earlier, i spoke with the executive director of the center for human rights in iran, hadi ghaemi, about the prisoner swap, and what it means for both countries. let mejust open let me just open first and foremost by saying how happy we are and congratulate the families and individuals�*s hostages that should never have beenin hostages that should never have been in this place and they were just been in this place and they werejust in been in this place and they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. regarding the deal, i would say that the proof is in the pudding. i have two concerns, one is that world are $6 billion really be used only for humanitarian trade and necessities that... because this money really belongs to the iranian people, not the iranian government, and the iranian government, and the iranian people have risen up against this government for the past year, for sure, so we better make sure that if any money travels in the geography of that direction, it benefits the iranian people. the second issueis the iranian people. the second issue is what us officials said today they are going to work very hard to ensure there is an end and a rise in cost to this kind of behaviour and hostagetaking. i'm afraid this particular deal does not take any step in that direction and i have yet to see policies that are truly multilateral, and bring together many countries that should engage in pressuring iran to put an end to this. i pressuring iran to put an end to this. ., ., ., to this. i want to ask you about that _ to this. i want to ask you about that first _ to this. i want to ask you about that first concern, | to this. i want to ask you - about that first concern, hadi, you mention. the biden administration said it will make sure these funds are used forfood, make sure these funds are used for food, for humanitarian goods, by monitoring and by financial sanctions. goods, by monitoring and by financialsanctions. do goods, by monitoring and by financial sanctions. do you believe that is possible? well, they have _ believe that is possible? well, they have given _ believe that is possible? well, they have given up _ believe that is possible? well, they have given up direct - they have given up direct monitoring for sure and sub let it to qatari government and banks. i want to see that the biden administration should publicly provide every record of expenditure of this money, if actually is going to be the case. not sure if the banks have enough incentive financially in true corrupt deals with iran not to divert that money, and iranian people really need that money for food and other humanitarian items. so this is all coming just a few days after the anniversary of the death of mahsa amini, as you know. what does this deal mean to iranians?— mean to iranians? when i talk to peeple _ mean to iranians? when i talk to peeple from _ mean to iranians? when i talk to people from all _ mean to iranians? when i talk to people from all walks - mean to iranians? when i talk to people from all walks of. to people from all walks of life in iran, there is somewhat of bafflement about the timing of bafflement about the timing of it. i'm not sure if the biden administration understood what a great topic and a tool it is handing over to the iranian government, to tell its people that not only it can repress, kill, maim, torture them but it can also manipulate international relations to get access to frozen funds, and keep taking hostages. and on the other hand, people like to stay real. it also coincides with the un general assembly, which is a very important moment in international relations. the iranian people like to see iran be focused on for example the fact—finding mission in the un established last year, and why is the iranian government not cooperating with it, rather than be talking about the iran us relations in this angle right now. so we really need to balance western policy towards iran with support and solidarity in a meaningful way for the iranian people's movement.— for the iranian people's movement. and hadi, last question. _ movement. and hadi, last question, 30 _ movement. and hadi, last question, 30 seconds - movement. and hadi, last question, 30 seconds or . movement. and hadi, last i question, 30 seconds or so, what is your message to the biden administration this week at the un general assembly in new york as to how they should approach iran going forward? i strongly urge them to pick up on a declaration that canada initiated in february 2021, and the us has strongly supported, along with 69 other countries, called the declaration against arbitrary detention in the state to state relations, that declaration in this un general assembly should be highlighted, and if 70 countries bring their political muscle together, i am sure the iranian government would take note. it is just that the biden administration needs to take that leadership role together with european governments and canada as well. very good to have your programme tonight, thank you so much. here in new york, world leaders have been arriving for the un's annual general assembly. it's under the shadow of the second year of war in ukraine, and amid a series of global climate catastrophes. 140 heads of state and government are set to attend, with global disputes between big powers likely to hurt any chance of improving relations and making progress on key issues, including the ukraine war, climate, poverty, and more. countries will debate and vote on international issues of economic development, humanitarian aid, peace and conflict. here's what to watch for this week. for the first time, ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky is attending the summit in person. he's then set to head to washington to meet with us presidentjoe biden. several non—western leaders, including brazilian president luiz inacio lula da silva and south africa's cyril ramaphosa, will make speeches pushing for the rebalancing of the global system, advocating for what's often referred to as the global south. and president biden is set to meet with israeli president benjamin netanyahu, wednesday, to improve the strained relationship between the two leaders, though it's not the meeting setting netanyahu had hoped for. earlier, my colleague catriona perry spoke with the president of the un general assembly, dennis francis, to preview more of what's ahead this week here. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news, president. this is honestly a very busy week at the general assembly but also special summit on the sdgs, globalfinance, high—level global finance, high—level health meetings, globalfinance, high—level health meetings, but leaders of some of the most powerful countries have chosen not to attend. france, the uk, india, china, russia. do you consider that a snob?— that a snob? no, i don't. i don't at— that a snob? no, i don't. i don't at all. _ that a snob? no, i don't. i don't at all. of— that a snob? no, i don't. i don't at all. of course, - that a snob? no, i don't. i don't at all. of course, wej don't at all. of course, we hoped that the house would be full, but we appreciate that leaders may have other pressing matters that require their attention, and i am sure the views and perspectives of those countries not led by heads of state and all government will be expressed and represented by their heads of delegation. but if ou their heads of delegation. but if you have — their heads of delegation. but if you have only one of the five permanent members sending barely to hear, does that raise legitimacy issues about the un? no, it doesn't, because the permanent members have a special status in the context of the security council. the business we are discussing this week, while peace and security is high on the agenda of course, it expands well beyond the security council. this is the security council. this is the 506 the security council. this is the sdg summit today. it is the broad strategic plan for lifting people out of poverty and hunger, for making the world a morejust, safer, more productive for treating with human rights abuses wherever they are, for treating with the issue of violence against women and girls for example. find issue of violence against women and girls for example.— and girls for example. and we will talk about _ and girls for example. and we will talk about the _ and girls for example. and we j will talk about the sustainable development goals and just a minute, but you mention there safety. have the issue of one member, russia, invading the sovereignty of another nation, ukraine, and many would say the un, in all its factions, has been somewhat powerless to stop that. flit been somewhat powerless to stop that. . ., , , ., that. of course, the un is not at all happy — that. of course, the un is not at all happy or— that. of course, the un is not at all happy or pleased - that. of course, the un is not at all happy or pleased that i at all happy or pleased that the hostilities continue in ukraine, we wish that it would end sooner rather than later, and that lives can be saved, and that lives can be saved, and we hope that the combatants will observe their international obligations, particularly with respect to the use of certain kinds of weapons, namely cluster munitions. the fact of the matter is that ukraine, what is going on in ukraine, will continue for some time. we do not know when it will end. as i said, we hope it is sooner rather than later. however, while that is taking place, the international community, as constituted in the un, must focus on other compelling issues that require attention on the part of the international community. things like international debt, climate change, climate finance, the health issues that have come to the surface in the context of covid—i9, which incidentally we should remind ourselves is not yet over. so theissues ourselves is not yet over. so the issues on the table are issues that are live issues and important issues for countries across the spectrum. and they will bring that energy and dynamism to the discussion, hopefully in a manner that will create the positive outcomes that we need.— create the positive outcomes that we need. another region where there _ that we need. another region where there has _ that we need. another region where there has been - that we need. another region where there has been a - that we need. another region where there has been a lot i that we need. another region where there has been a lot of conflict this year is africa. we have seen coups in gabon, legionnaire, sudan. would you like to see a permanent seat at the security council for a nation from africa? those are matters that _ nation from africa? those are matters that within _ nation from africa? those are matters that within the - nation from africa? those are matters that within the realm | matters that within the realm of the membership. of course i have views, personal views, of the membership. of course i have views, personalviews, but it is not the proper role of the president of the general assembly to seek to impose his or her views on the house. those conflicts and many others have resulted in a lot of displaced persons. in sudan alone, an estimated 4 million people. what you say to those member countries who are taking an increasingly hard line migrants?— migrants? that is an unfortunate - migrants? that is an unfortunate course l migrants? that is an | unfortunate course of migrants? that is an - unfortunate course of action. because these are people who are desperately in need of help, support and relief. it is not a choice that they have made, perse, to not a choice that they have made, per se, to leave their homelands and seek refuge elsewhere. 0ne homelands and seek refuge elsewhere. one of the things, one of the big practical preoccupations of the united nations is that, in humanitarian circumstances, we need to reach out and assist others who are in desperate need of help, and the disruption that has resulted from these conflicts mean that people are in extremely vulnerable situations. they need support and assistance, and so i would ask those countries to rethink those policies, and to admit and support. we saw it magnificently done with ukraine for example, when the war first started. many ukrainian citizens crossed the border into neighbouring countries, where they were welcomed, they were given food and shelter. i gather that, were given food and shelter. i gatherthat, in were given food and shelter. i gather that, in many cases, they have been integrated into they have been integrated into the school system so the kids can go to school. that is the kind of support and help and disposition that we hope will be replicated in all theatres of the world.— be replicated in all theatres of the world. many of those issues are _ of the world. many of those issues are the _ of the world. many of those issues are the sustainable i issues are the sustainable development goals as well, if we can just talk about that, given the special summit is on today. given the special summit is on toda . , given the special summit is on today-- the _ given the special summit is on today. yes. the progress is not what anyone — today. yes. the progress is not what anyone would _ today. is; the progress is not what anyone would like. do today. 123 the progress is not what anyone would like. do you think it can make that up in the second half? absolutely, because the _ the second half? absolutely, because the human - the second half? absolutely, because the human spirit, i the second half? absolutely, i because the human spirit, when it decides to take action, takes decisive action. we have seen it over and over again. but, more than that, what really is required is the political will to act, to deliver the sdgs. it cannot be acceptable in the 2ist—century that acceptable in the 21st—century that 1.2 billion people live in abject poverty, in the midst of so much wealth. wealth is important. it's critical. we need to create wealth. economies need to create wealth for growth, forjobs, for sustainability. but we also need to bring people who are in the margins, the forgotten, those without voices, into the system, so that they have a stake in it, and so that their lives can be improved, and the lives can be improved, and the lives of their children can be improved. 0therwise, lives of their children can be improved. otherwise, we would have failed. sustainability, there, becomes —— sustainability, therefore, becomes a critical dimension of the work and vision of the united nations has for development. that is called a sustainable development goals. and how would you describe the challenge that lies ahead now in the second half? the challenge, _ in the second half? the challenge, as _ in the second half? the challenge, as i - in the second half? the challenge, as i said, i in the second half? ii2 challenge, as i said, political will is top of the agenda. the international community needs to show solidarity. fire international community needs to show solidarity.— to show solidarity. are there secific to show solidarity. are there specific areas, _ to show solidarity. are there specific areas, though, - to show solidarity. are there specific areas, though, that l specific areas, though, that are particularly problematic? i think there are. education is once. it is one of the great liberators. it allows people to move up the social ladder. it expands the minds of people, allows them to be able to function at a very sophisticated level based on their own ambitions and the quality of life they would like to live. so education is a challenge because in many parts of the world access and quality education is not available for young people, for children. and in some parts of the world, in addition, girls are denied their rights to an education. this is a fundamental human right. it is therefore not something that should exist and thatis something that should exist and that is why it is an important dimension of the agenda for 2030. , ., ., ., ., 2030. great, well on that note we will leave _ 2030. great, well on that note we will leave it _ 2030. great, well on that note we will leave it there _ 2030. great, well on that note we will leave it there because l we will leave it there because i know you are under time and pressure and we do appreciate you speaking to our. hat pressure and we do appreciate you speaking to our.— you speaking to our. not at all. you speaking to our. not at all- thank— you speaking to our. not at l all. thank you for having me. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. canadian prime ministerjustin trudeau said canada's security agencies are actively pursing credible allegations of a potential link between indian government agents and the murder of a sikh separatist leader in british columbia injune. trudeau says he had raised concerns, "personally and directly" to indian prime minister narendra modi at the g20 last week. and, an unusually well—preserved dinosaur skeleton, known as barry, is on display in paris ahead of its sale at an auction next month. it's expected to fetch up to a whopping $1.2 million — that's 970,000 pounds. the camptosaurus, which is about 150—million years old, was discovered in the 1990s in the us state of wyoming. prince william has arrived in new york for the first time since 2014. the duke of wales will speak at the earthshot summit on tuesday and help announce the 15 finalists. here he is at the billion 0yster project on governors island meeting with volunteers. you're live with bbc news. the ukrainian government has dismissed six deputy defence ministers, saying "a reboot of the system" is needed. it comes after the appointment of a new defence minister, seen here, less than two weeks ago. in recent months, the department has been accused of corruption over the procurement of some supplies. meanwhile, hearings have begun today at the international court ofjustice, focusing on russia's invasion of ukraine that began in february 2022. kyiv argues russia is abusing international law byjustifying its unlawful invasion on alleged genocide claims in eastern ukraine. ukraine has denied the kremlin�*s accusations. bbc�*s anna holligan has more from the hague. ukraine has emphatically and repeatedly denied moscow's allegations that pro— russian people in eastern ukraine were being subjected to bullion, harassment and genocide by kyiv and accuse moscow of using these allegations, false baseless claims of genocide, to justify the invasion. but this week and next, the hearings focus on jurisdiction. week and next, the hearings focus onjurisdiction. so russia has argued that the icj, the un's highest court, has no jurisdiction because it argues the genocide convention under which ukraine brought this case to the icj does not cover the use of force between state. on the opening day of hearings on monday, we heard from russia's representative who said that ukraine's arguments, ukraine's legal position, is hopelessly fraught. we will be hearing from ukraines lawyers on tuesday and then on wednesday from the 32 states intervening in support of ukraine's position. a decision on the jurisdiction is expected in months, providing thejudges decide they do have a legal mandate to hear this case, they would then look at the merits, look at ukraine's case. but although the courts rulings are binding, it does not have any powers of enforcements, so no police for. so russia could in theory ignore any future decision that goes against it. however, it could still benefit ukraine in so far as any future victims, reparation claims and could also be useful in terms of setting a precedent that could be used in other cases currently ongoing relating to this conflict. now to libya's recovery from devastating floodings there. officials say at least three greek rescue workers have died in a road accident as they were travelling from benghazi to derna, the area worst hit by the floods. seven others were critically injured. rescue teams continue to retrieve the bodies of the many libyans who died, when two dams burst amid the flooding. un agencies warned that derna faces the threat of disease outbreaks, as people struggle with sanitation and hygiene. they say 30,000 people have been left homeless in derna. in the uk, torrential downpours have prompted dangerous flooding conditions in parts of the country. bbc�*s janine jansen has this report. mud, hideous mud. the big clean—up is under way. here in the village of harvard and in devon 20 homes were flooded. betty baldwin's house was the worst affected. just betty baldwin's house was the worst affected.— betty baldwin's house was the worst affected. just woke up in the niuht worst affected. just woke up in the night to — worst affected. just woke up in the night to hear— worst affected. just woke up in the night to hear awful - worst affected. just woke up in the night to hear awful lot - worst affected. just woke up in the night to hear awful lot of l the night to hear awful lot of water, like the sea. and i was where is all that see coming from? i went to the window and i shouted out, i can't get out, i shouted out, i can't get out, i can't get out. i was so frightened. help me please. here the whole community came together to help the 95—year—old. together to help the 95-year-old.- together to help the 95-year-old. together to help the 95- ear-old. ,, ., , , 95-year-old. she was very distressed. _ 95-year-old. she was very distressed. it _ 95-year-old. she was very distressed. it is _ 95-year-old. she was very distressed. it is her- 95-year-old. she was very distressed. it is her 96th l distressed. it is her 96th birthday in two weeks time and you can imagine — herfurniture was floating in this room. i had to climb through the window and step into literally it was over my knee.— and step into literally it was over my knee. for betty. all the mud _ over my knee. for betty. all the mud went _ over my knee. for betty. all the mud went in, _ over my knee. for betty. all the mud went in, it - over my knee. for betty. all the mud went in, it must've| the mud went in, it must've been — the mud went in, it must've been about three or four inches deeu _ been about three or four inches deeu all— been about three or four inches deep. all the way through the house — deep. all the way through the house document so the villagers have _ house document so the villagers have all— house document so the villagers have all rallied together and have — have all rallied together and have been shovelling mud and cleaning — have been shovelling mud and cleaning it out.— cleaning it out. betty has lived here _ cleaning it out. betty has lived here since - cleaning it out. betty has lived here since she - cleaning it out. betty has lived here since she was| cleaning it out. betty has - lived here since she was eight years old and she had laid out the invitations for her 96th birthday party but they got washed away. when the fire brigade came to get her out they took her out through the conservatory because they did not want her to see the state of hope beloved home. rhodes turned into rivers. the coastal town of dawlish ran red. elsewhere butlin's in line head was foster close for four days and exeter airport closed yesterday. this family in swindon woke up to find their garden transformed into a swimming pool and garden transformed into a swimming pooland in kentand in devon it's feared it could take days for floodwaters to recede. the storms in the south—west have now passed but heavy rain and floodwaters up forecast for wales in the north of england over the coming days. london's metropolitan police has confirmed it's received a report of an alleged sexual assault in 2003, and is in contact with the woman, following media investigations into sexual misconduct claims made against the british comedian, russell brand. four women have accused him of sexual assault and emotional abuse — allegations he denies. his current uk live tour has now been postponed, and he's been dropped by his publisher. one of the women who has accused russell brand of sexual misconduct says she was just 16 when she had a relationship with him. she told radio 4's woman's hour that a car picked her up at school and took her to the comedian's home. the woman is being referred to as alice, and her words have been voiced by an actor: he knew before we ever went on our first date. so when we met initially and he took my number and asked me out on a date he did not — she had not asked me but he did know so i texted him prior to it because he said to me he knew that i was stalling on agreeing on a date with him and he said, why aren't you? he said what is going on? why don't you want to go out with me? i said don't you want to go out with me? isaid because don't you want to go out with me? i said because i have got something to tell you. i said i am 16. and hejust replied saying 0k, am 16. and hejust replied saying ok, so we are still on for dinner at 730. how old was he? . . for dinner at 730. how old was he? ., , ,':ifi for dinner at 730. how old was he? . , ;;:: . ., for dinner at 730. how old was he? ., , ,': i: . ., i. for dinner at 730. how old was he? ., , ,':ifi . ., i. ., for dinner at 730. how old was he? i, , pi: i i, i, i, he? he was 30. what you want to sa about he? he was 30. what you want to say about that _ he? he was 30. what you want to say about that now _ he? he was 30. what you want to say about that now is _ he? he was 30. what you want to say about that now is an - say about that now is an older woman? ., i: say about that now is an older woman? ., i, i, , p i: , woman? now that i am in my 30s, lookin: at woman? now that i am in my 30s, looking at 16 _ woman? now that i am in my 30s, looking at 16 -year-olds, - woman? now that i am in my 30s, looking at 16 -year-olds, i- looking at 16 —year—olds, i can't even imagine finding him sexually attractive. i cannot imagine even thinking of them as that. a potential mate in any way. it seems any feelings i have towards them maternal protective feeling. i could not even imagine — you just don't even imagine — you just don't even put them into that category in your head. as i became an older woman and began reaching the same age as him, thatis reaching the same age as him, that is when i really started to feel angry. that is when i really started to feel angry-— to feel angry. and felt like what had _ to feel angry. and felt like what had happened - to feel angry. and felt like what had happened was i to feel angry. and felt like | what had happened was not consensual in inverted so would you describe that. because although it is technical legal, the power imbalance, which is what you are referring to there, it's huge in this? yes. and just _ there, it's huge in this? yes. and just because _ there, it's huge in this? yes. and just because he - there, it's huge in this? yes. and just because he was - there, it's huge in this? yes. i and just because he was telling me that i'm a very intelligent woman, i'm mature, being intelligent does not mean that you are not naive and that you are not vulnerable. and that you don't have the life experience and your brain is not fully developed. idols? experience and your brain is not fully developed. now the bbc sa s not fully developed. now the bbc says it — not fully developed. now the bbc says it is _ not fully developed. now the bbc says it is urgently - not fully developed. now the | bbc says it is urgently looking into the issues raised by allegations made against its former employee. its former employee. thank you for watching bbc news. state with us. hello there. it has definitely been a gear change with the weather story in recent days. an autumnal flavour to our weather. we will certainly see threatening—looking skies for the remainder of the week and some of the rain at times really quite heavy. so here is the next batch pushing in off the atlantic. just look how many isobars there are on the chart. the winds a feature and some of that rain really quite heavy. so, to start with, on tuesday, the wettest of the weather moving out of northern ireland across southern scotland, northern england and wales. and we'll see this frontal system moving its way south and north throughout the day. now it never really gets all the way across central and southern england, so here, brighter skies into the afternoon, pretty windy. gusts of winds ao—asmph in places, maybe close to 60mph in exposed west facing coast and the heaviest of the rain across north—west england, scottish borders and northern ireland. the far north of scotland, bright as well, not quite as windy here but it will be noticeably fresher. top temperatures here around 13—15 celsius. we mightjust see 20 celsius further south if we get a little bit of afternoon brightness. now as we move out to tuesday into wednesday there's another area of low pressure and this one has the remnants, a little bit of energy from ex—hurricane lee there. so this one again will mean business, a lot of heavy rain sweeping its way steadily eastwards. don't forget the brighter greens denoting the intensity of that rain and the winds again a feature, 50—60mph gusts not out of the question, particularly close to the centre of the low and far west of scotland. the top temperatures again, 14—21 celsius the high. so as we move out to wednesday there's more to come and it's all because the jet stream at the moment has sunk that little bit further south, it's intensified and centred across the uk. ——move out of wednesday now all we know by now it's the jet stream, this ribbon of fast—moving air high up in the atmosphere that drives in areas of low pressure. and if it centres across the uk, then it's going to continue to push further areas of low in our direction. just look what's waiting in the wings as we head through the weekend. so, be prepared for some showers or longer spells of rain, the winds remaining a feature. a brief window of finer weather potentially on saturday. take care. v0|ce—0ver: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. margaret atwood. one of the world's best—selling critically—acclaimed authors, she's published more than 60 books, and has won the booker prize, twice. the winner of the first booker prize of the 21st century, margaret atwood. cheering and applause. her stories often centre on oppression and brutality. most famously, her 1985 novel, the handmaid's tale, a dystopian vision of america, in which women are enslaved, now an emmy award—winning television series. there's an eye in your house. in this episode of this cultural life, the radio 4 programme, she reveals her formative influences and experiences, and how, even in high school, her creativity was clear. i put on a home economics opera. it was about fabrics. can you remember how it goes? # fabrics need a swim in the suds. # it makes them feel just like new. # plink—plink, plink—plink. laughter.