adolescent age group, when that brain is developing and nicotine causes the addiction that could last a lifetime potentially. Thank you very much forjoining us this evening. And some news just breaking now the british work and pensions secretary amber rudd has Just Announced her resignation on twitter. We will keep across that for you, of course. As fires rage through the amazon, half a world away another environmental catastrophe is unfolding. Rainforests in madagascar are disappearing at an alarming rate. Eariler today the pope, whos visiting the country, expressed concern over the rate of deforestation making it a key topic in his address to a crowd of 800,000 people. Gemma coombe reports. This is what is left of kirindy forest. On the western side of madagascar, it spans 100,000 hectares but it has lost almost half its size injust hectares but it has lost almost half its size in just two decades. Translation the people who are in charge of the forest tell us we are doing wrong. On the one hand, they arrive because the forest is nature, it is gods creation, but on the other hand, as a human being, it nourishes us. That is how it works here. The forest is home to a multitude of rare species, like this tiny grey mouse lima. Its cousin hasnt been spotted here for more than two years. We do not find the animal in places where we found it before and we are not sure if that isa before and we are not sure if that is a shift of the population or if it is really a decline. Workers are paid just 13. 40 by businesses with links to local politicians for every hectare cleared. Maize is planted and then the crops are taken to big cities, where the kernals are taken. Everybody sees the trucks of maize coming back and forth, usually at night, but nobody records them or ta kes night, but nobody records them or takes pictures or takes a note of where they go. The government has been trying to crack down on those causing the destruction. Several farmers have been arrested and crops of corn destroyed, but it is not enough. Pope francis, who is currently in madagascar on a three nation african tour, has denounced the illegal logging and exploitation of the unique natural resources. And he has pleaded with the government to do more to stop the corruption thatis to do more to stop the corruption that is ravaging the island. Lets get all the sport. Thank you. Its looking very unlikely that england can win back the ashes from australia. With a day to play of the fourth test, england are 18 2, chasing 365 to win and keep the series alive. Andy swiss was watching at old trafford. England fans will know they will need something very special indeed if they are to save this match and their ashes hopes. Early on, england had resumed their first innings their ashes hopes. Early on, england had resumed theirfirst innings but once ben stokes had gone for 26, the rest of the batting fell away. They did at least past the follow on target thanks to jos buttler did at least past the follow on target thanks tojos buttler but he was eventually out. England finally dismissed for 301 in their first innings, trailing by 196. Australia we re innings, trailing by 196. Australia were soon in trouble in their second innings. They were 44 for four. At that point the england bowlers had a hope they might be able to launch a comeback but steve smith took things away from them. A superb 82 from him and really batted england out of the match. England were set a target of 383. Realistically, though, their target was just a somehow backed out the rest of the match and secure a draw but they got off to the worst possible start, as rory burns and thenjoe possible start, as rory burns and then joe root went possible start, as rory burns and thenjoe root went in the very first over. They eventually finished the day just two wickets over. They eventually finished the dayjust two wickets down but they know they will need to bat out the whole of the final day if they are to secure a draw. If they cannot do that, then australia will retain the ashes. Lets bring you up to date with the latest round of euro 2020 qualfiers. England captain harry kane scored a hat trick in their 4 0 win over bulgaria, which took them back to the top of their group, above kosovo, who beat the czech republic. Also wins for ukraine and iceland the other games are well into the second half. The final of the womens singles at the us open is under way. Serena williams is going for a record equalling 24th grand slam. Shes up against teenager bianca andreescu, whos impressed on route to her first major final. Lets speak david law, whos commentating on the match for the bbc. David, incredible achievement already for serena. How much this win mean for her . It would be a huge deal for her to finally draw level with Margaret Court on 24 grand slam singles titles. That would be the record equalling title for her and shes been chasing it for a while. She lost her last three titles, finals, rather. Shes been in two wimbledon finals and the us open final last year. All the controversy with the umpire that you will remember from last year. She is here up against a 19 year old, a prodigious talent, who is playing in only herfourth grand slam tournament, and yet here she is in the final, and she has the first opportunity in as much. She has a break point in the very first game. We are expecting quite a match here. Andreescu, are we looking at the next womens star . Absolutely. Shes just broken serena in the very first game of the match. Very exciting to watch. She has everything, really. She has a lot of power, she has touch, imagination on the court, and she carries herself around the court as if shes been playing on the big stage is four yea rs. Playing on the big stage is four years. And yet here she is only in her first full years. And yet here she is only in herfirst full us years. And yet here she is only in her first full us open. She lost in the qualifying a year ago, she is in the qualifying a year ago, she is in the final today and shes already a break up on Serena Williams. Interesting stuff going on. How do you expect the match to play out . Very interesting question. You could make a strong argument for pretty much any manner of results and method of getting there, really. I kinda think it could end up being close because these two players have been head and shoulders better than anyone else in the draw. It is the best of three sets. Thats not very long to get your form and if you come out nervous, you find yourself a long way home before you get going. However, a big backhander just been greeted by a standing ovation from the crowd from Serena Williams, so she is finding her range as well. But early stages here with both players striking the ball well. It could be a close one. Thank you for that. That is from flushing meadows. Thats all the sport for 110w. Lets get more now on our breaking news. In a strongly worded attack on the policies and actions of Boris Johnson, amber rudd said she no longer believes you leaving the eu with a negotiated deal is the governments intention and she said the decision by the Prime Minister to expel 21 conservatives for voting against the government was an assault on decency and democracy and an act of political vandalism. Now, she has of course been a minister in the uk government since 2016, although she was briefly out of the cabinet last year. And this is just the end of a to motorist week for the end of a to motorist week for the british government, just as mps are preparing for legal action in case Boris Johnson are preparing for legal action in case borisjohnson refuses to seek a delay in brexit. The end of a tumultuous week. An Iranian Oil Tanker seized by british marines of the coast of gibraltar at the end ofjuly has been spotted off the coast of syria. The tanker was disdained because of being suspected to travel to syria against eu sanctions. The tanker was detained. Thank you for watching. Goodbye for 110w. Hello. A fine start to the weekend across much of the uk. You might have picked up the odd shower across england or wales but the last of these clearing away from southern england. Overnight you could catch one brushing the coast of east anglia. Cloud increasing across north west england and scotland, Holding Temperatures up elsewhere. A chilly night to come under clear skies. 4 7 degrees and possibly a touch of frost in the coldest parts of eastern scotland and north east england. Plenty of sunshine around to start the day tomorrow. Some cloud around east anglia and eastern kent. The great north run, you couldnt ask for better conditions for running. Good luck to everyone taking part. This is how sunday is shaping up. Patchy cloud developing the england and wales but staying dry with sunny spells, apart from the chance of a shower towards the coast of east anglia and kent. Eastern Scotland Holding on sunshine before south west scotland clouds over. North west scotland and northern ireland, cloudy, patchy like rain and drizzle and temperatures at 15 18. Looking a bit warmerfor temperatures at 15 18. Looking a bit warmer for eastern scotland compared with today. For the final day of the test match at old trafford, it is going to be another cool day and, like it or lump it, another dry day. This is the big picture going into monday. Some rain with this frontal system coming in from the atlantic and some will be heavy. It means a milder start. You can see the extent of the cloud and the outbreaks of rain. Not too much reaching eastern parts of england. Similar to wales in the south west and it will be quite heavy. Temperatures on the cool side on monday with many of us at about the mid teens mark. Further weather systems coming on as we go through next week. Some will bring heavy rain at times and pretty brisk winds. It wont be wet all the time. There will be dry and brighter moments as well and it will start to get a bit warmer by the end of the week going into next weekend. Hello, this is bbc news. The headlines in another blow to Boris Johnson, amber rudd has resigned as work and pensions secretary and quit the conservative party. She made the announcement on twitter, saying, i have resigned from cabinet and surrendered the conservative whip. I cannot stand by white while. Mrs rudd was seen by some as an unlikely member of Boris Johnsons cabinet, having campaigned for remain ahead of the 2016 referendum. She was first elected in 2010 as the