cast in m the south korean cast in the south korean election. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc world news. it's newsday.. welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. we begin with the israel—gaza war. it has been announced that israel will open more aid current doors to gaza. it comes as the us president told israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu on a call that future us support depends on the immediate steps his government will take in gaza, calling the situation unacceptable. speaking in brussels, antony blinken and outlined what president biden had to say in his call with mr netanyahu. the resident his call with mr netanyahu. iie: president emphasised his call with mr netanyahu. i“i;e: president emphasised that strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian

situation are unacceptable. he made clear the need for israel to announce a series of specific and concrete and measurable steps to address civilian harm. humanitarians are suffering and the safety of aid workers. he made clear that us policy in respect to gaza will be determined by our assessment of israel's immediate action on the steps. he underscored that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilise and improve the humanitarian situation and he urged netanyahu to empower neta nyahu to empower negotiators netanyahu to empower negotiators to conclude 80 deal without delay.— without delay. john kirby was asked if the _ without delay. john kirby was asked if the us _ without delay. john kirby was asked if the us was - without delay. john kirby was i asked if the us was threatening to withhold aid from israel. i will not preview steps, i will not preview decisions that have not preview decisions that have not yet been made but there are things that need to be done. there are too many civilians being killed and the risk to

aid workers is unacceptable and now we have certain aid organisations that are reconsidering whether they will even continue to operate in gaza while famine looms. so they must be tangible steps. let's see what they announce and see what they direct, let's see what they do and i will not get ahead of that.— get ahead of that. since john kirby spoke _ get ahead of that. since john kirby spoke it _ get ahead of that. since john kirby spoke it has _ get ahead of that. since john kirby spoke it has been - kirby spoke it has been announced that israel will temporarily reopen a crossing point into northern gaza to allow more aid trucks. cbs news has learned that a portable soon be open for humanitarian deliveries and more aid trucks from jordan will be allowed to traverse israel to gaza through the shalom crossing. for more on this let's speak with our correspondent in washington. will, what can you tell us about the arrangement for these corridors? irate about the arrangement for these corridors? ~ ., , , corridors? we actually “ust received i corridors? we actually “ust received a i corridors? we actually “ust received a statement h corridors? we actuallyjust received a statement from j corridors? we actuallyjust - received a statement from the white house saying that we welcome the steps announced by

the israeli government tonight at the president's request and it says that the steps include a commitment to open two crossings, talking about them right now, the erez crossing and also ashdod port. the statement went on to say that israelis agreed to significantly increase deliveries in the third crossing, that is the kerem shalom crossing from egypt wherejordanian shalom crossing from egypt where jordanian trucks shalom crossing from egypt wherejordanian trucks are waiting to enter. the statement went on to reiterate what we heard earlier in the day when president biden made a dramatic intervention, didn't hear when he spoke to benjamin netanyahu and said that us policy on gaza could change depending on how israel conducts this war. so, you know, concrete steps that israel should take to protect civilian life and also to increase the safety and volume

of humanitarian aid deliveries. so it looks like this tactic may be working. it is early days but it seems there is some sort of shift from the israeli side. it appears now that after that pretty tense sounding phone call in which president biden more or less have the israelis an ultimatum, right, change the way you conduct otherwise we will cut off assistance. crucially it is not clear what exactly kind of assistance president biden threatened to withdraw from the israelis. 0f threatened to withdraw from the israelis. of course there was speculation that this may include military aid. america is the largest supplier of military equipment to israel. $2.8 billion of annual military aid go to that country. one white house official you heard there, john kirby, the national security spokes person was pressed by supporters that make

reporters on whether this assistance that the us could cut off would include military aid. he would not say whether it would but he did say that the us was expecting a response from israel in the coming days and hours and it appears we have one. at least an initial response to those demands from washington that those three crossing points for humanitarian aid will be opened or at least capacity will be increased there.— or at least capacity will be increased there. thank you very much. increased there. thank you very much- our— increased there. thank you very much. our north _ increased there. thank you very much. our north american - much. 0ur north american correspondent they're speaking to us from washington. there is now growing pressure on western governments to suspend arms sales to israel. in the uk the government continues to have significant concerns over humanitarian access and protection of civilians in gaza. the spokesperson says is part of the robust arms export

control they review commitment to humanitarian law and ministers acted in accordance to that advice. it comes is over 600 legal experts including former supreme court justices wrote to the prime minister saying arms exports to israel. because of evidence there is a plausible risk of genocide within gaza. staying with the middle east and the parents of the american canadian man who was among the seven aid workers killed in the israeli air strike in gaza have told the bbc they see it as a crime. john and sylvia paid tribute to their son, jacob is a loyal and the voted humanitarian worker. they told our correspondent that they rejected the explanation of a tragic mistake and have called for an independent explanation. they knew exactly who they were and where they were and they were targeted as they were leaving, after they dropped the

food aid at a known humanitarian warehouse. they were chased down, in a sense, after the first vehicle was hit, people fled from that vehicle and they were targeted again. the idf continued firing on trucks that were clearly marked with the bright logo of the world's central kitchen. they continued firing until all aid workers were dead. they claim it was a tragic accident and i think there needs to be and i think there needs to be an independent investigation. if it is a tragic accident, as they claim then i think the idf is inept and incompetent and i think israel owes the families and the world an explanation. you accept the explanation they have _ you accept the explanation they have given so far that they say. — have given so far that they say, that _ have given so far that they say, that it was a mistake? i

say, that it was a mistake? think that say, that it was a mistake? i think that is a joke. but, i mean. _ think that is a joke. but, i mean. you _ think that is a joke. but, i mean, you know, - think that is a joke. but, i mean, you know, i- think that is a joke. but, i mean, you know, ithinkl think that is a joke. but, i| mean, you know, ithink it think that is a joke. but, i- mean, you know, i think it was meant — mean, you know, i think it was meant they— mean, you know, i think it was meant. they wanted _ mean, you know, i think it was meant. they wanted to - mean, you know, i think it was meant. they wanted to do - mean, you know, i think it was meant. they wanted to do it i mean, you know, i think it was meant. they wanted to do it inj meant. they wanted to do it in a way— meant. they wanted to do it in a way that_ meant. they wanted to do it in a way that they _ meant. they wanted to do it in a way that they want _ meant. they wanted to do it in a way that they want to - meant. they wanted to do it in a way that they want to keep l meant. they wanted to do it ini a way that they want to keep on starving — a way that they want to keep on starving refugees _ a way that they want to keep on starving refugees out _ a way that they want to keep on starving refugees out there. - starving refugees out there. when — starving refugees out there. when you _ starving refugees out there. when you heard _ starving refugees out there. when you heard the - starving refugees out there. when you heard the israeli i when you heard the israeli prime _ when you heard the israeli prime minister say that this happens in war, in relation to the death— happens in war, in relation to the death of your son and the other— the death of your son and the other aid _ the death of your son and the other aid workers, what went through— other aid workers, what went through your mind?— other aid workers, what went through your mind? that is an irresponsible _ through your mind? that is an irresponsible comment. - through your mind? that is an irresponsible comment. they| irresponsible comment. they were looking at the situation, 200 aid workers killed delivering in the process of delivering in the process of delivering food aid to starving populations. what does that look like to you? it looks like using food as a weapon. fiend look like to you? it looks like using food as a weapon. and i know this _ using food as a weapon. and i know this is _ using food as a weapon. and i know this is a _ using food as a weapon. and i know this is a few _ using food as a weapon. and i know this is a few days - using food as a weapon. and i know this is a few days in - using food as a weapon. and i know this is a few days in and | know this is a few days in and i cannot— know this is a few days in and i cannot imagine how things are

feeling — i cannot imagine how things are feeling for you. how do you feel— feeling for you. how do you feel about the whole this leads in your— feel about the whole this leads in your life going ahead now? there — in your life going ahead now? there is— in your life going ahead now? there is definitely a hole in my heart. when i first heard the news of jacob's death as i said i was crushed and shattered and when i thought of immediately was sandy, his life partner and his child who was only 18 months old. their dreams have been completely shattered. dreams have been completely shattered-— shattered. the only thing that i think will— shattered. the only thing that i think will help _ shattered. the only thing that i think will help us _ i think will help us tremendously- i think will help us tremendously is l i think will help us - tremendously isjasper. i think will help us _ tremendously isjasper. knowing tremendously is jasper. knowing that through _ tremendously isjasper. knowing that throughjasper_ tremendously isjasper. knowing that through jasper there - tremendously isjasper. knowing that through jasper there is - that through jasper there is still— that through jasper there is still part— that through jasper there is stitt part of— that through jasper there is still part ofjacob's - that through jasper there is still part ofjacob's life, - that through jasper there is still part ofjacob's life, you know? _ still part ofjacob's life, you know? and _ still part ofjacob's life, you know? and that _ still part ofjacob's life, you know? and that is- still part ofjacob's life, you know? and that is one - still part ofjacob's life, you| know? and that is one main reason _ know? and that is one main reason why— know? and that is one main reason why we _ know? and that is one main reason why we are - know? and that is one main reason why we are doing - know? and that is one main l reason why we are doing what know? and that is one main - reason why we are doing what we are doing — reason why we are doing what we are doing right— reason why we are doing what we are doing right now. _ reason why we are doing what we are doing right now.— are doing right now. jacob was are doing right now. jacob was a cum are doing right now. jacob was a young man _ are doing right now. jacob was a young man and _ are doing right now. jacob was a young man and sandy - are doing right now. jacob was a young man and sandy as - are doing right now. jacob was a young man and sandy as a l a young man and sandy as a young woman, they had their whole lives ahead of them. so

when my mind went to was that all of his hopes and dreams, sandy's hopes and dreams for the future, the life they were building together was destroyed. my father was killed, my father was us military and served in world war ii, the korean war. he was a fighter pilot and died when my mother was pregnant with me, i never met him and i grew up without having a father. and now my grandson will grow up without having his father. that was john flickinger _ without having his father. that wasjohn flickinger and his was john flickinger and his wife wasjohn flickinger and his wife paying tribute to jacob flickinger. turning our attention now to taiwan where emergency workers are still trying to reach around 600 people either trapped in highway tunnels or cut off in remote areas after the

earthquake on wednesday. almost all our guests and staffs of a remote hotel cannot leave because of damaged role. ten people were killed more than 1000 injured after the biggest quakein 1000 injured after the biggest quake in more than a quarter of a century for the island. building regulations in taiwan help to prevent a major catastrophe as our correspondent reports. in a high valley gorge in the eastern mountains of taiwan, a badly injured survivor of yesterday's quake is winched aboard a rescue helicopter. down below another team works frantically to free someone trapped in a massive rock fall. the huge rescue effort in the mountains here in eastern taiwan is relentless and exhausting. but a steady stream of survivors have been emerging all day. they are being brought to this dressing station to have their injuries are assessed by teams of paramedics. their wounds are quickly cleaned and bandaged, but the mental scars may take much longer to heal. i asked this singaporean couple to describe what they've been

through. your worst nightmare coming true. it's like they show in the movies. you never think you are going to experience it. we were in the tunnel when it happened and we felt the earth tremble and we just held on to each other for i don't know how long, until it passed. and so we stayed there overnight but the night was a terrible, terrible ordeal with aftershocks, tremors and rocks falling every few minutes. so these are more rescue teams heading up into the mountains here behind me. this is called taroko gorge, and this is a very famous tourist spot, it's a very narrow, deep gorge that runs way up into the mountains here. and this is where most of the more than 600 people now listed as trapped are thought to be. this lady has run a little restaurant at the mouth of the gorge here for more than 30 years.

she has experienced many quakes living here before, but none prepared herfor this one. "it was completely different," she says. "so much of the mountain has come down. this morning there were still rocks falling over here. when i was sleeping last night there was an aftershock and as soon as it hit, i leapt up and i ran outside". in hualien city, the buildings badly damaged by yesterday's quake still pose a serious threat. frantic work has been going on all day to sure them up and stop them from toppling over. here too, the physical scars from the quake will soon be removed. but not the memory of what it felt like for the people who experienced it. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news in hualien, eastern taiwan. let's show you what is happening now on the ground in taiwan. live to the national park and you can see are still big rescue operation under way

there. you can also see the tents that have been set up in the team is working on reaching hundreds of people who are still trapped in the national park. around the world and across the uk this is bbc news.

now to myanmar where opponents of the militaryjunta have launched a drone attack on the capital. in a rare attack on the military�*s centre of power. the military run tv stations has 13 drones were shot down after an attempt by what it called terrorists to an destroy important locations. three years after the military detained aung san suu kyi in february 2021 and seized power from her elected government in a coup. with the latest here is our southeast asia correspondent. well, so far as we can tell, there wasn't much physical damage from this attack. remember, these drones are pretty small. they're either adapted from agricultural drones or even homemade by the various volunteer armed groups

fighting the military. so they can't carry much in the way of explosives, just a few kilos. but it did send a very powerful symbolic punch against the military government, showing that the opposition can now get at them, even inside their own citadel. and remember, that is what the capital naypyidaw is. it was built out of the bush by a previous military regime for the purpose of keeping it invulnerable to a possible popular uprising. now, the opposition have shown that using drone technology, they can get at them even there. and remember, the drones don't have much range. those drone operators would have been pretty close up, probably inside the city itself. it's also a very important boost for the national unity government which organised this attack. this is the body that represents the elected administration headed by aung san suu kyi that was ousted by the coup and nominally leads the campaign against the military regime, but in practice has very little control over all these different armed groups fighting across the country. it's sometimes been criticised

for being ineffective. it has spent quite a lot of the money it's raised on buying hundreds and hundreds of drones. and i think by organising this attack has shown the people of myanmar that it can be pretty effective. and, you know, the drones are, in a way, an equaliser for the opposition. they're up against a military that has aircraft, has helicopter gunships, armoured vehicles, rocket launchers. the opposition has none of that. but the drones are a way in which they can get over to military controlled areas, often shaking the morale of troops who are holed up in fortified military posts. and we'll see much more use of that drone technology, i think, in this civil war. let's ta ke let's take a quick look at some other stories in the headlines. thursday marked nato's 75th birthday. there was no time for celebration as the leaders met in brussels to discuss support.

speaking to the bbc�*s ukraine cast the foreign secretary said the us aid package stalled in congress could make all the difference. in ukraine authorities say four people were killed and dozens injured in a russian drone attack. three of the dead were rescuers who had rushed to the scene after an earlier attack. meanwhile proxy officials in parts of ukraine occupied by moscow say three people have been killed in ukrainian attack�*s. more than 100 people were on board a ferry as it caught fire off the coast of southern thailand. the ferry, an overnight service heading to an overnight service heading to a popular tourist island was about to arrive at its destination when the fire started. some passengersjumped started. some passengers jumped into started. some passengersjumped into the sea to escape. authorities confirmed there were no injuries. the first ballots have been cast in south

korea �*s parliamentary elections with two days of early voting ahead of election day next week. all 300 seats of the national assembly are up for grabs and the president will be hoping to switch the lead justjump —— switch the legislator from the opposition demo credit party. john is a senior fellow demo credit party. john is a seniorfellow at the demo credit party. john is a senior fellow at the asia society and a professor in seoul and he told me what this election means for the country. i think what we will see in this election is probably the general disaffection of the south korean electorate and we could see lower turnout. that is one big concern. basically the two big parties you mentioned, the liberals and the conservatives are both unpopular. the president's unpopular. the president's unpopular so there is a lot of grievance that we expect to be manifested in the vote. 50 grievance that we expect to be manifested in the vote. so you see this as _ manifested in the vote. so you see this as a — manifested in the vote. so you see this as a referendum -

manifested in the vote. so you see this as a referendum vote | see this as a referendum vote on the president. his approval rate has been stuck in the 30s but his party without control of the legislature, that limits what he can do. it of the legislature, that limits what he can do.— of the legislature, that limits what he can do. it is coming in the middle- — what he can do. it is coming in the middle. two _ what he can do. it is coming in the middle. two years - what he can do. it is coming in the middle. two years into - what he can do. it is coming in the middle. two years into his| the middle. two years into his five year term. so there is almost no way it cannot be a referendum on his presidency. most expectation is that the opposition, the liberal party and a cluster of liberal parties will retain control of the national assembly and again, who knows and a south korean election, things can change based on the ballot box that the expectation going in. on the one hand it means more 0n the one hand it means more of the same in terms of a split government tween the legislature and the executive but it will really weaken if thatis but it will really weaken if that is the result, it would really weaken president's hand because he has three more years but he has proven he did not convince the country to give him the full authority of government by getting his party

in power at the national assembly. 50 in power at the national assembly-— in power at the national assembly. in power at the national assembl . ., assembly. so if he cannot get his -a assembly. so if he cannot get his party in — assembly. so if he cannot get his party in power— assembly. so if he cannot get his party in power at - assembly. so if he cannot get his party in power at the - his party in power at the national assembly, the next three years are pretty much the same as we've seen for the last two? , ., , , two? yes. for the president more difficult _ two? yes. for the president more difficult version - two? yes. for the president more difficult version of - two? yes. for the president more difficult version of the j more difficult version of the last two because in the last two at least there was hope that maybe this would be the turning point and he could move forward more on his agenda whereas, particularly if it is a real serious low and defeat for his party then that could severely weaken his mandate as he goes onward for three more years. as we know a south korean politics there are many wild cards, impeachments, investigations that could kick in, much of which would come from the national assembly. so if that is the case, the opposition retaining or strengthening their hold on the national assembly, the resistance to the president's initiatives to get even much

harsher for the next three years. harsher for the next three ears. ~ . harsher for the next three ears, ~ ., ., , ., harsher for the next three ears. . ., ., , ., ., ., years. what does that mean for forei . n years. what does that mean for foreign policy? _ years. what does that mean for foreign policy? that— years. what does that mean for foreign policy? that have - years. what does that mean for foreign policy? that have an - foreign policy? that have an impact or does the president have a free hand when it comes to that? ,, ., have a free hand when it comes to that? ., ., ., , ., to that? south korea has an imerial to that? south korea has an imperial presidency - imperial presidency particularly where foreign policy is concerned so whatever the result, the president will largely be driving the direction and where south korea is going. there is also a fair bit of public consensus behind, again, the general trajectory which is for south korea to keep moving closer to the united states. slightly more controversial but still buying in to moving closer to japan. inching away without any thought of open rupture from china. meanwhile hoping that nothing goes wrong with north korea. in a nutshell that of the direction of foreign policy and actually i would say regardless of the result of the election, the president can probably largely move forward

with at least that core aspect of his foreign policy. the vote itself is really not being driven by north korean issues or other foreign driven by north korean issues or otherforeign policy driven by north korean issues or other foreign policy issues, it is very much domestic concerns that voters have on their minds going into it. it is never too late to celebrate a hero. ronald was 16 when he saved a town hall during the blitz. today on his 100th birthday he is being honoured for the first time. thomas morgan reports. 0n on his 100th birthday, ronald is finally being lauded. honoured not for his age but for a heroic act performed 83 years ago. during the second world war, uk cities did their best to protect themselves but cardiff was not alone in taking heavy damage. praise and thanks were given to all those involved in the effort with today's birthday boy playing a vital role in saving this

particular building in a world capital. it was in 1941 that a 16—year—old ronald was walking home from college when he spotted an incendiary bomb landing in the roof of city hall. they are designed to start fires. he took it upon himself to then climb up the drainpipes of the building twice to help extinguish the flames. firstly with a hosepipe between his hand in his mouth and secondly with the sandbag. a local paper described the local lad is being daunted by nothing, acting with daring and courage. ronald's family were present as he received a special certificate today for his efforts from the lord mayor of cardiff. a celebration for a sedentary and for a courageous act performed in the most testing of times. ijust i just wanted to finish by taking you back to taiwan where some live pictures are coming out of the national park. you

can see there is still a big rescue operation under way there as teams work to reach hundreds of people who are still trapped in the national park. we saw a little girl being treated there. she seems to be fine and is on her way with her mother, perhaps. thank you forjoining us here on newsday. we will have more news for you right here on bbc. to stay with us. —lado — la do stay with us. hello. the weather will be throwing all sorts at us over the next few days — some wet weather, some warm weather and some windy weather, particularly driven by storm kathleen, a storm named by the irish weather service, for impacts it will have in the republic of ireland over the weekend. but for northern and western parts of the uk, it will bring gates and the risk of disruption. here is storm kathleen developing, still well away to the south—west of our shores. but low pressure already in charge of the scene for friday, rain and snow across scotland, that tending to peter out, but more rain

pushing into southern scotland, later. for northern ireland, bands of showery rain with sunny spells in between, england and wales seeing a day of sunny spells and showers. it will be quite windy, particularly around western and southern coasts, but pretty warm — 15 degrees for belfast, 18 for norwich. still cold in the north of scotland, but it will turn milder here, as we go through friday night. further bands of heavy rain driving northwards, turning increasingly windy around some western parts, but a very mild start to the weekend. down towards the south, 12 or 13 degrees, first thing on saturday. so storm kathleen, this deep area of low pressure, well to the west of us, but coming close enough to bring some very strong winds, and with those winds coming from the south, well, they will be pulling some really warm air into the mix. it is likely that saturday will be the warmest day of the year so far, with some outbreaks of rain moving northwards across scotland, showers following on behind, some decent sunny gaps in between, but i think it is the strength of the wind

that could cause some issues, especially around western coasts. we'll see gusts of 50, 60, maybe 70 mph in exposed spots. so that could cause some travel disruption, maybe a little bit of damage. temperature—wise, though, well, values up to 20 or 21 degrees in eastern england, and certainly much, much warmer than it has been across the north of scotland. now, storm kathleen, this area of low pressure continuing to track to the northwest of us as we move through saturday night into sunday. still a lot of isobars squeezing together on this chart for sunday, so still very windy, the strongest winds up towards the north west of scotland, where there will be gales. yes, there'll be some sunny spells, but there'll be some heavy, perhaps thundery, showers, and it's going to be a windy day for all of us. not quite as warm on sunday — temperatures between ten and 17 degrees.