tv Verified Live BBC News February 20, 2024 3:00pm-3:31pm GMT
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live from london, this is bbc news. as international pressure mounts on israel to pause its offensive, the world health organization stages a second rescue mission from gaza's nasser hospital. the prince of wales says he wants to see an end to the fighting in gaza "as soon as possible," in a major intervention on the conflict. and labour changes its position on the war, with its shadow foreign secretary calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. the situation now in gaza is intolerable, with a dramatic loss of life, with so many people facing starvation. police recover a body from the river thames, believed to be abdul shakoor ezedi, wanted over a south london chemical attack.
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the mother of russian opposition figure alexei navalny demands president putin release his body. translation: the decision - on the question depends only on you. let me finally see my son. i demand you immediately hand over the body of alexei so that i can bury him. hello, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories and checking out the truth behind them. as we come on air this afternoon, pressure is mounting on israel to pause its offensive in gaza. the country's most important ally, the united states, has put forward a draught un resolution which calls for a temporary ceasefire. here in uk, prince william released a statement calling for an end to the fighting. in a statement issued before a visit about humanitarian support in gaza, he says... "i remain deeply concerned about the terrible human cost of the conflict in the middle east since the hamas terrorist attack on october 7.
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too many have been killed. i, like so many others, want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible. there is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to gaza. it's critical that aid gets in and the hostages are released." britain's opposition labour party is calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in gaza, for the first time since the conflict began in october. it follows days of internal party debate over a parliamentary motion tabled by the scottish national party — which calls for a ceasefire. shadow foreign secretary david lammy said labour had shifted because the situation in gaza had "evolved". what we've done today is that we have set down a motion calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. that is because the situation now in gaza is intolerable,
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with a dramatic loss of life, with so many people facing starvation, and we are very clear that the rafah offensive that is being planned cannot go ahead. this is a comprehensive motion and it is one that i hope that the whole house can now get behind. let's speak to our political correspondent peter saull to get his take on this shift in position from labour. this is a shift, but how significant is it? it this is a shift, but how significant is it? ,., ~' this is a shift, but how significant isit? ~ , ., ., is it? it might sound like semantics but labour's _ is it? it might sound like semantics but labour's position _ is it? it might sound like semantics but labour's position on _ is it? it might sound like semantics but labour's position on this - is it? it might sound like semantics but labour's position on this has i but labour's position on this has gradually evolved over time. at one stage they were talking about a need for a humanitarian pause then keir starmer talked about an immediate end to the fighting, now this phrase and immediate humanitarian
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ceasefire. i don't suppose this will change a great deal in terms of what israel is doing on the ground in gaza right now but labour wants to be seen as a party of government, riding high in the poll so it wants to ensure it is coming up with the right position that mirrors some of britain's allies and that has been the key point the likes of david lammy have wanted to stress. they believe the language is very similar to the likes of the united states, canada, australia, new zealand, the five eyes allies but also the united nations so the international pressure has grown i think labour feels a bit more comfortable in doing that. politically at home, this has been brought about because of a motion that will be debated tomorrow in the house of commons brought by the scottish national party which calls for an immediate ceasefire. the position of the snp and the labour party fairly seminal now i think, labour probably go a
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little bit further in their condemnation of hamas, the snp further in their condemnation of israel but very little difference there between them, the last time there between them, the last time the snp brought a call for an immediate ceasefire dozens of labour mps rebelled, some members of the labour front bench resigned. mps rebelled, some members of the labourfront bench resigned. this continues to be a thorny issue for sir keir starmer, lots of issues in his own party regarding the conflict right now and interesting to note the left—wing campaign group momentum put out a statement saying this position still falls well short of what the moment requires. this issue has divided the party, seeing everyone from councillors resigned from the labour party and members of the front bench quit their positions as well. , . , ., ., ., as well. instinctively a lot of labour supporters _ as well. instinctively a lot of labour supporters feel - as well. instinctively a lot of labour supporters feel like l as well. instinctively a lot of i labour supporters feel like on as well. instinctively a lot of. labour supporters feel like on a matter of principle labour should have taken a much firmer stance much
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earlier but this is a tricky one too because of the anti—semitism issue labour has had in the past. legitimate criticism of israel is very different to anti—semitism but labour lost a candidate, had to withdraw support in an upcoming by—election because of alleged anti—semitic comments and so keir starmer really wants to make the point his party has moved on from the problems that existed around labour whenjeremy the problems that existed around labour when jeremy corbyn the problems that existed around labour whenjeremy corbyn was leader. as ever, very tricky, lots of people have taken to the streets in the uk and across the world demanding an end to the fighting, particularly critical of what israel has done in gaza but labour clearly want to make the case also that israel has got a right to self—defence and in that interview they played a clip with david lammy repeatedly asked does it mean israel should no longer go in and try to get its hostages out? david lammy did not answer that question directly, it is a very tricky subject all politicians but given
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the broad church the labour party is on this issue particularly difficult for labour. on this issue particularly difficult for labour-— on this issue particularly difficult for labour. ., ~ , . ., for labour. thank you very much for takin: us for labour. thank you very much for taking us through _ for labour. thank you very much for taking us through that _ for labour. thank you very much for taking us through that story. - we'll be live at the un and in westminster to discuss all of the latest developments. but first, as the fighting continues on the world health organization says it has evacuated more than 30 patients including children from gaza's nasser hospital. it's the second evacuation mission that's taken place but there are fears for the patients and medics still inside. the hospital in the southern city of khan younis stopped functioning last week after an israeli raid. the idf has described its operation as "precise and limited," accusing hamas of "cynically using hospitals for terror". who staff said conditions around the hospital in the southern city of khan younis were "indescribable" and have released footage from their mission showing their efforts to get patients out. here's a snippet from one of their doctors inside nasser hospital showing how departments have been left in the darkness.
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we are on the third floor of nasser medical complex, in the place where limb reconstruction centre used to operate, until the hospital was out of service. this is, you can see the limb reconstruction unit, dedicated in memory of dr peter salama. this place used to reconstruct limbs of patients that otherwise would be amputated. now this place is no longer operational. let's speak to tarikjaaarevic, spokesperson for the who. thanks very much forjoining us on bbc news. first of all, what is the latest in terms of the work your
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teams are doing at the nasser hospital? we teams are doing at the nasser hosital? ~ ., _, ., hospital? we are continuing to reach nasser hospital _ hospital? we are continuing to reach nasser hospital but _ hospital? we are continuing to reach nasser hospital but also _ hospital? we are continuing to reach nasser hospital but also other- nasser hospital but also other hospitals that are still partially functioning, there is only 11 out of 36 hospitals in gaza that are trying to provide some service. now nasa much as you have seen in the footage is in a really difficult situation. i talked this morning with one of my colleagues who was there yesterday and what he described is a really heartbreaking situation where there is no water or electricity, in a hospital where people are sitting in the dark in the corridor, there is not enough food, we managed to medically transfer some patients but there is still 130 in hospital with 15 doctors and nurses. we really need a ceasefire so we can bring
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supplies to this hospital and others, fuel, food that health workers can content continue to provide health services to the population. unfortunately the offensive being talked about we can only expect more death and suffering. only expect more death and suffering-— only expect more death and sufferinu. , ., _, . suffering. there is real concern about what _ suffering. there is real concern about what might _ suffering. there is real concern about what might happen - suffering. there is real concern about what might happen if- suffering. there is real concern i about what might happen if there suffering. there is real concern - about what might happen if there is an israeli offensive in rafah. people have been taking shelter in the nasser hospital before these raids took place. where are they at the moment? where have those people gone to? the moment? where have those people one to? .,, ., , ., gone to? same as a hospital in the north of gaza. _ gone to? same as a hospital in the north of gaza, many _ gone to? same as a hospital in the north of gaza, many people - gone to? same as a hospital in the| north of gaza, many people sought shelter thinking they would be safe on hospital grounds. unfortunately, many hospitals were impacted and people had to finally leave, many people had to finally leave, many people were dead inside the hospital grounds due to the fighting that was taking place. people of gaza have
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been pushed to ever smaller areas and we think there is about 70,000 people who have been injured in the fighting, the bombardment, that 30,000 people who have died but not just the injured, pregnant women, 50,000 pregnant women, people with chronic diseases and as people are crammed into ever smaller places we can see the emergence of infectious diseases, skin, respiratory illnesses, waterborne diseases. are illnesses, waterborne diseases. are ou illnesses, waterborne diseases. are you planning another mission to evacuate the remaining patients and medics still inside the nasser hospital? we medics still inside the nasser hosital? ~ ., , ., medics still inside the nasser hosital? . ., , ., ,, ., , hospital? we are planning missions dail to hospital? we are planning missions daily to nasser— hospital? we are planning missions daily to nasser hospital _ hospital? we are planning missions daily to nasser hospital and - hospital? we are planning missionsj daily to nasser hospital and others, unfortunately many do not get necessary security clearance and also there are delays at checkpoints, the roads are very difficult to go to as you can see in
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the footage, there is no more road leading to a hospital. so even if we managed to get, even if we managed to get a transfer it does not solve the problem, we need a ceasefire and we need a continuous access for humanitarian aid and we need to rebuild houses.— rebuild houses. from the world health organization, _ rebuild houses. from the world health organization, thank- rebuild houses. from the world health organization, thank you | rebuild houses. from the world - health organization, thank you very much for taking us through the work you are doing at the nasser hospital. the russian news agency tass says prosecutors have opened a criminal case against oleg navalny, the brother of russian opposition figure alexei navalny, who died in prison on friday. it's not clear what he's accused of, but tass says police are searching for oleg navalny, who was already on the wanted list in connection with another matter. in 2014, oleg navalny was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for fraud, in a case kremlin critics said was trumped up and designed to pile pressure on his late brother. meanwhile, navalny�*s family have still not been allowed to take his body home. they say authorities are deliberately keeping
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his body from them. his family have been told they won't get access for another two weeks, because more chemical analysis is needed. his widow, yulia navalnaya, said she sees no other reason for russia keeping his body, than to let traces of poisoning from the nerve agent novichok disappear. the kremlin has called the accusations unacceptable. his mother has demanded president putin release the body to her. standing outside the prison where her son died, lyudmila navalnaya said she wanted his body to be released immediately so she could give him a decent burial. translation: behind my back, there is a colony - _ k3, the polar wolf — where on 16th february, my son alexei navalny died. it's the fifth day that i cannot see him. they won't hand over his body
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to me and they won't even tell me where he is. i speak to you, vladimir putin. the decision on the question depends only on you. let me finally see my son. i demand you immediately hand over the body of alexei so that i can bury him. earlier the kremlin dismissed allegations from the opposition leader's widow that president vladimir putin was behind his death. his spokesman dmitry peskov said the accusations that he was poisoned with a novichok nerve agent were absolutely unfounded and obnoxious. a moscow court has ruled that the detained american journalist evan gershkovich should remain injail untilat a russian military pilot who defected to ukraine has been found dead. in august 2023 he said he was opposed the to invasion of ukraine, his death being confirmed by ukraine's main intelligence directorate.
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police in london have said they believe they have found the body of the man suspected of carrying out a horrific chemical attack in clapham last month. abdul shokoor ezedi was last seen on chelsea bridge on the same night a woman was attacked with a strong corrosive substance and her two young children were injured. let's speak to correspondent catherine byaruhanga to get the latest. what more can you tell us about this discovery? i what more can you tell us about this discove ? ., , , ., ~ ., , ., what more can you tell us about this discove ? ., , , ., ~ ., i. , discovery? i am speaking to you 'ust in the shadow— discovery? i am speaking to you 'ust in the shadow of tower i discovery? i am speaking to you 'ust in the shadow of tower bridge, h discovery? i am speaking to you just in the shadow of tower bridge, one | in the shadow of tower bridge, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the capital, there is a stream of tourists passing by taking pictures but it was in this area at around 4pm monday police say they were alerted to the presence of they were alerted to the presence of the body, a body in the river. marine police unit was then dispatched and a body taken out. they believe this is the body of abdul shokoor ezedi because of the clothing on it as well as some of the property found on it. they have
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not been able to carry out a formal identification and that is because they say the amount of time the body had spent in the river, they will carry out further tests such as dna tests and dental records to confirm this as him. he is wanted in connection with a brutal attack on a mother and her two children in clapham in south london as you mentioned. police thought he had travelled back to newcastle in the north of england where he had been living. at another time the operations are man was arrested accused of trying to hide. nevertheless, when the police searched the cctv cameras, they say he had finally ended up on chelsea bridge not too far from here and say
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he had gone into the water. the mother and two children who were caught up in this attack have been in hospital, the police say the mother suffered severe injuries. they say she has been sedated for much of the last three weeks since the attack. today the update is that she is in a more stable condition and she is of sedation and they believe they can start having conversations with her as they try to piece together what happened around this attack and as they try to confirm this was definitely the body of the suspect. scott benton — the british mp caught in a lobbying scandal — has had his appeal against a recommended 35—day suspension from parliament dismissed by an independent panel.
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mr benton was caught by undercover newspaper investors posing as gambling industry investors, offering to lobby ministers and table parliamentary questions. a commons standards committee report said he'd given the message "he was corrupt and for sale". mr benton has sat as an independent mp since being effectively expelled from the conservatives in april. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. after years of unprofitability the body shop are closing seven stores, with additional closures to follow. last week the uk business was put under administration, putting 2000 jobs at risk. it is expected that at the conclusion of the restructuring, more than half of the body shop's 198 uk stores will remain open.
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the uk's competition regulator has begun investigating the market for baby formula , after a report found that prices had risen by 25 % over the past two years. regulators will have the power to force companies to hand over information. almost all of the baby formula sold in britain is made by two companies. a huge meteor�*s been seen in the skies over lincolnshire and other parts of eastern england. the fireball was captured by people as it passed on monday. a meteor is a piece of space debris that burns up as it enters the earth's atmosphere creating a "shooting star". the attorney general has ordered a review of the sentence given to valdo calocane, who fatally stabbed three people in nottingham last year. he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility — and was given a hospital order. the court of appeal will consider whether the sentence was suitable.
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it was not what we expected, we met with the attorney general and solicitor—general this morning who have reviewed the referral for the unduly lenient sentence that was handed to our son's modular on the 25th of january handed to our son's modular on the 25th ofjanuary valdo handed to our son's modular on the 25th of january valdo calocane. what 25th of january valdo calocane. what was the conclusion? _ 25th of january valdo calocane. what was the conclusion? effectively - was the conclusion? effectively aareed was the conclusion? effectively agreed with — was the conclusion? effectively agreed with us _ was the conclusion? effectively agreed with us in _ was the conclusion? effectively agreed with us in reviewing - was the conclusion? effectively agreed with us in reviewing the papers the feel it is appropriate that it gets referred to the court of appeal that will go to the royal court of justice with of appeal that will go to the royal court ofjustice with three high courtjudges who will review it and assess if they are in agreement which could mean the sentencing itself will change. a final appeal by the wikileaks founderjulian assange against extradition to the united states is taking place at the high court in london. mr assange — who's originally from australia — is wanted in the us for leaking classified military documents over a decade ago. lawyers for mr assange say he's too ill to attend the two day hearing.
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hundreds of protestors have gathered outside the court banging drums to chants of "free assange". nicky schiller is live at the court. bring as up—to—date. bring as up-to-date. literally as ou have bring as up-to-date. literally as you have company _ bring as up-to-date. literally as you have company the _ bring as up-to-date. literally as| you have company the protesters bring as up-to-date. literally as - you have company the protesters have started doing exactly what you said they have been doing all day, chanting free julian they have been doing all day, chanting freejulian assange. this is a 2d extradition hearing and julian assange's lawyers will be putting forward to the judges why they think you should not be extradited and chewing the evidence this morning he put forward the case it was a politically motivated case and he should not be punished for doing hisjob as and he should not be punished for doing his job as a journalist. this dates back to 2010 when wikileaks published a whole load of secret documents from the us government.
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and the us government say by doing that, he put lives at risk in iraq and afghanistan. for example informants of the us military in those countries. since 2019, mr assange has been locked up in belmarsh prison and as you said, he is not attending this case. we thought he might but his lawyer at the beginning of the day said he was too unwell to attend in person or by video link that his wife is here and throughout the day she has been addressing the campaigners that have been outside the court. she did that at lunchtime when she stood up on stage and they chanted her name. after she came off the stage we managed to grab a few words with her and asked what would happen if they were not successful in this appeal. here is what she had to say to us. we will try to bring his case to the european court of human rights and he will try to obtain an order to stop the actual extradition of him
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getting on, being put on a plane. that is not a straightforward measure. it is only a small minority of cases that actually get a rule 39 order, but in this case, there would be irreparable harm, so we are confident the european court of human rights will recognise that julian's life is at risk. we note happens to political prisoners, we will know what happened to alexei navalny last week and what will happen to julian if he is extradited. sot about how this case is not only
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aboutjulian assange but the wider issue of press freedom and that if he is extradited otherjournalists around the world will think twice before publishing documents that have been leaked to them. iaruiith before publishing documents that have been leaked to them. with the very latest. — have been leaked to them. with the very latest, thank _ have been leaked to them. with the very latest, thank you _ have been leaked to them. with the very latest, thank you very - have been leaked to them. with the very latest, thank you very much. . well, while washington says mr assange put lives at risk, his supporters say he exposed wrongdoing. one documentary released next month details what campaigners say is a story of injustice. we're going to speak to its director, but first let's see a snippet from the trust fall, julian assange. since 2010, assange has been held in progressively narrower, darker, colder and crueller spaces. he has been detained since the 7th of december 2010. in one form or another. and we are now here. after years of imprisonment.
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wikileaks is a non—state, hostile intelligence service. i think the man is a high—tech terrorist. a high—tech terrorist, a traitor, a treasonous. he has to answer for what he has done. assange faces up to 175 years i in prison for publishing classified documents exposing us war crimes. now let's speak to director kym staton who joins me in the studio. welcome to bbc news. what attracted you to this particular story? why did you decide to make this documentary? i did you decide to make this documentary?— did you decide to make this documentary? did you decide to make this documenta ? ., ., , documentary? i felt that there was, what was lacking _ documentary? i felt that there was, what was lacking amongst - what was lacking amongst documentaries that had been made on this topic is a film that really focuses on the meaning and interpretation and what we can learn from this predicament and how we can solve it. ~ . .., from this predicament and how we can solve it. ~ ., ., from this predicament and how we can
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solve it-_ we - from this predicament and how we can solve it-_ we can i solve it. what can we learn? we can learn that the _ solve it. what can we learn? we can learn that the us _ solve it. what can we learn? we can learn that the us government - solve it. what can we learn? we can learn that the us government has i learn that the us government has smeared and used law to undermine the character and the bank balance ofjulian assange and wikileaks. they have been running a campaign for 13 years now of arbitrary detainment in one form or another in order to put wikileaks and julian assange out of action because i feel they are afraid of the news that wikileaks is capable of bringing to the world. it wikileaks is capable of bringing to the world. ,.,, ., ., ., the world. it expose a lot of information _ the world. it expose a lot of information a _ the world. it expose a lot of information a lot _ the world. it expose a lot of information a lot of - the world. it expose a lot of - information a lot of governments did not want the world to see but means in which it was done the law. this is the sticking _ in which it was done the law. this is the sticking point _ in which it was done the law. ti 3 is the sticking point i suppose. i think that whenjulian is the sticking point i suppose. i think that when julian assange formulated the innovation of wikileaks, he realised there was rampant corruption in the world and the governments were hiding things from us. what we have to keep in mind as these are crimes he exposed,
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that wikileaks expose, war crimes, genocide, environmental crimes, crimes of corruption and the big question people need to ask ourselves is should we classify these kind of crimes? should crimes have a red stamp on them and be hidden away from the public? what hidden away from the public? what some peeple _ hidden away from the public? what some people would _ hidden away from the public? what some people would say is, shouldn't he go to the us and clear his name in a court and let the world hear what he has to say? if it in a court and let the world hear what he has to say?— in a court and let the world hear what he has to say? if it was a fair trial that was _ what he has to say? if it was a fair trial that was expected _ what he has to say? if it was a fair trial that was expected and - what he has to say? if it was a fair trial that was expected and if - trial that was expected and if the charges against him were genuine and valid which i do not think that they are valid. , . ., ., , are valid. director of the trust fall. are valid. director of the trust fall- out _ are valid. director of the trust fall. out later— are valid. director of the trust fall. out later in _ are valid. director of the trust fall. out later in the - are valid. director of the trust fall. out later in the month? | are valid. director of the trust - fall. out later in the month? the 15th of march. — more on that on the website. i will
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be back after a short break. stay with us. hello there. after a quiet start to this week, things are set to turn more unsettled over the next few days, as low pressure systems bring wet and windy weather to our shores, but it will be mild for the next couple of days before things turn colder from thursday onwards. this weather front sinking southwards across the country bringing some splashes of rain here and there. ahead of it, cloudy, breezy and mild, behind it brightens up for scotland and northern ireland with sunshine, some blustery showers for western scotland and feeling a bit cooler here behind the front, but ahead of it, very mild for the time of year, 13—14 or 15 degrees. through tonight, things turn a bit drier for northern, central and eastern areas, temperatures plummeting but it won't last across southern and western areas. wet, windy, milder weather spreads
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northwards, up to 10 degrees in plymouth by the end of the night, touch of frost likely across central and north—eastern scotland. wednesday looks decidedly unsettled, a deeper area of low pressure moving across the country, more isobars on the chart so it will be windy with gales around the coast and the rain will be quite heavy as well, falling on saturated ground, causing some issues with localised flooding in places. gales are likely around irish sea coasts and across northern and eastern scotland but a blustery day for all. the rain takes its time to clear through the morning. into the afternoon it will brighten up with a few showers, northern and western areas, taking its time to clear east and south—east of england. the last of the mild days for now as it has been mild for more than a week now, 12 or 13 degrees, 8—11 across the north. and then into thursday, another area of low pressure crossing the country, bringing another spell of wet and windy weather. you will notice, as it pulls away into the north sea late on thursday we open the floodgates to a colder, west, north westerly wind and the cold air will be with us for the end of
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the week into the weekend as well. a rather messy picture for thursday, wet, windy, certainly windy across southern britain, spell of heavy rain spreading from west to east, and again could cause issues of localised flooding, gradually turning more to sleet and snow over the hills in the north as the cold air begins to move southwards but it will be a bright end to the day across northern areas but chilly, as you will see, 5—9c. the cooler theme lasts friday into the weekend, sunshine and showers, the showers will have a wintry element in the north and nights will be cold with a touch of frost in places.
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