the news causes shockwaves in belfast and westminster — sirjeffrey says he will strenuously contest the charges. also tonight — an uneasy calm injerusalem over easter and ramadan — while conditions remain desperate in gaza. from next month, people on the lowest incomes will no longer have to pay the £90 it takes to clear their debts. from welsh rugby to the us super bowl winners — louis rees—zammit signs for the kansas city chiefs. and how mammals are adapting to the changing world and climate around them. good evening. there's been widespread shock after 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 strenuously contest the charges. the party's interim leader gavin robinson said it has been a "devastating revelation". here's our political editor chris mason. surjeffrey donaldson, one of the biggest figures in northern ireland politics of his generation, the linchpin of a vital breakthrough just two months ago which led to the return of devolved government at stormont. —— siirjeffrey donaldson. this agreement is something we have worked hard to deliver for the people of northern ireland. the pride of a breakthrough, said jeffrey donaldson commanding the stage, his power and influence

obvious, but at six o'clock yesterday morning he was arrested. by yesterday morning he was arrested. by lunchtime today, a statement from his party: the man on the left here, gavin robinson, is the new interim leader. he was told what had happened in the middle of the night. it is a devastating revelation and has caused a tremendous shock. not just for myself personally or my colleagues within the dup but for the community right across northern ireland. it came as a great shock. this is a nightmare for the dup and a big _ this is a nightmare for the dup and a big test_ this is a nightmare for the dup and a big test for the new powers in government, isn't it?— a big test for the new powers in government, isn't it? in not only has been recognised _ government, isn't it? in not only has been recognised positively . government, isn't it? in not onlyj has been recognised positively in the last couple of weeks since its restoration, the power share. you can see and hear over the last few

weeks the importance the people of northern ireland place upon it. the importance that we place upon it. that doesn't change. jeffrey donaldson became dup leader three years ago. # happy and glorious mix two the national anthem, the union flag, sir jeffrey donaldson has spent his aduu jeffrey donaldson has spent his adult life campaigning for northern ireland's place in the uk. # god save the king #. here he was in the 1980s. and here he was in the 1990s. i've not the and here he was in the 19905. i�*e: got the framework document here. and here he was in the 1990s. i've - got the framework document here. he opposed the good friday peace agreement signed 26 years ago. sir jeffrey donaldson, a pivotalfigure in northern ireland's recent past and now another pivotal moment with

the capacity to mould its future too. we will be speaking to chris in a moment but first hour —— of a first ireland correspondent. our ireland correspondent sara girvin is outside stormont. this really has been a bombshell in northern ireland? it absolutely has. northern ireland is never had to seek its political ups and downs but today, what has happened, has sent shock waves. it has shocked people here and politicians. it is important to remember that the devolved government here in stormont has only been up and running for a matter of months after a two—year hiatus. it was the dup that collapsed the institutions and so there is an understandable nervousness about how what happened today might impact this place. we have heard from the first minister of northern ireland, sinn fein�*s michelle o'neill, she said the northern ireland executive must continue to work for the whole community and perhaps in a note of

reassurance we heard from the interim leader of the dup, gavin robinson. he says his party's focus is now making northern ireland work and making devolution work for the people of northern ireland. what's happened here today has caused a political earthquake. there is simply no doubt about that. and it does seem like northern ireland will be dealing with the aftershocks from that earthquake for quite some time to come. . ., , ., to come. thanks, sarah. chris, a very similar— to come. thanks, sarah. chris, a very similar reaction _ to come. thanks, sarah. chris, a very similar reaction in _ very similar reaction in westminster.- very similar reaction in westminster. , �*, ., westminster. yes, it's really worth emphasising _ westminster. yes, it's really worth emphasising the — westminster. yes, it's really worth emphasising the profound - westminster. yes, it's really worth emphasising the profound shock. emphasising the profound shock amongst everyone i speak to in northern ireland and at westminster. sirjeffrey donaldson was the central figure sirjeffrey donaldson was the centralfigure in sirjeffrey donaldson was the central figure in the endless sirjeffrey donaldson was the centralfigure in the endless back and forth that eventually led to that momentjust a couple of months ago, you and i were there reporting on it, the restoration of power—sharing devolved government. at that time he was being showered with praise. he was being garnered as a brave act of statesmanship. now

this. personalities, individuals, they always matter in politics and perhaps particularly so in northern ireland where things are rarely stronger than delicate, rarely more solid than fragile. you hear the pleas tonight from gavin robinson and from plenty of others that this mustn't be an agent of instability, what has happened in the last 2a hours or so. but by definition it is exactly that. as the dup contemplate its future with the general election just around the corner.— just around the corner. thanks, chris. just around the corner. thanks, chris- chris _ just around the corner. thanks, chris. chris mason _ just around the corner. thanks, chris. chris mason there, - just around the corner. thanks, chris. chris mason there, our . chris. chris mason there, our political editor. 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 possible 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 19118. 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. one of the conservative party's largest donors has been awarded a knighthood after being recommended by rishi sunak. 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. conservative mp tracey crouch, and film director christopher nolan,

also received honours. counter terrorism police are investigating after a presenter for a london—based iranian tv news channel was attacked outside his home in south london. iran international, which has reported extensively on anti—government protests in iran said the victim was pouria zeraati, one of its presenters. police were called to an address in wimbledon shortly before 3pm this afternoon to reports a man had been stabbed in his leg. he is now stable in hospital. people on the lowest incomes will be able to have their debts wiped—out for free as rules change in april. debt relief orders clear existing debt on everything from council tax to energy bills and rent. but citizen s advice say many people are unable to afford the £90 it costs to get one. now that fee is about to be scrapped in england and wales, as our cost of living correspondent colletta smith has been finding out.

a change is on the way to ease the pressure on those struggling the most. i am trying to encourage anyone who will listen, to be honest, if they are in debt, that they can have help. two years ago, jessie was in a bad way. yeah, £90 was a lot of money. on her own with four children after a marriage breakdown, her debts spiralling. i felt i was just about floating above the water anyway, with how much debt i was in. that's when i started to feel like i was drowning. and it's quite scary, really. so, i will take you through your debt relief application. but, at her localfood bank, she met the team from christians against poverty, and began to get her life back on track. she was told she could apply for a debt relief order, to clear all of her existing debts, but there was one problem. to get the debt relief order, first of all, i had to pay a fee, which i couldn't afford, because it was £90, which doesn't seem a lot to some people, but, to me, that was like two weeks' worth of shopping. jessie was one of the lucky ones.

she was given a bursary last year to pay the £90. but, from the 6th of april, all applications will now be free, and ola's application will be top of the pile. she lost herjob in the pandemic and ended up using a credit card to try and pay off her bills. honestly, when i was told i had to pay £90, ifelt like another stumbling block, because, honestly, i didn't have any money to pay for anything. so, when i got that information that, yeah, you can get support with debt relief order, it was like a light switch in a dark place for me. there are more changes coming in at the end ofjune, as well. the amount of debt that somebody can be in will be increased, from £30,000 to £50,000, and if they own a car, it can be worth a little more, going from £2000, up to eaooo, and they are still able to apply for that debt relief order. that is really, really welcome news. but it is notjob done.

for one, for people who have debts over £50,000, you cannot go into a debt relief order, they will be facing bankruptcy, and that still has a £680 upfront fee, regardless of income levels, so that really needs to be looked at. forjessie, making sure her children have enough now isn't easy. but starting from a clean slate helps. it is a life—changer. it really is. no child should ever have to think about who's going to knock on the door, they should never have to live like that. so, now they don't, and they can be kids again. as more people face sliding into debt, this new escape route will be a lifeline for many. coletta smith, bbc news, in bridgnorth. a crane has arrived in baltimore to begin moving wreckage from the bridge after it collapsed when it was hit by a container ship three days ago. access to the busy port has been blocked while the wreckage of the bridge remains there. only two of the eight workers who were working at the time were rescued. the bodies of two others were recovered and the remaining

four are still missing, presumed dead. louis gossettjunior — the first black man to win a supporting actor oscar — has died at the age of 87. he took the oscar for his role in the 1982 film "an officer and a gentleman" — and also won an emmy in 1978 for his role in the tv mini series "roots" about slavery. his last role was in the 2023 musical remake of the color purple. the former wales rugby star lewis rees—zammit has signed for the super bowl champions, the kansas city chiefs. the 23—year—old stunned the world of rugby injanuary when he quit the sport on the eve of this year's six nations tournament to pursue a career in american football. our sports correspondent adam wild reports. for louis rees—zammit, this was about taking a chance on a new sport.

now that sport is taking a chance on him. a giant leap into the unknown, kansas city chiefs, the reigning super bowl champions, is where he's landed. hi, chiefs kingdom. louis rees—zammit here, just signed, can't wait to go and see you all at arrowhead. today, another big step closer to that nfl dream. kansas city chiefs is really kind of the ideal team for him to bejoining. and i suppose if he impresses there, then there's every reason to believe that he could actually play in games during the regular season as well. commentator: louis rees—zammit for the try. not so long ago, rees—zammit was one of rugby union's brightest stars. young, quick and crucially unpredictable. all the skills that brought the welsh superstar to the attention of american football. he's impressed sufficiently at recent trials to now earn his place in the chiefs' training camp. there is, though, a distance still to run. so, a 90—man squad and then he'll go obviously to our otas, which are kind

of like your educational piece and you get to meet everybody in the team and it's like classroom all the time. this is an opportunity for him to learn. and then you go away, you come back in training camp in latejuly, that is going to be the hardest thing that he's going to have to go through, because the hours, the time, the...the stress on your body, there is a lot that's coming for this young man. but if he has the mindset that it sounds like he does have, and that will to learn and be curious, then he will be all right. rees—zammit sprints in the footsteps of the likes of christian wade. commentator: look at wade go! he swapped international rugby for american football back in 2018. an impressive start, but failed to make a regular season appearance. whilst british olympic discus thrower lawrence okoye spent time with a number of franchises but also never appeared in the nfl. rees—zammit will be joining the very best there is. the chiefs are back—to—back super bowl champions. but there is just a short time to learn the skills that others have spent a lifetime perfecting.

almost 50% of those selected for this next stage won't ultimately make the playing squad. but for rees—zammit, halfway around the world, it seems he is at least halfway there. adam wild, bbc news. how some animals are adapting to climate change has been caught on film for the first time. the changes in behaviour were reported by naturalists who spent five years watching how the world's mammals were coping with rapidly changing habitats for a new television series from sir david attenborough. esme stallard reports. there are more than 6,000 species of mammals on earth. and as our world changes, so must they. this latest attenborough series captures new mammal behaviours on film for the first time as they adapt to a world dominated by the most successful mammal of all — us.

humans have changed three quarters of the earth's surface. we're changing the world in so many different ways and animals are having to adapt in real time. it's essentially evolution in action. we see otters navigating the busy streets of singapore, polar bears filmed for the first time hunting reindeers inland as the sea ice rapidly melts, and howler monkeys mistaking live electrical wires for tree branches. there are some sad realities in this series, but also some successes. he picks them off one by one. pig—tailed macaques in malaysia have found a way to survive in a new habitat. they've started coming into palm oil plantations, which were apparently devoid of life. but these palm oil plantations have been completely overrun by rats, and these pig—tailed macaques were predominantly vegetarian — now they're adapting to coming into these plantations and starting to eat rats, they're becoming carnivorous. it shows you what sort of pressure these animals are under,

that they're having to do such extreme behavioural changes. recent advances in camera technology means new night—time sequences could be captured. in one episode, we see the nocturnal life of a fennec fox filmed entirely by moonlight. those enormous ears are so sensitive, they could even hear the movements of prey hiding underground. the series is a celebration of mammals, how remarkably they are, how adaptable they are. but i suppose the message behind it is, is that we are mammals ourselves. so let's find a way to share this planet with all the mammals. and like all attenborough series, it provides us with some inspiration of how we can protect these species. esme stallard, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. it has been pretty challenging the weather for the easter getaway. the last few days has been very wet and

windy at times. we have seen some snow, some hail and thunder as well. for the next few days things will quieten down. there will be a few exceptions, but hopefully you will be able to get out and enjoy some sunshine. yes, for our easter weekend it looks likely there will be a bit more sun, if you and a degree or so warmer. but there will be some rain developing down to the south later on on easter monday. let's take a look at what is happening across saturday. we have got low pressure drifting to the west, isobar is opening up and i will be dry weather to start on saturday. little more cloud towards east anglia and a few isolated showers and some sharper showers developing through northern ireland and scotland as we go through the day. on the whole, with more sunshine coming through, temperatures likely to be 15 degrees and that should feel quite pleasant, particularly in comparison to the last few days through stop through the night, temperatures will fall

away and in scotland and north—east england we will see low single figures, a touch of frost is possible. we spring forward into british summer time but gardeners take note, the frost could play havoc with your tender spring plants. on sunday there will be a lot of dry weather around but we need to keep an eye on the potential for a few scattered showers to develop across east anglia and into the midlands. we will keep you posted on developments of that. not quite as well but nevertheless a pleasant day. the best of the sunshine in western scotland and here we will see highs of 15 degrees. then we see the change on monday, timing of this front a bit quick and this is moving further north and the best of the dry weather in scotland. wet elsewhere. thanks. that's bbc news at ten. on bbc one, it's time tojoin our colleagues for the news where you are — goodnight.

and that is the reason he made history by winning an oscar, the first black man to win an oscar for best supporting actor because of that role. he was just so tenacious. and he brought that same energy to the tv series roots where he won an emmy. even his very last role where

he played coleman domingo's father, he played coleman domingo's father, he was still a tough you fill in the blank. he really knew how to choose the roles that best exemplified his acting skills. he never chose a bad role. so many actors in hollywood will have their good and bad days, and the roles they are known for in the roles they want to ignore. there really wasn't that with louis gossettjr, he just chose wisely and was just a consummate actor. he gossett jr, he just chose wisely and wasjust a consummate actor. he was versatile as _ wasjust a consummate actor. he was versatile as well, _ wasjust a consummate actor. he was versatile as well, he _ wasjust a consummate actor. he was versatile as well, he did _ wasjust a consummate actor. he was versatile as well, he did do _ wasjust a consummate actor. he was versatile as well, he did do theatre i versatile as well, he did do theatre and started out with a pretty different background. he and started out with a pretty different background. he did start with a different _ different background. he did start with a different background, - different background. he did start with a different background, and l different background. he did start i with a different background, and he did a little theatre. but i think when you think about it, if you've beenin when you think about it, if you've been in this business for more than 70 years, you have to be versatile. you can have that kind of staying power without being able to go from television to film, to theatre, to

little comedy. you have to do it all and he truly did all. he's been in the business for more than 70 years and he truly did transcend all those things. so no, we aren't surprised he did it all, i'm only surprised he didn't make it to eke out status. but it's really great to see him when the oscar and the enemy, and honestly his life is over now but he really did make his mark in hollywood. really did make his mark in hollywood-— really did make his mark in holl ood. �* ., ., hollywood. and we read some of those tributes - in — hollywood. and we read some of those tributes - in one _ hollywood. and we read some of those tributes - in one word, _ hollywood. and we read some of those tributes - in one word, how— hollywood. and we read some of those tributes - in one word, how would - tributes — in one word, how would you describe him? tributes - in one word, how would you describe him?— you describe him? iconic. i think it's what i _ you describe him? iconic. i think it's what i said _ you describe him? iconic. i think it's what i said earlier, _ you describe him? iconic. i think it's what i said earlier, he - you describe him? iconic. i think it's what i said earlier, he is - you describe him? iconic. i think| it's what i said earlier, he is what every actor in hollywood aspires to be when they come through. everybody wants to say, "i want to come here and make it, and i want to have a legacy in 70 years. " is and make it, and i want to have a legacy in 70 years. "— and make it, and i want to have a legacy in 70 years. " is much more on our website. _ hello there. the easter weekend will

settle down a little — perhaps music to your ears, in comparison to the last few days. yes, there will be more sunshine around and fewer showers — and as a result, it will be a little warmer. but there's more rain to come for some of us by easter monday. more on that in just a moment — gor the moment, though, the low pressure is drifting its way westwards, the isobars are opening out. so saturday will be a quieter, less windy day for all of us. maybe a little more cloud across east anglia and that kent coast, and a few isolated showers out to the west — most frequent showers perhaps to northern ireland and scotland — but even so, few and far between in comparison to recent days. 11—15 celsius, with a little more sunshine coming through — that should feel quite pleasant. now, with those clear skies by day continuing through the night, though, temperatures are likely to fall away for some — the exception down to the south—west, where we could continue to see some showers pushing up through the channel isles and across cornwall. but low single figures, a touch of frost is likely through scotland and north—east

england, and even some patchy fog. it's worth bearing in mind, as well, that we are springing into british summertime on sunday. yes, we all lose an hour, but the clocks go forward and the daytimes get a little longer. so, sunday morning, then, the fog will lift quite readily away. a lot of dry settled weather for most of us on sunday. that rain down towards the southwest could still be a bit of a nuisance here, and temperatures generally between 10—14 celsius once again. now, as we move out of sunday into monday is when we start to see the potential for another spell of wet weather, as the low drifts its way eastwards once again and bring some rain for england and wales. not looking too bad — the best of the sunshine, perhaps through northern ireland and western scotland. more cloud coming in off the north sea, and the rain will be quite showery from time to time across england and wales. but, as a result of the change of wind direction, here a little cooler on those exposed east coast — 9—10 celsius, perhaps highest values of 12 celsius.

and then, as we move out of monday into tuesday, low pressure is set to dominate the weather story — you can see the next system waiting in the wings. and so, as we go through the week ahead, we'll see some showers or longer spells of rain from time to time.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. hello and welcome to talking business with me, tanya beckett. let's take a look at what's on the show. this is only 115 pesos... it's the latest trend sweeping the world of retail, a fusion of e—commerce and live video entertainment that lets you shop while you watch. so why is it so popular and will it

change the way we shop forever? livestream shopping is shaking up the way we spend our money and is set to rake in billions in revenue for brands large and small this year. advances in tech, as well as the huge popularity of social media, are driving the trend. but as brands rush in to cash in, how exactly does live shopping work and why is it catching on in such a big way? i'll be discussing all of that with my guests — a livestream shopping and retail expert and author and the social media influencer and founder of beauty by carla. also on the show, the e—commerce platform that's helping millions of businesses sell their products online. i catch up with the boss of shopify and talk about the future of online retail. wherever you'rejoining me from around the world, once again, a big hello and a warm welcome

to the show. the lights are very busy...