mcconnell harshly criticised biden as bending "under the heat of domestic political pressure from his party's anti—israel base..." republican senator lindsay graham has called the decision to halt arms �*absurd'. this is all about president biden and trying to take over the war from israel. i've got one message for israel. i've got one message for israel. don't let them do it. many democratic lawmakers have come out in support of biden�*s decision to halt certain munitions to israel. here's what democratic senator — and biden ally — chris coons told the bbc. of course, israel has the right but the obligation to go after hamas and finish thejob and the obligation to go after hamas and finish the job and restore a sense of security to the israeli people after the horrific attack of october seven. but since there are a million refugees in gaza who have moved to the north, to the centre and the south and are trapped up against the hard border with egypt and egypt is not allowing any of them in, before going in at scale to attack the remaining hamas battalions, we are calling them to provide a pathway out. president biden�*s remarks prompted strong responses from israeli officials. prime minister benjamin netanyahu vowed to press ahead with military operations in gaza, saying in a statement: "if we have to stand alone, we will stand alone." for more on israel's reaction, our security correspondent frank gardner sent this update from jerusalem. israel is released stunned by this because that's his 1982 is the us withheld weapons from its allies, close as i lay in the middle east and there's talk of betrayal and one for rent minister in the cabinet, he tweeted on social media platforms and there is a theory going on around here that the us threatening to withhold military support for israel at this time going into the area is bludgeoning and strengthening hamas and israel needs to wring concessions out of hamas to get the hostages out. but the peace talks, the cease—fire talks have ground to a halt yet again and both delegations have left and the israelis and hamas and the fundamentals are still in place, there is still agreement in the sense that there's talk of the limited period of calm, four to two daysin limited period of calm, four to two days in exchange for captives of palestinian prisoners and israeli jails. and it's sticky part remains how this conflict ends. israel's military says it already has enough weapons for its mission in rafah, and on thursday its army continued heavy shelling of the area. palestinians are still evacuating, with a un agency saying 80,000 people have fled so far. for more on the situation, let's bring in former diplomat and president of the middle east policy council, gina abercrombie—winstanley. israel's ambassador to the un said the country was "very disappointed" by mr biden�*s intervention. how significant of a rupture if this between the israeli's and the us? saying that they are abandoning israel and helping hamas? unfortunately, i believe those are politically motivated statements because the president has been very clear that he is standing with israel with regard to its defensive capabilities to continue to provide whatever is needed for iron dome and to prevent attacks from outside. but we're talking about gaza and that's very different, the bombs being used against civilians. in very different, the bombs being used against civilians.— against civilians. in order to defend itself, _ against civilians. in order to defend itself, it _ against civilians. in order to defend itself, it has - against civilians. in order to defend itself, it has to - against civilians. in order to defend itself, it has to go . against civilians. in order to l defend itself, it has to go and offensively and to defeat these remaining hamas battalions that the israeli forces say they have identified there.— israeli forces say they have identified there. , , ., , identified there. the president has been very clear — identified there. the president has been very clear that _ identified there. the president has been very clear that they - identified there. the president has been very clear that they have - been very clear that they have to have a plan for the safety and security of civilians. america has been very supportive of israel being able to defend itself and there have been those who have said from the beginning that this overwhelming attack in these extraordinary numbers of civilian casualties works against israeli security. we numbers of civilian casualties works against israeli security.— against israeli security. we have for some very — against israeli security. we have for some very disappointed - against israeli security. we have l for some very disappointed voices from israel and how big of a rupture do you think this is right now between israel and the us? i do you think this is right now between israel and the us? i know it is a shock for— between israel and the us? i know it is a shock for israelis _ between israel and the us? i know it is a shock for israelis to _ between israel and the us? i know it is a shock for israelis to really - is a shock for israelis to really have their leadership be called up on the carpet, as it were. the president has been clear in the secretary of state and defence members of congress, this is not been a sudden change, the warnings have been put out in the position of the american leadership and people have been very clear to get us through this point and it certainly can be refers to the change in policy and action from the israeli government. if policy and action from the israeli government-— government. if you listen to the department. — government. if you listen to the department, the _ government. if you listen to the department, the white - government. if you listen to the department, the white house i government. if you listen to the - department, the white house today, the indicated an assessment of a possible ground operation and rafah will be catastrophic. netanyhau is vowing to press ahead and said we will fight with our fingernails if necessary. what do you make of that? it is hard to say how much of what the prime minister is saying because he actually intends to do it full force were to placate his coalition thatis force were to placate his coalition that is to the right. he has been balancing for 17 years, he has made american presidents uncomfortable for 17 years and resisting and pushing back, disagreeing, disrespecting from time to time as we saw during the obama administration, but then he's got away with those costs are the american supported diplomatic cover staunch friendship that is been with israel from its beginning is something that he cannot afford to lose nor does he believe israeli citizens want him to lose that end, he's got consultations to make. for securin: he's got consultations to make. for securing the cease—fire, negotiators appear to indicate that the process continues to be stalled. it certainly has exacerbated the problems and also what are mosque calculations? and one of the reasons why benjamin netanyahu went into rafah was to add additional pressure on hamas and unfortunately, hamas is proven repeatedly over these months that the deaths of palestinians in gazais that the deaths of palestinians in gaza is not something that is going to persuade them to change or they are doing and we also have to keep in mind the hostages in the israeli attack is also putting them in danger. attack is also putting them in dancer. �* ,, ., attack is also putting them in dancer. �* ., “ danger. always get their view on bbc news and thank _ danger. always get their view on bbc news and thank you _ danger. always get their view on bbc news and thank you so _ danger. always get their view on bbc news and thank you so much for- danger. always get their view on bbc news and thank you so much for us l news and thank you so much for us today. problems continue to mount for us aerospace company boeing after another string of safety incidents. on thursday morning, a boeing 737—300 passenger aircraft crashed during take—off in senegal. 11 people were injured, four severely, when the plane ran off a runway and caught fire. the flight was taking off from the senegalese capital to the capital of mali. separately, two investigations involving boeing planes are under way in turkey. also on thursday, nearly 200 passengers were evacuated from a boeing 737—800 after one of its tires burst on landing. it comes just a day after a fedex airlines boeing 767 cargo plane landed at istanbul airport without its front landing gear. this all comes as a boeing whistle—blower tells the bbc he found up to 200 defects on plane parts being readied for shipping to boeing. santiago paredes is a former quality—inspector at boeing's largest supplier, spirit aerosystems. he says he was pressured to conduct less rigorous inspections, and that boeing prioritised profits over passenger safety. the whole time we were there, boeing knowingly knew that spirit was sending fuselages with many defects — many of them bad. they knew that, they were aware of it. and spirit was wrong for sending defective fuselages, but at the same time, boeing was also wrong for accepting them. in a statement, spirit's spokesman said: "spirit strongly disagrees with the allegations "made by mr paredes. boeing itself declined to comment, although sources within the company say it is working hard to help spirit address quality issues. it is also in talks about taking full control of its supplier. for the latest on the investigations into boeing, i sat down with the us secretary of transportation, pete buttigieg. i also asked him about baltimore's recovery efforts after the francis scott key bridge collapse, global supply chains, and other transportation issues affecting the us and the world. thank you forjoining us in our studio today. i want to start with some bbc reporting we spoke to a whistle—blower word for spirit aerosystems in kansas. and he said he often found up to 200 defects on parts being ready for shipping to boeing and spirit says it strongly denies his allegations but he told us that i was finding a lot of missing fasteners, a lot of bent parts and sometimes even missing parts. you confident that boeing is meeting its commitments to safety that your apartment sets? the meeting its commitments to safety that your apartment sets?- meeting its commitments to safety that your apartment sets? the fm is investigating — that your apartment sets? the fm is investigating this _ that your apartment sets? the fm is investigating this right _ that your apartment sets? the fm is investigating this right now— that your apartment sets? the fm is investigating this right now because l investigating this right now because we care about concerns like that, they have to be taken extremely seriously because the context for this is we have already been in the process of putting a boeing under a microscope ever since the january incident of the alaska airlines flight company to demonstrate that their meeting the quality standards and safety standards that the faa and safety standards that the faa and set forward and that is why we are taking the extraordinary step of restricting their ability to increase production until they demonstrate that they can do that safely and the safety record is an extraordinary thing and you cannot actually take it for granted in maintaining that heightened level of scrutiny that is exactly what is going on with boeing right now. there are plans in the meantime stop you live a plan is not safe, it cannot fly. without the 737 maxis until it was inspected.- until it was inspected. following the incident, _ until it was inspected. following the incident, that _ until it was inspected. following the incident, that is _ until it was inspected. following the incident, that is always - until it was inspected. following | the incident, that is always going to be true. they hold these aircraft to be true. they hold these aircraft to a standard of billion to one or better in terms of probability of something going catastrophically wrong and that is why we had the extra nursing the record that we do right now, it is clear that extraordinary measures are called for in order to safeguard and defend that record. ., ., for in order to safeguard and defend that record-— that record. today, there was a boein: that record. today, there was a boeing 737 _ that record. today, there was a boeing 737 that _ that record. today, there was a boeing 737 that crashed - that record. today, there was a boeing 737 that crashed during | boeing 737 that crashed during take—off and injured 11 people and officials in turkey say that i hundred 90 passengers and crew were safely evacuated from a 737 that had a tire burst during the landing, of course, it is a safe mode of transportation, the record is been very strong be understand why people are weary at best on getting on a boeing? are weary at best on getting on a boein: ? ., , . ., boeing? not 'ust a safe one, the safest. nut — boeing? notjust a safe one, the safest. but the _ boeing? notjust a safe one, the safest. but the most _ boeing? notjust a safe one, the safest. but the most natural- boeing? notjust a safe one, the i safest. but the most natural human thing is when you step into a metal tube is going to fly hundreds of miles an hour through the sky, you're going to have some concerns that everything is been checked to make sure that is a safe experience. that is nothing we can treat as a destination, we achieve safety and never get to go, it has to be continually renewed and refreshed in any time a problem or threat of a problem, whether it is in the design, the process, the maintenance of the operation of a flight, they're going to look at a very closely. in they're going to look at a very closel . , ., you trust boeing to take care of this? , . , �* ., ., . this? they have put boeing on that ou have this? they have put boeing on that you have to — this? they have put boeing on that you have to demonstrate _ this? they have put boeing on that you have to demonstrate a - this? they have put boeing on that you have to demonstrate a and - this? they have put boeing on that| you have to demonstrate a and plan to tackle all these quality issues and they have responsibilities to meet our standards. [30 and they have responsibilities to meet our standards.— and they have responsibilities to meet our standards. do you think the will? meet our standards. do you think they will? their — meet our standards. do you think they will? they have _ meet our standards. do you think they will? they have to. - meet our standards. do you think they will? they have to. in - they will? they have to. in baltimore, _ they will? they have to. in baltimore, the _ they will? they have to. in baltimore, the bridge - they will? they have to. in baltimore, the bridge that| they will? they have to. in - baltimore, the bridge that collapse, we know the bodies of all six men who died have now been recovered and unified command in baltimore confirmed that they are looking to reopen the channel in the coming days and it is dependent on whether we have to wait and see when that will happen but you think the transport in and out of that port will get back to normal soon? ideai will get back to normal soon? ideal and there's — will get back to normal soon? ideal and there's been _ will get back to normal soon? ideal and there's been an _ will get back to normal soon? ice—i and there's been an opening of will get back to normal soon? iced and there's been an opening of the partial channel is not the same as having everything back open is a very important important especially for vehicles in its the number one port in the us for vehicles coming in and it has such specialised facilities that right now, in the meantime, even as other courts in places like georgia and rhode island temporarily accept the shipments, sometimes it's tough to bring them back to the grounds to the port of baltimore for some of the processes that go on there. it is a very important facility and for the workers whose lives have been disrupted by not having that traffic it by the us corps of engineers which is leading that process and removing the channel, they have said very ambitious targets and so far, they've hit everyone of their targets are fully confident that by the end of may, the left of vessel out of the way in the wreckage of the way and that generated for normal operations.— the way and that generated for normal operations. white as the im act normal operations. white as the impact been _ normal operations. white as the impact been on _ normal operations. white as the impact been on global— normal operations. white as the impact been on global shippingl normal operations. white as the i impact been on global shipping and chains? , ., ., , ., impact been on global shipping and chains? , , ., ., chains? using new tools to do so, ever since — chains? using new tools to do so, ever since those _ chains? using new tools to do so, ever since those major _ chains? using new tools to do so, | ever since those major disruptions we had on the us west coast in 2021, we've created new capabilities in our department of transportation and president biden's infrastructure package established a new trade—offs we can better track of things like this and knowing that more disruptions would come, we could not have known that it would take the form of things like the attacks in the red sea or the climate and weather impacts of the panama canal and his bridge collapsed that took place in baltimore but we knew there would be more disruptions.- would be more disruptions. shoring u . would be more disruptions. shoring u- su -l would be more disruptions. shoring up supply chains — would be more disruptions. shoring up supply chains here _ would be more disruptions. shoring up supply chains here in _ would be more disruptions. shoring up supply chains here in the - would be more disruptions. shoring up supply chains here in the us - would be more disruptions. shoring up supply chains here in the us but| up supply chains here in the us but their global shocks as you have mentioned in the red sea, how do you mitigate those factors? the mentioned in the red sea, how do you mitigate those factors?— mitigate those factors? the first rule of supply — mitigate those factors? the first rule of supply chains _ mitigate those factors? the first rule of supply chains is - mitigate those factors? the first rule of supply chains is how - rule of supply chains is how interconnected they are and we are reminded of that again and again and also convenience of parties involved in the dealing with the red sea disruptions and we had a gathering in the transport ministers to discuss our response for this and there cannot be enough communication and coordination and notjust for the government to government level but really promoting that with the private sector in giving players who sometimes were frankly suspicious of each other did not see any reason to cooperate to now cooperate in ways that are still appropriate and not sharing business information that needs to be shared but sharing more data so they can anticipate and absorb these temporary disruptions. you mention the loss and this was signed into law in late 2021 and politico, they released in an expansive report looking to how much other presidents deployment is been in looking at some these numbers, less than 17% of the $1.1 trillion provided for direct investment climate energy infrastructure has been spent as of april and if you look particularly at transportation, the authorities haven't spent much of the infrastructure law programmes on highway construction i think it was about 110 billion rewarded 52% and that is a bit of a higher number but, why is it that so much of this money has not been spent yet? the nature of money has not been spent yet? tie nature of infrastructures that some projects are very quick and can be donein projects are very quick and can be done in a single season and some of these like building cathedrals, the hudson tunnel project for examples of the biggest transportation projects in the eastern half of the united states and more than a generation a new take more than a decade to deliver. some of the projects are ready and others are knowing that sometimes we have to fund the planning processjust fund the planning process just to get them on the drawing board but thatis get them on the drawing board but that is what it is like we are finding notjust one season or one summer one year of economic stimulus but a decade of investment and a stronger supply side for the us economy. stronger supply side for the us econom . �* stronger supply side for the us econom . ~ , . , ., ., economy. and the perception of the ro'ects economy. and the perception of the prejects few — economy. and the perception of the projects few voters _ economy. and the perception of the projects few voters said _ economy. and the perception of the projects few voters said they'd - economy. and the perception of the projects few voters said they'd even j projects few voters said they'd even heard of the infrastructure projects of the president has been championing and some voters even give the former president donald trump as much credit is biting for infrastructure spending, is this a question of communicating? that is wh i am question of communicating? that is why i am out _ question of communicating? that is why i am out of— question of communicating? that is why i am out of the _ question of communicating? that is why i am out of the road _ why i am out of the road constantly not been to all but three us states and i'll be in those remaining three states soon and making sure that everyone understands these projects did notjust fall out of everyone understands these projects did not just fall out of the everyone understands these projects did notjust fall out of the sky wrap in a random, they have been because president biden worked with democrats and republicans in this bipartisan effort the last administration talk to big—game about infrastructure and the concept of having an infrastructure week became a bit of a joke here in washington because they died seven of the with no results and we actually did it, we got it done. poor people need to see most is that is actually happening is actual work taking place whether it is the construction that i saw along 170 in colorado which is an important supply chain or a small neighbourhood project which is taking places the layers that we work with to reduce the roadway deaths were singing some of these major train tunnels that we are seeing, they're all part of the bigger picture. seeing, they're all part of the bigger picture-— seeing, they're all part of the biner icture. ., ~ . bigger picture. thank you so much for our bigger picture. thank you so much foryourtime- _ the former adult film actress stormy daniels was back on the witness stand thursday, cross—examined by lawyers for donald trump in his ongoing new york �*hush money�* trial. prosecutors have charged the former president with falsifying business records, over a payment to ms daniels in 2016 before the november election. mr trump maintains his innocence and denies alleged affair, calling the case a "witch hunt." let's go outside the manhattan courthouse now with our correspondent nada tawfik. one of the most intense days of cross—examination in this trial, trying to undercut daniel's credibility and painters someone was just after money and trying to get donald trump injail and joining me is kalo who was in the courtroom and kayla, a very different demeanour from stormy daniels today and i was really struck when i watch from the overflow room and just how she was very casual and she answered questions in a breezy way, very different than the last time she was seeming a little bit more nervous and her quick answers. that seeming a little bit more nervous and her quick answers.— and her quick answers. that was certainly the _ and her quick answers. that was certainly the case _ and her quick answers. that was certainly the case and _ and her quick answers. that was certainly the case and saw - and her quick answers. that was certainly the case and saw that l certainly the case and saw that daniels was a lot more composed and kept her answer short and capture answers on topic and more responsive to the questions and we saw that even though she tried to insert some small bits of humour and her testimony, she really did stick to what is being asked of her and on tuesday, think the prosecution gone to a little bit of trouble for how long she went on with some of her answers and thejudge long she went on with some of her answers and the judge had to long she went on with some of her answers and thejudge had to remind her to stay on topic and taking couple days off, she went back with a different energy.— couple days off, she went back with a different energy. despite her body lanauuae a different energy. despite her body language and _ a different energy. despite her body language and she — a different energy. despite her body language and she answered, - a different energy. despite her body language and she answered, it's - a different energy. despite her body. language and she answered, it's what she proved to the jury, how do you think the defence did in trying to discredit her and painters someone who just wants to see donald trump injail who just wants to see donald trump in jail because you love they went over every aspect of the story that stormy daniels has taught about her encounter, heralleged stormy daniels has taught about her encounter, her alleged encounter with donald trump and not every detail and asked about recounting things in the interview she gave about it to point out inconsistencies. �* , . inconsistencies. because donald trum - inconsistencies. because donald trum is inconsistencies. because donald trump is claiming _ inconsistencies. because donald trump is claiming that _ inconsistencies. because donald trump is claiming that stormy . trump is claiming that stormy daniels is changing her story fundamentally and the judge even later today did not agree with that but they are trying to discredit her in the eyes of the jury. she but they are trying to discredit her in the eyes of the jury.— in the eyes of the “my. she said es, i in the eyes of the “my. she said yes. i hate _ in the eyes of the jury. she said yes, i hate donald _ in the eyes of the jury. she said yes, i hate donald trump - in the eyes of the jury. she said yes, i hate donald trump and l in the eyes of the jury. she said yes, i hate donald trump and i | in the eyes of the jury. she said - yes, i hate donald trump and i want to see him injail if he has found guilty. but donald trump wants to actually be able to respond to some of her testimonies for tuesday because his team argues that it is prejudicial that he should be able to off the gag order.— to off the gag order. todd, trims la er to off the gag order. todd, trims lawyer argued — to off the gag order. todd, trims lawyer argued exactly _ to off the gag order. todd, trims lawyer argued exactly what - to off the gag order. todd, trims lawyer argued exactly what you i to off the gag order. todd, trims - lawyer argued exactly what you said, that he should be able to respond publicly to stormy daniels but the 939 publicly to stormy daniels but the gag order prevents them from doing that but it's notjust about stormy daniels comments about the integrity of the entire case. he has voiced concern in the past gag order hearing and said today, witnesses using the gag order as a sort of more than the shield and we believe he is implying that stormy daniels but also michael cohen who has been quite vocal on social media but his thoughts on donald trump and also denying some of the prosecution that donald trump is in violation because what he said in response to michael: stop by looking at the other bit of housekeeping, the defence calling for a mistrial, but to the judge housekeeping, the defence calling for a mistrial, but to thejudge had to say about whether that was warranted this time? they did give a long explanation as to why and donald trump's lawyer said there was so much that went into her testimony that was not relevant and it was prejudicial to the jury that it was just too damaging. the judge prejudicial to the jury that it was just too damaging. thejudge did not agree it was important that they corroborated stormy daniels story and provide details and todd blanchard said the story was not true. it is important for thejury to decide who they believe, donald trump or stormy daniels. but he did say he agreed there was certain things that the prosecution hadn't asked her about. the things that the prosecution hadn't asked her about.— asked her about. the 'udge is a difficult job in h asked her about. the 'udge is a difficult job in this _ asked her about. the judge is a difficult job in this trial- asked her about. the judge is a difficult job in this trial and - asked her about. the judge is a difficult job in this trial and the | difficultjob in this trial and the trial is moving on schedule perhaps even ahead of schedule and prosecution will go tomorrow and next week and then lb on the defence, potentially. —— it will be. remember you can find more on all the days news at our website, bbc dot com slash news. thank you for watching world news america. hello there. temperatures have been creeping up day by day. high pressure has brought plenty of sunshine around, but a weather front launching across northern scotland has brought thicker cloud here, some spots of rain and thursday was another grey day here with outbreaks of rain. now, as we move through tonight, it does look like that weather front will eventually move northwards, become confined to the northern isles for a while through the night before it clears away. it becomes drier here, but a dry night to come for most areas. bit of mist and fog here and there, temperatures ranging from 9—12 celsius. friday, then, our area of high pressure continues to bring a lot of fine and settled weather. we lose that weather front from northern scotland, so, apart from a bit of early cloud, some mist and fog, most places should have a fine dry day. widespread sunshine, particularly for england and wales, into northern ireland, central and southern scotland, but some sunshine into the highlands as well. that'll lift temperatures up to 22 celsius perhaps in aberdeen. 23—24, perhaps, in the warmest spots in england and wales. through friday night, it looks like we'll see mist and fog returning in places. a bit of low cloud, sea fog pushing into eastern england, east anglia and the south—east. that could creep a little bit further westwards into the midlands first thing on saturday. but again, those temperatures, 9—12 celsius. now for the weekend. it does stay warm, there will be some good spells of sunshine around, but the shower risk will start to increase, particularly as we head into sunday. that's because we've got a weather front and low pressure developing, pushing towards our shores, particularly by sunday. and into next week, it'll be a lot more unsettled than we've had this week. saturday, though, another warm day to come, a bit of early mist and fog and some low cloud across eastern england. otherwise, plenty of sunshine, though we could see a few heavy showers develop across the high ground of northern england, central and southern scotland into the afternoon. that could be thundery as well. but a warm day to come, quite humid too, the low—to—mid—20s quite widely. sunday probably the warmest day of the week across southern areas. it could be up to 26 celsius, plenty of sunshine. but then the showers and thunderstorms could become a bit more widespread through the afternoon. and the temperatures may be coming down a little bit across western areas as the clouds build up in the sky. then as we head into next week low pressure takes over, it will become a lot more unsettled, showers or longer spells of rain at times. but there will still be a little bit of sunshine too, take care. stormy daniels faces tough cross—examination on her second day on the stand. the cross-examination on her second day on the stand-— on the stand. the dispense spent more than _ on the stand. the dispense spent more than three _ on the stand. the dispense spent more than three hours _ on the stand. the dispense spent. more than three hours questioning daniels_ more than three hours questioning daniels today. we more than three hours questioning daniels today-— more than three hours questioning daniels today. we are not hearing a treat daniels today. we are not hearing a great amount _ daniels today. we are not hearing a great amount about _ daniels today. we are not hearing a great amount about what _ daniels today. we are not hearing a great amount about what they - daniels today. we are not hearing a| great amount about what they claim to be charges, probably because there are not any.