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[00:00:08] MUSIC
[00:00:11] Live from London. This is BBC News.
[00:00:17] News. At least two people are killed killed in the Moscow region after
[00:00:20] after a massive Ukrainian drone attack
[00:00:22] attack overnight. The brother of of Princess Diana, Earl Spencer,
[00:00:25] Spencer, tells the BBC the treatment treatment of the Duke and Duchess
[00:00:28] Duchess of Sussex at the hands of
[00:00:30] of the media echoes what happened happened to his sister. It would
[00:00:33] would be really beholden on people people to learn from Diana's example.
[00:00:36] example. I'm not here to speak for for Harry and Meghan, but for anyone
[00:00:40] anyone who's being destroyed in this
[00:00:42] this way daily, it must be such a
[00:00:45] a cancerous influence in their life. life. The German chancellor, Friedrich
[00:00:48] Friedrich Merz, faces growing political political pressure as local elections
[00:00:51] elections take place in two German
[00:00:54] German states. Ed Sheeran apologises
[00:00:56] apologises to fans for what he says
[00:00:59] says are mistakes. It's as he opens
[00:01:01] opens his first show since one of
[00:01:03] of his supporting acts was dropped dropped for making pro-Palestinian pro-Palestinian remarks on stage.
[00:01:07] stage. Others also left the line
[00:01:08] line up. What is happening in Gaza
[00:01:12] Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable unjustifiable and disproportionate.
[00:01:16] disproportionate. My heart has been been broken by the scale of devastation
[00:01:19] devastation and loss of civilians
[00:01:22] civilians lives, of children's lives.
[00:01:33] lives. Hello, I'm Rajini Vaidyanathan, Vaidyanathan, welcome to This Hour Hour here on BBC News. Authorities
[00:01:37] Authorities in Moscow say at least least two people have been killed
[00:01:40] killed and six injured in a massive massive overnight Ukrainian drone
[00:01:44] drone attack on the city. Well, posting posting this footage on social media
[00:01:47] media this morning, Ukraine's President President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed
[00:01:49] confirmed that Kyiv had hit a key
[00:01:51] key Russian oil facility as well well as a logistics site in the region.
[00:01:55] region. The targets, he said, represented represented billions of dollars that that sustain the war machine. Meanwhile,
[00:01:59] Meanwhile, the mayor of Moscow says says it was the largest drone attack
[00:02:02] attack on the Russian capital yet
[00:02:04] yet some 450 drones heading for the the capital were shot down. The Russian
[00:02:08] Russian authorities accused Ukraine Ukraine of trying to disrupt the the country's parliamentary elections,
[00:02:12] elections, which end today, and they they claim that more than 1600 drones
[00:02:15] drones were repelled since yesterday. yesterday. Well, our Russia editor,
[00:02:19] editor, Steve Rosenberg, is in Moscow, Moscow, where people are out voting.
[00:02:22] voting. I asked him what the reaction
[00:02:24] reaction has been to these elections elections and to these attacks. Well,
[00:02:28] Well, first of all, the reaction
[00:02:30] reaction no. Sense of surprise here. here. More kind of quiet resignation.
[00:02:33] resignation. I think that after more more than four and a half years of
[00:02:37] of Russia's war on Ukraine, Muscovites
[00:02:39] Muscovites have got used to their their city periodically becoming
[00:02:43] becoming a frontline. And many people, people, I think, had expected attacks attacks during the election. This
[00:02:46] This is one of the polling stations stations just behind me. But in the
[00:02:50] the centre. But earlier today we we were at a polling station very
[00:02:53] very close to the oil refinery that that got hit. One young voter told
[00:02:56] told me that he'd heard the explosions. explosions. He'd heard loud bangs.
[00:03:00] bangs. He said it was a bad situation. situation. I spoke to an older voter
[00:03:04] voter who said he wants peace, but
[00:03:05] but by peace he means Ukraine's defeat.
[00:03:10] defeat. As for the election, while while the whole process is tightly tightly controlled by the Kremlin,
[00:03:13] Kremlin, and I think Vladimir Putin Putin will want to use the election
[00:03:17] election and the results to be announced announced later to try to show that
[00:03:19] that the whole country is behind
[00:03:22] behind the Kremlin, behind the war war in Ukraine, almost to give him
[00:03:25] him a mandate to continue with the
[00:03:28] the special military operation. Well,
[00:03:30] Well, that's our Russia editor, Steve
[00:03:33] Steve Rosenberg, there. Now to a a BBC exclusive and Princess Diana's
[00:03:36] Diana's brother, Earl Spencer has has told the BBC he sees echoes of
[00:03:40] of her treatment by the media when when it comes to the coverage of
[00:03:43] of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Sussex. Speaking to my colleague
[00:03:46] colleague Laura Kuenssberg Earl Spencer Spencer has also rejected any perception
[00:03:48] perception that he favours Prince Prince Harry, insisting he's on the
[00:03:51] the side of both of his nephews.
[00:03:54] nephews. Do you fear there is somehow somehow an an echo of what happened
[00:03:57] happened to Diana? You know, Harry Harry has said on many occasions
[00:04:00] occasions that he hasn't felt supported supported by the institution over
[00:04:03] over the choices that he's made with with his life. I think there's a
[00:04:06] a perception in the media that I'm
[00:04:08] I'm on Harry's side. Well, I'm on
[00:04:11] on my deceased sister's son's side, side, both of them. And if either
[00:04:15] either of them wanted anything, then then I'd be equally there for them.
[00:04:17] them. And I never get involved in
[00:04:20] in one camp or the other except as
[00:04:22] as a benign figure. I hope. That's
[00:04:25] That's my role. Do you think Diana
[00:04:28] Diana would identify with the attention, attention, the focus that has been
[00:04:31] been put on them? And with Meghan, Meghan, who said she felt like she
[00:04:34] she was the most trolled person in in the world. You know, they were
[00:04:37] were here during the summer not so
[00:04:39] so long ago. If you look at an article
[00:04:42] article in a tabloid about Diana
[00:04:46] Diana or the couple that you're mentioning,
[00:04:48] mentioning, Harry and Meghan, you
[00:04:50] you know, it's they can be really, really, really unpleasant. And I
[00:04:53] I think it would be really beholden beholden on people to learn from
[00:04:56] from Diana's example. I'm not here here to speak for Harry and Meghan,
[00:04:59] Meghan, but for anyone who's being
[00:05:02] being destroyed in this way daily, daily, it must be such a cancerous
[00:05:06] cancerous influence in their life. life. I saw it with Diana, I saw
[00:05:09] saw Diana, I mentioned it in the the eulogy, her tears of despair.
[00:05:13] despair. One of the problems with
[00:05:14] with Diana was she's very, very sensitive
[00:05:17] sensitive to criticism. And of course, course, I'm sure most of your viewers
[00:05:20] viewers now think, oh, she had this this splendid life and it was all all amazing. And she didn't she was
[00:05:24] was so privileged and so perfect perfect in so many ways. But she
[00:05:27] she was really brought low by all all that criticism. And yeah, I suppose
[00:05:31] suppose it's a pity when I see echoes
[00:05:34] echoes of that now. Earl Spencer
[00:05:37] Spencer there. Well, our senior royal royal correspondent Daniela Relph
[00:05:40] Relph has been sharing her analysis analysis of those latest comments.
[00:05:44] comments. Earl Spencer has also been been speaking to the media today.
[00:05:47] today. What we're seeing here, Regina, Regina, is Earl Spencer very much
[00:05:51] much doubling down on what he is is writing in his book, what he has
[00:05:54] has said to Laura in that interview interview and now what he has told
[00:05:56] told the Mail on Sunday today saying saying that his late sister would
[00:06:00] would be cheering from the rafters rafters about this book. He's also
[00:06:03] also talked interestingly about that that statement from Buckingham Palace
[00:06:06] Palace last week, which questioned questioned whether a brother's grief
[00:06:09] grief could perhaps cloud his memories memories and his judgement on that.
[00:06:12] that. He says that the King is gaslighting
[00:06:15] gaslighting him with that statement, statement, questioning his memories. memories. Earl Spencer describes
[00:06:19] describes that as astonishingly provocative provocative and below the belt. There's
[00:06:22] There's been no further comment on on the interview or anything else
[00:06:25] else from Buckingham Palace since since last Wednesday. They just don't
[00:06:28] don't want to be drawn into the to to and fro. It's the same from Prince
[00:06:31] Prince William and Prince Harry. Harry. Nothing from their camps. camps. But all of this is a really
[00:06:35] really painful episode for the King. King. His integrity is being questioned
[00:06:39] questioned while he is still being being treated for cancer, and he
[00:06:41] he wants minds focused on royal duties.
[00:06:45] duties. Nats Daniela Relph there. there. Well, you can watch the full
[00:06:48] full interview at Laura Kuenssberg Kuenssberg with Earl Spencer here
[00:06:51] here on the BBC News Channel. We We have a special programme at 7pm
[00:06:55] 7pm BST. If you're watching in the the UK though, you can actually catch
[00:06:58] catch it half an hour earlier on on BBC One. That's 6.30, of course,
[00:07:02] course, and if you want to get it it even earlier than that, you can
[00:07:05] can go to the BBC iPlayer and BBC
[00:07:07] BBC Sounds where that interview will
[00:07:09] will be released at 4 pm. Now to
[00:07:13] to Germany and voting is under way way in two German states for elections,
[00:07:16] elections, which could further weaken weaken Friedrich Mertz's position position as chancellor. He's already
[00:07:19] already cancelled plans to attend attend the UN General Assembly in
[00:07:22] in New York later this week, as speculation speculation grows about his future.
[00:07:25] future. Well, the votes are taking taking place in the capital Berlin
[00:07:28] Berlin and also in the Mecklenburg-Western
[00:07:31] Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania region. region. Well, let's get more on that
[00:07:34] that by speaking to Doctor Henning
[00:07:36] Henning Hoff, the editor of Internationale Internationale Politik Quarterly.
[00:07:39] Quarterly. That's a journal on German German and European foreign affairs.
[00:07:42] affairs. It's published by the German German Council on Foreign Relations.
[00:07:46] Relations. Welcome to BBC News. For
[00:07:49] For people who don't watch German German politics as closely, these these are local elections. But of
[00:07:53] of course they are hugely significant significant because they could tell
[00:07:55] tell us a story about how the German German Chancellor CDU party is faring.
[00:07:59] faring. Just take us through what
[00:08:01] what we're watching. Yes, you have
[00:08:03] have to realise this these two elections elections come after the shock we
[00:08:07] we had two weeks ago when the far
[00:08:10] far right AfD one to the elections
[00:08:13] elections in Saxony-Anhalt and other other federal state. And now of course,
[00:08:17] course, all eyes are on how well well the CDU. The Chancellor's party
[00:08:21] party will do in Berlin. There's
[00:08:24] There's a sort of two horse race
[00:08:26] race between the CDU and Die Linke
[00:08:28] Linke party, which is the hard left
[00:08:31] left party and in, in Mecklenburg
[00:08:32] Mecklenburg the CDU is actually struggling
[00:08:35] struggling to stay in Parliament, Parliament, which is many see this
[00:08:38] this as a kind of a test for formats
[00:08:41] formats really. If the CDU falls
[00:08:43] falls out of that, that regional
[00:08:47] regional parliament things are get
[00:08:49] get dicey. And what is putting pressure pressure on the CDU at the moment?
[00:08:52] moment? I mean, we've talked about about these recent elections a couple
[00:08:55] couple of weeks ago where the far far right AfD did quite well. Are
[00:08:58] Are they part of the equation this
[00:09:00] this time round? Well they won't
[00:09:03] won't win as spectacularly as they they did two weeks ago. And there
[00:09:07] there are some chance that they will will lose their momentum. They have
[00:09:10] have sort of built up over the last
[00:09:14] last couple of weeks, but it's really, really, really difficult to tell
[00:09:17] tell at the moment sort of what will
[00:09:18] will the exact effect. They are sort
[00:09:21] sort of some indications that smart smart sort of is won't be replaced
[00:09:25] replaced immediately that that he he has won a little bit of time,
[00:09:27] time, a little bit breather maybe, maybe, but there is no way to get
[00:09:30] get around the fact that he is really
[00:09:33] really historically unpopular and and within his party. Many people
[00:09:36] people are worried that this is sort sort of dragging the whole party
[00:09:39] party down. And at some point there
[00:09:42] there might be the moment where his
[00:09:46] his colleagues think we can't win win with him. We might have to replace
[00:09:49] replace him. And what did you make make of the fact that he said he's
[00:09:52] he's not going to the UN General General Assembly, a really important
[00:09:55] important event for world leaders leaders to come together. It tells tells you something, doesn't it,
[00:09:59] it, that he's staying back home.
[00:10:00] home. Indeed. He's fighting for his
[00:10:03] his position. He told us two weeks weeks ago that that giving up is
[00:10:06] is no option for him. And as I said, said, he might have bought a little,
[00:10:10] little, little bit of time because
[00:10:12] because there's no obvious successor.
[00:10:15] successor. And those who might actually actually be be able to succeed him
[00:10:18] him may need more time to, to, to
[00:10:21] to prepare for such an eventuality.
[00:10:24] eventuality. So even if the outcome
[00:10:26] outcome this evening is quite dire
[00:10:28] dire for the CDU, it might still
[00:10:30] still take longer than initially initially expected for for seeing
[00:10:34] seeing something which is really really rare in German politics that
[00:10:37] that the leading figure is be replaced. replaced. I mean, Chancellor Emmert
[00:10:40] Emmert says he's going to stay on, on, doesn't he? Even if the results results don't look good. But of course,
[00:10:44] course, as you mentioned already already in our conversation, he's he's got very poor approval ratings.
[00:10:48] ratings. What do you think could could tip the balance then? If those
[00:10:51] those results don't look great later?
[00:10:54] later? Well, as I said, I think for
[00:10:55] for the moment he's probably clear
[00:10:58] clear a catastrophic loss for the
[00:11:01] the CDU in Mecklenburg. Of course, course, might sort of set set something
[00:11:05] something in motion. Also in Berlin,
[00:11:08] Berlin, if the polls are wrong and and the CDU is getting a really,
[00:11:11] really, really bad result at the the moment, they are polling about
[00:11:14] about 20%. But if that's not not
[00:11:17] not panned out by by the results,
[00:11:19] results, then also this might be be the moment where the CDU decides,
[00:11:23] decides, no, we can't continue with
[00:11:25] with Mr Merz, but he has managed
[00:11:28] managed to, to sort of somehow sort
[00:11:30] sort of calm down the situation to
[00:11:32] to some extent. Also arguing that that he is the only one really who
[00:11:36] who could sort of now see through through these unpopular reforms.
[00:11:40] reforms. He and his government are
[00:11:42] are pursuing. So he might might sort
[00:11:45] sort of operate on, on the assumption assumption that that he will go forward,
[00:11:49] forward, introduce these reforms reforms and then maybe make place place for a more popular candidate.
[00:11:53] candidate. OK. Doctor Henning Hoff, Hoff, thank you very much for taking
[00:11:56] taking us through what we can look
[00:11:59] look to in a few hours from now.
[00:12:00] now. We will of course have full
[00:12:03] full continuing coverage of those those results as they come in. And And in the next couple of hours,
[00:12:07] hours, we'll also speak to our correspondent correspondent in Germany, Jessica
[00:12:11] Jessica Parker, now the sister of of Pakistan's jailed former Prime
[00:12:14] Prime Minister Aleema Khan, has been
[00:12:16] been arrested in Lahore. A spokesman
[00:12:19] spokesman for Imran Khan's PTI party party said that Miss Khan was arrested
[00:12:23] arrested at her home on Sunday ahead ahead of a planned party protest
[00:12:26] protest march, which is due to take take place next weekend. While the
[00:12:29] the government and police have yet yet to comment on Aleema Khan arrest,
[00:12:33] arrest, the former cricketer Imran Imran Khan has been in prison since
[00:12:36] since August 2023 after he was convicted
[00:12:40] convicted on a number of charges, charges, including corruption. He
[00:12:42] He says they're politically motivated.
[00:12:45] motivated. President Trump says he'll he'll form an AI force and appoint
[00:12:49] appoint a new artificial intelligence intelligence adviser to regulate regulate the industry. Writing on
[00:12:53] on social media, he says he would would not hinder the growth of AI.
[00:12:56] AI. Warning that the US must maintain maintain its lead over China. Leigh
[00:12:59] Leigh Milner has more on what's behind
[00:13:02] behind the President's urgency around
[00:13:04] around AI. Apologies. We will bring
[00:13:12] bring that analysis from Leigh Milner Milner in a moment, but let's move
[00:13:15] move on to another big story of the
[00:13:18] the day. Musician Ed Sheeran's apologised apologised on stage to fans in Philadelphia,
[00:13:22] Philadelphia, admitting that he made made mistakes following the controversy controversy over his world tour.
[00:13:25] tour. The singer has been dealing dealing with the fallout after his
[00:13:29] his main support act, the American American rapper Macklemore was removed
[00:13:32] removed from the line-up after he he made pro-Palestinian remarks on
[00:13:35] on stage. It led to the other support
[00:13:37] support acts then dropping out. Ed Ed Sheeran says he questions whether
[00:13:40] whether he wanted to be an artist artist at all after everything that
[00:13:44] that happened. Carl Nasman reports reports from the show. Ed Sheeran
[00:13:47] Sheeran is used to having the spotlight spotlight on his music. Tonight it
[00:13:51] it was squarely on his words. This This is not usually how I would open
[00:13:54] open the show, but before I play play some songs tonight, I hope it's
[00:13:58] it's OK if I say a few words. Taking
[00:14:00] Taking the stage in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, the megastar apologised
[00:14:04] apologised directly to his fans for for the recent controversy surrounding
[00:14:06] surrounding his tour. This week. week. The criticism was about something
[00:14:10] something much more important and and I've had to take and make difficult
[00:14:14] difficult decisions and I am making
[00:14:16] making mistakes and I'm so, so sorry.
[00:14:18] sorry. He also clarified where he he stands on the situation in Gaza.
[00:14:22] Gaza. What happened in Israel and and at the Nova Music Festival on
[00:14:26] on October 7th was horrific and compounded
[00:14:28] compounded centuries of Jewish pain.
[00:14:31] pain. What is happening in Gaza is
[00:14:34] is a catastrophic and unjustifiable unjustifiable and disproportionate.
[00:14:37] disproportionate. My heart has been been broken by the scale of devastation
[00:14:40] devastation and loss of civilians
[00:14:44] civilians lives, of children's lives lives and the systemic injustice
[00:14:47] injustice we're seeing unfold in in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.
[00:14:51] overlooked. Sheeran also addressed addressed the musicians not in the
[00:14:54] the room, his backing band and tour tour mates left in solidarity after
[00:14:57] after the rapper Macklemore was dropped dropped over his pro-Palestinian
[00:15:01] pro-Palestinian views. He said he he was deeply worried about venues
[00:15:05] venues pre-approving content or performers. performers. I was in some of the
[00:15:09] the front rows inside that stadium stadium as Ed Sheeran made that speech
[00:15:12] speech and this was clearly an emotional emotional moment for him. He said
[00:15:15] said he was worried about how he he might be perceived tonight, and
[00:15:18] and he was thankful that fans came came out at all. I thought it was
[00:15:22] was beautiful that we got to witness witness him in his element, like
[00:15:25] like what he's used to being in from from the start, you know? So he started
[00:15:28] started by himself and he's just just as good by himself then with
[00:15:31] with all these extra people. So I'm I'm glad we got more of Ed Sheeran
[00:15:34] Sheeran than we would have otherwise. otherwise. He stayed neutral and and I think he covered both sides
[00:15:38] sides nicely. I think everyone leaves leaves happy and a big fan of his.
[00:15:41] his. Sheeran is an artist who likes likes to stay out of politics, but
[00:15:45] but that has become increasingly increasingly difficult. Before the
[00:15:48] the concert, dozens of pro-Palestinian pro-Palestinian protesters near the
[00:15:51] the stadium only added to the pressure. pressure. Sheeran said tonight that that he wants his concerts to be
[00:15:55] be a place where everyone is welcome, welcome, and he likely hopes now
[00:15:59] now the focus can return to his music.
[00:16:04] music. Carl Nasman, BBC News. Now Now let's take a look at some of
[00:16:06] of the day's other news now. The The new school year has begun in
[00:16:10] in Gaza, with more than 500,000 children children returning to formal education
[00:16:13] education for the first time in nearly
[00:16:14] nearly three years. The UN says 97%
[00:16:17] 97% of schools in the territory were
[00:16:19] were damaged or destroyed in fighting. fighting. Since the Israel-Gaza war
[00:16:23] war began, working alongside UN agencies, agencies, the education ministry
[00:16:26] ministry has opened about 700 education
[00:16:29] education facilities, some as simple simple as a tent. Thousands of people
[00:16:32] people in Argentina have been marching marching through Buenos Aires to
[00:16:36] to protest against President Javier Javier Morales. Labour policies and
[00:16:38] and austerity cuts. The left wing wing political leaders and activists activists have been calling for a
[00:16:42] a general strike in the country. country. Police in the Netherlands
[00:16:45] Netherlands have clashed with several several hundred far right protesters
[00:16:48] protesters in the centre of The Hague. Hague. Authorities ordered a planned
[00:16:52] planned anti-immigration demonstration demonstration be broken up its after after it spiralled into violence
[00:16:56] violence as protesters were gathering gathering at a local park. Demonstrators
[00:16:59] Demonstrators threw fireworks and and projectiles at riot police and
[00:17:02] and chanted antisemitic slogans. slogans. At least 24 people were
[00:17:06] were arrested. The American footwear footwear company converse has withdrawn
[00:17:10] withdrawn an advert after criticism criticism that it evoked imagery
[00:17:13] imagery of the white supremacist supremacist group the Klu Klux Klan.
[00:17:16] Klan. Social media users said shadows shadows in the photograph resembled resembled a white pointed hood, while
[00:17:19] while a pair of dangling shoes was
[00:17:22] was likened to an image of lynching.
[00:17:28] lynching. Now the leader of the Liberal Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, says
[00:17:32] says the Liberal Democrats are a a firewall against Nigel Farage and
[00:17:35] and reform it as the party's annual annual conference gets under way
[00:17:39] way in Brighton. Well, let's go to to Brighton and join my colleague,
[00:17:43] colleague, our political correspondent correspondent Damien Grammaticas. Grammaticas. So already some policy
[00:17:47] policy ideas that are being thrown thrown out as well as of course a
[00:17:50] a bigger picture strategy from the
[00:17:52] the party. Yeah that's right. So
[00:17:55] So the party are doing is trying trying to respond to this situation.
[00:17:58] situation. They find themselves in in flatlining in the polls. Yes,
[00:18:00] Yes, they did very well at the last last general election, but they're
[00:18:04] they're not really getting anywhere anywhere at the minute. So they've
[00:18:07] they've got a lot of MPs but they're they're not getting much of a hearing. hearing. How do they do that? Ed
[00:18:11] Ed Davey is trying to talk about about tax cuts. That's something
[00:18:14] something he's talked about today today and wants to talk about later
[00:18:16] later in the week. His deputy leader leader Daisy Cooper, she's talking
[00:18:19] talking about growth in the economy economy closer ties with the EU.
[00:18:23] EU. Someone who's watching all this this closely. Holly Cole from Times
[00:18:26] Times Radio. This kind of framing framing of these policies, what do
[00:18:30] do you see in it? Lib Dems looking looking for ways to connect to voters.
[00:18:32] voters. Well it's sort of the party party looking for a soul again basically
[00:18:35] basically is how I read it from having having conversations with members members here and MPs. They've got
[00:18:39] got this historic amount of MPs in in Parliament. They haven't quite quite worked out what to do with
[00:18:43] with them and also how to make sure sure that that's not sort of a limit
[00:18:47] limit to their ambitions. So that that means that they are looking looking at whether they are actually
[00:18:50] actually liberal, you know, like like the Liberal Party, the Orange
[00:18:52] Orange Book, sort of Lib Dem party party of 2004 looking at the economic
[00:18:56] economic liberal policies or are are they tax cutting cuts, things
[00:18:59] things like that, talking big on on the free market or are they more
[00:19:02] more a big state party, which is is where the party had drifted to
[00:19:06] to just shortly before that and where where a lot of MPs think Ed Davey
[00:19:08] Davey has drifted to with his promises promises on social care and similar
[00:19:12] similar ideals. So there is a sort sort of battle for the soul of the
[00:19:15] the party here. The question is they they know they need to find an answer
[00:19:18] answer to it. The answer is quite quite hard to come by because politics politics is, as we know, a lot more
[00:19:22] more fractious. And as we saw from from that, more in common polling polling earlier, the question of
[00:19:26] of who are the Lib Dems and what what do they think of Ed Davey? The The answer comes nothing or don't
[00:19:29] don't know. And so filling that gap gap is their real challenge here. here. Now, one thing people have
[00:19:33] have been talking about is is part part of the answer. Changing the
[00:19:36] the not just the strategy but the the leadership. You know, does the
[00:19:39] the party need a refresh? David's David's been around for a long time. time. He's had success. But should
[00:19:43] should they change? There's some some rumbles about that. We've had
[00:19:46] had one council leader saying to to the BBC that he thinks they're
[00:19:49] they're struggling for relevance relevance and not sure that Ed Davey Davey is the right person. Do you
[00:19:52] you think that's something that's that's really genuinely being thought thought about here? Yeah, it is.
[00:19:56] is. And if you talk to MPs, the parliamentary parliamentary party, they think that
[00:19:59] that this needs an injection of energy. energy. The whole party system needs
[00:20:02] needs a move forward and that means means potentially getting rid of
[00:20:05] of Ed Davey. He's given I think, think, 7 or 8 leaders speeches at
[00:20:08] at Lib Dem conferences. So he's been been in charge for some time and and no one can sort of knock his
[00:20:12] his record for whether Liberal Democrats Democrats now stand. The issue is,
[00:20:15] is, is whether people believe his his energy going forward. I mean, mean, he stood up on the conference
[00:20:18] conference stage yesterday and tried tried to get the crowd here who were
[00:20:22] were pretty forgiving crowd to the the Liberal Democrats. You would
[00:20:24] would hope to chant we care. We fight fight their conference slogan. There
[00:20:27] There was a really quite muted and and it didn't really get off the the ground. And so is there someone
[00:20:31] someone with that energy now? The The problem is the who. There's a a lot of old guard liberal Democrats
[00:20:35] Democrats who have been sniffing sniffing around the leadership for for some time, but everyone thinks thinks they'd basically be sort of
[00:20:38] of Ed Davey but in a different set set of clothes. The only other option
[00:20:42] option is a very, very fresh MP, MP, someone new to the parliamentary parliamentary party who they're not
[00:20:45] not quite sure the public knows yet yet or is quite right to leave. But
[00:20:48] But you always get this sort of party party conference mid between election election moment where there are jitters
[00:20:51] jitters and they're not sure yet yet whether to jump off the cliff cliff edge or whether to stick. Well,
[00:20:55] Well, the leadership and those around around him, you talk to them. They're They're very clear. They think actually
[00:20:59] actually they were they did well. well. They are under the headlines
[00:21:01] headlines doing well. They you know, know, council elections. They now
[00:21:05] now have more councils than the Tories Tories that they control. The Conservatives
[00:21:08] Conservatives in England. And they're they're kind of positioned, they they say to yes, they could sharpen
[00:21:12] sharpen their message, but be a player, player, particularly at the next
[00:21:15] next election if there is a hung hung parliament and they think that's
[00:21:18] that's likely, they do. But you have have to remember that actually they
[00:21:21] they were a very different party party when they went into coalition. coalition. The last time. The Liberal
[00:21:24] Liberal Democrats don't like to talk talk about their record in government government because they've spent spent the last few years bashing
[00:21:28] bashing the Conservative Party that that they were in bed with. But the
[00:21:31] the reality is the direction of the the party was very different under under Nick Clegg and the ideals of
[00:21:35] of the party were clear to go into into that coalition and draw those
[00:21:37] those red lines. So they need to to work that out again. And this this is what this weekend is all
[00:21:41] all about. Holly, thank you very very much for your time there. So
[00:21:45] So yes, a party putting out new ideas ideas but also struggling for direction
[00:21:49] direction and for focus. Back to to you. OK, Damien, thank you very
[00:21:51] very much. And of course Damien will
[00:21:53] will continue his coverage of that that conference in the days ahead.
[00:21:56] ahead. And there's plenty more online online as well. Next, we've heard
[00:22:00] heard a lot, of course, about mother mother and baby groups, but one new
[00:22:03] new dad noticed that there was much much less support available for fathers,
[00:22:07] fathers, so he decided to do something something about it himself. His Good
[00:22:10] Good Dads Club gives fathers a place place to share the highs and lows
[00:22:14] lows of parenthood. It's now grown grown to more than 400 members, as
[00:22:17] as Robbie West now reports. Oh yeah,
[00:22:20] yeah, 100%. Pushing prams and putting putting the world to rights. This
[00:22:23] This is a group for dads to get together together and have a walk and a talk,
[00:22:27] talk, even if some of the kids they
[00:22:29] they bring aren't as chatty. Your
[00:22:33] Your wife know. Luke is one of the
[00:22:35] the 40 men that's come to the first first meet up of the Chelmsford Good
[00:22:38] Good Dads group. It's fantastic because because it's giving dads an opportunity opportunity to connect with other
[00:22:42] other dads. I remember, you know, know, when we had a bit of a tough
[00:22:46] tough time in the hospital with the the baby, there was no real support
[00:22:49] support network there at the hospital hospital or anything like that for for so many kids to turn out. It's
[00:22:52] It's fantastic. I mean, I've even even met one of the dads I've not not seen for 17 years since I was
[00:22:56] was at school with him. So you're you're getting to connect with other other dads and just have a chat.
[00:22:59] chat. And it's genuinely really quite quite a relieving feeling. The group
[00:23:03] group was started by a new dad looking looking for people going through
[00:23:06] through the same situation as him.
[00:23:08] him. There's so many good mums groups groups around. My wife threw herself
[00:23:11] herself into loads of them, but I I couldn't find anything for dads
[00:23:15] dads so I decided to start my own. own. You know, they've given amazing amazing advice. They've been through
[00:23:18] through exactly the same thing. That's That's what it's about. We're not not relying on AI or Google. We're
[00:23:22] We're actually dads who have been been through it and they're willing willing to share their experiences
[00:23:25] experiences and help other dads. dads. So it really is a great support
[00:23:28] support network. I've become a dad
[00:23:30] dad because of the dads in the group, group, and I hope that's the case
[00:23:33] case for a lot of the other dads dads as well. It has amazing feedback
[00:23:36] feedback from everyone. It's been been really, really, really. I'm
[00:23:39] I'm just so proud. It makes me choke choke you thinking about it. But
[00:23:42] But yeah, it it's just fantastic. fantastic. Members say it's not just
[00:23:46] just about getting them out of the the house, it's also about letting
[00:23:49] letting mums have some time to themselves. themselves. If you're a dad looking
[00:23:52] looking to meet new dads and you
[00:23:54] you want to get out and like talk talk about things and how you're you're feeling or whatever. Join
[00:23:58] Join Good Dads Club. It's just it's it's the best. I think we're going
[00:24:01] going to be on TV. Oh yeah. This
[00:24:04] This is a walk that isn't just about about getting from A to B, this is
[00:24:08] is a chance for dads to check in
[00:24:09] in on each other during a time that
[00:24:12] that can be particularly challenging.
[00:24:14] challenging. Robbie West, BBC News.
[00:24:18] News. The French president, Emmanuel Emmanuel Macron, has endorsed a deal
[00:24:21] deal signed between Denmark and the the US over the future of Greenland,
[00:24:24] Greenland, saying it helped reaffirm reaffirm Danish sovereignty over
[00:24:27] over the Arctic territory. Well, Well, President Trump has posted posted several days ago a map of
[00:24:31] of the North Atlantic, which included included one French archipelago with
[00:24:35] with the American flag prompting prompting strong criticism from Paris.
[00:24:38] Paris. The future of Greenland sparked sparked tensions between Washington
[00:24:41] Washington and its Nato allies after after President Trump threatened
[00:24:45] threatened to annexe it. While America America has a base in the north of
[00:24:48] of the territory, and it's where where mineral wealth and resources
[00:24:51] resources have become more accessible accessible due to global warming.
[00:24:54] warming. A rare catch and kill order order has been issued for a great
[00:24:58] great white shark off the coast of of Western Australia. That's after
[00:25:01] after a 63-year-old swimmer was killed killed at a popular beach on Friday.
[00:25:04] Friday. His body has yet to be found. found. It's the second shark attack
[00:25:08] attack in Western Australia this this week and the third fatal one
[00:25:12] one in the state this year. Now ancient
[00:25:16] ancient Roman architecture has met
[00:25:18] met cutting edge technology in Croatia.
[00:25:21] Croatia. The Adriatic coastal city
[00:25:23] city of Pula turned its 2000-year-old 2000-year-old historic buildings
[00:25:26] buildings into a canvas for contemporary contemporary light art. Some 16 locations
[00:25:30] locations across the city were used used to explore themes of space,
[00:25:33] space, peace, nature and human relationships.
[00:25:35] relationships. In total, there were were 23 works featuring artists from
[00:25:38] from countries including Croatia Croatia but also Germany, Ukraine,
[00:25:42] Ukraine, Norway and Hong Kong. As
[00:25:44] As you can see there now, a reminder
[00:25:47] reminder of our one of our main stories stories today and that is of course, course, the BBC's interview with
[00:25:51] with Earl Spencer. You can watch watch it here in full on the BBC
[00:25:54] BBC News Channel at 7pm BST. Do stay
[00:25:56] stay with us here on BBC News.
[00:29:54] latest news wherever you are. Business
[00:29:55] Business on BBC News. Make the connection.
[00:30:06] connection. MUSIC
[00:30:08] MUSIC
[00:30:14] These are the latest headlines from BBC News. At least two people
[00:30:18] people are killed in the Moscow region region after Ukraine carries out
[00:30:21] out large-scale drone attacks near near the Russian capital. The mayor
[00:30:24] mayor of Moscow says 450 drones were
[00:30:27] were directed at the city since Saturday. Saturday. Princess Diana's brother
[00:30:31] brother Earl Spencer, has told the the BBC the treatment of the Duke
[00:30:33] Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the the hands of the media has echoes
[00:30:37] echoes of what happened to his sister. sister. German Chancellor Friedrich
[00:30:41] Friedrich Merz faces growing political political pressure as local elections
[00:30:44] elections take place in two German
[00:30:46] German states. Opinion polls suggest suggest that the Chancellor's party,
[00:30:49] party, the CDU, is at risk of damaging
[00:30:52] damaging defeats, raising questions
[00:30:53] questions about his future as leader.
[00:30:57] leader. Ed Sheeran apologises to to fans