Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240714

Tom barton reports. In manchester, theyre expanding the tram network, spending millions on improving public transport. But, they new Prime Minister says he wants to go further, promising to build a fast railway line between this city and leeds, 35 miles away. I want to be the Prime Minister who does with Northern Powerhouse rail what we did for crossrail in london, and today, im going to deliver on my commitment to that vision with a pledge to fund the leeds to manchester route. But while local leaders have welcomed that promise, the chief executive for transport for the north told the Prime Minister that the proposed line doesnt go nearly far enough. We wa nt we want to have liverpool, sheffield, holland newcastle all getting the benefit as well as leeds and manchester. Well, there you go, barry, 39 billion, a number to conjure with, i dare say. But youre absolutely right, barry, and youre writing your aspiration and we support that. Labour says todays announcement is just reheated promises, pointing out that improvements to Northern Rail services have been on the table for years. Jeremy corbyn, though, said he would go much further. When the government set up its powerhouse for the north, they had an office in whitehall to administer it. We are moving the treasury to the north, were moving an awful lot to the north, in order to ensure that that fairness of National Investment begins to be a reality. Both leaders are promising that they are the man to rebalance the british economy, as they target northern voters ahead of a possible election later this year. Tom barton, bbc news. Our chief Political Correspondent vicki young is in manchester for us. Vicki, more pledges and promises. How are they all going to be funded . It is quite a wish list, isnt it, not just those it is quite a wish list, isnt it, notjust those rail promises but housing, social care, broadband, the police, Firm Commitments he says but no real details about how he will pay for it. The only reference to money was to around £25 billion that the former chancellor Philip Hammond had earmarked to mitigate the effects of a no deal brexit. Boris johnson is spending money ramping up those preparations for no deal, so how is he going to pay for the implication, although he didnt say this, the implication is that it would mean more borrowing. It is interesting he has chosen to make his first speech as Prime Minister outside london, coming to manchester. He sees northern towns and cities clearly as a priority, and cities clearly as a priority, and the mayor of Manchester Andy burnham seems to think borisjohnson is serious about delivering on all of this, but probably on the Prime Ministers mind is the fact that he has his eyes on some of those labour seats that voted for brexit. Britains thriving science sector would be put at risk by a no deal brexit. Thats the warning from the head of the Wellcome Trust the uks biggest charitable funder of scientific research. The trust spends around £1 billion a year supporting research most of it in the uk. Katy austin has more. Yasmin is a scientist from germany, researching sex chromosomes at the Francis Crick institute in london. Shes not sure whether to stay in the uk, though, because the countrys leaving the eu. My feeling is that over the next ten, 20 years, if brexit actually happens, especially if it happens without a deal, which seems likely now, that uk science is on a decline, with regards to, yeah, funding opportunities, positions that are available, attractiveness of living here. You could see this place as a symbol of britains status as a science superpower europes largest Biomedical Research facility under one roof, with 1,200 researchers working here from across the globe. The director here warns continued success relies on collaboration that he says is incompatible with a no deal brexit and not just because millions of pounds in funding would be at risk. Its our reputation, its being able to attract people. Its making them feel comfortable here. All of this is injeopardy if we are turning our back on europe and saying, we dont really care about you. And what it will mean is, is we have to follow the rules and regulations that weve had no role or impact on in setting up ourselves. So, in fact, we lose power, we lose freedom rather than gaining it. Now, britains biggest science charity has written to the Prime Minister, praising his vision for a thriving science sector, but describing no deal as a threat. Were a science superpower, but there are some clouds on the horizon, which if we dont banish them, could erode that position. What we are anxious about is that the science that is done here goes on being excellent, and to do that it requires both more investment and support from the government, it also requires an immigration policy that welcomes to this country the best researchers in the world, and their families. In a statement, number 10 said the Prime Minister is committed to supporting the uk science sector, to take full advantage of opportunities outside of the eu, so it can offer the best environment for Cutting Edge Research and the best global talent. Katy austin, bbc news. Rail passengers between london st pancras and nottingham and sheffield have been urged not to travel, as disruption caused by hot weather enters a third day, and train conductors go on strike. The extreme heat earlier in the week damaged overhead line equipment, causing long delays. Train companies have told customers to expect a reduced service until monday. More than 700 passengers have been rescued from an express train trapped by torrential rains near the indian city of mumbai. Helicopters, boats and diving teams were deployed after the train became stranded close to the town of vangani. Passengers were told to remain on board, but were left without food or water for 15 hours. Police in hong kong have fired tear gas at an unauthorised protest involving thousands of demonstrators. The march was in response to attacks on pro democracy activists by armed masked men last week. Protests began seven weeks ago against a planned extradition law. Our china correspondent Stephen Mcdonnell is there. Stephen, whats the latest . The predicted street clashes between riot police and the black clad pro democracy activists have definitely come to pass, here today. There has been an act of mass civil disobedience from tens of thousands of protesters who defied police orders, and came here to gather illegally. This is where the triad gangs last weekend bashed pro democracy activists on their way home. They say they want an inquiry about that, and they accuse some officers of colluding with the triad gangs. What is more, protesters have renewed calls for democracy. This is something beijing is not going to give them in a hurry. So, we have this escalating crisis, becoming ever more violent, with no sign of ending. The local government and beijing government will not give these people one person one vote in a hurry, and on the other hand the protesters say they will not stop marching, and there is another march due tomorrow and another next week, so we are into eight weeks of political crisis here, with no end in sight. With all the sport now, heres gavin ra mjaun at the bbc sport centre. England have named their squad for the first ashes test, which starts at edgbaston on thursday, and as expected jofra archer has been called up to the test side, for the first time. Our reporter Patrick Gearey is here. A continuing rise for a star of the world cup . Yes, jofra archer was not qualified to play for england until earlier this year but since then hes taking 20 wickets in the world cup and that has catapulted him into the squad. It wasnt thought he would be fit for the first test, he has been suffering with a side problem he says has caused excruciating pain, but he got through a t20 match for sussex yesterday and will be assessed again before the first test. He could bring pace and invention to the england attack. Eight members of that world cup squad coming to this ashes squad including ben stokes returns as vice captain, the role taken from him in the aftermath of that infamous incident outside a bristol nightclub in 2017. Its 3111 man squad, thats bigger than normal for a test series, why . It is an unusually large squat. The National Selector ed smith says some builders have been carrying knocks or have had record workloads, includingjimmy or have had record workloads, including Jimmy Anderson orjofra archer. There are not many surprises. The under fire archer. There are not many surprises. The underfire batting line up is likely to continue into the first test and will be under even more pressure when faced with that potentially fearsome Australian Attack and the intensity of ashes cricket. Although its a large squat there are not that many options. Not long to find out how it all goes, it sta rts long to find out how it all goes, it starts on thursday. Football gareth bale is very close to a move away from real madrid, to china. He played for the spanish giants in a friendly against city rivals atletico last night, but is expected to join the Chinese Super league side, jiangsu suning. Its a move that will apparently see him earn £1 million a week. Arsenal, meanwhile, have reached an agreement to sign the ivory coast winger nicolas pepe from lille. The deal is worth just over £70 million, which arsenal will pay in installments. The 24 year old scores 22 goals in frances top league last season, and the move is expected to be completed over the course of the weekend. Charles leclerc was fastest in the final practice for tomorrows german grand prix. The ferrari driver finished just ahead of red bulls Max Verstappen at hockenheim. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton ended the session in sixth. The World Champion had his best time deleted for exceeding track limits. Leeds rhinos have won the womens challenge cup for a second year in a row. And they beat the same team castleford in the process. It was pretty close for a while, 10 10 before Courtney Hill went over for the rhinos with 20 minutes to go. 16 10 the final score at the university of bolton stadium. And both mens challenge cup semi finals are live on the bbc today. Warrington vs hull follows the news on bbc one, then its st helens vs halifax on bbc two at apm. Thats all the sport for now. You can see more on all of todays stories on the bbc news channel. The next news on bbc one is at 6 35pm. Hello, youre watching the bbc news channel. In the past hour, borisjohnson has set out plans for a new high speed rail route between manchester and leeds, which is expected to cut journey times between the two cities to less than 30 minutes. During a speech in manchester, the Prime Minister said he was determined to boost prosperity in the north. I want to be the Prime Minister who does with Northern Powerhouse rail what we did for crossrail in london. And today, i am going to deliver on my commitment to that vision with a pledge to fund the manchester to leeds route. And i know thats the bit, mr mayor, that you particularly want, but i want to stress it is going to be up to local people to decide what comes next. And as far as im concerned, that is just the beginning of our commitments and investments. We want to see this whole thing done. And i have tasked officials to accelerate their work on these plans, so that we are ready to do a deal in autumn. Feel free to applaud, if you, thank you. Applause thats the spirit thats the spirit, its the right thing to do, and its time we got this whole thing moving, its time we put some real substance into the idea of Northern Powerhouse rail, that is why we are here this morning. We want to inject some pace into this so that we can unlock jobs and boost growth. 0ur correspondentjudith moritz is in manchester for us. Yes, in the ring, unfortunately. But inside the museum of science and industry here a few minutes ago, borisjohnson industry here a few minutes ago, Boris Johnson left after making industry here a few minutes ago, borisjohnson left after making that speech standing in front of stevensons rocket to make his announcement on rail between leeds and manchester. He talked about there being a hopelessness in many northern towns but was quick then to say that is not the fault of the People Living there but of politicians who have filled them time and time again. He said he wa nted time and time again. He said he wanted to put that right. How well those remarks made by people who live and work your . Henry morrison is with me, director of the northern partnership. Northern partnership. Northern partnership. Five years ago these announcements were being weighed and one criticism was that not a lot has happened since with up to you to confidence . The reality is that andy burnham who was in that office, only exist because the northern was crated. Sending power back to the northern cities. But in the past three years and theresa mays government, progress could be described as lacklustre at best. In the first week, Boris Johnson has sent a very clear message that he wa nts a sent a very clear message that he wants a decent drive power but is also committed to the George Osborne legacy. We now have a commitment on the table, a line through leeds and onto manchester as well as a Network Across the north but actually the first step was a good step forward. The crucial thing is a lot is being made about links between leeds and manchester but you yourself ask the question in the whole bit about other towns and cities like bradford. Is this really going to cover everywhere around the north . 0n cover everywhere around the north . On that new, there is a proposalfor a city centre station in bradford. That is what businesses in the north are in favour of. We also have the case to build a new out of manchester, to serve both traffic north and south but also east and west through Manchester Airport and onto liverpool. Which would give access to people in yorkshire where i live to Manchester Airport more easily which is an equivalent to heathrow, the heater of the north. You could make a very strong economic case for that whole network andi economic case for that whole network and i believe borisjohnson has indicated the most excessive part which is building a new across a payment is in our grasp and the commit is to grasp. Across the pennines. Some of the rest could be done a lot sooner so i think were going to see this big commitment, the new which we want to see, and improvement of the line and the relationship between manchester and leeds to bring those cities closer together, as one set closer today. But that isnt any use if it doesnt come with a network that also includes places like liverpool, hull, newcastle. And what Boris Johnson said in the questions was that the government, as it was under theresa may was looking at that, but we we re theresa may was looking at that, but we were previously waiting a long time to get a decision on Northern Powerhouse rail. By accelerating the decision, that is what businesspeople want to see and we will be making a decision in the autumn rather dragging this out. I think particularly if there is no question that we need improvements between leeds and manchester, that means we can debate the detail which is making sure bradford gets real benefits, making sure this is that sheffield benefits of two. Benefits, making sure this is that sheffield benefits of twom benefits, making sure this is that sheffield benefits of two. It all seems optimistic, there were people in the room saying you need to plan for a no deal brexit. Realistically can you pay for it . The thing about infra structure is in the uk we can store it under investment and the labour party here in the north yesterday make exactly the same case that compared to the 0ecd, we spend far too little. The National Commission plan already plans for the powerhouse and hs2. We can afford all those projects with ease. And what Boris Johnson afford all those projects with ease. And what borisjohnson is saying is that he has committed personally to not getting in the way of those projects but we as northern leaders, business leaders, our mayors and Civic Leaders across the pennines, need to get into the detail of it now and make sure that our plan is accepted now and make sure that our plan is a cce pted by now and make sure that our plan is accepted by government and make sure that we get it built because it is not just that we get it built because it is notjust enough to talk about infrastructure, you hacked have to deliver it and i think that today what we have got is very much for us to lead and we should be driving forward with it because if we have leaders and power we can do much more for ourselves because we dont act want to always with to rely on the support of Prime Ministers. We wa nt to the support of Prime Ministers. We want to be permanently in control of our own destiny and notjust want to be permanently in control of our own destiny and not just for the next months and i think that is the battle, to permanently transfer power to the north amendment and that will genuinely fulfil the mission that the northern. Thank you much any. The devil will be in the detail, broadbrush announcements have been welcomed across the spectrum, labour mayor of greater Manchester Andy burnham has said that to him it feels as though the north of england has been put further up the agenda than it has been before. That has been welcomed. But people are saying we want to see the detail of how this will play out and want to see it we want as quickly as possible. We arejoined now by nigel evans mp for Ribble Valley in lancashire. It has historically been underfunded in terms of transport infra structure. But this is the third conservative minister in succession, how can anyone believe that this money is actual going to materialise and that it isntjust some sort of election bribe . Well you had andy burnham, the labour mayor of manchester, welcoming it and so that is good news. And we have got some good infrastructure on transport. We have got Manchester Airport which is the only airport in the United Kingdom with two runways outside of heathrow. And that serves 28 million passengers every year. So we have got that. Now we want to connect the major cities. And it is going to start with this manchester lead a faster route. Leeds. I represent a fairly rural constituency. The major town is clitheroe. And we want to make sure that money going into the real infra structure comes into areas like clitheroe. Because we have got people who live in my constituency who want and need to get to manchester. The need to get to leeds as well so i was rather excited by what Boris Johnson to leeds as well so i was rather excited by what borisjohnson had to say today not just about the trains, not just about leads to say today not just about the trains, notjust about leads to manchester but also other cities but also about the bus network. And when you are wondering around this area you cant help thinking that there arent many buses because quite frankly there are not. But we want to make sure that when eczema succumbing the come into areas like i was as well. Extra buses come into areas. I dont wa nt extra buses come into areas. I dont want them all down in london, i want to make sure we get ourfair want them all down in london, i want to make sure we get our fair share. I know the area very well and i grew up i know the area very well and i grew up there as you probably know nigel, people might ask how is this going to be paid for, especially if there isa to be paid for, especially if there is a no deal brexit . Is it a question of more borrowing ultimately . We are the fifth largest economy in the world and we have just got to a period of study them across tennessee. We now borrow one pound and £34 so we have seen. A lot of this investment is gone to have a return. He wants to turbo charge the north west the northern economy and you do that by investing in the infra structure and also for the first time we heard the payments are talk positively about the advantages of leaving the european union. Post brexit, what is good to happen . And what we know from last night is that he had a chat with the president of the United States, the president himself is on record saying they wa nt to himself is on record saying they want to do a very quick and big deal with the United Kingdom which will be three, four, five times bigger than our current deal at the moment with the United States. We have got billions of pounds profit with the United States, we have done very well with trade with them. If we do this trade deal with the president who is keen to do it, then goodness knows what impact that will have on the uk economy. But the north west of england, certainly the north of england will be a very fair share of that. Line as many people are spectating about an early election, have you been told to be on the campaign footing . Most people are on campaign footing . Most people are on campaign footing . Most people are on campaign footing you dont know what has gone to happen. Yesterday i visited some of my consistency, i am just doing my normaljob. But it may well be that there may be an election sooner rather than later. Talking to other mps we dont expect it to go to 2022, but we do expect to be out of the eu before we start knocking on doors. Thank you very much. The Us Supreme Court has ruled that the us president can use military funds to build sections of his promised border wall with mexico. The Supreme Courtjustices narrowly voted to allow two and £500 million to be diverted from the military budget to strengthen existing barriers in border states. Meanwhile, the us says its reached an agreement with guatemala to help stem the flow of migrants reaching its southern border. Chris buckler in washington reports. The long border between the United States and mexico has been at the centre of a long battle between President Trump and his political opponents. In congress, democrats have consistently blocked his attempts to secure funding to build more and bigger barriers between the countries. Prompting the president to declare a national emergency. He has repeatedly argued that the surge of migrants making their way to the us has created a crisis at the border. And he said that left him in a position where he should be able to redirect billions of dollars from Defence Department funds to pay for the wall. And now the Supreme Court has agreed, overturning a decision from a lower court. On twitter, President Trump said it was a big victory for the wall and a big win for Border Security and the rule of law. Its not the only success he is claiming. Guatemala has now agreed to a deal, where migrants who travel through the country to the United States will have to claim asylum there, before they reach the us border. That will apply to huge numbers of people, fleeing violence and poverty in el salvador and honduras. The president oversaw the signing of the new deal in the white house. In return, mr trump has dismissed threats of sanctions and tariffs and agreed to more visas for Foreign Workers from guatemala. Its going to be terrific for them and terrific for the United States. This landmark agreement will put the coyotes and the smugglers out of business. These are bad people, these are very, very bad, sick, deranged people. But its not clear if the new measures will substantially reduce the numbers trying to get from Central America into the us. Translation you dont know how i feel. I want to cross over to give my son a better life. The money ive been spending to get here is not a small amount. Chanting build that wall build that wall donald trump is a president preparing to seek re election. He promised his supporters tougher immigration policies and a border wall. He believes he is making progress. But theres still a chance of more barriers being put up by the courts and politicians in the us congress. Chris buckler, bbc news, washington. Sports direct says it regrets rescuing house of fraser and has warned that there will be more store closures. Sports direct boss mike ashley said the problems at the Department Store were nothing short of terminal. Andy moore reports. For house of fraser staff worried about their future, theres little reason for optimism in this set of results. The chain of stores employed around 17,000 people went mike ashley rescued it last year, and saved 31 of its 59 stores from closure. A handful of shutdowns since, but now, theres the prospect of more closures to come. The Smaller Stores are especially at risk. Mike ashley said about the house of fraser buyout but he added mr ashley said some stores were still losing money, even though their rent had been cut to nothing. Sports direct results were due to be published 11 days ago, but they were delayed time and time again. The reason for that now appears to be this huge £605 million tax bill demanded by the belgian authorities. The Company Believes its unlikely it will actually have to pay that full amount. And theres also been a loss of £55 million at house of fraser since that company was taken over. Mike ashley said with the gift of hindsight, he mightve made a different decision about stepping to rescue the chain. Andy moore, bbc news. The summer heatwave has broken records across the world, and not even the arctic has escaped the dramatic rise in temperatures. There have been hundreds of wildfires within forests in the arctic circle, including siberia, alaska and greenland. Plumes of smoke from the fires can be seen from space. Ramzan karmali has more. Wildfires are ravaging the arctic. Areas of northern siberia, northern scandinavia and greenland have been engulfed in flames. Lightning often triggers fires in the region but this year, they are lasting longer. This fire at grouse creek in alaska has been burning since the 10th ofjuly. So far, over two million acres of forest land have been scorched in the state. The temperature was much higher than the average, and also things like the soil moisture and the amount of precipitation is much lower than the average. What this means is its much drier, much warmer, so when there is an ignition, then the fires have been able to persist and spread quite quickly, and endure. Arctic fires are common between may and october, but higher temperatures, blamed on climate change, have meant the fires this year have been more intense. Global satellites are now tracking a swathe of new and ongoing wildfires within the arctic circle. Smoke is affecting large areas, engulfing some places completely