BBC News Briefing

18 April, 2024

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. Qatar has cast doubt over the future of its role as mediator between Israel and Hamas. Wyre Davis and David Gritten explain the background of the recent statements. In Sydney, Katy Watson and Frances Mao report on the impact of Monday's church attack on the largely immigrant community residing in the Australian city's western suburbs. We also hear from workers struggling in China's changing economy in a story by Laura Bicker. Finally, scientists confirm that fossils found by amateur hunters belonged to a giant ancient marine reptile.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Qatar reassessing Gaza war mediator role

A dining table is set out with posters of Israeli hostage hanging from each of the chairs.

The issue of hostage release is central to the negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Credit: EPA

Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said his country is reassessing its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas. The Qatari official said Doha had been exploited and abused by those trying to score political points, as weeks of ceasefire talks have so far proven inconclusive. Hamas rejected the latest proposal, which involved a six-week truce during which it would free 40 women, children and elderly or sick hostages. The group claimed it needed a ceasefire to locate all the living hostages and find those who met the criteria. Israel, meanwhile, is continuing its military operations in Gaza, while exchanging fire with Iran-affiliated Hezbollah fighters across the border with Lebanon. The Israeli army said 14 soldiers were injured in strikes against a border village on Wednesday.

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'We don't even know that he's alive': Aviva Siegel, an Israeli hostage who was freed in November, talks to Lucy Manning about the agony she feels for her husband Keith, who has been held captive for more than 190 days.

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Iran sanctions: The EU has agreed to expand sanctions on Iranian producers of drones and missiles following Tehran's unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday.

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West Bank: Settler violence in the Israeli-occupied territory escalated following the disappearance of 14-year-old Binyamin Ahimeir, whose body was found on Saturday in what the Israeli army deemed a "terrorist attack".

WORLD HEADLINES

Russia's threat: Ukraine's prime minister has told the BBC there will be a "Third World War" if his country falls, as he urged the US Congress to pass a long-stalled foreign aid bill when it comes to a vote on Saturday.

Whistleblower hearing: Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour told US lawmakers he was harassed and threatened after he raised safety concerns with the manufacturer.

Baba Ramdev: The popular yoga guru has until 23 April to follow an order from India's top court to issue a public apology for falsely claiming that his company's products can "cure" serious illnesses.

Floods in the Gulf: Experts told the BBC it's highly unlikely cloud seeding was responsible for heavy rains in the UAE, Oman and Bahrain. Meanwhile, Dubai airport – the world’s second-busiest – remains barely functional as storms continue to batter the region

Sophie Kinsella: The bestselling author of the Shopaholic book series has revealed she has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

AT THE SCENE

Sydney, Australia

Community shaken by church attack

Police officers walk around a condoned off area near the church

Christ the Good Shepherd Church is in an area with a wide range of different faiths and ethnicities. Credit: Reuters

Sydney's western suburbs are home to most of the city's newly arrived migrant communities, a thriving melting pot of cultures, ethnic communities and faiths, some of whom have escaped persecution. Monday's church attack sparked deep-seated concerns and panic.

Katy Watson and Frances Mao, BBC News

The Orthodox church leader attacked was widely known in the community. Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel had a huge following online, but he was also divisive and controversial for his ultra-conservative views. During the pandemic, he opposed lockdowns and vaccines; he espoused inflammatory views against same-sex marriage and the Islamic faith. One of his followers described him to the BBC as a straightforward guy. "He tells the truth, based on his belief in his faith and his knowledge," Basim Shamaon said. "But we are in Australia - we have freedom of speech. We are in a country where we have to feel safe expressing our views."

Keep reading

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel: In an audio message, the spiritual leader said he was "recovering quickly" and forgave his alleged attacker.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Workers left behind in China's new reality

Ren Wenbing says he's owed redundancy pay after his ex-employer moved production out of China. Credit: BBC/Wang Xiqing

China's latest economic growth figures beat expectations, but the country is no longer the powerhouse it once was. Millions are struggling to find employment as some manufacturers who once flocked to Chinese shores set up shop elsewhere. Laura Bicker investigates these changing circumstances.

Find out more

A black and white still from a movie featuring Gene Tierney

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Worshipped for her looks

But they proved a poisoned chalice for 1940s film star Gene Tierney.

Here's why

And finally...

Scientists say they have identified what was probably the largest marine reptile ever to swim in the seas - a creature longer than two buses. Its fossilised jawbone was found in 2016 on a beach in Somerset, UK. And after a second, similar example was found, researchers concluded they were from two giant ichthyosaurs that lived alongside dinosaurs, about 202 millions years ago. Take a look.

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– Sofia

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