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tv   Newsday  BBC News  April 3, 2024 12:00am-12:31am BST

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have fled the uk. one in five people in china are over the age of 60 — making it the largest elderly population in the world. we look at the impact. and — forbes has revealed its latest �*world billionaires list�* — taylor swift ranks for the first time, along with the creator of chatgpt. hello and thanks for joining us on bbc news. we start in the middle east and the us has expressed outrage over the israeli strike that killed seven aid workers travelling in a convoy in gaza — including a dual american citizen and three britons. the white housejoined calls demanding israel do more
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to protect those providing support for palestinians in gaza, who are at risk of famine. london summoned the israeli ambassador to express its condemnation. earlier, isreali prime minister benjamin netanyahu said the killings were unintended and tragic, but that such things happen in war. from jerusalem, our correspondent lucy williamson reports. hey, this is zomi. we're at the deir al—balah kitchen. they came from australia, poland, the us and the uk. their mission — to feed people, one of the simplest. in gaza, one of the hardest. and most dangerous. last night, israeli airstrikes hit their convoy, clearly marked with the charity logo of the world central kitchen. seven people killed, including three british nationals. colleagues, distraught, identified their bodies. "these are the people who brought the aid from the sea", he says.
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"they're all dead, all of them." translation: it was a direct hit. their it was a direct hit. vehicles more than a mile apart. translation: it was a direct hit. they tried to treat some of them and put them in another car in front, but they shelled the car. this is the situation here. anyone who brings aid to gaza is at risk of shelling and death. the remains of the convoy tell the story. the remains of their car straight through the logo that was meant to protect them. a sustained, targeted attack. an translation: unfortunately there was an attack. this
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happens in war. we're conducting a thorough inquiry and we're in contact with the governments for that we will do everything to prevent a recurrence. six months into this war, the questions around the killing of civilians are getting sharper. this was a clearly marked aid convoy passing through an area without heavy fighting under israeli control. aid agencies say coordinating safe passage with the israeli army in gaza is cumbersome and time—consuming. but it's this kind of event that it's designed to avoid. the un here says it's been warning about something like this for months. we have got people in these very, very dangerous situations moving around without any comms between the different groups or different teams. and then, you know, last night, for example, there was telephone calls coming from the world central kitchen trying to make connections and it just wasn't possible. so you're moving around gaza, no communication between teams. why not? well, because the israelis say we shouldn't have
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communications equipment because, if they do, they could actually be taken by hamas and used by hamas. i think it's a poor excuse. the first of the victims was buried today — a local man called saif abu taha. gaza, already a byword for grief, is tonight mourning those who came to save lives and paid with their own. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. our diplomatic correspondent, james landale, has more on the deaths of the british aid workers. we often report wars in numbers, miles gained, things destroyed, people killed. but as we know, war is about people. and tonight it's about three men who now have names, three men, three british nationals who, as lucy said, gave their lives trying to save lives. and i think that in part explains the systemic nature of the british government's diplomatic response.
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the prime minister called israel's prime minister. the foreign secretary spoke to his israeli counterpart, the deputy foreign secretary, andrew mitchell, hauled in israel's ambassador to the foreign office for what was described to me as an icy conversation. that hasn't happened for 12 years. it's not something that allies normally do to one another. it's also a similar thing happened in australia and poland and the messaging was remarkably similar. it was one, utter condemnation of what israel had done two, a demand for swift, transparent investigation with full accountability. and three, and here's the key point. the demand that israel simply allows more aid into gaza, because israel today hasn't just angered allies, it hasn'tjust further damaged its reputation globally. it's also undermined its argument that it is allowing the free flow of humanitarian assistance into gaza. it is hard to say you are helping aid workers when you're killing them. earlier i spoke to shazia
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arshad from the international aid agency islamic relief uk. i asked for her response to the attack. this attack is is devastating. and for us, itjust heightens the worry that we have about our team on the ground in gaza. we've been warning that gaza is now become one of the world's most dangerous places to deliver aid. our teams themselves have been displaced. they've been trying to deliver aid for six months now, and they are finding that situation ever more difficult to do so as as the bombardment continues and without a cease fire in place. well, world central kitchen have announced that they will be suspending their operations in gaza. are you considering doing the same? our teams have been on the ground for many years. they're local teams and we're going to continue working there as much as we can with our local partners. but the reality is that operations in gaza are very, very difficult.
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delivering aid safely has become near impossible. and what we're seeing is the kind of complete erosion of any kind of operations for safe any safe operations. and really, what we need to see is we need to see aid getting in quickly, but we also need to see it being distributed safely. and that can't happen without a cease fire. so we need that cease fire to come in as quickly as possible so that our teams can do theirjobs. well, we still don't seem like we're any closer to having a cease fire. and with aid agencies that like yourselves and world food kitchen now saying they're suspending operations, the humanitarian situation seems like it can only get worse from here. i mean, the humanitarian situation is already dire. you know, we're talking about over the last few weeks, we've been talking about the risk of famine being imminent. and what that means is aid agencies like ours and like many of our colleagues across gaza, need to be able to deliver aid. they need to be able to get food in. but if they can't do that safely, it's just not going to be viable.
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and then ultimately that's going to put civilians at risk, at greater risk of famine. people are already starving to death. and what we really need now is for aid to get in quickly and to be able to be distributed safely. our teams have already told us many stories of how difficult it is to operate under the current conditions. we need that situation to be remedied as quickly as possible so that they can provide the much, much desperately needed aid. could could you elaborate a bit on that about what your teams are facing on the ground? i mean, our teams have been working in gaza since 1997, but over the last six months they have been talking to us about the very real difficulties that they've been facing. they themselves have been displaced. they've been having to move further south across gaza. very, very early on in the beginning of the bombardment, there was actually a distribution taking place and very close within two blocks of the distribution taking place.
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there was a bombardment that went off, which was captured on on video. and thatjust to to all of us and to our teams highlighted the very real risk that our teams are facing when they're having to conduct those distributions. it puts not only our teams at risk, but, of course, the civilians who are also trying to get hold of that aid. a developing story in the uk: three men suspected of being involved in the stabbing of an iranian tv host in south london have left the uk, according to metropolitan police. pouria zeraati was stabbed outside his home in wimbledon on friday afternoon. he's since been discharged from hospital. detectives believe the suspects travelled to heathrow airport and fled the uk — our correspondent tom symonds has more details. we spoke to eyewitnesses who describe two people running away in dark clothing and somebody driving them off in a car. we know there's cctv in the area.
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we know that the police would have had access to the number plate because that was given to them by an eyewitness. and tonight, the met�*s counter—terrorism command has said that this was an attack involving two men in this residential street. the car that drove them off was a blue mazda three, which was found three or four miles away in new malden. and from there, they tracked these suspects to heathrow airport, where they left the country. now, of course, at some point, a passport in somebody�*s name would have been used. so they do say we have identified three suspects. what they haven't said is what the motive for this attack was. now they say that there could be a number of explanations and that they're keeping an open mind. but this is being investigated by the counter—terrorism police. as for pouria zeraati, he says that the suspects purposefully planned this attack. he will have spoken to liaison officers from the police, but he also says he's been discharged from hospital. he's recovering and he's feeling better.
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let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. the turkish authorities say a fire at a nightclub undergoing renovation has killed twenty—nine people in istanbul. the club is in the basement of a i6—storey building. police are yet to establish what caused the blaze. eight people, including the nightclub manager and a person responsible for the renovations, have had warrants out for their arrest in connection with the fire. one child has been killed in a school shooting in finland and two others were seriously injured. the victims and the suspected shooter are 12 years—old. children under the age of 15 are not criminally liable in finland, so the suspect has not been remanded in custody and will be placed in the care of social services after further questioning. russia says it's working on removing the taliban from its list of banned terrorist organisations. the kremlin spokesman said russia had to resolve pressing issues with nearby afghanistan.
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washington says it has evidence it was islamic state's afghan branch that was responsible for the deadly moscow concert hall attack ten days ago. ukraine says it has carried out a drone strike on russia more than 13—hundred kilometres from the border. it s thought they are the deepest into russian territory since the start of the war. at least 12 people — all of them students — were injured. sarah rainsford is in kyiv with the latest on the change of tactics. i think it is changing because this was a strike on a site that russia must have thought was well out of ukrainian range. that's where it chose to build a giant factory to make the kamikaze drones that russia uses often in its attacks on ukraine. but that's where ukrainian drones managed to fly hundreds of miles into russia itself, undetected and to reach that site. now, there is a video that has been posted on social media that shows one of those drones looking very much like a light
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aircraft and it's hurtling towards a building and it explodes there on impact. and there was another attack, too, a drone attack on an oil refinery in the same area. now, in kyiv tonight, ukrainian intelligence officials have told us that they carried out those attacks and they've talked about significant damage. but there isn't actually any evidence of the drone production facility itself being damaged. so far, the only video coming out of russia have shown damage to a hostel, a student hostel across the road. but i think it is still clear that ukraine is significantly increasing its capacity in terms of drone production. and that's happening at a time when ukraine's western allies, of course, are stalling on providing ammunition and they are shying away from providing long range missiles. so ukraine is really focused on its drone production at the moment, particularly long range drones. and president zelensky has talked about the need to ramp up that production, particularly against what he calls special tasks. so long range drones for special tasks. and there was another reminder tonight why all of this is happening. another russian missile strike
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on an eastern ukrainian city. hitting near our school. several teenagers were injured as they ran for a bomb shelter when that missile hit. nearly a year since it was passed in parliament, president zelensky has signed into law a bill lowering ukraine's draft age by two years — to twenty—five. mobilisation has become a divisive issue in ukraine, exhausted by two years of war and heavy losses. russia enjoys a massive advantage in manpower, and mr zelensky said in december the army wanted to mobilise up to half a million people to battle moscow's forces in ukraine. the army enlistment system is considered by many ukrainians to be unjust, inefficient and often corrupt. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.
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the us and chinese presidents have had what both sides called a candid phone conversation, their first since meeting face to face in november. the call lasted almost two hours, with readouts saying the leaders candidly put forward their views on taiwan, us tech restrictions, the ownership of tiktok, and beijing's support for russia. let's speak to our north america correspondent, helena humprey in washington. helena give us more detail on their dicussions. as you say, this more significant coming is the first conversation between two leaders since that moment in san francisco in november, at a time when relations between china and the united states were particularly frosty. it is particular phone call in some cases they picked up where they left off when it comes to
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cooperation agreements on artificial intelligence, climate change, restoring military to military cooperation so we don't see it military misunderstanding, also in terms of tamping down on imports of precursor chemicals used to adventure fence at all. we know here in the united states to devastating effect. —— spent it all. we can see their readout from the two presidents when it comes to those difficult issues both of them broached taiwan and economic issues. on the issue of taiwan president biden called for peace and stability at a time of increasing tension in the taiwan strait and the south china sea. present is using paintings that any us interference in that area would be considered a red line by beijing. on those economic issues president xi also issued to exact emphasise tech companies saying this was a bid
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by washington to thwart the economy come athwart the development of high tech industry i think overall this conversation didn't really change anything between the two countries. butjohn kerr national security spokesperson had said it was constructive as well as being candid. ——john kirby we could see certainly those lines of communication appear open. we know there will be visits from us secretary of state antony blinken and the treasury secretaryjenny yellen. also to reassure the global community at a time when he can ill afford any further conflict. . , , conflict. helena humphrey in washington. _ china s leaders are trying to find ways to battle what many economists have described as a demographic ticking time bomb. the country is aging and shrinking — one in five people are over the age of 60 — which is the largest elderly population in the world.
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pension and health care systems are struggling to cope at a time when women are having fewer babies. so, can china afford to grow old? our china correspondent, laura bicker, has been finding out. this generation witnessed the birth of communist china. but while some are ending their lives in comfort. many still have to work until they drop. 0k. i will follow you. grandma feng shows me her room in an elderly care home. you've got a little balcony out the front. she's decided to pay for long term care rather than rely on her son. translation: i'ml more open minded. there are few people of the same age who think like us, and it seems we care more about enjoying life. but i thought it through, i gave my house to my son. all we need is our two pension cards.
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this home is touted as a model for china's future. young people also live here, rent free as volunteer caters. rent free as volunteer carers. and while it's great for residents, it's not so great for profit margins. private companies have invested in this home, but it's currently running at a loss. so beijing does need other ideas. these glamourous grannies in the city of hangzhou have found a new career in retirement as models and social media stars, they promote greying gracefully. china hopes more over sixties will continue working as the economy slows. i think that is the right time, especially for us, because i believe i am one of the generation that really benefit from the country's reform and open toward a policy.
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then maybe it is our obligation also to promote our image to the world. that image belies the harsh reality for millions in china. this couple in the rural northeast have no pension. they can't afford to stop working or get sick. translation: i guess i will become a burdenj for my children. they will need to look after me. i'm 72 this year. i think i can only keep doing this for another four or five years. but if feeble and weak, then i might be confined to bed. that's it. ordinary people like us all end up like this. no matter they are. like much of rural china, there are few young people left to look after the old, especially after decades of a policy allowing couples to have just one child.
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the rising ranks of the elderly are causing a dramatic imbalance, which threatens the future of the world's second largest economy. it means china may grow old before it gets rich. laura bicker, bbc news, liaoning province. police scotland says it won't take any action againstjk rowling after she described a number of trans women as men — her comments were not assessed to be criminal. in a series of online posts, the author had challenged the police to use new hate crime laws to arrest her. prime minister, rishi sunak, earlier backed ms rowling's stance stating the uk had a proud tradition of free speech. the us government has asked the space agency nasa to devise a unified standard of time for the moon. the white house said it was vital to set international norms as nations and private companies race to establish a more permanent lunar presence.
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space scientists say different gravitational forces cause time to pass at a slightly different rate on the moon compared to earth, and synchronisation will be essential. the european space agency has also been working on developing a system of coordinated universal time that can be used on the moon and other celestial bodies. the us plans to put astronauts on the moon's surface in 2026 for the first time in over half a century, with china to follow in 2030. taylor swift hasjoined elon musk as ranking among the world's wealthiest people. the american pop star entered the forbes world's billionaires list for the first time with a massive $i.ibn. here's ellie price. welcome to the eras tour! they call it swiftonomics — the economic boost taylor swift brings to the places she plays. the ten studio albums and 14 grammys made her popular, this most recent tour has
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already made her lots of money. industry experts say the eras tour has earned more than $1 billion in ticket sales alone with some estimating it contributing nearly $6 billion to the us economy. she brings in the crowds, boosting the number to the millions who already watched the super bowl. # we were both young when i first saw you...# taylor swift was young when she started making some serious cash from her music — just 16. now, nearly 20 years on, students are studying her at harvard. it starts and ends with the songs. she writes and co—writes songs that people want to hear. she also has a head for business, she understands money, she's a good manager. she is able to bounce back from public setbacks and she's connected, emotionally, to all of those fans. # i have this dream # my daughter—in—law kills me for the money. . . # taylor swift may have no bad blood - with her modest $1.1 billion.
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but she is not one of the 1a centibillionaires on the rich list — that's people with 12 figures in their bank balance. forbes said the class of 2024 is now worth $14 trillion. # it's me, hi, i'm the problem, it's me... a truism, and they can't quite shake it off — the super rich keep getting richer. ellie price, bbc news. # ..stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror...# that's all for now — stay with bbc news. hello there. weather for the remainder of this week is going to stay very unsettled. it's going to be a frustrating week to try and make plans for those who have children off for the easter break. there will be some sunny intervals, but spells of wind and rain at times. and as we head into the weekend, it will turn windier but milder. in fact, in east anglia, we could see a high of 20
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celsius, 68 fahrenheit — way above the average for this time of year in that area. bearthat in mind, but we are all starting to be aware that a warmer atmosphere means a wetter one. and you can see these areas of low pressure waiting in the wings to influence the weather story. so the first low is moving through on wednesday, bringing rain into northern ireland, southern scotland. behind it, there'll be a few sharp showers to come as well. so by the middle part of the afternoon, expect some sunny spells, perhaps more than we saw on tuesday. and temperatures will peak at highs of 15 celsius. some of the showers across northern england, though, could still be quite heavy. and that showery rain will start to drift out of northern ireland, improving here into central scotland. the far north and east of scotland will stay largely fine and dry with some showers, but a north—easterly wind will make it feel noticeably colder. temperatures a good ten degrees down on where they are further south. so that low pulls away, another one is going to replace it on thursday, and then another significant low waiting in the wings
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for the start of the weekend. so on thursday, as that cloud and rain pushes its way steadily north through the night, it will be a mild start to thursday morning. we'll see showery outbreaks of rain pushing their way steadily eastwards throughout the day, so hopefully a slow improvement. but here's the next system already starting to show its hand across cornwall and south wales by the end of the day. ahead of it, with some brightness, we'll see highs of 16 degrees. but that north—easterly wind once again pegging those temperatures back — in aberdeenshire, a high of just 16. then, as we move towards the end of the week, this low could bring some very windy weatherfor a time, gales on exposed coasts, a spell of heavy rain moving its way steadily north. and it's this that will tap into that pretty mild air all the way down from the south—west, starting to push its way across scotland now as well. but don't expect anything prolonged, settled and sunny. there will continue to be showers, longer spells of rain. windy but warm.
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high stakes diplomacy between the world's two largest economies. president biden and president xi speak on the phone.. as the us treasury chief heads to beijing. mass lay—offs in one place and recruitment
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drives in another. how tech workers finding themselves unemployed could look to asia for new opportunities. the focal marks joe the focal marksjoe biden and she's been paying since november. they had a lot of ground to cover. the risk associated with rapidly developing ai technology and military communications and the trafficking of illicit drugs
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like fentanyl. a white house

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