welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. america says a russian su 27 fighterjet has forced one of its surveillance drones to crash into the black sea using what officials are calling unsafe and unprofessional actions. several times before the collision, they dumped fuel on influenza front of the in queue nine and a reckless and unprofessional manner. tougher background checks on people buying guns in america as president biden tries to stop mass shootings. storm freddie has killed more than two hundred people in malawi and mozambique after striking for a second time.

clashes in pakistan as imran khan's supporters try to stop police arresting him outside his home a move the former pm has said is outside the law. you it is not the law of the land, it is the law of the jungle. stricter rules ron jockeys whipping the horses stricter rules around jockeys whipping the horses hello and welcome to the programme. the us has summoned the russian ambassador to express concern about a collision between russian fighter jets and an american drone over the black sea. washington has accused moscow of irresponsible behaviour and said the drone was involved in a routine operation in international airspace. russia denied the us claims, instead saying the drone crashed after it lost altitude

while manoeuvring sharply. this was the pentagon spokesman a little earlier. approximately 703, one of the russian su 27 fighterjet struck the propeller of the in queue nine causing to bring the in queue nine down in international waters. several times in collision, the su 27 dumped fuel on influence front of the drone in an unprofessional manner, in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional. 0ur washington correspondent gary 0'donoghue has been following this story for us and explained the picture so far. russian fighters came into contact with an american unmanned surveillance aircraft over with the americans they were international waters and the black sea. these drones as they are sometimes called

conduct spying missions but american said it was over international water. what happened was this collated and struck the drone, damaging it is propeller and americans and to bring the aircraft down into the sea and we have been learning some fascinating detail in the last few minutes. it seems this encounter between these two su 27, these pretty old russian planes went on for about 30 or a0 minutes and the americans said they flew in front of the drone and apparently dumped fuel on top of it as well, presumably to try to disorient the drone, etc. before this collision took place in the drone had to be brought down. as far as we know, the pentagon has said the moment there's been no contact with russians military on this. we do know the state department in washington has summoned the

ambassador to an audience. that is a pretty stiff diplomatic measure that might not sound like much but that is what happens when countries have serious diplomatic problems with one another. we're learning more details and promised by the pentagon preps and imagery of what happened in this collision over the black sea. if they're going to the process of declassification. we may get some stills or some video of what actually happened later on. professor matthew schimdt is from the university of new haven. he told me that he's convinced that the collision was deliberate. absolutely. the pentagon is engaging in diplomatic speech here but it is clear that you if you're flying in front of the drone, slowing down the speed and dumping fuel on it, this is a deliberate attempt to

bring down the drone, absolutely.— bring down the drone, absolutely. the russian ambassador _ absolutely. the russian ambassador has - absolutely. the russian ambassador has been i absolutely. the russian - ambassador has been called in by the us as my colleague was just for pointing there, how much of an escalation is this episode —— reporting? this much of an escalation is this episode -- reporting? this is not the first _ episode -- reporting? this is not the first time _ episode -- reporting? this is not the first time that - episode -- reporting? this is not the first time that they i not the first time that they had these kinds of incidents but this seems to be the worst. the first time they really attempted to bring the drone all the way down instead of just harassing it. i think it is a serious escalation at this point. calling in the ambassador is serious and i don't think you'll find these drones flying solo any more. 11 mad escorts with them.- drones flying solo any more. 11 mad escorts with them. what is the significance _ mad escorts with them. what is the significance of— mad escorts with them. what is the significance of that - mad escorts with them. what is the significance of that and - the significance of that and what is a mean in terms of operations going forward for the us is a test to evaluate its response here?- the us is a test to evaluate its response here? mad escorts next to these _ its response here? mad escorts next to these drones _ its response here? mad escorts next to these drones as - its response here? mad escorts next to these drones as a - next to these drones as a warning. it's as if you're going to come near the drone, you will have to risk engaging with american pilots. it's

escalating to the point of having to manned aircraft sparing off against each other and it is worth noting that these drones are an amazing pieces of intelligence equipment and they can forward look with their centres on most of the entire peninsula of crimea. so, the russians have a serious stick and stopping these drones from flying in international waters. in terms of surveillance _ international waters. in terms of surveillance operations, . of surveillance operations, vital information in these drones, what, if anything does this mean for the future escalation, given the fact that things are tense between the two sides already? i things are tense between the two sides already?— two sides already? i think underneath _ two sides already? i think underneath all— two sides already? i think underneath all of - two sides already? i think underneath all of this - two sides already? i think underneath all of this is l two sides already? i think. underneath all of this is the threat of operations beginning another the ukraine are russian side and they have claimed from the beginning that the provision of american intelligence to ukrainian forces is proof positive that the war is not between ukraine

and russia it's between the united states, nato and russia. and these are bringing in vital intelligence and the offence in operation and the next few weeks or months and i think you're going to see the russians are going to get more serious about trying to stop that. �* w ., ., that. and the reaction from moscow. — that. and the reaction from moscow, what _ that. and the reaction from moscow, what are - that. and the reaction from moscow, what are you - that. and the reaction from - moscow, what are you expecting there? , ., , ., there? they would deny that this was a — there? they would deny that this was a deliberate - there? they would deny that i this was a deliberate attempt, though say that the drone was not in international waters. they will say that the pilots are flying professionally and claim that certain things did not happen like the fuel dumping. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. the uk's chancellor of the exchequer is set to use wednesday's budget to promise a major expansion of free childcare in england as part of a drive to encourage more people back to work. the treasury hasn't formally

commented ahead of the budget. the state of ohio is suing what the states attorney general wants norfolk southern to play tag may pay for the clean—up of toxic chemicals that were linked. sing 58 federal and state laws are broken and more thani million gallons state laws are broken and more than 1 million gallons of hazardous material were spilt. stock markets in the united states have rebounded after turbulence following last week's collapse of the california—based bank they been bolstered by the continuing decline in the annual rate. the greek government says rail traffic will resume "gradually" from next week more than three weeks after the deadliest train crash in the country's history. 57 people were killed when a passenger train and freight train collided head on at the end of february. a court in romania has rejected a bail application

from the controversial influencer, andrew tate. he's been held since december, as part of an investigation into people trafficking and sexual abus allegations which he and his brother deny. president biden has signed an executive order to enforce tighter rules on gun sellers which moves the us a little closer to what might be considered universal background checks. here he is arriving at los angeles a little earlier. he made the announcement in the suburb of monterrey park a community devastated by a mass shooting injanuary, that claimed 11 lives and injured nine other people. last year, there was a mass shooting in buffalo, new york and uvalde texas. i signed into law after visiting both places, the communities act. most significant and sifting law in

the years. thousands addition to me signing more executive actions to reduce gun violence than any of my predecessors at this point in the presidency. today, i'm announcing another executive order. i will accelerate and intensify this work to save more lives more quickly. first, the executive order helps keep firearms at a dangerous hands. as i continue to call on congress to require background checks for all firearm sales. and in the meantime, in the meantime, my executive order directs my attorney general will take every lawful action possible to move us as close as we can to universal background checks without new legislation. it's just common sense. check if someone is the time to make a felony or a domestic abuser before letting them buy a gun.

miles taylor was a former chief of staff at the us department of homeland security. he sastoe biden is taking action himself because of the political polarisation in washington. the fact that he is doing this by executive order that shows that the meeting measures that can be done will not be passed because there is partisan gridlock in washington. the two big things that these executive orders do, i say common—sense measures because it bolsters background checks the that the majority of americans approve of and this makes it harderfor those deemed mentally unfit to get their hands and a weapon. what this does not do its actually have any sort of massive increase on the problem that we are seeing in the united states of mass shootings. that will require another act of congress in there just isn't the political will because of the partisan extremism that we are seeing in congress and again, the fact that biden is doing this by executive order is an admission

at that frustration that they're singing washington. —— seeing in washington. more than 200 people are now known to have been killed in malawi in one of the most powerful storms to ever hit southern africa. dozens of children are among the dead, and thousands of people have been left homeless. in an unusual weather pattern it's the second time in a month that storm storm freddy has struck southern africa. previously hitting neighbouring mozambique and madagascar before reaching malawi as our africa correspondent andrew harding reports. this is southern malawi. whole neighbourhoods have been swept down hillsides, washed away by the storm that won't stop. there are plenty of houses, plenty of houses, but they are all gone. here in blantyre, malawi, grieving relatives queue outside hospitals waiting to identify the dead. rescue workers already

grappling with a cholera outbreak are entirely overwhelmed. cyclone freddy first hit mainland africa last month, but instead of petering out as expected, it swerved back out to sea, picked up more strength, then headed back to shore, tearing through one of the poorest corners of the continent. in the hospital where i am speaking from at the moment, they've had around 119 deaths. at least half of those of children and the residents where the mudslide was said that there were an awful lot more people buried in the mud. so i think this is going to get worse as we get a fuller picture of what's going on. freddy first took shape off the coast of distant australia. it's since become one of the longest and most powerful storms on record. only four storms have made the journey all the way

across the indian ocean from australia to africa. so this is really unusual. now, as for climate change, will it make long—lasting storms like this more common? that is really unclear. but we know in a warmer world we expect more rainfall, more flooding. so the impacts will get worse. right now, this region needs urgent help. tens of thousands of people are homeless and the full extent of the destruction caused by the relentless cyclone freddy is not yet clear. andrew harding, bbc news, south africa. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme. the biggest was racing festivals taking off with new rules around how often jockeys can use whips. today, we have closed the book

on apartheid and that chapter. more than 3,000 subway passengers were affected. nausea, bleeding, headaches and a dimming of vision, all of this caused by an apparently organised attack. the trophy itself was on the pedestal in the middle of the cabinet here. now, this was an international trophy, and we understand now that the search for it has become an international search. above all, this was a triumph for the christian democrats. of the west, offering reunification as - quickly as possible. and that's what i the voters wanted.

this is newsday on the bbc. 0ur headlines. americas as a russian fighter jet has forced one of its surveillance drones to crash into the black sea. using tactics that have been condemned by officials. tougher background checks announced uncombined in america as president biden trying to stop mass shootings. to pakistan now because police abuse tear gas and water cannons to disperse supporters of the opposite 0pposition. police officers arrived reportedly to arrest the former prime minister following a warrant issued by a court. he is facing allegations that he incorrectly declared gifts received from foreign dignitaries while in office. he says the case is politically motivated. 0ur pakistan correspondent has been speaking

to the former prime minister and since he is ready to face jail time. what are the things you've heard today?- jail time. what are the things you've heard today? have been followin: you've heard today? have been following everything _ you've heard today? have been following everything from - you've heard today? have beenj following everything from here. first of all, the police came and without any knowledge and suddenly be some news that the police are coming to arrest me and he did not have that many workers and they immediately try to remove the workers in so, they stood their ground and then there was for his water cannons and then there was tear gas shelling and inside my house, we had all eyes on here and were washing watching their faces because it came right inside the house. so, now, there is a blow in their gathering more and i meant to be prepared that i'm going to be prepared that i'm going to be spending my night and is so and i do not know how many nights but i am prepared for that. but i think that determines this time that it

will not be behind bars. truth? will not be behind bars. why are ou will not be behind bars. why are you resisting _ will not be behind bars. why are you resisting arrest - will not be behind bars. why are you resisting arrest when the police are coming? irate are you resisting arrest when the police are coming? we had taken protective _ the police are coming? we had taken protective spell- the police are coming? we had taken protective spell until - ta ken protective spell until the taken protective spell until the 18th. 0n the taken protective spell until the 18th. on the iath, taken protective spell until the 18th. 0n the iath, there was no reason why they should've come to arrest me. and what i would want and pakistan is rule of law. and rule of law means simply whoever breaks the law should be punished. now, whether it is someone in my party or someone against me oran someone in my party or someone against me or an opponent, they should all be subject to the law of the land. should all be sub'ect to the law of the land._ law of the land. the law of the land since _ law of the land. the law of the land since there _ law of the land. the law of the land since there is _ law of the land. the law of the land since there is an - law of the land. the law of the land since there is an arrest i land since there is an arrest warrant out for you and that you are resisting, are you not following the law of the land? it is not the law of the land because i had a protective bail until the 18th. they have come four days earlier. it is not the law of the land but the law of the jungle. the law of the land but the law of thejungle-_ of thejungle. imran khan talkin: of thejungle. imran khan talking to _ of thejungle. imran khan talking to my _

of thejungle. imran khan talking to my colleaguesl of the jungle. imran khan - talking to my colleagues there and pakistan. 0ther talking to my colleagues there and pakistan. other stories, china says it will resume issuing visas to foreign travellers on wednesday in a major easing of pandemic travel restrictions. they walk more than 65 million tourists in 2019 and it is eager to reignite its languishing tourism sector even though much of the world reopen, strict measures preventing chinese nationals from moving freely was restricted until late last year. the director of check in asia and strategic marketing foundation and he talked about the shift in policy. this foundation and he talked about the shift in policy.— the shift in policy. this is a significant _ the shift in policy. this is a significant day _ the shift in policy. this is a significant day in _ the shift in policy. this is a significant day in the - significant day in the reintegration of china into the international travel and tourism forward. today, they will start to reissue tourist visas for foreign travellers to visit to china and also there are a0 more countries added to the list of outbound destinations around the world that chinese travellers to visit too and we're really starting to see the stepping of

china embracing global travel and tourism. i5 china embracing global travel and tourism.— and tourism. is this 'ust an economicfi and tourism. is this 'ust an economic position _ and tourism. is thisjust an economic position is - and tourism. is thisjust an economic position is in - and tourism. is thisjust an | economic position is in play here. politics given that we decide parliamentary congress in china in the last week. it will make the timing, economics for sure. will make the timing, economics forsure. china will make the timing, economics for sure. china does know the consumption is going to drive its economic and recovery. whether that's domestic tourism or inbound else wants to reintegrate with the world with its outbound tourism market which it knows is been very clear about in the past that it uses as a soft power tool to leverage its own trade and diplomatic negotiations around the world and this really is stepping back into the fold of global politics economics and tourism and we saw during the pandemic the travel and tourism became a much more political issue and that is going to continue into the future. is there a sense in china the

covid—i9 is under control in china is going to move forward and tourism is very much welcome now back into china? i think what we've seen over the past two months is china really starting to open its doors on january the 8th and be seen by an increase in domestic travel tourism volume which is setting the scene to see a confident chinese are to travel themselves and to prepare for international travel and prepare and bound into the country which we know for three years is not impossible. if you look at the curve now in terms of infections, it is much flatter than what was months ago and i don't think we know around the world where it was two months ago, and china is in a much better place, for sure. director of check in asia speaking to me earlier. in the usa

the mole caved injust the mole caved in just before nine in the morning and staff early shoppers were evacuated and they say no one was injured over the weekend and more than 30 cm of snow fell in duluth and large parts of the us and seen snow storms this winter. the indonesian island is going to ban foreign visitors from using motorbikes following an increase in cases of people breaking local traffic laws. police say they have been more than 970 traffic violations by tourists visiting the popular destination in late february in early march alone. under the new proposals, taurus will only be able to get motorbikes from authorised travel agents and the new laws like me to come into force later this year. france is counting down the 2020 for the big games quite literally in organisers have signed and marked a hundred days until the start of the games. anticipation is building

and so is demand for tickets and so is demand for tickets and organisers say they have 3.25 million tickets in phase one and a goal of 3 million. around a quarter of a million people expected at the uk cheltenham festival this week as one of the biggest events in world racing gets under way. what is new this year are the rules and how much the jockeys can use their webs in the days of racing. too much and they can be disqualified. and swiss reports. and they're off! the first race of the day, to get through the turnstiles. but as the fans flocked in their thousands, who'll be the stars of this year's cheltenham? well once again, they may well come from ireland. well, the cheltenham festival is often described as the olympics ofjump racing. rules on how many times jockeys can use the whip have been tightened, and serious breaches could mean disqualification.

ultimately, we wanted the jockeys to think more carefully about how they use the whip. it's not a welfare issue, it's about engagement in the sport, it's about fairness. the focus was on constitution hill, the focus who lived up to his billing with the most emphatic of victories. but the days most special when was this, the horses last race before retiring and what a way to go out. for trainer henry, who sonjack died in a riding accident last year, it was the most poignant of victories. it's massive. we knowjack is always— it's massive. we knowjack is always with _ it's massive. we knowjack is always with us _ it's massive. we knowjack is always with us and _ it's massive. we knowjack is always with us and i'm - it's massive. we knowjack is always with us and i'm sure i it's massive. we knowjack is. always with us and i'm sure he was _ always with us and i'm sure he was there _ always with us and i'm sure he was there on— always with us and i'm sure he was there on ritual— always with us and i'm sure he was there on ritual shoulder. was there on ritual shoulder and — was there on ritual shoulder and she's— was there on ritual shoulder and she's been— was there on ritual shoulder and she's been a _ was there on ritual shoulder and she's been a huge - was there on ritual shoulder and she's been a huge partl was there on ritual shoulder. and she's been a huge part of our life — and she's been a huge part of our life and _ and she's been a huge part of our life and he _ and she's been a huge part of our life and he just _ and she's been a huge part of our life and he just adored . our life and he just adored

hen — our life and he just adored hen 50. _ our life and he just adored her. so, doing _ our life and he just adored her. so, doing it— our life and he just adored her. so, doing itjust- our life and he just adored her. so, doing itjust as. her. so, doing itjust as much for him — her. so, doing itjust as much for him as— her. so, doing itjust as much for him as all— her. so, doing itjust as much for him as all of— her. so, doing itjust as much for him as all of us. _ here are some pictures of a rescue that at the survivor jumping forjoy. take a look. australian police officers rescued a kangaroo from floodwaters at the peak of a record—breaking flood and the state of kingsland. two large crocodiles are also spotted nearby and they had to pour the young kangaroo from the waters and take it to safety in the flood was triggered by heavy rain over the past week and spent part of a multiyear weather event known as la nina which is caused a number of floods elsewhere as well. thank goodness for that kangaroo joey. you'll find lots more details in the story that would cover the new standard website including website we're telling you about with the us accusing moscow of reckless behaviour and russian fighterjets

moscow of reckless behaviour and russian fighter jets forced one of its surveillance drones to crash into the black sea. thank you so much for watching and do with bbc news. very big swings in temperature to the next. temperatures in the double figures for us today, it's been about nine celsius colder than that for example, ia yesterday and just five this afternoon. a drop in temperatures that spread much colder air and temperatures that spread much colderairand in turn, we've seen some snowfall over the staffordshire morrison here and here at low levels, and the carlyle area. across parts of northern ireland, southern scotland, northern england, mixing some snow getting into quite low elevations in the sky a few showers pushing across the midlands, east anglia in southeast england with clearing later than night with clear skies following and we are

looking at a widespread shop frost and her towns and cities. temperatures widely between —2 and we see the showers, there's and we see the showers, there's a risk of icy stretches of the start of the day on wednesday. 0therwise, should be a fine start with lots of sunshine. in the west, with the cloud quickly if with topics of rain spreading in here and a little bit of snowjust on the forward edge of the system. ultimately, the air is turning milder northern ireland and so, and he still will be transient and turn back to rain. however, during wednesday evening time, we could see more troublesome snow for parts of northern england and scotland in the sky potentially could come down to quite low elevations. it's across the hills in the north and the central belt or we will probably see the snow lasting longest. as a good wednesday night, we'll see milder air pollution from the southwest and by the end of the night, most places left and which is above freezing. for thursday, friday and we can beyond, the city of low pressure is going to be in charge of the weather

and settled in with the south—westerly winds fitting in, it will be turning a lot milder. that milder air will be arriving for most parts of the united kingdom on thursday. although it will be completed by brisk winds and heavy objects of rain, temperatures will be climbing to about 12 to 13 degrees pretty widely and very mild for the time of year in the core there hasn't quite left our shores in just three celsius. and friday in the week, generally it will be on the mild side with epics of rain but the core they're never far away and across the north of scotland to could start moving southwards again early next week.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. finding your voice as a writer, cutting through the cacophony of noise in 21st century culture is not easy. it helps if you have a talent for writing. it also helps if you have something to say which is powerful, authentic, and confronts tough questions about the human condition. my guest, american writer and academic roxane gay,