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tv   BBC News  BBC News  October 25, 2017 2:00am-2:31am BST

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welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. i'm duncan golestani. our top stories: turning on trump. two republican party senators launch scathing attacks on their own president. just a couple of hours until china unveils its new top leadership. will we see a possible successor to president xi? after a year of official mourning, thailand makes final preparations for the king's farewell. and he made the ordinary extraordinary. for the first time, more than 50 of cezanne's portraits are gathered together for a landmark exhibition. hello, and welcome to the programme.
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two senators from donald trump's own party have launched scathing attacks on the president, describing his administration as "reckless, outrageous, and undignified." that was from senatorjeff flake of arizona, who announced he would not seek re—election and would not remain silent or complicit. earlier, another senator, bob corker, described president trump as an utterly untruthful president. and said he had also decided not to seek re—election next year. andrew plant reports. arriving at a lunch with senior republicans, tax issues on the menu, but criticism from inside his party already being served. mr president, any comment on... arizona senator jeff flake, announcing he will not seek re—election, accusing the president of a flagrant disregard for truth and decency. reckless and
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undignified behaviour has been misdiagnosed as telling it like it is when it is just reckless, outrageous, and undignified. and when such behaviour emanates from the top of our government, it is something else, it is dangerous to democracy. president trump has previously described senatorjeff fla ke previously described senatorjeff flake as toxic. there was no surprise. i have not spoken with him directly since the announcement by senatorjeff flake, directly since the announcement by senator jeff flake, but directly since the announcement by senatorjeff flake, but i think that based on previous statements and certainly based on the lack of support he has from the people of arizona, it is probably obvious. senatorjeff flake's arizona, it is probably obvious. senator jeff fla ke's criticism arizona, it is probably obvious. senatorjeff flake's criticism of president trump's administration the second attack on a single day from a senior republican, one also standing down, senator bob corker saying the
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president is incapable of telling the truth. i think that will be the contribution that hurts our nation most supreme you think the president is bringing down the role? no question. he goes to such a low level. i do. donald question. he goes to such a low level. ido. donald trump question. he goes to such a low level. i do. donald trump responded with some scathing tweets, saying this. and then he added this. republican critics of the president only seem to find their voice when the end of their political careers is already in sight, but this may prove to be more thanjust in sight, but this may prove to be more than just the latest white house infighting. it could hurt
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republican chances of re—election in arizona and tennessee. they will be vacated by the current republicans next year. ben is a correspondent for go magazine who covered the rise of president trump as a campaign reporter at politico. hello. let's look at the comments, reckless, outrageous, and undignified. can you ever remember a senator describing his own president in such terms? well, you have seen drips and drops of that sort of message for republican senators since donald trump launched his campaign in 2015. to have two of them do it on the same day is rather striking. and in any other era, it would probably be explosive. in this era, we may not remember this by the end of the week. andrew plant made a point in his report, that is, these
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two senators are now outgoing senators, so they can speak their mind. to what extent do you think that sentiment is shared in the wider republican party congress? let's put the house aside. they are absolutely expressing that opinion. it is what they whisper among themselves and to democratic colleagues. most of them think donald trump is reckless and dangerous and that he does not know what he is doing. but, again, most of them have their political futures to think about, so they are not seen it on television. exactly. and i suppose they need him as much as he needs them for legislative achievements, of which there have not been many since january. that is right. it is a shotgun marriage still between donald trump and republicans, because they both need
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something to show for themselves. hill republicans have midterms coming up. if they have not got anything to show, they are up for some pain in the polls. is donald trump once election again or to avoid being impeached by a democratic congress, he needs to find a way to get achievements through this congress. find a way to get achievements through this congresslj find a way to get achievements through this congress. i suppose one achievement they are hoping for is tax reforms and tax cuts. how is that letting now? well, the outlook has been grim from the beginning. privately, republicans have never been optimistic about this. there is some possibility or at least a buzz about modest tax reform as opposed toa about modest tax reform as opposed to a major overhaul. but we will have to wait and see. there is a good chance they get nothing done
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this year and next year. thank you for your insight, ben. chinese president xi's name has been enshrined in his party's constitution, strengthening his power, and giving him equal status to the founder of the modern state, chairman mao. it came at the end of the week—long communist party congress in beijing. 0ur china editor, carrie grace, sent this report. translation: those in favour, raise your hands. and those against. none. unanimous. more than 2,000 communists and not a single vote against. so he's in the party bible. xijinping thought on socialism with chinese characteristics for a new era. it's a third chapter
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for communist china. mao united the country. his successor made it rich. xi intends to make it strong. it's all a long way from the caves where he spent his teenage years as a farmer. xijinping had been born into the communist elite, but sent to the countryside when mao purged his father. that was then, this is now. china on the up and xi promising quality of life at home and superpower status abroad. translation: we want our lives to get better and we want a strong country. translation: xi jinping is very tough. compared to other leaders, he's great. xi believes in control. the party's control of the public.
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his own control of the party. and a campaign of fear to silence rivals. xijinping has acquired more authority and more power and the chinese communist party has taken a step away from collective leadership and towards a one—man rule by a very charismatic and powerful leader. for centuries, china's emperors ruled from behind the walls of the forbidden city. by enshrining his vision, xi hopes to make himself invulnerable. the chinese once called chairman mao "the great helmsman" and foreigners called him "the red emperor", one man who dictated the destinies of more than a billion people. now, china has a new red emperor in xijinping, and his party comrades are already calling him the helmsman and the saviour of socialism. mao's one—man rule brought only china misery, but this time is different.
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if xi fails, we're all the poorer, and if he succeeds, his drive for control will reach us all. carrie gracie, bbc news, beijing. in the next few hours, the party will announce the leadership team which will work with president xi. as well as being unknown names to the outside world, many are unknown inside china as well. 0ur correspondent, robin brant, is in beijing. it is hugely important. firstly, we get this very visual moment where these seven men walk out from behind a hoarding and are revealed to the 1.1 billion people of china and the world. we get them in seniority. xi jinping, then the premier, li keqiang, who stays in the post. and then the five league faces. not household names in china and outside
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of it. this is the most senior decision—making body in the country. will they all be allies of xi jinping? it looks increasingly likely. 0r jinping? it looks increasingly likely. or will they reflect some of the factionalfighting, likely. or will they reflect some of the factional fighting, some of the competing allegiances, which goes on within the communist party of china? we know some things, the man who led the anticorru ption fight we know some things, the man who led the anticorruption fight in the country, he will not be in the standing committee. he goes. and cheng ming ur, he is now a possibility for the heir apparent. will he feature? we just don't know. a year of official mourning in thailand will culminate in a spectacular cremation ceremony on thursday for the late king bhumibol who died last year at the age of 88. he reigned for more than 70 years, and presided over the transformation of his country from a poor, rural economy to a fast—growing manufacturing and tourism powerhouse. 0ur south—east asia correspondent, jonathan head,
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is at the grand palace in bangkok. like a gilded marathas, the spectacular complex of pavilions has risen from the ground this year. and bangkok's historic royal court is where it happened. no expense has been spent in preparing this elaborate send off or raking who ran for seven decades and personified the modern development of his country. —— for a king. this'll be a final farewell to a king who they felt a powerful and personal affection. but these lavish preparations are much more than that. they tap into a deep well of tradition and ritual which has been used for centuries to legitimise the monarchy as the highest and most essential institution holding this country together. the royalfuneral isa country together. the royalfuneral is a blend of hindu, buddhist, and
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other influences. king bhumibol adulyadej was seen as an incarnation ofa hindu adulyadej was seen as an incarnation of a hindu god who now returns to heaven. hundreds of thailand's finest traditional artists have contributed to the cremation. each detail carries symbolic importance. the royal urn will be transported to the cremation site on this 1a ton 200—year—old chariot. the late king's finaljourney, a low and immaculately choreographed progression for a man who restored the status of thailand historically enjoyed by monarchs. stay with us on bbc news. still to come. he painted the ordinary in way that was extraordinary. 50 of cezanne's portraits are brought together for the very first time. an historic moment that many of his
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victims have waited for four decades. the former dictator in the dock, older, slimmer and as he sat down obedient enough. dawn and as the sun breaks through the piercing chill of night on the plane, it lights upa chill of night on the plane, it lights up a biblicalfamine, now in the 20th century. the depressing conclusion in argentina today, it is actually cheaper to paper your walls with money. we had controversies in the past with great britain, but as good friends we have always found a good friends we have always found a good and lasting solution. the concord bowers out in style after almost three decades in service. an aircraft that has enthralled so many for so long taxis home for the last
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time. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: the republican party senator jeff flake has announced he won't seek re—election because of what he called the reckless and undignified behaviour of president trump's white house. in about two hours' time, the communist party of china will unveil its new leadership and we might get some clues about a possible successor to president xi. pakistan's foreign minister has told the bbc there's a huge trust deficit between his country and the united states over afghanistan. khawaja asif was speaking after a meeting in islamabad with the us secretary of state, rex tillerson. relations between washington and islamabad have been strained, with the us accusing islamabad of harbouring militant groups operating in afghanistan. but speaking exclusively to our pakistan correspondent
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secunder kermani, mr asif said there were no safe havens in his country. they do not need our territory any more. because almost 40% of the territory is now under the direct control of the taliban. this has been admitted internationally. there is basically one key factor missing in our relationship and that is the trust. we have a huge trust deficit and that's with both parties to bridge the deficit. we do not have safe havens. the us doesn't buy that, does it? that's right, there isa that, does it? that's right, there is a trust deficit. they are not buying a narrative and we are not buying a narrative and we are not buying bears. but we are talking. they must do some self accountability also. why have they
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lost 40% of territory, afghan territory, in the last 10— 12 years? why has the narco trade on up why 3700%? they say why has the narco trade on up why 370096? they say the reason the war is going badly for the afghan government is because the militants have come back. it is the ineptitude of the forces which are present over their to bring some sort of normal situation to afghanistan that has resulted in what has happened today. so is pakistan being blamed for the ineptitude of the us absolutely. so is pakistan being blamed for the ineptitude of the us absolutelym you want me to repeat it i will. daily. failure is much bigger than what they are admitting to us. you talk about a trust deficit. how
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concerned are you about the possibility of economic sanctions being levelled against pakistan? we do not get any economic assistance from the us. it is a trickle, nothing more than that. we do not get any military hardware from them, not at all. having said that, there isa not at all. having said that, there is a willingness on both sides to bridge this deficit, reached this 93p- let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. russia has vetoed a united nations security council resolution renewing an investigation into the use of chemical weapons in syria. it's the ninth time russia has used its veto to protect its ally. last month, un investigators said a forensic examination showed beyond doubt that the syrian air force carried out a sarin nerve agent gas attack in april. the saudi crown prince has said he's working towards the return of what he calls moderate islam to the country. speaking in riyadh, mohammed bin salman said officials
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would eliminate the remnants of extremism in the near future. analysts say prince mohammed is behind several recent economic and social reforms. the eu's chief brexit negotiators is a trade deal with the eu could take three years to complete if talks begin in december. michel barnier added however that the discussions wouldn't be without risks, because all of the eu's national parliaments must approve any agreement. damian grammaticas reports from brussels. from the eu today, a blunt message. donald tusk is no fan of brexit. how it plays out, he says, is down to the uk, but eu countries must remain united. it is in fact up to london how this will end — with a good deal, no deal or no brexit. but in each of these scenarios, we will protect our common interests only by being together.
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mr tusk was responding to the prime minister yesterday in the commons, where she suggested it is up to the eu to move things forward. it is now for them to consider what they want to see from the future of that relationship so that the next stage of those negotiations can indeed begin. and reinforcing the eu's message is the chief negotiator, who said the uk can't expect a trade deal any time soon. michel barnier told european newspapers the transition deal would help because it would give more time to organise future relations, adding trade talks will last several years. this is how the eu sees the timeline. now, exit issues have to be settled, money, citizens‘ rights, were stuck at this stage. possibly in december things could move to the outlines of a future relationship and a transition to get there. that has to be done by march, 2019, brexit day. only after that can a future trading relationship be
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settled, possibly by 2020. roderick abbott, a former uk and eu trade negotiator, says it could be into the next decade before a deal is done. i think well into the 20s. before you've really implemented everything and probably into the 20s until you've got a deal tied up. the trade deal. so this could take some years? mmm. and at each stage, if the uk doesn't satisfy the eu's conditions, talks will remain stuck in the slow lane, as they are now. damian grammaticas, bbc news, brussels. the french master paul cezanne is famous for his post impressionist art and now a major exhibition of his work goes on show in london. more than 50 cezanne paintings from collections around the world will be displayed together for the first time. 0ur arts editor will gompertz has more. a portrait of an artist as a young man. paul cezanne's early selfie, painted in his 20s,
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when he was still learning to look like no other artist. he would paint himself throughout his career, making breakthroughs in technique and tone each time, until this final self—portrait, when the artist picasso called "the father of us all" revealed a lifetime's knowledge and skill in a single image. cezanne's portraits were radical when he painted them in the second half of the 19th century and they still feel radical today. not for him idealised versions of the rich and famous and the great and the good. he just wanted to paint ordinary people in really ordinary settings and thereby create something extraordinary. even though he doesn't seek to represent expressed emotion, obviously his interest in character, and i think he really wanted that sense of the peoplenesses of people regardless of social status, regardless of anything. i mean, when you look back in the history of portraiture, who has done that before, and you end up with rembrandt. are there pictures in
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this exhibition, john, where we see cezanne the artist take leaps forward? the first big thing is very early, in the mid 1860s, where he makes paintings entirely with a palette knife. portraits had never been painted in that way before. the next big step is in the middle of the ‘70s where, after having worked with the impressionists, colour blooms in his pictures. then by the ‘80s, volume is very present with regular hatch brush strokes. and then in the ‘90s, all these different currents really start to come together. cezanne was famously grumpy. sitters could be reprimanded for the slightest fidget. "does an apple move?" he'd snap, even though it might have been the 150th session they'd attended for a single portrait. it is fair to say, cezanne was something else. will gompertz, bbc news.
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stay with us on bbc news. tuesday saw quite a range of temperatures across the uk, even though there was a lot of cloud in the south—east and east anglia. 20 degrees here. much higher than we normally get. 12 degrees through the central belt of scotland is about normal. in between, we had this weather front. south of the weather front we have the milder air. for a while this weather front was active, bringing heavy bursts across northern england and scotland. heading southwards that weather front is weakening considerably and there's not much rain left by the time we get to morning. damp and drizzly across southern england. maybe low cloud and missed and perhaps the odd patch of your fault.
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further north cloud is more broken into the slightly fresher air across wales, midlands and northern england. much drier by this stage. a few showers further north in scotland, chiefly across the north—west scotland. maybe a few heavy ones. the heaviest of the showers pushed up towards the northern isles. the winds gradually ease across scotland. for many places it will be a dry day. more sunshine across england and wales. the cloud sticking generally south of the m4 and through the english channel. still 90 degrees in london. 13- 11: channel. still 90 degrees in london. 13— 1a through the central belt —— 19. this weather front having moved southwards is going to start to move northwards on wednesday evening at wednesday night. it looks like it is moving northwards at this stage and it will drag word cloud and mist and fog further north in the england and wales and bring with it some pockets of rain and drizzle. clear a further north across northern ireland and a good part of scotland. chillier here overnight. miles across england and
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wales. a lot of cloud. the fog that does fall will take awhile to shift. damp weather in much of northern england. some sunshine developing in northern ireland and scotland as we lose the showers. at the far north of england. 13 or so in the sunshine. 17 in the south—east. the cloud should turn to clear away by the time we get to friday because that weather front is moving back south again and it's going to introduce a brighter day pretty much across the board. not quite as miles across the board. not quite as miles across some parts of the uk, but cold air is still to come this weekend. i pressured to the west and south—west and we draw winds around that saturday. probably a few drizzly showers. cold air is certainly in the second half of the weekend. given the strength of the wind it will feel colder, what we may end the weekend with a touch of frost, as sky is clear. this is bbc news. the headlines: two republican party senators have
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made fiery criticisms of president trump. 0ne, jeff flake, announced he won't run for re—election next year blaming reckless, outrageous and undignified behaviour from the white house. senator bob corker described mr trump as an utterly untruthful president. the closely—held secret of china's new leadership line—up is due to be revealed in the coming hours. five of the seven members of the politburo standing committee are expected to retire. analysts will be looking out for possible successors to the current communist party leader, xijinping. final preparations are being made in bangkok for the funeral of the thai king, who died a year ago. the five—day ceremony, which begins on wednesday, is expected to cost around $90 million. the new king will lead the rituals, and around a quarter of million people are expected to take part. now on bbc news, it's time to look back at tuesday in parliament.
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