live from london, this is bbc news. two israeli women have been killed in an attack in the occupied west bank. earlier, israel launched airstrikes on gaza and lebanon, calling it retaliation for several dozen hamas rockets fired at israel. northern ireland on high alert — police warn republicans could provoke violence, as the country marks 25 years of the good friday agreement. the last edition of sir david attenborough�*s wildlife series wild isles will air this sunday. we speak to the producer behind those breathtaking scenes.

good afternoon. we start in the middle east, where israel has ordered the mobilisation of reservists in air defence units, fighterjet pilots, and drone operators, as tensions rise in the region. in the latest escalation between israel and palestinians, two israeli women were killed in an attack in the occupied west bank. the authorities say a third person was also seriously wounded in the incident near the settlement of hamra. the israeli military says troops are searching for suspects, who opened fire at a car, causing it to crash. the latest development comes after the israeli military hit targets belonging to the palestinian militant group hamas. the airstrikes targetted areas of the gaza strip and lebanon. israel says they're in retaliation for a major rocket attack on israel launched from southern lebanon, which the israelis blamed on hamas. these images from gaza show the aftermath.

they're the heaviest airstrikes that israel has carried out on gaza since last august. when it came, israel's promised retaliation hit the gaza strip hard. the military says it struck targets linked to the palestinian militant group hamas. it blames hamas, which governs here, of not only firing rockets at israel from gaza, but also for yesterday's barrage launched from lebanon. overnight, there were more gazan rockets, most intercepted by israel's defence system. and this morning, after the bombardment, palestinians spoke of a frightening night. translation: my daughters| were crying, and one fainted. that's what happened. i looked around, and everything was destroyed. i checked my vehicle, and it was destroyed. in lebanon too, locals inspected the damage after three israeli strikes

near a palestinian refugee camp. this was one of over 30 rockets fired from lebanon a day ago. israel brought down most of the barrage. in its response, it has been wary of drawing in powerful lebanese militants. it's a multidimensional threat, and there is no one organisation or one enemy here. we are focused on our enemy and don't want to escalate with hezbollah at this point. we are focused on hamas, who are a predominant force here. this week, violent scenes inside jerusalem's al—aqsa mosque caused outrage across the middle east during the holy month of ramadan. israeli police said they raided the prayer hall after what they called agitators barricaded themselves inside. palestinians threw fireworks and distressing videos emerged on social media, showing officers beating people in the mosque. today, thousands of muslims headed

to friday prayers at al—aqsa. it's often a flashpoint for troubles. the third holiest place in islam is also the holiest place forjewish people, who call it temple mount and celebrate passover this week. nearby in the old city, christians from around the world joined the good friday procession. as the three religions which hold this ancient city sacred marked their own holidays, tensions remain dangerously high, and once again, there has been proof that what happens here can quickly have an impact across the wider region. for now, all eyes remained fixed onjerusalem. let's return to that breaking news — the s club 7 star paul cattermole has died at the age of 46.

let's talk to music journalist matt charlton. it is always a when somebody from youth culture especially dies, and at such a young age. and with a few weeks ago, perhaps a month or so ago, we were all doing this very light—hearted joyful story about the s club seven reunion, whichjust sparked so many reunions and so many people back poo their youth, and had the whole of social media talking about it, and only a few weeks later, we are talking about this, thatis later, we are talking about this, that is very shocking.— that is very shocking. remind viewers, people _ that is very shocking. remind viewers, people will- that is very shocking. remind viewers, people will be - that is very shocking. remind - viewers, people will be shocking, how big was this band in their heyday? how big was this band in their he da ? ., , , ,., , how big was this band in their heda? ., , , , heyday? one of the biggest pop bands ofthe heyday? one of the biggest pop bands of the early notice, _ heyday? one of the biggest pop bands of the early notice, it _ heyday? one of the biggest pop bands of the early notice, it was _ heyday? one of the biggest pop bands of the early notice, it was one - heyday? one of the biggest pop bands of the early notice, it was one of - of the early notice, it was one of the first sort of things since... i

guess the monkees, river, a band launched as part of the children's tv show, hijinks and putting music to it, and they were a result of simon fuller be fired from the spice girls, and the rumour as it actually stands for simon's club. they were a big group, selling the type of units that you could not contemplate these days for a pop group, and then paul was actually the first to leave in 2002, trying to form his own credible band, i think it was a ska punk band or something like that, but that did not really work out and a few of them got back together a few years ago. figs a few of them got back together a few years age-— a few of them got back together a few years ago. as you are talking we have a picture _ few years ago. as you are talking we have a picture of— few years ago. as you are talking we have a picture of recent _ few years ago. as you are talking we have a picture of recent times - few years ago. as you are talking we have a picture of recent times of- have a picture of recent times of polecat all of course with his fellow band members —— a picture of paul cattermole. a statement from

his family, there are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss that we all feel, we are so lucky to have had him in our lives and thankfulfor have had him in our lives and thankful for the have had him in our lives and thankfulfor the amazing have had him in our lives and thankful for the amazing memories we have —— a statement from the band. he will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. we ask that you respect the privacy of the family at this time. as you are saying earlier, it is incredible, because weeks ago, they had announced that the band was reforming, there had been so many bumps along the way, but they had got together again for this reunion tour.— this reunion tour. absolutely, they have not this reunion tour. absolutely, they have got back _ this reunion tour. absolutely, they have got back together _ this reunion tour. absolutely, they have got back together in - this reunion tour. absolutely, they have got back together in different traditions over the years, as i said they tried to get a version with three of them going in 2008, but they never quite got all seven back together until now, and with the announcement last month, i think it was, it was met with greatjoy, its just took people back to what feels

like a more innocent time, and the feeling that a pop band like that could not really happen these days, somehow, it is all about the solo acts and credibility, and credibility and s club 7, as much as people love them, you could never use those two things together, but it is just a joyful thing, because it is just a joyful thing, because it was pure pop music, and it put a smile on people's faces. you it was pure pop music, and it put a smile on people's faces.— smile on people's faces. you talk about putting _ smile on people's faces. you talk about putting a — smile on people's faces. you talk about putting a smile _ smile on people's faces. you talk about putting a smile on - smile on people's faces. you talk| about putting a smile on people's faces as we go to pictures of the group, and that is actually what is evident from all of these pictures, the smile and all of their faces, pull on our screen at the moment, it is such a tight unit, seven of them, but of course, when you have such fame at such an early age, all that touring, it can also have problems along the way, but essentially it was such a tight unit, wasn't it?

you'll always hear stories about pop bands and how salad goes when the screaming stopped, took name it bros documentary. but this was seven stage school kids, some from the brits, something elsewhere, who were just chopped together, and i was a chemistry, which will not necessarily follow when you put people like that together, but it did work really well. you had your different personalities, who are actual introduced in the first song as well, i think it was s club party. but the big one that will stick around weddings and school discos for years as reach, that is the one that will probably last. we will leave it there, thank you for those thoughts as we discuss the

news that has come into us of the death of reach star —— s club 7 star paul cattermole at the age of 46. we will bring any more news on that to you here on the bbc. let's cross live to vatican city, where pope francis will lead a celebration of the lord's passion easter mass at st peter's basilica. so much concern in recent days over the health of the pope and that hospital stay, the health of the pope and that hospitalstay, but the health of the pope and that hospital stay, but he is there overseeing this easter mass at st peter's, and we will keep an eye on proceedings there, and there you see the magnificent settings as that mass gets under way, the pope recovering from that bronchitis of last week, spending three nights in

hospital, but there you see live pictures coming to us from vatican city. police in northern ireland have warned that some dissident republicans could try to provoke street violence over the easter weekend. the country is marking the 25th anniversary since the signing of the good friday agreement, which largely ended 30 years of sectarian violence. hundreds of extra police have been brought in for events which culminate with a visit to belfast by us president joe biden on wednesday. a quarter of a century after that agreement was struck, political tensions remain in northern ireland. so what does the generation born since the good friday agreement make of the era of peace? emma vardy has been to meet some of them. northern ireland's peace generation have grown up in a place unrecognisable from its past. many people born after the conflict have seen little of the dark times that came before them. we've come to show them some of the tv news archives of the place they call home.

explosion. it's hard to believe that's what life was like and how different it is now. i still am like, but how did that happen? why did that happen? to commemorate and pay tribute to the volunteers of _ the irish republican army. the sectarian conflict between protestant and catholic communities shaped the lives of previous generations. republican armed groups carried out a bombing campaign to try to force northern ireland to give up its status as part of the uk, and catholic communities came under attack from loyalists. seeing some of the footage of like the ira men, that's so bizarre to me, because it's not something i ever experienced. applause. in 1998, when once bitter political enemies signed the good friday agreement, it was a major turning point. there you are.

many may disagree, but i feel that we have come so far- in such a short period of time. although the conflict is in the past, some sense of division is still passed down. while 25 year olds today had a vastly different experience growing up in northern ireland from their parents, it's clear the so—called peace generation still feel some of the old tensions that live on. you do get an inherited trauma. you know that i, as a catholic, can't go to a protestant area. why do those beliefs still exist? your community. your family. because they grew up with it. and although the conflict has shaped large parts of the way northern ireland works today, many young people have had little formal education about their recent history. i have never learned about the troubles in my entire, | you know, education, i like, in terms of school. like i would say i was quite . sectarian when i was younger and, you know, that was brought from my family _ so how would you rate the success of the good friday agreement? i would say it was successful - in terms of ending the violence, but we still _ have segregated housing.

we still have segregated schooling, i and our politics is still divided. . 71.12%. cheering. there's little doubt those who voted for the agreement in 1998 created a better future for their children. but today, northern ireland's power—sharing government set up by the accord, often collapses over disputes between the parties. can your generation make northern ireland a better place? i hope so. yeah. i think there is potential there for northern ireland to be more united. when political figures mark the anniversary of the good friday agreement in the coming days, and its legacy, they too will do so in recognition that this isn't the end of the story. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. what do i like about myjob?

everything. i love the fact that i work in a place full of so many interesting, intelligent and innovative people. i love the fact that when i come into work, i know that i'm going to tell a story, or many stories, to viewers both in the uk and around the globe, and i know how important that is in the age that we're living in. i also love the fact that i get to speak to so many different people every day and get them to tell me their stories. as a chief presenter here at the bbc, it's myjob to be across what's happening. so in the morning, i get up and the first thing i do is look at what's happening in the papers digitally. i come into work and i talk everything through with my team. through the day, i'm listening to podcasts, listening to what's happening on the radio and watching, i have to say, some of the competition as well sometimes. i think it's important for people like us to be across what is happening in the news, because we're the ones who you are relying on to give you the full facts. you're live with bbc news.

escaping from north korea has always been perilous. but the country's leader kimjong—un made it harder during the covid outbreak, by all but sealing it meant the number of people making it to south korea has plunged from around 1,000 a year to just 67 last year. our correspondentjean mackenzie spoke to one of last known people to escape before the border was closed. there are days song—mi still doesn't believe she's living with her mother. what she has endured to be here made it seem like this day would never come. song—mi was four years old when her mother tried to escape north korea, with her strapped to her chest. her mother was caught and sent to prison. when she was released, she decided to escape again, this time alone.

song—mi was left with her grandparents, but shortly after, they died, leaving song—mi to fend for herself. translation: i made a living by foraging for herbs - in the mountains and selling them. i was just trying to survive for the day without starving to death. it would take years before song—mi's mother was able to arrange her daughter's own treacherous escape across the river to china. translation: before you cross the river, i you're supposed to be scared. the river is deep and the current is strong. we could have died. but the thought of getting to my mother felt like i was throwing away a heavy burden and flying away. after 14 years apart, the pair have reunited in south korea. but song—mi has never asked her mother why she left — until now.

translation: l was nine - when you came back from prison. why did you escape then? translation: i'd wanted to bring you with me at first, _ but the broker said no children. if we got caught, both of us would have suffered again, so i asked your grandparents to watch you for a year. but much more time has passed. translation: i see. translation: i knew the morning she left. | i rememberjust lying in bed, crying. what would you like to say to your daughter? what would you like her to know? translation: i want to say that i didn't abandon you. _ i made a choice to leave first, to give you a better life.

this choice might seem unthinkable, but these are the lengths people must go to to escape north korea, and it's only getting tougher. jean mackenzie, bbc news, in seoul. breaking news from moscow, being reported on a couple of the agencies, afp and also reuters news, that the us reporter if i'm gushing that the us reporter if i'm gushing that has been formally charged with spying in russia.

—— evan gershkovich. the wall street journal reporter has been charged under article 276 of the criminal code of the russian federation, so thatis code of the russian federation, so that is a very interesting, of course the wall streetjournal reporter categorically denies the accusation, but he was lifted as he went on a trip outside of moscow, his colleague not hearing from him, raising the alarm, and then the first pictures emerging of evan clearly being detained by the russian authorities, and the fear will be that with the war in ukraine that he was being used by some sort of political pawn, that was always the worry, and now charges following both the arrest and of course all of those concerns. worth reporting that the afp news agency and writers by

supporting the same story, that the us journalist evan gershkovich has been charged with espionage. as family originally from russia, but was brought up in the us, was fascinated by his background, his culture, so had gone back and reported for years there on the ground in russia, was quite aware of the variety of risks, but was determined to stay there to actually report the story through the course of the last 12 months of this war, but are where all the time of the pressures on journalists and others reporting what of course vladimir putin describes as his special operation. we will try to get more on this from our teams in moscow and also in the us, in terms of the wall streetjournal. we will try to get reaction from them. the state

department that has been looking at this over the last few days with increasing concern, antony blinken certainly looking at exactly this case, and ourjournalists in our washington bureau, saw all of our resources will be chasing to bring you the latest lines on that news that the us journalist has been charged with espionage. more on that as it comes in. just as initial reports at the moment, but half an hour or so, we broke the news here of the british pop band s club 7, one of their stars paul cattermole dying at the age of 46. laura is in the newsroom with more. sex, dying at the age of 46. laura is in the newsroom with more.- the newsroom with more. a real shock, 46 _ the newsroom with more. a real shock. 46 year _ the newsroom with more. a real shock, 46 year paul _ the newsroom with more. a real shock, 46 year paul cattermolel the newsroom with more. a real - shock, 46 year paul cattermole died unexpectedly at his home in dorset yesterday. his s club 7 bandmates have described his passing as, well, they say there are no words to

describe their loss. the deep sense of sadness that they feel. they say they are so lucky to have had him in their lives, and they are thankful for the amazing memories they have. they put that statement on social media a short while ago. his family have also done the same, have said it was tremendous sadness they announce the unexpected passing of their beloved son and brother paul. they say that he was found dead in his home yesterday. this comes, will be aware, a big reunion tour was scheduled to happen later this year, where s club 7 were getting back together after 25 years, doing 11 different dates across the uk and ireland, performing a bit much loved hits like reach, bring it all back, never had a dream come true and don't stop moving. it was the first time of the band getting back

together in full, much excitement from fans as well as the band members. the band were much loved at the time and just as much now. his friends and family and fellow bandmates within s club 7 have asked for their privacy to be respected at this time. . . for their privacy to be respected at this time. ., ., ., , ., this time. laura, worth seeing for an one this time. laura, worth seeing for anyone watching _ this time. laura, worth seeing for anyone watching around - this time. laura, worth seeing for anyone watching around the - this time. laura, worth seeing for. anyone watching around the world, people in this country will of course know all about s club 7, but perhaps those around the world will not realise just how big they were in their time.— not realise just how big they were in their time. , ., ,., , in their time. they were a huge pop resence. in their time. they were a huge pop presence. their _ in their time. they were a huge pop presence. their hits _ in their time. they were a huge pop presence. their hits were _ in their time. they were a huge pop presence. their hits were much - presence. their hits were much loved across the generations, and it is those sums which now if you are out, you still hear the tunes, which take you still hear the tunes, which take you back to the original hits 25 years ago, oftenjust you back to the original hits 25 years ago, often just as popular today. they were known as being very positive, they were loved by children, teenagers, adults, and thatis children, teenagers, adults, and that is still very much the case

now. former band—mate rachel stevens, who also went on to have her own solo career, described the music as being very positive and joyful, and that sums up very nicely what the band achieved, and the great sadness that one of its key members has now passed away. laura, thanks very much _ members has now passed away. laura, thanks very much for _ members has now passed away. laura, thanks very much for taking _ members has now passed away. laura, thanks very much for taking us - thanks very much for taking us through all of that. before we take a break, worth turning to that important bit of breaking news coming to us from moscow, the news that the us journalist evan gershkovich has been charged, apparently, with espionage, with spying under article 276 of the criminal code of the russian federation. he of course was arrested at the tail end of last month. a lot of concern when he was initially detained by the intelligence services last month. they accused him of attempting to obtain secret information, he of course denies that, as does his

employer at the wall streetjournal. employer at the wall street journal. news employer at the wall streetjournal. news that he has been charged with spying, news that he has been charged with spying, the worst fears coming to fruition. we will try to get the latest on that major breaking news from moscow and also washington. stay with us. some sunny spells, but some cloud and rain arriving later in the weekend. on the other satellite picture, you can see a lot of cloud has been working in the north sea, some of that now ruling on land, and out towards the west, frontal systems waiting in the atlantic which will eventually bring some outbreaks of rain. as we go through tonight, we will see more of this cloud rolling and across eastern scotland and eastern england, and at the same time, some fog patches could develop through parts of the

midlands and down into south—east england. elsewhere, some clear spells which will allow temperatures to drop. we will get quite close to freezing in places, some of us will see a touch of frost to start saturday morning. on balance, saturday morning. on balance, saturday still a fine —looking day, some spells of sunshine, but more cloud across parts of eastern scotland and eastern england. i think that cloud will tend to retreat towards the north sea coast, but where the cloud does linger, it will make it feel rather cool, temperate as in aberdeen may be on the getting to around eight celsius. further west, the getting to around eight celsius. furtherwest, highs the getting to around eight celsius. further west, highs of 15 or 16, but more cloud in to northern ireland, a very weakfrontal more cloud in to northern ireland, a very weak frontal system that could bring the odd spot of rain during saturday night. into sunday, here comes another weather front, this one with a bit more energy about it. so we will certainly see the clouds thickening up across northern ireland, some rain here by the afternoon. perhaps eventually into western scotland, west wales, the far south—west of england. ahead of that, some spells of sunshine, areas of cloud, but will be strengthening southerly breeze, it will feel warm.

temperatures could get as high as 16 or 17 celsius. through sunday night, this frontal system pushes eastwards, ticking outbreaks of rain with it. ithink eastwards, ticking outbreaks of rain with it. i think the most persistent rain will mainly be confined to the overnight hours, but some will linger in eastern england for a time on monday morning, could be quite a wet day across the northern isles. elsewhere, sunny spells but also showers, some of which could be heavy, possibly with some hail and some thunder, and some slightly lower temperatures, typically between ten and 15 celsius. as we head deeper into next week, quite a change, some spells of rain and the chance of gales.

live from london, this is bbc news. two israeli women have been killed in an attack in the occupied west bank. earlier, israel launched air strikes on gaza and lebanon, calling it retaliation for several dozen hamas rockets fired at israel. the s club 7 singer paul cattermole has died at the age of 46 — weeks after the british band announced a comeback tour. the last edition of sir david attenborough�*s wildlife series airs on sunday, we speak to the producer behind these breathtaking scenes.