our policy in gaza, we don't see the changes— our policy in gaza, we don't see the changes that we need to see. there will be changes _ changes that we need to see. there will be changes in _ changes that we need to see. there will be changes in our— changes that we need to see. there will be changes in our own - changes that we need to see. there will be changes in our own policy. . after nearly two decades and an international search — a man is found guilty of murdering british police officer — after nearly two decades and an international search — sharon beshenivsky. the race to rescue hundreds of people still missing in taiwan after a powerful and deadly earthquake rocked the island. the surge in domestic abuse linked to covid lockdowns. we speak to women, children, and men, about surviving their ordeal. let's get more now on the growing debate here in the uk over whether the government should suspend arms sales to israel after the strike on a convoy earlier this week that killed 7 aid workers.

mr biden said that while those deaths lead to a debate here in the uk whether the government should suspend arms sales to israel. more than 600 legal experts, in fact, have written to the prime minister, rishi sunak, saying exports must end because the uk risks breaking international law. earlier we spoke to one of the signitaries of this letter, he says that patients for western allies with israel does appear to be running out. we allies with israel does appear to be running out-— allies with israel does appear to be runnin out. . ., , . . . running out. we have seen a gradual tou~~henin running out. we have seen a gradual toughening of— running out. we have seen a gradual toughening of the _ running out. we have seen a gradual toughening of the rhetoric _ running out. we have seen a gradual toughening of the rhetoric and - toughening of the rhetoric and public— toughening of the rhetoric and public and toughening of the messages in private both from washington and from london and other european _ washington and from london and other european capitals towards benjamin netanyahu and his government.

whether— netanyahu and his government. whether that is followed by action like suspending arms sales i think is another— like suspending arms sales i think is another story. i think it most unlikely— is another story. i think it most unlikely that president biden would io unlikely that president biden would go down _ unlikely that president biden would go down that route. it's perhaps more _ go down that route. it's perhaps more likely the british government will. ~ ., ., , will. what would be the consequences? - will. what would be the consequences? it - will. what would be the | consequences? it would will. what would be the - consequences? it would be will. what would be the _ consequences? it would be sending a pretty clear signal to israel of the british government were to do that. although, it has to be said, uk arms sales to israel are not a crucial part of the idf in terms of their armoury. part of the idf in terms of their armou . ., ., . , part of the idf in terms of their armou . ., , �* , part of the idf in terms of their armou. ., �* , ., , armoury. know, exactly. british arms sales to israel — armoury. know, exactly. british arms sales to israel make _ armoury. know, exactly. british arms sales to israel make up _ armoury. know, exactly. british arms sales to israel make up something i sales to israel make up something like 02% — sales to israel make up something like 0.2% of the total, so although it sounds_ like 0.2% of the total, so although it sounds quite a lot, 30 to £40 million — it sounds quite a lot, 30 to £40 million a — it sounds quite a lot, 30 to £40 million a year, it's completely dwarfed — million a year, it's completely dwarfed by the $4 billion given by the americans, and the second biggest — the americans, and the second biggest provider by far is germany. it biggest provider by far is germany.

it wouldn't — biggest provider by far is germany. it wouldn't make that much practical difference, _ it wouldn't make that much practical difference, and i don't think it would — difference, and i don't think it would deter benjamin at yahoo from pursuing _ would deter benjamin at yahoo from pursuing the military campaign in gaze _ pursuing the military campaign in gaze but — pursuing the military campaign in gaza. but it would be important symbolic— gaza. but it would be important symbolic and political steps. in terms symbolic and political steps. terms of symbolic and political steps. in terms of what israel has done symbolic and political steps. ii�*u terms of what israel has done in the aftermath of the killing of these aid workers, well, it's apologised and said it was a grave mistake and ordered an inquiry. it says in independent inquiry. is that enough? i think we have to wait until the outcome — i think we have to wait until the outcome of the investigation, but it is important, i mean, this is a tregio— is important, i mean, this is a tragic event, and of course, it has changed _ tragic event, and of course, it has changed public mood around the world, _ changed public mood around the world, but the fact is that this particular— world, but the fact is that this particular incident, assuming it was a mistake. — particular incident, assuming it was a mistake. a — particular incident, assuming it was a mistake, a misinterpretation, a misdirection, lack of deep confliction, etc, than that in itself— confliction, etc, than that in itself does not constitute a violation of international humanitarian law, but i think if we look at _ humanitarian law, but i think if we look at the — humanitarian law, but i think if we look at the totality of what is now

happening in gaza, you've got the it] happening in gaza, you've got the icj judgment injanuary which said there _ icj judgment injanuary which said there is_ icj judgment injanuary which said there is a — icj judgment injanuary which said there is a plausible risk of genocide, you got the continued restrictions on aid restrictions into— restrictions on aid restrictions into gaza, _ restrictions on aid restrictions into gaza, you've got israel not abiding — into gaza, you've got israel not abiding by— into gaza, you've got israel not abiding by the security council resolution, demanding an immediate cease-fire. _ resolution, demanding an immediate cease—fire, you've got the bombing of an— cease—fire, you've got the bombing of an iranian — cease—fire, you've got the bombing of an iranian consulate in damascus. all of— of an iranian consulate in damascus. all of these — of an iranian consulate in damascus. all of these put together do suggest that israel is now crossing the line into violations of international humanitarian law, and that is what the british— humanitarian law, and that is what the british lawyers will be looking at because it is the legal advice that the — at because it is the legal advice that the british government draws on, that the british government draws on. which — that the british government draws on, which will determine whether future _ on, which will determine whether future export licenses will be granted _ future export licenses will be granted for arms sales to israel. that— granted for arms sales to israel. that was— granted for arms sales to israel. that was sir mark lyle grant, former uk ambassador to the united nations, former uk national security adviser as well. now, let's talk about the

situation in taiwan, after that earthquake. rescuers in taiwan are trying to reach score of people still trapped in collapsed tunnels along the eastern coastline. the island was struck on wednesday by its strongest earthquake in a quarter of a century. these are some of the images sent to the bbc from when the quake struck — the known death toll has now risen to ten with more than a thousand injured. hualien was the worst hit city. rescue teams have been deployed on foot and in helicopters to take survivors to safety. they include miners who were trapped in a gypsum quarry in hualien county. elsewhere, people are trapped in a network of strongly built tunnels after the 7.4 magnitude quake. although there have been fatalities and injuries, it's thought the death toll has been kept relatively low because of strict building restrictions in taiwan and widespread public

disaster awareness. the bbc spoke to one of those who was trapped for many hours. i really don't want to cause more trauma for you. we are all really curious as to what it's been like being stuck there. it's your worst nightmare coming true. it's like they show in the movies. you never think you're going to experience it that way.

rescuers in taiwan are trying to reach score of people still trapped in collapsed tunnels along the eastern coastline. even for locals, this earthquake was much more powerful than usual — and hospitals are filled with patients. there has been a second day of careful work to ensure that buildings like this one, on the verge of collapse, are evacuated and secured. 0ur correspondent rupert is following the story from taipei. but i think what's been really surprising to all of us here today is we thought there were about 100 people trapped up there in the mountains, and that has suddenlyjumped to around 650 at around the middle of the day today. and that's been quite a shock to everybody here because that is a much, much bigger task for the rescue teams to track down where all those people are. and that singaporean couple that i spoke to at the dressing station, they had clearly had this really, really traumatic experience of being trapped in quite a famous tunnel up there, quite a famous beauty spot, with all the rock coming down around them, clinging to each other. it was incredibly terrifying for them, and then it took, you know, another day or so for the teams to get to them. but there are still people up there, as we say, tonight in perhaps similar situations.

rupert wingfield—hayes their reporting from taiwan. one of the most devastating legacies of the covid lockdowns here in the uk has been the impact on vulnerable women, children and men suffering domestic abuse. the lockdowns saw a steep rise in the number of cases, with around a third more people seeking help — and those seeking help, and those numbers have remained high through the cost of living crisis. the domestic abuse commissioner is warning of a growing funding emergency for services set up to help both victims and perpetrators. for this special report, my colleague reeta chakrabarti was given rare access to see how child victims are helped. she spoke to people who've inflicted abuse and to those who've survived it. i was scared to be in the house and scared of what he'd do to me. i didn't dare leave our child alone with him. driving through the yorkshire countryside to meet a woman who is educated, professional,

successful. abuse knows no bounds and can happen to those who least expect it. we're keeping her anonymous for her own protection. constantly looking over my shoulder, feeling watched, feeling hunted. i didn't feel free. sometimes i'd feel like a prisoner. the abuse escalated in 2020 during the pandemic. i think covid was a factor for things getting worse, because you get trapped behind doors and you can't see people, you can't talk to people. and that's perfect for a perpetrator. they would want you to be locked away from your family and friends. he was violent and at one stage attacked their child, but mostly the abuse was threatening and controlling. my heart would be racing. it was when i realised our child was so impacted, i realised i would have to get out. i'd be fairly sure he'd try to kill me if i stayed. this art project in halifax was set up as a direct result of the deaths

of women and children in england from domestic violence in the first three weeks of lockdown. children are helped to heal through art. their work is presented to perpetrators to make them confront their actions. sometimes ijust need a bit of courage to say about things that have happened at home, but i didn't have the confidence to say it. she's only nine, but she's seen misery and abuse at home and is now with art therapist georgia, who's helping her to express her thoughts. yeah. this door, like, goes from younger me to older me now that i've turned nine and i'm worried about the future and if there's going to be any more, like, worries that are going to be at home. it made me feel like family wasn't safe. i was only ten... the diary of an 18—year—old girl who's been coming here since last summer. the violence of her father haunts her. he started using that anger against us, the kids, which would be strangling,

smacking, sometimes even throwing us out. it were going on since i was in year six. the damage he did meant she came close to total despair. it came to a point where ijust wanted to end my life. no matter how good i were doing in my life, i wanted to end it just cos of one man. cos they don't understand the damage they're doing just to a young child. like, we've still got little minds. we're still growing up. we're still learning things, and we've had to grow up so young. if mothers and women generally make up the vast majority of victims, there are also men who face domestic abuse, and they say they find it even harder to know where to get help. i have an overwhelming fear that i cannot get out, that i will be pulled back in, that no matter how much i struggle, how much i scream, how much i ache, i will not be let free.

a leading charity says there's been an over 80% rise in calls relating to the abuse of men from 2018 and right the way through lockdown until now, although in england and wales, women are twice as likely as men to face abuse. i asked this survivor in wales what living with his abuser during lockdown was like. she kicked the hell- out of me emotionally. i was very emotionally fragile, i would say. the worst i've ever been. i tried to kill myself twice. he said he carried a rope around with him and that thoughts of suicide were a crutch to lean on to stop the pain. i asked him whether it was harder for him to be listened to because he is male. if you were to talk within a group of, say, four blokes that - you were in an abusive relationship, chances are at least one will make i fun of the situation. there's very little awareness - of the male side of abuse and how it works for male victims, and i'd also think- very little empathy. he eventually contacted a domestic

abuse service and has spoken to us because he wants to help others, but not everyone finds the support they need. the domestic abuse commissioner says that 2 million people every year who suffer face a postcode lottery as lockdown and then the soaring cost of living have placed huge pressure on services. we need to quit lurching from crisis to crisis, whether it's covid or cost of living or now bankruptcy for local authorities. we must have a strategic way to fund services. we're always depending on these services and never adequately funding them, and that has a direct impact on victims. i was an idiot, an absolute idiot. i pretty much lost everything. for over a year, i lost my children, lost my wife. this man is having to face up to what he did to his family through another programme in east london set up during covid for men wanting to address their abusive behaviour. it all started when i was

constantly, and i mean obsessively, treating my wife like a possession. and i mean bombard herwith... . . numerous messages. i mean, hundreds of text messages a day. you got arrested. why? for coercive control. because she felt threatened? yeah, she felt threatened by me, yeah. she used to say to me that she felt like she was walking on eggshells. the courses made him understand how frightening his behaviour was. there are other ways to react other than throwing a tantrum and getting aggressive verbally. i would never punch my wife ever, but i used to punch doors as a frustration. but i suppose in her eyes, me punching a door, to her, she probably thinks, "is he going to punch me next?" he was lucky he got the chance to change and is now able to see his children and his wife. the government says since 2021, it's given over £500 million to help councils provide support.

but for every success story, there are more cases of abuse and suffering behind closed doors, yet another of the enduring and painful legacies of life in lockdown. if you're in the uk and suffer domestic abuse, details of help are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline, or you can call forfree, at any time to hear recorded information on 0800 888 809. still to come on the world today, we travel to the nato frontier, estonia's border with russia, where politicians want the whole ——and lara croft is named most iconic video game character of all time at the bafta games awards. around the world and across the uk, this is the world today on bbc news.

more now on the wider repercussions of the war in ukraine and some nato lara croft has been named the most iconic video game character of all time at the 20th bafta games awards. it's been 28 years since tomb raider introduced gamers to lara. the video game launched the wider lara croft franchise with multiple video games and blockbuster films starring angelina jolie. the franchise shows no signs of slowing down with a netflix series expected this year. in a poll of gamers, the character beat the likes mario and sonic for the title. let's speak to tara saunders. she is the chair of the bafta games committee. well, what do you think is the cultural significance, well, what do you think is the culturalsignificance, if well, what do you think is the cultural significance, if you like, of laura croft winning the most iconic games character. it’s

of laura croft winning the most iconic games character. it's great to see lara _ iconic games character. it's great to see lara come _ iconic games character. it's great to see lara come at _ iconic games character. it's great to see lara come at the - iconic games character. it's great to see lara come at the top - iconic games character. it's great to see lara come at the top of. iconic games character. it's great i to see lara come at the top of that poll. she was the first kind of prominent female protagonist in the game, and i think that held huge significance. i think it actually challenged the industry's gendered stereotypes and inspired a more diverse range of characters in video games in the future. the breath of characters that are in the industry now is down to the likes of lara croft. she such a strong character as well. she was aspirational, she was an adventurer, her character really advanced the whole series of tomb raider, it was a franchise, as we said. and seeing that character evolve and her character come out over the multiple iterations has been brilliant. the fact that she's been brilliant. the fact that she's been able to transcend games as well

you don't see many game characters doing that, the fact that she has appeared in games, three films, other comics the netflix coming out as well, that really shows that she broke the mould with being a strong independent intelligent female protagonist. tell independent intelligent female protagonist-— independent intelligent female rotaronist. , ., ., , protagonist. tell me, these awards are takin: protagonist. tell me, these awards are taking place. — protagonist. tell me, these awards are taking place, i _ protagonist. tell me, these awards are taking place, i think— protagonist. tell me, these awards are taking place, i think i'm - protagonist. tell me, these awards are taking place, i think i'm right. are taking place, i think i'm right in saying come on the 11th of april, so still a few days away, so why it has the award been announced before the actual awards show? weill. has the award been announced before the actual awards show?— the actual awards show? well, it is a really great _ the actual awards show? well, it is a really great way _ the actual awards show? well, it is a really great way to _ the actual awards show? well, it is a really great way to engage - the actual awards show? well, it is a really great way to engage a - the actual awards show? well, it is| a really great way to engage a wider audience with the fact that it's coming up. we like to engage the audience, games are interactive, so why not interact with the general public as well about this award. the awards are a great event for our industry to celebrate the craft and what goes into making a game, but we like to involve the wider audience

and the excitement around the awards. the words are definitely central, they are very prestigious from an industry perspective, we hold them in great esteem and we really help to put games on the cultural map, i think, in the general public. just any exposure we get for that is great.— get for that is great. thank you so much, get for that is great. thank you so much. chair _ get for that is great. thank you so much, chair of _ get for that is great. thank you so much, chair of the _ get for that is great. thank you so much, chair of the bathtub gamesj much, chair of the bathtub games committee and you are watching bbc news. �* . . ., committee and you are watching bbc news. �* . . ~' , ., committee and you are watching bbc news. �* . ., _ _ it's never too late to celebrate a hero — ronald brignallwasjust16 when he saved cardiff city hall during the blitz in world war 2 with just a sandbag and a fire hose gripped between his teeth. today, on his 100th birthday, he is being honoured for the first time. tomos morgan reports. on his 100th birthday, ronald

brignall is finally being honoured. honoured not for his age, but for an heroic act performed 83 years ago. during the second world war, uk cities did their best to protect themselves, but cardiff wasn't alone in taking heavy damage. praise and thanks were given to all of those involved in the effort, with today's birthday boy playing a vital role in saving this particular building in the welsh capital. it was in 1941 that a 16—year—old ronald brignall was walking home from college when he spotted an incendiary bomb land on the roof of city hall. they're designed to start fires. he then took it upon himself to climb on the drainpipes of this building twice to help extinguish the flames. firstly with a hose pipe between his hand in his mouth, and secondly with a sandbag. the local paper described a local lad who was daunted by nothing, acting with daring and courage. there we are. ronald's family were present as he received a special certificate today for his efforts from the lord mayor of cardiff.

# happy birthday to you...# a celebration for a centurion, for a courageous act performed in the most testing of times. tomos morgan, bbc news. if you have someone in your life was hard to buy a gift for coming here is some inspiration for you, quirky, easy to wrap and a total one off. there is just one easy to wrap and a total one off. there isjust one problem, to be honest, to make it, you will need to have a four and a half billion year old meteorite land in your garden. 0ur reporter has been to gloucestershire to find out more. the world—famous winchcombe meteorite didn't only crash land on a driveway. the largest parts of it actually came down at a nearby farm. and most of the family who live there thought it had all been

donated to the natural history museum. that was until lachlan got a surprise birthday present from his mum three years later. i already knew what i was going to be getting. but then she went, "oh, and also there's a little something extra." i was like, "oh, that's very nice. "you didn't have to." but then she got really excited, and then she started talking about the meteorite, which we haven't talked about in a couple years, and passed me the little box. inside that little box was something out of this world. lachlan's mum had secretly asked for some of the meteorite back and decided to have some cufflinks made. but when the localjeweller contacted the natural history museum for advice... they said, it's just dust. and if you try and make it into a piece ofjewellery, it will very rapidlyjust become a pile of rusty dust. so i thought, goodness, this is going to be quite challenging. that's an understatement. the precious rock, which is older than the earth itself, had to be preserved. they decided on a resin, but if it was clear, it would turn a murky yellow colour after a few years. so a unique blue resin

was created for this project. but even then... it's just the softness of it and the fact of them being used for cufflinks. that was the biggest challenge, figuring out how to make them look good and protect them enough. i was really enthusiastic and said, "oh, yeah, i think we can do this." and inside i was thinking, i don't know how the hell we're going to do it, but i'm sure we can. and after months of secret work... here they are, the cufflinks. they are on a loose chain. each of them have a unique shape to them. and you can see through there, that darker bit in the middle, that is the meteorite itself. and they're certainly a conversation starter. people joined... have you seen this. 0h, you've got to see lachlan... "lachlan, show them the cuff links." get a lot of that, which is, it's really lovely. and i'm very happy to talk about how unique they are.

that's probably the most special gift i will ever receive. the family now plans to have more jewellery made from other fragments. that 4.6 billion—year—old bolt from the blue is now set in blue for generations to come. andy howard, bbc news. the royal centre room will open to the public for the first time. visitors will be able to take guided tours of the royal residences east wing but won't be able to step onto the balcony itself after five years of improvements, the principalfloor of improvements, the principalfloor of the wing will be open injuly. that is it for me. thanks very much for watching. hello there. although it's been a pretty unsettled week, things are expected to ramp up further as we head into the weekend. we've got a named storm on the way to bring widespread gales. now, this area of low pressure's going to bring us a breezy,

wet night across the board. outbreaks of rain, some of it heavy at times in the north and the west, will push northwards. as it pushes into the cold air across scotland, it's going to turn to sleet and snow, certainly snow over the high ground, even some sleet perhaps down to lower levels for a time. so quite a temperature contrast from north to south. very mild in the south, cold in the north. but it could be fairly disruptive over the high routes, for example the a9, for friday morning. this snowfall likely to accumulate for a time as it continues to move its way northwards. further south, any rain clears away from england and wales, and then it's sunshine and blustery showers. most of the showers will be in the north and the west. the odd heavier one for england and wales, and it stays windy for all. it also improves a little bit across scotland, stays on the cool side, not quite as chilly as recent days. further south, 15—17 or 18 celsius. now into the weekend, we see a new area of low pressure move in, a very deep feature.

the irish met service, met eireann, have named this storm kathleen, because we'll see the biggest impacts with the winds across the republic of ireland. but widespread gales across the country, especially around irish sea coasts. it's going to scoop up some very warm air across the whole country. so early rain clears from scotland, the mild air will be as far north as the northern isles on saturday. blustery day for all areas. a lot of sunshine around, mind you, across eastern areas. it may stay dry altogether with only a few showers further west. but gusts could be up to 60, maybe 70 mph across this north—west corner. 30, 40, maybe 50 inland. and we could see temperatures up to 20—21 degrees, so warm and windy for saturday for most of us. as we head into sunday, storm kathleen passes to the north—west of the uk. again, another very windy day to come with gales in the north—west of the country. more showers around, we think some of them could be heavy. best of the sunshine towards the east, and it won't be quite as warm as saturday. temperatures reaching highs of around 17 degrees across the south—east. so that's the weekend out of the way. into the new, upcoming week,

it stays relatively unsettled. in fact, on the mild side, but by the end of the week, we could start to see something more settled across the south.

hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. despite the important steps that israel is taking to allow aid into gaza the results on the ground are woefully insufficient and unacceptable. the reaction over the last few days shows that patients with israel could be running out. . i

shows that patients with israel could be running out. .- shows that patients with israel could be running out. . i share the deths could be running out. . i share the de ths of could be running out. . i share the depths of concern _ could be running out. . i share the depths of concern that _ could be running out. . i share the depths of concern that the - could be running out. . i share the depths of concern that the uk - depths of concern that the uk governnrent— depths of concern that the uk government failure _ depths of concern that the uk government failure to - depths of concern that the uk . government failure to discharge fundamental— government failure to discharge fundamental legal _ government failure to discharge fundamental legal obligations . government failure to discharge j fundamental legal obligations in government failure to discharge - fundamental legal obligations in the face of— fundamental legal obligations in the face of the _ fundamental legal obligations in the face of the unfolding _ fundamental legal obligations in the face of the unfolding catastrophe . fundamental legal obligations in the face of the unfolding catastrophe in| face of the unfolding catastrophe in gaza _ he wants to see changes and we will look at what that could mean. also on the programme, nato is 75 years old. not much time to look back. they've been looking at how to support ukraine in the future. a man who went on the run after murdering pc sharon beshenivsky almost 20 years ago, is finally found guilty. and in the world of artificial intelligence billie eilish, the patriachy�*s fear of itself, and is the internet too small? we'll explain all in al decoded.