Transcripts For BBCNEWS The Context 20240906

Also tonight, france finally has a prime minister. You will know him he is the former Brexit Negotiator Michel barnier. Parliament. He will need all his skills to Negotiate a raucus french parliament. And not entirely immune from prosecution. Trump pleads not guilty, as his Jan 6 case returns to court in washington. Welcome to the programme. The Waterways here in britain are awash with Records Amount of sewage. Today, the governement announced a new bill that will beef up the powers of the Water regulator. In future the Water-bosses'>Water Bosses in england and wales will face 2 years in prison if theyre found to have obstructed an investigation into a Sewage Spill and their bonuses will be blocked if they fail to meet environmental and financial standards. But activists say it is not enough. The system is broken, and that current regulations arent being enforced. Heres our environment correspondentjonah fisher. Profits and pollution. For years, our Water-companies'>Water Companies have paid out dividends to shareholders and bonuses to executives while at the same time, discharging sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. But could that be about to change . At a Rowing Club on the banks of the thames, Environment Minister Steve Reed outlined new legislation to end what he called the disgraceful behaviour of the Water-companies'>Water Companies and their bosses. This new bill is a significant step forwards in fixing our broken Water system. It is an immediate Down Payment on the wider reform that is needed after years of failure and environmental damage. It holds polluting Water-companies'>Water Companies to account after years where there has been no accountability. The new bill will give the regulator greater powers to take action against the Water-companies'>Water Companies when they pollute. Executives who block investigations could be sent to jail. Bonuses will be conditional on the company meeting environmental and financial standards. Watching on, the Chief Executive of severn trent Water, liv garfield. Last year, she took home more than £3 million. Miss garfield, are you worried you wont be getting £3. 2 million next year . Introducing these new laws and tougher penalties certainly looks like a step towards cleaning up our Waterways. But there is plenty of evidence that the Water-companies'>Water Companies have been breaking the rules around Sewage Spills for years. Many campaigners say the real problem is that the Regulators have been letting them get away with it. We actually have perfectly decent laws, a perfectly, you know, acceptable legal framework. The problem is, it has never been enforced and what this bill does is it comes up with some nice, emotive phrases like Prison Sentences and banning bonuses and so on. But it does not address the fundamental problem. We have regulations already and they are not being enforced and the only way they are going to be enforced is allowing Regulators to be properly funded and empowered to do thejob they are supposed to be doing. The Water-companies'>Water Companies say they know the current System Isnt working. They say the best way to stop the Sewage Spills is for more than £100 billion to be spent on new infrastructure, paid for by a sharp rise in customer bills. Sash woods is director of Science And Policy at the environmental charity earth watch. Thank you for being with us. You will have had the criticism in the report there. This is not going to make any material difference, the criticism is, because regulations are being enforced. ~. , because regulations are being enforced. ~. ,. , because regulations are being enforced. ~. ,. , enforced. What you say that . I think that enforced. What you say that . I think that were enforced. What you say that . I think that were not enforced. What you say that . I think that were not going enforced. What you say that . I think that were not going to l think that were not going to legislate our ways out of this, it is going to take collective action from the government, from Water-companies'>Water Companies. Also, farmers. I think it is a step in the right direction. The environment in the right direction. The Environment Secretary He Saw in that report says that up until this point, theres been no accountability for the executives and here, you have personal liability. But im not clear on is whether they are responsible for covering up some of these investigations . Is that why spread, is it a widespread practice . I is that why spread, is it a widespread practice . I think Water-companies'>Water Companies widespread practice . I think Water-companies'>Water Companies have widespread practice . I think Water-companies'>Water Companies have up i widespread practice . I think. Water companies have up until now, not always been completely transparent with their Pollution Data and part of this bill is that they need to be transparent and that all Emergency Overflows need to be monitored. And that data on the Frequency And Duration of the charges need to be released within the hour, so i think there is a move towards more transparency. There is a move towards more transnarency transparency. This is the chan. E transparency. This is the change that transparency. This is the change that the transparency. This is the change that the Environment Secretary announced today. So though will be text on all Emergency Outflows that were not just Emergency Outflows that were notjust be Emergency Outflows that were not just be for the Emergency Outflows that were notjust be for the regulator but for us, the public and we will see them in real time . Its what is in the legislation, yes. We will have access to this data and it will be easily accessible. We will all be able to understand it. I think who this is really important and we believe in the power of the date of a change and i think having access to this data is a step in the right direction for protecting our Water'>Fresh Water. Our Water'>Fresh Water. What difference our Water'>Fresh Water. What difference does our Water'>Fresh Water. What difference does it our Water'>Fresh Water. What i difference does it make our Water'>Fresh Water. What difference does it make if we know about it in real time . In nice deaf it means we know where and where the pollution is happening and where we need to take immediate and drastic action to prevent that happening in the future. The chief is negative happening in the future. The chief is negative says that the real solution is billions of pounds of investments. Can you meet the regulator demands without ploughing in the kind of money they want with the Bill Payer . I of money they want with the Bill Payer . Bill payer . I think that they are a number Bill Payer . I think that they are a number of Bill Payer . I think that they are a number of solutions | Bill Payer . I think that they | are a number of solutions to the problem for that one of them are nature based solutions, we can be implementing wrestlers to help remove a number of pollutants from our wrecked breath of Water'>Fresh Water system. Investment in our infrastructure is another where we can remove and allow polluters from our Water'>Fresh Water system. We can request this is but thats much better the request more funding from investors. Much better the request more funding from investors. What i understand funding from investors. What i understand that funding from investors. What i understand that there funding from investors. What i understand that there is funding from investors. What i understand that there is a funding from investors. What i understand that there is a lack of Sewage Infrastructure is part of the country. Oxygen, temperature is a good example. We have to somehow encourage Water-investment'>Water Investment so that we can unlock the 300,000 homes that you want to build every year. Exactly. We cannot build and more Land Or Use mum natural space for budding assets because that will only worsen the problem. We know that wetzel is a very important for clear up our Waterways and natural habitats, trees are helpful in clearing Water pollution, so using that for housesis pollution, so using that for houses is just going to make the problem worse. So yes, there is money that needs to be put in infrastructure. Put in infrastructure. There is a final word put in infrastructure. There is a final word on put in infrastructure. There is a final word on pay put in infrastructure. There is a final word on pay which put in infrastructure. There is a final word on pay which is l put in infrastructure. There is| a final word on pay which is in a final word on pay which is in a lot of people. What would just annoy a lot of people. What are Wood Bosses are being they are now and it was introduced by the last government, they are now being taken from shareholder profits rather than from the customers but as i understand it, the regulator was already consulting on whether bonuses could be banned. So why do you think of what is new government has just announced today . I think this government is trying to empower the regulator to take action more rapidly and without the need for an in depth to prolong the issue. I think this is an empowerment of our Regulators. Of our Regulators. Thank you for coming of our Regulators. Thank you for coming on of our Regulators. Thank you for coming on the of our Regulators. Thank you i for coming on the programme. Two months ago were were paris bringing you the results of the french election. We did warn you then but i didnt think it would take this long lovely to see you, thanks for coming on. Are you surprised at the choice hes made . I coming on. Are you surprised at the choice hes made . The choice hes made . I think most of us the choice hes made . I think most of us were the choice hes made . I think most of us were a the choice hes made . I think most of us were a little the choice hes made . I think most of us were a little bit i most of us were a little bit surprised. His name had been circulating earlier in the summer, and over the past three orfour days, it seemed summer, and over the past three or four days, it seemed as though we were getting very close to an appointment in different names were near certainties. They were also relieved that this period of waiting would be ending. Just a few weeks away from the deadline of having to present the budget to cabinet into parliament, there was actually a prime minister, a fully functioning prime minister. I fully functioning prime minister. Fully functioning prime minister. , minister. I have interviewed him in the minister. I have interviewed him in the past. Minister. I have interviewed him in the past. Hes i minister. I have interviewed him in the past. Hes a i him in the past. Hes a mountain walk, a very cool under pressure, and hes going to need all of that because this is on pat some path he has to Negotiate. This is on pat some path he has to Negotiate. This is on pat some path he has to Negotiate. Hes going to be faced with has to Negotiate. Hes going to be faced with an has to Negotiate. Hes going to be faced with an incredibly i be faced with an incredibly different task. Hes clearly a good negotiator. Hes going to need these qualities in spades, but hes also quite clear that my Emmanuel Macron that Emmanuel Macron has drawn from the party, who came in fourth place, and this is going to i think sit poorly notjust place, and this is going to i think sit poorly not just with some of the parties and the french national assembly, but also with some of the voters who are going to wonder why, when micron said nobody really has won the election outright, that may well be true, but some people really did lose this election, and this was the mainstream right party from which Barnier Kind of hails. So it is a strange choice, its an understandable choice, basically macron had to select someone who was going to be facing a motion it is going to be a very fragile government i would reckon. ,. ,. , reckon. Someone has to do it because there reckon. Someone has to do it because there cant be i reckon. Someone has to do it because there cant be an i because there cant be an Election Untiljune so they have got to pass the budget which france desperately needs. In respect of the finances, there are in a pretty sorry state in france as they are in many countries across europe and the eu is bearing down, demanding deficit cuts. How is that going to play with the far right and the far left blocker when he puts those cuts before parliament . I when he puts those cuts before parliament . Parliament . I think there are two important parliament . I think there are two important things. Parliament . I think there are two important things. One i parliament . I think there are two important things. One is| two important things. One is that hes going to have to propose some kind of Austerity Measure i think that the cost of living crisis and that kind of living crisis and that kind of worry, these are worries that i shared by both the rate is on the left and far left but even also, by voters on the far right so that is not going to sit well with them. I think the other important thing and im not sure that this is what drove Macrons Choice and i think that was driven by Desperation And Frustration in the end. But i think that one of the things we need to keep in mind is that Michel Barnier was notjust the brexit negotiation, hughes was the twice European Commissioner i knows the ins and out of brussels and the commission. If there is somebody who can play a favourable role and try and Negotiate the procedure that the commission has lodged against france, i think this is Michel Barnier and not to mention the fact that because he is from the right to party means he is closer to the Ebp And Sarah Vandalises Camp in brussels. I think whether whatever his shortcomings are, he can be an asset for france giving the impression that france is facing. I giving the impression that france is facing. France is facing. I think thats a france is facing. I think thats a really france is facing. I think thats a really good i france is facing. I think i thats a really good point actually commie that hinterland that he has in europe which will stand him in good stead. Thats just make this a quick final thought on the government, does he put other technocrats in the government around him or does he try and be selective from the two biggest groupings on the left and right . I biggest groupings on the Left And Riuht . ~. , and right . I think he would try and right . I think he would try and have a and right . I think he would try and have a mix. And right . I think he would try and have a mix. I and right . I think he would try and have a mix. Ithink and right . I think he would try and have a mix. I think we i and right . I think he would try and have a mix. I think we arej and have a mix. I think we are almost certain to see some of the recently outgoing ministers probably come back. I dont think that lemaire should be written off, the finance minister, a strong supporter of Michel Barnier and we should see him come back. The current Home Office Minister may also make a comeback in a different ministry, but i think he will have to be mindful of the fact thatis have to be mindful of the fact that is a very fragmented national assembly and he will have to draw from the left and right. The problem is that i doubt he will be able to attract many people, many people from the left. I think Michel Barnier, it is interesting that you refer to him as a point to other technocrats and this is one of the Genius Sleight of hand that macron has performed here. Basically this is really a right Wing Premise that he has appointed. Everybody thinks of him as a technocrats because of his link to europe and i think in all of this, this is probably what saved the move at least in the very short term. People think of Michel Barnier as a technocrat for now, but i dont know how long he can maintain the illusion. I dont know how long he can maintain the illusion. Maintain the illusion. I will Water maintain the illusion. I will wager that maintain the illusion. I will wager that john maintain the illusion. I will wager that John Luke i maintain the illusion. I will wager that John Luke mell maintain the illusion. I will wager that John Luke Mel Ocean wager thatJohn Luke Mel Ocean sources that out pretty quickly. Thank you. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Lets bring you some of the other Headline Stories we are following. One person has died after a royal Navy Helicopter ditched in the sea last night off the coast of dorset. Three others were rescued. The Ministry Of Defence says two helicopters were taking part in a Night Exercise when the incident occured. Lucy letby has replaced her legal team and is planning a fresh appeal, her new Barrister Mark Mcdonald has told the bbc� s file on 4. Letby, a former neonatal nurse, is one of the uks most notorious modern serial killers, convicted in a two separate trials of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others under her care. Indecent assault charges in the uk against disgraced former Hollywood Producer Harvey Weinstein have been discontinued by the crown prosecution service. The cps said it had made the decision after reviewing the evidence in the Case And Concluding � there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. Weinstein, 72, was charged in 2022 with two counts of Indecent Assault for alleged offences in 1996. The Chief Prosecutor of the international criminal court, has told the bbc � justice must be seen to be done, after seeking an Arrest Warrant in may for israels prime Minister And Defence minister. He was also seeking warrants for three hamas leaders, two of whom have since been killed. Karim khan has been speaking to Nick Robinson on political thinking. What could i have done if one had applied for warrants for hamas and not against. Looked at the evidence . If the evidence compelled action in israel, when at that time 30,000 plus, 40,000 people had been killed in gaza, theyd say, � well, this is a weak court that has influenced a weak prosecutor, influenced by power dynamics. � if one had applied for warrants in relation to israeli officials and not for gaza, theyd say, well, this is an obscenity that. How on earth is that possible . I think we did what was right. We had evidence. We need to apply the law. And you cant have one approach for countries where theres support, where theres nato support, european support, powerful countries behind you, and a different approach where you have clearjurisdiction because a storm may result. Plenty more on that interview on bbc cars. Pod Cards Pod in the us today, there are two trials making trials both of them linked to the November President ial elections. In california, the president s Son Hunter Biden is facing nine charges related to Tax Fraud and evasion. The indictment said he failed to pay at least 1. 1; million in federal taxes while spending most of his money on drugs and escorts. At the last minute, he entered what is known as an Alford Plea, entering a guilty verdict while still maintaining your innocence. Are we will talk about that in a second. Meanwhile over in Washington Donald Trump was back in court over the revised indictment linking him to the January 6 riots on capitol hill. Lawyers for Donald Trump have entered a not guilty plea to revised charges brought by the special counseljack smith. The hearing was adjourned without any Trial Date being set. Trumps attorneys of course trying to push for a delay until the election has been held. Joe moreno is a fromer federal prosecutor and republican strategist. A Lwa Ys always sick of you onj. And nice to see you. And all credit deal, how do courts tend to view it . ~. , deal, how do courts tend to viewit . ~ ,. , view it . Most americans have never heard view it . Most americans have never heard of view it . Most americans have never heard of an view it . Most americans have never heard of an Author View it . Most americans have never heard of an author to i never heard of an author to deal, they are fairly unusual i have had difficult clients but i can tell you if i said, lets figure out a way to antagonise Thejudge And Figure out a way to antagonise the judge and prosecutors figure out a way to Antagonise Thejudge and prosecutors by going in on the day of child and changing our play and asking for a Alford Plea which of course, the prosecutors have no proof, it is essentially a kind of deal. I mean, after think it was quite a stir in court this morning. It is still going on as we speak. So, it is special arrangement, going on as we speak. So, it is specialarrangement, it going on as we speak. So, it is special arrangement, it is basically a situation where a defendant says look, i am maintaining that i am not guilty but i acknowledge that there is so much evidence against me that a jury would most likely find me guilty. It has to go to the highest level of the court for approval and there is no guarantee that he will get it. At this point, it is in the hours of the judge to say that we can put things of a week and become roll your diet with the Justice Week and become roll your diet with Thejustice Department Week and become roll your diet with the Justice Department to see that they will approve it despite the fact they have made them angry or you can give as a clean plea and just below the live feed guilty or Auction Week is that we can just go to trial. Week is that we can ust go to trial. ~ background to this. The Plea Deal that was originally agreed, which involved him in possession of a weapon while under the influence of drugs but there was also some tax charges involved in that, if thats Plea Deal has gone ahead in delaware, his defence with a four fell apart because the Justice Department forwards. Why would they consider a alford in this case . Why would they consider a alford in this case . That was a fantastic Deal Alford in this case . That was a fantastic deal last alford in this case . That was a fantastic deal last summer i alford in this case . That was a | fantastic deal last summer and that would have reduced both of these cases to two Tax Misdemeanours are not finales and a suspended conviction of the Gun Charges which means if you are good for a year in charges disappear. It was a fantastically arrangement and the fact that really, based as couldnt seem to agree on terms and spent months working on it it is really a Failure And Process and that would have been a fantastic solution. Now one year later, as the government has prepared evidence and witnesses and many hearings with white judges now say you know what . Lets go to a Negotiating Table and get that deal back on the table. Regardless of who your father is, i think theJustice Department will not look kindly or something like this. I dont know how this is going to go. Lets talk about Donald Trump in washington. Thejudge lets talk about Donald Trump in washington. The judge said that the election is not relevant to the trial so what does that mean . Is she going to schedule a hearing in the Run Up to the November Election . Runup to the November Election . Runup to the November Election . , ,. Election . Hearings, yes. We have had Earrings Election . Hearings, yes. We have had Earrings Mckay| election . Hearings, yes. We i have had Earrings Mckay was have had Earrings Mckay was in that case were over a year now. She is correct, the election should not affect a trial either way, meaning it should not write a trial to get it done before an Election Or Shouldnt not mean that a Trial Shouldnt not mean that a trial should be delayed because of an election. Not surprised, that is the right thing to add to say. I do think, though, for all those people who thought that a trial was possible before novembers election, no way. We are talking about months, possibly years before this trial that make this case goes to trial. All of these immunity issues that the Supreme Court decided on months ago, all have to be litigated now in the Trial Court Level and they are subject to appeal. If a judge was one way or the other, this is on each individual immunity holding, the prosecution or the defence can appeal and what is that ultimately the goal, but to the Supreme Court. So this could go on for a very long time. So, i like what she said about this not been political but there is not been political but there is no way under any circumstances, that this would have gone to trial in the next two months. In respect of this revised indictment, how does it look different to you its leaders Supreme Court ruled on immunity . Supreme court ruled on immunity . Supreme court ruled on immuni . , �. , immunity . Very little. Im not convinced immunity . Very little. Im not convinced that immunity . Very little. Im not convinced that is immunity . Very little. Im not convinced that is going immunity . Very little. Im not convinced that is going to i convinced that is going to solve the Governments Problem from the Fisher Case which says that the government can only use an obstruction of Congress Charge in a research circumstances. Basically, to destroy evidence that kong are going to review. It does not apply in the situation where the allegation is that trump and his supporters prevented congress from Counter Electoral Congress in a Mac College rates. It took some language as and downplayed shot� s role as president and his role as a candidate and tried to get and the rules and the Supreme Court. Im not remiss it is going to change so i think that again is subject to a bill so thatis again is subject to a bill so that is another one of the seven avenues here that would likely delayed this case for a long time. Likely delayed this case for a long time long time. Just very quickly, ust to long time. Just very quickly, just to give long time. Just very quickly, just to give people long time. Just very quickly, just to give people a long time. Just very quickly, just to give people a flavour| just to give people a flavour of what they are talking about. One of the things that the Trumps Team is whether the allegations made by his Vice President Mike Pence in that indictment are immediate or whether it comes that under his president ial remit, joe. That is riuht. Presidential remit, joe. That is right it president ial remit, joe. That is right. It is president ial remit, joe. That is right. It is not president ial remit, joe. That is right. It is not an president ial remit, joe. That is right. It is not an easy i is right. It is not an easy one. Was he acting as president to trump or was he acting as Candidate Trump onjanuary the Candidate Trump on January The 6th when youre trying to pressure Vice President p do not count electoral colleges that were voted against him and said his state. Not an easy call and not one that is going to get resolved any time soon. Joe, good to have your company. Thank you very much for coming on. We are going to take a short break. We are to talk about al and The Field of weather and climate. Hello there. Weve had a real mixture of weather across the Uk Today from the dry, sunny weather for West Scotland and Northern Ireland, where theres been barely a cloud in the sky, to the rather different looking skies across the South Of England and wales, with Heavy Rain moving in here. And, in fact, when The Rain arrived across the South Of England, it was really intense. Had iii millimetres of rain recorded injust one hour in parts of kent and 12 into parts of hampshire. Thats half an inch of rain in the space of an hour. Rain that intense, im sure, would have led to some localised Water-flooding'>Surface Water Flooding. And the Weather Front responsible for that rain is going to stay across those areas all night. The rain, though, is likely to turn at least a little Bit Lighterfor a time. Probably quite murky, with a lot of low cloud around, some Hill Fog patches developing here. And across East Scotland and eastern areas of england, as the weather turns increasingly humid overnight, therell be thickening of the low cloud and also a bit of mist, fog and drizzle. So that takes us into friday. The same Weather Front is there, same area of low pressures there. Cant move anywhere because of this big area of high pressure blocking its progress, so instead, welljust have further prolonged outbreaks of rain across southern areas of england. And although The Rain starts off quite light, itll quite quickly turn heavy with some thunder mixed in. Again, there could be some Water-flooding'>Surface Water Flooding building in. East scotland, eastern areas of england, particularly where you start off with the low cloud, the mist, fog and drizzle, that will eventually clear out of the way for most and its going to be a warm and humid day. Temperatures widely 22 27 degrees celsius, but with further accumulations of rain across the South Of England, where we could be looking at some localised flooding issues. Now the same low pressure stays with us into the weekend, too, but it is weakening. And so, rather than persistent rain, were more likely to see showers. Those showers heavy and thundery and could pop up just about anywhere across england and wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland, meanwhile, stay dry with some sunny spells. Temperatures quite widely low to Mid 20s and still feeling warm and humid. Second half of the weekend, more Thundery Rain potentially from the same area of low pressure, particularly focused across england and wales. And again, its the North West of scotland and Northern Ireland that will probably stay dry, probably still with some spells of sunshine coming and going. Temperatures still for many of us, reaching the low 20s, which wont feel too bad. Weve got another low on the way for next week so it stays unsettled. Hello, im christian fraser. Youre watching the context on bbc news. On ai decoded, were looking at how Artificial Intelligence is making weather apps more accurate. Experts say its bringing about a Forecasting Revolution that could save lives in danger from extreme climate events. If only we could forecast what is happening in the sport. But jane can. Hello, jane. Maybe not forecast, but i can tell you the latest. International football is back with the Nations League under way tonight. Scotland are looking for an improved performance in their match against poland at hampden. Its their first competitive game after their early exit from the euros in germany. Well, its not going the way of the home side. They went a goal down in just the eighth minute. Scott mctominey then thought he had equalised, but it was ruled out for a handball. However, Northern Ireland are beating luxembourg 2 0 Paddy Mcnair getting the first and Dan Ballard with the second. There are nine games going on across three groups tonight