BBCNEWS — Newsday
20260917 020000 UTC
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[00:00:05] MUSIC
[00:00:14] Live from Singapore. This is BBC BBC News. America's central bank
[00:00:18] bank hikes interest rates for the the first time in three years, despite
[00:00:22] despite fierce opposition from the the White House. President Trump
[00:00:25] Trump lashes out at the European European Union over what he called
[00:00:27] called a laughable proposal to make make Canada the bloc's first ever
[00:00:31] ever associate member. The Pacific Pacific island of Fiji has declared
[00:00:35] declared a national HIV emergency, emergency, with one in every 60 adults
[00:00:39] adults now infected with the incurable incurable virus. And the Asian Games
[00:00:42] Games kicks off in Japan over the the weekend. But the competition competition is already being hit
[00:00:46] hit with a series of complaints.
[00:01:02] We start with news that the US central bank has raised interest
[00:01:05] interest rates for the first time time in more than three years, in
[00:01:08] in a bid to slow rising prices, the the Federal Reserve increased the
[00:01:11] the cost of borrowing by a quarter
[00:01:13] quarter of a percentage point to
[00:01:15] to 3.75% and 4%. The Fed also indicated indicated that more rate hikes were
[00:01:19] were on the table before the end end of the year. Now that decision
[00:01:22] decision was met by a fierce reaction reaction from President Trump, who
[00:01:24] who took to social media to say interest interest rates in the United States
[00:01:28] States should be 1% or less because because we are the best credit in
[00:01:31] in the world by far. Our business business correspondent Samira Hussain
[00:01:35] Hussain has more. By raising interest interest rates, a quarter of a percentage
[00:01:38] percentage point in saying that inflation inflation is the big reason why the
[00:01:42] the Federal Reserve did what it was was expected to do. Now, The Fed
[00:01:46] Fed also said that, look, the US
[00:01:48] US economy is growing at a pretty
[00:01:50] pretty healthy rate, despite geopolitical
[00:01:54] geopolitical developments. Presumably Presumably referring to the war with
[00:01:57] with Iran, which is really driven
[00:02:00] driven up inflation. In a press conference,
[00:02:02] conference, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh
[00:02:04] Warsh admitted look, this rate hike
[00:02:06] hike won't reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Hormuz. Quarter point rate hike does
[00:02:09] does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Hormuz. And so I wonder how you think
[00:02:13] think the smaller rate hikes will will be effective when it can't necessarily
[00:02:17] necessarily address the energy supply supply side of inflationary pressures.
[00:02:20] pressures. We cannot affect any individual individual price, whether it be oil
[00:02:24] oil prices, whether it be foodstuffs foodstuffs at the grocery store.
[00:02:27] store. But what we can do and will
[00:02:29] will do is ensure that any change
[00:02:32] change in relative prices don't broaden broaden out. So how will all of this
[00:02:35] this make a difference? Well, the the Federal Reserve really made it
[00:02:38] it clear that this is all about the
[00:02:40] the American consumer and specifically
[00:02:43] specifically those that are less less well off, that they really want
[00:02:46] want to try and get the cost of living living under control. And this is
[00:02:50] is one way that they can do
[00:02:54] that. As we mentioned, The Fed decision decision didn't go down well with with President Trump. Our North America
[00:02:58] America editor Sarah Smith, has more more from the White House. Although
[00:03:01] Although he did refrain from attacking attacking personally. The new chairman
[00:03:04] chairman of the Federal Reserve, Reserve, who was his own hand-picked hand-picked candidate for the job,
[00:03:07] job, who has now defied him by putting
[00:03:10] putting rates up. Donald Trump wants
[00:03:12] wants lower interest rates so that
[00:03:14] that consumers would, with credit credit cards, loans, mortgages would
[00:03:18] would be paying less and would feel feel better about their money, making
[00:03:20] making them maybe more likely to to support his Republican candidates
[00:03:24] candidates in the mid-term elections elections in November. He will think
[00:03:26] think this rate rise is a blow to to his election prospects, even though
[00:03:30] though it is partly his own fault fault because the rise in the oil
[00:03:33] oil price caused by the war in Iran Iran is one of the reasons why The
[00:03:36] The Fed has put rates up. And don't
[00:03:38] don't forget how he used to try and and bully the previous chairman of
[00:03:42] of The Fed into lowering rates, Jerome
[00:03:44] Jerome Powell. He called a total total loser and a moron. He even
[00:03:48] even launched a criminal investigation investigation into him. And then
[00:03:51] then in May, when Powell stood down, down, Donald Trump got to choose
[00:03:54] choose his successor, Kevin Warsh. Warsh. And now the guy that he's
[00:03:57] he's put into that job has not only only raised rates today, he's indicated
[00:04:01] indicated he might well do it again again before the end of the year. year. We'll bring you more reaction
[00:04:05] reaction to The Fed decision in about about half an hour's time on Business
[00:04:07] Business Today. In the meantime, meantime, in the last couple of hours,
[00:04:10] hours, President Trump said the Iran Iran war is, in his words, hopefully
[00:04:13] hopefully nearing its end, adding adding that Tehran wants to make
[00:04:16] make a deal. Well, hopefully we're
[00:04:19] we're toward the end of the war. war. They want to make a deal and
[00:04:23] and we'll see how that works out. out. They're very much wanting to to make. Iran is very much wanting
[00:04:26] wanting to make a deal. We'll see
[00:04:28] see how that works. Mr Trump's comments
[00:04:31] comments come as US media reports
[00:04:33] reports that he will be meeting Gulf Gulf leaders on the sidelines of
[00:04:36] of the UN General Assembly in New New York next week. The meeting is
[00:04:39] is expected to focus on ideas for
[00:04:42] for a post-war strategy. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Yemen's Iran backed Houthi
[00:04:45] Houthi movement has denied claims claims by Saudi Arabia that it launched
[00:04:48] launched a drone attack on Mecca,
[00:04:51] Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. Islam. The Houthis have, however,
[00:04:54] however, claimed to have shot down down a Saudi fighter jet over Yemen.
[00:04:57] Yemen. It comes after the rebel group group seized control of large swathes
[00:05:00] swathes of Yemen's Red Sea coast coast from Saudi backed pro-government
[00:05:03] pro-government forces. Our security security correspondent, Frank Gardner
[00:05:06] Gardner has more. On. Downed in the
[00:05:13] the desert, Yemen's Houthi rebels rebels displaying a Saudi Air Force
[00:05:16] Force F-15 fighter jet they brought brought down with a missile. They
[00:05:19] They may not look. The most professional professional of armies, but their
[00:05:23] their actions reach far beyond their
[00:05:25] their borders. The Houthis in this
[00:05:28] this shaded area here can now threaten
[00:05:30] threaten almost any shipping passing passing Yemen's Red Sea coast. Now
[00:05:34] Now remember that on the other side side of the Arabian Peninsula, the
[00:05:38] the Strait of Hormuz is largely blocked
[00:05:40] blocked due to the US-Iran war. To To get around this, Saudi Arabia
[00:05:44] Arabia has been pumping around 6 6 million barrels of oil a day through
[00:05:48] through this east west pipeline to to their export terminal at Yanbu
[00:05:52] Yanbu on the Red Sea. From there,
[00:05:54] there, Saudi tankers have been taking taking the oil south, heading for
[00:05:58] for the Asian markets via the Bab Bab al-Mandab Strait. But the Houthis
[00:06:02] Houthis are at war with the Saudis,
[00:06:04] Saudis, and they vowed to target
[00:06:06] target all Saudi shipping. The Saudi
[00:06:09] Saudi Houthi conflict has recently
[00:06:11] recently escalated dramatically, dramatically, and that helps Iran.
[00:06:14] Iran. Iran now can go to the Trump
[00:06:16] Trump administration and actually actually negotiate on better terms.
[00:06:20] terms. Now they don't just control control the Strait of Hormuz, but
[00:06:22] but actually very two important choke
[00:06:24] choke points and control over almost
[00:06:28] almost 35% of the global oil
[00:06:33] economy. The Houthis seen here firing firing on Yemeni government forces forces are tough tribal fighters
[00:06:37] fighters from the highlands. But But they've also been armed and trained
[00:06:40] trained by Iran. That's allowed them
[00:06:42] them to strike targets in Saudi Arabia
[00:06:45] Arabia like airports, oil depots
[00:06:48] depots and pipelines. All this is
[00:06:50] is a counterbalance to the US Navy's
[00:06:52] Navy's blockade of Iran's Gulf ports.
[00:06:54] ports. A blockade that Iran and its
[00:06:58] its murals say America cannot win.
[00:07:01] win. Frank Gardner, BBC News. I asked asked Jennifer Parker, the former
[00:07:04] former director of operations in in Bahrain of the Combined Maritime
[00:07:07] Maritime Forces, what she made of of the Houthis strategy in this conflict.
[00:07:11] conflict. Well, I think, you know, know, the Houthis have made significant significant progress in the last
[00:07:14] last week. Many people have said said that this is quite a surprise
[00:07:18] surprise in terms of how easily they've they've defeated the government forces,
[00:07:21] forces, especially along the Red Red Sea coast. I think primarily
[00:07:24] primarily their objectives are domestic. domestic. Of course, we know that
[00:07:26] that there has been a civil war in
[00:07:29] in Yemen since 2014. Clearly, the
[00:07:31] the ceasefire agreed in 2022 isn't isn't holding. But as much as it's
[00:07:35] it's domestic, I also think the holding holding of the Red Sea coast very
[00:07:38] very much assists Iran. And when when we think back to early in July
[00:07:42] July with the flare up with Saudi Saudi Arabia started to occur, a
[00:07:45] a lot of that came from Saudi Arabia
[00:07:48] Arabia attacking Sanaa airport because because a aircraft coming from Iran
[00:07:51] Iran was trying to land. And that that was a delegation that had gone
[00:07:55] gone to Al Khomeinis funeral. But But also, clearly, Houthi delegation
[00:07:58] delegation had had discussions with with Iran. So I think this is part
[00:08:00] part of a broader, wider Middle East East strategy as well as the domestic
[00:08:04] domestic issues. Yeah. It's been been reported that the Saudis actually
[00:08:07] actually asked President Trump to to help with the Houthi situation,
[00:08:10] situation, but he said no. Does the the US have the resources in the
[00:08:13] the region to be able to get involved
[00:08:15] involved in that part of the
[00:08:20] conflict? The US does have the resources. resources. I know there's been a a lot made about us current capability.
[00:08:22] capability. They still have a significant significant amount of air capability
[00:08:25] capability in the region to get involved. involved. But remember the US did
[00:08:29] did actually attack the Houthis both both in 2023 and in 2025. And those
[00:08:33] those air campaigns seem to be largely largely unsuccessful because Houthis
[00:08:36] Houthis seem to have a still a significant significant amount of capability.
[00:08:39] capability. That said, if the Houthis Houthis continue to attack Saudi Saudi Arabia, I think the US will
[00:08:43] will have no choice but to become become involved. Yeah, and coming coming back to those reports of US
[00:08:47] US bases being hit in the region, region, does it surprise you that
[00:08:49] that they seem so vulnerable? No
[00:08:53] No it doesn't, and that's probably probably the shocking element I've I've served there at at Bahrain.
[00:08:57] Bahrain. There's been a lot of us us think tank work in the last couple
[00:09:00] couple of years saying that the bases bases across the Middle East needed
[00:09:04] needed to be hardened and needed needed to be protected better. It
[00:09:06] It looks like much of that didn't didn't occur, which is why they were
[00:09:10] were so easily targeted. Staying
[00:09:13] Staying in the Middle East to Gaza Gaza next, where 21 people were killed
[00:09:15] killed in an apartment building collapse collapse overnight, officials say
[00:09:18] say rescue efforts have ended after after search teams found 45 injured.
[00:09:22] injured. Survivors, with others thought thought missing now accounted for. for. The United Nations has warned
[00:09:26] warned that hundreds of other war war damaged buildings in Gaza are
[00:09:30] are at imminent risk of collapse. collapse. The BBC, like other international
[00:09:33] international organisations, can't can't report from inside Gaza from
[00:09:36] from Jerusalem. Our international international correspondent Yogita
[00:09:38] Yogita Limaye sent this report. The
[00:09:41] The flimsy shelter of a war ravaged
[00:09:44] ravaged building one of hundreds
[00:09:46] hundreds in Gaza suddenly gave way
[00:09:48] way last night, killing families
[00:09:51] families sleeping inside. Is anyone
[00:09:52] anyone there? Rescuers shouted using
[00:09:56] using hammers, drills and their bare
[00:09:58] bare hands to pull people out. Heavy
[00:10:01] Heavy machines are in short supply. supply. There are restrictions on
[00:10:05] on what can be brought into Gaza.
[00:10:08] Gaza. Don't be scared my child. Rescuers
[00:10:11] Rescuers comforted six-year-old Aboud, Aboud, who was trapped next to the
[00:10:14] the bodies of some of his family.
[00:10:16] family. It took hours to lift him
[00:10:18] him out. A bit earlier, his sister
[00:10:21] sister Farial, who suffered a head
[00:10:23] head injury, was rescued carried carried here by her father after
[00:10:27] after being bandaged in hospital.
[00:10:28] hospital. She spoke to the BBC when
[00:10:32] when the building collapsed. I was
[00:10:34] was trapped under a wall. My grandparents grandparents died and we still can't
[00:10:38] can't find my mother. Farial said
[00:10:41] said later she found out her mother
[00:10:43] mother had also died. Most of the
[00:10:46] the victims are women and children.
[00:10:48] children. A rescuer carried out the the body of a little girl and cried.
[00:10:52] cried. She had the right to live live in a humane way. Mansoor Bakrum
[00:10:56] Bakrum stent was right next to the
[00:10:58] the collapsed building. They didn't didn't have anywhere else to live.
[00:11:02] live. People are living in the streets
[00:11:04] streets and there is no space. There's There's no decent shelter for most
[00:11:08] most of Gaza's people. The destruction
[00:11:11] destruction caused by Israeli bombing bombing is staggering. And nearly
[00:11:14] nearly a year since the ceasefire
[00:11:16] ceasefire rebuilding has not begun.
[00:11:19] begun. Today that's taken the lives
[00:11:21] lives of at least 20. They said that
[00:11:23] that reconstruction material will will enter Gaza and there will be
[00:11:27] be rebuilding. But unfortunately, unfortunately, my uncle and his whole
[00:11:30] whole family were killed without without getting a safe place to live.
[00:11:34] live. These are families who fled fled from one place to another to
[00:11:38] to survive. But safety remains out
[00:11:41] out of reach. Yogita Limaye, BBC BBC News in Jerusalem. Let's take
[00:11:45] take a look at some other stories stories in the headlines. The US
[00:11:48] US has denied Palestinian President President Mahmoud Abbas an entry entry visa to attend the UN General
[00:11:52] General Assembly in New York next next week. It is the second straight
[00:11:55] straight year the US has denied a a visa to Abbas, who gave a speech
[00:11:59] speech virtually last year. The State State Department has accused the
[00:12:02] the Palestinian Authority and other other organisations of failure to
[00:12:05] to reform. An official report into into a fire at a hospital in Pakistan
[00:12:08] Pakistan last month that killed 14
[00:12:11] 14 newborn babies has pointed out out Systemiq failures, it said the
[00:12:14] the ten bed unit was overcrowded overcrowded with 15 babies and there
[00:12:17] there were only two doctors and two two nurses in attendance. When the
[00:12:20] the fire broke out. There was also also no functional smoke alarm or
[00:12:24] or sprinkler system in the unit, unit, and emergency services were
[00:12:26] were only alerted about 20 minutes
[00:12:28] minutes after the fire was, was noticed.
[00:12:32] noticed. President Trump has threatened threatened to cut trade with the
[00:12:36] the European Union if it pursues pursues a proposal to make Canada
[00:12:39] Canada the bloc's first ever associate associate member. He described it
[00:12:42] it as laughable and said he would would view it as a hostile act. The
[00:12:46] The proposal was announced by the the President of the European Commission,
[00:12:49] Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Leyen, and she at her EU state of
[00:12:52] of the Union address on Tuesday.
[00:12:54] Tuesday. We want to bring the relationship
[00:12:57] relationship with Canada to the highest
[00:13:00] highest level possible and dear Mark,
[00:13:02] Mark, I said, we must urgently reimagine
[00:13:06] reimagine our partnerships. So I
[00:13:08] I would like to work with you on
[00:13:11] on opening the door for Canada to
[00:13:14] to being the first associate member
[00:13:17] member of the European Union. Comments
[00:13:22] Comments by the EU Commissioner come come as Canada's Prime Minister Mark
[00:13:26] Mark Carney says Ottawa is seeking seeking a unique alliance with the
[00:13:29] the US as Canada's relationship with with the United States continues
[00:13:32] continues to deteriorate, with trade trade talks falling through and both
[00:13:35] both countries imposing sanctions sanctions on one another. Our Europe
[00:13:39] Europe correspondent Nick Beake explained explained what associate membership membership could look like for Canada.
[00:13:42] Canada. Well, there are a lot of of unknowns here because at the moment
[00:13:45] moment there's no such thing as associate associate membership for any country
[00:13:48] country that wants to join the European European Union. So this would be
[00:13:51] be something that's completely new. new. I mean, the context here is is that the Europeans have a real
[00:13:55] real ally in Mark Carney. He's been been side-by-side as they face pretty
[00:13:59] pretty similar challenges actually. actually. You mentioned President
[00:14:02] President Trump and his tariff wars, wars, but also both the Canadians
[00:14:06] Canadians have had the threat that that America would take Canada and
[00:14:09] and make it a 51st state. And also, also, President Trump has been talking
[00:14:13] talking about Greenland, hasn't he? he? Saying that he'd like to get get his hands on that that of course,
[00:14:16] course, being a sovereign territory territory of Denmark, which is an
[00:14:19] an EU member. So we don't quite know know what this would look like. This
[00:14:22] This associate membership, it would would probably take years for it
[00:14:25] it to come into existence. There's There's no such provision in EU law
[00:14:28] law at the moment, and all the countries
[00:14:30] countries currently in the club would would probably have to approve this.
[00:14:33] this. And all the while you've got got a waiting list of other countries,
[00:14:37] countries, particularly in the Western Western Balkans, who want to get
[00:14:39] get in. So it is certainly a striking striking political message today
[00:14:42] today from Ursula von der Leyen. Leyen. And a bilateral meeting between
[00:14:46] between Andy Burnham and Canada's Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney,
[00:14:48] Carney, has taken place at the Hill Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.
[00:14:51] Liverpool. The two leaders were attending attending the Everton Wolverhampton
[00:14:55] Wolverhampton match, which Everton Everton won 1-0, and Burnham says says he's been a lifelong Everton
[00:14:59] Everton fan, while Carney says his his fandom for the club grew while
[00:15:02] while living in Britain during his his seven year stint as Bank of England
[00:15:06] England governor. More to come here here on Newsday we'll look into why
[00:15:09] why cases of HIV are rapidly growing
[00:15:12] growing or increasing in Fiji, where
[00:15:15] where 1 in 60 adults is now living
[00:15:17] living with
[00:16:17] Dales to the Scottish Highlands meeting meeting people proven adventure is
[00:16:20] is far from offline. The Travel Show
[00:16:22] Show on BBC iPlayer. You're live
[00:16:27] live with BBC News. Fiji has declared
[00:16:31] declared a national emergency following following an alarming surge in HIV
[00:16:34] HIV cases. The Pacific island nation, nation, with fewer than a million
[00:16:37] million people, recorded more than
[00:16:38] than 2000 new HIV cases in 2025.
[00:16:41] 2025. That's a 16 fold increase from from 2019. The United Nations says
[00:16:45] says it's one of the sharpest increases increases of the virus globally. globally. Well, for more on this,
[00:16:49] this, I'm joined in studio by our our reporter Vandhna Bhan Vandhna. Vandhna. Tell us how it's gotten
[00:16:52] gotten this bad and gotten this bad bad so quickly. Yeah. The numbers
[00:16:56] numbers coming out of Suva are staggering. staggering. And health officials
[00:16:58] officials are saying that it's reached reached a critical tipping point.
[00:17:01] point. And it's like nothing that that the country has ever seen before.
[00:17:04] before. The driver behind it is predominantly
[00:17:07] predominantly an increased use of of injectable drugs. Now Fiji has
[00:17:11] has been caught in the middle of
[00:17:13] of illicit drug trafficking routes routes that are going on their way
[00:17:17] way to Australia, and the likes of of New Zealand. So drugs like methamphetamine
[00:17:20] methamphetamine and cocaine are now
[00:17:22] now regularly passing through Fiji Fiji waterways that weren't before
[00:17:26] before many years ago. You know,
[00:17:30] know, aside from just the shared shared use of needles, there's also
[00:17:32] also quite a dangerous trend in Fiji Fiji called blue Toothing, where
[00:17:36] where people are injecting themselves themselves with the blood of other
[00:17:39] other drug users to get quite a cheap
[00:17:41] cheap and quick high. So all of this
[00:17:43] this is really leading to an increased increased hike in these HIV cases
[00:17:47] cases like you mentioned, 1 in 60 60 adults are now living with HIV.
[00:17:51] HIV. Compare that to five years ago.
[00:17:52] ago. That was around 1 in 170 adults.
[00:17:55] adults. Now what's really worrying worrying is the number of babies
[00:17:58] babies that are now being born with
[00:18:00] with HIV. It was around 59 in 2025.
[00:18:04] 2025. 18 of them died just before before their first birthday. Fiji
[00:18:08] Fiji is also quite a culturally conservative conservative country, and there's
[00:18:11] there's a huge stigma around having
[00:18:14] having HIV, and that is just making making it all the more difficult
[00:18:17] difficult to contain this virus. virus. Yeah, it seems like quite quite startling. The numbers as you've
[00:18:20] you've laid them out for us. Is there there a risk then to the wider region?
[00:18:24] region? You mentioned that Fiji is is quite a transit point. Yeah. There's
[00:18:27] There's a concern right now that
[00:18:29] that this epidemic is not contained contained to a specific area or to
[00:18:33] to a specific population, and this this Pacific island nation is a regional
[00:18:36] regional hub for business, for transport, transport, for tourism, the likes
[00:18:40] likes of countries like Samoa and and Tonga, they often send people
[00:18:44] people for education, for business. business. And those countries have
[00:18:47] have a much poorer health infrastructure. infrastructure. Now if we're talking
[00:18:50] talking about tourism, New Zealand Zealand government has already issued
[00:18:53] issued a travel advisory going into into the school holidays for people
[00:18:56] people to just avoid certain activities activities that could increase their
[00:19:00] their risk of infection. Tourism
[00:19:02] Tourism is Fiji's backbone around
[00:19:05] around 40% of their GDP is due to to tourism, so really they would
[00:19:08] would be wanting to stamp this out out very quickly. And that's the
[00:19:11] the reason for this national emergency
[00:19:13] emergency to declare this so that that they can get some international
[00:19:16] international assistance as well. It really is quite an incredible incredible story and see how this
[00:19:19] this is all played out. Thanks for for coming in and talking us through
[00:19:22] through it. Vandhna Bhan, our reporter. reporter. Now we're just days away
[00:19:26] away from the opening of the Asian Asian Games in Japan, where around
[00:19:29] around 17,000 athletes will take take part in the competition. But
[00:19:32] But leading up to the games controversy
[00:19:34] controversy is swirling over athletes athletes accommodations, and many
[00:19:37] many of them are staying in wooden wooden container huts, which have
[00:19:40] have become the subject of heated heated criticism. Members of the
[00:19:43] the South Korean basketball team team have complained the beds are
[00:19:46] are unreasonably small, but they've they've also posted videos showing
[00:19:48] showing leaking pipes and soaked soaked floors. Our Tokyo correspondent
[00:19:51] correspondent Kurumi Mori has more. more. These Asian Games, just to
[00:19:55] to put it into context, are even
[00:19:58] even bigger than the Summer Olympics. Olympics. So this is a huge a massive
[00:20:02] massive event happening in Japan. Japan. Some of the athletes are saying
[00:20:05] saying that the accommodation just just isn't big enough. Quite literally
[00:20:08] literally they're saying that, you you know, the beds are not big enough, enough, especially the basketball
[00:20:12] basketball players. As you can imagine.
[00:20:14] imagine. They're also facing leaking
[00:20:16] leaking roofs and some flooding in in some of the areas. Japan right
[00:20:20] right now September to October is
[00:20:22] is our rainy season. It's our typhoon typhoon season in the fall. So there's
[00:20:26] there's also this weather. There There have been complaints about
[00:20:29] about the condition of the rooms
[00:20:32] rooms as well as the shortages we we had last week. Several hundred
[00:20:35] hundred athletes and officials briefly
[00:20:36] briefly being evacuated from their
[00:20:39] their accommodation after some heavy heavy torrential rain in Nagoya.
[00:20:42] Nagoya. So there's been a whole host
[00:20:45] host of complaints, some people even
[00:20:47] even being stranded, like the Indian
[00:20:49] Indian team at the airport for up
[00:20:51] up to 14 hours waiting for their
[00:20:54] their accommodation. Organisers say say they're aware of these problems
[00:20:57] problems and these complaints and and they are taking steps to try
[00:21:00] try and improve the living conditions
[00:21:03] conditions ahead of the opening ceremony ceremony that happens on Saturday. Saturday. Let's take a look at some
[00:21:07] some other stories in the headlines. headlines. The former president of
[00:21:11] of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, Duterte, has for the first time appeared
[00:21:13] appeared in person at a court in in The Hague. He's facing charges
[00:21:16] charges of crimes against humanity. humanity. The 81-year-old is accused
[00:21:19] accused of being responsible for for thousands of deaths as part of
[00:21:22] of what he claimed was a war against
[00:21:24] against drug dealers. Japan's Prime Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is
[00:21:28] is set to retain her market savvy savvy Finance Minister in a cabinet
[00:21:32] cabinet reshuffle, to be announced announced later today. This is the the first reshuffle since Takaichi
[00:21:35] Takaichi came into power last year, year, and she is expected to prioritise
[00:21:39] prioritise continuity ahead of pushing pushing through ambitious budget
[00:21:42] budget spending plans amidst Japan's
[00:21:43] Japan's unstable financial markets.
[00:21:47] markets. And Buckingham Palace has
[00:21:49] has responded to Earl Spencer, the the brother of Diana, Princess of
[00:21:52] of Wales, who claimed that King Charles Charles said will forget her soon
[00:21:56] soon enough. Days after her death. death. And the claim was made in
[00:22:00] in an extract from his upcoming memoir,
[00:22:03] memoir, which was published by the the Daily Mail. Our senior royal royal correspondent Daniela Relph
[00:22:06] Relph has more. Next week, Earl Spencer
[00:22:09] Spencer releases his new book about about his sister called Swan Song.
[00:22:13] Song. It's being serialised in the the Daily Mail over the coming days,
[00:22:16] days, and we've had the first extract extract from that book tonight. Now,
[00:22:19] Now, in it, Earl Spencer recounts recounts what he says was a row with
[00:22:22] with the King when he was Prince
[00:22:24] Prince of Wales in 1997 after the
[00:22:27] the death of Princess Diana. He says says that he told the King that he
[00:22:30] he didn't approve of the decision decision to have Princes William William and Harry walking behind
[00:22:34] behind their mother's coffin at her her funeral. He writes that the King
[00:22:38] King responded showing his contempt
[00:22:40] contempt for Diana, saying rest assured
[00:22:42] assured we'll forget her soon enough. enough. Now Buckingham Palace has
[00:22:46] has pushed back on this with real real bite to this evening. It is
[00:22:50] is unusual for them to respond so so forcefully. In a statement, a
[00:22:53] a Palace spokesperson said while while we do not comment on books
[00:22:56] books as a matter of principle, His
[00:22:59] His Majesty is mindful that the pain pain of fraternal grief can cloud
[00:23:03] cloud reason affect judgement and
[00:23:05] and colour memory in ways others
[00:23:07] others do not recognise. Even many
[00:23:09] many years after such a loss. It It is carefully worded and robust.
[00:23:13] robust. Sophie. And the fact that that the Palace released that kind
[00:23:16] kind of statement tonight is a sign sign of just how angry they are about
[00:23:19] about Earl Spencer's claims. Ed Sheeran Sheeran looks set to continue his
[00:23:23] his US tour on his own after all all of his support acts quit following
[00:23:27] following the decision to remove remove the rapper Macklemore from
[00:23:29] from the show over his pro-Palestinian pro-Palestinian comments on Gaza. Gaza. Sheeran stressed that it was
[00:23:33] was the concert promoters decision decision to drop Macklemore, not
[00:23:37] not his David Sillito has more. I
[00:23:38] I don't need a camera to capture
[00:23:41] capture this moment. Ed Sheeran and
[00:23:44] and a stadium sized row over his
[00:23:46] his ongoing stadium tour, which began began when his friend and support
[00:23:49] support act Macklemore said this this on stage. One of the reasons
[00:23:53] reasons why I wanted to come on this this tour was because I wanted to
[00:23:57] to stand up here on stages in stadiums
[00:24:02] stadiums across America and say two
[00:24:04] two words that are very near and
[00:24:07] and dear to my heart free Palestine.
[00:24:11] Palestine. Those words for many a a statement of political solidarity
[00:24:15] solidarity but considered by some some to be anti-Semitic. But free
[00:24:19] free Palestine means is get rid of of the state of Israel. It's very
[00:24:22] very clear and this is an anti-Israel anti-Israel and anti-Semitic statement.
[00:24:26] statement. Now again, people have have a right to say it. Don't get get me wrong, people have a right
[00:24:30] right to say free Palestine, but but they don't have a right to say
[00:24:32] say free Palestine on a stage in in front of 80,000 concert goers
[00:24:35] goers who, by the way, didn't pay pay for a political rally. They paid
[00:24:39] paid for a concert. And to hear Ed Ed Sheeran. The decision to drop
[00:24:43] drop Macklemore from the tour was, was, Ed Sheeran says, made by the
[00:24:46] the concert promoter. But it's led led to the tour's other support acts
[00:24:49] acts pulling out in protest, among among them Finneas, the brother of
[00:24:52] of Billie Eilish, who says artists artists must not be silenced when
[00:24:55] when they speak up for the oppressed. oppressed. And there are those who
[00:24:58] who feel Ed Sheeran should follow follow suit. I think. The answer
[00:25:01] answer is for Ed Sheeran to cancel
[00:25:03] cancel his tour and to say that billionaire
[00:25:06] billionaire owners of football stadiums stadiums in the United States of of America shouldn't be able to decide
[00:25:10] decide what people can and can't can't say on stage. But the tour
[00:25:13] tour will continue. Ed Sheeran says says he has a duty to fans and the
[00:25:17] the many people whose livelihoods livelihoods depend on the concerts.
[00:25:20] concerts. But he says it's a decision decision that doesn't mean he doesn't
[00:25:23] doesn't care. In a statement, he he said I am appalled by the conflict
[00:25:26] conflict between Israel and Palestine. Palestine. The suffering and pain
[00:25:29] pain caused on both sides is a human
[00:25:31] human tragedy. I do feel for Ed Sheeran. Sheeran. I think he's been left in
[00:25:34] in a really difficult decision, stuck stuck between his supporting artists
[00:25:37] artists who he wants to promote and and support and the promoters, and
[00:25:41] and I hope that people will still still go and see his show. I've got got nothing left to lose. For Ed
[00:25:45] Ed Sheeran. A difficult moment when when even the backing band has walked
[00:25:49] walked out. Pop's Mr Nice Guy is
[00:25:51] is trying to avoid having to pick
[00:25:53] pick a side in order to keep the
[00:25:55] the show on the road. David Sillito, Sillito, BBC News. Business Today
[00:25:58] Today is coming your way next.
[00:27:34] with highs of 36 or 37.
[00:29:39] and Democrats and for the American American people. For the latest,
[00:29:43] latest, follow us on The President's
[00:29:44] President's Path here on. BBC News.
[00:29:48] News. MUSIC
[00:29:56] MUSIC
[00:30:06] Live from Singapore now on BBC
[00:30:10] News, Business Today. MUSIC
[00:30:17] MUSIC The The US Federal Reserve has raised raised interest rates for the first
[00:30:20] first time in three years as it tries
[00:30:21] tries to combat rising prices and
[00:30:25] and snap launches new augmented reality reality glasses as it targets the
[00:30:28] the next generation of wearable technology.
[00:30:36] technology. Hello and welcome to to Business Today with me Steve Lai.
[00:30:39] Lai. US interest rates have been been raised for the first time in
[00:30:42] in more than three years, with the the Federal Reserve lifting its benchmark
[00:30:45] benchmark rate to between 3.75 and
[00:30:48] and 4%. The decision was unanimous, unanimous, despite President Donald
[00:30:51] Donald Trump calling for rates to
[00:30:52] to be cut to 1 or 1% or less. Fed
[00:30:56] Fed Chair Kevin Walsh says inflation inflation remains too high and has has not improved enough.