Transcripts For BBCNEWS The 20240704

Largest hospital began. Combat has raged for days in and around the complex, which is crowded with patients and displaced people. President Volodymyr Zelensky has told the leaders of European Union Member States that its crucial to send more ammunition to ukraine. Speaking by video link to the summit in brussels, he said the amount of Artillery Shells available to ukrainian soldiers was humiliating for the whole of europe. Welcome to the programme. Apple. The us is accusing it of monopolising the Smartphone Market and crushing competition. Apple denies the claims. It says it will vigorously fight the lawsuit. Apple accused of using its power to limit competitors, as well as the options available to consumers. Heres the us Attorney General Merrick Garland making the announcement. But as our complaint alleges, apple has maintained Monopoly Power in the Smartphone Market not simply by staying ahead of the competition on merits. But by violating federal antitrust law. Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because Companies Break the law. We allege that apple has employed a strategy that relies on exclusionary, anti competitive conduct, that hurts both consumers and developers. For consumers, that has meant fewer choices and higher prices and fees, lower quality smartphones and apps and accessories and less innovation from apple and its competitors. For developers, that has meant being forced to play by rules that insulate apple from competition, and as outlined in our complaint, we allege that apple has consolidated its Monopoly Power, not by making its own products better, but by making other products worse. I asked tech columnist Taylor Lorenz what she thought of the Attorney General going after apple in this way. Its an Election Year in the united states, and i think a lot of consumers are looking for their lawmakers and people in government to be tough on big tech. We see things like the tiktok ban emerging in the House Of Representatives and tonnes of lawmakers shouting about facebook and google and control of these big companies. Apple has been in the cross hairs for a while because they are such a behemoth and have such control and because iphones are incredible popular here in the us, so i think they are a target that is kind of something that consumers are amenable to. What do you make of apples response that they will fight it, i presume, as you would expect, but talking about things like it is not able to continue to make the products, the premium kind of products that so many of their customers love, unless they have been doing what they been doing . I dont know if i necessarily buy that. I mean, look at the price increases we have seen, apple was also in trouble a few years ago for degrading Battery Quality over time with each subsequent update of the phone, so i think, you know, i am sympathetic in the sense i am iphone lover, i love it, but prices have gone up, i do not know if quality has improved. Things are tough out there for sure, but i think apple could do a bit better by their consumers, and even just the threat of being regulated will hopefully result in some more consumer friendly pricing and operations. Lets bring in the panel for the first time. Susie boniface and wills robinson, youre in the us wills robinson, youre in the us wills robinson, what do you make of this . It would be seen as a proper move and it would be seen as a proper move and the key thing as mentioned was prices will stop apple, a lot of us have it, i have an iphone as well, but it seems over the years weve gotten upgrades and new phones and software but the prices havent seemed and stayed the same, so is a popular decision, one of the main strategies of the Biden Administration going into this year is to help small businesses, and in this lawsuit, it is seen as a way of protecting smaller businesses who may have products and software that are similar to apple but they have simply been pushed out of the market because of apple plus Michael Monopolistic tendencies so it would be popular. In reality we will see how it impacts apple production and prices but it is not the end we will hear of it at all. It would drag out in the courts as long as possible. What was your reaction, susie . My reaction was hopefully we get to the point someday where big tech doesnt run the point someday where big tech doesnt run the world might that would be nice and run the world might that would be nice and actually governments we elect nice and actually governments we elect run nice and actually governments we elect run the world. It was apple who had elect run the world. It was apple who had to elect run the world. It was apple who had to as a result of European Union who had to as a result of European Union rules who had to as a result of European Union rules actually start making cables union rules actually start making cables interchangeable with other phones cables interchangeable with other phones because once you buy one of the accursed instruments, you are stuck the accursed instruments, you are stuck with the accursed instruments, you are stuck with that brand forever, whether stuck with that brand forever, whether you have android or iphone, that is whether you have android or iphone, that is you whether you have android or iphone, that is you for The End Of Time because that is you for The End Of Time because of the cables and the plugs and adaptors in a car chargers and enoises and adaptors in a car chargers and encases and and adaptors in a car chargers and encases and then you need the other one is encases and then you need the other one is spare. Encases and then you need the other one is spare, and theyve got you by the throat one is spare, and theyve got you by the throat. There actually is a way in which the throat. There actually is a way in which government somewhere, and its fairly in which government somewhere, and its fairly similar to what the american its fairly similar to what the American Government have previously sort of American Government have previously sort of Racketeering Charges that they brought against microsoft a few years ago. They brought against microsoft a few years ago, never quite got anywhere, but is years ago, never quite got anywhere, hut is this years ago, never quite got anywhere, but is this idea that you have one bil but is this idea that you have one big particular company, they have done big particular company, they have done a big particular company, they have done a great thing with a great product. Done a great thing with a great product, but it doesnt mean they should he product, but it doesnt mean they should be having us in our kidneys to the should be having us in our kidneys to the end should be having us in our kidneys to The End Of Time. | should be having us in our kidneys to The End Of Time. To The End Of Time. I want to put that final point to The End Of Time. I want to put that final point from to The End Of Time. I want to put that final point from a to The End Of Time. I want to put that final point from a susie to l that final point from a susie to you, not the kidneys bit, but the bit about this is a Success Story . Apple is a great company, its made a great product, its an american Success Story, what about that argument . Argument . You talk about the american argument . You talk about the american dream, argument . You talk about the american dream, you argument . You talk about the american dream, you want. Argument . You talk about the i american dream, you want other businesses to follow that and apple, as susie said, have dominated the market would chargers and everything that has their symbol on it, it is successful, you are right, but it needs to be some control on it. This is the latest up from the us on cracking down on big tech, google have been hit in microsoft and facebook, meta have been hit, so yes these are Success Stories but they are getting to be too big for their boots, to put it in simple terms, and so, as i said yes, Success Story but there needs to be controls going forward. We but there needs to be controls going forward. ~. ,. , forward. We will leave boots and kidneys alone forward. We will leave boots and kidneys alone for a forward. We will leave boots and kidneys alone for a moment, forward. We will leave boots and l kidneys alone for a moment, back with the boat shortly. Israel gaza war. The us Secretary Of State Antony Blinken in the region. Spoke in the last couple hours progress on Ceasefire Talks and the release of hostages. He says the gap between the two sides is narrowing. Lets ta ke lets take a listen. A clear consensus around a number of shared priorities. First, the need for an immediate and sustained cease fire with the release of hostages. That would create space to surge more humanitarian assistance to relieve the suffering of many people and to build something more enduring. We have been working, as you know, with egypt and qatar and with israel to put a strong proposal on the table. Hamas responded to that and negotiators continue to work, the gaps are narrowing, and we are continuing to push for an agreement in doha. It is still difficult work to get there but i continue to believe it is possible. Oliver mcternan is a former Hostage Negotiator whos in touch with people close to the talks on all sides. He says israels position in negotiations may be different to whats being said officially. What i heard most recently is that the unofficial response from the israelis was to reject outright the demands that hamas had put on the table, and as you may recall, lewis, those were the new modified demands were to have a three stage process. The first six weeks, you would have 35 hostages exchanged for 350 palestinian detainees, then five Women Soldiers for 250 long term prisoners and then reaching a permanent cease fire and the exchange of more hostages and that they lead into the exchange of bodies and the lifting of the siege of gaza. Whats hamas, im told, said it was all or none, the unofficial response as i said, is what i hear, a rejection of that. Can ijump in there, all or none, what do you mean by that . In the sense that it wasnt going to be a stage one, where you have 35 isreali hostages exchanged for 300 and then stopped, and they go back to war. They were saying it was a process that should lead to a permanent cease fire and the lifting of the siege of gaza. That is what, i say, i understand. I hope Antony Blinken is right, i hope the information i was given i was given is wrong, because the conditions in gaza now are truly deplorable. If we start with you wills robinson, gets in the us perspective because as we heard, there is an universal agreement that the gap between the two sites is actually narrowing, what do you make of what Antony Blinken has been seen and trying to do . I blinken has been seen and trying to do . ~. , ,. ,. , do . I think the gap is the narrowest it has ever been do . I think the gap is the narrowest it has ever been and do . I think the gap is the narrowest it has ever been and israel do . I think the gap is the narrowest it has ever been and israel being. It has ever been and israel being one of the us and longest allies, the pressure is starting to show, Benjamin Netanyahu is steadfast in what hes doing, hes about to take out hamas before he stops but the Biden Administration and joe biden have ramped up the pressure in the last few weeks and he has made it very clear, as Antony Blinken said earlier today, if netanyahu goes into it with a community in dire straits, that is something the us cannot support. Israel is relying heavily on aspects such as aid and weaponry from the us and if they lose their support then netanyahu is notjust going to face troubles with his own future, there will be issues with the israeli public questioning his motives as well so, this would be a time netanyahu, as i said, he is Feeling Pressure and would have to make a move, and fingers crossed this could be part of a hostage deal, we dont know. We this could be part of a hostage deal, we dont know. This could be part of a hostage deal, we dont know. We have been re orts in deal, we dont know. We have been reports in on deal, we dont know. We have been reports in on these deal, we dont know. We have been reports in on these talks, susie,. Reports in on these talks, susie, for quite a while, and no significant breakthrough thus far. No, and there probably will not beat white no, and there probably will not beat while you no, and there probably will not beat while you have a government that is in as n1uch while you have a government that is in as much trouble as Benjamin Netanyahus is, it was a Work Correlation put together with opposition and extreme parties that netanyahu was in government with before netanyahu was in government with before october seven, and it was a shaky before october seven, and it was a Shaky Coalition before then, i know yotrve Shaky Coalition before then, i know yotrve got Shaky Coalition before then, i know youve got some, we dont want to call them youve got some, we dont want to call them and left or right wing mike call them and left or right wing mike because it doesnt operate on the same mike because it doesnt operate on the same basis of our politics do, but you the same basis of our politics do, but you have some Extreme Ultranationalistjewish parties Working Ultranationalistjewish parties working with far more centrist or leftwing working with far more centrist or left wing or liberal parties and they left wing or liberal parties and they will left wing or liberal parties and they will never see i to i having those they will never see i to i having those in they will never see i to i having those in a they will never see i to i having those in a coalition will always be difficult, those in a coalition will always be difficult, then you have the fact that america, as was said, the mean ally and that america, as was said, the mean ally and supplier of aid and food and weapons is increasingly less toterant and weapons is increasingly less tolerant to the start of its has tolerated up to this point and when joe biden, tolerated up to this point and when joe biden, and chuck schumer, the most joe biden, and chuck schumer, the most high profile jewish face in the biden most high profile jewish face in the Biden Administration says netanyahu is a block Biden Administration says netanyahu is a block to peace, you have protests is a block to peace, you have protests on the streets of israel, Famities Protests on the streets of israel, families of protests on the streets of israel, families of the hostages still being held saying they have to stop what were held saying they have to stop what were doing and do it differently because were doing and do it differently because we want people home, netanyahus situation is crumbling underneath them in every direction and he underneath them in every direction and he doesnt have the support of the vast and he doesnt have the support of the vast majority of the ease people in everything he does and the support in everything he does and the support of his main allies and it is starting support of his main allies and it is starting to support of his main allies and it is starting to look really shaky. I think starting to look really shaky. I think the starting to look really shaky. I think the only way you get some set of movement in the talks is if both the leadership of hamas and the israeti the leadership of hamas and the Israeli Government actually have some Israeli Government actually have some kind of exchange and ask for the people some kind of exchange and ask for the people they claim to be represented rather than their narrow political represented rather than their narrow political aims. Represented rather than their narrow political aim north korea. Reports stole 3 billion in crypto currency over last seven years. Crypto decentralised, unregulated online currencies. Un investigators looking into it. We havent seen report. For more, i spoke to mark fitzpatrick, associate fellow for strategy, technology and arms control at the International Institute for strategic studies. Well, theres two aspects of this. The immediate news is that theyre accused of stealing vast sums of money through through Cryptocurrency Exchanges and some directly crypto attacks on Financial Institutions to the tune of 3 billion. The other part of the equation is that theyre using a large part of this money to fund their nuclear programme. So theyre both thieves and very dangerous actors on the international stage. North korea has very Skilled Cyber operators who can break into Bank Accounts and empty them. They do this with regular Bank Accounts. And and i assume they do this with crypto accounts by stealing passwords or sometime or somehow breaking through the firewalls and and emptying out accounts. Lets begin our panel. Susie, three in over seven years, that is quite a lot. � ,. In over seven years, that is quite a lot. � ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. , in over seven years, that is quite a lot. � ,. ,. ,. , lot. Its a good advert for putting our lot. Its a good advert for putting your money lot. Its a good advert for putting your money in lot. Its a good advert for putting your money in a lot. Its a good advert for putting your money in a sock lot. Its a good advert for putting your money in a sock under lot. Its a good advert for putting your money in a sock under your| your money in a sock under your mattress your money in a sock under your mattress where you know it is and that he mattress where you know it is and that he of mattress where you know it is and that he of nick and it does have an increased that he of nick and it does have an increased influence on weapons which will terrify increased influence on weapons which will terrify us. Imaginary money, Bil Will Terrify us. Imaginary money, trig coins. Will terrify us. Imaginary money, big coins, they are the only thing that came big coins, they are the only thing that came young ilic can only spend, because that came young ilic can only spend, because he that came young ilic can only spend, because he is buying all these kits and ttits because he is buying all these kits and bits and text from other countries and bits and text from other countries that are heavily sanctioned light russia and iran and the only sanctioned light russia and iran and the only thing they can trade in is this black the only thing they can trade in is this black market, imaginary and online this black market, imaginary and online currency which is ways targeted. Online currency which is ways targeted, but unfortunately he is leading targeted, but unfortunately he is leading a targeted, but unfortunately he is leading a country where people are starving leading a country where people are starving to leading a country where people are starving to death in their famines and their starving to death in their famines and their people dying through ignorant and their people dying through ignorant lack of ignorance all the time, ignorant lack of ignorance all the time, and ignorant lack of ignorance all the time, and he has his supply of cheese time, and he has his supply of cheese as time, and he has his supply of cheese as we can see there. So its astonishing cheese as we can see there. So its astonishing this is even happening and all astonishing this is even happening and all of astonishing this is even happening and all of this is happening on nine that all and all of this is happening on nine that all of and all of this is happening on nine that all of our Intelligence Agencies cannot stop them doing it. We have agencies cannot stop them doing it. We have had blocks at sainsburys, we cannot we have had blocks at sainsburys, we cannot get deliveries at sainsburys this week because theres sainsburys this week because theres an sainsburys this week because theres an Incident Outage but how hasnt theres an Incident Outage but how hasnt know the route north korea been hasnt know the route north korea been able hasnt know the route north korea been able do hasnt know the route north korea been able do it . | hasnt know the route north korea been able do it . Been able do it . I dont know if you want to answer been able do it . I dont know if you want to answer that been able do it . I dont know if you want to answer that question been able do it . I dont know if you want to answer that Question Wills | want to answer that Question Wills robinson. ,. ,. ,. ,. , robinson. North korea have all this mone , robinson. North korea have all this money. Apparently. Robinson. North korea have all this money, apparently, ig robinson. North korea have all this money, apparently, ig said robinson. North korea have all this money, apparently, ig said most. Robinson. North korea have all this money, apparently, ig said most of it imaginary and a bit going about whether they can use it is another thing, and they are using money for this new Nuclear Weapon which we dont know if they work, they have tested them which seem to fire in Different Directions which in itself is terrifying, so we dont to the extent of how much damage they can do what it is worrying, i mentioned with israel and at the top of the programme with the election coming up programme with the election coming up one of the threats that the us is monitoring his Cyber Attacks because they have seen it from china and in russia as well. The last thing they want is something that takes on the Electoral System or another unnamed camping to so across electric. So we dont know north korea may be holding something in their back rockets that threaten the us but we dont know and another aspect of petulance from the north korea dictatorship, because a lot of these separate tech started from that interview in 2014 where the marked the north korean leader, and they have gotten some money, and well see if they can use it. Signs have shown so far that they really can. Eu leaders have been meeting in brussels today, to discuss plans to get more weapons to ukrainian forces, while also re arming their own countries in the face of an emboldened Vladimir Putin in russia. Before the summit, the Eu Council President Charles Michel said that europeans face a pivotal moment. Ukraines president zelensky told eu leaders via video link that its crucial to send more ammunition to ukraine, saying the number of Artillery Shells available to his forces was humiliating for the whole of europe. A new proposal being discussed is to use billions of euros in profits from frozen russian Financial Assets to buy arms for ukraine. Speaking before the summit belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said he welcomed the idea. This is taxation on the misery of the ukrainians that has been inflicted to them by the russians. The decision or the proposals on the proceeds themselves, i think its a sensible way of doing it. I think the idea to allocate them predominantly to the purchase of weapons makes total sense. Politicos associate editor, Suzanne Lynch told me how the plan to help ukraine with russias assets would work. Its a controversial topic that has been around for that while for the last few months, and its looking at not seizing the assets but the profits that have been made on those assets and using them in some way to help ukraine. Theres been a lot of resistance within the eu and around the world that this could set a precedent that taking control of assets in any form of a government or entity could set a precedent that some countries are uncomfortable with. Hhowever, there have been proposals along this and it is moving forward but it is in the context of a broader approach at g7 level countries like the us but i think the eu discussion on this is in that context, but it is part of a broader discussion happening here which is regarding financing. How to try and finance both the eu defence capabilities in order to replenish and make sure that the eus own Defence Stocks are at the required level and also to ensure that enough weaponry is going to ukraine. Meanwhile, the russian attack killed at least three civillians in the east of the country and injured at least 17 ukraines army says it shot down all the missiles above kyiv and that russia used the iskander Ballistic Missiles as the one you can see on this archive picture, along with cruise missiles. Ukraines experts from the economical pravda media calculated that russia might have spent around 390 Million Dollars just for todays attack on kyiv. Lets go back to the politics, eu leaders, susie, the imperative, i suppose, the urgency behind that fundraising sharpened given what is happening in the us . Yes. Fundraising sharpened given what is happening in the us . Happening in the us . Yes, but you know this is happening in the us . Yes, but you know this is something happening in the us . Yes, but you know this is something actually happening in the us . Yes, but you| know this is something actually the ukraine has been at of the eu and us fora ukraine has been at of the eu and us for a white, ukraine has been at of the eu and us for a while, having lawyers working in the for a while, having lawyers working in the States Worldwide to try and seize in the States Worldwide to try and seize profits or methods and use those seize profits or methods and use those to pay for reparations for the war in those to pay for reparations for the war in ukraine, and that kind of legal war in ukraine, and that kind of legal action has been stuck with jurisdictional problems and various countries jurisdictional problems and various countries go saying they dont want to do countries go saying they dont want to do it. Countries go saying they dont want to do it, and suddenly we have word teaders to do it, and suddenly we have word leaders seem to do the same, using the russian leaders seem to do the same, using the russian assets, as the lady from potitico a the russian assets, as the lady from politico a saint, it creates a precedent which not Everyone Wants to do precedent which not Everyone Wants to do but precedent which not Everyone Wants to do but if precedent which not Everyone Wants to do but if youre thinking an organisation like the wagner group is worth organisation like the wagner group is worth sanctioning, then you should is worth sanctioning, then you should use their assets were something good rather than something appatting, something good rather than something appalling, so theres a good argument for it, but if they want that the argument for it, but if they want that the lawyers do it, i suspect they that the lawyers do it, i suspect they would not let each other do it either. They would not let each other do it either. So they would not let each other do it either. So i they would not let each other do it either, so i think what what we need to wake either, so i think what what we need to wake up either, so i think what what we need to wake up to is we are in a situation we were almost at the start situation we were almost at the start of situation we were almost at the start of the Second World War when something was going on in Eastern Europe something was going on in Eastern Europe and something was going on in Eastern Europe and America Commotion all the money europe and America Commotion all the money and europe and America Commotion all the money and war machine on the other side of money and war machine on the other side of the money and war machine on the other side of the world, said it didnt matter side of the world, said it didnt matter too much, tanks rolled into poland. Matter too much, tanks rolled into poland. No, matter too much, tanks rolled into poland, no, tanks rolling into denmark, poland, no, tanks rolling into denmark, we can put up with that, but those denmark, we can put up with that, but those of denmark, we can put up with that, but those of us close to it said it was getting hairy and eventually america was getting hairy and eventually america had to coming. That is where we will america had to coming. That is where we will be, america had to coming. That is where we will be, if america had to coming. That is where we will be, if america doesnt deal with what we will be, if america doesnt deal with what is happening in ukraine which with what is happening in ukraine which is with what is happening in ukraine which is not on his doorstep but will be which is not on his doorstep but will be on which is not on his doorstep but will be on everybody elses doorstep in a rapid will be on everybody elses doorstep in a rapid time, we will find yourself in a rapid time, we will find yourself in a sticky situation. Wills yourself in a sticky situation. Wills robinson, president zelensky has been persistent and vocal, give us more ammunition. He has been persistent and vocal, give us more ammunition. Has been persistent and vocal, give us more ammunition. He has and the issue now lies us more ammunition. He has and the issue now lies in us more ammunition. He has and the issue now lies in congress. Us more ammunition. He has and the issue now lies in congress. There issue now lies in congress. There have been two bills passed in the house and the senate that have approved aid to ukraine and then they have been blocked so there is a vicious fight between republicans and democrats of how they get this aid, this much needed money, to ukraine. The most recent idea floated that republicans seem to suggest would work and they could agree to is a loan, even though the funny part is this loan it may never be paid back, but that is that we could get past congress, so the 80 stuck and it does become a hugely political issue with a small group of republicans dont want more money going to ukraine, if city wants her support ukraine but they want to ensure us Taxpayer Funds are not going to other parts of the ukrainian government. Which we have not seen much of, they have demanded audits and making sure they actually go to the front line, so the timeline on the next package could be months, so that is why theyre looking at different options such as a loan and what the eu is looking at like using the frozen assets, and it goes back to the election and republicans do not want the move in it. , ~ ,. , republicans do not want the move in it. , ~ i. I want to take you live to what is happening just as we were talking about it, we have been keeping an eye on these pictures from brussels, we just heard from someone recently, Ursula Von Der Leyen there, we are keeping across of what is being said there and bring it to you. I am Lewis Vaughanjones this is bbc news. Good evening. There have been mixed fortunes across the country once again today for much of central and southern england. It stayed largely fine and dry with glimpses of sunshine, in fact, in london once again, we had temperatures into the mid teens so you could get out and enjoy the beautiful Cherry Blossom that weve got at the moment. It was a different story, however, further north and west, the rain not too heavy, but it was a nuisance, as you can see from lancashire just a few hours ago. Now, this Weather Front will continue to sink its way south and east, clearing the south east during friday and then behind it under this influence of low pressure. A cooler story is set to dominate, so it will be a rather murky start with some light, Drizzly Rain Pushing Its Way South East behind it somewhat brighter with a rash of showers and Gale Force Gusts of winds to the far north. So, we could see that frontjust lingering across the kent coast during the afternoon. But a brighter story across england and wales, few isolated showers, but look at the difference in the temperature. Notably cooler feel out there. Further showers into Northern Ireland and scotland accompanied by gales, perhaps severe gales across the northern isle. So that really will make it feel quite chilly here. And some of those showers will start to turn quite wintry to Higher Ground. Low pressure drifts its way steadily east. The winds remain tightly packed with those isobars for the start of saturday. And that Weather Front will continue to enhance the showers. So a chilly start to the weekend, low single figures in many rural spots and there will be some showers from The Word Go Across Scotland and Northern Ireland. These will, yes, be of snow to Higher Ground and will then get to see some showers developing across england and wales. Some of these heavy with some hail and maybe some thunder mixed in there as well. And temperatures will remain on the cool side. Gusty winds, 35 to 45 miles an hour and temperatures down on where they should be really for this time of year. A brief ridge of High Pressure for sunday quiets things down, but not for long. Low pressure once again set to return into next week, keeping things again quite cool for this time of year and unsettled. So yes, sunday the better of the two days through the weekend, but theres further showers or longer spells of rain and temperatures a little bit below par as we head towards easter weekend. Hello, im Lewis Vaughanjones. Youre watching the context on bbc news. After a spike in the cost of cocoa, the price of easter eggs is now on the rise, with some costing up to 50 more than they did a year ago. Here in the uk, the work and pensions secretary mel stride says that britains open approach to Mental Health may have gone too far. He wants to make 150,000 people signed off work with quote mild conditions look for a job. Lets look at what he says in the telegraph newspaper. In the united states, it seems the problem may be the opposite with workers concerned about taking too much time off. A survey by the American Psychiatric Association Found that more than 40 of employees were concerned about retaliation for taking Mental Health days. While only 56 of employees say they can talk openly about Mental Health in the workplace. Dr lade smith is president of the Royal College of psychiatrists