i'mjane o'brien in washington and this is bbc world news america. political turmoil in europe's third largest economy. italy's prime minister mario draghi has resigned and there'll be a snap election in september to choose his successor. president biden tests postive for covid as a new surge of the virus sweeps the nation. the white house says the 79—year—old has mild symptoms. president trump's actions during the january 6 attack on the us capitol will be the focus of tonight's primetime hearing. a key russian pipeline resumes gas supplies to germany — as europe struggles to switch to new energy sources. and the new telescope helping scientists search the skies

for neutron stars — which are created by dead suns coliding. welcome to world news america on pbs, in the uk and around the globe. the italian prime minister, mario draghi, has resigned after he lost the support of three coalition parties in his government. he's the former president of the european central bank, and he'd been widely credited with bringing economic stability to the country through the coronavirus pandemic. mr draghi's been asked to continue in a caretaker capacity until the election — which will take place in september. for the latest on the political crisis engulfing europe's third largest economy, i spoke to our rome correspondent, mark lowen. what happens now, because he still

in charge? he what happens now, because he still in charae? ., what happens now, because he still in charae? . . ., in charge? he will remain in charge until the snap _ in charge? he will remain in charge until the snap election _ in charge? he will remain in charge until the snap election on _ in charge? he will remain in charge until the snap election on the - in charge? he will remain in charge until the snap election on the 25th | until the snap election on the 25th of september. just as italians want to be flocking to the beach, they will be called back into sweaty political rallies. invited out to try to win control and govern the country that is just very fractious and very capricious, in which it brought down almost 70 governments since the second world war. he was seen as the one person who could

pull together italy's politicians, but even super mario could not hold together these fractious political parties. together these fractious political arties. ., ~' , , , parties. how likely is this instability _ parties. how likely is this instability to _ parties. how likely is this instability to affect - parties. how likely is thisl instability to affect europe parties. how likely is this - instability to affect europe more broadly? instability to affect europe more broadl ? ., , . ., broadly? mario draghi was an important _ broadly? mario draghi was an important pillar _ broadly? mario draghi was an important pillar in _ broadly? mario draghi was an important pillar in the - broadly? mario draghi was an - important pillar in the community and the war in ukraine. in this last few weeks, france's president lost is majority. not great in the unity against vladimir putin. i mentioned that the far—right could become the biggest party here. she has got

little allies close to vladimir putin. the ex—prime minister is still around, putin. the ex—prime minister is stillaround, in his putin. the ex—prime minister is still around, in his 80s, and putin. the ex—prime minister is stillaround, in his 80s, and he putin. the ex—prime minister is still around, in his 80s, and he is a big chum of vladimir putin as well. one person who will be rubbing his hands in glee will be the occupant of the kremlin. you're auoin to occupant of the kremlin. you're going to be _ occupant of the kremlin. you're going to be a —

white house covid coordinator dr ashistha said the president was tired, with a runny nose and dry cough. and with much of the country experiencing a new surge in highly contagious variants, he said the president's positive test showed the importance of getting vaccinated. because the president is fully vaccinated, double boosted, his risk of serious illness is dramatically lower. he's also getting treated with a very powerful anti—viral it's a reminder of the reason that we all work so hard to make sure that every american has the same level of protection that the president has.

staying in washington, the eighth hearing of the january six committee investigating the attack on the us capitol will focus on the actions of former president donald trump. it will hear testimony from witnesses who were at the white house during the insurrection in the hours before mr trump asked his supporters to �*go home'. joining me now is our correspondentjohn sudworth. give us a little bit more on what to expect tonight. well, this is the eighth and this extraordinary series of hearings, all designed to attempt to prove that in prosecuting his claim that the election was stolen, president trump engaged in an orchestrated, potentially illegal attempt to subvert democracy, including the instigation of that violent attack. so far, the committee has... president trump knew what he was doing was wrong. he had knowledge,

and his close aides had told him he lost the election, that there was no real evidence for his claims. they attempted to show he had intent when one of his aides detailed his attempt to grab the hearing will, demanding to be taken to the capitol —— steering wheel. today we're told we are going to get an attempt to show dereliction of duty. this hearing will focus on this crucial 186 minutes looking at what president trump did or didn't do. 0r his seeming refusal to call up the mob —— call off. i5

his seeming refusal to call up the mob -- call off-— mob -- call off. is this evidence that could _ mob -- call off. is this evidence that could be _ mob -- call off. is this evidence that could be used _ mob -- call off. is this evidence that could be used in _ mob -- call off. is this evidence that could be used in a - mob -- call off. is this evidence - that could be used in a prosecution? that's the big question. what name did they have? if you look at the polling, there is some evidence that the trip of revelations... the number of americans who believe that donald trump is not responsible for that violence has shifted from the 3% to 57%. -- 53% to 57%. there that violence has shifted from the 3% to 57%. —— 53% to 57%. there is still a large portion of us society in particular who believe that the

election was stolen. this is all being viewed in a very partisan framework. the bigger question, could this lead to legal action, is of course the question. all in an atmosphere in which donald trump himself is believed to be preparing for another run at the presidency. john sudworth, thank you very much. turkey says a deal has been reached which will allow ukraine to resume exports of grain through the black sea. it's expected to be signed on friday in istanbul by ukraine, russia, turkey and the un secretary general. under the deal, russia would agree to a truce in ukraine while shipments move subject to weapon inspections by turkey. russia and ukraine are major global wheat suppliers and the war has stoked an internationalfood crisis. russia has resumed pumping gas to europe through its biggest pipeline after warnings it could curb or halt supplies altogether. president putin has used gas to put pressure on other countries over their support for ukraine. as a result, the german government has sped up efforts to find alternative sources of energy

in case russia closes the tap for good. jenny hill reports from duisburg. germany thought this was the fuel of the past. now coal is keeping the country afloat. as russia restricts its gas, germany is seeking other sources of energy and that includes firing up old coal power stations. so, martina's barges are busy, but she sees the damage done by vladimir putin's gas war. translation: of course it's good i for us that we are transporting l so much coal, but it's a fine line because industry here might have to shut down soon if the gas runs out. few here trust russia. but germany relied on its gas. it's painfully exposed. russian gas powered this country's economy. going without it, industry leaders warn, could have

catastrophic consequences, perhaps even trigger a recession.