Transcripts For BBCNEWS Outside Source 20200716

Restrictions are eased but restrictions remain on social gatherings. We have a special report on a controversial new dam on the blue nile, as sudan and egypt hit out at ethiopia as it starts to fill the resevoir. And the closest ever pictures of the sun reveal the mini solar flares across its surface. Welcome. Thanks forjoining us. Uk Security Services claim hackers, almost certainly working for the russian state, are trying to steal research into a vaccine for coronavirus. They did not specify which organisations had been targeted, or whether any information had been stolen, but said Vaccine Research had not been hindered by the hackers. Our security correspondent Gordon Corera has been speaking to the head of the National Cyber Security Centre about what theyve found. Were working flat out to protect our Vaccine Research, its so important to the nation right now. And with our canadian and american partners, weve seen russian spies with the names like cosy bear and the dukes trying to hack into the networks hosting the Vaccine Research, so what were doing today is calling it out and publishing the Technical Details so that as well as the organisations we were already working with to protect the research, anyone in the world can see what this looks i can protect themselves from it. What you think theyre trying to do, what are they after . I think anyone, any country right now, if they can get hold of Vaccine Research, particularly in more hostile countries with less sophisticated scientific bases than us would like to acquire this sort of World Class Research thats being done in the uk. Im pleased to say theres no reason to believe theyve got hold of any of it, but we have to be on high alert. Thats why weve detected this attack that weve worked really closely with the institutions, the world class institutions doing this research, and we are on high alert for further attacks. Andrew tsonchev, the directory of technology at the Cyber Security firm darktrace, has more on the groups behind the alleged Vaccine Research attack. This atp29 group thats involved, they are known to target over the last years of government organisations, they were attributed as behind the attacks on the white house and dutch government and others, so it fits their modus operandi, and its not surprising. Weve been worried and the Security Community for the last few months about the very real risk and desire that attackers would have to compromise research facilities, Vaccine Development centres. Its obviously a great way to destabilise a countrys response to the crisis. These sorts of environments that are involved in research and development and production, they are very automated and robotic sized these days, so there are two goals here, and roboticizedthese days, so there are two goals here, one is to steal intellectual property to make sure that whichever country is perpetrating it has the same access to Vaccine Research, and the other to hamper our and other countries responses to the vaccine in that sense. There is a pattern. A few months ago, interserve which is a contract that was responsible for building the Nightingale Hospital in london, they were attacked. No one really attributed who did that, but that was slightly mysterious and what the attackers did was they simply stole the hr database of the company, so just the records of all the contractors working for them, and some people, myself included at the time, speculated that this might be part of a slightly more elaborate nation state campaign that was trying to undermine systematically our response to the virus. Meanwhile, the uk government has announced that its almost certain that what it called russian actors sought to interfere in last years general election. The Foreign Ministry says the interference took the form of social media leaks of confidential papers on a planned trade agreement with the United States. Heres foreign secretary dominic raab. Well, we are in a position now to say that we believe we know with reasonable confidence that russian actors were involved with trying to interfere with the 2019 election, principally through trying to spread, amplify online illegally obtained leaked documents related to the uk us free trade negotiations. Theres a criminal investigation ongoing, so i cant say too much more on that. It is important to wait on the specific attribution, but we will reserve our right to take appropriate measures when we have the conclusion of that investigation. The 2019 election is not the only uk vote russia is accused of interfering with. The uks 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union is also believed to have been targeted by russia. The government has a report on the interference, but has yet to publish it. This is a headline in the times from november 2019, saying the report names nine russian Business People who have donated to the conservative party, and britains intelligence agencies were understood to be furious at the delay in releasing the report. Here we are seven months later and the report still hasnt been published. In fact, the conservative party have kicked out one of their mps, julian lewes, after he was elected head of the Intelligence Committee in charge of releasing the report, in place of the governments preferred candidate, chris grayling. A senior government source accused mr lewes of colluding with Opposition Mps to secure the position. The chief features writer at the financial times, henry mance is not impressed, he said on twitter so in october the Intelligence Committee had a report ready to publish about russian interference, downing street refused to let it be published, and then in november russia interfered in the general Election Campaign . Round of applause for downing street, everyone. Lets get some reaction from 0lga ivshina who is from our Russian Service joins us live. Just going back to these accusations, these allegations of russias interference in terms of the vaccine for coronavirus, 0lga, what has russias response been so far . Well, a spokesman of russias president said today that they have nothing to do with this actions and dont know why russia is implicated. It comes as no surprise because russia for a while has been saying that, you know, all of this looks, for them, like a witch hunt, and no ha rd for them, like a witch hunt, and no hard evidence is provided. This is a tricky moment here, you know, because im the one hand, all of these things connected to hackers, its really a grey zone. Its hard to attribute certain actions to certain people, and a little harder to attribute these people to groups 01 to attribute these people to groups or to state actors, but on the other hand you know, all of this without all of those allegations not backed by evidence when we dont see why, you know, we dont see this why these conclusions were made. It only helps mr putin, for example, to continue his narrative inside russia sing, listen, just provided those allegations, no evidence, thats why its easierfor him allegations, no evidence, thats why its easier for him to depict russia asa its easier for him to depict russia as a fortress surrounded by enemies. Certainly backing away. And when it comes to the uk, we have been talking a lot about this report that we are expecting potentially next week about alleged russian interference over the brexit vote, is that getting as much attention or if any is that getting as much attention or ifany in is that getting as much attention or if any in russia . No, definitely not that much attention. 0nce if any in russia . No, definitely not that much attention. Once again, you know, what russian state is not paying much attention to the they are way more interested in black lives Matter Movement and unrest which was connected to that for example, or some other topics, forest fires for example, but this report is also very interesting, because it was said for a while, nicknames of russian businessmen, some of them actually had all the troubles back in russia and had to flee to the united kingdom, so definitely not, its not that simple and a little bit controversial, so definitely everyone is looking forward to seeing the names and the conclusion. It never is simple, is it . Thanks as always. Lets talk about these potential coronavirus vaccines being developed. There are 23 in Clinical Trials right now thats when People Volunteer to test new treatments and 140 in early development. There have been encouraging early results from some of the Clinical Trials. But to know they work for sure, enough of the volunteers whove had the vaccine have to be exposed to coronavirus in their daily life, without being infected. It could be well into next year before that happens naturally. So some scientists want to speed the process up by deliberately exposing volunteers to the virus. This is an open letter signed by more than 100 prominent figures, including 15 nobel laureates. The organisation behind it, 1day sooner, is made up of more than 30,000 would be volunteers in Different Countries who say they are prepared to take part in what are called challenge trials. The letter states. If challenge trials can safely and effectively speed the Vaccine Development process, then there is a formidable presumption in favour of their use, which would require a very compelling ethical justification to overcome. Heres our medical correspondent fergus walsh. Certainly would speed things up. Now, i have sat and watched this is about ten years ago some volunteers of being deliberately infected with typhoid as part of a trial that was in oxford after theyd been given a new vaccine. And they knew what they were letting themselves in for, but, of course, with that particular illness, there was a very effective treatment had they fallen ill that wouldve rescued them from being sick. With coronavirus and covid 19, although they are beginning to have some treatments, theres not a guarantee, but this group one day sooner in the us is saying that, really, the risk to young fit 20 year olds from coping 19 is so small, smaller, say, then childbirth or smaller than the risks of donating a kidney, but the potential benefits to society from knowing really very quickly which of the 23 vaccines currently under trial actually works, we could save tens of thousands of lives if we just did one of these challenge trials. Thats the latest on the vaccine. Lets look at how coronavirus is playing out in europe, starting here in the uk. The government has announced that the city of leicester will remain under local lockdown, although some restrictions will be eased. While the situation there has improved this month, the rate of infection is still well above the national average. Heres the Health Secretarys announcement. From the 24th ofjuly, we will be removing the restrictions on schools and early years childcare and taking a more targeted approach to the restrictions on 90 central retail. Approach to the restrictions on nonessential retail. However, other restrictions like those for travel and only having social gatherings of up to six people, for example, will remain in force. Not long before matt hancock made that statement, the uks chief scientific adviser was being questioned by mps on britains handling of the crisis in general. This was his response. Its very difficult to know exactly where we stand at the moment. Its clear that the outcome has not been good in the uk, i think we have been absolutely clear about that. When Patrick Vallance says the outcome has not been good, this is what hes talking about. The uk has reported more cases and more deaths than any other country in europe. Thats almost 300,000 infections, and 115,000 deaths. Globally, only the United States and brazil have a worse death toll. The opposition here is now asking the question, did the uk lock down early enough . Theyve drawn attention to this statement from Patrick Vallance today. When the sage sub group on modelling, spi m, saw that the doubling time had gone down to three days which was in the middle of march. Thats when the advice which sage issued was the remainder of the measures should be introduced as soon as possible, and that advice, i think, was given on the 18th of march or the 16th of march. Let mejust let me just recap that, because he said that the governments advisory body recommended the uk go into lockdown on either march 16th or 18th. Im stressing those dates, because they are important. Boris johnson didnt announce a lockdown until march 23rd. Thats at least five days, and possibly a full week after he was advised to do so. The Health Secretary has defended the governments response. Of course, the 16th of march is the day when i came to this house and said that all unnecessary social contact should cease. That is precisely when the lockdown was started. So the government did start encouraging people to stay at home, but thats not the same as full on lockdown. Another country asking where things went wrong is spain. It has the second highest number of cases in europe. Its reported more than 250,000 infections and 28,000 deaths. Today the country took time out to pay tribute to those victims. King felipe led a Memorial Service outside the royal palace in madrid. Translation id like to start by remembering those whove passed away. I would like to share our condolences, our deep condolences, our sincere condolences with them. Id like to share with them our affection, and great emotion. Theyre not alone in their pain. Over in france, it will now be compulsory to wear face masks in public spaces from next week. Thats earlier than originally planned. Heres the french Prime Minister explaining why. Translation we were planning for these measures to come into force on august the 1st, because we are acting on a precautionary basis and not as a matter of urgency. But i understand that this deadline appeared to be late and raised some questions, so the decree will come into force next week. One woman in france is trying to make the wearing of masks a bit more natural and practical. This is Anissa Mekrabech wearing a see through mask she designed while in lockdown. She calls it an inclusive mask because it allows people with hearing difficulties to see and read peoples lips. Amazon has has now come on board and ordered some of the masks for its workers. With the classical mask, you cant understand. You can hear the voice but its distorted. So this transparent mask meets that need. But beyond the deafness, it also allows you to see a smile, a facial expression. Its always nice to see a smile. Stay with us on 0ustide source, still to come scientists reveal the most detailed images ever taken of the sun, showing miniflares floating across the surface. A british schoolgirl who ran off to join the Islamic State group, has won a legal battle to return home to fight the removal of her citizenship. Shamima begum found herself living in a refugee camp and stripped of her british citizenship. Dominic casciani has this analysis on the court of appeals decision. This is comparing with the uks been doing to other nations. So, if you look at the french, i believe the danish and the dutch as well, they have been bringing home some of their citizens who have been out there expressing support for is. The americans have been putting huge pressure on the brits, saying youve got to take responsibility for these people, you cannot lead them in the region. Leave them in the region. Bring them home you know, put them through the courts, send them to jail if need be in the uk, as other countries are doing, to make sure the world a safer place. Dont dump this problem on somebody else. 0n the fact that the court also today in london has said there has to be a reconsideration of the human rights issues, ie a threat to her life, thats quite significant as well as this case, because you could have other people in a similar situation saying, we want to come home. This is 0utside source live from the bbc newsroom. Russia is accused of trying to steal Coronavirus Research from britain and around the world