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tv   BBC News The Context  PBS  March 13, 2024 5:00pm-5:31pm PDT

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announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news" . you are watching the world . today. ♪ rishi sunak is embroiled in the -- between dan abbott and frank hester. five people killed in an explosion at a u.n. warehouse in rafa. an israeli hostage released by hamas three months ago tells the bbc he did not think he would get out alive. also coming up on the world today. is it time up for tiktok in the
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u.s.? the house votes to force a split from its chinese owner or face a ban. cora music, the beautiful sounds from the sea thacan save our ch coral reefs -- coral reefs. ♪ >> it is just gone 7:00 in london. this is the world today from bbc news. we begin in westminster. the prime minister is resisting pressure to return 10 million pounds donated to the conservatives by the businessman frank hester. he allegedly said the mp dan abbott made him want to hate all black women and should be shot. richie sunak told the commons the remarks were racist and wrong. the prime minister apologize for what he called rude comments about britain's first black female mp. the argument dominated the prime minister's questions as labor called on the conservatives to
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give him the money back. >> will you give the money back, prime minister? >> the big questions ringing in the ears of rishi sunak. >> will the party take all money from mr. hester? >> after which two senior conservatives answered ese questions rather differently. >> i would think about the company i kept and i would give the money back. i have to give you my view rather than what the party should do. i thought about how i would handle that situation. >> if mr. hester said i would like to give you another 10 million pounds, would you take it? >> on the basis we don't believe he is a racist, yes. >> coming to questions the prime minister -- >> how low would he have to sing? what racist violence would he have to make before the prime minister plucked up the courage to hand back the 10 million pounds he's taken from him? >> mr. speaker, as i said, the
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gentleman apologized genuinely for his comments. and that remorse should be expected. >> a look carefully at what was happening on the back road on the right-hand side. diane abbott is standing up again and again and again, hoping to be called to speak. >> the gentleman in question apologized for being rude. -- he was not rude, he was racist and downright bloody dangerous. >> the prime minister had repeated frank hester had apologized and that should be accepted. again, diane abbott stands up. again, she isn't cold. >> in november, the prime minister accepted a non-cash donation to the tune of 50,000 pounds from frank hester for the use of his helicopter. will he reimburse him? yes or no? and i'm pleased the gentleman is
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supporting a policy that recommends one of the most diverse governments in this fundraising streak led by this country's first british asian prime minier. >> as question time ended, -- alongside many others to see diane abbott, who i reckon stood up 37 times to catch the speaker's eye without success. the speaker's office said there wasn't enough time to call her. and in case diane abbott's views were in any doubt, look at this. she was furious. >> she wanted to speak, and i was shocked as many others were that she wasn't given the opportunity to speak. >> as for the big questions at the start of the day including will the prime minister return the 10 million pound donation, the answer tonight sounds like this, no. bbc, westminster. >> that was quite emphatic.
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our political correspondent. i believe we have been hearing more from diane abbott. bring us up to date. >> she appeared to be absolutely fuming she was not able to speak in prime minister's questions. we have heard from her. she wrote an article for the independent website in which she's criticized the leadership, not just of the conservative party, but the labour party. diane abbott herself is currently suspended from the labour party over a letter she wrote which she apologize for which was claimed to be antisemitic. she's under investigation. she criticized both the leaderships. she took aim at the prime minister. she said the delay in calling out the abuse had been unconscionable. that the remarks frank hester is alleged to have made where it was absolutely clear they were both outrageously racist and sexist. she said it was the textbook definition of racism and sexism.
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she said calling the abuse unconscionable and conservative effort had been to downplay and excuse the abuse misrepresenting it as rudeness for which there had been a apology. you heard the prime minister's questions, she said it was racism for which there had been no apology. that reluctance to call it out had been shocking. she also said the response of the labor leadership had been disappointing. she said there had seemed equally reluctant at the outset to call out either racism or sexism and said the party's entire focus of the demand the tories give hester back his money, which she said was not the primary point in this case. >> thank you. the fact diane abbott was not asked to speak in the commons during a debate which focused on remarks about her was picked up by many people. one of those was caroline sokol, rector of exchange and private
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secretary at number 10 to margaret thatcher and john major. good to talk to you, thank you for joining us. what did youhink when you saw that? >> i thought it was the worst example i had ever seen of women not being able to get their voice heard in parliament. there is a long history which i wrote a book about margaret thatcher, which looked into this. she herself was told she had to deepen her voice to be effective in parliament because if a man shouts, that is ok. but if a woman raises her voice, she squawks. in 2013, mp was saying the women were being mocked for their voices being too high. so there is a history. but this is the worst example because she wasn't even allowed to speak. furthermore, she was the person who was the subject of what was being discussed in prime
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minister's questions. she was the one who was directly attacked, who's safety was put at risk by these comments from the tory donor. to deny her a voice, i think it speaks to our democracy. because all too often, people with lived experience who know what it is like to get the sharp end of these things are not given a voice. politicians speak over them, they talk political flannel. we do hear those voices. most recently in the post office scandal, but it a while ago in the wind rush scandal. that cuts right through and politicians start listening and doing. it is good to hear her w. she should have been able to ask the prime minister a direct question herself. >> i interviewed the great-granddaughter of emmeline pankhurst. she said one of the big problems with parliament is
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representation, only 35% of mp's are women. do you think increasing that number would make any kind of difference to this problem you described of women not being heard in the houses of parliament? >> absolutely. the proportion has not increased. i think 50-50 with the tories. the whole way that chamber is organized is incredibly old-fashioned. the kind of braying that happens, it is very male public school. it is difficult for women. we also have to say to black women and women of color in parliament. it is incredibly important. because they often experience multiple disadvantages. diane abbott herself has had more abuse than any other mp in parliament. more death threats. she said yesterday -- she is a single womanho does not drive, who travels on public transport. these comments put her literally at risk. we've had politicians talking
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about how mp's are at risk, but missing the massive elephant in the room during the debate about what these comets have done to her and how it makes her life even more dangerous. >> caroline, good to talk to you. taking the time to speak to us. an isrli hostage released by hamas three years ago tells bbc news he did not think he would get out alive. was 18 when he was kidnapped with his sister and held 54 days before they were released. he's been speaking to our special correspondent in his first u.k. interview. we will bring you that in a moment. other developments in the region. at least five people killed, including one staff member of the u.n. relief and works agency for palestine refugees with many more wounded in the explosion at an a warehouse and southern gaza. the pictures verified by the bbc shot at a nearby hospital where
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the injured were taken. israel has not commented on this incident. the u.s. and others continue to urge israel not to launch a full-scale assault on rafa one more than one million palestinians have taken shelter in recent weeks. let me show you pictures of the warehouse itself. we are taken in the immediate aftermath. many images are too graphic to broadcast. let's hear from the director of communications, o spoke to us. >> this is a distribution center for food and a warehouse where we store food surprise -- supplies, but also other critical supplies. we know it is israeli forces who were responsible. it happened th morning. our teams were on site and reported casualties. it comes as a critical time as hunger spreads across the gaza
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strip. and as famine looms in some parts of gaza, including in the north. let's talk about the other developments in terms of aid. a new land route is being used to deliver food to northern gaza for the first time in three weeks. a ship towing a barge with 200 tons of food and medical aid has also made its way to the territory. the first to use a new sea route . it is expected to dock soon. also more violence in the west bank. five palestinians in east jerusalem reportedly killed on tuesday night by israeli forces. one was a 12-year-old boy holding a firework. our middle east correspondent has this report. >> >> shaky video shows a palestinian boy fatally shot. he was just 12. with tensions running high for
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ramadan and east jerusalem, he was killed by an israeli border policeman. today, a far right minister praised his action, saying it was a disgrace israeli police were investigating the officer. >> a combatant comes and does exactly what we expect from him. it is the biggest scandal they invite him here for questioning. >> overnight, there were other palestinians killed. two here, one aged 16 and a village near jeralem. this morning, a stabbing at this is really military check. it say they shot and killed the attacker. a 15 year old palestinian boy. ramadan is always a sensitive time in the israel-palestinian conflict. this year with no truce agreed, there is worry trouble could spread. >> around 130 israeli hostages captured during the seventh of
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october attacked by hamas and israel are being held in gaza. one of those released three month ago told bbc news he did not think he would get out alive. he was just 18 when he was kidnapped along with his sister and their best friend. they were released after 54 days. but she's still being held. in his first u.k. interview, has been describing his experience to our special correspondent, lucy manning. >> hayes free, but all he thinks about are the hostages he left behind. the teenager was at the nova music festival with his sister and friend when hamas attacked. >> we started hearing shooting and terrorists were surrounding the party area. a lot of people started running
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in all directions. i heard shooting going past my head. i heard people screaming. i saw people falling down. a lot of bodies. we were confronted by a band of terrorists spraying our car with bullets without any mercy. i got shot in my leg. my sister also got shot in her leg. seconds after me. >> this the moment they were tied up and taken. >> we entered gaza and the terrorists started shouting and screaming and celebrating. it was as if it was a big party. >> he says they were taken to a house with a shaft and then through a tunnel and driven to a hospital. >> they threatened my life. they looked at me during this like they were going to kill me. like they were going to behead
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me. i still had a bullet in my leg. they put the forceps into my leg they pulled it out without anesthetic. they told me to keep quiet because if won't, they would kill me. it was a day i thought i would not come out of alive. i came to terms with the fact i wasn't going to live. i see my sister injured and crying. she also said her goodbyes and told me if i come out of this alive, to tell our parents she loves them. >> what were their conditions like where you were being kept? >> you don't really know if you are going to wake up in the morning. if a missile is going to fall on you. if they are going to come in and start spraying us with bullets. the conditions are very difficult there. sometimes no water. and the hunger was very difficult. >> hamas wants a total
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cease-fire and the withdrawal of troops for the hostages to be released. do you think israel should agree? >> i think we should do anything we can to get them out of there. whatever the cost. we need to do anything to bring the hostages out of there. you cannot put a price on it. it is people's lives. >> in november, mile was released and reunited with her family and is learni to walk again. he was freed a few days later. their friend and around 130 others are still held. he says of the world has forgotten the hostages. lucy manning, bbc news. >> still to come on the world today. the u.s. house passes a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on tiktok. and we hear from former spice girl about leaving an alleged abusive marriage and moving back
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in with her mom in leads. around the world and across the u.k., this is the world today on bbc news. take a look at some other stories making headlines. the 34-year-old man has been jailed with at least 21 years for the murder of a man in newtown abbey northern ireland. 54-year-old roy reynolds was beaten and stabbed to death. his remains were placed in a car boot and taken to a reservoir. a judge described murder as merciless and brutal in the extreme. official figures show hundreds of refugees left homeless in london during a cold snap after being evicted from home office accommodation. london council said more than 300 refugees had to sleep rough in january because their claims had been closed. the home office was working with authorities to improve the system. a head teacher in south hampton admitted he's disgusted by the state of the food served at his own school. in a despairing letter to
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parents, jason ashley said the meals pictured here served in the canteen were on acceptable and asked this. how difficult is it to bake a potato? let's turn our attention to what is happening in haiti. the u.s. says it has deployed a team of elite u.s. marines to protect its embassy in the haitian capital. it said the marines antiterrorist and security team would replace the current marine deployment. on monday, the prime minister said he would resign once a transitional council was in place. gang leaders who control large parts of haiti had demanded his resignation for weeks as violence across the country escalated. it is up to the haitian people, who they choose as their leader. let's get up to the latest from port-au-prince and speak to harold isaac, and independent journalist in hai.
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your inside port-au-prince. bring us on that situation. >> we have been having a reprieve for the last 48 to 72 hours, where folks have been able to resupply. some allowed in and out of the terminal and they are able to go to a petrol station. it has been welcome by folks who were stranded for the last two weeks. >> when safe you will has been allowed, who is allowing it? >> the terminal is in the gang controlled area. these areas were affected along with the ports and the airport. they had been blocked -- access had been cut off by the gangs. now they've allowed some passage to allow people to resupply. >> let's talk about gang leaders. i have read about what is happening in haiti. people familiar know it is not
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just one gang leader, there are three. all of them are vying for some sort of control of port-au-prince. what would it take for them to stand aside now that we have seen the transitional council, which is going to be formed? when do you think these men will stand aside and allow politics to take over? >> first off, g philippe is not considered himself as the gang leader. although andre and jimmy are. although they may have the same discourse and have been asking for armed revolution or takeover of the government, what happened in kingston, jamaica, where the international community and a local stakeholder have agreed for a seven-member presidential college. they do not have direct access or representatives on that.
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>> what is the outcome going to be? if they don't have representatives, will they accept what the traditional counsel puts forward? >> that is unclear at this stage. we don't know yet who is going to be on that board. except the various political factions that have been accepted as allowed to have their representative on that board. what we know is over the last few hours, there has been a bit of a reprieve. it is welcomed by everybody. you hope it will last longer. >> tha you very much for that. he is a former police officer, g philippe, a former rebel leader who is now vying for control. some women pay to freeze their eggs after being misled about
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chances to have a baby. that is according to a fertility charity. more women are choosing to freeze their eggs. but dozens of clinics offering the service privately may have breached advertisement guidance which said they must not give false or misleading information. anna collects and explains. >> there is a story behind every egg freezing. maybe it is a lifeline for me. >> there has been a boom of women freezing their eggs for nonmedical reasons. >> i can't afford it, but it is an investment in my future. you can keep making money, but not keep making eggs. >> times you feel like a customer. >> eggs are retrieved at a younger, more fertile point, then frozen and stored. but there is no guarantee it fertility regulator says clinics don't always make that clear. >> freezing eggs for medical reasons is different than social reasons. and we are concerned about the
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success rates, we are concerned about the information women are getting when they are considered in this process. >> analysis found 41% of clinic websites which offer private eggs freezing in the u.k., may have breached advertising guidance. prominently displayingare attractive sounding success rates with percentages in the high 90's. it is only one stage of the big freezing journey. the chances of going on to have a baby are lower. that is not always made clear. we shared our findings. >> to invest in egg freezing, a financial investment, what a key decision in your life. i feel angry for patients because they are being misled by this level of information. >> fertility specialists told us patients would get more information as of consultation. but stress websites must be transparent. single at 39, natalie froze her
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eggs in 21 he. >> it was a journey i felt very alone on. i was the one that was driving it and with having to do a lot of research myself. i don't think i expected -- it was probably the biggest hit. trying to find the money from anywhere to make this happen. >> she was one of the few who came back to use her eggs and last year had a baby boy. >> holding hug leave for the first time, you are in awe this baby has come from a frozen eg.s i have been really fortunate and i'm grateful for that. >> anna collinson, bbc news. >> before we go, let me show you a video that has been watched and washed again on the bbc's website. a japanese rocket carrying a small government test satellite that exploded after liftoff. that is the moment it happened.
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the tokyo-based startup company hope to become the first japanese private firm to successfully put a satellite into orbit. the company said it is investigating what happened. you are watching the world today. i'm back in a announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... financial services firm, raymond james. bdo. accountants and advisors. cunard is a proud supporter of public television. announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
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