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tv   BBC News Now  BBC News  March 4, 2024 12:30pm-1:01pm GMT

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he chocolate maker cadbury is turns 200. from humble beginnings to a household name. campaigners say the closure of our government safety net covering things like food banks would be catastrophic. the schemas are set to end in four weeks' time unless an extension is announced in the budget. everyone knows babies don't come cheap. hello, rhea. it means money has to stretch a bit further than planned. hello, jaydeen. but in this house, life's delivered even more surprises. hey, giovanni!
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and just manage to get some sleep wherever you can? yeah. it can be really tough. yeah. it's still very hard for some of us to get a nap. oh, the world's biggest yawn. with osaretin off work on maternity, three mouths to feed and three babies to hold, life and finances have been a juggle. he has reduced his hours to 20 hours a week. so the money's really not coming any more. so you've had to cut back your hours at work then, just to just to manage physically with looking after the babies? and it was really — it was something hard, but we had to do the sacrifice. but lauren's been able to help out by giving a £370 grant. hi! are you 0k? it's gone straight on nappies, baby formula, and paying the energy bills. for lots of families . that we've supported it'sjust meant, you know, feeding their children, - heating their homes, you know, just those really important - butjust basic things that you really need to raise small children.
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lauren's team have now given money to 82 families through the government's household support fund, but that's due to end in four weeks' time. and you've never needed that help before, you've both worked... 7 yeah, we've both worked. we never needed it, but... right now... right now, i felt bad for those who cannot afford this, because it's one of the things that can help. # mary has a little lamb...# it's no surprise if you've never heard of the household support fund. in fact, lots of people who've received money may not even have realised it's come from that pot, because it's come via the council, maybe through an on the ground agency, before it arrives at their front door, maybe as food or vouchers or energy credit. but in a couple of weeks' time, hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable households will notice when the money runs out. we know this has worked. we know this is a scheme that's helped local authorities reach
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lots of families that really have no way of feeding and clothing their children. and that cost of living crisis is not over for those families. that's why barnardos, along with 120 other organisations and 160 local councils across england, are asking the government to change its mind. in every classroom there'll be somebody that's drawing down something that's connected to the household support fund. so its reach is massive. without it, thousands of children would be plunged even deeper into poverty. it will be catastrophic. in liverpool, tens of thousands of households are receiving help through this fund. here at the pakistani association it's free hot lunches on the menu to those who need it most. the difference it makes to someone's life, and just brightens up someone's day — they come in and have a conversation. a lot of people rely on this as well. we'll drop it off to people's houses
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we know can't make it, or, you know, when it was snowing outside, and we know there's people who live alone, for example, and just stopping at the door, have that little brief conversation, and we won't be able to do that. the government say this fund will end as benefits and the local housing allowance rise in april. but those delivering the help are hoping the chancellor changes his mind in the coming days. colletta smith, bbc news. a spokesperson for the department of work and pensions said £2 billion had been invested in the household support fund over the last two years, with £800 million paid to families. now they have been told the proposed fund is not enough. a report said ——
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recommended raising the funds to £1 billion. tell us where you are and what has been happening. i am in lambeth palace. lovely view behind me. talking about this amount of money that the church has agreed would be a good idea to spend in terms of reparation, and also this idea that this amount of money, and the payment of reparations by the church of england could be something of a catalyst for other organisations, other institutions, to follow suit. let us dig into that little bit more. i am joined by bishop rosemary mallett, who was the chair of the authors of this report. tell us why this would be a catalyst for other institutions? do you think it could work? i am praying that it would work. it is an amount of money that we hope is an amount of money that we hope is sufficient to enable us to over the next ten years invest in black led businesses, so that brings back enough money into what we feel is going to be a perpetuity fan. it is
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notjust going to be a perpetuity fan. it is not just about finances. we will also invest in health, education, programmes, projects, that will trickle down into our schools. we will learn more about the history of our country, our church, also not just learn about the history, but how we can do things differently for that now, and work with justice for the future. this is a fund that will, we hope, bring about healing, repair, and actually work for justice. but you can't get much more establishment than the church of england. there are, as you see a new report, other organisations that you feel should follow suit. in some ways, you feel like the church as being forward thinking on this? the church being forward thinking on this? tue: church needs being forward thinking on this? tte: church needs to be forward—thinking because along with other institutions, but definitely as part of the institutions of this country, we know the history of our church. they have done the research. they know the amount of damage that enslavement did to people from africa, and to those of us who are
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impacted by that slavery. so for the church to do this i think is a huge example for others to follow. the other thing about the church as it is supposed to be an institution based on justice and is supposed to be an institution based onjustice and equality, more so than any other institution. if our past has been iniquitous, if our past has been unjust, this fund is helping us to change that narrative, and to actually do something that builds a better future, and to actually do something that builds a betterfuture, and and to actually do something that builds a better future, and a and to actually do something that builds a betterfuture, and a better now. builds a better future, and a better now. ~ , , ., �* . , now. why shouldn't the church be doinu now. why shouldn't the church be doin: it? now. why shouldn't the church be doing it? talk _ now. why shouldn't the church be doing it? talk me _ now. why shouldn't the church be doing it? talk me through - now. why shouldn't the church be doing it? talk me through how. now. why shouldn't the church be doing it? talk me through how it| doing it? talk me through how it works. we had about that £100 million, announced last year. it has been slightly rethought, but in essence the church is still only committing £100 million, but with a target the victory of £1 billion. how does that work? the church commissioner set aside 100 million, a large amount of money, they felt that amount of money would go towards making a difference. what they didn't do was say, this is how
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we're going to spend it. they said, we're going to spend it. they said, we will set up an independent group and they will help us think i should be best spend it. the oversight group has come up with this aspirational target of seeing, 100 million is good, one billions where we would like it to go. i will be get there? we will get there using the 100 million for investment, so that that will grow the fans, hopefully others will join that that will grow the fans, hopefully others willjoin as, and co—create, and who knows, in the future where the next set of church commissioners will be where they might see the good work being done now and invest in the future. we don't know what the future will bring. we know what the now is. we have got the 100 million, will hold onto that, and make that work, we will sweat it so that it will really help us to build a better now and a better future. it doesn't sound like you are reframing your hand 900 million into sounding like more. it was was at 100 million. are you disappointed that the church can't commit to any more money than that? t am
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that the church can't commit to any more money than that?— more money than that? i am not disappointed- — more money than that? i am not disappointed. no _ more money than that? i am not disappointed. no one _ more money than that? i am not disappointed. no one else - more money than that? i am not disappointed. no one else in - more money than that? i am not| disappointed. no one else in this country has committed anything like this amount of money. the church commissioners looked around and saw what was being said in other places and felt that in line with all the other investments that they need to make this was a significant amount of money. i am glad for what we have got. i don't know about you, that i grew up seeing an advert in the hand is better than two in the bushel so i'm holding onto the bird in the hand and still looking for the other ones in the bush, but let me deal with the one in the hand, that is what we have got.— with the one in the hand, that is what we have got. none of this money noes what we have got. none of this money aoes to what we have got. none of this money goes to individuals, _ what we have got. none of this money goes to individuals, government - goes to individuals, government organisations. talk us through where this money could be going. each talked about seeing it as money for reparations. people think of compensation, that we will be giving money to individuals. that is not sufficient money to give to individuals. there are some of the people who have been impacted by
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transatlantic enslavement. and people like myself, you can't pay me for the history of my family and the way i am now. we are not looking at compensation. we are looking at investment in a more positive today and a more positive future. the things that i can get behind, this is my knowledge, is health programmes, educational programmes, cultural programmes. they will affect so many people in this country right now. in our schools we can invest in programmes that will enable a better understanding and engagement with our young people. notjust in knowing the history. there is so much stuff that we are challenged now, mental health, well—being. you can invest and that what our young people so they can build a better future for themselves. thank you very much. we certainly cannot take away the enthusiasm of all of this. we are told this money won't necessarily be rushed into, but some of it could be spent by the end of this year. thank you for that. george galloway is at westminster, where he will be sworn in as rochdale's new member
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of parliament. the controversial politician is representing the workers party of britain. his by—election campaign tapped into public anger over the war in gaza and lobbied against israeli military action. the prime minister called his victory beyond alarming. this is what mr galloway had to say as he arrived. how are you feeling? this is an early shift. how are you feeling, mr galloway? nice to see you again. _ i'm feeling good, thank you. the sun is shining. what's it like to be back? well, i'll tell you once i've been inside. i always loved the building. the people in it not quite so much. thank you —
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talk as through what is going on with these pictures. as people can probably tell these images at first glance look quite convincing that when you look closer, two men, you can see that sometimes their faces are quite shiny, there are fingers missing, other tell—tale signs that these were made using ai technology. it is important to be aware of how this content is increasingly popping up on ourfees. what content is increasingly popping up on our fees. what i found from this new documentary for bbc panorama that campsite tonight is how these kinds of particularly featuring donald trump alongside black voters are being sheared and spread. 0ne
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donald trump alongside black voters are being sheared and spread. one of them said, it is fair game to make this kind of stuff. this one image will not convince anyone either way. but there are questions about the impact this type of content could have. when you look atjoe biden, are likely to be running against donald trump in november in the us presidential election, it is interesting that there are these kinds of ai generated images, instead he tends to be pictured alongside other world leaders like president putin, and they tend to be a bit more satirical, although some of the donald trump ones are as well. what about the broader implications? you are talking about getting the votes out, that slightly subtle messaging. their broader and concerns here? yes. picking up on what that person who made the image that i tracked down said, ultimately, it is not as
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though one image is going to change someone's view. probably a valid point to make. this is about the way that several images can play into our existing biases or ideas, thoughts that we might have. 0ne our existing biases or ideas, thoughts that we might have. one of the people i have spoken to in panorama is co—founder of black voters matter, it is interesting to hear from voters matter, it is interesting to hearfrom him to hear how he believes this is part of a strategic narrative to target black voters. they are a group of the electorate that both donald trump and joe biden would be looking to win over. it makes sense that this kind of messaging is unfolding. it is important to think about third division and polarisation that these kinds of images can create, which is a bit of a problem as well. and i tracked down some real voters, not ai generated ones. 0ne tracked down some real voters, not ai generated ones. one was a man called douglas who lives in atlanta. when i showed him one of these images he said, he thought it was real. he is worried about the
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economy and immigration, for him, donald trump is looking the more likely of the two to vote for, but he is currently undecided. that tells us about the impact this kind of stuff can have if you don't spot all of the, too few fingers, or missing limbs. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.
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radical conservatives dominates the legislature. critics say the election lacked legitimacy because of betting process disqualifies many candidates. a correspondent said the government has avoided releasing turnout
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figures. the coral —— the government has not announced turnout. the elections were held two days ago. the results have been announced. the government said the ballots have been counted but they have not yet officially announced their results. an official figures have put the turnout at 41%, which is the lowest in the history of the islamic republic. there are speculations that since the official turnout has not been announced yet, the regime might not be willing yet to admit to the low turnout. the government was trying to repair its image inside and outside of the country by appealing to the people of national duty and asking them to go to the polling stations and cast their ballots. but it seems to have failed. a large number of people, as predicted, refused to vote. a lot of people also who wanted to vote were only given a limited choice, because a number of reformists, almost all
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of them, as well as a large number of them, as well as a large number of modernist and centrist conservatives were prevented from running. an expansion of government funded childcare in england will begin next month but there are concerns about staff and funding to meet the extra demand. working parents of children aged two will get 15 hours of government funded childcare per week during term time from next month. in september that will expand to include children from the age of nine months. government has is that by september next year 30 of childcare per week in term time will be open to all nursery children. many nurseries are reporting significant issues in the national association of the nursery sees closures in 2022—2023 were up 50% on the year before. the government is trialling boot camps to fast—track recruits those who want to work with young children.
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james has ambitions to run his own nursery one day. rachel is autistic and desperate to help children with additional needs. they are getting to grips with the opening week at britain's first early years training boot camp. it has only been three days but it has mapped out clearly where i can go with this type of career if i wanted. tt go with this type of career if i wanted. , ., ., ., , ., �*, wanted. it is not normally a men's profession- _ wanted. it is not normally a men's profession- i _ wanted. it is not normally a men's profession. i am _ wanted. it is not normally a men's profession. i am trying _ wanted. it is not normally a men's profession. i am trying to - wanted. it is not normally a men'sj profession. i am trying to promote that myself. the reason i'm taking so many _ that myself. the reason i'm taking so many courses like this as i am trying _ so many courses like this as i am trying to— so many courses like this as i am trying to run_ so many courses like this as i am trying to run my own business. after the boot camp _ trying to run my own business. ft? the boot camp everybody is
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guaranteed at least a job interview at a nursery like this one, so they could very quickly be going from classroom to employment. we work with 1000 employers _ classroom to employment. we work with 1000 employers across - classroom to employment. we work. with 1000 employers across england, they are all feeding back the same thing, we are already seeing those struggles in terms of attracting and retaining staff. we are already in our serious recruitment crisis in early years. this will attract new people to the sector that are maybe not worked in the sector before, or people who may be worked previously in it, but have left. as they continue to work on their quickfire qualifications, the government will be hoping it is just the first step on a long and successful career. 200 years agojohn cadbury opened a shopin 200 years agojohn cadbury opened a shop in birmingham selling drinking chocolate. his family went on to become the biggest chocolate makers. newsreel: here, then, is bournville - the creation of two brothers. - industrialists who hated industrial ugliness. - it was known as the factory in a garden, and for decades
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cadbury�*s bournville plant was the largest of its kind in the world — employing more than 8,000 people when this film was made in 1953. when you went round the factory, you could have the chocolate if you wanted it. sheila allen was one of them. shejoined cadbury in 1954, at the height of its success. when i first started there, i couldn't believe how many people were there. when i used to go into the dining room, you'd see all the workforce, the factory girls come absolutely bounding down this hall! i'd never seen anything like it. it's also where sheila met her husband, bob, who sadly died in 2016. i was very thankful to cadbury�*s because i met bob there. we had a lovely family home there. i'd been married for 56 years to bob, so i have a lot to thank cadbury�*s for. so, too, did, gary, his wife cynthia, pamela and joan — they've got nearly 90 years of service on the cadbury production line between them. all of them say working at
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bournville was more than just a job. cadbury's means the world. it was my life. and we wouldn't be where we are without cadbury's. gary even has an incredible claim to fame. not a fan of the 1970s lime barrel from a tin of roses, he had a better idea. wouldn't it be wonderful if this was a caramel barrel? cadbury's thought it was a wonderful product. i received a remit of £500 for doing that, which i bought my first car with! the cadbury story begins well before bournville. on this day, 200 years ago, john cadbury opened a grocer�*s on bull street in birmingham city centre. john's sons, richard and george, took over an ailing business in 1861, turning its fortunes around by selling chocolate to upwardly mobile victorians.
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by 1879, cadbury had outgrown its cramped city premises. so the brothers, devout quakers, built a new factory in countryside three miles south of birmingham, with green space and spacious homes for workers. they gave it this kind of french lilt to it — the name bournville, ville meaning town in french, and the best chocolate you could buy at the time was from france and belgium. the link between the factory and the garden village that surrounds it remains today. cadbury's came to bournville over 140 years ago. it's worked, and it continues to work. for 145 of its 200 years, cadbury and bournville have been inextricably linked. you can even smell the chocolate in the air if the breeze is blowing in the right direction. but in 2010, a controversial takeover threatened to derail cadbury's place as a much—loved british brand. this is a sad day for britain. a successful british centre
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of world—class excellence is about to be taken over by a debt—laden american company. after 184 years of british ownership, the £11.5 billion hostile takeover of cadbury by american food giant kraft was hugely unpopular — decried by unions, workers and the public. we don't want to sell it to kraft because kraft i is playing crafty games. perhaps sensing the need for some damage limitation, kraft�*s boss, irene rosenfeld, came to bournville to put on a charm offensive — promising investment. what's most exciting to me is it's a fabulous combination of some of the technology of legacy kraft, together with some of the capabilities of legacy cadbury. and it's a really powerful combination. so, 14 years on, have the new owners kept their word? in the uk — notjust here, but elsewhere — they quickly reneged on some of those other promises. but here at bournville there has been investment — that's positive — both in modernising the plant,
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and also in research and development. but there have been significant job losses, as well. cadbury is now owned by kraft offshoot mondelez international, and bournville is no longer the force it once was. for now, though, the cadbury brand endures as a quintessentially british — and quintessentially brummie — confection. james bovill, bbc news. dry weather from wednesday onwards. rain and a few showers dotted around. a band of rain and wind into western parts. when pushing across south—west england, towards northern ireland. more cloud across western
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areas. after a chilly starch most of the country should have a fine afternoon. this evening and overnight that cloud, wind and rain pushed slowly northwards and eastwards. a a few showers running in behind. but we are the skies are clear it is likely we will see a touch of frost and maybe some fog. but less cold in northern and eastern areas. tuesday, that whether front pushing north words, cleaning the east of the country later in the day. eventually that whether front will clear eastern areas. it might take its time. it could be quite grey and damp, quite breezy. elsewhere, after a fine start through the morning, variable clouds, plenty of sunshine into the afternoon.
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as we head into wednesday, this area of high pressure across scandinavia begins to accept its force across the country. a largely fine day for many of us on wednesday. cloudy across eastern scotland and england, north sea coasts affected by the south—easterly winds. for much of the country it should be dry, settled, plenty of sunshine. thursday and friday, that the area of high pressure keeps those weather fronts at bay. it should be mostly dry. south breezes. plenty of dry and sunny weather at times, particularly on thursday. friday could see more cloud edging into western areas. temperature is what we expect for this time of year.
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today at 1:00pm, three years after the murder of sarah everard, detectives speak for the first time about their shock when they discovered their suspect was a serving police office. sarah was abducted, raped and killed by wayne couzens, an officer in the metropolitan police. i knew that i had to tell my boss. and i canjust remember the shock of having to just sit on the floor of the office and say to her, you're not going to believe this, that he's a police officer. also this lunchtime,
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campaigners warn of a catastrophic impact on struggling families if the government ends its household support fund. a state of emergency in haiti after 4000 prisoners break out ofjail. and the rnli — founded in a tavern and saving lives at sea for 200 years. coming up in sportsday later in the hour on bbc news, after a successful weekend at the world indoor championships, we look at the british chances at this summer's 0lympics. good afternoon. the detective who led the sarah everard murder inquiry has told the bbc about the moment she discovered her chief suspect was a serving police officer. dci katherine goodwin has spoken on camera about the case for the first time.
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the detective says she heard wayne couzens worked

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