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tv   BBC News at One  BBC News  December 15, 2023 1:00pm-1:31pm GMT

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today at one — victory for prince harry at the high court in his phone—hacking case against the publishers of the daily mirror. a judge awarded the duke of sussex more than £140,000 in damages. prince harry's barrister read out a statement from him. it is about a systemic practice of unlawful and appalling behaviour, followed by cover—ups and destruction of evidence. the judge found the mirror group got 15 stories about prince harry through unlawful methods. we'll be assessing the implications of the judgment. also on the programme this lunchtime... police divers searching for the missing mother—of—three gaynor lord say they have found a body. alex batty — the boy who's been
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found in france, after he went missing six years ago — will return to the uk in the next few days. possums, yes, it's me, dame edna, and aren't i looking gorgeous? and remembering the late barry humphries — king charles and sir eltonjohn are among those paying tribute at a state memorial in sydney. and coming up on bbc news, we will hear how england's women are heading for defeat in mumbai — almost 500 runs behind india in their one—off test. good afternoon. prince harry has won his phone—hacking case against the publishers of the daily mirror. a high courtjudge ruled this morning that on 15 occasions
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the duke of sussex was the victim of hacking or other unlawful methods of getting stories about him. he's been awarded £140,000 in damages. in a statement, prince harry said it's a great day for the truth and called on the police to launch a criminal investigation into mirror group newspapers. here's our media correspondent, david sillito. this has been a landmark case, prince harry said his life had been blighted by legal press intrusion and to thejudge blighted by legal press intrusion and to the judgejustice fancourt ruled, yes, his phone had been repeatedly hacked by the mirror group newspapers. outside court a statement was read out on the half of the duke. the statement was read out on the half of the duke-— of the duke. the ruling is vindicating _ of the duke. the ruling is vindicating and _ of the duke. the ruling is vindicating and affirming. of the duke. the ruling is l vindicating and affirming. i of the duke. the ruling is - vindicating and affirming. i have been told slaying dragons will get you banned but in light of today's victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest
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press, it is a worthwhile price to pgy- press, it is a worthwhile price to pay. the mission continues. thank you very much. 33 pay. the mission continues. thank you very much-— you very much. 33 mirror group articles have _ you very much. 33 mirror group articles have been _ you very much. 33 mirror group articles have been presented i you very much. 33 mirror group j articles have been presented to court, 15 the judge said had articles have been presented to court, 15 thejudge said had been sourced by illegal activity. hacking, he said had been widespread and habitual 1996 and 2011, and he concluded a former editor of the mirror piers morgan had known about the practice. he has repeatedly denied involvement, referring to one story about kylie minogue, mr justice fancourt said, ifound him to be a straightforward and reliable witness and i accept what he said about piers morgan's involvement in the story. no evidence was called by mgn to contradict it. the judge also named former senior directors of the company, one of them former chief
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executive sly bailey who told the levenson inquiry in 2012 there was no evidence of hacking. we levenson inquiry in 2012 there was no evidence of hacking.— levenson inquiry in 2012 there was no evidence of hacking. we have only seen unsubstantiated _ no evidence of hacking. we have only seen unsubstantiated allegations - no evidence of hacking. we have only seen unsubstantiated allegations and j seen unsubstantiated allegations and i have seen no evidence to show me phone hacking has ever taken place. this is thejudge phone hacking has ever taken place. this is the judge said was untrue, she had known for years about the practice and turned a blind eye. hacking, he said, had been widespread and habitual at the mirror since 1996. this is farfrom the first hacking case the mirror has lost. prince harry was awarded over £1a0,000 in damages, an amount that could increase considerably as other stories are considered. costs and damages of more than £100 million have already been paid out to many other victims. the company, now known as reach, said we welcome thejudgment now known as reach, said we welcome the judgment that gives the business the judgment that gives the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago, where historical
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wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly and we have taken full responsibility and paid appropriate compensation. for prince harry, this is a landmark moment, 132 years since a senior member of the royal family appeared on the witness stand. today's court victory is only one of a number of cases he is bringing in a battle against newspapers he says have brought misery through relentless and illegal activity. misery through relentless and illegalactivity. david misery through relentless and illegal activity. david sillitoe, bbc news. live to the high court. tom symonds, how do you see the implications of the ruling today? i think this is possibly the most significant ruling in the history of phone hacking because there was a trial which hasn't happened very often and because the evidence was tested in the trial and a judge made these clear decisions. clearly a win for prince harry, proving his case for prince harry, proving his case for example on stories about chelsy
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davy, former girlfriend, and £12,000 awarded for a story about william and harry worrying about whether they should meet the former butler of their mother princess diana. beyond that questions for the senior executives named in thejudgment beyond that questions for the senior executives named in the judgment who it is said by the judge turned a blind eye to phone hacking at their own organisation and said at a public inquiry while phone hacking was going on that it wasn't going on. there are questions too about whether the police might take another look at this. often forgotten the met police did investigate trinity mirror journalists in 2013, there were arrests, and in 2015 the decision was taken to take no further action against about ten journalists. we have asked the met police if they will take action after this judgment today, we are waiting for a response. i think clearly questions for piers morgan, thejudge said he did know about phone hacking, mr morgan has always said he did not
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know how to do it, had not attacked a phone and did not know if any stories in his newspapers were based on phone hacking. he will have questions to answer. this is galvanising for prince harry's other two major legal battles against associated newspapers and news group newspapers, those are battles to come. . ~' newspapers, those are battles to come. . ~ ,, y newspapers, those are battles to come. . ~ , . newspapers, those are battles to come. . ~' y . ., come. thank you very much, tom symonds, — come. thank you very much, tom symonds, home _ come. thank you very much, tom symonds, home affairs _ come. thank you very much, tom - symonds, home affairs correspondent. specialist police divers who've been searching for the missing mother—of—three gaynor lord have found a body in the river wensum in norwich. norfolk police say although the body has not yet been formally identified, ms lord's family have been told. she went missing a week ago, after leaving work early last friday afternoon. well, our correspondent navtej johal is in norwich for us with the latest. navtej. it has been exactly a week now since gaynor lord went missing, and the
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case has had a lot of unanswered questions. today a hugely significant development. around a0 minutes ago, norfolk police issued a statement confirming officers searching for gaynor lord had recovered a body from the river wensum running alongside the park beside me, the last place where gaynor lord was seen on friday last friday. this case has attracted so many questions and so much interest in the last few days. my colleague has been looking at the past week since gaynor lord went missing. gaynor lord, a mother of three, went missing last friday. police officers have been searching for her in a specific area of the river wensum in norwich. her clothes, phone, glasses and jewellery were found in wensum park. painstaking work in searching the ground and water continued this morning. this is the last known sighting of gaynor lord before she went missing.
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these pictures released by the police show the 55—year—old walking down st augustines street in norwich city centre. she left the department store on friday afternoon. this cctv image appears to show her smiling, but she left an hour and a half before her shift finished. she was then picked up on cctv cameras hurrying through norwich. she spent 30 minutes in the grounds of the cathedral. a friend said she was upbeat and happy and talking about christmas just days before she disappeared. herfamily and friends just days before she disappeared. her family and friends have been waiting anxiously for news of her whereabouts. aruna iyengar, bbc news. navtej joins us again. this has been a very extensive search indeed, especially by police divers. . , ., , ., divers. that is right, dozens of officers have _ divers. that is right, dozens of officers have been _ divers. that is right, dozens of officers have been involved - divers. that is right, dozens of officers have been involved in | divers. that is right, dozens of. officers have been involved in the search, it has taken a great deal of effort, we know they have been
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speaking also to lancashire police who were involved in the nicola bulley case earlier this year. this morning around 11am there was a sudden burst of activity, i was probably about 200 metres from where the focus of the search in the river was taking place yesterday when all of a sudden officers, vehicles, forensics vehicles, divers descending on the same area on saint martins road. we saw a boat into the water, three officers on board, a couple of divers entering the water, focusing on a relatively small section of the water. you could tell something significant was happening. as we have learnt now, there was an insignificant, a body was recovered by officers searching for gaynor lord. this will of course, as a really significant news, news which the family been informed of and the police are supporting them as well. a really significant development in the last hour or so in norwich in
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the last hour or so in norwich in the case of gaynor lord.- the last hour or so in norwich in the case of gaynor lord. thank you very much. — the case of gaynor lord. thank you very much. navtej _ the case of gaynor lord. thank you very much, navteonhal_ the case of gaynor lord. thank you very much, navteonhal reporting. | the british boy who's been found, six years after he disappeared, is expected to return to his family in oldham in the next few days. greater manchester police say they're working with the french authorities to bring alex batty home as soon as possible. alex went missing at the age of 11 while on holiday in spain with his mother and grandfather. he's now 17 and was picked up by a delivery driver on wednesday near the french city of toulouse. mairead smyth has the story. the first police update on alex batty, the boy from oldham last seen six years ago. i think i speak on behalf of the whole of greater manchester police when i say we are relieved and overjoyed to receive the news from the french authorities that they believe alex batty has been found safe and well. alex went missing on holiday
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in spain in 2017 with his mum melanie and grandfather david, who weren't his legal guardians. he hasn't been seen until wednesday when he was spotted on this road in the foothills of the pyrenees by this driver. translation: he was walking in the middle of a forest, - a 20—minute drive from the nearest village. this is not usual. there's no explanation for someone to be walking around out there so late. so, on my way back, i thought i should stop and ask him if he was ok. alex used the man's phone to message his grandmother, who is his legal guardian, saying... police hope they will be reunited in the next few days. the young man and alex's grandmother spoke on a video call last night, and while she is content that this is indeed alex, we obviously have further checks to do when he returns
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to the united kingdom. susan caruana has previously spoken of her anguish at her grandson's disappearance. been an absolute nightmare. ijust can't explain to anyone how it feels knowing you might never see the grandson that you love so much, might not see him ever again. the teenager was taken to this police station in the town of revel when he was found, before being handed over to social services. today's focus is to bring alex batty back to oldham and to ensure his wellbeing is at the heart of how this missing boy is welcomed home. mairead smyth, bbc news. the prime minister of hungary has blocked a package of eu aid for ukraine worth more than £a0 billion. vicktor orban, who has close relations with russia, said ukraine needs peace, not more eu cash.
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hours earlier, mr orban had walked out of a vote in brussels where eu member states agreed to start talks with ukraine onjoining the european union. jess parker, who is in the ukrainian capital, kyiv. what is the reaction from the ukrainians? they must be furious with hungary. i ukrainians? they must be furious with hungary-— with hungary. i think they are frustrated _ with hungary. i think they are frustrated with _ with hungary. i think they are frustrated with hungary - with hungary. i think they are frustrated with hungary but i frustrated with hungary but certainly not surprised. viktor orban, hungarian prime minister, advertised his intentions well in advance of the summit in brussels and he turned up ready to take on the other eu leaders on these issues. it is absolutely noted here he has retained ties with president putin following russia's full—scale invasion of ukraine. viktor orban says he thinks the eu needs to look again at its overall strategy towards ukraine. let us divide up what has happened exactly. on the membership talks, as you mentioned, viktor orban, he absented himself from the room as leaders took the
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decision to move ukraine onto the next stage of the process whereby could one dayjoin the eu bloc. a long process, no guarantees of success, but undoubtedly a morale boost for people here. however ukraine also needs money and that takes us onto the 50 billion blocked euros of cash, money for things like teachers wages, public services, pensions as well. it is important. experts i speak to say they think ukraine can survive without the money for now but not for long. overall looking at last night's events, concerns about wavering western aid will persist as we head to the close of the year.— western aid will persist as we head to the close of the year. thank you, jess parker — to the close of the year. thank you, jess parker in _ to the close of the year. thank you, jess parker in kyiv. _ the price of energy in england, wales and scotland could go up to cover the cost of customers who can't pay their bills. the energy regulator ofgem has announced plans to raise the price cap from april next year to help suppliers recover nearly £3 billion worth of debts.
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our cost of living correspondent, kevin peachey, is here. how will this work? charities are warning money to pay their key debts. but some people are unable to pay and now so—called bad debts have reached a record in the energy sector of almost £3 billion, as you say, according to the regulator of gem. what it is proposing is to lift very slightly the price cap, the cost of each unit of energy that we pay for, adding about £16 to a typical household bill. if you are on a prepayment meter you would not pay. the idea is it gives funds to the suppliers to offer things like repayment plans and even to write off some of those bad debt. many people, bill payers, might have
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their own views as to whether everyone should be paying for those who can't, charities are saying it does not go to the underlying issue of high bills and they say maybe a social terror for those on benefits might be a better option. the government has said it has helped those most in need with cost of living payments, a series of those, the last of which is scheduled for next february —— they say maybe a social tarriff. kevin, thank you. our top story this afternoon... the high court rules prince harry was the victim of phone hacking by mirror group newspapers and awards him £1a0,600 in damages. and coming up... to what extent does pollution harm our brains? we have more. coming up on bbc news, we will hear from the under—pressure nottingham forest manager steve cooper ahead of their game with tottenham later tonight, as they aim to end a five—game winless run.
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there's been a significant increase in the number of very young children in scotland escaping from nursery school care. new data for last year shows two children a week, on average, went missing eitherfrom nursery or while on trips. a mother whose three—year—old son got out of his nursery and was nearly hit by a bus says the early years sector needs to get a grip of a growing problem. andrew picken reports. walk the plank! walk the plank. mummy, keep saying "walk the plank." ok, walk the plank. another adventure for river wood under the watchful eye of mum kayleigh. but it was a different story last august. he told me... he was like, "it's ok, mum, i crossed the road by myself." this tiny speck circled is three—year—old river escaping from his nursery in aberdeen without staff noticing. into the sea! whoo!
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the bit that really... kind of got me really worried was that he told me that a bus nearly hit him. i have now had people who were on the bus confirm that the bus did nearly hit him. he talks about it quite frequently. it's been over a year, now and it's quite a frequent conversation that he has about how scared he was and he just wanted mummy. reliving the what—ifs is very... very traumatic. river passed by one of the main routes into the city before he was stopped by a stranger who took him home. the number of incidents where a child in a nursery went missing or was unaccounted for is increasing. reports to scotland's childcare watchdog went from 88 two years ago to 119 in the last financial year, and the number of incidents is on course to rise again. the care inspectorate says it's working with operators to understand what is going wrong and how the trend can be reversed. for us, the safety of children is paramount, no matter what the setting. and this was a clear risk and a significant concern for us. i can imagine, if it was my
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child, how i would feel. i can imagine how parents out there feel, but i would say that the sector also are deeply concerned about it. the early years sector says high staff turnover rates, but also post—pandemic changes, have contributed to the problem. now you've got more people coming back into the to a nursery setting, which is great for those... those interactions with parents. at the same time, it means, you know, a lot more in and out, a lot more opportunities for things like this to happen. aberdeen city council, which runs the nursery where river escaped from, has apologised to the family and has said it has since made improvements. but river is still feeling the impact of the incident. he sleeps in my bed most nights. he'll wake up saying he's had a bad dream about the situation. he's just... he's not the same boy that i used to have. kayleigh kilpatrick ending that report by andrew picken. let's get the latest from the middle
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east. israel says its special forces have reovered the bodies of three hostages held by hamas since their attacks on october 7th. two of them were soldiers. hamas is designated a terrorist organisation by the uk. meanwhile, israel has continued its heavy bombardment of gaza overnight, despite pressure from the united states for a more precise targeting of hamas in the territory. let's talk to our middle east correspondent, yolande knell. any sign of different military tactics by israel? i would say not really so far. we had this top us officialjake sullivan talking about how it would take months for israel to achieve its military objectives in this war and to topple hamas, and he said really we now move to a different phase of the war, a phase which would involve less intensity in the
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fighting, more precise targeting of hamas leaders, but he did not give an exact timetable, saying that would be irresponsible. if you look at what has happened through the day, we are seeing this intense bombardment continue in the centre and south of the gaza strip with children reportedly among those killed, and we still have fierce battles in many pockets across the length of the territory between israeli forces and hamas fighters, raising questions about how much hamas has been weakened by the ongoing offensive. now mr sullivan has been in ramallah, meeting officials from the palestinian authority. one of his objectives in the west bank is really to look at ways to stop the fighting from spreading to gaza into the west bank more. he has also said he wants to look at ways of revamping and revitalising the palestinian authority, because washington envisages its having a role in the future governance of the gaza strip.
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all of this on a day of great heartache for the families of more than 100 hostages still held inside gaza and is believed to be alive. we know there were three hostages�* body is brought out by israeli special forces, 219—year—old soldiers and one civilian who was at this dance party on the 7th of october when those shocking hamas attacks took place. —— two 19—year—old. those shocking hamas attacks took place. -- two 19-year-old.- place. -- two 19-year-old. thank ou, place. -- two 19-year-old. thank you. yolande _ place. -- two 19-year-old. thank you, yolande knell. _ one person has died and another is in a critical condition after a boat carrying migrants got into difficulty in the english channel. the french coastguard said there were 66 people on board the boat, when it got into trouble about five miles off the french coast. survivors have been taken to calais, where the injured person is being treated in hospital. the effects of air pollution on our hearts and lungs may be well documented, but there�*s growing evidence that different pollutants also affect our brains. a team of scientists is trying to work out
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which things we do in our everyday lives that could cause us the greatest harm. here�*s our science editor rebecca morelle. breathing in polluted air in the name of science. briony evans is a volunteer at this manchester university lab, where scientists are trying to learn about the impact of fumes on the brain. here we�*ve got everything that we need to conduct the experiments, to expose the participants to air pollution. the team is looking at four different kinds of pollution — diesel from an engine, cleaning products, wood smoke and cooking fumes from a pork chop. the pollutants are carefully measured and piped into a giant plastic bag. are you feeling ok? the volunteers are exposed to a different fume on every visit to see which ones have the biggest effect on the brain. you could imagine that we find that wood burning is worse than diesel, is worse than cooking, for example, this would then allow people to make lifestyle choices
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about their exposure to the different pollutants. the world health organization says that almost all of the global population — 99% — are breathing in air that exceeds the who limits on common air pollutants, and the combined effects of outdoor and indoor air pollution is contributing to seven million premature deaths every year. this makes it the leading environmental cause of premature death. are you ready? begin. the participants carry out cognitive tests before and after their exposure. while we know how air quality affects the lungs and heart, less is known about the brain. the quality of the air you breathe, over the long term, is associated with increased risks of mental illness, poor cognitive development cognitive development in children, and dementia. so what we�*re trying to do in this study is understand not the nature of the association, but why there�*s an association.
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deep breath in, and blast it out. taking part in the experiments is a big commitment, but one that briony says is worth it. anything that can be done to find out things that cause us damage just in our normal way of life, that can be changed, seems like a really valuable thing to do. it will take several months to analyse the data, but the results could mean we think differently about how our everyday activities affect the air we breathe. rebecca morelle, bbc news. hundreds of people have gathered at the sydney opera house to celebrate the life of barry humphries — also known, of course, as dame edna everage. among those sending tributes were sir eltonjohn, who remembered humphries as "a great friend," and king charles, who said "life really won�*t be the same." our correspondent phil mercer reports. hello, possums, yes, it�*s me, dame edna, and aren�*t i looking gorgeous?!
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barry humphries introduced the world to many brilliant and unforgettable characters. including the irrepressible suburban housewife dame edna, and the lecture drunk, les patterson. the entertainer has been remembered at a state memorial as a comic genius. ah, well, it�*s in honour of edna, of course, and the extraordinary talent of barry humphries. we idolised him. well, he captured who we were, and he took us to the world and everyone got to laugh and get our humour. it's not easy, yeah, but he did it. very nice to be here. 0h, he's an icon. it's a bit like the queen. he should not have died. king charles said in a message that barry humphries was a cultured and erudite man who, through his creations, punctured pomposity.
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dame edna surprise charles and camilla at the royal variety show in 2013. they shared a joke and she told them she had been offered a better seat. i suspect everyone who appeared on television with dame edna or who found her appearing at the back of the royal box will have shared the unique sensation when fear and entertainment combined. for more than 50 years. _ entertainment combined. for more than 50 years, barry _ entertainment combined. for more than 50 years, barry humphries . entertainment combined. for more | than 50 years, barry humphries use dame edna as a way to say the unsayable. i dame edna as a way to say the unsayable— dame edna as a way to say the unsa able. ., ., ., , unsayable. i have had a little bit of work done, _ unsayable. i have had a little bit of work done, but _ unsayable. i have had a little bit of work done, but not _ unsayable. i have had a little bit of work done, but not quite - unsayable. i have had a little bit of work done, but not quite as l of work done, but not quite as much as some _ of work done, but not quite as much as some but— of work done, but not quite as much as some. but the figures, you are still recognisable. | as some. but the figures, you are still recognisable.— still recognisable. i will miss you so much, because _ still recognisable. i will miss you so much, because he _ still recognisable. i will miss you so much, because he was- still recognisable. i will miss you so much, because he wasjust i still recognisable. i will miss you | so much, because he wasjust one still recognisable. i will miss you - so much, because he wasjust one of the most _ so much, because he wasjust one of the most funniest _ so much, because he wasjust one of the most funniest people. _
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so much, because he wasjust one of the most funniest people. his- the most funniest people. his stories. — the most funniest people. his stories. like— the most funniest people. his stories, like robin— the most funniest people. his stories, like robin williams, i the most funniest people. his. stories, like robin williams, like billy connolly, _ stories, like robin williams, like billy connolly, he _ stories, like robin williams, like billy connolly, he was _ stories, like robin williams, like billy connolly, he was a - stories, like robin williams, likel billy connolly, he was a raconteur of incredible — billy connolly, he was a raconteur of incredible importance - billy connolly, he was a raconteur of incredible importance and - billy connolly, he was a raconteur . of incredible importance and genius. he is an _ of incredible importance and genius. he is an important _ of incredible importance and genius. he is an important figure, _ of incredible importance and genius. he is an important figure, but - of incredible importance and genius. he is an important figure, but in- he is an important figure, but in the end hejust he is an important figure, but in the end he just made us laugh. he is an important figure, but in the end hejust made us laugh. at home and on stage. it is the end he just made us laugh. at home and on stage.— the end he just made us laugh. at home and on stage. it is fitting the memorial should _ home and on stage. it is fitting the memorial should be _ home and on stage. it is fitting the memorial should be held _ home and on stage. it is fitting the memorial should be held here - home and on stage. it is fitting the memorial should be held here at l home and on stage. it is fitting the i memorial should be held here at the sydney opera house given its place in australia�*s art and culture. for barry humphries�* funds, an opportunity to remember a man who made them laugh. the prime minister anthony albanese said this comedic giant brought suchjoy anthony albanese said this comedic giant brought such joy to every part of australia and charlotte it upon the world. phil mercer, bbc news, sydney. remembering the late, great, barry humphries. an extreme cold snap which has gripped northern china could see temperatures plunge as low as minus a0 degrees celsius. there�*s been major travel disruption in the northerly provinces such as xinjiang and inner mongolia.
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the authorities have closed hundreds of roads and suspended many train services in several regions. in beijing, the cold weather was blamed for an accident on the subway which left more than a hundred passengers with broken orfractured bones. time for a look at the weather. here�*s sarah keith—lucas. not quite so cold, i hope? that's riaht, not quite so cold, i hope? that's right. some _ not quite so cold, i hope? that's right, some really _ not quite so cold, i hope? that's right, some really extreme - not quite so cold, i hope? that's i right, some really extreme weather in china but they have had a year of extreme weather. a record—breaking yearin extreme weather. a record—breaking year in china, starting off with the lowest temperature ever recorded by, -53 lowest temperature ever recorded by, —53 degrees, fast forward tojuly and we broke the records again in china, plus 52 celsius, the highest temperature ever recorded. swings of over 100 celsius to the cause of the year that we end on a really cold note, —a7 has been recorded. 11 centimetres of snow in beijing and
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the cold weather gripping the north

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