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[00:00:13] Live from London. This is BBC
[00:00:15] News. Ukraine carries out strikes
[00:00:17] strikes on oil refineries as Kyiv Kyiv continues to target Russian
[00:00:21] Russian energy infrastructure. We'll We'll take a look at the impact of
[00:00:23] of the war on the Russian economy. economy. More Ukrainians are killed
[00:00:26] killed as Russia attacks apartment
[00:00:29] apartment blocks and railway infrastructures. infrastructures. The Confederation Confederation of African Football
[00:00:32] Football will meet in the next few few hours. It follows Fifa president
[00:00:36] president Gianni Infantino's apology apology over the now abandoned proposal
[00:00:40] proposal to sell shares in the World World Cup to private investors. We'll
[00:00:42] We'll take you live to Morocco, Iran
[00:00:45] Iran says a deal with Oman on a shipping shipping route through the Strait
[00:00:48] Strait of Hormuz is now in its final
[00:00:52] final stages and with progressive progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed El-Sayed victory in Michigan's Senate
[00:00:56] Senate primary will also take a look look at what this means for the Democrats
[00:01:00] Democrats ahead of the mid-terms.
[00:01:08] mid-terms. Hello. I'm Lucy Hockings, Hockings, welcome to BBC News Now.
[00:01:12] Now. We begin this hour with breaking breaking news from Russia, where
[00:01:15] where Ukrainian drones have hit two two refineries. A huge column of
[00:01:19] of smoke now hangs over the city city of Yaroslavl after an attack
[00:01:23] attack on one of the country's biggest biggest oil facilities. This is a
[00:01:27] a stark reminder that long range range strikes are bringing the war
[00:01:29] war in neighbouring Ukraine deeper
[00:01:31] deeper into Russian territory. President President Zelensky has said they
[00:01:35] they targeted the refinery and another another in Bashkortostan, where two
[00:01:38] two people are reported dead as part part of efforts to cut the revenues
[00:01:42] revenues which fund the Kremlin's Kremlin's war effort. The region's
[00:01:45] region's governor calling it the
[00:01:46] the largest attack ever, saying 93 93 drones were destroyed. That's
[00:01:50] That's only part of the picture, picture, though. Across Russia, the
[00:01:53] the military says it's intercepted
[00:01:55] intercepted and destroyed over 600
[00:01:58] 600 Ukrainian drones heading for
[00:02:00] for targets as far apart as Moscow Moscow region and the Black Sea.
[00:02:03] Sea. The attacks, though, have continued continued the other way to five Ukrainians
[00:02:07] Ukrainians reported killed in Russian Russian attacks overnight. These
[00:02:10] These images are from Zaporizhzhia, Zaporizhzhia, where Russian drones
[00:02:13] drones hit an apartment block, injuring
[00:02:16] injuring two civilians. Let's speak speak now to our chief analyst with
[00:02:19] with BBC Monitoring. Vitaly Shevchenko, Shevchenko, who is with us. Vitaly,
[00:02:23] Vitaly, what kind of effect are these these strikes, particularly on the
[00:02:26] the oil refineries in Russia having having on the economy? Well, they've
[00:02:29] they've had a massive effect on Russia's
[00:02:31] Russia's ability to fill up their their cars. There are huge queues
[00:02:35] queues of people trying to get fuel
[00:02:38] fuel that we've seen for weeks now.
[00:02:41] now. However, over the past days,
[00:02:43] days, things seemed to be improving
[00:02:45] improving in Russia. One major chain
[00:02:48] chain of filling stations lifted
[00:02:53] lifted restrictions in 13 out of
[00:02:56] of Russia's 89 regions. So not a a lot, but a sign of hope for those
[00:03:00] those Russians trying to get fuel.
[00:03:01] fuel. The thing about oil refineries
[00:03:05] refineries is that it's possible
[00:03:07] possible to repair them in most cases.
[00:03:10] cases. So for Ukraine, unless they
[00:03:12] they maintain this campaign of deep deep strikes against oil refineries
[00:03:15] refineries and oil depots, it's hardly
[00:03:18] hardly likely to have a massive impact. impact. And the Russian military,
[00:03:21] military, it has to be said, is going
[00:03:23] going to be the going to be the last last people to suffer because of
[00:03:27] of this. They still have fuel. But But President Zelensky's tactic is
[00:03:30] is to bring the war home to ordinary ordinary Russians. And we've also
[00:03:33] also seen again, these attacks all
[00:03:35] all week that are taking place on
[00:03:38] on Wildberries, which is Russia's Russia's equivalent of Amazon. Is
[00:03:40] Is that hitting the middle classes classes in Russia as well? Is it
[00:03:43] it bringing the war home to them?
[00:03:45] them? Vitaly. For most of them, this
[00:03:48] this is possibly the first time they've
[00:03:51] they've had any sort of impact from
[00:03:54] from this from this war. The big
[00:03:56] big question though, Lucy, is what
[00:03:59] what are they going to do about it? it? What will they be able to do
[00:04:02] do about it? Because their options
[00:04:05] options for protesting or somehow
[00:04:08] somehow influencing Kremlin's policies policies are rather rather limited.
[00:04:12] limited. And also this tactic of of bringing the war back to Russia,
[00:04:15] Russia, it can also backfire because because these Russians. They can
[00:04:18] can blame Ukraine for this. After After all, it's Ukrainian drones
[00:04:22] drones hitting Wildberries, not Russian
[00:04:23] Russian drones. So this is what the
[00:04:26] the Russian media has been trying
[00:04:29] trying to exploit. They are not concealing
[00:04:32] concealing the scale of these attacks. attacks. They're saying, you know,
[00:04:34] know, we've intercepted so many drones,
[00:04:37] drones, so many warehouses have been
[00:04:39] been hit. We need to unite around around our leader. And it was interesting,
[00:04:43] interesting, wasn't it, to see President President Zelensky yesterday. Ever Ever since the full-scale invasion
[00:04:46] invasion of Ukraine, he has called called for strong sanctions on Russia
[00:04:50] Russia from the international community. community. That's an ongoing call, call, Vitaly. But more than anything,
[00:04:54] anything, he needs more weapons. He needs more weapons. And
[00:04:58] And in what he said yesterday, after
[00:05:01] after yet another devastating attack attack on the Russian attack on the
[00:05:04] the Ukrainian capital, I thought
[00:05:07] thought he issued a polite rebuke
[00:05:10] rebuke to Ukraine's Western allies.
[00:05:12] allies. He said that some of them
[00:05:15] them are still unwilling to provide
[00:05:19] provide these anti ballistic missiles missiles to Ukraine, even though
[00:05:22] though they have them. And he said said in his statement, look at what's
[00:05:25] what's been going on. People are are dying because you're not supplying
[00:05:28] supplying us with weapons. And then then he said, OK, you are not willing
[00:05:32] willing to do that. Well, at least
[00:05:34] least impose some sanctions. And
[00:05:36] And he said a significant number
[00:05:38] number of Russian companies manufacturing
[00:05:41] manufacturing these deadly ballistic ballistic missiles, they're still
[00:05:44] still not sanctioned by the West. West. And he said at least sanction
[00:05:47] sanction them. OK. Vitali, thank
[00:05:48] thank you so much. Now, when Fifa
[00:05:51] Fifa president Gianni Infantino is is plan to sell off stakes in the
[00:05:55] the World Cup first broke, there there was outrage around the world.
[00:05:58] world. But the Confederation of African African Football remained silent.
[00:06:01] silent. Well, in the next few hours hours they are finally meeting to to discuss the proposal. But remember
[00:06:05] remember the Fifa has already abandoned abandoned this proposal and Mr Infantino
[00:06:09] Infantino looks set to continue his his fight for re-election for a fourth
[00:06:12] fourth term next March after receiving receiving the backing of senior executives,
[00:06:16] executives, he summoned members of of the management board to Fifa's
[00:06:18] Fifa's Africa office in Morocco on
[00:06:21] on Wednesday following mounting criticism criticism of this aborted plan. In
[00:06:25] In a letter to Fifa members seen
[00:06:27] seen by the BBC and signed by Infantino
[00:06:29] Infantino himself and the Secretary Secretary General, Mattias Grafstrom,
[00:06:33] Grafstrom, they sincerely apologise, apologise, they said, for their errors
[00:06:36] errors and commit to them not happening
[00:06:39] happening again. A statement released
[00:06:41] released following the meeting in in Morocco and the management board.
[00:06:45] board. They also reaffirmed their their full support for Mr Infantino
[00:06:48] Infantino as president. However, However, the statement said the organisation
[00:06:52] organisation will no longer tolerate tolerate any attacks on its integrity.
[00:06:55] integrity. Good governance and due due process and will take all necessary necessary measures to protect and
[00:06:59] and safeguard its name and reputation. reputation. Well, African football
[00:07:02] football expert Piers Edwards is is in Rabat. That's where that meeting
[00:07:06] meeting took place last night. He He is currently commentating for
[00:07:10] for CAF at the Women's African Cup Cup of Nations. Good to have you
[00:07:13] you with us, piers. Just outline
[00:07:17] outline whether there is agreement agreement amongst African nations
[00:07:19] nations about firstly, football Infantino's
[00:07:23] Infantino's plans around the World World Cup and whether they believe
[00:07:25] believe that he should stay in post. post. Well, there's certainly not
[00:07:29] not necessarily agreement about the the plans to sell off the World Cup.
[00:07:32] Cup. We've seen a handful of African African leaders already come out out to say that they welcome the
[00:07:36] the fact that that plan has been been aborted, but they very much
[00:07:39] much have pledged and offered their their support to Gianni Infantino.
[00:07:42] Infantino. He does have pretty much
[00:07:44] much widespread support across the the continent. Africa helped him
[00:07:48] him get elected back in 2016. He
[00:07:50] He then helped the current Confederation Confederation of African Football
[00:07:54] Football CAF President Patrice Motsepe
[00:07:56] Motsepe assume his role in 2021,
[00:07:59] 2021, and Motsepe, the South African, African, is very supportive of Infantino.
[00:08:02] Infantino. He calls him a loyal friend, friend, he says. Where I come from,
[00:08:06] from, you don't stab loyal friends friends in the bank, he in the back.
[00:08:09] back. He also relishes Fifa support, support, makes no secret of the fact
[00:08:12] fact that he welcomes their aid in in helping Africa develop and come
[00:08:16] come forward. Today's meeting, here,
[00:08:19] here, with CAF is a virtual meeting. meeting. There's a lot on the agenda
[00:08:23] agenda for CAF to discuss, but the the World Cup sell off plan is one
[00:08:26] one of them. But I would be hugely
[00:08:28] hugely surprised if there is anything anything other than wholesome support support that comes out for Gianni
[00:08:32] Gianni Infantino at the end of it. it. Piers, tell us a bit more about
[00:08:35] about some of the smaller African African nations in the state of football
[00:08:38] football there, and why they are are so desperate for more money and
[00:08:42] and more funding. Well, they simply simply just don't have the funds.
[00:08:45] funds. As you all know and many viewers
[00:08:48] viewers will know, Africa has its its own problems in terms of funding,
[00:08:52] funding, in terms of finance and and governments have far bigger priorities, priorities, let's be honest, than
[00:08:55] than football. They've got to get get infrastructure right. They've They've got to get hospitals right.
[00:08:58] right. They've got to tackle whatever whatever the challenges may be. So
[00:09:01] So funnily enough, they don't have have money to give to football federations
[00:09:05] federations to spend on supporting supporting the game. Now, travel
[00:09:09] travel here in Africa is incredibly incredibly expensive. That should
[00:09:13] should not be underestimated. There's There's not a lot of money for infrastructure infrastructure and all that money
[00:09:16] money comes basically from Fifa and
[00:09:18] and it's a huge help to the continent.
[00:09:20] continent. Take someone like Mauritania Mauritania for example, 98% sand
[00:09:24] sand of the country. It didn't have have much development until a few
[00:09:27] few years ago with Fifa money. It It built proper pitches. It built
[00:09:31] built a proper federation and for for the first time in the last decade,
[00:09:34] decade, it's not just qualified for for the Africa Cup of Nations, the
[00:09:37] the premier football event on the the continent once but three times.
[00:09:40] times. So it makes a huge, huge amount amount of difference. And the absence,
[00:09:44] absence, of course, is that they they simply don't get the money and
[00:09:46] and cannot develop otherwise. So So they are very, very reliant on
[00:09:49] on Fifa funds and therefore they they will pretty much dance to the
[00:09:52] the tune of whoever may be the Fifa Fifa president. Piers, can I ask
[00:09:55] ask you to address or tell us what's what's being said in Rabat about about something we're all seeing
[00:09:59] seeing online a lot at the moment?
[00:10:00] moment? And I know it is just speculation,
[00:10:04] speculation, but the sort of rumour rumour that Morocco is really asking
[00:10:08] asking now for the World Cup final final to take place there rather
[00:10:12] rather than in Spain for the next next World Cup. Well, there's a statement
[00:10:15] statement out which says that this this is denying the fact that the
[00:10:18] the 2030 World Cup final has been been promised by Gianni Infantino Infantino to Morocco. Morocco is
[00:10:22] is a country that has invested huge huge amounts of money in football football in recent years. It's hosting
[00:10:26] hosting this latest Women's Africa Africa Cup of Nations where, incidentally, incidentally, Gianni Infantino and
[00:10:30] and Mattias Grafstrom were watching
[00:10:31] watching a game last night. But politically,
[00:10:34] politically, given that they are are co-hosting the 2030 finals with
[00:10:37] with both Spain and Portugal, we we know that Uefa has come out very
[00:10:41] very strongly against Infantino. Infantino. Well, it would make sense
[00:10:44] sense should it be true to obviously obviously curry favour with the Africans
[00:10:48] Africans boozy lecture the head of of the Moroccan Football Federation
[00:10:51] Federation is a hugely influential influential powerbroker in African
[00:10:54] African football. And if Morocco
[00:10:56] Morocco could get the World Cup final,
[00:10:59] final, and Fifa genuinely promised promised it to them, then obviously obviously he could disseminate the
[00:11:03] the rest of that to the continent continent to further back support support for Infantino. Incidentally,
[00:11:07] Incidentally, if they do get it,
[00:11:09] it, it will be in 115 thousand seater
[00:11:12] seater stadium just outside Casablanca, Casablanca, which would be one of
[00:11:15] of the biggest ever. But obviously obviously you could imagine the reaction
[00:11:18] reaction of someone like Spain where where the cities Madrid and Barcelona
[00:11:22] Barcelona are desperate to host the the World Cup final. So a little
[00:11:25] little bit of politics going on strategy strategy as well. And there's plenty
[00:11:29] plenty of it in football politics politics and there's a long way to
[00:11:32] to go of course. March the re-election
[00:11:35] re-election of Gianni Infantino could could be happening. Will he face
[00:11:38] face a candidate? We'll find out out in November. There's a long way
[00:11:41] way to go. We've seen a lot of drip drip feed of stories coming out in
[00:11:44] in recent times. And if they continue, continue, will it weaken his position?
[00:11:47] position? But the thing is, until until there's a rival candidate for
[00:11:50] for Gianni Infantino, it's going
[00:11:51] going to be very hard for member member associations to go very much
[00:11:55] much against him because if no one one comes forward and then he's in
[00:11:58] in power again, then they're very very much going to be on the back
[00:12:01] back foot. Piers, really good to to have you with us. Thanks so much.
[00:12:04] much. Enjoy the football this evening evening in the Middle East there
[00:12:07] there are reports of a possible breakthrough breakthrough over one of the world's
[00:12:10] world's most dangerous waterways. waterways. Iran says they're close close to finalising an interim agreement
[00:12:14] agreement with Oman over the Strait Strait of Hormuz, the narrow channel
[00:12:17] channel through which much of the
[00:12:19] the global energy supply passes Pakistan, Pakistan, which is mediating between
[00:12:23] between the US and Iran, says it it hopes an agreement will lead Washington
[00:12:26] Washington and Tehran to resume talks talks and resolve their conflict.
[00:12:30] conflict. It confirmed a deal might might begin to ease a crisis that
[00:12:33] that has shaken markets. However,
[00:12:35] However, it could also cement Iranian
[00:12:37] Iranian control over this vital maritime maritime choke point. So let's speak
[00:12:41] speak now to Hossam Zaki, who is is former assistant Secretary General
[00:12:44] General and official spokesperson spokesperson of the Arab League. League. Good to have you with us
[00:12:47] us here on the BBC. Once again, what
[00:12:50] what is your understanding of where where these talks between Iran and
[00:12:54] and Oman are at at the moment? Well,
[00:12:57] Well, for all what we've been following, following, I think, a great deal
[00:13:01] deal of progress has been made. But
[00:13:04] But a deal is still is still a little
[00:13:07] little bit elusive. I think, the
[00:13:10] the two sides want to achieve the
[00:13:12] the maximum. That takes a bit of,
[00:13:17] of, concessions. We're not sure how how much concessions the Iranians
[00:13:20] Iranians are willing to give. But
[00:13:22] But I think if we are able to reach reach a deal, it would be good for
[00:13:25] for the region and it will be good good for the world. You're putting
[00:13:28] putting your faith then in Oman that
[00:13:30] that they can successfully negotiate
[00:13:33] negotiate this deal. Absolutely.
[00:13:36] Absolutely. Oman is a seasoned diplomats.
[00:13:39] diplomats. They are, they are well
[00:13:41] well intended. And I think,, their
[00:13:45] their policies have been policies
[00:13:47] policies of, moderation throughout. throughout. And, and they all, they
[00:13:51] they also have a stake in what's
[00:13:52] what's going on. We cannot forget
[00:13:56] forget that a great part of the Strait
[00:13:59] Strait of Hormuz goes through, the
[00:14:01] the Omani territorial waters. So,
[00:14:04] So, they have a stake in what is
[00:14:05] is happening. And, they have the
[00:14:08] the ability to reach a good deal.
[00:14:11] deal. Let's just, wait and see what
[00:14:15] what they are going to be able to to deliver in that regard. What if
[00:14:19] if it's a good deal, but one that
[00:14:21] that the US and President Trump doesn't
[00:14:24] doesn't like because there are these these competing routes through the
[00:14:26] the Strait of Hormuz and what appears appears to be on the table is merging
[00:14:30] merging them. But with Iran controlling
[00:14:33] controlling maintaining a high degree
[00:14:35] degree of control that will go against
[00:14:37] against us wishes. Well, I think,
[00:14:43] think, in this region we have spoken
[00:14:46] spoken throughout from the beginning beginning of this crisis. We have
[00:14:49] have spoken, in support of international
[00:14:51] international law. There is, United
[00:14:54] United Nations Convention on the the law of the seas. I think we should
[00:14:58] should all abide by this convention convention and its provisions. And
[00:15:01] And I think, if we, get out of the
[00:15:06] the provisions of this convention convention by giving any particular
[00:15:10] particular party, privileges that that do not exist in international
[00:15:13] international law and in this convention convention in particular, I think
[00:15:17] think it would be difficult for the the rest of the region and the world
[00:15:20] world to accept. So, our litmus here
[00:15:24] here is basically whether we can
[00:15:26] can go on with a situation where
[00:15:31] where everybody and the understanding understanding that might be reached,
[00:15:34] reached, will adhere by the provisions provisions of the law of the sea.
[00:15:37] sea. If not, then it will not be be able to hold. Good to have
[00:15:42] you with us once again. Thank you you so much. Thank you.
[09:23:07] line. Join us for the climate question
[09:23:08] question on BBC News. Let's take
[09:23:17] take you to the US., where Michigan's Michigan's left wing Democratic candidate
[09:23:20] candidate for the US Senate in November's November's mid-term elections has
[09:23:23] has called for party unity after
[09:23:25] after his victory over a centrist centrist in the primaries. Abdul
[09:23:28] Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health health official, was up against Haley
[09:23:31] Haley Stevens, who had the support support of the Democratic leadership leadership in Washington. She ran
[09:23:35] ran a campaign backed by tens of of millions of dollars, including
[09:23:39] including a big contribution from from AIPAC, the American Israel Public
[09:23:43] Public Affairs Committee. After narrowly narrowly defeating the congresswoman,
[09:23:46] congresswoman, Mr El-Sayed said they they should now focus on defeating
[09:23:49] defeating the Republicans in this this very crucial swing state. Here
[09:23:52] Here he is after his victory. We
[09:23:56] We took on a machine you're not supposed supposed to be able to beat $70 million
[09:24:00] million of outside spending. A record
[09:24:02] record amount of money spent in a
[09:24:06] a campaign against a Democrat in in a primary, in any campaign. You're
[09:24:09] You're not supposed to be able to to beat that. And what we showed
[09:24:13] showed is that the power of our money money is greater than the power of
[09:24:16] of their money. What we showed is is that if you're willing to build build a movement brick by brick,
[09:24:20] brick, if you're willing to go and and travel your state and have the
[09:24:23] the conversations in rooms big and and small, starting in moments when when people aren't even paying attention
[09:24:27] attention to an election but are are paying attention to the price
[09:24:30] price of gas and the price of groceries groceries and the price of housing housing and the price of health care
[09:24:33] care that you can build a conversation
[09:24:35] conversation that builds into a movement
[09:24:37] movement that defeats Goliath. Let's Let's speak now to Robert Jimison,
[09:24:40] Jimison, congressional reporter for for The New York Times. Rob, good
[09:24:43] good to see you. How much can we
[09:24:46] we read into this victory in terms
[09:24:48] terms of Democrats and the voters
[09:24:50] voters moving to the left? I think
[09:24:52] think this is a symbol of what the the left flank of the Democratic
[09:24:55] Democratic Party here in the United United States is hoping will prove
[09:24:59] prove their case that they've been been trying to make since Donald
[09:25:01] Donald Trump came back to office.
[09:25:03] office. There was a big split amongst amongst Democrats nationwide and
[09:25:06] and in these crucial swing states states that believe that the reason
[09:25:10] reason why the President was able able to prevail over so many candidates
[09:25:13] candidates is because Democrats didn't
[09:25:15] didn't have a unified message of
[09:25:18] of economic issues and left wing wing ideological issues that they
[09:25:21] they believed would have been more more motivational for voters. And
[09:25:23] And so now we've seen this play out out in more progressive, more liberal
[09:25:27] liberal states and more liberal cities cities such as New York City, with
[09:25:30] with the mayor, Zohran Mamdani, being being elected. This is really a key
[09:25:33] key test in a swing state, a true true battleground in the country
[09:25:37] country in Michigan, where you have have an even split of voters, a state
[09:25:40] state where President Trump won in in 2024 and now the left flank of
[09:25:44] of the Democratic Party is finally finally getting a chance to put up up a candidate that they would like
[09:25:48] like to see. And it will see whether
[09:25:50] whether or not if he prevails, if if this will be a path that Democrats
[09:25:54] Democrats follow into the next campaign campaign cycle. Rob, can we look
[09:25:56] look at some of the issues that were were crucial in his campaign? And
[09:26:00] And one of them was anger over what's
[09:26:03] what's happened in Gaza. How much
[09:26:04] much do you think this issue influenced
[09:26:07] influenced voters? I think it played played a big part in, in the election,
[09:26:11] election, as you mentioned in the the lead-up to this, you talked about
[09:26:14] about the influence of AIPAC, all all the money that was being spent.
[09:26:17] spent. I think Israel was a key hot hot button issue. But even more than
[09:26:21] than that, I think what with the the issue of Israel and the US sending
[09:26:24] sending foreign aid to Israel really really speaks to was the core of
[09:26:27] of what El-sayed's campaign was. was. And that's just money right
[09:26:30] right now. The economic message of of people struggling financially,
[09:26:34] financially, struggling with grocery grocery bills, with gas prices, a
[09:26:36] a lot of people are souring on the the idea of sending billions of dollars
[09:26:40] dollars overseas. And I think a lot lot of candidates are grasping on
[09:26:43] on to that message and turning it it not just into an ideological debate
[09:26:47] debate over whether or not you support support Israel and whether or not
[09:26:50] not and where you stand on the war war in Gaza, but also how you feel
[09:26:53] feel about American taxpayer dollars dollars going overseas. Republicans
[09:26:57] Republicans are framing El-Sayed
[09:27:00] El-Sayed as far too left for the the state, even after his victory. victory. I mean, that is clearly
[09:27:04] clearly going to be their line of of attack going forward. And it's
[09:27:08] it's true that with many it will will resonate. Rob. Oh, absolutely.
[09:27:11] absolutely. You saw the President President and top Republicans immediately
[09:27:15] immediately come out and attack him
[09:27:17] him as a communist, as a socialist, socialist, I should say El-Sayed
[09:27:20] El-Sayed does not, you know, identify identify as a member of the Democratic
[09:27:24] Democratic Socialist Party, but his his policies, like you mentioned,
[09:27:28] mentioned, do, hew much further to to the left than a lot of moderate
[09:27:31] moderate voters in the Democratic Democratic Party. And so I think think you can see this attack line
[09:27:35] line as one, it's shaped up pretty pretty clearly even before the primary.
[09:27:39] primary. And now in the final months months of the campaign, that's certainly certainly going to be one way that
[09:27:42] that they're going to try to alienate alienate voters away from supporting
[09:27:45] supporting him in the general election election in November. Robert Jimison, Jimison, great to have you with us
[09:27:49] us again. Thank you so much. Here
[09:27:51] Here for women have told the BBC BBC they were sexually assaulted
[09:27:55] assaulted and harassed at an Army Army training college for teenagers
[09:27:58] teenagers in North Yorkshire. The The Army Foundation College in Harrogate
[09:28:02] Harrogate is the largest military military training establishment for
[09:28:04] for under 19 seconds in the UK and
[09:28:06] and receives all of the Army's 16-year-old 16-year-old recruits. The Ministry
[09:28:09] Ministry of Defence says that the the culture of care at the establishment
[09:28:12] establishment was recognised in its its latest Ofsted report, as well
[09:28:15] well as during a visit from the Children's Children's Commissioner and safeguarding
[09:28:18] safeguarding authorities that happened happened in January. Our senior UK
[09:28:22] UK correspondent Sima Kotecha has has more. A warning her report does
[09:28:25] does contain distressing details. It ruined my life.
[09:28:30] details. It ruined my life. I've I've lost all my confidence. The
[09:28:34] The words of women who went to the the largest army training college
[09:28:37] college in the country for 16 and
[09:28:40] and 17 year-olds. Speaking to the the BBC for the first time. It needs
[09:28:43] needs to be closed down and I don't
[09:28:45] don't get why it hasn't. It just just doesn't make sense. The Army
[09:28:49] Army Foundation College in Harrogate Harrogate is for teenagers who want
[09:28:52] want a life in the armed forces, forces, but now it's at the centre
[09:28:56] centre of serious allegations from from several women who went to the
[09:28:59] the college in recent years, claims
[09:29:01] claims of harassment and sexual assault. assault. They were like, do you want
[09:29:04] want to come into the room? And me
[09:29:07] me being a naive 17-year-old girl girl was like, yeah, fine. Tilly.
[09:29:11] Tilly. Not her real name, says she she was raped by fellow recruits.
[09:29:15] recruits. They started taking my my clothes off and then this led
[09:29:19] led to them doing stuff I didn't
[09:29:21] didn't consent to. There were a lot
[09:29:24] lot of them. They touched me in places,
[09:29:26] places, made inappropriate comments, comments, calling me a thing rather
[09:29:30] rather than a girl. Like some of of the other women we spoke to, Tilly
[09:29:33] Tilly reported it to the police. police. We're not providing the full
[09:29:36] full details of all their investigations
[09:29:38] investigations to protect their identity.
[09:29:41] identity. Monica, also not her real real name, says she too was attacked
[09:29:44] attacked by a junior soldier. Set Set against the door so I couldn't
[09:29:48] couldn't get out. He then pushed pushed himself up against me and
[09:29:50] and started kissing my face and touching
[09:29:53] touching me all over. He sexually sexually assaulted me. All of the
[09:29:56] the women we've spoken to went to to this college over the last five
[09:30:00] five years. Data obtained by the
[09:30:02] the BBC to a Freedom of Information
[09:30:04] Information request shows that North
[09:30:07] North Yorkshire Police recorded 16 16 sexual offence crimes over the
[09:30:10] the last year at this college, including
[09:30:14] including voyeurism and exposure exposure and sexual assault. These
[09:30:17] These are recorded complaints and and it's not clear how many led to
[09:30:21] to prosecutions. If this was anywhere anywhere else, it would have been been closed down by now. I think
[09:30:25] think as a matter of urgency, there
[09:30:26] there should be an independent inquiry
[09:30:29] inquiry into the college led by someone
[09:30:31] someone with significant safeguarding
[09:30:34] safeguarding expertise. A recent recent Ministry of Defence survey
[09:30:37] survey suggests almost 70% of women women in the armed forces experienced
[09:30:41] experienced at least one sexualised sexualised behaviour in the last
[09:30:44] last year. In 2021, Gunner Jaysley
[09:30:47] Jaysley Beck took her own life at
[09:30:49] at her barracks in Wiltshire months months after she was sexually assaulted
[09:30:52] assaulted by Warrant officer Michael
[09:30:55] Michael Webber last year, a coroner coroner ruled the assault and the
[09:30:58] the army's failure to take appropriate
[09:31:00] appropriate action more than minimally minimally contributed to her death.
[09:31:04] death. Weber was jailed for six months.
[09:31:07] months. The government defines a
[09:31:08] a child as anyone under 18 in response
[09:31:12] response to the allegations made made in this report, the Ministry
[09:31:15] Ministry of Defence says unacceptable unacceptable and criminal behaviour
[09:31:18] behaviour has absolutely no place place in our armed forces and these
[09:31:21] these reports are extremely distressing distressing and serious. It says
[09:31:25] says it's created the Defence Serious
[09:31:27] Serious Crime Command, which is independent independent and outside of the army
[09:31:31] army chain of command and has a specialist
[09:31:33] specialist team who help victims
[09:31:35] victims throughout the process of
[09:31:38] of justice. The Army is a tough training
[09:31:42] training environment with high standards, standards, but the supervision and
[09:31:45] and discipline of junior recruits recruits and their instructors is
[09:31:48] is now in sharp focus. After so many
[09:31:53] many serious allegations, Sima Kotecha.
[09:31:55] Kotecha. BBC News. We have some health
[09:31:57] health news for you now. British British scientists say vaccines which
[09:32:01] which don't need to be kept cool cool in a fridge have been successfully
[09:32:05] successfully trialled in patients patients for the first time. Now
[09:32:07] Now around half of all vaccines are
[09:32:10] are wasted each year, often after after freezing or becoming too hot,
[09:32:13] hot, researchers say the breakthrough
[09:32:16] breakthrough could transform vaccination vaccination programmes around the
[09:32:19] the world. Do stay with us. Coming Coming up, we're catching up with with the Afghan women's football
[09:32:22] football team. Stay
[09:33:55] Baghdad continue close to 40.
[09:35:59] he was their friend. Paul's heart-wrenching heart-wrenching stuff that made me me feel sick. The big cases, funeral
[09:36:03] funeral Home horror watch on BBC
[09:36:06] BBC News. Here at BBC Verify we use
[09:36:13] use forensic investigative techniques techniques and tools to fact check
[09:36:16] check stories, verify information information and counter disinformation
[09:36:19] disinformation using data analysis analysis and the latest technology. technology. Our journalists examine
[09:36:22] examine the evidence and get to the the facts. Watch our BBC Verify reports
[09:36:25] reports on the BBC News channel or
[09:36:27] or go online to find out more. This
[09:36:35] This is BBC News. The headlines. headlines. Strikes hit two refineries
[09:36:39] refineries deep within Russia as as a wave of Ukrainian drones is
[09:36:43] is reported across the country. In In Ukraine, at least five people people are reported dead and several
[09:36:47] several injured after Russian attacks attacks on several regions. The Confederation
[09:36:51] Confederation of African Football Football will meet in the next few
[09:36:54] few hours following Fifa president's president's apology over the now
[09:36:56] now abandoned proposal to sell shares
[09:36:58] shares in World Cup to private investors.
[09:37:01] investors. Thailand rolls out the the red carpet for Myanmar's military
[09:37:04] military leader as he attempts to
[09:37:06] to end his international isolation. isolation. And on a wing and a prayer.
[09:37:10] prayer. We meet Betty, who has beaten beaten her own record to become the
[09:37:13] the world's oldest female wing Walker.
[09:37:19] Walker. Hello,