BBC News Briefing

4 April, 2024

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. The killing of seven aid workers in Gaza has renewed scrutiny of Western powers' arms exports to Israel. We also have more stories and videos about those who experienced the 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Taiwan. From Somalia, Naima Said Salah reports on a white sand beach that doubles up as an execution ground. Finally, South Koreans bid an emotional farewell to a panda that's heading to China to partake in a breeding programme.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Pressure to suspend arms sales to Israel

A group of men and children inspect the burned carcass of one of the cars hit by the Israeli strike.

Israel's military said the strike on World Central Kitchen's convoy was a "grave mistake" and vowed to protect aid workers. Credit: EPA

More than 600 legal experts, including three former UK Supreme Court judges, have called on the British government to suspend arms sales to Israel. The letter argues the exports must end to "avoid UK complicity" in potential breaches of international law, such as the Genocide Convention, citing South Africa's case against Israel at the UN International Court of Justice. Israel rejects the claim of genocide as "wholly unfounded". Scrutiny of arms sales follows the killing of seven humanitarian workers, including three British citizens, in Gaza in an Israeli strike on Monday. The attack has sparked outrage among Israel's allies, including the US. President Joe Biden is expected to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, their first direct contact since the deadly aid convoy strike.

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Fears over aid: With two charities having suspended their operations in Gaza, the Norwegian Refugee Council has warned that Gaza's entire aid system is "on the brink".

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Iran's retaliation: Tehran vowed to respond to what it said was an Israeli strike that destroyed an Iranian consulate building in Syria's capital, Damascus. BBC Persian Baran Abbasi explores how Iran might react.

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Get the latest: Poland's foreign minister responded to Israel's claim that the killing was unintentional, saying there is "something wrong with their rules of engagement." Follow our live page for real-time updates.

WORLD HEADLINES

Ruby Garcia: The sister of a woman allegedly shot dead by her boyfriend, a Mexican national in the US illegally, has countered Donald Trump's claim that he spoke to her family.

Drought crisis: Low rainfall has wiped out about half of the maize crop in Zimbabwe, prompting the country's president to declare a national disaster.

Animal cruelty: A couple in France who kept 159 cats and seven dogs in their 80sqm (861sqft) flat have been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence.

Fast cars: NFL star Rashee Rice has apologised for his role in a hit-and-run crash caused by a speeding Lamborghini and Corvette that left two people injured in Texas.

Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC): The White House wants US space agency Nasa to develop a new time zone for the Moon.

AT THE SCENE

Hualien, Taiwan

'My legs were not in control anymore'

Work is under way to secure the partially collapsed red-brick Uranus building in Hualien.

The red brick Uranus building is seen leaning precariously. Credit: Reuters

Rescuers in Taiwan are working to reach more than 600 people stranded in the aftermath of the most powerful earthquake to hit the island in 25 years. The 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit near the eastern county of Hualien, killing nine and injuring more than 1,000.

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes and Kelly Ng

Relief workers are using large amounts of gravel and rocks to shore up a 10-storey structure known as the Uranus building, which has been leaning downwards since the quake struck - to prevent it from falling over in case of another aftershock. Hsu Chiu-yueh, who was working opposite the Uranus building when it collapsed, said: "It was so shaky I could barely walk. I was really scared. I felt my legs were not in control anymore. Thanks to my colleagues, they dragged me so we could get out."

Read in full

Watch: The moment nurses in a maternity unit rush to keep babies safe as the building begins to shake.

Now see this: A man suddenly faced rough waves while swimming in a hotel's rooftop pool as the earthquake hit.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Dark side of a white sand beach

A bright orange sky at sunset serves as the backdrop for a white sandy beach where young people walk and play.

People flocked to the beach for its location and beauty. Credit: AFP.

A white sand beach in Somalia's capital of Mogadishu is a popular spot for children to play football and young people to take pictures of themselves against the stunning landscape. But six tall concrete posts and traces of blood on the sand signal the beach's other use, as an execution ground.

Find out more

A woman is flossing her teeth, wearing braces.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Brushing away myths

Most of us don't know how to brush our teeth.

Here's why

And finally...

Thousands of emotional panda fans lined the streets to say goodbye to South Korea-born Fu Bao, who has left for China to join a breeding program. People waved flags and wiped away tears as they bade farewell to the panda - or rather the truck with the bear in it.

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– Sofia

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