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tv   BBC News at Six  BBC News  July 8, 2024 6:00pm-6:31pm BST

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i am not going anywhere. a surprise call from president biden as he phones a tv breakfast show amid continuing questions about his future. rachel reeves promises to get britain building again in herfirst speech as chancellor. hello from parliament. the first day of term here, the winners arrive and the losers depart. my day one report coming up. controversy over the referee for england's euro semi—final after it emerges he's previously been banned for match fixing. and the historic theatre in greater manchester that has just been saved by campaigners. it shows that with passion and persistence you can change the world. on bbc london a warning from security experts where she goes on
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to win the quarterfinals for good evening. russia has carried out a massive and deadly bombardment of ukrainian cities the day before a nato summit opens in washington. at least 36 people have been killed according to officials, and 140 wounded. in the capital kyiv, the main children's hospital has been largely destroyed. this is the shot of the damaged hospital. as you can see, medical staff and emergency services are still trying to clear the rubble. they have been trying to clear it by hand to find survivors. five other major cities throughout the country have also been hit by missile strikes today. abdujalil abdurasulov is in kyiv. since the start of the full invasion
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in 2022, russia has launched air strikes on ukrainian cities numerous times but this attack is certainly one of the worst. ukraine's biggest children's hospital was directly hit by a missile. there are disturbing images in the package. after two and a half years war, the scenes shock like never before. this small cancer patient miraculously survived a direct hit. they were already battling for their lives but today they had to escape from russian missiles. the children were taken to a shelter before they were evacuated to other hospitals. the strike happened during the daytime when some of the children were still in the surgery room. in fact, one of the worst affected parts of the building was the department where the children were getting dialysis treatment. the medical staff had to save notjust their own lives but
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the lives of their patients as well. rescuers are still clearing the debris to see if any more people are still trapped under the rubble. translation: we were in the middle of surgery when the windows got shattered. the surgeon quickly covered the baby to save him. i want the world to stop this. these children are innocent, we are innocent. i want the world to see and hear this.— innocent. i want the world to see and hear this. the shocked parent had a narrow _ and hear this. the shocked parent had a narrow escape. _ and hear this. the shocked parent i had a narrow escape. translation: and hear this. the shocked parent - had a narrow escape. translation: we not here five had a narrow escape. translation: we got here five minutes _ had a narrow escape. translation: we got here five minutes before _ had a narrow escape. translation: we got here five minutes before it _ had a narrow escape. translation: we got here five minutes before it all - got here five minutes before it all started _ got here five minutes before it all started. , . , , got here five minutes before it all started. , . , ., , started. this man says his family had 'ust started. this man says his family had just left _ started. this man says his family had just left their _ started. this man says his family had just left their car _ started. this man says his family had just left their car when - started. this man says his family had just left their car when it - started. this man says his family| had just left their car when it was blown up. repeated air raid sirens interrupt rescue efforts. emergency responders had to stop and flee to a bomb shelter. residential buildings in keith were also hit. bodies were found under the rubble here. for
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kyiv this was the worst attack this year. but russia targeted cities across ukraine. this deadly bombardment took place on the eve of a major nato summit in washington. president zelensky will likely again make a plea for more weapons and support to prevent days like this. president biden has made a surprise phone call to an american tv breakfast show to tell them he is not going anywhere. it comes amid continuing questions over his fitness to stand in the upcoming election in november. but he told the breakfast show hosts that he believes he is the best person to beat donald trump. from washington, our north america editor sarah smith reports. everybody! she sings. seeking salvation for his presidential campaign, joe biden started at a church in philadelphia yesterday. and followed up with a busy schedule of events, specifically designed to show he's got the stamina
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required for this election. my name'sjoe biden, i'mjill biden's husband. but as democrats come back to capitol hill today after a holiday break, it's expected more of them will call forjoe biden to step aside. this morning, he sent a letter telling them he is not backing down, saying... and he called into a breakfast tv show to repeat the same message. and i'm not lost, and i haven't lost! i beat him last time. i'll beat him this time. and he dared any potential rivals to try to topple him. to any of those guys who don't think i should run, run against me. go ahead, announce for president. challenge me at the convention. it will take more than this, though, to erase the memories of that disastrous debate performance. um, dealing with everything we have to do with... uh, look... if... ..we finally beat medicare. in a primetime interview
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with abc news on friday, he said he didn't need to take a cognitive test and that no one could persuade him to stand down as a candidate. none of my people said i should leave the race. but if they do? well, it's like... we're not going to do that. you're sure? well, yeah, i'm sure! look, i mean, if the lord almighty came down and said, "joe, get out of the race," i would get out of the race, but the lord almighty�*s not coming down. vice president kamala harris has been steadfastly loyal, as those who want mr biden to step down are uniting around the idea that she should be the one to take over. no one can force him out of the race, but many will keep trying to persuade him to go. now, this coming week is going to be absolutely crucial for president brydan and it is also going to be hectic, because he is notjust fighting to save his political career, he is hosting many world leaders at a nato summit here in
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washington. on thursday he is doing a very rare, live press conference and at the moment each and every event he does is being scrutinised so carefully it could be make or break for so carefully it could be make or breakfor him. sarah smith, thank you. the new prime minister sir keir starmer has finished a whistlestop tour of all four nations of the uk. after visiting scotland yesterday, he spent the morning in belfast meeting political leaders before travelling to cardiff to meet wales' first minister. he's also been meeting his party's new mps — 411 labour mps were elected last week. they started to arrive in westminster as they begin their careers in parliament. our political editor chris mason reports. applause. however good your trip to work was this morning, i reckon you weren't applauded and serenaded on the commute like this new mp for plaid cymru, ann davies. the national anthem of wales ringing in her ears, the trip from carmarthen to westminster began.
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there were flowers rather than song for green mp carla denyer in bristol. it was a laptop and a flask for others, hauling suitcases, a sense of wonder and pride to parliament. it's all been a bit of a whirlwind and there's a lot to take in, but i'm really excited to get started and see how it goes over the next few days. how was it walking into that chamber for the first time? really incredible. down the road, put your name on a sticky label and smile, there are 72 liberal democrat mps now. it was worth bungee jumping. laughter. he has tried to become an mp plenty of times before, now he has the envelope. reform uk's leader, nigel farage, has spent the day in his constituency in clacton in essex. i shall have to re—memorize all of this by tomorrow morning! first stop for keir starmer today, belfast, meeting the first and deputy first ministers of northern ireland. they sing.
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by lunchtime, he was also being serenaded in welsh. he was at the senedd in cardiff meeting wales's first minister and talking to reporters. tv interviews usually start with asking the guests to introduce themselves. so here goes. your name and title, | thank you very much. keir starmer, prime minister. it's very important to me to reset relations with scotland, northern ireland and wales because i want to make sure that there is mutual respect and trust. backin back in westminster this is what a whopping majority looks like. the prime minister had a photocall with his mps. but for every winner, a loser, as the defeated depart. mixed emotions, absolutely. discombobulated, coming in here, back to parliament and meeting others who are just starting their parliamentary careers and i'm having to pack up and go. the brutality of democracy arrives in reverse and on four wheels
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in british politics. change is in the air, the chest of drawers is in the van. chris mason, bbc news at westminster. rachel reeves has made herfirst speech as chancellor, confirming she will bring back mandatory house building targets and loosen planning rules in england to encourage the building of new homes. speaking to business leaders at the treasury ms reeves said economic growth would be "labour's national mission". our economics editor faisal islam reports. britain's biggest wind farm is currently this one in scotland just outside glasgow. the new government has just lifted the ban on a new onshore wind like this in england and fast tracked their approval. part of this planning revolution will also reintroduce mandatory targets for house—building and allow more flexible use of the green for use of the green belt for development. hello, you all right? lovely to see you.
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and all that was announced to key business investors. gathered at the treasury to hear the new chancellor's plans for growth and targets for 1.5 million new homes. how prepared are we to make the hard choices and face down the vested interests? how willing, even, to risk short—term political pain to fix britain's foundations? in history, we've only ever had this level of house—building when the state has been involved. are you relying too much on the people behind me from the private sector? we need the private sector to build homes. we are not going to be in the business of building those homes directly. if this big bang of planning reform works, we will see hundreds of new wind turbines, hundreds of thousands of new homes built across the country every year. and they are notjust expecting there to be political flashpoints locally, they are essentially saying, "bring it on," they want to demonstrate to investors that they are willing to take some
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political pain in order to give them certainty to boost british growth. house builders were, unsurprisingly, supportive. that all looks good for the industry, but they have to deliver. we have had over ten years of under delivery, and there is such a backlog. the green belt is areas of countryside mainly around major cities that restrict their growth in terms of house—building and industry, most clearly seen in london and between liverpool, manchester and leeds. labour's plans are designed still to concentrate development in existing brownfield areas, but to release land in some more mixed areas that they have termed gray belt. high growth oxford and cambridge, for example, might no longer be severely restricted. campaigners are sceptical. the area's research shows that there are enough brownfield sites to deliver 1.2 million homes already, so... so they don't need to go on the green belt? well, we don't think so, no. new cabinet ministers are often spotted in high vis. and hard hats.
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the government wants spades in the ground across the country and quickly. faisal islam, bbc news. meanwhile, the prime minister is expected to authorise emergency measures this week which could see criminals freed after serving less than half their sentence. it's a key challenge facing the new government after prison governors warned jails could run out of space within days. currentlyjust over 87,000 people are serving time behind bars in england and wales. but total capacity is 88,864 meaning prisons are around 98.5% full. our senior uk correspondent sima kotecha reports. she has been talking to a prison governor if we agreed to hide his identity. everyone is talking about being at crisis point. it is crisis point, we can't sustain this length of being full for so long as we are. there is an emergency in prisons
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in england and wales. they are overcrowded and at bursting point. and the consequence, dangerous criminals who were jailed by the courts could have nowhere to serve their sentence. one governor says he's never seen it so bad. he's not supposed to speak to the media, so we've hidden his identity. we are having to make single cells into doubles, and certainly we are doing that regularly. there are times where men can't really actually sit up in their bunk bed without their head hitting the ceiling. thatjust doesn't feel right. this is probably the worst i've seen it in my service to deliver. the prime minister says, like the previous government, he will continue releasing people early to make room, but it's not clear yet how many and when. how to sort this problem divides opinion. there are those that think early release sends a signal that the new government is soft on crime. they argue for longer
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sentences as a deterrent and punishment. then there's building new prisons which takes time. the government says it's clear that a shorter—term fix is needed. jason was inside for drug offences and was released earlyjust weeks ago. he says support on the outside is key. all of a sudden, within maybe 24—48 hours, you are getting ushered out of the building swiftly. it's the resettlement that is really lacking. so you can release people as much as he wants, if you don't resettle them, it's not going to do anything. the new government says it will get to grips with the situation. there isn't going to be a quick fix but we _ there isn't going to be a quick fix but we are — there isn't going to be a quick fix but we are going to have to deal with the — but we are going to have to deal with the legacy we inherit, but i think_ with the legacy we inherit, but i think it — with the legacy we inherit, but i think it has been totally irresponsible the way the conservatives have handled this for notjust— conservatives have handled this for notjust recent months, but in fact for years — tackling this crisis will be one of its first big tests, with critics watching closely what it decides could be a tough pill for some victims to swallow.
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there is loads of new initiatives coming out about early release schemes. have we even got places for people to live when they are being released? if they don't have anywhere to live, we are just almost setting people up to fail and reoffend. and our political editor chris mason is still in westminster for us. you get an idea of some of the challenges ahead and parliament has come to the very different, isn't it? , ., ., . ., , it? yes, what a change, it is extraordinary, _ it? yes, what a change, it is extraordinary, the _ it? yes, what a change, it is extraordinary, the scale - it? yes, what a change, it is extraordinary, the scale of l it? yes, what a change, it is - extraordinary, the scale of change. more than every other mp is new, arriving here today and getting a pass and wandering around the place, quite wide—eyed. thought of this little postcode usually that has argument, even anger baked into its dna but it had a different feel today, there was the undiluted joy for the winners and then, as you saw, the brutal truth of defeat for the losers. now, democracy requires brutality, but it requires human beings as well and you feel for
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those who are packing things into boxes, sacking the staff and wandering about what the future holds. as for the new government, there is the fog of exhaustion from there is the fog of exhaustion from the campaign but they are straight into a very visibly straight into trying to show a sense of energy and direction. i think they are conscious that the novelty will soon delete and people will start demanding delivery, so they want to show that sense of pace and direction straightaway, and from that hurtle around the uk from the prime minister today, tomorrow it is meeting england's mairs and then jumping on a plane to america for the nato defence alliance summit, so it's all go. fix. the nato defence alliance summit, so it's all no. �* , ., it's all go. a whirlwind start. thank yon _ the time is 6.18. our top story this evening: dozens are killed as russia launches attacks across ukraine, including at a children's hospital in kyiv. still to come, we speak to one of england cricket's all—time greats ahead of his final test match.
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and coming up on sportsday in the next 15 minutes on bbc news... we'll get the latest from the england camp ahead of wednesday's euro semi—final against netherlands, as luke shaw defends his amanger gareth southgate. england's euros preparations are continuing ahead of wednesday's semifinal against the netherlands with a place in the final on the line. but there has been controversy in the build—up after it emerged that the referee selected for the match previously served a ban for his part in a match fixing scandal. england defender luke shaw said the team simply had to focus on the game in hand. here's our sports editor, dan roan. he's somehow found the energy! just four teams are left standing at these euros. tomorrow's first semifinal is a mouthwatering clash between spain, who have won all five of their games, and a french side that's struggled to live up to their billing,
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with superstar kylian mbappe still recovering from a nose injury. that was a proper heavyweight contest! but then, all eyes will turn to another blockbuster fixture — england, after their penalty shoot—out heroics in the last round, taking on the netherlands. we don't get to a semifinal, nor do the dutch get to a semifinal by not having top players and top resilience as a squad, so it's about us focusing on ourselves being the best version of us come wednesday, and get the result. but there has been controversy over the choice of referee for the match. german felix zwayer served a six—month ban for his role in the match—fixing scandal in 2005. three years ago, england's jude bellingham was fined after referencing that scandal following a defeat that zwayer had officiated. today, however, team—mate luke shaw played down concerns. i think we have to respect uefa on whoever they decide to pick as the ref. that won't change anything about us. i think we will still just focus
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on the game in hand, not too much about what refs we've been given. having finished third in their group, meanwhile, the netherlands have grown into this tournament. the rhythm and the level of the game will be really high. hopefully it is us that will have more of the ball than england, so it's more england that is running, but yeah, i expect a high intensity game. england continue preparations here, with plenty of hard work ahead if they are to reach berlin on sunday. that would mean not only a second successive euros final, but also a first at any major tournament overseas. england have not yet produced free—flowing football, but they keep finding a way to win. their campaign here could yet have a glorious conclusion. dan roan, bbc news, blankenhain.
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there have been protests against tourism in spain. these tourists was skirted by people on anti—terrorist deposition in the city, leaving them to flee in dozens of protesters burnt the march to demand that your visitors come to the city each year. the mayor of barcelona recently pledged to eliminate short—term holiday lets in the city by 2028. a mother who admitted giving her terminally ill child a fatal overdose to "end his suffering" has died. antonya cooper, who was 77, had incurable cancer. she only recently had made the admission that she had given her seven—year—old son hamish a lethal dose of morphine in 1981, in an effort to change the law on assisted dying. katharine da costa reports.
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isaid, i said, would you like me to take away your pain? yes, please, ma'am. after more than four decades, spurred on by her own terminal cancer, his mother revealed to the bbc last year she had given her son a lodgment of morphine to end his life peacefully. what i a lodgment of morphine to end his life peacefully. wha— life peacefully. what i was his mother, life peacefully. what i was his mother. he — life peacefully. what i was his mother, he loved _ life peacefully. what i was his mother, he loved his - life peacefully. what i was his mother, he loved his mother| life peacefully. what i was his i mother, he loved his mother and life peacefully. what i was his - mother, he loved his mother and i totally— mother, he loved his mother and i totally loved him. and i was knocked going _ totally loved him. and i was knocked going to _ totally loved him. and i was knocked going to let— totally loved him. and i was knocked going to let him suffer, and i feel he really— going to let him suffer, and i feel he really knew where he was going. assisted _ he really knew where he was going. assisted dying evokes strong emotions on both sides of the debate. on the isle of man, as well as in scotland and jersey, they are considering changing the law to allow terminally ill people to end their own lives. it is legal in
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england, wales and northern ireland. the new prime minister has previously said he would allow a free vote on the issue. although thames valley police are still investigating hamish's death, antonya died at the weekend. her daughter says she was at peace, pain three and surrounded by her family. catherine da costa, bc. tennis and at wimbledon, ukraine's elina svitolina has made into the quarterfinals, but it was an emotional moment for her, given the attacks in ukraine just hours earlier. you know, it's a very difficult day today for ukrainian people. applause and cheering so, yes, just to go on the court, it's extremely tough. so i'm happy that i could play today and get a win. one of the all—time
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greats of british sport is about to say goodbye. the cricketerjames anderson has taken more wickets in his career than any fast bowler in the history of game. later this week, against west indies at lord's, he will play in his final test match for england. he's been speaking to our correspondentjoe wilson. so begins the week he never really hoped to reach, james anderson's farewell — cue the highlights. the burnley tearaway in 2003, the most successful england bowler ever. bowled him! from first wicket to 700th, he lives to compete, still. i think the fact that i'll be playing my 188th test just short of 42—years—old, i think that probably makes me the most proud, the fact that i've been able to play this long. 0h, he's got him! is there any part of you right now that actually wants to stop? um... that's a tough question. yes, it's caught! i feel like i'm still bowling
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as well as i ever have, but, i mean, i knew it had to end at some point. well, james anderson is such a constant presence around english cricket. for context, his career is about to span his eighth different prime minister. there have been eight different test match captains. if you wanted to take any young fast bowler and show what you need to do to have a career, james anderson is the person you would be showing him to. incredible professional, incredible athlete. one of our greatest ever to play the game. well, ben stokes and england told anderson they were finally moving on without him. over — the hardest word to say, for a bowler to hear. his england record — 700 wickets — may well never be broken. and james anderson has a whole test match left to give us more. joe wilson, bbc news, lords. a historic theatre in greater manchester that was closed
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in march last year when it lost its arts council funding is to reopen. it has just been announced that the oldham coliseum, which is 137 years old, has been saved by campaigners who decided to bring the theatre back to life. our entertainment correspondent colin paterson reports. we have had charlie chaplin here, stan laurel, pat phoenix, anne kirkbride... a lot of the corrie cast. this is a feelgood theatre story. last march, oldham coliseum shut after almost 140 years. it had lost its arts council funding. but the actressjulie hesmondhalgh refused to give up. we're very experienced at fighting and campaigning for things, but not very experienced at winning. so it was a real shock when we found out that the council had listened to us, because it shows that with passion and persistence, you can change the world. people power! the council had planned to build a brand—new theatre half the size of this one, and it wouldn't
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put on its own productions. finally got a job. julie's husband, the writer ian kershaw, was born in oldham and some of his earliest work was performed at the theatre. you've written tomorrow night's coronation street. i've written tomorrow night's coronation street, yes. would you have been able to do that without this place? no, no, iwouldn't, because without this building and without theatres, we wouldn't... there would be no tv writers. this is where save oldham coliseum had their meetings... every two weeks, theatre lovers gathered above an italian restaurant to formulate a plan, and they are overjoyed at today's news. i've just had a massive smile - on my face ever since i found out. i think to have have the coliseum . back will give everybody in the area such a huge boost. i think people are bitter. as forjulie hesmondhalgh, she does know a thing or two about the power of persistent campaigning. earlier this year, she starred in mr bates versus the post office. how about the stage premiere of mr bates versus the post office here? well, well, we're open to all suggestions, obviously!
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you know, the future is ours. colin paterson, bbc news, oldham. and finally, to the ice cream van in cornwall that rather sums up the summer so far this year. the kelly whip van got stuck in the sand as the tide turned and was swept out to sea at harlyn bay near padstow yesterday. holidaymakers tried to get it back to shore, but in the end, they had to wait for the tide to go out before it could be towed in again. luckily the driver wasn't in it at the time. time for a look at the weather. here's sarah keith—lucas. and you've got a nice blue sky, is the some other to come? for some of us, yes, ice cream whether other way but not everywhere. it's been a really wet startjust everywhere. it's been a really wet start just a week everywhere. it's been a really wet startjust a week intojuly but some places across parts of southern england and east anglia have already had more than their expected monthly july rainfall already. it has been wet everywhere, we have found some
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blue skies, this is in county down earlier today. the best of the blue sky and sunshine has been across the northern half of the uk particularly so in northern ireland and parts of scotland, also some showers around. for the next few days, things will stay fairly unsettled, so yes, some more heavy rain for some of us but increasingly humid so the temperatures will be on the rise. a slight improvement across parts of southern england. but here's the area of low pressure bringing more rain across the south through tonight but also some more humid air so is the warmth tracks its way north, the breeze will be coming in from the south—east of perth arena is already quite heavy for the south—west of eglin, parts of south wales too in fact we could have some flooding issues here through the night. looking like it dries out in the far south through the course of the far south through the course of the night but much of england and wales looking pretty damn. scotland and northern ireland having clear skies and it is here that temperatures will fall to around 7
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or 8, temperatures will fall to around 7 or8, but temperatures will fall to around 7 or 8, but underneath the cloud it will be quite sticky across england and wales, 13 or 14 overnight. tomorrow, this band of cloud and rain pushes slowly north across northern england, then becomes quite slow—moving for northern ireland, central and parts of eastern scotland seeing slow—moving rainfall. to the earth that the cloud should tend to break up, the breeze will have to break up the cloud, so some sunshine for the midlands are still some showers for parts of southern and eastern england. blustery in and around this rainfall. temperatures here 15 or 16 under the rain but some brighter skies across the far north of scotland. in the sunny spells we could see 21 or 22 celsius. what about the weather for wimbledon? we have got rain from tuesday and wednesday, but it does look like the rain is going to be quite patchy on tuesday and it will brighten up later on wednesday. low pressure clears away towards the north, another one pushes close to southern parts of the uk towards the end of the weakness so the outlook for the
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capital cities is looking a little bit up

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