Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At Ten 20240713

Of mps at westminster. Well have the latest from westminster and from brussels, where the eu summit will get under way tomorrow. Also on the programme. As Kurdish Forces fight to retain territory, under turkish attack, President Trump says the conflict is no longer a matterfor the us. Our soldiers are not in harms way, as they shouldnt be, as two countries fight over land that has nothing to do with us. Harry dunns parents at the white house they say they were shocked to be asked to meet the American Woman accused of killing their son in a car crash. And william and kate in the mountains of the hindu kush, to see for themselves the effects of Global Warming. And coming up on sportsday on bbc news, several men have been arrested after Bulgarian Police identify suspects who racially abused england players in this weeks euro qualifier in sofia. Good evening. The frantic search for a last minute brexit deal has reached new levels today on the eve of the european summit in brussels. Officials are said to have agreed the basis of a new agreement, but hopes of finalising the work by midnight tonight are fading. The Prime Minister, borisjohnson, has been trying to get conservative brexit supporters and Northern Irelands dup to back his revised plan for the future of Northern Ireland after brexit. This report from our political editor, laura kuenssberg, contains some flash photography. Hes in a rush, a terrible rush. Keep working, he says. Eu leaders will be there in the afternoon. And the negotiators on both sides will have to give their verdict to their political masters. The big players in europe desperately want this all to come to a conclusion. Everybody understands the english but nobody understands england laughter and these negotiations are taking part somewhere in this not very beautiful building. Can there be a new understanding, after so many confusions along the way . It matters most for the Prime Minister, who swept into office with a promise to fix this, his fate bound up with what happens next on brexit and, just like theresa may, he has a party and parliament that is divided, brexiteers whose votes he needs. He must keep them all on board. Obviously, standing here, hoping to be able to vote for a deal which amounts to a brexit worth having but, as i said elsewhere, you know, there are thousands of people counting on us to make sure this really is a brexit worth having. They have been in and out of number 10, just like earlier. The dup, johnsons Northern Irish allies. Well, we are continuing the discussions and no doubt we will Say Something later on today. Who are nervous about what comes next. Reluctant to give away too much in a compromise over customs, with worries about the union in the future. And, believe it or not, secrecy about the deal is so tight that even the cabinet dont really know what is next. Its all going marvellously. You know as much as i do. Im here rather than in brussels, but we are hopeful. Clearly, there are very intensive discussions under way but, you know, we cannot be certain what the outcome will be. We can be sure, whatever a deal looks like, the opposition wont be backing it. I will ask all labour mps to vote along with the party in opposing any deal which damages rights and protections in our society or drives us into the arms of donald trump. But in the morning, it is the continents opinions that matter. France and germany would give any draft deal the same inspection. Can brexit happen soon, without too much disruption for them . I want to believe we are finalising it, the french president said. We will talk about it tomorrow. Angela merkel, more convinced in recent days that it can be done. But, to use their irritating but helpful old adage, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. The two sides seem closer tonight to a deal and they have been for the two sides seem closer tonight to a deal than they have been for months and months, but sources in the dup believe there are still gaps there and if one thing goes wrong, it could all go wrong, horribly and fast. Good sentiments tonight do not mean signatures on a page tomorrow. And if borisjohnson manages to clinch it and play the hero, in parliament, swathes of mps are ready to stand and fight. Laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. So, as the talks between the uk and eu negotiators continue tonight, theres been a sharp focus on the future of Northern Ireland after brexit. At the moment, goods flow freely between ireland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the uk because were all in the one Customs Union as part of the eu. Boris johnson believes Northern Ireland must leave the European Union Customs Union with the rest of the uk as part of brexit, but theres controversy about introducing any extra checks on either side of the land border between ireland and Northern Ireland, even if theyre away from the border itself. Checks on either side of the irish sea, between Northern Ireland and the rest of the uk, are also contentious. Theres also the issue of consent. Both sides agree there must be a role for the power sharing assembly at stormont, but its still unclear how that might happen. Lets go to brussels and speak to our europe editor, katya adler. What are they telling you about how close they are to actually agreeing this deal . Well, we understand that there is agreement on some of those broad, difficult issues that you mentioned, but the lights are still in the building behind me. The European Commission building is where these negotiations are taking place. For the eu, this really is a so near place. For the eu, this really is a so near and yet so far moment after three years of the brexit process. There is enormous brexit fatigue here and a big political will to get this deal done. That said, the eu is not under the same political and time pressure as the Prime Minister to get things done. He is the one who says it needs to get done this week, because he does not want to ask for another brexit extension. The eu is insisting it will not sign up the eu is insisting it will not sign up to anything until it is co mforta ble up to anything until it is comfortable with the new deal. The Prime Minister meets eu leaders here in brussels tomorrow. It is a regular summit by half been told that if a new legal brexit text appears in the next few hours here, that will be the first topic of discussion amongst the eu leaders tomorrow. And if they sign off on it, huw, they still wont be the big sigh of relief, and that is because they have been here before. A year ago, the eu signed off on another Brexit Agreement with theresa may which went on to be defeated several times in the house of commons. What brussels worries is that if there is a new brexit deal and it meets the same fate in the house of commons, that could lead to the government pocketing any concessions the eu is making now and then coming back and saying, eu, if you really want to avoid no deal brexit, you are going to have to give us more. Katya, thanks very much. Our europe editor katya adler in brussels. President trump has said the turkish assault on Kurdish Forces in Northern Syria has nothing to do with the United States. His abrupt decision to pull out us troops last week has led to russian and Syrian Government forces advancing into positions they once held. Mr trump has faced intense criticism at home and abroad after turkey invaded to create what it claims is a safe zone on the syrian side of the border. Our International Correspondent orla guerin reports from turkeys border with syria. Urban warfare in Northern Syria. Fighters backed by turkey still battling for control of the border town of ras al ain. They are facing fierce resistance from the kurds, women fighting alongside men. Its rare to get a glimpse of this side of the battle. But one week into turkeys invasion, president erdogan has taken a swathe of territory from the kurds and says he wont stop until he completes his so called safe zone. Translation operation peace spring will last until we reach a depth of 30 35 kilometres from manbij to the iraqi border. There is no doubt or hesitation about this. And here is an image that shows the new order in the strategic town of manbij. Flying the flag for president putin. His forces had a clear run here after americas hasty retreat, moscow eagerly filling the power vacuum. The russians, who back president assad, are patrolling between the syrians and the turks, keeping them apart and offering to mediate. As president erdogan fights on, the fallout is spreading and American Foreign policy in the middle east is certainly a casualty. Well, Turkish Forces are continuing to pound targets across the border in syria, and the battlefield there has changed rapidly. American forces have surrendered much of their leverage. The russians have increased theirs. For president assad, its a win, and for those opposing him in syrias long war, its a bitter pill to swallow. And heres another one, us forces pulling out of Northern Syria today, most now gone from the region. The kurds see this as a massive betrayal. For donald trump, they already sound like history. Our soldiers are not in harms way, as they shouldnt be, as two countries fight over land that has nothing to do with us. And the kurds are much safer right now, but the kurds know how to fight, and as i said, theyre not angels, theyre not angels. Those staunch us allies dismissed so casually were burying more dead today. Here, two fighters and a local journalist. But there are reports that around 70 civilians have been killed since the invasion began. Turkeys safe zone is becoming a burial ground. Orla guerin, bbc news, on the turkey syria border. Despite President Trumps public stance, his Vice President , mike pence, and secretary of state, mike pompeo, are due to arrive in turkey tomorrow to talk to the erdogan government about calling a ceasefire. In a moment, well be talking to our middle east editor, jeremy bowen, whos in the turkish capital, ankara. But first to our north america editor, jon sopel, in washington. What do we know now about the kind of pressure, if any, that President Trump has been putting on the turkish government . Well, i think he has been applying pressure, but he has been applying pressure, but he has also been undercutting the position of mike pence for this visit to ankara tomorrow by saying, we dont have a dog in the fight, this is between turkey and syria, nothing to do with us. How is america going to call for an immediate ceasefire if that is their position . But a letter has been released which was sent last week to president erdogan in which he says, dont be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people. I dont want to be responsible for destroying the turkish economy. The letter ends, dont be a tough guy, dont be a fool. I will call you later. So he obviously put some pressure on, but to no avail. There has also been a meeting taking place at the white house this evening with senior democrats and republicans over the issue of turkey, and democrats walked out because they said it was a diatribe and not a dialogue, and in which the president called the speaker of the house, nancy pelosi, a third rate politician. You do sense that donald trump is feeling the pressure as well. Jon, many thanks. Lets go live to ankara and talk tojeremy bowen, our middle east editor. With this deputation on the way and in the context of President Trumps remarks, what are the prospects tomorrow for these talks . I think they will be difficult, it is hard to see where the Common Ground is. You heard from temp and acrobat threats, has made to destroy the turkish economy but there threats have been made to president erdogan who is a proud man for whom prestige matters a great deal. And he has told his people that he is fighting an absolutely justified he has told his people that he is fighting an absolutelyjustified war in syria against terrorists who threaten their lives and a lot of turks agree with him. Is he now going to say, no, actually, ive changed my mind . I dont think so. Is there some kind of an exit lane . For the turks . Possibly from the russians. Could they offer some sort of guarantee . Now, mr erdogan is due to go and see the russian president , mr putin, in the next week. The question is whether that meeting is more important than the one he is having with his nato allies who are coming overfrom the United States because the russians are more and more becoming the most influential foreign power in the middle east. They are the people who brokered the deal between the syrian state and the kurds. Could mr putin think he might become not just the kurds. Could mr putin think he might become notjust the puppet master of what is going on but also a potential peacemaker . We will see. Jeremy, once again, thank you, jeremy, once again, thank you, jeremy bowen in ankara and jon sopel in washington. Bulgarian police have arrested six people suspected of involvement in racist abuse against black england Football Players on monday evening. A further nine men have been identified and are under investigation by police authorities. The bulgarian commissioner for the interior has said bulgaria does not tolerate such behaviour. President trump has told reporters it was Boris Johnsons idea to engineer a meeting between harry dunns parents and the American Woman accused of causing his death. The 19 year old died when his motorbike collided with a car in northamptonshire last august. The woman left the uk for the United States claiming diplomatic immunity. The teenagers parents said they were pleased to be invited to the white house, but said they felt ambushed when the president suggested Anne Sacoolasjoin them, as our correspondent Duncan Kennedy reports. From new york to washington, this was the moment harry dunns family found themselves heading to the white house. But as soon as they went inside, donald trump revealed his surprise. He said the woman involved in harrys crash was in the room next door and and wanted to meet them. It didnt seem right. They say they were stunned and refused. He clearly wanted us to, you know, have that meeting, to try and bring some healing, i think was how he put it. But, you know, we havent begun to grieve yet. Some have described the whole idea of bringing her into the oval office as a bit of a stunt by the president. All of a sudden, you are sat in front of the president of the United States and he is trying to do something. Youve got your own things where we wanted to do things our own way and its quite. To steady yourself and think about what youre going to answer, its quite difficult. But lawyers for Anne Sacoolas said tonight she was disappointed the meeting in the white house did not go ahead. It was her car that hit harry dunn in august, after she drove on the wrong side of the road in northamptonshire. On American Television today, harrys parents again refused to demonise mrs sacoolas. They say they want justice, not revenge. President trump said today borisjohnson had asked him to set up the meeting between the two families. Later downing street clarified that by saying they had simply asked the white house for help. The only meeting harrys family want is back in written, their home, their loss. In britain. Duncan kennedy, bbc news, new york. There were chaotic scenes as the Hong Kong Parliament reopened today, forcing its leader, carrie lam, to abandon her annual policy address. The city has been rocked by protests sincejune, initially sparked by a proposal to allow extradition of criminal suspects to china. Injuly, demonstrators stormed the parliament, forcing it to shut down early. By september, the bill had been withdrawn but the protests, now focused on wider concerns that freedom was being eroded under chinese rule, have been growing increasingly violent. When she did speak by video link, carrie lam used her opening address to call for peace, but made no mention of the democratic reform protestors are calling for. Our china correspondent john sudworths report contains flashing images from the start. Chanting she had planned to draw a line under months of protest and division the streets. Instead, carrie lam was met with more of it in hong kongs parliament. With opposition mps, some Wearing Masks of the chinese president xijinping, calling for her to step down, she gave up on her speech. It was delivered instead in a video recording. And the main message a promise to help more hong kongers get on the property ladder. Hong kongs parliament hasnt met since it was stormed by protesters injuly. Months of violent demonstrations have followed over fears that hong kongs freedoms are being eroded under chinese rule. How can you hope to heal the divisions in this society if your policy address contains nothing to address the central issue driving the protests . This single policy address could not address or resolve the problems in society, especially those reflected in the social unrest. Of course, i do not agree or submit to the view that hong kongs rights and liberties and freedoms have been eroded in whatsoever way. With no political solution in sight, the violence has been intensifying, and the threat of Chinese Military intervention remains always in the background. This is a politician in a bind, caught between the Unstoppable Force of the protest movement and the immovable object of beijing. It is a political crisis with no easy solution in sight. More than the violence, the real challenge may be this the peaceful thousands who have lost faith in a system seemingly unwilling to reform itself. John sudworth, bbc news, hong kong. From friday, the United States will impose more than 7 billion worth of import taxes, ortariffs, on a range of goods from the eu, including single malt whisky from scotland. Its in retaliation for illegal government subsidies to the aircraft manufacturer airbus, the rival of the us firm boeing. The new tariffs are targeted at those four eu countries which helped airbus, including the uk. Our business editor, simonjack, takes a look at what the impact could be on scottish firms. A bolt from the blue. A is yearfeud between eu giant airbus and arch us rival boeing over government subsidies has seen the us allow to impose 7. 5 billion worth of tariffs on eu products, and the impact has landed right here, in speyside in scotland. From friday, single malt exports from scotland to the us, worth £1 billion, will be hit with a 25 tariff. Single malts from the republic of ireland will not. So, this has been matured in sherry casks for. This distillery sends 60,000 bottles of spey single malt to the us every year. Patricia dylan has been talking to us importers to grow that number. Those plans are now under review. We feel as though were being dragged into a trade war, which is nothing to do with us whatsoever, and because of the 25 tariffs that have been implemented in the us, this is something we cant possibly absorb into our business, so what we have to do is reconsider the market in the us that we are currently in. Its notjust whiskey makers under pressure. Cashmere made in scotland will also get hit. Cashmere makers in italy will not, and that putsjohnstons of elgin at a big disadvantage. In the very short term, we are going to have to absorb these costs, because we cant expect people to pay more for products theyve already ordered. In the longer term, this is going to hit consumers in the us, and that is going to mean that their cashmere is going to become more expensive. That, in turn, means we will be able to export less, grow less, and well have to downscale our plans. Here atjohnstons of elgin, and many other scottish businesses, theres a sense of confusion, even dismay, that theyre being dragged into a damaging trade war that they didnt start, and many are asking, if this is the way the us treats us now, what makes us think there will be any special treatment over trade when we are outside the eu . It seems that old friendships dont Beat National self interest. The uk isnt being targeted unfairly. There will be tariffs put on french products and german products and other products as well, butjust because we have a special relationship doesnt mean that we are willing to sacrifice our economic interest, in the context of a trade dispute or a trade negotiation, and that, by the way, applies to whatever future trade agreement might be negotiated between the us and the uk, as well. Whisky tariffs were raised on a call with donald trump last week, with the Prime Minister urging him to rethink. Meanwhile, the uk government told the bbc that securing a trade deal with the us is one of its highest priorities. What this shows is that, in the ebb and flow of trade, nothing is simple. Simonjack, bbc news, speyside. One of labours most senior mps, dame louise ellman, whos been a party memberfor 55 years, has announced in the past few minutes that shes leaving labour, of being unfit to become Prime Minister. The mp for liverpool riverside said that under mr corbyns leadership, anti semitism in labour had become mainstream. He had, she claimed, presided over a culture of hatred, fear and intolerance. Legislators in california have made it illegal to create or distribute so called deepfake images in the run up to an election. Deepfake technology can be used to manipulate images to make it look as if a person said or did something that never happened. Researchers say that theres an equally dangerous trend of using the technology in pornographic material. As part of the bbcs 100 women series, which pays tribute to inspiring and influential women from around the world, megha mohan spoke to a victim of deepfake technology, the former disney actress bella thorne. At a party in beverly hills, the hollywood actress bella thorne is raising awareness of Mental Health for a generation growing up online. A recent worry is deepfake technology. She has seen her likeness used on hundreds of online, non consensual pornographic films. Deepfake videos are when someones image can be manipulated to generate convincing representations of acts that never happened. We need to be more vigilant with what we trust from the internet. This is an extreme form of deepfake, because, first of all, it is real time. Yeah. And the second thing is that ijust need a single picture of that person. In seconds, Computer Scientist hao li can be anyone, from chinas president xijinping, to Scarlett Joha nsson. Deepfake technology is becoming easier and its most commonly used for pornography. Actress bella thorne, who starred in films like blended, has seen a video of her crying over the death of her father cut into a pornographic film. And then im, like, saying, something, something, but i miss him. Obviously my father is dead. And then they put that together with a girl masturbating, and this video is going around and everyone really is thinking that it is actually me. I dont know how we regulate apps and things like that, because it is notjust going to be your favourite celebrity or your favourite this person or this person that you want to put in this app, because you can do it to your best friend in school, if you decide you hate them so much. You can send it around to this person, you can do it to a famous politician, this or that. Its a concern shared by the former head of security at facebook, alex stamos. He worries the software may be widely used within the year to target non celebrities, the likes of you and me. The executives at these platforms have realised that the people who have been saying, our tools are being used for harm, are starting to win out, that they were right, and there needs to be more investment. This is going to be another field where people are going to specialise and spend years of their career trying to figure out how to stop it. Developers say, as the technology improves, deepfa kes will become more prevalent. In raising awareness, they hope to make us question the authenticity of what we view online. Megha mohan, bbc news. The duke and duchess of cambridge have visited a melting glacier as part of their tour of pakistan, travelling to the mountains of the hindu kush to see for themselves the effect of Global Warming. Prince william called for the uk and pakistan to Work Together on tackling what he called the impending global catastrophe. Our royal correspondentjonny dymond is travelling with them and sent this report. Even for the royals, its a rocky road up the hindu kush. William and catherine came here to see first hand the impact of a warming planet. The retreat of the glaciers that, across these mountains, serve nearly a quarter of humanity. When the glaciers melt, they send water tumbling down, flooding the region. And then, once theyre gone, theres nothing left for the rivers, the rivers that irrigate this hot, hard land. Its why the prince calls Global Warming an impending catastrophe. He came to learn but also to sound the alarm. 1. 6 billion people rely on this water behind us. That is an enormous amount of people who, bearing in mind a lot of people are now living urban lives, it is very hard to understand, living in an urban environment, where your water comes from and how precious the actual source of it all is. Blending in with the locals . Not quite, but a nice try. Applause william and catherine went to a remote village to learn about life outside the big cities. And they were sent back to the capital with dancing and smiles, and music ringing in their ears. Jonny dymond, bbc news, pakistan. Thats it. Newsnight is beginning on bbc two. Now on bbc one, time for the news where you are. Have a very good night. Hello and welcome to sportsday im gavin ramjaun. Six arrests so far and Bulgarian Police say more are likely as they look to identify those that racially abused englands black players. Manchester citys women fail to take the advantage, against the spanish champions, in European Competition tonight. And after a long wait, Katerina Johnson thompson tells us how sweet it was, to win a first world hepthalon title