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tv   The Context  BBC News  April 9, 2024 8:00pm-8:31pm BST

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ruling certainly promises m ruling certainly promises stroner leal _ ruling certainly premises stronger legal pathways _ _ ruling certainly premises stronger legal pathways to - _ ruling certainly premises. stronger legal pathways to achieving climate justice. for the first time, climate—change campaigners win their case at the european court of human rights. we'll look at what impact it could have. foreign secretary david cameron is in the us, trying to get more money for the war in ukraine. but what difference can he can make? more security around the champions league games going on right now, after threats from islamic state group—supporting media. and even when she loses, she wins — record—breaking viewing figures for caitlin clark, the women's college basketball star. welcome to the programme, we start with climate change — potentially a
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pivotal moment. a group of swiss women have won the first—ever climate case victory in the european court of human rights. here they are. the court found switzerland had violated some of their human rights by not taking sufficient action on climate change. switzerland's efforts were called "woefully inadequate". this ruling could influence the law in 46 other europen countries, including the uk. it comes after last month was officially declared the world's warmest march on record. we start with this report from climate editorjustin rowlatt. the swiss women arrived at the european court ready to fight... there has been a violation of article 8 of the convention. ..and they won, persuading the judges that switzerland's failure to do enough to cut planet warming emissions could help create heat waves that could threaten the lives of older people. i am so, well, shocked,
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positively shocked, so happy we could contribute to the future, to a better future for our children. today's ruling is not only to challenge. experts say it sets an important precedent and will support the legal case for climate action in european countries, including the uk. the decision comes as new figures show this march was 1.68 degrees celsius above preindustrial levels and the hottest march on record globally. sea surface temperatures were even more dramatic, at 21.07 celsius in march, the highest ever recorded at any time. and just look at the effect that is having on some coral reefs. this is the actual coral animal itself. coral polyps, the tiny animals that build reefs expel the microorganisms that process sunlight into energy within them when they are stressed by heat. it makes them bleach, turn white
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and they can die as a result. australian and us scientists say a mass bleaching event has already begun in the southern hemisphere — the fear is this will almost certainly develop to affect coral reefs world wide. but there are efforts to address the issue, and in some unexpected places. like the university of derby. sientists here persuaded coral to spawn in the laboratory, for the first time they say. now, they are working on a world leading effort to develop heat resistant corals. this isjust small scale behind us and just sort of proof of concept, but what you can do is you can expand this operation to acres of sites, any country you want to do and it is really about generating the hundreds of thousands of corals which are thermally tolerant, and pushing those back out on to the reef in a restoration programme.
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the good news is, the extreme heat should begin to ease back in coming months. a natural weather event known as el nino has helped push up global temperatures in the last ten months. this is how it works. normally the trade winds blow from east to west across the tropical pacific, sending warm surface water to asia, and drawing up deeper cooler water, here on the coast of south america. with el nino the winds weaken, or reverse. driving the warm water to the coast of south america and delivering extra heat to the atmosphere. the current el nino began injune and has onlyjust begin to weaken. if global temperatures don't begin to fall, and the current high sea temperatures suggest they might not, then some scientists fear we could have entered a new phase of more rapid climate change. justin rowlatt, bbc news.
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let's speak to sam hunterjones. he is a senior lawyer at client earth, which is a global environmental law charity. thank you very much for coming on the programme. thank you very much for coming on the programme-— thank you very much for coming on the programme. good evening, thank ou. first the programme. good evening, thank yom first of— the programme. good evening, thank yom first of all. _ the programme. good evening, thank you. first of all, what's _ the programme. good evening, thank you. first of all, what's your- you. first of all, what's your reaction _ you. first of all, what's your reaction to _ you. first of all, what's your reaction to this _ you. first of all, what's your reaction to this ruling? - you. first of all, what's your| reaction to this ruling? well, you. first of all, what's your- reaction to this ruling? well, this reall is a reaction to this ruling? well, this really is a landmark _ reaction to this ruling? well, this really is a landmark decision, - reaction to this ruling? well, this really is a landmark decision, as | really is a landmark decision, as your coverage was explaining. this is the first time that the european court of human rights has established that climate change can impact the rights of individuals like the swiss claimants in this decision. and because this decision will be binding on the various signatory states, the countries that signed up for the convention, we can expect it to have a real influence and impact in climate cases that are brought across the continent, and also more widely. we brought across the continent, and also more widely.— brought across the continent, and also more widely. we will come to those also more widely. we will come to these impacts _ also more widely. we will come to those impacts and _ also more widely. we will come to those impacts and a _ also more widely. we will come to those impacts and a second, - also more widely. we will come to those impacts and a second, i - also more widely. we will come to those impacts and a second, ijustj those impacts and a second, ijust want to get your sense of, was this
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expected in any way? i want to get your sense of, was this expected in any way?— want to get your sense of, was this expected in any way? i think you've seen over the _ expected in any way? i think you've seen over the last _ expected in any way? i think you've seen over the last years _ expected in any way? i think you've seen over the last years a - expected in any way? i think you've seen over the last years a number. expected in any way? i think you'vel seen over the last years a number of cases on a national level— so for the netherlands, for example, a case against the dutch government which was conceded also on human rights grounds, and also in belgium, france and other countries. so in some ways, this is a continuation of an existing trend, but it is new that you're a's most authoritative court has made it —— sent this really clear signal indecision about human rights principles, they do bide by climate change. 50 rights principles, they do bide by climate change.— climate change. so if you are sittin: climate change. so if you are sitting in _ climate change. so if you are sitting in a — climate change. so if you are sitting in a parliament - climate change. so if you are sitting in a parliament or - climate change. so if you are| sitting in a parliament or part climate change. so if you are i sitting in a parliament or part of climate change. so if you are - sitting in a parliament or part of a government in a0 odd european countries now, what difference does it make to you in your decision—making? this it make to you in your decision-making? it make to you in your decision-makinu ? �* , ., decision-making? as i mentioned, there is a wave _ decision-making? as i mentioned, there is a wave of _ decision-making? as i mentioned, there is a wave of pressure - there is a wave of pressure happening around climate change, but this really does help to clarify and confirm the extent of states's obligations when it comes to the law, and in particular human rights.
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so i think it'll make ministers sit up so i think it'll make ministers sit up and take notice of this decision, but in some ways it's just really adding to and building on the existing case law and pressure that's already out there. so existing case law and pressure that's already out there. so are you exectin: that's already out there. so are you exnecting more _ that's already out there. so are you expecting more cases _ that's already out there. so are you expecting more cases like - that's already out there. so are you expecting more cases like this? - that's already out there. so are you expecting more cases like this? so | expecting more cases like this? sr there's cases that are happening across the continent and a number of countries. but yes, there's further cases that clarify obligations and could unlock new arguments, but equally could add further weight to existing ones, as well.— existing ones, as well. thank you very much _ existing ones, as well. thank you very much for— existing ones, as well. thank you very much for coming _ existing ones, as well. thank you very much for coming on - existing ones, as well. thank you very much for coming on the - very much for coming on the programme and talking us through it, thank you. looking at uk—us diplomacy — foreign secretary david cameron the latest european leader to make the trip to washington. a few hours ago, he met with us secretary of state, antony blinken. talks focused on two major conflicts bringing stability to the middle east and the war in ukraine. republican lawmakers have been holding up a proposed $60 billion military aid package
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for ukraine for months. republican house speaker, mikejohnson, hasn't let the ukraine aid issue to be debated in the house of representatives. lord cameron said it wasn't for foreign politicians to tell legislators in another country what to do, but he urged congress to see the funding released. i think it is absolutely in the interests of us security that putin fails in his illegal invasion. i think it's good for us jobs that we continue to back ukraine with the weapons that they need. and i think, in terms of how the united states and the united kingdom as allies is seen around the world, there will be people in tehran and pyongyang, and beijing looking at how we stand by our allies, how we help them, how we stop this illegal and unprovoked aggression, and working out whether we are committed, whether we're prepared
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to see it through. mr blinken said they had also discussed ways to prevent the transfer of weapons to russia, particularly from china and north korea. this is an ongoing challenge, and we see weapons, we also see technologies to support the defence industrial base in russia coming from north korea, from iran, from china. this is an area of particular concern for not only the united states and the united kingdom, but many of our allies and partners throughout europe. i'm joined by state department correspondent tom bateman. one question — what's the key takeaway from today? well, the most significant bit of news was an answer to a question i asked lord cameron in the briefing there, which is about the growing pressure on the uk government to halt arms sales to israel around the issue of whether or not israel had
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been deemed by the uk to be in breach of international humanitarian law in gaza. now lord cameron had said on the 8th of march that he would receive legal advice within days about the issue — but here we are a month later and still no announcement. so i asked him that question, what did the uk government deem israel to have done when it came to international humanitarian law? and he confirmed in his answer that the uk would continue to supply weapons to israel — therefore that review had taken place, and my understanding is these are fairly broad notjust legal reviews, but also policy—based reviews, and under that the uk would continue to sell what is around a £35 million a year trade in weapons to the israelis. but he also said that they continue to have concerns about the issue and would continue to review it. so
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there was that too but that was a significant moment in that news briefing there.— significant moment in that news briefing there. tom, thanks very much for that. _ joining me now for some analysis on this story is global affairs analyst and senior fellow at the atlantic council, michael bociurkiw, who's in 0desa, ukraine. thank you very much for coming on the programme. my thank you very much for coming on the programme-— thank you very much for coming on the programme. my pleasure, good to be with yon — the programme. my pleasure, good to be with yon so _ the programme. my pleasure, good to be with you. so let's _ the programme. my pleasure, good to be with you. so let's talk _ the programme. my pleasure, good to be with you. so let's talk about - be with you. so let's talk about this issue _ be with you. so let's talk about this issue of _ be with you. so let's talk about this issue of politicians - be with you. so let's talk about this issue of politicians going i be with you. so let's talk about. this issue of politicians going from one country to another, saying, "we can't tell you what to do but you really ought to do this." basically lord cameron in washington today expressing his support for ukraine and urging the us to do the same — how do you find that diplomatic balance? ~ ., , , balance? well, it was very entertaining. _ balance? well, it was very entertaining. i— balance? well, it was very entertaining. i think - balance? well, it was very entertaining. i think lord i balance? well, it was very - entertaining. i think lord cameron was being very tight—lipped about his trip to florida, but i am quite sure, i would his trip to florida, but i am quite sure, iwould bet his trip to florida, but i am quite sure, i would bet money on it that he told mr trump exactly what was going to happen if that $60 billion
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in aid, which is being blocked by his republicans, will not reach ukraine. and i noticed that both ministers made the point that a lot of this money that's earmarked for ukraine will not be loaded onto pallets and airlifted to ukraine, it'll stay in the united states and create jobs — that's a message that the american public needs to hear. but the other quick thing that came out is i noticed lord cameron was also not —— almost ahead of his us counterpart, antony blinken, in terms of his conviction and passion, and the arguments made for aid to ukraine, almost as if the if this were as stop and aid is not delivered, put in will go further and it will become more costly for everyone. and it will become more costly for eve one. , �* , and it will become more costly for eve one. , �*, ., . everyone. yes, there's diplomatic olitics everyone. yes, there's diplomatic politics and _ everyone. yes, there's diplomatic politics and play _ everyone. yes, there's diplomatic politics and play and _ everyone. yes, there's diplomatic politics and play and party - everyone. yes, there's diplomatic politics and play and party politics — is it simple geography, as well, countries far away, seen as a
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far—away problem? countries far away, seen as a far-away problem? absolutely, the messa . e i far-away problem? absolutely, the message i got _ far-away problem? absolutely, the message i got more _ far-away problem? absolutely, the message i got more clearly - far-away problem? absolutely, the message i got more clearly out - far-away problem? absolutely, the message i got more clearly out of. message i got more clearly out of todayis message i got more clearly out of today is that it is now the united kingdom and europe that will take the lead on the so—called ukraine file, in terms of helping ukraine, for example, bolster their domestic production of ammunition. but the other thing that came through as i think lord cameron rightfully tiptoed through everything because it is a very complicated political scene in the united states right now where the man who has basic control over the votes, speakerjohnson, i think he does support ukraine, he does have the votes to make that bill passed, i think he knows that the us public support this — but he's prioritising his own political future over everything else, that he wants to remain important in that trump a wing of the republican party. and what will happen there, if he continues along this path, people will see him as a man who could not summon the political courage to do the right thing and
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hence this war will continue to go on a lot longer than it has to. find on a lot longer than it has to. and what do you _ on a lot longer than it has to. and what do you think the applications would be for ukraine if trump won the presidency?— would be for ukraine if trump won the presidency? absolutely horrible. he views himself— the presidency? absolutely horrible. he views himself as _ the presidency? absolutely horrible. he views himself as the _ the presidency? absolutely horrible. he views himself as the master - the presidency? absolutely horrible. he views himself as the master of i he views himself as the master of the art of the deal, he'll try to bring a resolution in 2a hours — leaked reports from closed—door conversations he's had indicate that, what most of us will believe, he'll give into territorial concessions. crimea will remain and russian hands, the donbas and other areas that russia has seized, including that crucial [and bridge between the russian mainland and the western part of ukraine. and he'll probably give the signals to the mr putin that he can go even further. there's a lot of nervousness, i have to tell you, here in 0desa, we've had an air raid alarms through most of the day and night and missiles coming this way. it's not going the right way whatsoever. i coming this way. it's not going the right way whatsoever.—
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coming this way. it's not going the right way whatsoever. i “ust want to ve briefl right way whatsoever. i “ust want to very briefly expand _ right way whatsoever. i “ust want to very briefly expand on _ right way whatsoever. i just want to very briefly expand on exactly - very briefly expand on exactly that because i want to highlight that thatis because i want to highlight that that is exactly where you are, and ask a bit about what life is like and how it's going right now. aha, and how it's going right now. couple of things — i'm very close to the port and these strikes tend to target electrical infrastructure. if there is no power, there's no port working and no grain going to world markets. the other thing on the other side of the country, in kharkiv, it's really hell on earth, being bombed relentlessly. it does seem that the russians are in a campaign to turn it into a piece of rubble, a gray zone and possibly evil democrat even encircle it, so bad news coming out of kharkiv tonight, as well.— bad news coming out of kharkiv tonight, as well. thank you for your time tonight- _ tonight, as well. thank you for your time tonight- my — tonight, as well. thank you for your time tonight. my pleasure. - around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.
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this is bbc news. let's take a look
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at the situation in gaza. nine countries, including the uk, have taken part in the largest international aid airdrop in a single day into gaza, to help provide supplies for the end of the islamic holy month of ramadan. ia aircraft delivered food, water and baby formula. james landalejoined an raf flight taking off from jordan. at an airbase injordan, piles of humanitarian aid — stacked into individual pallets, adorned with their own parachute, all of it bound for gaza. 0n the tarmac, ia military aircraft getting ready for the largest coalition air drop since they began last month, a special delivery to mark the end of ramadan. inside, pilots and crews from different nations being briefed on the operation, safety a key concern in the small airspace over gaza. —— from nine nations. outside, the raf plane is loaded, each palette containing rice,
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sugar, beans, baby food, oil and water, flour — the basics for a meal — this, the raf�*s sixth airdrop so far. it is not that much, but i tell you what — it's the effort that counts. as in, every little helps. i'm quite proud and privileged to be involved in this sort of mission. but is it enough? will it meet the needs of the people in gaza? the aircraft's carrying 12 of these pallets. now, each of them are about a tonne, so that means this entire payload is worth about one truck crossing a border on the ground. the aircrews here insist that, cumulatively, the air drops are beginning to have an impact. this is a sustained effort. we've been here for three weeks now, and we're continually delivering the aid. the people of gaza are very grateful for the efforts thay we're going to and we �*ll keep delivering and keep delivering until we can't give them any more. in the air, we fly the short distance to gaza, then
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we're over the drop zone. the pilots are satisfied no—one's below and the back ramp lowers. these airdrops are expensive and inadequate, a symbol of the failure to get aid in by other means. but, we're told, they're better than nothing and they are making a difference. 12 boxes out, all on target on the northern shore. these airdrops can be dangerous — people have been crushed in the stampede to get to the pallets — but there's little that can be done from the air. so, today, the skies over gaza were filled with parachutes. israel says more aid trucks are getting through, but how many is not clear. this aid from the air will not fill the gap, but the aircrews involved hope — believe — that it is making a difference to so many facing famine on the ground. james landale, bbc news over gaza.
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muslims in the region are preparing to mark eid al fitr — one of the biggest celebrations on the islamic calendar. it marks the end of the holy month of ramadan — a time of fasting and reflection. joining us now is 0day abu karsh, the director of the palestinian association for empowerment and local development. thank you very much for coming on the programme. thank you very much for coming on the programme-— thank you very much for coming on the programme. good evening, and thank ou the programme. good evening, and thank you for— the programme. good evening, and thank you for letting _ the programme. good evening, and thank you for letting me _ the programme. good evening, and thank you for letting me have - the programme. good evening, and thank you for letting me have this l thank you for letting me have this opportunity. 50 thank you for letting me have this opportunity-— opportunity. so given all that's auoin opportunity. so given all that's going on. _ opportunity. so given all that's going on. how _ opportunity. so given all that's going on, how are _ opportunity. so given all that's going on, how are people - opportunity. so given all that's . going on, how are people marking this time of year this time? well actuall , this time of year this time? well actually. you _ this time of year this time? well actually, you know _ this time of year this time? well actually, you know this - this time of year this time? -ii actually, you know this time is quite a difficult time for palestinians. obviously the palestinians, most of the palestinians, most of the palestinian families have lost their income since six months, that's around 170,000 workers who used to work inside israel, they lost their entire income. they were not able actually to provide for their
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families for six months. there's also around 120,000 palestinian servants who did not receive their full salaries for two consecutive years. the situation stems from the israeli majors not transferring the tax money for the palestinian authority, but also there lots of difficulties, many difficulties actually that the israeli enforced underground after october 7th. and we actually wanted to shed light on the material, i would say obstacles, but there's other immaterial obstacles that blocks palestinians from enjoying this aid. if you are
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palestinian and you lost your meat, you are not allowed to turn on your tv for three consecutive days. if it is a relative, then it would be a0 days. imagine the situation with 35,000 palestinians killed or being killed in gaza, 80000 and tens of thousands of families were displaced from their homes. the situation was a lot less horrific and say that all palestinian cities, camps and villages are totally isolated, all the roads are closed, and lots of hazards taking place every single day on the lives of the palestinians.— day on the lives of the palestinians. ., ~ , ., , . palestinians. thank you very much for coming —
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palestinians. thank you very much for coming on _ palestinians. thank you very much for coming on the _ palestinians. thank you very much for coming on the programme - palestinians. thank you very much for coming on the programme and | for coming on the programme and talking us through it, thank you secular thank you. next to the football champions league match is happening right now. security increased after threats have been made online. a media outlet supporting the islamic state group published threats against stadiums hosting quarterfinal ties including the emirates in north london, where arsenal take on bayern munich later tonight. daniel sandford is there. so there's been incitements to attacks by one of the pro—islamic state media channels — they were essentially encouraging people to go and attack the four places where champions league ties are taking place tonight and tomorrow. so that's a game in madrid tonight and tomorrow, the game here at the emirates tonight between arsenal and bayern munich, and the game in paris tomorrow. and normally police here in britain wouldn't comment on this kind of propaganda — they feel they'd just fuel the propaganda — but after the spanish interior ministry and the french interior ministry both said they were stepping up security at the games in madrid and paris,
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the metropolitan police here in london felt they also ought to say something — they said that security here will be robust tonight. but i don't get the impression that it will be significantly higher than usual. there's a little bit of an armed police presence tonight which is slightly unusual, but i don't think it's a significantly increased security operation. what they want people to do is go on being aware, as they always are in the uk at large venues, to make sure there isn't anything unusual and to let police know. but they aren't worrying that there's any really specific threat, because although there is incitement to attacks, there's no intelligence that an attack will take place. thanks to daniel for that. as for the sport going on in the stadium behind him, arsenal and bayern munich 1—1 in that match. the other game, real madrid and man city, real madrid are 2—1 up against city at.
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although sports updates and sportsday in a few minutes. —— all the sports updates. i'm lewis vaughanjones, you're watching bbc news. hello. tuesday was another wet, windy and fairly wild day of weather for many of us. we've had some really big waves around the coast, some coastal flooding, too, across parts of southern england and wales. this was the picture in new brighton, in wirral earlier on in the day. but the strongest of the winds, the heaviest of rain will be easing fairly quickly. so turning much quieter tonight and colder, especially in the east. as low pressure clears away into the north sea we've got this ridge of high pressure with us, at least temporarily, before the next weather system arrives. but under the clearing skies through this evening and tonight, those temperatures are going to drop quite quickly. so by the time we get to the early hours of wednesday morning, especially for central and eastern parts of scotland, central and eastern england, too — those temperatures 2—3 degrees in some of our urban areas, but a touch cool in that in the countryside.
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so i think a touch of frost around in the east. so the cold air mass with us. but it's not going to be long until this next area of milder air works in from the west behind this weather front, it's a warm front. it's going to track its way eastwards through wednesday, bringing rain, i think at times to all areas. best of any sunshine will be through the morning for eastern scotland and eastern england. there's the cloud and the rain, then tracking eastwards, the wind picking up from the southwest. so it's going to be a breezy day on wednesday. gusts up to around 30 miles an hour orso inland, perhaps a bit stronger than that around some coastal areas. but it won't be quite as windy as it has been during monday and tuesday. the heaviest of the rain will be across the north west of scotland here. but temperatures on the rise from the west so belfast up to around 16 degrees or so, probably one of the warmest spots on wednesday. moving through into thursday then, we have got that milder air with us because the winds are going to be coming in from more of a westerly direction. not much on this weather front. you can see here it will be easing away, but it could well bring some low cloud and drizzliness in the south to start the day. probably the best of the brightness
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on thursday will be for parts of north east england and eastern scotland. but i think most places should brighten up through the day. again, a bit of a breeze coming in from the west or the southwest and lifting temperatures to 18 or 19 degrees for some of us. so it's looking a bit milder on thursday and that milder trend continues into friday as well. but look at the blue colours that then return as we head through sunday and into next week. so temporarily some slightly warmer weather on the cards, particularly towards the south, 19, 20 degrees in london. more unsettled, though, further north. and then we're all going to see those temperatures dropping down as we head through the course of next week. bye— bye.
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hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. the chief news in the swing state of michigan and find out what will win them over in the election. ( start (start and europe in about half an hour into the first of the champions league quarterfinals and we have had goals in both the premier league leaders arsenal and at home to byron
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munich and the whole it is manchester city and there at 1a10 champion real madrid in the first leg and have a look at this, city took a very early lead in the long free kick and catching and out of position but scoring a goal where real madrid her head in a few minutes later, 2—1 to real madrid and arsenal one and byron munich one and arsenal one and byron munich one and putting the gun is a head mouse cancel it out and arsenal have just conceded a penalty and brought down and would you believe it, taught man harry kane is stepping up to take a penalty that would put byron munich ahead at arsenal and only half an hour plate and remember, these are first leg and so a bit of an argument from the arsenal keeper and i would just keep an eye on this and he retained isjust stepping up to
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take this penalty

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