BBCNEWS — Newsday
20260917 030000 UTC
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[00:00:01] MUSIC
[00:00:11] Live from Singapore. This is BBC
[00:00:16] BBC News. America's central bank bank hikes interest rates for the
[00:00:19] the first time in three years, despite despite fierce opposition from the
[00:00:22] the White House. President Trump Trump lashes out at the European
[00:00:25] European Union over what he called called a laughable proposal to make
[00:00:29] make Canada the bloc's first ever ever associate member. The Pacific
[00:00:32] Pacific island of Fiji has declared declared a national HIV emergency,
[00:00:35] emergency, with one in every 60 adults adults now infected with the incurable
[00:00:39] incurable disease. And the Asian Asian Games kicks off in Japan over
[00:00:42] over the weekend. But the competition competition is already being hit
[00:00:45] hit with a series of complaints.
[00:00:59] Hello and welcome to Newsday. The US central bank has raised interest
[00:01:03] interest rates for the first time time in more than three years in
[00:01:06] in a bid to slow rising prices. The The Federal Reserve increased the
[00:01:09] the cost of borrowing by a quarter
[00:01:11] quarter of a percentage point to
[00:01:13] to 3.75 and 4%. And The Fed also also indicated that more rate hikes
[00:01:17] hikes were on the table before the the end of the year. That decision
[00:01:20] decision was met by a fierce reaction reaction from President Trump, who
[00:01:23] who took to social media to say interest interest rates in the United States
[00:01:26] States should be 1% or less because because we are the best credit in
[00:01:30] in the world by far. Our business business correspondent Samira Hussain
[00:01:33] Hussain has the details. By raising raising interest rates, a quarter
[00:01:36] quarter of a percentage point in
[00:01:38] in saying that inflation is the big
[00:01:40] big reason why the Federal Reserve Reserve did what it was expected
[00:01:43] expected to do. Now, The Fed also also said that, look, the US economy
[00:01:46] economy is growing at a pretty healthy
[00:01:51] healthy rate, despite geopolitical geopolitical developments. Presumably
[00:01:54] Presumably referring to the war with
[00:01:56] with Iran, which has really driven
[00:01:58] driven up inflation. In a press conference,
[00:02:00] conference, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh
[00:02:02] Warsh admitted look, this rate hike
[00:02:04] hike won't reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Hormuz. Quarter point rate hike does
[00:02:07] does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Hormuz. And so I wonder how you think
[00:02:11] think the smaller rate hikes will
[00:02:13] will be effective when it can't necessarily necessarily address the energy supply
[00:02:16] supply side of inflationary pressures.
[00:02:18] pressures. We cannot affect any individual individual price, whether it be oil
[00:02:22] oil prices, whether it be foodstuffs foodstuffs at the grocery store.
[00:02:25] store. But what we can do and will
[00:02:27] will do is ensure that any change
[00:02:30] change in relative prices don't broaden broaden out. So how will all of this
[00:02:33] this make a difference? Well, the the Federal Reserve really made it
[00:02:36] it clear that this is all about the
[00:02:39] the American consumer and specifically specifically those that are less
[00:02:43] less well off, that they really want
[00:02:45] want to try and get the cost of living living under control. And this is
[00:02:48] is one way that they can do that.
[00:02:51] that. As you mentioned, The Fed decision decision didn't go down well with
[00:02:54] with President Trump on North America. America. Editor Sarah Smith has more
[00:02:56] more from the White House. Although Although he did refrain from attacking
[00:03:00] attacking personally. The new chairman chairman of the Federal Reserve, Reserve, who was his own hand-picked
[00:03:04] hand-picked candidate for the job, job, who has now defied him by putting
[00:03:07] putting rates up. Donald Trump wants
[00:03:09] wants lower interest rates so that
[00:03:12] that consumers would, with credit credit cards, loans, mortgages would
[00:03:15] would be paying less and would feel feel better about their money, making
[00:03:17] making them maybe more likely to to support his Republican candidates
[00:03:21] candidates in the mid-term elections elections in November. He will think
[00:03:23] think this rate rise is a blow to to his election prospects, even though
[00:03:27] though it is partly his own fault fault because the rise in the oil
[00:03:30] oil price caused by the war in Iran Iran is one of the reasons why The
[00:03:33] The Fed has put rates up. And don't
[00:03:35] don't forget how he used to try and and bully the previous chairman of
[00:03:39] of The Fed into lowering rates. Jerome
[00:03:41] Jerome Powell. He called a total
[00:03:43] total loser and a moron. He even even launched a criminal investigation
[00:03:47] investigation into him. And then then in May, when Powell stood down,
[00:03:50] down, Donald Trump got to choose choose his successor, Kevin Warsh.
[00:03:52] Warsh. And now the guy that he's he's put into that job has not only
[00:03:56] only raised rates today, he's indicated indicated he might well do it again
[00:03:59] again before the end of the year. year. We'll bring you more reaction reaction to The Fed decision in about
[00:04:03] about half an hour's time on Business Business Today. In the meantime,
[00:04:06] meantime, President Trump says the the Iran war is, in his words, hopefully
[00:04:09] hopefully nearing its end, adding adding that Tehran wants to make
[00:04:12] make a deal. Well, hopefully we're
[00:04:15] we're toward the end of the war. war. They want to make a deal and
[00:04:19] and we'll see how that works out. out. They're very much wanting to to make. Iran is very much wanting
[00:04:22] wanting to make a deal. We'll see see how that works out. Mr Trump's
[00:04:26] Trump's comments come as US media media reports he will be meeting
[00:04:29] meeting Gulf leaders on the sidelines sidelines of the UN General Assembly Assembly in New York next week. The
[00:04:33] The meeting is expected to focus
[00:04:34] focus on ideas for a post-war strategy.
[00:04:37] strategy. In the meantime, Yemen's Yemen's Iran backed Houthi movement
[00:04:40] movement has denied claims by Saudi Saudi Arabia that it launched a drone
[00:04:44] drone attack at Mecca, the holiest holiest city in Islam. The Houthis
[00:04:47] Houthis have, however, claimed to to have shot down a Saudi fighter
[00:04:50] fighter jet over Yemen. It comes comes after the rebel group seized
[00:04:53] seized control of large swathes of of Yemen's Red Sea coast from Saudi
[00:04:57] Saudi backed pro-government forces. forces. I asked Jennifer Parker,
[00:05:00] Parker, the former director of operations operations in Bahrain for the Combined
[00:05:04] Combined Maritime Forces and what what she made of the Houthis strategy
[00:05:07] strategy in this conflict. Well, Well, I think, you know, the Houthis Houthis have made significant progress
[00:05:11] progress in the last week. Many people people have said that this is quite
[00:05:14] quite a surprise in terms of how how easily they've defeated the government
[00:05:18] government forces, especially along along the Red Sea coast. I think
[00:05:21] think primarily their objectives objectives are domestic. Of course, course, we know that there has been
[00:05:24] been a civil war in Yemen since 2014.
[00:05:28] 2014. Clearly, the ceasefire agreed agreed in 2022 isn't holding. But
[00:05:31] But as much as it's domestic, I also also think the holding of the Red
[00:05:34] Red Sea coast very much assists Iran.
[00:05:37] Iran. And when we think back to early early in July with a flare up with
[00:05:40] with Saudi Arabia started to occur, occur, a lot of that came from Saudi
[00:05:44] Saudi Arabia attacking Sanaa airport airport because a aircraft coming
[00:05:48] coming from Iran was trying to land. land. And that was a delegation that
[00:05:51] that had gone to Ayatollah Khamenei's Khamenei's funeral. But also, clearly,
[00:05:54] clearly, Houthi delegation that had had had discussions with Iran. So
[00:05:56] So I think this is part of a broader,
[00:05:59] broader, wider Middle East strategy strategy as well as the domestic domestic issues. Yeah. It's been
[00:06:03] been reported that the Saudis actually actually asked President Trump to
[00:06:05] to help with the Houthi situation, situation, but he said no. Does the
[00:06:09] the US have the resources in the the region to be able to get involved
[00:06:13] involved in that part of the
[00:06:17] conflict? Well, the US does have have the resources. I know there's there's been a lot made about us us current capability. They still
[00:06:21] still have a significant amount of of air capability in the region to
[00:06:24] to get involved. But remember the the US did actually attack the Houthis
[00:06:28] Houthis both in 2023 and in 2025. 2025. And those air campaigns seem
[00:06:31] seem to be largely unsuccessful because because Houthis seem to have a still
[00:06:34] still a significant amount of capability. capability. That said, if the Houthis
[00:06:38] Houthis continue to attack Saudi Saudi Arabia, I think the US will will have no choice but to become
[00:06:41] become involved. And coming back back to those reports of US bases
[00:06:44] bases being hit in the region, does does it surprise you that they seem
[00:06:47] seem so vulnerable? No it doesn't,
[00:06:51] doesn't, and that's probably the the shocking element I've served
[00:06:53] served there at at Bahrain. There's There's been a lot of us think tank
[00:06:56] tank work in the last couple of years years saying that the bases across
[00:06:59] across the Middle East needed to to be hardened and needed to be protected
[00:07:03] protected better. It looks like much much of that didn't occur, which
[00:07:06] which is why they were so easily easily targeted. I think there's
[00:07:09] there's also an element there that
[00:07:11] that perhaps Iran's targeting was was much more effective this time
[00:07:15] time than it has been previously. previously. When we saw attacks last
[00:07:18] last year. Part of that is certainly certainly we have some information
[00:07:21] information that China has helped helped with some targeting data on
[00:07:24] on the base in Jordan. That's potentially potentially wider as well. And Iran's
[00:07:27] Iran's getting access to much more more detailed targeting data than
[00:07:31] than they previously had. To Gaza
[00:07:34] Gaza next, where 21 people were killed killed in an apartment building collapse
[00:07:37] collapse overnight. Officials say say rescue efforts have ended after
[00:07:41] after search teams found 45 injured. injured. Survivors, with others thought
[00:07:44] thought missing now accounted for. for. The United Nations has warned warned that hundreds of other war
[00:07:48] war damaged buildings in Gaza are
[00:07:50] are at imminent risk of collapse.
[00:07:52] collapse. The BBC, like other international international organisations, can't
[00:07:55] can't report from inside Gaza. From From Jerusalem. Our international international correspondent Yogita
[00:07:59] Yogita Limaye sent this report. The
[00:08:02] The flimsy shelter of a war ravaged
[00:08:05] ravaged building one of hundreds
[00:08:07] hundreds in Gaza suddenly gave way
[00:08:09] way last night, killing families
[00:08:12] families sleeping inside. Is anyone
[00:08:13] anyone there? Rescuers shouted using
[00:08:17] using hammers, drills and their bare
[00:08:19] bare hands to pull people out. Heavy
[00:08:22] Heavy machines are in short supply. supply. There are restrictions on
[00:08:26] on what can be brought into Gaza.
[00:08:29] Gaza. Don't be scared, my child. child. Rescuers comforted six-year-old
[00:08:33] six-year-old Abud, who was trapped trapped next to the bodies of some
[00:08:35] some of his family. It took hours
[00:08:38] hours to lift him out. A bit earlier,
[00:08:42] earlier, his sister Farial, who suffered suffered a head injury, was rescued
[00:08:46] rescued carried here by her father father after being bandaged in hospital.
[00:08:49] hospital. She spoke to the BBC when
[00:08:53] when the building collapsed. I was
[00:08:55] was trapped under a wall. My grandparents grandparents died and we still can't
[00:08:59] can't find my mother. Farial said.
[00:09:02] said. Later she found out her mother
[00:09:04] mother had also died. Most of the
[00:09:06] the victims are women and children.
[00:09:09] children. A rescuer carried out the the body of a little girl and cried.
[00:09:13] cried. She had the right to live live in a humane way. Mansoor Bakrum
[00:09:17] Bakrum stent was right next to the
[00:09:19] the collapsed building. They didn't didn't have anywhere else to live.
[00:09:23] live. People are living in the streets
[00:09:25] streets and there is no space. There's
[00:09:28] There's no decent shelter for most
[00:09:30] most of Gaza's people. The destruction
[00:09:32] destruction caused by Israeli bombing bombing is staggering. And nearly
[00:09:35] nearly a year since the cease. Rebuilding
[00:09:38] Rebuilding has not begun. Today that's
[00:09:40] that's taken the lives of at least
[00:09:42] least 20. They said that reconstruction
[00:09:45] reconstruction material will enter enter Gaza and there will be rebuilding.
[00:09:48] rebuilding. But unfortunately my my uncle and his whole family were
[00:09:52] were killed without getting a safe safe place to live. These are families
[00:09:55] families who fled from one place
[00:09:57] place to another to survive. But
[00:10:00] But safety remains out of reach.
[00:10:03] reach. Yogita Limaye, BBC News in in Jerusalem. President Trump has
[00:10:07] has threatened to cut trade with with the European Union if it pursues
[00:10:09] pursues a proposal to make Canada Canada the bloc's first ever associate
[00:10:13] associate member. He described it it as laughable and said he would
[00:10:16] would view it as a hostile act. That That proposal was announced by the
[00:10:20] the European Commission president, president, Ursula von der Leyen, Leyen, during her state of the Union
[00:10:24] Union address on Tuesday. We want
[00:10:26] want to bring the relationship with
[00:10:29] with Canada to the highest level
[00:10:31] level possible and dear Mark, I said,
[00:10:34] said, we must urgently reimagine
[00:10:36] reimagine our partnerships. So I
[00:10:38] I would like to work with you on
[00:10:42] on opening the door for Canada to
[00:10:45] to being the first associate member
[00:10:47] member of the European Union. Those
[00:10:52] Those comments by the EU commissioner commissioner come as Canadian Prime Prime Minister Mark Carney says Ottawa
[00:10:56] Ottawa is seeking a unique alliance
[00:10:58] alliance with the EU as Canada's Canada's relationship with the US.
[00:11:01] US. United States continues to deteriorate. deteriorate. Our Europe correspondent
[00:11:04] correspondent Nick Beake explained explained what associate membership membership could look like for Canada.
[00:11:08] Canada. Well, there are a lot of of unknowns here because at the moment
[00:11:11] moment there's no such thing as associate associate membership for any country
[00:11:14] country that wants to join the European European Union. So this would be
[00:11:17] be something that's completely new. new. I mean, the context here is is that the Europeans have a real
[00:11:21] real ally in Mark Carney. He's been been side-by-side as they face pretty
[00:11:25] pretty similar challenges actually. actually. You mentioned President
[00:11:28] President Trump and his tariff wars, wars, but also both the Canadians
[00:11:32] Canadians have had the threat that that America would take Canada and
[00:11:35] and make it a 51st state. And also, also, President Trump has been talking
[00:11:39] talking about Greenland, hasn't he? he? Saying that he'd like to get get his hands on that that of course,
[00:11:42] course, being a sovereign territory territory of Denmark, which is an
[00:11:45] an EU member. So we don't quite know know what this would look like. This
[00:11:48] This associate membership, it would would probably take years for it
[00:11:51] it to come into existence. There's There's no such provision in EU law
[00:11:54] law at the moment, and all the countries
[00:11:56] countries currently in the club would would probably have to approve this.
[00:11:59] this. And all the while you've got got a waiting list of other countries, countries, particularly in the Western
[00:12:03] Western Balkans, who want to get get in. So it is certainly a striking
[00:12:07] striking political message today today from Ursula von der Leyen. Leyen. And a bilateral meeting between
[00:12:11] between Andy Burnham and Canadian Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Carney has taken place at the Hill
[00:12:15] Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. Liverpool. The two leaders were attending
[00:12:18] attending the Everton Wolverhampton Wolverhampton match, which Everton Everton won 1-0. Burnham says he's
[00:12:22] he's been a lifelong Everton fan. fan. While Carney says his fandom
[00:12:25] fandom for the club grew while living living in Britain during a seven
[00:12:29] seven year stint as Bank of England England governor. Plenty more to
[00:12:32] to come here on Newsday, including including the European Union banning
[00:12:36] banning social media use for children children under
[00:13:39] to take the threat as a national national security priority? That's That's this week on Talking Business
[00:13:42] Business here on BBC News. You're
[00:13:49] You're live with BBC News. Now the the European Union has announced
[00:13:52] announced plans to ban social media media for children under 13 years
[00:13:55] years old. Officials say that under under these new proposals, known
[00:13:59] known as the EU Kids Act, the tech tech companies will have to prove
[00:14:02] prove their products are safe. 13 13 to 15 year-olds will be allowed
[00:14:05] allowed access limited access to to certain social media, but only
[00:14:08] only for an hour a day, and must must have parental supervision. And
[00:14:11] And many governments are following following the example of Australia Australia and planning tighter restrictions
[00:14:15] restrictions amid concerns over the the harmful effects of children's children's mental health. And for
[00:14:19] for more on this, we can speak with
[00:14:20] with Doctor Daniel Einstein, a clinical clinical psychologist at Macquarie
[00:14:24] Macquarie University who actually actually helped shape Australia's Australia's under 16 social media
[00:14:27] media ban. Thank you very much Doctor Doctor Einstein. Really good to be
[00:14:30] be able to speak to you about this this today. What is genuinely a new
[00:14:33] new here it does seem like the what what the EU is proposing goes above
[00:14:36] above and beyond what Australia had
[00:14:38] had planned. Oh, it's just fantastic
[00:14:40] fantastic Steve. Look, I am so delighted
[00:14:43] delighted to see president von der der Leyen announcing that the burden
[00:14:46] burden of proof should actually be
[00:14:48] be on the platforms to show that that they're beneficial. Hopefully. Hopefully. I mean, she's just flagged
[00:14:52] flagged it. We haven't seen the fine
[00:14:54] fine print yet, but that burden of
[00:14:56] of proof is something that Australia Australia hasn't been able to get
[00:15:00] get to happen yet. So so this is is the next step. Yeah. By putting
[00:15:04] putting the onus on the platforms platforms themselves to prove that
[00:15:07] that they are safe, that really is is a significant shift. Any ideas
[00:15:11] ideas how that could be put into
[00:15:13] into practice or what that would
[00:15:15] would look like? No. I'm interested interested to see what they say.
[00:15:19] say. But I have been arguing in Australia Australia that that needs to happen,
[00:15:23] happen, that the platforms and when when new features are announced,
[00:15:25] announced, for instance, just think think about the number of likes that
[00:15:28] that sit up next to anyone's post
[00:15:31] post that should be evaluated to to see how that affects people when
[00:15:35] when they have a look back at their their post, does it actually influence
[00:15:38] influence their mood, make them feel feel worse about themselves, or does
[00:15:42] does it make it feel better about about themselves? And on the balance
[00:15:45] balance of probability, what happens happens then after that? So we're
[00:15:49] we're actually now looking at the
[00:15:51] the fact that these platforms can
[00:15:53] can influence the way children and
[00:15:55] and even some adults feel about themselves. themselves. And it feeds depression,
[00:15:59] depression, it feeds anxiety. And
[00:16:01] And then also sells the solution.
[00:16:04] solution. So it's really important important that they're taking this this stand. And draft legislation
[00:16:08] legislation we understand also covers covers online games and AI chat bots
[00:16:11] bots as well. This is really quite quite far reaching, isn't it? It
[00:16:15] It is. And the one hour restriction restriction for 13 to 14 year-olds
[00:16:18] year-olds that's been mentioned is is extremely important. It does now
[00:16:22] now push the burden of proof. Oh Oh sorry. It does now push a little
[00:16:25] little bit of the responsibility responsibility to parents that they they are checking what's happening
[00:16:29] happening in that hour a day. Because Because part of what we've seen happening
[00:16:33] happening is social media actually
[00:16:35] actually affecting other children children within the child's year
[00:16:38] year group or peer group. So parents
[00:16:41] parents having some awareness of
[00:16:43] of what's going on will be part of
[00:16:45] of what this next stage entails. entails. And Doctor Einstein, thank
[00:16:49] thank you very much for your expertise expertise on this. Really good to to speak to you doctor. Danielle
[00:16:52] Danielle Einstein, clinical psychologist psychologist at Macquarie University.
[00:16:55] University. Now Fiji has declared declared a national emergency following
[00:16:59] following an alarming surge in HIV HIV cases. The Pacific island nation
[00:17:02] nation with fewer than a million million people, recorded more than
[00:17:05] than 2000 new HIV cases in 2025 as
[00:17:08] as a 16 fold increase from 2019. 2019. The United Nations says it's
[00:17:12] it's one of the sharpest increases increases of the virus globally.
[00:17:15] globally. 1 in 60 adults in Fiji Fiji are currently living with the
[00:17:18] the virus that causes Aids. Health Health officials say injectable drug
[00:17:21] drug use is the key driver of Fiji's Fiji's epidemic, which has now prompted
[00:17:25] prompted New Zealand to issue updated updated travel advisories. Well,
[00:17:28] Well, for more on this, we can speak speak with Doctor Dashka Bullock,
[00:17:31] Bullock, HIV treatment Care and Support Support Lead at the Fiji Ministry
[00:17:35] Ministry of Health. Doctor Dashka Dashka really good to be able to to talk to you about this today.
[00:17:38] today. How has it gotten so bad so
[00:17:41] so quickly? Thank you Steve. Thank
[00:17:43] Thank you for this opportunity. I I think over the years the number
[00:17:47] number of cases have increased and
[00:17:48] and we've been trying to catch up
[00:17:51] up on these numbers. We have expanded expanded our testing in the countries.
[00:17:54] countries. And so therefore, you you know, we are testing more infections
[00:17:57] infections that were already existing existing in the communities. But
[00:17:59] But now we are playing catch up with with these cases as we know that.
[00:18:03] that. I mean, the new cases are across
[00:18:06] across all the divisions in our countries, countries, our towns and cities,
[00:18:09] cities, even rural and maritime communities
[00:18:12] communities are now having to see see new cases. And this is what has
[00:18:15] has led to the government declaring
[00:18:18] declaring a national emergency, because because we need our whole of national
[00:18:22] national response, which is led by by the cabinet and supported across
[00:18:25] across all party lines. Because this this epidemic has become so widespread
[00:18:29] widespread that it needs every sector sector working together, not just
[00:18:33] just health alone. Yeah. So now that that it's been declared a national national emergency, what does that
[00:18:37] that mean? So this basically means
[00:18:39] means that we will now mobilise all
[00:18:42] all sectors of not just the ministries ministries in the country, but all
[00:18:46] all other sectors that are involved. involved. For example, we will have
[00:18:50] have sectors that are involved in
[00:18:51] in law enforcement, in education,
[00:18:54] education, in social services, health health and so forth to come together
[00:18:58] together and respond to this as a
[00:19:01] a whole one nation approach. And And what should we understand then
[00:19:03] then about how it has spread so quickly
[00:19:05] quickly through injectable transmission?
[00:19:07] transmission? Yes. So methamphetamine methamphetamine use has rapidly grown
[00:19:11] grown in the country and with it it comes injecting and sharing of
[00:19:15] of needles and syringes where we
[00:19:18] we know of the people who have acquired
[00:19:20] acquired HIV. Around half of these these new cases were linked to injecting
[00:19:24] injecting drug use. So, you know,
[00:19:26] know, HIV then moves to their partners partners and to their families. So
[00:19:30] So we are treating drug use as a a health issue, which includes harm
[00:19:33] harm reduction testing and treatment treatment taken to where people are
[00:19:36] are and working with community organisations
[00:19:39] organisations who people trust. So So again, tackling the drug problem
[00:19:42] problem also needs health law enforcement, enforcement, social services, education
[00:19:46] education and so forth. And this
[00:19:48] this is exactly what this emergency emergency needs. Our cabinet led
[00:19:52] led response. Yeah. And just tell tell us as well, I mean the numbers.
[00:19:55] numbers. I mean, 1 in 60 adults this
[00:19:57] this cuts across men and women. I
[00:20:00] I presume. Yes. So basically what
[00:20:02] what we have seen over the last five
[00:20:05] five years or so, we have seen that that most of the cases are concentrated
[00:20:08] concentrated among males. So about about 70% of the cases were among
[00:20:12] among males and the rest females females or are minor population among
[00:20:16] among the transgender population. population. However, we are seeing seeing that this gap is closing now.
[00:20:20] now. So we are picking up more women
[00:20:22] women living with HIV. Over the past past couple of years as compared
[00:20:25] compared to males as well. Doctor, Doctor, thanks very much for helping
[00:20:29] helping us understand that better. better. Doctor Bullock. HIV treatment
[00:20:31] treatment care and support lead at
[00:20:33] at the Fiji Ministry of Health. Now
[00:20:36] Now South Korea's government says says it will move to formally introduce
[00:20:39] introduce abortion pills seven years years after the Constitutional Court
[00:20:42] Court ruled the country's abortion abortion ban unconstitutional. The
[00:20:45] The government says the move is aimed aimed at protecting women's health
[00:20:48] health and safety and is targeting targeting the first quarter of next
[00:20:52] next year for the rollout. Our reporter reporter Sophie Jong is with me here
[00:20:54] here in studio to tell us more about about this story. Help us understand,
[00:20:58] understand, Sophie, what exactly exactly this will change for women women in South Korea. Yeah. Steve.
[00:21:02] Steve. So the important thing to
[00:21:03] to note here is that back in 2019, 2019, South Korea Constitutional
[00:21:07] Constitutional Court ruled that criminalising
[00:21:10] criminalising abortion is actually actually unconstitutional under South South Korean law. But since then,
[00:21:14] then, lawmakers never made a move move to make a legal framework in
[00:21:18] in place. So for years there has has been no formal system for these
[00:21:21] these women to have access to these these pills for women in South Korea.
[00:21:25] Korea. So some have said going online, online, social media, going abroad
[00:21:29] abroad to access these unverified unverified unapproved pills. So what
[00:21:32] what the government is now trying trying to do is to bring back these
[00:21:35] these bring and bring these pills pills into the healthcare system system so they can regulate them.
[00:21:39] them. So what they're suggesting suggesting now is these would be
[00:21:42] be available for women with pregnancies pregnancies up to nine weeks, with
[00:21:46] with the government targeting the the rollout for the first quarter quarter of next year. So for the
[00:21:50] the first two years it will be highly highly regulated. So women would
[00:21:53] would have to go to hospitals where where doctors would prescribe and
[00:21:56] and dispense them. So while the initial initial rollout will be closely monitored,
[00:22:00] monitored, it really is a significant significant move for South Korea
[00:22:02] Korea for women to have these formal
[00:22:05] formal access and regulated access access to abortion pills. Yeah. And And something that they have the
[00:22:08] the ability to choose for themselves themselves as well. Tell us a bit bit more about what the reaction
[00:22:12] reaction has been like in South Korea Korea then than to this. So presumably
[00:22:15] presumably it's quite a polarising polarising issue. Yeah, it really
[00:22:18] really has. The reactions have been been really widely divided. So women's
[00:22:21] women's rights groups have come out out and welcomed the decision, saying saying that they want the pills to
[00:22:25] to be approved as quickly as possible. possible. Then actually they also
[00:22:29] also want eventually for this to to be expanded beyond the initial
[00:22:33] initial nine week limit that the the government has suggested for
[00:22:35] for medical groups, but they have have been a bit more cautious. They
[00:22:38] They actually want the legal framework framework to be in place before they
[00:22:41] they actually roll out these drugs, drugs, saying that they need the
[00:22:44] the legal protection against legal legal liability that could be held
[00:22:47] held against for those doctors prescribing prescribing these pills and religious
[00:22:51] religious and anti-abortion groups groups have obviously come out and
[00:22:53] and said they have strongly opposed opposed this move and are arguing
[00:22:56] arguing that it undermines the foetal foetal or the respect for foetal
[00:23:00] foetal life and saying that it needs needs to be stopped right away. So
[00:23:03] So right now there's a very considerable considerable debate among South Korea
[00:23:06] Korea over how the new system would would be introduced. Yeah, and I'm I'm sure that debate will rumble
[00:23:10] rumble on. Thanks very much, Sophie, Sophie, for getting us across those
[00:23:12] those details. Sophie, our reporter.
[00:23:15] reporter. Now we're just days away away from the opening of the Asian
[00:23:17] Asian Games in Japan, where around around 17,000 athletes will take take part in the competition. But
[00:23:21] But leading up to the games, controversy controversy is swirling over athletes
[00:23:25] athletes accommodations. Many of of them are staying in wooden container container huts, which have become
[00:23:29] become the subject of heated criticism. criticism. Members of the South Korean
[00:23:32] Korean basketball team have complained complained the beds are unreasonably unreasonably small, and they've also
[00:23:36] also posted videos showing leaking leaking pipes and soaked floors.
[00:23:39] floors. Our Tokyo correspondent Kurumi Kurumi Mori has more. These Asian
[00:23:42] Asian Games, just to put it into into context, are even bigger than
[00:23:46] than the Summer Olympics. So this
[00:23:48] this is a huge a massive event happening
[00:23:51] happening in Japan. Some of the athletes athletes are saying that accommodation
[00:23:54] accommodation just isn't big enough. enough. Quite literally they're saying
[00:23:57] saying that, you know, the beds are are not big enough, especially the
[00:24:00] the basketball players. As you can can imagine. They're also facing
[00:24:03] facing leaking roofs and some flooding
[00:24:05] flooding in some of the areas. Japan
[00:24:08] Japan right now September to October October is our rainy season. It's
[00:24:11] It's our typhoon season in the fall.
[00:24:13] fall. So there's also this weather. weather. There have been complaints
[00:24:17] complaints about the condition of of the rooms as well as the shortages
[00:24:21] shortages we had last week. Several Several hundred athletes and officials
[00:24:24] officials briefly being evacuated evacuated from their accommodation
[00:24:28] accommodation after some heavy torrential torrential rain in Nagoya. So there's
[00:24:31] there's been a whole host of complaints,
[00:24:33] complaints, some people even being being stranded, like the Indian team
[00:24:37] team at the airport for up to 14
[00:24:40] 14 hours waiting for their accommodation.
[00:24:43] accommodation. Organisers say they're they're aware of these problems and
[00:24:46] and these complaints, and they are are taking steps to try and improve
[00:24:49] improve the living conditions ahead
[00:24:52] ahead of the opening ceremony that that happens on Saturday. And before before we go, a quick look at some
[00:24:55] some other stories in the headlines. headlines. Staying with Japan, Prime
[00:24:59] Prime Minister Takaichi is set to to retain her market savvy Finance
[00:25:02] Finance Minister in a cabinet reshuffle reshuffle to be announced later today.
[00:25:05] today. This is the first reshuffle reshuffle since Takaichi came into
[00:25:07] into power last year, and she is is expected to prioritise continuity
[00:25:11] continuity ahead of pushing through through ambitious budget spending
[00:25:14] spending plans amidst Japan's unstable
[00:25:16] unstable financial markets. The former
[00:25:19] former president of the Philippines, Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has has for the first time appeared in
[00:25:23] in person at a court in The Hague.
[00:25:25] Hague. He's facing charges of crimes crimes against humanity. The 81-year-old
[00:25:29] 81-year-old is accused of being responsible responsible for thousands of deaths
[00:25:33] deaths as part of what he claimed
[00:25:35] claimed was a war against drug dealers
[00:25:38] dealers and a two star Michelin starred starred restaurant in Seoul has been
[00:25:41] been fined for using ants as a dessert
[00:25:44] dessert garnish. The restaurant Evert Evert admitted in court they did
[00:25:48] did not know ants were not one of of the ten insect species approved
[00:25:52] approved for human consumption in in South Korea. I'm afraid we didn't
[00:25:55] didn't have any pictures to bring bring you on that one. You'll have have to imagine it for yourself.
[00:25:58] yourself. Business Today is coming coming your way. Next, we'll have
[00:26:00] have more on The Fed. See you soon.
[00:27:34] temperatures here with highs of 36
[00:27:35] 36 or 37.
[00:29:39] its knees. So how are people coping? coping? For more coverage join me
[00:29:43] me James Landale here on BBC News.
[00:29:48] News. MUSIC
[00:30:01] MUSIC
[00:30:03] Live from Singapore now on BBC News,
[00:30:10] News, Business Today. The US Federal
[00:30:17] Federal Reserve has raised interest interest rates for the first time time in three years as it tries to
[00:30:20] to combat rising prices and Snap
[00:30:23] Snap launches new augmented reality reality glasses as it targets the the next generation of wearable technology.
[00:30:27] technology. We'll hear from Snap Snap CEO about the company's latest
[00:30:31] latest push into AR glasses. Hello
[00:30:38] Hello and welcome to Business Today Today with me Steve Lai. US interest interest rates have been raised for
[00:30:42] for the first time in more than three three years, with the Federal Reserve
[00:30:46] Reserve lifting its benchmark rate
[00:30:48] rate to between 3.75% and 4%. The
[00:30:51] The decision was unanimous despite despite President Donald Trump calling
[00:30:53] calling for rates to be cut to 1% 1% or less. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh
[00:30:57] Warsh says inflation remains too too high and has not