is among several killed in an explosion in the capital. local media blamed israel for the attack. and a florida court allows a six week ban on abortion but will give the final say to voters in november. i'm sumi somaskanda. great to have you with us. we start with developments out of the middle east. as authorities in gaza say for foreign aid workers and a palestinian driver were killed in an israeli air strike. a medical source at the alex sarr hospitals is the bodies of four people with bullet—proof vests with the level of world central kitchen were brought to the hospital, dead. the founder and ceo said:

the adf also put out a statement saying it is conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident, and that: our gaza correspondent rushdi abualouf spent the last two months in the territory and has more. ., ., ., , , more. the information is still very small. — more. the information is still very small, still _ more. the information is still very small, still emerging - more. the information is still very small, still emerging as| very small, still emerging as we speak. but what we know so far is that a car was travelling from north to south and it was near an area in central gaza. it was hit by an air strike according to the hamas run health ministry. there was a big explosion and

it took them by 45 minutes, according to a doctor in alex sarr hospital, which i spoke to this evening. he said it was about 45 minutes between the explosion and the bodies arriving at the hospital. —— al—aqsa hospital. there were three foreign nationals with bullet—proof vests with the world central kitchen sign on them and also the palestinian driver was also killed in the air strike or the explosion. their bodies are now in central gaza hospital, the al—aqsa hospital, and there is more investigation and more information that will emerge in the next few hours about what exactly happened, and what is that nationality of those killed. but is over we can confirm at least four people were killed in that attack.

three of them are foreign nationals. meanwhile concerns over a wider regional conflict continue to grow after syrian officials at least 11 people were killed on monday in a suspected israeli strike on the australian consulate building in the capital, damascus. —— iranian. it says senior commanders are among the dead. a multistorey building was reduced to rubble. iran has called for a response from the international community. the israeli military has not responded. it was behind the attack it would mark an intensification of the conflict. jeremy bowen explains injerusalem. a few minutes after the attack, the building in iran's diplomatic compound in a well—off central area of damascus seems to be on fire. the israeli strike destroyed the iranian consulate. it was a precision attack against a senior commander who will have worked hard

to keep his movements secret. despite that, israeli intelligence must have tracked general mohamed reza zahedi to the meeting he was having in damascus. he was the senior iranian general in syria and lebanon — two countries iran regards as critical parts in what it says is its system of forward defence, the so—called axis of resistance. in damascus the syrian foreign minister said the general and others who died were killed by israel. translation: we strongly condemn this criminal act l carried out by the zionist enemy. these attacks can only be met by further steadfastness, further support for the palestinian people and further resistance whether in iraq or in southern lebanon. and the iranian ambassador to damascus hinted at retaliation. translation: definitely - the zionist regime knows better than anyone that such crimes

and violating international law will have its response in an appropriate time. the raid is the biggest single escalation yet in the deepening war that has been fought since the hamas attacks last october between israel and iran's network of allies here in the north of israel across the border in south lebanon and in the wider middle east. since the beginning of this year, exchanges of fire between israel and hezbollah — the iran—backed militia and political movement in lebanon have become more intense. israeli jets have been raiding deeper into lebanon and syria. in iran tonight, protesters went out onto the streets of tehran, chanting, "death to israel!" the iranian regime believes its security depends on deterring its enemies. the raid on damascus showed that it's not doing that. the question now is what the iranians will do to show that they are not deterred by israel. a response might not be immediate or straightforward and is likely to be calibrated

to reflect iran's reluctance to get involved in an all—out war. jeremy bowen, bbc news in northern israel. here in washington senior us and israeli officials held a two—hour virtual meeting to discuss alternative proposals to an israeli military invasion of rafah in the southern gaza strip. retired coloneljoe bushido shared what he thinks israeli officials to their counterparts.- israeli officials to their counterparts. israeli officials to their counterarts. , ., . counterparts. they noticed it will cive counterparts. they noticed it will give advice _ counterparts. they noticed it will give advice to _ counterparts. they noticed it will give advice to israel. - will give advice to israel. sometimes israel doesn't take that advice. israel is a strategic partner when it was to be, when it is convenient to

be. the most part, netanyahu is this kind scorched earth campaign in gaza. i'm afraid that will continue and if he goes into rafah right now, nvidia is coming out of there, the images come out of there, partnered with this attack today, i think it will inflame the region once again and will be back where we were in february or early march. let's talk about _ february or early march. let's talk about that _ february or early march. let's talk about that meeting - february or early march. let's talk about that meeting with i talk about that meeting with david mccloskey, director of the programme on arab—israeli relations at the washington institute for near east policy. good to have you back on bbc news. i want to start with the joint statement come out of the meeting with israel. it is that the us side expressed concerns over rougher and added, quote: what do you make of that? can you help us pass what you think that statement means? ==

you help us pass what you think that statement means? -- parse. good to be — that statement means? -- parse. good to be with _ that statement means? -- parse. good to be with you _ that statement means? -- parse. good to be with you and - that statement means? -- parse. good to be with you and with - good to be with you and with the bbc again. the us has backed away from the edge when it comes to rafah. israel has agreed to the us idea that needs to be a clear evacuation plan for the 1.4 million palestinians who were in the southern city of rafah, near the egyptian border. there is a straight, they need to be out of harm by that way. the question is how long it will take, that is acceptable to the israeli and american side, that is the question. as opposed to anything that would suggest, you know, the us needs to be satisfied before then would be a straight. it is an issue of sovereign decisions. but i do

think that in principle each side wants to do that. —— strike. in a way that is orderly. the us standard about what that requires might be, you know, a higher standard, and it might take longer. david, can ijump in there and ask you, if israel were to proceed with an invasion of rafah despite us opposition, without taking some of these concerns into account, how would the us respond? look, i think it would _ would the us respond? look, i think it would be _ would the us respond? look, i think it would be very - would the us respond? look, i think it would be very serious. | think it would be very serious. ifind it hard think it would be very serious. i find it hard to believe think it would be very serious. ifind it hard to believe — israel won't do this unless it is able to find a way to get 1.4 million people out of harm's way. to me that is a given. the question is the us will say it isn't enough to move them, we want to know they have sanitary conditions, what is the question on freshwater, on other things, of shelter, all reasonable concerns. here there might be a question of difference of interpretation with israel about what it takes

to keep people out of harm's way. and so is it going to take several months, is it going to take a month, is it going to take a month, is it going to take two months? i think that's — that's the question here. it is a question of the grey zone. a back—and—forth, i hear you saying, david. iwant a back—and—forth, i hear you saying, david. i want to ask you as well, we're seeing at the same time the us media reporting that the biden administration is considering new weapons sales to israel of fighter jets new weapons sales to israel of fighterjets and missiles, with no conditions attached. could you explain this strategy when you explain this strategy when you hit is different public and private narrative?— you hit is different public and private narrative? right. well, i think the _ private narrative? right. well, i think the president _ private narrative? right. well, i think the president is - private narrative? right. well, i think the president is very . i think the president is very focused, you know, when it comes to the strategic objective, which is probably hamas in power, he hasn't wavered. and also freeing the hostages. when he has differed sharply from israel, notjust in private, on the humanitarian implications. but not about

toppling hamas. he will say he wants israel to have the tools it needs to double hamas, and a lot of attacks are coming from the iranian side, and "i want israel to be able to defend itself from iran and is proxies." there is a memorandum that israel needs to specify that israel needs to specify that their weapons are going to their intended purpose. fik. their intended purpose. 0k. they are — their intended purpose. 0k. they are trying _ their intended purpose. 0k. they are trying to _ their intended purpose. ok. they are trying to stave off certain attempts by certain democratic liberals in the centre. ~ ., democratic liberals in the centre. . , ~ centre. we have seen axios reporting — centre. we have seen axios reporting that _ centre. we have seen axios reporting that the _ centre. we have seen axios reporting that the us - centre. we have seen axios l reporting that the us security adviserjake sullivan will go adviser jake sullivan will go to adviserjake sullivan will go to saudi arabia and meet with chris mohammed bin salman and discuss a deal including saudi normalisation with israel. do you think that is possible at the moment? —— crown prince mohammed bin salman. this the moment? -- crown prince mohammed bin salman. this is the 564.000 — mohammed bin salman. this is the $64,000 question. - mohammed bin salman. this is the $64,000 question. the - mohammed bin salman. this is i the $64,000 question. the whole — america has put all its eggs

in one basket, which is to get a six—week pause, to get at least 40 of the hostages, of the 40 130 hostages released, and use that kind of quiet to get humanitarian aid into gaza. -- 40-130 get humanitarian aid into gaza. —— 40—130 hostages. and also to check if it is possible to do a normalisation deal as part of a saudi defence agreement. that is what the us would like, to pivot to a wider frame of normalisation. that is the goal. i think the salman trip is very important.— is very important. david makovsky. _ is very important. david makovsky, greater - is very important. david| makovsky, greater value is very important. david - makovsky, greater value on bbc news tonight. thank you very much. �* , ., ~ news tonight. thank you very much. �* , ., ., much. any time, thank you all very much- — much. any time, thank you all very much. here _ much. any time, thank you all very much. here in _ much. any time, thank you all very much. here in the - much. any time, thank you all very much. here in the us- much. any time, thank you all very much. here in the us thej very much. here in the us the first step _ very much. here in the us the first step to — very much. here in the us the first step to restore _ very much. here in the us the first step to restore a - very much. here in the us the first step to restore a sea - first step to restore a sea route into the port of baltimore is under way. nearly a week after a ship collided with the francis scott key bridge, causing it to collapse, killing six people. in that one of the us�*s largest ports inaccessible to shipping. the

white house is president biden will visit the site where he will visit the site where he will expect the damage and speak with state and local officials. on monday, salvage crews removed the first section of the bridge and the us coastguard opened a temporary channel to allow some vessels to pass through to the port. crews are working to open a second channel. we had about some of the challenges in such an operation. irate some of the challenges in such an operation.— an operation. we need to do more work _ an operation. we need to do more work clearing - an operation. we need to do more work clearing the - an operation. we need to do i more work clearing the channel in order to move forward. i know there is an urgency to move fast. and nobody feels that urgency more than the people standing up here today. but we have to be clear on the risks. this is a steel bridge thatis risks. this is a steel bridge that is sitting on top of a container ship in the middle of the tasker river. we are talking about tons of steel thatis

talking about tons of steel that is mangled and water that is so murky that divers can see more than a foot or two in front of them. —— patapsco river. a portion of the bridge beneath the water has been described by unified command as a chaotic wreckage.— a chaotic wreckage. north korea fired a ballistic _ a chaotic wreckage. north korea fired a ballistic missile - fired a ballistic missile according to south korea's military. the japanese coastguard said the missile had a ready fall into the sea outside its exclusive economic zone. north korea's last ms walters was on march 18, should read rockets was made the same time. across world in the uk, this is bb new news. —— bbc news. a new place has come into effect in england, wales and scotland, which equates to a saving of £200. rules are different in northern ireland,

where prices are falling but experts are urging people to stick to savings habits because bills remain expensive. we had from one expert for three energy—saving tips. from one expert for three energy-saving tips.- from one expert for three energy-saving tips. one, your hot water _ energy-saving tips. one, your hot water setting, _ energy-saving tips. one, your hot water setting, if _ energy-saving tips. one, your hot water setting, if it - energy-saving tips. one, your hot water setting, if it is - energy-saving tips. one, your hot water setting, if it is too l hot water setting, if it is too hot water setting, if it is too hot to wash your hands with, it is too high. secondly, drafts, manage drives from your windows to your chimneys. and three, your showers. 1— four minutes, less bohemian rapid city in the shower. and that £70 a year just on water you could say. —— bohemian rafah city. just on water you could say. -- bohemian rafah city.- bohemian rafah city. energy bills could — bohemian rafah city. energy bills could fall— bohemian rafah city. energy bills could fall again - bohemian rafah city. energy bills could fall again in - bohemian rafah city. energy bills could fall again in the i bills could fall again in the summer before edging back up in the winter. you are watching bbc news. the highest court in the us state authorities as a ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy can go into effect. the ban has passed its last legal hurdle and will come into effect in may. until now

abortion is up to 26 weeks into pregnancy were permitted in the state but in a separate decisionjudges also state but in a separate decision judges also said voters will be able to decide in november whether to enshrine the right to abortion in the state public constitution. as many as 13 states could hold similar balances here. voters in four states approved amendments after the us supreme court overturned roe v wade in june 2022. let's get more from carolyn kitchener, national reporter covering roe v wade at that was interposed. good to have you back with us. i want to start with the court in florida upholding the 15 week ban on abortion, paving the way for domanic akuei for a six week ban. what does it do? i have been on the phone all night with reporters notjust in florida but across the country who are struggling to put into words the effect this will have on access to abortion. —— paving the way for abortion. —— paving the way for a six week ban. we have states

like illinois and north carolina which of the quizzes access points for people in the south really struggling to meet demand. and now you have this huge state, florida being the third most populous state in the country. it was severely restrict the procedure. the question on everybody�*s mind is where are all these women going to go? fist where are all these women going to no? �* ~ where are all these women going to no? �* . ., ,., to go? at the centre we also saw the court _ to go? at the centre we also saw the court allowing - to go? at the centre we also| saw the court allowing voters to decide whether to expand access were to the polls in november. what will this say or do? , . ., november. what will this say or do? ._ do? this could potentially rotect do? this could potentially protect the _ do? this could potentially protect the right - do? this could potentially protect the right to - do? this could potentially l protect the right to abortion in the state constitution in florida. that would mean over 60% of florida public citizens to vote that way. this is a big thing we're going to see. floridians need to live under this band for many months then

will go to the pole and will be able to see how they feel about that experience. so i think florida is, you know, always very closely watched in a presidential race, and this is going to add a really, you know, unique and important dynamic to it. —— poll. a future of abortion access for tens of thousands of women will rest on his boat. irate tens of thousands of women will rest on his boat.— rest on his boat. we mention that we have _ rest on his boat. we mention that we have seen _ rest on his boat. we mentionj that we have seen campaigns rest on his boat. we mention i that we have seen campaigns in other states be successful when access to abortion is on the ballot, caroline, and reproductive rights campaigners are celebrating that it will be on the ballot in november. what are the chances of success? i think it is hard to say. certainly we will see massive organising efforts. the difference between florida and many of the other states is that there is a higher threshold, a 60% rather than just, you know, more than half. so that will be, i think, a challenge for the organisers. hearing from abortion rights

advocates today, people are very optimistic about this. they feel very confident that this is not — the sickly ban is not something that floridians want. so we will have to see. we saw the biting campaign commenting pretty quickly after these two decisions give out of these two decisions give out of the florida court, criticising the florida court, criticising the six—week band in florida, saying they would invest in florida as a pathway to victory. florida is still a deep red republican state, at least according to the last elections. will abortion rights be galvanising for voters there? i be galvanising for voters there? ~' ., �* there? i think from the biden administration's _ there? i think from the biden administration's perspective | there? i think from the bidenl administration's perspective it certainly helps that it will be directly on the ballot. what we saw in the mid terms, abortion was directly on the ballot to vote for or against abortion rights, people really did turn out and vote for that. but it didn't necessarily always translate to the candidates, the democratic candidates that were running on abortion. you

did see a lot of republican governors, the most prominent republican governors that had signed bands win by a landslide. the importance going into the election is our candidate is going to be able to make that, you know, embrace that issue for themselves, and help voters understand the connection? i think in florida now biden won't have to worry about that because people are certainly going to vote on abortion. certainly going to vote on abortion-— certainly going to vote on abortion. , w' , abortion. very quickly, with about 30 — abortion. very quickly, with about 30 seconds _ abortion. very quickly, with about 30 seconds left, - abortion. very quickly, with | about 30 seconds left, what abortion. very quickly, with - about 30 seconds left, what are republicans, the former president saying about a six week ban in florida? the republicans, _ week ban in florida? the republicans, the - week ban in florida? iie: republicans, the republicans week ban in florida? "iie: republicans, the republicans i have heard from on the ground in florida are, you know, extremely happy to hear that, you know, this band is going to take effect, and interpretation of the florida constitution that they have been making a case for four decades. so that they have been making a case forfour decades. so i have been hearing from people in florida that they are very

optimistic about this and, you know, despite the ruling on the amendment, they really feel like they're going to come on top. like they're going to come on to, ., ., like they're going to come on to -. . ., . ., top. caroline kitchener from the washington _ top. caroline kitchener from the washington post, - top. caroline kitchener from the washington post, thank| top. caroline kitchener from - the washington post, thank you forjoining us. the washington post, thank you forjoining us-— forjoining us. thank you for havin: forjoining us. thank you for having me- _ forjoining us. thank you for having me. the _ forjoining us. thank you for having me. the kremlin - forjoining us. thank you for having me. the kremlin is l having me. the kremlin is dismissing _ having me. the kremlin is dismissing new _ having me. the kremlin is dismissing new reports i having me. the kremlin is. dismissing new reports that having me. the kremlin is i dismissing new reports that it may be behind the mysterious havana syndrome illness that has affected us officials of the past eight years. the us had previously set a foreign power was to blame for the sicknesses, but a newjoint investigation by der spiegel, cbs, and insider has renewed allegations. it says that moscow could be responsible due to intelligence unit been present at a hotel. symptoms of havana syndrome include migraines, nausea, memory lapses, and dizziness. the symptoms of first reported in 2016 by us symptoms of first reported in 2016 by us embassy officials in the given capital havana, which is how the illness received is

name. in response, dmitry peskov, kremlin spokesman, denied russian involvement. translation: it denied russian involvement. translation:— denied russian involvement. translation: it is absolutely not a new issue. _ translation: it is absolutely not a new issue. for _ translation: it is absolutely not a new issue. for many i translation: it is absolutely | not a new issue. for many years and issue of so—called havana syndrome has been played up in mass media stop often it was connected with accusations of russian involvement. but no—one has ever published or expressed any convincing evidence these unfounded accusations anywhere. a russian government official was reportedly killed in an occupied area of eastern ukraine on monday in an apparent car bombing. the official had been in luhansk prior to the full—scale invasion in 2022. he is one of many officials killed in ukraine since the war began. as the moscow offensive continues, antony blinken is heading to paris to meet with french president emmanuel macron. amongst other issues, the two planned to discuss support for

ukraine, disputes in the us congress over domestic issues having altered the progress of an aid package for ukraine. volodymyr zelensky said if he doesn't get the support from the us military, its forces will have to retreat in small steps. ——if kyiv. big local election victories in turkey dealt a blow to president richard taylor burger one's party. the chp one in istanbul and ankara, among the six major centres. and ankara, among the six ma'or centres. ~ , , and ankara, among the six ma'or centres. ~' , , ., centres. turkey 'ust had nationarfi centres. turkeyjust had national elections, i centres. turkeyjust had national elections, but i centres. turkey just had i national elections, but this has implications. recep tayyip erdogan's party, akp, had a shocking defeat. this is the first defeat in the 22 year

rule in the country. liberty saw it coming. the other thing people didn't see coming was the historic win of the republican people's party, chp. with the results, the chp is now the largest party in turkey and this is the first time in 47 years, so since 1977. in addition to securing five more years of governance for the economic and social powerhouse of turkey, istanbul, and the capital, ankara, chp has also secured governance of the traditional stronghold of akp, which is more than the traditional strongholds of chp in the coastal regions and western parts of the country. if you get to watch is the mayor of istanbul, ekrem imamoglu. he looks to be the biggest challenge to recep tayyip erdogan in decades. hopes have been refreshed for

the upcoming presidential elections in 2028. ekrem imamoglu is likely to stand against recep tayyip erdogan at that time. the chp and the mayor's's performance will certainly go some way to say who will have the wind blowing behind their back at that time. luke hunter, the last living survivor of the uss arizona battleship that exploded and sank during the japanese bombing of pearl harbour, has died, aged 102. the arizona lost 100 and 77 sailors and marines in the bombing. they give what you bbc news. —— thank you for watching bbc news. hello there. easter monday brought

a day of mixed fortunes, and it's going to be a similar story throughout the week. now, across eastern england, we had some sunshine and where it stayed dry, it was relatively warm — 16 degrees, 61 fahrenheit. but cloud and rain pushing its way steadily northwards. it stayed rather grey and overcast in western scotland, withjust a high of 5 celsius here. now, that weatherfront is going to linger, weakening all the time. but a brisk northeasterly wind will dominate the story across the far north of scotland. clearer skies for a time, early morning mist and fog, perhaps, for england and wales. some showers easing away from the southeast. but eventually, as we go through the day, we'll start to see some outbreaks of rain pushing into the southwest. and as this front gradually moves its way north, the winds will strengthen here. but ahead of it, with some sunny spells injust a few isolated showers, one or two spots, again, could see temperatures into the mid—teens. not a bad afternoon with a few isolated showers for northern ireland. scotland will stay rather grey and overcast, with outbreaks of showery rain, and that brisk north—easterly wind at times will make it feel rather cool, just a maximum of 6—8 celsius. now, we'll see that frontal system down to the south—west, bringing some wet and windy weather through the night tuesday into the early hours of wednesday morning. the wind direction coming from the south—west,

so it will be a mild start to wednesday, with double figures perhaps likely across the far southeast. but we will see outbreaks of rain gradually pushing their way steadily northwards. the wind direction here is south—westerly, so driving in some milder air, but we still keep that north—easterly feed in scotland — a real contrast with the temperatures over the next few days. so we're looking at 5—7 degrees across the far north—east, highs of 15, possibly 16 degrees once again, somewhere across south and eastern england. now, towards the end of the week, low pressure is going to continue to dominate, but still that wind source coming all the way from the southwest. so it will be mild, but it will still continue to be pretty wet at times. but the mild air sitting across the vast majority, still the far north—east of scotland staying on the cooler side.

so, here, those temperatures will struggle a little, but there'll be showers or longer spells of rain. when we get some brightness, temperatures are going to respond. take care.

what is up with tesla? america's ev giant is due to report sales figures and wall street doesn't seem optimistic.

plus that of tourism's latest frontier, we are looking into the growing trend of arctic travel. hello and welcome to asia business report with me, steve lai. ourtop business report with me, steve lai. our top story today, tesla could be facing a bumpy road ahead. america's leading electric car company is due to report how many cars are produced and delivered globally during the first three months of this year, possibly as early as a table top and wall torres straight islanders worried. for more on this, here's our bbc north america business correspondent michelle fleury in new york. one analyst called the start of this year a nightmare for tesla as he cut his delivery forecast from 475,000 to 425,000. wall street is bracing for tesla to report its first sales decline in years. the last time that happened was during the pandemic lockdowns of 2020. so what is going on? elon musk�*s car company has

suffered multiple setbacks. a fire at its gigafactory in berlin halted production.