Laughter. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Russell Brand was one of britains best known faces. Announcer Russell Brand . Famous as a comedian and presenter on both sides of the atlantic. I am famous in the United Kingdom . Even appearing in hollywood movies. July lst 2012 was when my rape happened. It was in los angeles that he met a woman the investigation by the sunday times, the times and channel 4s dispatches are calling nadia. She says they had a brief sexual relationship, but that on a later occasion he raped her. The women speaking out have had their identities disguised. He pushed me up against a 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. 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. The following year, brand met a woman the investigation is calling phoebe. Again, she says that they did have a sexual relationship but that it had ended when she found herself alone with him in his house. And he grabbed me and got me on the bed. I was fully clothed and he was naked |at this point, and he held me down. I and i was screaming, and i was like, what are you doing . Like, stop, youre my friend. I love you, please dont do this. I dont want to do this. A third woman says she met and had a brief relationship with brand when he was in his 30s and she was 16 and still at school. She says 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 moved, fell backwards. And i was crying, and he said, oh, i only wanted to see your mascara run anyway. The allegations have been denied by Russell Brand in 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 katy perry, is now facing the most serious of accusations. Lizo mzimba, bbc news. The uks Foreign Secretary was asked about the allegations against Russell Brand on sunday with laura kuenessberg. He says there are questions for a range of industries to face. I think there are some real challenges where you have these very, very acute differentials in power. Whether that be in the Entertainment Industry, whether that be in politics, and we see this in the commercial world, as well. I think we have to be particularly careful when we listen to the voices of the people who are relatively powerless because we, collectively, have missed opportunities to do the right thing and intervene much, much earlier. We have got to be better at this. The scottish writer, irvine welsh, perhaps best known for his novel trainspotting, is a former friend of Russell Brand. Speaking on sunday with laura kuenessberg, he was asked why he thinks institutions are still failing to confront issues like the ones raised in this case. Because its male dominated and because its very. Youre saying that there is no culture for men to address these issues, and i think that, theres also the kind of the anonymity of it almost, because people dont present in that way to other men, you know, so you can have people are kind of loyal friends and then you can you maybe get talking to women and theyll say, that guy is kind of completely dodgy, theres something really about. You know, and its something that never presents to you in that way. And i think thats why the sort of its not about kind of really so much about men colluding and sort of not identifying sexual predators. When sexual predators get identified by men, they tend to be ostracized very quickly. Theres just a kind of cloak of invisibility around having that conversation. So ive got Four Brothers and i used to tell them that if any of your friends make any rapejokes, either theyre a rapist or theyre looking for accomplices in the whole kind of conversation. So i think you can sometimes, you know, as women, we are vigilant. So i think its actually passing a vigilance onto your brothers and your cousins and all that kind of like, you know, the male counterparts in your families. 0ur reporter tom brada is outside wembley park theatre in london. And tom, Russell Brand performed there last night . Thats exactly right. Russell brand performed to a Sold Out Comedy Show ust performed to a Sold Out Comedy Show just two performed to a Sold Out Comedy Show just two hours after those allegations were published. The show actually allegations were published. The show actually began a little after apm, an hour actually began a little after apm, an hour later than scheduled. Apparently because of traffic. When he came apparently because of traffic. When he came on stage, he made an early reference he came on stage, he made an early reference to he came on stage, he made an early reference to the Controversy Swirling reference to the Controversy Swirling around him. What he said was swirling around him. What he said was, there swirling around him. What he said was, there are obviously some things i absolutely was, there are obviously some things i absolutely cannot talk about and i appreciate i absolutely cannot talk about and i appreciate that you will understand. That was appreciate that you will understand. That was The One And Only reference he made that was The One And Only reference he made to that was The One And Only reference he made to the allegations during that gig~ he made to the allegations during that gig i he made to the allegations during that gig. I should point out, early in the that gig. Ishould point out, early in the day that gig. I should point out, early in the day he posted a video on youtube in the day he posted a video on youtube where he strenuously denied all of the youtube where he strenuously denied all of the allegations. Throughout the actual gig, Russell Brand was apparently quite distracted. At one point apparently quite distracted. At one point he apparently quite distracted. At one point he left his place entirely, he was also point he left his place entirely, he was also referring to notes and pieces was also referring to notes and pieces of was also referring to notes and pieces of paper frequently throughout the performance. His friends throughout the performance. His friends did not seem fazed, at the end of friends did not seem fazed, at the end of the friends did not seem fazed, at the end of the show, he received a standing end of the show, he received a Standing Ovation and applaud that lasted Standing Ovation and applaud that lasted several minutes. Brand still has performances to come over the next few has performances to come over the next few weeks and months, but facing next few weeks and months, but facing serious allegations, there are Question Marks about whether they will are Question Marks about whether they will go ahead. That are Question Marks about whether they will go ahead. They will go ahead. That was his standup comedy they will go ahead. That was his standup comedy you they will go ahead. That was his standup comedy you are they will go ahead. That was his i standup comedy you are referring Stand Up Comedy you are referring to, tell us more about the background of his career. Russell brand has been background of his career. Russell brand has been a background of his career. Russell brand has been a really background of his career. Russell brand has been a really high background of his career. Russell. Brand has been a really high Profile Figure brand has been a really high Profile Figure in brand has been a really high Profile Figure in the Entertainment Industry for the figure in the Entertainment Industry for the last figure in the Entertainment Industry for the last 20 years. He has had a lot of for the last 20 years. He has had a lot of mainstream success, but courted lot of mainstream success, but courted a lot of mainstream success, but courted a fair bit of Controversy Atong courted a fair bit of controversy along the courted a fair bit of controversy along the way. He started his early Entertainment Career as a stand up comedian, Entertainment Career as a stand up comedian, in Entertainment Career as a stand up comedian, in the early 2000, he catapuited comedian, in the early 2000, he catapulted to Household Status through catapulted to Household Status through hosting the spin off series of big through hosting the spin off series of big brother. He was presenting award of big brother. He was presenting award shows and appearing in hollywood films. In recent years, he has taken hollywood films. In recent years, he has taken a hollywood films. In recent years, he has taken a deviation of his career, he was has taken a deviation of his career, he was a has taken a deviation of his career, he was a fairly successful youtube but fairly he was a fairly successful youtube but fairly controversial. He has not been but fairly controversial. He has not been very but fairly controversial. He has not been very far away from controversy. In been very far away from controversy. In 2001, been very far away from controversy. In 2001, he been very far away from controversy. In 2001, he was dismissed as a presenter in 2001, he was dismissed as a presenter from mtv when he turned up to Work Presenter from mtv when he turned up to work the presenter from mtv when he turned up to work the day after the 9 11 terror to work the day after the 9 11 terror attacks dressed as 05ama bin laden, terror attacks dressed as 05ama bin laden, and terror attacks dressed as 05ama bin laden, and there was a scandal in 2008 laden, and there was a scandal in 2008 at laden, and there was a scandal in 2008 at the bbc. He was suspended after sending a series of offensive messages after sending a series of offensive messages to actor andrew sachs. He did eventually resign. Brand remains a hugely did eventually resign. Brand remains a hugely popular figure, he has miiiions a hugely popular figure, he has millions of followers across social media millions of followers across social media platforms, but now he faces such serious allegations, they are going such serious allegations, they are going to such serious allegations, they are going to be serious questions that he needs going to be serious questions that he needs to answer. Gur going to be serious questions that he needs to answer. Going to be serious questions that he needs to answer. Our reporter tom there. The italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has said during a visit to the island of Lampedusa Which has seen a huge influx of migrants, that the future of europe is at stake. Speaking alongside the head of the european commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, she said all European Countries had to work towards a lasting, common solution. More than 8,000 migrants have arrived on the island over the past three days. Thats more than lampedusas local population which is around 6 or7,000. Nearly 126,000 migrants have arrived in italy so far this year, almost double the figure by the same date last year. Lets hear what Giorgia Meloni had to say. What is at stake here is the future. President of underlying gnosis very well, and since the beginning of our work, i have found that she has been always extremely cooperative in this respect. I think it is extremely important. Now live to lampedusa to speak with valentina furlanetto, a journalist for radio21i. Do you think the words of Ursula Von Der Leyen in todays press conference go far enough to reassure local residents who are unhappy about Migrant Influx . About Migrant Influx . Good afternoon. About Migrant Influx . Good afternoon, from about Migrant Influx . Good | afternoon, from lampedusa, about Migrant Influx . Good i afternoon, from lampedusa, i about Migrant Influx . 13pm afternoon, from lampedusa, ithink afternoon, from lampedusa, i think that the words from Ursula Von Der Leyen were important, butjust words. She has seen the centre of migrants today, it was a different centre to what i have seen in the last three days. Now there are 1500 migrants inside. There were 8000 people, so there were problems with food, water, they didnt manage to sleep inside the centres. Some slept outside on the floor. It is completely different. What she has seen today is a kind of 5 star hotel. Its very different from what we have seen in the last few days. She said that she has got a plan of ten points to help italy, but we have already. Her points are just the same as what she singing again, one year ago it was almost the same. The only thing new is about the United Nations, because she said that may be they can speak together with the United Nations and do something for lampedusa and for italy. I am something for lampedusa and for italy. Iam not something for lampedusa and for italy. I am not sure that she got to the point, because she hasnt seen what we have seen. Just the point, because she hasnt seen what we have seen. What we have seen. Just very briefl , what we have seen. Just very briefly. How what we have seen. Just very briefly, how much what we have seen. Just very briefly, how much does what we have seen. Just very l briefly, how much does Giorgia Meloni, her handling of this, effective popularity among young voters . 0ne effective popularity among young voters . One of the aspects that she platforms on her election was anti immigration stance. Platforms on her election was antiimmigration stance. Giorgia meloni said antiimmigration stance. Giorgia meloni said before antiimmigration stance. Giorgia meloni said before the antiimmigration stance. Giorgia meloni said before the election, i antiimmigration stance. Giorgia i meloni said before the election, she said two italians thats the migrants wouldnt come to italy any more. The reality is really different, inside the government there is a part of the government, that take advantage of the situation. Giorgia meloni is a little bit weak now because of the situation on migrants. She tries to help lampedusa, but she cant manage. They have memorandum with europe, but as we know, they wait for many. It is constant to many. Thank you very much. A team sent by the Libyan Government based in tripoli has assessed that around a quarter of the buildings in derna were destroyed or damaged by the wall of water that ripped through the city. At least 891 buildings have been destroyed , with a further 211 buildings partially damaged and 398 others submerged in mud. The un says 11,300 people are now known to have died in the city, but thousands are still missing. 0ur middle east correspondent lina sinjab has the latest. Well, if you look at the figures that you mentioned, a quarter of the city destroyed, that needs a lot of aid, a lot of Emergency Rescue to pull out the bodies but also more than 30,000 people are now homeless. They need food and shelter, clean water, so the demand is quite high. While, probably some of the rescue are slow to get in, mainly because of the infrastructure conditions. We know that at least two ships docked at the Port Of Derna also found it difficult to off load because of the conditions of the port that is covered with mud and debris. The situation on the streets of derna is mud everywhere, more rubble is everywhere, it is a difficult situation. It is like an earthquake effect. Lots of countries stepped in, many arrived in benghazi, but definitely, it is not compared to the demand that is being assessed on a day in, day out basis. We have been looking at the short and medium term impact with infrastructure challenges. Of course, the aid efforts with the humanitarian crisis unfolding, what is likely to be the long term impact of this . Given that libya has already had quite a bit of turmoil and a fractious government since the overthrow of colonel gaddafi. This is completely different to factions fighting or challenging each other on who gains power. This is a National Catastrophe and people in derna and the east are blaming the government, the