a manhunt across france after a gang kills two prison officers in an ambush to free a convict. a dramatic day at donald trump's hush money trial in new york, as his former lawyer is cross—examined on the stand. the first report into the baltimore bridge crash says the cargo ship lost power, and then human error caused its engines to stall. and a red look for king charles, as he unveils the first official portrait since his coronation. welcome to the programme.

it's 7am in the morning here in singapore and 1am in france, where a huge manhunt is under way for the armed gang who helped a prisoner escape, shooting dead two guards as they did so. it happened in the town of incarville, near the northern city of rouen. three other prison guards were injured when their van was ambushed. several shots were fired near at the toll booth plaza as the prison van slowed. the convict who escaped had links to organised crime gangs in marseille in the south of the country. with the story, here's our europe correspondent nick beake. an unremarkable tollbooth in northern france, and the scene of a swift and brutal ambush. cctv footage shows the moment a dark car veers into a white prison van, and at least two masked attackers start shooting. terrified passengers on a passing bus throw themselves to the ground, as the bullets ring out.

one assailant is seen strolling calmly among the other vehicles on the motorway. then, here, you can make out the prisoner himself, wearing white trainers, as he emerges from the prison van. the gang sets fire to their own vehicle, the smoke only adding to the chaos. some of them run towards another car, a white one, to begin their escape. the aftermath, carnage. two prison officers dead, others gravely injured, as their police colleagues begin a painstaking search for evidence in an attack that's been described as an assault on france itself. translation: they will be | arrested, they will be judged and they will be punished commensurate to the crime that they have committed.

this is the man who was freed in the bloody assault — 30—year—old mohamed amra, a convicted local burglar. but he was also the suspect in a fatal kidnapping in the southern city of marseille, which is facing an onslaught of gang violence. amra and his accomplices are now being hunted by hundreds of police officers, from here in rouen, as well as french special forces from across the country. the burnt—out vehicle that initiated the killing, a starting point for clues. at the parliament in paris, a minute's silence to honour the victims. the prime minister conveying the sense of grief. translation: our grief is that of an entire country, _ an entire country shocked by this attack of unprecedented violence, by the brutality and cowardice of its perpetrators. forensic and other specialist investigators spent hours at the scene of the ambush. a violent attack on security staff is relatively rare

in france, so many have found the level of indiscriminate violence used today chilling. nick beake, bbc news, rouen, france. ukraine's energy operator has rolled out emergency blackouts around the country after weeks of russian strikes on power plants left the country unable to deal with a sharp drop in temperatures. it comes as ukraine is struggling to hold back a major russian incursion near its second biggest city of kharkiv, one of the most significant russian ground attacks since the start of the war. jonathan beale is near the front line — he sent this report. there was some ukrainian resistance when russian troops first crossed the border. this video shows ukrainian border guards trying to stop that advance.

but others simply walked in and russia's taken more than 50 square miles of ukrainian territory in a matter of days. russian troops have now entered vovansk. this recent drone feed shows a fierce fight for the town. even ukraine's most senior commanders admit the situation is critical and tense. one reason why they're now restricting access to the front. people living close to the fighting taking everything they can, by any means possible, are leaving in their hundreds. the local officials are trying to dispel any sense of panic. translation: no, we were not surprised by this attack. - we just didn't know where exactly it would happen. we knew that some kind of attack was expected and that they would look for a place to find

the weakness. he said the situation had stabilised, but that's not how it felt to valentina, who had to be rescued from her home. translation: it wasn't 'ust loud, it was very loud. h we hardly had time to get out. the russians were already close. really close. yana had already packed her belongings before this latest russian attack. yes, we were ready because all the warnings were just clear- that that could happen. and do you think the ukrainian army was ready? i don't think so. this is what the russians left behind the first time they were here in 2022 — a village completely destroyed and deserted. and just a few miles up there, the russians are doing exactly the same again in this latest assault. kharkiv city is where thousands are taking refuge, but it too is only 20 miles

from the russian border. many here have already endured occupation, then liberation, and they're having to live through the trauma once again. jonathan beale, bbc news, kharkiv. also in ukraine today, america's top diplomat, secretary of state antony blinken, made an unannounced visit. he said the war with russia was at a critical moment and promised unwavering us support — with this message for moscow. there's one more crucial step that we can take, making russia pay for ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. what putin destroyed, russia should and must pay to rebuild. let's speak to michael bociurkiw, a senior fellow at the atlantic council and global affairs analyst. many thanks for your time on

the programme. you havejust beenin the programme. you havejust been in ukraine. how is secretary blinken�*s visit likely to be received? {iii likely to be received? of course. _ likely to be received? of course, promises of aid are good, any message that the aid that the united states pledged is going to be sped up is very, very good, but at the moment these are just words, and unfortunately words don't deter russian missiles the way patriots do. this is what i'm hearing from the ukrainians as well, is that they are quite exhausted of western leaders coming to kyiv and taking selfies with mr zelensky. the other thing i have to say is i travelled hundreds of miles this past week in ukraine, mostly between kyiv and odesa, and all during that time, all i saw was one... you would've thought given what mr blinken has said, there would be convoy after convoy after convoy of military aid being moved. now, a lot of it is being moved at night by train and rode, but

this is, this was a surprise to me, i have to say.— this is, this was a surprise to me, i have to say. so, this is the first _ me, i have to say. so, this is the first visit _ me, i have to say. so, this is the first visit since _ me, i have to say. so, this is the first visit since the - the first visit since the us passed that aid bill for ukraine, and we are seeing russian progress on the northeastern front. did the aid come too late?— come too late? absolutely, it came too _ come too late? absolutely, it came too late. _ come too late? absolutely, it came too late. maga - come too late? absolutely, it - came too late. maga republicans try to block it here in the united states. it's absolutely disgusting, and there is going to come the day where they are going to have to account for it. there is going to come a day where they have to explain, why is it that mr putin was nonstop in ukraine, that he went further into native territory, and what that does, that will require us and other western boots on the ground. —— nato territory. they have a lot of expanding to do, but we are all thinking of the needless loss of life, infrastructure, soldiers on the front line. had

that aid, earlier, we would not be in the position we are in kharkiv for example. find be in the position we are in kharkiv for example. and there were massive _ kharkiv for example. and there were massive delays _ kharkiv for example. and there were massive delays to - kharkiv for example. and there were massive delays to that. kharkiv for example. and there | were massive delays to that aid package. as we approach the us election what's the sentiment at home with regards to ukraine?— at home with regards to ukraine? �*, ., , ukraine? it's not looking very aood. i ukraine? it's not looking very good- i mean. _ ukraine? it's not looking very good. i mean, i— ukraine? it's not looking very good. i mean, ithink- ukraine? it's not looking very good. i mean, i think not - ukraine? it's not looking very| good. i mean, i think not only thisjurisdiction but good. i mean, i think not only this jurisdiction but many others, taxpayers are getting wary of funding the ukraine war. that's because the narrative has been explained very poorly, i think, by ukraine and by washington. they have to make it clear to people this is notjust a ukraine war, this is notjust a ukraine war, this is notjust a ukraine war, this is turning into a global war, so it's very, very important that other means be found, for example, unfreezing russian assets, which is not an easy task, but another way of getting a two ukraine. michael bociurkiw, _ getting a two ukraine. michael bociurkiw, level— getting a two ukraine. michael bociurkiw, level affairs - bociurkiw, level affairs analyst, thank you very much for your time analyst, thank you very much foryourtime —— analyst, thank you very much for your time —— getting aid to ukraine.

let's take a look at the latest developments in the war in gaza. the prime minister of qatar, which has been trying to mediate a ceasefire between israel and hamas, says that talks have virtually reached a stalemate. he added that people in gaza have not received any aid since the 9th of may. the united nations says that almost 450,000 palestinians have fled from the southern gaza city of rafah in the last week. it follows warnings from the israeli military to people taking shelter there to leave. the rafah crossing, which has been used to bring large amounts of humanitarian supplies into gaza, currently remains closed. israel and egypt have blamed each other for that closure. people are also fleeing from jabalia, in the north of gaza, as israel presses on with what it says is an operation to prevent hamas from regrouping there. hamas has fired more rockets into southern israel. the israeli military says

that they were destroyed by the iron dome missile shield system, before they could cause any damage. the uk's foreign secretary, lord cameron, has condemned attacks on aid convoys crossing the west bank towards gaza. several aid trucks were ransacked, with reports some were later set on fire. lord cameron called on israel to do more to allow aid to reach gaza. now to new york, where donald trump's former lawyer and fixer michael cohen is back on the stand in the former president's hush money trial. he claimed that his ex—boss approved a plan to reimburse him for a payment made to the adult film actress stormy daniels. mr trump's legal team began their cross—examination — they accused mr cohen of being a self—confessed liar who lacked credibility and was politically biased. i'm joined now by robert moran in washington, a partner

at the brunswick group and public opinion expert. many thanks for your time on the programme. as this trial continues, how is mr trump faring amongst voters? are they following the trial? the? faring amongst voters? are they following the trial?— following the trial? they are followin: following the trial? they are following the _ following the trial? they are following the trial, - following the trial? they are following the trial, but - following the trial? they are i following the trial, but donald trump is faring very well. i mean, he's ahead nationally in the last, in the average of the last ten surveys, he's ahead of biden by 1.2 points, he is a head in five of six of the big swing states, according to the new york times most recent polling, and so it's interesting, because there was this view that the trials would hurt him, the trials and legal issues would hurt him, but in fact they have helped him consolidate his base and it sucked up most of the oxygen of the discussion right now. so it has not helped him and it may

be... it has not hurt him and maybe helping him. we be... it has not hurt him and maybe helping him. we signed at the courthouse _ maybe helping him. we signed at the courthouse reading _ maybe helping him. we signed at the courthouse reading from - maybe helping him. we signed at the courthouse reading from a . the courthouse reading from a paper, which he has done a few times —— we saw him at the courthouse. he is also spoken off the cuff. how much is the 939 off the cuff. how much is the gag order that thejudge has imposed on him hindering his campaign efforts from the courthouse? 50 campaign efforts from the courthouse?— campaign efforts from the courthouse? ., , , courthouse? so that is the big question. _ courthouse? so that is the big question, and _ courthouse? so that is the big question, and that _ courthouse? so that is the big question, and that may - courthouse? so that is the big question, and that may be - courthouse? so that is the big i question, and that may be what hurts him the most here. so, because he has to sit in trial, he is not instrument the country and doing all these big rallies that he loves —— barnstorming. he gets his energy from it. he is almost a 19th—century politician, in that effect. he campaigns by big rallies. so he's not doing as many of those, so that may be the thing that most hurts him, but he's not being hurt in the public opinion data that we all have and are looking at, and that i think is absolutely fascinating. what's happened

is, his supporters view these as sort of selective prosecution and so—called lawfare attacks, biden supporters already think he is guilty, there's not much of a middle, and the middle is focused on economy and inflation and here we are, and it's become a courtroom drama, and it donald trump is a master of the spectacle, and that's what we are in.— what we are in. yes, it has been quite _ what we are in. yes, it has been quite a _ what we are in. yes, it has been quite a political - been quite a political spectacle for him. he is ahead in some polls. do you see that changing with the outcome? will it affect voter sentiment, and if so, how? i it affect voter sentiment, and if so. how?— if so, how? i do not believe that the _ if so, how? i do not believe that the legal _ if so, how? i do not believe that the legal issues - if so, how? i do not believe that the legal issues and i if so, how? i do not believe| that the legal issues and the trials, etc, materially impacted this race. i believe that this race is won and lost on perceptions of the economy, the fight and ministration has time to change perceptions of the economy, but that window is

drinking —— biden administration for i also believe the race is likely to close and be super—tight because biden, the president is underperforming with the number of more loosely affiliated democratic voters, younger voters, younger black men, latinos who are shifting right, and so what they need to do is basically shift their perceptions, of the economy, and try to bring home younger voters who are little bit disaffected, and then try to bring home voters of colour, and i think, i suspect, bring home voters of colour, and i think, isuspect, the race tightens and is a very close one. race tightens and is a very close one-— close one. we will have to leave it — close one. we will have to leave it there. _ close one. we will have to leave it there. robert - close one. we will have to i leave it there. robert moran, partner at the brunswick group, many thanks for your time. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you are watching newsday. the first report by investigators into the collapse of a bridge in the us city of baltimore says the ship that crashed into it had suffered multiple electrical blackouts before the collision. the dali lost power both before and then after leaving port. the report issued by the national transportation safety board is the first detailed look at what went wrong, although it says investigators are still exploring what caused the failures. live now to washington and our correspondent helena humphrey. helena, great to see you. what does the report say about what led to the crash? 1th does the report say about what led to the crash?— led to the crash? as you say, this is a _ led to the crash? as you say, this is a preliminary - this is a preliminary investigation, it offers us that first glimpse into exactly what happened in the early hours of the morning on the 26th of march, it's a 2k page report, looking through it, the top line here is essentially that those electrical power

outages happened twice in the early hours of march 26, but then also about ten hours earlier, so the day before, there were also two power failures. essentially, it says one was due to human error, a crew member working on a diesel tank, and then another one with regards to the fuel pressure, just losing pressure, and so then when this vessel set out on the 26th of march, headed for sri lanka, it then saw two further power outages and it was not connected to a back—up generator which it had onboard, which meant they could not kick in, and so instead of course what we saw, though since that went right around the world, is this vessel veering towards the bridge and the bridge collapsing, almost instantaneously. we've also got a few more details with regards to the crew on board and their actions. they did radio for help and infect one member was engaged in dropping anchor, but then had to suspend that and

get out of the way due to the fact that the bridge was collapsing towards them. all of the crew on board were tested for alcohol, the crew on board were tested foralcohol, drugs, the crew on board were tested for alcohol, drugs, there found to be sober. the person piloting the vessel at the time was an apprentice but was being supervised by a senior member of crew but this is just that for luminary look at exactly what happened, and the investigation continues, and investigators will be looking into how often you see these kinds of ocean faring vessels come into contact with bridges like this and also protection measures for these kinds of large pieces of infrastructure, things like peers and bridges. thanks, helena. of course, with the power outage, the steering would have been affected, which may have led to that collision. there are efforts to reflect the ship. what do we know about progress being made to do that and reopen the waterway?

presumably traffic has not been able to pass through that area. it has not, and this is on the busiest waterways for trade here in the united states. on monday, we saw a controlled explosion — this is part of the bridge and part of the vessel which had essentially fused together — and baltimore says, the city of baltimore says that was very successful. there will be further investigations looking at the vessel and then it will be towed out of the area, authorities say hopefully by the end of may. in terms of reconstruction, either on that, because you've got trade coming through their also 30,000 commuters on a regular basis as well. president biden said at the meaning of this, in the aftermath of this disaster, that federal funds would be used to pay for it —— at the beginning of this. he has seen some pushback from republicans in congress on that issue,in

republicans in congress on that issue, in an election year, as you might expect, but all of this goes to illustrate the point and question that have been raised about the safety of ageing infrastructure on the east coast of the united states and renewed focus on that as well. ., , , well. helena humphrey, in washington, _ well. helena humphrey, in washington, dc, _ well. helena humphrey, in washington, dc, many- well. helena humphrey, in i washington, dc, many things well. helena humphrey, in - washington, dc, many things for that update. —— many thanks for there've been violent clashes between riot police and thousands of protestors after the parliament in georgia voted through a so—called foreign agents bill after weeks of protests. critics are likening the bill to legislation in neighbouring russia — used to stiffle dissent and silence criticism of the kremlin. our correspondent rayhan demytrie is in georgia — she sent this report. they marched in with a warning against the protesters who have been demonstrating outside parliament for weeks. protesters stood defiantly, refusing to move away... ..and then violence... ..all in the name of a contentious law

which protesters fear will mark the end of georgia's democracy. you get a sense, now, they are moving more intensely. and the protesters are beginning to boo. they're being pushed away from the square. we will be in the eu. we will be in the eu. freedom to the georgians! georgian people are standing for their rights, to make a decision, which is to be against this law. we do not wish it. it is dragging us back into the same hole that we finally crawled out of. a similar foreign agents bill law exists in russia, used there to crack down on the government's critics. georgians worry the same thing might happen here. they are liars, they are putin's guys, you know? they are doing russian work here.

earlier, mps from the governing party passed the law after a debate turned into a brawl. authorities defended the bill, saying it would help protect georgia from foreign interference. critics suspect the government is trying to defend the interests of one man, bidzina ivanishvili, a billionaire who made his fortune in russia. that is also intrinsically very russian — to defend the interests of one man against the interests of one nation. these mass protests have been driven by georgia's youth, standing up to defend the national dream of a future in europe. king charles iii has revealed his first official portrait of himself since his coronation. the portrait byjonathan yeo was commissioned in 2020. if you look closely, you can also see a butterfly

by the king's right shoulder — which symbolises his change from crown prince to monarch. and this is the moment the portrait was unveiled by king charles at buckingham palace. it shows the king wearing the uniform of the welsh guards. just before we go, we want to go back to the us secretary of state antony blinken visiting kyiv. after he'd finished his diplomatic mission, he went out to relax and ended up on stage, playing guitar, with a band in an underground bar. his choice of music — the neil young classic take a listen. # rocking in the free world... there you go. antony blinken singing the neil young classic. that's all for now. thank you for watching. hello. we've some damp weather out there at the moment,

and there's also some rain in the forecast for wednesday — not an awful lot. here's the outlook for the rest of the week — a bit of a mixed bag, a little bit of sunshine, some scattered showers, but at least it'll be relatively warm. now, on the satellite picture, you'll notice this swirl of cloud — that's an area of low pressure. this is the weather front, and this low pressure will stick around really for the rest of the week. so actually, the overall weather pattern won't change an awful lot across the uk, but there will be some regional differences from day to day, of course. here's the morning, then — around 7am, we will have had temperatures between 12—14 celsius, some damp if not at times wet weather from east anglia into lincolnshire and along these eastern counties. but elsewhere, it's a bright and even sunny start to the day, and through the afternoon, i think our best weather will be in the north of scotland. some sunshine there in the highlands, and temperatures could reach 23 celsius. that's the exception, though — for most of us, it'll be in the range of 18—20 celsius. now, if this low pressure not really moving away anywhere,

the weather front�*s still in the same place, so thicker cloud and, at times, outbreaks of rain from east anglia and across northern england, and elsewhere, we'll see some clear spells. and here's thursday morning again, the weather front still in the same place, at least roughly. there'll be some glimmers of brightness between the layers of cloud, but also some rain at times — or at least showers coming — and going. and again, temperatures between around 18—20 celsius — maybe a little bit cooler where the clouds thicker and the rain's just that little bit heavier. into friday, then, you can see the distribution of showers in slightly different places in scotland, maybe the northwest of england, too. i think further south, it should be brighter, and again, temperatures don't really change — it's because that area of low pressure is basically carrying the same atmosphere, and the temperatures won't be changing. high pressure is starting to push in through the weekend, but it'll be a very slow process, so don't expect major changes.

so here's the summary for the rest of the week and the forecast into the weekend — notice that actually more northern parts of the uk fare better as we head into the weekend, with some sunshine on the way for belfast, and really quite warm. bye— bye.

the us imposes steep tariff hikes on china,

hitting goods from electric cars to chips. plus — a new prime minister for singapore after 20 years. we'll take a look at how it might impact the economy. hello, and welcome to business today. let's begin in the us — where thejustice department says boeing will be subjected to prosecution. this is because the plane—maker allegedly breached an agreement made in 2021. the deal shielded it from criminal charges over the fatal 737 max crashes in 2018 and 2019. boeing told the bbc that it had "honoured the terms" of the agreement with the do], and will be responding to the agency on the issue. we will be keeping a close eye on this story as it develops.

staying with the us — presidentjoe biden has