tv BBC News BBC News January 23, 2024 9:30am-10:01am GMT
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the israeli military says 21 of its soldiers have been killed in gaza, marking the deadliest attack since the war began. and nominations for this year's oscars will be announced shortly — with box office blockbusters oppenheimer and barbie expected to top the list. let's return to the middle east. iranian—backed houthi rebels in yemen say the latest strikes by the us and britain will not go unanswered. the pentagon said eight locations had been hit in response to the continued targeting of shipping in the red sea. the uk foreign secretary, lord cameron, said the move would further degrade the group's ability to attack cargo ships in the red sea. live now to dr patrick bury,
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a senior lecturer in security at the university of bath and former british army captain. welcome to bbc news. we were hearing from lord cameron that he believes that this will degrade the group's ability to attack cargo ships. do you agree with that assertion, and how is the military trying to degrade the houthi capabilities? i do agree with the assertion. i think the strikes on the 11th of january, which hit about 1k targets, the uk was involved with that, that was a big message and it did degrade. we saw that confirmed with the battle damage assessment on the open source imagery coming through. then the us continue to hit missile launching sites, basically, as targets of opportunity. because the houthis have got mobile launchers. when intelligence queues of a target for them, they are able to hit them. but
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these were smaller and more ad hoc. finally, we had strikes yesterday that were very coordinated again, and larger, so hitting different targets across the spectrum, in terms of storage opportunities and in terms of missile launchers, and even radar sites.— in terms of missile launchers, and even radar sites. how does the uk's contribution — even radar sites. how does the uk's contribution compare _ even radar sites. how does the uk's contribution compare with _ even radar sites. how does the uk's contribution compare with the - even radar sites. how does the uk's contribution compare with the us'sl contribution compare with the us's in terms of military hardware? it is in terms of military hardware? it is much smaller. _ in terms of military hardware? it is much smaller. the _ in terms of military hardware? it 3 much smaller. the us has in terms of military hardware? it 1 much smaller. the us has the carrier, deed white dee eisenhower, which has up to 90 aircraft on it. in the first strikes, the uk provided two aircraft that had to fly all the way from cyprus and refuel on the way. much smaller, but a sign of togetherness and partnership in tackling this problem. partnership in tackling this roblem. ., . problem. how does intelligence play into all of this? _
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problem. how does intelligence play into all of this? is _ problem. how does intelligence play into all of this? is it _ problem. how does intelligence play into all of this? is it understood - into all of this? is it understood that the right targets are being hit, and, as you say, the houthis' capabilities are eventually being downgraded?— downgraded? yes, i think so. obviously _ downgraded? yes, i think so. obviously the _ downgraded? yes, i think so. obviously the us _ downgraded? yes, i think so. obviously the us has - downgraded? yes, i think so. obviously the us has the - downgraded? yes, i think so. | obviously the us has the most intelligence assets, so it will be focusing those on this area now, in real time, try to queue up targets. it takes a while to develop a target pack like this, and then obvious to get all the pieces into place. but it is downgrading them. the central thing is that this will be a bit of tit—for—tat. it is unlikely to change massively in the short term, i think. the houthis seem determined to keep going, the iranians behind them don't seem like they want to back off yet. and the uk and the us are able to hit these targets as they present themselves. the wider question is, does the us and uk try to start interdicting the support and supplies that is coming from iran, into the houthis in yemen, and use that as a struggle point? i thought it was quite interesting that we saw confirmed that unfortunately two navy seals had
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died at sea trying to interdict supplies or board a vessel associated with the houthis and arms smuggling. i think that is an indication of where the intelligence and energy, and specialforces information is starting to coalesce around. ., , _ information is starting to coalesce around. ., , ., around. the houthis say that it will not no around. the houthis say that it will not go without _ around. the houthis say that it will not go without a _ around. the houthis say that it will not go without a response. - around. the houthis say that it will not go without a response. what i around. the houthis say that it will l not go without a response. what sort of capabilities do they have, and what kind of hardware are they using to attack ships in the red sea? the? to attack ships in the red sea? they have basically _ to attack ships in the red sea? they have basically got _ to attack ships in the red sea? they have basically got a _ to attack ships in the red sea? tie: have basically got a fair bit to attack ships in the red sea? tie1: have basically got a fair bit of experience because they survived the air bombardment of saudi arabia over around seven years. they are good at basically camouflage, concealment, dispersal and hiding stuff underground, especially in mountains. it was interesting to see one of the targets looks like it might have been against a hardened structure last night. so the allies would have more access to those weapons which are able to penetrate deep into hard targets than potentially the saudis, certainly they would have more of them. so, i think that is where the balance is.
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the houthis have experience, but they are against a different intelligence and target set up now, with different ordinance. i suspect the us in particular to be more effective than the saudis were. nevertheless, it will be a game of cat and mouse because these are mobile launchers. they gerrymandered some of the launchers supplied by iran, and i think they can produce some of their own, basic missiles. it's a mixture of the iranians stuff they have made for themselves or adapted themselves. another interesting point is that the iranians know that when they fire these missiles, the systems on the warship will interdict them. they are presuming nothing will happen, so it is a manageable escalation. the problem is, what if a defensive systems fails and suddenly a warship is badly hit, and damaged? that is where a major escalation could occur. where a ma'or escalation could occur. , ., .
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occur. indeed, we will be watching that closely- _ occur. indeed, we will be watching that closely. dr— occur. indeed, we will be watching that closely. dr patrick _ occur. indeed, we will be watching that closely. dr patrick bury, - occur. indeed, we will be watching that closely. dr patrick bury, from | that closely. dr patrick bury, from the university of bath. thank you for sharing your insights. to the us — donald trump and nikki haley are making their last push ahead of the republican presidential primary in new hampshire, a vote which helps decide which of the two will represent the party in this year's us election. mr trump remains well ahead in the polls, and the former un ambassador is his last remaining challenger, after florida governor ron desantis dropped out on sunday. nomia iqbal reports. new hampshire's official state motto is "live free or die". coined by a general during the revolutionary war, it is now used to convey the independence the state has. nearly 40% of voters here are politically unaffiliated. every presidential candidate has passed through this diner. and one man here is hoping to take advantage of independent voters to stop donald trump.
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for left leaning independent voters, their top issue by far is how much they dislike donald trump, and how much democracy is the central issue for them this election cycle. is it easy getting people to vote for nikki haley when that is someone they would never ordinarily vote for? it is tough, but we have found a pretty large reception. nikki haley is the only candidate that can dent donald trump and end this idea that he is the inevitable nominee. robert works the room hard. it's actually a detrimental vote. i'm not sure how many voters robert got on board. however, polls currently show trump widening the lead by more than 20 percentage points. we travel east across the state, and to this restaurant, where nikki haley supporters are feeling confident.
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nikki haley! but as she arrives, news breaks that ron desantis is out. it is now one fella and one lady left. cheering. nikki haley came here to huge applause. the news came through this is now a two—person race. with voters taking to the polls shortly, she is doing everything she can to beat trump. donald trump is petrified of her, which is exactly why he is lying consistently about her record. she's smart, she's— an accountant, she's beautiful. it never hurts to be beautiful. but across town that confidence is matched by trump supporters. i think there is no question on trump winning new hampshire at all. at this point both haley and desantis are just distractions and kind of irrelevant. desantis has dropped out now. i know, yeah. doubly irrelevant then. tomorrow is the day that each and everyone of you is going to cast the most important vote of your entire life. this is a very, very important vote.
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donald trump isn't really a candidate, but a movement. and if he wins this state by a huge amount, the race for the republican nomination will more or less be over. nomia iqbal, bbc news, new hampshire. and the team in new hampshire will be bringing you full coverage of that road. dissent in russia is normally silenced without delay. especially if it involves criticism of the war in ukraine. but the kremlin appears unsure how to deal with one group of dissenters: the wives of mobilised russian servicemen. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg has been speaking to some of them. they were the extra boots on the ground the kremlin badly needed. the 300,000 reservists, mobilised more than a year ago for russia's war against ukraine. antolina's partner was drafted at the age of 1m. she says that despite being diagnosed with stomach ulcers, he was deployed to an assault unit.
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now he's wounded. translation: there are some people who want to fight, who volunteer - for it and sign contracts. let them fight. but send us back our husbands who don't want to be there. they've done their duty to the motherland. send them home. antonina hasjoined other women campaigning to bring their husbands home. here, they're seeking support from an anti—war politician who wants to run for president. they choose their words carefully. most avoid criticising the war itself. still, with dissent in russia pretty much silenced, this event is unusual, a rare public display of discontent. translation: when will they decide l that our husbands have discharged l their military duty? when they're brought back to us with no arms and legs? when they can't do anything because they're just a vegetable?
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or do we have to wait for them to be sent back in a zinc coffin? the russian authorities have not reacted positively to what amounts to a call for demobilisation. the head of the russian parliament's defence committee said recently, "can you imagine in world war ii wives of soldiers asking stalin to send their husbands home after a year on the front line? it would never happen." his conclusion was that such demands today are being put out there by russia's enemies. maria finds talk like that insulting. her husband and her cousin have been drafted. she understands the ukraine war is not like world war ii. today, russia hasn't been invaded. it's invaded ukraine. but not all russians can face reality. translation: some people act like ostriches. _ they stick their heads in the sand and try not to think
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about what's happening. i can understand them. it's hard to accept that in your country the state doesn't need you to be happy. it just treats you as biological material. but if people want to survive, sooner or later, they need to recognise this and say that they don't agree. antonina had always trusted the authorities. and now? translation: i used to have enormous respect for vladimir putin. _ now i'm more neutral. but if he really does see us as traitors and outcasts for wanting our husbands back, i don't understand why he'd have this attitude towards citizens who once voted for him. in russia, the possibilities for public protest are limited. so once a week, the women meet by the tomb of the unknown soldier, just to lay flowers. opponents of the invasion of ukraine have little sympathy. they say the draftees should have ignored the call up.
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their wives just want their husbands back now. red carnations, a reminder of the human cost of war. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. usually, sorting a day out takes a gary flynt a lot of planning. but he is not hard nearly as much work to do before coming to castleton. normally i would before coming to castleton. normally i would have — before coming to castleton. normally i would have to _ before coming to castleton. normally i would have to do _ before coming to castleton. normally i would have to do a _ before coming to castleton. normally i would have to do a bit _ before coming to castleton. normally i would have to do a bit of _ before coming to castleton. normally i would have to do a bit of research i i would have to do a bit of research online, or quite extensive research online, or quite extensive research online, to actually make today pleasurable for myself and any family member that i will be with. it's because a new map has been produced. 0n it's because a new map has been produced. on it is clearly marked where facilities are for disabled
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people like accessible toilets, special parking and wear wheelchair hire is. the park authorities teamed up hire is. the park authorities teamed up with accessible uk to produce the map. it up with accessible uk to produce the ma -. , �* up with accessible uk to produce the ma . _ , �* ~' up with accessible uk to produce the ma. ,�* ,. . ., map. it isn't rocket science, that is the big thing we _ map. it isn't rocket science, that is the big thing we need - map. it isn't rocket science, that is the big thing we need to - map. it isn't rocket science, that is the big thing we need to get i is the big thing we need to get across — is the big thing we need to get across. this is quite basic information. it across. this is quite basic information.— across. this is quite basic information. it is hoped that castleton — information. it is hoped that castleton can _ information. it is hoped that castleton can become - information. it is hoped that castleton can become an - information. it is hoped that - castleton can become an example to other places. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. iran is at the centre of bbc investigation into videos of senior iranian commanders operating online in the uk, addressing british students and describing what they call an apocalyptic war againstjews. the footage is part of an investigation into the islamic revolutionary guard corps, or the irgc, and its activities in the uk. a separate video contains chants of death to israel —
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it was recorded in west london to commemorate the death of an irgc commander. a warning, this report from our special correspondent ed thomas contains material that some may find offensive right from the start. the chant inside kanoon towhid, a west london islamic centre... ..associated with the iranian regime in the uk. we don't know exactly who was chanting, but we do know it's a meeting place for islamic students associations of britain. and for the first time, we see the speeches of iranian revolutionary guard commanders they promoted to talk at online events. violent islamist extremism. its purpose is to radicalise british students. we hear urgent calls for this
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to be made illegal... this cannot be allowed to continue. it is a risk to the stability of our country. ali khamenei, the supreme leader of the iranian regime.. _ ..and speak to those who say their lives are at risk. they've been threatening me. he says, "i'm going to cut your neck." l 0n the picture below, senior irgc commander hossein yekta... kasra aarabi obtained these speeches. he investigates iran's islamic revolutionary guards, the irgc, forthe campaign group united against nuclear iran. hossein yekta, commander of the irgc�*s notorious plainclothes unit, which has committed gross human rights violations in iran... and he examines its links to the uk. this event by the islamic students association of britain, hosted and moderated by mohammad hussain, the british citizen, talking to one of the most powerful and violent irgc commanders.
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this is the only video mohammad hussein ataee appears in. yekta had this message for uk students. he says you, as students, are the irgc basij�*s soft war officers. the concept of the soft war officers was an initiative by the revolutionary guards, which is proactively conducting terror plots on british soil. mohammad hussein ataee is no longer secretary of the islamic students associations of britain. he said the organisation doesn't make decisions through one person. that's him. here he is injanuary last year, at the heart of the iranian regime, a british citizen, educated in yorkshire, meeting supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei in tehran.
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0n the far right there, you have a hardline islamist cleric... kasra identified eight promoted events from 2020 to 2021. irgc commander ali fazli, who, by the way, is on the uk's sanctions list. irgc commander saeed ghasemi is one of the most violent islamist extremist irgc commander. in this talk, the now retired commander falsely claimed the holocaust was a lie and described an apocalyptic war againstjews. the charity commission is examining these promoted events. the islamic students associations
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of britain told us its activities are lawful and independent, with no affiliations to any government. it is peaceful and respects all faiths. the al—tawheed charitable trust, which runs this place, the kanoon towhid centre, did not respond to our questions. it's a brazen act of radicalisation. i'm horrified. alicia kearns mp is the chair of the foreign affairs select committee. they are aiding and abetting people who would commit terrorism on our soil, and i want to see the proscription of the irgc because this cannot be allowed to continue. it is a risk to the stability of our country. they were threatening me. they said, "we are here to kill you, we're going to cut your head." we've also learned the threat from iran to people in the uk has risen, with more than 15 kidnap or assassination plots identified by security services. these are the people. they came, i was there. vahid beheshti, a british—iranian activist, says he's been
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warned his life is at risk. that's a picture of ali khamenei, the supreme leader of the iranian regime. i recognise few faces. so they were a small group, which i believe they are organised by iranian regime, irgc�*s agent freely operating in this country and our streets. the government said it's working to identify and deter threats from iran. mohammad hussein ataee wouldn't answer our questions, but said the allegations are false and he has no affiliations to the irgc or any army or government, and the islamic students associations never had any physical gatherings in kanoon towhid or anywhere else with any of the falsely accused individuals. you are watching bbc news. survivors of the grenfell tower fire say they will be a voice for the 72 people who died, as they share the impact
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the disaster has had on them during a new four—day event. campaigners say they will use grenfell testimony week to call for change, as frances read reports. it was one of the uk's worst modern disasters. a fire that started in a fourth floor flat, raced up the exterior of the building, and spread to all four sides. 72 people died. those impacted have tried to be heard in all kinds of ways since that night injune 2017. six and a half years later, testimony week is supposed to give a platform for them to speak directly to some of those they hold responsible. it came about as part of a multi—million pound high court settlement agreement, but it has no impact on the ongoing grenfell inquiry, or on the eventual decision as to whether criminal charges will be brought. and not everyone is hopeful of it helping. in my eyes, i don't think it will make a difference. i just think it's a chance for us
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citizens to say how much we really feel about the total lack of human regard, really. i still suffer with survivor's guilt every single day, and every month that the names are read out, i say to myself, really, that should have been me. but for others, this has been a long time coming, reflecting on how their lives are still impacted, as well as the many failings that happened. for those given the chance to speak, they're hoping their voice will be heard and listened to. frances read, bbc news. (tx vt) shops are struggling on the uk's high streets with footfall still well below pre—pandemic levels — with many of us preferring to shop online instead. many shop units have been left lying empty, something of an eyesore. however, could businesses which started online be part of the answer?
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a morning pep talk before they meet the customers. these entrepreneurs all run successful online businesses. now, they're getting their first taste of high street retail on london's world—famous carnaby street. for clothes, it's so important to try things on and see them in real life. so being in store is an amazing experience to give to our loyal customers. i work with discarded balloons, turning them into fashion accessories and homeware. meeting customers in a space like this has been great. the feedback is amazing. totally boosting my confidence. more and more pop—up shops like these are filling retail spaces that fell vacant during covid as lockdowns accelerated the trend towards online shopping. this shop was empty six weeks ago. it's now full of brilliant creatives from across london who are learning how to do their own shops, reenergising our high streets and making them better for everyone. this project is supported by the mayor of london's office, but some entrepreneurs
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have seen a business opportunity in satisfying this demand for pop—up spaces. pop—up club has run more than 25 shops like this one across the uk since 2017. this latest one in victoria, central london, took over a space left vacant by a chain of tea retailers. we go into empty spaces, we share it out collaboratively, and they have 30 to a0 different artists or makers in one space and make it affordable and accessible for them. we call this trend online to offline — or 020. and what we're finding is that a lot of these retailers that started their lives purely online are now actually benefiting the high street by opening physical shops. such is the demand for pop—up spaces, there is even a kind of airbnb platform for them run by another business called appear here. it offers space in all kinds of places, from shopping centres and outdoor markets to warehouses. the hope with all of these pop—ups is that online entrepreneurs will get a taste for face—to—face retail and so become the next generation
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of high street shop owners. from seeing the way a pop—up works, i definitely think i'll have my own shop in the future. dougal shaw, bbc news. now time to take a look at the weather with carol. hello again. storm jocelyn is bringing us some heavy rain and some strengthening winds as we go through the course of today. but it's tonight that the wind will peak with widespread gales, even severe gales in the north. now, this storm following on so hot on the heels of storm isha yesterday does mean that impacts are likely. so, we've got all this rain moving from the west to the east, another 60 millimetres possible across the highlands, the southern uplands, the lake district, the yorkshire dales and north wales, in areas already sensitive to the rain. and as it clears the south of england, in south wales there'll be a lot of low cloud left behind it and dank, murky conditions, with showers in the west. but look at these temperatures — ii to ia, very mild for this time of year. now, these blacks circles represent the strength of the wind gusts. so, continuing to pick up through the day.
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the met office has an amber weather warning in force from 6pm tonight till 8pm tomorrow morning, where within this area we're looking at the potential for gusts up to 80 miles an hour. so do bear that in mind. 0vernight tonight, too, the rain whittles down towards the southeast. the low pressure, which is storm jocelyn moves across the north of scotland. we've got that squeeze in the isobars. that's when the peak winds will be when we're looking at the severe gales or indeed the gales. and these are our overnight lows. we're looking at between six and 11 degrees. now, tomorrow, the winds will only slowly moderate. we'll start off with gales in scotland and also northern england. and, here, it will take much of the day for the wind to moderate. we're not talking about easing, just moderating. and then you can see, too, we've got all this cloud coming in across the southwest and we'll see some drizzle coming in here. temperatures down a little bit on today, but still seven to about 12, maybe 13 degrees. so, this is what's bringing in the cloud and the drizzle temperatures down a little bit on today, but still seven
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to about 12, maybe 13 degrees. so, this is what's bringing in the cloud and the drizzle during the course of the latter part of wednesday. and on thursday, it's going to be drifting steadily northwards. thursday's going to be a fairly cloudy day, a lot of low cloud around with this rain, particularly so in the west. it's going to become breezy, if not windy. and temperaturewise, well, we're looking at six in lerwick to about 13 as we push further south. and then, as we head in towards the latter part of the week, well on friday a fairly decent day, but there'll be gales in the northwest. but, beyond that, changeable.
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of their ground operation. the uk and the us carry out fresh strikes on houthi targets in yemen. britain's foreign secretary says the latest attacks are justified. what the houthis are doing is unacceptable, it is illegal and it is threatening the freedom of navigation. and nominations for this year's 0scars will be announced shortly, with box office blockbusters 0ppenheimer and barbie expected to top the list. hello. i'm rajini vaidyanathan. we start in the middle east, where israel's military says 2a soldiers were killed in central gaza on monday, making it the deadliest day for israeli forces since the start of their ground operation.
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