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tv   BBC News  BBC News  January 10, 2023 10:00am-1:01pm GMT

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this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. two british charity workers are missing in ukraine — the foreign office says its supporting their families. they were last seen in the eastern region of donbas — close to some of the fiercest fighting primary schools across scotland are closed today — as teachers go on strike in a dispute over pay. meanwhile, the government will introduce a bill in parliament later — which would compel unions to maintain minimum levels of service during industrial action. it can't be right that if you live| in one area you are able to call an ambulance and in another. you wouldn't be because there is a strike day on. all we are asking for is a bit - of common sense and providing that
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minimum safety level. let me know what you think of the government's proposal. do you think there should be a required level of service during strikes — or do you think it's an attack on the right to strike? i'm on twitter at annita bbc and use the #bbcyourquestions the controversial social media influencer andrew tate has arrived at court in romania — to challenge his 30—day arrest on human trafficking charges pro democracy rallies take place across brazil — in response to sunday's violent attack on government buildings by a far—right mob. and — the historic uk space mission — launched from a modified plane — ends in failure — after a technical issue stops a rocket reaching orbit.
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hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. two british men who were working as volunteers in ukraine are missing. christopher parry, who's 28, and 48—year—old andrew bagshaw, were last seen on friday in the eastern donetsk region, where fighting has been intense. it's understood mr parry, from truro in cornwall, had been helping people evacuate the city of bakhmut. the family of mr bagshaw say he was delivering food and medicines, and helping elderly people move away from the frontline. vincent mcaviney reports. this is christopher parry on friday, racing through bakhmut to save a civilian, oksana, who's in desperate need of rescue. filmed on friday, the 28—year—old, from truro in cornwall, has been posting videos like this to document his aid efforts. but a few hours later, christopher parry, and fellow british humanitarian, 48—year—old andrew bagshaw, went missing while helping
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to evacuate civilians near soledar in the donetsk region, where russian attacks have been focused in recent days. neither man has been heard from or seen since. ukrainian police are appealing for information. christopher parry, who has been in ukraine since last march, is believed to have rescued hundreds of people from the front lines of the conflict over recent months. i've not experienced christmas in a war either. it's very peculiar to be here. you kind of forget that it's christmas at all. i really have no idea, because there's no sign of it anywhere, of course. the foreign office advises against all travel to ukraine, and has urged british citizens in the country to leave due to the risk to life. nevertheless, in a statement, a foreign office spokesman confirmed... andrew bagshaw�*s parents have
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released a statement saying they love him dearly, and are immensely proud of the incredible work he has done to help people in challenging circumstances. british prisoners are considered high value targets by russia. in september, the kremlin swapped 55 russian troops in a deal that included five british prisoners of war. ukraine says it's strengthening its forces in the area they've gone missing. for both men's families it's now an anxious wait for news on their sons. vincent mcaviney, bbc news. our correspondent, hugo bachega joins me now from kyiv. really tricky conditions in which to try and establish the whereabouts of the man orfind out any try and establish the whereabouts of the man or find out any information on what is happen to them. firm; on what is happen to them. any u dates? on what is happen to them. any updates? it _ on what is happen to them. any updates? it is _ on what is happen to them. any updates? it is a _ on what is happen to them. my updates? it is a very difficult search operation for the men. this is a part of the country where
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fighting has been intense. we are still waiting for an update from the officials in donetsk with the search operation is happening. last night the authorities said christopher parry and andrew bagshaw were travelling from a ukrainian control city in donetsk to the town of soledar where fighting has been intense in recent days. a town just miles away from bakhmut, four weeks we have been talking about bakhmut, a town that has seen ferocious battles between ukrainian forces and russian troops, also mercenaries from the whitener group. and i think it's an indication of how difficult it's an indication of how difficult it is in that part of the country. we had an update from the british defence ministry this morning saying russian and wagner forces were likely in control of most of soledar so it gives you an indication of how difficult the soup ofjubilation has
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beenin difficult the soup ofjubilation has been in that part of the country. last night president zelensky described the situation is extremely difficult saying reinforcements were being sent to that part of the country so ukrainian forces can try to protect and defend the town of soledar and also bakhmut. very difficult situation for ukrainian forces and very difficult search operation for the ukrainian forces netting for these two british men who are missing.— netting for these two british men who are missing. there are reports in the uk that— who are missing. there are reports in the uk that the _ who are missing. there are reports in the uk that the government - who are missing. there are reports in the uk that the government is l in the uk that the government is soon to confirm the delivery of tanks to ukraine. this is something president zelensky has been asking for poor quite a while but what difference does he think tanks if they came from the uk and potentially other western nations, what difference does he think they would make? this what difference does he think they would make?— what difference does he think they would make? , , , , would make? this is very significant because ukraine _ would make? this is very significant because ukraine has _ would make? this is very significant because ukraine has been _ would make? this is very significant because ukraine has been saying i would make? this is very significant because ukraine has been saying it| because ukraine has been saying it needs tanks to carry out the ground offensive and take back territory
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under occupation. these reports followed an announcement made last week by the us, germany and france that they would be sanding some fighting tanks to ukraine. ukraine celebrated the news but i think what is important is that this could perhaps suggest a change in perception in western countries. i think there was some reluctance to send the fighting tanks because it could be seen as an escalation by russia and that could trigger some kind of strong russian response. i think this has changed now. we have seenin think this has changed now. we have seen in the last few weeks and months that russia has suffered a number of military setbacks on the battlefield so next week, there will be a meeting of western countries to decide how to continue to support ukraine militarily. and i think the report that the uk will be sending some fighting tanks will be something that will be celebrated and welcomed by ukrainians. thank
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ou for and welcomed by ukrainians. thank you for that- _ patrick bury — a senior lecturer in security at bath university and former captain in the british army spoke to me about the potential impact of further military support, as the british government consider sending challenger tanks to ukraine in terms of the challenger two tank, it's a significant piece of kit, one of the leading tanks in the world along with the abrahams and the leopard two tank in western military equipment, it's very capable, 120 millimetres cannon, it basically can destroy any other armoured vehicle at distance so the thing about tanks as they are generally seen as offensive pieces of equipment. they are for manoeuvring and firing and so, to
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add to the second part of the question, it's more about what is the future of this. the future of this campaign as we come into the spring and summer and that is about giving the ukrainians, in my view, incredible offensive capacity so they can attack with numerous tanks and infantry fighting vehicles against russian lines. certainly there's been talk from other nations about supplying tanks to ukraine but if we get confirmation from the uk of this, is that likely to encourage other western nations to deliver tanks to ukraine as well? and get that done relatively quickly? i think that's potentially the motive behind these reports is to show that the uk is seriously considering. france was the first one out of the traps saying it was going to give
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i think 30 amx fighting vehicles then germany said lto vehicles, the us said 50 bradleys and the uk now potentially has said to them challenger tanks but interestingly the leopard two tank has the highest stocks in europe and is german—made but germany holds a veto over who it can be supplied to because it's made there. so that would have to shift. potentially the uk leaning into it would encourage germany to do likewise but there's interesting things about where these tanks are. for example, spain has far more leopard tanks than the uk has challenger tanks so spain from land warfare, touch wood, is fairly low. there are some other countries that could step forward in a meaningful way.
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let's look in more detail about what the response from russia might be if these tanks start to be delivered in significant numbers. will they see that as a significant escalation? i think so. in particular they will sell it to the population as a significant escalation even if the military side will not have thought this would happen at some stage. in terms of retaliation, difficult to gauge exactly. you need to think about how these tanks make their way into ukraine, something that could be targeted, rail lines, low loader trucks coming into western ukraine so how did they get them in but they have problems with targeting, the russians especially moving stocks, there are cruise missiles are generally used as we have seen against immobile targets so civilian infrastructure seems to be more preferred use of them. then the other question is politically is there an escalation, a step change in how russia uses its forces? i think that's quite low likelihood at the moment towards readying potentially strategic nuclear forces but i would reckon there will be
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some attempt at retaliation. i would also say the west has considered this carefully in calibrating this so maybe has come to the conclusion the risk is worth it especially given russia is quite incapacitated in terms of its conventional military at the moment. some breaking news — amazon has said it plans to shut three uk warehouses in a move which will impact 1,200 jobs. sites in hemel hempstead, doncaster, and gourock, in the west of scotland, have been proposed for closure. it is understood that all workers at the sites will be offered roles at other amazon locations. amazon has also revealed plans for two new major fulfilment centres in peddimore, in the west midlands, and stockton—on—tees, county durham, which will create 2,500 jobs over the next three years. the uk government will introduce a law in parliament today which would force some public sector workers to provide a minimum level
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of service when they strike. it's expected to cover sectors including health, transport, education, border security and fire and rescue. yesterday's meeting between ministers and unions representing nhs workers in england broke down without agreement, meaning more strikes in the coming days. ambulance workers in england and wales are set to walk out tomorrow, with another strike planned for later in the month.nurses in england will take part in strike action on two days next week. today sees the start of a two—day teachers' strike in scotland, with primary school teachers walking out this morning and secondary teachers striking tomorrow. our scotland correspondent lorna gordon reports. no—one should be working poor! schools are out again... car horn sounds. ..with more disruption for children, as further strike action by teachers shuts almost all primary schools across scotland. secondary schools are targeted tomorrow. the action is over pay.
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unions want a 10% increase for teachers. they've rejected a 5% pay rise, which was later upped to 6.85% for the lowest paid staff. the scottish government insisted there was further potential scope for compromise, but said there was no additional funding available to improve what's on offer. fairness is a really important principle here. i value the teaching workforce. they do an incredible job. but we have limited resources and we're trying to operate fairly. so the offer on the table to teachers is the same as has already been accepted by other local government workers. but unions insisted that with no new money on the table, the strikes would go ahead. we anticipate that almost every primary school in scotland will be closed today, and tomorrow, almost every secondary school in scotland, given the joint action. we anticipate it being really significant levels of disruption, and that's regrettable, because we would wish to see teachers and classrooms working
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with children and young people rather than on picket lines. but sadly, it has come to this. covid led to significant disruption to schooling over the last three years. all sides in this dispute insist more missed lessons for children are in no one's interest. but with no side budging, the way out of this dispute remains unclear. and in the following weeks, state schools in scotland will face further strikes in rolling action, targeting different local authorities on different days. lorna gordon, bbc news, glasgow. i spoke to our scotland correspondent, james shaw, earlier whojoined me from the picket line of a school in glasgow. i began by asking him how widespread these protests are. it's going to be pretty widespread as far as we understand. we cannot honestly say every single primary school in scotland will be closed today but we expect almost all of them, maybe one or two of them in the islands will not,
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certainly that was the case when there was last a big strike in november last year. the mood on the picket line is pretty positive, it's a wet and pretty miserable day but they've been here since 8am this morning and they will carry on for another couple of hours. it's only primary schools today, in fact across the road there is a secondary school which is open. kids were arriving before 9am, there were children in the playing fields over to my right. those schools will be closed tomorrow. and you can hear there is a little bit of public support as vehicles go past but it's going to be a rolling series of strikes from next monday, if there isn't an agreement between the unions on one side, and local authorities and the scottish government on the other. you reference a passing motorist honking their horns in support
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but what is the public mood around this? there has been quite a lot of that so far this morning. every other car that goes past, or van, toots and i think there's certainly some support, it would be very hard to assess exactly the level of that but there certainly is sympathy and understanding that the pay increase teachers have been offered does not keep pace with inflation, and what the scottish government has offered is 5% for most teachers, rising to a little bit higher for those in the lowest pay grades. what the unions have asked for is 10%. both sides in this have said talks had been constructive, there were more talks yesterday but they have not reached a conclusion and until that happens, it looks very likely this industrial action will carry on certainly through this month and into february as well. earlier, our chief political correspondent nick eardley joined me from westminster, with the latest on the government's response to strike action
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the government argument is this legislation is reasonable, it is not going to go too far, it is not going to ban strikes but it will ensure minimum service levels are enforced across great britain in certain key areas. so there are some areas where the government will decide that level like ambulances, the fire service and on the railways and then there's others where the government says we will negotiate over this and hopefully come to an agreement so we do not have to impose something, that's like education, border staff, nuclear decommissioning as well. that is the pitch from the government. the accusation they are facing is that this is unfair and that it will not work. listen to the business secretary grant shapps. it should be said other countries, european countries, modern states,
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france and spain, places like that already have minimum safety legislation. i think it's perfectly reasonable to expect that if you have a heart attack or a stroke you will still be able to get an ambulance. that's something with the nurses in the last round of strikes, they agreed a national level of support but unfortunately the ambulance unions did not and that is why we are introducing these minimum safety levels. you might remember when we spoke about the ambulance strikes in december there was some confusion in government about where exactly different levels of emergency care will be offered by striking workers in different parts of england. so that's part of the justification the government is using. the argument from the labour party and from some other opposition parties is it is not going to work, that it doesn't work in other countries and that it may actually lead in some instances to striking workers facing the prospect of losing theirjobs.
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listen to the shadow work and pensions secretaryjonathan pensions secretary jonathan ashworth. let's step back a minute and explore what the government is proposing. l they are effectively saying a low paid health assistant, nurse, - paramedic will lose theirjobi for pursuing the right to take industrial action at a time _ when we have over 100,000 vacancies in our national health service. that is not going to fix _ the problems in the nhs will be have 7 million people on waiting lists. we await more details of exactly what the legislation will look like and exactly what it would mean for striking workers in those affected areas. i think it's quite important to point out this is a way off, it will face a battle in parliament, it may well face legal challenges in the courts from unions as well. it will not affect the industrial strife that we keep talking about at the moment. it may not even be in
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place by this time next year. so it's more of a long—term plan for the government to have the option of these minimum service requirements. to get back to the here and now, after those talks between government ministers and various unions yesterday, what is the status of those discussions and the relationship now between the signs? the strikes that are planned in england starting with an ambulant strike tomorrow, they will go ahead. there is no concrete offers on the table from ministers and because of that unions saw frustrated and say they have no reason to call off the strikes are nothing to offer their members but i do think there's been a bit of a move from the government and the question is whether this starts to amount to something. the health secretary stephen barclay has said he will take away some ideas for paid posts before the start of the next financial year, so one option we were discussing yesterday
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would be a one off lump sum payment to help the cost of living, another option would be that the pay deal next year which normally starts in the 1st of april would start in the 1st of january so you get an extra three months increased pay in the health service. there are big questions around that, how much extra would it be, with the treasury agree, what unions agree, when would it be implemented? so we do not know for sure this would be a solution but how many times have we sat here and said it's totally unclear how this is going to move forward, it doesn't feel like the impasse is moving at all and it all feels stuck. i suppose there's a glimmer of something that may lead to some progress. the question now is how quickly the government progresses with that, i've asked a few people in government but no answer is forthcoming on notjust yet. i'm joined now by professor of economics at lancaster university, hilary ingham — who is
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an expert in labour markets and applied economics. professor, thank you for your time today. what do you make of the government plan, in other words, to require striking unions to provide a minimum level of service, a minimum level of cover in certain key areas? as you said, it is in place in european country so we would not be alone if we down that route. and somewhere like france, it is in the constitutional court, it has the right to do that but it dissolves —— divorce the decisions to parliament, what is threatening health, it is all quite vague. they accept minimum provision is not normal provision, again, spain has something similar where there has to be a minimum level of service. sweden, public servants are preventing them striking under most circumstances in the same in germany which goes back
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to a 19th—century law so the uk would not be the only country to have such legislation. but it's quite a delicate time to be introducing it. is quite a delicate time to be introducing it.— quite a delicate time to be introducing it. is there any evidence _ introducing it. is there any evidence or _ introducing it. is there any evidence or has _ introducing it. is there any evidence or has there - introducing it. is there any| evidence or has there been introducing it. is there any - evidence or has there been any studies looking at the impact of strike action and whether it delivers what the unions in those countries want to achieve if they are also at the same time required to prevent... to give that minimum level of service and cover? to to prevent. .. to give that minimum level of service and cover?- level of service and cover? to my knowledge _ level of service and cover? to my knowledge there _ level of service and cover? to my knowledge there has _ level of service and cover? to my knowledge there has not - level of service and cover? to my knowledge there has not been i level of service and cover? to my| knowledge there has not been any systematic work on this because work, for many years, across europe, there has not been widespread strike action. what we are seeing in the uk now is quite unprecedented and as you reported, one of the problems with this is that ultimately, if this were to become law, you could see striking workers were actually
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sacked, they would lose theirjobs. you cannot really see that introducing this legislation at this point in time is going to be very helpful when there is this sort of gap between what unions are asking for and what seems to be on the table. as you say, it is a delicate time to be introducing it. in the middle of the industrial action and discussion with unions, do you see this as a strategy on the part of the government, given that bringing this into law could actually take quite some time? it could because we know in advance the labour party are going to oppose it, they've already said that. if they take power which may well be the case and this goes into legislation, they will repeal it. there could be challenges in the course as was reported and it's got to go through the house of lords so in some ways it could be seen that
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it's a sort of signal by the government that they will take a fairly hard line with union. but on the other hand, as your commentary said, there is a sort of a bit of a chink of light that steve barclay is looking at these alternative proposals, such as bringing the april pay settlement and backdating it to january or even offering nurses a lump sum but of course nobody said how much that might be, what would they accept and bow all nurses get it or only those on the lower end of the pay scale? so at the minute there doesn't seem to be any clear answers as to where this is going and when it is going to be resolved. ~ . ., , ., , resolved. which leads me to my next cuestion. resolved. which leads me to my next question- when _ resolved. which leads me to my next question. when two _ resolved. which leads me to my next question. when two sites _ resolved. which leads me to my next question. when two sites in - resolved. which leads me to my next question. when two sites in a - resolved. which leads me to my next question. when two sites in a labour| question. when two sites in a labour dispute are pretty well dug in and have been for some time, for it to you possibly see any solutions? if we look at the various sectors involved in industrial action, all
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broadly talking about pay and conditions in a difficult economic climate, where do you see any solution? i climate, where do you see any solution?— climate, where do you see any solution? , , y., solution? i suppose if you look in terms of the _ solution? i suppose if you look in terms of the people _ solution? i suppose if you look in terms of the people taking - terms of the people taking industrial action, terms of the people taking industrialaction, one terms of the people taking industrial action, one thing you have to remember is they are losing pgy- have to remember is they are losing pay. and whilst unions have strike funds, they will typically only give people about £50 per day and then there is the additional hardship fund for some which will give them some extra money. but in the current cost of living crisis, how long can people afford to be losing wages? that is a delicate question and on the other hand, if you look at it from the government perspective, they remain committed to bringing inflation down to single digits this coming year. and obviously giving people more money, more pay, more money to spend, that could fuel inflation and particularly when you give lower paid people extra money,
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they will tend to spend it or not saveit they will tend to spend it or not save it so you've got to look at the balance of power on both sides. but you know, on the union side, certainly in terms of nurses, they are providing critical services and they have public support. so in terms of nurses, ambulance staff, there are more people who say they support that industrial action than are against it, that is not universally true for other groups of workers taking industrial action. professor, thank you. let's take a moment to read out some of your tweets, what's coming in on this question of the uk government plans to require striking unions to provide a minimum level of service during industrial action. lee says people should be allowed to strike but others who depend on services such as travel and emergency care should not have their lives disrupted. scrolling down to find
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some more comments. one viewer says the right to strike is a right for every working person, what the government is doing is wrong on so many levels. neilsays government is doing is wrong on so many levels. neil says asking for a minimum cover is a joke, nurses are working at a minimum on the wards, thatis working at a minimum on the wards, that is the problem. and k says it's ok to have a minimum level of care on strike days but not the rest of the year? i'm still waiting for my 78—year—old mother �*s ambulance from the 22nd of december, not a strike day and she was a category to patient, i am day and she was a category to patient, iam not day and she was a category to patient, i am not blaming the ambulance service. many more in a similar vein ambulance service. many more in a similarvein so ambulance service. many more in a similar vein so pretty much all the tweets, not a scientific survey as i always point out but all the tweets i have received for one or two say they do not agree with the government plans. this one is from the strong growth. the new law is an
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assault on the fundamental right of workers to strike and josh are similarly, it is a part of our collective history. this is not a plan to stop strikes entirely but it is a plan to ensure there is a minimum level of service on strike days. many more on that theme. do keep your comments coming in whether it is on the story or any others we are covering today. you can do that on twitter and you can use the hashtag bbc your questions. the conservative mp andrew bridgen has been suspended from the house of commons for five sitting days, for breaching the mps' code of conduct. in november, the cross—party commons standards committee found mr bridgen had broken rules by failing to declare his financial interests in mere plantations when writing to ministers about the company. tens of thousands of people have been holding pro—democracy demonstrations across brazil after sunday's attack on government buildings by supporters of the defeated former president,
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jair bolsonaro. about 1,500 people involved in the violence have been arrested. in a moment, naomi iqbal on the aftermath of the riots — but first here's katy watson at one of the pro—democracy demos in sao paulo. this demonstration here in sao paulo is just one of many that have been called across the country in response to the events of sunday. people here are showing that they're not going to take what they saw in brasilia, the invasion of congress, the supreme federal court and the presidential palace. people here are calling for punishment of those responsible. they're waving placards saying without amnesty for the coup mongers. i spoke to one woman who said that this isn't about not agreeing. it's about allowing people to have different opinions and respecting democracy. and this is what this event is about. it's about moving forward and encouraging democracy in this deeply divided country.
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the clean—up operation is pretty much done here outside the presidential palace. you can still see where the protesters caused huge damage. president biden and president lula spoke on the phone and president biden condemned the attack in the capital and he can relate — the same thing happened in the us two years ago. the crucial difference is that a peaceful transfer of power had already happened here because president lula was inaugurated a week ago but there is pressure building on president biden. members of his party want former president bolsonaro to be kicked out of america, who, according to his wife is currently in hospital in florida being treated for abdominal pain and a lot of people here including lula da silva blame mr bolsonaro for the unrest because he refused to accept the election results. there is talk of an extradition
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but we spoke to a justice minister here who said extradition can only happen if there is a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation. nomia iqbal reporting. at least 17 people have been killed as supporters of the ousted former president of peru, pedro castillo, tried to overrun an airport in the southeast of the country. the violence in the city ofjuliaca is among the worst since the left—wing leader was forced out of office and arrested last month for his failed attempt to dissolve the congress. unrest and roadblocks have continued for weeks around peru. demonstrators are calling for mr castillo's replacement dina boluarte to step down and for the former president to be released. the controversial social media influencer andrew tate has arrived at a court in romania to appeal against his 30—day arrest for alleged human trafficking, rape and organised crime charges. mr tate, his brother tristan and two
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romanian female suspects, were detained on the 29th december pending a criminal investigation. mr tate's lawyer claims there is "no evidence" to support the allegations against him or his brother. the first ever satellite mission launched from uk soil has failed. last night, a jumbo jet carried a rocket out of cornwall and released it over the atlantic ocean. the rocket was supposed to send nine satellites into orbit, but the team behind the mission say it suffered a technical "anomaly". from newquay, here's our science editor rebecca morelle. the mission started so well. at spaceport cornwall, it was time for the jumbo jet to take off. and there it goes. it's lift off for the plane. but this is just the beginning. the next step is to release the rocket and start a new era for uk space.
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godspeed, launcher one, godspeed, cosmic girl on this historic european and uk mission to open space for everyone. 2000 people came to watch, ready to see what they thought would be a moment of history. an hour into the flight, the rocket, called launcher one, fired its engines after it was released from the plane. so far, so good. but then, this. it appears that launcher one has suffered an anomaly, which will prevent us from making orbit for this mission. there was a problem with the rocket, and the mission was over. so this evening we had a first stage burn that took the rocket into space. but in effect, the second stage engine had a technical anomaly and didn't reach the required orbit. so that's now being part of an investigation by virgin orbit and a number of government departments. the jumbo jet returned to spaceport cornwall as planned, but it was upsetting news for the team there, who'd spent nearly a decade trying to make this launch happen. just absolutely devastated. um, you know, we put our heart
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and soul into this, and it's such a personaljourney for me as well. and my family were here. so, yeah, it was pretty, pretty rough. um, but i feel ok, i feel ok. and i think it'lljust be a few days ofjust kind of letting it sink in a little bit. the data from the mission is now being analysed to work out exactly what went wrong. it's a well—known saying that space is hard. the team, though, is certain they'll try again. but tonight wasn't their night. rebecca morelle, bbc news, spaceport, cornwall. kaya burgess is now with us, he's the science correspondent for the times newspaper and he's in cornwall for the launch. good to have you with us. such expectations around this, as there always are on launches. the result, sadly well short of the expectations. what was the experience like for you? there were hue experience like for you? there were huge crowds — experience like for you? there were huge crowds and _ experience like for you? there were huge crowds and a _ experience like for you? there were huge crowds and a festival- huge crowds and a festival atmosphere by this dark and
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windswept runway, a silent disco, food vans, bars and music and huge cheers as thejet food vans, bars and music and huge cheers as the jet took off and cheers as the jet took off and cheers as the news came through that the rocket had detached and ignited its first engine. i think people just thought at that stage it was going very smoothly and actually virgin orbit tweeted that launcherone is in orbit and we just need to coast for a while before deploying the satellite. but shortly before midnight they revised this to actually, it hasn't reached orbit and we are waiting to see what has happened. as far as we know, the precious cargo of nine satellites has broken up and burned up in the atmosphere, not what they were hoping for. if you look at the risk analysis documents that were submitted, it shows virgin orbit thought there would be a 27% chance of failure, so perhaps it's not quite as surprising as we thought. an investigation into exactly what happened, why it happened, so how
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long do you think it will take before they try this again? because they will try it again. the? they will try it again. they absolutely _ they will try it again. they absolutely will. _ they will try it again. they absolutely will. if - they will try it again. they absolutely will. if last - they will try it again. they l absolutely will. if last night they will try it again. they - absolutely will. if last night had been successful they were hoping to come back for another launch before the end of this year or early next year. that could give a clue as to the time frame. all the satellite manufactures who just lost theirs will have to turn to back—ups or start building new ones. luckily they are very small compared to the giant ones we are used to so that might be slightly quicker. they might be slightly quicker. they might have to get insurance through to start again so they will come back. other space ports are at work in other parts of britain but i'm sure cornwell would like to still be first and beat them to a launch, but this is no doubt something that is still full steam ahead for britain to launch a satellite but sadly this historic potential first mission was a failure. b. historic potential first mission was a failure. �* ., ., historic potential first mission was afailure. �* ., ., , ., a failure. a lot of young people and teenauers a failure. a lot of young people and teenagers in _ a failure. a lot of young people and teenagers in the _ a failure. a lot of young people and teenagers in the crowd _ a failure. a lot of young people and teenagers in the crowd last - a failure. a lot of young people and teenagers in the crowd last night. l teenagers in the crowd last night. what impact will it have despite what happened on the ambitions,
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hopes and dreams of the younger generation? you hopes and dreams of the younger generation?— hopes and dreams of the younger ueneration? ., ., ., ., ., generation? you are right, a lot of very small— generation? you are right, a lot of very small children _ generation? you are right, a lot of very small children up _ generation? you are right, a lot of very small children up long - generation? you are right, a lot of very small children up long past i very small children up long past their bedtime and very excited last night. people were heading home very quickly when they heard news things hadn't gone to plan. it's one of those things, perhaps it ends up being a life lesson for those who want to work in engineering or particularly in the space industry. it is literally rocket science and we know how many rockets now so lost in their very early days and that getting into space is very difficult. in a way it provides the lesson that even all these decades after the first launches, getting into space isn't routine. it's not like taking a taxi up into space even though it seems like that sometimes. there are still big challenges and it will need a clever generation of young people to come in to fix them. fine generation of young people to come in to fix them-— in to fix them. one particular boy ou met, in to fix them. one particular boy you met, 14-year-old _ in to fix them. one particular boy you met, 14-year-old felix. - in to fix them. one particular boy you met, 14-year-old felix. tell| in to fix them. one particular boy i you met, 14-year-old felix. tell me you met, 14—year—old felix. tell me about him. he
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you met, 14-year-old felix. tell me about him-— about him. he was great. he is a youtuber— about him. he was great. he is a youtuber at _ about him. he was great. he is a youtuber at the _ about him. he was great. he is a youtuber at the tender - about him. he was great. he is a youtuber at the tender age - about him. he was great. he is a youtuber at the tender age of i about him. he was great. he is a youtuber at the tender age of m about him. he was great. he is a - youtuber at the tender age of 14 and youtuber at the tender age of 1a and has a space —related youtube channel. he often covers rocket launchers abroad remotely so to see one in person in his home country he was very excited. he had managed to negotiate with his teachers to get three days of school and also postpone his mock gcse exams for a week to come along. he said his school was very supportive of him going out to investigate these kind of exciting science and engineering events, but i imagine he had a long and slightly disappointing drive home back to reading in berkshire from cornwall last night. buti from cornwall last night. but i think he will— from cornwall last night. but i think he will go _ from cornwall last night. but i think he will go far! _ from cornwall last night. but i think he will go far! really - from cornwall last night. but i think he will go far! really good to talk to you. thank you very much, science correspondent with the times newspaper. more than 650,000 deaths were registered in the uk in 2022, according to new figures released by the office for national statistics. that represents one of the biggest jumps in death rates in half a century, taking account of the size and age
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of the population. although it's far below pandemic levels, it's prompted concerns about why more people are dying than would be expected. here with the figures is our head of statistics, robert cuffe. you have had these figures for about an hour or so. you have had these figures for about an hour orso. looking into you have had these figures for about an hour or so. looking into them in more detail. take us through the main headlines from the figures first of all. main headlines from the figures first of all-— first of all. the figure you gave, 650,000 deaths, _ first of all. the figure you gave, 650,000 deaths, a _ first of all. the figure you gave, 650,000 deaths, a jump - first of all. the figure you gave, 650,000 deaths, a jump of - first of all. the figure you gave, 650,000 deaths, a jump of 9%| first of all. the figure you gave, - 650,000 deaths, a jump of 996 above 650,000 deaths, a jump of 9% above what we saw in 2019, a big rise and almost unheard of for death rates to go up. they normally go down every year, so that kind of rise is a one in 50 year event we have seen. when you adjust for the age and size and population you get the same answer, it is pretty unique, but still below the levels we saw in the pandemic but it is significantjump. covid is contributing but it is not driving
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any more, just one factor. any more, 'ust one factor. covid is not any more, just one factor. covid is not driving — any more, just one factor. covid is not driving it. _ any more, just one factor. covid is not driving it, but _ any more, just one factor. covid is not driving it, but it _ any more, just one factor. covid is not driving it, but it is _ any more, just one factor. covid is not driving it, but it is a _ not driving it, but it is a contributing factor, but it's the indirect covid effects, i guess i'm right in saying, that are contributing to this in a significant way.- contributing to this in a significant way. contributing to this in a siunificant wa . ., ., , significant way. both on individuals and the health _ significant way. both on individuals and the health service. _ significant way. both on individuals and the health service. if _ significant way. both on individuals and the health service. if you - significant way. both on individuals and the health service. if you have | and the health service. if you have had covid, you are sick for ever. you have a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes after infection and most of us have had the infection at some point. during the pandemic we saw a falloff in nonurgent care and first appointments and treatments and we have not seen that come through in cancer deaths yet but we are seeing it come through in data on heart figures. to show some of the reason behind that on the graph, the grey area in the middle at the start of the pandemic, that drop—off is people coming in to get first treatments for blood pressure. it fell off a cliff in the first months of the pandemic and didn't really recover afterwards. you have people walking around not coming in for an
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urgent problem but storing up trouble for the future. saw that for taking cholesterol out of the blood treatments as well. when you take those things out, roll it forward two years and smash it into the crisis we are seeing an urgent care at the moment, that contributes to a pretty poor picture. at the moment, that contributes to a pretty poor picture-— pretty poor picture. possibly not a covid infection _ pretty poor picture. possibly not a covid infection directly _ pretty poor picture. possibly not a covid infection directly causing - covid infection directly causing fatalities but the impact of the pandemic on the health service, on peoples ability to get an appointment is driving a large number of these deaths. big questions for the government. we have explained to viewers about strikes, including those among health workers at the moment. how does the government tackle this? the most does the government tackle this? tue: most worrying number, if you look at the last two weeks rather than the whole year, you see deaths running at around 20% higher than you might expect them to. that's huge, and not
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driven by covid deaths any more. it's probably a combination of the build—up of the pandemic hangover, adding it to the build—up in problems in urgent care. add that to the cold snap we saw in december and you are seeing very high rates and the worry that will continue for the next few weeks and months and it will take urgent action to undo that. ., , ., ~ will take urgent action to undo that. ., , ., ,, , ., , will take urgent action to undo that. .,, ., ,, y., , . after days of tv interviews, leaks, and a mistaken early release, prince harry's memoir has officially gone on sale this morning, after days of leaks. the book has been published around the world in 16 languages. sarah campbell is at waterstones' flagship store in london. this is a book that has been talked about for a very long time but it is only today that here people can get hold of their own copies of prince harry's book spare. there hasn't been a mad rush to the book store.
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i'm here at waterstone's flagship store in the middle of london. there's only one customer so far, but the store do tell me that in terms of preorders it's one of their largest preorders for a decade. in amazon, it's top of their preorder list, so clearly there is a huge market for it. and the publicity blitz that prince harry has undertaken over the last few days, with three big interviews, another one to come, has certainly done more than most to publicise the book. and despite the fact there has been a very carefully coordinated security campaign to try to make sure copies didn't leak out, so here for example, they had their copies delivered on thursday, but they weren't allowed to open the boxes until last night to put them out on the table this morning. but as we know, there were copies that were leaked in spain that went accidentally on sale in spain last week, and there were a couple of leaked copies as well in the states. so the extracts are out there, and what we do know is it's a very personal book, it's prince harry's story,
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in prince harry's words. he deals with very personal moments in his life, but also involving members of his family, and difficulties, i think, with members of his family, all of which have been detailed in the extracts which have been released so far. the book is out today, the audiobook is out today. there will be another big interview with prince harry to promote it, and no doubt it will be a bestseller. new research from the motoring organisation the aa has revealed the average price drivers pay for a litre of petrol at uk pumps has fallen below £1.50 for the first time since russia invaded ukraine 10 and a half months ago. here to tell us more is our cost of living correspondent, kevin peachey. petrol prices going down, but what about diesel, and is it being reflected at the pumps? aha,
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about diesel, and is it being reflected at the pumps? a tale of two fuels because _ reflected at the pumps? a tale of two fuels because petrol - reflected at the pumps? a tale of two fuels because petrol prices . two fuels because petrol prices dipped just below 1.50 for the first time since the russian invasion. they peaked at 1.91, so drivers will according to the aa have a huge sigh of relief as a result of petrol prices coming down the stop it's a bit different with diesel. it was 1.53 and we are still at 1.72 per litre of diesel. it's not quite coming through for diesel drivers. are all the drops being passed on to people at the pumps when they go to fill up their car? tt is people at the pumps when they go to fill up their car?— fill up their car? it is important to say these — fill up their car? it is important to say these are _ fill up their car? it is important to say these are average - fill up their car? it is importantj to say these are average prices fill up their car? it is important i to say these are average prices at the pumps. if you live in different areas there will be different prices and you will need to keep an eye on that. clearly people shop around a bit for petrol as they do with many other products.—
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bit for petrol as they do with many other products. what does it mean for the other— other products. what does it mean for the other factors _ other products. what does it mean for the other factors driving - other products. what does it mean for the other factors driving that i for the other factors driving that wider cost of living crisis? will we see falling prices elsewhere? fuel was a key factor _ see falling prices elsewhere? fuel was a key factor in _ see falling prices elsewhere? fuel was a key factor in driving up that cost of living, along with food and domestic energy. we have domestic energy prices that will rise for everyone in april and food prices are still high with everyone's grocery bills still high. even with petrol, comparatively speaking compared with normal times, if you like, according to the aa, this is still a higher amount so the pressure is still on personal finances. pressure is still on personal finances-— pressure is still on personal finances. , ., ~ pressure is still on personal finances. , ., ,, snooker�*s masters tournament began on sunday in london. amid the excitement, there are some notable absentees from this year's competition. the former winner, yan bingtao
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of china, is one of two chinese players who are suspended from the tournament amid an investigation into allegations of match fixing. laura scott reports. two years ago, snooker celebrated the youngest masters champion in a generation — china's yan bingtao. but now, as the showpiece event returns to the alexandra palace, bingtao and his compatriot zhao xintong are absent. two of ten chinese players suspended since october over alleged match fixing. and a cloud hangs over the sport. i think we are one to two weeks away from the completion of that inquiry. you know, it won't take long to assess whether there are charges to be levied against any of those players after that. we've been on this since october, day in, day out, trying to push it and push it and push it, and it's been unfortunate that we've continued with new evidence coming to light. meanwhile, one of the biggest names in the sport, ronnie o'sullivan, produced a dominant victory to give the packed crowd plenty to cheer about. but the subject of potential corruption in snooker didn't appear to have rocked the rocket. i'm sure it's happened in football. it hasn't harmed football. i'm sure it's happened in tennis.
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it hasn't done tennis any harm. i'm sure some golfers along the line have done something. it doesn't seem to have affected that sport. ithink, you know, it'll get sorted, it'll get done. you know, we obviously have to sit here and talk about this, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not really as important as other stuff that's going on in the world. you know, a lot of famine everywhere. a lot of starvation. to me, they are very, very important issues. what we're talking about is a sport, it'sjust a game. snooker�*s authorities know that if they find evidence of corruption in this investigation, the action that they take must be sufficient to reassure players and fans alike of the integrity of the sport. it's put a little bit of a dampener on the season so far, yeah. i think it's a shame. itjust puts you off and obviously we've just got the programme, i we paid for expensive seats, _ get the programme, and the programme is wrong because obviously it's got one of the young lads in it who's i now unable to play. while the sport's stars will try to provide some much—needed light this week, for as long as the biggest corruption investigation in snooker�*s history is ongoing, there will remain
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a persistent shadow. laura scott, bbc news. it's emerged that in the past year not a single person in afghanistan has been accepted onto a government scheme to relocate afghans to britain after the taliban takeover. the afghan citizens resettlement scheme was set up to help people who'd worked with the british as teachers or security guards. the uk end of life charity marie curie is calling for terminally ill people of working age to be given early access to a state pension. it claims the change could be delivered at minimal cost to the taxpayer and would prevent thousands of people each year dying in poverty. olivia hutchinson reports. thank you. cheryl and mark have been struggling to pay their bills since cheryl, who's 61, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2018. things have got so bad that they can no longer afford to heat their home or run their car. how do we go out and make memories
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when we haven't got anything to make memories with? we have to pull in every penny we've got to just pay things. the end—of—life charity marie curie says people of working age are almost twice as likely to fall into poverty if they're diagnosed with a terminal illness than those claiming their state pension. they're calling for more government funding so that those affected can access their pensions earlier. i don't have the heating on. even with all that bad weather, we didn't have the heating on because that's one bill we probably couldn't afford. i know the issue for us is terminal cancer and you should get access to your pension. pension you've paid into. it's your entitlement. audrey's husband, eddie, was 64 when he died injune, so hadn't reached retirement age. he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020. it got to the stage a month before
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he died that we were really - struggling then and we've tried to survive until then. _ but then i had to declare myself bankrupt so we could live. - and, you know, i don't think that when you're terminally— ill, you should have i to worry about money. i and i think that, if he had his. pension, his state pension, then at least that would have helped. the department for work and pensions says those nearing the end of their lives can get fast track access to a range of benefits and that last year's support was extended. but those affected argue that simply isn't enough. olivia hutchinson, bbc news. 25,000 people in california have been told to evacuate as the region experiences unprecedented weather conditions. coastal areas near santa barbara have seen severe rain that has killed at least 12 people and left thousands of homes without power. forecasters are warning the state faces a "relentless parade of cyclones" over the next week.
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sylvia lennan—spence has this report. floodwaters as far as the eye can see. the streets in this town in santa cruz county totally inundated by the heavy rains. california is struggling in the face of torrential downpours and damaging winds that have already killed a number of people in ten days. a half a foot of water, you're losing control of your vehicle. we're seeing people go around these detours because they don't see any obstacles. they think everything is fine. they're putting their lives at risk, or putting first responders' lives at risk. along the coast, in the town of montecito, all 10,000 residents have been ordered to leave the area, with firefighters warning mudslides could engulf many homes. the order comes five years to the day after storm—induced mudslides ravaged montecito, killing 23 people and destroying more than 100 homes. now, heavy rain is lashing the community, which is home to the duke and duchess of sussex, as well as celebrities, including oprah winfrey and ellen degeneres.
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this creek next to our house, neverflows, ever. it's probably about nine feet up. we're ready to evacuate. we need to be nicer to mother nature, because mother nature is not happy with us. the latest storms have seen hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in california left without power. i've never seen anything like it in my life. i've lived in santa cruz county for 25 years and that was like, insane. there were tree trunks being forced i down the river almost at a rate i of about one every 30 seconds. president biden has declared a state of emergency for the state, allowing the federal emergency management agency to provide disaster relief. and there's little respite, with forecasters warning of what they're describing as an incoming relentless parade of cyclones, with another storm likely this coming weekend. sylvia lennan—spence, bbc news.
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hello again. we've got two bands of rain crossing us today, and also strong winds. the met office has these yellow weather warnings out for the heavy rain, and the rain is already falling on saturated ground, so that is going to exacerbate the flooding risk. as we go through the course of the day, the rain continues to push northwards and eastwards. there will be a transient period of hill snow in scotland before that turns back readily to rain, and then our second weather front comes in from the west bringing more rain, pushing towards the south—east. in between, a lot of cloud, some damp conditions, some drizzle, maybe one or two brighter spells but they will be fairly limited, and it's going to be a windy day wherever you are today. the strongest winds will be on the coasts and the hills. temperatures, 7—10 degress across scotland and 12—14 degrees
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across northern ireland, england and wales. through this evening and overnight, the rain pushes southwards and it also pushes northwards, and then behind both these bands of rain we are looking at a lot of showers, being driven in on strong winds. no issues with frost tonight. overnight lows between four and about 10 degrees. then as we head on into tomorrow, we lose the front from the southeast, the low pressure weather fronts push away from the northeast and we've got a lot of showers coming in, and as you would have seen there on the isobars, being driven in on strong winds. the winds picking up in the west and the southwest through the course of the day. some of our showers are merging to give some longer spells of rain, moving from the west towards the east. temperature—wise, 7—11 degrees, but tomorrow there will be a bit more sunshine in between those showers. then as we head from wednesday into thursday, you can see from the isobars, still going to be windy. we've got weather fronts crossing us as well.
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also, the weather does remain unsettled and as we head into thursday, what you'll find is the strongest winds will be in the southwest and also through the english channel. this too is where we will see some rain. but a lot of showers coming in across many areas during the course of thursday. yes, there will be some bright or some sunny skies in between but there will be plentiful showers and still relatively mild in the south, but in the north we are looking at about 6—8 degrees. and then for the outlook into the weekend, it does remain unsettled, with rain or showers at times, and on sunday it looks at the moment like something cooler could come our way.
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this is bbc news. i'm joanna gosling. the headlines at 11: two british charity workers are missing in ukraine — the foreign office says it's supporting their families. they were last seen in the eastern region of donbas, close to some of the fiercest fighting. pay attention! pay attention! primary schools across scotland are closed today as teachers go on strike in a dispute over pay. meanwhile, the government will introduce a bill in parliament later which would compel unions to maintain minimum levels of service during industrial action. it can't be right that if you live in one area you are able to call an ambulance and another you wouldn't be because there's a strike day on and all we're asking for is a bit of common sense in providing that minimum safety level.
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the controversial social media influencer andrew tate has arrived at court in romania to challenge his 30—day arrest more deaths were reported than expected last year. the controversial social media influencer andrew tate has arrived at court in romania to challenge his 30—day arrest on human trafficking charges. the average price of a litre of petrol in the uk has fallen below £1.50 for the first time since russia invaded ukraine last year. the historic uk space mission launched from a modified plane ends in failure after a technical issue stops a rocket reaching orbit.
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good morning. two british men who were working as volunteers in ukraine are missing. christopher parry, who's 28, and 48—year—old andrew bagshaw, were last seen on friday in the eastern donetsk region, where fighting has been intense. it's understood mr parry, from truro in cornwall, had been helping people evacuate the city of bakhmut. the family of mr bagshaw say he was delivering food and medicine, and helping elderly people move away from the frontline. vincent mcaviney reports. this is christopher parry on friday, racing through bakhmut to save a civilian, oksana, who's in desperate need of rescue. filmed on friday, the 28—year—old, from truro in cornwall, has been posting videos like this to document his aid efforts. but a few hours later, christopher parry, and fellow british humanitarian 48—year—old andrew bagshaw, went missing while helping to evacuate civilians near soledar in the donetsk region, where russian attacks have been focused in recent days.
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neither man has been heard from or seen since. ukrainian police are appealing for information. christopher parry, who has been in ukraine since last march, is believed to have rescued hundreds of people from the front lines of the conflict over recent months. i've not experienced christmas in a war either. it's very peculiar to be here. you kind of forget that it's christmas at all. i really have no idea, because there's no sign of it anywhere, of course. the foreign office advises against all travel to ukraine, and has urged british citizens in the country to leave due to the risk to life. nevertheless, in a statement, a foreign office spokesman confirmed... "we are supporting the families of two british men who have gone missing in ukraine." andrew bagshaw�*s parents have released a statement saying they love him dearly, and are immensely proud of the incredible work he has done to help people in challenging circumstances.
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british prisoners are considered high—value targets by russia. in september, the kremlin swapped 55 russian troops in a deal that included five british prisoners of war. ukraine says it's strengthening its forces in the area they've gone missing. for both men's families it's now an anxious wait for news on their sons. vincent mcaviney, bbc news. our correspondent, hugo bachega spoke to us earlier from kyiv. it's a very difficult search operation for these two men. this is a part of the country where fighting has been intense. we're still waiting to get an update from the officials in donetsk, where the search operation is happening. last night, the authorities said christopher parry and andrew bagshaw were travelling from kramatorsk, which is a ukrainian—controlled city in donetsk, to the town of soledar, where fighting has been intense in recent days. this is a town just miles away from bakhmut. for weeks we've been talking about bakhmut. this is a town that's seen some
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ferocious battles between ukrainian forces and russian troops, also mercenaries from that wagner group and i think as an indication of how difficult the situation is in that part of the country, we had an update from the british defence ministry this morning saying that russian and wagner forces were likely in control of most of soledar. so that gives you an indication of how difficult this search operation has been in that part of the country. last night, president zelensky described the situation there as extremely difficult. he said reinforcements were being sent to that part of the country so ukrainian forces can try to protect and defend this town of soledar and also bakhmut. so a very difficult situation for ukrainian forces and also very difficult search operation for the ukrainian forces looking for these two british
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men who are missing. joining us now from south west london, sir lawrence freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at kings college london. we'll talk more about the weaponry that has its disposal in what may be coming in. there were suggestions the uk would be sending on the tanks. welcome, thank you for joining us. what is your view, then, of what impact it would make if the uk sent these tanks?— uk sent these tanks? well, i think there was a _ uk sent these tanks? well, i think there was a whole _ uk sent these tanks? well, i think there was a whole series - uk sent these tanks? well, i think there was a whole series of - uk sent these tanks? well, i think there was a whole series of moves going on at the moment. the other day, the americans and germans announced that they were sending infantry personnel carriers. the french were sending some systems as well. the ukrainians want to mount
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an offensive in the spring and they need to have the weapons to do that. i think the importance of the challenge is that they will make some difference, but they may unlock a big german debate about leopard tanks. the germans have been reticent about being the first mover on tanks, but if they not only send some of their own but allow the polish and other countries to send them, that could make a real difference. part of what the british may be doing is providing a degree of coverfor what may be doing is providing a degree of cover for what has been a difficult conversation in the german coalition about the sort of support they should offer. l coalition about the sort of support they should offer.— they should offer. i don't want to net they should offer. i don't want to get bogged _ they should offer. i don't want to get bogged down _ they should offer. i don't want to get bogged down in _ they should offer. i don't want to get bogged down in the - they should offer. i don't want to get bogged down in the details i they should offer. i don't want to | get bogged down in the details of the hardware, but for non—military experts, explain what challenger tanks and leopard tanks do and the benefits and difference it would make? ., . . benefits and difference it would make? ., ., ., , , ., , ., make? you have a series of levels of armoured vehicles. _ make? you have a series of levels of
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armoured vehicles. so, _ make? you have a series of levels of armoured vehicles. so, the - make? you have a series of levels of armoured vehicles. so, the simplest| armoured vehicles. so, the simplest just have wheels, then you move up to tracks. the heaviness of the armour, whether their mainjob is to provide firepower or to carry troops with a degree of protection, so there was a variety of roles. the main battle tank is at the top. it is a tracked vehicle, heavy armour, and able to pack a punch. the challengers are quite old. they bring with them quite demanding logistics, but on a battlefield, if they are moving well, they can provide momentum in a way that other vehicles can't, so it is part of trying to build up an offensive capability that allows the ukrainians to punch holes in russian defences. , defences. little by little, the thin . s defences. little by little, the things that — defences. little by little, the things that ukraine - defences. little by little, the things that ukraine has - defences. little by little, the| things that ukraine has asked defences. little by little, the -
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things that ukraine has asked for or making their way, but it has been in a sort of slow and piecemeal way, because of concerns that were sighted around levels of engagement, how that would be perceived by russia, what the potential unintended consequences of steps might be. also who operates, how the training happens around the operation of some of these things, which obviously the troops there wouldn't necessarily be familiar with. what is your view as to how that has unfolded and why, and whether this could have just been done at the beginning and whether it would have made a difference? yes. t would have made a difference? yes, i mean, i would have made a difference? yes, i mean. ithink— would have made a difference? yes, i mean, i think there's _ would have made a difference? yes, i mean, i think there's quite _ would have made a difference? yes, i mean, i think there's quite a - would have made a difference? yes, i mean, i think there's quite a lot - would have made a difference? yes, i mean, i think there's quite a lot to i mean, i think there's quite a lot to get used to. part of what has happened is that the ukrainians have demonstrated that they are professional, prepared to use the kit that they get effectively, and i think also it's a reflection of the changing strategic assessment of what is going on. i think,
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basically, until september, orat basically, until september, or at the basically, until september, orat the start of september, ukraine had some breakthroughs which encourage people, but it also led to a major russian effort, this mass mobilisation, the attacks on ukrainian civil society, critical infrastructure, and also the demand of putin that he is able to annex four ukrainian provinces, and that has all contributed to a view in the west that there really isn't a negotiated solution coming soon, that russia is digging in for the long—term, and the only way to break the deadlock to support ukraine in a major military offensive, which will be tough, but unless that happens, the conflict mayjust go on and on. i think there has been a shift in strategic assessment, growing confidence in ukraine's ability to
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use the kit it is getting, and a change as to what is needed. ukraine was very much on the defensive through the summer, then moved to the offensive. i think also there is a lot that has happened with the longer range artillery that ukraine has got, which it has been using to slowly wear down russian forces. they take out concentrations of troops as well as ammunition dumps. it is a long haul, and it would have been easier to provide some of this stuff earlier on, but there is a lot to take in. it is expensive on the western side, so it is not surprising that it has happened rather incrementally. so lawrence freedman. _ rather incrementally. so lawrence freedman, thank _ rather incrementally. so lawrence freedman, thank you. _ rather incrementally. so lawrence freedman, thank you. -- - rather incrementally. so lawrence freedman, thank you. -- sir i rather incrementally. so lawrence i freedman, thank you. -- sir lawrence freedman, thank you. —— sir lawrence freedman. the government will introduce
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a law in parliament today which would force some public sector workers to provide a minimum level of service when they strike. it's expected to cover sectors including health, transport, education, border security and fire and rescue. yesterday's meeting between ministers and unions representing nhs workers in england broke down without agreement, meaning more strikes in the coming days. ambulance workers in england and wales are set to walk out tomorrow, with another strike planned for later in the month. nurses in england will take part in strike action on two days next week. today sees the start of a two—day teachers' strike in scotland, with primary school teachers walking out this morning and secondary teachers striking tomorrow. james short is at a rally of teachers in glasgow. over to you. this is teachers from right across the city of glasgow. you can see behind me that they have seating for about 200. they reckon about 200 people are going to come, and the
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mood i think is probably quite positive. some of these people have been coming from picket lines across the city over the course of the morning, so the hall is gradually filling up. i think there will be some short speeches by the organisers, probably some feedback from members of this union, the educational institute of scotland, the biggest teaching union in scotland, about how the strike is going for them. i asked one of the organisers what the situation was like with schools in glasgow and she confirmed that all primary schools in the city are closed today. more widely, we don't know quite how uniform that is across the rest of scotland, but it does seem very likely that almost all schools across the country will be closed today. that is primary schools, and thenit today. that is primary schools, and then it would be secondary schools tomorrow. this dispute is essentially about pay. the scottish government has offered 5%, rising to a little bit extra for those on the lowest pay grades, and the teaching
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unions say that they want 10%. they have both described, both sides have described the talks is reasonably well mannered, but there doesn't seem to be an indication of them coming together at the moment. if that doesn't happen later on this week, there will be a rolling series of strikes all the way through this month on a regional basis across the country, stretching into february, so no sign at the moment that this particular dispute is anywhere near close to coming to an end. thank you. our chief political correspondent nick eardley is in westminster. over to you. while those strikes continue in scotland, today the uk government is about to introduce to parliament some new legislation which is going to, is designed to, anyway, ensure that there is a minimum service level even when strikes are taking place, so it is focused on some key
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emergency services, things like ambulances, the fire brigade, but also on key services like the railways, education etc. we heard this morning from the business secretary, who is taking care of this piece of legislation, and his argument was that it is reasonable, fair and that people expect some level of service even when strikes are taking place. it should be said other countries, european countries, modern states, france and spain, places like that already have minimum safety legislation. i think it's perfectly reasonable to expect that if you have a heart attack or a stroke you will still be able to get an ambulance. that's something with the nurses in the last round of strikes, they agreed a national level of support but unfortunately the ambulance unions did not and that is why we are introducing these minimum safety levels. that was a reference to the ambulance strikes in england just
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before christmas. we might —— you might remember that at the time we covered a bit of a row between the unions and the government, with the government saying they weren't sure which emergencies would be responded to by unions on strike around the country, in certain parts anyway, unions said that it wasn't fair, that they were going to respond to all emergencies. but there is this question that will be debated in parliament over the next few weeks about whether it is fair to introduce this legislation. labour's argument is, actually, it is not going to work, and that it could have the impact of making some workers, put them in a position where they risk losing theirjobs because of going on strike. have a listen to labour�*s shadow work and pensions secretary, jonathan ashworth. let's step back a minute and explore what the government is proposing. l they are effectively saying a low paid health assistant, nurse, i paramedic will lose theirjobi for pursuing the right to take industrial action at a time _
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when we have over 100,000 vacancies in our national health service. that is not going to fix the - problems in the nhs where we have 7 million people on waiting lists. we don't know the actual details, we will start to get some today. the government has the stick approach, and there is also the carrot approach, where there were talks between unions and various government departments yesterday about industrial action. although there was no breakthrough and all there was no breakthrough and all the strikes that were planned are still planned, and some unions are really frustrated not to have had a concrete offer, there is some movement i think on the government side, with the health secretary, stephen barclay, saying he will go away and talk to other government ministers about the prospect of some movement on pay before the 1st of april, potentially a one—off payment
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for health staff, potentially backdating next year's pay deal which is supposed to start at the start of april to the start of january, so three months of a higher salary instead. i don't know if it will happen, i don't know if the money is there, or if unions would accept it, or when it would happen, so there are a lot of caveats to that. but maybe, just maybe, a bit of a side there that things might start to move. thank you, nick. well, for more on this lets speak to sian elliott, senior public services officer at tuc. thank you forjoining us. the government says that this is about the importance of public sector workers providing a minimum service to protect the public. how do you seeit? to protect the public. how do you see it? , :, to protect the public. how do you see it? , . , ., . ., ., see it? these are draconian new curbs that _ see it? these are draconian new curbs that will _ see it? these are draconian new curbs that will attack _ see it? these are draconian new curbs that will attack the - see it? these are draconian new curbs that will attack the most l curbs that will attack the most fundamental right of all workers to take industrial action, and in many cases across the public sector
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workers don't take that position lightly, they don't use the decision, ortake lightly, they don't use the decision, or take the decision to strike, lightly at all. it comes after months of trying to negotiate with their employer, and what we have seen is, as your coverage has shown, talks with the government yesterday, and while they were far more constructive than they have beenin more constructive than they have been in recent months, there was nothing concrete coming forward from government at all that would enable us and unions representing public sector workers to reach a resolution. these new laws, we should be absolutely clear, are an attack on all working people and that fundamental british liberty, the right to strike. lt is that fundamental british liberty, the right to strike.— the right to strike. it is clear that is the — the right to strike. it is clear that is the prism _ the right to strike. it is clear that is the prism through i the right to strike. it is clear. that is the prism through which the right to strike. it is clear- that is the prism through which you see it, that fundamental right, but how do you see the best way to protect the public when, for instance, we look at the ambulance workers and it is across the piece
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in the five nhs trusts that are impacted that ambulance workers are going out, the call handlers and the people who are driving the ambulance. should some of those still be working in order to protect the safety of somebody vulnerable at home who might have a fall or whatever it might be where they need to call and get some support?- to call and get some support? unions aareed with to call and get some support? unions agreed with nhs _ to call and get some support? unions agreed with nhs employers _ to call and get some support? unions agreed with nhs employers at - to call and get some support? unions agreed with nhs employers at a i to call and get some support? unions agreed with nhs employers at a locall agreed with nhs employers at a local and regional level the necessary cover to make sure that nobody was endangered during the ambulance strikes. if we just step back from that, what we have seen only over the last few months, excess deaths going on regularly in the nhs because our ambulance service is not able to perform, even when there aren't strikes. we are seeing eight, 12 hour waits for ambulances become the norm, and that is because our
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nhs has been starved of funds, but also because those staff working in the service are being forced to leave because they have had their pay cut over the last 12 years, the service is becoming untenable, and we need to make sure that harm doesn't come to anybody in this country at any time of the year, and that means fixing the nhs, getting it the funds it needs, and getting its workforce back up to the proper levels so we don't have the record high vacancy is that we have got currently. high vacancy is that we have got currentl . g , , high vacancy is that we have got currentl ., , , , , currently. just very briefly, because — currently. just very briefly, because you _ currently. just very briefly, because you are _ currently. just very briefly, because you are clear i currently. just very briefly, because you are clear that| currently. just very briefly, i because you are clear that you currently. just very briefly, - because you are clear that you don't want to see this happen, will the unions take legal action over this? the unions will fight this in every way that we can because we know how important it is to our members, but also to every worker in this country, to defend that right to strike, and at a time when government should be focusing on getting wages rising, on solving this cost of living crisis, it is absolutely the wrong move to start
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attacking working people. thank you ve much attacking working people. thank you very much for— attacking working people. thank you very much forjoining _ attacking working people. thank you very much forjoining us. _ more than 650,000 deaths were registered in the uk in 2022, according to new figures released by the office for national statistics. that represents one of the biggest jumps in death rates in half a century, taking account of the size and age of the population. although it's far below pandemic levels, it's prompted concerns about why more people are dying than would be expected. with me now in the studio is our health reporter, rachel schraer. talk us through the figures first of all, rachel. thus talk us through the figures first of all, rachel-— talk us through the figures first of all. rachel-— all, rachel. as you say, we are seeinu all, rachel. as you say, we are seeing that _ all, rachel. as you say, we are seeing thatjump, _ all, rachel. as you say, we are seeing thatjump, a _ all, rachel. as you say, we are seeing thatjump, a 996 - all, rachel. as you say, we are l seeing thatjump, a 996 increase all, rachel. as you say, we are i seeing thatjump, a 996 increase from seeing thatjump, a 9% increase from 2019, which was the last pre—pandemic year. no where near as high as we saw in 2020 — 21, but what change last year was, whereas in those years it was very clear that direct covid deaths were the cause of that excess, what we are seeing now is, although covid infections and deaths are playing a role, they are still there, about
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36,000 people die from covid last year, it is not the main driver and there are other factors going on there, so that has been the big question for the last few months — what is driving and causing more people to die than normal? we are beginning to get some clues now from the data. the two leading theories or most plausible explanations are, firstly, the strain on the nhs we have been hearing about, the delays to ambulances, delays in getting people into urgent care. the second thing is people being in worse health than they were before the pandemic started through a combination of the effects of covid infections themselves but also through mist doctor's appointments, people missing diagnoses and not necessarily getting their blood kosher —— blood pressure medication. it is important to understand the story behind the figures in order to be able to fix it.—
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be able to fix it. absolutely. when we aet be able to fix it. absolutely. when we get something _ be able to fix it. absolutely. when we get something like _ be able to fix it. absolutely. when we get something like this - be able to fix it. absolutely. when we get something like this which l be able to fix it. absolutely. when | we get something like this which is extremely complex, multifactorial, lots of things going on, but we have seen this big, shocking figure, it is easy for people to insert their favoured theory, whatever your pre—existing belief is. lots of people online seeing a big rise in deaths immediately said, it is the covid vaccine, because they have a pre—existing believe that vaccines are dangerous, even though that is not supported by the data. when we actually look at the data, we can see that, in fact, more unvaccinated people have died of all causes up to the end of may last year than vaccinated people.— the end of may last year than vaccinated people. thank you very much. the first—ever satellite mission launched from uk soil has failed. last night, a jumbo jet carried a rocket out of cornwall and released it over the atlantic ocean. the rocket was supposed to send nine satellites into orbit, but the team behind the mission say it suffered a technical "anomaly". from newquay, here's our science editor rebecca morell. the mission started so well. at spaceport cornwall, it was time
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for the jumbo jet to take off. and there it goes. it's lift off for the plane. but this is just the beginning. the next step is to release the rocket and start a new era for uk space. godspeed, launcher one, godspeed, cosmic girl on this historic european and uk mission to open space for everyone. 2000 people came to watch, ready to see what they thought would be a moment of history. an hour into the flight, the rocket, called launcher one, fired its engines after it was released from the plane. so far, so good. but then, this. it appears that launcher one has suffered an anomaly, which will prevent us from making orbit for this mission. there was a problem with the rocket, and the mission was over. so this evening we had a first stage burn that took the rocket into space. but in effect, the second stage engine had a technical anomaly
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and didn't reach the required orbit. so that's now being part of an investigation by virgin orbit and a number of government departments. the jumbo jet returned to spaceport cornwall as planned, but it was upsetting news for the team there, who'd spent nearly a decade trying to make this launch happen. just absolutely devastated. um, you know, we put our heart and soul into this, and it's such a personaljourney for me as well. and my family were here. so, yeah, it was pretty, pretty rough. um, but i feel ok, i feel ok. and i think it'lljust be a few days ofjust kind of letting it sink in a little bit. the data from the mission is now being analysed to work out exactly what went wrong. it's a well—known saying that space is hard. the team, though, is certain they'll try again. but tonight wasn't their night. rebecca morelle, bbc news, spaceport, cornwall. jenny kumah is in cornwall for us. we can talk to the chief executive
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of the uk space agency in cornwall. we are told it is a technical anomaly. what does that potentially mean? ,., :, anomaly. what does that potentially mean? , ., ., ., ~ anomaly. what does that potentially mean? ., . ., , ., mean? good morning. we have yet to wait for the — mean? good morning. we have yet to wait for the data _ mean? good morning. we have yet to wait for the data to _ mean? good morning. we have yet to wait for the data to be _ mean? good morning. we have yet to wait for the data to be analysed i wait for the data to be analysed fully by virgin orbit, so we need to wait till we get that back. i would stress that although we didn't manage to insert the satellites into orbit, the vast majority of other aspects of the mission have been successful. we have demonstrated that spaceport cornwall can operate, the aerospace management and maritime management have worked well, and the virgin crew and team getting this over from the us and to operate from the uk has been an immense achievement, for which we should all be very proud. aha, immense achievement, for which we should all be very proud. b. lat should all be very proud. a lot achieved. _ should all be very proud. a lot achieved, but _ should all be very proud. a lot achieved, but obviously i should all be very proud. a lot achieved, but obviously that i should all be very proud. a lot achieved, but obviously that final element didn't work. so, effectively, back to the drawing board, having to wait again to see this happen. how long might it be before we see this again? well.
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before we see this again? well, certainly from _ before we see this again? well, certainly from a _ before we see this again? well, certainly from a virgin _ before we see this again? ell certainly from a virgin perspective, we will have to wait for the data analysis, but this features as part of a broader programme within the uk for launch, and we are working with other providers and working with other providers and working with other sites for vertical launch from sites in sutherland and shetland. we also see cornwall is very much having a future for horizontal launch in the uk.— having a future for horizontal launch in the uk. ~ ., ., , launch in the uk. what would be with -- what would _ launch in the uk. what would be with -- what would we _ launch in the uk. what would be with -- what would we be _ launch in the uk. what would be with -- what would we be talking - launch in the uk. what would be with -- what would we be talking about i —— what would we be talking about this morning if it had gone up? what would that have meant? lt is this morning if it had gone up? what would that have meant?— would that have meant? it is still an immense _ would that have meant? it is still an immense moment _ would that have meant? it is still an immense moment of- would that have meant? it is still an immense moment of national| would that have meant? it is still i an immense moment of national pride. it would have been the first time that anyone from europe has managed to put satellites into orbit, and the payloads that were going up, nine satellites, have a number of different missions on them, from security to experimentation in space, demonstrating innovative technology from uk companies as well. we will get there. we go back,
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well. we will get there. we go back, we get up, we do it again, and that defines ourfuture, we get up, we do it again, and that defines our future, really. we get up, we do it again, and that defines ourfuture, really. we need to get back to this as soon as we can. . y ., to get back to this as soon as we can. . , ., , ., to get back to this as soon as we can. can you give us a timeframe? i'm can. can you give us a timeframe? i'm sorry? — can. can you give us a timeframe? i'm sorry? can _ can. can you give us a timeframe? i'm sorry? can you _ can. can you give us a timeframe? i'm sorry? can you give _ can. can you give us a timeframe? i'm sorry? can you give us - can. can you give us a timeframe? i'm sorry? can you give us a i i'm sorry? can you give us a timeframe? _ i'm sorry? can you give us a timeframe? obviously, i i'm sorry? can you give us a timeframe? obviously, you| i'm sorry? can you give us a i timeframe? obviously, you know i'm sorry? can you give us a - timeframe? obviously, you know how much work has gone into this. how much work has gone into this. how much more work will do have to be before it is tried again?— before it is tried again? yeah, i mean, before it is tried again? yeah, i mean. from — before it is tried again? yeah, i mean, from the _ before it is tried again? yeah, i mean, from the launch - before it is tried again? yeah, i i mean, from the launch perspective, we need to wait for the data analysis, but certainly, from other sites, i would look to see, we will be looking to put satellites into space certainly in the next year. thank you forjoining us. ian and it from the uk space agency. time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. we've had two weather fronts crossing us today, both bringing heavy rain. the first one pushing northwards and eastwards, with a brief period of snow on the hills, before that turns readily back to rain. and then the second one coming in from the west.
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that one too could be heavy in places, and of course they've fallen on areas where the ground is already saturated, like wales, north—west england, exacerbating that situation. it's going to be a windy day, and it's going to be a windy night. the rain pushing to the south—east and also the north—east with a packet of showers coming in behind them. and we are looking at temperatures of 6—10 degrees, so no issues with frost tonight. as we go through the course of tomorrow, we start off on a dry and sunny note for many of us. we've already got showers in the west, some of those being blown over towards the east on the strong winds. wintry on the tops of the hills, some sunshine in between, and temperatures not as high as today. we are looking at 7—11 as we push down to the south. hello, this is bbc news with joanna gosling. the headlines: two british charity workers are missing in ukraine. the foreign office says its supporting their families.
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they were last seen in the eastern region of donbas, close to some of the fiercest fighting. primary schools across scotland are closed today as teachers go on strike in a dispute over pay. meanwhile, the government will introduce a bill in parliament later which would compel unions to maintain minimum levels of service during industrial action. more than 650,000 deaths were registered in the uk last year — 9% higher than would normally be expected. the pandemic and pressure on the nhs are among the explanations. the average price of a litre of petrol in the uk has fallen below £1.50 for the first time since russia invaded ukraine last year. sport now and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good morning. a generational talent and a player
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who allowed his country to believe. just some of the reflections on the career of gareth bale, who announced his retirement from football at the age of 33. his last appearance as a player came for wales at the world cup in qatar. bale captained his side to qualify for their first world cup since 1958, scoring their only goal in their draw with the usa. his career started at southampton, moving to tottenham, then real madrid, winning five champions league trophies — no british player has won more. welsh fans undoubtedly sad to see him depart, arguably the best player his country has ever seen. the first women's finalissima at wembley stadium has sold out. the match will see england take on brazil in front of an expected crowd ofjust under 90,000. sarina weigmann's side are taking part after claiming their historic first—ever european championship title last summer, while the brazilians earned their place by winning the 2022 copa america femenina. the match takes place on april 6th. snooker�*s masters tournament is underway at alexandra palace, one of the triple crown events which features household names from the sport taking part. but there are some notable absentees
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from this year's masters, a former winner in the shape of yan bingtao of china, who is one of two chinese players due to play, but suspended due to a investigation into allegations of match fixing. laura scott reports. two years ago, snooker celebrated the youngest masters champion in a generation — china's yan bingtao. but now, as the showpiece event returns to the alexandra palace, bingtao and his compatriot zhao xintong are absent. two of ten chinese players suspended since october over alleged match fixing. and a cloud hangs over the sport. i think we are one to two weeks away from the completion of that inquiry. you know, it won't take long to assess whether there are charges to be levied against any of those players after that. we've been on this since october, day in, day out, trying to push it and push it and push it, and it's been unfortunate that we've continued with new evidence coming to light.
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meanwhile, one of the biggest names in the sport, ronnie o'sullivan, produced a dominant victory to give the packed crowd plenty to cheer about. but the subject of potential corruption in snooker didn't appear to have rocked the rocket. i'm sure it's happened in football. it hasn't harmed football. i'm sure it's happened in tennis. it hasn't done tennis any harm. i'm sure some golfers along the line have done something. it doesn't seem to have affected that sport. ithink, you know, it'll get sorted, it'll get done. you know, we obviously have to sit here and talk about this, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not really as important as other stuff that's going on in the world. you know, a lot of famine everywhere. a lot of starvation. to me, they are very, very important issues. what we're talking about is a sport, it'sjust a game. snooker�*s authorities know that if they find evidence of corruption in this investigation, the action that they take must be sufficient to reassure players and fans alike of the integrity of the sport. it's put a little bit of a dampener on the season so far, yeah. i think it's a shame.
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itjust puts you off and obviously we've just got the programme, i we paid for expensive seats, _ get the programme, and the programme is wrong because obviously it's got one of the young lads in it who's i now unable to play. while the sport's stars will try to provide some much—needed light this week, for as long as the biggest corruption investigation in snooker�*s history is ongoing, there will remain a persistent shadow. laura scott, bbc news. as you were just hearing, ronnie o'sullivan progressed into the last eight yesterday and he's beenjoined by jack lisowski. the world number 12 beat scotland'sjohn higgins 6—3 in what was his first ever win at this event. lisowski will face iranian hossein vafaei for a place in the semifinals. later today, mark allen takes on barry hawkins in their first—round encounter, that's live on bbc two from 1.00pm. that's all the sport for now. tens of thousands of people have been holding pro—democracy demonstrations across brazil after sunday's attack on government buildings by supporters of the defeated former president,
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jair bolsonaro. about 1,500 people involved in the violence have been arrested. let's take you live to sao paulo, where we can speak to political scientist graziella testa. welcome. as you see this continue to unfold, welcome. as you see this continue to unfold. what — welcome. as you see this continue to unfold, what are _ welcome. as you see this continue to unfold, what are your— welcome. as you see this continue to unfold, what are your thoughts? i welcome. as you see this continue to unfold, what are your thoughts? we i unfold, what are your thoughts? we are unfold, what are your thoughts? e are now starting this process of dealing with those hard years in brazil to democracy where we would see people saying that they didn't want democracy, which is very sad with our history of a military dictatorship 35 years ago. yesterday we had this very good demonstration of the governors with the president and thejudiciary, they of the governors with the president and the judiciary, they all held
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hands and they crossed the places where everything happens, where the terrorists broke everything. it was a very sad moment for us. this act of walking around and saying it is safe to walk around places, it was very symbolic, symbolically very important for brazil. these four years are going to be reconstructing a lot of what was distracted by the government ofjair bolsonaro and his populist extreme right agenda. idistill populist extreme right agenda. will it be easy for society to come forward and unite?— it be easy for society to come forward and unite? no, i don't think so. mostly elections _ forward and unite? no, i don't think so. mostly elections they _ forward and unite? no, i don't think
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so. mostly elections they divided i so. mostly elections they divided the country into different branches. you have those who support jair bolsonaro and those who supported lula, and lula won by a very small percentage of the vote so it will be hard to govern. i do believe those terrorist acts of sunday, they some how united the population because even people who voted forjair bolsonaro, most of them don't support what happened and don't want to see this kind of violence to be the new norm in brazilian politics. i do believe some how this makes lula stronger. i do believe some how this makes lula stronger-— i do believe some how this makes lula stronuer. :, ., y., , , lula stronger. how do you see events unfoldin: lula stronger. how do you see events unfolding in — lula stronger. how do you see events unfolding in the _ lula stronger. how do you see events unfolding in the short _ lula stronger. how do you see events unfolding in the short term? - lula stronger. how do you see events unfolding in the short term? in i lula stronger. how do you see events unfolding in the short term? in the i unfolding in the short term? in the short term — unfolding in the short term? in the short term i _ unfolding in the short term? in the
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short term i still _ unfolding in the short term? in the short term i still believe _ unfolding in the short term? in the short term i still believe it - unfolding in the short term? in the short term i still believe it is i unfolding in the short term? in the short term i still believe it is not i short term i still believe it is not going to be an easy path for lula to govern, but i do believe that there will be punishment for what happens and this will not encourage the other people who may maybe thinking about non—democratic or violent solutions for what should be political conflicts. i do believe this will be organised around parties and how it should be organised. there will be opposition to the government, which is also healthy to any democracy.- to the government, which is also healthy to any democracy. thank you. the end of life charity marie curie is calling for terminally ill people of working age to be given early access to a state pension. it claims the change could be delivered at minimal cost to the taxpayer and would prevent thousands of people each year
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from dying in poverty. olivia hutchinson reports. cheryl and mark have been struggling to pay their bills since cheryl, who's 61, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2018. things have got so bad that they can no longer afford to heat their home or run their car. how do we go out and make memories when we haven't got anything to make memories with? we have to pull in every penny we've got to just pay things. the end—of—life charity marie curie says people of working age are almost twice as likely to fall into poverty if they're diagnosed with a terminal illness than those claiming their state pension. they're calling for more government funding so that those affected can access their pensions earlier. i don't have the heating on. even with all that bad weather, we didn't have the heating on because that's one bill
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we probably couldn't afford. i know the issue for us is terminal cancer and you should get access to your pension. pension you've paid into. it's your entitlement. audrey's husband, eddie, was 64 when he died injune, so hadn't reached retirement age. he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020. it got to the stage a month before he died that we were really - struggling then and we've tried to survive until then. _ but then i had to declare myself bankrupt so we could live. - and, you know, i don't think that when you're terminally— ill, you should have i to worry about money. i and i think that, if he had his. pension, his state pension, then at least that would have helped. the department for work and pensions says those nearing the end of their lives can get fast track access to a range of benefits and that last year's support was extended. but those affected argue that simply isn't enough. olivia hutchinson, bbc news.
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we can talk now helen barnard, deputy director of the joseph rowntree foundation. thank you very we were hearing some awful situations from people there about the difficulty of facing the end of life in poverty. the government says that there are already fast tracked ways of people in the situation getting support. can you spell out what that support is and how it compares to what an early pension payout would mean? yes, that's right, so people can get fast act —— fast tracked... that is far less protected than the state pension so the level of support you get is far higher when you can access that state pension. at the moment what your finding is that people who often paid in 423 or 2a
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years to the pension pot can access it because they are unfortunate enough to be dying early and you really see that reflected so people who are working age are twice as likely to die in poverty as people who are facing that awful situation of pension age. surely if there is one thing we get right in our social security system it should be protecting people from dying in unnecessary pain because they can turn the heating on, can't afford what they need, but also dying in that anxiety are people knowing they are leaving their loved ones with debts they can't afford, potentially facing bankruptcy. that is not the end of life that any of us want for our loved ones.— our loved ones. would there be complications _ our loved ones. would there be complications in _ our loved ones. would there be complications in bringing - our loved ones. would there be l complications in bringing forward the payment of pensions? it is not something i have heard discussed before. has it been pushed for? what
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are the arguments against it? there are the arguments against it? there are probably — are the arguments against it? there are probably two — are the arguments against it? there are probably two things. _ are the arguments against it? there are probably two things. we - are the arguments against it? ii” are probably two things. we know that there are always financial pressures, the government is facing a difficult situation. one of the striking things about this is how affordable it is. bringing this forward would cost about a tenth of 1% forward would cost about a tenth of i% of the overall state pension bill, so it is £114 1% of the overall state pension bill, so it is £114 million a year, which in terms of government finances is very, very little. in practical terms there are various benefits and things like home adaptations that you can get fast tracked if you have a terminal diagnosis, so the methods are already there, being used by other bits of the system. we just need to bring that into this final bit of the system and save the state pension is supposed to support you in the last year's of life, if that this is happening early for you usually get the same access to it,
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you have the ability to die with some dignity. he you have the ability to die with some dignity-— you have the ability to die with some dignity. he mentioned that there were _ some dignity. he mentioned that there were people _ some dignity. he mentioned that there were people who _ some dignity. he mentioned that there were people who have - some dignity. he mentioned that there were people who have paid some dignity. he mentioned that i there were people who have paid in for more than 20 years and they don't have the right to claim back on that. would you see this as being something that would be available for people who have paid in a certain amount, it would kick in after a certain age or should it be available for anybody? to after a certain age or should it be available for anybody?— after a certain age or should it be available for anybody? to us, we are available for anybody? to us, we are a compassionate _ available for anybody? to us, we are a compassionate society, _ available for anybody? to us, we are a compassionate society, a - available for anybody? to us, we are a compassionate society, a just - a compassionate society, a just society. i think most people would support saying at whatever stage in your life you are facing the worst new stew can get, that you have a terminal illness, a few months left with your loved ones. at that point in your life he should be able to access that state pension system and if you have been able to pay for that period of time, fine, but i'm not sure anybody would say, no, you have only paid him for 15 years, we
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are going to let you die in a cold house with your loved ones facing bankruptcy. the house with your loved ones facing bankruptcy-_ bankruptcy. the statistics that i have seen _ bankruptcy. the statistics that i have seen on _ bankruptcy. the statistics that i have seen on polling _ bankruptcy. the statistics that i have seen on polling indicates i bankruptcy. the statistics that i - have seen on polling indicates there is very strong public support for this. in terms of whether it is likely to happen, what is your sense? ., ~ ., ., . ., , sense? you never know. particularly these da s sense? you never know. particularly these days politics _ sense? you never know. particularly these days politics is _ sense? you never know. particularly these days politics is very _ these days politics is very unpredictable but we have a budget coming on the 15th of march. i think the government are looking for things that they can do that they gets what people are facing. this should be an obvious thing to put at the top of that list of what the department for work and pensions and the treasury will be deciding on. let us at least focus on this incredibly vulnerable group and putting place are pretty simple, very affordable solution protect them. the controversial social media influencer andrew tate has arrived at a court in romania to appeal against his 30—day arrest
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for alleged human trafficking, rape and organised crime charges. mr tate, his brother, tristan, and two romanian female suspects were detained on 29th december pending a criminal investigation. mr tate's lawyer claims there is "no evidence" to support the allegations against him or his brother. it's emerged that in the past year not a single person in afghanistan has been accepted onto a government scheme to relocate afghans to britain after the taliban takeover. the afghan citizens resettlement scheme was set up to help people who had worked with the british as teachers or security guards. the headlines on bbc news: two british charity workers are missing in ukraine. the foreign office says its supporting their families. they were last seen in the eastern region of donbas close to some of the fiercest fighting primary schools across scotland are closed today as teachers go on strike in a dispute over pay. the average price of a litre
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of petrol in the uk has fallen below £1.50 for the first time since russia invaded ukraine last year. new research from the motoring organisation the aa has revealed the average price drivers pay for a litre of petrol at uk pumps has fallen below £1.50 for the first time since russia invaded ukraine 10 and a half months ago. asa as a tale of two fuel tear really, because petrol prices below £1 50 for the first time since the russian invasion. they peaked at 1.91, so drivers will have a huge sigh of relief as a result of petrol prices coming down. diesel it is different, we are looking at 1.53 when the invasion began, we are still now up
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at 1.72 ford diesel, so the same good news is not quite coming through for diesel drivers at the moment. after days of tv interviews, leaks and a mistaken early release, prince harry's memoir has officially gone on sale this morning, after days of leaks. the book has been published around the world in 16 languages. sarah campbell was at waterstones' flagship store in london early this morning. this is a book that has been talked about for a very long time but it is only today that here people can get hold of their own copies of prince harry's book spare. there hasn't been a mad rush to the book store. i'm here at waterstone's flagship store in the middle of london. there's only one customer so far, but the store do tell me that in terms of preorders it's one of their largest preorders for a decade. in amazon, it's top of their preorder list, so clearly there is a huge market for it. and the publicity blitz that prince harry has undertaken over the last few days,
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with three big interviews, another one to come, has certainly done more than most to publicise the book. and despite the fact there has been a very carefully coordinated security campaign to try to make sure copies didn't leak out, so here for example, they had their copies delivered on thursday, but they weren't allowed to open the boxes until last night to put them out on the table this morning. but as we know, there were copies that were leaked in spain that went accidentally on sale in spain last week, and there were a couple of leaked copies as well in the states. so the extracts are out there, and what we do know is it's a very personal book, it's prince harry's story, in prince harry's words. he deals with very personal moments in his life, but also involving members of his family, and difficulties, i think, with members of his family, all of which have been detailed in the extracts which have been released so far. the book is out today, the audiobook is out today. there will be another big interview with prince harry to promote it, and no doubt it will
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be a bestseller. there's been a big rise in sales in the uk home entertainment market. together, the video, music and gaming sectors brought injust over 11 billion pounds last year, nearly a 40 per cent increase compared with pre—covid spending in 2019. the new figures show almost 5 billion pounds of that was the gaming industry alone. joining me now is kim bayley, chief executive of the group behind these figures, the digital entertainment and retail association, era. welcome. tell us more about what this data shows us. it welcome. tell us more about what this data shows us.— this data shows us. it has been a bum er this data shows us. it has been a bumper year _ this data shows us. it has been a bumper year for _ this data shows us. it has been a bumper year for entertainment. | this data shows us. it has been a - bumper year for entertainment. sales are now 11.1 bumper yearfor entertainment. sales are now 11.1 billion in the uk, the biggest number ever. that has been driven by more and more digital services giving consumers more and more choice and we are saying that
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fans love having all the music that they want at their fingers at their —— at theirfingertips they want at their fingers at their —— at their fingertips on spotify, all the tv on netflix or amazon prime. £5 all the tv on netflix or amazon rime. , ., all the tv on netflix or amazon rime, , ., ., all the tv on netflix or amazon rime. , ., ., ., prime. £5 billion on the gaming indust . prime. £5 billion on the gaming industry. what _ prime. £5 billion on the gaming industry. what does _ prime. £5 billion on the gaming industry. what does that - prime. £5 billion on the gaming industry. what does that say i prime. £5 billion on the gaming i industry. what does that say about where society is going? i industry. what does that say about where society is going?— where society is going? i think the aaamin where society is going? i think the gaming industry — where society is going? i think the gaming industry has _ where society is going? i think the gaming industry has been - where society is going? i think the gaming industry has been the - where society is going? i think the i gaming industry has been the biggest other sectors for quite some time and i think people have consistently underestimated how important the gaming market is and just a broad number of people engaging with games, it is notjust about console playing, it is about games on your tablet, playing scrabble, backgammon, more traditional games. the games industry is innovated hugely and i think nearly every age group games now. mr; hugely and i think nearly every age group games nova— hugely and i think nearly every age u-rou names now. 3 ., , group games now. my mind immediately went to the things _ group games now. my mind immediately went to the things that _ group games now. my mind immediately went to the things that you _ group games now. my mind immediately went to the things that you think -
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went to the things that you think about, with the big ticket games, but it covers the spectrum, then. a full range of people across our society. full range of people across our socie . ~ , ,., , , full range of people across our socie . ~ , ,., society. absolutely. in terms of acka . ed society. absolutely. in terms of packaged media, _ society. absolutely. in terms of packaged media, you _ society. absolutely. in terms of packaged media, you are i society. absolutely. in terms of| packaged media, you are talking society. absolutely. in terms of i packaged media, you are talking half a billion of that 4.5 billion total. console games is about another 700 million. so you have about 3 billion of mobile gaming, small ticket gaming. in of mobile gaming, small ticket auamin. , ., of mobile gaming, small ticket auamin. ,., gaming. in terms of powering the economy and _ gaming. in terms of powering the economy and how _ gaming. in terms of powering the economy and how valuable i gaming. in terms of powering the economy and how valuable and i economy and how valuable and important aspect of the economy there says, tell us a bit about that. it there says, tell us a bit about that. , ., ., , ., , ., that. it is not only large, but also uuite that. it is not only large, but also quite cultural. _ that. it is not only large, but also quite cultural. in _ that. it is not only large, but also quite cultural. in terms _ that. it is not only large, but also quite cultural. in terms of - that. it is not only large, but also quite cultural. in terms of music, j quite cultural. in terms of music, there is a lot of british talent in there is a lot of british talent in the charts, so it is driving a lot of employment in the sector in the uk. in terms of films, lots of film studios in the uk. it is notjust
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about the numbers, it is the 20,000 people or so who work in the sector and contribute to the british economy. and contribute to the british economy-— and contribute to the british econom . . ~ ., ., , 25,000 people in california have been told to evacuate as the region experiences unprecedented weather conditions. coastal areas near santa barbara have seen several days of severe rain that has killed at least 12 people and left thousands of homes without power. forecasters are warning state residents to brace for a " relentless parade of cyclones" over the next week. sylvia lennan—spence has this report. floodwaters as far as the eye can see. the streets in this town in santa cruz county totally inundated by the heavy rains. california is struggling in the face of torrential downpours and damaging winds that have already killed a number of people in ten days. a half a foot of water, you're losing control of your vehicle. we're seeing people go around these detours because they don't see any obstacles. they think everything is fine. they're putting their lives at risk, or putting first responders' lives at risk.
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along the coast, in the town of montecito, all 10,000 residents have been ordered to leave the area, with firefighters warning mudslides could engulf many homes. the order comes five years to the day after storm—induced mudslides ravaged montecito, killing 23 people and destroying more than 100 homes. now, heavy rain is lashing the community, which is home to the duke and duchess of sussex, as well as celebrities, including oprah winfrey and ellen degeneres. this creek next to our house, neverflows, ever. it's probably about nine feet up. we're ready to evacuate. we need to be nicer to mother nature, because mother nature is not happy with us. the latest storms have seen hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in california left without power. i've never seen anything like it in my life. i've lived in santa cruz county for
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25 years and that was like, insane. there were tree trunks being forced i down the river almost at a rate i of about one every 30 seconds. president biden has declared a state of emergency for the state, allowing the federal emergency management agency to provide disaster relief. and there's little respite, with forecasters warning of what they're describing as an incoming relentless parade of cyclones, with another storm likely this coming weekend. sylvia lennan—spence, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather. hello again. we've got two bands of rain crossing us today, and also strong winds. the met office has these yellow weather warnings out for the heavy rain, and the rain is already falling on saturated ground, so that is going to exacerbate the flooding risk. as we go through the course of the day, the rain continues to push northwards and eastwards. there will be a transient period of hill snow in scotland before that turns back readily to rain,
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and then our second weather front comes in from the west bringing more rain, pushing towards the south—east. in between, a lot of cloud, some damp conditions, some drizzle, maybe one or two brighter spells but they will be fairly limited, and it's going to be a windy day wherever you are today. the strongest winds will be on the coasts and the hills. temperatures, 7—10 degress across scotland and 12—14 degrees across northern ireland, england and wales. through this evening and overnight, the rain pushes southwards and it also pushes northwards, and then behind both these bands of rain we are looking at a lot of showers, being driven in on strong winds. no issues with frost tonight. overnight lows between four and about 10 degrees. then as we head on into tomorrow, we lose the front from the southeast, the low pressure weather fronts push away from the northeast and we've got a lot of showers coming in, and as you would have seen there on the isobars, being driven in on strong winds. the winds picking up in the west and the southwest through the course of the day.
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some of our showers are merging to give some longer spells of rain, moving from the west towards the east. temperature—wise, 7—11 degrees, but tomorrow there will be a bit more sunshine in between those showers. then as we head from wednesday into thursday, you can see from the isobars, still going to be windy. we've got weather fronts crossing us as well. also, the weather does remain unsettled and as we head into thursday, what you'll find is the strongest winds will be in the southwest and also through the english channel. this too is where we will see some rain. but a lot of showers coming in across many areas during the course of thursday. yes, there will be some bright or some sunny skies in between but there will be plentiful showers and still relatively mild in the south, but in the north we are looking at about 6—8 degrees. and then for the outlook into the weekend, it does remain unsettled, with rain or showers at times, and on sunday it looks at the moment like something cooler could come our way.
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this is bbc news. the headlines: two british charity workers are missing in ukraine — the foreign office says it's supporting their families. they were last seen in the eastern region of donbas, close to some of the fiercest fighting. pay attention! primary schools across scotland are closed today as teachers go on strike in a dispute over pay. meanwhile, the government will introduce a bill in parliament later which would force unions to maintain minimum levels of service during strikes. it can't be right that you live in one area and you are able to call an ambulance, and in another you wouldn't be because there is a strike day on, and all we are asking for is a bit of common sense in providing that minimum safety level. more than 650,000 deaths were registered
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in the uk last year — 9% higher than in the year before the pandemic. the effects of covid and pressure on the nhs are among the explanations. the average price of a litre of petrol in the uk has fallen below £1.50 for the first time since russia invaded ukraine last year. and the historic uk space mission launched from a modified plane ends in failure after a technical issue stops a rocket reaching orbit. but the team behind it say they'll try again. we'll get there. you know, we go back, we get up, we do it again. and that, you know, defines our future, really. we need to get back to this as soon as we can. two british men who were working as volunteers in ukraine are missing.
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christopher parry, who's 28, and 48—year—old andrew bagshaw, were last seen on friday in the eastern donetsk region, where fighting has been intense. it's understood mr parry, from truro in cornwall, had been helping people evacuate the city of bakhmut. the family of mr bagshaw say he was delivering food and medicine, and helping elderly people move away from the frontline. vincent mcaviney reports. this is christopher parry on friday, racing through bakhmut to save a civilian, oksana, who's in desperate need of rescue. filmed on friday, the 28—year—old, from truro in cornwall, has been posting videos like this to document his aid efforts. but a few hours later, christopher parry, and fellow british humanitarian, 48—year—old andrew bagshaw, went missing while helping to evacuate civilians near soledar in the donetsk region, where russian attacks have been focused in recent days. neither man has been
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heard from or seen since. ukrainian police are appealing for information. christopher parry, who has been in ukraine since last march, is believed to have rescued hundreds of people from the front lines of the conflict over recent months. i've not experienced christmas in a war either. it's very peculiar to be here. you kind of forget that it's christmas at all. i really have no idea, because there's no sign of it anywhere, of course. the foreign office advises against all travel to ukraine, and has urged british citizens in the country to leave due to the risk to life. nevertheless, in a statement, a foreign office spokesman confirmed... andrew bagshaw�*s parents have released a statement saying they love him dearly, and are immensely proud of the incredible work he has done to help people in challenging circumstances. british prisoners are considered high value targets by russia. in september, the kremlin swapped 55
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russian troops in a deal that included five british prisoners of war. ukraine says it's strengthening its forces in the area they've gone missing. for both men's families it's now an anxious wait for news on their sons. vincent mcaviney, bbc news. our correspondent, hugo bachega spoke to us earlier from kyiv. it's a very difficult search operation for these two men. this is a part of the country where fighting has been intense. we're still waiting to get an update from the officials in donetsk, where the search operation is happening. last night, the authorities said christopher parry and andrew bagshaw were travelling from kramatorsk, which is a ukrainian—controlled city in donetsk, to the town of soledar, where fighting has been intense in recent days. this is a town just miles away from bakhmut. for weeks we've been talking about bakhmut. this is a town that's seen some ferocious battles between ukrainian
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forces and russian troops, also mercenaries from that wagner group and i think as an indication of how difficult the situation is in that part of the country, we had an update from the british defence ministry this morning saying that russian and wagner forces were likely in control of most of soledar. so that gives you an indication of how difficult this search operation has been in that part of the country. last night, president zelensky described the situation there as extremely difficult. he said reinforcements were being sent to that part of the country so ukrainian forces can try to protect and defend this town of soledar and also bakhmut. so a very difficult situation for ukrainian forces and also very difficult search operation for the ukrainian forces looking for these two british men who are missing.
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let mejust bring let me just bring you a bit of information from the prime minister's spokesperson on whether or not the uk will send tanks to ukraine. it has been reported to be sending about 12 tanks, challenge are 2 battle tanks. no final decisions have been made, reportedly. it is something that is still not absolutely clear whether it will happen. nato'sjens stoltenburg says he's determined to take the eu partnership with nato to the next level as he pledges further support for ukraine. here he is speaking just a short while ago. the aim is of course to ensure that we can continue and also strengthen our support to ukraine, because we have seen that russia has suffered big losses in ukraine due to the brave ukrainian soldiers and the professionalism and dedication of the ukrainian armed forces, but you should
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not underestimate russia. they are mobilising more troops, they are working hard to acquire more equipment, more ammunition, and they have shown willingness to actually suffer but continue the war, and there is no indication that president putin has changed the overall aim of his brutal war against ukraine, so we need to be prepared for the long haul, we need to continue to support ukraine, and again, it is an extremely important message that we are sending today with the declaration, with the two presidents here present with me, that we stand united, nato and the european union, in our support to ukraine. the government will introduce a law in parliament today which would force some public sector workers to provide a minimum level of service when they strike. it's expected to cover sectors including health, transport, education, border security and fire and rescue.
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yesterday's meeting between ministers and unions representing nhs workers in england broke down without agreement, meaning more strikes in the coming days. ambulance workers in england and wales are set to walk out tomorrow, with another strike planned for later in the month. nurses in england will take part in strike action on two days next week. today sees the start of a two—day teacher's strike in scotland, with primary school teachers walking out this morning and secondary teachers striking tomorrow. our scotland correspondent james shaw is at a teachers' strike rally in glasgow. this is teachers from right across the city of glasgow. you can see behind me that they have seating for about 200. they reckon about 200 people are going to come, and the mood i think is probably quite positive. some of these people have been coming from picket lines across the city over the course of the morning, so the hall is gradually filling up. i think there will be some short speeches by the organisers, probably some feedback from members
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of this union, the educational institute of scotland, the biggest teaching union in scotland, about how the strike is going for them. i asked one of the organisers what the situation was like with schools in glasgow and she confirmed that all primary schools in the city are closed today. more widely, we don't know quite how uniform that is across the rest of scotland, but it does seem very likely that almost all schools across the country will be closed today. that is primary schools, and then it would be secondary schools tomorrow. this dispute is essentially about pay. the scottish government has offered 5%, rising to a little bit extra for those on the lowest pay grades, and the teaching unions say that they want 10%. they have both described, both sides have described the talks as reasonably well mannered, but there doesn't seem to be an indication of them coming together at the moment. if that doesn't happen later on this
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week, there will be a rolling series of strikes all the way through this month on a regional basis across the country, stretching into february, so no sign at the moment that this particular dispute is anywhere near close to coming to an end. earlier, i spoke to our chief political correspondent nick eardley about the latest on the government's response to ongoing striking action. today, the uk government is about to introduce to parliament some new legislation which is designed to ensure that there is a minimum service level even when strikes are taking place. so it's focused on some key emergency services, things like ambulances, the fire brigade, but also on key services like the railways, like education, etc. we heard this morning from the business secretary, grant shapps, he's taking care of this piece of legislation, and his argument was that it's reasonable, that it's fair and that people expect some level of service
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even when strikes are taking place. it should be said that other countries, european countries, modern states, france and spain and italy, places like that, already have minimum safety legislation. i think it's perfectly reasonable to expect that if you have a heart attack or a stroke, you will still be able to get an ambulance. that's something that with the nurses in the last round of strikes, they did agree a national level of support. unfortunately, the ambulance unions did not and that's why we're introducing these minimum safety levels. that was a reference to the ambulance strikes in england just before christmas. you might remember that we covered at the time a bit of a row between the government and unions, with the government saying they weren't sure which emergencies would be responded to by unions on strike. around the country, in certain parts of the country anyway, unions said that that wasn't fair and that they were going to respond to all emergencies. but there is this question that's
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going to be debated in parliament over the next few weeks now about whether it's fair to introduce this legislation. labour's argument is actually it's not going to work and that it could have the impact of putting some workers in a position where they risk losing theirjobs because of going on strike. have a listen to labour's shadow work and pensions secretary, jonathan ashworth. let'sjust step back a minute and fully explore what the government are proposing. there are effectively saying that a low—paid health assistant, a nurse, a paramedic, would lose theirjob for pursuing their right to take industrial action at a time when we have over 100,000 vacancies in our national health service. that is not going to fix the problems in the nhs where we have seven million people on a waiting list. that's labour's view. we don't actually know the exact details. we'll start to get some of them later today.
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so there's that. there's the government has its stick approach. there's also the carrot approach. we had those talks between unions and various government departments yesterday about industrial action. although there was no breakthrough, although all the strikes that were planned are still planned and some unions are really frustrated not to have had a concrete offer, there is some movement, i think, on the government side with the health secretary, steven barclay, saying he's going to go away and talk to other government ministers about the prospect of some movement on pay before 1st april, potentially a one—off payment for health staff, potentially backdating next year's pay deal, which is supposed to start at the start of april, to the start of january. so three months of a higher salary instead. don't know if it will happen. don't know if the money's there. don't know if unions would accept it. don't know when it would happen either. so there's a lot of caveats to that.
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but maybe, just maybe, joanna, a bit of a sign there that things might start to move. we will talk more about the strikes in a moment. first, it's time to say goodbye if you are watching on bbc two. thanks for your company and hope you have a good afternoon. let's go back to the strikes, and also that law that the government is going to be outlining in the commons later to introduce curbs on industrial action to ensure that minimum levels of service are maintained through strikes. well, for more on this let's talk to taj ali, industrial correspondent at left—wing publication, tribune magazine. welcome, thank you forjoining us. so, grant schnapps says this is about minimum levels of safety — how do you see that argument? well. about minimum levels of safety - how do you see that argument?— do you see that argument? well, i think many — do you see that argument? well, i think many of— do you see that argument? well, i think many of the _ do you see that argument? well, i think many of the strikes - do you see that argument? well, i think many of the strikes have i do you see that argument? well, i l think many of the strikes have been brought about precisely because of
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concerns around safety. when we look at the nhs, we currently have a retention and recruitment crisis. we have unsafe staffing levels and many of the unions would argue that it is due to low pay that so many are leaving the nhs. in 2021, one in nine nurses left the nhs, junior doctors are balloting for strike action, and the bma have said we have not had minimum standards of patient care four years due to underfunding and the recruitment crisis, and they link this back to poor pay, and this is why they are going on strike. i would also like to make the point that unions do actually already arranged life and limb cupboard during strike action, so public safety is always in the mind of the unions. many of the workers we are talking about that would be affected by this legislation have already put their lives at risk during the pandemic to save the lives of others. they are on the front line looking after us in times of need, and this legislation actually is going to
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turn people away from the nhs and make people less likely to actually go forward in some of these public—sector jobs. go forward in some of these public—sectorjobs. don't think go forward in some of these public—sector jobs. don't think this necessarily in the long term will lead to improvements in public safety. j lead to improvements in public safe . ., ., lead to improvements in public safe. ., ., , , safety. i mean, some are suggesting that in the run-up _ safety. i mean, some are suggesting that in the run-up to _ safety. i mean, some are suggesting that in the run-up to it, _ safety. i mean, some are suggesting that in the run-up to it, there - that in the run—up to it, there could be more industrial action, and after it there could also be more industrial action butjust of a different type, falling short of strikes. is that something you think would be the case? the government's own im act would be the case? the government's own impact assessment _ would be the case? the government's own impact assessment says - would be the case? the government's own impact assessment says this i own impact assessment says this legislation could potentially prolong disputes and lead to more frequent strikes. ironically, this legislation has actually brought the unions together and they are already launching campaigns to defend the right to strike. legal action is on the cards, there have been legal concerns around this legislation. the trade union solicitors said this would be in breach of the government's obligations under the european convention of human rights
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and also the international labour organisation, so i think this legislation will actually antagonise relations with the trade unions, make it more difficult to reach a resolution, and certainly will prolong strike action in the coming weeks and months. in prolong strike action in the coming weeks and months.— prolong strike action in the coming weeks and months. in terms of the timin: of weeks and months. in terms of the timing of it. _ weeks and months. in terms of the timing of it. it _ weeks and months. in terms of the timing of it, it comes _ weeks and months. in terms of the timing of it, it comes as _ weeks and months. in terms of the timing of it, it comes as we - weeks and months. in terms of the timing of it, it comes as we are i timing of it, it comes as we are hearing that there is potentially signs of a breakthrough in the dispute with nurses, for instance, with talks of the pay deal for april being backdated to january and possibly also a one—off payment. i mean, that legislation that is being talked about now and will be introduced, it wouldn't come in quickly anyway right now, and there are other positive signs of wear some of the disputes might be going. the talks yesterday, when we look at what the trade unions actually said, the gmb said they were disappointed,
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the gmb said they were disappointed, the royal college of nursing said these talks didn't get us any closer to finding a resolution and strike action is still on the cards. the crucial point about negotiation says, you have to reach a compromise. you have to negotiate on pgy- compromise. you have to negotiate on pay. you can't sit in a room and discuss strike action without being willing to offer something and reach a resolution, so the unions have been disappointed with the talks so far. unless there is any movement, the royal college of nursing, for instance, have said they are willing to compromise on pay and have that conversation, but from what i've seen from the reaction from trade unions, it doesn't look like we have actually seen much progress. taj actually seen much progress. ta' ali, from actually seen much progress. taj ali, from tribune magazine, thank you. time for a sports round—up, we can get the latest from the bbc sports centre. an icon, a legend and a player who allowed his country to believe, some of the reflections on the career of gareth bale, who announced his retirement from football at the age of 33. his last appearance came at
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the world cup in qatar. wales qualified for the first time since 1958 and bail delete my gareth bale scored their only goal. no... welsh fans undoubtedly sad to see him department and will miss him. arguably the best player his country has ever seen. the first women's final at wembley stadium has sold out, england against brazil in sshh —— in front of a crowd of 90,000. the brazilians earned their place by winning the copper america. the matches on the 6th of april. steve cooper has defended his club after they were criticised for flying to and from blackpool for saturday's fa cup tie. rather than a road trip of just under three hours, players and
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staff took a 20 minute flight for the 135 mile journey. nottingham forest were knocked out after losing 4-1. forest were knocked out after losing 4—1. they extended an agreement with an energy company to raise awareness of the climate crisis and seeking to play their part in a sustainable future. cooper insists his team fly less than most teams in the premier league. ronnie o'sullivan is into the quarterfinal of the masters at alexandra palace. he beat luca brecel. the tournament has been overshadowed by the sport was mike governing body investigating allegations of match fixing. o'sullivan says there are more important things going on. he is into the last eight, joined byjack lisowski, the number 12, who beat john higgins in his first—ever win at this event. the winner will face hossein vafaei for a place in the semifinals. snooker is live on bbc
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two from 1pm. that's all the sport must for now. back with more later. see you then. thank you, gavin. in the last year, the uk government's afghan citizens resettlement scheme has not taken a single refugee from the country. the scheme was set up to help vulnerable afghans who helped the british armed forces during the occuption. there are fears these people and their families could be targeted for retribution by the taliban following their return to power in 2021. bbc radio 4's file on four has been looking into why no—one has been able to make it out. i'm joined now by paul kenyon, the presenter of that documentary. welcome. just remind us of the background to this scheme in the first place. background to this scheme in the first lace. , ., ., background to this scheme in the first place-— first place. first of all, there was the scheme _ first place. first of all, there was the scheme many _ first place. first of all, there was the scheme many of _ first place. first of all, there was the scheme many of us - first place. first of all, there was the scheme many of us will i first place. first of all, there was i the scheme many of us will remember, which was to get people connected with the military out of afghanistan when it fell to the taliban, so we are talking august 2021. after that, something came into place which was designed for the citizens to get
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out, people who had worked alongside the broader british mission, and this is the skin you mentioned in your introduction. this was a lifeline for people who didn't get out during the chaos of that evacuation that we all remember, with people hanging off the side of accra. those people who were unfortunate enough not to get out but we want with the british and were therefore under threat from the new taliban authorities were offered this lifeline. the problem with the scheme is that even though it is a resettlement scheme, we discovered that only four people have been resettled, who themselves had already got out of the country and were in neighbouring countries, iran and pakistan. those who have been brought directly out of afghanistan to the uk, the numbers who feel that our zero. there are no people who have been relocated from inside afghanistan to the uk in this current tranche.— afghanistan to the uk in this current tranche. ~ . , ., ., current tranche. what is going on - are people — current tranche. what is going on - are people applying _ current tranche. what is going on - are people applying and _ current tranche. what is going on - are people applying and being i current tranche. what is going on - l are people applying and being turned
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down or are they not applying? it is down or are they not applying? it is incredibl down or are they not applying? tit 3 incredibly difficult for people to get through the application scheme. it is difficult to understand. the second thing is, when they apply, this is a cross departmental process. people apply. we know that they started applying a year ago, these people. it was introduced this time last year. a year later, when we speak to the home office had asked what is happening and why they are waiting, they say, they are still going through security checks. it is not the infant stages but still quite preliminary, so these people who have a very good claim to come to the uk, who fulfil the criteria, our waiting in afghanistan in hiding, scan for lives because the machinery of the scheme is so slow to process them. do the machinery of the scheme is so slow to process them.— the machinery of the scheme is so slow to process them. do you have a number on — slow to process them. do you have a number on how— slow to process them. do you have a number on how many _ slow to process them. do you have a number on how many have _ slow to process them. do you have a number on how many have applied? | slow to process them. do you have a l number on how many have applied? it number on how many have applied? tit is difficult to know. the number will be in the thousands. i think it is 10,000 or12,000, maybe
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will be in the thousands. i think it is 10,000 or 12,000, maybe more. they were directly employed or alongside the british mission, so we understand and accept that their lives are at risk. some of these people, there is a guy in our programme who got permission, got the paperwork to come out during the chaos of that evacuation. he worked for the british embassy as a driver in kabul stop you got to within 20 paces of the airport on one of those fateful days, when there was an explosion. a suicide bomber had hit the airport. everyone was totally very quickly. he went home thinking he would be recalled to the airport but it never happened. despite the fact that he was all and had the permissions to get out during that evacuation in august 2021, he is still there trying to get out on various schemes now one cannot do. he is one case that is held up and obviously very concerned about his safety and that of his family. so these people are living in hiding? they are all living in hiding. thank ou. in a statement the home office said:
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and you can listen to more on that story, which is called �*abandoned in afghanistan' and will be broadcast on radio 4 at 8pm. the first—ever satellite mission launched from uk soil has failed. last night, a jumbo jet carried a rocket out of cornwall and released it over the atlantic ocean. the rocket was supposed to send nine satellites into orbit, but the team behind the mission say it suffered a technical "anomaly". from newquay, here's our science editor rebecca morell. the mission started so well. at spaceport cornwall, it was time for the jumbo jet to take off. and there it goes. it's lift off for the plane. but this is just the beginning. the next step is to release
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the rocket and start a new era for uk space. godspeed, launcher one, godspeed, cosmic girl on this historic european and uk mission to open space for everyone. 2000 people came to watch, ready to see what they thought would be a moment of history. an hour into the flight, the rocket, called launcher one, fired its engines after it was released from the plane. so far, so good. but then, this. it appears that launcher one has suffered an anomaly, which will prevent us from making orbit for this mission. there was a problem with the rocket, and the mission was over. so this evening we had a first stage burn that took the rocket into space. but in effect, the second stage engine had a technical anomaly and didn't reach the required orbit. so that's now being part of an investigation by virgin orbit and a number of government departments. the jumbo jet returned to spaceport cornwall as planned, but it was upsetting news for the team there, who'd spent nearly a decade trying
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to make this launch happen. just absolutely devastated. um, you know, we put our heart and soul into this, and it's such a personaljourney for me as well. and my family were here. so, yeah, it was pretty, pretty rough. um, but i feel ok, i feel ok. and i think it'lljust be a few days ofjust kind of letting it sink in a little bit. the data from the mission is now being analysed to work out exactly what went wrong. it's a well—known saying that space is hard. the team, though, is certain they'll try again. but tonight wasn't their night. rebecca morelle, bbc news, spaceport, cornwall. i'm pleased to havejosh western, the ceo of space forge with us — the company had a satellite on—board which it has now lost. welcome, thank you forjoining us. i can imagine that is pretty disappointing for you? it can imagine that is pretty disappointing for you? it is, yeah. to echo mel's _ disappointing for you? it is, yeah. to echo mel's works, _ disappointing for you? it is, yeah. to echo mel's works, we - disappointing for you? it is, yeah. to echo mel's works, we are i to echo mel's works, we are devastated at the loss of our
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satellite. at the same time, it has been an incredible experience for us and we have learnt a great deal. we are not that far away from our next mission. ~ ., ., , are not that far away from our next mission. ~ . ., , ., ., mission. what was the goal for that satellite - what _ mission. what was the goal for that satellite - what would _ mission. what was the goal for that satellite - what would it _ mission. what was the goal for that satellite - what would it have i mission. what was the goal for that satellite - what would it have done| satellite — what would it have done for your business? it satellite - what would it have done for your business?— for your business? it was there to validate our _ for your business? it was there to validate our new— for your business? it was there to validate our new way _ for your business? it was there to validate our new way of _ for your business? it was there to validate our new way of returning | validate our new way of returning satellites from space to earth so that they can be returned gently enough that we can, for the first time ever, reuse and relaunch satellites. time ever, reuse and relaunch satellites-— time ever, reuse and relaunch satellites. �* ., ., , , , satellites. but now it has basically crashed and _ satellites. but now it has basically crashed and burned _ satellites. but now it has basically crashed and burned before - satellites. but now it has basically crashed and burned before it i satellites. but now it has basically crashed and burned before it can i crashed and burned before it can test that technology? i crashed and burned before it can test that technology?— test that technology? i mean, it has. unfortunately, _ test that technology? i mean, it has. unfortunately, it— test that technology? i mean, it has. unfortunately, it is- test that technology? i mean, it i has. unfortunately, it is somewhere in the atlantic. at the same time, it was a remarkable opportunity for us to be involved with, and our mission is only around 16 weeks away from completion, which is a far more capable satellite that we will be launching, compared to this one, and
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it is scheduled for later this year. tell us about that. you have lost something here but you are saying there was something else just four once a way which could be better for you? once a way which could be better for ou? , . , ., you? very much so. our goal is not onl to you? very much so. our goal is not only to be — you? very much so. our goal is not only to be able _ you? very much so. our goal is not only to be able to _ you? very much so. our goal is not only to be able to return _ you? very much so. our goal is not only to be able to return satellites| only to be able to return satellites but to manufacture new materials in space that are impossible to make on earth. by bringing those materials back, we can reduce unit —— energy use by about 50%. the mission later this year is an opportunity to both manufacture some of those materials and for the first time ever attempt to complete a full return from space to complete a full return from space to earth, which the last mission was not going to do. that to earth, which the last mission was not going to do-_ not going to do. that is some good news for you- _ not going to do. that is some good news for you. in _ not going to do. that is some good news for you. in terms _ not going to do. that is some good news for you. in terms of- not going to do. that is some good news for you. in terms of the i not going to do. that is some good news for you. in terms of the cost| news for you. in terms of the cost of the loss of this satellite, what would that... how much is it? hot would that... how much is it? not very much — would that... how much is it? not very much at _ would that... how much is it? not very much at all. _ would that... how much is it? mt very much at all. really, the loss to us as a small start—up has been
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time. the opportunity cost us about five months in total of work, but the satellite was insured and we will be able to get what it cost us back, which provides us with the runway to have another go at this. as much as it was unfortunate that we didn't get to achieve orbit, as a company, and i think is a uk industry, we have still learnt such an incredible amount. it was an incredible event, not incredible in the way we had hoped, but i think so much that we were able to really learn and see just how important the space sector has become to the uk population as a whole.— space sector has become to the uk population as a whole. thank you for 'oinin: us, population as a whole. thank you for joining us. josh _ population as a whole. thank you for joining us, josh weston. _ now, ahead of that launch, on sunday afternoon, in a now deleted tweet, the current business secretary grant shapps put this photo of himself at the cornwall space port. the picture was taken on9th thejune 2021 when he was transport secretary. there is a gap in the middle of the
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photograph. that was picked up on by social media and the press association as to what might have gone there before. there it is — borisjohnson, prime minister at the time. and that image remains on the number ten flickr account. that is the image that was tweeted out. the prime minister, of course, digitally raised, or photoshop. it is a tweet that has now been deleted. time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. we've had two weather fronts crossing us today, both bringing heavy rain. the first one pushing northwards and eastwards, with a brief period of snow on the hills, before that turns readily back to rain. and then the second one coming in from the west. that one too could be heavy in places, and of course they've
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fallen on areas where the ground is already saturated, like wales, north—west england, exacerbating that situation. it's going to be a windy day, and it's going to be a windy night. the rain pushing to the south—east and also the north—east with a packet of showers coming in behind them. and we are looking at temperatures of 6—10 degrees, so no issues with frost tonight. as we go through the course of tomorrow, we start off on a dry and sunny note for many of us. we've already got showers in the west, some of those being blown over towards the east on the strong winds. wintry on the tops of the hills, some sunshine in between, and temperatures not as high as today. we are looking at 7—11 as we push down to the south. hello, this is bbc news with joanna gosling. the headlines: two british charity workers are missing in ukraine. the foreign office says its supporting their families. they were last seen in the eastern region of donbas, close to some of the fiercest fighting. primary schools across scotland are closed today as teachers go on strike in a dispute over pay. meanwhile, the government will introduce a bill in parliament later which would force unions
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to maintain minimum levels of service during strikes. more than 650,000 deaths were registered in the uk last year — 9% higher than in the year before the pandemic. the effects of covid and pressure on the nhs are among the explanations. the average price of a litre of petrol in the uk has fallen below £1.50 for the first time since russia invaded ukraine last year. more than 650,000 deaths were registered in the uk in 2022, according to new figures released by the office for national statistics. that represents one of the biggest jumps in death rates in half a century, taking account of the size and age of the population. although it's far below pandemic levels, it's prompted concerns about why more people are dying than would be expected.
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we are seeing thatjumper, it is a 9% increase from what we were saying in 2019, which is the last pre—pandemic year. in 2019, which is the last pre-pandemic year. in 2019, which is the last --re-andemic ear. ~ . ., , pre-pandemic year. what has really chanced pre-pandemic year. what has really changed last _ pre-pandemic year. what has really changed last year _ pre-pandemic year. what has really changed last year is _ pre-pandemic year. what has really changed last year is whereas - pre-pandemic year. what has really changed last year is whereas in i changed last year is whereas in those years it was very clear that direct covid—19 deaths were a cause of that access, but what we are saying is that now the effects of coviud are still there, it is not the main driver. that has been the big question for the last few months is what is it that is causing more people to die than normal? we are beginning to get some clues now from the data. the two leading theories or most plausible explanation is our first lethal strains on the nhs that we have been hearing about, the delays to ambulances, the delay is to get people into urgent care, and people being in worse health than
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they were before the pandemic started through a combination of the effects of coviud —— covid itself is, and also mist appointments, maybe not being on the correct medication that they need to be. when we get something like this, which is extremely complex, lots of things going on. we are seeing this big shocking figure, it is easy for people to insert their favourite theory. lots of people online see a big rise in deaths and say it is the covid vaccine because they have a pre—existing belief that vaccines are dangerous even though that is not supported by the data. in fact, more unvaccinated people have died of more courses up to the end of may last year that unvaccinated people.
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tens of thousands of people have been holding pro—democracy demonstrations across brazil — after sunday's attack on government buildings by supporters of the defeated former president, jair bolsonaro. about 1,500 people involved in the violence have been arrested. here is katy watson at one of the pro—democracy demonstrations in sao paulo. this demonstration here in sao paulo isjust one of many that have been called across the country in response to the events of sunday. people here are showing that they're not going to take what they saw in brasilia, the invasion of congress, the supreme federal court and the presidential palace. people here are calling for punishment of those responsible. they're waving placards saying without amnesty for the coup mongers. i spoke to one woman who said that this isn't about not agreeing. it's about allowing people to have different opinions and respecting democracy. and this is what this event is about.
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it's about moving forward and encouraging democracy in this deeply divided country. the clean—up operation is pretty much done here outside the presidential palace. you can still see where the protesters caused huge damage. president biden and president lula spoke on the phone and president biden condemned the attack in the capital and he can relate — the same thing happened in the us two years ago. the crucial difference is that a peaceful transfer of power had already happened here because president lula was inaugurated a week ago but there is pressure building on president biden. members of his party want former president bolsonaro to be kicked out of america, who, according to his wife is currently in hospital in florida being treated for abdominal pain and a lot of people here including lula da silva blame mr bolsonaro for the unrest because he refused to accept the election results.
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there is talk of an extradition but we spoke to a justice minister here who said extradition can only happen if there is a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation. labour's stephen kinnock is asking an urgent question to the home secretary on progress implementing the windrush lessons learned review. there has been a concerted effort across the home office to right the wrongs suffered by those affected. this work continues in the department. the department is making sustained progress on delivering on the lessons learnt and the commitments made in the comprehensive improvement plan. wendy williams, the independent reviewer, concluded that 21 of her recommendations have been met or partially met. she acknowledged that the scale of the challenge she set the scale of the challenge she set the department was significant and
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that change on the skill takes time. we have made real progress in delivering against wendy williams recommendations. the home office established the office for the independent examiner of complaints. the home office has also held over 200 engagement and outreach events across the country and the windrush health teams have attended over 121 help people apply for documentation. as at the end of october last year the home office had peddled or offered £59.58 million in compensation to windrush victims. in june 2022 the learning package was knocked across the home office, starting with recommendations, learning per senior civil servants, and diversion and inclusion. the
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learning package recommendation six, the history of the uk and its relationship with the rest of the world is undergoing final review prior to implementation. i am pleased that the independent review on when crushed progress concludes there are areas where very good progress has been made already, but she rightly holds the home office to accounting areas and on recommendations were sufficient progress has not yet been made. there can be no doubt, she concludes, that the department has risen to the daunting challenge that she set us. we know there's more to do. many people suffered terrible injustices at the hands of successive governments and the department will continue working hard to right the wrongs and deliver a home office worthy of community served. ,, , ~ a home office worthy of community served. . , ~ ., , served. stephen kinnock. the reality is that this government _ served. stephen kinnock. the reality is that this government because i served. stephen kinnock. the reality is that this government because my| is that this government because my treatment of the windrush generation is surely one of the most shameful
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episodes in post—war political history. the windrush community played a pivotal role in rebuilding britain. we all owed them and debt of honour and gratitude but instead consecutive conservative governments have treated them with utter contempt. firstly they work pick them out onto the hostile environment policy, then they were let by purely administrative compensation scheme. now, it is reported that the government is set to betray the windrush generation once again by you churning on its commitment to implement all 30 of the wendy williams recommendations in her report. in september 2021 the former home secretary restated her aim is to put right the wrongs of this sorry affair, yet today we find that the government is rowing back on some of these commitments,
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including the refusal to hand additional powers to the independent chief inspector and the scrapping of the reconciliation and community events. why is this government so terrified of scrutiny? there are a toxic combination of incompetence and indifference is failing to windrush generation as it is failing the country as a whole, so will the minister tell me today, given that wendy williams are saying that only eight of the recommendations have been implemented, how many of the recommendations have been implemented and how many is the government pitching based on widely reported media analysis? why have thousands of the windrush generation still not received any compensation at all? all this, the 75th anniversary of the landing of the windrush, is the windrush generation being betrayed by this government once again?
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we are going to leave the commons. that was stephen kennedy asking an urgent question on the windrush scandal and the idea that the government will be abandoning some of those key commitments. the end of life charity, marie curie, is calling for terminally ill people of working age to be given early access to a state pension. it claims the change could be delivered at minimal cost to the taxpayer and would prevent thousands of people each year from dying in poverty. olivia hutchinson reports. thank you. cheryl and mark have been struggling to pay their bills since cheryl, who's 61, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2018. things have got so bad that they can no longer afford to heat their home or run their car. how do we go out and make memories when we haven't got anything to make memories with? we have to pull in every penny we've got to just pay things.
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the end—of—life charity marie curie says people of working age are almost twice as likely to fall into poverty if they're diagnosed with a terminal illness than those claiming their state pension. they're calling for more government funding so that those affected can access their pensions earlier. i don't have the heating on. even with all that bad weather, we didn't have the heating on because that's one bill we probably couldn't afford. i know the issue for us is terminal cancer and you should get access to your pension. pension you've paid into. it's your entitlement. audrey's husband, eddie, was 64 when he died injune, so hadn't reached retirement age. he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020. it got to the stage a month before he died that we were really - struggling then and we've tried to survive until then. _ but then i had to declare myself bankrupt so we could live. - and, you know, i don't think that when you're terminally— ill, you should have i
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to worry about money. i and i think that, if he had his. pension, his state pension, then at least that would have helped. the department for work and pensions says those nearing the end of their lives can get fast track access to a range of benefits and that last year's support was extended. but those affected argue that simply isn't enough. olivia hutchinson, bbc news. let me bring you some comments through from the spokesman of the prime minister on resolving the disputes with the nhs. they have said that the health secretary wants to do further work on ideas to resolve industrial disputes in the nhs before holding more talks with unions. one of the proposals discussed yesterday was backdating next year nhs pay offer to january.
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downing street has said the negotiations have to be fair, open unreasonable and there will be more discussions to come in coming days. the controversial social media influencer andrew tate has arrived at a court in romania to appeal against his 30—day arrest for alleged human trafficking, rape and organised crime charges. mr tate, his brother, tristan, and two romanian female suspects were detained on 29th dec pending a criminal investigation. mr tate�*s lawyer claims there is "no evidence" to support the allegations against him or his brother. the conservative mp andrew bridgen has been suspended from the house of commons for five sitting days, for breaching the mps' code of conduct. in november, the cross—party commons standards committee found mr bridgen had broken rules by failing to declare his financial interests in mere plantations when writing to ministers about the company. the headlines on bbc news: two british charity workers are missing in ukraine. the foreign office says
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its supporting their families. they were last seen in the eastern region of donbas, close to some of the fiercest fighting. primary schools across scotland are closed today, as teachers go on strike in a dispute over pay. the average price of a litre of petrol in the uk has fallen below £1.50 for the first time since russia invaded ukraine last year. after days of tv interviews, leaks, and a mistaken early release, prince harry's memoir has officially gone on sale this morning, after days of leaks. the book has been published around the world in 16 languages. sarah campbell was at waterstones' flagship store in london early this morning. this is a book that has been talked about for a very long time but it is only today that here people can get hold of their own copies of prince harry's book spare. there hasn't been a mad rush to the book store. i'm here at waterstone�*s flagship
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store in the middle of london. there's only one customer so far, but the store do tell me that back in terms of preorders it's one of their largest preorders for a decade. in amazon, it's top of their preorder list, so clearly there is a huge market for it. and the publicity blitz that prince harry has undertaken over the last few days, with three big interviews, another one to come, has certainly done more than most to publicise the book. and despite the fact there has been a very carefully coordinated security campaign to try to make sure copies didn't leak out, so here for example, they had their copies delivered on thursday, but they weren't allowed to open the boxes until last night to put them out on the table this morning. but as we know, there were copies that were leaked in spain that went accidentally on sale in spain last week, and there were a couple of leaked copies as well in the states. so the extracts are out there, and what we do know is it's a very personal book, it's prince harry's story, in prince harry's words.
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he deals with very personal moments in his life, but also involving members of his family, and difficulties, i think, with members of his family, all of which have been detailed in the extracts which have been released so far. the book is out today, the audiobook is out today. there will be another big interview with prince harry to promote it, and no doubt it will be a bestseller. new research from the motoring organisation the aa has revealed the average price drivers pay for a litre of petrol at uk pumps has fallen below £1.50 for the first time since russia invaded ukraine ten and a half months ago. our cost of living correspondent, kevin peachey shared more on this story, a little earlier.
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a tale of two fuel tear really, because petrol prices below £1 50 for the first time since the russian invasion. they peaked at 1.91, so drivers will have a huge sigh of relief as a result of petrol prices coming down. diesel it is different, we are looking at 1.53 when the invasion began, we are still now up at 1.72 ford diesel, so the same good news is not quite coming through for diesel drivers at the moment. ina in a speech today, john bush and more flexibility over fitness to work that could help those on sickness benefits to find work. the social sickness benefits to find work. tue: social security sickness benefits to find work. tte: social security system should support not hinder people because my journey into work. but too often the system this incentivises work, making even considering trying to engage with possible employment too much of a risk. we will reform the
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working capability assessment regime that too often leaves people trapped out of the workforce and limit their potential. we know you will all have heard about these assessments can be arduous, lengthy, stressful and many people with ill simply do not want to risk having to go through that whole benefit application and assessment rigmarole again if things go wrong. so, let's take away that fear and distrust. let's offer people a bridge so that we can encourage people to engage with employment support and is attempting to move into work. a labour government would guarantee the people in this position you do move into employment with the help of employment support services will be able to return to the benefits they were owned without the need for another lengthy assessment process. a labour government will tackle the
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barriers faced by the long—term unemployed and economically inactive, bringing people back into productive labour market participation. you'll get britain working again and target the highest employment in the g7. these reforms are part of a fundamentally different and new approach where we prioritise well—being and security above all else will helping people into work. a parcel company has apologised after dozens of people living in an area of south—west england say they have gone weeks the courier provider, evri, says a busy festive period, coupled with royal mail strikes and a shortage of staff, has caused delays in somerset�*s chew valley. one resident told us she's still waiting for an online order she placed in october. scott ellis reports. this is evri's regional depot at avonmouth. the firm used to be called hermes. in the chew valley area, residents have told us more than 200 deliveries have not been made in recent months. yvette taylor spent £180 on three
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clothing orders before christmas. she has emails to say they're on the way, but still nothing. it's just the disappointment, isn't it, that you've saved up your christmas money and you're looking forward to getting these products from the retailers and then, yeah, it never arrives and you can't get those products any more. mine started back in october. and yvette�*s not alone. there are others. carol robertson ordered a small plaque to add to her parents' grave at christmas, but it never came. although evri said otherwise. they said they delivered one and we've got cctv, which we played back and it wasn't there and there was no sign of it at all. but this is what they're doing. they're telling everybody in the valley that it's been delivered when it hasn't. wendy is waiting on seven deliveries worth a total of £300, dating back to october. well, i'll never use| the company again. and i do, actually, - if i make any orders now, i ask them who's delivering. and if they say evri i say no, i
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sorry, i'll go somewhere else. evri has told us that every single day in the uk they deliver 3 million parcels on time as per the contract. but they will admit that they, along with other parcel companies, have had a very busy christmas. it's been made worse by staff shortages and by bad weather. and, as well as that, because of the royal mail strikes, it's increased demand for their services. the company is looking at what's gone wrong specifically in the chew valley area. one local resident posted on social media — "i had a delivery from evri and asked what's going on? he said, 'they�*re very short staffed, not enough delivery drivers.�* and he said the depot is rammed full of parcels yet to be delivered." evri's told the bbc the missing orders should be completed in the next few days. but a viewer in bath has added to evri's woes, telling us the firm's dumped all these parcels on his doorstep for distribution to his neighbours. scott ellis, bbc news.
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it has been very wet day for many of us and there is more rain to come as you move this week. we could see problems of localised flooding. for the rest of the day it will stay wendy, a warm badge of rain clearing through with another one rattling through with another one rattling through later in the day. it will be blustery wherever year. temperatures will be above average with double figures for most. this second batch of rain will rattle its way through this evening, eventually clearing, then overnight it is it is clear spells, scattered showers and longer spells, scattered showers and longer spells of rain to the north and west of the uk. gales will be a feature
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across the north of scotland, to the northern isles, possibly severe gales for a while, thanks to an area of low pressure to the north of scotland. plenty of isobars on the chart as you move into wednesday, another blustery day, particularly on western coasts. there should be more sunshine around to more than we have had today. showers will come and go moving from west to east. the rain could be quite heavy in places. a fresher day tomorrow, into single digits. through wednesday night, the next batch of low pressure moves on to england and wales, perhaps northern ireland, so another spell of heavy rain. strong winds in the south and through the channel. temperatures here between seven and 10 degrees, but a colder night to come in the northern half of the country. that brief ridge of high pressure will bring quieter
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conditions in the northern part of the uk, but another area of low pressure will move in throughout the day. through the channel we could see gales, some large waves, heavy rain which rolled make flooding problems worse in the south and the west. the wind is picking up in the north and west an increasing amount of rain. double figure values in the south, colderfurther north of rain. double figure values in the south, colder further north with snow on the hills. it remains unsettled for the end of the week and into the weekend. the second half of the weekend it looks like things will turn colder.
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today at one: the government is to spell out plans to force some unions to provide a minimum level of cover during strikes. what do we want?! fair pay! when do we want it?! now! primary schools are closed in scotland, as teachers walk out over pay. we're positive. we're determined. i think we need to be paid what we deserve. also this lunchtime... there were more excess deaths than usual in the uk last year, the highest number outside the covid pandemic in half a century. some shops open at midnight to meet demand for prince harry's heavily trailed oh to biography, now on sale. huge disappointment is the
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first satellite mission launched from british soil malfunctions.

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