tv BBC News BBC News March 31, 2024 4:00am-4:31am BST
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as people across gaza face famine, the bbc goes onboard a us military plane dropping crates of aid. and a treasure trove of never—before—heard music from the late singer marvin gaye resurfaces in belgium. hello. the un peacekeeping mission in lebanon, unifil, says three of its observers and a translator were injured in an explosion near the israeli border on saturday. it says the peacekeepers were on a foot patrol when the blast happened and were taken to hospital. the un says it's investigating the cause of the explosion, and warned that targeting observers is "unacceptable".
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israel denies involvement. tensions along the unofficial israel—lebanon border are rising. israel and the lebanese armed group hezbollah trade strikes across the frontier almost every day. andrea tenenti, a spokesperson for the united nations interim force in lebanon, explained more about the investigation. three ogl observers, military observers, unarmed, were in the area together with their language assistants and they were injured. luckily, they are stable at the moment, so we have launched an investigation to look into this incident and into the explosions. i know there are a lot of speculations at the moment, but in relation to what we do as an organisation, we need to verify the information through our own investigations. so i hope we will be able to find out more shortly. we have been in touch with everyone, with both sides, and we have been in touch even when we are doing patrolling. we informed the parties that we are going to
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different locations. and unifil, we are very visible, we have white vehicles with the un written on it, big blue flags. so very difficult to think that we are somebody else. so we have been informing the parties, we are working with them and we are coordinating also during this investigation. in recent days, we have seen more lethal targeting, and this of course is worrying. and this can create a scope for miscalculation, escalation can create miscalculation that could not be controlled and open for a wider conflict. and no—one wants it, because a wider conflict would not only be between lebanon and israel, it would be a regional conflict. that is why it's important for the parties to understand that, cease the fire, and to think about the political and diplomatic solution. meanwhile, a three—ship convoy carrying hundreds of tons of humanitarian supplies to the gaza strip has set sail from cyprus.
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it's the second shipment along a maritime corridor. however, aid agencies say the safest and quickest way to deliver aid is by land. this has proven difficult due to israeli restrictions and security issues, causing the international community to use sea and airdrops to help the millions at risk of famine. our middle east correspondent lucy williamson was onboard a us military flight dropping crates of aid, and sent this report. aid drops into gaza are expensive, inefficient and increasingly controversial. these ready prepared meals from the us army are being flown more than 1,000 miles from a us air base in qatar. there is plenty of food just a short drive from gaza's borders, but this american aid is being flown right across the middle east. 80 crates of food on board two c17 transport planes, dropped into a population the un says is on the brink of famine.
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it's not perfect, we know that there's upwards of 2 million people who need food on the ground and who are hungry, innocent civilians, who didn't ask for this conflict, and we are dropping meals in the tens of thousands. but at least it's something, so does it feel like a drop in the bucket? maybe a little bit, but if you are family on the ground who got some of this aid, it can be a life—saver. 12 people were reported to have drowned this week trying to retrieve packages from the sea, six others crushed in a stampede. what are you doing to try and mitigate those risks? literally everything we can. i know you spoke with the colonel earlier. we use a chute that falls at a slower rate to give the gazans more time to see the parachute and make sure they are out of the way. we also have assets overhead that clear the drop zone so we will not drop if there is any sort of groupings of people there. after three hours in the air, the ramp opens on gaza's devastated coastline. they have just opened the hatch, ready to release
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the aid down into gaza. there is no organised distribution system down there. there it goes. a drop of aid in an ocean of hunger. two of the parachutes don't open. we watch as the parcels crash into the sea. 0n the ground in gaza city, a journalist working with the bbc was watching. he counted 11 separate aid drops yesterday. ahmad was one of those trying to get some of the parcels, but there isn't nearly enough to go around. translation: we have tried without luck to find _ aid twice this morning. if we can at least get a can of beans or hummus that will help. for most people hunger has consumed them. we have no energy any more. american aid is falling where american weapons have already left their mark. with demands for action growing
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in the western and arab capitals, how much do these eye—catching flights relieve pressure on gazan civilians, and how much the pressure on governments elsewhere? lucy williamson, bbc news, qatar. a car bomb explosion at a busy market in northern syria has killed at least seven people and injured at least 30 others. the syrian 0bservatory for human rights, a conflict monitoring group, says the blast happened in the town of azaz, in aleppo province. the area is controlled by pro—turkish forces. video footage posted online shows a fire and considerable damage to shops. the market was busy with shoppers buying new clothes for their children ahead of eid al—fitr which marks the end of the fasting month of ramadan. there was no immediate claim of responsibility. global food experts have warned that a year of civil war in sudan,
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and a failure to deliver aid, have left millions of people facing imminent famine. a un—backed food authority, the ipc, says there must be a ceasefire and immediate action, to avoid widespread death. children underfive are most at risk. to better understand what is most needed on the ground in sudan, i spoke to abdullahi halakhe, the senior advocate of east, horn and southern africa with refugees international. can you explain to us the most urgent challenges that are facing people in sudan right now? thank you so much. i think the most frequent need right now is an acute, man—made... acute, food insecurity, because of the conflict. 4.9 million people are at the doorstep of famine — the ipc fell short of making that declaration, because they do not have similar access
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that humanitarian aid agencies do not have because of parties in the conflict, the sudanese army and the rapid support forces, are denying people access to these communities. i want to make it very clear that this is not the first time that sudan is experiencing famine. �*88, �*84 — so it is important that parties to the conflict, they should realise the could be held accountable for the man—made caused famine. where are we seeing the most acute humanitarian and security emergencies in sudan right now? once you layer on top of the conflict map, those are the areas that are experiencing this, this is khartoum, so let me make this clear. the reason why khartoum is so critical, even though
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when sudan has had conflicts, there wasn't famine, because khartoum is the hub for transportation and processing of food, but now because, for the first time in the history of sudan, the conflict is coming to khartoum and khartoum is now also facing food insecurity. it is one of the county's breadbaskets, and the other one is darfur, so if the situation is not arrested, we would have famine and genocide going on at the same time in sudan. now, a un—backed report says action is needed to prevent widespread death and total collapse of livelihoods, and avert a catastrophic hunger in sudan, what do you think it would take to bring relief to people in sudan and what prospects are there for negotiation between sudan's government and the rapid support forces?
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we need to understand that access of humanitarian aid is not contingent on the ceasefire, the parties to the conflict need to understand that, because we've seen conflict go on around the world but access is allowed by parties, because it is their obligation to do that, but to your question, the parties need to allow the aid to come in across the border, that can be delivered, it was done a couple of decades ago when sudan and south sudan were fighting and many lives were saved, at the same time aid across the lines, meaning some areas are controlled by rsf, rapid support forces and some by the military. that aid needs to go from one point to the other. humanitarian aid agencies
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know how to deliver aid in even some of the most desperate situations, where logistics are difficult, but if the parties do not allow them, if the parties obstruct them and use the aid to prosecute this conflict, they are putting a lot of lives at risk. again, the use of siege, the use of food as a weapon of war, is a crime that one could be taken to court for, but united states, european union, united arab emirates, all of them need to lean on the parties to allow the access of aid, either through chad, south sudan, on the way through western part of the country and all the areas in need. abdullahi halakhe, thank you so much.
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senior leaders across the political spectrum in northern ireland have vowed to ensure stability at stormont following the shock resignation of the democratic unionist party leader sirjeffrey donaldson. he quit after being charged with rape and other historical sexual offences. he says he will be strenuously contesting the charges. the police investigation is understood to have started after two women came forward with allegations. for the latest developments, here's our ireland correspondent, sara girvin. a stern statement from the police service of northern ireland directed at those it said are speculating about this case online. and a warning too that anyone publishing information on social media, online, that could lead to the identification of any alleged victim in this case, they could find themselves under police investigation. there has been more political reaction trickling out today too, we heard from the first minister of northern ireland, sinn fein�*s michelle 0'neill, who said political stability in stormont is her priority.
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a lot of concern that yesterday's news might affect this place. political institutions and power—sharing in northern ireland can be quite delicate at the best of times. we have heard from the dup as well, northern ireland's largest unionist party, and the second biggest political party in stormont behind sinn fein. we heard from the deputy first minister emma little—pengelly who said she's determined to ensure political stability. her words mirroring what we know was in an internal message sent to dup members by the interim leader gavin robinson. political leaders in northern ireland, across the spectrum, really at pains today to show, to emphasise they are singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to devolved government in northern ireland — for now at least. but the dup is in crisis. there is no doubt about that. the management will get its first big test in just over
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a week, when stormont returns from easter recess. donald trump has been criticised byjoe biden�*s campaign team for sharing a video on social media featuring a truck bearing the image of the us president with his hands and feet tied together. a trump spokesman said it was just a picture on the vehicle's tailgate, filmed as it travelled down the highway. but a biden election campaign spokesman accused mr trump of inciting political violence. 0ur news reporter in washington, will vernon, has more. this was a video that donald trump posted on his truth social channel yesterday, a 20—second clip, and what it shows is two pick—up trucks driving along the highway and they are absolutely plastered in pro—trump images and flags, but one of them on the tailgate of the pick—up truck has an image ofjoe biden, a mocked—up
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picture that shows the president with his hands and feet tied, and it kind of looks as though mr biden has been kidnapped and put in the truck. this image has caused controversy here. the biden campaign in a statement said that trump is regularly inciting political violence and it's time people take them seriously, but the trump campaign has hit back at the allegations, the image was just a truck travelling along the highway and that it is democrats that have called for despicable violence against president trump and his family. trump supporters regularly use pretty radical, extreme you might say, images and language during rallies, most well—known, of course, on the january 6th attack on the capitol. a gallows was erected outside congress when supporters were chanting "hang mike pence", the former vice president. mr trump himself has been accused of using extreme language, during campaign speeches he said immigrants were poisoning
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the blood of the country, which shows yet again that american politics is becoming increasingly divisive and aggressive in tone, and when i talk to people here, especially young people, about the upcoming election, they say this kind of thing makes them increasingly disillusioned with american politics and unhappy about how polarising the political atmosphere here has become. the us supreme court is set to hear arguments on major legal cases — including whether former president donald trump can be tried on federal criminal charges pertaining to election interference, or if he's shielded by presidential immunity. the stakes are high for both mr trump and the court, which will adjudicate on a complex case in a heated election year. it comes as recent polls show that americans�* views of the supreme court have fallen to historic lows. one major reason people cited for their disapproval was the court's reversal of roe
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vs wade in 2022, which enshrined the constitutional right to an abortion. the current make—up of the court leans conservative, after president trump appointed three of the justices on the bench. justice stephen breyer, who was appointed by president bill clinton, retired in 2022 after nearly three decades on the bench. he was considered a liberaljustice. mr breyer has now published a book reflecting on his career. my colleague sumi somaskanda sat down with him and asked about some of the most pressing questions before the court, as well the lack of public trust in the us�*s highest legal authority. justice breyer, thank you forjoining us on bbc news. what impact do you believe overturning of the constitutional right to an abortion has on the country? it would have a lot of different impacts, and we wrote an awful lot of words where we said, for example, you think when you overturn this that
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you are overturning the whole problem of abortions over to legislators? and you will never have to hear in this court another case involving abortion? i think there are two coming along quickly, one just started, and we said in dissent, that is not what will happen, in dissent, you will get more cases than ever and it will create a mess, i think that is a fair way to put what we were talking about. i want to ask your perception about the court, it's something you said you were concerned about. according to a poll from the marquette law school released in february, 40% of adults approve of the supreme court actions, 60% disapprove, do you think that matters? yes, but, you know i say but, to be a good question, ask thejudge why?
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you said why, i said why, and here is why i think... suppose you had an acquaintance who was very unpopular, very unpopular, and that acquaintance has a case brought against them in court — do you want the judge, do you sympathise with that person, do you decide regarding public opinion or whether he's popular or unpopular. hamilton, madison, they said this document is for the least popular person as well as the most, because i believe in power. law is meant to help people, law is meant to allow people of different races, of different religions, of different points of view, to live together peacefully and productively. the current court will weigh in on whether the former president donald trump can be charged on allegations regarding election interference
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or whether he had presidential immunity, i know you're not commenting on the case because it's in front of the court, but do you think the court should hear a case that presents a political question in such a polarised time? what i learned in 28 years i was there, you take the cases as they come along. the primary criteria for taking care is if a lower courtjudge comes to different conclusions on the same question of federal law. a great professor said, no judge would decide a case based on the temperature of the day, he means politically. but alljudges, consciously or unconsciously, are affected to some degree
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by the climate of the era. of term limits, perhaps. what i said when asked years ago, do you think it would be all right to have 70 as a retirement age? and i said, yes, it was a long one it better be long because you do not want someone on that court thinking, "what am i going to do next?" you made the choice to retire, your former colleague, ruth bader ginsburg, did not. you will see — retirement is a personal decision, and not to go into it, yourfamily, your age, i was about 83 years old, giving others a chance, but what will the court look like? what are the probabilities of the work that i've done, will it last? this is not the only thing buta big mix of things in your mind. let's turn to some important news around the world.
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police have raided the home of peru's president, dina boluarte. the raid is part of a corruption inquiry dubbed "rolexgate". the police were searching for more than a dozen rolex watches that the president allegedly failed to declare. the investigation began after a news report drew attention to luxury watches she wore at public events, dating from when she took office in december 2022. pope francis has presided over a two—hour easter vigil at the vatican, a day after pulling out of a good friday ceremony at short notice. the pope, who is 87, and has suffered from respiratory problems, read a lengthy homily. on sunday, pope francis is due to take part in mass in st peter's square and deliver his blessing. now, unheard recordings of the american soul singer marvin gaye — who died forty years ago — have been found in belgium. the musician worked in 0stend in the 1980s.
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now a lawyer representing the people he lived with says they have a huge collection of his belongings — including costumes and audio cassettes — which could be released if agreement can be reached with his children. kevin connolly reports. # with some other guy that you knew before... marvin gaye, seen here in the legendary performance at montreux, made some of the greatest records in pop history. but what if there are more songs, maybe more classics, that no—one has ever heard? these are the tapes that we found... this belgian lawyer says there is just such a track, although he's keeping it under wraps for now. he'll describe it to us but he won't play it to us. it's an amazing song, a great tune, great lyrics, catchy, and i thought, "this is a planetary alightment moment". i'm interested to hear them. the jazz musician and marvin gaye expect gary crosby is looking forward to hearing any new songs. because we don't know — until we hear the tapes, we actually don't know. but we are talking about marvin gaye, one of the greatest
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artists of all time. there's bound to be something of value in there. we did hear a sample of hours of private recordings. and there is a lot of unheard marvin gaye material. a vast collection of audio cassettes, stage costumes and documents has turned up in belgium, because in the early �*80s, marvin gaye lived in 0stend and gifted his landlord's family a treasure trove of memorabilia which they now propose to sell. the clothes and the accessories, they will be sold. any new music, though, could only be sold with the permission of marvin gaye's children. compromise is called for, says alex trappeniers. i want to reach my hand to the family because when you exploit the copyright which is in the tapes, you can't do that without the authorisation of his three children.
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if there are to be negotiations over any new material, they have yet to start. but there is at least a chance that another pop classic could emerge from this unexpected source. kevin connolly, bbc news, 0stend. more news on our website and app. thank you so much for joining us. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. we've had some sunshine. not a bad day overall, just a few showers here and there. i think easter sunday is going to be a little more overcast, particularly across england and closer to
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the north sea coast. quite a chilly breeze off the north sea with some drizzle at times. now, the satellite picture shows that gap in the weather that's over us right now. so things set fair for the moment. but this thicker cloud towards the east will shroud the uk during the course of sunday, particularly eastern areas of the uk. now, through the course of tonight, yes, there's a bit of rain in the forecast for some southwestern areas, perhaps just around the irish sea, and into northern ireland. but the bulk of the uk should have predominantly clear and dry weather. chilly in the north of scotland, a touch of frost and some mist and fog forming, particularly across central parts of england. so the morning is looking bright for many of us, particularly across the north and the west of the uk. a few showers there in northern ireland, but then this thick cloud invades off the north sea, a chilly breeze, fleeting rain possible from parts of the southeast through east anglia, lincolnshire and really all along that north sea coast. the best of the sunshine
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will be out towards the west tomorrow around the irish sea, southwestern scotland, northern ireland, the western isles. and then sunday night into monday, a weather front moves in from the south. this is going to be more substantial rain, a more prolonged spell of rain to come for many of us on easter monday. really not looking particularly pretty across england and wales. your best bet for fine weather is the north of northern ireland, also northern and western scotland away from that weather front, temperatures around nine degrees in aberdeen, but in the south, despite the cloud and the rain, still getting up to 14, though, i don't think it's particularly going to feel like it. and then the outlook for the week ahead will see a series of low pressures aligning themselves up in the atlantic. heading our way, one weather front after the other, after the other. and that basically spells rain. so whether you're checking the website or looking at the app, an indication here with these rain symbols that the weather is going to be predominantly unsettled. rain at times, certainly possible almost anywhere in the uk.
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she's one of the most powerful women in hollywood, now at the helm of one of the movie industry's biggest players — warner brothers motion picture group, the ioi—year—old studio that first brought us the talkies, ushering out the silent movie era with its jazz singer, and the studio behind beloved classics from casablanca to batman. but in recent years, warner's faced challenges, notjust problems caused by covid and strikes by actors and writers, but others of its own making. not least a falling—out with director christopher nolan, who took his award—winning 0ppenheimer to universal instead. the company is also now riding high with barbie, the biggest grossing film in the company's history. so cool. welcome to the media show. pam abdy, thank you so much for having me on the lot, and hello. just to talk about your career for a little bit first.
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