trying to come to terms the political significance that donaldson has resigned as party leader and has been suspended. 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. it 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. sirjeffrey donaldson has been charged with rape other historical offences. he's resigned as leader of the dup. what now for unionist politics in northern ireland? also, americanjournalist evan gershkovich has been held in a tussian prison — accused of spying —

also, americanjournalist evan gershkovich has been held in a russian prison — accused of spying — for exactly a year. we speak to his friends about how he's coping. politics in northern ireland have been thrown into turmoil with the news that the leader of the democratic unionist party sir jeffrey 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 is northern ireland's longest serving mp at westminster and has been leader of the dup since 2021. 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 a 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. our ireland correspondent sara girvin has more on the sense of shock felt at stormont today. 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. presidentjoe biden says the us is working every day to secure the release of the wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich. today marks one year since his arrest in russia. he's the only american to be charged with spying by the russian authorities since the end of the cold war. the maximum possible punishment is 20 years in prison. today, the white house said it remained committed to seing him freed.

to seeing him freed. journalism is not a crime. let me say that again — journalism is not a crime. this administration will continue working every day to secure his release, we will continue to push back against russia's attempts to use americans as bargaining chips and we will continue to stand strong against all those who seek to attack the press or targetjournalists. friends, family and colleagues have been marking the anniversary in different ways. in a moment, we'll speak to two of evan's friends. the wall streetjournal has published a blank front page, as homage to their reporter, with the title "his story should be here". i'm joined by two of evan's friends and colleagues — polina ivanova, foreign correspondent at the financial times, and pjotr sauer, russian affairs reporter for the guardian.

thank you forjoining us on the programme polina, if we could start with you, what do you know about how evanis with you, what do you know about how evan is getting on? from with you, what do you know about how evan is getting on?— evan is getting on? from the letters we exchange. _ evan is getting on? from the letters we exchange. or _ evan is getting on? from the letters we exchange, or only _ evan is getting on? from the letters we exchange, or only mean - evan is getting on? from the letters we exchange, or only mean of- we exchange, or only mean of communication and around once, we exchange handwritten notes and despite the really tough circumstances the year of isolation in the year he's been away from his family and his colleagues and friends, his remaining resilient, he is tough, he is strong is determined. he is doing 0k and is focused. ~ . ~ ., , ., focused. what kind of things are you doin: , how focused. what kind of things are you doing. how is _ focused. what kind of things are you doing. how is he _ focused. what kind of things are you doing, how is he keeping _ focused. what kind of things are you doing, how is he keeping it- focused. what kind of things are you doing, how is he keeping it togetherj doing, how is he keeping it together with what is going through? he does a routine of doing _ with what is going through? he does a routine of doing a lot _ with what is going through? he does a routine of doing a lot of— with what is going through? he does a routine of doing a lot of reading i a routine of doing a lot of reading and exercise and is looking after his mental and physical health and

reading aloud, writing a lot letters, following the news. is letters, following the news. is usually impressive, given the circumstances and can ask about this one—year anniversary to you, pjotr. not something you want to be marketing. when this first began, when you're on and still behind bars? ~ ., , , when you're on and still behind bars? ~ .,, , . , bars? we hope this anniversary would've never— bars? we hope this anniversary would've never happened - bars? we hope this anniversary would've never happened in - bars? we hope this anniversary| would've never happened in last bars? we hope this anniversary - would've never happened in last year when _ would've never happened in last year when the _ would've never happened in last year when the news came it was a complete shock_ when the news came it was a complete shock to _ when the news came it was a complete shock to us _ when the news came it was a complete shock to us and tougher as friends, families_ shock to us and tougher as friends, families and — shock to us and tougher as friends, families and evan. the white house today— families and evan. the white house today then — families and evan. the white house today then said they would do everything to get him out and joe biden_ everything to get him out and joe biden said he is not losing hope and we really— biden said he is not losing hope and we really hope it will happen. every day is _ we really hope it will happen. every day is a _ we really hope it will happen. every day is a day— we really hope it will happen. every day is a day to long that evan spends in _ day is a day to long that evan spends injail. day is a day to long that evan

spends in jail.— day is a day to long that evan spends in jail. remind us of the circumstances _ spends in jail. remind us of the circumstances of _ spends in jail. remind us of the circumstances of him _ spends in jail. remind us of the circumstances of him being - spends in jail. remind us of the | circumstances of him being held spends in jail. remind us of the i circumstances of him being held in the first place?— the first place? how he was detained? _ the first place? how he was detained? yes. _ the first place? how he was detained? yes. he - the first place? how he was detained? yes. he was - the first place? how he was - detained? yes. he was detained on re ”ortin detained? yes. he was detained on reporting trip this time last year and we found out the news and pjotr called me to say we understand that evanis called me to say we understand that evan is missing and as i've to messages and we talk all the time we constantly exchange messages because we work on the same topics in different outlets in legal silent and did is really not normalfor evan and i started trying to search for him as well and we really had no information until the next morning we saw this image of him being held and led into a prison in moscow and that his room he knew what happened. we relived that day all the time there was a horrible feeling. find there was a horrible feeling. and what is your _ there was a horrible feeling. and what is your opinion of these espionage charges he's being held

on? . ., , ., , ., espionage charges he's being held on? ., on? ridiculous. evan is a “ournalist and accredited * on? ridiculous. evan is a “ournalist and accredited by h on? ridiculous. evan is a “ournalist and accredited by the _ on? ridiculous. evan is ajournalist and accredited by the foreign - and accredited by the foreign ministry— and accredited by the foreign ministry in the knew she was there working _ ministry in the knew she was there working as — ministry in the knew she was there working as a journalist and we know evan is— working as a journalist and we know evan is a _ working as a journalist and we know evan is a journalist and the white house _ evan is a journalist and the white house this— evan is a journalist and the white house this is a journalist. to mentioned the word spy next to evan is absurd _ mentioned the word spy next to evan is absurd. .. , ~ , ., is absurd. exactly. avenues are caettin is absurd. exactly. avenues are getting him _ is absurd. exactly. avenues are getting him out _ is absurd. exactly. avenues are getting him out now, _ is absurd. exactly. avenues are getting him out now, what - is absurd. exactly. avenues are getting him out now, what is i is absurd. exactly. avenues are | getting him out now, what is the state of play right now and what optimism is there? the state of play right now and what optimism is there?— state of play right now and what optimism is there? the good news is that the kremlin _ optimism is there? the good news is that the kremlin and _ optimism is there? the good news is that the kremlin and the _ optimism is there? the good news is that the kremlin and the white - optimism is there? the good news is| that the kremlin and the white house are looking _ that the kremlin and the white house are looking into a prisoner exchange. talks are ongoing in the kremiin— exchange. talks are ongoing in the kremlin said talks are ongoing in the white — kremlin said talks are ongoing in the white house says they're working on it and _ the white house says they're working on it and vladimir putin has been open— on it and vladimir putin has been open about— on it and vladimir putin has been open about it. as cynical as it sounds. — open about it. as cynical as it sounds. he _

open about it. as cynical as it sounds, he is ready to exchange evan and even _ sounds, he is ready to exchange evan and even though evan is this pawn in the political— and even though evan is this pawn in the political game, there way out for him _ the political game, there way out for him we — the political game, there way out for him we have the white house does everything _ for him we have the white house does everything they can to make sure it happens _ everything they can to make sure it ha ens. . ~' ,, ., ., happens. thank you for coming on the programme- — around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you're live with bbc news. ukraine. a blunt warning from poland's prime minister donald tusk to the world that war is a real threat and europe is not ready. "war is no longer a concept from the past," he said, adding, "it's real and it started over two years ago." he wants urgent military aid for ukraine. he said the next two years will be crucial, saying, "we are living in the most critical moment since the end

of the second world war." as war continues in ukraine, poland remains acutely aware of the risk of conflict expanding. on thursday, donald tusk met with his ukrainian counterpart in warsaw. earlier this week, polish defence forces reported a russian missile had temporarily entered its airspace. poland has committed 4% of gdp to defence spending in 2024 — and it's urged its neighbours to up their contributions. tusk himself has been involved in ongoing discussions with other major european powers — earlier this month, france's macron and germany's scholz. joining me now is michael bociurkiw, senior fellow at the atlantic council and a global affairs analyst. thank you for coming on the programme. it will make my pleasure, thank you for having me. what you make of these warnings of war and that europe is not ready? their very

rave that europe is not ready? their very grave words — that europe is not ready? their very grave words and _ that europe is not ready? their very grave words and absolutely - that europe is not ready? their very grave words and absolutely correctl grave words and absolutely correct and i don't think european leaders are fully prepared for what is about to happen and we hope his words go all the way to washington where republicans are blocking route 60 one in aid for ukraine. i think mr tusk realises that autocrats like mr pruden signal what they're going to do and they have long said that they wish to defend the rights of russian speakers, wherever they may be and that signals that is very well prepared to go beyond ukraine to poland the baltic states and we should take him at his and prepare for the worst but hope for the best. to be clear, and accept direct answers but when you talk about those countries, poland and russia's sites, actually mean is russian soldiers on the ground, is this a

tax from afar? what are you thinking?— tax from afar? what are you thinkin: ? ~ . ., , thinking? we have three front lines in this war and _ thinking? we have three front lines in this war and we _ thinking? we have three front lines in this war and we have _ thinking? we have three front lines in this war and we have the - thinking? we have three front lines| in this war and we have the physical one, the men and women and soldiers one, the men and women and soldiers on the front line firing back at russians and we also have drone and missile attacks that are hitting ukraine very heavily and around a hundred or so directly hitting the infrastructure and critical infrastructure and critical infrastructure and critical infrastructure and also the psychological warfare, the hybrid warfare that they do and the last two categories are very easily deployed by russia beyond ukraine's borders and in fact, it's not on poland but moldova has also had russian rockets transmitting and falling in territory. this is vladimir putin testing needed to see how far he can go ahead and the possible events.—

how far he can go ahead and the possible events. before i let you uo, possible events. before i let you no, the possible events. before i let you go. the idea _ possible events. before i let you go, the idea that _ possible events. before i let you go, the idea that europe - possible events. before i let you go, the idea that europe isn't . go, the idea that europe isn't ready, a person that things like military spending and gdp is not as high as it could be in lots of supplies clearly have already been given to ukraine and that ramping up in building up of all types of military hardware needs to continue. how far behind is europe at the moment if europe is indeed not ready. moment if europe is indeed not read . , ., �* moment if europe is indeed not read. , ., �* , ,, ready. they would've supplied ukraine with _ ready. they would've supplied ukraine with what _ ready. they would've supplied ukraine with what was - ready. they would've supplied j ukraine with what was needed ready. they would've supplied l ukraine with what was needed a ready. they would've supplied - ukraine with what was needed a long time ago but it's been a very trip approach and thereafter prepare the citizenry and voters for wartime economy for possible advances across the borders and you have polish farmers locking ukraine in exports and polish authorities have expelled ukrainianjournalist and polish authorities have expelled ukrainian journalist may need to get their own people and liners are to be prepared for the worst as well. thank you very much for coming on the programme. thank you.

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 turn to baltimore. latest on the francis scott key bridge collapse earlier this week. in the last few hours,

construction workers have been holding a vigil to honour the victims of the bridge collapse. eight construction workers were on the bridge at the time of its collapse. two were rescued. the bodies of two others were recovered and the remaining four are presumed dead. the largest crane on the eastern us seaboard has arrived baltimore to launch a massive clean—up effort. you can see it approaching the bridge here. in the last few hours, president biden announced he'll go to baltimore next week. a reminder — this was the moment of impact — when the dali ship collided with a pylon after drifting off course. the port is one of the country's busiest. shipments in and out are still suspended. maryland governor, wes moore spoke a little earlier — and gave this update on the response.

0urteam our team went over the coastguard just if few hours ago, including the coastguard commandant to survey the damage. see the wreckage up close. to see a freight that is nearly the size of the eiffel tower and to see that same freight with the key bridge resting on top of it. to see shipping containers that were ripped in half as if they were papier—mache. to know that out there jeff to navigate high winds and electric wires go out there and see it up close, you realised just how daunting a task this is. you realise how difficult the work is ahead of us. what a salvage operation is complex and quite frankly a salvage operation this unprecedented, you need to plan for every single moment and every single time you move a piece of wreckage, you understand

that requires you to reassess the situation. 20 years. he looked at the life of mammals and revisited the subject as our climate and science reporter explains. there are more than 6000 species of animals on this place. and as the world changes some of stay. this latest series captures animal behaviours for the first time as they adapt to a world dominated tjy as they adapt to a world dominated by the most, they changed everything, we have changed the world on everything, we have changed the world 0 p, p, , everything, we have changed the world 0 . ., , ., ., ., , world on animal seven to adapt in real times — world on animal seven to adapt in real times especially _ world on animal seven to adapt in real times especially with - world on animal seven to adapt in i real times especially with evolution and action — real times especially with evolution and action. we real times especially with evolution and action. ~ , ., ,

real times especially with evolution and action. , . , ., ., and action. we see art is navigating the busy streets _ and action. we see art is navigating the busy streets of _ and action. we see art is navigating the busy streets of singapore, - and action. we see art is navigating | the busy streets of singapore, polar bears some hunting reindeer is in land as the sea ice rapidly melts and howler monkeys mistaking electrical wires for tree branches. recent advances in camera technology means new night—time sequences can be captured. means new night-time sequences can be captured-— be captured. now fully alarmed. so, she becomes — be captured. now fully alarmed. so, she becomes polder. _ be captured. now fully alarmed. so, she becomes polder. i _ be captured. now fully alarmed. so, she becomes polder. i chose - she becomes polder. i chose the messaue she becomes polder. i chose the message behind _ she becomes polder. i chose the message behind it _ she becomes polder. i chose the message behind it and _ she becomes polder. i chose the message behind it and that - she becomes polder. i chose the message behind it and that we i she becomes polder. i chose the i message behind it and that we are in mammals— message behind it and that we are in mammals ourselves _ message behind it and that we are in mammals ourselves and _ message behind it and that we are in mammals ourselves and we - message behind it and that we are in mammals ourselves and we shared l message behind it and that we are in . mammals ourselves and we shared the planet— mammals ourselves and we shared the planet with _ mammals ourselves and we shared the planet with all — mammals ourselves and we shared the planet with all the _ mammals ourselves and we shared the planet with all the mammals. - mammals ourselves and we shared the planet with all the mammals. find - mammals ourselves and we shared the planet with all the mammals. find it i planet with all the mammals. and it rovides planet with all the mammals. and it provides us — planet with all the mammals. and it provides us with _ planet with all the mammals. and it provides us with some _ planet with all the mammals. and it provides us with some inspiration i planet with all the mammals.- provides us with some inspiration of how we can protect these species. the big easter getaway is underway, with 2.6 million carjourneys expected to be made today — and a record number of people planning to fly this weekend. but there are reports of long queues of motorists waiting to board ferries at dover, and rail travellers are also

being urged to check their plans in advance. 0ur transport correspondent katy austin reports. it's the busiest time of the year so far for travel, including forferries. queues built up at the port of dover earlier this morning with drivers reporting two—hour waits. some airports expect to get back to pre—pandemic numbers. manchester airport expects to handle 320,000 passengers over the next few days, and they expect it to be their biggest ever easter getaway. cape verde for my grandma's birthday. grandma sheila? yes. is it a big birthday? it's a very big birthday, i was 80 on tuesday, and we're all going off with the family to cape verde. congratulations. 2018 was the last one. so, you haven't been on holiday since 2018? no. not outside the uk. so... wow, so, looking forward to it? very much so. definitely. bit of sun, bit of warmth, leave the rain behind for a few days! after a very tricky few years, airports and airlines want to make the most of high demand. they and the main air traffic control provider nats say they've worked hard to make sure things go smoothly. we're working very closely

with all of the airlines and with national air—traffic control services just to make sure that we're all reallyjoined—up and of course we have on—site our team of 100 people in the resilience team ready to respond to any issues. travel agents say easter holiday bookings are well up on last year despite prices rising and cost—of—living pressures. more people are booking late and more are choosing all—inclusive. people staying in the uk but taking to the roads today can expect major routes to clog up. while engineering works mean some rail disruption — for example, london euston station is mostly closed until monday. damage the overhead wires caused problems for the stansted express, serving sta nsted airport. however you're getting about, the best advice, as ever, is to plan ahead and leave plenty of time. katy austin, 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.

hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. chinese e—retailer temu, does a u—turn on a cash �*giveaway�* offer — after customer concerns. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's hugh ferris. the former wales rugby star louis rees—zammit has signed for the super bowl champions the kansas city chiefs, onlyjust over two months since changing sports. the odds that he'll be lining up alongside the likes of patrick mahomes and travis kelce in an nfl game remain slim. but as adam wild reports, his journey so far has already been very closely followed. for louis rees—zammit this was about taking a chance on a new sport, now

that sport is