tv BBC News BBC News March 9, 2024 12:00am-12:31am GMT
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live from washington — this is bbc news. five people were reportedly killed in gaza when a parachute delivering aid failed. separately, countries agree to a new humanitarian sea corridorfor the area. we speak to a former ambassador to haiti about the unravelling situation there, as the country's main port suspends operations. and we've all heard the stories of life out there, but a pentagon report says a spike in ufo sightings in the �*50s and �*60s has a perfectly reasonable explanation. hello, i'm caitriona perry. you're very welcome. we begin with the war in gaza. after months of warning about an impending famine, the united nations says
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children and adults are now starving to death, and that more than half a million palestinians are on the brink of famine. ceasefire talks between israel and hamas have stalled after initial hopes that a deal could be reached by the start of ramadan this weekend. desperately—needed aid is being hindered by rampant lawlessness in gaza, the un's emergency relief coordinator says, as the world body pushes for additional entry points and supply routes to the territory. meanwhile, the us has continued to air—drop food to gaza. the pentagon says it delivered more than delivered more than 11,000 meals by air — already an effort criticised by aid agencies as insufficient. reports emerged that five palestinians were killed friday after being hit by a airdropped package that failed to deploy its parachute. the bbc has not been able to independently verify the claims of civilian casualties, which come from a gaza doctor and the hamas—run health ministry. however, this social media footage, verified by the bbc, shows aid being dropped from a cargo plane, and a number of parachutes failing to open.
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a pentagon official denied that any us aid package failed to properly land while defending the practice of air—drops. needs air drops contribute to ongoing efforts to provide life—saving assistance to the people of gaza and are part of a sustained effort to get more aid into gaza. 0f a sustained effort to get more aid into gaza. of note press reports to us air drops resulted in casualties on the ground are false, as we've confirmed that all of our aid bundles landed safely on the ground. at the state of the union address thursday night, the plan includes constructing a floating pier off gaza that would allow aid to be delivered via the sea. the pier would be constructed from us ships and then moved closer to shore. officials say the project could take more than 30 to 60 days to complete. separately on friday,
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the european union announced the opening of a sea corridor that it says will begin channelling aid to gaza from cyprus as soon as this weekend. 0ur middle east correspondent wyrie davies has more on these plans, and the challenges of providing aid. the opening up of this is an ingenious idea. the plan is this idea, this would leave cyprus bound for gaza. there's no obvious way of off—loading this aid, and there will be no foreign troops on the ground. there's a lot of scepticism particularly amongst age agencies that this is a plan that will work. it also comes on the back ofjoe biden�*s plan to build some sort of temporary harbour in gaza to allow aid and construction materials to help with the reconstruction.
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the israelis at the minute are only getting about 100 trucks worth of aid in every day. that's way short of needed by the people of gaza because in the people of gaza because in the north of gaza, they smell you to sin and children are dying from hunger. —— there's malnutrition. the reason we're at this point is because there is no cease—fire. there have been hopes for a cease—fire announced by this weekend by the start of ramadan, that hasn't happened. israel and hamas will maybe try and go around the table. it directly again next week, but without the cease—fire, they can't get as much as he does they want to into gaza, so they have to go down this maritime route. perhaps something that will become a bit more permanent in future. with me is barbara starr, senior fellow with the usc annenberg center and a long—time pentagon correspondent.
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how is this actually going to work? how will we get the aid onto the shoreline? it’s work? how will we get the aid onto the shoreline?— onto the shoreline? it's still bein: onto the shoreline? it's still being worked _ onto the shoreline? it's still being worked out _ onto the shoreline? it's still being worked out in - onto the shoreline? it's still being worked out in the - onto the shoreline? it's still i being worked out in the details that are coming out i think are demonstrating how concerning on how dangerous this may be and how dangerous this may be and how risky for everybody. what they're talking about is building a long causeway from the coast of gaza out, along 1,800 feet with a floating pier at the end. but think about it this way —1,800 at the end. but think about it this way — 1,800 feet. it is possible that us troops will then come within1,800 possible that us troops will then come within 1,800 feet of then come within 1,800 feet of the gazan shoreline. the white house, the pin is nonsense us troops will not be going to shore —— the pentagon. but they are coming darn close. at the
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same time, you have these desperate people from gaza trying to get the aid and they will see it coming and they may try to access the aid as it's being unloaded. it puts everyone in a very dangerous position. everyone in a very dangerous osition. ., , position. that sounds quite like there _ position. that sounds quite like there are _ position. that sounds quite like there are a _ position. that sounds quite like there are a number - position. that sounds quite like there are a number of| like there are a number of risks attached. how is the security going to be? that will be paramount. _ security going to be? that will be paramount. the _ security going to be? that will be paramount. the us - security going to be? that will be paramount. the us right. security going to be? that will l be paramount. the us right now is making it clear to the israelis that they will hold them responsible for security on the round. make sure the trucks are able to safely drive off and deliver the aid. but distribution will be tough. what will happen is something the pentagon and the white house are not talking about. there will be aeroplanes, aircraft, satellites overhead. there will be gathering intelligence, there will be keeping watch around the clock as troops are operating there and i the aid is moving. this is very typical, it's the classes gathering of
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intelligence so they know where her losses. they know if there's any bad actors in the area, they will try and identify any place where there are civilians. this will be very, very key because, and again, everyone hoped to go as well — but afford to not go well, if troops say they're going to involve, if they came under attack — if one of those aeroplanes delivering those parachute drops was to go down, you have to have a way of rescuing us forces. us forces don't go anywhere where there is the possibility of rescuing them. about 21 troops being involved with all this additional back—up. —— about 1,000 troops.
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this is a combat zone with all the risks of that.— the risks of that. the talks for a hostage _ the risks of that. the talks for a hostage deal- the risks of that. the talks for a hostage deal in - the risks of that. the talks - for a hostage deal in exchange for a hostage deal in exchange for humanitarian relief and a pause in fighting has had this notional deadline of the end of sunday. it doesn't look like that deal is going to happen, but israel has said it will go into rafah and tried to get civilians out. has any of that happened? it civilians out. has any of that happened?— civilians out. has any of that happened? civilians out. has any of that hauened? ., , �* ., ,, ., ., happened? it doesn't appear, at least in the _ happened? it doesn't appear, at least in the public _ happened? it doesn't appear, at least in the public arena, - happened? it doesn't appear, at least in the public arena, that i least in the public arena, that the israelis have a particular plan for safely getting civilians out of rafah. this gets to what extent. gets to what they civilians out of rafah. this gets to what they want civilians protected, but this continues with children dying of starvation, civilians dying every single day, either from a combat situation or simply starving to death and having no medical care. i think you find that most aid organisations are
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saying, "we are fining the very desperate point because there is no accountability". nobody is no accountability". nobody is being held accountable by any measure. the israelis say they're trying but there is no metric that shows civilian casualties and starvation is lessening in gaza. so this is now a very tragic situation. the aid that is coming in, but it is still the case that everyone will tell you it is the land of aid or crossing into gaza with massive numbers of trucks and convoys coming through every day all day long and safely delivering aid. air drops only deliver of fraction. the sea bridge might be difficult to make happen. it is really access into gaza could
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make a difference. find really access into gaza could make a difference.— really access into gaza could make a difference. and that has not been forthcoming? - make a difference. and that has not been forthcoming? is - make a difference. and that has not been forthcoming? is not i not been forthcoming? is not happening- — not been forthcoming? is not happening- we _ not been forthcoming? is not happening. we leave - not been forthcoming? is not happening. we leave it - not been forthcoming? is not happening. we leave it there| happening. we leave it there for a moment. _ happening. we leave it there for a moment. barbara - happening. we leave it there| for a moment. barbara starr, thanks for being with us. meanwhile, russia has accused the us of double standards following a security council vote calling for an immediate ceasefire in sudan during the month of ramadan — a resolution that has yet to be adopted for the war in gaza. the british—drafted resolution urges a truce between the sudan's army and paramilitary forces during the month—long holiday which begins early next week. war broke out back in april of 2023, prompting widespread turmoil, displacement, and hunger. the un says nearly half of sudan's population is in need of aid. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky met with his turkish counterpart recep tayyip erdogan in istanbul on friday. officials say the two presidents agreed to joint defence projects and signed a deal to streamline trade. mr erdogan ended by declaring his country would be open to hosting a summit between ukraine and
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russia to end the war. this comes as the european union plans to put forward a negotiating framework for ukraine's accession talks as soon as next week. earlier, i spoke to jovita neliupsiene, the eu's new ambassador to the united states on what the process may look like. ukraine obviously just past ukraine obviouslyjust past the second anniversary of the war in the eu has announced that it plans to move forward with accession talks. can you tell us anything about when you think ukraine may be a full member?— member? first of all, the package _ member? first of all, the package of— member? first of all, the package of support - member? first of all, the package of support we i member? first of all, the i package of support we serve provided now reaches 100 $50 billion, and the last decision was about before billion dollars, so it's a huge and substantial amount. dollars, so it's a huge and substantialamount. —— dollars, so it's a huge and substantial amount. —— 4 billion. as well as further
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stabilising their economy and ensuring support, but as well as military defence. all is done by eu member states. the decision was taken that we will start negotiations with ukraine. that everything depends on both sides. the is really strong hold it... preparations are ongoing on the other side, preparations are ongoing on the otherside, ukraine preparations are ongoing on the other side, ukraine should be willing to implement certain reforms. i think as we see right now, a lot of support is coming into ukraine. it's extremely important how fast ukraine is moving on reforming thejudicial system. ukraine is moving on reforming the judicial system. those reforms are difficult to pursue evenin reforms are difficult to pursue even in the time of peace, and ukraine is moving white lightning speed, even in the
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time of war. i think there should be appreciated and taken into account. i cannot give you a deadline, but i think it will be as far as ukraine is ready. we've seen a number of weeks ukraine having to retreat to the front line. what does that mean? how concerned are you not just for ukraine, but for the eu, with the progress russia is making? i eu, with the progress russia is makin: ? ~ , �* making? i think president biden was very bold — making? i think president biden was very bold yesterday, - making? i think president biden was very bold yesterday, that i was very bold yesterday, that the only country that can stop putin right now on his march is ukraine. this can be done only if we have a support, a proper support, a sustainable support for ukraine on both sides of the atlantic, but as well as us. ithink the atlantic, but as well as us. i think our support cannot waiver and it's really the need to act right now and pass the ukraine supplemental bill in congress now. the fact that there is a lack of military defence equipment for ukraine
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to make sure russia is not advancing and ukraine can protect its health. they have chosen to live in freedom and democracy, and they want to do that. if democracy, and they want to do that. , , ., that. if the members of congress _ that. if the members of congress can't - that. if the members of congress can't agree i that. if the members of congress can't agree a l that. if the members of- congress can't agree a deal, don't agree that funding, can the eu step in? how much support can that you provide? as i mentioned, we already provided 150 billion euros, and this pays half, around half of that. there are other countries around the world like japan, south korea and canada that are providing a bit. but us is providing a bit. but us is providing a bit. but us is providing a major part of defence support, which is extremely important right now while the see what is happening. even with the eu provides military support,
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member countries provide support, almost 70 percent is brought here in the united states. having money and having a defence production at the right pace is extremely important to ensure that ukraine stands and putin can face strategic defeat. we are mentioning _ face strategic defeat. we are mentioning how _ face strategic defeat. we are mentioning how the - face strategic defeat. we are mentioning how the eu i face strategic defeat. we are mentioning how the eu and i face strategic defeat. we are i mentioning how the eu and us work together. how do you view relations? are those partnerships you've been describing, delivering this a... if we look at something like trade, each party is the other�*s other partner. indie like trade, each party is the other's other partner. we don't have a trade — other's other partner. we don't have a trade deal, _ other's other partner. we don't have a trade deal, but - other's other partner. we don't have a trade deal, but we i other's other partner. we don't have a trade deal, but we have | have a trade deal, but we have a special dedicated structure to work together. we already had five meetings. the sixth one is in the beginning of april. the focus is on the extremely important things like
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technology. i think that's really the essence of the future economy. definitely working on the deals which will include critical minerals. i don't think we need to be defended on the third countries. hopefully we can work on steel and all minium in the future. work on steel and all minium in the future-— work on steel and all minium in the future. thank you very much forjoining _ the future. thank you very much forjoining us— the future. thank you very much forjoining us on _ the future. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc— the future. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. i let's turn to some other important news around the world. a court in new york has found the former president of honduras guilty of conspiring with drug traffickers. they also found that juan orlando hernandez had used the honduran military and police to enable the smuggling of several tonnes of cocaine into the united states. mr hernandez denied allegations that he had received bribes from drug traffickers, including the notorious drug lord, joaquin �*el chapo' guzman. donald trump has posted
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a bond of almost $92 million while he appeals the verdict of a defamation case against him in new york. mr trump wants to reverse an order to pay the writer, e jean carroll. the former president was found liable last year for sexually abusing ms carroll in the mid—1990s. trump's lawyer has said she is "highly confident" the judgment will be overturned. and the former prime minister theresa may is stepping down as a conservative mp at the next election. mrs may led the country from 2016 to 2019 in the wake of the brexit vote. she said the "difficult decision" to leave the seat she's held for nearly three decades would enable her to spend more time on "causes close to my heart". haiti's main port says it is suspending operations due to security worsening in the capital city, port—au—prince. the port operator said it had been forced to stop all services following acts of sabotage and vandalism.
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heavily—armed criminal gangs are now in control of most of the capital, after attacking the main airport and preventing prime minister, ariel henry, from returning from abroad. a state of emergency has been extended for another month. the un is warning that haiti's health system is nearing collapse, with many clinics closed and a shortage of medicine and staff. the un's immigration office says that at least 15,000 people have had to flee the violence. gangs have been expanding their control in the country since the assassination of presidentjovenel moise in 2021. for more on the situation, i spoke to former us ambassador to haiti, pamela white. pamela white, thanks for being with us. the haitian president ariel henry is under pressure to resign. he can't even land in the country at the moment. what should he do?— what should he do? resign, without a — what should he do? resign, without a doubt. _ what should he do? resign, without a doubt. i _ what should he do? resign,
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without a doubt. i think- what should he do? resign, without a doubt. i think he'sj what should he do? resign, i without a doubt. i think he's a brilliant man. i think he loves his country very much. he has got to resign. he cannot go back to haiti. not one person that i know in haiti believes that i know in haiti believes that — however he might get into haiti, because the ports are close. however, he is going to be killed. we're almost certain. his time is up. we need another leader, another solution. if need another leader, another solution. ., , , solution. if he does resign, will that — solution. if he does resign, will that bring _ solution. if he does resign, will that bring an _ solution. if he does resign, will that bring an end i solution. if he does resign, will that bring an end to i solution. if he does resign, | will that bring an end to the violence or how can that be stopped?— stopped? right. it will not brina an stopped? right. it will not bring an end _ stopped? right. it will not bring an end to _ stopped? right. it will not bring an end to the - stopped? right. it will not i bring an end to the violence, of course. there's going to be a big meeting i'm on monday. the members of the un will be there of course. hopefully members from haiti also. but these are the leaders in the region that have got to come up with a way to install
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peacekeeping into haiti. we could not, we should not be talking about elections. we should not be talking about transferring. no, that is way down the pipe. people are dying every day, starving. 2 million people eating less than one meal a day, they're getting scraps. 2 million people are living in tents or in the streets. there are muggings and kidnappings going on day in and day out and murders. we couldn't think about what it and be nice to have an election or wouldn't it be nice to have democratic institution. no. when need to only focus on stability and security, and we have to give that six months to a year. we don't need a governmental transition at this point. we need a peacekeeping
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counsel to guess with the devastation that's going on. given that devastation on how close haiti is to the us — probably on the doorstep — should us be acting or waiting for the mandate to do something? i for the mandate to do something?— for the mandate to do somethin: ? , , something? i believe this should be _ something? i believe this should be discussed i something? i believe this should be discussed at i something? i believe this - should be discussed at monday's meeting, but as a very respective, one of my heroes in the us government, tom shannon, was saying yesterday that it is really outrageous that the us has not committed to peacekeeping forces or operations in haiti. we're an hour 20 minutes from miami. operations in haiti. we're an hour20 minutes from miami. we have been hands and hands with haiti. we have got to commit. i
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also believe— although i have to say i haven't heard in haiti much about the cannula solution, which i personally always doubted. i can understand how 1,000 soldiers can go into a country that's overrun by 20,000 gang members and have any hope of success. i don't see how that's going to happen. don't see how that's going to ha en. ., don't see how that's going to ha en, ., u, happen. how can the international - happen. how can the i international community happen. how can the - international community get about humanitarian aid in there and getting those who want to leave out?— and getting those who want to leave out? you cannot without some kind _ leave out? you cannot without some kind of _ leave out? you cannot without some kind of stabilisation. i leave out? you cannot without| some kind of stabilisation. you can't. we have to send in people that understand haiti,
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that have connections there, but more importantly, we don't want anyone gunning down the gang members. that would be bloodshed upon bloodshed. that's not what we're talking about. we're talking about a stabilisation force. they don't have food, they don't have shelter. i was reading this morning that they're running out of water. this is chaos. it's anarchy.— out of water. this is chaos. it's anarchy. we will wait to see what — it's anarchy. we will wait to see what comes _ it's anarchy. we will wait to see what comes from i it's anarchy. we will wait to see what comes from that i see what comes from that meeting on monday. pamela white, thanks so much for joining us. white, thanks so much for joining us— white, thanks so much for “oininr us. ., ~' . joining us. thank you so much for having _ joining us. thank you so much for having me. _ data out on friday showed that the us created more jobs than expected in the month of february. most of those positions were in government, health care, and the food and beverage industries. but at the same time, the unemployment here in the us rose to its highest level in two years.
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michelle fleury has more. there was a little something for everyone in this month's jobs report. the 38th month in a row of... but those worry that the great jobs a row of... but those worry that the greatjobs engine of the us economy is running too hot. there was something for them too because the unemployment rose to a two—year high of 3.9%. it is partly because more people began looking for a job and could not immediately find one. when more people look for work, it becomes easierfor people look for work, it becomes easier for businesses to fill positions without paying more. perhaps helping to keep a lid on inflation. all of which should lead america's central bank to cut rates over the summer, which is what most experts have been forecasting. the fact that jobs are still being created i'll get —— also gives weight to the president's
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case. and before we go, just want to bring you our most read story from our website today bbc.com/news. in a much—anticipated new report, the pentagon has revealed that a huge spike in ufo sightings in the 1950s and �*60s were actually caused by extensive military tests of highly—advanced spy planes and new space—age technology. the pentagon says a number of secret projects involved circular or saucer—shaped aircraft like this fighter—bomber, which was designed to take off and land vertically. as you can see, it looks a lot like the ufo's we have seen in films. officials also said there was "no evidence" that the us government had encountered any alien life — but accepted that despite this declassification of evidence, it's unlikely to quell popular beliefs about extra terrestrial life. -- ufos. thank you for watching, i'm caitriona perry. we'll be back in 30 minutes with a special look at us foreign policy, following president biden's state of the union address.
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we hope you'lljoin us. hello there. there was a lot of dry weather around on friday, but cloud varied quite a bit from place to place. southern england had some lovely sunshine, with temperatures reaching 12 celsius in hampshire, 13 celsius in wiggonholt, in sussex — which was the warmest spot in the country — whereas eastern scotland, with all this cloud around, temperatures struggled to around six celsius. we also had something called the helm wind that blew across northern england. this is the uk's only named wind — prevailing winds 20—30mph across northern england. but look at that, 71mph up over the top of great dun fell, and those strong, gusty winds were pulled down into the eden valley, with gusts
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reaching 55mph there. that is the helm wind, the uk's only named wind. now, at the moment, we've got still a lot of cloud across the country, still with gusty winds — that's keeping the temperatures up at around 11—5 celsius as we head into saturday. but the weekend really is dominated by this area of low pressure to our south. these weather fronts get a little bit closer and start moving across the uk as we head through the weekend, so there will be some rain at times. now, the greatest risk of seeing some rain, really, saturday morning will be southwest england, wales, northern england. through the day, we'll see some thicker cloud push into northern ireland and scotland, bringing the threat of some rain, as well. the rain is likely to be quite light and patchy. eastern coasts of england and scotland will stay cold, with that chilly north sea wind. but there should be some hazy sunshine for the midlands, east anglia, and southeast england — and that will boost temperatures to around 13 celsius. on into the second half of the weekend — well, generally speaking, we're looking at further outbreaks of rain coming up from the south. this time, the will be a bit more extensive, and it'll be a bit
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heavier, as well. there'll be a few places that dodge the downpours — maybe southwest england and southern wales doing ok. generally, temperature's a little bit lower and, on the whole, below average for the time of year, but feeling particularly cold around those north sea coasts once again. into next week, well, the weather becomes quieter for a time, but then we start to see some weather fronts move in off the atlantic from the west. and so, there will be something of an east—west split, i think, for eastern areas. computer's probably a bit pessimistic, really — there will be some days that are dry and generally bright, probably tuesday and wednesday not looking bad at all. whereas across the western side of the uk, yes, you are more likely to see outbreaks of rain, and the rain will be quite heavy at times, especially towards southern wales and southwest england.
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