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tv   BBC News  BBC News  February 5, 2023 6:00pm-6:31pm GMT

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this is bbc news — welcome, whether you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm jane hill. our top stories iranian state television says the country's supreme leader has pardoned thousands of prisoners, including many who'd taken part in recent anti—government demonstrations. new cctv pictures of missing lancashire woman nicola bulley have been shared by one of her friends. the images show the 45—year—old in the hours before she went missing next to the river wyre, nine days ago. union leaders in the uk urge the prime minister to intervene in the dispute about health care pay. the biggest week of strikes in the history of the national health service is due to start on monday. the us continues to search for the wreckage of a chinese balloon —
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suspected of being used for spying — which was brought down by an american fighter jet yesterday. the former president of pakistan, general pervez musharraf, has died at the age of 79 — following a long illness. hello, welcome to bbc news. iran's supreme leader is pardoning a large number of prisoners, including some of those arrested during the past months of protests. the pardon by ayatollah khamenei comes on the eve of the anniversary of the islamic revolution in 1979 — a date on which he regularly offers an amnesty to some prisoners. but the iranian state media says it excludes those facing charges of spying for foreign agencies,
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murder and bodily harm, as well as the destruction or arson of state property. taraneh stone, from the bbc�*s persian service, has been giving us more details. the supreme leader has agreed to pardon and commute sentences of tens of people who are imprisoned or who are waiting for sentences. the letter from the judiciary said that a considerable number of people who were arrested and imprisoned in relation to the recent protests are among these people. but, there is a long list of conditions for these people to be pardoned. one of those conditions is that they should not be linked to any spying activities, they should not be linked to any charges of corruption or waging war against god. as you can see, these are quite ambiguous charges as well,
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and people have been charged with these accusations for setting fire on bins on the street, or merely processing. these are quite ambiguous charges. they are also, one of the conditions, these people have to show remorse, and they have to provide a written promise that they will not participate in the protests or take similar action again. that is what has raised some concerns among social media users and people listening to the news today who have said that this can potentially be problematic, and can potentially be a long process. it may even be impossible for some to be pardoned or released. just remind us about where we are on the protests. here in the uk new pictures of nicola bulley, who went missing while walking next to a river in lancashire, have been released
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showing her on the morning of her disappearance. police have said their assumption is that she fell into the river — and today many members of the local communityjoin the search to find her. a key witness, who was pushing a pram near where ms bulley disappeared nine days ago has come forward. here's danny savage. this is nicola bulley leaving home on the day she vanished. setting off on the school run, putting her spaniel, willow, in the boot. her family today released these pictures to show exactly what she was wearing. for days, police have been searching for any trace of the mother of two young girls. today was no different. what did seem very obvious was the large number of other people out, too. this is the bench where nicky's mobile phone was found a week last friday. today is dry and sunny and the number of people out along here is extraordinary. there are dozens and dozens
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of people along this stretch, along the other stretches as well, all walking the riverside paths to try and assist in the search. i mean, if you went missing in the same way, i would be expecting people to go looking. do you understand what i mean? i would really want there to be a search party. if it was myself, my eldest, we both takesthe dogs out on our own. if it was one of us that was in that situation, iwould hope the community would do the same thing for us as well. ijust feel like everybody should be doing their part. she disappeared without trace. police believe she accidentally fell in the river wyre, but it's the not knowing for sure which is keeping people looking. danny savage, bbc news, st michael's on wyre. the uk government and the health unions remain far apart on the eve of the biggest health workers strike so far in england. the two sides remain deadlocked as nurses, paramedics and physiotherapists are among those due to walk out this week. our political correspondent
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jonathan blake, has more. they chant. a week of walk—outs by nhs staff in england. nurses, ambulance workers, physiotherapists and others are due to strike in the coming days. as industrial action continues by unions demanding higher pay, they are trying to put pressure on the government to negotiate. i can categorically say to you we are in no talks at any level whatsoever with the government about pay in the nhs. that is a real abdication of responsibility. why is rishi sunak not coming to the table? what do we want? fair pay! when do we want it? now! _ in wales, some unions have suspended strikes to consider a new offer from the labour—run welsh government. but uk government ministers responsible for setting pay in england are showing no sign of giving ground. i don't think we need to be having
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these strikes at all. the reality is, as i said, actually, over a million nhs workers got a pay rise last year when there wasn't one on offer. there is a pay rise on the table this year. and just to clarify one point, the government has actually, the system is agreed by the unions, asked for by the unions, that there is an independent pay review body that accepts evidence from the unions, from the management, and then they recommend a figure to the government. labour hasn't said how it would fund higher pay for nhs staff in england or what its offer would be, but insists the government should at least engage. it is the government's responsibility. they can sort this. you know, the unions have said even before this started at christmas, if you meet us to discuss pay, we'll call this strike off. we have seen when proper negotiations take place about pay, not everything else, they can stop it. nhs staff determined to secure higher pay, a government adamant its offer is fair.
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and for now, no sign of an end to the stand—off. the former uk prime minister, liz truss, has blamed what she's called a "powerful economic establishment" — and a lack of support from the conservative party — for her downfall. liz truss was forced to resign as prime minster after barely seven weeks, after her package of tax cuts caused panic in the markets and the pound dropped to a record low. earlier, david gauke, former conservative mp and cabinet member gave us his view. i think it is a pretty unconvincing case, to be honest. the fact is that the government pursued a fiscal strategy, a tax and spend policy that did not have credibility. the markets took fright, interest rates rose accordingly. the pound fell, and the uk faced a real problem, a market crisis.
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that was a consequence of a reckless approach to the public finances. i don't think there is really an indication from liz truss that she properly recognises that, or recognises the errors that she made, and her chancellor made, in pursuing a policy that undermined market confidence. and there have been, since she left, and today they have come back, jokes about the idea of a left—wing blob, or whatever, in the various ——joining us now is simon french, chief economist at uk investment bank panmure gordon. hello, welcome to bbc news. first of all, your bride thoughts when you read the lengthy article of liz truss today?— read the lengthy article of liz truss today? read the lengthy article of liz truss toda ? ,., ., ~ ., truss today? good evening. we got here from liz _ truss today? good evening. we got here from liz truss _ truss today? good evening. we got here from liz truss a _ truss today? good evening. we got here from liz truss a partial - truss today? good evening. we got here from liz truss a partial view, | here from liz truss a partial view, here from liz truss a partial view, her own view, of course, of how
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events unfolded in september— october of last year. but on reading it, i have to say i didn't necessarily think she had drawn the correct conclusions that markets were telling her. she wanted to blame the treasury, the bank of england, the economics establishments, but actually it's a very democratic process, financial markets. their investors all of the rent that can either choose to hold sterling, uk government debt can be uk assets, they look to what liz truss proposed. they believed it made sense —— they didn't believe it made sense —— they didn't believe it made sense, and that what was the previous package. the democratic judgment by financial markets. it’s judgment by financial markets. it's interesting that you say that that is a democratic process. the tone of what she is saying suggests that she considers, is it fair to say she considers, is it fair to say she considers that part of the problem? she is using the word establishment.
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i have heard the financial markets described many things. they are not left—wing. they not the are establishment. people participate in around the world and it's important to give us a global context, there were decisions not to own sterling, the pound, sterling assets that were made by people who have no real political skin in the game. they are not anti—liz trust as an individual, but looking at whether the economic package that was unveiled in the many budget in mid september last year made economic sense that judgment was it didn't make sense. liz truss may disagree but the judgment and that is her right, but unfortunately, she has designed her economic doctrine has been very much in favour of the free market and if you were in favour of the free market and didn't like the judgment, it looks a little bit contradictory. i remember at the time we were covering this last year and we were all talking to people like you about the pound following, all the
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economic ramifications that we know it had. a lot of talk back then about the fact that she had outlined this, she and her chancellor and the cpr this, she and her chancellor and the opr hadn't been involved, the office for budget responsibility hadn't come up with its assessments of her plans and her proposals. do you feel that that was a big mess at the time because the act ——? would they have had more confidence had the opr been involved? i had more confidence had the opr been involved? , ,., had more confidence had the opr been involved? , ., ., involved? i believe so, and what must be really _ involved? i believe so, and what must be really frustrating - involved? i believe so, and what must be really frustrating for - involved? i believe so, and what must be really frustrating for liz j must be really frustrating for liz truss right now and her van chancellor is they will never be able to replay history. they will never be able to unveil the same package of tax cuts with the office for budget responsibility, but you mentioned can be brought into the tent, allowed to model this with the bank of england kept inside and it and briefed against by the trust company throughout last summer. and also the chief civil servant in the treasury, time scholar, was sacked, spectacularly sacked by the incoming
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chancellor. and all of this was absorbed by financial markets, and therefore, i believe it undermines therefore, i believe it undermines the overall message. the underlying principle of trying to make the uk economy and more dynamic faster growing economy is very, very sound. he struggled to find many economists who don't think that's a good idea. and if you don't take people with you, you are doomed to failure, as a sob at the mini budget last year. it is striking, with the benefit of hindsight, she says, she would have acted differently, and she does talk about the fact that she wasn't warned of the risks to the bond markets from ldi, liability driven investments, don't want to get to bog down in the technicalities of that, but we know that's a fundamental part of it at the time and she says she wasn't warned about that, warned of the risks of that. is that a credible? why would she not have been warned? what do you make of that? we not have been warned? what do you make of that?— make of that? we found out today that sadly the _
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make of that? we found out today that sadly the chancellor - make of that? we found out today that sadly the chancellor was - make of that? we found out today i that sadly the chancellor was warned in early september, two weeks before the many budgets, he was given a briefing, his officials and the treasury were given a briefing about the risks associated with ldi, and if that didn't then, you know, transfer itself from the treasury from the chancellor to the prime minister, that is a failure of communication, does not mean that treasury were not given the warning, just means that the prime minister, albeit a prime minister who was trying to move very quickly had a lot on her plate, a lot of geopolitical events, notjust economic events to deal with, overlooked debts, but the idea that there was no briefing given, i don't think has stood the test ofjust the last few hours where we have understood that the briefing took place in the treasury in early september. place in the treasury in early september-— good to hear your analysis. chief economist at... thank you. the us is trying to recover the wreckage of a chinese surveillance balloon which it shot
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down — after it was seen flying over us airspace for days, including above sensitive military sites. beijing has accused america of an over—reaction, with china's foreign ministry insisting the balloon was for weather research. our correspondent barbara plett usher reports from beijing. four days, this solitary object floated serenely ——for days, this solitary object floated serenely through us airspace, putting a diplomatic crisis onto television screens in real time. was it or homeless weather balloon, as a chinese claimed? or a spy in the sky? moments after it arrived over the atlantic, the us brought an explosive end to the drama. that trail of white vapour you see on the left of the screen is an american fighterjet heading for the building. the second vapour trail is from a heat—seeking missile fired from the jet, easily finding its target. whoa! did you hear that? shortly after impact, the sound of the explosion was heard
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by people watching on the ground. then, what was left of the balloon came down in the sea off the coast of south carolina. suddenly we saw something to go from the jet and we knew that was a missile and you could see the explosion. gosh, it was almost like a moving cloud coming down. a bit scary. it is a different- way of spying on us. the us navy is now recovering debris spread over seven miles in relatively shallow water. down to earth, the us should star in a suspected spy billing monitoring us military sites... this was how america woke up to the news on sunday morning. late yesterdaym an air force fighter jet fired a single air to air missile into the balloon, bringing it down. president biden was criticised by republicans for not acting sooner, but he chose his own time. i ordered the pentagon to shoot it down as soon as possible.
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they decided — without doing to any damage to anyone on the ground — they decided the best time to do that was overwater, within a 12 mile limit. china's foreign ministry accused the us of overreacting. the statement said... the incident has blown up a chance to ease tensions between the world's two great powers, with the us secretary of state antony blinken postponing a planned trip to beijing. here in beijing, the foreign ministry had been expecting to welcome antony blinken today to talk about stabilising the relationship and carefully planned meetings. instead, suddenly relations have taken a sharp turn for the worse. the visit could still very well take place later in the year. butjust getting here is now part of the problem. barbara plett usher, news, beijing.
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pakistan's former president, general pervez musharraf, has died following a long illness. he was 79 years old. president musharraf seized power in a bloodless military coup in 1999 — serving in office for seven years from 2001. at the time of his death he had been living in exile in dubai, receiving medical treatment. the bbc�*s gordon corera looks back on his life. 1999 — when troops stormed the national television headquarters to put pervez musharraf in power, the people of pakistan heard a familiar refrain. the nation needed another leader in uniform to save it from self—serving politicians. in the past, our governments have ruled the people. it is time now for the governments to serve the people. pakistan had already been under army rule for more than half the time it had been independent. general musharraf portrayed himself as a moderniser out to rid pakistan of islamic extremism.
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the attacks in the us in september 2001 severely tested his resolve. controversially, within pakistan, he decided to support the american led military campaign to oust the taliban regime in neighbouring afghanistan. the best way to fight this common enemy is to join hands. he faced protests that he'd sold out to the americans. later, he only narrowly escaped an attempt on his life. challenges to his authority were put down with military force. he later handed over control of the army. but the killing of the former prime minister benazir bhutto in 2007, soon after her return from exile, undermined president musharraf's claim that the nation was safe in his hands. then his party was trounced at the polls, and the coalition that came in decided to impeach him for his alleged misrule as president.
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pervez musharraf, though, moved first and resigned. he went into self—imposed exile, but returned to pakistan six years later, intending to stand in the forthcoming general election. but he was placed under arrest. a move musharraf described as politically motivated. he is allowed to seek medical treatment abroad. he was convicted in his absence of treason and accused of involvement in bhutto's assassination. pervez musharraf once said pakistan would help to shape the future for both islam and the west and the relations between them. on that, there would probably be little disagreement, but there undoubtedly will be over pervez musharraf's own contribution. a british family are to travel to grenada later this month to apologise publicly for their ancestors' ownership of more than 1,000 slaves.
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the trevelyans owned six sugar plantations on the caribbean island during the nineteenth century. the family includes the bbc correspondent, laura trevelyan — who says they are paying reparations by donating 100,000 pounds to a fund on the island. celestina olulode reports a painful past with a legacy that lingers. a reality bbc presenter laura trevelyan was confronted with after learning her family was listed on a database of slave owners. when i went to grenada and i saw for myself the plantations, where slaves were punished, when i saw the instruments of torture that were used to restrain them, when i looked at the neck braces, at the manacles, at the system of dehumanisation that my family had profited from as absentee slave owners, of the sugar plantations, i felt ashamed.
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later this month the family will donate £100,000 to establish a community fund for the island and have agreed to apologise for their ancestors' role in the slave trade. when slavery came to an end, the trevelyan family received the equivalent of £3 million in compensation. laura says the £100,000 donation may seem inadequate, but she hopes herfamily are setting an example by apologising for what her ancestors did. the trevelyan family is only one. also, the amount of money we are talking about is really a drop in the bucket. so while we applaud this effort, we are conscious of the fact that more can and should be done. the real legacy of slavery is the underdevelopment of the caribbean, the underdevelopment of grenada, you are talking about the education system, the health care system, our whole economic premise.
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as contributing nations continue to grapple with that legacy, there is mounting pressure from some for governments to pay reparations, too. celestina olulode, bbc news. pope francis is on his way back to rome after a historic visit to south sudan. addressing an open air mass congregation injuba at the end of his visit, he told the congregation he brought a message of hope and pleaded with south sudan's leaders to focus on bringing about lasting peace. it's official — peggy — a pug cross — has been named "britain's ugliest dog". her prize was a pampering session and professional photo shoot at a salon in beverley, east yorkshire. simon spark has the details. # ugly.# this is just part of an amazing transformation for peggy. from a dog that was once sneered at in the street to now
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being photographed for yet more celebrity status media attention. here we go. but she's here to receive her prize after being crowned the ugliest dog in britain. good girl! peggy's here in beverley, east yorkshire, to have her photoshoot and makeover. she's getting a blueberry facial i right now, which is really relaxing and cleans her face really well and is supposed to— reduce tear staining. what do you think of her? i think she's really . cute in her own way. and for owner holly, a chance to reflect on a mad few weeks. it's been a bit of a whirlwind. it's been really crazy. a lot has happened really quickly. we'll see what sort of difference it makes, if any. i'm sure, she's great anyway, either way. but she'll love all the pampering. she'll love all this. shampoo and cleansing complete, time tojoin chester to have her blow dry. so we'rejust trimming round her feet there. and then the next stage after that would be a clipping of nails. and then we've treated her to nose and paw balm as well.
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i mean, it's probably not somewhere that she often particularly... no, not at all. but yeah, we're so happy to have her. yeah. and then it was time to try on prizewinning garments, new jumpers and jackets. she feels a lot softer. she smells a lot better, hair's a lot more fluffy. not a lot we can do with the rest. # let me see beneath your beautiful...# so here she is, transformed and ready to face her public. simon spark, bbc news. britain's ugliest dog. poor thing. that's really mean, isn't it? just to tell you before we go,
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hundreds of boats have taken part in a parade along the waterways at the start of the annual carnival in venice. the two—week event attracts tourists from all over the globe, with dancers, costumes and music lighting up the city. it was scaled down during the pandemic, but has returned to normal this year. hello again. well, it's certainly been a weekend of two halves. take yesterday's weather. the satellite picture from saturday shows extensive cloud across the country, whereas today it's been, well, a lot sunnier, particularly across england, wales, northern ireland and at times, the south and east of scotland, enjoying some brighter conditions as well. there have been some areas of high cloud in the sky like here in pembrokeshire. just made the sunshine a little on the hazy side at times. but despite the sunniest skies working in today, it's actually been quite a bit cooler. temperatures dropping by around about four degrees celsius in places and closer to average for this time of the year. now, overnight, high pressure is going to stay dominating across england and wales, keeping the skies clear and starry. some clear weather as well for eastern scotland. and it's for these areas that we'll see a widespread frost with the lowest temperatures
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in the countryside, probably getting down to what, minus five or so, whereas across the northwest of the uk, here there'll be a lot more cloud around, and so probably a frost—free start to the day on monday. and indeed that cloud may thicken up enough to bring an odd spot of drizzle. otherwise, we're looking at a largely dry day. the best of the sunshine, though, once again, will be across england and wales, with temperatures quite close to average, seven or eight degrees, quite typically. some of the higher temperatures will be where it stays cloudier in the north west of the country, with temperatures up to ten. now for tuesday, i think we're going to start the day with quite extensive and dense patches of freezing fog across parts of the south of the uk. some of that will last into the afternoon, making the weather particularly cold. a weak weather front drifts southwards across southern scotland, northern ireland, into northern england, thickening the cloud up to give an odd spot of drizzle. but still, for most of you, tuesday will be another dry day.
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by wednesday, the winds will start to pick up, and that could mean that we don't see quite as much in the way of mist and fog and a better chance of seeing some cloud breaks to the east of high ground. temperatures still quite close to average across england and wales, 6 to 8 degrees. scotland and northern ireland still mild, nine or ten here. now, there will be some further changes later in the week as this cold front moves southwards across the country on thursday. there won't be a great deal of rain left on it by the time it reaches southern parts of england and wales. but it will allow some cooler air into northern areas. lerwick, for example, five degrees on thursday and we could even see a few wintry showers in the far north. bye bye.
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this is bbc news. the headlines: iranian state television says the country's supreme leader has pardoned thousands of prisoners, including many who took part in recent anti—government demonstrations. human rights groups believe 20,000 people have been detained in relation to the protests since mid—september. new cctv pictures of the missing lancashire woman nicola bulley have been shared by one of her friends. the images show the 45—year—old in the hours before she went missing nine days ago. the united states is trying to find the wreckage of a chinese surveillance balloon, which it shot down over the atlantic on saturday. beijing has accused the us
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of an over—reaction. the former president of pakistan, pervez musharraf, has died at the age of 79.

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