Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240703

Series big brother were reported to Production Managers at endemol, the Production Company commissioned by channel 4. In a statement, banijay uk, which purchased endemol in 2020, said the bbc has issued a statement this afternoon saying the reports meanwhile, a charity supported by Russell Brands own Charitable Foundation has cut ties with him. Trevi women Childrens Charity said it was deeply saddened and upset by the allegations. Brand was working for channel 4, the bbc, and Acting In Hollywood Films during the period of the claims, all of which he denies. Vincent mcaviney has the latest. His behaviour made him no stranger to the tabloids but, this weekend, serious sexual allegations mean Russell Brand has made all the front pages. Perhaps over the course of the evening, some of my accoutrements could make their way onto your body once one of the most ubiquitous faces on british tv and radio, working for mtv, the bbc and channel 4, before building a career in hollywood for a time. Its the way these organisations oversaw brands conduct which is now coming under the spotlight, with the Foreign Secretary saying the Entertainment Industry as a whole has questions to answer. There are some real challenges where you have these very, very acute differentials in power, whether that be in the Entertainment Industry, whether that be in politics, and we see this in the commercial world as well. And i think we have to be particularly careful when we listen to the voices of the people who are relatively powerless. July ist, 2012, was when my rape happened. It was in los angeles that brand met a woman the investigation by The Sunday Times, the times and channel 4s dispatches are calling nadia. She says they had a brief sexual relationship, but then on a later occasion, he raped her. Those speaking out have had their identities described. Im like, no, thats not happening, were not doing that, and i tried to get away from him. And at this point, hes grabbing at my underwear. Im telling him to get off me and he wont get off. I was very distraught, trying to get out of the house. Another woman in the uk, alice, said she met and had a brief relationship when he was in his 30s and she was 16 and still at school. She says he later sexually assaulted her. I was pushing him away and pushing him away, and he wasnt. He wasnt backing off at all. So i ended up having to punch him really hard in the stomach to get him off, and i was crying, and he said, oh, i only want to see your mascara run, anyway. The allegations have all been denied by Russell Brand in a video message. I was very, very promiscuous. Now, during that time of promiscuity, the relationships i had were absolutely always consensual. I was always transparent about that then, almost too transparent, and im being transparent about it now as well. And to see that Transparency Metastasised into something criminal that i absolutely deny makes me question, is there another agenda at play . Hours after the revelations, Russell Brand appeared on stage in london last night for a sold out show, receiving a standing ovation. Brand is set to play windsor� s Theatre Royal on tuesday, as part of a tour across england over the next few weeks. The bbc has been unable to confirm today whether these performances will still be going ahead. The scottish writer, irvine welsh perhaps best known for his Novel Trainspotting is a former friend of Russell Brand. Speaking on sunday with laura kuenessberg, he was asked why he thinks institutions are still failing to confront issues like the ones raised in this case. Because of male dominated and because its very its youre saying that there is no culture for men to address these issues. And i think that. But theres also the kind of the anonymity of it almost, because people dont present in that way to other men, you know, so you can have people are kind of loyal friends and then you kind of you maybe get talking to women and theyll say, you know, that guy is kind of completely dodgy. Theres something really about, you know, and its something that you they never present you in that way. And i think thats why the sort of its not about kind of, really, so much about men colluding and sort of not identifying sexual predators. When sexual predators get identified by men. They tend to be ostracized very quickly. Theres just a kind of cloak of invisibility around that conversation. So ive got four brothers, and i used to tell them that if any of your friends make any rape jokes, either theyre a rapist or theyre looking for accomplices in the whole kind of conversation. So i think you can sometimes, you know, as women, we are vigilant. So i think its about actually passing our vigilance onto your brothers and your cousins and all that kind of like, you know, the male counterparts in your families. 0ur reporter tom brada is outside Wembley Park Theatre in london. Tom, there have been updates in the last few tom, there have been updates in the last few minutes, stella s more. Tell us more last few minutes, stella s more. Tell us more. We last few minutes, stella s more. Tell us more. We vest last few minutes, stella s more. Tell us more. We vest the last few minutes, stella s more. | tell us more. We vest the Production Com an tell us more. We vest the Production Company who tell us more. We vest the Production Company who produce tell us more. We vest the Production Company who produce the tell us more. We vest the production i company who produce the programmes for general 42 report these findings satisfactorily to us. Channel 4 is also conducting its own investigation, anyone who is aware of such behaviour should contact us directly. We have also had an updated statement from the metropolitan police. The metropolitan police. The metropolitan police. The metropolitan police have set already they have not received any reports in relation to the investigation by The Sunday Times and channel 4, but in an updated statement they have said that, we spoke with The Sunday Times on saturday 16th of september, we will be making further approaches to make sure any victims of crime they may have spoken with no that they may have spoken with no that they can report the crimes to the police. They can report the crimes to the olice. �. ,. , they can report the crimes to the olice. �. ,. , they can report the crimes to the olice. �. , ~ , police. Anton we can see the Wembley Park Theatre police. Anton we can see the Wembley Park Theatre behind police. Anton we can see the Wembley Park Theatre behind you, police. Anton we can see the Wembley Park Theatre behind you, thats park theatre behind you, thats where Russell Brand performed last night. fin where Russell Brand performed last niuht. , night. On Saturday Night Russell Brand some night. On Saturday Night Russell Brand some 2000 night. On Saturday Night Russell Brand some 2000 people night. On Saturday Night Russell Brand some 2000 people just i night. On Saturday Night Russell Brand some 2000 people just hours after those allegations were published. When he first came onto stage he seemed to make an early reference to the Controversy Swirling around him. I can actually review what he said exactly, he said there are obviously some things i absolutely cannot talk about, and i appreciate that you will understand thats the only reference he made to those accusations. But throughout the gig it was reported that Russell Brand seemed distracted, in fact at one point he said to have lost his place entirely. In spite of that the audience seemed unfazed, they showed their appreciation at the end of the show by giving him a standing ovation, and this is not in fact the final show he is due to play in the next few days even on tuesday he is expected to play in windsor, on friday he is expected to play in limits. He has several shows coming up limits. He has several shows coming up in the next few weeks, next few months, but its not clear with those serious allegations against him whether or not these will go ahead. , him whether or not these will go ahead. ~ , the European Commission president has laid out an Emergency Plan of action following the arrival last week of thousands of migrants on the italian island of lampedusa. Ursula von der leyen said European Countries had to tackle the Migration Issue together. The italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the influx to the island and to italy had to be stopped it wasnt enough to just redistribute migrants across the eu. Matt graveling reports. In just three days, more than 8000 migrants have arrived on the shores of lampedusa. Thats more than the number of People Living on the italian island. It has led to protests and pressure on the government. Today two more arrivals that local people were happy to welcome italian Prime Minister George Maloney and president italian Prime Minister Georgia Maloney and president of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen. This massive flow of immigrants is something which requires the involvement and the responsibility by everybody to be tackled, because it is going to affect certainly the border, the frontier countries, but it will soon also involve all of the other countries. The Italian Red Cross has said it is currently dealing with about 2500 people at this reception centre, designed for 400 arrivals. Today, Ursula Von Der Leyen announced she had a ten point plan to tackle the issue. This includes stepping up efforts against smugglers and providing more legal pathways for migration. We will increase our support to transfer migrants out of lampedusa, and we urge other Member States to use the voluntary solidarity mechanism and transfer migrants out of italy. This mornings visit also included the port of lampedusa, the landing point of many migrants who have left nearby tunisia by boat, arriving here amongst the residents of italys most southerly point. Translation we are angry i because we live, we pay taxes, we do what is needed for living, and at the same time we experience all this reality which is unfair. It is not a condition for living, this one we are experiencing, and i hope this visit wont be just another parade. Protesting residents hope today date cosmic visit will help stem the flow protesting residents hope todays visit will help stem the flow as nearly 126,000 migrants have arrived in italy this year, about double the number for the same period in 2022. Matt graveling, bbc news. We can speak now to luca barana, a Research Fellow at the iai, an italian relations think tank Whose Research focusses on eu and italian migration policies. Thank you so much forjoining us here on sunday on bbc news. Seeing them together online producer, what signal does this set . 10 one Georgia Maloney, certainly migration policies, i ,|n ,inaway , in a wayjustifies maloney� s line saying that actually she is cooperating with europe now because of course as the number are showing us the Migration Management is more complex than this, and actually the content of the plan was presented today there is nothing truly. The eu represents 26 other Member States, obviously italy will want to see action in policy and support, but how can Van Der Leyen Build Consensus within the european unit, to support the block more widely . This has been the challenge for the European Commission i would say since the immigration crisis, build consensus among Member States, something that is not been possible something that is not been possible so far. It also those agreements that are being reached at the european level, for instance the council, those are just marginal. It is a very difficult task, but of course the nation will push for the measures for, in the plan presented today, for instance, 10 to ask to other Member States to receive people. Recognition has been a lot. ,. ,. ,. , lot. Georgia maloney was in hungary. Lot. Georgia maloney was in hungary. She lot. Georgia maloney was in hungary, she made lot. Georgia maloney was in | hungary, she made comments lot. Georgia maloney was in hungary, she made comments they are the controlled migration was beneficial to countries, does italy give any indication as to what level it would like to see migration at . Well i dont think there is a goal as terms of numbers of arrivals. Italy and the government, our thinking that the current levels are unsustainable. In terms of measures, over the last week, with the numbers rising, members of the coalition are starting to talk about a blockade, or using another mission to block departures, actually. But this would be a very difficult and probably unlawful under International Law measured to implement. I dont think there is a goal, an explicit goal, i think the short term objective of the government is to reduce the numbers. , the government is to reduce the numbers. , ~ ,. , the government is to reduce the numbers. , ~ , the government is to reduce the numbers. , ~ ,. Numbers. Thank you so very much. Thank you numbers. Thank you so very much. Thank you for numbers. Thank you so very much. Thank you for having numbers. Thank you so very much. Thank you for having me. The United Nations says the number of People Killed in last weeks floods in libya has reached more than 11,000. Another 10,000 people are still missing. Two dams failed in a storm a week ago today which saw large parts of the eastern city of derna washed away. 0ur correspondent anna foster is there and has this update on the situation. All the time, there are still recovery teams arriving to continue their work here in derna. We know now that more than 10,000 people are still missing, so that attempt to try and recover those bodies is continuing in this area, which you can see just a small bit of the devastation, but this is repeated right the way through the heart of this city. One thing we are starting to see now is the beginning of International Aid arrivals from Different Countries around the world. In the beginning, it was very much local libyans who were doing that job, but various countries, including the uk, have pledged aid and that now is starting to arrive here in derna. Of course, the scale of this catastrophe, as we have been saying, is such that a huge amount of aid is still needed, but it is starting to come in and starting to reach the places that need it. Special at teams are also starting to come into this area, specialist teams are also starting to come into this area, who can help with the recovery operation, help with finding and identifying the bodies, and crucially to help those next to the aftermath of the earthquake in morocco. More than a week on from the quake a group of villages in the high Atlas Mountains one of the worst hit regions have still only received limited aid. Locals say they have yet to get any help from the government, and desperately need tents. The bbc� s Ethar Shalaby sent this update from one of the villages. In the village of bierbur, one of the very hard to reach villages here in the province of peshawar, northeast, the epicenter of the earthquake. Im inside a completely destroyed house of rashid, who will tell us how was it on the night of the earthquake . Hes telling me that he was sitting, having dinner with his mother in the kitchen, what used to be a kitchen here. And then suddenly the house crashed on top of them. He actually managed to quickly save his mother and get her out of the kitchen. However, shes having severe fractures in her leg at the moment. So its going to show me around the house at the moment. So hes going to show me around the house at the moment. This was his bedroom. He says its completely full of rubble, as we can see. And he said that they tried their best to get as much belongings as they could. And as you can see, still some of their belongings are still there. Thats the slippers of his own mother. And as you can see now, these are the family pictures that his mothers picture showing me this grandfathers picture and his fathers pictures as well. This was his mothers bedroom and its completely destroyed. And she used to sleep there. That was the side of the bed where the bed was actually located. Rashid is saying that his mother is currently receiving treatment after staying in a Field Hospital for some two days. But still, she is recovering from a very severe leg fracture. The area of sea ice surrounding antarctica is well below any level previously recorded in the antarctic winter, Satellite Data shows. The map image shows the typical extent of sea ice at this time of year, specifically on the 14th of september. Thats the yellow dotted line, but the actual extent of ice is much less than the median. And as we head into the antarctic summer, much of he existing ice will continue to melt. 0ur Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt has been following the story yes. And antarctica kind of melts away almost entirely in the summer and then grows in the winter. What we saw was a pattern where it seemed quite resistant to climate change. So, you know, it was youd see it growing. In fact, building up until 2016, the actual sea ice area was growing. And we think that was that is because antarctica is a continent on its own, surrounded by sea, and essentially it has its own kind of weather and climate system. But what were seeing over the last since 2016 and culminating this year is what seems to be a kind of what some scientists are describing as a regime shift. So moving towards an era of lower ice cover, and thats really significant because the ice in antarctica reflects the energy from the sun that keeps the continent cool and cools the water underneath it. It acts as a kind of refrigerator at the bottom of the earth, keeping regulating the earths weather, Weather Systems and keeping the earth cooler. If that begins to change in a significant way, and this change would be gradual, but if it does begin to change, obviously that could have a really significant effect on the worlds climate and also on weather patterns. When we think of weather and climate, we often think of the air temperature, dont we . The temperature that we experience, we walk out of the house, but Sea Temperatures are also rising. And thats a vitally important issue, notjust down in antarctica, but for things like the strength of hurricanes in North America as well. For example, yeah, weve seen a really exceptional year for Sea Temperatures, so we saw an all time high for sea surface surface high for Sea Surface Temperature this summer in the northern hemisphere. It happened injuly and normally you would expect it to happen towards the end of the Southern Hemisphere summer. So this is an unusual time to see such a high peak. It was really kind of out of the ordinary. Scientists dont know whether that is what is driving the changes in antarctica. 0ne imagines that Sea Temperature would have a role, but theyre saying at the moment they want to look at all sorts of other factors that might be playing are playing a role as well. Playing, are playing a role as well. But yeah, youre absolutely right. Rising Sea Temperatures are a real concern. It takes a lot of energy to heat water up and then it takes a long time for that energy to diffuse. So and we are at the moment, at the beginning of an el nino year, its a Weather Variation that sees temperatures in the tropical pacific rise and drives higher temperatures worldwide. Were expecting that to peak towards the end of october, november, december this year. And that should mean we see similarly high temperatures next year. And obviously, that may we may see consequences on the Antarctic Ice going on into next year as well. So thats something certainly scientists will be watching, watching very closely. I asked dr Robbie Mallett, who is currently at the British Antarctic survey� s Rothera Research station in antarctica, what we would see if we ventured out from the Research Station today. So as we head out from the station today, we see a really, really thin covering of ice thats formed in reallyjust the last month, actually, for the Research Station. So we showed up here in march and we expected to chart a full winter of sea ice evolution and learn about the sea ice. But its really over the last six weeks that weve been actually able to do ourjobs because the conditions have just been so poor. And what are the drivers for these poor conditions . The drivers a complex, but the biggest thing that we can point to right now is anomalous temperatures, anomalous winds and perhaps even oceanographic changes. So the waters around antarctica may be getting getting water, getting warmer or saltier. Robbie. Theres a distinct difference, isnt there, between weather and climate . Weather is whats happening outside the window here. In our climate, the long term trend, 30 or so years, this anomalous year that were seeing at the moment, is this a result of inclement weather and kind of unusual weather, or is this testament to the fact that the climate down at the bottom of the earth is changing . Thats a good question. So we have about a0 years of data on this, but since 2016, weve seen a really alarming trend downwards. Weve seen persistently low coverage of sea ice in antarctica, and thats starting to make us think now. Its been six or seven years, whether weve really seen a climatic shift, some kind of meaningful environmental change that goes beyond weather into a climate shift. What are the potential risks and Threats Associated with this reduction in sea ice . Sea ice is really the linchpin of so many systems down here. So the ecology, the birds, the fish, the algae that underpin many of the food webs are really dependent on the sea ice. But the sea ice also controls how much carbon the Southern Ocean can take out of the atmosphere. So its a really important tool in the earths tool box to to deal with the huge amounts of Carbon Dioxide that were pumping into the atmosphere. So the changes are both affecting animals, plants, but also the Climate Goals that were so intent on, on hitting. Considering the size of the challenge, considering the size of the impact its having on antarctica, what can be done to try and reduce this trend or even reverse it . Well, the biggest thing to do to make sure that were safe from this kind of change is just reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions. And the system down here is really complicated and its having a complex response to being hit with a massive hammer of carbon, basically. So to stay within the safe boundaries for the system, we just need to reach net zero emissions and start to start to stabilise the atmosphere. You are at the bottom of the world rather. A Research Point is kind of directly due south of south america. It would be a miss of me not to ask what is life like in antarctica . Yeah, life is really dependent on whether youre in the summer or winter. Yeah, life is really dependent on whether youre in the summer or winter. So in the winter weve just experienced it. Its very dark, very windy and very cold. So as soon as you wake up in the morning, you head to breakfast in another building and you quite possibly have to battle a sort of 15 blizzard just to get your cereal. So it is very challenging. We do is also we have to think a lot about the risks and the safety of going out on sea ice, especially when its as thin as this year. And over the next couple of weeks and months. What are you aiming to achieve with regards to your research . So we only have one month left of our campaign, actually, which is why its so unfortunate that the sea ice has only shown up so recently. But were really trying to work out how to measure Sea Ice Thickness from space. Its very easy and weve done it for a long time to see where it is on the surface of the earth, but to actually look down from orbit and see how thick the sea ice is, that will give us a real clue about how the system is responding to climate change. So wed really like to add a third dimension to the work we do with satellites. That was doctor Robbie Mallet joining me from that article. Plenty of stories on the bbc news website, or the app on your smartphone or tablet. Thanks for watching. Moving into the midlands and you can see on the satellite picture, this clump of cloud here, Storm Clouds Drifting in from the warm south and then i think later on today well see another round of storm, possibly reaching southeastern areas. This what it looks like around the middle of the afternoon, the Thundery Rain Moving to the north of wales, into its anglia. The risk of thunder and lightning continues through this evening, and overnight, in fact we see this next area of storming us affecting the southeast and actually there will be plenty of clout and outbreaks of rain in other parts of the countries as well. Western parts of scotland, too. With the air coming in from the south, its a mild light, 16 celsius in the south. And then monday is that transition day, cold fronts couple of them crossing the country, by definition the air is relatively speaking is colder behind the weather front, its this westerly push of atlantic air. Behind iti its this westerly push of atlantic air. Behind it i think sunshine and showers for many Western Areas of the uk as this cold front sweeps across the country. Thats not particularly cold air, because look at that, temperatures are still around 17 20 across wales and northern ireland. Push an x tropical cyclone, tropical storm, hurricane. Strong winds in association with this area of low pressure, really blustery inland, but because this is an x tropical system, there is a lot of warm and humid air processed in it. Some spots could nudge up to 18 20 c. Its a broad area of low pressure, meaning it will take time for it to sweep across the country so i think on wednesday once again another blustery day with a spell of blustery day with a spell of blustery rain. As this cold front moves across the country. Roundabout 16 expected in belfast, so turbulent week on the way. Live from london, this is bbc news. The bbc and banijay, the company who employed Russell Brand while he was presenting shows show for channel 4 in the mid 2000s, has launched an urgent investigation after allegations of rape and Sexual Assault are made against him he denies the claims. The president of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, and italys Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, have visited the italian island of lampedusa. Its seen huge numbers of people arriving from north africa this week. Anger grows among survivors in libyas flood ravaged city of derna, as authorities in the east of the country blame nature for the disaster. The United Nations says the number of people known to have died has reached around 11,300. The Antarctic Sea ice has declined to its lowest winter level on record, according to Satellite Data