tv Newsday BBC News November 15, 2021 11:00pm-11:31pm GMT
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welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: on his way home — an american journalist sentenced to 11 years in prison in myanmar is released. the government tells the bbc their reasons. translation: our foreign policy is to keep good _ translation: our foreign policy is to keep good relations _ translation: our foreign policy is to keep good relations with - translation: our foreign policy is to keep good relations with other. to keep good relations with other countries. and we also considered human and tearing reasons. on these grounds, we granted amnesty and deported him today —— humanitarian reasons. police in the uk name the man who died when a taxi exploded, as the investigation into what they've called a terrorist attack continues. our inquiries will now
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seek to understand how the device was built, the motivation for the incident and to understand if anyone else was involved in it. president xi and president biden prepare for key talks, as tensions grow over trade, taiwan and climate change. and adele admits she was embarrassed by her marriage breaking down, as the singer opens up in an interview with oprah. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday. it's 7am in the morning in singapore, ”pm in london and 5:30am in myanmar, where the ruling military have been speaking exclusively to bbc world news. they say they released us journalist danny fenster — sentenced last week to 11 years in prison — in an attempt to improve relations with the united states.
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the military seized power in a coup on the 1st of february and thousands of people have been detained since then during violent demonstrations demanding the restoration of democracy. in a wide—ranging interview, myanmar�*s deputy minister of information, major—general zaw min tun, also denied they had carried out systematic torture and war crimes and insisted that ousted leader aung san suu kyi was in good health. he was speaking to the bbc�*s asia editor, rebecca henschke. after six months in detention, united states journalist danny fenster finally released — the result of lobbying by america, an attempt by the myanmar military to improve broken relations. translation: we carried out - an amnesty and waived the punishment after the court verdict. we already had the intention to release him. what was promised by the united states in return for his release today?
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translation: nothing. our foreign policy is to keep good relations with other countries. and we also considered humanitarian reasons. on these grounds, we granted amnesty and deported him today. while danny fenster is now free, some 30 burmese journalists are still behind bars, amongst thousands of political prisoners. those lucky to be released back to their families describe systematic torture in jail — young people detained for months, for daring to take to the streets to demand democracy. i put the testimony of one 24—year—old protester, tortured injail, to general zaw min tun. she was told by her interrogators, "do you know what we do here to women? we rape and then we kill them." translation: we've released her,
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so she can accuse us _ and say whatever she wants. i don't know why she said that. this kind of fake news comes around. if she was tortured in prison, there's a system to complain. why didn't she complain in the prison? you appear to make no attempt to hide the use of torture. on state tv, you parade those who have been arrested. clearly, the face is bruised and, in some cases, their face is unrecognisable. translation: it can happen when arrests are made. - they try to escape and we have to capture them. the united nations says the military crackdown points to crimes against humanity, but their envoy has been repeatedly denied access to investigate. and general zaw min tun says that's not going to change. translation: the reason we don't allow them in is because, _ number one, we consider it not
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the right time, two, we can't agree with their demands and, number three, what they say about myanmar is not constructive. when will you allow them now to enter the country? translation: they need to show steps towards acknowledging _ the existence of our government. un envoys have also insisted on seeing detained leader aung san suu kyi. she hasn't been seen in public since february, the military placing a gag order on her lawyers while insisting she is well. translation: we're keeping her well in detention. - i mean, we let her live with her own people in a house, although she's under house arrest. we're trying our best to give her what she wants or whatever she wants to eat. but ten months after the military seized power, the people of myanmar continue to protest, telling the world they want democracy, not military rule. rebecca henschke, bbc news.
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well, let's turn to the uk now, where a man killed in an explosion outside a hospital in liverpool has been named as 32—year—old emad al swealmeen. he was a passenger in a taxi that blew up, in what's now been declared a terrorist incident. officers suspect the man made the explosive device, but so far the motive is unknown. the uk's terror threat level has been raised to severe, meaning an attack is considered highly likely. the driver of the taxi has now been released from hospital. our special correspondent ed thomas reports. remembrance sunday, as the nation falls silent. david perry's taxi rolls in, before the unthinkable happens. moments after the blast, look at the driver's door. you can see david escape. he runs away. others rush in to help.
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this is thought to be david with his hands on his head. this evening, his wife rachel said it was a miracle he survived and he's trying to process what's happened. today, detectives confirmed the passenger who had the explosive device had asked to be taken to the hospital. yesterday, shortly before "am, a local taxi driver picked up a fare in the roland avenue area of liverpool. the fare, a man, had asked to be taken to liverpool women's hospital, which was about ten minutes away. as the taxi approached the drop—off point at the hospital, an explosion occurred from within the car. tonight, david perry's family said he's lucky to be alive and that he's doing ok. he's also been praised by the prime minister, who urged the public to be alert. it is a stark reminder of the need for us all to remain utterly vigilant.
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and the independent joint terrorism analysis centre, jtac, are today raising the uk threat level from substantial to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. police have confirmed tonight the identity of the man who died as 32—year—old emad al swealmeen, a syrian refugee befriended by malcolm hitchcock and his wife elizabeth when he arrived in the uk. they supported him and they knew him as enzo. how are you coping with all of this? we're just so, so sad. and what do you remember of enzo? well, we just loved him. he was a lovely guy. were you shocked when you saw this today? very. there is a forensic search for evidence on the hospital. and just a mile away, four people have now been arrested under the terrorism act... it's just horrifying. you can't believe what type of person would do that. ..while david perry's friends
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and colleagues carry on working, in disbelief at what has happened. i think it's absolutely shocking, how a man can go out to do his normal day's work and potentially lose his life. he sustained a lot of injuries — i believe burst eardrums, he's got a back fracture. that's just words going in between different drivers, the various injuries and burst eardrums, so obviously it's going to just be a shock for him and his family. i think he's a hero. he's coming all the time in this shop. he's a very nice person as well. but it's here at the hospital where the panic of yesterday was most acute. this was filmed inside the hospital by the father of a newborn baby.
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we're not using the sound, but he comforts his distraught wife as the fire takes hold. today, parents and expectant mothers told us it was terrifying. just, we feel horrible. but when we see the police is here, we feel safe. it's just really scary, whatever the case was, that they would end up at a women's hospital, when there's loads of babies and things like that. it'sjust awful. this is now an investigation involving counterterror police and the security services, as they move quickly to find out why this happened and if anyone else knew. ed thomas, bbc news, liverpool. in other headlines, president biden will hold a "virtual meeting" with president xi of china, as the leaders of the world's two largest economies confront tensions over trade, taiwan, human rights, cyberthreats and climate change. it will be the most extensive talks between the two leaders since mr biden took office injanuary. i'm joined now by bert hofman, who leads the east asian institute at the national university of singapore. it's of singapore. great to have you on the
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programme it's great to have you on the programme today, professor. in the first instance, how higher your expectations or how low, should i say, are your expectations of this virtual summit? will they come to some sort of mutual agreement and understanding? the some sort of mutual agreement and understanding?— some sort of mutual agreement and understanding? the meeting itself is very important. _ understanding? the meeting itself is very important, the _ understanding? the meeting itself is very important, the first _ very important, the first face—to—face meeting between the leaders of the two consequent donations of the century, so it is important by itself. they have had phone calls before, but not face—to—face. it is not yet in person, but this is good enough. second, you mentioned already a very large agenda — political, economic and security issues that are on the table, and it is very important they are being discussed. in terms of outcomes, i don't expect much concrete outcomes, agreements & documents, if you want, but i do thing this meeting will set an agenda of more interaction on the diplomatic level between the scaredy
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forces that will over time rebuild some of the trust that was lost under the previous us administration.- under the previous us administration. �* , ., administration. but, professor, even under this administration, _ administration. but, professor, even under this administration, under- under this administration, under president biden, there have been key points of tension between the us and china. i weigh from the —— away from the economy, if we take taiwan, president biden has been very vocal in his support for taiwan, something beijing is totally against. what do you think they will talk about or discuss when it comes to taiwan? ., , , ., ., to taiwan? indeed, as you mentioned, joe biden to taiwan? indeed, as you mentioned, joe biden has — to taiwan? indeed, as you mentioned, joe biden has spoken _ to taiwan? indeed, as you mentioned, joe biden has spoken a _ to taiwan? indeed, as you mentioned, joe biden has spoken a couple - to taiwan? indeed, as you mentioned, joe biden has spoken a couple of - joe biden has spoken a couple of times on taiwan. his utterances had to be clarified, because it was unclear whether it was a shift in the us policy with sugar to taiwan or not, but at the same time, from the chinese are growing quite
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assertive into the recognition zone of taiwan, lots of activities in the south china sea, so the there is nervousness on both side. what is important is a simple restatement on both sides of existing taiwan policies, both from china and the united states. there is 50 years of history in shaping that policy, and most of it was done in the 1970s and early 1980s. joe biden just restating there is been no change us policy is important and would give some comfort to the chinese. find some comfort to the chinese. and 'ust some comfort to the chinese. and just briefly. _ some comfort to the chinese. and just briefly, professor, we have seen the two cooperate to some extent on climate change. do you see that cooperation evening in the future? . , that cooperation evening in the future? ., , , that cooperation evening in the future? . , , ., , future? there has been a complete aareement future? there has been a complete agreement in _ future? there has been a complete agreement in glasgow _ future? there has been a complete agreement in glasgow on - future? there has been a complete agreement in glasgow on a - future? there has been a complete agreement in glasgow on a more i agreement in glasgow on a more technical issue methane control. the chinese unfortunately, they did not commit to a phase out of coal there, even though it is in the plans
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domestically, but this cooperation is, if you want, important for the world. it will be beneficial, because the us have useful technology for the chinese, but the chinese also have useful technology for aydin�*s green agenda. i am sure level and there may be more areas of global interest, including interest, including health, including pandemic control, but that the us and china can agree on, to at least pursue this. again, i don't expect any agreement and this meeting, but agreement and this meeting, but agreement in the future. bert hofman, thank— agreement in the future. bert hofman, thank you _ agreement in the future. bert hofman, thank you so - agreement in the future. bert hofman, thank you so much for joining us. if you want to get in touch with me, i'm on twitter — @bbckarishma.
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i'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: divorce, weight loss and adele — the award—winning singer speaks out about her mental health struggles. benezia bhutto has claimed victory in pakistan's general election, and she's asked pakistan's president to name her as prime minister. jackson's been released on bail of $3 million after turning himself in to police in santa barbara. it was the biggest demonstration so far of the fast—growing european antinuclear movement. the south african government has announced that it's opening - the country's remaining whites—only beaches to people of all races. - this will lead to a black—majority
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government in this country and the destruction of the white civilisation. part of the centuries—old windsor castle, one of the queen's residences, has been consumed by fire for much of the day. 150 firemen have been battling the blaze, which has caused millions of pounds worth of damage. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. our headlines: us journalist danny fenster has been released from prison in myanmar, just days after being sentenced to 11 years injail. a man who died when he set off an explosive device in a taxi in liverpool has been named as emad al swealmeen. in other stories, several hundred migrants have walked
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from their makeshift camp in belarus to one of the main border crossings into poland. belarusian police made no attempt to stop the group, but they were denied entry by polish forces. meanwhile, the eu announced a new round of sanctions against belarus. our correspondent steve rosenberg has travelled to the border and met with the migrants trapped between the two nations. in the migrant camp, word had got out, they'd been told this was the moment to make it into the eu. everyone here wanted to believe it was going to happen and the belarusian soldiers didn't try to stop them. in their thousands, they streamed towards the border crossing that leads from belarus to poland. and the closer they came, the more urgent it got. the last fence on the belarus side swept away.
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so after a week in the camp, the migrants are now pouring through, right up to the checkpoint with poland, they're determined to be let through to the european union. attention, attention. but it was no entry. if you don't follow... polish police were out in force and standing firm. always baby crying for the milk, for nappy, we don't have nothing. please come and help these people, all the guys. the eu says belarus is using migrants as a weapon against the west, to pressure europe, a form of hybrid warfare. these people want a better life. they are desperate to get to the european union, which is right here. but the eu says that these migrants are being used, exploited by belarus to spark a humanitarian crisis on the eu's doorstep. back in the camp, we heard stories
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of how belarusian soldiers had helped some migrants try to cross illegally into poland. in the night, they told us, "you will go to poland." they cut the fence. the belarusians cut for us and we ran. we run a lot. and then we hide ourselves in the forest. they see us and return back to the site. it is like a football game. we are in the middle. many of these migrants from the middle east say they're escaping conflicts at home. they've paid thousands of dollars each to get here, but they're stuck. they say there's no way back, but for now, there's no way forward. steve rosenberg, bbc news, belarus. the uk government's vaccine advisers say all over—40s should be offered a booster dose
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of a coronavirus vaccine. thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation says a third jab would top up protection and help limit the spread of the virus overwinter. they've also advised that 16 and i7—year—olds, who were initially offered only a single dose, should now get a second. meanwhile, austria has introduced a partial lockdown for the 2 million people there who haven't had two doses of a coronavirus vaccine. they've been told to stay at home except for work and essential shopping, initially for the next ten days. the country has one of the highest infection rates in europe, as bethany bell reports from vienna. carina doesn't want to get vaccinated against covid—i9, so she's under lockdown like two million other austrians. as of today, she is only allowed to leave her home for essential reasons like work or shopping for food. we met her in a vienna park, where she's allowed to take exercise.
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i was walking by the cafes and it's a bit strange to look inside and know that if i wanted to, i couldn't go in and join. it makes you feel really excluded and ostracised. the lockdown for the unvaccinated is controversial. some took to the streets in protest. police say they are carrying out random spot checks on people in public places and fine anyone who can't show a certificate of vaccination or recovery. austria's chancellor says the government was forced to act because of the surge in new infections. translation: we must raise the vaccination rate. - it is shamefully low. this vaccination rate will not allow us to escape from the pandemic. it will keep us trapped in a vicious circle from one lockdown to the next. since the measures tightened, more austrians have been getting jabbed. as you can see, there are
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long lines of people that are forming here outside this vienna vaccination centre. some people are coming for their boosterjabs. others are getting their first injections. some austrians are concerned the move isn't constitutional. karl is pro—vaccination, but he's worried about the impact of the lockdown. i think it's a catastrophe to divide between vaccinated and not vaccinated. clothes shopping is now only for the vaccinated. many austrians say that makes them feel safer. we all have to be vaccinated. it's the only solution. otherwise we have the problem for quite a long time. people disagree on lockdowns, but if the covid numbers keep rising, austria faces a bleak christmas. bethany bell, bbc news, vienna.
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let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines today. presidentjoe biden has signed into law a trillion—dollar infrastructure bill which has been agreed by both houses of congress. the passing of the bill ends weeks of wrangling between the moderate and progressive wings of the democratic party. the authorities in the indian capital, delhi, says they're ready to impose a complete lockdown to fight worsening air pollution. schools have already been closed for a week and civil servants have been ordered to work from home. in other stories for you today, adele has revealed she was "embarrassed" by her divorce. speaking to oprah winfrey ahead of the release of her latest album, the star said she felt like she had "disrespected" the idea of marriage when she separated from her husband in 2018. she added that "terrifying anxiety attacks" after the divorce
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there are some flashing images in this report. this was adele's first tv interview about the release of her new album. she said because her own dad left when she was just two, she had promised herself that whatever happened, when she had children, she would always stay with her partner. what do you think the deep wound from the past, from you as a little girl growing up, you are trying to heal as you reach for your relationships as an adult woman? my dad's absolute lack of presence and effort with me. but as i got older, i definitely understood that it was the alcohol, it wasn't a choice that he was necessarily making himself that he didn't want... but when you are little, you don't know. she told oprah she was embarrassed her marriage of eight years crumbled and said it felt like that meant she was disrespecting the institution of marriage. it was just exhausting trying to, like, keep going with it. it's a process, the process of a divorce, the process of being a single parent. the process of not seeing your child every single day wasn't really a plan that i had
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when i became a mum. adele also revealed she had suffered paralysing anxiety attacks after her divorce and only started going to the gym mainly to control the stress. it led to her losing over seven stone in two years, but crucially, she said, it helped her mental health. it became my time, me having a plan every day when i had no plans, i had no idea what each day was going to bring for me, but me knowing at 9am, "i'm going to go to the gym, ok, great, that gives me some discipline. at 1pm, i go fora hike." having these pins in my day helped me keep myself together. you weren't starting out trying to lose weight? no, not at all, i wasn't bothered about that at all, but in that process of having lost all that weight, i definitely really contributed towards me getting my mind right and giving me... it sharpened everything. without a shadow of the doubt. it gave me a real purpose.
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that's all the time that we have for you i newsday this hour. thanks so much for watching. do stay with bbc news. hello. well, tuesday promises to be a dry day across most of the uk. it's going to be cloudy and mild once again. and, in fact, not much change expected for the next few days. if anything, the temperatures could rise even further. so why is it so mild? well, on the satellite picture, you'll see this big weather front here. this is very much where the jet stream is. thejet stream is pushing along the weather fronts, but it's also separating the mild air to the south, which has engulfed the uk, indeed much of europe, and is keeping the cold air at bay. so we are to the south of the jet stream in that milder air. but scotland is a little closer to the weather fronts in the north atlantic, so that does mean some of that rain grazing the western isles through the course of the early hours. elsewhere, it'll be dry.
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and where the skies will have cleared, perhaps 4—5 celsius at dawn, so a little on the nippy side, but generally mild. now, that weather front does move into scotland, northern ireland, perhaps the lake district and the north of wales, but the rain will be light and fleeting and will complete fizzle away. east and south, it's going to be dry. perhaps a bit of brightness, too. and the same pattern continues into wednesday. so high pressure in the south with that mild air coming in, weather fronts in the north of the atlantic. and again, they are bringing this time some showers to parts of scotland, whereas in the south, central, southern areas of the uk, should be a fine day — in fact, a very bright day, particularly eastern areas and along the south coast. temperatures a little fresher on wednesday, 10—12 celsius, but then they rise again as we head into thursday. now, around this high pressure, we'll run along a current of mild air on thursday. and as it engulfs the uk, the temperatures could a chilly rise even further with a bit of sunshine. so, yes, a bit of cloud and rain
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here in the northwest of scotland, but widely i think the mid—teens. and look at that — 16 in aberdeen. wouldn't be surprised if it gets up to 17, 17 this time in november — extraordinarily mild for eastern parts of scotland. shouldn't last for too long, perhaps into friday. again, friday could well be another very mild day, with the mid—teens across the country, but i think as we head into the weekend, it's going to turn a lot, lot cooler. so a very mild week, particularly mild towards the end of the week, and i think the weekend and beyond is going to turn quite a bit colder. bye— bye.
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a us journalist sentenced to 11 years in prison in myanmar only last week has been released from jail. danny fenster is on his way home. his release was negotiated by the former us diplomat, bill richardson. the man killed in an explosion outside liverpool women's hospital has been named by police as emad al swealmeen. he was a passenger in a taxi when a homemade bomb exploded on remembrance sunday. the eu is imposing new sanctions against belarus over the migrant crisis on the polish border. the latest measures are said to target people and companies involved in transporting the migrants to the border. the controversial former adviser to donald trump, steve bannon has appeared in court on criminal charges. he's been indicted for contempt of congress, after refusing to cooperate with a probe into the attack on the us capitol.
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