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tv   The Context  BBC News  August 15, 2024 8:30pm-9:01pm BST

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united's new signings, matthijs de ligt and noussair mazrouai, will be in the squad. manager erik ten hag is concerned his team aren't ready. the new players haven't had time to settle — and he says he has injury concerns across several key positions. issues are there. but the players that are not available... last season, i sent it is about the players who are available, and we have a good group, we can make a strong selection and we can put out a strong team, so we will do. tottenham have suspended yves bissouma for their premier league game at leicester city on monday, after footage showed the midfielder inhaling laughing gas. spurs have made the move despite the 27—year—old apologising for a "severe lack ofjudgment", having posted a video of himself on social media on saturday which showed him inhaling from a balloon. he has responsibilities. he has responsibility to his club, he has responsibility to his team—mates, he has responsibility to our supporters, everyone associated with the club.
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he's failed in those duties, so there's got to be sanctions for that. he won't be available for monday. we've suspended him from monday's game. but beyond that, there's also some trust building that needs to happen between biss and me and biss and the crew. and, yeah, that's what he needs to work hard at from now on to try and win that back. plenty of transfer activity to bring you as the season's big kick—off approaches. leeds forward georginio rutter appears to be on his way to brighton, after the seagulls triggered a £40 million release clause. united boss daniel farke says the player said goodbye to his team—mates at their training ground this morning, though nothing has been confirmed as yet. elsewhere, bournemouth have agreed a club record £402 million deal to sign brazil striker evanilson from porto. evanilson was called into the brazil squad for this summer's copa america and has won his first two caps this year. he'll replace dominic solanke,
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who moved to tottenham last week in a deal worth up to £65 million. and manchester city midfielder kalvin phillips is set to join newly—promoted ipswich town on loan for the season. there has been no sale option added to the deal, but phillips has failed to break into the city team since his £45 million move from leeds two years ago. the 28—year—old was left on the bench for saturday's community shield win over manchester united and spent the second half of last season on loan at west ham. following the news that ac milan have introduced ground—breaking maternity policies for all female players and staff — including offering a contract renewal to their pregnant players — team captain and scotland international christy grimshaw hopes it can spark more change in the women's game. the choice of being a mother or being a player is one that i think, definitely in the past, women have had to take, you know. so to obviously be granted this opportunity, where...
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and i know obviously there's a lot of other opportunities now that fifa have obviously introduced other policies before as well, a couple of years ago, but this one really feels extra special. the australian olympian raygun has said she has been left heartbroken by the "pretty devastating" hate she received following her performance in the breaking at the paris olympics. the 36—year—old — whose real name is rachael gunn — has spoken out for the first time since her routine went viral on the internet. gunn said she wasn't expecting some of the negative reaction. i just want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me. i really appreciate the positivity and i'm glad i was able to bring somejoy into your lives. that's what i'd hoped. i didn't realise that that would also open the door to so much hate, which is frankly pretty devastating.
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but i went out there and i had fun. i did take it very seriously. there we go, that is all the sport from us for now. we will have more later on. we'll see you then. see you then, gavin, thank you very much indeed. on ukraine now. the bbc has been told that british challenger 2 tanks are being used in ukraine's surprise incursion into russia. ukraine is expanding its military operation in the russian region of kursk and even setting up an administrative office there. a senior commander claims ukrainian troops have advanced a further one and a half kilometres in the past 2a hours. he says they now control 1,150 square kilometres of russian territory and have seized 82 settlements. but russia insists its forces are pushing ukraine back. we'll be getting reaction from the us and from ukraine very shortly — but first, let's look at the involvement of those british tanks.
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we can speak now to sean bell, who is a retired vice marshall and miitary analyst. thanks very much for being with us. i think the uk gave ukraine 14 challenger tanks back injanuary of last year, we don't know how many are being used in this incursion, but what would they be used for by the ukrainians? how useful will they be in this operation? goad the ukrainians? how usefulwill they be in this operation?— be in this operation? good evening. it was 14, be in this operation? good evening. it was 14. one _ be in this operation? good evening. it was 14, one of _ be in this operation? good evening. it was 14, one of which _ be in this operation? good evening. it was 14, one of which was - it was 14, one of which was destroyed but if you remember the spring offence of ukraine was launching last year, but of course they were going against established russian defences, and they came short. this time, given the fact the first region, it looks likely ukraine has not encountered very soon if resistance at all, and incredibly well led and well informed from intelligence perspective, they have hit it week point. as a result these challenger tanks are in their element. it sounds like the
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ukrainians have attacked conscripts which were loosely arranged to defend the border and when they are matched against battle hearted to troops and some of the world of the either run away or surrender, and there's been lots of accounts of ukraine taking many russian soldiers as captives and almost certainly that's partly as a result of having these state—of—the—art, very modern western battle tanks in their inventory. western battle tanks in their inventory-— western battle tanks in their invento . , . �* , ., inventory. these are british tanks inside russian _ inventory. these are british tanks inside russian territory. - inventory. these are british tanks inside russian territory. it - inventory. these are british tanks inside russian territory. it is - inside russian territory. it is obviously diplomatically put, politically difficult in some ways for britain. especially because, for example, the storm shadow missiles britain has also supplied, it will be used against long—range targets inside russia, so there seems to be a bit of a covered dish in there. i am not sure there is. you have been following this like i have the last two years. == following this like i have the last two ears. ., . ., two years. -- contradiction there. they eventually _ two years. -- contradiction there. they eventually gave _ two years. -- contradiction there. they eventually gave anti-tank i they eventually gave anti—tank defence weapons to ukraine. in
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january, we gave challenger 2 tanks, that opened the door for leopard and others to contribute. there was then the conversation about long—range weapons, eventually storm shadow was given, and of course f—16s have arrived as well. president putin and russia have been sabre rattling every step of the way, but his blood keeps getting called, and the brits have been clear that apart from storm shadow of the british donated weapons can be used wherever ukraine wants to use them as long as they are being used against military targets, and i think in terms of the military initiative, this has been a spectacular from military initiative, this has been a spectacularfrom ukraine. interesting to see what happens next, but they certainly seize the initiative. they have shown aggression is not in control of the whole battlefront and just imagine the effect on ukrainian morale of being him take this attack on to russian soil, after two and a half years of russia doing the same to
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ukraine. . , ., ., ., ,., .,, ukraine. certainly a morale booster, but militarily. _ ukraine. certainly a morale booster, but militarily, the _ ukraine. certainly a morale booster, but militarily, the question - ukraine. certainly a morale booster, but militarily, the question is, - ukraine. certainly a morale booster, but militarily, the question is, how l but militarily, the question is, how much further do they go? do they stick with what they have got now, the ukrainians of all the land and territory they have seized, or do they keep pushing and that brings more risks? the they keep pushing and that brings more risks?— more risks? the answer that question. — more risks? the answer that question, what _ more risks? the answer that question, what was - more risks? the answer that question, what was the - more risks? the answer that i question, what was the original objective? there were reports they were only using a thousand soldiers, 20 tanks, and it sounds like they had outstanding success, and so they build on that by pushing more litter equipment in. the danger if you go too far, you become vulnerable, and there is no doubt that president putin is embarrassed by this. it was humiliating. he is almost certainly going to have a ruthless response to this. ukraine need to be ready for that. eitherthey this. ukraine need to be ready for that. either they fight and hold the ground which could be very difficult and dangerous or they do and elegant withdrawal, but even if they withdraw, they proofread point —— prove the point, where could they
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strike next? it could alleviate the pressure on the front line which ukraine has so desperately needed to do. ., . ~' . ukraine has so desperately needed to do. ., ., ~ ., ., , , ., do. you talk about the other bits of the front line _ do. you talk about the other bits of the front line where _ do. you talk about the other bits of the front line where they _ do. you talk about the other bits of the front line where they are - do. you talk about the other bits of the front line where they are under| the front line where they are under real pressure of the ukrainians. you could argue that these troops would have been better off defending the areas where russia is making advances to the east? you areas where russia is making advances to the east? you could do and i think— advances to the east? you could do and i think certainly _ advances to the east? you could do and i think certainly when _ advances to the east? you could do and i think certainly when this - and i think certainly when this attack came into the critics turned around and said, this is a waste of resources. i have to say, i disagree, and i think a lot of people disagree. warfare is all about initiative and will president putin controls the narrative in russia, he is seen as mr security, it is very difficult once ukraine invades for president putin to hide the fact that people have been evacuated. these stories will get around russia, as well as the mass casualties, and it forces president putin to move his troops away from that in battlefront line on the donbas up to restore russian
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integrity. so with the days ticking away towards the autumn and winter, i suspect this is doing exactly what ukraine wanted, alleviating pressure and also demonstrating to the west that they are not just on and also demonstrating to the west that they are notjust on the back foot, also on the front foot in parts of conflict.— foot, also on the front foot in parts of conflict. great to talk to ou, as parts of conflict. great to talk to you. as ever- — parts of conflict. great to talk to you, as ever. sean _ parts of conflict. great to talk to you, as ever. sean bell, - parts of conflict. great to talk to you, as ever. sean bell, thank. parts of conflict. great to talk to i you, as ever. sean bell, thank you so much, thank you. joining me now is kurt volker, who is the former us ambassador to nato and former united states special envoy to ukraine. and we talked to you the other day, and since then, the ukrainians have pushed even further into russia, made more advances, and it's been confirmed they are using this west military equipment, like these british challenger tanks. what do you think happens next? do you think ukrainian stick or twist what shall i think they dig in. i think they are trying to advance, to see how far they can go are trying to advance, to see how far they ca— are trying to advance, to see how far the ca ., , ., , ., far they can go before they need to lant their far they can go before they need to plant their feet, _ far they can go before they need to plant their feet, but _ far they can go before they need to plant their feet, but i think - plant their feet, but i think they're going to dig in and hold
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this territory for some time. both stretching out russian forces, as we just heard, and also changing the dynamics of any future negotiations that might take place. up until now that might take place. up until now that dynamic was all about, what will ukraine give up? in order to get peace. now, it is more of a neutral exchange of territory and building a morejust peace, so i think that is a good dynamic to have set up. finally, i think this is an important encouragement to the west that the aide, both military and financial, that we have provided to ukraine has not been squandered, it's been put to good use, and it demonstrates the capability ukraine is using to ensure its success, is survival. so that i think will also encourage western governments to keep up their support. you encourage western governments to keep up their support.— keep up their support. you don't think those _ keep up their support. you don't think those western _ keep up their support. you don't. think those western governments might be a little bit queasy at the fact that there tanks of their armoured vehicles, like the challengers of the arnau on russian soil —— are on russian soil? i
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suspect you are right, i suspect they are a bit queasy, but they should not be. this is something vladimir putin himself brought on. they did not need to be this work, they did not need to be this full—scale invasion of ukraine. now it's gone on for over two years, russian forces and all matter of territory come inside ukraine, and continuing to bomb ukrainian civilians and cities and civilian infrastructure on most every night. so this should not be a surprise to vladimir putin and it is fully the result of his own actions and ukraine does not intend to hold this territory forever, it is only to get a more just settlement in the end it. but it is dangerous, isn't it? there's always the law of unintended consequences. you don't know quite what might happen next and it's an escalation. in terms of western military involvement in this whole conflict, to have western military hardware, as i say, on russian soil.
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i would argue that it was dangerous before, so this does not really change things very much, and will also argue it would have been more dangerous for ukraine to lose, and then putting able to —— poutine being able rebuild and try somewhere else. it was already a bad situation, i think this makes it better. ., , ., ., better. how is putin going to react to this? ultimately, _ better. how is putin going to react to this? ultimately, he _ better. how is putin going to react to this? ultimately, he has got - better. how is putin going to react to this? ultimately, he has got to | to this? ultimately, he has got to get more troops there? he has got to do his best, as he has promised to do, to get the ukrainians out of russian territory? this do, to get the ukrainians out of russian territory?— do, to get the ukrainians out of russian territory? this is one of the things _ russian territory? this is one of the things the — russian territory? this is one of the things the ukrainian - russian territory? this is one of i the things the ukrainian offensive has done. it has exposed russian forces as not really able to escalate. they don't have the manpower, trained and capable, they don't have all the equipment, the dealing with a lot of stuff out of storage is very old, they don't have all the ammunition, they are very
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poor command and control, it has been well over a week and this are i've been able to mount a response to this, so i think this is showing all the stress we have heard from putin about escalation are really empty threats, because they don't have the capability. titers; empty threats, because they don't have the capability.— have the capability. very good to talk to you. _ have the capability. very good to talk to you. as — have the capability. very good to talk to you, as ever, _ have the capability. very good to talk to you, as ever, kurt - have the capability. very good to | talk to you, as ever, kurt volker. many thanks once again to you for your time and many thanks once again to you for yourtime and we many thanks once again to you for your time and we will begin some reaction from kyiv itself very shortly post first, though, a quick break. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.
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more now on ukraine's surprise incursion inside russian territory. we have looked at the uk position on the use of tanks and had reaction from the us. now let's head to kyiv. inna sovsun is a ukrainian mp and joins me now from the ukrainian capital.
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what is the reaction there in ukraine to this surprise attack by ukrainian forces, because some people have questioned the military wisdom of it, but is it a morale booster, would you say, for the ukrainian people? it booster, would you say, for the ukrainian people?— booster, would you say, for the ukrainian people? it was definitely a morale booster, _ ukrainian people? it was definitely a morale booster, after— ukrainian people? it was definitely a morale booster, after a - ukrainian people? it was definitely a morale booster, after a year, - ukrainian people? it was definitely. a morale booster, after a year, year and a half of the ukrainian army constantly being on defence, after the unsuccessful counteroffensive a year ago, seeing ukrainian army actually gaining ground, actually winning against the russians, is of course a morale boost, but i would say this is not the main reason why that decision has been taken. there is military logic in that. the military logic is you have to find vulnerabilities in the defence of your enemy and apparently that was the main vulnerability the russians had, they had protected the front line on the south and east of ukraine so much that it's basically
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impossible to proceed, especially without the air superiority, but the ukrainian generals did find the weaknesses and they did what any general would do, they would proceed with the action that can actually deliver some results.— with the action that can actually deliver some results. what happens next, do deliver some results. what happens next. do you — deliver some results. what happens next, do you think, _ deliver some results. what happens next, do you think, to _ deliver some results. what happens next, do you think, to those - next, do you think, to those ukrainian troops — and we gather they are pretty elite troops that are in there? do they consolidate, stick with what they have got or advance further, take more territory, which exposes them to a russian counterattack was yellow it is not for me to decide, but what we are seeinu is not for me to decide, but what we are seeing on _ is not for me to decide, but what we are seeing on the _ is not for me to decide, but what we are seeing on the news _ is not for me to decide, but what we are seeing on the news right - is not for me to decide, but what we are seeing on the news right now, . are seeing on the news right now, from the comments from the military, they are digging in but they are also proceeding further. there was not much reinforcement of the russian side, apparently they have moved their troops from the west of ukraine, which confirmed that they like even human resources, they have to protect the south of the front line in ukraine in their own
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territory. so it seems that right now, there is a chance for the ukrainian army to proceed further, but of course we will see how that goes on. but of course we will see how that noes on. ,, ., but of course we will see how that noes on. , .,, but of course we will see how that noes on. , ., goes on. some people might have said, wh goes on. some people might have said. why not _ goes on. some people might have said, why not use _ goes on. some people might have said, why not use those _ goes on. some people might have said, why not use those troops - goes on. some people might have said, why not use those troops to | said, why not use those troops to protect the areas in donbas aware ukraine has been under real pressure and russia has been making gradual advances? why not send them there, to bolster the defences there? i think what the military strategist are doing, they are calculating the risks and calculating how much success they can achieve with the resources they have. the russians have really dug in on the eastern and the south of ukraine. we tried to cross the front line, to move into the front line, last time, it was not possible just because the field over the is completely mind, and it was just impossible to proceed, we lost many people there, so they found a way we can actually get some success. i think this is
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just a compilation on their side, which did prove successful stub of course the situation in donbas is difficult, but i would not say it is more difficult today than it was two weeks ago. it's actually the same, but russians have real trouble in their own territory right now. that is the only difference. you their own territory right now. that is the only difference.— is the only difference. you talked about how _ is the only difference. you talked about how it's _ is the only difference. you talked about how it's a _ is the only difference. you talked about how it's a morale - is the only difference. you talked about how it's a morale booster i about how it's a morale booster and it must be really extraordinary for you and the ukrainian people to watch on your television screens, and we've been seeing some of the ukrainian tv coverage, inside that territory, of ukrainian troops tearing down the russian flag — you can see it there — and putting up the ukrainian flag and shouting, glory to ukraine. it must be very heartening after so much suffering in ukraine? it heartening after so much suffering in ukraine? ., , heartening after so much suffering in ukraine? . , . ., heartening after so much suffering in ukraine? ., . ., , in ukraine? it was nice to see. i would not _ in ukraine? it was nice to see. i would not say — in ukraine? it was nice to see. i would not say we _ in ukraine? it was nice to see. i would not say we are _ in ukraine? it was nice to see. i would not say we are overly - in ukraine? it was nice to see. i - would not say we are overly excited about that because, truth be told, we never ever wanted to get any territory from russia. that was their desire to take our territory.
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we never wanted and we don't want to have any piece of their land. but it's good to see that we found a strategy that actually attacks the russians where they are vulnerable, so this does show that there is some potential in reacting to the russian attacks and actually changing their positions, because it seems like they are on a very active attack on they are on a very active attack on the very active offence of insight you and the situation has changed completely. so we did manage to break their plans and i think that is most important right now. inna sovsun, ukrainian _ is most important right now. inna sovsun, ukrainian memberof sovsun, ukrainian member of parliament, thank you very much for your time, thank you.— let's look now at the reaction in russia and speak to amy knight, who is the former soviet and russian affairs specialist for the library of congress — the biggest library in the world. what do you think putin is going to do about this? i what do you think putin is going to do about this?— do about this? i think he has several choices. _ do about this? i think he has several choices. right - do about this? i think he has several choices. right now. do about this? i think he has| several choices. right now he obviously has not made up his mind.
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i think that one of the biggest problems right now for the kremlin is that they were caught so complete the off guard, and if you will remember, in 2022, when russia invaded ukraine, they were told it would be quite easy to take over all these cities and topple the government, and they found out, the russian military found out, that was not true. so i think the fact that, again, there has been the sort of failure on the part of russia's intelligence and military intelligence and military intelligence to even have an inkling that this was going to happen, i think probably inside the kremlin, i don't know whether heads are going to roll, but i'm sure there's some recriminations, because they should have known that this was about to happen and their border region should have been betterfortified. so there's probably some
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hand—wringing going on, and then as far as making the decision, as to what to do next, i think the main problem is that as we know, for russia to go in and try to reclaim the territory that ukraine has just taken in this border area, it's going to require, from what i have learned, about three times the number of troops that ukraine has their already. so in other words, it's not going to be easy for russia attacking these troops, to just come in and drive them out. they will need a lot of soldiers. and either they pull them from the front line and the donbas or they mobilise and start a mobilisation. you remember what happened in september 2022, when the kremlin did have a mobilisation. it was very unpopular.
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and one of the reasons that putin has been able to prolong this more and spend all this money and have a lot of russian soldiers die is that he sort of kept the russian people out of this, normal, ordinary people. it is a far—away thing, a special operation, not a war. the minute you talk about globalisation, that changes things, and the last thing the mr putin wants is more public awareness of what is going on —— talk about mobilisation. it’s -- talk about mobilisation. it's embarrassing _ —— talk about mobilisation. it's embarrassing for putin. is it also potentially dangerous for putin? that is difficult to say. i don't know, i don't think it's dangerous in the sense, i don't think we are going to see any time soon mass protests on the street like we did, say, for example, in 2012. i think
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evenif say, for example, in 2012. i think even if the kremlin decides they have to have a mobilisation, it would cause a lot of discontent, but i don't know that it would be dangerous for putin. what i think putin should be more concerned about is the discontent within his political and security elite, the people who are helping to govern the country, because i think this recent attack has caused a lot of questioning, and as i said, there's a lot of blaming going on, and if there's enough dissension, it could be difficult for mr putin in the south. —— mr putin himself. gm? south. -- mr putin himself. amy kniuht, south. -- mr putin himself. amy knight. the _ south. -- mr putin himself. amy knight, the former— south. -- mr putin himself. amy knight, the former soviet - south. —— mr putin himself. amy knight, the former soviet and russian affairs specialist for the library of congress and with her analysis of the implications and reverberations of what's going on in that patch of russian territory that has been attacked by ukrainian
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troops in the past few days. do stay with us. you are watching bbc news. hello there. although skies did brighten up across scotland, northern ireland later in the day, it was a pretty soggy one for most, with outbreaks of rain and a strong south—westerly breeze. tomorrow's looking better, more sunshine around, and it'll feel slightly cooler and fresher, certainly across northern areas. those weather fronts continuing to move southwards and eastwards, then, through the overnight period. some spots of rain on it, maybe the odd heavier burst, but generally it will be much weaker than what we had earlier in the day across northern and western areas. a few blustery showers across the north—west of the uk. clear skies for most mean a cooler, fresher night to come, but still quite warm and muggy in the far south—east. now, for tomorrow, then,
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we've got a ridge of high pressure building in behind this weather front, so plenty of sunshine around. a bit of a chilly start out there, the odd mist patch. it stays quite blustery through the day across scotland, northern ireland. one or two showers pushing in certainly western scotland, but dry elsewhere. and we'll see the clouds clear from the south—east. temperatures will reach around the mid 20s in the south. further north, high teens, maybe low 20s and lower humidity so it'll feel a bit more comfortable, certainly across southern areas. now, through friday night, we hold onto the breeze, further blustery showers across western scotland, northern ireland. it's going to be a chillier night to come for all areas, ranging from around 7—11 degrees. now, for the weekend, it's looking pretty good. we're in between weather systems both saturday and sunday, so a lot of dry weather around. maybe the odd shower for the north—west corner of the uk closer to this area of low pressure, but higher pressure, the azores high in the south, will keep much of england and wales dry with light winds. a lot of sunshine around. could see the fairweather cloud tending to bubble up into the afternoon. like i mentioned, more of a breeze.
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the odd shower for western scotland, but i think the vast majority will stay dry. and temperatures range from around high teens in the north, mid—20s in the south, pretty much where we should be for the time of year. sunday, we see this area of low pressure perhaps influence the weather a bit more across the north of the uk, so a greater chance of seeing showers or longer spells of rain in the north—west of scotland. the odd shower, i think, for northern ireland, western england, western wales. otherwise, again, the vast majority will stay dry with plenty of sunshine. temperatures range from 18—24 degrees. as we head into next week, it does start to turn more unsettled again, especially across northern and western areas. could see some pretty heavy rain at times. better chance of staying drier, warmer and sunnier across the south—east. take care.
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hello, i'm ben brown. you're watching the context on bbc news. translation: i could see my father under the rubble, but i couldn't - extract him at first because he was under two columns of cement and the ceiling would have collapsed. he decomposed in front of my eyes. both sides are victims of their own mistakes, of the mistakes of others. and the price that we are paying is very, very high. had this happened in- the united states of america, you would be talking - about 20 million people, proportionally, who have been killed l or injured in less than ten months. i
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we'll have the latest from the middle east and the next few minutes, including those talks that are now under way in doha. aimed at achieving a cease—fire in gaza. first, the latest headlines on bbc news. five people have been charged in connection with the death of the actor matthew perry, who was best known for his role in the sitcom,friends. the 54—year—old was found dead in a hot tub at his home in los angeles last october after taking the drug ketamine. sweden has confirmed the first case of the more serious strain of mpox outside africa. the world health organization has declared mpox, which used to be called monkey pox, a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the democratic republic of congo. ukraine says it will set up an administrative office in the russian region of kursk, where it's pressing ahead with its surprise military offensive.
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ukraine says its forces have advanced further

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