tv The Briefing BBC News October 25, 2019 5:00am-5:31am BST
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a foundation in our move forward. this is the briefing. i'm victoria fritz. our top story: borisjohnson tries again to secure a new election, as eu ambassadors meet to discuss another possible brexit delay. tens of thousands of people are forced to leave their homes, as wildfires rage through this is the business briefing. california's wine country. post—mortem examinations do or die no more — are to begin on the 39 people the uk prime minister admits who died in a shipping for the first time his brexit deadline will not hold. container bound for britain. instead he calls a general election. is it a bird? is it a plane? no, it's an air taxi, coming soon to town near you — or is it? is it a bird? we'll explain in the is it a plane? business briefing. no, it's an air taxi, coming soon to town near you — or is it? and on the markets, asian stocks
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struggled to follow wall street's lead on friday as most major indices fell amid a raft of lingering uncertainties, ranging from corporate earnings to the us—china trade war. a warm welcome to the programme, briefing you on all you need to know in global news, business and sport. you can be part of the conversation as well, today. could flying taxis be coming to a city near you? this week, a german company that developed an electric helicopter drone, completed its first manned flight in singapore. but are regulators and passengers ready to come on board? let me know what you think. just use the hashtag #bbcthebriefing. britain's prime minister has agreed to demands from parliament for more time to scrutinise his brexit deal, but only if mps agree to an early general election, in december. effectively, it means borisjohnson
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has conceded for the first time that he can't keep his promise to take britain out of the european union by the end of october. but it's not clear if even this move will work out for him — he needs a two thirds majority in parliament to call an election and the opposition labour party are not certain to support it. here's our political editor laura kuenssberg. is there any clear way out of the storm? downing street wants a route to a general election. after weeks of negotiation with brussels, number 10 did strike a deal but mps rejected the prime minister's plan to force it through at top speed, so now he wants to force them to go to the country. the way to get brexit done is, i think, to be reasonable with parliament and say, if they genuinely want more time to study this excellent deal, they can have it, but they have to agree to a general
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election on december 12th. it's time, frankly, that the opposition summoned up the nerve to submit themselves to the judgment of our collective boss, which is the people of the uk. you're essentially trying to blackmail parliament with the threat of an election in order to ram through your bill. no, come on, we've had three and a half years. not looking at this bill. well, most of this bill is, of course, very familiar to parliamentarians. what makes you think that the opposition will give you your way this time? i mean, they could just keep you hostage. they could. but i think it would be absolutely morally incredible if they were to do so. after all, this is a party, the labour party — thejeremy corbyn labour party called repeatedly, endlessly for a general election. if mps do not agree to your demand for an election, what will you do? to be absolutely clear with you, we would campaign day after day after day for the people of this country to be released from subjection to a parliament that has outlived its usefulness,
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that has fulfilled its function, that is refusing to get brexit done. reporter: is everyone in the cabinet backing an election, ms truss? even some of his cabinet, though, are not convinced this is a good idea. we should make sure we try to get everybody on board. and it's simply not in the government's control. reporter: prime minister, are we heading for a general election? the prime minister needs two—thirds of mps to back him to get his election. # there's so many of us and there's...# labour might be already holding rallies, ready for a fight. crowds of their members might want an election but plenty of mps do not. the leadership won't say yes or no until the eu answers the government's request for delay. take no—deal off the table and we absolutely support an election. i've been calling for an election ever since the last one, because this country needs one in order to deal with all the social injustice issues. but no—deal must be taken off the table. but the smaller parties are tempted
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if brussels agrees a delay. the liberal democrats are going to keep fighting to remain in the european union, and we're not going to get involved in boris johnson's tantrums. borisjohnson is playing games, and we should make sure that we don't dance to his tune. the opposition parties need to show leadership and make sure that we determine when and how an election is going to be called. boris johnson, though, may find himself trapped in downing street. this is the third time number 10 has tried to call an election. lucky for who, this time? with me is kathleen brooks, director of minerva analysis let's start with what we do know. the selling stumbling very much at the prospect of a general election, injecting fresh uncertainty into the situation. it is. the sight of what
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sterling is doing reflects that things are dragging on further. we really thought brexit would be done and dusted and a week later we are no nearer to leaving the eu with a deal. but it looks positive. i think no deal has been taken off the table. it is not like we have been before and continually fall. labour has been looking to agreed to some form of general election if a no—deal was taken off the table. the idea that you would leave the eu at some deadline with no deal in place. again, we have a situation where the prime minister is trying to raise the stakes on brexit but is this going to work in his favour because the numbers do not look like that. he may not be able to get an
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election through, he can only do that with cross—party support and, if that is the case, labour is saying that has to be something written in concrete is that they will be not be a no—deal brexit. it feels like we are in a different epoque for stirling. do stick around. we will go through the papers a little bit, including the front page of the times which is all about labour's position in all of this and also the european perspective. i will see you very soon. about 2,000 people in northern california, including the entire population of the town of geyserville, have been ordered out of their homes to escape a a fast—moving wildfire. the wildfire in the state's wine producing area began as a relatively
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small blaze on wednesday but quickly picked up speed, driven by gusts of more than 100km/h. david willis reports from los angeles. this feels stupid, let's get out of here. a hair—raising journey of a television news crew caught in the midst of a blaze that has destroyed thousands of acres of land. the fire, in california's wine country, to the north of san francisco, brought down power lines and prompted the evacuation of more than 2000 people. the flames spread rapidly, fanned by seasonal so—called santa ana winds. the rugged terrain a challenge for firefighters, who have since resorted to dumping water from aircraft overhead. some here were already having to make—do without electricity, after the local power company cut supply in the hope of preventing
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a repeat of fires caused by sparks from outdated equipment. although, it has been reported that a fault with one of their transmission towers may have been to blame. california's outdated energy grid is clearly an issue the state's governor finds irritating. it is infuriating beyond words, to live in a state, as innovative and extraordinarily entrepreneurial and capable, as the state of california, to be living in an environment where we are seeing this kind of disruption and these kinds of blackouts. 0ther fires have broken out to the north of los angeles. 50,000 people have been evacuated, one of those blazes has already devoured more than 3000 acres. winds are expected to pick up overnight and, for those in the path of the flame, the worst may be yet to come. for those in the path of the flames, the worst may be yet to come.
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david willis, bbc news, los angeles. let's brief you on some of the other stories making the news: the us vice—president has accused the national basketball association, and the sports firm, nike, of bowing to chinese pressure and muzzling criticism of beijing. mike pence also attacked china's diplomatic and trade policies, adding that it had violated the rights of people in hong kong. but he insisted the united states wants to avoid confrontation. more trade talks are due on friday. bolivia's president evo morales has declared victory in the country's bitterly—disputed presidential election. thousands of opposition activists marched through the capital in protest and in other places there were clashes between supporters of the two main candidates. the mexican government became the first to congratulate mr morales. however, the centrist candidate, carlos mesa, has demanded a second round run—off and called
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for demonstrations to continue. scientists studying the humble earthworm have compiled the first—ever global atlas of the creatures‘ range and locations. based on surveys of seven thousand sites in 56 countries, it's hoped the new findings will help protect the animals, which play a vital role in keeping the soil of the planet healthy and fertile. post—mortem examinations are due to begin today into the deaths of the 39 people who died in a shipping container bound for britain. police are continuing to relocate the victims from the port to a nearby hospital as they continue to question a lorry driver arrested on suspicion of murder. andy moore reports. police activity continued late into the night till report bodies had
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been removed from the laurie container and taken to hospital. —— tilbury pod. the victims's dignity was their primary consideration. it was their primary consideration. it was moved to the pot on wednesday so the lengthy task of removing and identifying the bodies could be carried out in a secure environment. —— port. police have yet to say how the victims died. the chinese ambassador said he had sent a team to essex to help police verify their identity though he said their nationality had not yet been confirmed. at the home office in london last night, campaigners held a candlelit visual remember the terms, whatever their nationality. these people were dying. they are not the other to be blocked out of our daily life, they are people like you and me. this is believed to be the worst incident of this guide
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since 58 chinese governments were found dead in a laurie container in doverin found dead in a laurie container in dover in 2000. they died after the ventilation was blocked. they were smuggled into the country by chinese snake head gang. we're joined now by the bbc‘s robin brant from shanghai. how have the chinese media and chinese estate taken this news? -- state. significantly, it has been reported here on some outlets of state—run media. that is important because this is a country whether media overwhelmingly controlled by the government and the are arrays of censorship to control about what the people here see and hear. it is on a range of social media platforms. it is been discussed. there is a sense
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of shock but also some censorship going on and i think the words chinese nationals may be being removed from some posts from government centres. but it is been reported and there is speculation as to not just reported and there is speculation as to notjust where these people come from, and who they are, but also why did they leave china, assuming the journey began in china and made that journey began in china and made that journey so far that ended in the uk. is is about illegal trafficking? the sex trade? the restaurant business? do they have family in the uk? lots of possibilities. those same questions are happening here in the uk. lots of people confused and saddened by this story. ultimately this is a tragedy, 39 people lost their lives and it was a chinese ambassador to the uk who responded to this news with a heavy heart.
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someone has lost someone close to them, in fact, someone has lost someone close to them, infact, 39 someone has lost someone close to them, in fact, 39 families. there is a possibility that, here on the chinese mainland, somewhere, there are families who are now extremely worried about loved ones who they may have expected to hear from you. the process of identification could possibly take a long time but, and it is one thing to be aware of, if they are chinese nationals, chinese people living on the mainland all of them have an id card and sent 2012, you are required almost to submit a fingerprint when you get that card. there is a possibility that chinese embassy officials working with essex police are able to get fingerprints from the bodies and be able to help identify this people much more quickly because of the nature of the gathering of biometric data here in china. thank you very much.
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stay with us on bbc news. still to come: uluru's final ascent — tourists prepare to climb australia's sacred red rock for the last time. a historic moment that many of his victims have waited for for 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 plain outside korem, 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've had controversies in the past with great britain. but as good friends, we have always found a good and lasting solution.
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concorde bows out in style. after almost three decades in service, an aircraft that enthralled its many admirers for so long, taxis home one last time. you're watching the briefing. 0ur headlines: borisjohnson tries again to secure a new election as eu ambassadors meet to discuss another possible brexit delay. tens of thousands of people are forced to leave their homes as wildfires rage through california's wine country. on friday, the climb to the top of uluru, the sacred red rock in central australia, will close. indigenous people have long asked tourists not to scale the ancient sandstone monolith, because of its spiritual significance.
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many tourists have just ignored those requests, and the closure has met with considerable opposition. phil mercer is there for us. fill, it is an astonishing side, a beautiful site and for many years people have flocked to claim it, to look at it, to take photographs, but for now, from now on, from four o'clock, that will be no longer. this is one of the most epic sites in australia us. uluru is one of australia's most recognisable national icons, and you can see it behind me, and the final group of climbers who have been up there for a few hours will soon start their descent for the final time. in two or three hours time, we should have the final climber on the ground, and
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thatis the final climber on the ground, and that is it, after many many years, this famous and controversial claim up this famous and controversial claim up to the summit of uluru will no longer be permitted. it is quite an arduous enterprise, getting from the ground to the top, almost 350 metres, there is the support of a chain and steel posts. they will be removed, and as i say, in the next few hours, this claim will no longer be allowed and all of those people who are on the rock behind me will be safely back on the ground. as you say, it is a dangerous climb, since the 50s, dozens of people have died on uluru due to accidents, dehydration and the like stuffing my understanding is that all the campsites in the area have been packed in the last few weeks, people have queued up, and we can see pictures there, trying to do this before it shuts down. we were there before it shuts down. we were there before first light yesterday, thursday, and it was like trying to get into a movie premiere or a music concert, so many people trying to
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get up to take their one last chance to scale uluru before the band comes into force of. there were hundreds and hundreds of people, be were there also this morning, the claim was delayed for a couple of hours because it was so very windy, and thatis because it was so very windy, and that is all part of the safety regulations that have been imposed on climbers for many years, as you say. since the 1950s, more than 35 people have died, even for the fit and healthy, it is quite an arduous climb. we were there watching people go climb. we were there watching people 9° up climb. we were there watching people go up yesterday, and quite a few people got to maybe 50 metres up and decided that was enough, but indigenous people have always asked people not to climb uluru, and as you make the claim, just before you make your way through the gate, there are signs politely asking you not to go up. the simple reason for thatis not to go up. the simple reason for that is australia's indigenous people consider uluru to be immensely spiritual to them, like a
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cathedral, a temple, a synagogue, a mask, and to have people clambering all over it, they believe it is immensely, culturally insensitive. and from now, no longer. thanks very much. ancient artefacts that were destroyed by the islamic state group have been re—recreated using 3d scanning technology, and unveiled in iraq. this report from rich preston. pictures like these shocked the world. on their rampage through iraq and syria, ancient artefacts destroyed by islamic state militants. these, the masu winged bulls that once stood in the ancient city of nimrud, blown up by the militants. now, they are born anew. we started working to record all of the known fragments that were removed from nimrud and taken to the british museum in the 19th century, and then were spread around other museums in europe. from those scans, a perfect
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replica, carefully created. translation: these bulls are symbols. the human's head represents wisdom and knowledge, ability and thinking. the wings show progress, speed, strength and highness. the body is a mix of a lion's body and a bull's body, animals that represent strength and wealth. they have now been installed at the university of mosul. translation: i feel very happy today to see the statue of the winged bull that expresses the emblem, the civilisation and heritage of mosul. the originals cannot ever be brought back, but these modern techniques give hope that ancient history be lost forever.
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now it's time to get all the latest from the bbc sports centre. hello, i'm gavin ramjaun, and this is your friday sport briefing. we start with the europa league. english side arsenal and spain's sevilla are the only sides to maintain their perfect start to the competition in europe after matchday three. they both top their groups, as do manchester united, who won 1—0 in serbia against pa rtizan belgrade. anthony martial‘s 43rd—minute penalty was their only shot on target in the whole game. it's united's first away win in any competition since march. of course i am happy now that we... canjust look of course i am happy now that we... can just look forward to the next one, trying to build momentum. we need to win away from home in the league, but another clean sheet, which is great, and that gives you platform to win the games from. tennis now — roger federer is into the semi—finals of the swiss indoors in basel without hitting a ball. that's because his quarterfinal opponent, stan wawrinka, has pulled out of the tournament. the 34—year—old beat american frances tiafoe in three sets — taking just over two and half hours. but later withdrew with a back injury.
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it means swiss compatriot federer is through to the final four, with the top seed still on to win a 10th title basel. leicester city have the chance to go second in the english premier league later when they play southampton. the 2016 champions have won four consecutive home premier league matches for the first time since 2017, and will hope to continue that form when they travel to a southampton side who have only1win in 5 premier league games. the first practice sessions for formula 0ne's mexican grand prix take place later on friday. if things go his way, lewis hamilton can clinch his sixth drivers‘ title this weekend. that would put him just one short of michael schumacher‘s record. hamilton will seal the title, with three to top spare — if he outscores his team—mate, and only rival, valterri bottas by 1a points on sunday. but hamilton doesn't think it's likely to be settled in mexico. game three of the world series finals between the houston astros and the washington nationals takes place later on friday. the nationals have a 2—0 lead
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and know that they only need two victories to win their maiden world series. they won the opening two games in houston, so with the next three games back in washington, the nationals have a huge advantage. only three teams have come back from losing the first two games at home in world series history. you can get all the latest sports news at our website. that's bbc.com/sport. but from me, gavin ramjaun, and the rest of the sport team, that's your friday sport briefing. and tell me what you think about our talking point today. could flying taxis be coming to a city near you? this week, a german company that developed an electric helicopter drone completed its first manned flight in singapore. but are regulators and passengers ready to come on board? arianna says it's amazing how much technology has developed and david
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has said yes, but only if i would hold your hand. david, i'm sorry, you are not getting me on one of those. let us know your thoughts. use the hashtag bbc—the briefing. stay with us here on bbc news — so much more to come. hello. there's a battle taking place across the uk between mild and cold air to see who wins out for the weekend. spoiler — it is the cold air that wins. it's already in place across northern parts of the uk. 0n the dividing line between the two, before the cold air wins and heads south, some of us are about to get a lot of heavy rain through friday into at least early saturday, from the moors of south—west england into wales, and northern england, from this waving weather front. finally, as it does clear, by the end of saturday from south—east england, that's when the cold air travels further south. it isa it is a fine start for many of us, but here comes that rain. south—west
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england, wales, towards the midlands, especially the west midlands, especially the west midlands into northern england, the eastern side of northern ireland, and southern scotland. the uk top and southern scotland. the uk top and tail, both strengthening wins, and tail, both strengthening wins, and a lot of mild hour, you consider temperature contrasts across the uk. friday night, saturday morning, the rain still falling, the totals here on the hills, we could see something up on the hills, we could see something up to this, lower level would see as much, but there is a flood risk, the yellow notice has been released from the met office. always good to keep in touch with the bbc local radio station for the latest situations, especially as you head out on saturday morning where it will still be raining. northern ireland into scotland, a of clear skies, actually started saturday here. e—mail start across the south and south—east of england, and eventually on saturday
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the rain moves away, enter east anglia and south—east england, brightest guys following, and for many a few showers around but there that cold air moves south was. there it goes, that weather front taking the rain away on saturday night into sunday, the blue has taken over, but on the flipside of that, although it will feel colder, not bitterly cold by any stretch of the imagination, look at the land showing up, meaning there was a lot of clear and sunny weather around, a bit of patchy cloud, a few showers especially in 00:28:37,650 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 scotland, but drier and sunnier.
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