in the north, be heavy, particularly in the north, for example in northern ireland could be 30 or a0 millimetres of rain, so really quite soggy and by the end of the night that weather front is across scotland, it is cold and miserable here in the morning, six o'clock, three degrees in glasgow, snow across the mountain tops. and then to the south of that something a little pitch riot temporarily before the next weather front sweeps in. you can see these speckles in the rain, those are the showers carried by that increasingly strong wind out of the south—west, really gale force around some of the coasts. it's going to feel quite chilly but the sun is strong this time of year, so it would be coming in between the clouds as well. if anything on thursday the winds will get even stronger as the slow sweeps in, quite a few isobars, strong winds to the south of the area of low pressure and inland we could be talking about 50 mph gusts, that's pretty strong this time of year. gales around coast, windy in the north, and again those big shower

clouds producing sudden downpours with hail and thunder but sunshine in between as well. it will feel chilly in those heavy showers and gusty winds. 0n chilly in those heavy showers and gusty winds. on friday i think the winds are going to be a little lighter. still a noticeable breeze but there will be fewer showers around on good friday. how about the outlook into easter? again the mixed bag continues but i think by the time we get to sunday, i think across most parts of the uk there should be some dry weather with a bit of sunshine, too. bye—bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines: six people are still missing after a cargo ship ploughs into a bridge in baltimore — causing it to collapse. this is the moment the lights went out on the dali, sending it into the bridge's path. we are still investigating what happened but we are quickly gathering details. the preliminary investigation .2 an accident. —— points to an accident. two people were rescued, and one is in hospital, as the authorities continue to search the river. more on that throughout the afternoon but first we can now go to

the sport. hello from the bbc sport centre. in just a few hours time wales take on poland with the winners going to this summer's european championship. both had difficult regular qualifying campaigns up to the playoffs, but last week wales comfortably dispatched finland a—i, while poland thrashed estonia. the wales manager, rob page, had been under intense pressure, but his young side has responded well. it would be a great achievement for us to qualify, and in the manner in which we have done. you are always going to get bumps on the roads during any campaign and we had one in the summer, but what pleases me is the reaction since then. unbeaten in seven matches. and to play in the manner that we have, scoring the goals that we have, it really pleases me, so i would be a proud man to get

the job done but we have got to focus on getting the victory first. translation: we finalised our analysis of the tactics of wales | and we are prepared well and we know it is a team that are based on good running and counterattacks. they use their wingers but we need to eliminate those strengths. and also use our style and focus on that. so we are hoping right from the start we can manage the game mentally and physically and play the game on our terms. keep our strength mentally and physically and i'm confident we can win the game. against the continuing backdrop of the war against russia, ukraine host iceland in their playoff final eilminator. that game is being played in poland because of what's happening in kyiv. of course, in the morning i saw the players today and they are on the telephone, after seeing what is happening in ukraine, and of course it is difficult for them because some of their families are there. i'm sure they will be more hungry

and tomorrow they will be more motivated for this game. so, confirmation of the playoff eliminators for the final 3 spots at this summer's european championship. wales take on poland, ukraine face iceland and in the final match georgia are up against 200a champions greece. there are also a lot of friendly internationals taking place later, including england against belgium. 18—year—old kobbie mainoo will start tonight along with brentford's ivan toney. declan rice will captain the side as he wins his 50th cap. manager gareth southgate believes the game provides a great opportunity for new players to stake their claim to be in this summer's european championship squad. some of our core group, kane, trippier, walker, maguire, they are not here and there is a different dynamic and that is a great opportunity for other people to step up and lead and to grow and that is important because a lot of the players involved that are with the squad

now, they are the future of the team, for the medium and long term, and the more of those experiences they can have, that is really helpful for everybody. as the teams finalise their preparations for the summer the hosts, germany, take on the netherlands. it mayjust be a friendly but it's a fixture steeped in history. it's still a big game. it is normal it is a big game because two neighbouring countries playing against each other, and a lot of players who know each other from their clubs, so it was always a tough game in the past and it is always a tough game in the present. and a women's ashes test will be held at the melbourne cricket ground for the first time in more than 75 years. the four—day match will be a day nighter injanuary next year and will be the culmination of the multi—format series — they'll play 3 one day internationals and 3 t20s before they head to the 100,000—capacity mcg.

and that's all the sport for now. the us supreme court is considering whether to restict access to the drug that is most widely used in the united states to terminate pregnancies. the conservative—dominated court, which overturned the constitutional right to abortion nearly two years ago, is hearing arguments on access to the abortion pill, mifepristone. let's speak to alisha haridasani gupta, women s health reporter at the new york times. thanks at the new york times. forjoining us. what is at sta ke thanks forjoining us. what is at stake here and why this is such an important case?— stake here and why this is such an important case? thanks for having me. the supreme _ important case? thanks for having me. the supreme court _ important case? thanks for having | me. the supreme court overturned important case? thanks for having - me. the supreme court overturned the right to abortion in 2022 and a few months after that the anti—abortion

organisation sued the fta, claiming that mifepristone is not safe and that mifepristone is not safe and that the approval of the drug more than two decades ago was flawed, and the plaintiffs are also arguing that the plaintiffs are also arguing that the drugs cause them injury, it violates their moral conscience, and if and when doctors have to treat a patient who has used the drug, and comes into the emergency room with complications, that violates their moral conscience, and they are hoping to restrict access to that drug. the fta has pushed back on the arguments, saying it followed rigorous process before approving the drug and almost a dozen major medical groups including the american medical association have issued a statement reiterating that the evidence shows overwhelmingly that the drug is safe and convocations are very rare. and that

the position of the plaintiffs is fundamentally ideological and not scientific —— complications are very rare. access to the drug will become harder if the court rules in favour of the plaintiffs but it could also undermine the scientific process behind drug approvals. in undermine the scientific process behind drug approvals.— behind drug approvals. in other words, behind drug approvals. in other words. the _ behind drug approvals. in other words, the medical— behind drug approvals. in other words, the medical industry - behind drug approvals. in other words, the medical industry is. behind drug approvals. in other- words, the medical industry is quite worried about this case and the consequences if the plaintiffs win? exactly. two thirds of abortions in the country are currently medical abortions, and the consequences for just access to health care would be very far—reaching, and mifepristone is also used for other forms of health care, miscarriages, for example, you would prescribe the same drug, so that would hamper that version of health care, but already the approval process is long and

expensive, and a drugmaker has to come armed with a trove of high quality clinical trials and then they are thoroughly questioned about their findings. they are thoroughly questioned about theirfindings. if the they are thoroughly questioned about their findings. if the court can just upend the authority of the fta and undermine the rigorous process on this drug, then pharmaceutical companies are worried about, why would people not come for other drugs? there could be an onslaught of lawsuits against drugs and that could deter innovation amongst the pharmaceutical space. and one of the justices questioned whether the court room is the best place to be passing scientific and medical studies. �* ., passing scientific and medical studies. ~ ., , passing scientific and medical studies. ., , , . passing scientific and medical studies. ., ,, . ., ., , studies. abortion is such a hotly contested issue _ studies. abortion is such a hotly contested issue in _ studies. abortion is such a hotly contested issue in the _ studies. abortion is such a hotly contested issue in the us - studies. abortion is such a hotly contested issue in the us and i studies. abortion is such a hotly contested issue in the us and in many other countries but it arouses great passions in the us. how does

this case fit into the wider abortion debate in your country? abortion has become a lightning rod and even during the state of the union we saw president biden bring it up and spend a chunk of time on abortion access. it has become a rallying cry in an election year for voters across the spectrum and even in states and conservative states, in states and conservative states, in this case in particular, if the court sides with the plaintiffs, it would apply to states even where abortion is currently legal, and again, that has become a lightning rod for people across the country, that this could further curb, it would be the biggest blow to reproductive health access since the supreme court overturned access to abortion two years ago.—

supreme court overturned access to abortion two years ago. when might we aet a abortion two years ago. when might we get a ruling _ abortion two years ago. when might we get a ruling on _ abortion two years ago. when might we get a ruling on this? _ abortion two years ago. when might we get a ruling on this? this - abortion two years ago. when might we get a ruling on this? this would l we get a ruling on this? this would come in the _ we get a ruling on this? this would come in the summer. _ we get a ruling on this? this would come in the summer. sometime i we get a ruling on this? this would come in the summer. sometime inj come in the summer. sometime in june. come in the summer. sometime in june. , ., ., ~ ., june. very good to talk to you. thanks for— june. very good to talk to you. thanks forjoining _ june. very good to talk to you. thanks forjoining us. - june. very good to talk to you. thanks forjoining us. that - june. very good to talk to you. thanks forjoining us. that is l june. very good to talk to you. l thanks forjoining us. that is the women's health reporter at the new york times. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

how should the bbc be funded in the future? the director general of the corporation, tim davie, has said the licence fee — a charge levied on anyone who owns a television in the uk — needs to be reformed, so it's more affordable to those on lower incomes. he also urged the government to take responsibility for funding the world service.

katie razzall started by asking him "if the bbc as we know i think we the few i think we really need the bbc, in the world of so much polarisation and disinformation. shire polarisation and disinformation. are ou polarisation and disinformation. are you signalling its end by questioning the licence fee? i do think that questioning the licence fee? i u think that absolutely we need to be universal and independent and i believe in a non—commercial offer in the uk is precious. it is really

important we protect that. i do think it is right to say, we have reformed the licence fee over time, we have made changes and developed it and gone through radio and television, all the areas of the bbc, it is right to ask questions as we go forward. you bbc, it is right to ask questions as we go forward-— we go forward. you talked about askin: we go forward. you talked about asking fundamental _ we go forward. you talked about asking fundamental questions i we go forward. you talked about. asking fundamental questions about the longevity of the licence fee in a world full of choice, is that an acceptance, why should people pay the licence fee when tv and broadcasting and the media has just changed so dramatically? what broadcasting and the media has 'ust changed so dramatically?i changed so dramatically? what i would say. _ changed so dramatically? what i would say. i _ changed so dramatically? what i would say, i would _ changed so dramatically? what i would say, i would be _ changed so dramatically? what i would say, i would be cautious l changed so dramatically? what i - would say, i would be cautious about change because we still have nine out of ten, nearly nine out of ten people using the bbc per week, and pretty much every adult uses it every month, and we are still doing very well. we are here to serve and you have got to be cautious but we are doing pretty well and that is

whatjustifies universal funding and what justifies universal funding and i'm whatjustifies universal funding and i'm fighting and the team at the bbc is funding to serve every member of the public but we also fighting for universal public funding. you talked about progression? _ universal public funding. you talked about progression? what _ universal public funding. you talked about progression? what did - universal public funding. you talked about progression? what did you i about progression? what did you mean? this about progression? what did you mean? �* , ., . . mean? as we look at the licence fee, auoin into mean? as we look at the licence fee, going into the — mean? as we look at the licence fee, going into the future, _ mean? as we look at the licence fee, going into the future, it _ mean? as we look at the licence fee, going into the future, it covers - going into the future, it covers live television at the moment, and how many people get a free licence, we should be open about these things, and i think we are fighting for something precious and the idea of universalfunding for something precious and the idea of universal funding rather than just being another commercial player with advertising across the bbc, add a subscription in the way we see other services, a subscription in the way we see otherservices, i a subscription in the way we see other services, i think that is the wrong course —— and a subscription. it is about what kind of society we live in. �* �* ., , it is about what kind of society we live in. �* �* .,, .,, ., ., live in. the bbc has lost a third of its funding — live in. the bbc has lost a third of its funding in _ live in. the bbc has lost a third of its funding in the _ live in. the bbc has lost a third of its funding in the past _ live in. the bbc has lost a third of its funding in the past ten - live in. the bbc has lost a third of its funding in the past ten years, | its funding in the past ten years, you are already making £500 million in savings, and you talked about 200 million more, where will the cuts happen? million more, where will the cuts ha en? ., ., ,

happen? you will have seen in the last three years, _ happen? you will have seen in the last three years, we _ happen? you will have seen in the last three years, we have - happen? you will have seen in the last three years, we have made i happen? you will have seen in the last three years, we have made a | last three years, we have made a thousand hours less programming and we have cut public service bbc by 1800 jobs, this has been very tough. we will keep moving money around and most of that is making sure we have enough to make the digital products we offer competitive. you enough to make the digital products we offer competitive.— we offer competitive. you are talkin: we offer competitive. you are talking about _ we offer competitive. you are talking about more _ we offer competitive. you are talking about more job - we offer competitive. you are talking about more job cuts i we offer competitive. you are l talking about more job cuts and we offer competitive. you are - talking about more job cuts and more losses to programme hours? iliiui’ilhin losses to programme hours? within the overall bbc _ losses to programme hours? within the overall bbc public— losses to programme hours? within the overall bbc public service, - the overall bbc public service, there is no doubt we have got to keep looking for efficiencies, we are operating on a tight budget and there is a lot of inflation in the market and no doubt we have got to keep making changes. who market and no doubt we have got to keep making changes.— market and no doubt we have got to keep making changes. who should fund the world service? _ keep making changes. who should fund the world service? i _ keep making changes. who should fund the world service? i care _ keep making changes. who should fund the world service? i care deeply - the world service? i care deeply about the world _ the world service? i care deeply about the world service - the world service? i care deeply about the world service and - the world service? i care deeply about the world service and we | the world service? i care deeply - about the world service and we have got to see it continue but if we want to see proper growth in the face of massive investment from countries like russia and china, they are investing enormous amounts on state funded media operations,

disinformation initiatives, we have got to take it seriously, and properly invest. i think it would be culturally and economically the wrong thing to do not to invest in the world service. but i'm indicating, for the bbc, we have limited funds and an increasing pressure on our budgets and we should look to the government to do that. ., . ~' should look to the government to do that. ., ., ~ ., that. you talk about boosting the commercial _ that. you talk about boosting the commercial income _ that. you talk about boosting the commercial income of _ that. you talk about boosting the commercial income of the - that. you talk about boosting the commercial income of the bbc, l that. you talk about boosting the i commercial income of the bbc, how that. you talk about boosting the - commercial income of the bbc, how do you plan to do that? i’m commercial income of the bbc, how do you plan to do that?— you plan to do that? i'm not talking about advertising _ you plan to do that? i'm not talking about advertising on _ you plan to do that? i'm not talking about advertising on uk _ you plan to do that? i'm not talking about advertising on uk services. i about advertising on uk services. that is never going to happen? idol that is never going to happen? not on m that is never going to happen? fight on my watch. we want to absolutely protect the bbc in what it is in the uk, that is sacrosanct, but having said that, when you look at monetising the content around the world, when you look at the fact we have grown a commercial arm that is nearly 2 billion in revenues which allows us to do deals like the one with disney to invest in shows like dr who, that makes total sense, it makes sense for the licence fee

payer and we should do more of that. that was the director general of the bbc tim davie. david, he is talking about reforming the licence fee, how? that david, he is talking about reforming the licence fee, how?— the licence fee, how? that is the big question- _ the licence fee, how? that is the big question- a _ the licence fee, how? that is the big question. a consultation - the licence fee, how? that is thej big question. a consultation over the next couple of years, the issue behind all of this, how big should the bbc be and how are you going to pay for it and for most households in the uk, paying for the licence fee is part of life and about £ia per month, £169 and 50p from this coming april and if you have half £1 million or if you are on universal credit you pay exactly the same amount, so the question is, how fair is that, a flat tax effectively? so can they make it progressive,

essentially, people who earn more, can they get them to pay more, so they will look at that as a potential solution to the fairness issue of the licence fee. behind all of this is an argument saying, yes, we want the licence fee to continue because a lot of people are saying, does it make much sense in an era of netflix and youtube and this other competition, that you have little choice about paying the licence fee in the uk? the government at the moment is looking at the issue and they have appointed a panel of experts with some well—known sceptics about the licence fee on that panel and of course this is looking towards the end of 2027 when the bbc�*s charter comes to an end to these questions will have to be resolved. will there be a licence fee and how big will the bbc be? he is saying, licence fee, yes, we might reform it but we want to keep the bbc as it is, essentially, a universal broadcaster that has news,

sport, drama, comedy, the whole works, ratherthan sport, drama, comedy, the whole works, rather than a more narrow subscription based service which a number of people have been arguing for. he number of people have been arguing for. ., number of people have been arguing for. . .. , number of people have been arguing for. . , ., �* �* for. he made the case for the bbc and everything — for. he made the case for the bbc and everything it _ for. he made the case for the bbc and everything it does _ for. he made the case for the bbc and everything it does in - for. he made the case for the bbc and everything it does in the - for. he made the case for the bbc and everything it does in the uk i for. he made the case for the bbc l and everything it does in the uk and around the world but he also said pretty much it is a time of high inflation are broadcast inflation is very high, there will have to be more cuts and commercialisation. yes. the next dr who when it comes out, essentially it has been partially paid for by disney, that is how they have been able to afford the huge production values, and they have a lot of deals around the world with advertising funded outlets, so bbc programming will make money, 2 billion per year they are making out of it, so they are already and have long had a commercial arm, and there is another question about the bbc world service, used to be paid for by the british government until 201a and that was then taken over by the

bbc, as a means of the government making some cuts, and there have been grants over the years but the bbc is saying here, we think the government should pick up that bill. they are asking for that as well in this long negotiation, essentially, thatis this long negotiation, essentially, that is going ahead. the this long negotiation, essentially, that is going ahead.— that is going ahead. the bbc has alwa s that is going ahead. the bbc has always been _ that is going ahead. the bbc has always been a — that is going ahead. the bbc has always been a political— that is going ahead. the bbc has always been a political hot - that is going ahead. the bbc has i always been a political hot potato, shall we say, in this country, and the future has been argued about endlessly by politicians. you the future has been argued about endlessly by politicians.- endlessly by politicians. you go back every _ endlessly by politicians. you go back every year, _ endlessly by politicians. you go back every year, in _ endlessly by politicians. you go back every year, in fact when i endlessly by politicians. you go i back every year, in fact when you endlessly by politicians. you go - back every year, in fact when you go back every year, in fact when you go back to 1923, where the speech was made today was the original headquarters of the bbc and so many of the arguments about the bbc being essentially a monopoly, should it provides news, what impact does it have uncommercial things, that the same back then and there was scepticism all the way about the bbc —— does it have on commercial things

for the key question is how do you fund it and how big should it be? david, thanks forjoining us. just picking through what the director—general of the bbc has been saying. now back to baltimore and the collapse of the bridge. the francis scott key bridge in the city, and rescuers are still searching the river below the bridge after it was hit by a cargo ship and it collapsed. six construction workers who were fixing potholes on the bridge are still unaccounted for and two other people have been rescued from the water. one of those is in hospital and one was unharmed. we are gathering there will be a news conference in the next few minutes by the national transportation

safety board, so we might get more information. we heard earlierfrom the authorities including the mayor of baltimore and the governor of the state of maryland who said the crew of the cargo ship which was a singapore flagship, was on its way to sri lanka, and when they lost power they notified the authorities that they had lost power and that meant that the authorities were able to raise the alarm and to stop traffic going onto the bridge. that may have reduced the number of potential casualties but it is what the mayor of baltimore has called an unthinkable tragedy and it has sent shock waves around the city of baltimore and across the whole of the us where there are concerns about the state of infrastructure. you are watching bbc news.

hello. over the next few days, mother nature is going to throw a bit of everything at us. a real mixed bag on the way, as we often say, from gusty winds, heavy showers, hail, thunder, some sunshine in between, too. and in fact, the satellite picture is already looking very dynamic. and if we look at this conveyor belt of cloud, that's actually the jet stream aloft and it's allowed the colder air to dig in from the northern climes. that's going to help to build those big shower clouds over the coming days. now, as far as the evening is concerned, rain will be sweeping into southern parts of the uk. in the north i think there'll be still some sunshine, late sunshine around across scotland, but cloudy generally speaking.

and then through the course of this evening that rain will be travelling northward. so most of us will get some rain, some of it will be heavy, particularly in the north and for example in northern ireland could be 30 or a0 millimetres of rain. so really quite soggy. and then by the end of the night that weather front is across scotland, it's cold and miserable here in the morning, 6:00, three degrees there in glasgow, snow across the mountaintops there. and then to the south of that, something a little bit drier temporarily before the next weather front sweeps in. see these speckles here in the rain? those are the showers carried by that increasingly strong wind out of the south west, already gale force around some of the coasts. so it's going to feel quite chilly, but the sun is strong this time of the year. so it will be coming between the clouds as well. then, if anything, on thursday, the winds will get even stronger as this low sweeps in so quite a few isobars there. strong winds to the south of that area of low pressure. and in fact, inland, we could be talking about 50mph gusts. that's pretty strong for this time of the year. gales around coasts, windy in the north, too. and again, those big shower clouds producing sudden downpours with hail

and thunder, but sunshine in between as well. and it will feel chilly in those heavy showers and the gusty winds. on friday, i think the winds are going to be a little lighter. still a noticeable breeze, though, but there'll be fewer showers around on good friday. how about the outlook into easter? again, that mixed bag continues. i think by the time we get to sunday, across most parts of the uk, there should be some dry weather with a bit of sunshine too. bye— bye.

live from baltimore, this is bbc news. a city reeling from an "unthinkable tragedy" on the river. six people are still missing after a cargo ship ploughs into a bridge — causing it to collapse. this is the moment the lighs went out on the dali — sending it into the bridge's path. two people were rescued, and one is in hospital, as the authorities continue to search the water. his welcome to our programme, we are live in baltimorejust south his welcome to our programme, we are live in baltimore just south of the tragic bridge collapse that has happened here. you can seejust over my right shoulder that scene of destruction. it is being cold an

unthinkable tragedy. that's