Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240703 : vimarsana.com

Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240703

Beyond recognition. A bustling city, now a wasteland. The destructive power of water has ripped the heart from derna. Its survivors left wracked with grief and anger. Translation we were told to stay inside our homes. Why . They should have told us there was a storm, told us the dam was old and crumbling. Some of these destroyed buildings were 100 years old. This man lost five members of his family in the raging current. One was his ten month old daughter. He shows me their pictures. First alive. And then their bodies. This was what brought him here. A convoy of ministers from the eastern government, one of libyas two opposing authorities. Fighting has decimated the countrys infrastructure. Ferris says its proved fatal. I spoke to the eastern prime minister, 0sama hamad. How could this happen when the dams were supposed to keep people safe . It was a very strong cyclone, he told me. Too strong for the dams. Here in the centre of derna, the destruction is total. And when you look down this valley at an area that used to be filled with apartment buildings, homes, cars, thousands of people with lives that have all been picked up and swept out to sea, you wonder how a city like this can ever recover. Down at the port, dernas dead are still returning to the city. Recovery teams watch the waves and wait for them. This morning, three more bodies were pulled from the debris, but thousands of others swept far from here will never come home. Anna foster, bbc news, derna. The comedian Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assaults and Emotional Abuse over a seven year period at the height of his fame. Thats according to a joint investigation by the sunday times, the times and the uk channel 4 documentary programme, dispatches. The paper claims that four women have alleged sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013 while he was a presenter for Bbc Radio Two and channel 4 and acting in hollywood films. The newspaper also reported that others have made a range of allegations about brands controlling, abusive and predatory behaviour. Brand has denied the allegations and said his relationships have been always consensual. 0ur correspondent lizo mzimba has the details. Over the course of the evening, some of my accoutrements could make their way onto your body. Two laughter. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Russell Brand was one of britains best known faces. Famous as a comedian and presenter on both sides of the atlantic. Iam famous i am famous in the United Kingdom even appearing in hollywood movies. During some of the years covered by the allegations made by the sunday times, the times and channel 4s dispatches. He presented big brother spin off shows. The investigation alleges that on one, he exposed himself to a young runner. The two later began a consensual relationship. The women speaking out have had their identities hidden. With hindsight and now, as an older woman, i can say with clarity that, you know, ifelt like i was groomed for sex. A second woman says she met and had a relationship with brand when he was in his 30s and she was 16 and still at school. She said he later sexually assaulted her. I was pushing him away and pushing him away and he wasnt. He wasnt backing off at all. And so i ended up having to punch him really hard in the stomach to get him off. And then he like, finally then he, like, fell backwards and i was crying and he said, oh, i only want to see your july ist, 2012, was when my rape happened. A woman the investigation is calling nadia says she met brand at a party in los angeles. She says they did have consensual sex, but on a later occasion, she says he raped her. He pushed me up against the wall. Im like, what are you doing . And hes like, i have a friend here and i. I want you to come into the bedroom. Im like, no, thats not happening. Were not doing that. And i tried to get away from him. And at this point, hes grabbing at my. My underwear, pulling it to the side. Im telling him to get off me and he wont get off. And he has that glazed look in his eye again. I was very distraught, trying to get out of the house, with him being so much taller than me, like holding me up against the wall, pushing himself in me. The allegations have been denied by Russell Brand. 0vernight, he released a video message. These allegations pertain to the time when i was working in the mainstream, when i was in the newspapers all the time, when i was in the movies. And as ive written about extensively in my books, i was very, very promiscuous. Now, during that time of promiscuity, the relationships i had were absolutely always consensual. What i seriously refute are these very, very serious criminal allegations. The comedian who achieved fame with his risque humour and who was once married to music star katy perry, is now facing the most serious of accusations. In a statement, a bbc spokesman said Russell Brand worked for a number of different organisations, of which the bbc was one. As is well known, Russell Brand left the bbc after a serious editorial breach in 2008 as did the then controller of radio two. The circumstances of the breach were reviewed in detail at the time. We hope that demonstrates that the bbc takes issues seriously and is prepared to act. Indeed, the bbc has, over successive years, evolved its approach to how it manages talent and how it deals with complaints or issues raised. We have clear expectations around conduct at work. These are set out in employment contracts, the bbc values, the bbc Code Of Conduct and the Anti Bullying and harassment policy. We will always listen to people if they come forward with any concerns, on any issue related to any individual working at the bbc, past or present. Russell brand went ahead with a scheduled performance in london on saturday evening. These are pictures of him on stage at the Troubador Theatre In Wembley Park during his sold out performance, which lasted about an hour, after being delayed by several minutes. The bbc� s Chi Chi Izundu was at that performance and shejoined me a short time ago. Chi chi, thank you for being with us. We were just talking about that late start to the show. What happened 7 well, it wasnt just a few minutes that it was late by, it was by more than an hour. Russell brand blamed being stuck in traffic. He thanked the audience. It was about a 2,000 Seat Capacity Theatre and he kept thanking them and saying that he appreciated them turning up. He did not refer to the allegations. The only, if you like, reference that he made was when he said, i want to do the best show that i can for you and ive got a lot of things to talk to you about, but there are certain things that i absolutely cannot talk about was the only thing that you could infer that he was referencing, which, as we know, he denies those allegations. He went on to do his gig for one hour. It was supposed to be a two hour show, but it only lasted one hour. And then he ended the show and he got a Standing Ovation for a number of minutes. The crowd were clapping and jeering. They laughed throughout the show and then he left the stage. Now, Russell Brand, this is not his only gig in the uk hes got several coming up over the next couple of months as he tries out new material and tries to get back onto the standup circuit. And whether he appears in those in the coming weeks is another question. And so overall, chi chi, i mean, you started to touch on it, but what was the reaction from the crowd there . It was a very welcoming crowd. They laughed at his jokes. They shouted out things in support, if you like, like we love you, too, russell. One woman at the start of the gig held up a banner that said, we support you, and then asked the security to give him that banner. They laughed, as i said, throughout, and they gave him a Standing Ovation for a number of minutes afterwards. And as we were leaving, they were more angry at the presence of the media there than anything else. They, as you know, Russell Brand talks a lot about being very anti mainstream media. And there was a lot of media trying to get footage or pictures of him leaving the theatre. And the crowds were quite angry and antagonistic towards members of those media. But apart from that, they seem to thoroughly enjoy the show. And im sure that there were people that would not have enjoyed the show, but that wasnt part of the crowd. It was sold out. 2,000 people or thereabouts were in that theatre. And Russell Brand does deny these allegations. 0ur correspondent there, Chi Chi Izundu. Chi chi, thanks for your reporting. Turning to the war in ukraine now. Two civilian cargo ships have become the first to safely navigate a maritime corridor to reach one of the countrys black sea ports. The two ships have docked in chornomorsk and are expected to load almost 20,000 tons of wheat destined for africa and asia. The United Nations and other groups have warned that the russian blockade could drive up global grain prices, putting millions of the worlds poorest at risk of malnutrition or even starvation. Ukrainian naval ships have been defending the corridor since august, after russia said it would once again treat all ships sailing to the country as potential military targets. Meanwhile ukraine says its retaken the small, but strategically located village of andriivka, south of the city of bakhmut. Fighting has been raging in this area of Eastern Ukraine for more than a year. The Russian Military still controls whats left of bakhmut. But Ukrainian Forces have been slowly regaining ground to the North And South of the city. Protests are being held in iran and across the world to mark one year since the death of mahsa amini a 22 year old woman who died in police custody. Amini was arrested for allegedly violating irans strict rules requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab or headscarf. An un human rights expert said the evidence established that she died as a result of beatings by the Morality Police. Irans State Coroner said her death was a result of pre existing medical conditions. Aminis death sparked mass protests across the country with women ripping off their headscarves and cutting their hair in solidarity. Baran abbasi from bbc persian has been investigating whether anything has changed for women in iran. The sound of gunfire on the streets in North Eastern iran. Regime forces disburses a small group of protesters. Just minutes earlier, police on motorbikes ride straight through the group to break it up. They gathered to mark the anniversary of the death of mahsa amini. The 22 year old was arrested by the Morality Police, accused of not adhering to the strict dress code rules. These images of her burial have been recently released to mark the occasion. This morning, mahsa aminis father was briefly arrested and warned against Holding Anna Mori holding a memorial near her graveside. A heavy Security Presence is evident across the country. In the capital tehran, played closed Regime Forces are captured on camera needing a protester with a baton. However, Civil Disobedience continues. In kurdistan province, mahsa aminis birthplace, a general strike is under way with businesses shut down. Under way. The Mass Street Protests have died down in the face of a brutal regime crack down. But the determination of many iranians to push for Regime Change remains unwavering. This woman took place in the demonstrations since the first day. She says last years events have already brought about fundamental changes to society. Allen and think it is a Lifestyle Thing that has been broken. �. , a Lifestyle Thing that has been broken. �. , a Lifestyle Thing that has been broken. � , broken. And it can be, people are angry. Broken. And it can be, people are angry. Peeple broken. And it can be, people are angry, people are broken. And it can be, people are angry, people are tired. L are angry, people are tired. There is no hope for a future and every family has someone in prison or someone has been killed. So it can be life before. It cant be like before. It cant be like before before. It cant be like before. ,. ,. ,. , before. No longer do women adhere before. No longer do women adhere many before. No longer do women adhere many women before. No longer do women adhere many women no l before. No longer do women adhere many women no longer adhere many women no longer adhere many women no longer adhere to the strict dress code. There are much harsher punishments for women and girls who fail to wear the hijab. The Morality Police had largely retreated immediately after the death of mahsa amini are now back on the streets women are violating the hijab rules. Many face abuse and anger for more conservative iranians. This is it so bit this shows a man throwing a tub of yoghurt over the heads of Women Customers who are not wearing the headscarf. But those like maryam who continue to publicly disobey the law hope for a free society for everyone in the future. If society for everyone in the future. , future. If this regime completely future. If this regime completely over l future. If this regime| completely over is completely over is completely over is completely overthrown from its role, it can happen. Women live together in peace no matter what they police do. I hope some day they can see in our country. Some day they can see in our count. � � , a short while ago i spoke to Iranian American author and womens rights campaigner Masih Alinejad for her thoughts on the demonstrations happening in iran and around the world. Masih alinejad, thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news. 0n the anniversary of the death of mahsa amini, how would you assess the impact of the protests that we have seen in iran over the past year . Has anything changed forwomen in iran . I have to say that the flame of the revolution is still burning in iran. Right now that im talking to you, people, especially the youth, took back to the street because they believe that more than 700 people got killed, 20,000 of them got arrested and many of them got executed, so there is Nothing To Lose for the young generation in iran, especially women saying that the revolution itself happened inside our heart and were not going to take a step back, we will end this regime. They want to have a normal life, they want to have dignity, they want to have freedom and the Islamic Republic actually cracked down on the protesters right now in the streets. Talk to me about that mood among those young protesters who are continuing to come out, who are continuing to defy the law in different ways that they can. How do they feel when they are being faced with that crackdown . Its unbelievable. Some of them writing on their own social media, saying goodbye to their friends and family and saying that maybe we wont be able to get back to home but we will sacrifice our life for iran. Thatjust breaks my heart because it reminds me of the time when hadis najafi, a 22 year old woman, took to the street last year. She made a video of herself saying that, four years later, im going to be happy when i see free iran. Today, after one year, the Islamic Republic arrested whole Family Members of hadis najafi. They arrested the father of mahsa amini. They arrested the Family Members of more than 70 protesters who got killed or executed in last years uprising. That actually shows you how the regime is scared of any potential uprising but i want to tell you that the iranian people did everything, they sacrificed their lives to free iran, to have freedom and dignity inside. But i believe the west abandoned iranian people and that is why the Islamic Republic have no reason to stop killing its own people. Tell me more about that then. What more do you want to see from the International Community . A year ago there was so much attention glued on these protests. What do you want to now see from other countries . First of all lets start from the uk. People took to the street in the uk a lot to echo the voice of the iranian people, asking the uk government to designate Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation. So the uk government denied that simple demand and now people are risking their lives tonight in the street, chanting against the Revolutionary Guards. And the United States of america, right on the anniversary of mahsa amini, the Biden Administration announced that they handed out 6 billion which i believe is more than this to the Islamic Republic. This is a gift to a murderous regime of iran. Last year weve seen a lot of female politicians from the European Parliament cutting their hair but none of those cut their ties with the murderous regime of iran. So for that i believe empty condemnations are not going to save the lives of iranians. We need strong action to support the iranian people, unarmed people who are getting killed an

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