Transcripts For BBCNEWS Beyond 100 Days 20240713

Two Prison Guards, who were on duty the night the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, took his own life have been charged with falsifying records. Plus, the anti Meth Campaign in south dakota that has raised a few eyebrows. Well explain why. Hello and welcome. Im Michelle Fleury in washington and Christian Fraser is in london. For the first time, we have heard publicly from two people who had direct knowledge of thatjuly 25th phone call between President Trump and the ukrainian president. The House Intelligence Committee has been hearing evidence from Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman an army officer on the National Security council and Jennifer Williams, a veteran Foreign Service officer, in the Vice President s office. In his evidence, lt col vindman revealed that he had twice raised concerns about how senior officials had been handling ukraine. He took his concerns to the nsc lawyer, john eisenberg, once onjuly 10th and again onjuly 25th. He told the committee he was so alarmed by the phone call on the 25th that he reported it without hesitation. I was concerned by the call. What i heard was inappropriate. And i reported my concern to mr eisenberg. It is improperfor the president of the United States to demand a Foreign Government investigate a us citizen and a political opponent. It was also clear that if ukraine pursued an investigation into the 2016 investigation, the bidens and burisma, it would be into the 2016 elections, the bidens and burisma, it would be interpreted as a partisan play. The second witness, sitting next to lt col vindman, wasJennifer Williams, aid to mike pence. Ms williams who has served three administration, two of them republican, said she was surprised by the call on the 25th, because, in her view, it was more political in nature. During my closed door deposition, members of the committee asked about my personal views and whether i had any concerns about the july 25th call. As i testified then, i found the july 25th phone call unusual because in contrast to other president ial calls i had observed it involved discussion of what appear to be a domestic political matter. President trump dismissed todays hearings and the witnesses who came forward to testify. I dont know vindman, i never heard of him. I dont know any of these people. Mr trump has questioned the credibility of Jennifer Williams and Alexander Vindman. With me now is white house columnist at the hill, niall stanage. Thank at the hill, niall stanage. You so much forjoining the thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. We have heard from vindman saying it was unusual, inappropriate, those were the comments from him and williams. How much does this further the case and the facts as we knew them . It does turn up the heat more on President Trumpi turn up the heat more on President Trump i think. Principal because these are people who did hear the call directly. This is not hearsay evidence, this is people on the call. And they are talking about the fa ct call. And they are talking about the fact that the call was unusual, the request was unusual, and the suggestion of holding back was not supported by anyone in the National Security apparatus. This differs from last week where witnesses were providing context. What are we learning from the republicans . Because last week they were going after the process. What was the line of attack you . The line of attack was multifaceted but it was talking about the tenant colonel vindman, suggesting that sometimes it seemed like he had dual loyalty, that is a very controversial line of attack but for example they were raising a rather bizarre offer that he could become the Ukrainian Defence minister, that general attack seemed to be intended to undercut his credibility. To suggest that he was not a reliable witness. There was an interesting moment where the Ranking Member try to pressure vindman to reveal the identity of the whistle blower. Lets just watch that. Mr vindman, you testified in your deposition that you did not know the whistle blower. Ranked member, its Lieutenant Colonel vindman, please. Lieutenant colonel vindman, you testified in the deposition that you did not know. Who the whistle blower was. Or is. I do not know who the whistle blower is, that is correct. A good moment that elicited some laughter in the room. Lets talk about why the republicans are so focused on knowing the identity of the whistle blower when they have to people sitting in front of them who had first hand experience of the fungal. Its a great question, i think the answer really is whomever the whistle blower is, they will try to impugn that persons motives to suggest they have a partisan motivation in making the allegations they have made. But your point is very well taken, the idea of impugning the whistle blower is made enormously more difficult when you have other witnesses in essence corroborating what the whistle blower has said. I dont see how that sort of casting aspersion really overcomes those obstacles for republicans. For that reason these are two important witnesses but they we re are two important witnesses but they were not the most charismatic. Some people have been saying on the sidelines in the last few days that the democrats really need best to keep hitting the richter scale. Do you think you did that today . |j dont you think you did that today . dont think it has done so far, i dont think it has done so far, i dont think it has done so far, i dont think there was one moment thatis dont think there was one moment that is going to explode on social media or carry things further than they have already in advanced. In saying that i think there is a sort of accretion of the weight of evidence and i think that is where the problem arises for President Trump. But will that change the existing partisan lines that we see . 0n existing partisan lines that we see . On this issue . I think that is question of. Good to see you, thank you for coming in and talking to us. Throughout these hearings, many republicans and the president himself have questioned the motivation of the witnesses, calling them never trumpers. For more on that, we are joined by nicholas burns, who served in the Us State Department and multiple diplomatic posts. He is also an adviser to former Vice President , joe biden. The republican line of attack involved quite a lot of innuendo, let me show viewers that was a treat that was put out biter as President Trumps supporters which they have used for fundraising purposes. That was the line of attack we had from the republican congressmanjim jordan in the committee room. What you make of that . I think its despicable. The republicans are not contesting the facts of what happened here. That President Trump tried to end effect extort the Ukrainian Government into investigating Vice President joe biden so what they are doing is trying to impugn the reputation of these stellar witnesses, career military and Foreign Service officers. And frankly this morning was a new low. That was actually a White House Press statement that came out this morning, challenging the integrity of Lieutenant Colonel vindman, exactly when he was testifying, i have never seen anything like that. An american government. Going back a0 years, i worked at the white house between 1990 and 95 and i can assure you that would never have happened under George Hw Bush or bill clinton or George Hw Bush or bill clinton or George W Bush or barack 0bama, it is happening under President Trump and you have to consider the moral depravity of the president , his son donald trump junior came out depravity of the president , his son donald trumpjunior came out and attacked little Lieutenant Colonel vindmans character this morning. This is all the republicans have, they dont have much of a case when it comes to impeachment and they will be in trouble. And yet, the problem we have at the moment is if you look at the impeachment enquiry, pulling scenes to suggest that those we re pulling scenes to suggest that those were supporters of donald trump sticking by him, those who wear critics want to see him impeached. Do you think anyones mind is likely to be changed by this process . The recent polls indicate some of them at least that 70 of americans think its wrong to ask a Foreign Government to investigate an american politician, a political rival of our leader. So i think that isa rival of our leader. So i think that is a challenge for the democrats, to get that point across. There is a long way to go here. The house has to decide whether or not they actually want to proceed with impeachment. They have not done that yet. And then of course there would bea yet. And then of course there would be a trial in the senate but frankly i think these members of congress have to do theirjobs. Its their job to decide whether or not the president used his office, that is the high bar for the president used his office, that is the high barfor the democrats, certainly. And i think for the republicans, i would certainly. And i think for the republicans, iwould really certainly. And i think for the republicans, i would really hope that some of them would search their conscience, and just try to judge this on its objective merits, and not blindly support a president who has been so weak in office and who has been so weak in office and who has done so many things that are suspect in office. Ambassador, i wa nt to suspect in office. Ambassador, i want to pick up on some of those thoughts you expressed. Let me play viewers are cut from last night, former secretary of state Rex Tillerson. Listen to this. Clearly, asking for personal favours and using United States assets as collateral is wrong. Theres just no two ways about it. So if you are seeking some kind of personal gain and youre using, whether it is American Foreign aid or american weapons or american influence, thats wrong. And i think everyone understands that. Everyone understands that. I suppose what this is showing Us Ambassador is that there is less defined within the white house, between the political hires and the professional class of officials who work for the bureaucracy and that has been there throughout President Trumps administration. I certainly respected former secretary Rex Tillerson for what he said so clearly. I think most americans would agree with him when the here that. For me, also i think one of the most powerful images of the last two weeks has been these career for Foreign Service officers and this morning Lieutenant Colonel vindman along with another former service officerJennifer Williams, the professional, not partisan, they are deeply intelligent, they are deep on the issues, and if you contrast them with some of the members of Congress Questioning them, the contrast is quite severe. Severely in favour of these career diplomats and Korean Military officers, it is such a blessing for the United States government that we have a nonpartisan civil service, they are not politicised. I think the American People are saying, maybe it has surprised some people but it is welcome nonetheless. Ambassador we have to leave it but thank you for joining us today. Right, lets move from one grilling to another. Tonight, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn will go head to head, in theirfirst general election tv debate. Its their first major clash of the campaign, ahead of the election on december 12th. The hour long debate is on itv. It will be in front of a live studio audience of about 200 people. The bbcs iain watson is in salford, in the so called spin room, where the teams of the two leaders will be Briefing Journalists and trying to convince them, when it is all over, that their man won the day. Absolutely right, without a doubt. They have started already. Some are already here, trying to make sure they get their guest in front of the camera immediately after. And to say their man has won. Irrespective of performance. Interestingly, in the performance. Interestingly, in the performance preparation, the first ofa performance preparation, the first of a clash between a Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition without it being diluted with other parties, people who could basically form a government after december the 12th, the date of the election, borisjohnson was at a boxing gym, underlining the fact he sees this as a very pugilistic encounter, perhaps trying to score points at the very least againstJeremy Corbyn. Jeremy corbyn more relaxed, apparently had a caesar salad, feet cups of tea and trimmed his beard. So we will have very different styles on show, different policies on show but also judging character. Thinking about who would make a good Prime Minister, given that neither of them had been elected for the job. Presumably, Jeremy Corbyn in some ways ca n presumably, Jeremy Corbyn in some ways can afford to look a bit more relaxed. Because borisjohnson arguably has more to lose as you say as the sort of sitting Prime Minister, up on the stage . as the sort of sitting Prime Minister, up on the stage . I think thats probably too. Certainly the conservatives are consistently ahead in the opinion polls and there are fewer expectations onJeremy Corbyn, in other words if you does better than expected, some people may see that as a victory. That said, Boris Johnson has the benefit of incumbency, he has the Prime Minister. You can also make announcements about what hes doing in office and what he intends do if continues in office, something which Jeremy Corbyn cannot do. He has to convince the that he could be fit to go to number ten. When it comes to the policy differences, Boris Johnson, surprise surprise, will be concentrating on getting brexit done. His slogan, even put on the side of a campaign bus. Jeremy corbyn, the onus on him, which is more difficult, to try to broaden the debate, get away from brexit, Start Talking about issues which could appeal to leave as well as remain voters. Talking about austerity, Public Service investment, the National Health service. We will see have successfully is in trying to get away from Boris Johnsons territory. I difficult task for borisjohnson but i would still say he stands with a slight advantage. Best of luck in the spin room this morning. So, how will the Party Leaders be preparing for the debate . Here to shed some light is guto harri, borisjohnsons director of communications when he was the mayor of london. Nice to see you. What goes through their mind on a night like this . Is it nerves . Is it more and more preparation . How does it work . There was a time when boris would rock up and win it and got away with it more often than he should but for tonight i think we can see both of them will have been prepared in great detail. Notjust on policy, the framing, killer punch as they want to land but also the tone. 0ften killer punch as they want to land but also the tone. Often not only when the camera is looking at you but when the other person is talking, the way you look at them can project an arrogance, contempt, smugness. All of those things will be battered out of them. Have been for days now. And yet, on the night itself, just not losing is not good enough. You also have to show that you are inspiring, you are a real character, you are warm, particularly someone like boris. People are watching even when youre not talking, i know what that is like. You said he wins it . He used to. He used to get frustrated when you prep them on something . There we re you prep them on something . There were occasions when he. Had not quite got as familiar as he should have with the policy was did not mention the punch line, why we were doing an interview, to ask something. Tonight is very clear, he wa nts something. Tonight is very clear, he wants the election to be one of those that addresses the frustrations felt by virtually eve ryo ne frustrations felt by virtually everyone in this country that brexit has gone on and on. He is offering closure which is attracting even people who want to remain, theyjust wa nt people who want to remain, theyjust want this thing to go away and he will try and land that. And give us a glimpse at that world beyond brexit. Where great things happen like the streets getting safer, hospitals and schools and all that stuff but that only happens after brexit, in his view. For viewers tuning in, what should they look out for tonight . Is it body language, message, how do you know a candidate has done better than their opponent . It is the whole package in the end. You will know if one of them has messed up, if one is caught out, if one of them has said something he regrets or something he should not have said or something clumsily. Just use the sort of mood music that is wrong, i think they will try very ha rd to is wrong, i think they will try very hard to avoid that. We have seen borisjohnson in a boxing ring with gloves on. He would his supporters would love to see that killer punch, likewise on jeremy would love to see that killer punch, likewise onJeremy Corbyns side, thatis likewise onJeremy Corbyns side, that is very unlikely. It will be one of those that is decided on points in the end. But a few hefty punches have got to land, or we will end up bored in the end. Thinking back, we spoke about this earlier, i keep thinking back to nick clegg, backin keep thinking back to nick clegg, back in the day he was the surprise winner of that tv debate. back in the day he was the surprise winner of that tv debate. I dont know if anybody has done it since either. 2010 was a breakthrough for him buti either. 2010 was a breakthrough for him but i cant think of another moment, can you . He changed the dynamics, the new kid on the block was meant to be David Cameron and suddenly we saw this kid that was even shinier than David Cameron and even shinier than David Cameron and even more polished than he was and he transformed the dynamics. Tonight, think we know borisjohnson better than we have nowjust about any other politician who has been at this, not been in downing street long but he has been part of the furniture in the United Kingdom for a good few decades. Jeremy corbyn has been around a long while, we kind of knowing that is danger. A most people know how they feel about them. Jeremy corbyn has to convince us them. Jeremy corbyn has to convince us that he is competent and these policies he is offering attractive that they may notjust utter fa ntasy. That they may notjust utter fantasy. Boris has got to win it over as well because he has a limited son. There is a line that he will not appear on friday the second debate, question time format the bbc is hosting. Not to turn up, politically does that work . Well. You can get away with it i think. And icy the rationale for that. Because in the end, there are lots of dynamics but only two people in the end who are seriously and with a shot of being in number ten. All the other voices need to be heard, they will be held in a way not being made tonight might play to the advantage of some of them, but only two men are of some of them, but only two men a re really of some of them, but only two men are really in the contest to be in number ten and that is why tonight should be a useful thing for all of us should be a useful thing for all of us to see how we feel about both of them when we see them, when we hear them, when we can almost smell them. Do you miss it . I enjoy observing it, commentating on it and i look forward to seeing how they both do tonight. Lovely to see you, thank you for coming. Protests in iran have left at least 106 people dead in 21 cities across the country according to Amnesty International some to Amnesty International. Some reports put the number dead much higher after days of protests sparked by a sharp rise in fuel prices. A un spokesman has expressed concern at the use of live ammunition by security forces. Iranian authorites are blaming the trouble on foreign enemies who they say theyve now defeated. Prosecutors in sweden have dropped an investigation into an alleged rape by the wikileaks co founder, julian assange. The allegation led him to seek refuge in the ecuadorian embassy. Mr assange was evicted from the embassy in april. He is now in a london prison, on charges of skipping bail. Mr assange still faces extradition to the United States, which accuses him of publishing thousands of secret documents. Two Prison Guards, who were on duty the nightJeffrey Epstein killed himself, have been charged with falsifying records. The pair are accused of failing to conduct mandatory checks on inmates and then lying on officialforms. The 66 year old sex offender was accused of running a vast network of underage girls for sex. Lets get the latest from nada tawfik, whos in new york. He from nada tawfik, whos in new york. Was in the s this he was in the secure housing unit in this manhattan jail because it was already perceived that there was this suicide risk . Yes, that is right. In fact, this suicide risk . Yes, that is right. Infact, one this suicide risk . Yes, that is right. In fact, one of the Correctional Officers who was charged today was the one who originally found Jeffrey Epstein in that first suicide attempt. What we heard, remember, right after he was found from the attorney general of the United States, there was serious irregularities at the correctional facility. Now, this indictment against these two Prison Guards really lays out what prosecutors allege went wrong. They say for one, these two guards were supposed to check on jeffrey these two guards were supposed to check onJeffrey Epstein every 30 minutes. Instead, overnight for about eight hours, no one checked on Jeffrey Epstein. And in fact, his cell was just 15 feet away from his desk. He was purposely put close to them so he could be closely monitored. Prosecutors allege instead that they were asleep at their desk, browsing the internet, for shopping. And just wondering around the common area. These are see nice charges, ignoring their duty and lying about it on official records. We know that these two guards had been offered a plea deal and refused it so it seems like they are keen to bite these charges. These are serious charges. They have been charged, is that the end of the investigation intoJeffrey Epsteins death . These are the first charges to come following his death but by no means does this kind of mean that this whole question of what exactly happened is answered. We know the department ofjustice is still investigating this as well as the fbi and the bureau of prisons. In fa ct, fbi and the bureau of prisons. In fact, there was actually assynt senatejudiciary fact, there was actually assynt Senate Judiciary committee fact, there was actually assynt Senatejudiciary Committee looking at oversight. And a lot of senators in washington were outraged, saying what is the fbi doing to answer the question of whether this was in fact just a lot of gross negligence or whether there was criminal initiative behind this. It was interesting to hear from the chief of the bureau presents, saying that even though they dont have any evidence this was anything other than a suicide, the fbi still was looking into whether there was criminal intent. So i think it goes to show again the level of embarrassment and anger over the fa ct embarrassment and anger over the fact that he was able to kill himself in federal custody and the fa ct himself in federal custody and the fact there are so many questions. Thank you. South dakota has a problem with meth, particularly among young people. The percentage of those using the drug is higher than the national average. So, on monday, the governor kristi noem, launched a campaign she hoped would draw attention to the addiction in her state. And it worked, but perhaps not in the way she intended. The slogan in the ad is. But, as you can see, the words are laid over photos of people from various walks of life. And my first instinct was gosh, look at these people who all take meth. Youd never know it would you. But, in fact, the literature says. There is problem in south dakota and we all need to get on it, because together we can get meth out of here. So, a campaign gaff or ingenious marketing . The states governor says its all part of the plan, writing on twitter. Perhaps, but that hasnt stopped the flow ofjokes. As one user writes. Laughter this idea of unfortunate ad placing, it is not the first time, not the last. But it did give us a bit of a chuckle. I honestly looked at it this morning and thought look at the housewife sitting there. I thought that was the point, you look at them and thought they were ordinary people from all sorts of walks of life, could be using meth, but no, it was the other way. It has certainly got people talking. This is beyond 100 days from the bbc. Coming up for viewers on the bbc news channel and bbc world news, more testimony in the trump impeachment hearings. For the first time the witnesses are on the republicans list of people to be called. Thats still to come. Good evening. Last night was the cold est good evening. Last night was the coldest night of the season so far. Temperatures this morning at 10 in parts of aberdeenshire, for some in scotland, the crossed did not melt all day long. 0ne scotland, the crossed did not melt all day long. One or two spots staying below freezing. You might think a cold night would follow but thatis think a cold night would follow but that is not the case. Low pressure has gotten closer and closer, more cloud in the sky today and a bit more breeze developing through the night. Strongest of the went close to this weather front in the west which will remain touching gale force around some western coast and it is here across the far west we continue to see rain, the greater chance of rain in central scotland. That could lead to icy conditions. Temperatures can get below freezing across parts of scotland and northern Eastern England into the sort of tomorrow morning, some frost roundabout is extensive, not as cold by and large tomorrow. About more of a breeze adding to the chill. 0ne by and large tomorrow. About more of a breeze adding to the chill. One or two showers on the north sea coast, much of england, scotland and eastern wales will be dry. Early showers in scotland become more fine to the western isles. Some rain in Northern Ireland, pembrokeshire and cornwall but many prices have dry spells and temperatures ten or 11 celsius. Temperatures actually creep up celsius. Temperatures actually creep up as we celsius. Temperatures actually creep up as we go celsius. Temperatures actually creep up as we go through into wednesday and through the night into thursday, the weather front continues to try to push their way and, as strong south easterly wind, shouldnt be too chilly to start thursday. The wind will also temper the feel and through the day, south western parts of England Wales and Northern Ireland could see some heavier rain arrived. Much of scotland, north and Eastern England staying dry, temperatures closer to where we should be for the year in what has been an overall chilly months. Into friday, we continue with that theme of temperatures where they should be. 0vernight rain confined to parts of scotla nd be. 0vernight rain confined to parts of scotland in the morning. The rain later in the day confined to the west of the uk, like the last day or so. Most on fridays finish the day with sunny spells. That of uncertainty with us area of low pressure. It seems the heaviest pulses of the rainbow be in the mediterranean but this front could drift north bringing a greater chance of it of rain in england and wales, more easterly breeze. Head north of that, scotland and Northern Ireland likely to see some sunny spells, staying dry but even here we could see some rain as we go to saturday. That is how it looks. This is beyond one hundred days with me, Michelle Fleury in washington, Christian Fraser is in london. Our top stories this hour. The white house aide who listened to the phone call between donald trump and the ukrainian president tells a public impeachment hearing the president s behaviour was inappropriate. It is improperfor the president of the United States to demand a Foreign Government investigate a us citizen and a political opponent. And very soon the former us special envoy to ukraine and the former top russia staffer on the white houses National Security council will give testimony. Also on the programme. The siege at hong kongs University Dozens of students are still inside the campus protestors face up to ten years in jail. Plus, the Plastic Waste crisis highlighted by David Attenboroughs blue planet 2 programme the broadcaster says there are signs of improvement. In this next half hour we are expecting to hear from two further witnesses who are due to appear before the impeachment inquiry. We will take you to that live when they appear, this is the scene in the committee room. In fact we do not have those pictures at this time but we will cross that when they return. And this time well be hearing from two men on the republican list of witnesses; kurt volker, who was formerly the state departments special envoy to ukraine and Tim Morrisson who was the top National Security Council Expert on russia, until he resigned before his closed door testimony last month. So, lets take a closer look at the two of them. Morrison, a career diplomat, whose testimony, like volkers, may lean towards the republican line of defence. Morrison was on thejuly 25th call. He has testified previously that he was not concerned anything illegal was discussed. But he also revealed that the Eu Ambassador, Gordon Sondland, had told him that Ukrainian Military aid would only be released if they announced an investigation into the bidens. And morrison said the ambassador had told him he was acting on Donald Trumps request. As for kurt volker, he is one of the so called three amigos, along with Gordon Sondland, the Eu Ambassador and the energy secretary, rick perry. The democrats say they were the core of a second diplomatic channel in ukraine that was pushing for the investigations. In previous testimony, he said he was wary of Donald Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and that he believed giuliani was interested in investigating joe bidens son, hunter biden. Ahead of thejuly 25th call, mr volker texted an aide to president zelenskys to say the ukrainian leader would be offered a formal visit to washington, if he convinces trump he will investigate, get to the bottom of what happened in 2016. Well, for more on todays hearings we can bring the bbcs Laura Trevelyan and anthony zurcher. Just fresh back from the hearing. I got the feeling that the strategy has shifted and obviously it is for the republicans a short term strategy because last week they focused on people they said had second hand testimony and today of course people directly on that call. So it has got to be about attacking their integrity today. To some extent, i mean people really went after him to when he first came forward , after him to when he first came forward, conservative commentators questioning his patriotism and his knowledge of the situation. Here it was a bit more muted, what they said was a bit more muted, what they said was that essentially it was just the opinion of vindman that these were wrong. Morrison did not think there was anything wrong with that and it is ok was anything wrong with that and it is 0kfora was anything wrong with that and it is ok for a president to set his policy even if he does not take the advice of people like vindman. What is important to note here is talking about first hand testimony, and vindman talked about atjuly the 10th meeting in the white house between Gordon Sondland the Us Ambassador to the eu and ukraine is and he said that he heard himself Gordon Sondland told me about opening investigations and how a white house visit by president saransk it would be contingent on that. So now were hearing from someone who really saw what ukrainians were hearing from the white house and from Gordon Sondland in these investigations. Laura, we had anthony talking bear about the testimony from vindman and that he had direct knowledge of the phone call and he was concerned about it. But republicans have also been attacking him and undermining his character so ill be going to hear more about that this afternoon . M is interesting because we had the white house saying that to morrison, the top russian official on the National Security council, that he had concerns about the judgment of vindman for question was put to him this morning so no doubt it will come up this afternoon. Republicans are trying to undermine the testimony of vindman, he is a very good witness for the democrats, he is an immigrant from the former soviet union, he is a decorated military veteran, he is a straight up, stand up and but we did hear it from the Republican Council questions about why was it that you we re questions about why was it that you were offered the role of Ukrainian Defence minister by ukraine official. The Republican Council did not say that is dual loyalty but in the conservative echo chamber someone who has divided loyalties, thatis someone who has divided loyalties, that is some trip you will hear repeatedly. So republicans trying to undermine someone that they clearly see as a key witness for the other side. Both witnesses have arrived, they will be going into the room and of course we will cross over to that when the hearing begins. Butjust picking up where laura left off, anthony, the idea of criticism of these witnesses. We had donald trump junior calling them basically low level, partisan bureaucrat, vindman, basically saying that he admitted to leaking to the anti champ whistle blower. Leaking to the anti champ whistleblower. That was one of the lines of questioning that was interesting to hear from republicans, they asked vindman who did you talk to want to listen to thisjuly the did you talk to want to listen to this july the 25th phone did you talk to want to listen to thisjuly the 25th phone call between donald trump and president zielinski. He also said he talked to george kent who testified last week, a Senior State Department official and then someone in the Intelligence Community and he would not know who that was. Republicans thought that he talked to the original whistle blower, but that questioning was not allowed that might reveal who the whistle blower was. Vindman sang the whistle blower was protected by federal law. But republicans suggesting that vindman may have been the source within the white house. So we are going to hear from kurt volker, with had a lot in the programme and we knew that he was deeply involved in ukraine. He knew a lot about what was happening and was deeply involved in the fight against corruption over there but he has got entangled in this and he is one of the so called three amigos so along with the ambassador to the eu Gordon Sondland and rick perry, the energy secretary, those three are supposed to have been in charge of this second diplomatic channel. That is right and we know from testimony from kurt volker behind closed doors that he had concerns about this informal channel of Rudy Giuliani, the personal attorney to the president but that at the same time kurt volker was part of the channel but was pressing the ukrainians to call for an investigation into the bidens so they could get military aid for kurt volker seems to have seen himself as the person trying to manage a rather unusual situation. He recognised it was highly unlikely that President Trump was operating ina that President Trump was operating in a strange way but he was trying to both serve President Trump and protect Foreign Service officers and get the ukrainians to do with the white house wanted so he was adapting to an unusual situation i think is what you will get from him. Anthony, looking ahead, so fight those who have testified have been helping the democrats build their case and these are meant to be witnesses the republicans want to hear from. Witnesses the republicans want to hearfrom. Talk us witnesses the republicans want to hear from. Talk us through how that might change the dynamics in terms of the case being built and what we might hear. It is going to be interesting to see because clearly this has been planned out by the democrats, they brought in their witnesses last week who were diplomats, who are dead already interviewed and presented a very solid and measured case expressing the criticism of the president. If you like to morrison who will testify today has not been quite so outspoken critic of the president so you will see republicans trying to draw that from to try to get him to ta ke draw that from to try to get him to take questions about vindman and talk about how the president has a lot of authority to pursue his own foreign policy. Volkar will be a bit different, he has expressed that he is the one supporting the policies of the president and that is what he was pursuing but he also handed over information including Text Messages proving very damaging that the democrats used to say, to find out taylor is my questions about president ial policy. So it will be interesting to see if they treat these witnesses is hostile, whether they tried to get them to make admissions that they would maybe not be willing to make and for republicans to point to this and say that this has been blown out of proportion and the president was acting within reason and certainly within his powers. I was reading comments from the House Speaker at nancy pelosi and she sent a memo is like to democrats and said that the fa cts like to democrats and said that the facts a re like to democrats and said that the facts are uncontested, the president abused his power for facts are uncontested, the president abused his powerfor his facts are uncontested, the president abused his power for his own personal political benefit at the expense of our National Security interest. It seems that shes trying to get away from the language of quid pro quo and more towards the of bribery which of course is an impeachable offence. Well who these days understands latin and republicans in the hearing this morning said democrats have shifted to bribery because quid pro quo was planning badly. So theyre trying to use slightly more straightforward language. But yes, this is the core of the democrats case that it was robbery, that what the president did they say is outrageous, that he used his power to try to get a foreign power to investigate his own political rival. Republicans are trying to say does not matter, there was no investigation, the ukrainians did not announce that and they got their military aid which is also true. But why did they get the military aid and did they get it only when the whistle blower filed his complaint, that is what democrats seem to suggest last week. So still some way to go in impeachment enquiry. We are waiting for that second hearing today to begin but for now we will leave it there. Thank you very much. The police siege of hong kongs university is in its third day, leaving the last of the protestors still inside facing an increasingly desperate situation with supplies of water and food running out. At the height of the campus occupation there were hundreds of pro democracy actvists but now their number has dwindled to the dozens. 0ur correspondent Rupert Wingfield hayes reports from the campus. They came out looking more like prisoners of war hands on each others shoulders, forlorn, humiliated and exhausted. Family members looked on anxiously, hoping to catch a glimpse of a missing child. This man saw his brother, a man he says was only in the hong kong polytechnic to help negotiate, but he too is now in a police cell. How does that make you feel . Angry. Very. And. He wanted justice to come out in hong kong. Its one country, two systems. Its not china. Its the rule of law in hong kong. But now its being like china. Tonight, we managed to get inside the university, and this is the sight that greeted us. The detritus of sundays battle and the ammunition, ready for a battle yet to come. Whats this . Petrol ether. And another one. Ethyl acetate. This has all come from the universitys chemistry labs, it looks like. It has been used to make what was clearly, look at this, this is a bottle with a gas canister attached to it. Im not sure whether it would have actually worked. But the students here, the protesters here were preparing for another full scale battle with the police. Tonight, maybe 50 protesters are Still Holding out here, they are portrayed in the media as the hardest of the hardcore. But this young man seemed more scared and lonely. He told me even his family has now turned against him. They blame the protesters and say they deserve this, he tells me. They even say it is right for the police to shoot at protesters. When i hear this, it is very tough, i feel very sad. It is clear none of the remaining protesters wants to stay. The steady trickle of surrenders has continued all evening. Many are too exhausted to go on. Then suddenly as we watch, a group of about ten try to make a run for it. Within seconds, the police were on them from all directions. They never really stood a chance. It appears this or surrender are now the only choices facing the few who remain inside. Sir David Attenborough says the world is starting to act on the threat of plastic pollution due to a growing awareness of the damage it can do. The broadcaster whose blue planet 2 series has been praised for bringing the issue into the public eye described Plastic Waste as vile. The comments come as sir david was given a Prestigious International award by chatham house, the think tank that focuses on international affairs. 0ur science editor David Shukman has been speaking to him. Depressing images of Plastic Waste drifting in the water. Sights captured by blue planet ii, the bbc documentary series. Filming that revealed how our throwaway culture is damaging life in the oceans. Other forms of pollution are only too familiar. Presented by sir David Attenborough, the programmes were shown around the world and caught the public imagination, forcing governments and companies to take action. But every year, some 8 Million Tonnes of it ends up in the ocean. This london supermarket is one of many turning its back on plastic packaging, a movement that is gathering pace in many different countries. And when i meet sir david, at kew gardens in london, he says that the dangers of Plastic Waste are now so well understood that there are reasons to be optimistic. People in all parts of society are aware of what is happening and its vile, its horrid, its something we are clearly seeing inflicting on the Natural World and having a dreadful effect and there is something they can do about it. So in a way, its a bit of a litmus test to see if the population care about this sort of thing, and people do. And so, i think its very encouraging. But plastic pollution is a massive challenge, too big to fix rapidly. Last year, we filmed these soldiers in indonesia trying to clear a river, blocked by plastic. Sir david says that at least the problem is now being recognised. So what about another, much bigger threat . The rise in global temperatures, from the burning of fossil fuels. Even on this, sir david sounds a little more optimistic. Well, were not going to win, its not a win or lose situation, its not as simple as that. But we are not losing as badly as we might, and i think thats about as good as you can say. But i think we are changing our habits, and i think the world is waking up to what we have done to the planet, and young people, as we know, are demanding that things should be done about it. 0ne demand is for many more installations like this a vast solarfarm in china. But theyre only one part of the answer to tackling climate change. Thats a problem so complicated it makes fighting plastic pollution seem relatively easy. David shukman, bbc news. This is beyond 100 days. Still to come, for viewers on bbc world news. The perils of live tv well explain why the internet went wild for this political interview. A leaked report on the Maternity Hospital at the shrewbury and telford nhs trust has revealed a toxic culture that led to the avoidable deaths of babies and mothers and sub standard care that left babies brain damaged and disabled. Hugh pym recounts distressing details from the report. The author of this report, donna 0ckenden, leading an investigation into the shrewsbury Hospital Trust has made clear what has been going on isa has made clear what has been going on is a repeated failure by that trust to learn from mistakes as far back as 1970s and what that meant was that families who kept coming to the hospital in that a0 year period have u nfortu nately the hospital in that a0 year period have unfortunately again and again. I have been healthjournalist now for more than 20 years and have written about many scandals and reading this report today and going to the detail it was to be on is quite upsetting. There are examples of babies, their bodies decomposing and mothers not being able to see them before they were buried. It really is a stark report and underlines i think the poor culture in this trust and also the wider safety questions that the nhs has done so. We cannot keep dismissing the scandals as a one off and the independent newspaper is launching a Campaign Today to improve safety not just ina Campaign Today to improve safety not just in a maternity but across the nhs. The independent review now is looking at an investigation of 600 cases, not all of those may be the result of poor care butjust by sheer weight of numbers that is the largest single review of any Maternity Service there has ever been. So i think that that gives your viewers scale of what this scandal will look like when we get the final report which we believe may not be completed until next year at the very earliest. We are awaiting for the start of this head to head debate between borisjohnson this head to head debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn, this head to head debate between borisjohnson and Jeremy Corbyn, the first ever between a Prime Minister and leader of the opposition. The liberal democrats will not be taking pa rt liberal democrats will not be taking part in the show after losing a last minute legal challenge to the original decision. Iain watson is at the debate venue in salford. The tension must be mounting, what are the preparations behind the scenes that the two men have gone through . Theyve been practising during the course of the day, labour will not tell us who has been playing the role of borisjohnson up against Jeremy Corbyn but certainly someone has. Going through each of the potential attack lines that Boris Johnson might be doing. I spoke to some of the people on the team who said corbyn is having less and were com pletely said corbyn is having less and were completely anonymous no distractions whatsoever. He has told us that he had a caesar salad during the course of the day. Boris johnson had a caesar salad during the course of the day. Borisjohnson has been more brilliant should we say perhaps underlying the pugilistic nature of the contest ahead of us. He went to post to a boxing gym, does very distinctive blue boxing gloves that he was wearing. 0n distinctive blue boxing gloves that he was wearing. On their side were told it could have been michael gove playing Jeremy Corbyn. He has also got dominic raab, priti patel turning up so there will be a whole crowd of people surrounding him. But again for his preparation is perhaps again for his preparation is perhaps a lighter touch than jeremy again for his preparation is perhaps a lighter touch thanJeremy Corbyn, he has the benefit of incumbency as the Prime Minister. He should feel very natural in this kind of format. ForJeremy Corbyn of course he has to battle on two fronts, firstly to try and get a message out beyond brexit and also convince people that he would be a suitable occupant of number ten. Of course worth remembering that neither of them have been elected in that position, borisjohnson have been elected in that position, Boris Johnson simply winning have been elected in that position, borisjohnson simply winning an internal conservative Party Competition if you like to become Prime Minister. So both have something to prove but i think there more onus onJeremy Corbyn to show that he can occupy number ten downing street. But equally the expectations for Boris Johnson are incredibly high. He is already heading the opinion polls, he already occupies number ten and has his brexit plan and therefore i think ifJeremy Corbyn can have a nyway of think ifJeremy Corbyn can have anyway of undermining his attack then he may well start to ignite an Election Campaign that has not really quite taken off. And talking to some of the labour people around this evening, one of them said, they really needed to give this Election Campaigna kick really needed to give this Election Campaign a kick up the backside as they almost put it meaning i think that then im not getting the traction in the opinion polls that they want and perhaps tonight people who have not made up their minds, after viewing the debate, then that might be the kind of if you like starting gun on the campaign proper and give Jeremy Corbyn starting gun on the campaign proper and giveJeremy Corbyn perhaps the higher profile than he has had so far in the media. That said he will also have a lot more scrutiny and a lot more pressure than he has had in recent times. These debates normally boil down to a couple of moments, as in the Brexit Debate were famously amber rudd said she would love to go toa amber rudd said she would love to go to a party with borisjohnson but would not want him driving her home. And there is this interaction between personalities, to what extent between personalities, to what exte nt d o between personalities, to what extent do you think that this would be about demeanour, how they listen to each other, how they interject or perhaps deal with some testy moments . I think it is important, both sides are very alive to those possibilities. Probably working these responses but will become across as these responses but will become a cross as overly these responses but will become across as overly rehearsed. Back in 2015 Nicola Sturgeon said to ed miliband, im not saying that youre different from the conservatives, but just not different from the conservatives, butjust not enough of a difference this kind of things play into peoples consciousness and perhaps getjust peoples consciousness and perhaps get just below the peoples consciousness and perhaps getjust below the surface. I think both men will be working on that and in terms of demeanour what labour are hoping is that borisjohnson will become overbearing, blustering, may be also lacking detail and looking evasive or being patronising towards Jeremy Corbyn. Looking evasive or being patronising towardsJeremy Corbyn. They looking evasive or being patronising towards Jeremy Corbyn. They will help thatJeremy Corbyn will cycle up, zen like, looking much more of statesman. But the conservatives are hoping thatJeremy Corbyn will be all over the place on key issues, and they will be pushing if they can of course, it is led by audience questions, pushing on whether he would vote to leave or remain in a subsequent referendum and whether immigration would go down or up under a labour government. Not just trying to get answer to the questions but trying to show that Jeremy Corbyn perhaps is not fully in control of his brief on the big issues of the date does not have a Strong Enough narrative. So that is the game that would be played by the side whether the audience can put them on the back foot remains to be seen for the maybe they could questionJeremy Corbyn seen for the maybe they could question Jeremy Corbyn about seen for the maybe they could questionJeremy Corbyn about his handling of anti semitism or question borisjohnson handling of anti semitism or question Boris Johnson on handling of anti semitism or question borisjohnson on some aspects of his private life. Iain watson, i will let you go to get your popcorn and bed down for the next hour we will talk to you shortly after that and bring you the latest from the debate. And just before nine oclock as it comes to an end we will be back with full coverage. Some breaking news though, spurs have sacked their manager mauricio pochettino, the premier league club has just issued a statement to that effect. So spurs looking for a new manager. Time now for whether with matt taylor. Last night was the coldest night of the season so far with temperatures of 10 in some parts of aberdeenshire. You might think that an even colder night would follow but that is not the case. You will notice more cloud around and a bit more breeze developing through the night. Some wins amount gale force around the western coasts and hear across the far west we continue to see some rain. Temperatures still could get below freezing across parts of scotland, the north east of england into the starter tomorrow morning. But not as cold tomorrow morning. But not as cold tomorrow morning by and large. Through the day some showers close to north sea coasts, much of scotland, england and the east of wales will be dry. Still a chance of some rain at times in Northern Ireland, pembrokeshire and cornwall but even here many places having some drier spells. Temperatures overall creeping up into wednesday and through the night into wednesday and through the night into thursday, a strong south easterly wind so not too chilly to start thursday. That went a lwa ys chilly to start thursday. That went always tempering the feel and through the day we could see some heavy bursts of rain. Much of scotla nd heavy bursts of rain. Much of scotland and the north east of england staying dry to the date with temperatures closer to where they should be for the time of year. Into friday we have that theme with temperatures round where they should be. The rain later in the day confined to the west of the uk. So most of us on friday finishing the day with some sunny spells. A bit of uncertainty about this area of low pressure. This weather front could start to drift north bringing a greater chance of outbreaks of rain for england and wales. Further north of that for the time being scotland and Northern Ireland likely to see some sunny spells. But even here we could see some rain as we go into sunday. See you soon. This is bbc news, im shaun ley. The headlines at 20 00. A damning investigation into care at shrewsbury and telford Hospital Trust shows babies and mothers died in what is thought to be the nhss worst ever maternity scandal. Jeremy corbyn and borisjohnson are going head to head in their first live tv debate of the Election Campaign. Reliable studios in salford in Greater Manchester bringing the latest as happens. Tottenham have sacked their manager. Swedish prosecutors drop their investigation of rape allegations against the wikileaks co founder, julian assange