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tv   BBC News  BBC News  October 17, 2022 2:00am-2:31am BST

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welcome to bbc news. i'm simon pusey. our top stories: somalia's sorrow. we have a special report from the african nation suffering its worst drought in a0 years. we are headed for a catastrophe. this is a serious. it is really going to get worse if nothing more comes in other than what is already there. britain's new chancellor defends the prime minister, saying voters don't need the turmoil of a fresh leadership election. more than 600 dead due to severe flooding in nigeria, with weeks of torrential rain still to come. china's president stresses the need for continued economic development but defends his covid policy, as the communist party gathers in beijing. and a bbc investigation finds that sexual harassment and bullying went unchecked at international broadcaster al jazeera.
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somalia has a long history of droughts, but due to climate change, the intervals between them are getting shorter, and this one is the worst in a0 years. it's estimated that more than half the population — nearly 8 million people — are currently living in drought—affected areas. the situation is getting worse. it's growing into a full—blown famine, where households have no food, and children suffer acute malnutrition. andrew harding's report comes from dolow, where people have come in search of life—saving help, a warning that you are likely to find parts of it difficult to watch. from the parched plains of southern somalia, a weary exodus.
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these families have trekked for days across a hostile wilderness in search of food. tens of thousands have made similarjourneys in recent weeks, drawn to places like this. the crowded outskirts of dolow, a border town where some help is at hand. the local hospital, funded by britain since the last famine here back in 2011, is playing a vital role. the baby is really very severely malnourished. but pamela, a nutrition expert from neighbouring kenya, is afraid of what lies ahead. somalia needs help. now? now, yeah. and if it doesn't get it? we are headed for a catastrophe. this is serious. it's really going to get worse if nothing more comes in other than what's already there.
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today, that catastrophe is already taking shape in the crowded stabilisation ward. as usual, it's the under fives who act as the fragile sirens of famine. and today, a boy is fighting for his life. he is two years old, but weighs little more than a newborn baby. he has been hungry for most of his life? his mother tells me he had a fever for weeks. "the drought took everything from us, all our crops, "our cattle," she says. "there was nothing left for the boy to eat." which is why they came here, to dolow. it took the boy and his family nine days to walk to this camp. they had to beg for food on the way. it was somalia's savage drought that forced them off their farm but the real culprit here
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is man—made climate change. almost no—one here thinks they will ever go back to their farms, to their old way of life. the next morning, we return to check up on the boy. but he is struggling. his body temperature has dropped sharply. probably might be successful. we are not sure. but they are still trying to resuscitate. the doctors try to warm him with a foil blanket, but he's too weak to respond. his mother and grandmother watch silently. but there is no more to be done. and with a light touch on her shoulder, his mother is told that it's over. her husband is there,
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too, to see the end. the number of children that we've lost here this year, 2022, also increased. it must take a toll on you and your staff to see that. yeah, it normally takes a toll, especially it is so sad and painful when you witness something that can be prevented and can be corrected very easily. within hours, abdiweli's father is already helping to dig a grave. there are brief prayers. and as the women watch from a distance, a 2—year—old's body is buried. it will not be the last here. andrew harding, bbc news, in dolow, somalia. here in the uk, the new finance ministerjeremy hunt has been insisting the prime minister liz truss is in charge. 48 hours into thejob, he has the herculean task of restoring market confidence
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in her economic plans. he's made clear he will be looking at government spending as well as the planned tax cuts. mr hunt held talks with the prime minister on sunday, but her position did not appear secure. three conservative members of parliament have publicly called for her to resign. here's our political correspondent ben wright. behind the gates of the prime minister's country retreat, liz truss met her chancellor — not unusual in normal times, but these are not. jeremy hunt has been sent in to urgently rewrite the government's economic strategy. so who has the power now? the prime minister is in charge. really? yeah, i think it is important... some tory mps think liz truss needs to go. her chancellor had this warning to his party. when i talk to my constituents in south west surrey, what they want is stability, and the worst thing for that would be more political instability at the top, another protracted leadership campaign.
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i think that's the last thing that people really want to happen. but some of mr hunt's colleagues are still seething about the government's now abandoned plan for unfunded tax cuts. over the past few weeks, the government has looked like libertarianjihadists, and treated the whole country as kind of laboratory mice in which to carry out ultra, ultra free—market experiments. i wasn't the only one thati thought it was a mistake. even the us president has a view about what's been going on here. the idea of cutting taxes on the super wealthy - at a time when... anyway, ijust think, - i disagree with the policy but it's up to greatl britain to make that judgement and not me. and may have chilled relations with number ten with that highly unusual bit of commentary. as despairing tory mps trudge back to westminster tomorrow, they know this is a political crisis that directly affects their constituents.
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and if the last few weeks have shown anything, it's that decisions made by politicians here can have an instant impact on people's lives and the economy. 0n the value of the pound, on borrowing costs, mortgage payments and rents. and it seems many tory mps have resolved that liz truss cannot be left in office to sort it out. can liz truss survive? no, i think the game is up. and it's now a question as to how the succession is managed. he's the first conservative mp to publicly say it should now be curtains for liz truss, but the criticism from others is hardly veiled. power is a very fickle thing and i think liz truss, as i see it, is in office but is not in power. and this former cabinet minister thinks liz truss needs to get more talent into her team. she needs to bring the broad conservative party into her government. so a reshuffle? she needs a reshuffle, because the reshuffle that she started her administration with, she took the decision, which was respectable
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but high risk, to only put in the cabinet people who had voted for her, and that means, that's only a third of the conservative party in parliament. reaction to the chancellor's budget plan could determine the prime minister's fate. some tory mps believe her time is up but allies says she can ride this crisis out despite the turmoil lapping at downing street's door. ben wright, bbc news. there have been more anti—government protests in iran, with demonstrators at tehran university shouting slogans about the events at evin prison on saturday. the authorities have acknowledged four people were killed in the fire that broke out there. with me is our news reporter azadeh moshiri. tell us about what happened. tell us about what happened. state media is releasing some information but they are being careful about what they do release because there is a concern for them that this
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information and the events of last night could trickle down to protesters and further inflame the protests that have been going on. what we do know in terms of what they are reporting is that four people have died. they are saying it is because of smoke inhalation and that more than 60 people but injured but this conflicts with what the prisoners inside evin prison have said. they said that there was teargas and that doesn't match what we have seenin that doesn't match what we have seen in these videos, these large plumes of smoke as well as gunshots heard in the background. in terms of the causes of these fires, there is also some conflicting reports. state media is saying that it was because of a brawl between inmates about riots between the prison. they also said that it was because of a premeditated plan for prisoners to get out, but again the picture is not clear and they do keep insisting that it has nothing to do with the protest, because of course they do not want to link all of this. given that no
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matter what the cause actually was, it would have been a difficult experience for the inmates. this is a high security prison. the bbc spoke to anoosheh ashoori, a former detainee, who spoke about what it was like. we detainee, who spoke about what it was like-— it was like. we used to call it the valley — it was like. we used to call it the valley of _ it was like. we used to call it the valley of hell. _ it was like. we used to call it the valley of hell. so, - it was like. we used to call it the valley of hell. so, you i it was like. we used to call it | the valley of hell. so, you can imagine — the valley of hell. so, you can imagine the situation there is really— imagine the situation there is really dire. medical care is next — really dire. medical care is next to— really dire. medical care is next to zero. they are living with — next to zero. they are living with bedbugs, cockroaches, rats, — with bedbugs, cockroaches, rats, you name with bedbugs, cockroaches, rats, you name it, with bedbugs, cockroaches, rats, you name it, and we have it thera — rats, you name it, and we have it there. ~ ., , ., , it there. we have seen many weeks are — it there. we have seen many weeks are protesters - it there. we have seen many weeks are protesters of - it there. we have seen many i weeks are protesters of course. i have the public reacted, or people in iran reacted to the fire? ., , , ., fire? people rushed to the rison fire? people rushed to the prison and _ fire? people rushed to the prison and people - fire? people rushed to the prison and people are - fire? people rushed to the - prison and people are concerned about what has happened to the inmates there but in terms of the protest themselves, that has been protest there, and
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amini's name has been used which inflame to people who have an anti—government sentiment but that is also by state government are trying to get things under control. 0ne channel did a tour in evin prison, showing the areas damaged, showing inmates living calmly, trying to say that everything is under control. you do get a sense that this is damage control, but the fact is this isn't going to help the government contain protest that are now going into their fifth week and haven't lost steam. it week and haven't lost steam. it does seem to be snowboarding does seem to be snowboarding this process. china's president has said there will be no change to the country's zero—covid policy, which has meant frequent lockdowns and economic disruption. xijinping was speaking at the start of the communist party congress — a gathering that happens only every five years. stephen mcdonnell reports from beijing. xijinping is on the brink of an historic third term in office. a move which will give him power not seen in decades. so at the great hall of the people, he was praising his government's performance, sounding strident, as he said the communist party would try to achieve peaceful unification
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with the self—governing island of taiwan, but warning that he wouldn't rule out seizing by force what he sees as part of his country's territory. translation: we will never promise to renounce the use| of force as an option. he defended the hong kong crackdown, which he said had restored order to the city. but what most chinese people wanted to hearfrom him was whether covid lockdowns and travel restrictions might be eased when the congress finishes. the short answer, no. translation: people's lives come first. - we will not waver in our zero—covid policy. however, there was no acknowledgement of the pain this country has suffered, as cities have shut down for months on end, nor of the rising youth unemployment as businesses close their doors. translation: the epidemic has really hit the economy, - and i was hoping to hear
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new policies to help people. translation: if we could find a job we wouldn't be studying l for a masters degree right now. a few days ago protest banners were hung off a beijing bridge calling for xi jinping's removal. there's always increased security in the city when these big political meetings happen, but this time round these bridges are being guarded round the clock. and seeing these guard stations is probably the closest most people come to engagement with the congress. when this meeting finishes in a week's time, xijinping will reveal his new leadership team. his political rivals have been removed. in theory, he could be leaderfor life. stephen mcdonell, bbc news, beijing. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: a dinosaur that'll fit in your front room. the small skeleton that could sell for a big price.
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a historic moment that many of his victims have waited for four decades — the former dictator in the dock older, slimmer and as he sat down, obedient enough.— slimmer and as he sat down, obedient enough. dawn and as the sun breaks _ obedient enough. dawn and as the sun breaks through - obedient enough. dawn and as the sun breaks through the - the sun breaks through the piercing _ the sun breaks through the piercing chill of night on the plane — piercing chill of night on the plane outside corum, it lights up plane outside corum, it lights up a _ plane outside corum, it lights up a biblicalfamine now plane outside corum, it lights up a biblical famine now in the 20th— up a biblical famine now in the 20th century. up a biblical famine now in the 20th century-— 20th century. the depressing conclusion, _ 20th century. the depressing conclusion, in _ 20th century. the depressing conclusion, in argentina - 20th century. the depressing l conclusion, in argentina today, it is conclusion, in argentina today, it is actually— conclusion, in argentina today, it is actually cheaper— conclusion, in argentina today, it is actually cheaper to - conclusion, in argentina today, it is actually cheaper to paper. it is actually cheaper to paper your— it is actually cheaper to paper your walls _ it is actually cheaper to paper your walls with _ it is actually cheaper to paper your walls with money. - it is actually cheaper to paper your walls with money. me i it is actually cheaper to paper your walls with money. we have had controversies _ your walls with money. we have had controversies in _ your walls with money. we have had controversies in the - your walls with money. we have had controversies in the past - had controversies in the past with great britain but is good friends, we have always found a good and lasting solution. concorde bows out in style after — concorde bows out in style after almost three decades in service — after almost three decades in service stop an aircraft that has — service stop an aircraft that has drawn so many admirers for so long — has drawn so many admirers for so long taxis home one last
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time — this is bbc news. the latest headlines: the african nation of somalia is suffering its worst drought in a0 years. more than half the population is being affected. —— more than the population is being affected. britain's new chancellor defends the prime minister, saying voters don't need the turmoil of a fresh leadership election. a bbc investigation has found that international news broadcaster aljazeera did not address years of complaints about inappropriate and toxic behaviour at its headquarters in doha in qatar. allegations first surfaced when a presenter who had been with the news channel for 16 years left to join another news channel in new zealand. the bbc�*s suranjana tewari joins me for more on the story. thank you forjoining us. at exactly did your investigation find? �* , exactly did your investigation find? �* ., exactly did your investigation find? ., find? i've spoken to many,
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multiple — find? i've spoken to many, multiple current _ find? i've spoken to many, multiple current former . find? i've spoken to many, multiple current former -- j multiple current former —— current and former employees, rather, from aljazeera. any allege that former presenter kemal santamaria sexually kemal sa ntamaria sexually harassed them kemal santamaria sexually harassed them in the zohan newsroom where aljazeera is based —— kamahl. some say he was not the only one to do so and there are wider allegations —— doha. years and years of harassment, that's what some people have been facing allegedly. now, these people told me that managers are aware but continue to give the accused, including mr santamaria on air offered opportunities. i see at top of the four fosters a toxic work environment and i've also seen documentary evidence outlining inappropriate behaviour and staff complaints in the doha newsroom, some of them going back as far as to the 20 —— 2016. victims told me there is a disregard for policy at al jazeera, a culture of forgiving behaviour and protection of
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people considered to be above the law. ~ ., , people considered to be above thelaw.~ ., , ~ the law. what exactly has mr santamaria _ the law. what exactly has mr santamaria been _ the law. what exactly has mr santamaria been accused - the law. what exactly has mr| santamaria been accused of? the law. what exactly has mr- santamaria been accused of? he is santamaria been accused of? he: is accused of sending is accused of sending inappropriate messages to colleagues on social media and internal work e—mail. he is accused of kissing people in the newsroom uninvited. i spoke to one man and several women who experienced this. the man said kissed him on the lips. a young producer told me she had to wipe saliva off her face after he kissed her. another told me it was textbook grooming, his behaviour. he allegedly offered comments on the appearance of other women in the newsroom on at least one occasion he commented on his co—host�*s breast, something that many people witnessed. i put these allegations to mr santamaria who admitted to and apologised for behaviour that may have made anyone feel uncomfortable. he added that what he previously considered to be flirtatious, over friendly and just a bit of
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banter or simply within the bounds of acceptable and the prevailing newsroom culture was, in fact, prevailing newsroom culture was, infact, not. prevailing newsroom culture was, in fact, not.— prevailing newsroom culture was, in fact, not. why is this only coming _ was, in fact, not. why is this only coming to _ was, in fact, not. why is this only coming to light - was, in fact, not. why is this only coming to light now? i was, in fact, not. why is this - only coming to light now? yeah, many peeple _ only coming to light now? yeah, many peeple told _ only coming to light now? yeah, many people told me _ only coming to light now? yeah, many people told me that - only coming to light now? yeah, many people told me that they l many people told me that they struggled to speak up in qatar where aljazeera is based because it has strict laws around freedom of the media and of expression. for staff who work at aljazeera, their visas and take kid's schools and homes are all tied to their employment there so it's hard to raise issues at the work is according to them. 0thers to raise issues at the work is according to them. others said everyone santamaria's star everyone sa ntamaria's star status everyone santamaria's star status in the newsroom made it difficult to complain because he continued to get on air opportunities when they say they knew that management knew about his behaviour. now, we put around 22 allegations to al jazeera, which they did not actually respond to individually, but they did give us a statement, saying that they put their staff at the
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utmost importance and that they strived to build a healthy and constructive work environment for all. constructive work environment forall. ,, . . . constructive work environment forall. ,, ., ., ., ., ,, constructive work environment forall. ,, ., ., ., ., ~ for all. suran'ana, thank you indeed for _ for all. suranjana, thank you indeed for bringing - for all. suranjana, thank you indeed for bringing us - for all. suranjana, thank you indeed for bringing us up - for all. suranjana, thank you indeed for bringing us up to | indeed for bringing us up to date. let's get some of the day's other news. turkey's president has been criticised for linking the deaths of 41 miners in an explosion to "destiny," saying such accidents "will always be". president erdogan made the comments during a visit to the site in bartin province on saturday. protests have taken place in istanbul objecting to his remarks, with some protestors describing the accident as a "massacre". the two candidates in brazil's run—off presidential election have been facing each other in the first televised debate ahead of the vote, which will be held in two weeks' time. it's been a campaign marked by accusations of corruption and personal attacks on the candidates and their families. the former left—wing leader, luiz inacio lula da silva, won the first round five percentage points ahead of the far—right president, jair bolsonaro, who's seeking re—election.
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a number of unidentified gunmen opened fire in a bar in central mexico, killing 12 people. it's the second mass shooting in the state of guanajuato in less than a month. the motive behind the shooting was not immediately clear. the region has been convulsed by brutal turf wars between rival drug gangs in recent years. more than 600 people are now known to have died in nigeria as a result of severe flooding, and meteorologists say the torrential rain is likely to continue until at least the end of november. the government is urging the state authorities to evacuate those living in vulnerable areas as soon as possible. wendy urquhart reports. in the south—eastern state of anambra, the water is fine deep. and the only way out is by canoe —— thigh deep. some locals planted gams and kasr in the hopes of getting through
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the hopes of getting through the rainy season unscathed while others stocked up on sandbags to keep the water outfit but the sheer force of the floods made it all impossible. flash flooding has displaced at least 1.3 million people in nigeria and some 200,000 homes have been completely washed away. the water released from several dams which was supposed to prevent excessive flooding has made very situation even worse. humanitarian groups are providing shelter, food and clothing for those who have been affected but there are fears that the worst is yet to come. the world food programme and the un's food and agriculture 0rganisation have both said that nigeria is one of six countries facing a high risk of a catastrophic level of hunger. with large swathes of farmland waterlogged and crops completely destroyed, rice producers are already warning that prices could soar — not
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least because rice imports were banned in a bid to stimulate local production. this is the worst rainy season in nigeria for a decade. but despite early warnings, it seems the country just was not prepared for the level of destruction that the rainy season has caused. wendy urquhart, bbc news. typhoon nesat brought 120km/h winds and driving rain to the northern philippines on sunday. flash floods forced at least 900 people to evacuate their homes and many roads are completely blocked. the storm also brought down trees and damaged houses and businesses. typhoon nesat is now heading for the south china sea. emergency warnings are still in place in parts of australia after a massive storm dumped a month's worth of rain in rochester, 200km north of melbourne. more than 340 roads were closed across the state of victoria, leaving hundreds of people stranded. thousands have no electricity. over 3,000 people have
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already applied for aid and meteorologists say more rain is on the way. the auction of a 150 million—year—old dinosaur fossil takes place in paris later this week. zephyr was an iguanodon, and its remains were found in what is modern—day colorado. it's estimated this dinosaur skeleton could sell for around $500,000, as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. meet zephyr. the dinosaur who will fit in your front room. well, it would have to be quite a big front room but, as dinosaurs go, zephyr is fairly diminutive. part of the iguanodon family, it's no more than 1.5m in height and around 3m in length. small, but remarkable nonetheless. translation: the interesting thing about zephyr, firstly - its provenance, because it was found in one of the best fossil deposits in the united states.
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and then, secondly, it's quite complete — we're talking about 70% of the skeleton. this is what zephyr may have looked like back in the day. iguanodons date back from the latejurassic to the early cretaceous period and can be found in what is now asia, europe and north america. dinosaur skeletons can go for big bucks at auction. this tyrannosaurus rex called stan sold for $32 million two years ago. it's a growing and lucrative market. translation: there are i different profiles of bidders. there are museums. otherwise, it's individuals who are collectors. there's even investment funds that are linked to dinosaurs now. zephyr will go under the hammer on thursday — a small dinosaur that may sell for a big price. tim allman, bbc news. that's just about it from us for now. more news on our website. you can follow me on
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twitter. from me for the rest of the team, thank you for watching and stay tuned right here to bbc news. hello. although there's some wet and windy weather sweeping its way northwards, a lot of that is gone for monday, leaving, for many areas, a largely dry day with sunny spells. here's the area of low pressure. it will pull away northwards. in its wake, it'll be blustery, it'll be bright, still with a few showers around, though, particularly in scotland. this is how we're starting the day — milder air moving northwards overnight and into the morning. the rain still in the far north of scotland that will then move across the northern isles. and in east anglia, in the south—east of england, rain clearing, then a hang back of cloud probably, gradually brightening up during the day. northern ireland, north west england, perhaps north wales will see a few showers but become mainly dry in the afternoon. showers will continue in scotland, north of the central belt. some quite lengthy downpours around here. and it'll be windy
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again in all areas. the strongest winds will be in the central belt, southern scotland, northern ireland, northern england, north wales. these are average speeds. we could well see some gusts around 40—50 miles per hour. and as for temperatures, well, if you get that sunshine, as many will, especially in england and wales, in the afternoon and out of the breeze, there'll be some warmth in that still. now, as we go on into monday evening and night, as that low pressure system continues to pull away, there'll still be a few showers around northern scotland. for many, the winds will ease. it'll be dry, skies are clearing, and it will turn chillier than this in more rural spots, so there will be a touch of frost in places as tuesday begins — and a day which will offer a lot of dry and sunny weather. more cloud around parts of eastern scotland, north east england. slight chance of a shower. more cloud towards the far south and south west of england. again, a slight chance of a shower here. the vast majority, though, a dry day. 13 degrees in glasgow, up to around 18 degrees in cardiff. there is another area of low pressure coming our way and, in fact, unlike the others which have swept right the way
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through, this willjust linger towards the south—west or west of us as the week goes on, starting to bring some showers in. now, wednesday will begin with some cloud around scotland, north east england. maybe a bit drizzly in places. that's reluctant to clear. it'll make for a rather chilly—feeling day, whereas from that low pressure towards south, south west england, wales, into northern ireland in particular, there'll be some showers moving in and some of those could be heavy, perhaps thundery as well. and as the low pressure exerts more of an influence across the uk from thursday onwards, more places will see some wet weather at times spreading its way northwards.
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this is bbc news. the headlines: the african nation of somalia is suffering its worst drought in a0 years. it's estimated that more than half the population, nearly 8 million people, are currently living in drought—affected areas. it's growing into a full—blown famine, where households have no food and children suffer acute malnutrition. britain's new chancellorjeremy hunt has insisted the prime minister is still in charge of the government, despite a series of major u—turns. it comes as speculation grows among her fellow conservative mps on whether she can remain as leader. mr hunt has signalled possible tax rises. the authorities in nigeria say more than 600 people are now known to have died because of severe flooding across the country. the minister of humanitarian affairs told journalists that

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