historical sexual offences. ukraine's president zelensky warns that a new russian military offensive may come in the next few months. an uneasy calm injerusalem over easter and ramadan while conditions remain desperate in gaza. in the past hour, president biden announces he will travel to baltimore at the bridge collapsed recovery effort continues. also coming up on the world today — the world of mammals — the latest david attenborough series looks at how many species are adapting to climate change. the oscar—winning oppenheimer is finally screened in japan, the only country to suffer an atomic bombing in war.

welcome to the world today, an hour of international news from the bbc. we start in northern ireland, where politics has been thrown into turmoil with the news that the leader of the democratic unionist party, sirjeffrey donaldson, has resigned after being charged with rape and other historical sexual offences. he was arrested yesterday along with a 57—year—old woman, who has been charged with aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences. they will appear in court next month. sirjeffrey, who is northern ireland's longest—serving mp at westminster, says he will strenously contest the charges. jennifer o'leary reports. sirjeffrey donaldson, a leader whojust weeks ago returned his party to power—sharing at stormont. today, his political career appears to be over. in a statement, his party announced his resignation, confirming that he's been charged with allegations of an historical nature.

bbc news understands he's been charged with rape and multiple other sexual offences as part of a police investigation spanning months after two women came forward. in a letter to his party, sirjeffrey donaldson said he will be strenuously contesting the charges. the dup�*s new interim leader is mp gavin robinson. it's been a devastating revelation, and has caused tremendous shock not just myself personally or my colleagues within the dup, but for the community right across northern ireland. it came as a great shock, but we are a party and individuals that believe in justice. we have faith in our criminal justice system. sirjeffrey donaldson is long known for his unyielding defence of the union. and what do you do in return for that, you throw me out of the forum to which i was elected by the people! his reputation was forged in opposition to the good friday agreement. i've got the framework document here. that's what we think of the framework document! jeffrey, how are you, lad?

today is not his first political exit. with regret, i have resigned from the ulster unionist party. his defection to a rival party eventually led him to the leadership of the dup, but he now stands apart from the party he steered back into power—sharing. in a statement, first minister michelle o'neill said her priority is to continue to provide the leadership the public expect and deserve. northern ireland has form when it comes to political earthquakes, but today's development leaves a fissure in unionism at a time when some see it under increasing threat from those who want a united ireland. # happy and glorious...# for now, sirjeffrey donaldson's party political days look firmly in the past. jennifer o'leary, belfast.

we just heard a bit of gavin robinson mp�*s interview there. he's been named as interim leaderfor the dup. in the past hour, he's been speaking to the media about the shock being felt both in the party and across the community in northern ireland. let's hear it in full. i think it's been a devastating revelation and has caused tremendous shock, notjust for myself personally or my colleagues within the dup, but for the community right across northern ireland. it came as a great shock, but we are a party and individuals that believe in justice. we have faith in our criminal justice system. and so in the coming days and months, i think it is important that none of us say anything or act in any way that would seek to prejudice what is now an ongoing criminal investigation. when did the party become aware of the allegations, and what has been the response of the party to them?

very late last night the party became aware, whenever it was revealed publicly that there had been an individual and another charged and it became clear to us who that individual was. in the early hours of this morning, we took steps to make sure we could bring colleagues together to discuss what it was we had learned and take the appropriate steps that we could. as you know, jeffrey donaldson has stepped down as party leader. he has indicated that to us, but through our disciplinary process, we similarly had to take the steps to suspend him from party membership until the conclusion of what is now a live criminal investigation. and in discussing that with colleagues, it was put to me that there was unanimity across colleagues that i should step forward and act at this time as the interim leader of our party.

it's a huge responsibility — notjust because of the shocking news we have had, but that will take its course and run its course — but for us, recognising the significant steps forward in northern ireland over the last number of weeks, focusing on the importance of making northern ireland work, instilling a sense of positivity in devolution and making sure that devolution works for our people. that is the important task at hand. that is the important task that i and my colleagues share, and that's the important task that we will focus on in the months and years to come. that was the interim leader of the dup, gavin robinson, speaking a little earlier. earlier, we spoke to our ireland correspondent sara girvin from stormont. nobody at all saw this coming until we had a statement from the police service of northern ireland this morning saying that a 61—year—old man had been arrested and charged

over those offences. then confirmation later this afternoon that sirjeffrey donaldson would be stepping down as the leader of the dup with immediate effect. and although he is an mp and the interim leader of the dup of the dup, gavin robinson is also an mp and they both at westminster, of course there had been a lot_ of concern about what would happen here at stormont, at northern ireland's devolved power—sharing government. because these institutions can be a notoriously fragile. and just to fill you in on what's been going on over the last number of years, i mean, it's literallyjust a few months that stormont's being back up and running because it was under sirjeffrey donaldson's leadership of the dup that the party pulled out of power—sharing here, collapsing those institutions and leaving northern ireland without a devolved government for two years.

and that was in protest at post—brexit trading arrangements. sirjeffrey donaldson then led what was his party at the time back to stormont, although not everyone within the dup was happy about that at the time. so it has been a very tumultuous time for the dup, let's speak to dr clare rice. she's a politics researcher at the univeristy of liverpool specialising in northern irish politics. thank you so much forjoining us. how much disarray do you believe this leaves the dup and? yes. how much disarray do you believe this leaves the dup and?- how much disarray do you believe this leaves the dup and? yes, it is certainly a — this leaves the dup and? yes, it is certainly a shock— this leaves the dup and? yes, it is certainly a shock and _ this leaves the dup and? yes, it is certainly a shock and that - this leaves the dup and? yes, it is certainly a shock and that was - certainly a shock and that was alluded — certainly a shock and that was alluded to— certainly a shock and that was alluded to in— certainly a shock and that was alluded to in the _ certainly a shock and that was alluded to in the package - certainly a shock and that was . alluded to in the package there. there _ alluded to in the package there. there have _ alluded to in the package there. there have been _ alluded to in the package there. there have been several- alluded to in the package there. there have been several years l alluded to in the package there. i there have been several years now difficulties— there have been several years now difficulties for— there have been several years now difficulties for the _ there have been several years now difficulties for the democratic- difficulties for the democratic unionist _ difficulties for the democratic unionist party. _ difficulties for the democratic unionist party. they- difficulties for the democratic unionist party. they have - difficulties for the democraticj unionist party. they have had difficulties for the democratic. unionist party. they have had a change — unionist party. they have had a change in — unionist party. they have had a change in leadership, _ unionist party. they have had a change in leadership, very- unionist party. they have had a. change in leadership, very public displays — change in leadership, very public displays of— change in leadership, very public displays of animosity _ change in leadership, very public displays of animosity and - change in leadership, very public. displays of animosity and discontent from within— displays of animosity and discontent from within the _ displays of animosity and discontent from within the party, _ displays of animosity and discontent from within the party, which - displays of animosity and discontent from within the party, which is- from within the party, which is quite — from within the party, which is quite unusual— from within the party, which is quite unusual for— from within the party, which is quite unusual for a _ from within the party, which is quite unusual for a party- from within the party, which is quite unusual for a party that i from within the party, which is- quite unusual for a party that tends to be _ quite unusual for a party that tends to be quite — quite unusual for a party that tends to be quite certain _ quite unusual for a party that tends to be quite certain to— quite unusual for a party that tends to be quite certain to keep - quite unusual for a party that tends to be quite certain to keep things. to be quite certain to keep things behind _ to be quite certain to keep things behind closed _ to be quite certain to keep things behind closed doors. _ to be quite certain to keep things behind closed doors. it's- to be quite certain to keep things behind closed doors. it's alreadyl behind closed doors. it's already been _ behind closed doors. it's already been a _ behind closed doors. it's already been a very— behind closed doors. it's already been a very difficult _ behind closed doors. it's already been a very difficult few - behind closed doors. it's already been a very difficult few years i behind closed doors. it's already. been a very difficult few years and looking _ been a very difficult few years and looking towards _ been a very difficult few years and looking towards a _ been a very difficult few years and looking towards a general- been a very difficult few years and | looking towards a general election as well, _ looking towards a general election as well, it — looking towards a general election as well, it seems _ looking towards a general election as well, it seems to _ looking towards a general election as well, it seems to be _ looking towards a general election as well, it seems to be even- looking towards a general election

as well, it seems to be even morej as well, it seems to be even more difficult _ as well, it seems to be even more difficult and — as well, it seems to be even more difficult and purely _ as well, it seems to be even more difficult and purely looking - as well, it seems to be even more difficult and purely looking as - as well, it seems to be even more difficult and purely looking as one| difficult and purely looking as one can from — difficult and purely looking as one can from a — difficult and purely looking as one can from a political— difficult and purely looking as one can from a political angle. - can from a political angle. ceriainly— can from a political angle. ceriainly it _ can from a political angle. certainly it does _ can from a political angle. certainly it does not - can from a political angle. j certainly it does not make can from a political angle. - certainly it does not make things any easier— certainly it does not make things any easier for— certainly it does not make things any easier for the _ certainly it does not make things any easier for the party - certainly it does not make things any easier for the party going - any easier for the party going forward _ any easier for the party going forward i— any easier for the party going forward. ., ., , ., forward. i want to put something to ou now forward. i want to put something to you now that _ forward. i want to put something to you now that we — forward. i want to put something to you now that we heard _ forward. i want to put something to you now that we heard a _ forward. i want to put something to you now that we heard a little - you now that we heard a little earlier from julian smith, who was a former secretary of state for northern ireland. he said he is not concerned that this will change the momentum to power—sharing because the appointment of gavin robinson brings continuity. do you agree with that? i brings continuity. do you agree with that? 4' , ,., that? i think there is something in that. very much _ that? i think there is something in that. very much the _ that? i think there is something in that. very much the message - that? i think there is something in l that. very much the message today both from _ that. very much the message today both from gavin _ that. very much the message today both from gavin robinson _ that. very much the message today both from gavin robinson and - that. very much the message today. both from gavin robinson and indeed from others _ both from gavin robinson and indeed from others across _ both from gavin robinson and indeed from others across northern - both from gavin robinson and indeed from others across northern ireland i from others across northern ireland today— from others across northern ireland today has _ from others across northern ireland today has been— from others across northern ireland today has been one _ from others across northern ireland today has been one of _ from others across northern ireland today has been one of continuing i from others across northern irelandl today has been one of continuing the efforts— today has been one of continuing the efforts behind — today has been one of continuing the efforts behind power—sharing - today has been one of continuing the efforts behind power—sharing in- efforts behind power—sharing in northern— efforts behind power—sharing in northern ireland, _ efforts behind power—sharing in northern ireland, ensuring - efforts behind power—sharing in northern ireland, ensuring thatj northern ireland, ensuring that devolution _ northern ireland, ensuring that devolution continues— northern ireland, ensuring that devolution continues to - northern ireland, ensuring that| devolution continues to operate northern ireland, ensuring that. devolution continues to operate as effectively — devolution continues to operate as effectively as — devolution continues to operate as effectively as possible _ devolution continues to operate as effectively as possible and - devolution continues to operate as effectively as possible and is - effectively as possible and is minimally— effectively as possible and is minimally impact _ effectively as possible and is minimally impact about - effectively as possible and isj minimally impact about what effectively as possible and is . minimally impact about what is happening _ minimally impact about what is happening and _ minimally impact about what is happening and what _ minimally impact about what is happening and what is - minimally impact about what is . happening and what is effectively minimally impact about what is - happening and what is effectively an internal— happening and what is effectively an internal matter— happening and what is effectively an internal matter between _ happening and what is effectively an internal matter between one - happening and what is effectively an internal matter between one of - happening and what is effectively an internal matter between one of the i internal matter between one of the political _ internal matter between one of the political parties _ internal matter between one of the political parties in _ internal matter between one of the political parties in the _ political parties in the power—sharing - political parties in the i power—sharing structure. political parties in the - power—sharing structure. i political parties in the _ power—sharing structure. i think there _ power—sharing structure. i think there was— power—sharing structure. i think there was little _ power—sharing structure. i think there was little part _ power—sharing structure. i think there was little part to - power—sharing structure. i think there was little part to take - power—sharing structure. i thinki there was little part to take from that that — there was little part to take from that that there _ there was little part to take from that that there is _ there was little part to take from that that there is at _ there was little part to take from that that there is at least - there was little part to take from that that there is at least at - that that there is at least at this stage _ that that there is at least at this stage it — that that there is at least at this stage it seems _ that that there is at least at this stage it seems as _ that that there is at least at this stage it seems as though - that that there is at least at this - stage it seems as though politicians are not— stage it seems as though politicians are not willing —

stage it seems as though politicians are not willing to _ stage it seems as though politicians are not willing to be _ stage it seems as though politicians are not willing to be swayed - stage it seems as though politicians are not willing to be swayed in - stage it seems as though politicians are not willing to be swayed in any. are not willing to be swayed in any potential— are not willing to be swayed in any potential way _ are not willing to be swayed in any potential way by _ are not willing to be swayed in any potential way by what _ are not willing to be swayed in any| potential way by what is happening here _ potential way by what is happening here but — potential way by what is happening here but as— potential way by what is happening here. but as with _ potential way by what is happening here. but as with everything, - potential way by what is happening here. but as with everything, the i here. but as with everything, the proof— here. but as with everything, the proof of— here. but as with everything, the proof of the — here. but as with everything, the proof of the pudding _ here. but as with everything, the proof of the pudding is _ here. but as with everything, the proof of the pudding is in - here. but as with everything, the proof of the pudding is in the - proof of the pudding is in the eating — proof of the pudding is in the eating and _ proof of the pudding is in the eating and will— proof of the pudding is in the eating and will be _ proof of the pudding is in thej eating and will be interesting proof of the pudding is in the i eating and will be interesting to see how— eating and will be interesting to see how things _ eating and will be interesting to see how things go _ eating and will be interesting to see how things go on. - eating and will be interesting to see how things go on. looking i eating and will be interesting to. see how things go on. looking at eating and will be interesting to - see how things go on. looking at the broader— see how things go on. looking at the broader dynamics— see how things go on. looking at the broader dynamics of— see how things go on. looking at the broader dynamics of politics - see how things go on. looking at the broader dynamics of politics in - broader dynamics of politics in northern— broader dynamics of politics in northern ireland, _ broader dynamics of politics in northern ireland, the - broader dynamics of politics in northern ireland, the bigger. broader dynamics of politics in - northern ireland, the bigger shock will be _ northern ireland, the bigger shock will be whatever— northern ireland, the bigger shock will be whatever comes _ northern ireland, the bigger shock will be whatever comes from - northern ireland, the bigger shock will be whatever comes from the l will be whatever comes from the general— will be whatever comes from the general election— will be whatever comes from the general election going _ will be whatever comes from the general election going forward . will be whatever comes from the | general election going forward as opposed — general election going forward as opposed to — general election going forward as opposed to the _ general election going forward as opposed to the internal - general election going forward as - opposed to the internal machinations of single _ opposed to the internal machinations of single political— opposed to the internal machinations of single political party. _ opposed to the internal machinations of single political party. but - opposed to the internal machinations of single political party. but i'll- of single political party. but i'll be very— of single political party. but i'll be very surprised _ of single political party. but i'll be very surprised this - of single political party. but i'll be very surprised this is - of single political party. but i'll be very surprised this is not. of single political party. but i'll be very surprised this is not at| be very surprised this is not at least — be very surprised this is not at least a — be very surprised this is not at least a sticking _ be very surprised this is not at least a sticking point - be very surprised this is not at least a sticking point of- be very surprised this is not at least a sticking point of sorts. be very surprised this is not at . least a sticking point of sorts for the political— least a sticking point of sorts for the political relationships - least a sticking point of sorts for the political relationships going i the political relationships going forward — the political relationships going forward but _ the political relationships going forward but it's— the political relationships going forward but it'sjust _ the political relationships going forward but it'sjust not - the political relationships going forward but it'sjust not have i the political relationships going i forward but it'sjust not have the parties _ forward but it'sjust not have the parties navigate _ forward but it'sjust not have the parties navigate that _ forward but it'sjust not have the parties navigate that going - forward but it'sjust not have the| parties navigate that going ahead that will— parties navigate that going ahead that will determine _ parties navigate that going ahead that will determine how - parties navigate that going ahead j that will determine how impactful parties navigate that going ahead i that will determine how impactful or otherwise _ that will determine how impactful or otherwise it — that will determine how impactful or otherwise it might— that will determine how impactful or otherwise it might be _ that will determine how impactful or otherwise it might be on— that will determine how impactful or otherwise it might be on how- otherwise it might be on how power-sharing _ otherwise it might be on how power—sharing is _ otherwise it might be on how power—sharing is operating . otherwise it might be on how- power—sharing is operating here. but overall— power—sharing is operating here. but overall i_ power—sharing is operating here. but overall i don't — power—sharing is operating here. but overall i don't see _ power—sharing is operating here. but overall i don't see it— power—sharing is operating here. but overall i don't see it being _ power—sharing is operating here. but overall i don't see it being a - overall i don't see it being a massive _ overall i don't see it being a massive shock— overall i don't see it being a massive shock to _ overall i don't see it being a massive shock to help - overall i don't see it being a - massive shock to help devolution is operating _ massive shock to help devolution is operating here _ massive shock to help devolution is operating here in— massive shock to help devolution is operating here in northern - massive shock to help devolution is operating here in northern ireland. | operating here in northern ireland. great _ operating here in northern ireland. great to— operating here in northern ireland. great to get— operating here in northern ireland. great to get your _ operating here in northern ireland. great to get your thoughts - operating here in northern ireland. great to get your thoughts on - operating here in northern ireland. great to get your thoughts on that, thank you so much, doctor. now ijust now i just want to bring now ijust want to bring you some breaking news that has just come in. russia's federal security service says it has arrested three citizens

of one of the central asian states, in its words, in the southern territory on suspicion of plotting to commit a terrorist attack by means of an explosion in a crowded place. this hasjust come means of an explosion in a crowded place. this has just come through place. this hasjust come through in the past few minutes. it is not go into much more detail about what thatis, into much more detail about what that is, but of course the authorities will have been on high alert following the attack on the crocus city hall music venue in moscow, you may recall us covering. what the report does you want to say in what the statement does say is that during investigative actions at the place of residence of the defendants in the case in the territory, components of an improvised explosive device, chemical substances and destructive elements were discovered and seized. so that was quoted in a russian news agency from russia's fsb, federal

security service. we will bring you more on that as we get it. to ukraine now, and president zelensky is warning that a new russian military offensive could happen in the next few months, and he says his country is not ready to face it. the ukrainian leader made the comments during an interview with cbs news, saying he believes it could happen between may and june. he stressed the need for more military aid. take a listen. so you're expecting a counteroffensive in may, june from the russians. i think so. what sort of weapons do you need to stop that counteroffensive? translation: number one is anti-air defence and artillery shells. _ that's what we need. mr zelensky�*s warning comes after russia launched another wave of missile and drone attacks overnight. officials in kyiv say 99 projectiles were launched, with more than 80 being destroyed. the interior ministry says that civilian infrastructure was targeted, with three power stations being hit. several people were wounded, but

there are no reports of any deaths. our correspondent in ukraine, sarah rainsford, sent us this update from kharkiv. now the commander—in—chief has added his voice to calls frin ukrainian officials saying that ukraine needs more air defences and it needs more missiles for those air defences. that's a call we've heard before, but certainly i think as these attacks specifically on energy infrastructure become more frequent, that is the focus of ukraine's calls at the moment. here in kharkiv, there was a very long air raid overnight, but this city wasn't targeted in the latest attack. but certainly the mood here is fairly nervous. people are also worried, there's lots of rumours about a possible offensive, another military offensive against kharkiv here in the north of ukraine. lots of rumours, no real facts, but the commander—in—chief also commented on that in an interview with ukrainian media. he said you can't ignore those plans, that ukraine is increasing its fortification and that's right along the front—line. that update from our correspondent

in ukraine sarah rainsford. well, former us ambassador to nato, kurt volker, told the bbc that russia will attempt to take more territory from ukraine. it is essential that we accelerate the delivery of western aid, - military aid to ukraine. and here, the us congress is due i to reconvene after the 8th of april, and i certainly hope that they move on this expeditiously. _ i saw that zelensky spoke - with the speaker of the house, mike johnson, not long ago. and i hope that they. have an understanding in the house now of, - not that there's a difference of view over this because there's not, but they have a better- understanding of the urgency of the need. that was a former us ambassador to nato there. now let's turn to events in the uk. the metropolitan police says its continuing its investigation into potential offences linked to the post office over the horizon it scandal after the bbc revealed the company was told about flaws in its accounting system in 2017. more than 900 subpostmasters

were wrongly prosecuted. some politicians and former subpostmasters want scotland yard to widen its investigation to take the new evidence into account. the force said it has interviewed two people under caution. our business correspondent marc ashdown reports. the police have been investigating the horizon scandal for four years, butjust two people have been questioned under caution. as the public inquiry continues to unfold, one mp who sits on the compensation advisory board thinks detectives should widen their net. people can't hide behind the public inquiry. i think the police now need to start looking and scoping this investigation, look at the individuals that have been named, and some that haven't, to see what they knew and why they took this course of action. around 900 sub—postmasters were wrongly prosecuted up to 2015, accused of theft and false accounting. the bbc has uncovered a secret report commissioned by the post office two years later in 2017.

compiled by deloitte, it found that fujitsu employees had the ability to amend or delete transactions entered by branch staff. there would be no flag to postmasters and it could lead to shortfalls in branch accounts. the post office then spent £100 million of public money defending itself in court against sub—postmasters who said they had been wrongly prosecuted. david enright has represented many of them. we're about to take the unprecedented step of quashing the convictions of 800 people. and despite this, not a single person has been charged, let alone prosecuted. the metropolitan police have been conducting an investigation for the last four years. where's the action? cheering. a group of more than 500 sub—postmasters and mistresses won their first court case against the post office back in 2019. janet skinner was one of them. she was jailed in 2007. the 555 of us that went to that court case, they could have i prevented that and they could have saved a lot of time, _

money and tears. the metropolitan police first started looking into the post office and fujitsu back injanuary 2020. an investigation into potential offences of perjury and perverting the course ofjustice is ongoing. and the met told us today it continues to monitor the evidence being heard by the public inquiry. both the post office and fujitsu said they were deeply sorry for the impact the scandal has had on the victims and their families. marc ashdown, bbc news. one of the conservative party's largest donors has been awarded a knighthood after the prime minister, rishi sunak, announced a surprise easter honours list. labour said the decision to give an honour to the billionaire mohammed mansour showed the prime minister didn't expect to be in office for much longer, while the liberal democrats said the government was "out of touch". conservative mp tracey crouch and film director christopher nolan also received honours. still to come on the world today,

we hear from relatives of the wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich, who are marking the first anniversary of his detention in russia. and oscar—winning movie oppenheimer finally gets a cinema release injapan. we hear reaction from a hiroshima survivor who's watched it. around the world and across the uk, this is the world today on bbc news.

let's look at events in the middle east now. israel is reported to have carried out air strikes in syria. observers say the strikes happened in aleppo and may have targeted a depot storing rockets run by the militant group hezbollah. the reports suggest that at least 42 people were killed, including six members of hezbollah and 36 members of the syrian army. there have been sporadic clashes between the israeli military and hezbollah on israel's northern borders since the outbreak

of the war in gaza. israel hasn't confirmed the strike, but its defence minister said it was expanding operations against the group. translation: we are actually turning from defending - to pursuing hezbollah. in any place hezbollah is operating, we will reach them. this is correct for beirut, balbec, tyre, siddon, across the area, and it's also true for far more places such as damascus and what's going on in horns and hammah. in any place we would need to operate, we will act. let's get more on this from our correspondent in jerusalem, yolande knell. syria is blaming israel for deadly air strikes in aleppo that took place overnight, killing more than 40 people, mostly syrian soldiers, but also reportedly several members of the powerful lebanese armed group hezbollah. the israeli military isn't commenting on that, but this has really raised fears

once again that fighting could spread further across this region. meanwhile, israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has agreed to send officials to egypt and qatar in the coming days for a new round of talks on a ceasefire in gaza. it comes a day after the un's top court, the international court ofjustice, ordered israel to allow the unimpeded flow of food aid into gaza, where sections of the palestinian population are said to be facing imminent starvation. injerusalem, there is an uneasy calm as palestinians mark easter and ramadan. from there, our international editor jeremy bowen now reports. injerusalem, where tension — and worse — are normal, there is always the consolation of religion. this ramadan, many of those ending a day of prayer at the aqsa mosque were palestinian israelis, around a fifth of israel's population. israel, citing security, restricts access to jerusalem for palestinians from the occupied

west bank. just down the road, palestinian christians were deep in their celebration of easter, walking to the old city from the garden of gethsemane, where they believejesus prayed on the night before he was crucified. but in this city, sacred for christians, jews and muslims, religion and politics always mix. all the palestinian people are suffering today. they are suffering from occupation. they are suffering from apartheid. they are suffering from genocide. and today, what we are praying is to stop this disaster situation here in the land of peace and the land of palestine. and we pray that, asjesus went to the golgotha, to the calvary, walking with a cross, but after that, there was the resurrection, so we are praying to have our own resurrection today and the resurrection of our land. religion and conflict pervadejerusalem, and six

months of war in gaza have deepened every division. this is the essence ofjerusalem — religion, faith and the passion it can generate. but in this city, religion has been linked inextricably with power and with identity for centuries, for millennia. and in more recent times, with the long conflict between palestinians and israelis. since october, reinforced and highly visible israeli security has imposed an uneasy quiet on the occupied eastern side ofjerusalem. the good friday procession along via dolorosa, where christians believejesus carried his cross, was smaller than usual without foreign pilgrims who cancelled their trips because of the war. the people ofjerusalem of all faiths are locked in a crisis as bad as any since israel's independence war in 1948. religion offers certainty and answers, but in this holy city,

prayers and peace plans have not put a dent in this immutable conflict. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. let's go live to the scene in baltimore now were the huge clean—up operation is under way after that awful collapse of the francis scott key bridge there. the biggest crane on the eastern us seaboard has been heading there as part of this huge clean—up effort, and you may have heard if you were watching a little bit earlier that we had a press conference to take place there that we listened into life, they talked about the huge amount of resources being put in to the clean—up operation, including as i mentioned the biggest crane that is heading there plus floating cranes, tug boats, coastguard vessels and one of

the things mentioned in the press conference is how keep the clean—up operation is in their words notjust to the economy of maryland but to the whole nation as it was very important to keep vessel traffic heading through there. that is the scene there now and we will bring you any developments on that when we get them and of course we also have the latest that the president, the us presidentjoe biden, is heading there next week as well as part of there next week as well as part of the clean—up operation and we understand around $16 million, that's 48 million pounds, and federal emergency funds will go towards recovery efforts there. —— $60 million. thanks for being here with us so many more to come and stay with us here on bbc news. hello there, good evening. it's been a day of sunshine and showers. some of the showers heavy and thundery, even some hail

mixed in at times, too. some beautiful rainbows, though, spotted by our weather watchers from across the uk. and for the rest of the bank holiday weekend, still sunny spells and showers, but fewer showers than we saw today. and it will feel warmer, more sunshine and lighter winds. but watch out for some more rain towards the south as we head through bank holiday monday. i'll have more on that injust a moment. now, overnight tonight, still breezy for a while across england and wales, but the winds will ease down. we'll see a scattering of the showers out towards the west, perhaps a bit more cloud for eastern coastal areas, but with clearing skies, there'll be some patches of frost around and maybe a bit of mist and fog into tomorrow morning. so a cold start to the day on saturday. now, our area of low pressure is gradually pulling away towards the west, so the wind is lightening, but it does allow for this weather front to graze parts of east anglia and kent, as well, as we head into saturday morning. so maybe a little bit of patchy rain here and probably more cloud, but it will brighten up as we head through the afternoon. there will be a lot of dry weather

around on saturday and plenty of sunshine as well, but more showers could develop through the afternoon. they're most likely out towards the north and the west. it will feel a bit warmer. highs of around 12—14 celsius, locally i think we'll probably see 15, too. as we head through saturday night and into sunday morning, don't forget the clocks spring forward, so we'll see some dark mornings for a while, but much lighter evenings of course. into sunday morning, and we could start off with some patches of mist and fog from the midlands up to the vale of york. a lot of dry weather around and plenty of sunshine on sunday, but cloudier and cooler with more of an easterly breeze blowing towards north sea—facing coasts. again possibly some more showers for western wales and down through the south—west of england. temperatures again 12—14 degrees celsius, but then we look towards the south as we head into bank holiday monday to see this area of low pressure bring some outbreaks of rain across england and wales. now still some uncertainty in the forecast, so do keep checking. but it could be quite wet for england and wales

on bank holiday monday, but drierfurther north, with the best of the brightness perhaps across parts of western scotland and northern ireland. again, it's cloudier and it's cooler with that easterly wind for north sea coasts. bye— bye.

this is the world today from bbc

news, the headlines... sirjeffrey donaldson — the leader of the democratic unionist party in northern ireland — resigns after being charged with rape and other historical sexual offences. it's one year since the wall street journal reporter, evan gershkovich was detained in russia. his sister is spoken to the bbc. the uncertainty is very hard to deal with, but we just see evan and how strong he is. and a gown worn by marilyn monroe sells for over 300,000 dollars — eight times the estimated auction price. relatives of the wall streetjournal reporter, evan gersh—kovich, reporter, evan gershkovich, are marking the anniversary of his detention in russia. he is the first american to be charged with spying by the russian

authorities since the end of the cold war. the us government and the wall streetjournal have