For the first time after hundreds of women made allegations of Sexual Abuse against former owner mohamed Al Fayed. Michael ward said in a statement the company failed our colleagues and that he wanted to make it clear that he was not aware of criminality and abuse. Our correspondent, helena wilkinson, is in knightsbridge. Helena. This is the first time we have heard from Michael Ward since the Bbc Documentary last week. Let me read you a bit more of the statement we have had in the last hour. He says he wanted to convey his personal horror at the revelations that have emerged over the past week. He says that we have all seen the survivors bravely speak about the terrible abuse they suffered at the hands of former owner mohamed Al Fayed. We failed our colleagues and for that we are deeply sorry. The statement also goes on to say, i feel it is important to make it clear that i was not aware of his criminality and abuse. While it is true rumours of his behaviour circulated in the public d
Good afternoon, and welcome to the bbc news at one. The Prime Minister says the governments first budget in october will be painful. Sir keir starmer was speaking in the rose garden at Downing Street ahead of parliaments return next week. He said labour had inherited an economic and societal black hole, but the conservatives called the Speech A Distraction from the promises he had no intention of keeping. Our Political Correspondent Hannah Miller reports. On Hannah Miller reports. A Beautiful Day in the down street on a Beautiful Day in the Downing Street garden, the Prime Ministers message was not so sunny. Looking ahead to the autumn and signalling unpopular announcements to come. There is a budget coming in october. It is going to be painful. We have no other choice, given the situation we are in. Those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavy a burden. I will have to turn to the country and make big asks of you as well. He country and make big asks of you as well. ,. ,. ,.
Election that theyre trying to put a difference between their reaching net zero in a way which doesnt hurt people and blaming the opposition for wanting to reach net zero in a way which does hurt people. I think its a pretty barmy way of dealing with it. But in the end, of course, its also damaging, notjust to the earth, but the fact is, its very bad for the cost of living because the sort of things that mr sunak wants to do will hold up reducing energy prices, getting things to people in a cheaper way. But rishi sunak s entire logic is that what he is doing by adapting the way in which the uk is committing itself to the net zero target of 2050, what hes doing is protecting the interests of, as he puts it, Working Families. It is not right, says the pm, that Working Families should face significant costs as part of this transition to net zero. Do you agree with that proposition or not . Of course its right, but what hes doing is the opposite. The fact is that this is the first year for
Officers are involved in the investigation. As for Pouria Zeraati himself, well, hes a really high profile tv presenter for Iran International. Thats a Persian Language tv news station. Its based in london, but its available all around the world, including in iran. And i should add, iran denies any involvement in this attack but previously it has said it considers Iran International a terrorist organisation. And Pouria Zeraati is now out of hospital and he and his wife are said to be in a safe place under the police s supervision. But clearly, the whole story raises broader questions about the safety of iranian journalists. And weve got one of them with us here. Sima sabet used to be a presenter on Iran International. Shes also worked on the bbc world service. Thank you so much, sima, for coming on the media show. Thanks for having me on your show. Youre very welcome. I wondered first, in terms of your situation, what impact did fridays attack on mr zeraati have on you personally . Wha