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tv   BBC News Now  BBC News  September 20, 2023 12:00pm-12:31pm BST

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both consultants and junior doctors are out on strike. here in paris, the streets havejust been cleared by police as emmanuel macron prepares to welcome king charles. hello, i'm lucy hockings, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. the prime minister is to give a speech after briefing cabinet members on possible changes to carbon policies. lets now speak damian grammaticas, our political correspondent.
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we know he is going to address, hold a press conference, give a speech and take questions in downing street at liz30pm. there has been speculation through the morning following the link to the bbc yesterday of this potential big shift in government policy to push back net zero target dates that the government was scrambling, it was talking to industry, talking to other mps in the last few hours and all calling for clarity. what we now see is downing street confirming 4:30pm, the prime minister will address this issue and seeking to bring some clarity, which the car—makers have been calling for an opposition party is already very critical of any move to change those targets. d0 critical of any move to change those taraets. ~ ., ., ,., critical of any move to change those taraets. ~ ., ., ., targets. do we know what some of the ro osals targets. do we know what some of the preposals might _ targets. do we know what some of the preposals might be — targets. do we know what some of the proposals might be in _ targets. do we know what some of the proposals might be in terms _ targets. do we know what some of the proposals might be in terms of- proposals might be in terms of changing these key green targets?
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yes, we do, so the central one that has got a lot of attention is that the uk had been saying that by 2030, all petrol and diesel only vehicles would stop being sold and you would have to have electric engines. the talk now is pushing that back to 2035, that is what has caused the upset amongst companies like ford. ford, this morning talking about the lack of ambition, commitment and consistency from the government because businesses like ford saying they need certainty but other targets, too, like home efficiency measures that were being talked about, those will not have to come, energy efficiency targets for 2035 for scrapping or stopping all gas—fired heating systems in houses, that you would have to install a different type of more energy—efficient system. that could be pushed back as well. just some of a number of things, seven or eight
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measures in total that could be in this. we should be clear at liz30pm. we will bring that press conference live to you at liz30pm. the aim of net zero is for the uk to take out of the atmosphere as many greenhouse gases as it puts in. we will look at those targets throughout the day as well, comparing them to what is happening around the west of the world and also asking the keep little questions to white rishi sunak may be wanting to water down some of those commitments. it's one of the globe's longest running conflicts. in the latest upsurge of fighting, 27 people have died with hundreds more injured. now it appears that azerbaijan, which is seeking full control of nagorno—karabakh, and the armenians who inhabit part of it, have agreed to a ceasefire. it's one of the globe's longest running conflicts. these latest pictures show around 2,000 people being moved to safety. russia — a former power in the region — says it has also offered humanitarian and medical assistance. the fighting has been intense —
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this is video, filmed in stepankert which is the capital of armenian controlled nagorno karabakh, shows smoke rising. the sound of shelling can also be heard in the distance. the conflict hasn't been going well for armenia and the government has warned of la rge—scale unrest. this protest took place on tuesday evening outside the government building in the capital, yerevan. the demonstrators say they are angered by the government's handling of the situation. before we go any further, a quick explainer about what's going on here. nagorno—karabakh, which lies in the mountainous south caucasus region, is at the heart of one of the world's longest—running conflicts. the territory is recognised internationally as part of azerbaijan but large areas of it have been controlled by ethnic armenians for three decades. azerbaijan and armenia fought a bloody war over the territory in the late
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1980s and early 1990s. russia, which prevously oversaw both countries as part of the ussr, has previously sent peacekeepers. but fears of fresh violence came when azerbaijan mounted an effective blockade of a vital route into the enclave in december 2022. let's get more on this with our correspondent we spoke to a journalist in that town i mentioned and even though we had heard reports of a ceasefire, as you can now hear, there was still the sound of very loud incoming explosions coming in.— the sound of very loud incoming explosions coming in. have a listen. great to speak _ explosions coming in. have a listen. great to speak to _ explosions coming in. have a listen. great to speak to you, _ explosions coming in. have a listen. great to speak to you, thank - explosions coming in. have a listen. great to speak to you, thank you - explosions coming in. have a listen. great to speak to you, thank you forj great to speak to you, thank you for your time. tell me... great to speak to you, thank you for your time. tell me. . ._ your time. tell me... yes, it is like that- _ your time. tell me... yes, it is like that- i _ your time. tell me... yes, it is like that. i can _ your time. tell me... yes, it is like that. i can hear— your time. tell me... yes, it is like that. i can hear the - like that. i can hear the explosions, _ like that. i can hear the explosions, what - like that. i can hear the explosions, what is - like that. i can hear the l explosions, what is going like that. i can hear the -
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explosions, what is going on? like that. i can hear the _ explosions, what is going on? about half an hour — explosions, what is going on? about half an hour ago, _ explosions, what is going on? about half an hour ago, it _ explosions, what is going on? about half an hour ago, it was _ explosions, what is going on? about half an hour ago, it was a _ explosions, what is going on? about half an hour ago, it was a little - half an hour ago, it was a little bit, half an hour ago, it was a little bit. but — half an hour ago, it was a little bit. but as_ half an hour ago, it was a little bit, but as you can see, it has started — bit, but as you can see, it has started again. all the night, bit, but as you can see, it has started again. allthe night, i bit, but as you can see, it has started again. all the night, i did not sleep — started again. all the night, i did not sleep stop all the night, massive _ not sleep stop all the night, massive shillings we heard and we 'ust massive shillings we heard and we just spent— massive shillings we heard and we just spent the night at the shelter. a lot of— just spent the night at the shelter. a lot of families with their little kids there and it was hard to breathe _ kids there and it was hard to breathe. very, very difficult situation _ breathe. very, very difficult situation. mums, kids, everyone is crying _ situation. mums, kids, everyone is crying and — situation. mums, kids, everyone is crying and in— situation. mums, kids, everyone is crying and in the morning, early in the morning, it started again. i was running _ the morning, it started again. i was running home to take my passport to keep it _ running home to take my passport to keep it with— running home to take my passport to keep it with me and i saw women again— keep it with me and i saw women again crying and running through the empty— again crying and running through the empty streets. no one is
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understanding what is going on. let us _ understanding what is going on. let us take you to our correspondence who covers this area. we are just getting a line out of moscow that says president putin is hoping for a peaceful resolution in this conflict but a lot of uncertainty on the ground. what are you hearing from nagorno karabakh, is the ceasefire in place with mark the ceasefire according to the document signed by the ethnic armenian leadership of nagorno karabakh was supposed to be in place from 1pm local time. but karabakh was supposed to be in place from 1pm local time.— from 1pm local time. but there are some reports _ from 1pm local time. but there are some reports on — from 1pm local time. but there are some reports on social _ from 1pm local time. but there are some reports on social media - from 1pm local time. but there are l some reports on social media about ongoing fire that the people could hear. it appears the leadership of nagorno karabakh have surrendered curb completely. they have signed
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this agreement that was mediated by russia and the russian peacekeeping contingent, which is in nagorno karabakh after 2020 were. there are three main points. the first point is that they have agreed to lay down their arms and they said that they agreed for complete withdrawal of any armenian soldiers, any soldiers of the armenian armed forces, and thatis of the armenian armed forces, and that is despite the denials by the republic of armenia that it had any military presence remaining in nagorno karabakh. the third point in this ceasefire agreement is that tomorrow, on thursday, representatives of nagorno karabakh are scheduled to meet azerbaijani representatives in the town and to start negotiations about the future of armenians about their
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reintegration, their safety and security. reintegration, their safety and securi . ., ., , security. could you explain to us the role that _ security. could you explain to us the role that russia _ security. could you explain to us the role that russia now- security. could you explain to us the role that russia now plays . security. could you explain to us i the role that russia now plays that helped mediate the ceasefire, presumably trips will be on the ground trying to enforce it but what is the relationship particularly between russia and armenia like the moment? �* , , ., between russia and armenia like the moment? �* ,, ., ., ~ ., moment? between russia and armenia, the relationship — moment? between russia and armenia, the relationship is _ moment? between russia and armenia, the relationship is not _ moment? between russia and armenia, the relationship is not that _ moment? between russia and armenia, the relationship is not that great, - the relationship is not that great, to be fair. i managed to seejust the relationship is not that great, to be fair. i managed to see just a bit of a statement that came through from the armenian prime minister and he said that they were not part of these negotiations for a ceasefire that was reached and in the last 24—hour is, and actually in the last few days, we have been hearing a lot of russian commentators actually accusing and blaming armenia for the current situation, but it appears that russia has now helped to negotiate a ceasefire agreement but
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there are a lot of questions remaining. who will be representing armenians because azerbaijan has so far been referring to the authorities in nagorno karabakh is a puppet regime and they do not recognise the legitimacy of the arminian authorities, so who will be representing them in these talks in azerbaijan? also, the question is, whether be any international mediators in these talks? thank you for “oininr mediators in these talks? thank you forjoining us- _ forjoining us. we will bring you more on that conflict throughout the day. the british prime minster will give a speech in downing street at 16:30 local time after the bbc reported government plans to significantly change the government was magnet zero policies. the bbc revealing on tuesday he was considering watering down environmental pledges.
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we tossed around these phrases and i think sometimes they also need an expert nation but what is it a zero? ned zero means putting no additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere so the hopers in the future, we reduce emissions close to zero as we can get and any emissions that will remain will find ways of ticking them out of the atmosphere and the technologies that would do that. the net would be zero, adding no new carbon. ~ ., .,, net would be zero, adding no new carbon. . . ., , , , carbon. what has the uk plus my commitment _ carbon. what has the uk plus my commitment been _ carbon. what has the uk plus my commitment been to _ carbon. what has the uk plus my commitment been to that? - carbon. what has the uk plus myj commitment been to that? there carbon. what has the uk plus my i commitment been to that? there is carbon. what has the uk plus my - commitment been to that? there is an leaall commitment been to that? there is an legally binding — commitment been to that? there is an legally binding policy _ commitment been to that? there is an legally binding policy by _ commitment been to that? there is an legally binding policy by theresa - legally binding policy by theresa may who said we would reach zero in 2050 your commitment. we have been quite good at cutting emissions, we cut 48.7% emissions down from 1990, thatis cut 48.7% emissions down from 1990, that is quite rheumatic, better than most g7 economies in the world. we
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are doing quite well. when rishi sunak talks about the uk leadership on the issue, we have been very good on the issue, we have been very good on climate so far. haifa on the issue, we have been very good on climate so far.— on climate so far. how damaging will it be to that — on climate so far. how damaging will it be to that position _ on climate so far. how damaging will it be to that position that _ on climate so far. how damaging will it be to that position that the - on climate so far. how damaging will it be to that position that the uk - it be to that position that the uk is at the moment in a leadership role, it is deemed he is going to be watering down some of these pledges? there are a number of voice of looking at this. the first point is, he is considering these different things, we don't know what he will actually do and we won't know that until full a:30pm when he will make the speech. some of them are quite significant. for example, changing the commitment on a ban on fuel, and petrol and diesel cars. that is something the car industry has pushed back hard on. he also took about watering down the commitment on heat pumps. 0bviously, about watering down the commitment on heat pumps. obviously, the effect they have depends on future consumption patterns, the cost of electric vehicles, the cost of heat pumps so it is very hard to say but what we can say is that the climate
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change committee already warning that progress on cutting emissions has become worryingly slow and they have already warned that the uk is in danger of not meeting its existing 2050 target. we have a live page on the website as well, following the developing is on the story. let's now speak damian grammaticas, our political correspondent. why would the prime minister be doing this watering down is pledges if this is what we are going to hear at 16:30, what would be his motivation for doing it at this time? it motivation for doing it at this time? , , ., , ., , time? it is the question everyone is focusin: time? it is the question everyone is focusing on. — time? it is the question everyone is focusing on. why — time? it is the question everyone is focusing on, why such _ time? it is the question everyone is focusing on, why such a _ time? it is the question everyone is focusing on, why such a big - time? it is the question everyone is focusing on, why such a big shift? l focusing on, why such a big shift? it is already causing lots of waves and arguments so why do it? one thing i have two thing is, he put a statement out yesterday after this news was leaked to the bbc, the possibly of these plans and in that,
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rishi sunak talked about, he said for too many years, politicians have not been honest about the costs and the trade—offs, so costs there, and i think certainly what we heard from government ministers this morning talking about saying, we are not going to save the planet by bankrupting the british people, the idea that at a time when you have high inflation, higherthan idea that at a time when you have high inflation, higher than many other major economies, the people are feeling the squeeze on their home lives, that this would be a way of pushing back some of those costs and that that would be helping people financially who are struggling at the minute. that seems to be at the heart of what is going on here but also, you have to say, electoral politics. rishi sunak is 20 points behind in the polls and an election is possibly a year away. the figure things that might be able, if he can try to find some
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kind of electoral advantage. we recently had a by—election, a mid—term election just on the edge of london which the conservatives held onto a seat there. there had been lots of arguments about car emissions scheme is being brought in for london and opposition to that was not to be driving part of that election win. the lesson the prime minister may have taken is that this might be popular. that is not about climate policies but about vehicle emissions or air standards but looking for things electrically. what we have heard from the labour party, they scrambled a bit, everybody has crumbled to respond to this, but labour this morning were unclear quite how they would respond. they have come out and appear to be saying that even if the government scrapped these targets, they would reinstate them so they see clear advantages to them being identified with keeping these policies in place.—
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identified with keeping these policies in place. these policies affect people — policies in place. these policies affect people and _ policies in place. these policies affect people and they - policies in place. these policies affect people and they also - policies in place. these policies l affect people and they also affect business. the chair of car manufacturing giant ford uk, has hit out — criticising the government's announcement. the uk 2030 target is a vital catalyst to accelerate ford into a cleaner future. our business needs three things from the uk government: ambition, commitment and consistency. a relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three. let's now speak our business corr peter ruddick. just take us through the reaction, particularly from across the car industry. particularly from across the car indust . , ., ., ~' particularly from across the car indust . , , , ,, , ,, industry. yes, look, businesses like households — industry. yes, look, businesses like households and _ industry. yes, look, businesses like households and individuals, - industry. yes, look, businesses like households and individuals, they i households and individuals, they have a list of things they want from the government and a list of things they don't want from the government but if you ask any chief executive, they will tell you that they can deal with petty much anything as long as they have the ability to plan for it. they value consistency over pretty much anything so essentially, this morning you have business groups and companies reacting to reports that the planning they have been doing might well be based on a policy that could be about to change. important to say
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there have been a range of views expressed this morning not all as kelly negative as the boss of ford uk who has said this would undermine their plans. the owner of oxo says any delay would not change their plans at all. really interesting from charge uk, the voice of the uk charging infrastructure, they, unsurprisingly, are pretty unhappy with today's report, saying their members have committed over £6 billion in ev electrical vehicle infrastructure and a delay would compromise the entire industry but also putjobs at risk. the most interesting reaction is from rac, the group representing drivers, who presumably, the group the government is hoping to please with today's announcement. they are calling it a disappointing and they are also pointing out that many drivers buy second hand and the only way second—hand costs come down is that if there are more elected vehicles
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made. ., ., ., g , made. one final thought from justin, does the polling. _ made. one final thought from justin, does the polling, the _ made. one final thought from justin, does the polling, the evidence - made. one final thought from justin, does the polling, the evidence you i does the polling, the evidence you have seen suggest that people really care about net zero smack an interesting question, people are really concerned about the environment stop is often a top three, consistently top five issue when people are pulled so the british electorate really cares about the environment. met british electorate really cares about the environment. net zero, not uuite as about the environment. net zero, not quite as much. _ about the environment. net zero, not quite as much. it _ about the environment. net zero, not quite as much, it is _ about the environment. net zero, not quite as much, it is not _ about the environment. net zero, not quite as much, it is not quite - quite as much, it is not quite understood. the problem, we all aspire to leave in a clean, healthy, is a suitable world but the difficulty comes when we talk about individual things. difficulty comes when we talk about individualthings. if difficulty comes when we talk about individual things. if that means changing our car or boiler, we may. you that we don't want to do that. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the home secretary suella braverman has said meta's planned rollout of end—to—end encryption will create "safe havens" for paedophiles online unless robust safety
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measures are introduced. ms braverman accused the company, which owns facebook, instagram and whatsapp, of failing to provide assurances that underage users will be protected from sexual predators. meta is planning to add the feature to all its platforms later this year. the former mayor of london, ken livingstone, has been diagnosed with alzheimer's disease. the 78—year—old was a prominent figure in london politics for more than four decades from the 1970s, earning the nickname red ken for his left—wing policies. in a statement, his family said he was being "well cared for" and was now living a "private life". millions of low—income households will receive the next instalment of cost—of—living payments between 31 october and 19 november. eight million people on means—tested benefits, such as universal credit, will receive 300 pounds directly, without the need to make a claim. breaking news here
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in the uk in the last hour — the crown prosecution service is to bring a charge of murder against a metropolitan police officer over the death of chris kaba. chris kaba was hit by a single bullet in streatham hill in south london, in september lat year. live now to our reporter greg mckenzie at new scotland yard. explain to the background to this case but we have learned today. chris kaba who was 2a and a father to be, was shot once in the head on the 5th of september of last year. the car he was driving had been flagged on a police a npr camera, automatic number plate recognition camera, having been linked to a previously incident. the car did not belong to chris and he later died in hospital from belong to chris and he later died in hospitalfrom a single belong to chris and he later died in hospital from a single gunshot winter. today's decision by the crown prosecution service to authorise a charge of murder of the
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family have said that they welcome today's decision which they say could not have come to sin. they go on to say that chris was so very loved by our family and all his friends, he had a bright future ahead of him but his life was cut short. in terms of today's decision by the crown prosecution service, the independent police complaints commission who launched a homicide investigation seven months ago, they then passed their evidence on to the crown prosecution service who have today announced that they have authorised a charge of murder for the metropolitan police firearms officer who fired that gun back in september. if the officer will appear before westminster magistrates�* court tomorrow and currently remains suspended. the metropolitan police have issued a statement and they simply say that they are fully supportive of the iop cc investigation and its work to establish the facts and they say the
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announcement today was significant and serious developer. uk inflation rates have dropped. it is the lowest rate since vibrate last year and means the overall prices are still rising but the rate of the increase is a full on. for the first time in the history of the nhs, consultants and junior doctors in england are on strike at the same time. the walkout by members of the british medical association marks an escalation of their pay dispute. hospital leaders have expressed "profound concern" about the impact the strikes will have on patients and have called on ministers and the unions to find a solution. our health correspondent sharon barbour is outside
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university college hospital in london. a huge amount of disruption to the nhs and a lot of disruption to patients of course, tens of thousands of appointments have been cancelled. what this strike means for patients today is that pretty much all planned or routine care, hip operations, knee operations, the replacements, everything is pity much commentary hold. emergency care will continue so those needing emergency care can call 999 or come to a&e as usual. it is like christmas to cover but of course, more than one christmas day this week. consultants were out yesterday and they continue to stay out on strike until 7am tomorrow morning. thejunior strike until 7am tomorrow morning. the junior doctors join them today, unprecedented in the nhs. they will continue to strike until saturday morning. we are hearing about some talks behind—the—scenes. very little
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between the health secretary and the doctors publicly but some talks we heard from consultants yesterday behind—the—scenes that could be the start of a negotiation. not official but they hope that that could lead to something, otherwise more strikes are planned from early october, the second to the 11th of october, and a rally is planned then as well at the conservative party conference. it conservative party conference. if you go to the website, we have just been talking about the rate of inflation here in the uk following the 6.7% which comes as a surprise. if you want to know how much prices are rising for you, we have a uk inflation rate calc later on the website because every month, there is a new figure for inflation and it means that you can estimate how much prices are rising across all goods
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and services in the economy and the inflation calculator in collaboration with the bbc shows you what the inflation rate is like for your household. but it also shows you, and you might find this interesting, the items in your household budget that have gone up the most in price over the past year or do look on and have a look. hello. it�*s been a windy and for some thoroughly soggy few days out there. especially across the hills of cumbria and gwynedd, where half a month of rainfall in little over a day. there will be more in the way of rain over the next few days but more downpours, variable amounts of rain, some sunshine in between. for some, strong winds. some of the wettest and windiest conditions tied in with this cold front moving its way eastwards across england and wales. it�*s not one coherent band of rain, the rain may be on and off as it comes through but still some very heavy bursts across southern counties of england,
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the midlands, east anglia and eventually the ssuth east. it will be leaving a lot of surface water and spray around on the roads as we head into the evening rush—hour. still with gusts in the south—east of a0 to 50 miles an hour. at the end of the day in the north and west of england and wales. a bit more sunshine, certainly compared to the morning. showers across scotland, northern ireland with wetter weather in the south highlands and the strongest of the winds may be gusting 50, 60 miles an hour by this stage and making it feel fresh. temperatures this afternoon and evening only a little bit up on where they were this morning. evening rush—hour, not very pleasant, in east anglia and the south—east. that rain clears away in teh early hours of tomorrow morning. more rain to the north and west of scotland. in between, with lighter winds, one or two showers but clearer skies, a cooler start tomorrow. four orfive degrees in some rural areas but bright and sunny for the most part. a few showers dotted around the east coast of england and wales before a few more brew later. scotland and northern ireland, a greater chance of outbreaks of rain, initially north and west, pushing south and
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eastwards in the strong to gale force winds. that will make it feel cool here and indeed for all of us, cooler than we have been used to for some time. through the night into friday, area of low pressure that has been governing things still there to the north—east of scotland. strongest of the winds to north and west scotland, northern ireland a blustery day here with frequent showers. showers and western parts of england and wales. elsewhere, a dry and bright start with some sunshine bit on the cool side to begin with and a cool day all in all. showers will blossom more in the afternoon and some of them on the heavy side. on saturday morning, clear and cool. there could be a touch of frost in some sheltered scottish glens. a dry day for many but loud increasing later and wet and windy weather on sunday.
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it this is bbc news, the headlines: net zeros plans this afternoon — we�*ll bring it to you live. 2a hours after azerbaijan�*s army launch an operation in nagorno—karabakh — reports of a ceasefire with ethnic armenian forces. a metropolitan police officer is to be charged over the death of chris kaba. he was shot in south london in september last year. and king charles and queen camilla are to visit paris and bordeaux as part of a three—day
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state visit to france. let�*s return now to the breakaway nagorno—karabakh, where a ceasefire has been agreed between azerbaijan�*s army and the ethnic armenian leadership there. 27 people have died with hundreds more injured after azerbaijan launched an offensive into the region yesterday — the latest upsurge of violence in a decades—long conflict. it is landlocked and the territory is recognised as part of azerbaijan but residents have for a long time wanted to be part of neighbouring armenia. azerbaijan as predominantly
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christian and arminia muslim. the two countries

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