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tv   BBC News Now  BBC News  July 23, 2024 12:30pm-1:01pm BST

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3000 violent crimes against women and girls every day in england and wales — police say it's a national emergency. at least four police office are facing prosecution over the shooting and killing of anti—government protestors in kenya. and the art of conversation — researchers find that wild chimpanzees take it in turns to communicate with each other, just like humans do. hello. more now on our top story, and kamala harris is hitting the campaign trail today, having secured enough delegate pledges to be viewed as the democratic presidential contender. in a few hours time she'll address a campaign rally in milwaukee, wisconsin — a critical swing state — where republicans and democrats will be battling it out for votes. these six states: georgia, michigan, pennsylvania, wisconsin, nevada and arizona — will likely decide who will take the white house in november. so just what do voters there think of president biden�*s
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decison to stand down, and what do they make of kamala harris as a possible future leader of the country? 0ur correspondent emma vardy has gone to arizona to find out. well, this state is really on a knife edge. it was won by donald trump in 2016 and taken byjoe biden at the last election, so it's being targeted heavily by both sides in the race to the white house. and arizona is on the border with mexico, and illegal immigration over that border has been one of the most contentious issues in this whole election. so what the voters are discussing here over their coffee and pancakes really matters. after months of hearing candidates singing the same old tunes, suddenly the records changing. a lot of people thought he'd pull out sooner than he did. i think it's best for america that he did pull out. it seems like trump's
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substantially ahead, especially in battleground states. could a different democratic candidate change things now? anything's possible. but in a deeply divided america, many people's views are already firmly fixed. i still think trump's going to win. i truly think that trump is a better choice, just with the economy and how things are run. what do people make of kamala harris when it comes to the border? well, she hasn't done anything. and criminals are coming across the border and we need to close it. while there's relief among many democrat voters over biden stepping down, there isn't agreement about kamala harris automatically replacing him. my personal opinion, what has she done? what experience has she had, politically? should there be more of a contest for who should take on trump? yes, i think so, yes. for the democratic party. but it has invigorated a campaign in which a rematch betweenjoe biden and donald trump had been widely unpopular. both sides, in my opinion,
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i thought were just, like, "i don't really care for." i think it would be nice to have a woman in office, and especially since she's a woman of colour. the choice being served up for americans is now looking very different. but as to whether kamala harris could do any better against donald trump thanjoe biden would have, polls haven't suggested there's much in it. but with millions now expected to pour into campaign funds, and voters are going to be seeing a lot more of her, that could change. though, for now, at least, many trump supporters don't see her as a threat. who do you think is going to win? trump. why's that? just because he's better at uniting everyone. trump was really attacking biden�*s age. could a new candidate make life any more difficult? after the last four weeks, no. i don't think there's any stopping him. you know, taking a bullet in the side of the head, everything else, and getting up and going play golf the next morning.
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i mean, what else do you ask for? if events weren't incredible enough, nowjoe biden dropping out is another historic twist for this race in which there is still time for more surprises to come. emma vardy, bbc news, arizona. brazil's president has said he is "frightened" by warnings uttered by venezuela's president maduro, of a possible post—election bloodbath in venezuela. 0ppositon candidate edmundo gonzalez, is currently polling well ahead mr maduro. voting is taking place this sunday in the presidential election. in recent days, the president has implied that if mr gonzalez wins there will be, in his words, "a fratricidal civil war produced by the fascists". 0ne venezuelan human rights group says more than a—hundred opposition politicians have been arrested in venezuela since the start of the year. with me is our latin america news reporter, mimi swaby.
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the opposition saying intimidation has really been ramping up as we get closer to the vote. i know there are independent election observers in the country, what are they saying about these claims?— the country, what are they saying about these claims? many have said it is not a level _ about these claims? many have said it is not a level playing _ about these claims? many have said it is not a level playing field - about these claims? many have said it is not a level playing field as - it is not a level playing field as the authorities are imposing conditions they see as favourable for maduro but this is one of the times that there are expectations for real change in venezuela is one of the most united oppositions are trying to unseat maduro who is looking for his third six—year term. 0pposition candidates are saying there is a ramping up, increasing intimidation campaign against them and only last week we saw the head of security of one of the key figures in this political opposition arrested, later released, but charged and accused of gender—based violence. this is one of the latest
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incidences which is intended to rattle the opposition and in some cases one leader has told me it is a moral blow for them. the cases one leader has told me it is a moral blow for them.— cases one leader has told me it is a moral blow for them. the women we are seeinu moral blow for them. the women we are seeing on — moral blow for them. the women we are seeing on the _ moral blow for them. the women we are seeing on the screen _ moral blow for them. the women we are seeing on the screen right - moral blow for them. the women we are seeing on the screen right now. are seeing on the screen right now was supposed to be the opposition candidate. she is still very much the face of this campaign is maria corina machado. she the face of this campaign is maria corina machado.— the face of this campaign is maria corina machado. she has become a s mbol of corina machado. she has become a symbol of unfairness _ corina machado. she has become a symbol of unfairness in _ corina machado. she has become a symbol of unfairness in these - symbol of unfairness in these elections after being disqualified from running and barred from seeking political office for 15 years and she tried to pass the baton to a university academic but she was then unable to register and the opposition have rallied around edmundo gonzalez. he is slightly older which maduro has jabbed at multiple times in the vote but although maria is not the candidate and will not be on the ticket to face maduro on sunday, she is very
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much the public face and driving force of the opposition�*s campaign, extremely popular and taking a leading role in campaigning across the country with the one visible and really kind of encapsulating moment of change or her moment of change for venezuelans. h0??? of change or her moment of change for venezuelans.— for venezuelans. how likely do you think if there _ for venezuelans. how likely do you think if there is _ for venezuelans. how likely do you think if there is a _ for venezuelans. how likely do you think if there is a transition - for venezuelans. how likely do you think if there is a transition of - think if there is a transition of power edmundo gonzalez b be a smooth one smooth one and one that is not the author wife, violence etc? —— does not see a loss of life. fine the author wife, violence etc? -- does not see a loss of life. one of the peeple _ does not see a loss of life. one of the peeple he _ does not see a loss of life. one of the people he was _ does not see a loss of life. one of the people he was meant - does not see a loss of life. one of the people he was meant to - does not see a loss of life. one of the people he was meant to be i does not see a loss of life. one of| the people he was meant to be on does not see a loss of life. one of- the people he was meant to be on the ballot after red said we will win by avalanche, landslide if it a fair, safe which both parties accept. maduro said there could be possible bloodshed and even civil war if he does not win, comments that really frighten brazil's president and he has said to maduro you must learn
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that if he wins he loses he must go and that is the concern that these results may be tampered with or may not be accepted by both parties with maria corina machado saying she and her party are ready for a peaceful transition but it depends what that will look like on sunday as, like i said, these intimidation campaigns and tensions really ramping up as we get closer to the date. returning to that warning from police chiefs that violence against women and girls is now a �*national emergency,�* with at least two million victims every year in england and wales. a report for the national police chiefs' council says offences such as domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking affect one in 12 women, with both victims and perpetrators getting younger. let's speak to lorna woods, a professor of internet law at the university of essex who helped draft the 0nline safety act, which is a set of laws aimed
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at protecting children and adults thank you very much for your time today. you obviously are immersed in this world, these questions of safety, acts of violence, perpetrated mostly against women. what is your reaction to the figures? do you find them shocking? shocking, yes, but not surprising. i think there has been increasing research over the last five or so years that shows that there has been increasingly a problem, perhaps an increase in i suppose manner sphere influences, self produced news and those going viral, a complete change in atmosphere so it is shocking, especially the source of those numbers but it fits a more general
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picture that has been coming across the last few years. to picture that has been coming across the last few years.— the last few years. to what extent? it sounds like _ the last few years. to what extent? it sounds like from _ the last few years. to what extent? it sounds like from what _ the last few years. to what extent? it sounds like from what you're - it sounds like from what you're saying that online content is a significant driver of the figures we are hearing about.— are hearing about. there are certainly _ are hearing about. there are certainly a — are hearing about. there are certainly a significant... - are hearing about. there are certainly a significant... , . are hearing about. there are i certainly a significant... , there is not a hard boundary between off—line and online that perhaps people of my age see. there is that and there is a greater ease of access to different sorts of content, different audiences so this is all playing into this question of what content is available, what content is influencing people behaviour. content is influencing people behaviour-— content is influencing people behaviour. ., , content is influencing people behaviour. ., behaviour. the online safety act was assed last behaviour. the online safety act was passed last year. — behaviour. the online safety act was passed last year, is _ behaviour. the online safety act was passed last year, is it _ behaviour. the online safety act was passed last year, is it too _ behaviour. the online safety act was passed last year, is it too early - behaviour. the online safety act was passed last year, is it too early to i passed last year, is it too early to determine whether that is making a
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difference? , , , , , difference? yes. this is because the oane difference? yes. this is because the online safety — difference? yes. this is because the online safety act _ difference? yes. this is because the online safety act some _ difference? yes. this is because the online safety act some general i online safety act some general duties on service providers to change their systems, to try and make their systems generally safer, for example, by not promoting violent content, by providing effective complaints and take down systems, and in particularfor children ensuring that they do not encounter pornography. but this all requires more detail and this is the sort of detail that is not appropriate to be put in an act of parliament and drafted by legislators. what we have is 0fcom, the regulator, working its way through the detail to come up with codes of practice to help the companies implement their obligations and where we are at with that at the moment is that 0fcom has
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done two consultations this year, the second of which on children's safety has onlyjust closed so 0fcom will be now reading the responses to those consultations, reviewing what it was proposing, before it actually gets round to publishing the codes of practice and once the codes are published, the company then has three months to get there house in order so before the rules come in, we are looking at 2025.— we are looking at 2025. thank you for our we are looking at 2025. thank you for your time _ we are looking at 2025. thank you for your time today _ we are looking at 2025. thank you for your time today and _ we are looking at 2025. thank you for your time today and talking i we are looking at 2025. thank you for your time today and talking to | for your time today and talking to us about that story. more than 150 people are reported to have been killed by a landslide in a remote area of southern ethiopia. officials say the disaster happened on monday after heavy rains in the mountainous gofa area. search operations are under way, but the first images suggest that local residents in the isolated area are having to search for survivors using just shovels
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and their bare hands. the shooting and killing of protestors in kenya in recent weeks. more than 50 people have been killed, dozens abducted, and hundreds arrested during anti—government protests — with demands for justice intensifying. but as anne soy reports, the use of excessive force by the security agencies is deeply entrenched in policing culture and that's now fuelling the demands from the streets for change. this is not a war. it's how kenyan police do crowd control. thousands of mostly young kenyans have taken to the streets to demand for government reforms, and this is what they are met with excessive force. dozens have been killed. 29—year—old rex masai was the first victim. we met his mother a day after he was shot
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and killed by police. when people are fighting for their rights, why use live bullets? if he had been armed, we would understand that perhaps he was on the wrong train. this video shows what is said to be the moment rex was shot. a police officer in civilian clothes is seen opening fire. rex's friend ian kinuthia witnessed what happened. he had a bullet in his thigh when we took him to hospital. but all of a sudden we were told there's no bullet. how? the body mandated to investigate claims against the police says the security agency is not cooperating. we need the arms movement register. we need to know which members were in a particular platoon. and for us to get that information is becoming a challenge and to a certain level, some intimidation, even to our officers. we sought a response from the police chief about the allegations by investigators and the use of excessive force against unarmed
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protesters, but there's been no answer. what is problematic is the culture of policing. rather than de—escalating conversations or essentially facilitating peaceful protests. what we've seen, essentially, is an attempt to try and block peaceful protest, and that's where things break down. it's given protesters more reasons to go out to the streets, and they try everything they can to make their voice heard. the strategy the protesters have used is to try and come into town from all directions, and therefore the tear gas keeps going off in different directions. if anything, this does not dampen the spirit of the protesters. it fuels them. the anger on the streets is rising.
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what began as protests against proposed tax hikes have now evolved into demands for reforms in government, including the security agencies. the protesters want change. they demand for justice for their fallen compatriots and an end to impunity. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.
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if you hear the word barbie you'll almost certainly picture an incredibly slender doll, dressed in any number of outfits — ranging from astronaut to princess and much more in between. you may also think of the recent blockbuster movie — when the doll was brought to life on the screen by margot robbie. but the makers of barbie, mattel, say they want to make their doll increasingly accessible — and inspirational — and that's why they say they've designed the first ever �*blind' barbie. you can see her here. you may be wondering what makes her different. here to explain is the broadcaster and disability activist lucy edwards
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who herself is blind. 0oh. 0h, oh, my gosh, barbie, have you got a little cane? i love your cane, barbie. that is so cool that it slots into your hand like that. oh, my gosh, look at your ra—ra skirt, girl. i love all the textures and layers, that is so gorgeous to feel. oh, my gosh, barbie. you've got glasses! they are so cool. can you take them off? yes, you can. look. so cute. this makes me so emotional. ijust the... i so wish i would have had this when i was a little girl.
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that was lucy edwards. he's one of the biggest stars in hollywood. now keanu reeves has come together with the award—winning writer china mieville for his first novel called the book of elsewhere, which is published today. they sat down with our culture editor, katie razzall. from an fbi agent riding a wave in point break, to a celebrated cop in speed... there is a bomb on this bus! ..to a hacker—turned—saviour in the matrix, on screen, keanu reeves is much more thanjust another action hero. in real life, he's the creator and co—writer of the brzrkr comic book series, which is now a new novel, the book of elsewhere, by keanu reeves and writer china mieville. what made you want to write a novel? well, i didn't write a novel — china wrote a novel. you had nothing to do with it? it's a collaboration.
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i think that's putting it too far. no, you wrote the novel! it's based on this, right? indeed, yeah. brzrkr. what drew you to this comic book? it was important we did not replicate the comics. i was important we did not replicate the comics-— the comics. i had hoped the character — the comics. i had hoped the character could _ the comics. i had hoped the character could have - the comics. i had hoped the - character could have other creators and people telly version of the story, the character is 80,000 years old, his half human, half board, alien. , ., ., _ , ., alien. he is immortal by trying to seek out the _ alien. he is immortal by trying to seek out the ability _ alien. he is immortal by trying to seek out the ability to _ alien. he is immortal by trying to seek out the ability to be - alien. he is immortal by trying to seek out the ability to be able i alien. he is immortal by trying to seek out the ability to be able to | seek out the ability to be able to die? . ., ., . , seek out the ability to be able to die? . ., .,. , . , die? the character is cursed with violence. you _ die? the character is cursed with violence. you cannot _ die? the character is cursed with violence. you cannot kill- die? the character is cursed with violence. you cannot kill him, i die? the character is cursed with violence. you cannot kill him, he can die but he re—hatches and with this curse of violence, his looking
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to find a way to die. what was it that drew you to this character? the original idea was i wanted to have a character that could punch through people's chests and rip their arms off, and rip their heads off. and you seem like such a mild—mannered, gentle... your persona is so gentle, and yet, this violence, you know... that's how it started. ..whether it's the novel or the book or the acting that you've done. yeah, i think it was kind of influenced by some of the action films that i had done. so i guess you have a choice. you want a war, or do you want to just give me a gun? you know the well—rehearsed arguments about violence on screen or in books and violence in the real world and whether there are links. and i wonder how you see that. what's the question? the link between fantasy and reality? yes, people look at books and violent films... i hope that if they read brzrkr that they don't go off and start ripping people's arms off and chopping their heads off. of course. because there is also a love story in it.
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of course, i'm not saying that what i'm asking questions people ask about this, they ask what attracts people to violence on screen, in books, whatever it might be. i mean, like, real, actual violence is something that troubles me and disturbs me. i think about it a lot. but i get quite irritated about the way this question is posed about, you know, the relation between depicted violence and real violence, because of what it abstracts out. so when you have societies like ours, which have this kind of fetishistic relationship to soldiers and war. and then it's like, "but my 12—year—old is reading a violent comic." in the novel, the main character doesn't want to die, he wants mortality, a crucial distinction. i wonder what you've both learnt about man's mortality. is it something that you think about a lot? yeah, i'm 59, so i'm thinking about death all the time. still very young. i mean, i think thinking about death is good. hopefully it sensitises us to an appreciation of the breath we have and the relationships
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that we have the potential to have. i'm 51 and consider death something to be ruminated on with great respect. i think that one of the things, hopefully you can have it both ways. you can have a book that has these kinds of, you know, fun, explosive sequences, but you can also quite seriously talk about death and what that means to be human. what you've managed with brzrkr is to build this fantasy world. are you trying to escape from the real world in any way? is that what creativity is about? maybe ultimately the fantasy, building another world, brings some kind of comfort in some way. there was something about the creative gesture that comes from pain. do you feel that you've been getting that comfort from your creative process? yeah, it's good, clean fun! i recommend it for everyone. creating stuff is great. arms ripped off and all. hopefully
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people like the stories that we tell. one of the things, keanu, that people know about you — whether it's true or not, i've got no idea — but you don't own lots of stuff. you're known as being very generous, giving lots away. when it comes to the proceeds of the book, what is your plan for that? are you somebody who just doesn't like to own anything or keep anything? absolutely not. i love owning things. i love having stuff. so that is not true, all the stuff they say about you on the internet? absolutely not. maybe. i don't know. i don't read it. i don't really know but i will not present myself as someone who gives everything away. keanu reeves, an enigma to the end. katie razzall, bbc news. researchers have found that chimpanzees in the wild take it in turns to speak, much like humans do. u nless unless you talk over one another. the study, carried out by a team from the university of st andrews in scotland, looked at the chimps' hand gestures — and concluded that they often had rapid back—and—forth exchanges.
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let's just show you washington right now and the white house. we will have much more through the day on the race for the white house and kamala harris will be in milwaukee later, we will bring that to you live when it happens and that is of course in the state of wisconsin, one of the key battleground states that whoever wants to be the next president of the united states will be hoping to win so do stay with us here on bbc news. hello again. some of us started off on a cloudy note this morning with some rain. the rain now easing, the cloud breaking up, and more of us seeing some sunshine. pollen levels today are moderate or high across many parts of the country as well. we're still talking grass pollen and nettle pollen. and what's happening is the remnants of the weather front clearing away to the east,
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breaking up all the time with this ridge of high pressure building in, settling things down. so, the cloud continuing to break up. a few heat of the day showers bubbling up too across central parts of the country, eastern scotland, into the south—east. they will be fairly well scattered and with the onshore flow along the north sea coastline, what you'll find here today is that it will be a little bit cooler than if you move inland. but some blue skies in the east and west coasts, and if that tempts you into the sea, these are the sea temperatures — a bit above average across the english channel and the north sea. now, into this evening and overnight, still a lot of clear skies around, fair amounts of cloud too, and we'll see some mist and fog patches forming. by the end of the night we will have a weather front approaching the west introducing thicker cloud and some drizzle. 0ur overnight lows, 9 to about 15 degrees. that's how we start tomorrow, with a lot of dry weather.
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again, a fair bit of sunshine around. we could see some heat of the day showers developing in south—east scotland and north—east england. and a weather front coming in from the west making a bit more inroads into western areas with this thicker cloud and patchy light rain. these are the temperatures tomorrow, 14—25 degrees. a little bit warmer as the wind changes direction a bit along the north sea coastline. but the weather front does continue to push over towards the east overnight wednesday into thursday. and for a time we could see some heavier rain coming in across parts of southern and south—east england and wales. and then later, more rain coming in across western scotland and northern ireland. but in between, mostly dry, bar the odd shower with highs of up to about 22. as we move on through friday, eventually that front clears away and again we've got a little ridge of high pressure building across, this weather front is trying to come in to the west. so on friday the rain is slow to clear from some south—eastern areas and we've got some showers a bit further north.
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but as we head in through the weekend, things start to quieten up and settle down.
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today at 1:00pm, the bbc�*s director general apologises over complaints about abusive behaviour on strictly come dancing and says it will never be tolerated. there are limits, and the line should never be crossed. we will
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never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind. it comes as another contestant, who was injured in rehearsals, says the show failed in its duty of care. if someone gets an injury like mine, that will affect them for the rest of their life. you know, i'll never get over this knee injury. i have to deal with it. i don't want to be woe is me, but that's just a fact. also on the programme this lunchtime... kamala harris now has the support of enough democratic party delegates to be their candidate for the white house. we have doors to knock on, we have people to talk to, we have phone calls to make, and we have an election to win. cheering. police chiefs say violence against women and girls has reached epidemic levels and is now a national emergency. and going for a golden goodbye — andy murray confirms that he'll retire after this summer's paris 0lympics. and coming up on bbc news, the president of the international
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olympic committee speaks exclusively to the bbc about a plan to make

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