live from washington, this is bbc news. two bodies are recovered from a maryland river, where a major bridge collapsed. us investigators have also revealed more about the cargo ship that struck the bridge, and the dangerous material onboard. that is 764 tonnes of hazardous materials, mostly corrosive, flammable is. haiti inches towards the formation of a transitional government. the bbc speaks to haitians about what's at stake in the future of their country. the white house says israel wants to reschedule a cancelled meeting in washington, to discuss its plans for a major southern gaza ground offensive. hello. i'm caitriona perry. you're very welcome. authorities in the us city of baltimore say the bodies

of two construction workers have been recovered, following the collapse of the francis scott key bridge, when it was struck by a cargo ship. four workers remain missing, and divers are unable to safely reach the area where it is believed they may be located. the search for the men has been suspended, due to bad weather conditions. the workers were from mexico and central america. the superintendent of the maryland state police gave the identities of the two bodies recovered. divers located a red pick—up truck submerged in proximally 25 feet of water in the area of the middle span of the bridge. divers recovered two victims of this tragedy, trapped within the vehicle. the victims were identified as alejandro hernandez won tears, 35 years old, of baltimore, and dorlian casty oka pereiro, 26 years old

—— castillo cabrera. of dundalk. theirfamilies —— castillo cabrera. of dundalk. their families were notified just over an hour ago in person. let's take a look at the events leading up to the bridge collapse, as the national trasportation safety board investigators outlined it. at 12:39am eastern time, the ship departed in the port of baltimore. then, at 1:07am, it entered the fort mchenry channel. at 1:24:59am, numerous audible alarms were heard on board. at 1:26:39am, the ship's pilot called for tugs in the vicinity to assist, and a call was placed to the maryland transportation authority duty officer. at 1:27:04am, the pilot ordered the port anchor be dropped, and issued some other steering commands. at 1:27:25am, the pilot reported that the ship had lost all power and was approaching the bridge. at the same time, the duty officer radioed the officers who were already on the bridge, because of the construction, and they closed all lanes to traffic. at 1:29:33am, sounds of

the collision with the bridge were recorded on board the dali, and at 1:29:39am, the pilot reported that the bridge was down. just six seconds later. chair of the national transportation safety board jennifer homendy said investigators have also identified hazardous materials in the ship. one ofan one of an tsp senior hazmat investigators began to look at the cargo and the cargo manifest. he was able to identify 56 contenders —— containers of hazardous materials, 764 tonnes of hazardous materials, mostly corrosive, flammables and some miscellaneous glass nine hazardous materials, which would include lithium ion batteries. some of the hazmat containers were breached. we

have seen sheen on the waterway. the federal, state and local authorities are aware of that, and they will be in charge of addressing those issues. marine traffic has been temporarily halted in and out of the port of baltimore. maryland governor, wes moore, is calling for support to fix the bridge, and get one of the busiest ports in the us up and running again. the collapse of the key bridge is notjust the collapse of the key bridge is not just a the collapse of the key bridge is notjust a maryland crisis, the collapse of the key bridge is a global crisis. the national economy and the world's economy depends on the port of baltimore. the port handles more cars and more farm equipment than any other port in the country. last year alone, the port handled $80 billion of foreign cargo, the largest in the country.

governor moore says at least 8,000 dock workers at the port of baltimore have been affected by the bridge collapse, as stranded ships idle. earlier, i spoke to democrat, luke clippinger, a maryland state lawmaker, who's proposing emergency legislation to offer financial help to those workers. thanks indeed forjoining us on bbc news, we appreciate your time, i know it has been a very stressful period for yourself and for everyone in baltimore and for everyone in baltimore and marilyn. and for everyone in baltimore and marilyn-— and for everyone in baltimore and maril n. ., , _ and marilyn. you might begin by -auttin in and marilyn. you might begin by putting in context _ and marilyn. you might begin by putting in context for _ and marilyn. you might begin by putting in context for us - and marilyn. you might begin by putting in context for us just - putting in context for us just how big an employer is the port of baltimore for the city, for the wider area?— of baltimore for the city, for the wider area? well, there are about 37.000 _ the wider area? well, there are about 37,000 people _ the wider area? well, there are about 37,000 people in - the wider area? well, there are l about 37,000 people in maryland who are employed in one way or the other by activity out of the other by activity out of the port of baltimore, and it is our window on the world. baltimore was a port city from its very founding, and so there are lots and lots of families in my district and across the baltimore area who rely on the port, and the port is now

closed, so we have a lot of work to do to get the port back up work to do to get the port back up and running and to reopen us back up to the world. find up and running and to reopen us back up to the world.— back up to the world. and what is happening — back up to the world. and what is happening to _ back up to the world. and what is happening to those - back up to the world. and what is happening to those workersl is happening to those workers now. as you have said, the port is not operational, but do they turn up for work anyway, what happens to them? mi; happens to them? my understanding - happens to them? ij�*i understanding is happens to them? m understanding is yesterday happens to them? m; understanding is yesterday at about 11 o'clock one of the larger terminals closed. there are businesses, some of which have been able to stay open because they received recent deliveries that have come in, but some that are trying to figure out next steps with the materials that they have right now. so it is becoming very important that we take next steps to ensure that the people who work at the port are taken care of during this very difficult time.— care of during this very difficult time. i, ~ i, , i, difficult time. talk to us than about what — difficult time. talk to us than about what is _ difficult time. talk to us than about what is next _ difficult time. talk to us than about what is next steps - difficult time. talk to us than about what is next steps are. we have heard the federal government will pay to rebuild the bridge itself but what about those people? so the bridge itself but what about those people? so we are auoin to about those people? so we are going to put — about those people? so we are going to put in _ about those people? so we are going to put in legislation, - going to put in legislation, myself and a senator from the

46th district who is also the senate president, we are going to put in legislation that would allow for some supplemental income to be available to people who work at the port, directly or indirectly in port —related businesses, to allow them to be able to make it through the time during which the port is closed to traffic. what is going to happen right now is they are going to continue the investigation of what went wrong, but right after that they are going to have to try to clear the channel and allow us to reopen the shipping. we're not sure how long that's going be. hopefully it is a month or two, we certainly hope it is not longer than that but we want to make sure people are ok while that is being worked on. 0k while that is being worked on. i, i, i, i, on. even a month or two there is uuite on. even a month or two there is quite a _ on. even a month or two there is quite a long _ on. even a month or two there is quite a long time _ on. even a month or two there is quite a long time for- on. even a month or two there is quite a long time for people | is quite a long time for people to be without their incomes, and many of these jobs aren't very high paying jobs anyway. that's the thing. it is a wide range of differentjobs, there are some highly skilled jobs,

like schuermann, who off—load and unload the containers onto the ships but we also have people who clean the ships. we have people who work in the warehouse is surrounding the port. it is a wide range of different people who will be negatively impacted by this and so that's why we have to help them out. so that's why we have to help them out-— so that's why we have to help them out. i, i i, , i, ~' them out. how much do you think that will cost? _ them out. how much do you think that will cost? are _ them out. how much do you think that will cost? are you _ them out. how much do you think that will cost? are you aiming - that will cost? are you aiming to replace their entire salaries with the payment? it has been 36 hours since the bridge collapsed, so we're trying to figure out some of those details now. we have some precedent in the past for doing things similar to that, in when we have had shutdowns from the federal government, maryland is a state that has a large number of federal employees, we found ways to provide the same kind of supplemental income in the short term to allow them to stay on their feet while the federal government passed the budget. this is a little bit different, so we are not exactly sure how much is going to cost right now but at the minimum we certainly want to make sure we give the governor the ability to do this.—

the ability to do this. beyond those folks — the ability to do this. beyond those folks employed - the ability to do this. beyond those folks employed either| those folks employed either directly or indirectly through the port, what is this going to mean for the wider economy of baltimore, bearing in mind that bearing in mind it has only been a day or half or so? i think it has an impact on the national economy, and i want to say that it has been great to see the secretary from the department for transport asian, to see the president and federal involvement that has really come to help a great deal, the governor's office has been great. we have a lot of people who are here to help because it has such a huge impact, not only to the city of baltimore but all the way around the country. but in baltimore there are $3.3 billion in personal income that is made from people who work at the port, and that is a major chunk of our economy and the baltimore metropolitan area, and so people sometimes forget that we really are a front door to the world in baltimore, so we want to put those people back to work as quickly as we can, and of course as safely as we can as well.—

we can as well. indeed. thank ou for we can as well. indeed. thank you for speaking _ we can as well. indeed. thank you for speaking to _ we can as well. indeed. thank you for speaking to us - we can as well. indeed. thank you for speaking to us on - we can as well. indeed. thank you for speaking to us on bbc| you for speaking to us on bbc news. i, ~ , i, eight people expected to be part of a transitional presidential council in haiti are pledging to restore order. the council will be responsible for selecting a new prime minister to replace ariel henry, who agreed to resign two weeks ago, amid rising gang violence in the country's capital. our north america correspondent nomia iqbal has been talking to haitians about their country's crisis, and future. parts of this volatile nation are now a war zone, flooded with guns and gangs. haiti is a country that doesn't manufacture weapons, yet its people are living in a state of terror, perpetuated by hundreds of armed gangs. juliet points to where she was shot. gangs and an event she was working at in port—au—prince. translation:

i set everyone, run, run, in port—au—prince. translation: iset everyone, run, run, run, because they are shooting, and then i was shot twice. ten eo - le then i was shot twice. ten people were _ then i was shot twice. ten people were killed, - then i was shot twice. ten people were killed, including her business partner. she struggles to talk about what happened. juliet fled to cap haitian, carrying her belongings, and bullet scars. this shared space is all she has, gangs have taken over the home she owns in port—au—prince. home she owns in port-au-prince. at the beginning. _ port-au-prince. at the beginning, our- port-au-prince. at the| beginning, our political leaders didn't do anything to stop these gangs. they let them go and go and go and now it is too complicated to stop them. the gangs are everywhere. more than 30.000 — the gangs are everywhere. more than 30,000 people _ the gangs are everywhere. more than 30,000 people have - the gangs are everywhere. more than 30,000 people have fled the capital, paying high prices to take the bus to cap haitian. there is a moment of relief as this father sees his 14—year—old son has made it safely. translation: the “ourne safely. translation: the journey was _ safely. translation: the journey was very _ safely. translation: tue:

journey was very long, more than six hours. i was praying the whole way. there were a lot of gunshots in one area. our busjust missed them. another passenger— busjust missed them. another passenger has _ busjust missed them. another passenger has a _ busjust missed them. another passenger has a message - busjust missed them. another passenger has a message for l passenger has a message for america. translation: bill passenger has a message for america. translation: all the . uns america. translation: all the runs here america. translation: all the guns here are — america. translation: all the guns here are from _ america. translation: all the guns here are from the - america. translation: all the guns here are from the us. - america. translation: all the guns here are from the us. if. guns here are from the us. if the us— guns here are from the us. if the us wants to stop this, they could _ the us wants to stop this, they could do— the us wants to stop this, they could do it _ the us wants to stop this, they could do it in one month. there is no exact _ could do it in one month. there is no exact number— could do it in one month. there is no exact number of— could do it in one month. there is no exact number of family i is no exact number of family traffic firearms are currently in haiti. a un report in january said some estimates put it at half a million weapons here as of 2020. weapons are being smuggled into haiti by air, land and sea. there have been seizures in the country's main ports, including here in cap haitian, where guns and ammunition are hidden in shipping containers. they then end up in the hands of violent gangs, who are becoming haiti's de facto rulers. the chief prosecutor here says he has never seen it so bad in haiti. for me it isjust like a nightmare. for me it is 'ust like a nightmare._ for me it is 'ust like a niahtmare. ~ , , nightmare. with guns being so rolific, nightmare. with guns being so prolific. is _ nightmare. with guns being so prolific, is there _

nightmare. with guns being so prolific, is there a _ nightmare. with guns being so prolific, is there a fear - nightmare. with guns being so prolific, is there a fear the - prolific, is there a fear the violence could spread beyond the capital? are they scared of coming here? {iii the capital? are they scared of coming here?— coming here? of course, yes, because we're _ coming here? of course, yes, because we're not _ coming here? of course, yes, because we're not playing - coming here? of course, yes, | because we're not playing with them. anything could happen, because if this is a gangster that comes, he's not coming to play, so we're not playing with them either.— them either. the us state department _ them either. the us state department announced i them either. the us state department announced a l them either. the us state - department announced a plan last year to work with haitian police to work with gun trafficking but with no head of state and effectively no government, gun violence is yet another vicious circle haiti is trapped in, with no clear way out. nomia iqbal, bbc news, haiti. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. childrens' services in derbyshire have apologised, after a safeguarding review found that they had missed opportunities to help io—month—old finlay boden, who was murdered by his parents. stephen boden and shannon marsden were convicted of his murder, and sentenced to life in prison, after killing their child, on christmas day in 2020, just weeks after children's

services return the at—risk child to his parents. rowers in this weekend's university boat race in london have been warned not to go into the thames. high levels of e.coli were detected in the river. the crew teams from oxford and cambridge have also been told to cover up blisters and open wounds. the environmental advocacy group, river action, said tests indicate that the e.coli comes from sewage discharge. cambridge city council has ordered a sculpture of the late duke of edinburgh to be taken down. officials say the bronze artwork was erected last year without planning permission. it had already been removed from a previous site, where it was put up in 2014. the i3—foot—tall faceless statue honors prince philip's you're live with bbc news. the white house says

it is working to reschedule a meeting with an israeli delegation, to discuss the future of gaza. it comes after prime minister benjamin netanyahu abruptly cancelled a delegation's visit to the us this week, when the us abstained during a un security council vote on a resolution that called for a ceasefire in gaza. meanwhile, the un high commissionerfor human rights has told the bbc that israel is significantly to blame for the appalling humanitarian situation in gaza, where famine is looming. these are images of destruction in gaza in the past 24 hours. volker turk said israel had obligations as the occupying power, and was placing unreasonable demands on the delivery of aid. he's been speaking to out international editorjeremy bowen. gaza is no place to be ill. noura mohammed had lung and liver problems before the war. now, after months of starvation and without the right medical care, she is deteriorating fast. "my daughter can't move," says her mother. "she's anaemic, always sleeping and there's nothing "nutritious to eat."

there is plenty to eat only a few miles away in the lorries that are backed up on the egyptian side of the border, and much more that could come from israel — if the israelis let it into gaza. from geneva, volker turk, the un's most senior human rights official, told me there is plausible evidence that israel is using starvation as a weapon of war. look, when it comes to humanitarian assistance, let's be clear — israel is an occupying power and has an obligation to provide humanitarian assistance, and if that humanitarian assistance does not come in, in the scale, speed and predictability that is required, yes, very serious questions are raised. so let's get it very clear. israel's to blame? israel is to blame in a significant way, yes. you're aware, of course, that israel says they're not to blame at all, that they give

as much aid as is possible. that if anyone's to blame, it's the un and it's particularly hamas. it is absolutely clear what happened on the 7th and the 8th of october by hamas and some of the other armed groups is unconscionable. these are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights. at the same time, the brutality of the attack by israel, and the method of warfare, it begs the question of the proportionality of the response. you're saying "questions". you say there is no doubt about hamas. are there any doubts about israel? you always have to prove the intent. but, as i said, collective punishment, the collective punishment that was declared with the siege indeed amounts to a war crime, and it needs to be dealt as such. on social media, false claims circulate that famine in gaza is a lie. the hebrew caption says there's more shawarma in gaza than in israeli haifa, and israel's government dismisses the un's accusations.

total nonsense, totally irresponsible thing to say. israel is accepting all the aid that the us and the world is giving to gazan innocent people, which a lot of it goes to extend the war. how many innocent people are in gaza, in your opinion? that's not. . .. i'm not going to quote any number. i'm basically saying that over 70% of gazans support october 7 massacre. so they're not innocent? people that are supporting hamas, they have a different thought. they're an enemy. i thank our friends around the world for supporting our strategic goal, and i'm telling you... but they don't like the way you're doing it, do they? that's tough. we're going to finish the war. we'll do everything we can to kill the hamas terrorists and to minimise collateral damage as much as we can. the evidence of gaza's humanitarian catastrophe is overwhelming, and it is deepening international pressure on israel.

swollenjoints, wasted limbs and dermatitis are classic symptoms of acute malnutrition. these children reached hospital. most ofjust overi million gazans considered to be in acute need will not have that option. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. i spoke about this with former white house deputy national security advisor ambassador, james jeffery. james jeffrey, thank you jamesjeffrey, thank you for joining us again on bbc news. what's your reading of the situation? prime minister netanyahu has said he will now allow his representatives to come to the white house to discuss what is to happen in rafah. will anything come of those discussions?— rafah. will anything come of those discussions? thank you for having _ those discussions? thank you for having me _ those discussions? thank you for having me on. _ those discussions? thank youj for having me on. absolutely. we had a near breakdown of american and israeli relations earlier this week over the un

vote in the security council for an immediate ceasefire, and the israeli reaction. what's behind this is the united states is very unhappy with a number of things israel is doing. one is not putting enough effort into humanitarian relief, secondly, not planning for the day after. israel, frankly, has a lot to explain on that account. it is not a war crime, it's not genocide but it certainly could be better. the problem is, by calling for a halt, which is a must what the administration was doing, basically said israel can't finish the fight against hamas, and that is something that in the end of the united states and frankly the united states and frankly the international community doesn't want to see. we have to square the circle. how do you finish off hamas in rafah along the egyptian border without another large loss of palestinian civilian lives? that's what they could talk about in washington, once the

two groups get together, nobody talked about with mr gallant here this week.— here this week. despite the extra pressure, _ here this week. despite the extra pressure, though, - here this week. despite the | extra pressure, though, that the us has been applying to israel, does it appear that benjamin netanyahu has any notion of deviating from his course? i, i, i, course? i have negotiated with him on syria — course? i have negotiated with him on syria and _ course? i have negotiated with him on syria and other - course? i have negotiated with him on syria and other issues, | him on syria and other issues, he is a tough negotiator. he has taken various responses to steps on american pressure. there shouldn't be american pressure but the point is he has. there are some 200 trucks going in now. there are various israeli procedures searching the trucks and such that i think should be looked at to speed things up. but nonetheless, what we forget at the end of the day, my friend bulk attack earlier talked about hamas's war crimes on the 7th of october, it is a war crime to build up military fortifications in a civilian

area. that is what hamas did. israel is within its rights going after those people. that is why the international court of justice is why the international court ofjustice did not find israel guilty of genocide in their findings based on south africa. we have to look at the legal basis for this as well as the very important humanitarian and political side. bill very important humanitarian and political side.— political side. all the while thou . h political side. all the while though there _ political side. all the while though there is _ political side. all the while though there is a - political side. all the while | though there is a desperate situation under in gaza, desperate humanitarian crisis, the entire population at risk of famine, people starving to death in the north of the country, awaiting an invasion in the south of the country and oversee those hostages are still in gaza as well. what do you see can happen next, and crucially, when?— crucially, when? first of all we have — crucially, when? first of all we have to _ crucially, when? first of all we have to up _ crucially, when? first of all we have to up the - crucially, when? first of all- we have to up the humanitarian effort. that is something that is being done independent of the israelis, the airdrops and the israelis, the airdrops and the president biden plan for an offshore are unloading, and

that's important. the second thing we have to do, after ramadan, because it's clear there will be nothing after ramadan, find some way to put hamas under pressure in the rafah area to end this conflict. we have to remember it is also a terrible human rights tragedy for the 2.4 million gazans if they are left in the rubble of gaza under the control of hamas. he wants to see that situation? the first who wants to see that situation, raise his or her hand. , i, , hand. so when you see any possible — hand. so when you see any possible resolution - hand. so when you see any possible resolution to - hand. so when you see any| possible resolution to this? hand. so when you see any i possible resolution to this? i think there will be a military situation worked out between the us and israel. i think at some point once it is clear to her mass�*s leadership that they are not going to be spared a military operation, that is when they will negotiate seriously about the hostages, about a ceasefire and about a resolution to this thing.- resolution to this thing. sorry for interrupting _ resolution to this thing. sorry for interrupting you _ resolution to this thing. sorry for interrupting you but - resolution to this thing. sorry for interrupting you but how i resolution to this thing. sorry for interrupting you but how do you do that in rafah in

particular when you have 1.5 million people there in a very small area?— small area? first of all israel is under a — small area? first of all israel is under a commitment - small area? first of all israel is under a commitment they| small area? first of all israel. is under a commitment they say they will meet to find a plan to meet these refugees and out of the way, that is a requirement for american support and we have made it clear again this week. secondly, israel in the khan younis battle, that is finishing up now, did put a whole lot more effort into carefully selected areas and moving the civilian population from one area to another. i suspect they will try to do a far more extensive version of that. i, i, , that. 0k, we will wait to see what happens _ that. 0k, we will wait to see what happens there. - that. 0k, we will wait to see what happens there. thanks| that. 0k, we will wait to see i what happens there. thanks as always forjoining us on bbc news, james jeffrey. always forjoining us on bbc news, jamesjeffrey. orso always forjoining us on bbc news, jamesjeffrey. or so of course a previous us ambassador to multiple countries.— to multiple countries. thank ou. back here in the us, former senator and democratic vice presidential nominee, joe lieberman, has died,

at the age of 82. he was chosen as al gore's running mate during the presidential election in 2000. he was the firstjewish candidate on a major presidential ticket. his family say he died after suffering complications from a fall. before we go, let's turn to a real—life iron man. the artist behind these monumental steel sculptures that have appeared all around the world over the past half century, richard serra, has died, at the age of 85. san francisco born artist is credited with reinventing sculpture, by placing simple but huge arrangements of upright slabs and shapes on the ground, which people can walk around. he said the giants still shapes of the holes of the shipyard where his father work inspired him and he himself went on to work in a steel mill to help pay for his education, studying fine art at yale. stay with us here on bbc news. iam i am caitriona perry. that's it for the moment. more to come.

glenn hello. well, let's see how the weather is looking, and, yes, more rain on the way. it's been raining for such a long time now — i know some of us are starting to complain. it's so soggy out there and further rain clouds heading our way. in fact, the north atlantic and much of europe, dominated by a huge area of low pressure, with smaller area of low pressures embedded within it, and look at all these weather fronts circling this big low, which is approaching us right now, and, in fact, some very strong winds on the way for a time on thursday, particularly across southern areas of the uk. so, through the early hours, we will have had some rain from southern parts of the uk, through merseyside, the irish sea into northern ireland. temperatures early in the morning, three, four, five degrees, maybe colder in some spots where skies will have cleared. but on those winds in the south, exposed areas could see 60 to 65 mile an hour gusts at times. inland, central southern counties there, 50 miles an hour. very windy in london,

very windy in the midlands, east anglia, too, so a very blustery day. so, through the morning, one where the front moves northwards. so, outbreaks of rain through yorkshire, into northern ireland, and then this circulation here, with those very strong winds buffeting the south and the southwest and those heavy showers. a bit of sunshine in between, but also thunderstorms and hail. a really turbulent day. the temperatures quite disappointing, nine to 10 degrees celsius. now, into friday, then, so the area of low pressure is still very much with us. look how big it is. it's absolutely huge. it's dominating a really large chunk of the planet really here. and we'll see further showers sweeping across the uk. i don't think the winds are going to be quite as strong on friday, but still enough of a breeze out there, and certainly pushing those showers along. again, hail and thunder possible, but some sunshine, too. so that's good friday. also a little milder, maybe 10 to 13 degrees celsius. if you're wondering where the warmth is, it's actually across more eastern parts of europe, in excess of 20 degrees celsius. are we going to get any of that? well, it does look as though,

with this area of low pressure, we are going to see some changes in the wind direction as we head into sunday. more of a southerly breeze developing — still very changeable on the weather front — but that southerly breeze will mean that those temperatures will recover, at least somewhat. so, perhaps the mid—teens, but changeable weather across the south. still disappointing in the north, closer to nine degrees celsius. that's it from me. bye— bye.

the national economy and the world economy depends on the port of baltimore. as investigations continue in baltimore, officials say tuesday's collision and bridge collapse could lead to a global crisis. and a surge in rents is changing life on the mediterranean party island of ibiza. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. officials have recovered two bodies in baltimore. a bridge collapsed in the us city on tuesday when a container ship crashed into it. investigators have just said some containers on the ship, containing corrosives and lithium ion batteries, were "breached". the ship was leaving the port of baltimore — one of america's largest. it has since been closed, causing havoc on the movement of goods. it's thought that 8,000 jobs have been affected by the collapse of the bridge.