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tv   BBC News  BBC News  February 20, 2024 9:00am-9:31am GMT

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live from london. this is bbc news. the united states puts forward a draft un resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire as soon as feasible. former strictly come dancing star, robin windsor, has died at the age of 1m. and scientists in australia say they've identified the brightest object ever recorded — a quasar more than 12 billion light years away. hello, i'm anna foster. we begine with the war in gaza. the united states has proposed a draft resolution at the un security council calling for a temporary ceasefire "as soon as feasible". the us resolution also opposes
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israel's plans to attack the overcrowded southern city of rafah. it says the assault would harm civilians, around 1.4 million of whom have fled there and have little option to leave the area if a new offensive is launched. it's not clear when or if the text will be put to a vote. but the us has indicated it still intends to veto another measure which calls for an immediate pause to the fighting. well, let's get more from our correspondentjenny hill, who is injerusalem for us. we paid a lot of attention to the us position on this. people are looking at an alteration in language. what should we draw from it? the reason that we look — should we draw from it? the reason that we look so _ should we draw from it? the reason that we look so hard _ should we draw from it? the reason that we look so hard that _ should we draw from it? the reason that we look so hard that the - should we draw from it? the reason that we look so hard that the us - that we look so hard that the us policy is that the us, of course, is israel's closest ally, and we have seen a toughening of its stance, a growing tension between the allies in recent weeks. you will recall perhaps thatjoe biden has described
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israel's military operation in gaza in response to the october seven attacks as "over—the—top". this draft illustration illustrates a growing shift, might be putting it a bit too strongly, but a growing concern on the part of the us, when it comes to benjamin netanyahu's strategy in gaza. there is particular concern, notjust with the human cost of the entire operation but now this plan for a ground offensive in rafa, where, as this draft resolution points out, great and ongoing harm could be caused to more than the more than a million displaced palestinian civilians sheltering there, and into neighbouring countries and by that the us is referring to egypt, many of these displaced civilians are sheltering right up against the egyptian border. it warns that such a ground offensive would threaten the peace and security of the
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region. it is notjust the us who are voicing concern about what is happening. in the last 2a others, not long after israel said it would give hamas three weeks to return israeli hostages before beginning that ground offensive, we also heard from the eu, and all but one member state have signed a joint declaration calling for an immediate humanitarian pause in the fighting and again voicing their concerns about what is happening inside gaza, and specific concerns about what might happen in rafah. i should also add that it looks this morning that the us will send its senior middle east adviser to the region, due to visit egypt and israel for talks later on this week. figs visit egypt and israel for talks later on this week.— later on this week. as we are speaking. — later on this week. as we are speaking. we _ later on this week. as we are speaking, we are _ later on this week. as we are speaking, we are seeing - later on this week. as we are speaking, we are seeing live | speaking, we are seeing live pictures on the screen of the northern part of the gaza strip as seen from israel. you can see the destruction on the skyline. it
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highlights tartly to position people find themselves in, in rafah, because of this offensive begins in three weeks' time, they do not have many options of places to go, do they? many options of places to go, do the ? . , ., many options of places to go, do the ? ., ., ., ., they? that you can on that footage are t in: they? that you can on that footage are trying desperate _ they? that you can on that footage are trying desperate to _ they? that you can on that footage are trying desperate to get - they? that you can on that footage are trying desperate to get to - they? that you can on that footage are trying desperate to get to food | are trying desperate to get to food deliveries. there is little access to food, clean water, medical supplies or facilities in to food, clean water, medical supplies orfacilities in much of the gaza strip and that is something that aid agencies are really worrying about in rafah, on the southernmost tip. they say that if people try to leave, and don't forget israel told palestinians to get out of the northern part of gaza, to get out of khan younis, as they bit by bit, carried out offensives, told them to flee for their own safety to the south of the gaza strip and now they are saying that in three weeks' time if things don't change we will attack there also. for people there looking for somewhere to go, returning north is
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all but impossible and many will not have homes to go back to because they have been destroyed, and aid agencies are saying that beyond a few areas of what is described as open scrubland where there are no facilities, there really are not many safe places for people narratively do. there is a concern that people might try to cross the border into egypt. that board is closed. you may have seen reports recently that egypt appears to be building some kind of walled enclosure, which might serve as some kind of facility for richard he's coming across the board up the egyptian authorities —— for refugees. across the border. we can look at all of the international wrangling that is going on. you can hear all sorts of voices coming out of the eu, the us, but for the people on the ground in rafah, there are more than a million civilians there with food, water and medical supplies in short supply, they are watching and waiting while the world
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argues about what happens to them. thank you, jenny hill injerusalem. the international court ofjustice is beginning a second day of public hearings on the legality of israel's occupation of palestinian territories. south africa and saudi arabia are among the countries to address it today. yesterday, the un's top court heard from the palestinian delegation. the legal conclusion will be on an advisory basis only. let's speak to our correspondent anna holligan, who's at the hague. what did you hear yesterday in terms of evidence that was given? we heard impassioned — of evidence that was given? we heard impassioned arguments. _ of evidence that was given? we heard impassioned arguments. the - impassioned arguments. the palestinian authority's representative to the un asked the judges here at the un's highest court, what does international justice mean to children in gaza today? it is not protected their lives and limbs, their homes or their hopes. we heard from lawyers representing the palestinian authority, calling for israel's
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withdrawal. they are trying to urge the judges to deem that israel's occupation of the palestinian territories is illegal and should end, on the basis that it seems to be permanent, and it blocks their right to self—determination. we also heard from the international lawyer, philippe sainz, he said we should not be starry eyed about the principle of internationaljustice but it is all we have, but an advisory opinion from this court could set the parameters of a future settlement. i have the list for today's hearings. starting off with south africa. it looks as though we will hear from six countries today. there were initially ii schedule. first of all, south africa, although this is not linked to the south africa case, it is south africa's ambassador to the netherlands who will speak. a record 51 countries taking part in these proceedings.
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each will have half an hour to present their case. the idea is that they will try to help the judges arrive at that advisory opinion on the legal consequences of israel's occupation of the palestinian territories.— occupation of the palestinian territories. , . , ., . territories. israel will be watching development _ territories. israel will be watching development closely. _ territories. israel will be watching development closely. what - territories. israel will be watching development closely. what is - territories. israel will be watching l development closely. what is their position on this?— development closely. what is their position on this? israel has decided not to take — position on this? israel has decided not to take part _ position on this? israel has decided not to take part in _ position on this? israel has decided not to take part in the _ position on this? israel has decided not to take part in the series, - position on this? israel has decided not to take part in the series, it - not to take part in the series, it does not recognise the icj's jurisdiction over its occupation of the west bank. it has submitted a five page document, saying that this case could be harmful to efforts to achieve peace, because the question posed by the un general assembly when it had asked that back when it asked for this advisory opinion back in december, 2022, is prejudiced. that is one of the reasons why israel is not taking part. what we expect in the next five days is to get an insight into how the current conflict is influencing opinions of
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some of these countries involved, which might be impacted on the future way in which negotiated peace could be achieved. so, there is no immediate impact. one other thing to mention is, probably people get this advisory opinion within the next six months, but it is not legally binding. it will be up to countries, or to the un, binding. it will be up to countries, orto the un, to binding. it will be up to countries, or to the un, to decide what to do with it. ., ~ , ., or to the un, to decide what to do with it. ., ~ ,, ~ ., ., ., or to the un, to decide what to do with it. ., ~ ~ ., ., ., ., with it. thank you, anna holligan at the hague. — with it. thank you, anna holligan at the hague. who _ with it. thank you, anna holligan at the hague, who will— with it. thank you, anna holligan at the hague, who will keep _ the hague, who will keep us up—to—date with that story throughout the day. let's speak to cbs correspondent jared hill who is in new york. we spoke about president biden and the us position on gaza, what would be the sanctions that president biden is thinking of? regarding gaza or russia? russia. _
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biden is thinking of? regarding gaza or russia? russia. president - biden is thinking of? regarding gaza or russia? russia. president biden l or russia? russia. president biden is considering _ or russia? russia. president biden is considering a _ or russia? russia. president biden is considering a number— or russia? russia. president biden is considering a number of- or russia? russia. president biden is considering a number of options| is considering a number of options but we do not know the specifics. since the russian invasion of ukraine two years ago the us has imposed several rounds of sanctions against russian officials, institutions, businesses, to try to persuade the general people of russia to push back against the war as well as trying to stop money flowing into some of the coppers that vladimir putin and the kremlin used to continue the war. the white house are keeping that close to their chest. house are keeping that close to their chest-— their chest. how is this likely to -la out their chest. how is this likely to play out on _ their chest. how is this likely to play out on capitol— their chest. how is this likely to play out on capitol hill? - their chest. how is this likely to play out on capitol hill? this i their chest. how is this likely to | play out on capitol hill? this will be a big question, _ play out on capitol hill? this will be a big question, to _ play out on capitol hill? this will be a big question, to see - play out on capitol hill? this will| be a big question, to see whether this makes any movement on capitol hill, in particular when it comes to your bill currently making its way through the house in washington, that would provide more aid for ukraine. the house speaker, speaker johnson has said he will not be rushed to bring this up for a vote in his chamber, despite that bill
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having support from those democrats and almost half of republicans in the senate but again the question will be, candy chamber that holds the purse strings, the house, push this through? —— can the chamber. the death of alexei navalny has dominated headlines. will that help president biden secured backing from republicans in securing extra funding for ukraine? this republicans in securing extra funding for ukraine?- funding for ukraine? this is something _ funding for ukraine? this is something president - funding for ukraine? this is something president biden| funding for ukraine? this is - something president biden said he is willing to speak directly with the republican house leader speaker johnson about to try to find some way. he says he hopes that the death of alexei navalny will nudge house republicans in that direction but he's not sure. again, all of this ends up being a numbers game. wilderness have the numbers to me that in that direction? the house speaker, speakerjohnson, spent presidents day holiday speaking former president drop, who has been
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pretty outspoken against the most recent build—up —— bill, that would have provided aid for ukraine. so there are a lot of questions around whether, were present stands and this will have a big bearing on when the current gop, and it stance on sending aid to ukraine. let's stay in the region, because the houthis in yemen have carried out one of the most damaging attacks so far in the conflict in the red sea. the houthis — who are backed by iran — say that a british registered ship which they attacked in the gulf of aden on sunday has sunk. there's been no independent verification of the claim. but earlier, the uk government said the rubymar had been abandoned after it was hit by missiles and was taking on water. 2a crew have been rescued. but earlier, the uk government said the rubymar had been abandoned after it was hit by missiles and was taking on water. the houthis also say they've carried out further attacks on two us—owned cargo vessels —
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the sea champion and the navis fortuna — in the region. and they say the reason for all these attacks on merchant ships in the red sea is solidarity with palestinians in gaza. british and american forces have responded by striking houthi bases in yemen. this hisham al—oseimy is a senior advisor at the european institute of peace, and he gave us his take on the escalation in the red sea. houthis, in relation to the ships that they have attacked, they have also downed a us drone. and they did that also back in november, when they did the same thing. but what we are seeing right now is a houthi escalation. we know that they have had these unmanned surface and subsurface drones for a while. but they haven't used them. this is only the tip of the iceberg. the houthis also have a lot more weapons provided by iran. but the fact that they are actually using it now indicates that they are willing to escalate, that they are under a lot of pressure, locally, to deliver on their promises of damaging
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the coalition forces in the gulf of aden and the red sea and the arabian sea and now they are trying to make good on their word that they have actually managed to put a dent to that coalition in the red sea. german footballer known for scoring the winning goal in the 1990 world cup final has died, that is andreas brehme. he cup final has died, that is andreas brehme. ., ,, �* brehme. he won the serie a title with inter milan, _ brehme. he won the serie a title with inter milan, winning - brehme. he won the serie a title with inter milan, winning the - with inter milan, winning the bundesliga with bayern munich as well, but he will be known for that world cup winning goal in 1990. the death of andreas brehme has been confirmed by bayern munich. the russian security service fsb says it has arrested a russian—american dual citizen,
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suspected of treason and raising funds for ukraine. the 33—year—old woman was detained in the remote ural region's central city, yekaterinburg. she is understood to be a resident of los angeles and stands accused of "proactively collecting funds" that would fund aid and military supplies for ukraine. in russia, treason is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. with more on this is vitalii shevchenko from bbc russian monitoring. more do we know about the detail? they are published the video where she is being led down the stairs by a security officer with the hat pulled down over her eyes. you cannot see her face. pulled down over her eyes. you cannot see herface. russian media saying that they have identified her as somebody who originated from
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yekaterinburg, got married to an american national and moved to los angeles. she is being accused of collecting funds for the ukrainian military, which were then spent on medicines, as well as armaments and we also have to remember that last year, the russian parliament tightened punishment for treason, and now she is potentially facing life in jail. and now she is potentially facing life in “ail. ., and now she is potentially facing life in “ail. . , ., ., and now she is potentially facing life in “ail. . ., life injail. have you had any response — life injail. have you had any response from _ life injail. have you had any response from the - life injail. have you had any response from the us - life injail. have you had any response from the usjust i life in jail. have you had any i response from the usjust yet life in jail. have you had any - response from the usjust yet or is response from the us just yet or is it too early? we response from the us 'ust yet or is it too early?— it too early? we have not heard an hinu it too early? we have not heard anything from _ it too early? we have not heard anything from the _ it too early? we have not heard anything from the united - it too early? we have not heard| anything from the united states it too early? we have not heard - anything from the united statesjust anything from the united states just yet, but this woman is one of a number of american nationals who are being held in russianjails, the most high profile of him is even
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gerskovich, the wall streetjournal reporter detained on charges of spying and early this month vladimir putin, in an interview, he hinted that even gerskovich might be exchanged for a russian security services assassin who is being held in germany. this women's situation is different because she is a russian national as well as an american national. i would doubt that russia would be willing to exchange her, because russia's policy has consistently been not to extradite or to give up its own nationals. i extradite or to give up its own nationals-— nationals. i wanted to ask you about the story of — nationals. i wanted to ask you about the story of a _ nationals. i wanted to ask you about the story of a russian _ nationals. i wanted to ask you about the story of a russian pilot who - the story of a russian pilot who defected to ukraine last year and has been found dead in spain. this was portrayed by kyiv as a major coup. what do we know about what has happened? he
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coup. what do we know about what has ha ened? . ., coup. what do we know about what has ha--ened? . v «r. happened? he defected to ukraine toaether happened? he defected to ukraine together with _ happened? he defected to ukraine together with his _ happened? he defected to ukraine together with his helicopter - happened? he defected to ukraine together with his helicopter and i together with his helicopter and other two members who, as far as we know, died during the course of that incident. now reports from spain say that he has been shot dead. we don't know exactly what happened here. backin know exactly what happened here. back in october last year, russian state television said that an order had been issued to russian security services to kill him. and, this morning, the head of the russian foreign intelligence service said that he had become a moral pause the moment he defected to ukraine to russia, if reports are to be trusted, actually wanted to kill him. ., ~
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trusted, actually wanted to kill him. . ,, , ., trusted, actually wanted to kill him. . ,, ,, ., trusted, actually wanted to kill him. . ~' i., . ,, . him. thank you, vitalii shevchenko from bbc russian _ him. thank you, vitalii shevchenko from bbc russian monitoring. - around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. somalia has told the united nations security council that it believes a deal between ethiopia and the breakaway region of somaliland amounts to a declaration of war. the deal would see ethiopia recognise somaliland's independence in exchange for a 50—year lease on a naval base and commercial port, but somalia claims that this equates to annexation of the land. thousands of doctors in south korea have walked out in protest at plans to boost the number of medical students. the government says it wants to solve a shortage of healthcare staff, but doctors say greater competition could reduce their pay. the number of medical students hasn't gone up in 25 years, despite an increase in demand for healthcare in what is an ageing society. nikki haley says she would pardon donald trump if elected because it would be "important for the country to move on". the former us president
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is the favourite to win the republican nomination, but haley is still in the running and is trying to persuade voters in her home state of south carolina who go to the primary polls on saturday. you're live with bbc news. alexei navalny s family now openly accuse the authorities in russia of deliberately keeping his body from them. the russian opposition leader died suddenly in a prison camp in the arctic circle on friday. his family have been told they won't get access for another two weeks, as more tests are needed. chemical tests, they say, on the body. navalny s widow — yulia — has been meeting european union officials in brussels. she's already accused vladimir putin of killing him, and she's promised to carry on her husband's legacy. yulia navalnaya said she sees no other reason
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for russia keeping his body, than to let traces of nerve agent novichok disappear. the kremlin has called such accusations unacceptable. speaking on a visit to the falkland islands, lord cameron — the uk foreign secretaty — said russia will face consequences for the death of alexei navalny. yes, there will be consequences. what we do in this situation is that we look at how someone's human rights have been damaged and the individual people that cause that, we are able to go after those people with particular measures. we cannot pronounce its actions, cannot do that, but what i can tell you is that, but what i can tell you is that at the g7 foreign ministers meeting in munich, i pressed that the united kingdom will be doing that and i urge other countries to do the same and i believe very much that both those things would happen. earlier we spoke to evelyn
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farkas — a former us deputy assistant secretary of defense for russia. thisa is what she had to say about aleksey navalny and his wife. we know what happened to him. the russian _ we know what happened to him. the russian government, vladimir putin, essentially— russian government, vladimir putin, essentially murdered him, whether he did it over_ essentially murdered him, whether he did it overtime essentially murdered him, whether he did it over time with a slow poisoning are quickly with the quicker— poisoning are quickly with the quicker poisoning or some other method, — quicker poisoning or some other method, re—doesn't matter. i do think_ method, re—doesn't matter. i do think that — method, re—doesn't matter. i do think that it— method, re—doesn't matter. i do think that it is a tragedy on an international scale, and a personal tragedy— international scale, and a personal tragedy for— international scale, and a personal tragedy for the family, because, not only are _ tragedy for the family, because, not only are they dealing with his death but they— only are they dealing with his death but they cannot lay him to rest. i am highly— but they cannot lay him to rest. i am highly doubtful that the russian government will ever release his body _ government will ever release his body i_ government will ever release his body. i hope that they do, but they may have _ body. i hope that they do, but they may have reasons to fear having a burial— may have reasons to fear having a burial plot, — may have reasons to fear having a burial plot, where people can gather to memorialise this great patriotic hero _ to memorialise this great patriotic hero. clearly, he is a person that all of— hero. clearly, he is a person that all of the — hero. clearly, he is a person that all of the russian opposition leaders _ all of the russian opposition leaders and people you want freedom in russia _ leaders and people you want freedom in russia should be able to rally around — in russia should be able to rally around as— in russia should be able to rally around as a symbol. whether she can
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gather— around as a symbol. whether she can gather together a coalition, which her husband didn't really want to do, her husband didn't really want to do. he _ her husband didn't really want to do. he had — her husband didn't really want to do, he had his movement and he didn't— do, he had his movement and he didn't look— do, he had his movement and he didn't look to create a broader movement so it'll be to see whether other— movement so it'll be to see whether other leaders like garry kasparov, high—profile russians in exile, whether— high—profile russians in exile, whether they will gather with her, but they _ whether they will gather with her, but they are all going for the same objective, — but they are all going for the same objective, and it is good to see her entering _ objective, and it is good to see her entering into the political scene. there _ entering into the political scene. there is— entering into the political scene. there is a — entering into the political scene. there is a very deep need now for something — there is a very deep need now for something like this.— something like this. some of the da 's something like this. some of the day's other— something like this. some of the day's other news _ something like this. some of the day's other news now. _ ajudge investigating the assassination of haiti's former president, zhovenel moeese, has brought charges against his wife. a court document says martine moise conspired with the former prime minister, claudejoseph, to kill the president nearly three years ago. she denies involvement.
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an online site run by a major criminal gang who organise ransomware cyber attacks appears to have been taken over by law enforcement agencies from the uk, us and europe. the site belongs to a group known as lockbit, which sells tools to carry out ransomware attacks. nearly the entire us state of california is under threat from yet more dangerous weather — including periods of heavy rain, snow and thunderstorms. an evacuation warning has been issued for the topangan canyon area — and a flash flood warning was issued for parts of los angeles county. it's the second storm to hit california in recent weeks. astronomers have discovered what could be the brightest object in the universe. the quasar shines about 500 trillion times brighter than our sun and has the fastest—growing black hole ever recorded at its centre. the australian—led team said the discovery had been "staring them in the face". earlier we spoke to professor rachel webster,
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who was part of the team that made this discovery. it is actually very bright in the night sky but there are billions of bright objects that lookjust like stars, and we have to sift through all of those objects to find this very special one. it was a combination of a sky survey conducted by a telescope in a small telescope but it surveyed the entire southern sky in multiple colours. then we sifted through those to look for these rare objects called quasars. for these rare ob'ects called uuasars. ., ., ., , for these rare ob'ects called uuasars. .,., ., , , �* quasars. extraordinary, isn't it, one of the _ quasars. extraordinary, isn't it, one of the brightest _ quasars. extraordinary, isn't it, one of the brightest things - quasars. extraordinary, isn't it, j one of the brightest things ever discovered, and the idea that it was staring us in the face of the time. you can see more incredible pictures of that on the bbc news website. stay with us on bbc news.
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hello. this run of incredibly mild weather continues as we go through the next few days. on monday, we saw temperatures reach 15 degrees almost in parts of london. that makes it seven consecutive days we've seen the temperatures of 1a degrees or more and well above the average of 6—8 celsius. but that kind of weather will be back later this week, it'll feel much more like february, with temperatures 6—9 degrees for many, which will actually be higher than many have been by night recently. and that's the case as we start tuesday, 7—9 degrees in western scotland, northern ireland, but it's here where we start to see the rain arrive first of all. in fact, a spell of at times heavy rain sweeps across scotland, northern ireland during the morning, followed on by sunshine more extensively for the afternoon. a few showers in the
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highlands and islands. through the afternoon, northern england and wales turns increasingly wet and windy. to the south and east of that, many will stay dry during daylight hours, but fairly cloudy, some sunshine and again, 1a or 15 celsius will be possible. the patchy rain will, by the end of the afternoon and evening, edge its way southwards. it looks like it starts to fade but then regains strength after some clearer skies for a time in the north, with a touch of frost, cloud and rain will surge its way northwards later in the night on wednesday and mild weather fights back once again. so it will be a very mild start to wednesday but a thoroughly wet one. these weather fronts bringing outbreaks of rain quite extensively, pushing its way eastwards with some strong and gusty winds throughout the day, too. wettest in the morning for many, and particularly so on hills exposed to those southerly gales. brightening up from the west later, sunshine and showers. but rain will hold on across shetlands into the middle part of the afternoon and it may never fully clear the channel islands and the english channel. in the sunshine, it's going to be mild. it's southerly winds, a0 mile an hour winds, if not more.
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and temperatures again in double figures, if not low teens for the most part. but that milder weather is eventually pushed out the way. this air of low pressure to the north of us, as it works its way eastwards, introduces winds from the north atlantic, and that brings a drop in temperature. clears away the rain slowly, though, that we see again across england, wales, eastern scotland on thursday. brighter conditions into the west, but the showers will be a mixture of rain, hail and on the hills, a bit of sleet and snow on the tops, too. temperatures dropping as we go through the day, and that cooler run continues through the rest of the week and into the weekend, with further spells of wind and rain at times.
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this is bbc news. the headlines: the united states puts forward a draft un resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire as soon as feasible. service as soon as feasible. as it has arrested a russian—american service as it has arrested a russian—american dual citizen accused of treason and raising funds for ukraine. and scientists in australia say they've identified the brightest object ever recorded — a quasar more than 12 billion light years away. the former strictly come dancing fan robin windsor has died at the age of 44. the professional dancer appeared on the show between 2010—15. his management announced his death this morning and described him as the

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