convicted of a crime. this was a rigged, disgraceful trial. the real verdict is going to be november the 5th by the people. and president biden gave ukraine secret permission to strike inside russian territory using american munitions. hello, i'm carl nasman. it's been a historic day here in the united states, where donald trump has become the first us president to be convicted of a crime. on thursday, he was found guilty of 3a felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to adult film star stormy daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. the former us president could face up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each count, though his lawyers they will appeal

thursday's verdict. here's what president trump said outside the court right after the verdict. this was a disgrace. this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt. it is a rigged trial, a disgrace. they wouldn't give us a venue change. we were at 5% or 6% in this district, in this area. this was a rigged, disgraceful trial. the real verdict is going to be november the 5th by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here. you have a soros backed da, the whole thing... we didn't do a thing wrong. i'm a very innocent man and it's ok, i'm fighting for our country, i'm fighting for our constitution. our whole country is being rigged right now, this is being done by the biden administration in order to hurt

a political opponent. i think it is a disgrace and we will keep fighting, we will fight to the end and we will win, because our country has gone to hell. we don't have the same country any more, we have a divided mess. we are a nation in serious decline. millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now from prisons and from mental institutions, terrorists, and they are taking over our country. we have a country that is in big trouble. but this was a rigged decision right from day one, with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case, never. and we will fight for our constitution. this is long from over, thank you very much. we'll hear from the former president next on friday, where he will hold a press conference at trump tower in new york.

idid my i did myjob. 0urjob is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favour, that's exactly what we did here. what i feel his gratitude to work alongside phenomenal public servants who do that each and every day in matters that you are right about and in lots of matters that you don't. i did myjob, we did ourjob. many voices out there. the only voices out there. the only voice that matters is the voice of the jury, and the voice that matters is the voice of thejury, and thejury voice that matters is the voice of the jury, and the jury has spoken. he's due to be sentenced on july 11th — just four days before the republican party's national convention, where he'll be formally picked to run for president as its nominee. all of this is all expected to have an impact on the 2024 november election — where mr trump will once again face off againt current presidentjoe biden.

it was a dramatic moment inside the courthouse today when the verdict was reached. reporter kayla epstein was there for that as she described the moment are north america corresponded nada tawfik. what corresponded nada tawfik. what a historic moment _ corresponded nada tawfik. what a historic moment to _ corresponded nada tawfik. wiat a historic moment to witness. first of all, donald trump, when thejury first of all, donald trump, when the jury started to read count by count that he was guilty, what was his demeanour? so, it was almost like the air turned — so, it was almost like the air turned to— so, it was almost like the air turned to stone when they started _ turned to stone when they started meeting others guilty verdict — started meeting others guilty verdict one by one. as each count— verdict one by one. as each count on_ verdict one by one. as each count on each guilty verdict rotted — count on each guilty verdict rolled over him, donald trump was completely motionless at the defence table, i was sitting _ the defence table, i was sitting directly behind him and white — sitting directly behind him and while you can see his face, his body— while you can see his face, his body language was some of the still list — body language was some of the still list i've ever seen. he didn't— still list i've ever seen. he didn't move or gesture, just sat there _ didn't move or gesture, just sat there as they said guilty, 34 times _ sat there as they said guilty, 34 times-_ 34 times. these “urors sat throu~h 34 times. these “urors sat through five _ 34 times. these jurors sat through five weeks - 34 times. these jurors sat through five weeks of- through five weeks of testimony, prosecutors left

absolutely nothing to chance, ultimately it took them 11 hours to come to this decision, a decision that they knew would have a historic impactjust aren't holding donald trump accountable, but on the presidential election that is under way. presidential election that is underway. looking presidential election that is under way. looking at the jury, did you get a sense that they were overwhelmed by the moment? the jury actually looked quite serious — the jury actually looked quite serious and they looked very sombre, _ serious and they looked very sombre, but they didn't look overwhelmed to me, throughout the entire — overwhelmed to me, throughout the entire trial they looked like — the entire trial they looked like people who knew the weight of the _ like people who knew the weight of the job that they had to do but also _ of the job that they had to do but also were focused on their task. — but also were focused on their task. and _ but also were focused on their task, and when the foreman was called _ task, and when the foreman was called upon to read out each guilty— called upon to read out each guilty verdict, he did so in a dear. — guilty verdict, he did so in a clear, loud voice never appeared to my to waver. and when — appeared to my to waver. and when the _ appeared to my to waver. and when the judge asked them to go one by— when the judge asked them to go one by one and say what they they— one by one and say what they they att— one by one and say what they they all said guilty, again, some _ they all said guilty, again, some not as loudly but all in a clear— some not as loudly but all in a clear voice _ some not as loudly but all in a clearvoice. it some not as loudly but all in a clear voice. it has struck as

how— clear voice. it has struck as how donald trump publicly has slammed thisjudge as slammed this judge as conflicted. slammed this 'udge as conflicted._ slammed this 'udge as conflicted. , ~ . ., conflicted. but judge merchan has such a _ conflicted. but judge merchan has such a mild _ conflicted. but judge merchan has such a mild manner - conflicted. but judge merchan has such a mild manner in - conflicted. but judge merchanj has such a mild manner in the court. in the verdict was read, what advice did he give to jurors when they had completed their civic duty?— their civic duty? judge merchan has been a _ their civic duty? judge merchan has been a real— their civic duty? judge merchan has been a real figure - their civic duty? judge merchan has been a real figure of - has been a real figure of authority and respect the jury. he speaks kindly, he makes sure it doesn't— he speaks kindly, he makes sure it doesn't disrupt their lives any— it doesn't disrupt their lives any more _ it doesn't disrupt their lives any more than it has to and weather— any more than it has to and weather were done delivering the he — weather were done delivering the he thanked them and said he had watched how much care they put into — had watched how much care they put into it — had watched how much care they put into it. it wasjust very much _ put into it. it wasjust very much a _ put into it. it wasjust very much a moment for the judge as well stop— much a moment for the judge as well stop he seemed proud of the jury— well stop he seemed proud of the jury for taking on this enormous burden and doing the work— enormous burden and doing the work as— enormous burden and doing the work as the law said they had to. �* ,., work as the law said they had to. �* _, . ., work as the law said they had to. . ,., . ., ., , to. also in the court was the manhattan _ to. also in the court was the manhattan district _ to. also in the court was the manhattan district attorney, j manhattan district attorney, alvin bragg, the first prosecutor to bring charges against former president. many had actually criticised him and wondered if this was a case worth bringing but ultimately it has had an outsize impact

now given this is the only case that will be heard before the election and it has resulted in the guilty verdict. but let's turn back to donald trump because as he left, he turned to his family in that moment, didn't he?— didn't he? the only family member— didn't he? the only family member in _ didn't he? the only family member in court - didn't he? the only family member in court with - didn't he? the only family member in court with him j didn't he? the only family - member in court with him today was eric— member in court with him today was eric trump, his second eidest _ was eric trump, his second eldest son. as trump got up and left the — eldest son. as trump got up and left the defence table, he passed _ left the defence table, he passed right by eric and he seemed _ passed right by eric and he seemed to grab his upper arm or his chest — seemed to grab his upper arm or his chest in — seemed to grab his upper arm or his chest in almost a fatherly gesture, _ his chest in almost a fatherly gesture, while i don't know what — gesture, while i don't know what was _ gesture, while i don't know what was going through his mind, _ what was going through his mind, he did reach out for the closest — mind, he did reach out for the closest family he had at the moment— closest family he had at the moment before he walked out of the courtroom, not saying a word — the courtroom, not saying a word it _ the courtroom, not saying a word. , , ., word. it is so interesting to cover this _ word. it is so interesting to cover this trial, _ word. it is so interesting to cover this trial, both - word. it is so interesting to cover this trial, both from | cover this trial, both from outside here in lower manhattan as people are absorbing the news in such a different environment they are in the courtroom and of course it all comes together when donald trump speaks to the press, reacts to this. it was interesting, he was as normal

divine self but he made a comment that ultimately, the real verdict is going to be november the 5th in the election, essentially. —— raikhy was his normal defiant self. when donald trump has called this case politically motivated, you sat there, you heard this evidence, any surprise that the jury did find donald trump guilty based on the evidence? how overwhelming and compelling was iti the evidence? how overwhelming and compelling was it— and compelling was it i wasn't in the jury _ and compelling was it i wasn't in the jury room _ and compelling was it i wasn't in the jury room and - and compelling was it i wasn't in the jury room and nobody l in the jury room and nobody will— in the jury room and nobody will know— in the jury room and nobody will know what went the mines but we — will know what went the mines but we do _ will know what went the mines but we do know prosecution told a very— but we do know prosecution told a very compelling and cohesive narrative — a very compelling and cohesive narrative from start to finish, from — narrative from start to finish, from opening statements to closing _ from opening statements to closing arguments, that laid out a — closing arguments, that laid out a detailed narrative of what _ out a detailed narrative of what they alleged trump had done — what they alleged trump had done. they wrote reams of evidence, _ done. they wrote reams of evidence, text messages, e-maiis. _ evidence, text messages, e—mails, testimony from 20 people. _ e—mails, testimony from 20 people, most of them key players _ people, most of them key players in this case, and they really— players in this case, and they really went over every single piece — really went over every single piece of— really went over every single piece of evidence they could

and presented them to the jury, while _ and presented them to the jury, while we — and presented them to the jury, while we may never know what was the — while we may never know what was the decisive piece of evidence, they clearly dodged one of— evidence, they clearly dodged one of the biggest questions in this case — one of the biggest questions in this case which was the credibility of michael cohen, so much _ credibility of michael cohen, so much of this case hinged on him _ so much of this case hinged on him and — so much of this case hinged on him and he _ so much of this case hinged on him and he has committed in front— him and he has committed in front of— him and he has committed in front of congress in the past and — front of congress in the past and troubled's lawyers relentlessly hammered him in the cross—examination, calling him at — the cross—examination, calling him at one _ the cross—examination, calling him at one time the greatest liar of— him at one time the greatest liar of all— him at one time the greatest liar of all time but you could see — liar of all time but you could see the _ liar of all time but you could see the prosecution was able to back— see the prosecution was able to back up— see the prosecution was able to back up his case with, sorry, his testimony with enough evidence that clearly the jury was able _ evidence that clearly the jury was able to see past his flaws and perhaps find their way to a guilty— and perhaps find their way to a guilty verdict. a meant to stay there in new york. —— a momentous day. with me is shan wu, a former federal prosecutor. he said on twitter, nobody should be surprised, it was never a close case. just walk me through your thinking on the

result today. me through your thinking on the result today-— result today. two factors. the prosecution — result today. two factors. the prosecution had _ result today. two factors. the prosecution had a _ result today. two factors. the prosecution had a lot - result today. two factors. the prosecution had a lot of- result today. two factors. the prosecution had a lot of whatl prosecution had a lot of what they would call receipts. so they would call receipts. so they had a very big paper trail and i had a lot of witnesses besides michael cohen. some of them are trump insiders. but all painted this picture of them trying to catch and kill these stories, and then the fact there was a reimbursement seemed like a no—brainer. then new added michael cohen, an insider who, new added michael cohen, an insiderwho, 0k, has some baggage and perhaps in vulnerability, but he came across very well and they had really insulated him from the attack by putting around him this other testimony from some trump loyalists as well as the paper trail, so they outfit up very well. paper trail, so they outfit up very well-— paper trail, so they outfit up very well. this case, for four criminal— very well. this case, for four criminal cases, _ very well. this case, for four criminal cases, was - very well. this case, for four criminal cases, was often . criminal cases, was often criticised as being the weakest or the least consequential but we saw lots of criticism of

former president trump and his supporters, but in the end it was a unanimous decision, all 34 counts. i was a unanimous decision, all 34 counts-— was a unanimous decision, all 34 counts. ,., 34 counts. i disagree with some ofthe 34 counts. i disagree with some of the peeple — 34 counts. i disagree with some of the people who _ 34 counts. i disagree with some of the people who criticised - 34 counts. i disagree with some of the people who criticised it i of the people who criticised it as being the weakest case. it is not really like it as the fae and you can pick which one you like. each case has their own merits and the prosecution is to bring them forward. i feel there is a fair amount of surgery and privilege at work here in some of the criticism. it's almost as though some of the critics feel that for a very full part —— for a very powerful man or person, you have to have a certain type of case to bring against him, and because stormy daniels was at the heart of this, she is an aduu the heart of this, she is an adult film director and actor, there was a lot of undue prejudice towards her. you have also written _ prejudice towards her. you have also written about _ prejudice towards her. you have also written about the _ prejudice towards her. you have also written about the trump i also written about the trump defence team. you said, if trump wants to blame anyone for the verdict, it should be his lawyers, why is that?- the verdict, it should be his lawyers, why is that? that is the second _ lawyers, why is that? that is the second factor! _ lawyers, why is that? that is the second factor! for- lawyers, why is that? that is the second factor! for a - the second factor! for a defence team to do well in a

case, even though there is a presumption of innocence, you have to do more than just sit back and take pot shots, and they were very scatter—gun in their approach, they were very scatter—gun in theirapproach, possibly because the client was really directing all this, insisting they take a very aggressive attitude towards stormy daniels. we have the reporting about how the lead counsel was actually yelling, calling michael cohen a liar and such. that's not much affected, you need a coherent strategy, a counter narrative to go forward, and they never really did that. and that really hurt them. as. did that. and that really hurt them. �* , . ., ._ them. a guilty verdict today but that's — them. a guilty verdict today but that's not _ them. a guilty verdict today but that's not the _ them. a guilty verdict today but that's not the end - them. a guilty verdict today but that's not the end of. them. a guilty verdict today| but that's not the end of the road and the trump lawyers already saying they will appeal the case as soon as possible. what grounds do you think they might be able to do that? there are a few grounds, _ might be able to do that? there are a few grounds, i _ might be able to do that? there are a few grounds, i don't - might be able to do that? there are a few grounds, i don't know| are a few grounds, i don't know they will be successful, but in theory, the case was a little bit complicated, the story was quite easy, but the reason is

complicated is because there are two pieces, the first is falsification of business records, there was miss characterising the reimbursement, but the second piece was that there had to be further rinse of some other crime command in this case the other krmas interfering with the election, and that exact set of circumstances hasn't been done very often. the use falsification charge all the time. as one of the areas we will try to argue that may be the way those two were used together is wrong or perhaps the definitions in the jury instructions were somehow flawed. as. instructions were somehow flawed. . ., ., instructions were somehow flawed. ., ., flawed. a lot will hinge now as well on the — flawed. a lot will hinge now as well on the judge, _ flawed. a lot will hinge now as well on the judge, and - flawed. a lot will hinge now as well on the judge, and that. well on the judge, and that sentencing date, july the 11th. the system in the us will be that the state court, they do a memorandum each side, setting forth circumstances for trump's defence team to put forth all the service he's done as the

former president, his lack of a criminal record. usually that means that there would be no minimum sentence, it could easily be no jail time or probation. but what's interesting is thatjudge merchan was very unhappy with the former president about the violations of the gag order and he didn't really do anything in the trial with but he could take that into account in the sentencing. take that into account in the sentencing-— sentencing. briefly, there is reall at sentencing. briefly, there is really at historical— sentencing. briefly, there is really at historical nature i sentencing. briefly, there is really at historical nature to | really at historical nature to this trial in this project towered verdict, the first former president to be convicted of a crime. it former president to be convicted of a crime. it is a aood convicted of a crime. it is a good day — convicted of a crime. it is a good day for _ convicted of a crime. it is a good day for the _ convicted of a crime. it is a good day for the justice - good day for the justice system. i think very often, people who are rich and powerful hold to hold to account. there is a lot of hesitation on the part of institutions. but here in particular, it's the office of the manhattan da, very much a grimy big—city place, processes thousands of cases a day, there is a set of new yorkers on the jury, they were not all similar

to each other, it was quite diverse. so in that sense it really seemed that at least this one time, the system worked right.— this one time, the system worked right. this one time, the system worked riuht. . ~' . worked right. thank you so much for stopping _ worked right. thank you so much for stopping by. _ worked right. thank you so much for stopping by. we _ worked right. thank you so much for stopping by, we appreciate i for stopping by, we appreciate your insights. for stopping by, we appreciate your insights-— your insights. happy to be here. your insights. happy to be here- in — your insights. happy to be here. in other— your insights. happy to be here. in other news... - the biden administration has quietly given ukraine permission to strike inside russia solely near the area of kharkiv using us—provided weapons. 0ne us official told bbc news that his team had been directed to ensure ukraine was able to use us weapons for "counter—fire purposes" to "hit back at russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them". if confirmed, it would represent a significant change in policy — partially lifting a ban on ukraine using us arms in strikes on russian territory. the stated goal, according to us media reporting, is to help ukraine to better defend its second—largest city. the news comes amid disagreements between western allies over kyiv using western weapons against targets in russia — as nato foreign ministers

are gathering in prague. during the first day of the summit, nato secretary generaljens stoltenberg called for a rethink on kyiv using western arms outside borders. for more on this, i spoke to melinda haring, a non resident seniorfellow at the atlantic council. what do you make of this move by president biden to loosen the restrictions on the way ukraine is allowed to use us weapons? kit ukraine is allowed to use us weapons?— ukraine is allowed to use us weapons? kit to be back with ou. weapons? kit to be back with you. so. _ weapons? kit to be back with you. so. did _ weapons? kit to be back with you. so, did president- weapons? kit to be back with you. so, did president biden| you. so, did president biden really have any other alternative? the pressure had been mounting for weeks and weeks. the british government had removed the restriction and the french were pushing, even the french were pushing, even the germans were pushing, and it's not good optics when the germans are ahead of the white house, so all eyes were on biden and i was mounting pressure from congress as well. so he kind of had to. plus, it's an election year and biden has been campaigning on his muscular record on ukraine's foreign policy and its hard, if

the germans are ahead of you and the french are ahead of you and the french are ahead of you and the french are ahead of you and the brits are ahead, it's hard. . , ., , , hard. can you put himself in president — hard. can you put himself in president biden _ hard. can you put himself in president biden because - hard. can you put himself in president biden because my shoes? the us has applied for more weapons than the nato allies there is domestic pressure in terms of how these weapons are used, providing the weapons are used, providing the weapons and paying for them, so it may not be such an easy decision. it may not be such an easy decision-— decision. so, my 'ob as an anal st decision. so, my 'ob as an analyst is h decision. so, my 'ob as an analyst is to _ decision. so, my 'ob as an analyst is to try _ decision. so, my job as an analyst is to try to - decision. so, my job as an analyst is to try to figure l decision. so, my job as an l analyst is to try to figure out what's going on in biden plus my head, and i actually think all the factors you laid out are not the factors keeping him, orthe are not the factors keeping him, or the factors that kept him, or the factors that kept him from lifting the restriction on us weapons. what kept him from releasing the us weapons and allow ukraine to use them to hate legitimate russian military targets was nothing short of escalation, and the fears of escalation. joe biden came of age during the cold war and that's what he still thinks about, he fears

escalation, and we see this in his policy over the last couple of years, over the last more than 800 days, they lay out a red line and they say they will not do x, 0 will not give tanks, we will not give f—i6s so the keep moving and moving, pressure mounts from the ukrainians, from the united states, from other european governments, and finally they have to give. you see a loss on the battlefield, embarrassment that the us is not doing enough and finally the administration romance. but the biden administration, this is broadly looking at the last couple of years, the biden administration is always related to the game on these big weapons decisions. they have been late to the game about three to six months every single time there has been a big decision. it always takes massive amounts of pressure and loss on the battlefield to get them to do the right thing. they do to the right thing, but it costs ukrainian lives, and in this case it has sent the ——

set the ukrainians back frame many months or so how will this reflect the decision on the battlefield? right now, all eyes are on kharkiv. it is the second largest city, 1.5 million people before the big war began, 15 miles from russia and i think it will change the situation there. we had an ongoing humanitarian crisis since may the tents, when the russians invaded kharkiv oblast again and because of the biden administration because my decision to tie ukraine's hands behind their back and limit their ability to fly into russia, there has been an ongoing humanitarian crisis and the russians are cynical marched writing. at the white house has only given permission, a little bit of permission, a little bit of permission to fire around the city of kharkiv. so i got to watch to see, what about the rest of ca keev will the cynically exploit that? —— the

rest of kharkiv. there is worry that the russians may amp up their pressure. i that the russians may amp up their pressure.— that the russians may amp up their pressure. i wanted to ask how ou their pressure. i wanted to ask how you thought _ their pressure. i wanted to ask how you thought russian - their pressure. i wanted to ask| how you thought russian might respond. is there a chance that we could see retaliation? in we could see retaliation? in this we could see retaliation? in this case, i don't think vladimir putin is going to threaten to use nuclear weapons on the west. that is his favourite ploy. when things get really tense and he wants to try to convince or intimidate the westie makes irresponsible nuclear threats, the westie makes irresponsible nuclearthreats, he the westie makes irresponsible nuclear threats, he has made more than two dozen threats. there is a relationship between putin's came and how he feels and his use of nuclear threats. several research institutions had drawn an inverse relationship. when putin, when things are going for him and the west is about to send in planes or missiles or shells,

that's when he threatens to use nukes. what's he going to do this time? are waiting to see. right now, i want to see the satellite images and i want to see how much it russia has moved overnight. that's the big question right now. there were 30,000 to 50,000 russian troops across from khaki oblast. how many of those troops as they moved? —— kharkiv oblast. i suspect if there is a lot of unhappiness in moscow and their moving soldiers as quickly as possible and trying to move all of their artillery role of the kit across from kharkiv as soon as possible. kit across from kharkiv as soon as possible-— as possible. there were fresh scenes of _ as possible. there were fresh scenes of destruction - as possible. there were fresh scenes of destruction on - as possible. there were fresh scenes of destruction on the l scenes of destruction on the gaza strip after israel said it bombed 50 targets in the past day. in rafah, palestinian medics says 12 civilians were killed in an air strike as they

tried to recover a body in the middle of rafah. there was a day after paramedics said two of their colleagues were killed in rafah and another israeli strike on an ambulance. meanwhile israel confirmed reports that it now controls the border corridor between egypt and rafah and says soldiers found tunnels used by hamas for smuggling weapons and moving fighters underground. the hamas lifeline has kept them alive with their smuggled deadly weapons. the idf have found dozens of launchers along the corridor. launchers loaded and ready to fire rockets, launch pits with rockets and mortars, can loaded and ready to fire into israel, right up against the border with egypt what's up humanitarian aid agencies say they motivate getting into gaza has dropped drastically in mission weeks. the kerem shalom crossing is

not the only entry point into southern kosovo remains open after israel seized the rafah crossing. after israel seized the rafah crossinu . after israel seized the rafah crossinu. , . . crossing. the israeli defence force took — crossing. the israeli defence force tookjournalists - crossing. the israeli defence force tookjournalists to - crossing. the israeli defence i force tookjournalists to kerem shalom crossing claim in supplies are making their way into gaza. hugo bachega was there and he filed this report upon his return tojerusalem. as israeli military pushes ahead with its offensive in rafah, dazza plasma humanitarian crisis only gets worse. the un, which has warned of famine, says the amount of aid entering gaza has dropped by two thirds this month since the beginning of this rafah offensive. israel is under mounting international pressure and says it is doing everything it can to help. on thursday, the israeli military took journalists to the kerem shalom crossing, which is the crossing between southern israel and southern gaza. israel says that enough supplies are getting in and says that the problem is

about the distribution of aid inside gaza. aid agencies say it has become too risky for teams to collect the aid on the gazan side of the border because this is now an active conflict zone. they also say they haven't received protection from the israeli military and they dispute the fact that enough humanitarian aid is entering gaza. there are also questions about what exactly is entering the territory. the israeli authorities say that on average, 350 lorries entering gaza every single day, but aid groups say the vast majority of these lorries are private commercial lorries and not humanitarian aid. they say that palestinians remain in desperate need in gaza and that many may not survive to see help finally arrived. hugo bachega reported. a quick check and other stories making headlines. the slovakian

premier robert fico has been moved out of hospital following an assertion in the and assassination attempt. he was shot at close range. doctors say there was a positive response to treatment and said he was starting his rehabilitation programme. with expected to be a lengthy process. king charles announced he will take part in next month's are trooping the colour despite his cancer treatment. trooping the colour despite his cancertreatment. king trooping the colour despite his cancer treatment. king expected to inspect the soldiers from a carriage rather than horseback. the ceremony will be on the 15th ofjune and traditionally the royal family gathers on the balcony of buckingham palace. that's all from us, stay tuned for more from our colleagues in london. thank you for watching bbc news. hello there. the weather for half—term has certainly brought its challenges this week. in fact, across the east coast,

it's been rather grey, and take a look at thursday afternoon — and cromer pier, as you can see, it was raining quite heavily and with the breeze coming in off the north sea, it felt quite chilly as well. slightly different story further north and west in the western isles — this is the isle of lewis. we had just over nine hours of sunshine. that's because high pressure is starting to drift in off the atlantic and it will quieten the story down considerably as we move through the weekend. but this little nuisance weather front still bringing in quite a lot of cloud off the north sea on friday. and anywhere from east yorkshire down through east anglia and south—east england will continue to see some outbreaks of showery rain for a time. so into the afternoon, the showers gradually decreasing, but certainly more cloud here, only 15 or 16 degrees. further west, with the cloud well broken, the winds a little lighter, we should see temperatures peaking at 20 celsius. a dry afternoon for northern england, northern ireland and much of scotland. sheltered western areas of scotland perhaps seeing the best of the sunshine, and once again the best

of the warmth as well. now, as we move through friday evening and into the early hours of saturday, we'll still continue to see a little cloud across east anglia and that kent coast. but with clearer skies, temperatures are likely to fall away here. one or two spots, we could see temperatures in rural parts down to around 4 or 5 degrees. so potentially a chilly start to saturday, but it will be a dry one and there will be a lot of sunshine pretty much from the word go. again, that nagging northerly breeze continuing to drive in a few isolated showers and some nuisance cloud. and there might be a little more cloud just into the far north—west of scotland. but sandwiched in between the two, a lot of sunshine, a drier story, and temperatures will start to respond. further west, we should see highs of around 20, 21 degrees, 70 fahrenheit. now, as we move into sunday and into next week, this high pressure stays with us for a time, but there's a risk of some weak weather fronts toppling across the high, which mightjust interrupt the sun from time to time.

but all in all, the theme into next week looks likely to stay quite quiet, largely dry, and for many, a degree or so warmer than we've seen of late. take care.

welcome to hardtalk with me, mishal husain. nearly eight months into the current war in gaza, there have been further devastating scenes this week with palestinian children among those killed in rafah in the south after an israeli air strike and a fire. no—one can say yet when the fighting will end, or how many of the israeli hostages who remain in gaza will come home alive. among palestinians, hamas has had a long rivalry with the palestinian authority, which governs from the occupied west bank. my guest today was, until february, the prime minister in that government. what did he deliver? how does he see the future for gaza? and could he be a credible future leader for all palestinians?