tv The World Today with Maryam... BBC News April 3, 2024 7:00pm-7:31pm BST
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after a huge earthquake hits taiwan, killing at least nine and injuring hundreds. the metropolitan police say three suspects left the uk hours after an iranianjournalist was stabbed in london. left the uk within hours of the attack, we speak to one of his best friends. also coming up on the world today... speaking out about hollywood's gender pay gap — kirsten dunst admits she "didn't even think to ask for equal pay" as an up—and—coming star. welcome to the world today — an hour of international news from the bbc. we start in the middle east, and israel is under increasing international pressure after seven aid workers — including three uk citizens — were killed in an israeli air strike on gaza. president biden has said he's "outraged
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and heartbroken" by the deaths. the foreign secretary david cameron said it's a "dreadful" event, and he paid tribute to those killed, calling them "brave, humanitarian workers". world central kitchen released these pictures of the seven aid workers who killed when a convoy carrying staff from the charity was hit by an israeli strike on monday. the seven were made up of people from britain, australia, poland, a dual us/canadian citizen— and a palestinian driver. the three british men, john chapman, james henderson and james kirby, were working as security advisers. israel said the strike was "unintended" and promised to investigate. the family ofjames kirby — one of the three british nationals killed in the strike — said they were heartbroken and they are demanding answers from the israeli government. they've been speaking to danjohnson. humanitarian aid relies on people like this, the three british men killed providing security advice in gaza.
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he has died a hero. you know, they all have. james kirby's relatives share the grief that's reached bristol and six other aid worker families around the world. for him to lose his life in that situation, it's just heartbreaking that, you know, he's lost his life doing that. but he knew the dangers. he was selfless in that regard and he just wanted to help people. their cars were hit by israel's military as they returned to their base after escorting food into gaza. the cars look to me to be clearly marked. in today's technology, you'd think they'd be able to see that clearly that these vehicles were carrying humanitarian aid workers. this is why we want answers, really, from from the israeli government. john chapman's family said he died trying to help people and was subject to an inhumane act. he was an incredible father, husband, son and brother.
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james henderson was another former military man using his skills and experience to help feed gaza's hungry. we were told that their route was safe. why wasn't it? israel's been accused of not being careful enough about protecting civilian life. do you think that's the case? 0h, undoubtedly, yeah. undoubtedly that needs to change. humanitarian aid workers need to be able to do their work. this was a terrible accident, israel says. but according to the un, nearly 200 aid workers have died in this conflict. unconscionable, the secretary—general says, and a result of how the war has been conducted. obviously now no—one's going to be going there to help these people and it'sjust going to drop into absolute chaos. there's international pressure now. so let's just hope that response is heard by israel. israel's promised transparency and investigation and answers. but there's hope these deaths, after so many
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thousands in gaza, finally prompt serious change. danjohnson, bbc news, bristol. the attack has put huge focus on the amount of aid workers killed in this war. the un secretary—general put that figure at 196. some aid groups have suspended operations in gaza — worried for the safety of their staff. one of them is anera — an american organisation which had a staff member of its own killed in gaza last month. it has been providing 130,000 meals a day. the organisation's chief development officer, derek madsen, said the attack has worried other aid agencies in the area. you need to be asking whether or not these are intentional. if you look at the numbers, you mentioned the un commissioner stating that 196 humanitarian aid workers have been killed during the course of this conflict. it is consistent. it appears to be a pattern, a consistent problem. i think when we look at the attack
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on that convoy, clearly marked vehicles, routes that had been conflicted information deconflicted, information had been passed along. it's very hard to understand how those could be categorised as unintentional. and so i think when we start to look at this and we think about the protection of our workers, these kinds of attacks bring a lot of pause, bring a lot of concern, cause a lot of fear for safety on the part of our staff who are putting their lives on the line daily in very uncertain circumstances. well, what do we know about how the israeli air strikes unfolded, that killed the seven aid workers? paul adams described what happened late on monday night. it had just collected around 100 tonnes of food aid from its own temporaryjettyjust south of gaza city. the team escorted the aid
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to a warehouse in daryl bella the team escorted the aid to a warehouse in deir al—belah in the middle of the gaza strip. from there, the team, seven people in three cars headed back to the coast road marked in blue, which is the one of the designated routes israel insists they use and turned south towards their base in rafah. shortly afterwards, the first car was hit. this is how it looked the following morning. according to the israeli newspaper haaretz. passengers were seen moving to one of the other two cars, but a few hundred yards further on, that, too, was hit. here you can clearly see the world central kitchen�*s logo on the roof. the same thing happened again. team members all now moving to the third car. but minutes later, and a mile further down the road, another strike. all seven members of the team were now dead with calls for a proper all seven members of the team were now dead. with calls for a proper
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investigation coming in from all over the world, one thing is clear, israeli forces are almost certainly using a drone deliberately and very precisely hit all three vehicles. what everyone wants and needs to know is why. let's speak to lord peter ricketts former uk national security adviser and former permanent representative to nato. pressure is building from all sides of the uk government. what do you think is going to happen now? how likely is that the uk is going to listen to that pressure? the israelis have _ listen to that pressure? the israelis have to _ listen to that pressure? the israelis have to learn - listen to that pressure? tue: israelis have to learn some listen to that pressure? tte: israelis have to learn some very hard lessons, it's clear from the outset of this conflict they have not been giving priority to the protecting of civilians, special protection of humanitarian workers, medical workers, international humanitarian law requires it. israel
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is the occupying power, hence legal obligations, the scale of casualties, the scale of the deaths of humanitarian workers chose to me they have not been giving that priority. they are one of the most modern, supposedly professional armed forces in the world, and yet these are terrible figures. in the awful events of the last few days just bring that into sharp focus and focusing the world's attention on it. so the most important thing i think is that israel should understand it has to take a completely different approach to the way they select targets, they go about attacks, much more proportionate, much more targeted and giving priority to avoiding civilian casualties.— and giving priority to avoiding civilian casualties. let's talk a little bit about _ civilian casualties. let's talk a little bit about something - civilian casualties. let's talk a l little bit about something that's happening with nato today, the 75th anniversary meeting of foreign ministers, and very much on the agenda, learned rickets, is ukraine and funding for ukraine and how nato funds itself moving toward. i know that obviously is a former permanent
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representative to nato, what are your views on where we're headed now, particularly in light of what many people are saying could end up being potentially a president trump presidency in november and that could change things markedly for nato. , �* . ~ nato. yes indeed, while i'm talking ou from nato. yes indeed, while i'm talking you from brussels, _ nato. yes indeed, while i'm talking you from brussels, from _ nato. yes indeed, while i'm talking you from brussels, from the - nato. yes indeed, while i'm talking you from brussels, from the office | you from brussels, from the office here. we held a conference this afternoon that lord cameron foreign secretary addressed. as you say it's the 75th birthday of nato, that's remarkable, and organisation founded in 1949 remarkable, and organisation founded in 1919 could still be central to our security concerns. but absolutely, ukraine is the number one priority. if, and the whole weight of nato can't prevent putin from prevailing in ukraine then the outlook of security is bleak. the whole alliance, the all the countries have got to get behind the support, the financial support, the weapons that ukraine needs. there are all kinds of problems about that
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of course. are we producing enough weapons, what might happen to american support for ukraine. but i think the mood was put over the outcome of the american election, whoever�*s in the white house next year, the europeans need to be doing more, do you spend more on defence and then to turn that into useful weapons, ammunition, missiles, partly that we can restock our own supplies with and partly to support ukraine to make sure that putin can't gradually overcome them and get to the position where he can declare a victory. but get to the position where he can declare a victory.— declare a victory. but if russia does turn _ declare a victory. but if russia does turn the _ declare a victory. but if russia does turn the tide _ declare a victory. but if russia does turn the tide in _ declare a victory. but if russia does turn the tide in ukraine, | declare a victory. but if russia - does turn the tide in ukraine, what can nato then do?— can nato then do? well, first of all, i can nato then do? well, first of all. i think— can nato then do? well, first of all, i think europeans _ can nato then do? well, first of all, i think europeans have - can nato then do? well, first of all, i think europeans have gotl can nato then do? well, first of. all, i think europeans have got to be ready to fill more of the gap. whatever happens in washington, and we got to tighten sanctions on russia. i would like to see the frozen assets held in western central banks being used to raise money to help fund ukraine, reconstruction of ukraine. so we've got to go on doing what were doing,
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standing behind ukraine and i think as part of that, europeans have got to do more that's how we would persuade the americans. this is a very important yearfor persuade the americans. this is a very important year for nato, a really strong sense of unity but it's got to be translated into real money and real output.- it's got to be translated into real money and real output. thank you so much. rescuers in taiwan are attempting to reach dozens of people trapped in road tunnels and mines, after the island's biggest earthquake for 25 years. at least nine people were killed, and more than eight hundred injured, after the offshore quake struck the east coast. the earthquake was at a magnitude of 7.4. the deaths all occured in wua—lien county — a mountainous region near the epicentre — with many killed by falling boulders. the moment the earth quake struck was recorded inside a taipei tv station — have a look at this.
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the quake happened in the middle of their morning news — you can see the shaking continues for many seconds — local residents say the aftershocks continued every half an hour after the intial tremor. let's take a look at what more we know. taiwanese authorities have confirmed that over 120 people are known to be trapped as a result of the earthquake — with dozens trapped inside tunnels. and there've been more than 100 aftershocks recorded so far. japan has pledged to offer "any assistance necessary to taiwan — our neighbour across the sea — in times of difficulty". more now from our correspondent in taipei rupert wingfield—hayes. this construction site, this big building behind me here under construction, a massive piece of either construction equipment or steel came off the top of this building this morning during the quake, crashed into the building beside it and then crashed down into the alleyway behind me, where you can see some workmen 110w. they've closed off that road.
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remarkably, no—one was injured, no—one was on the street there at the time. these are some of the latest pictures we have — you can see some buildings are leaning dangerously and some train lines have been damaged. people running from a cafe for their lives, leaving her drinks behind. and the tremor continuing there after they left. more now from nga pham who was in taipei when the earthquake happened. making my coffee. the first thing i do every day when everything starts shaking and rattling. it was really, really scary. i have to admit that i was like thinking, what should i do? what should i do? normally, before earthquake, we receive so called presidential alerts from the the office of the president telling us what to expect and what to do. but this time there was nothing from them.
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so it adds to the scariness of the situation. i was holding on my onto my bookcase, trying to steady myself because everything else was falling off the bookcase, the books and my glassware and plates, etc. and i could hear people screaming and they were also frantically looking for information. and trying to decide what to do. brian baptie is a seismologist at the british geological survey in edinburgh. he explained that taiwan has a long history of earthquakes. taiwan sits in quite an unstable position between two of earth's tectonic plates, and earthquakes happen pretty regularly. however, this earthquake last night was the biggest earthquake to strike taiwan for over 25 years, since 1999. and it was hit by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. that earthquake was particularly damaging, resulted in over 2000
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people, 2000 deaths. huge numbers of buildings damaged. i think the number of buildings destroyed was about 50,000. possibly the impact of last night's earthquake may not be so severe, but at the moment it's quite hard to tell. tell me a little bit more about how you can tell the severity of the earthquake like this. you can measure where it stands on the scale, but there are other measurements, too, that scientists need to look into before they can give a proper evaluation. the risk from an earthquake _ give a proper evaluation. the risk from an earthquake depends - give a proper evaluation. the risk from an earthquake depends on | give a proper evaluation. the risk. from an earthquake depends on how big it is and where it is. so this particular earthquake was quite shallow. it was just offshore the eastern coast of taiwan, but it was very, very close to to the city. so as soon as you have larger earthquakes that are close to where there are lots of people, that starts to spell trouble and there can be casualties, huge amounts of damage even in countries where a lot of buildings are constructed to
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withstand earthquakes. still to come on the world today — the former head of spanish football who sparked controversy with an unwelcome kiss ?— with an unwelcome kiss — is arrested in a corruption probe. and fighting for the chance to start a new life — we take a peek at the film about an iranian refugee — that's winning over the swedish critics. around the world and across the uk. this is the world today on bbc news.
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police investigating the stabbing of an iranianjournalist in london say three suspects left the uk within hours of the attack. pouria zeraati, who works for the uk based persian language tv channel iran international, was attacked last week outside his home. iran has denied involvement. our home affairs correspondent tom symonds reports. he survived, but despite the positive picture,
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pouria zeraati is said to be all too aware he could have been killed. police searching the street where he lives, where he was approached by a man asking for money, another grabbing his arms, the first stabbing his legs, before they ran off. an eyewitness who was just down the road told me that he was walking along here when they came running towards him — two young men in their early 20s wearing black hooded tracksuits. he said they looked casual — calm, even. they got into a waiting car and drove off. but he got the number plate. the attack happened at wimbledon. police were able to track the car, a blue mazda, possibly using automatic number plate cameras and cctv, to new malden, where they found it abandoned. it is being forensically examined. from there, the three suspects travelled to heathrow airport. there are regular buses. it's also possible to get a train. scotland yard said they caught a flight out of the uk.
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detectives will have their passport details and say they've been identified. but for now, the police will not confirm where they went or discuss any possible motive. the concern is pouria zeraati was targeted as a prominent presenter for a tv station which is banned by the iranian regime. last year an austrian man, magomed—husejn dovtae, was convicted of scouting out a possible attack on the headquarters of iran international. two other presenters have been threatened. police and the security services have foiled 15 plots against critics of iran. this attack looks more like a carefully planned attempt to terrorise than kill. pouria zeraati has told a friend he won't be silenced. tom symonds, bbc news, wimbledon. kasra aarabi is close friend of pouria zeraati. he's also the director of islamic revolutionary guard corps research at united against nuclear iran — a non? profit
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think tank and adovacy group. he talked to me about how he is feeling right now. we he talked to me about how he is feeling right now.— feeling right now. i've been in contact with _ feeling right now. i've been in contact with his _ feeling right now. i've been in contact with his wife - feeling right now. i've been in - contact with his wife consistently, in the immediate aftermath of the attack, and have talking to him now he's been discharged from hospital. he's recovering, he is well, and he has said he will be back on air soon. but i can't stress how horrific this attack was and we've just heard the details of the attack, and having spoken to pouria, the iranian regime's modus operandi abroad, this is clearly a targeted attack. it was a targeted, well planned and orchestrated attack. the fact that the perpetrators left the country immediately suggests that, strongly suggests that the remeron
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republic's hand was involved and therefore we have to assess who and how the islamic republic employed in the revolutionary guard conducted this targeted attack. and there are numerous plausible scenarios based off their modus operandi. tt’s off their modus operandi. it's shocking. _ off their modus operandi. it's shocking, isn't _ off their modus operandi. it's shocking, isn't it, that they were able to do this and to just leave the country when in hours afterwards. tt the country when in hours afterwards.— the country when in hours afterwards. , , ~ ., afterwards. it is shocking, and extremely _ afterwards. it is shocking, and extremely worrying, _ afterwards. it is shocking, and extremely worrying, and - afterwards. it is shocking, and extremely worrying, and look, afterwards. it is shocking, and . extremely worrying, and look, we simply cannot ignore the death threats that pouria was receiving by the iogc, wanted dead or alive posters of pouria across iran, circulating on its news outlet. we also cannot ignore that to i rgc terror plots were foiled by counterterrorism police in november of november 2022. they have foiled
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more than 15 terror plots that are linked to the iranian regime injust 2022 alone. linked to the iranian regime in 'ust 20:2 mel— linked to the iranian regime in 'ust 2022 alone.- so i linked to the iranian regime injust 2022 alone. right. so really, we cannot ignore — 2022 alone. right. so really, we cannot ignore those _ 2022 alone. right. so really, we cannot ignore those facts - 2022 alone. right. so really, we cannot ignore those facts and i 2022 alone. right. so really, we cannot ignore those facts and the government has resisted prescribing the revolutionary guard up until now. the failure to proscribe the revolutionary guard is putting british lives at risk and is a threat to british national security. let me ask you this, he just told me a second ago that pouria is looking to come back to work, i find that incredibly brave of him. what is his mindset now? mentally this must really impact you, being attacked outside your own home or you believe you'll be safe. this outside your own home or you believe you'll be safe-— you'll be safe. this is a really important — you'll be safe. this is a really important motive _ you'll be safe. this is a really important motive of - you'll be safe. this is a really important motive of the - you'll be safe. this is a really i important motive of the islamic republic, the motive of the regime in iran is to silence iranians inside the country and iranians outside of the country. and i know is his good friend that he won't be
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silenced. and this will make him and others working on these issues more determined to expose the true nature of the islamist regime in iran and to shed light on the suffering and suppression of the the people of iran. the 12—year—old suspect in tuesday's deadly school shooting in finland has told police that he was being bullied. one child was killed and two others seriously injured at the school outside the capital, helsinki. the 12—year—old suspect — who was the same age as the victims — used a handgun that belonged to a close relative. the former president of the spanish football federation, luis rubiales, has been arrested as part of a corruption investigation. investigators suspect that the former football boss received illegal commissions when negotiating a lucrative deal
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to stage the spanish super cup in saudi arabia. separately, mr rubiales is also due to go on trial for sexual assault for kissing the playerjenni hermoso on the mouth after last summer's world cup final. semra hunter is broadcast journalist at la liga tv. it feels as though it's been a long time coming, the chickens have come to roost. these allegations have been rearing their ugly head for years now, spanish me to have been talking about these allegations for very long time and have been calling for these things to be investigated properly. so for whatever reason the time hasn't come about until now, as it relates to this particular case, the police are saying they started their investigation back injune of 2022, so about a year and a half ago, and it is now taking them to this stage today where they feel they are going to potentially take this to trial and see what it is that will be the ultimate outcome for him. but yes, unfortunately, for
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many people who have worked with him and spoke very publicly about this and spoke very publicly about this and even his own family members have come forward to talk about a litany of all different kinds of scandals that have been associated with luis ruby alice yeet during his time as the spanish football federation president. —— rubiales. now i want to show you some pictures out of south korea. hundreds of people braved heavy rain to bid a tearful farwell to the first giant panda born in the country. fu bao has left the zoo where she was born in 2020. hello there. the coldest, wettest weather today was across scotland. we're all going to see some rain in the next few days, but we should all see some higher temperatures as well. now, at the moment, all the weather is rattling in from the atlantic, that's going to bring us some rain later tomorrow. that's going to bring us some rain overnight tonight, that's going to be pushing its way into england and wales. could be some heavier bursts of rain
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for a while along the south coast, where it's going to be gusty winds, may even be a rumble of thunder. but it should be turning drierfurther north, particularly in scotland, but it's still quite cold air here, so temperatures could be as low as 2 degrees or so. it's going to be another chilly day in scotland tomorrow. looks like it's going to be quite cloudy, a little bit dampness in the air as well. similar picture for northern ireland and the far north of england. once the overnight rain clears the south—east, we should brighten up further south with some sunshine, the odd shower, ahead of some more rain arriving in the south—west in the afternoon. but ahead of that, temperatures could reach 15 or even 16 degrees. but again, it's a struggle despite lighter winds in scotland — temperatures here only around 6—7 at best. the winds will pick up overnight, though, on thursday night into friday morning. and we've got more bands of rain coming northwards and eastwards across the uk. we'll start with most of the rain early in the morning on friday in northern scotland and maybe some snow over the mountains as well. but that moves away, we get showers following on — a lot of blustery, heavy ones out to the west. further east, it should be drier with more in the way of sunshine. still quite cold across northern
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scotland, but temperatures lifting elsewhere likely to make 17—18 through the midlands and eastern parts of england. there's another area of low pressure arriving for saturday and this one is going to be much deeper. the winds are going to be a lot stronger and there may well be some travel disruption as well. the rain that gets swept northwards overnight should clear away from scotland on saturday morning, and then again around the low which is tracking to the west of ireland we'll see some sunshine, but also some showers and some stronger winds as well. it will be a windy day on saturday, particularly for the western side of the uk. it is a southerly wind so temperatures will be higher, even in scotland, but it's across eastern parts of england that we could see temperatures reaching 20 celsius. that would make it the warmest day of the year so far. now, so far, the highest temperature we've seen this year was recorded injanuary in scotland — 19.9 celsius, very different from what we're seeing right now.
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this is the world today from bbc news, the headlines. tributes are paid to the seven aid workers killed in an israeli air strike as more aid agencies halt work in the region. rescue efforts continue to free 120 people trapped in tunnels after a huge earthwuake hits taiwan , killing at least nine and injuring hundreds. and — we'll try to answer
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a question: what time is it, right now, on the moon? as international condemnation grows over an israeli attack on a aid convoy in gaza, the bodies of the six foreign aid workers killed in the drone strike, have been taken to egypt. humanitarians and civilians should never be paying the consequences of war. this is a basic principle of humanity. at the time it looks like it's not a war against them any
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