welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... the actor alec baldwin is formally charged with involuntary manslaughter after the fatal shooting on a film set last year. the death toll in the pakistan mosque attack rises to 100 as the authorities call off the search and rescue operation. as myanmar marks the second anniverasary of the miltiary coup — the us announces fresh sanctions on the country. the sanctions on the country. searchers off the tiny radioactive the searchers off the tiny radioactive capsule in australia. and welcome to liverpool — eurovision arrives for its official launch as the city that brought us the beatles

stands in for ukraine. live from our studios in singapore this is bbc news. it's news day. hello and welcome to the programme. the hollywood star alec baldwin has been formally charged with involuntary manslaughter over the shooting of cinematographer halyna hutchins, who was killed on a film set when he fired a prop gun. the actor had been rehearsing a scene for the western film rust when the shooting happened at a ranch near sante fe, new mexico in october 2021. 0ur west coast correspondent sophie long has more details. just under two weeks ago we learned that they were intending to file these formal charges, that has now happened. and along with that several documents have been filed to the court, a statement of probable cause. and it really details

what they allege or how they allege alec baldwin had failed in his duty of care, both as an actor and producer. now he faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter. the list is long the reasons that they say, they accuse him of not receiving sufficient training ahead of filming, they were filming a western so a lot of firearms usage in there. they also said he failed to deal with safety complaints on set and that he pointed a gun at the cinematographer and director, which they said is the first rule of gun safety on a film set. it also claims that a rubber or a fake gun could have been used and it wasn't. we haven't had any response from alec baldwin today nor from his lawyers but when they learned that these charges would be filed we heard from his lawyer then. they said that these charges distort halyna hutchins�*s tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice. they say they will fight the charges that they will win. there's been us similar response from hannah gutierrez reed lawyers

as well. she was the armourer responsible for safety of weapons on the set. we are told that neither will be arrested as long as they comply with their court appearances. what will happen next, if it goes to trial there will be a preliminary hearing. in pakistan, the number of people killed in monday's suicide bomb attack in a mosque in peshawar has risen to over 100. the vast majority of those killed are police officers. the blast is the latest sign of the deteriorating security situation in peshawar. the city is in the north—west of pakistan, near the country's border with afghanistan. the mosque where the attack happened is in a compound in one of the most tightly controlled areas of the city, which includes police headquarters and intelligence bureaus. 0ur pakistan correspondent, carrie davies reports from peshawar. holding back tears.

final prayers for those killed in prayer. fear has risen in the city, and mourners were watched by tight security as hundreds crowded in to pay their respects. this is the funeral of a police inspector that was killed yesterday, and to understand quite how dangerous this job is, he had onlyjust survived another attack on him and his colleagues. the police officer's name was irfan ullah. his brother told us his family were afraid something would happen to him, but he was proud of hisjob. translation: he was | kind-hearted, friendly, ready to help others. he was a brave person, never afraid of anything. we always used to tell him to be careful, but he used to reply, no, it's my duty. throughout the night, the rescue operation continued. this man, just one of the survivors, covered in dust, still conscious, blinking

in the torchlight. another, groaning in pain, chipped out from the cement. but by this morning, no more were found alive. translation: we have pulled out about 20 injured people _ from under the debris. out of the last two, one was pulled out ten hours after the rescue operation started. the second one was rescued almost 12 hours afterwards. this afternoon, the rescue team said they were calling off the search. militant attacks are becoming more frequent, and many are afraid that could continue. who planned this violence is still unclear. but as the dead are buried, there is rising anger and questions about how, in a secure police compound, something on this scale could happen. caroline davies, bbc news, peshawar. let's take a look at some other

stories in the headlines. auckland has been hit with another wave of heavy rainfall just days after record—breaking rain left parts of the city underwater. much of the city has been hit by record—breaking rain. a month's worth of rain fell on new zealand's emergency services were called out to 50 incidences. pope francis has begun a historic visit to the democratic republic of congo. it's the first papal visit to the country in four decades. later in the week, he'll be joined by the archbishop of canterbury when he travels to south sudan. he'll urge political leaders to bring an end to years of hostilities. downing street is warning there will be significant disruption on wednesday, as train and bus drivers, civil servants, teachers, and other workers go on strike. ambulance staff in five areas of england will also take part in more strikes next month.

huge numbers of demonstrators have taken to the streets in france, protesting against plans to raise the retirement age. transport workers and others in public services have been on strike and many schools, post offices and local government buildings were closed. the french government insists that changes are needed to look after an ageing population. from paris, our europe correspondent, nick beake, sent this report. frustration flooded many streets across france. growing opposition to the prospect of being made to work longer before retiring. this engineer and this urban planners say these pension plans have infuriated them. i was very moderate until today, i know this is outrageous. they are taking us for fools. i'm really angry. it's enough.

will you keep protesting week after week if you have to? until they removed this, i would be in the streets. the french government says people should work on the r 64, up from the current minimum of 62. the reason, to keep the countries pension system going when people are living longer. pension reform was at the heart of president macron�*s manifesto when he was reelected last year. but the latest opinion polls suggest as much as two thirds thesejudgment only these judgment only a quarter of train services operator cross—country and teachers, postal staff in a world refinery workers were among those who walked out. the french government insists its plan rise in the minimum requirement age is non—negotiable. the unions say they won't back down so we can

expect more protests in the weeks to come. as the paris march was drawing to a close there were a few brief clashes between some militant protesters and the police. the tear gas soon cleared but the widespread national anger against these reforms is going nowhere. two years ago — myanmar military leaders overthrew the government led by aung san suu kyi. the fall out from the coup continues to this day. it's estimated that around 70 thousand people have left the country with over one million people having been displaced. the un has accused the military leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity. 0ur correspondent jonathan head joins me now from the thai—burmese border, near the town of mae sot. great to get you on the programme. i know this is something you've covered extensively. how much has changed in the fact that we've

seen so much to his plate people as well as losses to lives in the last two years? in a sense, where i am can give you quite a stark illustration of that. just across this little patch of water it is another world. just a month ago there were aircraft bombing just over the other side of the hills. there's been on and off fighting here pretty much since the coup. this is an area where a lot of opposition figures have fled from cities and joined the ethnic insurgents. the pattern is repeated in many parts of the country. if you stay in the city or that capital to some degree of normalcy is returned, the economy has stabilised. the violence has subsided there and there is very little opportunity for our petition. the military is locked up 60,000 political prisoners. if you go outside the big cities in some of the large sways of

myanmar where people of risen up myanmar where people of risen up and arm themselves to fight against the coup it's a really different picture. it's actually desperate for the 8 million children out of school. the health system has collapsed, vaccinations have stopped, you've got 15 million people in acute need of food suffering severe food insecurity. that is the reality. the picture that you see can vary in myanmar but this is a country still in a state of collapse. and where there is this hideous stalemate between a powerful military aid tacking wherever he can, increasingly using airpower and people who are many areas are determined to fight back still. more sanctions have been announced on the eve of the coup anniversary. are these working, will they were? ida. coup anniversary. are these working, will they were? no, i don't think— working, will they were? no, i don't think the _ working, will they were? no, i don't think the well. _ working, will they were? no, i don't think the well. the - don't think the well. the military has insulated itself was of these are targeted sanctions. bear in mind that western governments about making mistakes they made in

the 1990s, the not targeting areas of the economy that provide jobs. areas of the economy that providejobs. for example, the provide jobs. for example, the government providejobs. for example, the government sector has actually recovered a bit and doing 0k. the european union says it is determined not to target those. i don't think that will change the dynamic on the ground. the mayor tarries intersections before. —— military. law depends on this part of the world. tylan has the longest barter with myanmar, it's one of the largest countries and is being given the lead role in diplomacy. tyler is actually inclined now to start rebuilding ties with the military and rebuilding relations. 0ther ossian countries indonesia in particular or malaysia say the situation is untenable but there must be a change of mindset from the military. diplomacy is stalled. there is no sign that the military can get away with its determination to be accepted. it is planning

supposedly in election later this year but it's not clear that can go ahead when they don't control much of the country and indeed they held a national security council meeting yesterday and announced that the country is not back to normalcy. where expected that may give them an excuse to extend the emergency rule that's been in place since the coup and postponed their planned election.- coup and postponed their planned election. thank you for “oininu us planned election. thank you for joining us on — planned election. thank you for joining us on the _ planned election. thank you for joining us on the programme i joining us on the programme with your analysis. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, has said that there is what he called "a shrinking horizon of hope" as he continues to push for a solution to the israeli—palestinian conflict. at a meeting in ramallah with the the palestinian president, mahmud abbas, he criticised several key policies of the new israeli government and said washington opposed actions — including the expansion of israeli settlements — that would make a two—state solution more difficult to achieve. after the meeting, mr blinken

spoke to the media about his hopes for resolving tensions. we can look to both sides to take some positive steps to try to rebuild confidence, to rebuild trust, and that in turn lays the foundation for, at some point, pursuing two states. i think, in this moment, the most immediate challenge is defusing the cycle of violence that has people here, first and foremost, but around the region, deeply concerned. palestinian president mahmud abbas has said he welcomed the us effort to peaceful resolution and called an end to the israeli occupation. translation: we've always shown commitment to the resolutions - of international laws. the renunciation of violence and terrorism, the respect of signed agreements and we are now ready to work with the us administration and the international community

to restore political dialogue in order to end the israeli occupation of the land of palestine, based on the 1967 borders with eastjerusalem as its capital. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme. the official launch of this year's eurovision song contest has taken place in liverpool tonight. this is the moment that millions in iran have been waiting for. after his long years in exile, the first hesitant steps of ayatollah khomeini on iranian oil. south africa's white government has offered its black opponents concessions unparalleled in the history of apartheid, and the anc leader nelson mandela is to be set free unconditionally. three, two, one.

a countdown - to a critical moment. the world's most powerful rocket ignited all 27 - of its engines at once. and apart from its power, it's this recycling of the rocket —i slashing the cost of a launch — that makes this _ a breakthrough in the . business of space travel. two americans have become the first humans to walk in space without any lifeline to their spaceship. one of them called it a piece of cake. thousands of people have given the yachtswoman ellen macarthur a spectacular homecoming in the cornish port of falmouth after she smashed the world record for sailing a solo around the world nonstop. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore, our headlines. the actor alec baldwin is formally charged with involuntary manslaughter after the fatal shooting on a film set last year.

the number of executions in saudi arabia has almost doubled under the kingdom's current leadership, according to new research. that's despite promises of reform from the crown prince and de facto leader, mohammed bin salman. a report by the campaign group reprieve — shared exclusively with the bbc ahead of publication also found that the death penalty has been routinely used for non—lethal offenses, in defiance of international norms. the bbc�*s caroline hawley has more these are just a fraction of the hundreds of people put to death by the saudi state over the past few years. executions carried out with no warning given to their families, no chance for a last goodbye. last year, the biggest mass execution in modern saudi history, 81 in a single day. among them, mustafa al—khayyat. here he is, with his nephew, ahmed. and here is ahmed now, with his father and brother, refugees in germany. yasserfled saudi arabia

with his family, after his brother's arrest in 2014. yasser played us the final words his family ever heard from him, a phone call to his motherfrom jail. when he had first visited him, he said mustafa could barely stand from torture. yasser says he was still trying to appeal when he and dozens of others were executed for their part in anti—government protests, accused of terrorism. translation: not only did they take their lives, - they then intentionally maligned them, accused them of things they had not done, and they kept their bodies. we don't know if they were given a decent burial. it's been a tragedy for the families. music: god save the king. four days after mustafa was executed, borisjohnson arrived in saudi arabia and met the crown prince, hoping to persuade him to pump more

oil to replace russian imports. mohammed bin salman, billed as a moderniser, but for many a morally problematic ally. salman alaoudh is a prominent cleric who has called for political reform, with millions of followers online. painted as an extremist, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for him. his son now has asylum in the us. my father's arrest is really about the silencing of critics, silencing of those who can mobilise the masses, who can make a change, who can dissent. the legal charity reprieve has been cataloguing a rising trend of executions. saudi arabia has a regime of secrecy around the death penalty. so you have people who are arrested, tried, sentenced to death, and then executed in secret. the saudi embassy in london gave us a statement,

which didn't address concerns about how the country uses the death penalty. it said, we understand there are other countries that have different judicial system and different views about appropriate penalties. as we respect their right to determine their own laws and customs, we hope others will respect our sovereign right to follow our own judicial and legislative choices. these men on death row were all tortured into making confessions, according to human rights groups. one, a child at the time of his arrest. for them and their families, the fear that any day could be their last. caroline hawley, bbc news. australia's nuclear agency has joined the hunt along a vast stretch of rural highway in western australia. it's only six mm in diameter but could cause serious illness to anyone going near it.

for more let's speak to nigel marks, a radioactive substances specialist at curtin university in perth, whojoins us live. the first question that must be on everybody�*s minds is how do people go about looking for this? ., , ., this? the main thing you need is a machine _ this? the main thing you need is a machine that _ this? the main thing you need is a machine that detects - this? the main thing you need i is a machine that detects gamma rays, that's the main signal that the capsule admits and what is used for on the mind site. so people walking along the highway at first and now driving along and detects gamma radiation and returns a click, click, click like some people may be familiar from geiger counters. in may be familiar from geiger counters-— may be familiar from geiger counters. , ., ., ., counters. in terms of how long authorities _ counters. in terms of how long authorities are _ counters. in terms of how long authorities are planning - counters. in terms of how long authorities are planning to - authorities are planning to search for the device, from previous experience, how do they make that calculation and how long do you expect the searching lawn for?- how long do you expect the searching lawn for? with the new equipment, _ searching lawn for? with the new equipment, which - searching lawn for? with the new equipment, which we i searching lawn for? with the i new equipment, which we mount on the back of the trucks they are able to drive up the highway at a reasonable speed,

not full pace but much better than walking. it will take a week or so to drive all the way north and then turn around and come back on the other side and come back on the other side and come back. within a week or so the authorities will be pretty sure whether or not it somewhere either on the road or nearby, perhaps a few metres off to the edge. if they come backin off to the edge. if they come back in ten days times and haven't found it then i can't really see the point of continuing on to much after that. , , . , . that. this is a tiny device, isn't it? — that. this is a tiny device, isn't it? six _ that. this is a tiny device, isn't it? six mm, - that. this is a tiny device, isn't it? six mm, not- that. this is a tiny device, | isn't it? six mm, not much larger than a pe. what happens if authorities don't find it? are how are people being told to keep safe? the are how are people being told to keep safe?— to keep safe? the main thing ou to keep safe? the main thing you should — to keep safe? the main thing you should not _ to keep safe? the main thing you should not do _ to keep safe? the main thing you should not do is - to keep safe? the main thing you should not do is pick i to keep safe? the main thing you should not do is pick it i to keep safe? the main thing| you should not do is pick it up and put it inyourpocket. if it was off to the side of the road and you drove past it wouldn't do anything to you. that's the main concern that someone will

find it or that it might get stock or lodged in attire and transported somewhere else. i suppose what will probably happen, if it's not found within a week or so it's probablyjust been within a week or so it's probably just been flicked within a week or so it's probablyjust been flicked off somewhere by the side of the road like any rock on a remote road like any rock on a remote road and it will probably sit there and what is a desert. h0 there and what is a desert. no one will find it. let's hope that's the case. thank you for joining us on the programme. the official launch of this year's eurovision song contest has taken place in the english city of liverpool tonight. ukraine won the contest last year but can't host the event because it's too dangerous there. instead it is being staged in the uk in may. i should warn you — this report from our arts correspondent david sillito contains flashing images. live from liverpool, - it's the handover ceremony... welcome to the official launch of liverpool's eurovision moment. with a ceremonial handshake from last year's host, turin. it's going to be quite some party.

cheering and applause. there are around 10,000 hotel rooms here in liverpool, but if you want one on the eurovision weekend, well, good luck. and some of the prices to rent a flat over that main weekend? you really have to love eurovision. but while some are hoping for a very lucrative weekend, the city itself is in the midst of a £73 million round of cuts. but nevertheless, it and the city region are still spending £4 million on the contest. is that money well spent? oh, gosh, yeah, it's absolutely money well spent. you canjust see, i mean, 160 million people watching your city on the television, doing what it does best, which is culture, you know, showing its compassion, its hope, its humanity to the rest of the world. that is money absolutely well spent. meanwhile, the flag flying above the eurovision banner is a reminder that while eurovision is being held in the uk, it is being held for... ukraine!

this is a partnership. there will be ukrainian artists, who will by themselves bring the culture, the music, the spirit, and i hope they will convey it to the whole world. and so for liverpool, the eurovision countdown begins. yeah, we'll be out, out here, giving it loads. laughter for eurovision! however, not everyone has caught the fever just yet. the eurovision song contest is coming here. yeah. is it? i didn't know, sorry. laughter so this is news to you? this is news! it is. breaking news. yeah. well, prepare yourself, you're. .. it's going to be like a party here. i can't look shocked because i've had too much botox! i david sillito, bbc news, liverpool.

that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello there. on tuesday, most of us did see some sunshine, but there were certainly quite a few showers across the northwest of the country and, generally for northern areas, it started to get quite windy through the afternoon, and those stronger winds were all tied in with this area of low pressure that over the next few hours will be crossing around about the faroes. but there will be some very strong winds just buffeting northern scotland. now, so far, the strongest wind gust i've seen is south uist, 76 mile an hour gusts here. but the winds will probably pick up a little bit further across orkney and shetland where we could see gusts of around 70, maybe even 80 miles an hourfor a time over the next few hours. so certainly very, very blowy conditions for northern scotland with those severe gales and with that comes the prospect of some

localised transport disruption. so, bear that in mind. now away from those very strong winds just running across northern scotland, we also have plenty of showers for northern ireland, a few for the north—west of england and wales, but drier weather further south. because it's quite windy though, it's not that cold a start to the day as we head into the first part of wednesday. frost free for most with temperatures around three to five degrees. now for wednesday's charts, that area of low pressure is going to be weakening and moving over towards norway. what follows is quite a gusty flow of north westerly winds and a warm front that's going to make its presence felt across northern ireland, the north west of england and wales and south west scotland. it's across these areas where the weather's going to turn damp, some sunshine for northeast scotland and the cloud probably will break to the east of wales, across the midlands, east anglia and southern counts of england. wherever you are, we're looking at a mild day with temperatures quite widely between nine and 11 degrees. now for thursday, we've got more rain on the way. this time across scotland, for the most part, the rain quite heavy.

further southwards, i think you'll notice the cloud tending to build in from the west, but there'll still be probably a few cloud breaks coming along. so, still a little bit of sunshine. the best of that likely across parts of central and eastern england. temperatures on the mild side reaching a high of 13 degrees or so. and really through the rest of the week, high pressure stays to the south of the uk. we continue to get this feed of mild air in until we get to the weekend where things start to get a little bit cooler. so, temperatures over the next few days will stay into double figures before we start to see that cooler but sunnier weather arriving into the weekend.

welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. here's the good news. the proportion of the world's population living in extreme poverty has declined sharply over the past 30 years. here's the bad news. still close to one in 20 of all the world's people relies on humanitarian assistance for survival. with many nations cutting their aid budgets, international ngos remain a linchpin of the global aid system.

but are they fit for purpose?