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tv   Our World  BBC News  March 27, 2021 4:30am-5:00am GMT

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the leader of myanmar�*s military administration has reiterated a promise to hold elections following february's coup. general min aung hlaing's comments came at a military display for armed forces day in the nation's capital. more than 300 people have been killed in ongoing anti—coup protests. the republican governor of the us state of georgia has signed a law restricting voting access, tightening voter identification requirements and making it harder to register. it also means people can't be given food or water while they wait to vote. presidentjoe biden has called the law "atrocious". coronavirus restrictions are being stepped up in parts of europe as a third wave of infections sweeps the continent. germany has classified the whole of france as a high—risk zone, which means travellers need to show a negative covid test and quarantine upon arrival. poland is also tightening its restrictions.
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scotland's former first minister, alex salmond, has announced he is setting up a new pro—independence, political party to run in the scottish parliament elections in may. the surprise announcement, comes after a very public falling out with his former protege and successor, nicola sturgeon, over her government's handling of complaints of sexual harrassment against him. the snp reacted to the news saying the interests of the country should not be obscured, by what it called, alex salmond's self interest, and questioned whether it was appropriate for him to return to public office. here's our scotland editor, sarah smith. today i'm announcing the public launch of new political force, the alba party. it's another comeback from alex salmond, this time as leader of a brand—new political party. ..seeking to build a super majority for independence in the scottish parliament. over the next six weeks
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we will promote new ideas about taking scotland forward, giving primacy to economic recovery from the pandemic and the achievement of independence for our country. despite the bitter personal feud between alex salmond and nicola sturgeon, he claims his new party is not out to steal snp votes. he won't run candidates in constituencies. under the proportional representation voting system, msps are also elected from regional lists, and that's where alba candidates will be standing. the only people who benefit from the creation of alex salmond's party are those who oppose independence. but we will double down, work hard, not take any votes for granted and urge people to cast both votes for the snp. not everyone who supports independents support the snp. they do all want to elect as many pro—independence msps as possible, to pressure westminster into allowing another referendum. alex salmond's new party will split this vote, and his rivals think alba is driven more by his ego than by electoral strategy.
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this is the very public meltdown of a thoroughly disgraced individual. this is a man from scotland's past who is obsessively pursuing personal vendettas. he doesn't have anything positive to offer. alex salmond is less popular in scotland than borisjohnson. today's launch, plagued with technical problems, was not the slick operation alex salmond was used to in the snp. almost exactly a year ago he was acquitted of 13 charges of sexual assault, although he did admit inappropriate behaviour with female staff when he was first minister. he has since accused people at the top of the snp of conducting a malicious plot to destroy him. now alex salmond has created a new platform from which to pursue his own agenda. our scotland editor, sarah smith with that report. now on bbc news, our world. in september last year, armenia and azerbaijan went to war. in 44 days of fighting, the
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fortunes of the two countries and their people were turned upside down you managed to take with you when you left? the bbc has been given rare access to both countries. we will find old patriots stirred up. and what looks like new crimes being committed. it looks to me like it could have been where that church was. i hope you find your brother. so who really won this war? russian military have a checkpointjust down there they call the shots around here now. and what does the future hold for people who have lived through and lost so much?
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myler and racine are azerbaijani and they are on their way home to karabakh. 28 years since the couple fled armenia's invasion with their baby olly. for the first time, they are heading back. ali is a dad now. their journey fleeing theirjourney fleeing then
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returning is the story of azerbaijan and armenia. two neighbours, two wars, the bitterest of enemies. nagorno—karabakh is an armenian majority area inside azerbaijan's international borders. in 1992, a long—running dispute over who should control it turned into war. armenia invaded, taking over nagorno—karabakh and the surrounding areas. 30,000 people died and i million, the vast majority of them azerbaijani lake rashim and nyla were forced from their homes. rashim was at a wedding when the armenian assault began?
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more than two decades, rashim, naila and ali, have lived as refugees and a cramped apartment hundreds of kilometres away. last september, everything
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changed. the second karabakh war broke out with azerbaijan launching an attack on armenian positions. with the backing of turkey and its high—tech drones, the azerbaijani is made rapid progress. in 44 days of war, armenia lost large parts of the land that it seized in the 19905 and had to give up even more as part of a russian brokered ceasefire agreement. moscow immediately deployed 2000 peacekeepers into what's left of the armenian enclave. rashim and naila's village was one of the first that azerbaijan captured offering the possibility of the return they had long dream5 the possibility of the return they had long dreams of. we helped arrange the permits and transport to go back.
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but at the cemetery, there is a problem. it's been vandali5ed. grave5 have been dug up and looted. rashim has to search for the pieces of his father's headstone.
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our movements in5ide azerbaijan have to be approved by the authorities and we are always accompanied. we drive for hours through the ruins of azerbaijani villages that the armenians looted and destroyed in the early 19905. getting to the armenian settlements that azerbaijan drove people out of last year is more difficult. we are blocked from going to the two largest town5 are blocked from going to the two largest towns and are eventually ta ken to a two largest towns and are eventually taken to a village that a5 eventually taken to a village as we approach, we are told that the army won't let us in because of landmines. do you think the army are telling the truth when they say it is mine5 or theyjust truth when they say it is mine5 or they just want us truth when they say it is mine5 or theyjust want us to go there? or they “ust want us to go there? ~ . , ., h, or they “ust want us to go there? ~ . , ., ,., ., there? what is the reason for us not to _ there? what is the reason for us not to go _ there? what is the reason for us not to go there? _ there? what is the reason for us not to go there? there - there? what is the reason for. us not to go there? there have been videos — us not to go there? there have been videos around _ us not to go there? there have been videos around of - us not to go there? there have been videos around of the - us not to go there? there have | been videos around of the army doing bad stuff to armenian places. i don't know, maybe that's why. the videos, which
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were posted to social media, 5how azerbaijani soldiers killing and mutilating armenians. in the end, they do let us into the village. after a lot of pushing, a lot of phone calls, this is the first time we have got into a village that actually meaningful changed hands in the recent conflict 5ix changed hands in the recent conflict six months ago, there were armenians living here in these houses. now, azerbaijan i5 these houses. now, azerbaijan is very much in control of it. this graffiti is graffiti done thi5 graffiti is graffiti done by the azeri soldiers a5 by the azeri soldiers as they captured this village of. they have even put their names up there or the names of the places where they come from. our minder tells us his family were forced out of karabakh in
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the first war. what happened to your family has now happened to lots of ethnic armenian familie5. you must understand how they feel, now. you families. you must understand how they feel, now.— how they feel, now. you know the number — how they feel, now. you know the number of _ how they feel, now. you know the number of population - the number of population around? i'm sure that it's not more than 1000. do you know the number of refugees from azerbaijan? million. they came here 30 years ago. if you move to someplace that does not belong to you, you have to know that there will come a time where you will move out there. the next day, our mind is nowhere to be seen. with just the local police for company, we move on. this is yet another azerbaijani town that the armenians looted and destroyed in the 19905. we've come here because we have seen this video on social media. it shows a man
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celebrating on the roof of this armenian church after the area was captured by azerbaijan last year. we don't mention the video but tell the police we would like to see the church and they take us here. it's clearly not the right place. just a little bit further on. there? ye5, 5o, just a little bit further on. there? ye5, so, maybe like the vidot we are going to turn right and then... stop. what does the map 5ay? right and then... stop. what does the map say? the right and then... stop. what does the map say? the maps as it should be _ does the map say? the maps as it should be on _ it should be on the top of here. ,, , ., ~ , here. seems rather unlikely. 0k, here. seems rather unlikely. ok, so. _ here. seems rather unlikely. ok. so. looks _ here. seems rather unlikely.
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ok, so, looks to _ here. seems rather unlikely. ok, so, looks to me - here. seems rather unlikely. ok, so, looks to me like - here. seems rather unlikely. ok, so, looks to me like it. ok, so, looks to me like it could have been where that church was ok, look here. it was definitely has to be we can see from the trees here, you can see them over there, they match. so we can say with some conviction that this area here was an armenian church, it was still standing here when the azeris came in. but now it has been destroyed. what happened to the church?— to the church? during the war it was destroyed. _ to the church? during the war it was destroyed. it _ to the church? during the war it was destroyed. it can't - to the church? during the war| it was destroyed. it can't have been destroyed _ it was destroyed. it can't have been destroyed during - it was destroyed. it can't have been destroyed during the - it was destroyed. it can't have l been destroyed during the war, because there are videos of the azeris here. because there are videos of the azeris here-— azeris here. know, it wouldn't ha en. azeris here. know, it wouldn't happen- we — azeris here. know, it wouldn't happen. we discredit - azeris here. know, it wouldn't l happen. we discredit ourselves.
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azerbaijan has promised to protect religious sites so we took our findings to the authorities in baku stop what has happened to that church, the chapel now? it has happened to that church, the chapel now?— the chapel now? it is still standing _ the chapel now? it is still standing in _ the chapel now? it is still standing in that - the chapel now? it is still standing in that region i the chapel now? it is still standing in that region ofj standing in that region of azerbaijan.— standing in that region of azerbai'an. . , ,., azerbai'an. cashier something from azerbaijan. cashier something from when _ azerbaijan. cashier something from when we _ azerbaijan. cashier something from when we went _ azerbaijan. cashier something from when we went there? . azerbaijan. cashier something l from when we went there? this was the church —— can i show, they opened in 2017. an then we went back there yesterday —— and then. can you say? it has been totally destroyed? because it is a location, _ been totally destroyed? because it is a location, i— been totally destroyed? because it is a location, i don't _ been totally destroyed? because it is a location, i don't know, - it is a location, i don't know, i need to double—check it. you i need to double-check it. you can see here, the _ i need to double-check it. you can see here, the tree, - i need to double—check it. you can see here, the tree, the tree there and this is the site which we were given for where the church, the chapel was. it has been destroyed. in
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the church, the chapel was. it has been destroyed.— has been destroyed. in that area, building _ has been destroyed. in that area, building any - has been destroyed. in that area, building any religious| area, building any religious sites or changing any religious culture or character of the region is a violation of international humanitarian law. we have seen the level of destruction in those areas. more than eight cities of azerbaijan have been destroyed. it is like a healthscope. in other words, it is like a healthscope. in otherwords, he is it is like a healthscope. in other words, he is saying that whatever has happened in recent months is nothing compared to what armenians did to azerbaijani villages in karabakh in the 19905. it is a point i put to the armenian foreign minister. perhaps you would like to apologise for what i mean you did in those occupied territories?- occupied territories? during the war, their work, you know, wrongdoings on both sides. if there was any case, let's say it was individual actions, not a state policy. it was individual actions, not a state policy-— that it looks very systematic. the same happens now in the
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territory that fell under control of azerbaijan, particularly in the villages and cities in nagorno—karabakh. the final stop in karabakh for these two is the ruins of where they once lived. a5 as they prepared to leave, ali is on the phone to his daughter.
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in armenia, the loss of karabakh is still sinking in. this family were forced to flee during the war last year. they are looking at our footage as they are from the same village that we went to with our azerbaijani minder. home for them is now a cramped, hostile
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on the outskirts of armenia's capital yerevan. on the outskirts of armenia's capitalyerevan. memories on the outskirts of armenia's capital yerevan. memories are still fresh of the day they fled. what did you manage to take with you when you left? three of their brothers fought in the war and we sit with two of them. they are still coming to terms with defeats and the loss of territory. this is your brother? the man's oldest brother is missing. what
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is his name? the family were told he had been killed but his body has still not been found. then, a few weeks ago, a niece thought she recognised him in a video posted to tiktok by soldiers. and you're sure, this is brother, eric? amelia says more than 150 prisoners of war are still being held by azerbaijan but no—one has any specific information about eric —— armenia. we leave yerevan and head south east towards the mountains of nagorno—karabakh. the feet and the army's withdrawal have seen a crisis of national confidence. armenia
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was once this region's security guarantor. now, russia has taken on the role. this road is the only link between armenia, the only link between armenia, the outside world and what is left of the ethnic armenian on clave in nagorno—karabakh. it isjust over there, clave in nagorno—karabakh. it is just over there, those clave in nagorno—karabakh. it isjust over there, those hills over there. isjust over there, those hills overthere. now, since isjust over there, those hills over there. now, since the war, the armenians have not had control over who and what uses this road. that is down to the russians. the russian military have a checkpointjust down there stop they decide, they called the shots around here now. we are denied permission to enter and are told privately that the russians are locking almost all foreigners. —— blocking. it is a real pain that we have to talk like this rather than in person stop that evening, we speak to a nagorno—karabakh official on a
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whatsapp call. has nagorno—karabakh become a other one of these little states that we see in this part of the world that are occupied by russia? ., we drive along a road that is effectively a new international border between armenia and azerbaijan. we stopped in a village and a group of azerbaijani soldiers come out to greet us. how are you? good things, and ou? how are you? good things, and you? fine _ how are you? good things, and you? fine thank _ how are you? good things, and you? fine thank you. _ how are you? good things, and you? fine thank you. that - how are you? good things, and you? fine thank you. that is i how are you? good things, and you? fine thank you. that is a l you? fine thank you. that is a russian peacekeeper - you? fine thank you. that is a russian peacekeeperjoining l you? fine thank you. that is a l russian peacekeeperjoining us. russian peacekeeper joining us. are russian peacekeeperjoining us. are you allowed on the radio, this is an armenian road, no?
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i don't know, on the map. no? so his road is this? —— whose roads. there is 20 more to be thrashed out on the ground but what is clear is that the war and the deployment of peacekeepers has returned to russia to a pivotal role in the southern caucasus. and, at the same time, delivered a message to leaders in the post—soviet space who attempted to look west. , , ., . space who attempted to look west. , , . . ., , west. russian influence has increased — west. russian influence has increased after _ west. russian influence has increased after this - west. russian influence has increased after this peace l increased after this peace deal. not only inside azerbaijan and armenia but also in another countries as well because all the other countries now have the lesson. if you have american puppet as your leaders of your country, you will lose your territory. the
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so-called _ will lose your territory. the so-called american - will lose your territory. the so—called american puppet is the armenian prime minister. he came to power in a popular uprising three years ago and has shouldered much of the blame for the loss of there have been several months of demonstrations in yerevan against the pm. critics say he should have maintained better relations with moscow and given azerbaijan's alliance with turkey, made concessions to avoid war. turkey, made concessions to avoid war-— turkey, made concessions to avoid war. , , , ., ., , avoid war. despite all of these facts, he _ avoid war. despite all of these facts, he chose _ avoid war. despite all of these
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facts, he chose to _ avoid war. despite all of these facts, he chose to reject - avoid war. despite all of these facts, he chose to reject the l facts, he chose to reject the peace proposals that were negotiated so, that was a huge diplomatic failure that actually brought a catastrophe to armenia. and nagorno—karabakh. to armenia. and naaorno-karabakh. ,, ., to armenia. and naaorno-karabakh. ., nagorno-karabakh. russia, not armenia, nagorno-karabakh. russia, not armenia. is _ nagorno-karabakh. russia, not armenia, is now— relationship. moscow will ultimately have to decide if it wants a long—term military presence that protects the armenian on clave. if not, azerbaijan will surely get its way and be allowed to take control. this family's concerns are more sure term. they are waiting in yerevan for news of eric. good luck, i wish you good luck, especially, i hope you find your brother. and could we
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toast to armenians and azerbaijani is living side—by—side, or is that too much? it is an idea that almost everyone we have spoken to for this film thinks is unrealistic right now. his mum is listening from the corner. two was, two very different outcomes stop for azerbaijan, the struggle for karabakh is over —— wars, for armenians, it is very much alive.
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hello there. we saw some much colder air move down from the northwest right across the country. so that means we are starting the weekend off on a chilly note but bright with some sunshine, then it will turn wetter and windier, particularly across northern and western areas. and gradually, it will be turning milder. it's looking very mild indeed as we head on into next week. so for saturday, then, we're in the cold air mass, as you can see. this is the milder air mass which will be making inroads saturday night and into sunday. we start this morning off with a bit of an ice risk across northern areas where we had overnight showers. it is a chilly start but bright, plenty of sunshine around, but into the afternoon, cloud will be thickening out west with some rain pushing into northern ireland, western scotland along with strengthening winds. now, temperatures after that chilly start should reach 10—11 celsius for most. still, though, single figure values across scotland, 7—9 celsius. now into saturday evening and saturday night, it turns very wet and windy across the northern half of the country, some gales and exposure across
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the northwest, heavy rain for many, all but the southeast, which mayjust see one or two showers around, otherwise some drier interludes here. you'll notice a milder night to come for saturday night across the board, 6—8 celsius. part two of the weekend looks somewhat more unsettled. lots of isobars on the charts, so it's going to be windy. this weather front will straddle central—northern areas of the country to bring quite a bit of rainfall at times. so pretty wet through the morning for wales, northwest england, northern ireland, that rain begins to move a little bit further northwards affecting southern and also western scotland. it really will be piling into western scotland over the next few days. a gusty, windy day to come for most, generally dry with a little bit of brightness, though, across southern and eastern areas. that will allow temperatures to reach 111—15 celsius with this slightly milder air mass and a double figure values starting to push in across scotland. into next week, it stays very wet across parts of scotland, windy here, too. but high pressure over the near continent will build, and that will settle things down, particularly so for england and wales. it's also going to usher in some very mild air across all areas, but it will be very noticeable
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across more southern parts, particularly where we have lighter winds and more sunshine around. so it could be very wet across the north and west of scotland, certainly through monday and tuesday. milderfor all, and it will turn warm in fact across southern areas, temperatures into the mid—twenties.
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this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. nearly two months after the coup, myanmar�*s military puts on a show of strength, promising democracy and stability. but there are new reports of protesters being killed. president biden condems an electoral law passed by republicans in georgia as a clear attempt to stop black people voting. coronavirus restrictions are stepped up in parts of europe as a third wave of infections sweeps the continent. rwanda welcomes a report that finds france bore serious responsibilities for the 1994 genocide. she broughtjoy to many children with her tales
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beverly clea ry, who has died aged 104.

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