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[00:00:14] Live from London. This is BBC
[00:00:16] News. Strikes hit two refineries refineries deep within Russia as
[00:00:19] as a wave of Ukrainian drones is is reported across the country. We'll
[00:00:22] We'll be looking at the impact of
[00:00:24] of the war on the Russian economy economy in Ukraine. Russian attacks
[00:00:28] attacks on several regions leave leave at least five dead and several
[00:00:31] several injured. As the Confederation Confederation of African Football
[00:00:34] Football meet, we ask if they'll they'll continue to back the beleaguered
[00:00:38] beleaguered president Gianni Infantino Infantino Iran says a deal with Oman
[00:00:41] Oman on a shipping route through through the Strait of Hormuz is now
[00:00:44] now in its final stages and with
[00:00:46] with progressive Democrat Abdul Al-Sayed's Al-Sayed's victory in Michigan's Michigan's Senate primary will also
[00:00:50] also take a look at what this means means for the party ahead of the
[00:00:54] the mid-terms. Hello, I'm Lucy Hockings,
[00:01:04] Hockings, welcome to BBC News Now. Now. We begin in Russia where Ukrainian
[00:01:07] Ukrainian drones have hit two refineries. refineries. A huge column of smoke
[00:01:11] smoke now hangs over the city of
[00:01:13] of Yaroslavl after an attack on one one of the country's largest oil
[00:01:16] oil facilities. It's a stark reminder reminder that long range strikes
[00:01:19] strikes are bringing the war in neighbouring neighbouring Ukraine deeper into
[00:01:23] into Russian territory. Ukraine's Ukraine's President Zelensky, saying
[00:01:25] saying they targeted the refinery refinery and another in Bashkortostan,
[00:01:29] Bashkortostan, where two people are are reported dead as part of its
[00:01:32] its effort to cut the revenues which which fund the Kremlin's war effort.
[00:01:36] effort. The region's governor calling calling it the largest attack ever,
[00:01:39] ever, saying 93 drones were destroyed. destroyed. But that's only part of
[00:01:42] of the picture across Russia, the the military says it's intercepted
[00:01:45] intercepted and destroyed over 600 600 Ukrainian drones heading for
[00:01:49] for targets as far apart as the Moscow Moscow region and the Black Sea.
[00:01:52] Sea. The attacks in Ukraine continue
[00:01:54] continue as well. Five Ukrainians Ukrainians confirmed as having died
[00:01:58] died in Russian attacks overnight. overnight. These images you're seeing
[00:02:01] seeing here from Zaporizhzhia, where where Russian drones hit an apartment
[00:02:04] apartment block, injuring two civilians. civilians. So let's take you now
[00:02:07] now live to Kyiv. We can join our our correspondent there, Dan Johnson.
[00:02:11] Johnson. Dan, what is President Zelensky
[00:02:13] Zelensky had to say about these latest
[00:02:16] latest tactics hitting Russian oil
[00:02:18] oil refineries? And also Wildberries,
[00:02:21] Wildberries, the Russian equivalent
[00:02:23] equivalent of Amazon? Yeah. This This is a deliberate Ukrainian strategy
[00:02:27] strategy to take the war deeper into into Russian territory, to make the
[00:02:30] the Russian people really feel the the impact. President Zelensky says
[00:02:34] says this is primarily about hitting hitting the Kremlin in the coffers, coffers, having a real impact on
[00:02:38] on the economy and trying to make
[00:02:41] make sure that the Russian military military can't get the supplies and
[00:02:44] and the fuel that it needs to continue continue the war against Ukraine.
[00:02:47] Ukraine. But there is an acknowledgement
[00:02:49] acknowledgement that this means disruption, disruption, destruction to civilian
[00:02:52] civilian infrastructure. The Wildberries Wildberries warehouses, which have have been hit repeatedly over the
[00:02:56] the past few weeks. Another one of of those was damaged last night.
[00:02:59] night. They've had workers killed killed in those facilities, and that
[00:03:02] that is no doubt having an impact
[00:03:05] impact on the sort of ordinary business business that people in Russia rely
[00:03:08] rely on this network for. It's a
[00:03:11] a small business retailer that distributes distributes items, everyday items
[00:03:15] items that so many millions of Russians Russians rely on. So those attacks
[00:03:19] attacks have had a real world impact impact for ordinary Russians and
[00:03:22] and the oil refineries that is making
[00:03:25] making petrol short in supply. We've We've seen huge queues over the last
[00:03:29] last couple of months as petrol has has been running out and prices have
[00:03:32] have soared. So no doubt that is
[00:03:34] is also putting pressure on the Russian Russian people and the refinery.
[00:03:37] refinery. One of them that was hit hit last night 400 miles from Ukraine,
[00:03:41] Ukraine, is one of Russia's biggest biggest which has been hit before. before. But the regional governor
[00:03:44] governor said this was one of the the largest attacks on that refinery
[00:03:47] refinery that Ukraine had launched launched so far. And one of the worst
[00:03:51] worst nights in a very long while while for Ukraine yesterday. And
[00:03:54] And you went down to the site of of one of those strikes. And then
[00:03:58] then we heard President Zelensky
[00:03:59] Zelensky call once again for sanctions
[00:04:03] sanctions regimes on Russia to be be expanded and extended. He's asked
[00:04:06] asked for that time and time again, again, but also making the point
[00:04:10] point that he still needs more weapons
[00:04:12] weapons from the West. Yes, he has
[00:04:17] has repeatedly pushed for more Patriot Patriot missile interceptors. The
[00:04:20] The US made air defence system, which
[00:04:22] which is at the most effective defence
[00:04:25] defence against ballistic missiles. missiles. And those are what was
[00:04:28] was primarily targeted at Kyiv the the night before. Last night, Russia
[00:04:31] Russia only fired four ballistic ballistic missiles, but there was
[00:04:34] was a huge wave of drones fired towards
[00:04:38] towards Ukraine, a hundred of them them and 66 of those shot down by
[00:04:41] by the Ukrainians last night. So
[00:04:42] So we've seen More destruction across
[00:04:45] across this country and the death death toll is rising. At least five five confirmed. But we're hearing
[00:04:49] hearing the death toll across the the country in different places may
[00:04:52] may be as high as ten, given the the attacks that were launched last
[00:04:55] last night on different cities. There There have been deaths in Kharkiv.
[00:04:58] Kharkiv. There is a power cut in in Kherson after the electricity
[00:05:02] electricity network there targeted targeted by Russian drones. There's There's also been another attack
[00:05:06] attack on the port in Odesa. Two
[00:05:08] Two dry cargo ships were hit there there and a sailor has been killed.
[00:05:11] killed. So right across the country. country. Although last night's bombardment
[00:05:14] bombardment wasn't as intense as as the night before, people are still
[00:05:18] still feeling the impact. There were were sirens in Kyiv last night, but
[00:05:21] but no repeat of the night. Before's Before's attack on this city. But
[00:05:24] But in other parts of Ukraine, people people are still counting the cost
[00:05:26] cost today. Dan, thank you so much. much. Dan Johnson joining us there
[00:05:30] there live in Kyiv. We're going to
[00:05:31] to be looking again throughout the
[00:05:34] the programme at what impact the the strikes deep inside Russia are
[00:05:38] are having on the economy there. there. And also these attacks on
[00:05:41] on Wildberries as well. So do stay
[00:05:42] stay with us for that. But when Fifa Fifa president Gianni Infantino's
[00:05:46] Infantino's plan to sell off stakes
[00:05:47] stakes in the World Cup first broke, broke, you know, sparked outrage
[00:05:51] outrage right around the world. But But the Confederation of African African Football remains silent.
[00:05:55] silent. In the next few hours they they are finally meeting to discuss
[00:05:58] discuss the now abandoned proposal. proposal. Mr Infantino looks set
[00:06:01] set to fight for re-election for for a fourth term next March after
[00:06:04] after receiving the backing of senior senior executives. He summoned members
[00:06:07] members of the management board to to Fifa's offices in Morocco on Wednesday
[00:06:11] Wednesday following mounting criticism criticism of those aborted proposals.
[00:06:13] proposals. And in a letter to Fifa Fifa members seen by the BBC and
[00:06:17] and signed by Infantino and Secretary Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom,
[00:06:20] Grafstrom, they said they sincerely sincerely apologise for their errors
[00:06:24] errors and commit to them not happening
[00:06:28] happening again. They reaffirmed
[00:06:31] reaffirmed their support for Infantino Infantino as president. However,
[00:06:35] However, the statement also said said the organisation will no longer
[00:06:38] longer tolerate any attacks on its its integrity, good governance and
[00:06:41] and due process and will take all all necessary measures to protect
[00:06:44] protect and safeguard its name and and reputation. African football
[00:06:47] football expert Piers Edwards is is in Rabat, where that meeting took
[00:06:50] took place last night. He is currently
[00:06:53] currently commentating for CAF at at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
[00:06:56] Nations. There's certainly not necessarily necessarily agreement about the plans
[00:06:59] plans to sell off the World Cup. Cup. We've seen a handful of African African leaders already come out
[00:07:03] out to say that they welcome the the fact that that plan has been
[00:07:06] been aborted, but they very much much have pledged and offered their
[00:07:09] their support to Gianni Infantino. Infantino. He does have pretty much
[00:07:13] much widespread support across the the continent. Africa helped him
[00:07:16] him get elected back in 2016. He
[00:07:19] He then helped the current Confederation Confederation of African Football.
[00:07:23] Football. CAF president Patrice Motsepe
[00:07:25] Motsepe assume his role in 2021 and
[00:07:27] and Motsepe, the South African, is is very supportive of Infantino.
[00:07:31] Infantino. He calls him a loyal friend, friend, he says. Where I come from,
[00:07:34] from, you don't stab loyal friends friends in the bank, he in the back.
[00:07:37] back. He also relishes Fifa's support, support, makes no secret of the fact
[00:07:40] fact that he welcomes their aid in in helping Africa develop and come
[00:07:44] come forward. Today's meeting here,
[00:07:47] here, with CAF, is a virtual meeting.
[00:07:49] meeting. There's a lot on the agenda agenda for CAF to discuss, but the
[00:07:53] the World Cup sell off plan is one one of them. But I would be hugely
[00:07:57] hugely surprised if there is anything anything other than wholesome support
[00:07:59] support that comes out for Gianni Gianni Infantino at the end of it.
[00:08:02] it. Piers, tell us a bit more about about some of the smaller African
[00:08:05] African nations in the state of football football there and why they are so
[00:08:09] so desperate for more money and more
[00:08:10] more funding? Well, they simply just just don't have the funds as you
[00:08:14] you well know, and many viewers will
[00:08:16] will know. Africa has its own problems
[00:08:19] problems in terms of funding, in in terms of finance and governments governments have far bigger priorities,
[00:08:23] priorities, let's be honest, than than football. They've got to get get infrastructure right. They've They've got to get hospitals right.
[00:08:27] right. They've got to tackle whatever whatever the challenges may be. So
[00:08:29] So funnily enough, they don't have
[00:08:32] have money to give to football federations federations to spend on supporting
[00:08:36] supporting the game. Now, travel travel here in Africa is incredibly
[00:08:39] incredibly expensive. That should should not be underestimated. There's
[00:08:42] There's not a lot of money for infrastructure infrastructure and all that money
[00:08:44] money comes basically from Fifa and
[00:08:46] and it's a huge help to the continent.
[00:08:49] continent. Take someone like Mauritania Mauritania for example, 98% sand
[00:08:53] sand of the country. It didn't have have much development until a few
[00:08:55] few years ago with Fifa money. It
[00:08:57] It built proper pitches. It built built proper federation. And for
[00:09:01] for the first time in the last decade, decade, it's not just qualified for
[00:09:04] for the Africa Cup of Nations. The
[00:09:06] The premier football event on the the continent once but three times.
[00:09:09] times. So it makes a huge, huge amount amount of difference. And the absence,
[00:09:12] absence, of course, is that they they simply don't get the money and and cannot develop otherwise. So
[00:09:16] So they are very, very reliant on on Fifa funds and therefore they
[00:09:19] they will pretty much dance to the the tune of whoever may be the Fifa
[00:09:23] Fifa president. Piers, can I ask ask you to address or tell us what's
[00:09:26] what's being said in Rabat about about something we're all seeing seeing online a lot at the moment?
[00:09:29] moment? And I know it is just speculation,
[00:09:32] speculation, but the sort of rumour rumour that Morocco is really asking
[00:09:36] asking now for the World Cup final
[00:09:39] final to take place there rather rather than in Spain for the next
[00:09:42] next World Cup. Well, there's a statement statement out which says that this
[00:09:45] this is denying the fact that the the 2030 World Cup final has been
[00:09:48] been promised by Gianni Infantino Infantino to Morocco. Morocco is
[00:09:50] is a country that has invested huge huge amounts of money in football football in recent years. It's hosting
[00:09:54] hosting this latest Women's Africa Africa Cup of Nations where, incidentally, incidentally, Gianni Infantino and
[00:09:58] and Mattias Grafstrom were watching
[00:10:00] watching a game last night. But politically,
[00:10:02] politically, given that they are are co-hosting the 2030 finals with with both Spain and Portugal, we
[00:10:06] we know that Uefa has come out very
[00:10:10] very strongly against Infantino. Infantino. Well, it would make sense
[00:10:12] sense should it be true to obviously obviously curry favour with the Africans
[00:10:16] Africans boozy lecture the head of of the Moroccan Football Federation
[00:10:20] Federation is a hugely influential influential powerbroker in African
[00:10:22] African football. And if Morocco
[00:10:24] Morocco could get the World Cup final
[00:10:28] final and Fifa genuinely promised promised it to them, then obviously obviously he could disseminate the
[00:10:31] the rest of that to the continent continent to further back support
[00:10:35] support for Infantino. Incidentally, Incidentally, if they do get it,
[00:10:37] it, it will be in 115 000 seater
[00:10:40] seater stadium just out outside Casablanca, Casablanca, which would be one of
[00:10:44] of the biggest ever. But obviously obviously you could imagine the reaction
[00:10:46] reaction of someone like Spain, where where the cities Madrid and Barcelona
[00:10:50] Barcelona are desperate to host the
[00:10:51] the World Cup final. So a little
[00:10:54] little bit of politics going on strategy strategy as well. And there's plenty
[00:10:58] plenty of it in football politics politics and there's a long way to
[00:11:00] to go of course. March the re-election
[00:11:04] re-election of Gianni Infantino could could be happening. Will he face
[00:11:06] face a candidate? We'll find out out in November. There's a long way
[00:11:09] way to go. We've seen a lot of drip drip feed of stories coming out in
[00:11:12] in recent times. And if they continue, continue, will it weaken his position?
[00:11:15] position? But the thing is, until until there's a rival candidate for
[00:11:18] for Gianni Infantino, it's going
[00:11:20] going to be very hard for member member associations to go very much
[00:11:24] much against him because if no one one comes forward and then he's in
[00:11:27] in power again, then they're very very much going to be on the back
[00:11:30] back foot. In the Middle East, there there are reports of a possible breakthrough
[00:11:33] breakthrough over one of the world's world's most dangerous waterways, waterways, Iran, saying they're close
[00:11:37] close to finalising an interim agreement agreement with Oman over the Strait
[00:11:40] Strait of Hormuz. That's that narrow narrow channel. Much of the world's
[00:11:43] world's energy supply has pass through through Pakistan, which is mediating
[00:11:47] mediating between the US and Iran, Iran, says it hopes an agreement
[00:11:50] agreement will lead Washington and and Tehran to resume talks and resolve
[00:11:53] resolve their conflict. It confirmed confirmed a deal might begin to ease
[00:11:57] ease a crisis that has shaken markets.
[00:11:59] markets. However, it could also cement cement Iranian control over this
[00:12:03] this vital maritime choke point. point. Hossam Zaki is the former
[00:12:07] former assistant Secretary General General and official spokesperson spokesperson of the Arab League.
[00:12:09] League. He gave me his assessment assessment of where these talks are
[00:12:12] are at at the moment between Iran
[00:12:14] Iran and Oman. But for all what we've
[00:12:18] we've been following, I think, a a great deal of progress has been
[00:12:22] been made. But a deal is still is
[00:12:26] is still a little bit elusive. I
[00:12:29] I think, the two sides want to achieve
[00:12:32] achieve the maximum. That takes a
[00:12:36] a bit of, concessions. We're not not sure how much concessions the
[00:12:39] the Iranians are willing to give.
[00:12:42] give. But I think if we are able able to reach a deal, it would be
[00:12:45] be good for the region and it will will be good for the world. You're You're putting your faith then in
[00:12:48] in Oman that they can successfully
[00:12:50] successfully negotiate this
[00:12:56] deal? Absolutely. Omanis are a seasoned seasoned diplomats. They are, they
[00:13:00] they are well intended. And I think,,
[00:13:04] think,, their policies have been
[00:13:07] been policies of, moderation throughout. throughout. And, and they all, they
[00:13:11] they also have a stake in what's
[00:13:12] what's going on. We cannot forget
[00:13:15] forget that a great part of the Strait
[00:13:18] Strait of Hormuz goes through, the
[00:13:21] the Omani territorial waters. So
[00:13:23] So they have a stake in what is happening.
[00:13:27] happening. And, they have the ability
[00:13:28] ability to reach a good deal. Let's
[00:13:32] Let's just, wait and see what they
[00:13:35] they are going to be able to deliver deliver in that regard. What if it's
[00:13:39] it's a good deal, but one that the
[00:13:42] the US and President Trump doesn't doesn't like because there are these
[00:13:45] these competing routes through the the Strait of Hormuz and what appears
[00:13:48] appears to be on the table is merging
[00:13:50] merging them. But with Iran controlling
[00:13:53] controlling maintaining a high degree degree of control that will go against
[00:13:57] against us wishes. Well, I think,
[00:14:03] think, in this region we have spoken spoken throughout from the beginning
[00:14:07] beginning of this crisis. We have have spoken, in support of international
[00:14:10] international law. There is, United
[00:14:14] United Nations Convention on the the law of the seas. I think we should
[00:14:18] should all abide by this convention convention and its provisions. And
[00:14:21] And I think, if we, get out of the
[00:14:26] the provisions of this convention
[00:14:27] convention by giving any particular
[00:14:30] particular party, privileges that that do not exist in international
[00:14:32] international law and in this convention
[00:14:34] convention in particular, I think think it would be difficult for the
[00:14:38] the rest of the region and the world
[00:14:40] world to accept. So, our litmus here
[00:14:44] here is basically whether we can
[00:14:46] can go on with a situation where
[00:14:51] where everybody and the understanding understanding that might be reached,
[00:14:53] reached, will adhere by the provisions provisions of the law of the sea.
[00:14:57] sea. If not, then it will not be be able to hold. To stay with
[00:16:01] President Trump's plan to get the the oil flowing again, one that will
[00:16:04] will pay off. Join us on Talking
[00:16:05] Talking Business Weekly on BBC News.
[00:16:12] News. Let's return to our top story story this hour as Ukrainian drones
[00:16:16] drones hit two oil refineries in in Russia. The drone attacks have
[00:16:19] have left black smoke hanging over over the Russian city of Yaroslavl,
[00:16:23] Yaroslavl, the home of one of the the country's biggest oil refineries.
[00:16:26] refineries. The local governor has has described this as the largest
[00:16:29] largest ever attack by Ukraine. President President Zelensky said the refinery
[00:16:33] refinery and another in Bashkortostan Bashkortostan had been targeted as
[00:16:36] as part of attempts to cut the oil
[00:16:38] oil revenues funding Russia's war
[00:16:40] war effort. So let's have a closer closer look now at the impact on
[00:16:44] on the Russian economy of these attacks
[00:16:45] attacks and join David Roche of Quantum
[00:16:48] Quantum Strategy, a financial analysis
[00:16:50] analysis and advisory firm. Thanks Thanks for joining us, David. The
[00:16:53] The pictures are very dramatic when when you see them. But what kind
[00:16:57] kind of impact are all of these attacks attacks on oil refineries actually
[00:17:01] actually having when it comes to
[00:17:02] to the Russian economy? Oh very big.
[00:17:05] big. I looked at the figures this
[00:17:08] this morning and Russia is now a
[00:17:10] a net importer of oil and oil products.
[00:17:14] products. The main change has been
[00:17:16] been a fall in oil refining. With
[00:17:19] With the refineries of having lost
[00:17:21] lost approximately 30 to 40% of capacity.
[00:17:24] capacity. And therefore Russia has
[00:17:25] has to turn to foreign markets to
[00:17:29] to find, refined products like gasoline,
[00:17:32] gasoline, like diesel and import import them at the same time. Of
[00:17:35] Of course, Russia's ability to export
[00:17:39] export oil is being severely limited
[00:17:41] limited by the war on ships in the
[00:17:44] the Black Sea. And so we're seeing
[00:17:46] seeing crude exports declining very very rapidly. So if you add up the
[00:17:50] the total picture, this is a disaster
[00:17:53] disaster for the Russian economy. economy. What about these attacks attacks as well, David, that we've
[00:17:57] we've seen on Wildberries this week?
[00:18:00] week? It's described as Russia's
[00:18:02] Russia's equivalent to Amazon. There There have been daily attacks. It's
[00:18:05] It's really hit confidence. And I I think that's part part of the reason
[00:18:09] reason for it. One of the tactics tactics of President Zelensky is
[00:18:11] is to bring the war home to the middle middle classes, particularly in Russia.
[00:18:15] Russia. Any kind of impact, more more wider impact in terms of the
[00:18:18] the economy. There is a much wider wider there is Lucy, there's a wider
[00:18:21] wider impact. The wider impact is
[00:18:22] is to bring home to the ordinary
[00:18:25] ordinary Russians almost the middle middle class Russians in the urban
[00:18:29] urban areas, the ones who Putin has
[00:18:32] has shielded from the war because
[00:18:34] because he never let the war, change
[00:18:37] change what was available on the
[00:18:39] the shelves of shops. What has now
[00:18:42] now happened is that the war is being being brought home to these people.
[00:18:46] people. And what they are saying saying is what are we fighting for?
[00:18:49] for? So you have to you have got
[00:18:51] got three things going on. Number Number one is the Ukrainians are
[00:18:55] are now deeply embedded in war inside
[00:18:58] inside Russia. Number two, the vast
[00:19:01] vast swathe of the population which which Putin vowed to protect from
[00:19:04] from the effects of his so-called so-called special operation, but
[00:19:07] but really a war they now are feeling
[00:19:09] feeling the brunt of the war. And
[00:19:12] And number three, the economy is is doing because of the hits on energy
[00:19:15] energy and because of the other shortages shortages created by the war. The
[00:19:19] The economy is now really going down down the tubes. It just isn't growing
[00:19:21] growing at all. And it is only growing
[00:19:24] growing for military goods. It is is not growing for anything that
[00:19:28] that benefits civilians. Now Putin
[00:19:30] Putin is out of men. He is losing,
[00:19:34] losing, approximately 1500 people people a day in the war and he can't
[00:19:37] can't recruit them. So he's have have to going to go back to something
[00:19:41] something like drafting people, obligatory obligatory military service to go
[00:19:43] go and fight in the war. Well, conscription conscription could be the flashpoint
[00:19:47] flashpoint which could bring his his reign to an end because everything
[00:19:51] everything is in place now economically economically for that to happen. Yeah. As you say, the economy
[00:19:55] economy you say is going down the the drain. What does that mean more
[00:19:58] more immediately for the war effort effort and the war machine? Well,
[00:20:02] Well, what it means is that because
[00:20:04] because Putin is obsessed with his
[00:20:07] his dream of, re-establishing the the great Soviet Union, under another
[00:20:11] another name, he is going to prosecute prosecute that war. Go on prosecuting
[00:20:14] prosecuting that war. I mean, I'm I'm actually talking to you from
[00:20:17] from Kyiv. Last night there were
[00:20:20] were 40 ballistic missiles fired.
[00:20:21] fired. Fired at us. So, you know,
[00:20:24] know, Putin is so obsessed he cannot cannot go down any other road, so
[00:20:27] so he will go on. So the effect of of that is to increase the downturn
[00:20:31] downturn in the economy. It's very very simple. If the economy is shrinking,
[00:20:33] shrinking, which it now is, then then if you are going to devote more
[00:20:37] more and more, resources to the war
[00:20:41] war the amount that that costs, the the economy goes up because the military
[00:20:45] military expenditure goes up and and the economy goes down. How do
[00:20:48] do you plug that gap? You print money,
[00:20:50] money, you create inflation and you
[00:20:54] you remove the guarantee from the the average normal person living
[00:20:57] living in Moscow that the war would
[00:20:59] would not make him poorer. You can't can't live up to that. So the war
[00:21:03] war then does make him poorer because because all the economic resources
[00:21:06] resources are being sucked increasingly increasingly into the war machine.
[00:21:10] machine. David, so interesting to to get your analysis. Thank you for
[00:21:12] for joining us from Kyiv. Now to
[00:21:16] to the US, where Michigan's left left wing Democratic candidate for
[00:21:19] for the US Senate in November's mid-term mid-term elections is calling for
[00:21:22] for party unity after his victory
[00:21:24] victory over a centrist in the primaries, primaries, Abdul El-Sayed, a former
[00:21:28] former public health official, was was up against Haley Stevens, who
[00:21:30] who did have the support of the Democratic Democratic leadership in Washington.
[00:21:34] Washington. She ran a campaign backed backed by tens of millions of dollars,
[00:21:37] dollars, including a big contribution contribution from AIPAC. That's the
[00:21:41] the American Israel Public Affairs Affairs Committee. After narrowly
[00:21:44] narrowly defeating the congresswoman, congresswoman, Mister El-Sayed said said that they should now focus on
[00:21:48] on defeating the Republicans in the the swing state. Speaking after his
[00:21:51] his victory on Wednesday, he said
[00:21:53] said the power of many is greater
[00:21:55] greater than the power of money.
[00:21:57] money. We took on a machine. You're
[00:21:59] You're not supposed to be able to
[00:22:01] to beat $70 million of outside spending,
[00:22:04] spending, a record amount of money
[00:22:06] money spent in a campaign against against a Democrat in a primary.
[00:22:10] primary. In any campaign, you're you're not supposed to be able to
[00:22:12] to beat that. And what we showed showed is that the power of our money
[00:22:16] money is greater than the power of of their money. What we showed is
[00:22:19] is that if you're willing to build build a movement brick by brick,
[00:22:22] brick, if you're willing to go and and travel your state and have the
[00:22:25] the conversations in rooms big and and small, starting in moments when when people aren't even paying attention
[00:22:29] attention to an election but are are paying attention to the price
[00:22:31] price of gas and the price of groceries, groceries, and the price of housing housing and the price of health care
[00:22:35] care that you can build a conversation conversation that builds into a movement
[00:22:38] movement that defeats Goliath. So So how much can we read into this
[00:22:42] this victory? Robert Jimison is congressional congressional reporter for The New
[00:22:46] New York Times. I think this is a
[00:22:48] a symbol of what the left flank of of the Democratic Party here in the
[00:22:52] the United States is hoping will will prove their case that they've they've been trying to make since
[00:22:56] since Donald Trump came back to office.
[00:22:58] office. There was a big split amongst amongst Democrats nationwide and
[00:23:02] and in these crucial swing states states that believe that the reason
[00:23:05] reason why the President was able able to prevail over so many candidates
[00:23:08] candidates is because Democrats didn't
[00:23:11] didn't have a unified message of
[00:23:13] of economic issues and left wing wing ideological issues that they
[00:23:16] they believed would have been more more motivational for voters. And
[00:23:19] And so now we've seen this play out out in more progressive, more liberal
[00:23:22] liberal states and more liberal cities cities such as New York City, with
[00:23:25] with the mayor being elected, this
[00:23:28] this is really a key test in a swing swing state, a true battleground
[00:23:31] battleground in the country in Michigan, Michigan, where you have an even
[00:23:34] even split of voters, a state where where President Trump won in 2024
[00:23:38] 2024 and now the left flank of the the Democratic Party is finally getting
[00:23:41] getting a chance to put up a candidate candidate that they would like to
[00:23:44] to see. And it will see whether or
[00:23:47] or not if he prevails, if this will will be a path that Democrats follow
[00:23:51] follow into the next campaign cycle. cycle. Rob, can we look at some of
[00:23:53] of the issues that were crucial in in his campaign? And one of them
[00:23:56] them was anger over what's happened happened in Gaza. How much do you
[00:24:01] you think this issue influenced voters?
[00:24:03] voters? I think it played a big part
[00:24:05] part in, in the election, as you you mentioned in the lead-up to this,
[00:24:09] this, you talked about the influence influence of AIPAC, all the money money that was being spent. I think
[00:24:13] think Israel was a key hot button button issue. But even more than
[00:24:16] than that, I think what with the the issue of Israel and the US sending
[00:24:19] sending foreign aid to Israel really really speaks to was the core of
[00:24:23] of what El-sayed's campaign was. was. And that's just money right
[00:24:26] right now. The economic message of of people struggling financially,
[00:24:29] financially, struggling with grocery grocery bills, with gas prices. A
[00:24:31] A lot of people are souring on the
[00:24:34] the idea of sending billions of dollars dollars overseas. And I think a lot
[00:24:37] lot of candidates are grasping on on to that message and turning it
[00:24:40] it not just into an ideological debate debate over whether or not you support
[00:24:44] support Israel and whether or not not and where you stand on the war
[00:24:47] war in Gaza, but also how you feel
[00:24:49] feel about American taxpayer dollars dollars going overseas. Republicans
[00:24:53] Republicans are framing El-Sayed
[00:24:55] El-Sayed as FA too, left for the the state even after his victory.
[00:24:58] victory. I mean, that is clearly clearly going to be their line of
[00:25:02] of attack going forward. And it's it's true that with many it will
[00:25:05] will resonate. Rob. Oh, absolutely. absolutely. You saw the President
[00:25:09] President and top Republicans immediately immediately come out and attack him
[00:25:12] him as a communist. As a socialist, socialist, I should say El-Sayed
[00:25:16] El-Sayed does not, you know, identify identify as a member of the Democratic
[00:25:19] Democratic Socialist Party, but his his policies, like you mentioned,
[00:25:23] mentioned, do, hew much further to to the left than a lot of moderate
[00:25:27] moderate voters in the Democratic Democratic Party. And so I think think you can see this attack line
[00:25:31] line as one, it's shaped up pretty pretty clearly even before the primary.
[00:25:34] primary. And now in the final months months of the campaign, that's certainly certainly going to be one way that
[00:25:38] that they're going to try to alienate alienate voters away from supporting
[00:25:41] supporting him in the general election election in November. Some good news
[00:25:44] news for you. Now, British scientists scientists say vaccines which don't
[00:25:47] don't need to be kept cool in a fridge fridge have been successfully trialled
[00:25:51] trialled on patients for the first first time. Did you know that around
[00:25:53] around half of all vaccines are wasted wasted each year, often after freezing
[00:25:56] freezing or becoming too hot? Researchers Researchers say this breakthrough
[00:26:00] breakthrough could transform vaccination vaccination programmes right around around the world. That is good news.
[00:26:04] news. Please stay
[00:27:35] temperatures ramping up further into into next week, hitting the 50 Celsius
[00:27:37] Celsius mark on Tuesday.
[00:29:39] edge, but Russia's goals seem unchanged. unchanged. For continued coverage
[00:29:42] coverage of the war in Ukraine, join
[00:29:44] join us here on BBC News. Here at
[00:29:52] at BBC Verify we use forensic investigative investigative techniques and tools
[00:29:55] tools to fact check stories, verify
[00:29:58] verify information and counter disinformation disinformation using data analysis analysis and the latest technology.
[00:30:02] technology. Our journalists examine examine the evidence and get to the the facts. Watch our BBC Verify reports
[00:30:05] reports on the BBC News channel or
[00:30:07] or go online to find out more. This
[00:30:17] This is BBC News. The headlines strikes
[00:30:19] strikes hit two refineries deep within within Russia as a wave of Ukrainian
[00:30:22] Ukrainian drones is reported across across the country. In Ukraine, Russian
[00:30:26] Russian attacks on several regions regions leave at least five dead
[00:30:29] dead and several injured as the Confederation Confederation of African Football
[00:30:32] Football meets, will they continue continue to back the beleaguered
[00:30:35] beleaguered president, Gianni Infantino?
[00:30:38] Infantino? Afghanistan's exiled women women footballers make an international
[00:30:41] international comeback after a change change in Fifa's rules, and more
[00:30:44] more than 300 people abducted in in Nigeria are rescued. And what
[00:30:47] what the government says is its biggest
[00:30:49] biggest operation in a single day.
[00:30:54] day. Hello, I'm Lucy Hockings. Myanmar's Myanmar's military leader turned
[00:30:58] turned President Min Aung Hlaing Hlaing has arrived in Thailand for
[00:31:01] for an official visit. It's his first first trip to the country since he
[00:31:04] he launched a coup that ousted the the elected government and sparked
[00:31:07] sparked a civil war, which left thousands thousands dead and wrecked the economy.
[00:31:11] economy. Despite being the subject subject of a raft of sanctions, as
[00:31:13] as you can see here, the red carpet carpet was rolled out in Bangkok.
[00:31:16] Bangkok. All part of a diplomatic diplomatic push to end his country's
[00:31:20] country's international isolation. isolation. Our South East Asia correspondent
[00:31:23] correspondent Jonathan Head went went to the ceremony and gave us
[00:31:27] us his analysis. This is a big moment
[00:31:31] moment for the Myanmar coup leader. leader. He's being welcomed here
[00:31:34] here given full honours, red carpet carpet treatment and honour guard.
[00:31:38] guard. Thailand is really bringing bringing relations back to the way way they were right before the coup,
[00:31:42] coup, much faster than people expected
[00:31:44] expected and still has done nothing nothing to make any moves to end
[00:31:47] end the Civil War. He's not making making any concessions to his South
[00:31:51] South East Asian neighbours about about negotiating with the opposition,
[00:31:54] opposition, but the Thai government government has decided it has so
[00:31:57] so many issues it needs to resolve resolve with Myanmar. They've decided
[00:32:00] decided to invite him here and restore
[00:32:02] restore their relationship to the
[00:32:04] the way it was. So the solidarity solidarity that South East Asia showed
[00:32:08] showed him before in keeping men men at arm's length while the bloodshed
[00:32:11] bloodshed continued in Myanmar has has cracked, Thailand has decided
[00:32:14] decided it's got to follow China
[00:32:17] China and India in recognising this this government now that he has turned
[00:32:21] turned himself from a pure military military dictator into a civilian
[00:32:24] civilian president. The reality is
[00:32:27] is that his military government has has recovered a lot of the ground
[00:32:30] ground it lost during the Civil War. War. It's regained a lot of the territory
[00:32:32] territory it lost with the full backing backing of China. It's much stronger
[00:32:35] stronger than it was. And the Thais Thais are saying we have to deal
[00:32:39] deal with this government. It's going
[00:32:40] going nowhere. This visit really
[00:32:43] really cements that attitude as he he walks into the ornate seat of
[00:32:46] of government here in Bangkok. Min Min Aung Hlaing is now fully recognised
[00:32:50] recognised as a legitimate leader leader by Thailand. It's almost inevitable inevitable that other countries in
[00:32:54] in this region will now follow suit suit and give him the legitimacy
[00:32:58] legitimacy that he craves, despite despite the continued violence in
[00:33:02] in his own country. More than 300
[00:33:04] 300 people abducted in separate attacks attacks in Nigeria have been rescued,
[00:33:08] rescued, and what the government government describes as the largest
[00:33:10] largest operation by security forces forces in a single day. The victims
[00:33:14] victims were rescued from the Kainji Kainji Lake National Park in Niger
[00:33:17] Niger State in an operation involving
[00:33:19] involving the military, Police Intelligence Intelligence Unit and the National
[00:33:23] National Counterterrorism Centre.
[00:33:24] Centre. Those freed include 163 people people abducted during a February
[00:33:28] February attack on the Waru community community in Kwara State, where scores
[00:33:31] scores were killed. At least 145 145 others had been taken in Niger
[00:33:35] Niger State. What is not clear yet yet is whether any suspects were
[00:33:39] were actually detained in this operation. operation. Makuochi Okafor is our
[00:33:42] our West Africa reporter. He talked talked me through what we know about
[00:33:45] about this rescue. Separate attacks
[00:33:48] attacks in Nigeria have been rescued rescued and what the government has
[00:33:51] has described as the largest operation operation by security forces in a
[00:33:54] a single day. The victims were rescued
[00:33:57] rescued from the. And we will bring bring you that interview in a moment.
[00:34:00] moment. But the family of Meredith Meredith Kercher, the British exchange exchange student who was murdered
[00:34:03] murdered while studying abroad in in Italy in 2007, is calling for
[00:34:07] for the cancellation of a comedy comedy show being performed by Amanda
[00:34:11] Amanda Knox, Meredith's roommate roommate who was twice convicted,
[00:34:14] convicted, then acquitted of her her murder. Since being cleared of
[00:34:17] of any involvement in Meredith's Meredith's death. Miss Knox has told
[00:34:20] told her story a number of times times through books, documentaries
[00:34:23] documentaries and in a TV drama. drama. The show is due to take place
[00:34:26] place at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Festival. It's being described as
[00:34:29] as a stand up comedy show, referencing referencing the time she spent in
[00:34:32] in jail in Italy and how she has has since tried to explain it to
[00:34:36] to her young children. Meredith's Meredith's sister Stephanie has been
[00:34:39] been speaking to the BBC and she she said the show makes light of
[00:34:42] of violence against women and causes causes pain for the family. 19 years
[00:34:45] years on. The family, obviously it's
[00:34:49] it's very personal to us and affects affects her friends as well. Still,
[00:34:52] Still, obviously, you know it's left
[00:34:53] left a massive void in our lives
[00:34:56] lives and Amanda is naturally free
[00:34:58] free to continue with her life as
[00:35:00] as she wishes. But I think the problem
[00:35:03] problem with this particular project
[00:35:06] project is that it is comedy. And And whilst I appreciate comedy is
[00:35:10] is there to push the boundaries and
[00:35:14] and you know, it very much normalises normalises and trivialises violence
[00:35:18] violence against women and Meredith
[00:35:20] Meredith in particular. I think in
[00:35:22] in this case it's a position where
[00:35:26] where it's not a generic topic. It's
[00:35:29] It's targeting an individual traumatic traumatic case and an individual
[00:35:33] individual person and family. And
[00:35:35] And I feel very strongly that that that Meredith wouldn't agree with
[00:35:39] with that. And obviously I have read read certain comments that she's
[00:35:42] she's made that Meredith would have have found it funny. And Meredith
[00:35:46] Meredith absolutely wouldn't find find these topics of, you know, any
[00:35:50] any comedy value. The Afghan women's
[00:35:53] women's football team are banned banned from all organised sport at
[00:35:56] at home. The squad was also evacuated, evacuated, you might remember, and
[00:35:59] and scattered across the world. But But now, against the odds, they've
[00:36:03] they've reunited and could soon represent represent their country in official official matches. And that's because
[00:36:07] because football's governing body body changed its rules, giving them
[00:36:09] them a path back to the international
[00:36:11] international stage. Mahjooba Nowrouzi Nowrouzi from BBC Global Women travelled
[00:36:15] travelled with them on that journey.
[00:36:19] journey. At the time, but we can
[00:36:22] can all. A song for Afghanistan,
[00:36:26] Afghanistan, a team reunited. These These players have travelled from
[00:36:29] from across the world for two friendlies
[00:36:32] friendlies in Auckland against the
[00:36:34] the Cook Islands. The first century
[00:36:37] century FA allowed Afghanistan's
[00:36:39] Afghanistan's team in exile back back into international football.
[00:36:41] football. We want Afghanistan to to be free and we want Afghan girls
[00:36:45] girls and women to be free, to be
[00:36:48] be able to choose who they want to
[00:36:50] to be. We want to prove that we are are still here. We still fighting
[00:36:54] fighting for the rights that you you took away from us. Five years
[00:36:57] years ago. Everything changed for
[00:36:59] for them almost overnight when the
[00:37:02] the Taliban returned to power, women
[00:37:04] women were banned from playing sports.
[00:37:07] sports. Afghanistan's women's team team was forced into exile, unable
[00:37:11] unable to represent their country. country. They were scattered across
[00:37:14] across the world. I was bullied throughout throughout high school and football football gave me the confidence to
[00:37:18] to be who I am today and to be able able to speak loud so I don't know
[00:37:22] know where I would be. Two three three now. They are back together
[00:37:25] together rebuilding the team. They They thought they had lost for these
[00:37:29] these players, football is more than than a game. I wanted to use this
[00:37:33] this platform to advocate for the the women of Afghanistan who haven't haven't been allowed to study for
[00:37:37] for the past five years. Obviously
[00:37:40] Obviously the book The Rose, who
[00:37:43] who is a representation of women
[00:37:46] women and the date August 15th and
[00:37:48] and the date that Afghanistan fell.
[00:37:51] fell. These matches are only the
[00:37:54] the beginning. The aim is to rebuild
[00:37:56] rebuild Afghanistan's team in exile
[00:37:58] exile and to compete for a place
[00:38:01] place at the 2028 Olympic Games. Games. I would be proud of the team
[00:38:05] team and proud of myself that I was was part of the journey and we made
[00:38:08] made the history by being the first
[00:38:11] first football team to get our recognition recognition without the approval
[00:38:14] approval of the Taliban. I'm so proud proud of our young players who played played today. Great game. Don't cry.
[00:38:18] cry. Don't put your heads down. It's
[00:38:20] It's more than football for us. Afghanistan
[00:38:23] Afghanistan lost both matches to to the Cook Islands, but after years
[00:38:27] years in exile simply wearing their
[00:38:29] their country's colours again is
[00:38:31] is a victory. Their Olympic dream dream is is still alive. We don't
[00:38:35] don't know when we're going to see see each other again, but it's just
[00:38:38] just always amazing to have the second
[00:38:39] second family. To. Yeah. Mahjooba
[00:38:45] Mahjooba Nowrouzi BBC Auckland.
[00:39:46] Down the science, explore smart solutions and hear from people and and businesses on the front line. line. Join us for the climate question
[00:39:50] question on BBC News. Blockbuster
[00:39:59] Blockbuster Star Wars. Is to be dubbed dubbed into Welsh for the first time
[00:40:02] time as the film prepares to celebrate celebrate its 50th anniversary next
[00:40:05] next year. The Welsh language version version of its episode For A New
[00:40:09] New Hope will broadcast on Welsh Welsh language broadcaster S4C and
[00:40:12] and its platforms from Christmas Christmas Day. Actor Matthew Rhys
[00:40:15] Rhys will voice Han with Rhys Ifans
[00:40:18] Ifans as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Aimee-Ffion Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Princess Leia.
[00:40:22] Leia. Well clear. Ifans, who is Rhys Rhys brother, is playing C-3PO and
[00:40:26] and the Welsh language version and and he told me how as a Star Wars
[00:40:29] Wars fan, he came to be involved. involved. Well, you know, I'm a child
[00:40:33] child of the 70s and 80s so I'm a
[00:40:35] a massive Star Wars fan and I first
[00:40:38] first of all received a email about about four months ago telling me
[00:40:41] me about the project and I blew my my mind a bit. And then I said, of
[00:40:45] of course I'd be interested. And, And, and my son now obviously is
[00:40:49] is a massive Star Wars fan, so I I had to keep it a secret from him
[00:40:52] him for about 3 or 4 months until until the big reveal the other day.
[00:40:55] day. And he's overjoyed. Daddy done done good for once. That's good to
[00:40:59] to hear that you've made him happy.
[00:41:01] happy. But C-3PO I mean, he is loved
[00:41:04] loved by so many. A crucial character.
[00:41:07] character. But how do you even prepare
[00:41:09] prepare for playing C-3PO? Well,
[00:41:12] Well, he's, you know, he's fluent fluent in over 6 million languages
[00:41:15] languages and now he's fluent in in 6,000,001 hence his, ability to
[00:41:19] to talk Welsh. So. But you know,
[00:41:22] know, I'm so,, I know the character character so well because over the
[00:41:25] the years I've watched the films films and he's lives on his nerves
[00:41:28] nerves and. Yeah, I found it quite
[00:41:30] quite simply. How many days were
[00:41:35] were involved in terms of your time? time? Well, I was in the dubbing
[00:41:38] dubbing suite for about three days days and it can be quite, tedious
[00:41:41] tedious work, but it was an enjoyable enjoyable experience. People were
[00:41:45] were over from Lucasfilm and Disney, Disney, so they were giving us some
[00:41:48] some kind of direction. And yeah, yeah, it all went very well. I'm I'm trying to think if there is any
[00:41:52] any language in Star Wars that might might be problematic in terms of
[00:41:56] of an immediate translation. Well,
[00:41:58] Well, Welsh is a very poetic language language and we tend to use more
[00:42:01] more words than English because we're we're far more descriptive and imaginative.
[00:42:05] imaginative. So trying to squeeze
[00:42:08] squeeze those, English lines into
[00:42:10] into as few words, Welsh words as as possible was tricky. And also
[00:42:13] also we've got that intergalactic intergalactic gobbledegook to translate.
[00:42:17] translate. So the translators had had a bit of work on their hands. hands. Yeah, that's what I was. The
[00:42:20] The intergalactic stuff is what I I was referencing. But you're right
[00:42:24] right about the Welsh language and and on that just how meaningful do
[00:42:27] do you think it is that that one one of these big movie franchises
[00:42:31] franchises loved by so many people people is now going to be in Welsh?
[00:42:34] Welsh? Well, you know, it's a great great idea. It's done in over 50 50 languages already. So I thought
[00:42:38] thought why not Welsh? And originally,
[00:42:41] originally, it was Disney and Lucasfilm's Lucasfilm's which approached S4C
[00:42:45] S4C first of all, because they'd they'd done two versions in Native
[00:42:48] Native American languages and they they were thinking, let's do it.
[00:42:51] it. Another one in a minority language.
[00:42:52] language. And as it happened, some
[00:42:56] some somebody in Lucasfilm's is a a fluent Welsh speaker and quite
[00:42:58] quite high up in the company. And And they decided, let's why not do
[00:43:01] do it in Welsh and why not. Indeed
[00:43:04] Indeed why not? What about the themes
[00:43:07] themes that we see in Star Wars? Wars? Do they resonate with people
[00:43:10] people in Wales? They certainly do do because it's about a republic
[00:43:14] republic full of rebels fighting
[00:43:18] fighting against an imperial force
[00:43:19] force to try and keep their Jedi.
[00:43:22] Jedi. Way of living alive. And it's it's been a constant struggle for
[00:43:26] for us for centuries. Is there going going to be a party to celebrate
[00:43:29] celebrate on the launch day. There's
[00:43:32] There's going to be a premiere in
[00:43:36] in Cardiff in November. Then it'll
[00:43:38] it'll be shown, first of all in cinemas
[00:43:40] cinemas throughout Wales, and then
[00:43:42] then I think it'll be on Christmas
[00:43:45] Christmas Day on S4C. So it's their their Christmas present to the kids
[00:43:48] kids of Wales. That is fantastic. fantastic. And this is just episode
[00:43:52] episode four. Of course. What about about the rest of them? Are they they in the ipeline? I have no idea.
[00:43:55] idea. But you know, I'm on board.
[00:43:57] board. If it is. And for your son.
[00:44:00] son. Is this one of his favourites? favourites? I mean, I like you love
[00:44:04] love the original ones, but the younger
[00:44:07] younger generation seem to like the the more the more recent ones are
[00:44:10] are better. Yeah, I'm a big fan of
[00:44:14] of the 4 or 5 and six. The original
[00:44:15] original ones. I also liked 6 or
[00:44:18] or 7 or whatever. We are the last last three, but he's a big fan of
[00:44:21] of the ones that came out in, The
[00:44:24] The Phantom Menace and those three. three. Yeah, the Attack Of The Clones Clones and The Phantom Menace. Those
[00:44:28] Those ones. Yeah. So that's a constant constant argument in our house about
[00:44:30] about which one's best. And my house
[00:44:33] house too, I have to say. Well, Japan's Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
[00:44:37] Takaichi has for the first time led led a commemorations in Hiroshima
[00:44:40] Hiroshima on the anniversary of the the world's first use of nuclear
[00:44:44] nuclear weapons 81 years ago, the the US dropped an atom bomb on the
[00:44:47] the city at the end of the Second
[00:44:48] Second World War. An estimated 140,000
[00:44:52] 140,000 people were killed. In her
[00:44:54] her address, Ms Takaichi reaffirmed reaffirmed Japan's three non-nuclear
[00:44:57] non-nuclear principles of not possessing, possessing, producing or allowing
[00:45:00] allowing nuclear weapons on its territory. territory. Our correspondent Kurumi
[00:45:04] Kurumi Mori is in Tokyo. You know,
[00:45:08] know, this commitment that she made made was largely expected. Japanese
[00:45:11] Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Takaichi attending the Hiroshima Hiroshima Peace Memorial ceremony
[00:45:15] ceremony for the first time as the the country's leader. She's attended
[00:45:19] attended before but not as Prime Prime Minister. So in her speech,
[00:45:22] speech, she did reaffirm the three three non-nuclear principles you
[00:45:25] you mentioned not possessing, producing producing or permitting the nuclear
[00:45:29] nuclear weapons on Japanese territory. territory. I mean, this message,
[00:45:32] message, though, carried particular particular weight this year. Japan
[00:45:35] Japan is set to revise its key national national security strategy later
[00:45:38] later this year, and that's prompting prompting questions over whether
[00:45:42] whether its long standing commitment commitment to those principles could
[00:45:45] could face new pressure. At a time time when we're seeing East Asia
[00:45:49] Asia rapidly changing with its security security environment and Takaichi
[00:45:53] Takaichi did not address those concerns concerns directly in her speech,
[00:45:56] speech, and instead she stressed stressed Japan's responsibility as
[00:45:59] as the only country to have suffered
[00:46:01] suffered atomic bombings in war and
[00:46:04] and renew that commitment to pursue
[00:46:06] pursue a world with no nuclear weapons.
[00:46:09] weapons. But the issue has become
[00:46:11] become increasingly sensitive in in Japan online, some questioned
[00:46:15] questioned whether Takaichi, who who is widely regarded as having
[00:46:18] having a more hawkish national security security stance, will maintain that
[00:46:22] that pledge as the regional tensions tensions just grow further and defence
[00:46:26] defence spending here continues to
[00:46:27] to rise. A debate did intensify last
[00:46:30] last month when Defence Minister Minister Shinjiro Koizumi called
[00:46:33] called for Japan to have a more open open discussion about the role of
[00:46:36] of nuclear weapons in the country's
[00:46:38] country's defence. The remarks drew
[00:46:41] drew criticism from survivors of of the atomic bombings and anti-nuclear
[00:46:45] anti-nuclear groups, and that prompted prompted Koizumi to later clarify
[00:46:47] clarify that he remains firmly committed committed to Japan's non-nuclear
[00:46:50] non-nuclear principles and to that that goal of world, a world free
[00:46:53] free of nuclear weapons. But, you you know, for many in Hiroshima,
[00:46:57] Hiroshima, this ceremony is less less about politics than about remembrance,
[00:47:01] remembrance, as the number of atomic atomic bomb survivors continues to
[00:47:04] to decline in Japan, there's this this growing urgency to preserve
[00:47:08] preserve their testimony and ensure that lessons of Hiroshima.
[00:47:11] Hiroshima. Make sure that they are
[00:47:13] are not forgotten. A 97-year-old 97-year-old woman has successfully
[00:47:17] successfully broken her own world world record to become the oldest
[00:47:19] oldest woman to complete a wing walk. walk. Betty Bromage raised money
[00:47:23] money for staff who helped her recover recover from a stroke. And our reporter,
[00:47:26] reporter, Steve Knibbs was there
[00:47:27] there to see her flying high. Betty
[00:47:33] Betty is back 97 years young and
[00:47:35] and taking to the skies again. I I just get bored with life. Otherwise
[00:47:39] Otherwise when you get old you can't can't go here. You can't do this.
[00:47:43] this. You can't drive, you can't can't see. I can't see very well.
[00:47:46] well. And I get a bit frustrated. frustrated. So I want to do the things
[00:47:50] things that I can do. Up in the air.
[00:47:53] air. Betty's at home in her element element on the ground. Her friends
[00:47:56] friends and neighbours from her retirement retirement village in Cheltenham
[00:47:59] Cheltenham watch on nervously. Oh,
[00:48:03] Oh, Betty, what. Was it like watching watching her doing those loop the
[00:48:05] the loops in there. Oh, I was here
[00:48:07] here four years ago. Awful. Makes
[00:48:11] Makes you want to cry. But yeah, yeah, she got on fantastic. Yeah. Yeah. So proud of her. It's incredible.
[00:48:15] incredible. I mean, she's partially partially sighted, in fact, almost
[00:48:17] almost blind. And yet she can do do this. This isn't the first time
[00:48:21] time she's done something like this, this, but at her age, it's just amazing,
[00:48:24] amazing, isn't it? So. No, she's she's a wonder. Betty started all
[00:48:28] all this ten years ago at the age age of 87. She's since abseiled down
[00:48:32] down a tower in Cheltenham and took took on a zipwire in Snowdonia. And
[00:48:36] And today she pushed the envelope envelope even further, asking the
[00:48:39] the pilot to throw in a barrel roll.
[00:48:41] roll. Oh, my God. She explains to
[00:48:46] to me inside that something that that she really is keen to do all
[00:48:49] all the time, even at her age. So. So. So I just think it's absolutely absolutely fantastic. And for me,
[00:48:53] me, it's such a privilege to be able able to do that. All of this was
[00:48:57] was done to raise money for the stroke stroke unit in Cheltenham. They helped
[00:49:00] helped Betty when she had a stroke stroke last year. So kind to me and
[00:49:04] and straight away the treatment I
[00:49:08] I got it affects my words. I go to
[00:49:10] to say a word and it doesn't always always come out, but the rest of
[00:49:14] of me I'm fit as a fiddle. Well for
[00:49:16] for a 97-year-old. Today the staff
[00:49:19] staff sent her a good luck message.
[00:49:21] message. Grateful for the support.
[00:49:23] support. Thank you Betty. Just amazing
[00:49:27] amazing that she's doing this for for us. We're so grateful. And to,
[00:49:31] to, you know, go up and wing walk walk and take on such a daring and
[00:49:34] and incredible challenge and to support support our stroke services team. team. It's just amazing. We're so
[00:49:38] so grateful. We really appreciate appreciate what she's doing. Back
[00:49:42] Back on the ground. Betty took it it all in her stride with confirmation
[00:49:45] confirmation that she broke her own own world record yet again as the
[00:49:49] the oldest female wing, Walker. Officially
[00:49:52] Officially amazing. For Betty, there's there's the thrill, the fundraising,
[00:49:55] fundraising, the excitement. But But she lives by a motto she learned
[00:49:59] learned at a younger age. I was a a trained children's nurse and I
[00:50:01] I went to work in Doctor Barnardo's Barnardo's home in Bristol and above
[00:50:05] above my bed, it said we passed through through this world, but once any
[00:50:09] any good we can do any kindness we
[00:50:11] we can show. Do it now. Do not defer defer or neglect it. You'll not pass
[00:50:14] pass this way again. And it's so
[00:50:17] so true, isn't it? 100%. And of course
[00:50:21] course this isn't over in two and and a half years' time, Betty has
[00:50:23] has promised to take to the skies skies again when she turns 100 to
[00:50:27] to become a magnificent centenarian centenarian on a flying machine.
[00:50:30] machine. Steve Knibbs, BBC News Renkum.
[00:50:34] Renkum. Well done Betty. Just amazing. amazing. Before we go they say you
[00:50:37] you should never look directly at at the sun. But scientists have been
[00:50:40] been doing just that and they've they've shed some light on the surface
[00:50:44] surface of our nearest star. If you you look at these pictures captured
[00:50:46] captured using the world's most powerful powerful solar telescope, they show
[00:50:50] show whirlpools of activity never never seen before. It's the sun's
[00:50:54] sun's magnetic field being twisted twisted and moved by the motion of
[00:50:57] of hot gas. And this unprecedented unprecedented detail could also help
[00:51:00] help us back on earth as we learn
[00:51:02] learn to predict the bursts of energy energy that can disrupt satellites
[00:51:06] satellites and our power grids
[00:51:10] as well.
[00:51:29] Grand Central Station is one of
[00:51:31] my favourite New York City structures.
[00:51:34] structures. It's a glorious reminder reminder of the golden age of American
[00:51:38] American railroads. It also provides provides the setting for some early
[00:51:41] early scenes in what many people
[00:51:43] people regard as one of the greatest greatest American thrillers of all
[00:51:47] all time. The picture North by Northwest,
[00:51:50] Northwest, an American thriller, thriller, yes, but directed by a
[00:51:53] a British filmmaker, the master of
[00:51:56] of suspense Alfred Hitchcock. Top
[00:51:59] Top US film critic Bilge Ebiri told
[00:52:01] told me he's such an ardent fan of of North by Northwest that he's seen
[00:52:05] seen the film at least 50 times.
[00:52:08] times. Do you know this man? MUSIC
[00:52:18] MUSIC Look Look North by Northwest from 1959,
[00:52:21] 1959, the pinnacle of Hitchcock's Hitchcock's American filmmaking career.
[00:52:24] career. Listen to me. I had nothing nothing to do with it. And also I
[00:52:27] I think it's kind of the pinnacle pinnacle of a particular kind of
[00:52:30] of studio filmmaking that Hollywood Hollywood specialised in. Automatically Automatically means a rising sales
[00:52:34] sales curve. North by northwest follows follows an ad executive named Roger
[00:52:38] Roger Thornhill, played by Cary Grant,
[00:52:42] Grant, who is mistaken for a spy
[00:52:45] spy by some nefarious figures. And
[00:52:48] And they're convinced that he's this this other person and they try to
[00:52:51] to kill him and he winds up going
[00:52:56] going on this cross-country adventure adventure trying both to prove his
[00:52:59] his innocence and also to flee from
[00:53:01] from the authorities. North by northwest northwest had a huge impact on me
[00:53:04] me because in some way it treats treats a lot of Hitchcock's deeper
[00:53:08] deeper themes about guilt and accusation,
[00:53:11] accusation, while also framing it
[00:53:14] it within this incredibly exciting,
[00:53:16] exciting, delightful,
[00:53:23] famous sequences in this
[00:53:29] occurs about halfway through the the film. Cary Grant's character character has been told that he's
[00:53:32] he's going to meet somebody out in in the middle of nowhere on this
[00:53:35] this highway. Road? There's nobody nobody around for miles and miles
[00:53:39] miles of flat, blank expanse. And
[00:53:41] And then, of course, he sees this
[00:53:44] this little plane appearing in the the distance, you know, dusting crops
[00:53:48] crops and you realise that the plane
[00:53:49] plane is there to kill them. They
[00:53:56] They start to fire at him and he
[00:53:57] he runs away. It's incredible sequence
[00:54:01] sequence when I think about what
[00:54:03] what makes American cinema so special.
[00:54:06] special. I have to think about the the Hollywood system and the kinds
[00:54:09] kinds of films it made possible, possible, the kinds of scale it made
[00:54:13] made possible, the kind of stardom,
[00:54:14] stardom, the kind of charm it made
[00:54:17] made possible. And to me, North by
[00:54:20] by Northwest really kind of stands
[00:54:22] stands at the very top of that. You
[00:54:25] You know, it is Hollywood firing
[00:54:27] firing on all cylinders, maybe for
[00:54:29] for one of the very last times. It's
[00:54:33] It's a great example of a studio studio film. It's a great example
[00:54:36] example of a master filmmaker at at the height of his powers in the
[00:54:40] the studio system, working with one one of the great stars of the studio
[00:54:43] studio system to create something
[00:54:45] something so beautiful and so magnificent.
[00:54:48] magnificent. Right as the studio studio system is essentially about
[00:54:52] about to collapse. But the thing thing that they create together becomes
[00:54:55] becomes this work that is so influential influential and that winds up influencing
[00:54:59] influencing all the filmmakers that that come after not just American American filmmakers from all over
[00:55:03] over the world. Well, if we ever ever get out of this alive, let's
[00:55:06] let's go back to New York on the
[00:55:07] the train together. All right. Is
[00:55:10] Is that a proposition? MUSIC
[00:58:53] MUSIC
[01:00:13] Live from London. This is BBC
[01:00:16] News. Strikes hit two refineries refineries deep within Russia as
[01:00:19] as a wave of Ukrainian drones is is reported across the country. In
[01:00:23] In Ukraine, Russian attacks on several several regions leave at least five
[01:00:26] five dead and several injured. Lithuanian Lithuanian intelligence officials
[01:00:29] officials believe Russia is considering considering using captured Ukrainian
[01:00:33] Ukrainian made drones against the the Baltic region. I'll be speaking
[01:00:36] speaking to Lithuania's Defence Minister Minister as the Confederation of
[01:00:39] of African Football meet. We'll be be asking if they'll continue to
[01:00:42] to back the beleaguered president,
[01:00:44] president, Gianni Infantino. Hello.
[01:00:55] Hello. I'm Lucy Hockings, welcome welcome to BBC News Now. We begin
[01:00:57] begin in Russia where Ukrainian drones drones have