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tv   BBC News  BBC News  February 20, 2024 9:30am-10:01am GMT

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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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embodiment of passion, grace and sheer talent. we can speak to our entertainment correspondence. strictly a hugely popular and long—running tv show. just to remind us a little more about robin windsor�*s part in it. he us a little more about robin windsor's part in it. he “oined the show in 2010 h windsor's part in it. he “oined the show in 2010 but _ windsor's part in it. he joined the show in 2010 but before - windsor's part in it. he joined the show in 2010 but before that, - windsor's part in it. he joined the show in 2010 but before that, he| windsor's part in it. he joined the . show in 2010 but before that, he was an incredibly successful dancer. he'd competed in world championships, he had represented england and if you like, it was the classic strictly story. he started dancing almost as soon as he could walk. his parents took him to dance classes and discovered he had an incredible talent. he moved to london in his mid—teens and took part in various shows, notably burn to the floor and with that kind of pedigree, the strictly producers would always have their eye on someone like him. hejoined in 2010. his first partner on the show was patsy kensit. he went to dance for
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the following four years alongside anita dobson, lisa riley and deborah meaden. and they may not have been the main celebrities as the dancers but the public love them just as much and people watched him, cheered him on in their millions. as you can imagine, the tributes have been pouring in for such a popular figure on such a popular show. susanna reid, who of course presents good morning britain and danced alongside him on a children in need special was emotional and described him as an remarkable dancer, incredibly strong and creative and so enthusiastic about dancing, i just adored him. he was the most incredible personality with something very special about him. strictlyjudge craig revel horwood said he was one of the kindest, gentle, honest, funny and caring people i have had the pleasure of knowing and working with. he will be forever missed my heart goes out to all of his family and friends.
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former strictly professionaljane jordan said, i had the pleasure of working with this man for many years on the strictly. i had such fond memories of him, he was always very fun to be around. i am sure we will get many more tributes pouring in throughout the day because strictly such a popular show and he was such a popularfigure on such a popular show and he was such a popular figure on there such a popular show and he was such a popularfigure on there in such a popular show and he was such a popular figure on there in the four years he appeared on the show. even after strictly, he was in shows all over the world. he took part in more and more ballroom —based theatre shows and until recent times, he was in a show called come what may. a talented dancer who will be sadly missed by so many. thank ou ve be sadly missed by so many. thank you very much- _ you saw their some of those pictures of robin dancing in the show over the years.
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we've seen protests from farmers across europe in recent weeks. a significant turnout is expected as tractors began descending on madrid in spain and the greek capital, athens. but that's only the latest instalment in a wave of agrarian dissent that recently swept across european capitals — berlin, paris, brussels, and yesterday — prague in the czech republic — have all been ground to a halt by farmers protesting against eu bureaucracy. now, in poland, farmers will block roads across the country today. you can see some you can see some of you can see some of them there, tractors in the city. they are protesting against eu regulations as well as cheap grain from ukraine which has flooded the market. demonstrators are already blockading border crossings with ukraine, which is causing long queues. the farmers want brussels to reintroduce tariffs on kyiv�*s agricultural imports, which were lifted after russia's invasion. ukrainian truckers are also planning a protest on their own side
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of the border, from tuesday. president volodymyr zelensky has condemned the demonstrations as a "mockery" and urged all parties to restore cross—border traffic. let's speak to our correspondent in warsaw, adam easton. we have been seeing some of the pictures of blockading tractors. what kind of disruption is being caused there today? the organisers of the demonstrations say that they are going to have blockades with these tractors and about 200 locations right across the country. what they are aiming to do is to cause the maximum traffic disruption by blockading motorways, major road junctions around the cities, not necessarily inside the cities. that is coming in a weak�* time when there is a big protest scheduled in walsall. this is about causing traffic disruption also this
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disruption you mentioned on the border crossings with ukraine, which are ongoing protests and have been going on for many months and caused such huge queues that one crossing, trucks are taking two weeks to clear customs going through the border there. as you say that sparked this reaction in ukraine with ukrainian lorry drivers and truckers saying they will start their own protest on their side of the border, to prevent polish tracks from going in the fast route of the border crossing and make sure life is more difficult for them. as you said as well, president zelensky said this is not about grain, this is about politics for him. he said this protest in poland is really damaging relations between two countries which have had excellent relations. poland has been one of the main supporters militarily and of humanitarian aid to ukraine. but this protest over grain has really damaged relations
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between the two countries. what about public support, where do the public stand? the public stand ? the the public stand? the public stand behind the farmers, pretty much. they also stand behind the ukrainians as well because they have their own history stretching back centuries with russian domination and they feel very deeply for ukrainians and the difficulties and horrendous situation that is ongoing in ukraine. but at the same time, they support their farmers. theirfarmers are saying time, they support their farmers. their farmers are saying that they are having very difficult times. when the eu decided to open up its market to ukrainian produce, when russia invaded, that has basically caused this flood of cheaper grain into poland, undercutting the domestic products. last year, the amount of stockpiled wheat and grain in polish silos reached a record high of io
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in polish silos reached a record high of 10 million tonnes. so they just can�*t sell their own produce and they can�*t get to the infrastructure in the ports to expel the ukrainian grain, so it has left farmers in a difficult position and the public and the government in poland to sympathise with their plight and are trying to get the european union to reach some sort of compromise which will regulate the access of ukrainian agricultural product into eu markets like poland. thank you, adam. adam easton. you can see pictures as we were hearing from adam of south—east poland, close to the border with ukraine, as he was reflecting. more live pictures as well of the royal courts ofjustice. this is the scene as the high court today will hear what could be the final bid by the wikileaks founderjulian assange to avoid extradition to the united states. mr assange — an australian citizen — is wanted in the us for leaking
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secret military files over a decade ago. he�*s been fighting extradition on espionage charges for five years. you can see his supporters there outside the courts. the banners that are being held read "free pasta." let�*s speak to our reporter nicky schiller, who is at the high court. for the past five years, julian assange and his supporters have been fighting his extradition to the united states. he is wanted there on espionage charges, accused of breaking the law and endangering lives after leaking classified military files over a decade ago. in 2010, julian assange�*s wikileaks 2010, julian assange�*s wikilea ks posted 2010, julian assange�*s wikileaks posted leaked video of iraqi civilians killed by us forces. just one of thousands of american secrets. two years later he fled into the ecuadorian embassy in london, granted political asylum. into the ecuadorian embassy in london, granted politicalasylum. in 2018, the us began preparing a prosecution against him. the next year, mrassange prosecution against him. the next
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year, mr assange was removed from the embassy and he has been injail ever since. the embassy and he has been injail eversince. in the embassy and he has been injail ever since. in 2021, the high court ruled he should be extradited and the supreme court upheld that decision a year later. the then home secretary priti patel, confirmed the order. mrassange, secretary priti patel, confirmed the order. mr assange, who has been held in belmarsh prison, is now seeking permission at the high court to review that decision and to try to challenge the original ruling. he insists the case against him is politically motivated. his wife says he would not survive being extradited to the us and is now physically and mentally extremely weak. she told the bbc this case will determine if he lives or dies, essentially. if convicted, mr assange�*s lawyers say he faces up to 175 years in prison. however, the us government says a sentence of between 4—6 years is more likely. we will keep you up—to—date on bbc news is that hearing develops
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through the day. bbc news has learned david cameron�*s government knew that the post office had dropped a secret investigation into its horizon it system that might have helped postmasters who were wrongly prosecuted to prove their innocence. it comes as a row has deepened between the uk business secretary and the former post office chair henry staunton, who she sacked. he claimed on a sunday times interview he had been told to store compensation payments to the victims of the horizon scandal. mr staunton says he is standing by his statement. it is another instalment in the post office drama, this time starring henry staunton, the recently sacked chairman and kemmi badenoch, the business secretary custom here, questioned by mps, he became chair of the post office only at the end of the post office only at the end of 2020 but was sacked last month in the aftermath of the horizon
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scandal. he is not going down without a fight. he says he was told someone had to take the rap for the post office scandal. this weekend, he gave an interview saying... yesterday, kemi badenoch hit back hard. i yesterday, kemi badenoch hit back hard. ., ., , yesterday, kemi badenoch hit back hard. ., .,, yesterday, kemi badenoch hit back hard. ., , hard. i would hope most people readin: hard. i would hope most people reading the interview _ hard. i would hope most people reading the interview and - reading the interview and yesterday�*s sunday times will see at what it was, a blatant attempt to seek revenge following dismissal. and there was a follow—up punch from business secretary. i should also inform the house that while he was imposed, a formal investigation was launched into allegations made regarding mr staunton�*s and out, this included serious matters such as bullying. the former chairman was flawed. a statement released last night on his
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behalf said... mr staunton is not in the habit... post office sub—postmaster sent sub post mistresses were wrongly prosecuted between 1999—2015 after a faulty computer system, made it look like money was missing from their accounts. they want to know why so many still haven�*t been compensated. part of what mr staunton says kind of rings true, why they extended the deadline. yes... but at the end of the day, they are still not paying the day, they are still not paying the postmasters. they can shout at each other all they like but they are still not paying people. there
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could be a _ are still not paying people. there could be a few _ are still not paying people. there could be a few more _ are still not paying people. there could be a few more rounds - are still not paying people. there could be a few more rounds to i are still not paying people. there could be a few more rounds to go. henry staunton has been asked to appear before mps next week. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news — bringing you different stories from across the uk. with wide open space and expansive views, the gleadless valley in sheffield could be a popular place to live. but the estate, which was built about 60 years ago, is becoming dilapidated while it waits for a £97 million face—lift. the refurbishment was first planned in 2017. we�*re now present at 2024 and nothing has happened. not a single spade has hit the ground. very frustrated. frustrated for the people living on the estate. under the plans, blocks of maisonettes like this one were to be knocked down and replaced and other homes were to be completely transformed. sheffield city council says it took
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five years to consult on and draw up the masterplan because of covid and administration change. however, work will start next month to demolish a former care home. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you�*re live with bbc news. here in the uk, three young children found dead at a house in bristol have been named by police. seven—year—old fares bash, his three—year—old sister joury, and nine—month—old baby mohammed were discovered by officers responding to a welfare call shortly after midnight on sunday. a 42—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder. our reporter fiona lamdin has the latest. this was the moment police were called to blaise walk, a quiet close in sea mills in bristol in the early hours of sunday morning, but it was too late. three children, fares, joury and mohammad, couldn�*t be saved.
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they were already dead. the death of such young children is a great shock to the whole community, and this incident has had a profound and deep impact on all of us in the police. a 42—year—old woman from sudan was arrested and is in hospital under police guard. her injuries are not thought to be life threatening. they were very happy children, they were amazing, they were beautiful children. especially the oldest child, fares, he is very smart, amazing, bubbly boy. he is just, he�*s very friendly, he�*s very curious about everything. his attitude is like an adult attitude, he�*s an amazing boy, he�*s so amazing. ijust, i can�*t believe that he�*s gone. we couldn't sleep. we're shocked, and everybodyjust kept phoning the others. as a community, we feel like the sky fall on us. and it's very sad.
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the local playgroup was cancelled and the local school where the eldest fares went was also closed, giving this community, which is in huge shock, time to remember and reflect. we�*ve kept our church building open all day today so that people can come in and express their grief. and they have done in great numbers, actually. avon and somerset has referred itself to the police watchdog, the iopc, as they had previous contact with the household. now the focus is on these young siblings found dead in their home. fiona lamdin, bbc news. you are live with us on bbc news. i want to show you this remarkable image... it�*s a free diver examining whale bones
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on the sea bed, off remote greenland. it was taken by swedish photographer alex dawson who won underwater photographer of the year against more than 6,500 other entries. he�*s been talking to us about his work. it�*s all amazing. i feel so honoured that somehow my image managed to make it to the top. we dive under thick ice that�*s close to a metre thick and my model, the free diver, she was swimming on one breath from the surface, trying to find me under the ice among these whale bones. it�*s a minky whale on the bottom that she�*s swimming by and yeah, it�*s a very challenging environment. —2 degrees in the water, it�*s pitch black down there. yeah, it�*s a privilege and it�*s been a long, hard journey. i mean, i�*ve been educating myself also in diving, in very advanced systems, very advanced cave diving, with vehicles that push you deep into the caves. it takes me to places that very, very few people have been able to go.
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the more people that can see my underwater photography and cinematography, the happier i am because it�*s such a different world and people need to know about it. we need to take care of what�*s under the surface, we need to think from environmental perspective, so think this is all very relevant in many perspectives, as much as i�*d like to show beauty. i like to show the beauty of the world, like, it makes me happy. swedish photographer, alex dawson, there. an alligator at a us zoo had to undergo surgery after veterinarians discovered 70 coins in the animal�*s stomach. the coins were found in a rare, 36—year—old leucistic alligator, which has translucent white skin and blue eyes. now the henry doorly zoo and aquarium in nebraska said patrons threw coins into the enclosure,
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which were eaten by the animal between cleanings. he has recovered from the procedure and is back in his habitat. the zoo has now urged visitors to avoid throwing coins into any bodies of water at the zoo. a washington man who thought he�*d won a jackpot worth 340—million dollars has sued the lottery companies powerball and the dc lottery, who claim they published his numbers by mistake. john cheeks said he felt "numb" when he first saw the winning numbers matched his ticket, but that when he presented his ticket his claim was denied. according to court documents, the companies involved claim the confusion arose from a technical error. ijust
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wa nt to want to he has been fighting extradition charges for five years now. you can see the scene with the occasional red london bus passing through. we can speak to our reporter who is there. a lot of reporters, a lot of action, what has been going on so far? that reporters, a lot of action, what has been going on so far?— reporters, a lot of action, what has been going on so far? that is right, there is a lot _ been going on so far? that is right, there is a lot of _ been going on so far? that is right, there is a lot of media _ been going on so far? that is right, there is a lot of media attention - there is a lot of media attention from around the world for this extradition case forjulian assange system i arrived about eight o�*clock and there were dozens of his supporters. they have tied yellow ribbons around the high court railings but since then, numbers have swelled to hundreds and hundreds and they have been chanting, to free julian assange hundreds and they have been chanting, to freejulian assange and no extradition. they don�*t want him extradited is the basic message from them. there have been a number of speakers on a stage here who have been echoing that. we have heard
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from trade union leaders like the former unite general secretary len mccluskey and also jeremy corbyn, the former labour mccluskey and alsojeremy corbyn, the former labour leader, also addressing the crowd, saying that this was about press freedom and that people needed to listen around the world. indeed, within the last half an hour or so, the crowd also heard from julian assange�*s wife, stella. she addressed the crowd and she said to them, freejulian assange. as soon as she had said that, the whole of the crowd started chanting "free julian that, the whole of the crowd started chanting "freejulian assange" was that it took almost a minute for them to calm down and listen to what she was saying and she said it was a big two days ahead. she said they didn�*t know what to expect and she said that the world was watching and that they have to know that they can�*t get away with this. she said she ended by saying julian needs his freedom and we all need the truth. i tried to get a word with her before she went into the court but she
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wasn�*t speaking to the media until after she has been in to hear the first day of this extradition case, which we are expecting could last two days. it all is down on a decision that was made in 2022 by the supreme court. it said that the extradition ofjulian assange could go ahead and the then home secretary priti patel signed that order. what julian assange�*s lawyers today are trying to do is to get them to stop that extradition order going through. as i say, there are two days of discussion going on. if, and it is a big if, if they are successful, they will be happy about if they are not, then they could go to the european court of human rights for a particular order which would stop the flight taking off. so thatis would stop the flight taking off. so that is what we are expecting over the next couple of days here at the high court. the next couple of days here at the hiuh court. ., the next couple of days here at the high court-— high court. you can hear the noise ou are high court. you can hear the noise you are referring _ high court. you can hear the noise you are referring to _ high court. you can hear the noise you are referring to in _ high court. you can hear the noise you are referring to in the - you are referring to in the background. just to remind us
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briefly what the concern is about this extradition and why people are protesting so vociferously about it. julian assange has been for the last five years fighting this extradition. he is currently held in belmarsh prison. his lawyers have always fought against the extradition, saying if he was extradited to the united states, because of his mental health state, he could maybe take his own life. so they say that is the reason why they don�*t want him extradited to the us. indeed, his wife stella told the bbc yesterday that his both physical and mental health has deteriorated while he is in prison and she says this decision is basically a life and death one for him if he was extradited to the us he wouldn�*t survive. the us authorities say that they will treat him fairly and that there won�*t be any issues if he was
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extradited. it has to be said that also his lawyers say that he could face up to 175 years in jail. also his lawyers say that he could face up to 175 years injail. now thatis face up to 175 years injail. now that is a claim that the us authorities categorically deny. they say it could be four or six years but they also say if he was convicted, then he may well be allowed to serve his sentence back in australia because of course, julian assange is an australian citizen. . ~' , ., julian assange is an australian citizen. ., ~ , g, . julian assange is an australian citizen. ., ~ . citizen. thank you, nikki. we can hear from — citizen. thank you, nikki. we can hear from julian _ citizen. thank you, nikki. we can hear from julian assange's - citizen. thank you, nikki. we can hear from julian assange's wife, | hear from julian assange�*s wife, stella. there is no possibility of a fair trial— there is no possibility of a fair trial if— there is no possibility of a fair trial ifjulian is extradited to the united — trial ifjulian is extradited to the united states. he should never be extradited to the united states, he would _ extradited to the united states, he would never be safe. the united states_ would never be safe. the united states plotted to murder my husband. he is being _ states plotted to murder my husband. he is being accused ofjournalism. this case — he is being accused ofjournalism. this case is— he is being accused ofjournalism. this case is an admission by the united — this case is an admission by the united states that they now criminalise investigative journalism. it is an attack on all
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journalists — journalism. it is an attack on all journalists all over the world, it is an— journalists all over the world, it is an attack_ journalists all over the world, it is an attack on the truth and it is an attack— is an attack on the truth and it is an attack on— is an attack on the truth and it is an attack on the public's right to know _ an attack on the public's right to know. julian is a political prisoner and his— know. julian is a political prisoner and his life — know. julian is a political prisoner and his life as a risk. what happened to navalny can happen to julian _ happened to navalny can happen to julian he _ happened to navalny can happen to julian. he has to be released. this farce _ julian. he has to be released. this farce has — julian. he has to be released. this farce has to— julian. he has to be released. this farce has to end.— farce has to end. that is julian assange's _ farce has to end. that is julian assange's wife, _ farce has to end. that is julian assange's wife, stella, - farce has to end. that is julian i assange's wife, stella, talking farce has to end. that is julian i assange's wife, stella, talking at assange�*s wife, stella, talking at the high court this morning. she herself a lawyer and human rights activist. we will keep you up—to—date with that hearing as it happens through the day, so stay with us on bbc news. let�*s get the weather now. hello again. over the next few days, you will notice a feeling the difference of the weather. today and tomorrow will remain mild, rain at times and it will be more windy than it has been, particularly tomorrow. but by the end of the week it will feel cooler as temperatures return closer to the seasonal norm and also some wintry showers, mostly on
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higher ground. today what we have is this where the front continuing to push south. it weakens but look at the tail end of it coming back and taking another swipe at us through the course of the overnight period and into tomorrow. this is the weather from and into tomorrow. this is the weatherfrom producing and into tomorrow. this is the weather from producing the and into tomorrow. this is the weatherfrom producing the rain. as it sinks out, more cloud will build ahead of it and behind it, return to brighter sunny intervals with some showers. in scotland, the showers are likely to be heavy with some hail and thunder and wintry on higher ground. it will be a mild day across the board and also a breezy one. as we head through the evening and overnight, the weatherfront sinks out there is a weakening feature but if you remember it curls round and returns back northwards and eastwards, bringing some heavy rain with it, particularly in the north and the west. here there will be strengthening winds with gales developing through the irish sea. but for most, it will be mild, except where we have the clearest skies in the north—east, where it will be colder. tomorrow, this heavy rain continues to push northwards and eastwards. it will be a windy day wherever you are, gusting widely
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40 mph or in excess of that, with gales across the very far north of scotland. you can see the weather front comes back once again into the south—west. these black circles represent the strength of the wind gusts. but still, it is going to be a mild day. seven in lerwick, about 13 as we push further south. it changes from thursday as we start to changes from thursday as we start to change the wind direction to more of a westerly or north—westerly, pulling in the cooler act than to care. this weather front here is going to continue to push steadily eastwards as we go through the course of the day. it will be quite slow and the rain will be heavy. then we see wintry showers coming into the west. for most, it will be above 400 metres, 500 metres in the south—west and in between we are looking at some brighter skies but note the cooler weather sinking sale. we continue with the cool theme as we head on through the weekend, closer to average temperatures and it will be wet and
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windy at times.at times.
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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. an appeal against extradition of wikileaks founder david hasan has begun and go in london. his wikileaks founder david hasan has begun and go in london.— begun and go in london. his wife has said that julian _ begun and go in london. his wife has said that julian sands needs - begun and go in london. his wife has said that julian sands needs his - said thatjulian sands needs his freedom. —— julian assange.

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