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tv   BBC News  BBC News  April 16, 2019 8:00pm-9:00pm BST

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tonight at eight o clock — i'm lyse doucet live in paris by the notre dame cathedral, which is damaged but still standing after surviving a massive fire. hundreds of millions of euros are pledged to help rebuild the famous gothic cathedral — an investigation is under way to find out what caused the blaze. there's relief that so much of the 850—year—old structure survived — the french president emmanuel macron vows to restore the historic building. translation: we are people of builders. we have so much to
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rebuild. yes, we will rebuild the cathedral of notre dame and make it even better than before. i'm geeta gurumurthy with the day's other main stories on bbc news. more than 120 climate change activists are arrested for blocking roads in central london — amid protests aimed at shutting down the capital. welcome to paris on a cold, grey evening with the sadness and shock of yesterday has given away to huge relief and resolve here in the french capital and far beyond. a little more than 2a hours after a
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magnificent gothic cathedral was engulfed by a huge fire forth of hundreds of millions of euros have been placed here and around the world to rebuild the structure to its former glory. the french president emmanuel macron tonight address the people of paris and far beyond and said that notre dame would not just be beyond and said that notre dame would notjust be rebuilt, but rebuilt even better than before. and all within five years. in a moment we will hear more of what the president had to say. but first, this report on the latest development from our paris correspondent lucy williamson. words were hard to find last night to describe this loss. to absorb this scene. what burned with notredame, high above the paris skyline, was 800 years of history. for some, the physical anchor of paris. the cultural soul of france.
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it took 23 minutes to confirm the fire alert and send emergency crews to the scene. the fire was spreading quickly. oak rafters that held the roof for centuries turning to ash in the evening sky. 400 firefighters circled the cathedral, their cranes just stretching to reach the roof. the risk that water would damage whatever the fire had left behind. along the banks of the seine and surrounding streets, people watched, barely speaking. their awe familiar to pilgrims through the centuries, not their grief. they watched the fire engulf the cathedral‘s central spire. its bell hanging clear and still in the slippery flames. and then this.
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from the street it looked as if the building had erupted. the falling debris setting the interior alight. to tackle the blaze inside the cathedral, fire crews had to climb up into notredame's main towers — nothing else could reach. this was the first glimpse of what they faced. footage of the building filmed from above, the flames mapping a cross against the night sky. inside, burning embers were still falling when the first crews made their way in. the pews where people had been waiting for mass that afternoon now covered with smouldering rubble. the empty space lit from above by a blaze of fire, where the roof had been. translation: we saved the crown of thorns and st louis‘ tunic, i think we were able to save some chalices. the fire didn't reach the treasury and inside they tried to save some paintings,
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but you know, it was impossible to save the big ones. france's president came like many to gaze in silence at a global icon fighting for its life. his first words were, he said, a message of hope to citizens across france. after four hours, firemen confirmed that the structure of the building had been saved. a test of faith for modern day paris. "notredame resisted the nazis", one resident said, "she is not going to leave us now." last night was all what about had been lost. this morning the focus was on what survived. the fire burned through most of the roof, but the stone structure and many of its treasures have been saved. including the crown of thorns some believe was worn byjesus on the cross, several important paintings, the cathedral‘s medieval organ and the famous rose windows. these photos were taken by one of the architects invited in to assess the building.
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so with the vaults on one side, the walls and the flying buttresses around, so normally it should be stable, but i know they are going to investigate to see if there is some risk or not for the building itself. people came again today as if for reassurance. counting the damage, weighing their relief. translation: it is such a shock. i am discovering it now. it is a symbolic building for us. it still is. it always will be. you don't understand, you don't get it, how can that, that kind of thing can happen right now? it is impossible to accept that, so you just... for the life of all the parisians and even in europe, and in the world, it's, it exists as a symbol and we need it. the cathedral organist, evacuated from the building last night, still hasn't been back.
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it's like a part of my life, which is destroyed. i think it will be hard to see, so i am a bit afraid about seeing it over the next few days probably. but, yeah, i'm totally devastated. investigators are working on the basis this was an accident. the fire is thought to have started on the roof. many have questioned whether restoration being carried out on the building might have played a role. that restoration is now a much bigger project, and donations have poured in overnight. hundreds of millions of pounds so far. this is where france kept not just its relics, but its stories. a place to mark both heroism and loss. those two things were felt here again last night, a new chapter in the tale of notredame. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris.
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this is the scene tonight. a vigil which began about an hour ago at the church not far from where we are broadcasting from. a visual of song, and prayer. and a tribute to this magnificent cathedral in the heart of the city that means so much to this city. a slow and solemn march towards the cathedral, a cathedral thatis towards the cathedral, a cathedral that is broken tonight, but still stands so beautifully on the banks of the river seine. as it has done for nearly nine centuries.
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before the vigil began, the president of france addressed the people of paris and far beyond. he said everyone had played their part, from the fire to bring to the security officials come to the citizens he said, everybody did what they could to save this magnificent building. we will turn to him he said, a catastrophe into our unity. let's hear some of what he had to say: translation: each and every person sacrificed, gave what he had. the firefighters have fought with heroism. the police and security forces where there as always, the parisians were reassured and the french were moved. the international community as well. photographers have shown the photos of this devastation and each
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and every body has given what they could. each according to his role. and what i want to say this evening is that we are people of builders. we have so much to rebuild. yes, we will rebuild the cathedral of notre dame and make it even better than before. it is so clear to all now that there isa it is so clear to all now that there is a special place in the hearts and the people of france for the cathedral and of paris. a symbol of tradition, culture and christianity, fergal keane reports on its importance to the people of paris. "to everything there is a season, a time to break down, a time to build up."
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the biblical text so resonant when that that has stood for centuries is broken by fire. in the lives of paris, this has been a day of solemn reflection. father philippe filmed the flames as the fire took hold. he was ordained in the cathedral and has worked there for decades. "notre dame is my mother, he told me. "i came into the spiritual life because of her. 31 years ago, i was ordained here. today, my mother has been burned. she cries, but she still stands." yet to see what's happened as only a french loss is to misunderstand the meaning of this city, the universality of its treasures. francesca is a german who lives in paris because as a teenager, she visited notre dame and was enchanted. today, she could feel hope and renewal. it reminds me, somehow, that the church is not stones, it's not only culture.
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for me, it's a living community, actually. it's the people who go to the church who are at the very core of our faith. so we are believing in hope being stronger than destruction and in life being stronger than death, and life that will, eventually, win. for generations, artists have sketched and painted on the banks of the seine. lauren was here this morning to sketch the old spire from memory. he's not a religious man but he is a proud parisien and through his art wants to give shape to what might rise once more. "i am sad, but we are going to fight back", he says. "we will find wood in the french forests and we will build again. i can see the stained glass is still there, it is magnificent. it will be all right." there is no doubting the loss, but neither of the determination to raise again the glory of notre dame. fergal keane, bbc news, paris.
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that special report and a special relationship and he stated they called the city of light and love which tells the world how much he loves this magnificent cathedral. —— how much it loves. somebody who has a very special relationship to that cathedral is the mayor of this district appears, the bulimic we are joined by every avail. welcome to bbc. -- joined by every avail. welcome to bbc. —— we arejoined by. so sad to see what has happened to your magnificent cathedral but hopeful like the rest of the world that it will be rebuilt again. it will be rebuilt again. it will not be the first time. the stable that collapse was actually built much later than this version of it was built much later than the rest of the building you mentioned from almost nearly nine centuries, but not for the
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stable, it built 200 years ago, we will have to build that again. when you first heard that there was a fire that erupted on the roof, what was your first reaction? we were not told about it. i saw it because the mayor of paris and myself have our offices in separate buildings but but most of our buildings are facing the cathedral. so we saw the smoke and went straight on. we couldn't watch it. immediately, we were trying not to really let in the despair and act and we took prompt decisions, they may decide immediately to open city hall. —— the mayor decided to force up and we moved the stuff out, although the treasuries and beautiful art pieces out of the cathedral while the firemen were fighting and fighting tough. they were fighting all night.
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400 men over there. meanwhile, we got everything out they could be saved and we saved it. the curator for the cathedral is saying today it isa for the cathedral is saying today it is a miracle that so many of the works of art and artifacts, even the basic structure has survived this huge inferno. yes. it is some sort of miracle if you want to face it that way. it is pretty sad that i had to happen, but it is a miracle within the catastrophe. many are now saying that actually, notre dame has been crying for rebutting for some time and that you couldn't raise enough of the funds to move this really has focus minds on its plate. i don't know. there are people that are right now take advantage of this time inc. get air time sink all sorts of things. many experts come all of a sudden something happens and you have millions of experts, but there are two experts and they
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will say it was undergoing a programme of renovation. —— two experts. i was up there a few days ago with the men in charge of that church, just as they took down the statues that have been there for over 150 years. it was beautiful work. they took them down, it was a whole process to get them down. so i don't know about those that teach lessons today, it is too easy after the fact. the next two days are crucial. we heard today from the junior minister of their of the interior, still some vulnerability points you want to secure and take out the remaining works of art. yes. there are a lot of people working in the church, so a lot of firemen and the church, so a lot of firemen and the structure has been assayed, but there are still dangerous and they are trying to strengthen the building. —— has been saved. they are taking out whatever might be
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damaged by out whatever the rescue work as or is about to collapse of my collapse. they are doing that and it will take up a few more days and probably years to rebuild. that is affecting the citizens also in the people that live nearby. thank you ona people that live nearby. thank you on a busy night and importing that for you. thank you, ariel weilfor joining us. the mere of this district of paris which includes this magnificent cathedral. the cathedral and out which is out of danger, it has survived this mass of inferno and yet there are still risk in the next few days as you have been hearing, they want to bring out the major artworks and the antiquities to put them in safekeeping and the louvre museum here. but there is a great relief here. but there is a great relief here tonight in paris and far beyond that this gothic cathedral, some nearly nine centuries of history,
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has been assayed. so much has been lost, but so much preserve. in a ballot to rebuild again. lyse doucet in paris. thank you. —— and a valve. looking further ahead. so how did the fire spread through the cathedral? we still don't know the cause but smoke emerged from the building — which was being renovated — just before six o'clock uk time. the fire appears to have started beneath the spire — quickly spreading north and south along the timber roof. the blaze then travelled along the eastern section — and the other way too, towards the towers. despite the damage, the stone structure of the building appears largely intact and many of its historical artefacts have been saved. paul adams reports. as the smoke clears, and the shock passes, what has been lost, and what saved? despite the apocalyptic fears, the bulk of notre dame's a 800—year—old stone structure seems intact. glimpses of the interior also
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give cause for hope. above the smouldering wreckage of the walls show little signs of damage. the pulpit, here on the right, unscathed. miraculously, most of the vaulting above the nave has not come down. but there are gaping holes. last night saw a race against time, many of the cathedral‘s treasures were salvaged as the fire took hold. they are in storage, and some will be transferred to the louvre. they include the holy crown of thorns said to be won byjesus at the crucifixion. a 13th century tunic worn by king louis ix, the only french king to be canonised, and a 14th century madonna and child. translation: with regard to the treasures, they will be put in a safe place, today or tomorrow, but as soon as possible. with regard to the paintings, the big ones, they cannot be retrieved, until friday morning. as far as i'm concerned, they are not damaged. there is a little bit of smoke,
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we will transfer them to a secure place in the louvre museum. but what of notre dame's three famed rose windows? this morning fire crews were taking a closer look, last night there was talk of lead melting and glass exploding. the west window shows no signs of damage, but these are immense and intricate structures, it will take time to assess them. the south rose window was given by louis ix around 1260, it contains scenes from the life of christ, wonderful 13th century artistry. these were among the finest rose windows, the finest painted glass, to survive from high medieval europe. questions too about the vast 8000 pipe grand organ, recently restored, dating back to the medieval period. notre dame has been at the centre of french life for the better part of 1000 years, now it must
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close its doors, count the cost, and begin the long process of restoration. paul adams, bbc news. we can talk now to reverend andrew tremlett, dean of durham — he's been overseeing major restoration works at durham cathedral. thank you forjoining us. what are your thoughts on seeing those images, 24 hours ago. it was absolutely shocking. particularly about this time last night, may be a little bit later when they showed the aerial photographs of the burning roof. in a cross —shaped, i have to say my heart absolutely sank andi have to say my heart absolutely sank and i felt terrible for them. knowing how awful a situation like that would be. tell us about the restoration that you have been doing. what are been the difficulties? over about seven yea rs, difficulties? over about seven years, we've had a few major projects, one to house treasures, we heard just now about the treasures being brought out of notre dame,
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durham cathedral has some from the seventh century relating to saint cuthbert, the original things that came with them, it had a big project to create a world—class museum treasury for that. and just recently, we are finishing the central tower above the cathedral, what you can see from the north coast of mainline railway that people see as they come across the viaduct. the tower has been charted and that is just coming down at the moment. so we are able to reopen the tower in a month or two time. how difficult has it been and how much have you been trying to be faithful to perhaps original designs and how much perhaps trying to bring something new? that is always a careful balance. open treasure, the museum project, has managed to balance that incredibly well. so we have won some awards, architectural awards to balance exactly what you
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are about, the modernity and other traditions. but and the tower project, reviews have shown roman process of using molten lead it, rather than a line marker to set the stone. we have gone right back to the very early days of construction to reuse, very old techniques. there has been a bit of an argument historically, i know some of the european and the french side have been more flamboyant where some people here wanted to keep more faithful and more restraint. do you think that will be a big point of discussion for notre dame? what would you like to see? discussion for notre dame? what would you like to see ?|j discussion for notre dame? what would you like to see? i cannot really imagine them radically altering the look and the feel of it. i'm sure they will want to use very modern techniques come up or tickly around compartmentalization of the roof spaces to stop any possibility of fire spreading. it will use much more modern materials
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iimagine. will use much more modern materials i imagine. but i suspect there will tried to keep the output shape very much the sense in keeping what is already there. do you think this will perhaps bring more attention to restoration projects like yours, not only in england but around the world ? only in england but around the world? i only in england but around the world ? i have only in england but around the world? i have seen hillary clinton tweeting in the last hour or so saying our thoughts and hearts are in paris but there is also problems with churches, some of the black churches in america, people in the moon for donating, please support them too. i think that is absolutely right. i was asked earlier today whether we should be looking for government support for these great churches, i think for many cathedrals, particularly the historic ones, they are able to draw and people who donate generously, and people who donate generously, and a way that saying county durham where we are serving many deprived communities actually you don't have that possibility. so i would rather see people supporting their local communities as well as donating to
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us communities as well as donating to us when they come to visit. but i think if all the money got sucked in toa think if all the money got sucked in to a few small projects, that would be to the detriment perhaps of these poor communities are less advantaged ones. six or 700 million already pledged for paris we are hearing. thank you, reverend forjoining us. labour have announced their plans to scrap the national primary school tests known as sats in england. the labour leaderjeremy corbyn said the move would end what he called the "regime of extreme pressure testing". children in england take the tests at the end of primary school. and there are curently tests before that — at the age of six or seven — although these are already due to be scrapped in 2023. the tests — in grammar, reading and maths — measure what pupils can do and their progress. from liverpool, our education editor bra nwen jeffreys reports.
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a useful check on your child's progress, or a source of stress and tears? for 20 years, tests have been part of primary school. labour brought them in and now wants to scrap them. sats and the regime of extreme pressure testing are giving young children nightmares and leaving them in floods of tears. so, he said, the current tests would go. the next labour government will scrap primary school sats for seven and ii—year—olds. cheering and applause. teachers here are pleased. they've long argued that tests put too much pressure into the school system. but labour says it wouldn't get rid of assessment completely. there still needs to be some way of measuring how children are doing through primary school. so, over the next few months, they're going to be consulting with school governors, teachers and parents. with schools on holiday, more time for play. i asked parents in liverpool
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about primary tests. it was very stressful. the kids in their class are emotional because the teachers were putting pressure on them and there's no real benefit. i think it's important that there is some standard testing in primary school. my son, who's 11, did his last year and he was really stressed over it. but ministers say tests drive up standards. if they abolish sats, parents will have no way of knowing how well their children's school is teaching reading, writing and maths, and these are the building blocks of a successful education for every child. a new test is due to be added in england. called baseline, it would be as children start school. similar tests in scotland have been deeply controversial, and are now under review. branwen jeffreys, bbc news, liverpool. and we'll find out how this story —
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and many others — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:40 this evening in the papers — our guests joining me tonight a re nicola bartlett, political correspondent from the mirror and political strategist jo tanner. the metropolitan police says more than 80 people have been arrested, on the second day of climate change protests, in central london. campaigners from the extinction rebellion group have continued to block roads including on waterloo bridge at oxford circus and marble arch. they say their demonstrations will continue in cities around the world, until their calls for urgent action to cut carbon emissions are heard. tom edwards reports. just after midday and on day two, the met moved in and tried to clear waterloo bridge. many refused to move and arrested.
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regrets? no, no, it needs to be done. why? because the planet's in crisis. the protesters are very organised. they called for more of those willing to be arrested to turn up via social media. they call them arrestables. it's all part of this campaign of civil disobedience. the met have issued a section 14 order on this protest. it means they can get the protesters to move on or arrest them. so far, there have been many arrests here on waterloo bridge. earlier, the bridge had been peaceful. here, they want the government to declare a climate emergency. we've got children, we have grandchildren. we are sick with worry about what they are inheriting. we have got to change, now. it's a really serious matter. we need to get the government to listen to us and start telling the truth and acting on climate change. if the only way to do that is to get arrested, then that has to be done.
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the protesters occupied oxford circus overnight and marble arch. and closed roads and bridges have left some who work in london fuming. i just think they need to do it at another time. just don't upset london traffic because we need to keep moving. a nightmare because of the traffic. the arrests continued right through the afternoon. there's a lot of people on waterloo bridge that will take some time to work through the number of people there. so we have a proportionate, professional policing operation, engaging with protesters, arresting those that fail to comply. we are working through that plan from last night all the way through tonight and this morning and the rest of the day and will continue to do that. extinction rebellion says it now plans to target the tube tomorrow. the mayor has asked them that think again. the protest could last until next week. now it's time for a look
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at the weather with chris fawkes. our weather will be turning much shinier and much warmer over the next few days. you might remember we started out the week like this with temperatures in the afternoon around eight celsius. but if we fast forward to what is in store this weekend, it will be really quite warm. temperatures into the high teens or low 20s and peaking of around 24 or 25 degrees. much warm weather is just around the corner. through the rest of the night, a bit of rain left over from our weather front bringing some wet weather through the uk during tuesday. that ring tends to become lighter and patch year. otherwise a lot of cloud around and some mist fog patch is forming over the hills, so for some of us it will be quite a great start to the wednesday and with the cloud and mistand to the wednesday and with the cloud and mist and fog slowly lifting and breaking we will see more in the way of sunshine heading to the afternoon. in that sense on itjust felt warm with temperatures reaching a high of 15 but 19 in london.
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hello this is bbc news. the headlines... hundreds of millions of euros are pledged to help rebuild the famous gothic cathedral — an investigation is underway to find out what caused the blaze. there's relief that so much of the 850 year old structure survived — the french president emmanuel macron vows to restore the historic building. we are people of builders. we had so much to rebuild. yes, we will rebuild the cathedral of notre dame and make it even better than before. labour wants to abolish tests in primary schools in england — saying children should prepare for life notjust exams. more than 120 climate change activists are arrested for blocking roads in central london — amid protests aimed at shutting down the capital.
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sport now, and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. good evening. et‘s start with the champions league — and manchester united are in action, at the nou camp — taking on the spanish league leaders barcelona. ey're 1—0 down from the first leg, in their quarter final so have to win tonight to have any chance of progressing. and they're 2—0 down. lionel messi with both goals — the first an absolute screamer in the 16th minute. the second united keeper david degea will want to forget. messi's now the leading scorer in this season's competition. catch the commentary over on 5live. and in the other match — it's 0—0 betweenjuventus and ajax. it's currently 1—1 after the first leg. 2-1 2—1 on aggregate. there's crucial match in the premier league this evening. almost at half time in the battle
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to avoid the drop, between brighton and cardiff at the amex. nathaniel mendez—lang scored a cracker from the edge of the area, to give cardiff the lead there. cardiff have lost 6 of the last 7 in the premier league. and could go to within 2 points of 17th placed brighton with a win. the fa has provided the written reasons for clearing crystal palace goalkeeper wayne hennessey — of giving a nazi salute earlier this month. they say the panel that heard his case believed hennessey‘s claim — that he did not know what a nazi salute was, and have advised him to brush up on his history. this part of the statement released today. "when cross—examined about this mr hennessey displayed a very considerable degree of ignorance about anything to do with hitler, fascism and the nazi regime. regrettable though it may be that anyone should be unaware of so important a part of our history, we do not feel we should therefore find he was not telling the truth... former manchester united and england midfielder paul scholes has been charged with misconduct in relation to the football
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association's betting rules. it is alleged he placed 140 bets on football matches between august 2015 and january 2019. he has until april the 26th to respond to the charge. saracens boss mark mccall has said his players will support their team—mate billy vunipola. at their champions cup semi final against munster on saturday. the england number eight has been given a formal warning by the rfu for his comments in support of australian player israel folau... who was sacked for saying that "hail awaits for homosexuals". vunipola was jeered by supporters during their defeat to bristol in the premiership at the weekend. this group of players and staff have been together for a long this group of players and staff have been togetherfor a long period of time, and we care about each other, and we want to look out for each other. through the good and bad times as well. i have no doubt when it comes to saturday, that he will
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give it all for team—mates and likewise they pull for him as well. england bowler chris woa kes claims it wouldn't be "morally fair" to includejofra archer in england's provisional world cup squad — which is named tomorrow. archer has qualified to play for england thanks to a change in the residency rules... as he's originally from barbados. the fast bowler is currently playing in the ipl for rajasthan royals... and he took three wickets, including that of chris gayle, in their defeat to kings 11 punjab today. it's thought that archer will be selected at least for england's world cup warm—up games, when he'll be given a chance to force his way into the 15 man squad. selection is part and parcel of that game and ajob selection is part and parcel of that game and a job that we do, so there is probably not the right word. you know, it wouldn't probably be fair mullet —— morley, but at the same time it's the nature of the international sport and if someone we re international sport and if someone were to miss out it's incredibly lucky but that is how it is. update,
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ajax had equalised with the dentist, a goal after cristiano ronaldo would give the lead. that's all the sport for now. we'll bring you the details from tonight's football in sportsday let's return to our top story — the aftermath of the fire at notre dame cathedral in paris. bells are to be rung at churches and cathedrals across england this thursday, maundy thursday, to show solidarity with france following the blaze. offers of financial support and expert help have been pouring in from around the world to help with the restoration. the uk has some experience about what this will mean after york minster was seriously damaged by fire 35 years ago, as david sillito reports. watching notredame burn was for some a flashback moment. in 1984, fire turned a large part of york minster, a medieval masterpiece, into a gaping sooty ruin. we'll go on the scaffold and look across at the south transept. 35 years later master mason john david took me to the top. a chance to see the lestration and remember the moment he stood beneath the collapsing roof
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of melting lead and burning timber. initially i saw the flames, looking at roof at the far end, above the gable and the flames were shooting out the peak of the roof there, and gradually the lead was melting further back so the hole was getting bigger. as the roof began to fall, some of the big bosses from the vault started thumping on the ground. you were inside at this point? yes. and everything you are looking at, tonnes of lead, oak, all went crashing to the ground that night. and what is amazing is that, 35 years on, you'd have absolutely no idea there was a fire here. he took me on a tour past the new grotesques and gargoyles, a reminder of how much can be restored, but also of the scale of the job facing the craftsmen of paris. it is a hugejob.
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looking at this transept is quite — it looks quite big here, but notredame, it's, that is just one transept. notredame has lost its choir, knave and two transepts, so it is a huge... four or five times the size we are talking about. yes. everything up here looks like stone, it is all wood. it all came plummeting to the ground. yes. inside i met masterjoiner geoff brayshaw, another veteran of that day 35 years ago. the challenge facing them? there were no plans — walls move when they lose their roofs and giant oak beams are these days rare. however... you have no fears that notredame can do what you did? absolutely, yes, no problem. to a visitor, could they tell the difference? no. it looks like a medieval roof we are looking at and it is your handy work. and many others. the message from york, notredame is facing a huge job but it can be done. the only memory of the fire here,
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two small scorch marks. david sillito, bbc news, york. well, joining me in the studio is the architect, john burton. he oversaw conservation work on both westminster abbey and canterbury cathedral, and has visited the roof of notre dame. he was also the 18th surveyor of westminster abbey after sir christopher wren. thank you forjoining us, first of all your thoughts, you have been to the roof and how do you feel?|j watch the roof and how do you feel?” watch the fire last night for an hour and watch the fire last night for an hourand a watch the fire last night for an hour and a half on the television and heartfelt them —— sympathy goes to the people of france in the catholic church today, it's horrific absolutely horrific. the roof of course has been so badly damaged and falling in part, what's your advice now in terms of starting the restoration project? the first thing they are doing and that's getting they are doing and that's getting the artifacts out and safely to another place with the roof is
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missing, the next thing is start to put ina missing, the next thing is start to put in a temporary roof, and a suitable form so that it can work and study the building. and then what needs to get engineers practically together is gothic structure is all about balance. this is what i mentioned last night, it's something that would punctured the stern baltz. the great fire of canterbury in the 19th century, the boats stayed in position and the firebrand on top, and here we have seen firebrand on top, and here we have seen the puncher had devolved, and that buttresses, are pushing inwards at the moment. that needs to be sorted out. second, a lot has gone into it, that's going to change the materials considerably, the smoke damage, those things that happen. i have read the numbers of the church roof the following fires, and i think it's a preparation work that
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so think it's a preparation work that so important. imagine there'll be teens of people celebrate —— studying the structure from construction to the smoke damage and that's how i would do it, get the temporary roof up and then get as many people together to work together to find out what really has gone wrong. the french president has said andi gone wrong. the french president has said and i think pretty quickly, possibly within five years is that realistic? it's not unrealistic. provided the ground work is done before hand and not too rash and i think that the experience i have had is worth spending several months if not a year or sojust is worth spending several months if not a year or so just finding out what is needed. and then a light of the roof for example can be prepared on site. while the stone vaults or be put back so yes it's doable. i think when the things is where can you put a crane, does one put it inside or outside? those are the
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logistical things you have to work through the. in terms of the actual design, i know there's a difference in the english emphasis perhaps there is the conserving and restoring in the fashion it was built before and more european outlet, architect and be french architect who worked on it, it's more flamboyant and we heard the french president states going to be better than ever, so what are your thoughts on that? i think the world knows notre dame as what it was. i think the fact that only a relatively small puncturing through the vaults i think will be be able to be put back as exactly before and i think everyone appreciates that. there's no real reason why we need to change anything and have odd va u lts to change anything and have odd vaults in place. but i do believe we should leave evidence of this tragic situation, some smoke damage is not
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unreasonable to leave, some traces, but i think the most important thing at the moment i did think of this last night, is i'm hoping worship is continuing in that magnificent cathedral. we have the skills estelle because we have seen help lead some of the amazing stained glass windows will be intact and that you are saying there's lots of water damage that could change things and the masonry work, do people still know how to do that? yes, they do. here in london they got many companies, i'm a member of to copy to companies and the masons and both are helping to train the craftsmen. there is a college that's run and is chasing —— training about 40 masons a year to come out and 100 of carpenters, fully skilled and they had traditional skills that are needed to do this work. because there is a huge need. so i don't worry about the labour force because
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i know when i was buying stone in france for the canterbury cathedral and i've met many masons in france, and i've met many masons in france, andi and i've met many masons in france, and i do know they have tremendous skills there. i don't know so much about carpentry but i do know the masonry is excellent. i know you're very expert and great churches what makes notre dame so special?” very expert and great churches what makes notre dame so special? i think it's the french history, which it contains, that worship, that continues worship and the french people have focused on that building for centuries. it's their focus, people have focused on that building for centuries. it's theirfocus, i think that's the most important part of it. john, thank you forjoining us. they want to show you a few pictures from the vigil going on still in paris and a much that was going through a memory of notre dame. let's just listen to some of the music being played there tonight.
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music. michelle there, gathering of people and remembering the greatness of notre dame and a tribute as well they had that many players —— prayers and thoughts passed on today and those are some of those gathered in paris this evening. the headlines on bbc news... hundreds of millions of euros are pledged to help rebuild the famous gothic cathedral — an investigation is underway to find out what caused the blaze. there's relief that so much of the eight hundred and fifty year old structure survived — the french president emmanuel macron vows to restore the historic building. labour wants to abolish tests
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in primary schools in england — saying children should prepare for life notjust exams an update on the market numbers for you — here's how london's and frankfurt ended the day. and in the the united states this is how the dow and the nasdaq are getting on. cholesterol—lowering "statin" drugs may not work well enough for about half of those prescribed them. that's according to new research which suggests it has too little effect on what's called "bad" cholesterol. experts say it may be that some patients require a larger dose. our health correspondent rob sissons reports. millions of people in the uk are on statins. it's medication shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by lowering bad cholesterol. at the university of nottingham, they analysed the patient records of more than 165,000 patients in the uk who didn't have a history of cardiovascular disease. the good news — in around
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half the patients, 49%, there was a significant benefit after taking statins. harmful cholesterol levels went down by at least 40%. but the other half, 51%, saw little benefit from statins to their cholesteral levels within two years. the researchers say there could be many reasons why some patients don't do as well as others. individuals might not be following the instructions that gps are giving to them. the other reason could be that there's some genetic variation that we are certainly learning a lot about now. the british heart foundation suggests another reason. it insists statins are an important proven treatment, but that some patients may not be on the optimum dose. so we would like to make sure that patients are on the best dose possible and getting the maximum from their statins to reduce their risks further. this study is a stepping stone, but much more research is needed. a front—line gp who is involved
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in the latest study says closer follow—ups of patients on statins may improve results. our traditional approach is to start statins in a very light monitoring, but clearly some patients need closer monitoring and that needs to be taken into account. for patients, this shows that they need to carry on taking the statins. even if are getting less of a response than we'd like, they are still benefiting from them and they will prevent heart attacks. experts stress statins save lives, but say if you have any concerns about your medication, you should talk about it with your gp. rob sissons, bbc news, nottingham. (tx) the total number of people in work in the uk has reached a new record high. in february 32.7 million people across the uk were in work —— with 179,000 jobs created in the last three months. the unemployment rate remained at 3.9 percent, lower than at any time since the end of 1975. a police officer has
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suffered serious injuries after he was sprayed with ammonia fluid while answering an emergency call in darwen in lancashire. a number of officers had forced entry to a property after a call reporting a domestic incident. they were sprayed with what is believed to be a cleaning fluid. the alleged attacker climbed through a first floor window and was arrested a short time later. a police sergeant suffered serious injuries and remains in hospital. scientists in plymouth have found the earliest evidence of plastic litter in the ocean — a plastic bag that became tangled in a piece of research equipment in 1965. the finding is part of a study that has tracked the entire history of plastic in the ocean — revealing just how much more plastic has accumulated in the sea in recent decades. our science correspondent victoria gill reports. a mission beneath the waves. for decades, scientists have been measuring the health of the ocean by collecting plankton, the most important link in the marine food chain.
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along the way almost by accident they have produced a historical record of our impact on the seas using a very old—fashioned device. the design of this plankton recorder hasn't changed for a century. it's been told millions of miles are the ocean but in recent decades with this finding everywhere it looks as plastic. with more than half a century of ships logs, the scientists have a record of retirement everywhere on the planet plastic litter became entangled in the device. in 1965, we got a plastic bag and snared. one of the earliest pieces of plastic litter to be found floating in the ocean? yes. the other records from ingestion studies where they look at sea turtles and sea birds the earliest records are again in the 1960s, so it matches up exactly. this project has documented ocean plastic from 1957 to 2016. since 1990 the amount of plastic letter in the c
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increase significantly. the number of plastic bags found has decreased in recent years although it is not clear that is linked to campaigns to phase them out. when one of the recorders in the fleet has finished its mission it is brought back to plymouth and here researchers continue to add to our library of samples they have gathered from all over the world. you walk across a story can find samples from back in the day they don't think about those and plastic is at the that's typical example so i like to think of the ever putting in here, some bright sparks go through university and just being bored now —— bar now and applying amazing science to what we are speaking now.
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it is a mission that first loaf beneath the surface around the time plastic was invented. now it will continue to provide vital information to help reduce the impact of our litter on the oceans. the largest ever survey of the wildlife living in england's forests has got underway. organisers of the big forest find are asking for volunteers and visitors to gather information about the natural beauty they see. john maguire reports. so, you mightjust be out on a dog walk or a bike ride and see something interesting. 0n the ground, in the trees and in the air, ourforests and woodlands are teeming with fauna and flora. we are here in an ancient woodland so we've got a particularly nice diverse range of species. so we've got primroses, early dog violet and a lovely wood anemone over there. they are quite sensitive to management so it's really important that we know that that's there because if we are doing any woodland management, we can make sure that's protected. so if you go down to the woods these days, the forestry commission has come up with a plan to enlist
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as many of us as possible to act as citizen scientists, gathering information about the health of our woods. it's basically to encourage as many people to get out and enjoy forests and be involved in surveying for us. and there are events going on in forests all over england between now and the end of october. ok, so we're going to take a photograph of this moth. there's even a smartphone app called inaturalist so that people can identify the wildlife, plants and insects they discover. research scientists play a valuable role in telling us about our ecology, our environment and indeed what's changing, but by doing something like this, citizen science, the amount of evidence gathered together is absolutely huge. that provides a real snapshot of the state of our countryside. the project continues until october and it's hoped will replicate the success of the rspb‘s big garden birdwatch.
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but by understanding more about what's happening in ourforests now, measuring which species are under threat, decisions can be made on how best to protect them for the future. john maguire, bbc news, gloucestershire. in a moment the weather with chris fawkes — but there's relief this evening in paris that notre dame hasn't been completely destroyed — and, donations are flowing in to restore the building. we'll leave you with images of how it all unfolded. singing.
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hello, weather will turn sunny in the next few days and warmer as well, you will remember we started the week like this, temperatures really struggling in aberdeen and belfast a degree celsius, 14 and lives —— lending close to normal. if we fast—forwa rd to lives —— lending close to normal. if we fast—forward to the weekend, you see how much warmer we expected to be. temperatures in the high teens, warmer spots about 24 celsius. today has been a disappointingly count —— cloudy day but the weather frank
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moved away from southwest england we saw may sunshine, here is that weather friend. you see saw may sunshine, here is that weatherfriend. you see rain saw may sunshine, here is that weather friend. you see rain across england and wales turning right here we had gotten a letter affecting western scotland but even hear there rained most slowly peter out as a go to the night and we had lots of cloud around and mist and fog patch is forming over the top of the hills and not a cold night, temperatures at about seven celsius. that takes us on at about seven celsius. that takes us on into wednesday and you can see high—pressure estelle and scandinavia feeding cold winds and shetland, but otherwise went across the uk coming from western europe and that's what will help this temperatures. wednesday starts with a light of cloud around, if you thought patches of the high ground, that fog and low cloud will melt away and we are left with sunshine, best of it coming to the afternoon and a good deal warmer with highs of i9 and a good deal warmer with highs of 19 in london. 13 and belfast 15 edinburgh feeling warmer than the last couple of days. more the same
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to come on thursday with high—pressure estelle influencing the weather, with wind coming in from the north sea always around that coast, and will be capped at that coast, and will be capped at that cooler and fresher but come in lynn, temperatures continue to rise and we see highs of 20 and 17 in edinburgh. good friday ends the week like this with plenty more of that tried to come, temperature is widely getting into the high teens and low 20s, so pleasantly warm and sunshine for many on friday but some of the east coast will be cool and fresh. 14 aberdeen, la from the wind, 21 is at the top temperature and edinburgh, colder —— warmer and saturday, i trained for the cooler and a threat of rain on monday.
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hello, i'm ros atkins, this is outside source. the fire is out — now they're figuring out how to rebuild notre dame. hundreds of millions of euros have been pledged to help. president macron has promised to rebuild the cathedral within five years. translation: the fire in notre dame reminds us that our history never stops. never. and that we will a lwa ys stops. never. and that we will always have trials to overcome. egypt's parliament has given president al—sisi a longer term of office, meaning he could stay in office until 2030. it also now turn to a national

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