a warning that a year of civil war in sudan has left millions of people facing imminentfamine. political leaders promise stability in northern ireland won't be affected by the arrest and resignation of the dup leader. and an oar—some win for cambridge — beating oxford in the boat race, one of the world's most famous amateur sporting events. hello, i'm catherine byaruhanga. the un peacekeeping mission in lebanon — unifil — says three of its observers and a translator were injured by an explosion near the israeli border. it said the peacekeepers were on a foot patrol when the blast happened — they've been taken to hospital. the un said it was investigating the cause of the explosion, and warned the targeting

of observers was "unacceptable." israel has denied any involvement. also, there are reports from the us that the biden adminstration has cleared the way for the transfer of bombs and fighter planes worth billions of dollars to israel. our correspondent yolande knell is injerusalem. a shell exploded near these un military observers while they were on a foot patrol in southern lebanon, along the blue line, which divides that area from the north of israel. now, unifil, the peacekeeping mission in that area, says it's investigating the cause of the blast. but this is an area where israeli forces and the lebanese armed group hezbollah regularly exchange fire. we've seen an increase in tensions in that whole area in just the past few weeks, and that has really raised fears about further escalation related to the war in gaza. now, when it comes to those reports in the washington post and reuters about arms transfers worth billions

of dollars being made from the us to israel, these are listed as 1,800 2,000lb bombs, 500 500lb bombs and 25 f—35 fighterjets. most of that already approved by the us congress. but the palestinian foreign ministry in the west bank has come out accusing the biden administration of holding contradictory positions here because, of course, the news of these weapons transfers comes at a time when we have been hearing washington raising more and more concerns about the high numbers of civilians being killed in gaza. aid drops by air are continuing in a bid to relieve the plight of people in the palestinian territory. 0ur middle east correspondent, lucy williamson, was onboard a us military flight dropping crates of aid — and sent this report.

aid drops into gaza are expensive, inefficient, and increasingly controversial. these ready prepared meals from the us army are being flown more than 1,000 miles from a us airbase in qatar. there's plenty of food just a short drive from gaza's borders, but this american aid is being flown right across the middle east. 80 crates of food on board two c—i7 transport planes, dropped into a population the un says is on the brink of famine. it's not perfect. we know that there's upwards of two million people who need food on the ground, who are hungry, innocent civilians who didn't ask for this conflict, and we are dropping meals in the tens of thousands, but at least it's something. so does it feel like a drop in the bucket? maybe a little bit, but if you're a family on the ground who have got some of this aid, it can be a life—saver. 12 people were reported to have drowned this week trying to retrieve packages from the sea. six others crushed in a stampede.

what are you doing to try and mitigate those risks? literally everything we can. so i know you spoke with the colonel earlier. we use a chute that falls at a slower rate to give the gazans more time to see the parachutes and make sure that they are out of the way. we also have assets overhead that clear the drop zone, so we will not drop if there's any sort of groupings of people there. after three hours in the air, the ramp opens on gaza's devastated coastline. theyjust opened the hatch ready to release the aid down into gaza. there's no organised distribution system down there. there it goes. a drop of aid in an ocean of hunger. getting aid in this way is a last resort, but a growing number of countries are doing it. how much do these eye—catching flights relieve pressure on gaza's civilians, and how much the pressure

on governments elsewhere? lucy williamson, bbc news, qatar. for an update on the humanitarian situation in gaza, i spoke to unicef spokespersonjames elder, who's in gaza. he gave me his thoughts on the effort to drop aid from the skies. there is an argument any aid is good aid, but the reality is we can't be distracted, the fastest, safest way to get aid in is across the roads. there is a road network here. i have literally sat with parents in tears with babies that are paper—thin, i don't know if they would still be alive now, and there are aid crossings that used to be open ten minutes away, so we have to look at what is the safest and quickest way. it is roads, roads, roads. we've seen people killed from airdrops. some aid gets to people, but we risk it as a distraction, and the

situation is getting so grim. there are hundreds of trucks not far from me, they need to get the aid across, that will ultimately save lives in the sheer number and volume we need now. how long have you been in gaza on this trip, and what have you seen whilst you have been there? i have been here for two weeks. sometimes in the north, the areas where the food drops are happening, the people are completely cut—off. they can't leave. they can't even come south, where children have died of malnutrition and dehydration. i go on aid supply missions and see tens of thousands of people standing in the rubble, entire cities devastated, standing there, men, children and women, with hands to mouth, scenes i have not seen before. not in an area where aid trucks are a matter

of minutes and miles away. in the south, devastation, annihilation of cities that is unprecedented. i'm sorry to say, my voice is frustrated. there's almost been a distraction from the world, we've forgotten about the security council resolution for a ceasefire and hostages to go home. the skies have been relentless today, the bombardments. another night of children being killed. we are past 12,000 children. where i am, like the rest of the gaza strip, bombardments continue from the sea, air, that is the reality that people face. you are visibly emotional as we are speaking. the israeli government still denies it is blocking aid into gaza, and it puts the blame on the un and says you aren't efficient enough in getting resources into gaza. look, i won't go tit for tat.

what to say? the gaza strip needed 500 trucks of commercial aid a day. there's been an average of less than one third. there's been weeks when no aid was allowed to get in. the obstructions are many, one of which is open aid in the north, allow us to get crossings into the north. people are killed trying to deliberate, my colleagues have been killed, more than any war since the un was founded. the truth matters because it is about life—saving humanitarian aid. it is around the blocks, the delays, humanitarian aid. we had restrictions for colleagues, to colleagues to go to gaza city in the north. it matters because that is why we have babies who have slid into the most catastrophic nutrition in record times. it is important we share this, and more

important we are allowed to get that aid in. that comes under an umbrella of a ceasefire. hostages home, flood the gaza strip with aid and allow families to go to bed for once knowing they will wake up. the israeli military say they're investigating the killing of a palestinian boy during a raid by israeli soldiers in the occupied west bank. the 13—year—old was shot in the town of qabatiya, nearjenin. the israeli military said several palestinian gunmen had shot at its troops, who returned fire. northern ireland's deputy first minister, emma little—pengelly, has said she's determined to provide stability at stormont, after the resignation of her party leader yesterday. sirjeffrey donaldson stood down from his position from the democratic unionists after being accused of rape and historical sexual offences. he says he'll strenuously

contest the charges. for the latest developments, i spoke to our ireland reporter, jennifer 0'leary, who is in belfast. there's a number of developments today concerning a significant story in northern ireland. let me bring you first double a statement from the police service of northern ireland, issued earlier today, where they warned social media users against speculation about the story, adding victims of such crimes are entitled to complete anonymity by law unless they choose to waiver that themselves. the police added in their statement those who breach that anonymity online or in media will face investigation. it is unusual here for the police to issue such a warning, and it is an indication of a political story.

there are also lead implications that have to be respected. there were also political developments in this story today. the deputy first minister emma little—pengelly, she herself is a dup representative. the dup is the democratic unionist party. they are northern ireland's largest unionist party, the detail is in the name. they are concentrating their focus on maintaining northern ireland's place in the union of the united kingdom. they are northern ireland's biggest unionist party, in the last assembly election they received approximately under one quarter of the total electoral votes. a significant force in northern irish politics. jeffrey donaldson,

who resigned yesterday, was seen if you like as the de facto leader of unison in northern ireland. emma little—pengelly today as deputy first minister issued a statement on social media. what was interesting was she had focused in part of her statement, saying she is determined to ensure political stability in the days ahead. political stability is an important expression, and certainly the tone of that statement today certainly chimes with what the first minister michelle 0'neill was saying yesterday, in terms of the theme for the need of political stability here because as many would see it, nobody is keen to see a political crisis anytime soon back in stormont. global food experts have warned that a year of civil war in sudan,

and a failure to deliver aid, have left millions of people facing imminentfamine. a un—backed food authority, the ipc, says there must be a ceasefire and immediate action, to avoid widespread death. children underfive are most at risk. earlier, i spoke to africa security correspondent, ian wafula, for more on the crisis. the united nations actually said the situation is like nothing they've seen before. they say this is the worst humanitarian crisis in recent history. i'd come across a report that say children are dying of hunger, old people and sick people can't access medication, and that'sjust the tip of the iceberg. when you look at the numbers, last year when the un was calling for all international parties to kind of

contribute money towards humanitarian situation, they said 25 million people are in need of aid. when you look at the scale of how many people have been affected when the war began, we are talking more than 30,000 people who have died and nearly 8 million others who have been displaced. as the war continues the situation is worse. 90 million children out of school, and the un and agencies are concerned the effects of this war can be felt for years. one of the world's humanitarian crisis. what is making it more difficult is both sides are being accused of blocking access to humanitarian organisations. this is right. 0rganisations are describing this as both sides using food as a weapon of war. they say the only reason,

the main reason they are stopping aid flowing into areas controlled by their rivals is because of suspicion these convoys are being used to transport weapons contributing to the success of their rivals. another reason we are also seeing the area controlled by the army. there have been humanitarian organisations lamenting there have been bureaucratic processes. a convoy needs to be cleared and needs five stamps to be approved. this could take up to weeks for that. humanitarian aid, which is much needed, is not reaching the people that need it the most. they are the people suffering, and i've given you the numbers in this war.

the london—based iranian tv news channel whose presenter was stabbed yesterday says "heavy threats" have been made to its staff. pouria zeraati was attacked outside his home in south london. the iranian regime has denied any involvement in the attack, which is being investigated by counter—terrorism police. sima sabet is a former iran international presenter and a former bbc world service journalist. police urged her to leave her home following the attack on mr zeraati. she gave us her reaction to that attack. i was shocked, angry and outraged. i heard news that they were planning an assassination against my life and my colleague. we were informed of the whole plot in december. this came just a few months after. i know that if there was a serious action taken after that bit of news came out, we would have observed another

attempt on the life of another journalist in london, the heart of london. of course, i was very angry. a few hours after the attack happened on pouria, i got a call from counterterrorism police telling me i should leave my residence and stay somewhere until they let me know that it is safe for me to come back. this is not fair, this is not right for us as journalists. we should be safe in what we do. we should feel safe in our country. this is our country, this is our home. we are uk nationals being threatened at our home, at the doorstep. what i was thinking, if the uk government had taken it seriously, if the uk government had met with me, if the uk government was willing to listen to us that we are victim, and we are not victim, i do not like to declare myself as a victim, but at the same time islamic republic is taking

a step to attack us and trying to take our lives. we have to have a channel of communication with the government, being heard at the government. i want to show these live pictures coming in from tel aviv. this is a protest following a rally which took place at the hostages square. there have been weekly protest that in tel aviv, people calling for the release of the hostages who were taken by hamas. calling for the government dared to do more to bring back the israeli hostages taken by hamas on october seven. this is a protest, we

0ctober seven. this is a protest, we have seen tear gas fired, there is some fire lit under protest happening in tel aviv. the pope, he was 87, once you preserve his strength of the roman catholic events this weekend. let's have a listen. a reading from the letter of saint paul to the romans. when we were baptised in christjesus, we were baptised in christjesus, we were baptised in christjesus, we were baptised in his death. in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tube with him and joined him in death, said that as christ was raised from the dead by the

father's glory we might to lead a new life. even union with christ we have imitated his death, we shall also imitate him in his resurrection. we must realise that our former selves have been crucified with him to destroy the sinful body and to free us from the slavery of sin. when a christian dies, of course he is finished with sin. but we believe that having died with christ, we shall return to live with christ, we shall return to live with him. . , with christ, we shall return to live with him. ., , . , ., ., ., with him. that is the celebration at the easter vigil _ with him. that is the celebration at the easter vigil at _ with him. that is the celebration at the easter vigil at the _ with him. that is the celebration at the easter vigil at the vatican. - the easter vigil at the vatican. just before she was speaking, the pope was also giving a message there. what about easter events elsewhere? and particularly jerusalem, a city for many christians at the heart of the holy land. how will ceremonies be affected by ongoing operation happening in gaza? let's speak to

the dean of saint georges college in jerusalem, an anglican pilgrimage centre. thank you forjoining us on the programme. i want to ask you about how a benz are being impacted by the war in gaza —— how events. it is a pleasure to be with you this evening. i am is a pleasure to be with you this evening. iam pleased is a pleasure to be with you this evening. i am pleased to report that actually, all our services in jerusalem over these last few holy days have gone off without incident, starting with palm sunday and then through this holy week, good friday and today anti—easter day. things have been quiet injerusalem. muslims are also celebrating ramadan, marking ramadan, and there have been significant numbers. but that largely has gone on peacefully

as well. we've been able, both of those together, to mark the special days. the policing has been quite restrained, and so people have felt free to go about their religious business in these few days. what we are missing, though, are brothers and sisters from the occupied west bank because almost all the applications for permits we've made for west bank christians to come into occupied eastjerusalem and to the old city have been refused. and so, and because with everything else going on in gaza, although we can mark our services and celebrate easter, we do it with a very heavy heart, because we cannot forget that whilst we celebrate the joyous message of easter, of the resurrection ofjesus christ, our

brothers and sisters all over gaza, and especially our christian brothers and sisters, are suffering. everybody is suffering, but we feel a particular intimate closeness to our christians in the two churches, and our staff at the hospital, which is an anglican hospital. i’m and our staff at the hospital, which is an anglican hospital.— is an anglican hospital. i'm sorry to interrupt- _ is an anglican hospital. i'm sorry to interrupt. i— is an anglican hospital. i'm sorry to interrupt. i want _ is an anglican hospital. i'm sorry to interrupt. i want to _ is an anglican hospital. i'm sorry to interrupt. i want to ask- is an anglican hospital. i'm sorry to interrupt. i want to ask you, l is an anglican hospital. i'm sorry i to interrupt. i want to ask you, how does the war impact the relationships between those three main religions injerusalem? it relationships between those three main religions in jerusalem? it puts ureat main religions in jerusalem? it puts great pressure _ main religions in jerusalem? it puts great pressure on _ main religions in jerusalem? it puts great pressure on our _ main religions in jerusalem? it putsj great pressure on our relationships. there is a bond between muslims and christians with a shared palestinian identity, who feel our people alongside one another

indiscriminately are being killed in gaza. and of course it is israel which is, who are attacking us. we have to acknowledge 0ctober seven, and hamas's dreadful actions, but our relations are tense and we had to dig deep into the best of our traditions, to be the best of ourselves so jerusalem traditions, to be the best of ourselves sojerusalem can be the city of peace, where all can live together, ratherthan city of peace, where all can live together, rather than being the worst of ourselves and being at war and divided, and we pray we will learn how to live alongside each other in mutual respect, add a quality so we can live peaceably side by side. quality so we can live peaceably side by side-— quality so we can live peaceably side b side. . ~ ,, , . side by side. thank you very much. that was the _ side by side. thank you very much. that was the very _ side by side. thank you very much. that was the very reverent, - side by side. thank you very much. that was the very reverent, dean l side by side. thank you very much. | that was the very reverent, dean of saint georges college injerusalem. since the collapse of a bridge in baltimore after being hit by a container ship,

it's emerged that most bridges in the united states do not have impact protection that could prevent similar incidents. cbs news says it's found thatjust over a third of the more than 4,000 bridges that allow ships to pass under them are vulnerable. bridges built after 1991 have increased protection, but the rules didn't require upgrades for older ones. us pop star lizzo says she's "quitting", because she's fed up with being targeted for her looks and character online. in a post on instagram, the truth hurts singer wrote, "i'm starting to feel like the world doesn't want me in it." you are watching bbc news. hello. we've had some sunshine — not a bad day overall, just a few showers here and there. i think easter sunday is going to be

a little more overcast, particularly across england and closer to the north sea coast. quite a chilly breeze off the north sea with some drizzle at times. now, the satellite picture shows that gap in the weather that's over us right now. so things set fair for the moment. but this thicker cloud towards the east will shroud the uk during the course of sunday, particularly eastern areas of the uk. now, through the course of tonight, yes, there's a bit of rain in the forecast for some southwestern areas, perhaps just around the irish sea and into northern ireland. but the bulk of the uk should have predominantly clear and dry weather. chilly in the north of scotland, a touch of frost and some mist and fog forming, particularly across central parts of england. so the morning is looking bright for many of us, particularly across the north and the west of the uk. a few showers there in northern ireland, but then this thick cloud invades off the north sea, a chilly breeze, fleeting rain possible from parts of the southeast through east anglia,

lincolnshire and really all along that north sea coast. the best of the sunshine will be out towards the west tomorrow around the irish sea, southwestern scotland, northern ireland, the western isles. and then sunday night into monday, a weather front moves in from the south. this is going to be more substantial rain, a more prolonged spell of rain to come for many of us on easter monday. really not looking particularly pretty across england and wales. your best bet for fine weather is the north of northern ireland, also northern and western scotland away from that weather front, temperatures around 9 degrees in aberdeen, but in the south, despite the cloud and the rain still getting up to 1a, though i don't think it's particularly going to feel like it. and then the outlook for the week ahead will see a series of low pressures aligning themselves up in the atlantic. heading our way, one weatherfront after the other, after the other. and that basically spells rain. so whether you're checking the website or looking at the app, an indication here with these rain symbols that the weather is going to be predominantly unsettled.

rain at times, certainly possible almost anywhere in the uk. and before i go, there'sjust a quick message that british summer time begins tonight. bye— bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines: the un peacekeeping mission in lebanon says three of its observers and a translator have been injured — in an explosion

near the israeli border. in a statement, the un said it was investigating the origin of the blast, and that the targeting of its observers was unacceptable. global food experts have warned that a year of civil war in sudan — and a failure to deliver aid — have left millions of people facing imminentfamine. a un—backed food authority says there must be a ceasefire to avoid widespread death. children underfive are most at risk. political leaders promise stability in northern ireland — won't be affected by the arrest and resignation of the dup leader — sirjeffrey donaldson — on charges of rape and historical sex offences — which he denies. the new interim leader of the dup says the news was devastating.

hello and welcome to sportsday.