Original Broadcaster Captioning (Enhanced). Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:00:10Live from London. I'm Kasia
00:00:11Madera. This is BBC News. Authorities
00:00:15Authorities in Lithuania spend the the night searching for debris after
00:00:18after a drone enters EU airspace airspace and was shot down by Nato
00:00:22Nato jets. The public inquiry into into how the former nurse, Lucie
00:00:26Lucie Letby, was able to murder seven seven babies and attempt to kill
00:00:30kill seven more is due to publish
00:00:32publish its findings. The co-founder
00:00:35co-founder of Anthropic says that that AI firms may need a compulsory
00:00:38compulsory kill switch to stop the the technology spiralling out of
00:00:42of control. Prince Harry and Meghan's Meghan's police protection is to
00:00:45to be reviewed as they change their
00:00:47their children's school over security
00:00:49security concerns. The US confirms confirms it has weapons deployed
00:00:53deployed in space, in what's believed
00:00:54believed to be the first public acknowledgement
00:00:57acknowledgement of such capabilities. capabilities. And British success
00:01:00success at the Emmys. Matthew Rhys Rhys makes history with two best
00:01:03best lead Actor awards as Kate O'Flynn
00:01:05O'Flynn and Alan Cumming also win
00:01:09win trophies. Welcome you are with
00:01:19with BBC News. The President of Lithuania Lithuania says that Nato fighter
00:01:22fighter jets have shot down a drone drone that entered the country's
00:01:26country's airspace overnight. The The drone was shot down in a rural
00:01:29rural area of central Lithuania near
00:01:32near Lake Kaunas, with debris located
00:01:34located by military police in the the area. It is the latest security
00:01:38security incident in the Baltic states states since Russia launched its
00:01:41its full-scale invasion of Ukraine
00:01:44Ukraine back in 2022. Well, separately, separately, Denmark has reported
00:01:47reported that a Russian frigate fired fired two flares towards a Danish
00:01:51Danish military helicopter off its its coast on Monday, narrowly missing
00:01:55missing the aircraft. The incident incident happened during a routine
00:01:58routine Danish military mission to to photograph a Russian frigate.
00:02:01frigate. Russia's ambassador to Denmark Denmark has been summoned. Well,
00:02:05Well, all this comes as Russia launches launches jet powered drone attacks
00:02:09attacks on Ukraine. The head of the the country's state Post Office has
00:02:12has told the BBC that Russia is deliberately
00:02:15deliberately targeting his branches branches and delivery vans. A lot lot to discuss. Let's cross over
00:02:19over to Kyiv. Our diplomatic correspondent correspondent James Landale joins
00:02:22joins us once again. James, let's
00:02:24let's just start with that drone
00:02:27drone entering into Lithuanian airspace airspace and the scrambling of Nato
00:02:30Nato jets. Do we know whether this
00:02:33this was just a breach? Because there there are incidents before where
00:02:36where these drones do just go into
00:02:40into EU airspace, into countries countries who are member states of
00:02:43of Nato into their airspace, accidentally?
00:02:48accidentally? Yeah, that's absolutely absolutely right. Throughout this this war, which is now we should
00:02:51should not forget in its fifth year, year, there have been incidents of
00:02:54of drones entering Nato airspace. airspace. And sometimes it is just
00:02:58just by mistake. These things go go out of control. They are brought
00:03:01brought down by or confused by electronic electronic countermeasures or air
00:03:04air defences. And the war just spills spills over into Nato territory.
00:03:08territory. But there are also incidents incidents of Russia deliberately
00:03:11deliberately sending drones into into Nato countries to test Nato
00:03:15Nato defences, to probe Nato, to to keep Nato occupied, and also to
00:03:19to distract. Now, we do not know know the origin of this particular
00:03:22particular drone that entered Lithuania, Lithuania, but the fact that it crossed
00:03:26crossed in we know from Belarus heading heading west and was brought down
00:03:30down in the sort of central southern southern part of Lithuania means
00:03:32means the you know, that's a reasonable
00:03:36reasonable distance from the Ukrainian Ukrainian battlefield. So I think
00:03:39think certainly the implication hinted
00:03:42hinted at by the Lithuanian president. president. Mr Nauseda, saying that
00:03:46that with Russian aggression, increasing increasing readiness like this needs
00:03:49needs to be maintained. He at least least is hinting that this was a
00:03:52a deliberate thing by Russia. And
00:03:55And James Denmark also reporting reporting that a Russian frigate
00:03:58frigate fired two flares towards towards its Danish military helicopter helicopter off its coast. Bring us
00:04:02us up to date with that development.
00:04:05development. Well, look again, just
00:04:06just part of a continual pattern
00:04:09pattern of Russian probing testing,
00:04:12testing, you know, and whether that that can be in the skies, it can
00:04:14can be on the seas, it can be under under the seas. And so, you know,
00:04:18know, in the Baltic Sea, any kind kind of proximity of Russian and
00:04:21and other vessels can lead to these these kinds of incidents. Sometimes
00:04:25Sometimes it can be, you know, Russian Russian activity under the water,
00:04:28water, attacking underwater cables cables in the Baltic and the seas
00:04:32seas near there. So I think people people will see all of this as part
00:04:36part of the round, as a gentle increasing
00:04:39increasing ramping up of pressure pressure by Russia, not just here
00:04:42here in Ukraine, but also on its
00:04:45its borders with Nato. James, as as always, many thanks. James Landale Landale there joining us from Kyiv.
00:04:49Kyiv. Thank you. We'll keep an eye eye on any developments. Of course.
00:04:52course. Any commentary on that of of course. But now an important story
00:04:56story here in the UK, the findings
00:04:58findings of a UK public inquiry into
00:05:00into how Lucy Letby was able to repeatedly
00:05:03repeatedly murder and harm babies babies will be published later. The
00:05:06The Thirlwall Inquiry was set up up to look into what happened at
00:05:09at the Countess of Chester Hospital
00:05:13Hospital between 2015 and 2016, while while Letby was working as a nurse
00:05:16nurse in the neonatal unit well.
00:05:17well. Now aged 36, Letby is serving
00:05:20serving 15 whole life prison terms. terms. The inquiry was not tasked
00:05:24tasked with examining Libby's guilt, guilt, Lauren Moss reports. The offences
00:05:28offences of murder and attempted attempted murder have been identified
00:05:31identified and you have been identified identified as a suspect of these
00:05:34these offences. Lucy Letby, seen seen here on police body camera footage
00:05:38footage arrested at her home on suspicion suspicion of murdering vulnerable
00:05:41vulnerable babies on a neonatal hospital hospital ward. You're going to have
00:05:44have to go to the police station station to be questioned about these
00:05:47these allegations. Being a nurse nurse was her dream job. And was
00:05:51was it a job that you enjoyed? I
00:05:56I loved my job. She would go on to
00:05:59to be convicted of murdering seven seven babies, making her the UK's
00:06:03UK's most prolific child serial killer
00:06:05killer of modern times. Now the findings
00:06:08findings of an inquiry looking into into how Letby was able to harm those
00:06:11those in her care but not reviewing reviewing her convictions, will be
00:06:15be published later. This whole process process has been very, very difficult
00:06:18difficult and at times very, very very traumatic for them. Lawyer Richard
00:06:22Richard Scorer represents some of
00:06:23of the babies families. It's very
00:06:27very clear that there were serious
00:06:30serious failings and the responsibility responsibility for ensuring that that the police were brought in and
00:06:34and brought in at an early stage stage when it was clear that there
00:06:37there was potential criminal activity, activity, that responsibility ultimately
00:06:40ultimately rested with the senior senior managers and they failed.
00:06:43failed. Between June 2015 and 2016, 2016, a number of babies collapsed
00:06:46collapsed and died at the Countess Countess of Chester Hospital. In
00:06:50In August 2023, Lucy Letby was found
00:06:52found guilty of murdering seven babies babies and the attempted murder of
00:06:55of six others. A year later, she she convicted was of the attempted
00:06:59attempted murder of a seventh baby baby and is serving 15 whole life
00:07:02life sentences in prison. The government government launched the Thirlwall
00:07:05Thirlwall Inquiry into what happened happened and hearings began in September
00:07:09September 2024. They concluded in in March last year and the report
00:07:13report will be published later. It
00:07:15It is not the actions of Lucy Letby
00:07:18Letby that I am scrutinising. It
00:07:19It is the actions of all those who
00:07:22who were in the hospital. What they they did at the time, in the light
00:07:26light of what they knew at the time time and in the light of what they
00:07:29they should have known at the time. time. The inquiry has taken place
00:07:33place while a campaign by some to
00:07:35to prove Lucy Libby's innocence has has grown in the background, her
00:07:39her legal team wants her convictions convictions reviewed and a group
00:07:42group of medical experts have questioned questioned the evidence. In summary,
00:07:45summary, ladies and gentlemen, we we did not find any murders. The
00:07:49The families of Letby's victims who who suffered at the Countess of Chester
00:07:52Chester Hospital. They say they hope hope the inquiry leads to lasting
00:07:56lasting change. The legal reality reality is that Lucy Letby has been
00:07:59been convicted. We have these long,
00:08:02long, often long running and often
00:08:04often expensive inquiries, and they're they're very important for learning
00:08:07learning lessons. But often the recommendations recommendations are never implemented.
00:08:11implemented. And it's a betrayal
00:08:12betrayal not just of the people who've
00:08:15who've suffered in these cases, families families like those I represent.
00:08:17represent. It's actually betrayal betrayal of the public. The inquiry's
00:08:21inquiry's conclusions will be published published this afternoon. Lauren
00:08:24Lauren Moss, BBC News. Let's talk talk to Emily Townsend, who is from
00:08:28from the trade journal the Health
00:08:30Health Service Journal, which focuses
00:08:33focuses on the NHS. And Emily, this
00:08:35this is incredibly disturbing and and really upsetting for all the
00:08:38the families involved. This inquiry
00:08:40inquiry was not actually tasked with with examining Lucy Libby's guilt.
00:08:44guilt. Just talk us through the scope
00:08:46scope of the Thirlwall Inquiry. Yes,
00:08:49Yes, thanks very much. So the inquiry's
00:08:52inquiry's asked to investigate under under three strands. So the first
00:08:55first was parents experiences. So So what families were told what they
00:08:59they were told about Letby and whether whether she was suspected. And the
00:09:02the second part was the conduct of
00:09:05of people at the Countess of Chester. Chester. So what concerns were raised
00:09:09raised and when how those who raised raised them were treated? Board oversight,
00:09:12oversight, any referrals to regulators, regulators, etc and then the third
00:09:16third is the wider NHS. So whether whether previous inquiries or recommendations
00:09:20recommendations were implemented implemented where gaps remain and
00:09:23and what structural and regulatory regulatory changes needed, and that's
00:09:26that's where we're expecting to see see potential regulation for senior
00:09:30senior managers. Before we move on
00:09:32on to that, just one of the key things things that people will want to know,
00:09:36know, and I wonder whether you will will be able to answer this, will
00:09:39will this report be able to answer answer whether any of those babies
00:09:42babies could have lived or avoided avoided injury if action had been
00:09:45been taken earlier? I think it will.
00:09:48will. It will perhaps look at whether whether some of those deaths could
00:09:50could have been avoidable and whether whether the concerns that consultants
00:09:54consultants had could have been escalated escalated earlier and whether board
00:09:58board members should have acted on on them. So I would imagine that
00:10:01that that may be the case. It may may not go that far, but I would
00:10:04would imagine that there will be
00:10:07be something about why managers did
00:10:09did not escalate or when concerns concerns were escalated to them.
00:10:12them. They did not act in the way way that they should have done. So
00:10:15So you mentioned regulation and obviously obviously the inquiry. We don't have
00:10:19have the report yet is a long time time coming. Incredibly expensive
00:10:22expensive as well over £18 million
00:10:24million in cost. But just in terms
00:10:27terms of regulation, what could it
00:10:29it suggest to prevent a future case
00:10:31case like that of Lucy Letby? So
00:10:34So what it could do is there could could be statutory powers which would
00:10:38would essentially disbar NHS leaders leaders in senior roles who have
00:10:41have committed senior misconduct misconduct from holding roles again.
00:10:44again. So if there has been a concern
00:10:46concern about a manager's misconduct, misconduct, it will go on their record.
00:10:49record. And if they then try to apply apply to another job that will be
00:10:53be on the record. So particularly particularly serious misconduct will
00:10:56will be kind of act designed to suppress suppress whistleblowing, those sorts
00:10:59sorts of things, which obviously obviously there is concern about
00:11:02about in this case. And in terms
00:11:04terms of Lucy Letby herself, she
00:11:06she is now imprisoned. But there
00:11:08there are some medical experts who
00:11:11who potentially suggest that she she could be innocent. Just where
00:11:14where are we in terms of her investigations?
00:11:17investigations? So the Thirlwall Thirlwall Inquiry proceeded explicitly explicitly on the basis that Letby
00:11:20Letby is guilty. So this inquiry
00:11:23inquiry is not expected to. There
00:11:25There were some quite strong representations
00:11:28representations from families and
00:11:29and sort of Libby's lawyers, former
00:11:32former executives to, you know, look look at that and review the convictions.
00:11:36convictions. But Lady Thelwall was was very explicit that that isn't
00:11:39isn't what she's going to look at. at. Obviously, there is a great deal
00:11:42deal of people who are concerned concerned about that, but that is
00:11:45is for the law and for appeals courts
00:11:47courts to handle only. She has been
00:11:49been very clear on that basis. Emily.
00:11:52Emily. Yeah, a really difficult, difficult, sensitive period of time.
00:11:55time. We're awaiting that inquiry. inquiry. Emily Townsend from the
00:11:59the trade journal Health Service Service Journal, thank you so much. much. We will, of course, when we
00:12:03we get the results of that inquiry, inquiry, we'll bring that to you
00:12:06you here on BBC News. The co-founder co-founder of one of the world's
00:12:10world's biggest artificial intelligence intelligence companies has told the
00:12:12the BBC that AI firms may need a
00:12:15a compulsory kill switch to prevent prevent the technology spiralling
00:12:19spiralling out of control. Anthropic Anthropic Jack Clark says that AI
00:12:23AI is getting smarter and more capable capable every few months, which could
00:12:26could become a major risk to society.
00:12:29society. Well, President Trump has has angrily rejected calls to slow
00:12:32slow down the development of AI, AI, describing fears that it poses
00:12:35poses a threat to humanity as a big
00:12:38big hoax. Let's cross over to Westminster
00:12:40Westminster because our chief political political correspondent Henry Zeffman
00:12:44Zeffman joins us live now. And Henry, Henry, these question of AI. It's
00:12:47It's one of many stories that have have been dominating the headlines.
00:12:51headlines. Just talk us through how how the government is planning to
00:12:53to approach this, because I'm assuming assuming they're not going to go
00:12:56go down Donald Trump's path. Who Who says that when it comes to controls
00:13:00controls over AI, they need a strong
00:13:02strong and smart high IQ president?
00:13:06president? Well, no slightly different different tone from the UK government. government. I mean, actually it's
00:13:09it's been striking over the past past few days, perhaps understandably,
00:13:13understandably, given these are principally principally American based entrepreneurs
00:13:16entrepreneurs who are calling for for greater government regulation. regulation. We haven't really heard
00:13:20heard much from the British government, government, and that is going to to change later today when Louise
00:13:24Louise Hay, who is essentially the the deputy Prime Minister, gives
00:13:26gives a speech at the annual conference conference of the Trades Union Congress.
00:13:30Congress. It's a speech that actually actually Andy Burnham was going to
00:13:33to give, but his father died. So So Louise Hay is giving this speech
00:13:37speech and she will become by far far the most senior government minister
00:13:40minister to speak about these issues. issues. She will say that the government
00:13:44government must heed the warnings warnings of those who are at the
00:13:47the forefront of developing this this technology. She will say that
00:13:49that the government is ready to work work with international partners
00:13:52partners to prioritise public safety safety and national security. Of
00:13:56Of course. What does it mean to work
00:13:59work with international partners? partners? Given that the UK clearly
00:14:02clearly has a much smaller role to to play here than the US than China,
00:14:05China, and given some of the things things that Donald Trump has been been saying about this over the past
00:14:09past few days, well, that I think think is much less clear indeed. indeed. The other big story that's
00:14:12that's been dominating the political political headlines that massive
00:14:16massive those two massive donations
00:14:18donations to reform by UK billionaires, billionaires, Nigel Farage, Reform
00:14:22Reform UK leader insisting that the the two big donations given to his
00:14:25his party are 100% compliant with
00:14:27with the law today. What are we expecting
00:14:30expecting to happen with the rules rules around these types of political
00:14:34political donations? Well, it's pretty pretty complicated because Parliament
00:14:36Parliament was already and has been
00:14:38been for some time considering laws
00:14:42laws which would introduce a variety
00:14:44variety of new requirements on donations
00:14:47donations to political parties, in
00:14:49in particular affecting donations donations from British citizens who
00:14:53who have been living overseas. Well, Well, that is relevant here because
00:14:56because the two men who've each given
00:14:58given Reform UK £36 million Ben Delo Delo and Christopher Harborne have
00:15:01have both been living overseas in in Ben Delo case in Hong Kong and
00:15:05and Christopher Harborne case in in Thailand. Reform UK say both are
00:15:08are back in the UK. We don't know know exactly when they came back.
00:15:12back. We'd thought that the crucial crucial fact was just whether they
00:15:14they were back in the UK by March
00:15:17March the 25th, 2026 or not. However, However, we now understand that the
00:15:21the government is looking at beefing beefing up what it means to be resident
00:15:24resident in the UK for the purposes purposes of donating to a political
00:15:27political party and perhaps having having some sort of enhanced residency
00:15:31residency requirement more akin to to the kinds of residency requirements
00:15:34requirements that there are for tax tax purposes or for immigration purposes
00:15:37purposes or for welfare purposes. purposes. Clearly this is an embryonic
00:15:41embryonic stage, but it does seem seem possible, though no stronger
00:15:43stronger than that, that the government
00:15:45government could tweak this proposed proposed legislation such that Reform
00:15:48Reform UK would have to hand back back those two donations. And if
00:15:51if the government does do that, that that would provoke, I think, an almighty
00:15:55almighty political row. Indeed, Henry, Henry, as always, thank you so much.
00:15:58much. Henry Zeffman there joining joining us from Westminster. We'll
00:16:01We'll keep an eye on everything that's that's happening around UK politics.
00:16:04politics. We're also in just a few few moments time. We're going to
00:16:07to be speaking to the former head head of Royal Security regarding
00:16:10regarding the Sussexes changing school
00:16:13school of their for their children. children. Short break now though though around the world across the
00:16:17the UK you're
00:17:19as we follow every twist of the Premier Premier League season here on BBC
00:17:23BBC News. Hello. Welcome back. You're
00:17:26You're with BBC News. It has emerged emerged that the Duke and Duchess
00:17:30Duchess of Sussex have pulled their their children out of their new school
00:17:33school in the UK just two days into into the term. A spokesperson said
00:17:37said the decision was taken after after a discussion with the family's
00:17:40family's protection team about the the practicalities of their original
00:17:44original arrangements. The children children are now at another school.
00:17:47school. It's understood that the the committee overseeing royal and
00:17:50and VIP security is to review the the level of protection for the family
00:17:53family now that they're living in
00:17:55in the UK, Ellie Price reports. It
00:17:58It was the first glimpse into the the new life of the Sussex family.
00:18:01family. An Instagram video posted posted by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
00:18:05Sussex showing five-year-old Lilibet Lilibet and seven-year-old Archie
00:18:08Archie their faces hidden enjoying enjoying a trip out. But now a spokesperson
00:18:12spokesperson for the family has confirmed confirmed the children have had to
00:18:15to change schools. Just days into into the new school term. The locations
00:18:19locations of the schools were of of course kept private but even so,
00:18:22so, it's understood that there were were concerns from the family's security
00:18:26security team about the practicalities practicalities of their first choice.
00:18:29choice. Prince Harry and his wife wife Meghan lost their publicly funded
00:18:33funded security when they stepped stepped back from royal duties and
00:18:35and moved to the US in January 2020.
00:18:392020. The Duke of Sussex appealed appealed that decision, made by Ravec,
00:18:42Ravec, an independent body overseen overseen by the Home Office in the
00:18:45the courts last May and lost. For For the time being. It's impossible
00:18:48impossible for me to take my family family back to the UK. I can't see
00:18:52see a world in which I would be bringing bringing my wife and children back
00:18:55back to the UK at this point, is is it totally normal? But this summer
00:18:58summer the family did come back first first on holiday where Harry appeared
00:19:02appeared at various charity events. events. And now for what's been described
00:19:05described as an extended period of of time. As a result, it's understood
00:19:09understood the Sussexes will be given given a review of their publicly publicly funded security now that
00:19:13that they are full-time residents residents rather than visitors. The
00:19:17The King has made clear the pair pair will not be working royals and
00:19:20and will not carry out official engagements, engagements, but their security may
00:19:23may yet be stepped up as if they
00:19:26they were Ellie Price. BBC News. News. Let's pick up on some of those
00:19:30those points with former head of
00:19:31of Royal security, also former divisional divisional commander in the Metropolitan
00:19:35Metropolitan Police, Dai Davies. Davies. Welcome Dai to BBC News.
00:19:38News. In terms of the first issue
00:19:40issue when it comes to changing schools
00:19:43schools for the Sussexes children, children, there was a question over
00:19:46over the level of traffic, the proximity proximity of the school. Why was
00:19:50was that? What's your understanding? understanding? Why would their security security detail not have thought
00:19:53thought of that to begin with? Well, Well, it's a very good question and
00:19:57and it's a question I certainly would would be asking of them. Did they
00:20:00they not prepare? Did they not do
00:20:03do any kind of runs? How far the the home where they're currently
00:20:07currently living to the school is. is. These are all issues you would
00:20:11would hope and think that the security security team and those advising
00:20:14advising them would have thought thought about prior to. But the other
00:20:17other big thing I say is if you are are going to have protection in any
00:20:20any shape or form, keep a very low
00:20:24low profile, stop briefing favoured favoured journalists newspapers as
00:20:27as to what you're doing almost on
00:20:29on a daily basis. I just find this
00:20:32this beyond belief, frankly, that that whoever is advising them on
00:20:36on security, if they actually listen listen to it, are not complying with
00:20:40with that because most of us wouldn't wouldn't know when they're in the
00:20:43the country, wouldn't know anything anything about them unless they and
00:20:47and the so-called team choose to to tell the world what they are doing,
00:20:50doing, including putting film and and photographs. I just don't understand
00:20:53understand their strategy and tactics tactics unless it is to force Ravec
00:20:57Ravec to actually give them protection. protection. And I
00:21:03And I hope Ravec will take a cold, hard view as to whether now
00:21:06now they are private citizens, whether whether they deserve it any more
00:21:09more than countless others, including including female MPs, which I worry
00:21:13worry tremendously in the current current climate about whether they
00:21:16they deserve protection. Whether Whether Meghan, who now is going
00:21:19going to be reviewed as well, whether whether they deserve it more than
00:21:22than numerous others ex-soldiers, ex-soldiers, ex-military who also
00:21:26also are at risk from a variety of
00:21:28of different sources. So it has to
00:21:30to be Ravec decision if they decide decide in their wisdom and they are
00:21:34are meant to be wise, there are at at least ten members and most of
00:21:37of them are from the security section, section, but they also include the
00:21:41the private secretary to the King King and his deputy as part of this
00:21:45this team. So what? So what does does represented. So just on that
00:21:47that point then and apologies because because we're running out of time.
00:21:51time. Obviously just the when it it comes to the Sussexes children, children, we don't know the names
00:21:55names of the schools either of the the schools. We don't know the location.
00:21:58location. So that is locked down. down. But just in terms of Ravec,
00:22:01Ravec, this is the committee overseeing overseeing Royal and VIP security.
00:22:04security. They're reviewing, as you
00:22:05you say, the level of protection
00:22:08protection for the family. What are are they considering? Because like
00:22:11like you say, they're not working
00:22:13working royals, but they are very very visible and very prominent.
00:22:16prominent. And members of the royal royal family. Well, they're visible
00:22:20visible and prominent by their own own actions. I would respectfully
00:22:23respectfully suggest and again I I say again, keep a lower profile
00:22:26profile if you want any kind of safety
00:22:30safety and security in terms, what what are they going to get? I don't
00:22:33don't know, it would depend on the the intelligence, the committee are
00:22:37are part of the Home Office structure
00:22:39structure and they will be afforded afforded every possible information
00:22:42information and intelligence. And And I can't imagine if there's any
00:22:46any real intelligence which again, again, has been looked at so many
00:22:48many times over the years that if if there is any, then surely, like
00:22:52like any other citizen, they should should get the appropriate level
00:22:55level depending on where they are,
00:22:57are, where they're going and what
00:22:59what they are doing. Thank you so
00:23:03so much. Fascinating to hear from
00:23:06from you and really value your expertise.
00:23:09expertise. Former divisional commander commander of the Metropolitan Police
00:23:12Police Dai Davis, also a former head head of royal Security. Thank you.
00:23:15you. Now the US military has confirmed confirmed that it's deployed weapons
00:23:19weapons in space. It's believed to to be the first public acknowledgement
00:23:22acknowledgement by Washington of of such capabilities. Officials say
00:23:25say weapons are already in operation operation and they're capable of
00:23:28of defending American assets in response. response. China is urging the US
00:23:31US to stop preparing for war in space.
00:23:33space. So let's talk to Dr Bleddyn Bleddyn Bowen, co-director of the
00:23:37the Space Research Centre at Durham Durham University. Welcome. The US
00:23:40US hasn't revealed the weapons capabilities
00:23:43capabilities or when it was in fact fact put into orbit. But what's your
00:23:46your guess as to what it is and what
00:23:48what it does? I would say that there's
00:23:51there's precious little details out
00:23:53out there. So this is a best an educated
00:23:57educated guess, but I would be guessing guessing that an electronic warfare
00:24:00warfare platform of some kind is is likely and that is a jammer really
00:24:04really to disrupt and interfere with with the radio communications between
00:24:07between the satellites and their their operators and users on the
00:24:10the ground on earth, these are just just machines in space. So if you
00:24:13you disrupt that radio link, then then you just got a hunk of junk
00:24:16junk of metal that won't do much.
00:24:19much. So that is probably what they're they're referring to. And we know
00:24:23know that the Americans have had
00:24:25had terrestrial based anti-satellite anti-satellite jammers and also kinetic
00:24:29kinetic interceptors or missiles missiles that can launch vehicles vehicles that can ram into satellites
00:24:33satellites from the earth, that shoot shoot up into space. So space based
00:24:37based weapons we're looking at jammers,
00:24:39jammers, possibly a space based kinetic
00:24:41kinetic or ramming vehicle, but that that would be a more dangerous kind
00:24:44kind of weapon as they would generate
00:24:47generate debris in space and the the debris that any sort of impact
00:24:50impact or explosive event in space space would generate would be a danger
00:24:53danger to everyone else in the part
00:24:56part of orbit that would happen. happen. And so, so we're really looking
00:24:59looking and waiting for more details details as and when they come as
00:25:02as to where the weapons are and what
00:25:05what are the mechanisms as these
00:25:07these alter the calculation of security security and reliability of satellites
00:25:11satellites for everyone? Dr Bleddyn Bleddyn Bowen briefly if you would, would, how does this compare to what
00:25:14what other countries are doing? This This is part of the US Space Force,
00:25:18Force, China said. Stop taking up
00:25:21up a space war. How are other countries
00:25:23countries doing? Well, Russia, China China and the United States are all
00:25:27all at it. They are developing anti-satellite anti-satellite weapons of various
00:25:30various kinds. China and Russia have
00:25:32have spent the last ten years ramping ramping up their more sophisticated
00:25:36sophisticated satellite manoeuvring manoeuvring capabilities to do close
00:25:39close inspections. Some would say say harassment of Western satellites
00:25:43satellites in geostationary orbit. orbit. China has also demonstrated
00:25:46demonstrated what's called a space space tug, which is a vehicle that
00:25:48that can go up to another satellite, satellite, grapple it and move it
00:25:52it into a different or less useful
00:25:53useful orbit. They tested that on on their own old satellite to move
00:25:57move it out of the way, which is is good for space sustainability
00:26:01sustainability but can be a weapon weapon against another country's country's satellite. Dr Bleddyn Bowen
00:26:04Bowen from Durham University. They're They're all at
00:29:55you are. Business on BBC News. Make
00:29:57Make the connection. MUSIC
00:30:09MUSIC
00:30:14These are the latest headlines from BBC News. The United States
00:30:18States confirms for the first time time its deployed space weapons.
00:30:21weapons. China urges the US to stop
00:30:23stop preparing for war in space. space. President Trump says safety
00:30:27safety fears over artificial intelligence intelligence are a hoax. As the co-founder
00:30:31co-founder of one of the world's world's biggest AI firms tells the
00:30:34the BBC, a compulsory kill switch switch for the technology might be
00:30:38be needed. The findings of a public public inquiry into how baby killer
00:30:41killer Lucy Letby was able to murder murder seven babies is out later.
00:30:45later. It assessed whether action action could have been taken sooner
00:30:48sooner to stop the former nurse. nurse. Prince Harry and Meghan's
00:30:51Meghan's police protection is being being reviewed as they change their
00:30:54their children's school. Just two two days into the new term over security
00:30:58security concerns. And Welsh actor actor Matthew