while israel marks memorial day as intense fighting takes place in gaza's north and south — forcing hundreds of thousands to flee. protesters return to tbilisi, georgia, demanding the government halt plans to adopt a law they worry could silence dissent in the country. the remainder of the collapsed francis scott key bridge in baltimore. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. after months of static frontlines in the war in ukraine, it appears that russian troops are advancing. over the weekend, their forces opened up a new front near kharkiv in the north—east, pushing closer towards ukraine's second largest city as they captured a number of small villages. nearly 6,000 people have fled the region amid heavy fighting. as ukrainian troops push back, the white house says it's working with allies to get more patriot defence systems into the country.

from kyiv, our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse has the latest. shouting. these communities are used to russia being close, but not this close. forfour days, bombs have rained down here, and the window to leave is shrinking. thousands have been forced to escape, and counting. "keep talking to us," says this police officer to 71—year—old 0lga. she was injured in an explosion and their car is now an ambulance. they meet paramedics. we're told she's in a serious condition. translation: vovchans'k - is being mercilessly destroyed, blown up by rocket propelled grenades, artillery, mortars, and small arms battles are going on on the northern

outskirts of the city. the newly homeless end up here in ukraine's second city, kharkiv. people are terrified. they are stressed. they take... they keep their animals with them. so everyone is in a huge stress because of the constant shelling and of the shock of the russian offensive. volodymyr said he went to feed his animals when he encountered machine gunfire in all directions. for now, kharkiv city is a place of relative safety. but for how long? while few think the russians are capable of taking it, they could soon be in artillery range. translation: our task is crystal clear. - to stop russia's attempt to expand the war. the fulfilment of this task depends on everyone who is on the ground. missiles routinely hit kharkiv.

if this offensive isn't contained, the destruction will be even greater. ukraine is struggling to hold what is a new front line. james waterhouse, bbc news, kyiv. in gaza, civilians are fleeing fighting on two fronts — in the south near rafah, and in the north near jabalia. the israeli military says it's targeting a resurgence of hamas injabalia — months after forcing the group out of its northern staging ground. the un says that since israel began its operation there a week ago, 360,000 people have fled. earlier today, white house national security adviserjake sullivan said the us is still working with israel to avoid a major military operation in rafah. we still believe it would be a mistake to launch a major military operation into the heart of rafah that would put huge numbers of civilians at risk without a clear strategic game. the president was clear that he would not supply certain offensive weapons for such an operation, were it to occur. it has not yet occurred

and we're still working with israel on a better way to the defeat of hamas everywhere in gaza, including in rafah. despite these warnings, israel insists victory is impossible without taking rafah. 0ur diplomatic correspondent paul adams has more from jerusalem. the war returns to the north. gunfire. there's panic in jabalia. they've been told to leave, but is there anywhere safe? "we don't know where to go," she says. "we've been forced from one place to another. "i saw a tank and a bulldozer, they're over there." shelling. gunfire. months after israeli forces last fought through these streets, they're back. israel says it's trying to stop hamas reorganising. after seven months of war, the group is still unpredictable. a few miles away, a new crossing point for aid heading into the north, israel under enormous international pressure

to prevent starvation. a convoy carrying flour went in yesterday, a rare sight in a place deprived for so long, a place of hunger and disease. for israel, a moment of introspection. it's memorial day, when the country stops to reflect on its own pain, on those who have died in the course of israel's long years of conflict, this already among the worst in living memory. emotions still raw at the scene of the music festival where so many young israelis died on 7 october. naama's brother is fighting in gaza. ijust want my brothers and my sisters out. i know what they've been through and what they're going through now. and we all want the war to end, but we didn't start it. injerusalem, israel's unpopular prime minister spoke of his and the country's

determination. translation: this is . what the war is all about. it's either us, israel, or them, the hamas monster. either continued existence, liberty, security and prosperity, or destruction, slaughter, rape, and enslavement. war is still raging at both ends of the gaza strip, mr netanyahu looking for some version of total victory, his frustrated allies warning that this isn't possible, that dangerous anarchy is the more likely outcome, a warning the prime minister does not appear to be heeding. paul adams, bbc news, jerusalem. israel marked memorial day on monday. it's a day the nation remembers those who have died in the war and in the 7 october hamas attacks. 0ur correspondent lucy williamson was at a tribute it wasn't just the past they were remembering today. in israel's military cemetery, a new generation grieved

for their comrades, their children. fresh graves in a sea of memorials from israel's previous wars, the empty plots beside them shadowed by future losses from this war. siren blares at 11:00, the morning siren of remembrance. tongues fell silent. their faces spoke instead. israel's prime minister, faced with the human cost of a war he's determined to continue. translation: our war of - independence is still not over. it is still being fought today. it's us or them, israel or the monsters of hamas. we are determined to win. but divisions over this war, largely buried today beneath the national mourning, haven't gone away. i don't know how

we will look back on this in, let's say, 20 years. you know, and i hope this was a last phase, the last terrible phase, and something that will end up good. but at what cost? buried in the grave of tank commander daniel perez, his bloodied uniform — retrieved from the gaza border after the 7th of october attacks, his body still held by hamas in gaza. for his sister, shira, a reminder of his other identity — a football scarf for the liverpool fan. this is not about this political issue. this is about the very existence of israel. this was one of those "to be or not to be" moments, so nobody wants to sacrifice anybody. but it's the price that we have to, as a nation, be prepared to defend our right to be. there are words for a camera and words for a brother

that only his gravestone will hear. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. now to the country of georgia. pro—europe demonstrators are on the streets of tblisi again, ahead of the government's plans to adopt a new bill that's seen by many as a crackdown on civil society in the ex—soviet country. the legislation would force ngos and media to register as foreign agents if more than 20% of their funding comes from overseas. the government says the bill would increase transparency and defend georgia's sovereignty. demonstrators say georgia will see the same clampdown on media as in russia — where similar legislation is already in place. earlier i spoke to batu kutelia, former georgian ambassador to the usa and former head of georgia's foreign intelligence service. you have been out protests that are stretching into tuesday morning in georgia. tell us what you have seen.-

what you have seen. these protests — what you have seen. these protests have _ what you have seen. these protests have been - what you have seen. these protests have been one - what you have seen. these protests have been one of| what you have seen. these i protests have been one of the biggest protests that georgia has seen since regaining its independence, and one of the biggest of this protest, and the optics of it is we see in a big number, people, pretesting and they are protesting for the country. also we have seen inaudible the enormous brutality and violence from the government, and it seems that it is a deliberate measure to scare people and not to allow them to protest again already stress their constitutional guaranteed rights of free speech. guaranteed rights of free seech. ., , speech. the governing party sa s this speech. the governing party says this legislation - speech. the governing party says this legislation would i says this legislation would increase transparency and also ensure that georgia does not get pulled into a conflict with russia. what is your response to that? , ., ., ,

russia. what is your response tothat? , ., ., , ., to that? first of all this law has nothing _ to that? first of all this law has nothing to _ to that? first of all this law has nothing to do _ to that? first of all this law has nothing to do with - has nothing to do with transparency, because this law is discriminatory. it identifies those organisations, civil society and media outlets as foreign agents, exactly in the same way as russia did it. we can also see the purpose of this law is to punish them. as an outcome of the protest of the government reaction of synchronised attacks on the activists, creating some database of so—called foreign ages, as the chairman propose recently, it is very much in line with authoritarian way of silencing the opposition. i guess that they learned some lessons from the recent refreshment with the chinese communist party because they have frequent visits with china and signing strategic partnership agreements with them. i partnership agreements with them. ., ., , .,

them. i want to “ump in and ask ou. .. them. i want to “ump in and ask you. .. one — them. i want tojump in and ask you... one question _ them. i want tojump in and ask you... one question about - you... one question about these. what you are describing, these. what you are describing, the georgia dream party that introduces legislation after it try to last year, it has been in power was 2012, voted back in power was 2012, voted back in 2020, and they vowed to normalise ties with russia. despite these protests, how do we know these protests represent what the majority of georgians want? represent what the ma'ority of georgians wannh georgians want? first of all, the biggest _ georgians want? first of all, the biggest sign _ georgians want? first of all, the biggest sign of - georgians want? first of all, the biggest sign of this - the biggest sign of this protest is immediate directional of society with this law. the understanding or the reading of this law and not only the letter but the period of this law, a chilling memory for the elder generation, but for the elder generation, but for the elder generation, but for the younger generation something that was so precious for them, something that was so precious forthem, being something that was so precious for them, being so close to europe and a european feature is part of the free nation of the european family. this

combination of these two factors of our recent series with the soviet union and totalitarianism in our government to violently clench to the power that they have redone quite effectively, the fact that we have got up to 200 georgians protesting in the streets. fora georgians protesting in the streets. for a country that is 3.5 million, inaudible. incredibly dramatic protests. the final voting on the proposed legislation scheduled for tuesday, the prime minister vowed this will pass. what are protesters then do with it does pass? i protesters then do with it does ass? ~ protesters then do with it does -ass?

authoritarianism ruling system. the george bennett dream will pass this threshold of instability to the democratic process. we will have a full—fledged system. we will retain our right to protest in the streets but we do hope for our international community to support us because this fight is not only the georgia versus the government, we understand that we are part of a bigger context of the global fight of democracy with authoritarianism. this is our part of the frontline and we are trying to keep this frontline but we do need an external assistance as well. coming up, michael cohen takes the stand. we will have all the details. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at another story making headlines. an inquiry looking at why some women have traumatic experiences in childbirth, has called for a major overhaul

of maternity and post—natal care in the uk. the report, led by a group of mps, refers to "harrowing evidence" given by more than 1,000 women. it said poor maternity care was all—too—frequently tolerated as normal — and women giving birth were often treated as an inconvenience. michael buchanan has more. among the things the enquiry identified, a failure to listen when a woman says something was wrong, a lack of informed consent, medics not properly explaining specific procedures, and a lack of pain relief with women in acute pain being given just paracetamol. it women in acute pain being given just paracetamol.— just paracetamol. it does seem to be a maternity _ just paracetamol. it does seem to be a maternity lottery - just paracetamol. it does seem to be a maternity lottery in - to be a maternity lottery in this— to be a maternity lottery in this country. when looking for patterns — this country. when looking for patterns it was clear was not as individual trust, it was certain— as individual trust, it was certain parts of the uk, actually national challenge. the inquiry wants the government to invest in more midwives and to appoint a maternity commissioner — someone directly responsible for improving care across the nhs. you're live with bbc news.

on monday, donald trump's former lawyer michael cohen testified in court about the hush money payment made to adult film actress, stormy daniels. cohen said in his testimony, "everything required mr trump's sign off" and that the payment was made at trump's direction. the prosecution also showed phone records between cohen and trump from 2016 on the day a non—disclosure agreement with stormy daniels was finalised. nada tawfik was at the trial in new york, and she has more on this. michael cohen's testimony is crucial to this case. prosecutors hope that the conversations that michael cohen shared between him and donald trump directly tie his former boss to the hush money payments and to the allegations that trump falsified business records. michael cohen testified that everything was done with mr trump's sign—off. he said that before donald trump even ran for president, he warned michael cohen to be prepared for negative stories, that a lot of women would come forward. when they eventually did,

michael cohen says the stormy daniels' story was one he feared could be catastrophic for donald trump's campaign and that his former boss was fuming, saying it would be a total disaster, that some women would hate him for it. michael cohen said that donald trump ordered him to "just do it", to make the payment to stormy daniels, the $130,000 payment that is at the centre of this case. michael cohen says that he ultimately fronted the money because "nobody else would". he tried to come up with a creative way to make sure he could not be traced back to donald trump, opening up a front company, a shell company to do that. he says before he wired the money to stormy daniels' lawyer, he called donald trump twice — again to get his sign—off and to ensure he would be paid off and the court was shown those phone records. michael cohen then eventually spoke about what is really at issue here — the 3a counts of falsifying business records.

michael cohen says that donald trump was present and knew that alan weisselberg, the cfo of the trump 0rganization, said that he would be reimbursed in monthly instalments and that they would be labelled as �*legal expenses' in business documents and that michael cohen would be known as trump's personal lawyer. michael cohen directly trying donald trump to that knowledge that the reimbursement for the $130,000 payment would be marked in the trump 0rganization books as legal retainer fees. michael cohen will be back on the stand tomorrow and no doubt the defence will try to paint him as a liar and someone who has a vengeance against donald trump. joining me to discuss today's developments is molly ball, senior political correspondent for the wall streetjournal and marcus childress, partner atjenner & block and the former investigative counsel to the house select committee on the january

6th attack on the us capitol. agreed to have you here. this was the main witness for the prosecution. what impact you think the testimony today had? michael cohen today provided direct evidence of the former president, his knowledge of the hush money payments on october 2016 but otherwise he corroborated what we have already heard throughout the majority of the trail. michael cohen told the story of the initial meeting between david packer, donald trump and michael cohen, to do this catch and kill scheme. he took the jury and kill scheme. he took the jury to the timeline, the 26 october timeframe when stormy 0ctober timeframe when stormy daniels was paid off. what was keeping him to talk about is what trump was saying is key event, whether paying the doorman who had a story, and eventually paying stormy daniels. before we had testimony what michael cohen told others but today provided by donald trump was telling him

when he was making these acts. remind us why michael cohen is so important. he was a close confidant of donald trump? he was by his sizes long before he ever_ was by his sizes long before he ever ran — was by his sizes long before he ever ran for president. reporters like myself remember dealing — reporters like myself remember dealing with him and he was notoriously able dog in fighting for trump and his cognitive, going after anyone who— cognitive, going after anyone who is— cognitive, going after anyone who is suspected of getting in trump's — who is suspected of getting in trump's way or siding triumph and they— trump's way or siding triumph and they came through in his testimony as well, something that he — testimony as well, something that he talked about a lot, how close _ that he talked about a lot, how close they were, how zealously he guarded mr trump's prerogatives and the work he did as — prerogatives and the work he did as an— prerogatives and the work he did as an all—purpose fixer, not — did as an all—purpose fixer, not primarily a litigator in the — not primarily a litigator in the sensory lawyer but an all— purpose fixer, the sensory lawyer but an all—purpose fixer, making all— purpose fixer, making things— all—purpose fixer, making things happen for trump wherever he needed them to, whether— wherever he needed them to, whether in business or his personal— whether in business or his personal affairs. interesting how we talked _ personal affairs. interesting how we talked about - personal affairs. interesting how we talked about a - personal affairs. interesting | how we talked about a great time he had previously working for donald trump. we heard from

our correspondent as well that the difference will take a very hard line on michael cohen, to paint him as a liar. tell us more about the strategy and if you think you will be effective?— you think you will be effective? ' . , effective? the difference is crossinu effective? the difference is crossing buckets, - effective? the difference is crossing buckets, a - effective? the difference is crossing buckets, a bucket| effective? the difference is l crossing buckets, a bucket of trying to portray michael cohen as a liar with a history of not necessarily being truthful in response to authorities and a second bucket they will attack is donald trump must make actual knowledge of what michael cohen was doing, starting with the first buckets, michael cohen has an open record of not being truthful with prior investigations or truthful about what he was doing on behalf of donald trump to the media. the defence will try to see if you have interfered in the past, how to we know truthful today. the second bucket they will try to show that michael cohen was going broke, trying to impress the boss, not necessarily doing it because of orders from donald trump. we have seen some evidence of that in the defence crossing other witnesses didn't michael cohen abigail roache,

and they said yes. we will see more of that type of theme, lying in court this week allegedly, and also cold when trying to impress the boss are going broke with his actions. aha, going broke with his actions. a big picture, where do you think the trial stands right now as we have heard witness testimony?— we have heard witness testimon ? ~ . testimony? where are things? it is a black box. _ testimony? where are things? it is a black box. we _ testimony? where are things? it is a black box. we cannot - testimony? where are things? it is a black box. we cannot know i is a black box. we cannot know what _ is a black box. we cannot know what is — is a black box. we cannot know what is on _ is a black box. we cannot know what is on the jury's mind, what — what is on the jury's mind, what they— what is on the jury's mind, what they think is a process all of— what they think is a process all of this. the prosecution it seems — all of this. the prosecution it seems to— all of this. the prosecution it seems to feel things are going smoothly. 0ne seems to feel things are going smoothly. one important feature of michael cohen's testimony was he — of michael cohen's testimony was he kept his cool, he was even. — was he kept his cool, he was even. he _ was he kept his cool, he was even, he was able to explain things— even, he was able to explain things in— even, he was able to explain things in a three forward way, something that i think we will see when the defence starts examining him as they will try to get— examining him as they will try to get under his skin because he is — to get under his skin because he is known as someone who has a temper— he is known as someone who has a temper whom he is known as someone who has a temperwhom i he is known as someone who has a temper whom i play of the handle, _ a temper whom i play of the handle, and that is something the prosecution is concerned about — the prosecution is concerned about on _ the prosecution is concerned about. 0n the trump site, they feel it — about. 0n the trump site, they feel it has _ about. 0n the trump site, they feel it has gone well for them particularly in the court of public— particularly in the court of public opinion. he has came out

and seek— public opinion. he has came out and seek to discredit the prosecution in his public statements every day as he goes into and — statements every day as he goes into and out of the trial and his personal social network. the — his personal social network. the real _ his personal social network. the realjury that trump is concerned about is not so much the one — concerned about is not so much the one in— concerned about is not so much the one in the room as the one on 5_ the one in the room as the one on 5 november, and there is a feeling — on 5 november, and there is a feeling on _ on 5 november, and there is a feeling on his political campaign side that he is exceeding in that court. what do ou exceeding in that court. what do you think? _ exceeding in that court. what do you think? on _ exceeding in that court. what do you think? on the - do you think? on the prosecution - do you think? on the prosecution side - do you think? on the prosecution side i - do you think? on the | prosecution side i am do you think? on the - prosecution side i am sure do you think? on the _ prosecution side i am sure they think it is going as well as accord. every witness has been and shown this was about the election and not necessarily about embarrassing a former president, the payments that were made, juries of the most unpredictable things in the wild so i think the prosecution are not necessarily comfortable with where they are but the case has been put on smoothly and equally narrative so far each witness. the trump team is happy with where it is going because it is playing a well public opinion and also be able to get some newsworthy cross

examination so far which is likely looking for. the trump cam is likely looking for. the trump camp is happy. _ likely looking for. the trump camp is happy, looking - likely looking for. the trump camp is happy, looking at. likely looking for. the trump| camp is happy, looking at the latest polls, the new york times showing that biden support is crumbling and donald trump leaving in a five battleground states in the swing state only three and voters say they are following this trial closely.— this trial closely. there is a pervasive _ this trial closely. there is a pervasive feeling _ this trial closely. there is a pervasive feeling among i this trial closely. there is a l pervasive feeling among the electorate that this is old news, the sort of tawdry scared all the people have always associated with trump, not news to american voters that he is a womaniser and has engaged in some sleazy conductor maybe not always all the truth. potentially also cut corners in his business. certainly his campaign feels that the ability of this trial to damage him politically is limited and we will see. , . politically is limited and we willsee. ., ., will see. great to get your takes time. _ will see. great to get your takes time. thank- will see. great to get your takes time. thank you - will see. great to get your takes time. thank you for| takes time. thank you for joining us. crews in baltimore, maryland, used explosives to help free a cargo ship trapped

under a collapsed bridge. crews have been working to clear the wreckage, and reopening shipping channels. the ship struck the francis scott key bridge on march 26 causing it to collapse, killing six people. the vessel's 21 crewmembers remain on board during the detonation. before we go, one dog finally had her day — and made history as well. nimble, a six—year—old dog from maryland became the first �*mixed breed' canine to win the westminster kennel club's agility championship. she zipped through an obstacle course at 28.76 seconds, before jumping into the arms of her owner. that is the show for this hour. we will be back at the top of the other with an update on the headlines. stay with us. hello. the weather looks decidedly mixed over the next few days,

just as it was on monday. for some of us, there was a little bit of sunshine and some warmth — 2a celsius, or at least very close to it, in parts of northern scotland. compare that with 1a celsius in south west england, with cloud, with outbreaks of rain — all in association with this area of low pressure and this slow—moving frontal system. now, this weather front is now slowly on the move, northwards and eastwards. you can follow that weather front here for tuesday morning — that's where we'll see outbreaks of rain across parts of eastern england for a time across the midlands, certainly some rain across northern england, southern and central scotland. rain tending to pull away from northern ireland, and for wales in the south—west, it's a mix of sunny spells and heavy showers. northern scotland should see some dry and bright weather. we could well see the highest of the temperatures here, around 21 celsius more generally, 16—20. and then, through tuesday night, here's our weather front continuing its very slowjourney northwards and eastwards. much of the rain, though, i think fizzling out.

it'll be a bit misty and murky in places as we start wednesday morning, temperatures generally between 9—12 celsius. 0ur weather front still in play, still a band of clouds, some splashes of rain — we may see some heavier rain pushing back in across some eastern and northern parts of england. elsewhere, some spells of sunshine, a scattering of showers — we could possibly see the odd heavy thundery shower breaking out in the northwest of scotland. temperatures in northern scotland likely to touch 22—23 celsius, but in sunny spots elsewhere, we will be in the high teens or the low—20s. for thursday, still the remnants of that weather front providing cloud and a focus for some showers. but we will see some showers breaking out quite widely on thursday, some heavy, thundery ones in places. but again, in the sunshine, temperatures getting into the low 20s celsius — not bad at all for the time of year. now, as we head into the end of the week and the weekend, this area of low pressure tending to weaken, the centre of the low tending to be to the south of the uk. so spots further north actually may escape most of the showers

and see a decent amount of dry weather. temperatures could still get into the 20s celsius for some. more showers further south, some of those heavy and thundery, but still with some spells of warm sunshine in between.

the artificial intelligence race is heating up. 0penai boss sam altman says upgrades to chatgpt will transform the platform into "ai from the movies". and as india's election enters its fourth phase, we have a special report from the politically sensitive city of ayodhya. hello and welcome to business today. i'm steve lai. let's begin in the united states, because a week of developer conferences are being held in the tech world, with three giants set to release their latest features and products in generative artificial intelligence. up first, chatgpt�*s parent company 0penai, which unveiled its new flagship model gpt—iio. from new york, the bbc�*s erin delmore has all the details. 20 years ago, the biggest battle in tech was over who would win the war for search engine dominance. google took the prize, and it isn't nowjust a multitrillion—dollar company. it's also a verb.

so now enter the latest fight over who will lead