BBC News Briefing

15 April, 2024

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. A weekend in which Iran attacked Israel, in retaliation for the killing of top officials in Syria earlier this month, has brought us to a tense moment as the Middle East awaits Israel's response, write Frank Gardner and Jeremy Bowen in separate pieces. My colleagues in Australia have the latest on a knife attack at a mall in Sydney on Saturday, in which six people were killed and several injured. Finally, we take a look at how engineers are training robot dogs for a Moon mission.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Middle East ‘on the brink’ after Iran attack

A view of Israel's missile defences interjecting Iran's projectiles on Saturday night.

Some 99% of the weapons fired were intercepted, said Israel's military spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari. Credit: Reuters

Iran's barrage of weapons - around 300 drones, cruise and ballistic missiles - fired towards Israel represents an unprecedented direct attack. It had been anticipated for nearly two weeks, following the killing of Iranian officials in Syria that Tehran has blamed on Tel Aviv. For Iran, this settles the score, but Israel has vowed to respond. The form that response takes will determine whether the tensions in the region explode in a wider conflict, writes security correspondent Frank Gardner. As he notes, countries in the region and elsewhere, including those opposed to the Iranian regime, have urged restraint. The US has also said it wouldn't join any retaliatory action against Tehran. UN Secretary General António Guterres has warned members not to further escalate tensions, saying the Middle East is already "on the brink". Get the latest news on our live page.

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Drawing a line: President Joe Biden will expect restraint from Israel in exchange for US support in thwarting Iran's attack, writes international editor Jeremy Bowen.

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All about Iran's attack: What you need to know about the strikes targeting Israel.

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'A whole new chapter': The Global Story podcast tackles Iran-Israel relations, featuring chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, security correspondent Gordon Corera, and BBC Persian's Siavash Ardalan.

WORLD HEADLINES

Donald Trump: Jury selection is due to begin in New York on Monday on the first-ever criminal trial involving a former US president. Here's what to know.

Online rumours crackdown: Chinese authorities have shut down the social media accounts of an influencer who fabricated a story about returning books to a schoolboy.

Manchester attack: More than 250 survivors of the 2017 bombing outside a concert in the British city are suing the MI5 intelligence agency, which has previously apologised for failing to prevent the attack.

'I remember thinking I was dying': Award-winning author Salman Rushdie talks about surviving an assassination attempt and the subsequent loss of his eye, as his book reflecting on the experience hits the shelves this week.

Olivier Awards: The small screen and the UK theatre stage's intertwined in this year's ceremony in more ways than one. See the winners and the best red carpet looks.

AT THE SCENE

Sydney, Australia

Bondi mall attacker targeted women

A composite image shows four of the six victims, three women and a man.

Four of the victims (clockwise from left): Jade Young, Ashlee Good, Faraz Tahir and Pikria Darchia. Image supplied.

Sydney is reeling from its worst attack in seven years after a man killed six people at a mall on Saturday, injuring several others. That five of the victims are women indicates to police the attacker had a target. The male victim, security guard Faraz Tahir, was killed as he intervened.

Simon Atkinson and Hannah Ritchie, BBC News

"The videos speak for themselves, don't they?" commissioner Karen Webb said. "It's obvious to me, it's obvious to detectives... that the offender focused on women and avoided the men." A special strike force has been created to investigate the deaths, with New South Wales Police saying it could take months to present its findings. Flags across the nation were being flown at half-mast on Monday and the sails of Sydney Opera House will be lit up in tribute to the victims. Crowds of mourners have flocked to Bondi Junction, leaving flowers and cards to those killed in the attack.

Keep reading

Victims' profiles: What we know so far about the six people killed at Westfield Bondi Junction.

Police officer's intervention: Inspector Amy Scott has been called a hero for running after the attacker, shooting him dead.

'Bollard man': Frenchman Damien Guerot confronted the attacker on an escalator.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

First ladies forging their own paths

Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller, Janja Lula da Silva and Irina Karamanos

First ladies Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller (Mexico), Janja Lula da Silva (Brazil) and Irina Karamanos (Chile). Credit: Getty Images

The figure of the first lady in Latin America has changed significantly since the days of Eva Perón, the wife of the Argentine president 75 years ago who became one of the most influential voices in the country's history. In recent years, women have been pushing back at the role for a number of reasons.

Find out more

Houston skyline at night shows several skyscrapers with their lights on

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Lights out

Having skyscrapers go dark can help save birds' lives.

Here's how

And finally...

Four-legged robots are on a mission to help Nasa study the Moon's surface. The aptly named LASSIE (Legged Autonomous Surface Science in Analog Environments) Project has two years and $2m (£1.6m) to prepare. Take a look.

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– Sofia

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