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00:00:00to us. MUSIC
00:00:13Live from London. This is BBC
00:00:16News. More scrutiny on Fifa president
00:00:18president Gianni Infantino as allegations allegations emerge in the Daily Telegraph
00:00:21Telegraph that a woman he had an an alleged relationship with was
00:00:24was given a six figure severance severance payment while he was general
00:00:28general secretary of Uefa. Fifa says
00:00:29says the story is categorically untrue.
00:00:32untrue. At least three people, including including a child, have been killed
00:00:36killed in overnight Russian attacks attacks near the Ukrainian capital
00:00:39capital Kyiv. The attacks come as as President Zelensky is visiting
00:00:43visiting Serbia, a traditional ally ally of Russia, as he seeks to bolster
00:00:47bolster support for Ukraine's war
00:00:48war effort. And it's the biggest biggest celebration of Irish music
00:00:52music and culture in the world. Belfast Belfast hosts the Fleadh Festival
00:00:56Festival for the first time. Welcome
00:01:08Welcome to BBC News. I'm Luxmy Gopal.
00:01:10Gopal. There's more pressure on Fifa Fifa president Gianni Infantino after
00:01:14after the Daily Telegraph newspaper newspaper reported claims that his
00:01:17his alleged lover was given a severance severance payment by Uefa when he
00:01:21he was their general secretary. European European football's governing body
00:01:24body has confirmed payment was made
00:01:26made to the woman. The BBC has contacted
00:01:28contacted Fifa and Mr Infantino for for comment. But the Fifa boss told
00:01:32told the paper that he strongly denies
00:01:34denies what he calls these categorically categorically untrue allegations.
00:01:37allegations. Well, Mike Bushell from from the BBC Sports Centre has been been giving me the background to
00:01:41to the allegations against Mr Infantino.
00:01:44Infantino. The story first emerged emerged in the Daily Telegraph and
00:01:47and relates back to a time when the the now Fifa president, Gianni Infantino,
00:01:51Infantino, was the Secretary General General of Uefa a time from 2009
00:01:552009 to 2016, and the allegations allegations are that a woman who
00:01:58who he was allegedly in a relationship relationship with was given this
00:02:01this six figure severance payment
00:02:03payment by Uefa, a claim Fifa have have categorically denied. I'll come
00:02:07come to exactly what Fifa have reportedly reportedly said shortly, but first,
00:02:10first, Uefa have issued a statement statement and this is it seen by
00:02:14by the BBC. They say we are aware aware of the allegations and can
00:02:18can confirm a departure payment was was made to the individual in question,
00:02:22question, coupled with the payment payment of fees for an MBA course
00:02:25course at a local business school, school, they go on to say the payment
00:02:28payment was in line with the regulations
00:02:30regulations that existed for departing
00:02:33departing staff at the time, such
00:02:35such regulations have been tightened tightened since 2016 and the current current staff regulations, which
00:02:39which apply to all Uefa employees
00:02:41employees at whatever level, reflect
00:02:44reflect those found in a modern high
00:02:46high profile organisation. So Fifa, Fifa, as you were mentioning, have have been approached by the BBC for
00:02:50for comment. But in a statement given given to The Telegraph, they say
00:02:54say that Fifa president Gianni Infantino
00:02:56Infantino strongly denies these allegations. allegations. They are categorically
00:02:58categorically untrue. They add no
00:03:01no employee at Fifa or Uefa has ever
00:03:03ever raised a complaint regarding regarding Mr Infantino's behaviour
00:03:07behaviour because there was never never an incident where he was involved. involved. Of course, this comes at
00:03:11at a time when the President's main main concern has been trying to win
00:03:14win back support. After the backlash backlash to his now shelved proposal
00:03:18proposal to sell off a stake in the
00:03:20the World Cup. Despite heavy criticism
00:03:22criticism from Uefa. He has had the the backing from other nations, including
00:03:25including where he is there in these these pictures in Colombia, as the
00:03:28the head of the South American Confederation
00:03:31Confederation said we stand by Gianni.
00:03:35Gianni. BBC sport's Mike Bushell Bushell there. Well, as Mike was
00:03:38was mentioning, Gianni Infantino Infantino is in Colombia where he's
00:03:41he's attended the inauguration of of the new president and the BBC
00:03:44BBC caught up with him as he was was attending a meeting with the
00:03:47the head of South America's Football
00:03:48Football Confederation as Ione Wells
00:03:51Wells reports the events of the inauguration inauguration of. Wrapped up here
00:03:54here in Cali, in the south of Colombia Colombia and unsurprisingly Janiv
00:03:58Janiv Infantino did not answer any any of the questions that I tried
00:04:01tried to pose to him when I saw him
00:04:04him entering and leaving that event event where he was attending the
00:04:06the inauguration of Colombia's new
00:04:08new president, Abelardo de la Espriella
00:04:11Espriella Infantino. Will you resign resign after your plan to sell off
00:04:15off part of Fifa failed? A word for
00:04:17for BBC News. What is your response response to Europe? Who say they'll
00:04:21they'll boycott the World Cup? Infantino. Infantino. I asked him whether he
00:04:24he would resign given his plan to to sell off parts of Fifa failed.
00:04:26failed. I asked him what his response response was to Europe, saying it
00:04:29it could boycott the World Cup given
00:04:33given Uefa doesn't have faith in in his leadership. I asked him whether,
00:04:36whether, as countries like Jordan Jordan have claimed, he has been
00:04:40been financially blackmailing some some countries to support him and and whether in fact he is here in
00:04:43in South America to try to shore
00:04:45shore up support for his presidency. presidency. I think many will see
00:04:49see this visit of his as essentially essentially an attempt to try and
00:04:51and get more countries on his side
00:04:54side to try and get every single single vote he can from countries
00:04:57countries that might still support support him ahead of that crucial
00:05:00crucial election next year to determine
00:05:03determine the next Fifa president. president. I think some could say
00:05:06say that as a result, this trip has
00:05:08has been somewhat of a success in
00:05:10in that regard, given that he met
00:05:12met with not just grassroots football football associations but also with
00:05:16with the federation, the Colombian Colombian Football Federation and
00:05:19and also, crucially, the President President of Conmebol, which is the
00:05:22the governing body of football in
00:05:24in South America. The President spoke
00:05:26spoke to us afterwards and seemed
00:05:28seemed to suggest that Conmebol did
00:05:31did support Infantino continued to
00:05:33to support him and in fact, the only only question, the only answer that
00:05:36that I received from Infantino was
00:05:38was very simply in his words I love
00:05:41love Colombia. Gianni Infantino, Infantino, could you just give us
00:05:44us one answer for BBC News? What's
00:05:46What's your view? That being said,
00:05:49said, just because he may have the the support of some governing bodies
00:05:52bodies and figures here, this scandal scandal certainly hasn't gone away
00:05:55away and he will continue to face face these questions. I think wherever
00:05:59wherever he goes next, our correspondent correspondent Ione Wells there, let's
00:06:03let's turn to Ukraine now, where where Russia has carried out further
00:06:06further overnight attacks. At least least three people, including a child,
00:06:09child, were killed on the outskirts outskirts of Kyiv. Three more were
00:06:13were injured by falling debris damaged damaged apartment buildings and cars
00:06:17cars while a fire broke out at a a separate building. For its part,
00:06:20part, the Ukrainian military says
00:06:22says it struck two Russian oil refineries
00:06:25refineries overnight, causing fires fires at both. Meanwhile, Ukraine's
00:06:28Ukraine's president is making his his first official visit to Serbia Serbia today. It's one of the few
00:06:32few European countries to maintain maintain close ties with Russia,
00:06:36Russia, president Zelensky is discussing discussing economic and security
00:06:39security issues with his Serbian Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic
00:06:42Vucic at the presidential palace
00:06:44palace and Mr Vucic has repeatedly repeatedly refused to sanction Moscow
00:06:47Moscow following Russia's full-scale full-scale invasion of Ukraine in
00:06:51in 2022, but has also supplied non-military
00:06:54non-military aid to Kyiv. Mr Zelensky Zelensky spoke in the past hour alongside
00:06:58alongside his Serbian counterpart counterpart and addressed the impact impact that the overnight attacks
00:07:01attacks were having on Ukraine. It
00:07:07It is truly a horrific tragedy, the
00:07:10the tragedy of Russian aggression aggression against an independent
00:07:13independent Ukraine. My condolences condolences to all the families and
00:07:17and loved ones of the victims. 77
00:07:2077 people have been injured across across the region's 12 regions came
00:07:23came under attack and in fact, almost
00:07:25almost every night and every day day now in the fifth year of this
00:07:29this war, we in Ukraine are forced
00:07:31forced to endure attacks like this.
00:07:33this. The majority of Russia's strikes strikes are directed against facilities
00:07:36facilities that are working to sustain sustain the lives of the people.
00:07:40people. In fact, we have virtually
00:07:42virtually no power plants left undamaged. undamaged. Many railway stations
00:07:46stations have been destroyed as well well as hospitals, universities and
00:07:49and ordinary civilian enterprises. enterprises. At a time of such a
00:07:53a war, we value and are deeply grateful
00:07:56grateful for all the support Ukraine
00:07:59Ukraine receives from other countries countries and other nations. And
00:08:03And of course, we are developing developing every format of co-operation
00:08:05co-operation that can give our people
00:08:08people our cities and our communities communities greater resilience and
00:08:11and greater ability to withstand withstand all the challenges of this
00:08:15this war. We're grateful that Serbia
00:08:18Serbia will provide a new package
00:08:20package of humanitarian assistance assistance to Ukraine, particularly
00:08:23particularly in the areas of health health care and energy. This is of
00:08:27of utmost importance to us. Thank
00:08:29Thank you, Mr President. So that
00:08:33that was President Volodymyr Zelensky Zelensky speaking at that press conference
00:08:37conference alongside his Serbian Serbian counterpart. We'll get some
00:08:39some analysis on that soon from our
00:08:41our colleagues at BBC Serbia. But But now there's been a new development
00:08:45development in the investigation investigation into the murder of
00:08:47of the former MP Ann Widdecombe. Widdecombe. Counter-Terrorism police
00:08:50police have reopened a probe into into an attempted burglary at an
00:08:53an address in London last year. Detectives
00:08:56Detectives say a line of inquiry inquiry has been identified which
00:08:59which may be relevant but wasn't wasn't pursued at the time. BBC News
00:09:02News understands that it relates relates to an incident at Nigel Farage's
00:09:06Farage's home, which he previously previously referred to as a lit incendiary
00:09:09incendiary device being pushed through through his letterbox. Thomas Magill
00:09:13Magill has more. Brutally murdered
00:09:16murdered in her own home. A month month ago today, Ann Widdecombe was
00:09:20was attacked minutes before she was was due to make a television appearance
00:09:23appearance less than two weeks after
00:09:25after her killing 28-year-old Joshua Joshua Kerry, from South Yorkshire,
00:09:29Yorkshire, was charged with her murder.
00:09:32murder. Now counter-terrorism police police who are leading the investigation
00:09:35investigation into what happened, happened, say they have reopened
00:09:38reopened inquiries into an attempted attempted burglary at a property
00:09:41property in the Greater London area
00:09:43area in April last year. The BBC
00:09:47BBC understands the property in question question is used by the reform UK
00:09:51UK leader Nigel Farage. He has previously
00:09:54previously referred to the incident incident as a lit incendiary device
00:09:57device being pushed through his letterbox.
00:10:00letterbox. This latest statement statement says following the reopening
00:10:04reopening of the attempted burglary
00:10:07burglary investigation, Counter-Terrorist Counter-Terrorist Policing London
00:10:09London identified a line of inquiry inquiry which was not identified
00:10:13identified and pursued by them at
00:10:14at the time, which may have been
00:10:18been relevant and there's a further further development. Counter-Terrorism Counter-Terrorism police based in
00:10:22in London have made a mandatory referral
00:10:24referral to the police watchdog, watchdog, the IOPC, after their handling
00:10:28handling of the initial investigation
00:10:30investigation last year. For now, now, it's unknown how the murder
00:10:34murder of Ann Widdecombe in Devon Devon may be linked to an attempted
00:10:38attempted burglary in London. Just
00:10:39Just one of the many questions yet
00:10:42yet to be answered. Thomas Magill,
00:10:44Magill, BBC News. Spain has brought
00:10:47brought in border controls for all all travellers arriving from Italy
00:10:50Italy amid a rare row between the the two EU and Nato member states
00:10:54states over the issue of immigration. immigration. Madrid's month long
00:10:57long suspension applies not just just to citizens of third countries
00:11:01countries arriving from Italy, but but also to Italians themselves.
00:11:05themselves. Spain was angered by by Italy's response to last week's
00:11:07week's sudden influx of tens of thousands thousands of would be migrants into
00:11:11into the Spanish territory of Ceuta, Ceuta, on Morocco's coast. You might
00:11:15might remember that Italy then promptly promptly imposed border restrictions
00:11:18restrictions on third country travellers travellers from Spain, which will
00:11:21will last at least until mid-August.
00:11:25mid-August. Well Emanuele Loperfido Loperfido is an MP with Italian Prime
00:11:28Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni's, Meloni's, Brothers of Italy party party and the secretary of the Foreign
00:11:32Foreign Affairs Committee in the
00:11:33the Italian Chamber of
00:11:38Deputies. Obviously, as the Prime Prime Minister said yesterday, that
00:11:40that our main target is to maintain, maintain, protect our border and
00:11:43and since we know that there are are additional threats coming from
00:11:47from Ceuta in the next days, we will
00:11:50will suspend the Schengen agreement. agreement. Until that date. Therefore,
00:11:53Therefore, our willingness to co-operate co-operate with Spain in order to
00:11:56to secure the European borders. And And if we if it is needed, we can
00:12:00can also co-operate to work together.
00:12:03together. But the reaction of Spain
00:12:05Spain was a bit unusual because what
00:12:08what Italy is controlling the non-EU
00:12:11non-EU citizens coming from Spain
00:12:13Spain into Italy, the Spanish decision
00:12:16decision is to control every single
00:12:19single Italian citizen and European
00:12:21European citizen going to Spain from from Italy. So that is a bit unusual
00:12:25unusual and I'm sure that with the the diplomatic dialogues we will
00:12:28will sort it out in order to maintain maintain the target of security,
00:12:31security, the border control, security
00:12:33security of Europe and a free travel
00:12:36travel around the Europe. Can I put put to you what came from Spain's
00:12:40Spain's government? They said that that Italy's introduction of checks
00:12:43checks was based on spurious arguments
00:12:45arguments that have no basis in fact fact because the migrants entering
00:12:49entering Ceuta had no way of entering
00:12:51entering the Schengen area. So Spain Spain is saying that Italy's introduction
00:12:55introduction of these checks in the
00:12:56the first place wasn't really founded. If we see that there
00:13:02founded. If we see that there is is no risk, Italy will be happier happier than Spain. But what we know
00:13:06know is that the intelligence are are saying that there are additional
00:13:10additional threats coming from Ceuta Ceuta and people going to Salta.
00:13:13Salta. They are not willing to stay stay in Ceuta, but they are willing
00:13:16willing to go to Spain and therefore therefore when they are in Spain,
00:13:19Spain, they are willing to go to to Europe. And we know that Spanish
00:13:22Spanish government in the recent
00:13:23recent months they already gave more
00:13:27more than 500 thousand regularisation regularisation of illegal migrants.
00:13:30migrants. So they are saying I've I've just got to just obviously give
00:13:33give their, you know, response or or their position on that Spanish
00:13:37Spanish Prime Minister has said that that Spain has managed to steadily
00:13:40steadily reduce irregular migration migration flows with a reduction
00:13:42reduction of more than 30% in irregular irregular arrivals. So that's what
00:13:46what they say on that point. But
00:13:50But going back to Schengen, a suspension suspension as soon as the risk will
00:13:53will be over, Italy will be more
00:13:54more than happy to suspend our decision
00:13:58decision and really allow free travel
00:14:01travel all around Europe. Italian
00:14:03Italian MP Emanuele Loperfido there
00:14:05there South Korea's Football Association Association has apologised over allegations
00:14:09allegations it provided sexual entertainment
00:14:12entertainment for foreign referees,
00:14:14referees, officiating, international international matches between 2011
00:14:162011 and 2012. Jiji Ahn BBC World
00:14:18World Service reporter told me more
00:14:21more about those allegations. They They concerned seven international international matches that were held
00:14:24held in South Korea during that time time were. Reports are saying up
00:14:28up to ten international referees referees were provided or solicited
00:14:31solicited with sexual services. Trips Trips to massage establishments and
00:14:34and that was all paid for by the the Korean Football Association.
00:14:38Association. Now there's no allegation allegation of match fixing or preference
00:14:41preference on terms of results. But But coincidentally, South Korea did
00:14:44did not actually win, actually won won all of their matches during that
00:14:47that time. And obviously it's raised raised a bigger question as to kind
00:14:50kind of standards and governance governance regarding South Korean Korean Football Association moving
00:14:54moving forwards. Why is this come come out all these years later and
00:14:57and how has the KFA responded? Yes.
00:14:59Yes. So these allegations, obviously obviously from 2011, more than a
00:15:02a decade ago, but actually a government government audit was only released
00:15:05released or reported on by South South Korean media this week. And
00:15:08And the KFA has responded on Facebook
00:15:11Facebook saying that they apologise apologise for any attention that's
00:15:14that's been brought to all these these controversies. Specifically, Specifically, they don't actually
00:15:18actually mention these latest allegations, allegations, but instead they said
00:15:20said moving forward, they're going
00:15:22going to try and promise greater greater governance, greater transparency
00:15:26transparency and ensure that something something like this doesn't happen
00:15:28happen again. They also said specifically specifically or they don't actually,
00:15:31actually, as I said, highlight the the specific issues, but they don't
00:15:35don't conduct these improper practices. practices. Currently, BBC World Service
00:15:38Service reporter Jiji Ahn. The US
00:15:40US Senate has voted to confirm Todd
00:15:43Todd Blanche as Attorney General General following a weeks long struggle
00:15:46struggle with a handful of wary Republicans.
00:15:49Republicans. The Senate voted 5049 5049 to approve Mr Blanche, who's
00:15:52who's been serving as acting Attorney Attorney General since April. There's
00:15:56There's been controversy around his his nomination with questions about
00:15:59about potential conflicts of interest interest because he used to be President
00:16:02President Trump's personal lawyer. lawyer. He's also been criticised
00:16:05criticised for his role in the creation
00:16:08creation of a $1.8 billion anti weaponization weaponization fund following his
00:16:12his approval in the Senate, Mr Blanche
00:16:13Blanche said that he's honoured staying
00:16:17staying with US politics, the son son of the former US President Joe
00:16:20Joe Biden has told the BBC he feels
00:16:22feels like the most privileged person person there could be after receiving
00:16:26receiving a presidential pardon from from his father toward the end of
00:16:29of his term in office. In an interview interview with BBC Newsnight, Hunter
00:16:33Hunter Biden defended the decision, decision, which covered his federal
00:16:36federal gun conviction a tax case
00:16:38case he pleaded guilty to and any
00:16:41any federal offences committed between
00:16:44between 2014 and 2024. He was speaking
00:16:45speaking to Paddy O'Connell. Here's
00:16:48Here's another of his own decisions, decisions, which is attracting controversy
00:16:52controversy as well, which is a pardon
00:16:54pardon for his son. For you, Hunter.
00:16:57Hunter. And it does lead to critics critics saying that this is a problem
00:17:00problem in the American system. It
00:17:02It looks like a favour to the family, family, which is another word that
00:17:06that for critics, for a corruption corruption which you've criticised criticised the Trump administration
00:17:10administration for. Do you think
00:17:11think that he went too far as a dad
00:17:14dad in issuing a pardon to you? Well,
00:17:20Well, here's what all I know is that
00:17:22that I. I am a I'm a I am the most
00:17:29most privileged person as it relates relates to that that there could
00:17:31could possibly be. I was one of one.
00:17:34one. And I'm eternally grateful for for it. I am eternally grateful for
00:17:38for it because I think that Donald
00:17:40Donald Trump has proven to be exactly exactly who my dad thought he was
00:17:43was going to be. As it relates to
00:17:46to the revenge and retribution that that he would seek on his political
00:17:49political enemies. He spent in the
00:17:51the first 100 days alone, he mentioned mentioned or criticised my dad or
00:17:55or me six times a day. And if I was
00:17:59was in a in the Federal Bureau of
00:18:04of Probation or God forbid, in a
00:18:07a in a prison, then I think that that he would have had a hold on
00:18:10on my family that was that would
00:18:12would make it not just unbearable, unbearable, but incredibly unjust
00:18:16unjust and unfair. He's proven that
00:18:19that he does not believe in the separation separation of powers or the independence
00:18:23independence of the Justice Department Department or any of it or any of
00:18:26of its or its parts, including the
00:18:28the Federal Bureau of Probation. Probation. And that's the decision
00:18:31decision that my dad made. Now here's
00:18:34here's the real answer to your question, question, though. What you're saying.
00:18:37saying. Was it good for our Constitution? Constitution? Was it good for the
00:18:40the American people? Was it good good for my dad's legacy? No. On
00:18:43On all counts. It was it was not
00:18:47not it was it's something that is is easily criticised and for good
00:18:51good reason. And I can't pretend
00:18:54pretend otherwise. All I know is is that I'm grateful that he did
00:18:57did it for me. And all I can say say to anybody out there is that.
00:19:01that. What would you have thought thought of my dad if he did not do
00:19:03do that for me and left me to the
00:19:07the whims of Donald Trump? What would
00:19:09would you think of a dad that would
00:19:13would say, I'll put you in a prison prison controlled by a guy who's
00:19:16who's made it clear that he's willing
00:19:17willing to do just about anything
00:19:20anything to get his way for himself.
00:19:23himself. And so but no, you're right,
00:19:25right, Patty, it is a it's not fair.
00:19:29fair. I'm the only one in the world world that could have gotten what
00:19:32what I got from the only person in in the world who could give it my
00:19:35my father. Did you have that conversation
00:19:38conversation with him using similar similar words that you've shared
00:19:41shared with me just now? Yes. Yeah.
00:19:48Yeah. After we were very, very, very very clear. And I want people to
00:19:51to understand this is that when I I say that my dad and I did not talk
00:19:54talk about a pardon is because of of the fact that there is no way
00:19:58way that you can have those kinds kinds of discussions that would not
00:20:01not become public by virtue of somebody
00:20:04somebody that with the ability to to subpoena him, putting you under
00:20:06under oath asking that we did not not have that discussion until he
00:20:09he granted me the pardon. I know know why he made the decision now
00:20:13now because he's talked about it. it. He's talked about it publicly publicly and we've talked about it
00:20:17it as a family and there for all all the reasons that I just told
00:20:20told you. Hunter Biden, the son of of the former US President Joe Biden,
00:20:24Biden, of course, speaking to Paddy
00:20:26Paddy O'Connell on BBC News Night. Night. Now I just want to bring you
00:20:30you some breaking news. A 12-year-old 12-year-old girl has hardly become
00:20:33become the latest victim who died died from yesterday's mass shooting
00:20:37shooting at a school in Bangkok's
00:20:39Bangkok's northwestern suburbs. That That information has just come through
00:20:42through in the past few minutes and and is, according to Thailand's public
00:20:46public health ministry. That means
00:20:47means the death toll now stands at at nine and that includes the teenage
00:20:51teenage shooter. So some breaking breaking news updating the death
00:20:55death toll from that shooting in
00:20:59in Thailand next to the biggest celebration celebration of Irish music and culture
00:21:02culture in the world, because that's that's been taking place in Northern
00:21:04Northern Ireland. The Fleadh Festival Festival is being held in Belfast
00:21:08Belfast for the first time. Nearly Nearly a million people are expected expected to attend the event, which
00:21:12which is projected to give the city
00:21:15city a £53 million economic boost.
00:21:23boost. Now let's return to one of of our main stories that is President
00:21:27President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine
00:21:29Ukraine visiting his Serbian counterpart
00:21:32counterpart to discuss economic ties.
00:21:33ties. And the reason it's so significant
00:21:36significant is because Serbia is
00:21:38is traditionally an ally of Russia.
00:21:42Russia. So we saw the President arriving arriving and the though recently
00:21:46recently held a press conference. conference. So let's speak now to
00:21:49to our colleague Slobodan Maricic Maricic from BBC Serbian to discuss
00:21:53discuss what was said. Thanks for for being with us, Slobodan. So what
00:21:55what were some of the key points
00:21:57points that came from this, particularly
00:21:59particularly in terms of what President President Zelensky may have been
00:22:02been able to gain from this meeting?
00:22:07meeting? Well, what President Bush Bush and President Zelensky were
00:22:10were speaking about here in Belgrade,
00:22:12Belgrade, just behind me in this
00:22:17this room was. The paths of both
00:22:20both Ukraine and Serbia towards the
00:22:23the EU as well as economic and energy
00:22:26energy co-operation. They both thanked
00:22:29thanked each other for supporting supporting the territorial integrity
00:22:32integrity of both countries as Ukraine
00:22:36Ukraine is one of the countries that
00:22:38that still haven't recognised Kosovo
00:22:40Kosovo and Serbia have, even though
00:22:43though it still haven't imported
00:22:46imported sanctions on Russia because
00:22:47because of the. The war in Ukraine
00:22:51Ukraine have several times supported
00:22:53supported the territorial integrity
00:22:55integrity of Ukraine. We've heard
00:22:59heard that even today here in Belgrade.
00:23:02Belgrade. And it's interesting, isn't isn't it, Slobodan? Because one of
00:23:05of the things that was said in the
00:23:06the press conference by President
00:23:09President Vucic was that we support support the territorial integrity
00:23:12integrity of Ukraine. He said that
00:23:15that was unequivocal. And yet, how
00:23:17how do you square that with Serbia
00:23:20Serbia not imposing sanctions on on Russia, which has invaded and
00:23:23and therefore threatened the territorial
00:23:25territorial integrity of Ukraine?
00:23:29Ukraine? Well, as we speak with several
00:23:32several professors and researchers, researchers, we I mean, we from BBC
00:23:36BBC Serbia, they've all pointed out out that Serbia is for years and
00:23:38and years now trying to, as they they say, sit on several chairs at
00:23:42at once, keeping good relations with
00:23:45with both Russia and European Union
00:23:47Union and the US and China in this
00:23:51this way President Bush was being
00:23:56being sort of. He said that that
00:23:59that Serbia is supporting the territorial
00:24:04territorial integrity of Ukraine Ukraine and that he that he hopes
00:24:08hopes that the war will stop as soon
00:24:12soon as possible. And we have been been hearing from analysts that quite
00:24:16quite often Moscow has turned a blind
00:24:18blind eye to Serbia, for example,
00:24:21example, providing aid to Ukraine. Ukraine. What do you think Russia
00:24:25Russia is likely to make of this this visit and all the things that
00:24:28that President Vucic has said? Well,
00:24:32Well, we still haven't heard any
00:24:34any reactions from the Russian side.
00:24:37side. Last year we heard a strong
00:24:40strong criticism from Russia because
00:24:43because of the export of the ammunition ammunition from Serbia that ended
00:24:46ended up in the hands of the Ukrainian
00:24:49Ukrainian army. They have even called
00:24:51called it a stab in the back or a
00:24:53a shot in the back. We'll see. We'll
00:24:56We'll see, we'll see, we'll see what
00:25:01what will happen in the future from
00:25:03from the Russian side regarding this this matter. Well, thank you for
00:25:07for that analysis, Slobodan. And And I like the phrase about Serbia
00:25:10Serbia trying to sit on many different different chairs at once. That was was a good way of putting it. So
00:25:13So thank you very much for your analysis
00:25:16analysis that Slobodan Maricic from
00:25:19from BBC Serbia. Conservationists Conservationists say there's mounting
00:25:23mounting concern over the future future of wildlife around the northeast
00:25:26northeast coast of England after after tonnes of microplastics spilt
00:25:29spilt into the River Tyne. Millions Millions of plastic pellets still
00:25:32still litter the coast after the the incident. The clean-up has been
00:25:35been led by specialists, aided by
00:25:37by an army of volunteers. Now marketing
00:25:42marketing executives are always trying trying to find new ways to grab our
00:25:44our attention. Well, how about this?
00:25:46this? A man has been taking up temporary
00:25:49temporary residence in a living room room built into a billboard in Los
00:25:52Los Angeles. It's part of a promotional promotional campaign for Netflix's
00:25:56Netflix's new sci-fi thriller The
00:25:58The Last House. And the film is about
00:26:00about a family of four who suddenly suddenly find themselves seated inside
00:26:04inside their home with no
00:27:36some parts of Iraq.
00:29:56online at bbc.com/business to get get the latest news wherever you
00:29:59you are. Business on BBC News. Make
00:30:02Make the connection. MUSIC
00:30:14MUSIC Now Now on BBC News. Three people challenging challenging expectations explains
00:30:18explains why it works for them. This This week Focus on Africa hears from...
00:30:22from... Master and his two wives wives about their polygamous marriage.
00:30:26marriage. In the conversation. I
00:30:29I love this guy and he is married. married. Cecilia I just love your
00:30:32your man. Will you accept me to be be your second wife? Really hit me
00:30:36me hard when the kid said that he he wants. He wants to introduce a
00:30:40a second wife, a second partner. partner. It's not that I lacked.
00:30:43lacked. Something from Cilla that that I was looking from Mariam. But
00:30:47But it's the truth. All men are polygamous
00:30:49polygamous by nature. The choice
00:30:51choice of staying polygamous or monogamous
00:30:56monogamous is is essentially an outcome outcome of many factors. The kid