a senior conservative mp has told the times he was manipulated into giving the personal numbers of fellow mps to someone he met on a dating app. emergency workers in taiwan are still trying to reach around 600 people trapped by wednesday's earthquake. hello. welcome to the programme. the us has welcomed news that israel will allow three humanitarian corridors into gaza following a phone call between president biden and the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. for the first time since the start of the israel—gaza war, israel will temporarily reopen the erez crossing in northern gaza. ashdod port will also be opened for humanitarian deliveries. and more aid trucks from jordan will be allowed to cross israel to gaza. the call between mr biden

and mr netanyahu was their first since an israeli air strike killed seven international aid workers from the charity group world central kitchen, sparking international outrage. the white house is urging israel to allow a dramatic increase of aid into gaza within hours or days. sean dilley reports. in the heart of the white house, a phone call with israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, and a clear message from the us president that his patience is running low. joe biden told his counterpart that israel must do more immediately to protect civilians and aid workers in gaza, if he wants american support to continue. it's no secret that tensions between the two leaders have been bubbling for some time, but the us is israel's most powerful ally. in his strongest criticism yet, joe biden said the growing humanitarian crisis is unacceptable and he expects steps to be taken towards an immediate ceasefire.

the president made it clear that our policies with respect to gaza will be dependent upon our assessment of how well the israelis make changes and implement changes to make the situation in gaza better for the palestinian people. and how much time are you giving them to make these changes, to implement these concrete steps? again, we would hope to see some announcements of changes here in the coming hours and days. a clear message, and one israel's been quick to hear. shortly after, they opened several new humanitarian aid routes. this was the leaders' first call since seven aid workers were killed in an israeli air strike on monday. among them, three british citizens. it is a claim jacob flickinger�*s family doesn't accept. i grew up without having a father and now my grandson will grow up without having his father.

the united nations said 500 aid trucks would be needed every day to support civilians in gaza. right now, though, any progress is being welcomed by those who desperately need food, water and medicine. sean dilley, bbc news. 0ur reporter will vernon sent this update from washington. this was quite a dramatic intervention byjoe biden. for many weeks and months now, the president has shown increased frustration with the way the israelis are waging this war. and it appears that those tragic deaths of the seven aid workers in gaza on monday may have been the final straw. and in that phone call, president biden essentially gave an ultimatum to mr netanyahu that us policy on gaza could change if israel doesn't improve the humanitarian situation and protect aid workers in gaza. and that was a significant shift in us policy.

this was the first time that washington has tried to leverage american aid in order to influence the conduct of the war. and initial signs suggest that perhaps there is some sort of shift in israel now. we'll have to see what happens in the hours and days ahead. but perhaps that us tactic is beginning to have an effect. we saw that announcement that three aid corridors would be reopened or widened. but i think now the americans will want the israelis to do even more, to take concrete steps to demonstrate that they are protecting civilian life. of course, president biden is under huge pressure here in the us. there is a growing chorus of voices in congress from his own party who are saying that america should put more conditions, attach conditions to the aid it sends to israel. the us is the main supplier of military equipment to israel and provides $3.8 billion

of military aid to the country annually. but also many ordinary voters as well, many of them traditionally democrat voters, joe biden�*s own party, they too are very unhappy with the biden administration's support for israel. and in a crucial election year, when the polls are more or less neck and neck, that will be a huge concern for the white house. earlier this morning, speaking on radio 4's today programme, the chair of the uk foreign affairs select committee, alicia kearns, said the british government needs to suspend arms sales to israel. so, i believe we have no choice but to suspend arms sales. and it's important the public understands this isn't a political decision, as some seem to want to present it as. legal advice is advisory. the government can choose to reject it, but uk arms export licences require a recipient to comply with international humanitarian law. and that's why emergency handbrakes, for example, exist in the change of circumstances.

and i think on ihl it is important to reiterate that ministers were unable to answer when i asked in the chamber whether israel is demonstrating a commitment to ihl, they said they had a capacity not that they were. with the issue around the switching on of water and of a deliveries. and i would point out that you had suella braverman on earlier this week saying that she'd seen trucks of aid going in. that is not somehow a defence that enough aid is going in — it is preposterous as a defence. the problem is the volume that is going in. well, let's speak to our middle east correspondent injerusalem yolande knell. do we know when the corridors are likely to open? irate do we know when the corridors are likely to open?— do we know when the corridors are likely to open? we have not yet got announcements _ likely to open? we have not yet got announcements on _ likely to open? we have not yet got announcements on specific- likely to open? we have not yet got announcements on specific timings | likely to open? we have not yet got l announcements on specific timings or quantities of aid allowed through, the kinds of items of what kinds of new security checks as well might be

demanding. but i should say these are routes which aid agencies and foreign diplomats including briton�*s lord cameron, foreign secretary, they have been asking for, pressing for, for many weeks now. it has been pointed out the ashdod port 20 miles along the coast to the north of the gaza strip, this is a large container port which has capacity to let in much more aid than has been allowed through so far really because of domestic pressure on israel that it has not been opened up israel that it has not been opened up more to aid going into gaza. you have the erez crossing. for years, that has been the main people crossing for gazans and aid workers and diplomats and journalists going in and out of the gaza strip but it was overrun on the 7th of october by hamas con and it has been shut since then. we have been told it will be

temporarily reopened and it is important because if eight cancun into the north of the gaza strip where the threat of famine as high —— because if aid can come into the north. an expansion of the route via jordan into the south of the gaza strip... all of these moves are being welcomed, but you can also see why because there are lots of details still to emerge, the us has said it is waiting to see, it will assess if these moves go far enough. how significant is it, do you think of the fact it came after the call between netanyahu and biden? we have known this has been called for full some time, how significant is that it is now happening? == some time, how significant is that it is now happening?— it is now happening? -- for some time. it it is now happening? -- for some time- it is — it is now happening? -- for some time- it is very — it is now happening? -- for some time. it is very significant. - it is now happening? -- for some time. it is very significant. very l time. it is very significant. very often we have seen israel appear kind of impervious to some of the international demands being made,

including from its biggest ally, the us. up till now, the us has looked very reluctant to try to use leverage has over israel because of the diplomatic shield it provides at the diplomatic shield it provides at the un security council in particular, but in general on the world stage for israel. and also the huge amount of military assistance and military sales that come from the us to israel. it has not looked like those were in jeopardy even when there were growing strains between the two allies. it was not made explicit exactly what president biden said in the half an hour call to the israeli prime minister, but obviously this time the warnings he gave were stark enough that they could be a change in us policy if there were no changes in israel's conduct of the war in gaza, if they were not more steps taken to protect

civilians and aid workers. those warnings this time seem to have made a difference. ., . warnings this time seem to have made a difference-— a difference. yolande knell, thank ou ve a difference. yolande knell, thank you very much- — meanwhile in geneva, the un human rights council is voting today on whether to call for an end to arms sales to israel as human cost of the war continues to escalate. the resolution demands israel uphold its legal responsibility to prevent genocide and condemns the use of starvation of palestinian civilians as a weapon of war. let's speak now to our geneva correspondent imogen foulkes. we are seeing that is getting under way. what are we expecting today? well, as he said, the debate has just got under way, some quite emotional statements from different diplomats so far. we are expecting a vote in the next hour, possibly a bit longer, depending on how many countries want to speak. but we have heard, for example, from the

ambassador of south africa who backs the school for a weapons ban, anger on what he called the deafening silence of the international community and the human rights council, the top human rights body at the un, on the way the war is being waged —— who backs this call. he accused member states of hypocrisy and double standards. there is anger from hypocrisy and double standards. there is angerfrom many hypocrisy and double standards. there is anger from many countries in the global south, muslim countries, at what they see is this readiness to rightly condemn other countries, russia, for example, for apparent war crimes in ukraine, but to stay so quiet about what is happening in gaza. western diplomats, i saw them huddled before the debate began, they are still working out their position. we just heard president biden had a pretty tough conversation with benjamin netanyahu yesterday. we see some movement on aid access, but this

resolution is calling for much more, it wants an end to these large bombs being dropped on gaza, it wants a dismantling of the blockade of gaza. quite a lot to discuss, key element is the weapons ban, it will be a strong signal if the council votes for it. ~ ., strong signal if the council votes forit. ~ ., , strong signal if the council votes forit. ., , '.., for it. what could be the effect of the vote? that _ for it. what could be the effect of the vote? that is _ for it. what could be the effect of the vote? that is always - for it. what could be the effect of the vote? that is always the - the vote? that is always the question _ the vote? that is always the question about _ the vote? that is always the question about the - the vote? that is always the question about the human l the vote? that is always the - question about the human rights council, it is not binding, a vote at the human rights council, but it has a lot of moral authority. as i said, it is the one's top human rights body, it examines situations all over the world, supposedly without fear or favour, so all over the world, supposedly without fear orfavour, so it all over the world, supposedly without fear or favour, so it is looking very hard at russia's conduct of the war in ukraine, it looks at what has happened in syria, yemen, afghanistan. also even things that happen in britain, it looks at child poverty in britain for example, the uk did not get a good

verdict there quite recently. although it is not binding, we are hearing right now the israeli ambassador to the un hearing making an impassioned speech about israel's right to defend itself, highly critical of the council for even considering debating such a resolution. she alleges the council has never condemned hamas. i would say this resolution does condemn the firing of rockets from gaza into israel, it does call for the immediate release of hostages, but it is if you look at israel and its allies on one side, many countries from the global south, a very devices motion, reflecting, really, the polarised nature of the debate since the 7th of october. imagine, i am sure we — since the 7th of october. imagine, i am sure we will— since the 7th of october. imagine, i am sure we will talk— since the 7th of october. imagine, i am sure we will talk to _ since the 7th of october. imagine, i am sure we will talk to you - am sure we will talk to you throughout the day, thank you very much for now. —— imogen. in another development,

the fast—food giant mcdonald's is to buy back all of its israeli restaurants following boycotts in muslim—majority countries in response to the war in gaza. sales slumped after the company's israel—based franchisee, alonyal, which runs more than 200 outlets, gave away thousands of free meals to israeli soldiers. countries such as kuwait, malaysia and pakistan then issued statements distancing themselves from the chain. the company has admitted that a grassroots boycott by palestinian supporters has also significantly impacted sales. mcdonald's says the more than 5,000 employees will be retained and that it remains committed to the israeli market. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

the senior british conservative mp, william wragg, has reportedly admitted passing phone numbers of some fellow mps to a person

he met on a gay dating app. speaking to the times, mr wragg apologised and said he was scared the individual would have compromising things on him. the bbc has attempted to contact mr wragg. around 12 people working in westminster are believed to have been targeted, all receiving unsolicited whatsapp messages from suspicious mobile numbers. 0ur political correspondent, hannah miller, reports. good afternoon, prime minister. questioning the prime minister last week, the senior conservative mp william wragg, now reported to be at the centre of a romance scam that targeted some of the most powerful people in the country. william wragg told the times he handed over the personal phone numbers of colleagues to a person he met on the dating up grindr. he apologised, reportedly saying, they had compromising things on me, they wouldn't leave me alone. they would ask for people, i gave them some numbers, not all of them. i told him to stop, he has

manipulated me and now i have heard other people. among the victims, a former mp who last month received this message from a person going by the name of charlie. long time no speak, they said. miss you in westminster. the former mp told me it seemed so realistic. the westminster. the former mp told me it seemed so realistic.— it seemed so realistic. the last art of it seemed so realistic. the last part of that _ it seemed so realistic. the last part of that message _ it seemed so realistic. the last part of that message was - it seemed so realistic. the last - part of that message was westminster misses you, and that was basically something that friends usually say anyway to make me feel better. i was embarrassed thinking i am speaking to someone who knows who i am. the messaues to someone who knows who i am. the messages continue, and the former mp admits he doesn't have the number saved. he should have said comes the reply. i used to work in william wragg's office when you are here. it reassured him for a while but turned out not to be true. when the attacker went on to send a sexually explicit image, the former mp blocked the number. the night after william wragg made his disclosure to

the times, the former mp said he feels awfulfor his the times, the former mp said he feels awful for his friend. willis just a victim as much as the rest of us, he said. i hope the authorities and find out who it was. for now, the scale of the scam and who was behind it remains unclear. the website political reporting there are at least 12 victims. leicestershire police say they have opened an investigation into malicious communications targeting a person in their area, a parliamentary spokesperson said they take cyber security extremely seriously and work closely with the government in response to such incidents. anna miller, bbc news. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleyjoins us now. nick, what more can you tell us? not since last night, but what i can tell you is that william wragg is a senior conservative mp, pretty well connected, he chairs a committee in parliament, he is also won the 1922

committee. he has given this statement to the times. he admits to being in the centre of a story developing over the past few days. he says he met a man on the dating app he says he met a man on the dating app grindr, he shared pictures, and the man started asking for the numbers of other people who worked in parliament, including some mps. numbers of other people who worked in parliament, including some mp5. i want to read you a particular quote from william wragg, quite important, he says, they had compromising things on me, they wouldn't leave me alone, they would ask for people, i gave them some numbers, not all of them, i told gave them some numbers, not all of them, itold him gave them some numbers, not all of them, i told him to stop, he has manipulated me and now i have hurt other people. the bbc has tried to speak to william wragg so far without success. i think there are a couple of questions outstanding this morning. 0ne couple of questions outstanding this morning. one is about the judgment of william wragg to send pictures to someone he met online and does not

appear to have known all that well and perhaps more importantly to share the details, contact details, of some of his colleagues. and the second question which arose from this is, how significant are security issues —— has significant a security issues —— has significant a security issues —— has significant a security issue might this be? how many might be affected? the suggestion from reports from political and others, around a dozen people involved. it is at least a dozen people, it could be more. it raises the question about whether mps have enough training about how to avoid this sort of thing and whether there could be more questions to come over the next few days. questions to come over the next few da s. ., questions to come over the next few da 5. . . , questions to come over the next few da s. . ., , ., questions to come over the next few da s. . ., ., .,, ., ., days. that was what i was going to ask, days. that was what i was going to ask. there — days. that was what i was going to ask, there must _ days. that was what i was going to ask, there must be _ days. that was what i was going to ask, there must be some - days. that was what i was going to ask, there must be some kind - days. that was what i was going to ask, there must be some kind of l ask, there must be some kind of guidance for mps in terms of what they should be sharing and not sharing? they should be sharing and not sharin: ? , ~ , ., . sharing? there is, mps get guidance on how to avoid _ sharing? there is, mps get guidance on how to avoid issues _ sharing? there is, mps get guidance on how to avoid issues online, - sharing? there is, mps get guidance on how to avoid issues online, cyber| on how to avoid issues online, cyber

security, things like that. i suppose it is perfectly feasible this is just the suppose it is perfectly feasible this isjust the bad judgment suppose it is perfectly feasible this is just the bad judgment of one or a few people that have led to the situation. what tends to happen when these stories crop up, it raises a ride jew these stories crop up, it raises a ridejew wider questions about these stories crop up, it raises a ride jew wider questions about the implications, whether it is something that could happen again —— it raises wider questions. without knowing the complete specifics of what went on here, it is hard to say for sure whether this raises the wider security issue. it is definitely a question that is going to be asked over the next few days. i should also point out leicestershire police have said they are investigating an allegation of malicious communications as well, after an mp in the area made a complaint to them. this does not appear to be a story that is going away and i suspect we will hear a lot more questions about the potential implications but also about the judgment of william wragg

himself. about the 'udgment of william wragg himself. ., ~ about the 'udgment of william wragg himself. ., ,, , ., in taiwan, emergency workers are still trying to reach around 600 people either trapped in highway tunnels or cut off in remote areas after wednesday's earthquake. almost all are guests and staff of a remote hotel who are unable to leave because of damaged roads. ten people were killed and more than 1,000 injured after the island's biggest quake in more than a quarter of a century. strict building regulations in taiwan helped prevent a major catastrophe. earlier our asia correspondent rupert wingfield hayes sent this update from hualien. here in hualien, the rescue efforts have ended and it's now all about stabilizing the damaged structures like this one behind me and trying to make everything safe. and actually, just before i came on air, we had another large aftershock here which shook the building behind me here. we've had a couple of aftershocks this morning. that building has apparently moved 1cm in this direction, and that's making the the job

of propping it up and securing it more difficult for the crews working there. elsewhere in the mountains, a few miles outside of hualien, and about 15 kilometers outside hualien, that's where the really big search and rescue effort is still under way. as you said, nearly 700 people still missing up there or rather stranded out there. not missing, but stranded. rescue crews have gone in again this morning in large numbers, but they're doing so on foot. they're having to cover very difficult terrain, climbing across many, many rock falls to get into these canyons and gorges where these people are trapped and bring them out largely on foot. they also using helicopters to evacuate badly injured people. but it is a very, very slow process. we think that they brought out about a0 people this morning, but if there's about 700 stuck up there, this is going to bejust a very long and torturous process to get them all out.

a piece of boxing memorabilia is going up for auction, muhammad ali's satin boxing trunks. they could sell for up to $6 million. he wore than in 1975 in the philippines. the shorts go under the hammer next week. , , ., , ., ., ., week. these shorts are one of muhammad — week. these shorts are one of muhammad ali's _ week. these shorts are one of muhammad ali's iconic - week. these shorts are one of i muhammad ali's iconic designs. week. these shorts are one of - muhammad ali's iconic designs. the white satin with the black strip on the site is something he wore throughout his career. you can see on the label it says made especially for muhammad ali. we have done a process called photo matching where we have lined up minute details of threads and different wrinkles in the shorts to authenticate them back to the match in 1975. you the shorts to authenticate them back to the match in 1975.— to the match in 1975. you can stay up-to-date _ to the match in 1975. you can stay up-to-date with _ to the match in 1975. you can stay up-to-date with all _ to the match in 1975. you can stay up-to-date with all of _ to the match in 1975. you can stay up-to-date with all of our - to the match in 1975. you can stay up-to-date with all of our stories| up—to—date with all of our stories on the bbc news website and app. we

are following events in israel as the new age routes to gaza are expected to open at some point, after the call between president biden and netanyahu —— the new aid routes. we will be following the human rights council as they are voting on recommending an arm van to israel. —— and arms ban. the voting on recommending an arm van to israel. -- and arms ban.— israel. -- and arms ban. the weather throwin: israel. -- and arms ban. the weather throwing all — israel. -- and arms ban. the weather throwing all sorts _ israel. -- and arms ban. the weather throwing all sorts such _ israel. -- and arms ban. the weather throwing all sorts such as _ israel. -- and arms ban. the weather throwing all sorts such as over - israel. -- and arms ban. the weather throwing all sorts such as over the i throwing all sorts such as over the next few days, wet and warm weather and windy weather, particularly given by storm kathleen named by the irish weather service for impacts it will have in the republic of ireland on the weekend. for northern and western parts of the uk, gales and the risk of disruption. stone kathleen developing, still well away to the south—west of our shores, but

low pressure already in charge for friday —— storm kathleen. rain and snow for scotland petering out. northern ireland, shall we rein with sunny spells in between, england and wales have a day of sunny spells and showers, quite windy, particularly on western and southern coasts. pretty warm, 15 degrees for belfast, 18 in norwich, still cold in the north of scotland. turning milder here on friday night. further heavy rain driving north, turning increasingly windy around some western parts. a very mild stopped at the weekend. in the south, 12, 13 degrees first thing on saturday. this deep area of low pressure, storm kathleen, well to the west, coming close enough to bring very strong winds and with the winds from the south, pulling some really warm air into the mix. likely saturday will be the warmest day of the year so far. topics a very moving north

across scotland. showers following on behind. decent sunny gaps in between. the strength of the wind could cause issues especially on western coasts. gusts of 50—60, maybe 70 miles an hour. that could cause travel disruption and may be damaged. temperatures, values actor 21 degrees in eastern england and certainly much warmer than it has been across the north of scotland. this area of low pressure, storm kathleen, continuing to track to the north—west saturday night into sunday, still a lot of isobars squeezing together on sunday, still very windy. the strongest winds in the north—west of scotland, there will be gales. sunny spells and heavy and perhaps thundery showers, a windy day for all of us, not quite as warm on sunday. 10—17 .

this is bbc news, the headlines... israel says it will open new aid routes into gaza — after biden warned israel must do more to prevent humanitarian suffering if it wanted to maintain us support. the parents of the american—canadian aid worker killed in an israeli airstrike in gaza say his death was a crime. i

in gaza say his death was a crime. think there neet independent 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. a senior conservative mp has told the times he was manipulated into giving the personal numbers of fellow mps to someone he met on a dating app. and emergency workers in taiwan are still trying to reach around 600 people trapped by wednesday's earthquake. the us has welcomed news that israel will allow three humanitarian corridors into gaza following a phone call between president biden and the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. it comes as 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 regard it as a crime. john flickinger and sylvia labrecque paid tribute to their son — jacob flickinger — as a loyal and devoted humanitarian worker. they told our correspondent in washington, tom bateman, they rejected israel's explanation of a tragic mistake and have called for an independent investigation.