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tv   The Context  BBC News  June 14, 2024 9:30pm-10:01pm BST

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you're watching the context on bbc news. one of the leading voices in china's me too movement is handed a five—year prison sentence for subversion. leaders from the g7 countries have been meeting in italy and, today, talks were dominated by concerns about china's industrial capacity — and its relationship with russia. president biden said that while it's not supplying weapons, china provides russia with the ability and technology to produce them and use them in its war against ukraine. meanwhile, the leaders agreed they'd use frozen russian assets to raise $50 billion for ukraine to help it in its fight against russia. vladimir putin responded defining this as a theft which, he said,
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will not go unpunished. but it was notjust the g7 leaders there today — they were joined by the pope and other world leaders too, including india's prime minister narendra modi and argentina's presidentjavier milei. our correspondent, mark lowen, was at there too. a lot of countries have been basking in the sun here and they have been pressing the flesh and talking about important issues. throwing up on the invitation to other world leaders is a way of battering the criticism that the g7 is an exclusive club. it is the seven largest advanced economies and the most industrialised nations. it represents 40% of global gdp, the total amount of goods and services produced, but there are other world leaders that are important, too. the g7, in trying to reach a broad international consensus on key
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issues, traditionally does invite some word leaders. giorgia meloni residing over this one and has decided who to invite. for example, the leaders of turkey, brazil, argentina, india, all very important economies, and then less important economies, and then less important economies but ones that are strategic in their geography, so leaders of mauritania and kenyan and algeria, they are important because italy is talking about and engaged in investing heavily in infrastructure projects and energy projects in africa in order to incentivise young africans to stay on the continent and not migrate across the mediterranean to countries like italy. so engaging leaders from africa in those discussions is an important seal of legitimacy. when you are talking about coming up with a $50 billion loan for about coming up with a $50 billion loanfor ukraine, about coming up with a $50 billion loan for ukraine, you want to have
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as many partners involved in that deal as possible, notjust the g7, so that is why those kinds of discussions have been broadened as well. it was a busy day for the pope. before joining world leaders at the g7 summit, he met with more than 100 comics at the vatican. pope francis praised his guests, including whoopi goldberg, chris rock and jimmy fallon, for their gift of making people laugh in a world full of gloom. he told them that comedians who tell good jokes can make god smile. mark lowen has this report. heard the one about would—be goldberg in the pub? joking aside, there he was, not with his usual faithful but with 100 comedians at the vatican from around the world, from jimmy fallon to chris rock, all “p from jimmy fallon to chris rock, all up for a godly guide. i was told in
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italy that they say laughter makes for good blood, the pope said. so i thought instead of a speech, i would do this. the line between satire and spiritual? he told them, he could joke about god and that it is not blasphemy, as long as it is not offensive. fora pub blasphemy, as long as it is not offensive. for a pub known to like his humour, today was a blessing, celebrating comedy culture, and for the star of father ted, newjob opening yet. she is making a habit of it is glorious in sister act finally met the real mccoy. had she offered him a cameo in the sequel? it was not the right place to bring it up but i will public send an e—mail! it up but i will public send an e-mail! ., ., ., . ., e-mail! then to a tougher crowd, becomin: e-mail! then to a tougher crowd, becoming the _ e-mail! then to a tougher crowd, becoming the first _ e-mail! then to a tougher crowd, becoming the first pope - e-mail! then to a tougher crowd, becoming the first pope to - e-mail! then to a tougher crowd, j becoming the first pope to attend e-mail! then to a tougher crowd, l becoming the first pope to attend a g7 summit to talk about artificial intelligence, and broad theme for
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the 87—year—old pontiff. from the politics to the playful, a pope who breaks barriers gets the last laugh. mark has continuing coverage of the g7 on the bbc website. a prominent women's rights activist has been handed a five—year prison sentence for subversion. sophia huang xueqin was a leading voice in china's me too movement. as a journalist, she wrote about sexual abuse and gender discrimination when few others would. herfriend, the labour activist, wangjianbing, was also sentenced to three years and six months in prison. the court did not detail why their activities amounted to subversion or the undermining of state power. a spokesman for the chinese foreign ministry, linjian, rejected any criticism. translation: i would like to stress
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that china is a state governed - by the rule of law which guarantees the legitimate rights of every citizen in accordance with the law. at the same time, anyone who breaks the law will be sanctioned. china firmly opposes any country or organisation challenging china's judicial sovereignty and interfering in china's internal affairs. leta hong fincher is author of "leftover women: the resurgence of gender inequality in china". thank you for being with us. this ends a ten month trial, it is a significant moment. talk to me about what this tells us about china's ambition to crackdown on any sort of dissent. , , ., ., , ambition to crackdown on any sort of dissent. , , . ., , ., , dissent. this is a really horrifying verdict. i cannot _ dissent. this is a really horrifying verdict. i cannot say _ dissent. this is a really horrifying verdict. i cannot say i _ dissent. this is a really horrifying verdict. i cannot say i completelyj verdict. i cannot say i completely surprised, though, because the
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chinese government has been carrying out a really brutal anti feminist crackdown for many years already and under the current ruler, the political environment has deteriorated sharply, repression has significantly increased. so today, feminism itself is seen as something subversive and i think that has something to do with the incredible harshness of the verdict. i am lookin: harshness of the verdict. i am looking at _ harshness of the verdict. i am looking at the _ harshness of the verdict. i am looking at the response - harshness of the verdict. i am looking at the response from a number of charities, one of them calling amnesty international saying the convictions are malicious, totally groundless and shows this how terrified the government is of emerging waves of activists who dare to speak out to protect the rights of others. what is it she is actually accused of your? from what i see, she actually accused of your? from what i see. she is — actually accused of your? from what i see, she is accused _ actually accused of your? from what i see, she is accused of _ actually accused of your? from what i see, she is accused of inciting - i see, she is accused of inciting
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subversion, which is incredibly vague, but very serious. if you look at what she actually did, she was a very prominent feminist activist who kick—started china's me to campaign in early 2018. she was a journalist who had herself been sexually assaulted and she was compiling names of other female journalists who had experienced sexual harassment. that is basically it. then she was actually detained by authorities in 2021 on her way to the airport to go and study gender studies in the uk. she was on her way to the airport when the authorities picked up. she has been in detention ever since and it is just really appalling and it sends a very chilling message to any activist. but i have to give you a
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little bit more of the background. the fact is that china's feminist movement has become an incredibly complicated challenge to the government. this is not something that can be wiped out byjust jailing one or even a dozen different activists... seam jailing one or even a dozen different activists. . .- jailing one or even a dozen different activists... am i right in sa in: different activists... am i right in saying this _ different activists... am i right in saying this movement _ different activists... am i right in saying this movement in - different activists... am i right in saying this movement in china i different activists... am i right in - saying this movement in china began in 2018 and has spread considerably and also branched into so many other areas of minorities? yes. areas of minorities? yes, absolutely. _ areas of minorities? yes, absolutely. there - areas of minorities? yes, absolutely. there is - areas of minorities? yes, absolutely. there is an i areas of minorities? yes, - absolutely. there is an enormous amount of overlap between advocacy for women's rights and advocacy for lgbtq+ rights. there are increasing numbers of young women, nonbinary people, young trans people, even straight young men who are really identifying more with feminist ideas. feminism itself has become a
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lot more mainstream and it also relates to the demographic background for china. it is seen as a severe crisis that china's birthright has been falling for many years, marriage rates have been falling, and young women or a big driving factor behind that change because so many young women today in china are rebelling against intense pressure to marry and have babies. this is all related to the growing popularity of feminism.- this is all related to the growing popularity of feminism. really good to talk to you. _ popularity of feminism. really good to talk to you, thank _ popularity of feminism. really good to talk to you, thank you _ popularity of feminism. really good to talk to you, thank you for - popularity of feminism. really good to talk to you, thank you for your i to talk to you, thank you for your analysis. it's the pay package of all pay packages. telsa shareholders have approved a deal for elon musk worth a staggering $56 million. if implemented, it would make him the highest paid chief executive in us history. mr musk told crowds who chanted his name at the shareholders' meeting
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in austin texas that he loved them. small—scale investors in the electric car firm overwhelmingly backed the pay deal, but there was opposition from some big institutions who viewed it as excessive. the pay package still faces a legal challenge in delaware, where it was blocked by a judge last year. let's speak to chris roebuck, an entrepreneurial leadership speaker. good to talk to you. is anyone ever worth that much money, do you think? the shareholders of tesla, obviously some of them think he is worth it. but some of the institutional shareholders think, probably not in terms of what he has delivered, and from a non—business, perhaps a moral perspective, many might suggest the answer is no. 0n the basis that that pay package could actually build 35
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hospitals in disadvantaged communities across the us. i hospitals in disadvantaged communities across the us. i said 56 million in that _ communities across the us. i said 56 million in that introduction _ communities across the us. i said 56 million in that introduction because l million in that introduction because it is still a bonkers number but it is actually 56 billion, it is absolutely insane. what that money could have done. you might say though that any chief executive, that money has to be voted on by the board so other shareholders who have approved it, not all but some have approved it, not all but some have approved it, not all but some have approved it, but it is linked to him delivering performance so if he has met those targets, does not get the cash? it met those targets, does not get the cash? , ., , . cash? it gets more complicated which is what the judge _ cash? it gets more complicated which is what the judge said _ cash? it gets more complicated which is what the judge said because - cash? it gets more complicated which is what the judge said because when i is what the judge said because when this was first approved, some of the shareholders thought that it was not completely transparent about what he had to do to get this award and that is what they went to court. the judge turned round and examine the award and said, it is unfathomable and the board is conflicted because there are many of his friends on the
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board, and that it was fundamentally not transparent. that is why it is blocked. this is notjust about the pay but corporate governance, ethics, integrity, and it is about leadership but elon musk does not like to be told, no.— like to be told, no. what does it mean from _ like to be told, no. what does it mean from a — like to be told, no. what does it mean from a leadership - like to be told, no. what does it mean from a leadership point i like to be told, no. what does it mean from a leadership point of view, this is what you do day in, day out, what sort of message does it send to people working in his companies because there are a few of them, notjust tesla. companies because there are a few of them, not just tesla. it companies because there are a few of them, notjust tesla. it is also x, formerly twitter, all of his latest projects, and he has bosses in all of these and workers in all of these? ~ , ,., , , of these and workers in all of these? ~ ,,., , , ., of these and workers in all of these? ~ , ,., these? absolutely, he is an absentee ceo in some — these? absolutely, he is an absentee ceo in some degrees, _ these? absolutely, he is an absentee ceo in some degrees, not _ these? absolutely, he is an absentee ceo in some degrees, not particular. ceo in some degrees, not particular visible, but we know for a fact that what happens is, employees, particularly leaders in organisations, copy the behaviour of the people at the top so if you look
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at the example that in on musk is giving to his other leaders, it makes you wonder what their behaviour could potentially be like inside the organisation. the attitude seems to be not about, we, it is about me. if other leaders in his organisation focus on the main and not the way, his organisation will not do very well in the long term. ~ ., will not do very well in the long term. ~ . . . will not do very well in the long term. . . . x', . term. where are the checks and balances in _ term. where are the checks and balances in this? _ term. where are the checks and balances in this? is _ term. where are the checks and balances in this? is there - term. where are the checks and | balances in this? is there anyone who can then step in, there is potentially a court case that will follow but is there no one who has an overview saying, $56 billion is too much for anyone person to be paid? ii too much for anyone person to be aid? , ., , paid? if it is transparent, even if it is transparent _ paid? if it is transparent, even if it is transparent and _ paid? if it is transparent, even if it is transparent and the - it is transparent and the shareholders approve it, even if it is as falling off a log, he would legally get it, it is just that it was not fully transparent. legally get it, it isjust that it was not fully transparent. thank you for our was not fully transparent. thank you for your insight. _ around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.
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now, listen up, you remote workers. a us bank, wells fargo, has sacked at least six people over allegations that they faked computer keyboard activity to give the impression of being busy. the bank hasn't revealed details but several firms are cracking down on the issue which can involve gadgets called mousejigglers as more and more staff work from home. professor cary cooper is a professor of psychology and health at the university of manchester. i asked him whether employees are feeling the pressure to always be present if they're working remotely. different kinds of contracts, ben. i mean, one contract would be, if you work for a bank for example, it could be remote working, which is shift work—based. say, for instance, you have a shift from nine to five online with customers. and you can see how
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in that kind of context, the employer might say, "well, we have to monitor this because our customers need to be able to access their accounts," and so on. and then the employee would know that they are being monitored and so on. but real, flexible working is where you don't have a shift work—based, you work two days at home, three days in the office. you develop a psychological contract with your employer, with your boss. and that psychological contract says, "listen, i may be picking my kids up at 3:30pm, from school, but i am going to work on at night." the whole purpose of a hybrid working is to give people a sense of control, some autonomy. "we trust you, we know you have busy lives." it is about work — life balance and all the like. in that kind of context, in my view, to then monitor them, i think is wholly inappropriate.
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the whole purpose of that is to make people feel, "hey, listen, you are an adult, we trust you." "in the end we are going to look at the bottom line, are you going to deliver?" it feels exactly like they are saying, "well, it is not about how you work, it is about where you work." they are saying that, we will allow you to work at home but you have to do the same hours, the same work, the same kind of presentism, sitting at the desk for that time. you looked into this, there are other ways the bank or other organisations can monitor staff, tracking things like keystrokes, are you typing. your eye movements, even looking at the computer screen, taking screenshots of what you have on your screen and looking at what websites you are visiting. that is a huge invasion of privacy, isn't it? in a flexible working context. i can understand that if it is shift work and they have to have customers nine to five, that is the nature of the contract. but, listen, if you are an employer,
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you say to people... you say, "look we are going to trust you to do this," in the end you look at the bottom line anyway, are they delivering or not delivering. but the whole purpose of hybrid working is that we have the technology, people don't have to commute in all the time, they have busy lives and want good work—life and i think, if an employer is going to use those kinds of techniques, i think they should make it patiently clear they are doing that. it is the opening match of the euro to 24 it is the opening match of the euro to 2a football tournament and scotland are taking on germany. the current score is not great news. if you are a scotland fan, germany 4—1.
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it appears scotland have just scored. 89 minutes, no indication yet if there is extra time. just looking at some forlorn scottish fans right now in inverness. it has decidedly thinned out in the last few minutes. let us show you what is happening in berlin where there is anotherfan zone. fans happening in berlin where there is another fan zone. fans are not looking particularly happy but they will be waiting for that final whistle. the current score is 4—1. that is the opening match of the euro is taking place in munich. we will have full coverage on the bbc website. bbc sport has the live page “p website. bbc sport has the live page up and running with all the reaction to that. we will have the latest headlines at the top of the hour. stay with us here on the bbc.
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it has not been the opener that scotland were hoping for euro 202a. they're up against the scotland were hoping for euro 2024_ they're up against the hosts, germany in munich and while scotland have struggled, the game is ongoing, approaching 90 minutes. however, scotland are 4—1 down. two goals came in the opening 20 minutes. then a red card and a german penalty before the break. then the substitute added the fourth in the 68th minute. but scotland havejust pulled one back in the last few months. an own goal. just approaching 90 minutes heading into stoppage time in munich.
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i work hard off the pitch and on the pitch i do everything right. i always want to improve. i am 30 now and i keep improving each day. if there's anything i can learn, i keep trying my best to improve and i think that is what me pushing. that is why it is my fourth major tournament and i have one player of the year for the last three seasons. i know what i'm doing. as for pickford's everton team—mate jarrad branthwaite, it looks like he may be staying at goodison park after all. manchester united made a bid in the region of 35 million pounds for the centre—back earlier today but believe everton's valuaion as for pickford's everton team—mate jarrad branthwaite, of 80 million to be unrealistic. united had already agreed personal terms with the player,
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in the hope of making him one of their big summer signings, but negotiating a fee may prove more difficult. another line of news today on everton — as bbc sport understands the friedkin group has agreed a deal in principle to complete a takeover of the club. chairman dan friedkin, who also owns roma, is now strong favourite to purchase everton afterjumping ahead of four other bidders. current owner farhad moshiri has a 94% stake — and a decision over whether friedkin wants to exercise the option of buying that could come by the weekend. the second round of the us open in north carolina is nearing its closing stages. swedish sensation ludvig aberg is joint—top of the leaderboard — he's one under parfor his round, five under for the tournament alongside patrick cantl.
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he leads by one from a group of players, whilst rory mcilroy is still in contention, he's on three under after shooting a two—over round of 72. 0nto tennis now and soon—to—be british number one jack draper has moved a step closer to his first title on the atp tour. he's into the semi finals of the stuttgart 0pen after beating the defending champion francis tiafoe in three sets and will face another american, brandon nakashima in the final four. former wimbledon finalist matteo berrettini is also through after a straight sets victory overjames duckworth and will take on lorenzo musetti tomorrow. katie boulter is through to the last four at the nottingham 0pen — the defending champion came through in straight sets win against poland's magdelena frech. she'll play either francesca jones or emma raducanu in the semis. jones tookjust two minutes to beat america's ashlyn krueger after their rain—delayed match resumed. whoever wins the quarterfinal
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tomorrow morning will then have to play the semi against boulter on the same day. and at the t20 world cup, today's crucial clash between the usa and ireland was rained—off in florida. that means the co—hosts have made it through to the super 8s at the expense of both ireland... and remarkably pakistan. it is a huge achievement for a side ranked 18th in the world, playing in their first world cup and who only played their first t20 international in 2019. the super 8s start on tuesday with west indies taking on afghanistan. in rugby's super league, leaders wigan survived a scare away to struggling castleford. a liam marshall brace saw the warriors come back from 8—1; down in the second half, after tex hoy put the tigers ahead. the results means wigan go two points clear of st helens at the top of the table.
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the game has finished between germany and scotland, 5—1, the final score there. germany and scotland, 5-1, the final score there-— score there. much more on the bbc sort score there. much more on the bbc sport website- _ score there. much more on the bbc sport website. goodbye _ score there. much more on the bbc sport website. goodbye for - score there. much more on the bbc sport website. goodbye for now. i good evening. in amongst the heavy downpours today, we had a little sunshine. this was clarach, for example, on the west wales coast earlier on. but this sort of shower cloud would dominate this weekend. yes, there'll be a little sunshine, but there will be a lot of heavy showers, and so it'll feel cool again forjune. the reason for this weekend's heavy showers is low pressure. it's parked itself across the uk, and there'll be showers or even longer spells of rain meandering around that area of low pressure. and they'll be particularly, ithink, slow—moving in the central parts of that low pressure. but, again, like today, we've had fairly brisk winds in the north and in the south, so the showers move through fairly quickly, but still some evening thunderstorms to come. where those showers do ease away, perhaps parts of scotland,
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northern england, it will turn quite chilly overnight with a little bit of mist and fog. but we've got more showers rushing in from the west and still meandering around our area of low pressure. so, it will be, i think, cooler than it was last night, which promises that we'll see a little bit more sunshine to start tomorrow morning as well. but that sunshine will soon be eroded as the cloud bubbles up and the showers get going, already with us in many western and southern areas northern ireland, wales, england, and you can see across scotland as well, they'll soon fill in the gaps. they'll become heavy and slow moving around the centre of that low pressure, again, with hail and thunder. and there'll be some big showers, squally winds in southern areas and towards the north. these too could be heavy and thundery and unusually windy as well. so, that's a concern for those under canvas, which, of course, at this time of year is not unusual, but it will be windy as well as very heavy showers. and so temperatures because of the cooler start won't be quite as high as today. but, again, it feels pleasant enough if you're in the sunshine, out the wind and it's strong sunshine. a week away from the longest day now.
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then that rain comes in through the night and moves its way southwards, so that'll hold temperatures up in some areas. but, again, it could be fairly cool, and like saturday morning, could be a little bit of mist and fog around first thing, particularly where the winds are light. but this dominates, it could be really quite wet, we think, in parts of southern scotland, northern ireland, northern england. we'll be firming up on details. and there'll be showers following on behind, a bit more of a chilly breeze by that stage in the north, and there'll be showers to the south, but perhaps fewer and lengthier, brighter, sunny spells will lift the temperatures a little higher and make it feel a little bit warmer once again, a little more likejune. but it's really an unsettled picture, as you can see. there might be something a little drier early next week. bye for now.
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at ten — a new image of the princess of wales,
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who warns she isn't out of the woods yet, while undergoing cancer treatment. but in a personal message, she says like anyone receiving chemotherapy, she has good days and bad days, and she is making progress. catherine will be attending the king's birthday parade tomorrow, her first public appearance this year. also tonight — it's been tough for the scots, at the euros... commentator: movement was great. this is fullkrug. they were on the wrong end of a mauling by the hosts germany in the opening game of the tournament. disappointment for the millions of fans, watching back home. rishi sunak acknowledges the growing threat of reform uk to the conservatives in the election. and unique pictures and fresh insights into the behaviour of antarctic whales. 0n bbc london — in quiet dignity.

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