BBC News Briefing

29 May, 2024

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. The US isn't planning on reviewing its arms supplies to Israel at this stage of the Rafah offensive, according to a White House spokesman - we've got the latest on the briefing. With India's election about to enter its seventh and final phase, Geeta Pandey reports from the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. We're also checking on the passengers injured during a turbulent flight last week, and on Paris's progress in cleaning up the Seine ahead of the Olympic Games.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

US maintains weapons supplies to Israel

A woman and child sit amongst belongings in Rafah on 28 May

The UN says around a million people have fled Rafah, but several hundred thousand are thought to remain. Credit: Reuters

The White House believes Israel's military operations in Rafah do not fall foul of President Joe Biden's conditions to supply weapons, spokesman John Kirby has said. "We have not seen them go in with large units, large numbers of troops, in columns and formations in some sort of co-ordinated manoeuvre against multiple targets on the ground," Mr Kirby said. He was speaking at a press briefing after an Israeli air strike on the western part of the city on Sunday triggered a deadly fire at a refugee camp, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a “tragic mishap”. The US state department said it was awaiting the results of the Israeli military's investigation into the strike and the fire. On Tuesday, Israeli forces reportedly took up positions at Rafah's al-Awda roundabout, a key landmark in the heart of the city.

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Out of order: A temporary pier built by the US military to deliver aid to Gaza has been damaged by heavy seas and will take at least a week to be repaired, according to US officials.

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ICJ ruling: Last week, the UN's top court ruled that Israel must halt attacks on Rafah that threaten the civilian population. Dominic Casciani reports that not all the judges on the panel agree on what that means.

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In case you missed it: What the ICC prosecutor's request for arrest warrants for Israel and Hamas's leaders mean for the war in Gaza - and international law.

WORLD HEADLINES

Waste delivery: North Korea has launched at least 260 balloons carrying rubbish into the South, prompting authorities to warn its residents to stay indoors.

South Africa elections: Get live updates as more than 27 million people begin casting their ballots in a vote that highlights growing political fragmentation in the country.

Donald Trump: Actor Robert De Niro has made an appearance outside the New York courtroom during the delivery of closing arguments at the hush-money trial of the former US president and 2024 presidential candidate.

Pay rise fight: A union representing thousands of workers at Samsung Electronics has called the first strike in the South Korean company's 55-year history.

Wreck mission: A US luxury real estate billionaire and a deep-sea explorer are planning to travel in a submersible to explore the Titanic.

AT THE SCENE

Varanasi, India

The state key to Modi's re-election bid

Narendra Modi waves a lotus-shaped object during a rally

Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term as India's prime minister. Credit: Getty Images

The northern state of Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state, packing an estimated 257 million people. It elects 80 MPs in the 543-member lower house of parliament (the Lok Sabha) and is considered key to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s re-election bid.

Geeta Pandey, women and social affairs editor

Watching Mr Modi’s procession from his shop along the route of the roadshow, Ambrish Mittal, a chemist, says “the city roads are cleaner and the long power cuts that plunged the city into darkness for hours are history”. Government data shows that millions more now have electricity, access to toilets and are using clean fuel compared to five years ago. But Utter Pradesh remains among India's poorest states and also records tens of thousands of violent crimes against women. Although these ills have plagued the state historically, opposition parties have seized upon them.

Keep reading

Voters' outreach: Volunteers for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) told the BBC they run hundreds of WhatsApp groups, each with between 200 to 2,000 members.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Recovering from a turbulent flight

A woman takes a selfie while visiting three hospital patients

Eva Khoo (bottom right) has five friends and family who ended up in intensive care after the flight. Credit: Eva Khoo

Nearly 50 passengers aboard a Singapore Airlines flight were injured due to the “unexpected severe turbulence” that hit the aircraft last week. More than 20 were admitted to intensive care with spinal injuries. They spoke of their experience to Kelly Ng and Hannah Ritchie while recovering in Bangkok.

Read their stories

A competitive swimmer runs on a platform on the Seine river with a Parisian bridge in the background.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Swimming in the Seine

Paris has invested heavily in cleaning its famed river in time for the Olympics.

Dive in

And finally...

The Wu-Tang Clan recorded Once Upon a Time in Shaolin in secret over six years, and it's a record of almost mythical status. The single CD copy in existence - once owned by disgraced drug firm executive Martin Shkreli - can be experienced at listening parties for a limited time this month at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art.

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– Sofia

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