Crystal blue caribbean sea. Nonstop flights are available from most major airports. More information for your vacation planning is available at aruba. Com. And now, bbc world news america. Laura this is bbc world news america. Reporting from washington, i laura trevelyan. Amwarnings about conditions in the city of aleppo. Citizens struggling to survive without electricity and running water. Thawing relations between turkey and russia. Should the west be worried about this budding friendship . The u. S. Womens Gymnastic Team fights for gold in rio. The latest on their olympic success. Laura welcome to our viewers on Public Television in america and around the globe. It is hard to believe the conditions inside the syrian city of aleppo could be any worse. The u. N. Says too many people dont have electricity or clean water, putting civilians, especially children, at risk of disease. Without food or medical supplies, the humanitarian crisis could be even more dire. Reporter aleppo is a city in ruins. After 4 years of fighting, these antiassad rebels are under intense pressure. But still, the greater might of the government and its allies cannot crush them. Civilians are at graver risky than ever. Electricity networks and water pumping stations are so damaged by bombardment, the u. N. Says ceasefires, even short ones, are vital to allow in humanitarian supplies. The cuts are coming amid a heatwave, putting children of aleppo at great risk of waterborne diseases, and getting clean water running again cannot wait for the fighting to stop. Reporter the battle for aleppo is seen as critical to the eventual outcome of the wider or wider war for syria. Aleppo is the countrys largest city. You can see the appalling deadlock very clearly. Rebels, some westernbacked, still control substantial areas shown in orange. East of aleppo, they have been encircled by Syrian Government forces backed by russia and iran. An estimated quarter Million People are trapped in the rebelheld eastern part of the city. A crucial corridor of supplies was cut off last month and then reopened by rebel actions. Overall, this battle ebbs and flows with devastating consequences to the civilian population. Vladimir putins role is essential and todays reconciliation with turkish president erdogan is significant. On opposite sides of the divide, they share a desire to punish the west. Just another complication in the syrian stalemate. The balance of the war was taping before aleppo. The rebels managed a final desperate push from which saw the make some gains at a huge price. It is not clear whether president assad and his allies can completely retake syria militarily. Reporter opposition fighters have been celebrating their ability to hang on. But for now, aleppo and its people are trapped in a disastrous deadlock. If the city does eventually fall, it could be a Pivotal Moment in the civil war which is laid waste to so much of syria and forced millions to flee. James robbins, bbc news. Laura as you just saw, the president s of turkey and russia met in st. Petersburg and talked about finding common ground. Quite a turnaround from a few months ago, when they were trading insults over the shooting of russian jet over turkey. Today president erdogan went out of his way to repeat that president putin was a good friend and offered his support after an attempted coup in turkeys government. The former u. S. Ambassador to russia. Thank you for being with us. Why inviting president erdogan to st. Petersburg . What kind of message is president putin trying to send to the world . The first is perhaps a bit demise to buy the tale of 2 lonely cowboys. They have found each other. The second is more worrying. The wedge between nato members is here. A new refugeeeking after he attacked america for leastng the coup, or at supporting gulen, whom he believes plot of the coup. To do with this has other deeper questions. How to deal with the kurds, s yria, how to restart their economic relationship. This is an artichoke. The various leaves of which are significant on their own and as part of a whole. Ra lets on peel them lets unpeel them. Turkey forswear the u. N. . That not think he is the sellout to the bear is not wise, but to have a bear in their corner dealing with questions that disturb them is a useful development. It is clear that erdogan and been at this for some time. The president of cause extend played an intermediary role. About the coup and the turks feeling cross but, how can pals whenesidents be they have such opposing views on syria with the russians supporting the president . I have not seen a shoe drop on that question. They postponed a discussion of that to a later private meeting, which they will seek to move. The challenge in syria is that neither have a military solution. Each is dependent on diplomacy. The u. S. Lays a major role in that diplomacy. Erdogan is seeking to enlist mr. Putin. Laura the americans will not like that . The americans have their own airbase inside turkey, which is used in syria. It is all quite complicated, isnt it . Would they throw the americans and their airbase out . I do not think the turks will throw us out of the airbase. They will want to see if a solution in syria can do several things slow refugee flow, which they can no longer push to europe, tighten the borders, their back,ds off and see if the solution will be a solution without assad. To make awill have solution that suits his longterm interest, keeping his airbase in syria, keeping his ship visits, keeping his role in syria. His ability to influence situations of the middle east here and we can go back to his actions in the fall when he used military force the layer the to level the Playing Field for diplomaticpen the channel to see if we can move this process ahead. This plays into that game. Laura it is a chess game. Thank you very much. Senators Susan Collins added her name to those who will not be voting for donald trump. She says she decided because of her fear that mr. Trump would make the world more dangerous than it is. Security National Experts who served in the Republican Administration saying they would not vote for trump either. Gavin hewitt reports. Reporter Donald Trumps supporters capturing their candidate on their phones. The reality is that he is facing unprecedented attacks from within his own party. A moderate republican senator said she was dismayed by his constant stream of cruel comments. And 50 former National Security officials, some of them heavyweight figures, signed a letter saying he was unable to separate truth from falsehood. Those of us who have the experience, who have worked in administrations, worked in the government, worked closely with cabinet secretaries of the president , feel he is not fit and not ready to be president of the United States and is not changeable. Gavin just yesterday, donald trump tried to in effect relaunches campaign. He was more disciplined, sticking to a prepared text. He largely ignored protesters. And he focused on traditional republican themes like tax cuts and less regulation. It was all an attempt to reassure his rattled party that some republicans doubt he can but some republicans doubt he can reset his campaign. Or think he can, because it is not an issue of policy at this point. It is an issue of personality. Donald trump, the man himself, has shown himself incapable of the type of selfrestraint that is necessary to exercise the power that comes with sitting in the white house, in the oval office. Ms. Clinton im Hillary Clinton and i approve this message. If he governs consistent with some of the things he said as a candidate, i would be very frightened. Gavin Hillary Clintons campaign is airing tv commercials that play on the attacks on donald trump from his own party. What does donald trump make of this . He dismisses his critics as insiders. Im running against a failed washington elite, he says. That may resonate with core supporters, but he is the candidate of increasingly of an increasingly divided party. Laura this afternoon, donald trump drew more controversy when he had this to say about a rally of Hillary Clinton. To trump hillary wants abolish the Second Amendment. Judges,ets to pick her nothing you can do, folks. The Second Amendment people, maybe there is, i dont know. Trump with this statement his Campaign Says points to the political power of advocates. The clinton Campaign Says a person running for president should not suggest violence in any way. Among those not voting for donald trump is james jeffrey, the National Security advisor for george w. Bush. I spoke to him earlier. Of his statement, particularly on Foreign Policy, which made you sign the letter warning that he would be the most reckless president in American History . Amb. Jeffrey exactly, laura. Those of us who signed the letter are focusing on Foreign Policy unlike in domestic , policy, there is no restraint on a president or commanderinchiefs authority. He or she doesnt have the right constitution, willing to listen to other people, willing to control his own emotions, you are heading for danger. Laura is there a Tipping Point for you with donald trump that made you want to sign this letter and stick your neck out . Amb. Jeffrey i think it was the attack on the parents, the khans, of the soldier who died in iraq. When i was serving there, i remember the fighting in the province that took his life. Secondly, it was his call on the russians to hack senator clintons email. Laura donald trump has it back has hit back saying that the world is dangerous because of Foreign Policy experts like you. He doesnt know what hes talking about. Two, we are not doing this because we are partisan at least i am not. Im doing this because im worried about the country if we have somebody in there who does not know how to control himself and to listen to good advice. Laura what is very striking about reading the letter is one particular bit it is quite similar to Hillary Clintons line of attack, that donald trump is not a person who should have the Nuclear Codes. Is that something you feel extremely strongly about . Amb. Jeffrey i am less worried about the Nuclear Codes per se than i about the everyday am conduct of Foreign Policy. President s make life or death decisions, deploying troops, responding to insult and provocations all around the world. That is the role of the american president , to deal with that in a responsible, reasonable way. I dont think we will get that with him. Laura you and 49 others that you will not vote for donald trump. What will you do in november . Will you vote for Hillary Clinton . Amb. Jeffrey that is not the issue. Everyone will take his or her own decisions. Laura lets say he is elected. Who is he going to draw on for Institutional Knowledge of Foreign Policy when all these people who signed the letter presumably wont be part of his administration . Amb. Jeffrey let me make two points. First of all, one or two levels below people who sent a letter and people who didnt send a letter, there are enough people to help if you will listen to them. Secondly, if he is president we all have to do everything we can to ensure that the public remains safe and secure. Laura so you would serve under him or advise him if he were elected . Amb. Jeffrey i would not serve under him but i would hope he would get good advice. Laura Foreign Policy is not a hugely popular issue. It is more the economy that people vote on. Are you trying to influence the outcome of the election with this letter and get people to sit up and listen . Amb. Jeffrey it is not that ambitious, at least for me. Any National Election for president is an opportunity for all american citizens to educate each other and to provide information. Then the American People absorb all of that and make their own decisions and decide who they are going to vote for. Laura you are a loyal soldier. Did you think long and hard before sending this . Amb. Jeffrey of course. Laura what made you feel you had to do it . Amb. Jeffrey this is a unique situation, unique individual. Ive never seen anything like this since i began my involvement voting for president in 1968. Laura ambassador, thank you for joining us. You are watching bbc world news america. Still to come on tonights program, from spending to gymnastics, we have the latest on the olympic action and what to watch for. One of indias best known medical activists who has been on Hunger Strike for 16 years is ending her fast so she can contest the next election. She has been forcefed in the hospital. She was protesting against a controversial law that gives the indian army sleeping power to an insurgency. Our correspondent sends this report from that state. The supporters are upset at a decision to end her fast after 16 years. They believe it is a step she should not have taken. Is removal of a law that still in the books and has not been removed. A short while ago inside the. Said she is standing by the decision. He announced that he signed the pr bond. That it was found correct and accepted. Officially, Irom Sharmila is on bail. Abouter she was upset the pressure and criticism she has received, not only from supporters, but her family who made a last ditch attempt to change her mind. She said why cant anyone treat me like a human being . She is being taken back to the hospital to be checked medically to see if she is healthy enough to leave medical supervision. She has furnished a bail and will be set free. As for her political battle, it is obvious that there is a long and difficult half ahead. Path ahead. Laura it is day 4 of the olympics in rio. The american womens Gymnastic Team took gold in the team competition. Simoneves superstar biles are first metal. From on what to watch for we go to chris mitchell, who is in rio. Tell us about the golden girls of the u. S. Gymnastics team. We knew they would win gold from the moment the contest started. Best. Simone biles at her the commentators, the team, i was tuning in to them saying it was the best they have ever seen. He United States has dominated this is their fifth global title in a row. Simone biles, since she came into the sport in 2013, has won everything. Complete domination. They did it with grace. Simone biles was on the floor last. The gold was already in the bag. Her routine was perfect. She does it with such grace. Alexander, the grandmother of the team, her routine was great. Lori hernandez Laurie Hernandez was winking at the camera before her routine. They are confident, but they deserve to be. Simone biles will be a star of this olympics, and beyond. Laura it was good for the french and germans, too . Chis a fantastic day for the french with 2 golden medals, one in the canoe slalom and in the equestrian. They won the team event. It was a nailbiter. The french did not have the gold in the bag and the australians ride. Till to if Christopher Burton had had a flawless ride they couldve gotten the gold, but rest of her bars. Knocks it down 2 that was unexpected. Also the british team finished out of the medals, the First Time Since 1996. , the flagabout rami bearer for the refugee team, he swam in the 100 meter freestyle. He did not get through to the semifinals. He said before the games it had been his dream since leaving aleppo to make it to an olympics. He has fulfilled his dream and looked delighted. Even though, his olympics is over. Laura someone whos olympics is not over is Michael Phelps. What can we expect . His my goodness im so looking forward to this. I have followed Michael Phelps since 2004. I spoke to him in 2005. He looked as clean and fresh then as now. He was not the favorite going into the 200 meters butterfly final tonight, but i think he has an excellent chance of gold. Who took theican title from him in london 2012 is in the final. A slim sidebyside. He loves to look. Michael phelps will be eyes ahead, like an eagle. Do not discount on gary and that comes as the european and world champion. The hunt gary and the that comes as the european and world champion. Laura thank you for joining us. Scientists have returned exploring the u. K. s tallest mountains in the sea. They used underwater technology. They have been logging marine life with many new species being discovered. Our correspondent has more. Reporter plunging the need to the waves. Beneath a submarine going to britains mountains of the deep. Exposition expedition has revealed life. The mountainn tops, teaming with creatures in these cold waters. Theyre living on the u. K. s highest mountains. The biggest is 1700 meters tall. Totally submerged. Located off the west coast of scotland, they were explored over the course of six weeks. On board the ship, the scientists controlled the underwater robots, watching the images streaming back. It is so exciting to do the research. You see the seafloor and you dont know what youre going to find. This is the first time that anybody has seen the animals that live there and how they live and what they live on, who lives with them. That is really exciting. We saw some incredible things. Rebecca now the Research Ship is back, docked in southampton and getting unpacked. During the six weeks at sea, scientists collected thousands of samples that are being unloaded now. Here is a small collection. Possibly thousands of years old. This one here can grow several meters tall. A sponge with tiny creatures growing inside. It will take months to analyze all this but even now the team thinks that some of these species may be new to science. These animals here are basket stars. Rebecca researchers say the seamounts are a biodiversity hotspot. Lots of people think the deep sea as a desert of mud and these are far from that. So many animals, so much life. Rebecca now the hard work begins. The scientists need to work out exactly what it is they have found. Understanding what is living on britains deepsea mountains will be vital for protecting them in the future. Rebecca morelle, bbc news. Laura that was gorgeous down there. That brings todays broadcast to a close. You can find out more on all of that days news, including the latest on the olympics. To reach me and the team go to twitter. I am lauratrevelyan. Tune in tomorrow. Make sense of International News at bbc. Com news. Funding of this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation. Newmans own foundation, giving all profits from newmans own to charity and pursuing the common good. Kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for americas neglected needs. And aruba tourism authority. Planning a vacation escape that is relaxing, inviting, and exciting is a lot easier than you think. You can find it here in aruba. Families, couples, and friends can all find their escape on the island with warm sunny days, cooling tradewinds, and the crystal blue caribbean sea. Nonstop flights are available from most major airports. More information for your vacation planning is available at aruba. Com. Bbc world news was presented by kcet los angeles. Captioning sponsored by newshour productions, llc woodruff good evening, im judy woodruff. Ifill and im gwen ifill. Woodruff on the newshour tonight, growing g. O. P. Defections we sit down with senator Susan Collins, the latest in a group of Republican Leaders refusing to support a donald trump presidency. De ifill also ahead this tuesday, turkish president erdogan and russian president d putin work to mend ties. What renewed relations could mean for the two countries, and the u. S. Woodruff plus, what happens when children with autism reach adulthood, in the first of our two part series we look at a Pilot Program for a group thats often ignored. There are so many ways that he has changed and grown. Hes going to school hes learning classes. Hes taking responsibilities for his homework