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tv   Verified Live  BBC News  March 21, 2024 5:00pm-5:31pm GMT

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hello, i m sarah campbell, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we start with news here in the uk — and an independent investigation into pension changes has found a generation of women are owed apologies — and thousands of pounds. a report published today says the women — who were all born in the 19505 — were negatively impacted by a rise in the pension age and are owed compensation. it said the government should "do the right thing". it suggests women should receive payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950. campaigners say millions of women born in the 19505 have suffered financially because they weren't properly warned about the changes. sanchia berg has the story.
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# heigh—ho, heigh—ho, it's off to court we go...# after years of protesting, a victory for women born in the 19505. the government changed the age they would get their state pension, and didn't let them know in time to plan. 0ur reaction today is we're glad the report is finally out and with parliament. parliament actually decided to take the action to increase the state pension age for women, and they didn't do the job properly. the department for work and pensions should have told us and they didn't. and is time important? 270,000 of us have died since we started this campaign eight or nine years ago, so one of us are dying every 30 minutes without justice, without knowing that now parliament have the decision to make good what it actually got wrong. many say they struggle with money, suffering financial hardship.
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what they did was absolutely wrong. they could have had a pen and a paper and an envelope and a stamp and sent it to all of us in 1995, was it, when they came up with this decision and let us all know, and we would have all been prepared. i want to ask you all to help... it was the post—war labour government, led by clement attlee, that brought in pensions for all, starting at 65 for men and 60 for women. ..so that we can buy what we need. nearly 50 years later, the conservative prime ministerjohn major decided that should change to 65 for all — a change that was accelerated by the coalition government. that led to confusion for some, ignorance, then hardship for many. the ombudsman said the women should be compensated but it also said the department for work and pensions had made it clear it would not comply.
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the ombudsman said this was unacceptable. in a statement, the department for work and pensions said it would consider the ombudsman�*s report and respond in due course. it said the government had always been committed to supporting all pensioners in a sustainable way. joining me now is baroness ros altmann, who was a former pensions minister in david cameron's government. thank you forjoining us and give us your reaction to the ombudsman this report. are they read that the dwp got messaging badly wrong? absolutely. there's never been any doubt that that administration and the dwp under successive governments and we're not talking about this as and we're not talking about this as a political matter because that really has been on the cards since 1995. the government department
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responsible for paying women their state pension new that there were big changes ahead for women and they failed to tell them about it. that is maladministration in my view, not only that but in 2004, the departments on surveys showed that so many women had no idea that they were not going to give the state pension from age 60 because they've only ever known that every woman they've seen did get a state pension at that age and still failed to write to the women affected to tell them directly that there was a big change coming up and they needed to know about it and plan for it and many women do not get the letter at all until about 2009 and made changes in starting in 2010. involves the reaction you try to bring this up as an issue? it
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involves the reaction you try to bring this up as an issue? it was a big sadness _ bring this up as an issue? it was a big sadness for _ bring this up as an issue? it was a big sadness for me because - bring this up as an issue? it was a big sadness for me because i - big sadness for me because i campaigned against the second order changes in 2011 because i knew there were a lot of women who are really in hardship and i wanted to try and find a way that we can help mitigate those were worst affected and help them along the way because i knew they had been wrong and what i discovered were that a lot of women did not know about the first lot of changes and i had been raided by the second lot which increased the pension age even further than the 1995 measures. but, unfortunately, it was a time where we were trying to repair public finances after the financial crash and a lot of men never understood why women got a state pension five—year sooners than they would especially as women tend to live longer so they have no
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sympathy for women in that position often. younger people didn't really much sympathy either and there were millions of women who had been very let down by the pension system in the early years of their working life and many had no private pension at all and they were thrown out of their company pension scheme, for example. and that is a real problem. and they potentially lost tens of thousands of pounds, the ombudsman is recommending compensation between one and £3000. find is recommending compensation between one and 8000-— one and £3000. and even that will cost the taxpayer _ one and £3000. and even that will cost the taxpayer if _ one and £3000. and even that will cost the taxpayer if everywoman i cost the taxpayer if everywoman receives it. somewhere between two and £10 billion and even at the lower level three of £502,000, you're still talking a lot of money and people like myself who, i'm also
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i knew about the changes in a lot of people did not know and a lot of people were plunged into poverty but so far, nothing has been done to help those who were so badly impacted and the ombudsman to saying to parliament look, you have to sort this out. it is gone on long enough and many people cannot wait any more. they have really suffered a serious failing and get your act together, come up with some scheme and make sure that the dwp recognises it has behaved wrongly and issues an apology, make sure that lessons are learned and make sure this does not happen again and have some kind of scheme where women can claim help if they are really facing difficult circumstances. we
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will have to leave it there we have run out of time but thank you for your time. the us has filed a landmark lawsuit against apple which accuses the tech giant of monopolising the smartphone market and crushing competition. in the lawsuit, the justice department alleges the company used its power to limit competitors as well as the options available to consumers. apple has vowed to "vigorously" fight the lawsuit and denies the claims. the lawsuit was also brought by 17 us states. here's attorney general merrick garland explaining why at a press conference earlier. apple has maintained its power not just because of its superiority, but because of its unlawful, exclusionary behaviour. monopolies like apple's threaten the free and fair markets upon which our economy is based. they stifle innovation. they hurt producers and workers, and they increase
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costs for consumers. early i spoke to tom smith, competition lawyer at geradin partners in london, and former director of the uk s competition and markets authority. i asked him, was this expected. when the biden administration came in, they talked to anti—trust agencies. so it was always a question of when and not if. they already have big lawsuits against google and amazon. so not afraid to take on some of the big players. what is the aim of the us administration in this case? it looks like a massive, full frontal attack on apple. full frontal attack on apple's most profitable businesses. it accuses apple of monopolising consumers in all sorts of areas from the apps store to cloud gaming.
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it is going to be a huge lawsuit. we had from our business correspondent michelle fleury, talking about this walled garden approach where, from apple's perspective, they encourage everyone to use apple products and they make it easy to link between apple products and perhaps difficult to link to other phones. listening to the attorney general, that seems to be what the problem is. absolutely. apple likes to have overwhelming control over everything that happens in its ecosystem, the walled garden. and agencies worry that they shuts out competition. the european commission found that the music streaming sector was worth $2 billion. there were all these arguments about apple having too much control. in the long run, apple is a very innovative company. the more competition is shut out, consumers lose out and overpay. in the middle east, israeli forces
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say they ve killed fifty palestinian gunmen in continuing fighting around al— shifa hospital in gaza city. combat has raged for days in and around the complex, which is crowded with patients and displaced people. hamas authorities accuse the army of having killed "dozens of displaced people, patients and medical staff". 0ur bbc arabic team have been speaking to the one of the women trapped inside the al shifa the men came down for the ones that did not were executed and they told them that if you do not come down, you're putting yourself at risk and we will execute you. they executed many men in front of our eyes, women were running to go to the south or wherever they could but they would shoot at them. they tortured men with electric shocks and stripped them, they would take them out five
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at a time. the ones they wanted to take were told to get dressed and then they were detained and those that did not were told to get out of the hospital. let's get more on this injoining joining me now is dr mads gilbert. he has been a regular volunteer at al—shifa hospital for 16 years, experiencing first hand the struggle to provide health care during wars in gaza. thank you for speaking with us and what are you caring about what is happening and it's very difficult to verify accounts coming there but you do know the hospital well. yes. verify accounts coming there but you do know the hospital well.— do know the hospitalwell. yes, i had a long _ do know the hospitalwell. yes, i had a long conversation - do know the hospitalwell. yes, i had a long conversation with - do know the hospitalwell. yes, i. had a long conversation with doctor yusufin had a long conversation with doctor yusuf in gaza, the minister of health and he confirmed that they do not have communication lines now in earlier today,
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not have communication lines now in earliertoday, israelis not have communication lines now in earlier today, israelis had bombed the surgical block and what is confirmed is that they have adopted ten medical doctors —— abducted in one of them was shot to the chest when he followed the orders to leave the hospital and was later operated in another hospital and this is extremely dangerous and very dire because what they had achieved was to gradually reopen the medical functions and they had gradually with daycare surgeries with dialysis which is badly needed and other functions and dysfunction and the people in the north of gaza have barely no medical services in hospital and when you add to the fact that the medical complex in the south, which is the second largest hospital in gaza is according to the
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minister of health, totally out of function and they have lost two very important hospital resources during his attack from last few weeks and for the attack on how she felt, we do not know how many have been executed and medical staff —— al—shifa. were medical staff or employees. al-shifa. were medical staff or employees-— al-shifa. were medical staff or emlo ees. , , ., employees. they said they eliminated more than 50 — employees. they said they eliminated more than 50 terrorists _ employees. they said they eliminated more than 50 terrorists at _ employees. they said they eliminated more than 50 terrorists at the - more than 50 terrorists at the hospital and they said the weapons storage facilities have been located in their operating while preventing harm to patients, staff and equipment. harm to patients, staff and equipment-— harm to patients, staff and ea-uiment. ~ ., �* , harm to patients, staff and ea-uiment. ~ ., ~ , ., equipment. well, from the army and the government _ equipment. well, from the army and the government were _ equipment. well, from the army and the government were known - equipment. well, from the army and the government were known to - equipment. well, from the army and the government were known to be i the government were known to be liars, i to the government were known to be liars, ito say that because i don't working with palestinian since 1981 and it is a pattern of their attacks on the civilian society to attack primary health care and hospital
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health care and ambulances and there is no doubt about that and when they attacked them last time, there was no proof of any military activity and they do not need that excuse because they're actually attacking every hospital in gaza, including the oncology hospital for children, the oncology hospital for children, the turkish hospital for adults the oncology hospital for children, the turkish hospitalfor adults in cancer patients in all hospitals on the last report, they sum of 378 is really a tax on health care in gaza from the 7th of october until the 12th of february. 278 attacks in the latest health report which is a who, they summed up that during 2019 to 2000 21 there was 363 attacks on health care and really, all of these attacks that we have seen in gaza on health care not only does hospitals, primary health care, ambulances from
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the un numbers, it is almost 400 health care workers who have been killed by israeli army and these attacks in health care are attacks on an immune part of society regardless of what else is happening, health care should be protected to have a safe place to go when are sick or injured even if you're a fighter. these attacks are, the eu, my own government in the uk government do not signal that there is a red line to how much harm israel can exercise and how much destruction they can do to the palestinian health care. the minister of health said we have no more function, almost normal function, everything is destroyed. we appreciate your time coming with us on bbc news.
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israel is sending its spy chief on friday to meet the head of the cia as efforts to reach a cease—fire deal continues in the us secretary of state is in egypt to discuss a postwar plan to secure gaza. antony blinken is in the capital of cairo worries meeting senior ministers from six arab states and the palestinian authorities and antony blinken told reporters washington has submitted a draught resolution to the security council calling for an immediate cease—fire in gaza which is linked to the release of hostages and a shift in policy for the us. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.
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you are watching bbc news. to india now and a new study has been looking at whether working in extreme heat increases a woman's risk of miscarriage or stillbirth? as our planet heats up, researchers have found that pregnant women faced twice the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or low birth weight if they worked in very hot environments, compared to those in cooler places. the team behind the study is now working with uk scientists to better understand these findings, saying they could have an impact on advice for pregnant women around the world. our global health correspondent tulip mazumdar has been to the indian state of tamil nadu to meet some of the women who took part in the study. summer is coming. and india is predicted to become one of the first countries where temperatures will top the safe limit for healthy people who are just sitting out in the shade. it's workers like these who will be and already are most affected by the heat.
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i get igeta i get a glimpse of my children before coming to this place to work. the sun burns my body.— before coming to this place to work. the sun burns my body. there is one da that is the sun burns my body. there is one day that is forever _ the sun burns my body. there is one day that is forever seared _ the sun burns my body. there is one day that is forever seared in - the sun burns my body. there is one day that is forever seared in her - day that is forever seared in her memory. i day that is forever seared in her memo . ., ., , day that is forever seared in her memo . ., .,, .p day that is forever seared in her memo . ., y day that is forever seared in her memo. ., , , memory. i would drop off my husbands lunch, i memory. i would drop off my husbands lunch. i was — memory. i would drop off my husbands lunch. i was so — memory. i would drop off my husbands lunch, i was so exhausted. _ memory. i would drop off my husbands lunch, i was so exhausted. i _ memory. i would drop off my husbands lunch, i was so exhausted. i went - memory. i would drop off my husbands lunch, i was so exhausted. i went to i lunch, i was so exhausted. i went to the toilet and realised something was very wrong. later, i went to the hospital and i was told the baby had died. ,, ~ ., died. she will never know whether workin: in died. she will never know whether working in this _ died. she will never know whether working in this kind _ died. she will never know whether working in this kind of— died. she will never know whether working in this kind of extreme . died. she will never know whether i working in this kind of extreme heat had anything to do with her losing her baby. but there is increasing evidence that it can have an impact on pregnancies and that is why this type of research is important because women need to know about these risks in order to better protect themselves against them. one
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of hundreds of pregnant women who have taken part in the study of the impact of heat stress at work on pregnancy. 800 pregnant women took part in research found that those who worked in extreme heat faced double the risk of stillbirth, preterm birth, miscarriage and low birth weight. this study took into account the heavy workload but they still found that heat was a key risk factor. the mechanisms around what pregnant women face these risks are still poorly understood and one theory is that around reduced blood flow to the baby when the mother gets hot. the researchers who made these troubling findings are not trying to come up with a simple and low cost solutions. in one study, part funded by the uk, they're looking into the best food and
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drinks for cooling people down. climate is changing and you're going to see _ climate is changing and you're going to see extreme wethers, especially when _ to see extreme wethers, especially when it_ to see extreme wethers, especially when it comes to heat waves and everything — when it comes to heat waves and everything and across the world. and for the _ everything and across the world. and for the areas you need to find evidence _ for the areas you need to find evidence of the policies can be put into them — evidence of the policies can be put into them. —— put in to protect them — into them. -- put in to protect them. . , . ., , ., , them. once the precious water is collected. _ them. once the precious water is collected, some _ them. once the precious water is collected, some of— them. once the precious water is collected, some of the _ them. once the precious water is collected, some of the women i them. once the precious water is - collected, some of the women gather as researchers listen to the challenges they face at work, most of them domestic cleaners. sometimes not allowed to use electric fans in the heat, says one, other says they are banned from using employer's toilets. ~ . ., , ., toilets. making little changes and caettin this toilets. making little changes and getting this will _ toilets. making little changes and getting this will help _ toilets. making little changes and getting this will help them. - toilets. making little changes and getting this will help them. after| getting this will help them. after the session. _ getting this will help them. after the session, i— getting this will help them. after the session, i meet _ getting this will help them. after the session, i meet with - getting this will help them. the session, i meet with the 18—year—old esther invites me to her
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home, she is six months pregnant. she tells me the scarcity of water means she's already limiting how much she is using. in spite of all the challenges esther faces, much she is using. in spite of all the challenges estherfaces, she says she is full of hope. i considered being pregnant a great blessing. i am going to have a baby. i am going to be called mother. you can watch the full documentary on the bbc iplayer, search for �*indian mothers: bearing the heat�* — and this weekend it will be showing here on bbc news. engagements in northern ireland. queen camilla spent time visiting shops on the road and she was asked about the kings health and told well wishes, he was doing very well but
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was very disappointed he did not come. the french president emmanuel french president macron sparked social media buzz by posting this official image on instagram. there he is — hitting a punching bag with teeth gritted and biceps bulging. the photo has been met with a mixture of praise and consternation. but it seems like he is not the only leader eager to show his tough side. canadaian prime ministerjustin trudeau happily posed semi—naked for the cameras in 2012. he was just a parliament member then, boxing with his political opponent for charity. and speaking of shirtless. this is, probably, one of the most famous portraits of russian leader vladimir putin. riding a horse during his fishing trip back in 2009. horses have been long
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associated with masculinity and status. here is kimjong—un, though all wrapped up, climbing north korea's highest mountain on horse back. stay with us here on bbc news. good evening. there have been mixed fortunes across the country once again today for much of central and southern england. it stayed largely fine and dry with glimpses of sunshine, in fact, in london. once again, we had temperatures into the mid—teens so you could get out and enjoy the beautiful cherry blossom that we've got at the moment. it was a different story, however, further north and west, the rain not too heavy, but it was a nuisance, as you can see from lancashire just a few hours ago. now, this weatherfront will continue to sink its way south and east,
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clearing the southeast during friday and then behind it under this influence of low pressure. a cooler story is set to dominate, so it will be a rather murky start with some light, drizzly rain pushing its way southeast behind it somewhat brighter with a rash of showers and gale force gusts of winds to the far north. so, we could see that frontjust lingering across the kent coast during the afternoon. but a brighter story across england and wales, few isolated showers, but look at the difference in the temperature. notably cooler feel out there. further showers into northern ireland and scotland accompanied by gales, perhaps severe gales across the northern isle. so that really will make it feel quite chilly here. and some of those showers will start to turn quite wintry to higher ground. low pressure drifts its way steadily east. the winds remain tightly packed with those icy bars for the start of saturday. and that weather front will continue to enhance the showers. so a chilly start to the weekend, low single figures in many rural spots and there will be some showers from the word go across scotland and northern ireland. these will, yes, be of snow to higher ground and will then get to see some showers developing
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across england and wales. some of these heavy with some hail and maybe some thunder mixed in there as well. and temperatures will remain on the cool side. gusty winds, 35 to 45 miles an hour and temperatures down on where they should be really for this time of year. a brief ridge of high pressure for sunday quiets things down, but not for long. low pressure once again set to return into next week, keeping things again quite cool for this time of year and unsettled. so yes, sunday the better of the two days through the weekend, but there's further showers or longer spells of rain and temperatures a little bit below par as we head towards easter weekend.
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this is bbc news — the headlines. a new report finds a generation of british women are owed apologies — and thousands of pounds in compensation — because of state pension changes. the us files a landmark lawsuit against apple, accusing the tech giant of monopolising the smartphone market and crushing competition. head teachers in england say they are missing out on vital funds to fix leaking roofs and outdated classrooms because money was
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diverted to schools with crumbling concrete. interest rate cuts are on the way following today's decision leaving rates unchanged. and now for sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre. hello from the bbc sport centre. it's a big night for wales later — they face finland at the cardiff city stadium. in their crucial euro 2024 qualifying playoff semi—final. the winner will face poland or estonia next tuesday to decide who makes it to germany this summer. having failed to qualify for a major tournament between 1958 and 2016, wales are aiming to reach their third successive euros. and the pressure of playoff football is nothing new for the welsh, they beat austria and ukraine in 2022 en—route to qualifying for theirfirst world cup in 64 yea rs. rob page's side must now replicate those performances — he says they're moving in the right direction. we've in the right direction. qualified in 2016, the semifinals we've qualified in 2016, the semifinals because of the success of that it's enabled us to invest the
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