police in baltimore say six people are presumed dead after a bridge collapsed and are moving to a recovery effort. at this point we do not believe that we are going to find any of these individuals still alive. the us supreme court appears skeptical in a case to limit the use of abortion pill mifepristone. and a moscow court extends the detention of wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich. hello. i'm caitriona perry. you are very welcome. six people are presumed in the disaster which saw a container ship collided with a bridge in the city of baltimore. it collapsed.

us guard says it is moving from rescue to a recovery mission. the bridge is partially closed to traffic after the ship sent out a mayday call and those thought dad are thought to be construction workers. these are live pictures were reportedly to bring the water and making recovery efforts challenging. why did it go off course and why did it come crashing down so easily? well, what do we know about what action happened in baltimore? data analysed by bbc verify shows the ship set off from the port at a quarter to 1am local time. the dali is a 300m—long container ship, and on board were two pilots. mariners from the local port with the specialist knowledge to guide the vessel out to sea. now, it was heading towards the central section of the bridge, which is

wide enough and high enough for the vessel, the ship, to pass through, but it veered off course, crashing into this support column. so what happened 7 well, in this video, you can see the ship is nearing the bridge, but at 1:24am, the lights on it go out, suddenly, suggesting a major technical fault. that happened, and 1:25am, a minute later, the lights come back on. three minutes after this, you start to see black smoke billowing from the ship, and there on the bridge you can see the work vehiclesw here the team are fixing potholes on the bridge. a mayday call went out. moments later, at 1:28am, the ship collided with the bridge and caused it to collapse. if you lose power while manoeuvring, there's a possibility you could lose steering of the vessel momentarily. there are regulations

on how quickly you have to be able to regain that control. but obviously, if that does happen, in such a confined area, the seconds or minutes could make why did such a large part of the bridge collapse? the bridge opened in 1977, and at its centre is a continuous section which is 366 metres long, and there are four support columns underneath it. bridges are tested for impacts, but we don't know if the tests would have included a vessel of this size. ships are bigger now than they were in the �*70s and the head—on collision took out an entire loadbearing structure. protective reinforcements can be added to these but it is not clear if they were here. you have a long element that is supported by four| supports and you're simply removing one of them. - i — i could not imagine another situation - where a bridgel like that resists such a massive force.

a major search effort is going on, using sonar to try and locate any vehicles that fell into the 15 metres of water below, and an investigation to the tragedy has already begun. this has over 13 from a search—and—rescue to a recovery mission and what can you tell us about what is going on tonight there? we us about what is going on tonight there?— us about what is going on tonight there? we have “ust received a i tonight there? we have 'ust received a statement h tonight there? we havejust received a statement from i tonight there? we have just i received a statement from the maritime port authority from singapore. the container ship was sailing under the flag of that country and they say that all of its certification was up—to—date and it passed two inspections just last year. just an update there but as you say, the us coastguard has now suspended the search—and—rescue

suspended the sea rch—and—rescue squad suspended the search—and—rescue squad operation, and desperately sad news for the families of those six missing men. at a news conference earlier, one of the representatives of the us coastguard talked about the desperately difficult conditions under which the search—and—rescue squad sea rch—and—rescue squad operation was search—and—rescue squad operation was taking place and it was taking place behind me and it was suspended earlier. they talked about how cold the water is. it is bitterly cold. it is very deep, the currents are strong and the visibility is poor and now the river is full ofjagged metalfrom is poor and now the river is full ofjagged metal from where the bridge collapsed. all of those agencies taking part in that extensive search yesterday, they will be regrouping tomorrow and they will be moving that operation to the next phase.

i have been speaking to a council man who represents the communities around the francis scott key bridge. our condolences to you and the other individuals in baltimore on this tragedy. as we have been hearing, the coastguard is confirming that the six individuals who are missing and are presumed dead. some of those living in your district? thank you for your kind words. yes, as i understand, three of the six that are still missing, they didn't live within my district in southeastern baltimore county and the others lived in a neighbouring community, not in baltimore county but across the city

lines in baltimore city. very tragic day for all of us. we have seen _ tragic day for all of us. we have seen a _ tragic day for all of us. we have seen a huge - tragic day for all of us. we have seen a huge community effort, small boats out there taking part in the search. how is this recovery effort going to continue?— is this recovery effort going to continue? , ., ., , , to continue? there is a massive effort now _ to continue? there is a massive effort now focusing _ to continue? there is a massive effort now focusing on - to continue? there is a massive effort now focusing on recovery| effort now focusing on recovery and subsequent investigation and subsequent investigation and putting resources together to reopen the port of baltimore and rebuild the bridge. as far as community support goes,, i'm fortunate in that i represent a community that is strong and resilient, hard—working, blue colour community, and we are an automation town and we have a way of bouncing back and we have a way after a tragedy of really coming together and supporting each other. we saw

that in the first few hours of the command centre, amidst all of the twisted metal, community groups and local restaurants are trying to contact anyone they could to supply food, anything that first responders would need, knowing they would be there for 2h hours around the clock and perhaps for days in the aftermath of the tragedy unfolding. i cannot thank the community enough for their sentiment and the effort so far. i did have the opportunity to attend a prayer vigil, probably half a mile from the start, the community came out in large numbers to rally and pray for the families who have been affected and for the first

responders who are investigating and searching around a very dangerous structure right now. praise went out to first responders and the families affected and it was very touching and that is just how the community is. they are resilient and caring. they are resilient and caring. the community borders the bridge, can you put into contextjust bridge, can you put into context just how central bridge, can you put into contextjust how central is the bridge itself to the community and the functioning of the community. obviously it is not there anymore? it community. obviously it is not there anymore?— there anymore? it is surreal that it is _ there anymore? it is surreal that it is not _ there anymore? it is surreal that it is not there, - there anymore? it is surreal that it is not there, it - there anymore? it is surreal that it is not there, it was i that it is not there, it was built in 1977, and it has been an architectural icon for us and it is a major commuter and commerce thoroughfare. it is part of the baltimore to baltimore beltway, and feeds

into the whole metropolitan area and the bridge was one of only two ways around the beltway, one is around the harbour tunnel and the other is this breach that leads into the patapsco river. many goods and services used the bridge and went in and out of the area. we now need to realise we have lost a major artery in and out of the community.— lost a major artery in and out of the community. thank you so much forjoining _ of the community. thank you so much forjoining us, _ much forjoining us, counsellor. thank you for talking to us. here in washington, the us supreme court appear unlikely to restrict access to the widely used abortion drug, mifepristone. the case centers on the food and drug administration's

decision to expand its access. medical professionals belonging to anti—abortion groups say the drug is unsafe and also say that treating patients who use it is against their moral and religious beliefs. numerous studies show that mifepristone, which was first approved by the fda in 2000, is safe. a study in the medical journaljama found that the number of self—managed abortions obtained using pills has soared with more than 26,000 americans using pills to induce at—home abortions after the overturing of roe v wade injune 2022. one of the things the justices spent a lot of time on today was not what we think of is the heart of the case, which was the fda's decision to expand access to mifepristone in 2016 and 2021, but instead on whether or not the challenges in this case, who are doctors

and physicians groups whose members are opposed to abortion, have a legal right to come to court at all to challenge the fda's approval. you know, on two levels. first of all, whether or not someone can come to court to sue is sort of a bipartisan issue. it is something that justices of all ideological transfer attention to. it would also offerjustices and offramp to send this case back, to throw it out, without having to get to the heart of the case, the tougher question about the fda's approval. and what the government argued was that the doctors in this case who are opposed to abortion aren't required to prescribe mifepristone. they need to show that they are facing imminent

harm from the fda's changes that expanded access to mifepristone. the government said they can't show this because what their argument is not that they have to prescribe mifepristone, but that a woman who takes mifepristone, that has been prescribed to her by someone else, might experience complications, which are very rare, come to an emergency room, and one of these doctors might have to provide treatment that might include abortion. they said particularly when there are federal laws that provide protection so that doctors had directed have to violate their conscience, these conscientious objectors. that it isn't the imminent harm that requires you to go to court to challenge the approval. for more on this case, i spoke to kristen waggoner. she's the president, ceo, and general counsel of the faith based legal organization, alliance defending freedom.

not necessarily but they certainly do in this particular case. what i was most struct light today is that the attorney for the fda said no—one should have the right to question the decision of the fda, that no—one should have standing another agency should be above law. the fda betrayed women and girls when it removed the original common sense long running safety standards including an ink person doctor visit and said that doctors and hospitals are clients and should handle the fallout. around the world and in the uk this is bbc news. rishi sunak was forced to carry a mini reshuffle of his team. an unexpected quitting while james heappey follow through on his intention to step down as armed forces minister had of exiting parliament at the

general election. newly released documents reveal a church which supported the asylum claim of the clapham chemical attacker limited his rights to attend services after learning about a sexual assault conviction. abdul ezedi won asylum in 2020 after proving his conversion to christianity. he attacked a woman and two children with a chemical solution injanuary — his body was found last month. buckingham palace says the king and queen willjoin other members of the royal family at the easter sunday service held at st george's chapel in windsor. it will be the king's most significant public appearance since he was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. the prince and princess of wales will not be in attendance, as catherine continues with her cancer treatment. you're live with bbc news. on tuesday, us defense secretary lloyd austin issued some of his strongest comments on the situation in gaza a humanitarian catastrophe and issued some of his strongest comments

on the israel—gaza war so far at a meeting with israel's defense chief yoav gallant. secretary austin also said that it was the israeli government has accused the us of emboldening hamas and hindering negotiations to release israeli hostages by allowing the text to pass. our middle east correspondent hugo bachega has more on today's developments. no surprise the fighting in gaza continued a day after the un security council approved, for the first time, a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in gaza. realistically there was no expectation that this would lead to any kind of pause in the fighting. in gaza today health officials said dozens of palestinians were killed in israeli airstrikes across the territory, including in the city of rafah, the last relatively safe place in gaza, where more than1 million palestinians have been sheltering. the resolution at the united nations was only approved because the us abstained in the vote, something that was heavily criticised by the israeli authorities. this shows a growing discontent in the biden administration with the way israelis have been conducting

this military campaign and also shows growing international isolation of the israeli government. more than 30,000 palestinians have been killed in gaza and a humanitarian crisis continues. in washington, the israeli defence minister yoav gallant had meetings with american secretary of defence, lloyd austin, who had a strong message for israeli authorities. he said it was a moral necessity and strategic imperative to step up a distribution in gaza, also saying that gaza was facing a humanitarian catastrophe and the situation was only getting worse. after discussing this with a long time pentagon correspondent barbara starr about the meeting with secretary asked and senator galante. she's a senior fellow at university of southern california's center for communications leadership and a longtime pentagon correspondent. good to talk to you again. it

is a peculiar situation where delegates were del michael of their visits. delegates were del michael of theirvisits. —— delegates were del michael of their visits. —— delegates cancelled their visits. yet his defence minister is already here speaking to officials. the secretary of the cathy latham the defence secretary of state today. do we know what they've discussed in relation to the impending rafah invasion? the word is that the israeli defence minister yoav gallant came to the pentagon today to discuss with secretary of state lloyd austin more arms sales to israel. but that isn't necessarily what austin wanted to press on. by all accounts austin spoke about a moral imperative, a moral and strategic imperative, to take care of civilians, that if the israelis are going to make a move on rafah, they need to have a credible plan for the protection of civilians. the us feels it hasn't seen such a plan. not that the pentagon said it will hold up arms sales, but they are pressing

the point that they want to see a credible plan for civilian protection in rafah and equally important more aid crossings opening up, more aid going into gaza, and more crossing points for that aid being allowed by the israelis. it isn't at all clear that in this meeting they came to any resolution on any of this. given that urgent issue as you mentioned of getting food aid into gaza basically into northern gaza where we have seen children and people of all ages starving to death, is there any indication that israel is minded to open up greater border access? well, you see the statements from the government about this in israel, that they are working on it, and you see various rhetoric coming from the meta nyahu government, but let's be clear that it has not exactly happened yet. they are talking

about hamas stealing the aid, but in the meantime so many people are suffering and huge numbers of people. this is the case that the us and of course the united nations is pressing. a ceasefire, get the hostages out, get the aid in and be very careful going into rafah. the other point i would make is the pentagon pressed the case that if the israelis are going into rafah that they have to have a very targeted plan. they have to know where the hamas targets are, go after them, protect the civilians while you are moving aid along those corridors into various places of gaza, so the us sees this as a much more complex undertaking, if you will. all these pieces have to be put together. we will wait to see what happens next.

barbara starr, she's a senior fellow at university of southern california's center for communications leadership and a longtime pentagon correspondent. a russian court extended the detention of evan gershkovich, by three months as he awaits trial. mr gershkovich was arrested on espionage charges nearly a year ago while on a reporting trip, making him the first western journalist to face those charges since the fall of the soviet union. the us ambassador to moscow has called the allegations �*categorically untrue' and �*fiction.’ mr gershkovich has now spent almost a year in moscow's high—security lefortovo prison, and his pre—trial detention has been extended to june 30. bbc�*s russia editor steve rosenberg has more. we weren't allowed in to the moscow city courthouse. nothing personal — all journalists were being kept out. instead, the court released its own video — just six seconds of evan gershkovich. ajudge ruled he must stay injail. evan, how are you? this week marks one year since the wall streetjournal reporter

was arrested in russia. evan gershkovich, the first us journalist here since the cold war to be charged with spying. he and his employer insist he is innocent. deadlines and everything... so does the us government. might be a first step... it's demanding that russia let him go. the message is release him, release him now. he was and is a journalist who was doing his job. doing nothing wrong. the insinuations that he was somehow engaging in some kind of criminal activity is just — is just flat—out false. last month, vladimir putin hinted that evan gershkovich could be freed in a prisoner swap. in return, the kremlin is thought to want the release of a fsb officer who is serving a life sentence for murder in germany. no deal yet. if convicted, the usjournalist faces up to 20 years in prison. russian officials no longer

hide the fact that evan gershkovich is a bargaining chip — someone they would, in theory, be willing to exchange for one of their own in prison in the west. his fate has attracted worldwide attention. but he is by no means the only american behind bars in russia. former us marine paul whelan is serving a 16—year sentence for espionage. america insists he is innocent. journalist alsu kurmasheva holds us and russian citizenships. she has been accused of spreading false information about the russian army. as for evan gershkovich, those who know him just want him home. we all miss, you know, our best friend, we miss talking to him all the time. all his friends feel the same way. there is some part of their lives where there is this big hole, this big absence. evan gershkovich is a journalist who loves russia

and loves reporting on russia but he remains in a russianjail. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. let's look at other news morale about. julian assange's extradition to the us was put on hold after the uk's high court said the us must provide assurances that would have freedom of speech protections and will not face the death penalty. the court has given the us government three weeks to comply with the order before making its final decision on his extradition. kenyan authorities have begun to release remains of those who died in a doomsday cult. pastor paul mackenzie is accused of breaching an apocalyptic message to followers encouraging them to starve to death to see jesus encouraging them to starve to death to seejesus quickly. charges have been brought against him and 29 others have all pleaded not guilty. shares

are donald trump's social media company sought in the stock market debut, raising about 60% at its peak earlier that day. trump has nearly 8 million shares of the stock worth billions of dollars at its current pricing. it is seen as a much—needed financial boost for the former us president who has nine days to post a $175 million bond in a case where he lied about the value of his assets. now from the world of sport. ukraine has qualified for the 2024 european championship after a dramatic 2—1 victory over iceland in their playoff final. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky celebrated the win on telegram, thanking the team for "for proving once again that when ukrainians face challenges "but refuse to give up and continue the fight, "they invariably win." best of luck to all. that's it for the moment. from all the

team here, thanks for watching. i am caitriona perry. stay with us on bbc news. take care. hello. the weather is going to throw just about everything at us over the next couple of days. certainly for wednesday — lots of heavy thundery downpours, albeit with some spells of sunshine in between, also quite windy out there. all driven by low pressure centred to the west of the uk. rain and hill snow pushing northwards across scotland. some really heavy rain for a time across eastern counties of northern ireland. that will take a while to clear. and then for england and wales, yes, there will be some spells of sunshine, but also some heavy, thundery downpours with hail thrown in for good measure, some sunny spells in between. pretty windy, particularly in the south, but also up towards the north of scotland and temperatures north to south between 7—11, maybe 12 degrees celsius in parts of eastern england. now through wednesday night, we will see further showers or longer spells of rain. this clump of wet weather drifting across southern england into the midlands. if that gets far enough west into wales, well over

high ground, that could give a little bit of snow because it will be quite cold to take us into thursday morning. although probably too windy for most places to see a frost. and then into thursday, while this area of low pressure firmly in charge. this low has been named by the spanish weather service. it's been named storm nelson because of the impacts it is going to have in spain, but pretty close to us on thursday. close enough to give some very strong winds, gales around coasts in the south and the southwest. but windy weather even further north across england and wales, very strong winds even inland. some outbreaks of rain — northern scotland perhaps seeing the best of the dry weather, but they'll even here be some showers. and temperatures around nine, ten or 11 degrees. now as we get into friday, good friday, of course, it is not going to be completely dry, but i am hopeful there will be fewer showers. more in the way of dry gaps in between. it won't be as windy and it will feel a little bit warmer. and that certainly is the theme for the start of the easter weekend. our area of low pressure loosening its grip and so not as many showers more

in the way of dry weather. however, there is a lot of uncertainty about the second half of the weekend. there's an area of low pressure that some computer weather models keep well to the south of us, it's this one here. but other computer models push that a lot further north, giving us the chance for some rain. so a lot of uncertainty about the second half of the easter weekend. there will be some rain at times, some spells of sunshine, not as chilly as it has been.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur and today i'm on the road — and on the water — in guyana, south america, a country of extraordinary ecosystems and of vast resource potential. the question is, which comes first? guyana has always been resource—rich. for decades, the rush was for gold. now it's for oil. guyana is fast becoming a petrostate, the fastest growing economy in the world. but new wealth has

stoked old tensions.