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tv   BBC News  BBC News  January 27, 2024 11:00pm-11:31pm GMT

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to protest against a surge in violence against women. hello, i'm azadeh moshiri. welcome to the programme. we begin with the crisis facing the un agency for palestinian refugees. several countries have paused funding for unwra, the latest to halt aid being germany, its second largest donor. eight others, including the us and the uk, have suspended funding to the agency known as unrwa. this comes after the agency announced it sacked several staff members over allegations they were involved in the october 7th the october 7th hamas attacks. the uk said it was, quote, appalled by the accusations. the head of unrwa, philippe lazzarini, expressed shock at the suspension of funding, saying the decision to withhold those funds threatens the lives of people inside gaza who depend on unrwa —
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which helps co—ordinate aid, and run many of the schools and hospitals in the strip. other countries who halted financing include australia, text jeff hayes text italy, canada, finland, the netherlands and switzerland. from jerusalem, our correspondent mark lowen reports. crushed from the air. lives, homes, families, and now the very mission set up to help gaza's desperate is taking a hit too — the un agency for palestinian refugees, or unrwa, firing several employees for alleged alleged involvement in hamas�* assault on israel. a body set up to protect accused of attack. britain and a handful of other countries have now paused theirfunding. the foreign office said it was appalled by claims of complicity in what it called a heinous act of terrorism. hamas stormed israel on october 7th, killing more than 1,200 people and abducting at least 240.
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israeli intelligence has reportedly passed on material said to show the participation of unrwa staff and the use of its vehicles and facilities. its government has seized on the allegations, as the world remembers another massacre. translation: it was proven on international holocaust i remembrance day what we've been saying for years, that the unrwa employees are collaborators with the terrorist organisation hamas, and that the un has become not only a place where the existence of the state of israel is delegitimised, but also a place where employees are physically collaborating in the extermination of israel. the un, which has frequently batted away past israeli criticism, says it's horrified by the news, and will ensure any unrwa employee shown to have participated or abetted what transpired on the 7th of october, or in any other criminal activity, be terminated immediately and referred for potential criminal prosecution.
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but as israel's offensive intensifies, driving 80% of gazans from their homes, the un plays a vital role there, and, say some, a mission with 30,000 staff shouldn't be tarred by the violations of a few. it certainly looks as if there is cause to be concerned about the actions of some of the members of unrwa, the un relief and works agency, but that does not, and nor should it, impugn the entire agency and all the body of work that they're doing. they have helped save literally thousands of lives in gaza. they do important work. the worst attack in israel's history has left scars here that will last generations. and with trauma comes rage towards those who aided the aggressors, not the victims. israel has long accused the un of bias, anti—semitism and worse. another foreign minister has called unrwa the civilian arm of hamas and said it should not operate in gaza once the conflict ends.
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there is real anger here at these very serious allegations. but for a government increasingly under pressure, it's also an opportunity to bolster its argument. mark lowen, bbc news, jerusalem. let's take a closer look now at unrwa's role in gaza. the agency says it spends most of its funding — 54% — on education, including building and running schools in gaza, followed by health and support services. it also provides emergency relief assistance, and — since the recent conflict began — shelters displaced palestinians. unrwa is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. pledges to the agency totalled more than $1 billion in 2022. the us, germany, eu and sweden were the agency's largest
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individual donors that year, contributing 61% of its overall funding. well, earlier, the bbc spoke to chris unity — a former chief spokesperson for unrwa, and now director of the myanmar accountability project. he gave his reaction to the situation. isa is a zero tolerance policy toward the fall violations of one. this is clearly the fall violations of one. this is clearlj . , , the fall violations of one. this is clearl ., , , ., the fall violations of one. this is clearly ., , , ., ., , clearly happened, and what better evidence of— clearly happened, and what better evidence of their _ clearly happened, and what better evidence of their commitment - clearly happened, and what better evidence of their commitment to l clearly happened, and what better i evidence of their commitment to that policy and the fact that even before the investigation was finished, mr general executive of unrwa to dismiss this people. i think that's clear evidence of a zero tolerance policy. on the defunding, i have to say it's very sad that the donors have said repeatedly when i was at unrwa and sense that the work is life—saving. it has said that unrwa contributes to the human development and work to the stability of the middle east. so it's very sad be
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seeing those same donors withdrawing their funds to be seeing those same donors withdrawing theirfunds to be regionally stabilising services. before i finish the answer, it may be with 15,000 staff, there are some bad apples among unrwa staff working in extremely complex and polarised environment. but let us not lose sight of the fact that even though there may be some bad apples, there are thousands and thousands of workers in unrwa who are committed absolutely and robustly to their humanitarian mandates. that was chris gunness. _ with me is bonnie glick, a former deputy administrator of the united states agency for international development under the donald trump administration. thank you so much for today. you heard chris gunness there. they terminated if conference before the
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message was completed, is that enoughin message was completed, is that enough in your view? that message was completed, is that enough in your view?— message was completed, is that enough in your view? that i thought of it all. unrwa, _ enough in your view? that i thought of it all. unrwa, as _ enough in your view? that i thought of it all. unrwa, as chris _ enough in your view? that i thought of it all. unrwa, as chris said, - enough in your view? that i thought of it all. unrwa, as chris said, the| of it all. unrwa, as chris said, the mandate —— and that's not enough at all. hospitals and health care, what has been uncovered that the last 130 days since october the 7th is a vast system of tunnels that hamas has built using us as installers that have come from donors, including through unrwa, to build this hundreds and hundreds of miles long, system that they are holding hostages in and that they're using for... ~ �* hostages in and that they're using for... ~ ~ ., , , ., ., for... unrwa does deny that. can i read for. .. unrwa does deny that. can i read other— for... unrwa does deny that. can i read other statements _ for... unrwa does deny that. can i read other statements by _ for... unrwa does deny that. can i read other statements by unrwa? | read other statements by unrwa? philippe lazzarini said anyone involved will be examined,
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—— accountable. he went on to demand the release of hostages. you believe those statements? i the release of hostages. you believe those statements?— those statements? i don't believe the statements. _ those statements? i don't believe the statements. when _ those statements? i don't believe the statements. when i _ those statements? i don't believe the statements. when i do - those statements? i don't believe the statements. when i do think. those statements? i don't believe i the statements. when i do think he's lying? no, ithink the statements. when i do think he's lying? no, i think he's doing well my disingenuous. i didn't take the moment of having his funding cut off —— | moment of having his funding cut off —— i think he's taken —— i think he did it, i presented. for him to say they will investigate allegations for years and years and has unrwa and its operations. fine for years and years and has unrwa and its operations.— and its operations. one has never shown any — and its operations. one has never shown any sunport _ and its operations. one has never shown any support for _ and its operations. one has never shown any support for the - and its operations. one has never shown any support for the attacks and its operations. one has never. shown any support for the attacks of october the 7th. hat shown any support for the attacks of october the 7th.— october the 7th. not publicly. tuesday of — october the 7th. not publicly. tuesday of this _ october the 7th. not publicly. tuesday of this week, - october the 7th. not publicly. tuesday of this week, there l october the 7th. not publicly. l tuesday of this week, there will october the 7th. not publicly. - tuesday of this week, there will be a hearing and congress, or the un watch is being called as a witness to testify under oath that 3,000
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named employees of unrwa all names, all with their employee id numbers, all with their employee id numbers, all laid out, have been sharing the efforts of hamas, cheering and publicly supporting the october the 7th massacre.— publicly supporting the october the 7th massacre. unrwa denies all of these accusations, _ 7th massacre. unrwa denies all of these accusations, and _ 7th massacre. unrwa denies all of these accusations, and written - these accusations, and written letters and to the state department saying they have safeguards to protect against some of the things that you just laid out. it's really important to be clear about that. it's also worth saying that as chris gunness said, we're talking about a few employees here. the ones that evidence were brought forward from israel, and yet they have 13,000 employees in gaza, so should the whole organisation be tarnished in that way by these few employees? walk, underthe that way by these few employees? walk, under the trump administration, we could all aid to one. this is never happened before this trip. we could all aid because
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it is actually illegal for the united states to fund unrwa because the palestinians were programme of pay display. —— support. —— paid to slay. people are paid by time salary when they're in prison or their families or paid in perpetuities. in march 2018, congress passed an act which mean the united states is... and ijust take a bite and his administration did not agree with that assessment. that's why they started funding unrwa again. —— biden administration. say taking everything that you set into account as well as his denials. it is extremely difficult to get this assistance to palestinians. they are
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facing a serious food crisis. the war means no shelter, no food, no medical assistance. we will get that support if it isn't unrwa? i5 medical assistance. we will get that support if it isn't unrwa?— support if it isn't unrwa? is very simle. support if it isn't unrwa? is very simple- all _ support if it isn't unrwa? is very simple- all of _ support if it isn't unrwa? is very simple. all of us _ support if it isn't unrwa? is very simple. all of us can _ support if it isn't unrwa? is very simple. all of us can be _ support if it isn't unrwa? is very simple. all of us can be ended i simple. all of us can be ended when hamas surrenders and every single hostage is released.— hamas surrenders and every single hostage is released. shoot innocent palestinians— hostage is released. shoot innocent palestinians continue _ hostage is released. shoot innocent palestinians continue to _ hostage is released. shoot innocent palestinians continue to suffer- palestinians continue to suffer because of this?— because of this? there are six americans _ because of this? there are six americans being _ because of this? there are six americans being held - because of this? there are six americans being held hostage currently and by the by hamas. hamas can be turned over by gazan civilians, and hamas leaders can surrender, put down their arms and release all of the hostages. the situation changes magically, but as that moment, there can't be any. sorry to interrupt, running out of time. the icj has ordered israel to provide more humanitarian assistance to the palestinians in gaza. they have one month to report back. you
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think israel should ignore that order, palestinians should not receive not only additional humanitarian aid, whatever assistance they were getting until now? ., ., ., ., ., now? the international court of justice has _ now? the international court of justice has proved _ now? the international court of justice has proved that - now? the international court of justice has proved that it - now? the international court of justice has proved that it is - now? the international court of justice has proved that it is a i justice has proved that it is a kangaroo court that he even took up theissue kangaroo court that he even took up the issue that south africa presented to it of this being an israeli genocide. at the end of the day, the genocide and the genocidal intent comes from hamas. they have stated explicitly, including all of their leaders, that this will continue. octoberthe their leaders, that this will continue. october the 7th was a start. it will go on and on. but you don't think— start. it will go on and on. but you don't think there _ start. it will go on and on. but you don't think there should _ start. it will go on and on. but you don't think there should be - start. it will go on and on. but you don't think there should be a - don't think there should be a differentiation between the civilian lives?, harris has said —— kamala harris has that too many have been killed. you disagree? also 100 un were workers. tell
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killed. you disagree? also 100 un were workers— were workers. tell me this - and israel were workers. tell me this - and israel ask— were workers. tell me this - and israel ask to _ were workers. tell me this - and israel ask to be _ were workers. tell me this - and israel ask to be attacked? - were workers. tell me this - and israel ask to be attacked? the i israel ask to be attacked? the answer to that is no. the responsibility lies 100% with hamas, including any pain and suffering thatis including any pain and suffering that is befalling the palestinian people in gaza. 100% of that responsibility, as the white house has said, resides with hamas. bonnie glick, thank — has said, resides with hamas. bonnie glick, thank you _ has said, resides with hamas. bonnie glick, thank you so _ has said, resides with hamas. bonnie glick, thank you so much _ has said, resides with hamas. bonnie glick, thank you so much for- has said, resides with hamas. bonnie glick, thank you so much for your - glick, thank you so much for your time. we do appreciate it. we will continue to report on the status of the investigation at unrwa as well as the response. a group of holocaust survivors and members of the public came together at the auschwitz—birkenau nazi camp in southern poland, to mark international holocaust remembrance day. saturday marks 79 years since the liberation of auschwitz. 20 holocaust survivors
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from camps across nazi germany attended the ceremony. at auschwitz alone, more than than 1.1 million people, most of them jews, were killed in gas chambers — orfrom starvation, cold or disease. in total, nearly six million europeanjews were murdered by the nazis during the holocaust. in the uk, landmarks such as the london eye were illuminated in purple as part of an initiative by the holocaust memorial day trust, which this year is also remembering those killed in other genocides including in cambodia, rwanda, bosnia and darfur. around the world, people are urged to light a candle in a window to signal their opposition to hatred and prejudice. here's our religion editor, aleem maqbool. the holocaust robbed joan salter of many members of her extended family. today in particular, she remembers them. the bravery ofjoan's mother meant she survived. my mother climbed over the mountains and to spain and then she gave me up,
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in the hope that i would survive. littlejoan was shipped to the us until the war was over, when she was reunited with her parents in the uk. she says she feels the lessons of the holocaust have not yet been learned. it's just to get over what hatred does and how quickly people turn on each other. that, to me, is the message on holocaust memorial day, and the hope is that people will understand that. holocaust memorial day has been established to commemorate the 6 millionjews that were murdered by the nazis, but also the victims of other genocides since. at this year's main remembrance event, there was special focus on rwanda, 2024 marking 30 years since the horrific massacres of hundreds of thousands of tutsis there. earlier this week, referring to the case against israel at the international court
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ofjustice, the uk's chief rabbi, ephraim mirvis, said the accusation of genocide was an affront to the victims and survivors of the holocaust around this memorial day. he sings. and the conflict in gaza and associated rise in anti—semitism has meant that the holocaust memorial day trust advised on fewer public events this year. particularly the jewish community, but also muslims, are much more anxious about being out in public and visibly being jewish or muslim. so we've worked very closely with the police to issue guidance and actually, ourjob on holocaust memorial day is to remind people of what can happen when hatred gets out of hand. the holocaust memorial day trust is encouraging people to light
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a candle and place it in a window too, in its words, in a window to, in its words, remember those who were killed for who they were and to stand against prejudice and hatred today. aleem maqbool, bbc news, in north london. in our next hour, i'll be speaking with dana arschin, the granddaughter of a late holocaust survivor. stay with us for that conversation. an oil tanker with links to the uk has been attacked by houthi missiles. the marlin luanda, which is operated by a uk registered company, was travelling in the red sea off the coast of yemen when it was was travelling in the red sea off the coast of yemen when it was struck. the uk government says it reserves the right to respond appropriately. it is the latest attack in and around the red sea, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams reports. this was the marlin
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luanda this morning. indian navy personnel dousing a fire that threatened to ignite the ship's cargo of russian oil — the end of a perilous night for the crew. the houthis were quick to take credit for the attack, their spokesman saying once again that this was being done to support the palestinians in gaza, and in response to what he described as american—british aggression. it's been two weeks since britain and the us first hit back, striking military targets inside yemen, aiming to deter the houthis. so far, the strategy does not appear to be working. so, the attack on marlin luanda in the gulf of aden signify a great extension and escalation from the red sea to the gulf of aden — so a geographical extension. and also with the type of weapons — the missile used yesterday was a ballistic missile and the houthis started their attacks in the red sea using drones. so we're seeing a technological expansion and a geographical extension.
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the houthis are using the attacks to bolster support at home, orchestrating huge rallies on the streets of the capital, sana'a, relishing this confrontation with the west — something they've thought about and planned for for years. they're being helped by iran. when us navy seals seized a dhow off the coast of somalia earlier this month, they found parts of ballistic and anti—ship cruise missiles. diplomats say weapons are also being smuggled through oman. this afternoon, the defence secretary, grant shapps, condemned what he called this intolerable and illegal attack and said britain remained committed to protecting freedom of navigation. paul adams, bbc news. demonstrations have been taking place across major cities in kenya to protest the rising cases of femicide and other violence against women. hundreds gathered outside parliament and the president's office in nairobi, the nation's capital. some held placards with the names of those who were killed. the protests follow a series of gruesome murders against women
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that happened at the beginning of the year. amnesty international says more than 500 cases of femicide were recorded in kenya between 2016 and 2023. many of the victims were killed by intimate partners or people known to them. i spoke to the bbc�*s danai nesta kupemba a short while ago. she's been covering kenya's femicide epidemic and what she calls the country's toxic online misogyny. thank you so much forjoining. could you pick the picture for us and explain what exactly what kind of fear women in kenya are living with? so, with the shocking rate of femicide, women are trapped in
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russian malaya, where many building any moment, they can fall victim —— russian roulette. no one is safe because at any moment, it could be done. is murders, especially the beauty of this year, i have really shook many women to the core, especially with the brutality. they're also hypervigilant and looking over their shoulder and fear is something that has almost become a second nature feeling to kenyan women because of the prevalence of violence and crime against them. irate violence and crime against them. we say violence, there are some stories that are really shocking, particularly violent episodes. is there any one instance that comes to mind? , ., , there any one instance that comes to mind? , ., , ., there any one instance that comes to mind? , ., mind? yes. the rehab case, a young 20-year-old — mind? yes. the rehab case, a young 20-year-old university _ mind? yes. the rehab case, a young 20-year-old university student - mind? yes. the rehab case, a young 20-year-old university student who | 20—year—old university student who was dismembered and her body parts were placed in plastic bags. that
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story really disturbed many, many women —— the retest case. and then people in kenya because of the brutality of the case. the case was absolutely horrific. the fact that her head was found a few weeks after, just kind of paints just how the society essentially almost hates women that degree. her case has really saddened many people. when i first heard about it, i was disturbed, and i was sad, and i was filled with rage. it makes me think that her only crime was being a woman, and it's as though being a woman, and it's as though being a woman, you already have a death sentence. . �* , . , , woman, you already have a death sentence. ., �*, ., , , , ., ., sentence. that's a pretty brutal and horrific example _ sentence. that's a pretty brutal and horrific example that _ sentence. that's a pretty brutal and horrific example that you _ sentence. that's a pretty brutal and horrific example that you have - sentence. that's a pretty brutal and horrific example that you have laid l horrific example that you have laid out. naturally, people are calling forjustice. what sort of reforms are they talking about? the
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protesters. _ are they talking about? the protesters, what _ are they talking about? tue: protesters, what they are they talking about? tte: protesters, what they want are they talking about? t'te: protesters, what they want is are they talking about? tte: protesters, what they want is cases of gender—based violence to be dealt in a timely manner. the wheel of justice is slow and trudges along very, very very, very slowly, so they want a lot of these cases to be expedited and for perpetrators to be sentin expedited and for perpetrators to be sent in a timely manner. they also want government to call for a state of emergency in regards to femicide, they also want femicide to be classes on crime and to not be conflated with homicide. fight! classes on crime and to not be conflated with homicide. and danai, there calls for _ conflated with homicide. and danai, there calls for men _ conflated with homicide. and danai, there calls for men to _ conflated with homicide. and danai, there calls for men to take - conflated with homicide. and danai, there calls for men to take more - there calls for men to take more accountability, but also the role in protecting women in kenyan society. what is it that women want to see? t what is it that women want to see? i think what women want to see is they want a conversation to be have, they want a conversation to be have, they want men to understand where they're coming from. right after the retest
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case, social media has started to erupt —— 23 case. they started to say what was she doing —— rita. why was she there, what was she wearing, what she offered money? all of these questions of what she should have done and what she should have... the precautions she should have done is what people were so focused on. of course they were women calling for the murderer to be shamed, but there were a lot of attention on everything rita should have done to protect yourself. i think what women want men to understand is that the owner shouldn't —— onus should not be on us to protect ourselves, it needs to be on the society as a hole. we cannot place the burden on a victim. we cannot tell women to make sure they have a weapon to protect themselves, make sure they don't go out at night, make sure you
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dress appropriately when they are the ones being hurt. need stop killing women. kenyan women just want to stop being killed and live a long, happy lives. want to stop being killed and live a long. happy lives-— want to stop being killed and live a long, happy lives. danai, thank you so much for— long, happy lives. danai, thank you so much for your _ long, happy lives. danai, thank you so much for your time. _ long, happy lives. danai, thank you so much for your time. i _ long, happy lives. danai, thank you so much for your time. i will - long, happy lives. danai, thank you so much for your time. i will be - so much for your time. i will be following your reporting on this as it comes. . ~ following your reporting on this as it comes. ., ,, , ., stay with us here on bbc news. much more to come, and please do check our website. thank you. hello there. saturday brought quite a bit of sunshine to england and wales, a dry day for many, and a lovely end to the day here in north somerset. further north though for northern ireland and scotland, the day turned out to be quite windy and we did have a fair bit of cloud coming in off the atlantic, associated with the jet stream pattern. well, thisjet stream pattern for sunday is going to be bringing a very mild air mass across the uk and we could well see some
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exceptional temperatures across northern areas of scotland through sunday afternoon, as we will see in just a moment. before we get there though, the southerly wind at the moment is bringing occasional patches of drizzle to coast and hills for scotland and for northern ireland, although many areas will stay dry and have a dry start to the day on sunday. mild across the north—west, we've got the cooler air across england and wales, a few mist patches to start the day on sunday quickly clearing, and then a lovely morning for most of you. into the afternoon, though, a cold front will bring a spell of rain to northern ireland and western scotland, and some very strong winds working into the hebrides and the north—west of the highlands. 60, maybe 70 mph gusts here, but on the other side of the mountains, helped on by the fern effect, we could see temperatures get boosted all the way up to maybe as high as 16 celsius. as high as 16 celsius — well above the average for this part of the world. and the uk all—timejanuary temperature record stands at 18.3 celsius, so 16 would not be that far away from that. although we don't see those dizzy heights across england and wales, it is going to be a mild day nationwide.
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now, looking at the weather picture into monday, we keep the mild air across england and wales, across england and wales, but further north, and northern ireland. between the two, we have got a band of rain. it looks like being quite wet across this area, with 20 to a0 millimetres of rain. could see a few flakes of snow over the highest hills of the southern uplands. colder weather pushing back into scotland and northern ireland — i say colder, actually, temperatures are coming back closer to average. but across england and wales, still very mild. temperatures could reach 15 degrees in the warmest spots. heading into tuesday, that area of low pressure is working away. a ridge of high pressure follows in for a time from the west, so the cloud will thin and break and many of us will have a day where the weather will improve and get brighter with a bit more in the way of sunshine coming through. temperatures near average across northern areas, still on the mild side for east anglia and south—east england. the rest of the week ahead, often quite wet and windy
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at times in the north, dry and bright largely in the south. goodbye for now.
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this is bbc news, we would have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. hello, everybody. a very warm welcome to talking business weekly
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with me, aaron heslehurst. let's go and take a look at what's on the show. it's a new lipstick revolution. so is it time to see the light and invest in the future of your skin? around the world, iconic cosmetic brands are losing ground to small and fast moving new players starting up with a direct line to their customers on social media. so can these digital disruptors really challenge the global giants like estee lauder and l'oreal? i'm going to be asking two women giving it a go. there they are. megha ashar, who's start up in india, just got millions of dollars of investment. and trinny woodall, the big boss of trinny london, who's gone from telling women what not to wear on her television show to selling cosmetics directly to them online. plus, why a lack of truck drivers around the world could be another big hit to our global supply chain. the big boss of the global truck maker scania joins me to talk truckers, and whether an all electric future is possible.

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