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

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it's gold! and triumph too in the women's quadruple sculls after the most dramatic photofinish. coming up on bbc news... and incredible final run taking bmx silverfor team gb moving him from to second. to accessing indecent images of children as young as seven after he was sent hundreds of sexual images on whatsapp by a man he met online. westminster magistrates court was told that 41 of them were indecent images of children.
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huw edwards, resigned from the corporation earlier this year following unrelated allegations that he paid a young person for sexually explicit photos. he will be sentenced in september. our special correspondent, lucy manning, was in court. the man who read the news headlines is now in them. in the middle of the jostling cameras and reporters who he would normally have worked alongside. facing serious charges that he accessed indecent photographs and videos of children, including a boy as young as seven to nine years old. no words outside court but three key ones inside. the former newsreader stood in the dock and as the counts were read out calmly, quietly he replied guilty — then again guilty and for the third time, guilty. the court heard huw edwards
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had been in a whatsapp chat with a man he met online, who sent him pictures and videos. of the 377 sexual images, 41 were indecent images of children, mostly between 12 and 15 years old. but two of the most extreme images were videos of a child who could have been as young as seven. the court heard on two occasions he asked the man not to send under age or illegal pictures but after the first time he still accessed more that were sent, including the video of the young boy. mr edwards�*s lawyer said the former bbc newsreader hadn't kept any images or sent them to anyone else. in the last year, huw edwards has gone from the top of the bbc to suspension, to resignation and now pleading guilty to these serious offences. a downfall for a man who was at the pinnacle of his career. there are 650 mps... leading the bbc�*s election and royal coverage, the man entrusted to announce the death of the queen. good evening. the unrelenting pressure...
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the main presenter of news at ten, he left the bbc in the aftermath of separate allegations from the sun that he had paid for explicit photos. he left, but not before he had received £40,000 pay rise. in a statement, the bbc said, "the bbc is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today. there can be no place for such apparent behaviour, and our thoughts are with all those affected." "in november 2023, while mr edwards was suspended, the bbc was made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail. at the time, no charges had been brought against mr edwards, and the bbc had also been made aware of significant risks to his health. if at any point during the period mr edwards was employed by the bbc he had been charged, the bbc had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him. in the end, at the point of charge, he was no longer an employee of the bbc."
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the police revealed this afternoon that the man who shared the indecent images with hugh edwards is convicted paedophile 25—year—old alex williams. they only began investigating the former newsreader after they seized a phone in an investigation and discovered the whatsapp messages. huw edwards now faces a possible jail sentence, which will be decided in september. he has accepted his guilt, but the man who was the face of bbc news, who was the watchword for reliability and trust, has forfeited all of that and so much more. lucy manning, bbc news. well, as you heard, the bbc has revealed that it knew that huw edwards had been arrested back in november. just to be very clear — we here at bbc news are editorially independent when reporting on the corporation and we only learnt about his arrest and the charges when the rest of the media did on monday. 0ur media editor
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katie razzall is here. this leaves a lot of questions for the bbc? it does and i think serious questions for the bbc and director general and key amongst them the decision not to sack you edwards in november when the bbc knew he had been arrested. now potentially they said they would have acted had he been charged but if they were acting in that way because there was a presumption of innocence until proven guilty a charge would not have made a difference to that so that argument looks quite difficult to stand up. the facts are the bbc as you said continued to pay mr edwards is vasari for five months after he was arrested so questions around why that was and why also did they let him leave on his own terms. remember he resigned from the bbc in april and he said on medical advice of doctors. the bbc did not give them a fulsome sendoff, it was a tense statement but there was absolutely no sense of this. we heard just last week that he was the
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third highest paid presenter on the bbc and was paid for months while he was suspended and of course people will ask will bbc be trying to recoup the money. my understanding is there is no legal recourse of doing that. no clearly the bbc was trying to balance its duties as an employer of mr edwards, the duties of care that they had. but now that we know these facts come the decision looks reputational it difficult for the bbc.- decision looks reputational it difficult for the bbc. katie, thank ou. detectives investigating the multiple stabbings at a children's dance class in southport on monday have been granted more time to question a 17—year—old boy. the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested after the fatal stabbing of alice aguiar, bebe king and elsie dot stancombe. more than 50 police officers and three police dogs were injured during violence which erupted in southport last night after false information circulated about the suspect who is being held. with the latest from southport,
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here's judith moritz. when a knifeman walked into this dance class held by leanne lewis she showed avery shielding the children from danger. her cousin is told bbc how she is doing now. bill from danger. her cousin is told bbc how she is doing now.— from danger. her cousin is told bbc how she is doing now. all we know is she's still not — how she is doing now. all we know is she's still not out _ how she is doing now. all we know is she's still not out of— how she is doing now. all we know is she's still not out of the _ how she is doing now. all we know is she's still not out of the woods - how she is doing now. all we know is she's still not out of the woods but i she's still not out of the woods but she's still not out of the woods but she is talking. were not allowed to say too much. but she is talking. were not allowed to say too much-— she is talking. were not allowed to say too much. but she is a hero. the attack has devastated _ say too much. but she is a hero. the attack has devastated this _ say too much. but she is a hero. the | attack has devastated this community and made an impact far beyond here. nine—year—olds alice aguiar, bebe king and elsie dot stancombe were killed. eight other children were hurt. jonathan hayes was stabbed in the leg as he tried to stop the knifeman and today from his hospital bed he told bbc he does not see himself as a hero and wishes he could have done more. in southport
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it is a time to hold your children tight. all over this town parents are in turmoil. gemma's daughter was meant to be at the dance class but it was fully booked. you meant to be at the dance class but it was fully booked.— it was fully booked. you 'ust want to keep them * it was fully booked. you 'ust want to keep them close _ it was fully booked. you 'ust want to keep them close to _ it was fully booked. you just want to keep them close to you. - it was fully booked. you just want. to keep them close to you. they've beenin to keep them close to you. they've been in my bed every night since it happened, i do not want them to go anywhere. she is meant to be at preschool today and i would not let her go. preschool today and i would not let her no. ., , , preschool today and i would not let her io. .,, , preschool today and i would not let her no. , ., her go. last night things took a violent turn, _ her go. last night things took a violent turn, rioting _ her go. last night things took a violent turn, rioting broke - her go. last night things took a violent turn, rioting broke out | her go. last night things took a | violent turn, rioting broke out in more than 50 officers and three police dogs were injured. the mosque was targeted in a corner shops looted. today it was being boarded up looted. today it was being boarded up by looted. today it was being boarded up by volunteers and its owner is worried about more trouble. the cane 'ust like a worried about more trouble. the cane just like a human _ worried about more trouble. the cane just like a human flood _ worried about more trouble. the cane just like a human flood inside - worried about more trouble. the cane just like a human flood inside and - just like a human flood inside and theyjust took all the just like a human flood inside and they just took all the cigarettes and valuable alcohol and smashed a couple of bottles. just destroyed everything. the couple of bottles. just destroyed eve hina. couple of bottles. just destroyed everything-— couple of bottles. just destroyed eve hina. ., , .,, ., everything. the chief constable of merse side everything. the chief constable of merseyside came _ everything. the chief constable of merseyside came to _ everything. the chief constable of merseyside came to the _ everything. the chief constable of merseyside came to the streets i everything. the chief constable of i merseyside came to the streets were
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disorder had happened to see the disorder had happened to see the disorderfor disorder had happened to see the disorder for herself. the? disorder had happened to see the disorder for herself.— disorder for herself. they faced that disgusting _ disorder for herself. they faced that disgusting level _ disorder for herself. they faced that disgusting level of - disorder for herself. they faced | that disgusting level of violence from people who do not represent our communities here in southport. [30 communities here in southport. do ou communities here in southport. do you feel that they came from outside the community?— you feel that they came from outside the communi ? , ., , ., the community? there were people who travelled into — the community? there were people who travelled into southport, _ the community? there were people who travelled into southport, people - travelled into southport, people have attended then after the vigil for the purpose of mindless violence and thuggery and hooliganism. and they do not represent southport. [30 they do not represent southport. do you worry about misinformation that circulates online, is that providing a new challenge? it circulates online, is that providing a new challenge?— circulates online, is that providing a new challenge? it absolutely is in terms of there _ a new challenge? it absolutely is in terms of there is _ a new challenge? it absolutely is in terms of there is a _ a new challenge? it absolutely is in terms of there is a lot _ a new challenge? it absolutely is in terms of there is a lot of _ terms of there is a lot of misinformation out there, a lot of the speculation and i would just urge people, we will give you the information when we can. this place is -auttin information when we can. this place is putting itself— information when we can. this place is putting itself back _ information when we can. this place is putting itself back together. - information when we can. this place is putting itself back together. but l is putting itself back together. but it is one thing to mend the broken brick and repair the roads were far caught hold. quite another to heal the hearts of people here who have seen the worst of humanity in their
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town. and that violence began after false rumours about the suspect. 0ur bbc verify reporter has been looking at how it started and how fast it escalated. well almost immediately after the incident on monday rumours began to spread online that claimed without evidence that an asylum seeker who arrived in the uk by boat last year was responsible for the attack. an incorrect name for the suspect was also widely shared despite merseyside police confirming that the 17—year—old suspect was born in cardiff and lived locally in southport. as far as we know the suspect has no known links to islam. 0ther suspect has no known links to islam. other images like this have also been shared by social media influencer andrew tate incorrectly identifying a man as the attacker
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and sharing a photo of an arrest that took place actually last year. but the damage was already done. but the damage was already it that took place actually last year. but the damage was already it is like a strangling hole around us, they are trying to strangle us. a few days ago from congress i explained translation: translation: we hit really hard at all three of them. _ all three of them. a few weeks ago it was mohammed and thenit a few weeks ago it was mohammed and then it was the houthis, the furthest air strike ever. yesterday, fuad shukr. and i would like to
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complement all of our security forces, the idf and air force who hit on three marinas on the same time. responsible for the horrific murder and responsible for the murder and responsible for the murder of many others and the endless missile barrage against the north of israel, he was one of the most wanted terrorists around the world. united states said they had to put a $2 million prize on his head. he was also responsible for 240 troops killed in 1983 of americans and french troops he killed. he was a connection between nasrallah and the organisation itself. and i visited that horrific place of the murder and i saw the misery and the pain they are
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feeling, i said we are brethren. there is an alliance of life between us. and the murder of these innocent children has added to this endless suffering of our dear inhabitants of the north who are displaced now and have been hit so hard. but we will not remain silent. we have hit out and we will continue to do so against anyone who murders our citizens and hurts our country, than their days are numbered. citizens of israel, there are challenging days ahead. we have been hearing those threats from everywhere, we are ready for any scenario and we will stand against any threat. they will pay a price if there is any aggression against us, wherever that
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theatre. the first days of the war i said it will take time and, yes we will all have to be very patient. for months, there is not a week that goes by with someone says to us, says to me, finished this war, we have done the most we can, we've exhausted the potential of this war, but i never gave in to those voices and i will not give into them now. had we surrendered to those voices, had we not assassinated those heads of the hamas and has below and destroyed their terror infrastructure, we would've never been able to then take over the axis of delsea and we would have let them continue arming themselves. —— hezbollah. had we not created those conditions that would bring our hostages home and to achieve all of
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the aims of our war, to totally eradicate the military power of hamas so because that would not continue being a threat against us and of course bring the hostages home and bring our displaced to their homes. we achieved everything because we did not surrender and we took very brave decisions despite all of the pressure being wielded against us from within and from without and, believe me, it was very difficult to withstand that pressure. what we have a sheath out because of our combatants in the field and the reserve, the regular and the police and security forces, they are fighting like lions, determined to work. and i, with the people of israel are backing them with the truth in the belief in the justification of our path. we will not forget for a moment for the bereaved families who have lost, for
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the families who have lost their dear children and the wounded who are fighting to be rehabilitated. it is because of their courage and your courage and with the help of god, together, we will win. that statement _ together, we will win. that statement from _ together, we will win. that statement from the - together, we will win. that statement from the israeli | together, we will win. that statement from the israeli prime minister, netanyahu talking about an axis of evil which had a stranglehold, he said around us, to quote him. he said israel would not remain silent. he said, it would hit out at anyone who harms the israeli citizens or the country and he said, he was ready, israel was ready for any threat. he talked about a previous attacks, assassinations of the heads of hamas and hezbollah, i think he was referring to previous attacks in gaza and elsewhere. he
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said, had we not created those conditions to bring our hostages home, it may not have happened. 0f home, it may not have happened. of course we will know, you will know many families of the hostages in israel were pleading with netanyahu to continue with the cease—fire talks to try to return home their loved ones who are still missing, still held hostage. at the moment, many people taking the view that because of these in beirut and in tehran, the cease—fire talks are effectively back to zero. and not very much hope it seems of revitalising those. we will hear more thoughts on that and join our correspondent barbara plett usher and our correspondent in beirut for us. first of all to you, i hope you are able to hear that statement from
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netanyahu as well, give us your assessment of what he had to say, first of all. his assessment of what he had to say, first of all. , , assessment of what he had to say, first of all-— first of all. his message was right in the middle _ first of all. his message was right in the middle of _ first of all. his message was right in the middle of his _ first of all. his message was right in the middle of his statement - first of all. his message was right in the middle of his statement he| in the middle of his statement he said there are challenges ahead, threatened from all different sides, we are ready to pay a price. he seemed to be warning israelis that could be worse that this is looking had not to the response and armed groups that it backs to the tricks we have seen in the past 25 and 36 hours. he specifically reported to the one against the hezbollah commander in lebanon, he did not refer to the death of ismail haniyeh of the hamas leader killed. as he said, he did mention the assassination of hamas and hezbollah leaders had continued. he said this created conditions for bringing hostages home. so in effect, he is the speech to shore up his position
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which had been the position all along that he has taken which is that these military operations, assassinations this desire to totally eradicate hamas, as he calls it is working. he says that they have achieved everything although he did not entirely say what they achieve because we did not surrender, to pressure, to stop the war. and that together, we will win, he said, the military fighting like lions and the courage of the israeli people. it was a message basically of defiance in the face of international and local pressure to wind down the military operations and move to the cease—fire. it was also an indication that he is not planning to do that and there could be retaliation coming. stay with us for the moment rare be retaliation coming. stay with us for the momen— be retaliation coming. stay with us for the moment we will come back to ou in the for the moment we will come back to you in the moment _ for the moment we will come back to
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you in the moment to _ for the moment we will come back to you in the moment to come - for the moment we will come back to you in the moment to come back - for the moment we will come back to you in the moment to come back to l you in the moment to come back to that. but let's go to beirut. we are hearing in the washer while that the body of that senior hezbollah commander, fuad shukr has been recovered from the rubble of the building which was hit by that air strike. tell us more about that and the political reaction in lebanon we were there when the body was found. a few hours before i received a message — a few hours before i received a message from my sources that his family— message from my sources that his family was— message from my sources that his family was informed hours before because _ family was informed hours before because they made sure the rescue and search— because they made sure the rescue and search team, they made sure he was dead _ and search team, they made sure he was dead. for hours they were trying to remove _ was dead. for hours they were trying to remove the rubble of the wrecked building _ to remove the rubble of the wrecked building and when they found it, everything went very tense and suddenly— everything went very tense and suddenly they shouted in all of the
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media, _ suddenly they shouted in all of the media, they asked us to turn off our cameras, _ media, they asked us to turn off our cameras, the — media, they asked us to turn off our cameras, the media, to not have our phone _ cameras, the media, to not have our phone in_ cameras, the media, to not have our phone in our— cameras, the media, to not have our phone in our hands. it shows us how important _ phone in our hands. it shows us how important it— phone in our hands. it shows us how important it was for this hezbollah commander and how tense the situation — commander and how tense the situation it was in the areas held by hezbollah. he was third in the rank of— by hezbollah. he was third in the rank of command for it hezbollah, a lon- rank of command for it hezbollah, a long commander for hezbollah taking a role _ long commander for hezbollah taking a role in _ long commander for hezbollah taking a role in a _ long commander for hezbollah taking a role in a different fight so he was very— a role in a different fight so he was very important. in lebanon, the government— was very important. in lebanon, the government here has but multiple statements since yesterday the attack — statements since yesterday the attack on beirut, but also now attacking _ attack on beirut, but also now attacking the attack on tehran, the lebanese _ attacking the attack on tehran, the lebanese foreign minister has told media _ lebanese foreign minister has told media that he thinks the attack on
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tehran, _ media that he thinks the attack on tehran, the — media that he thinks the attack on tehran, the attack on beirut, and attack— tehran, the attack on beirut, and attack by— tehran, the attack on beirut, and attack by the us on iraqi she armed forces— attack by the us on iraqi she armed forces hezbollah aligned with iraq, they all— forces hezbollah aligned with iraq, they all discredit according to him, they all discredit according to him, they all— they all discredit according to him, they all discredit according to him, they all discredit the attempt or what _ they all discredit the attempt or what mr— they all discredit the attempt or what mr bided the president of the united _ what mr bided the president of the united states was talking about bringing cease—fire and you have seen _ bringing cease—fire and you have seen the — bringing cease—fire and you have seen the tension. let bringing cease-fire and you have seen the tension.— seen the tension. let me bring barbara back _ seen the tension. let me bring barbara back in _ seen the tension. let me bring barbara back in now. _ seen the tension. let me bring barbara back in now. i- seen the tension. let me bring barbara back in now. ijust - seen the tension. let me bring | barbara back in now. ijust want seen the tension. let me bring - barbara back in now. ijust want to get your view if i may on how much support there will be in israel for these actions. israel has not explicitly said it was response —— responsible for the attack that killed fuad shukr —— ismail haniyeh but has claim response ability for the hezbollah leader, fuad shukr, how much will people in israel be
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baffled by this? i how much will people in israel be baffled by this?— baffled by this? i don't think --eole baffled by this? i don't think peeple in — baffled by this? i don't think people in israel— baffled by this? i don't think people in israelwill- baffled by this? i don't think people in israel will be - baffled by this? i don't think - people in israel will be baffled by it. ithink people in israel will be baffled by it. i think many israelis would not support killing hamas leaders because they see that as part of the war in gaza, even if those hamas leaders are in a another country. i think it would be the question of the timing and response. for example, there were some people who celebrate it in a community right across from goss that has suffered from a lot of hamas attacks, people were handing out sweets. 0therwise, were handing out sweets. otherwise, and other different parts of the countries, some municipalities cancel public offence. they opened up cancel public offence. they opened up the bomb shelters. so, clearly worried about what may be coming next. 0ne worried about what may be coming next. one of the key constituencies which is the family of the hostages who have been the spearhead, the people driving the protests for mr netanyahu to stop the war at least to give cease—fire negotiations a chance there's a fair bit of pressure for that. they have expressed concern. they are afraid
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this is going to set back the cease—fire talks and the ability to see their loved ones. netanyahu made a reference to that in the speech, he he mention all the pressure, he said in the beginning of the war he said in the beginning of the war he said it would take time and he is even talk about limiting or destroying hamas, as he says, and i was asked by many people to stop the war and i have was asked by many people to stop the warand i have said no and war and i have said no and will continue to say no. i will be discouraging for hostage families and others. but beyond that, there is concern and fear about what the response might be from iran or the armed groups that are iranian backs. thank you both very much. just to recap the key lines from what benjamin netanyahu the israeli prime minister had to send last few minutes. saying israel would not remain silent. saying the country would hit out at anyone who harms either the country or its citizens. much more on that top story coming
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up much more on that top story coming up here on the world today as well as all of the key news of the day so stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. the heatwave continues today across some parts of the country but overnight tonight and into tomorrow, the weather looks like it will start to break down. we've got the risk of heavy rain, thunder and lightning, mainly across england and wales. still difficult to pin the details down because those storms are yet to develop. we've had some threatening cloud here in the far southeast of england with showers close by. these are the temperatures we have this afternoon. not really changing much for the northern half of the uk, it's much hotter further south, but because we've got an easterly breeze this time, the highest temperatures will get pushed that little further towards the west. even some showers into wales and northern ireland but things get going overnight. the wetter weather develops overnight in northern ireland and pushes across to scotland with thundery downpours across parts of england and wales. more cloud around tonight,
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for scotland, warmer than last night, 5 degrees in glasgow. further south, no lower than 17 in the southeast of england. this wet weather through the midlands and northern england, heavy rain, possibly thundery, moving away with sunshine coming through, triggering more thundery showers across england and east wales. more sunshine across scotland and northern ireland in the afternoon with temperatures a shade higher than today but not quite so high further south. very warm or hot in places depending on those heavy showers. we end the week with low pressure approaching from the atlantic, so quite a turnaround in the weather. still heavy or thundery showers across eastern parts of england which will move away and as the breeze picks up in the west, outbreaks of rain moving in here. that will keep the temperatures a bit lower, only 20 degrees, though still very warm across eastern england, up to 28 celsius here.
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as that weather front pushes east from saturday, we will have cooler and fresher air following, a west or southwesterly wind and low pressure bringing rain into the northwest of the uk on sunday. in the southeast, rain to begin on saturday and the rest of the weekend dry, temperatures are lower and nearer normal for the time of year.
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hello and welcome to sportsday on day five of the paris 0lympics — i'mjane dougall. alex yee keeps the faith — a sprint finish at the very end gets britain gold in the men's triathlon.

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