live from london. this is bbc news. we start in moscow where a court has, as expected, rejected the appeal against the pre—trial detention of the us journalist, evan gershkovich. police investigating the finances of the scottish national party arrest colin beatty. two men arrested in new york for allegedly operating a chinese secret police station. and the kindness of strangers, an afghan musician who fled the taliban gifted and antique violin by a stranger in the us.

welcome to bbc news. we start in moscow, were a court has as i expected rejected the appeal of the us match one. evan gershkovich. evan gershkovich. have a look at these images of evan gershkovich appearing in court. the russian authorities accuse him of spying, charges which he and his employer, the wall streetjournal, strongly deny. he appeared at the same court where yesterday an opponent of president putin was convicted of treason and sentenced to 25 years in prison. here's our russia editor, steve rosenberg. this was the first time evan gershkovich had been seen in public since being arrested. the wall streetjournal reporter was appealing his detention. the appeal was rejected. he's the first western journalist here to be charged with spying since the cold war, a charge that he, his

newspaper and his government categorically reject. the charges against evan are baseless, and we call on the russian federation to immediately release him. a rare glimpse inside the prison where the american journalist is being held. a russian tv documentary went inside the jail 20 years ago. it's notorious for the sense of isolation. evan gershkovich�*s lawyer told me what's helping him get through this. he received a lot of letters and he tried to respond to these letters and he's very glad to such a huge support from everybody. the us government has now officially classified evan gershkovich as wrongfully detained. that means that back at america his case has been taken up by the us special envoy for hostage affairs who will try to secure his release. experience shows it won't be easy. ex us marine paul whelan has spent more than four years

behind bars in russia. america calls him wrongfully detained too, but he's still here. last year to free basketball star brittney griner, here on the left, washington agreed to a swap trading her for convicted russian arms dealer, viktor bout. but now a us journalist is in a moscowjail. what do russian officials make of that? are you worried that this once again will affect russia's international reputation? this journalist is seen as a hostage now. he's not a hostage. and i'm sure that russia's reputation will not suffer greatly from this particular case. locked away here. all evan gershkovich can do is wait and hope forfreedom. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. mikhail kasyanov is a former

russian prime minister who served under president putin, and since 2015, he has served as the leader of the political opposition party, people's freedom party. i began by asking him about his thoughts about recent events in president putin's russia. oh, that's development. development, which expected to a certain extent, but not to such an extent, like 25 years on, a strict regime prison for vladimir kara—murza for criticism. and he was blamed as a high treason. but unfortunately, unfortunately, that that is the i would say, the making fear among people. of course, will not see it for 25 years because i'm sure putin's regime will not exist, but not last fought for for more than five years. but today there is repression.

like in stalin's time, mr putin started to undertake just the last the last efforts to to keep people under fear so that to manipulate by them and to continue this bloody war against ukraine. why do you think he wants to create this environment of fear and silence his critics? yeah. because it's already evident that people started to realise that they live already eight years or maybe already nine years in a row just with the decrease incomes. life is being changed considerably. and middle class people in the big cities just completely understood what putin is about and what this war against the nation. and that's why we have almost a million people already immigrated during this year,

during when putin started full scale invasion of ukraine. and vladimir was one of the just vocal critics inside russia and outside. and just to make an example, another, let's say the high, just fear, to say high fear, among people. that is important, especially for for political activists. i mean, most most opposition leaders and critics of vladimir putin are either dead, they're in exile or they're injail. do you worry about your safety? yes, absolutely. that's why i also, i also left russia in march last year. vladimirjust was in moscow in april. he didn't left russia and was taken and then was detained

and nowjust convicted. that's what we'll see. just that's demonstration for all people, not only for us who are abroad, but also for those who in russia who continue just somehowjust be brave enough and to protest against the war against putin's regime and all those all all those hostilities undertaken every day, just human rights violations inside russia. have there been specific threats against you? oh, that was just when i was in russia that there was a specific threat. but when the war started, there was no specific threat on this month. just i managed to, to, to leave russia just without that. but before that, of course, i had that. and you, of course, served as putin's prime minister for four years. where do you look at putin today in comparison to the time when you served as his prime minister? do you recognise the man? i've served as a prime minister 22 years ago. it was, i was the first prime minister of putin's. but putin just suddenly appeared to be he won elections,

but it was the only elections he won at that time with the score of 51. all others were just a fake, fake, just imitation of elections. and at that time, putin was a completely different person. he supported all initiatives. my cabinet initiated all those reforms. and we managed to put russia on the growth, on a trend of sustainable growth. and that time there was just, i would say, the bright future people thought, and middle class business, business development, business community started to develop, and we had an economic growth, 6, 7% of gdp growth per year. and it was just a bright time. but later, putin completely changed. he changed or or he was always the man we see today. from today perspective, i thinkjust that in my time putin pretend to be democratically devoted person and the leader

of the country. and president yeltsin, who nominated him as a candidate and supported in his election, also believes that putin was devoted to democratic principles, but appeared to be that we were all, were wrong. and those people who voted for him in the year 2000 and now he became a natural kgb agent with those, i would say, just completely different, different view, worldview, distorted worldview. when we look at what's happened to vladimir karamurza and we also see the detention of an american journalist, the first time since an american journalist has been held in this way since the cold war, as you say, a climate of fear is being created. where does this leave russia's opposition movements? yeah. right now, just unfortunate, i have to say that there is no opposition movements inside russia. but as you correctly mentioned, just some people, just in jail, some people of political leaders,

activists just abroad. and right now, right now, just it is absolutely clear that changes in russia couldn't bejust take place because of protests of russian people, russian people just on the fear. and just, they cannot protest. but putin's military defeat on the battlefield could... are you are you in touch with anyone within putin's inner circle? i'm not in touch these years. but anyone who is in a position of power, do they express any kind of concern to you about the direction and trajectory in which russia is going? i have information from different sources, from people who live in russia and who has access to some information that helps me to formulate just potential models of power transfer in the future. but i have no direct contacts with the people

who are in the power position, as you expressed. and those sources. what are they saying about the situation? that's what i'm saying. the situation is such that the trigger for changes would be definitely when putin would be seen by people, by russian people, and just people in inner circle in so called vertical of power people. putin will be seen as a poor leader. he will be defeated on the battlefield. in this case, they will not see him as a successful leader, but as a fanatic, just blinded by his impunity. i asked our russian editor for his take on these comments. a heartbreaking tale, really of how russia ended up where it is now when its troops are accused of committing

horrible crimes in ukraine. and people mostly outside of russia are asking, what are normal ordinary russians doing quest mark why are they protesting. anyone who posed a realistic challenge to putin is either in jail, realistic challenge to putin is either injail, or in exile, or dead. so protesting in russia, even speaking out in russia, or speaking to your friends speaking out in russia, or speaking to yourfriends and speaking out in russia, or speaking to your friends and relatives privately, saying anything critical about the government to them, that comes at a very hefty price. . we comes at a very hefty price. , we saw in a statement _ comes at a very hefty price. , we saw in a statement that - comes at a very hefty price. , we saw in a statement that vladimir made last week saying this is stalin era sort of show trial that we are seeing, and the same kind of draconian rules and regulations being imposed.— draconian rules and regulations being imposed. indeed, historians lookinu being imposed. indeed, historians lookin: at being imposed. indeed, historians looking at what's _

being imposed. indeed, historians looking at what's happening - being imposed. indeed, historians looking at what's happening in - looking at what's happening in russia now. but they have a terrible sense of deja vu. these enormously long sentences imposed on accusations of spying and treason, and various other totally stalinist practices that are making a comeback in russia. . for example the practice of reporting each other to the authorities, neighbours, friends, relatives, parents reporting their children to the authorities. probably allegedly offence of discrediting the russian armed forces. there have been numerous cases of people going to jail or being fined because somebody they know reported them to the police. that's what happened under stalin as well.— stalin as well. letters are russian service editor. _ stalin as well. letters are russian service editor. vitali _ stalin as well. letters are russian service editor. vitali has - stalin as well. letters are russian | service editor. vitali has conducted an investigation which is on our website, into what has happened to the dissidents in russia. website, into what has happened

to the dissidents in russia. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. everyone loves a spitfire. here at heritage trying right big inhale, theyjust returned to their 15th spitfire to the air. recovered from an israeli kibbutz, much of the fuselage was still intact. i an israeli kibbutz, much of the fuselage was still intact.- fuselage was still intact. i find that there _ fuselage was still intact. i find that there is _ fuselage was still intact. i find that there is a _ fuselage was still intact. i find that there is a greater - fuselage was still intact. i find l that there is a greater challenge getting them back in the air than it is firing them. the getting them back in the air than it is firing them-— is firing them. the spitfire, of course. was _ is firing them. the spitfire, of course, was built _ is firing them. the spitfire, of course, was built with - is firing them. the spitfire, of course, was built with a - is firing them. the spitfire, of i course, was built with a purpose is firing them. the spitfire, of - course, was built with a purpose in mind. after the war, course, was built with a purpose in mind. afterthe war, many course, was built with a purpose in mind. after the war, many were scrapped, melted down. so to think that 82 years after the battle of britain that some are still here, and flying, is extraordinary. during the second world war, the pilots who flew these aeroplanes were typically straight from school. so in this hangar, in a corner of cans, another

slice of history has been restored. a piece of magic has been brought back to life. your live with bbc news. here in the uk. here in the uk. the treasurer of the scottish national party, colin beattie, has been arrested by police investigating the party's funding and finances. it comes two weeks after peter murrell, the snp's former chief executive who's married to nicola sturgeon, was arrested by officers who searched his home in glasgow and the party's headquarters in edinburgh. mr murrell was later released without charge, pending further investigation. 0ur scotland correspondentjamie cook has the latest. colin beattie is not a familiar face, but the man who was once an international banker was at the heart of the snp for two decades, holding the purse strings as the party soared in popularity and gained power. at around eight a:m., the msp for midlothian north and musselburgh was arrested here at his home in dalkeith

and taken into custody to be questioned as a suspect by detectives investigating the funding and finances of the snp. detail of that. another headache for the first minister. i can't comment on a live police investigation, but it's clearly a very serious matter indeed. have you suspended him from the party? him from the party or the group? i've said already that people are innocent until proven guilty. there's change that is needed within the way how the party is operated. i've made that absolutely clear. police had already been to the home of the party's former chief executive, peter muddle, the husband of nicola sturgeon. he was arrested and later released. 0n the same day, officers removed boxes from the snp's headquarters in edinburgh and seized a motorhome from outside a property in fife. so what led up to their inquiry? from 2017 to 2020, the snp raised nearly £667,000 to campaign for independence. questions arose when it emerged the party had just under £97,000

in the bank at the end of 2019. and injune 2021, mr muddle loaned the party around £107,000 of his own money. this house in dalkeith is the last building which humza yousaf wanted to be the focus of attention today. he has inherited a party in crisis, but he's also taken over a government facing immense challenges. and this afternoon, he set out how he intended to meet them. this government's work will be defined by three distinct and interdependent missions. those missions center on the principles of equality, opportunity and community, require us to tackle poverty, to build a fair, green and indeed a growing economy, and to improve our public services. they will be central to our efforts over the next three years to improve the lives of the people of scotland. the first questions were about something else. the first minister makes this statement today as scandal continues to engulf his party.

the snp is in total meltdown. it is pastime time humza yousaf tackled the scandal head on and proved to the scottish public that he has his own man instead of defending and deflecting from his predecessors, tarnished legacy. what humza yousaf can't escapel from is that he is not now running a functioning government. this is an snp that is mired i in scandal, mired in division, talking to themselves about themselves. i and the crisis that now engulfsl the snp is notjust an indication of how they govern their party, but also how they _ govern our country. whatever the outcome of colin beattie's arrest, in legal terms, this investigation is already having serious political implications. james cook, bbc news dalkeith. we've got some breaking news for you now from _ we've got some breaking news for you now from the — we've got some breaking news for you now from the united _ we've got some breaking news for you now from the united states. _ we've got some breaking news for you now from the united states. as you i now from the united states. as you know, _ now from the united states. as you know. we _ now from the united states. as you know. we have _ now from the united states. as you know, we have been _

now from the united states. as you know, we have been reporting - now from the united states. as you i know, we have been reporting about a young _ know, we have been reporting about a young black_ know, we have been reporting about a young black teenager, _ know, we have been reporting about a young black teenager, a _ know, we have been reporting about a young black teenager, a 16—year—old i young black teenager, a 16—year—old who was_ young black teenager, a 16—year—old who was critically _ young black teenager, a 16—year—old who was critically injured _ young black teenager, a 16—year—old who was critically injured when - young black teenager, a 16—year—old who was critically injured when he i who was critically injured when he was shot— who was critically injured when he was shot twice _ who was critically injured when he was shot twice in _ who was critically injured when he was shot twice in kansas - who was critically injured when he was shot twice in kansas city. - who was critically injured when he j was shot twice in kansas city. the 84-year-old _ was shot twice in kansas city. the 84-year-old man _ was shot twice in kansas city. 84—year—old man who has been was shot twice in kansas city— 84—year—old man who has been charged in the shooting of the black teenager is believed to have now surrendered to police. 2a hours after the actual shooting, the 84—year—old man was taken into police custody. his name is andrew lester. but then, he was released without charge on friday. but over the weekend, there was a lot of anger that was spreading in the community over the shooting of this teenage boy. this black teenager was 16 years old, ralph veale, who accidentally went to the wrong house. he buzzed on the door bell to try and pick up his siblings. but he actually went to the wrong home, and there's 84—year—old man shot him twice in the head. the 16—year—old

boy survived. he is believed to be in critical condition, but at home with his family now. and we have been told that the 84—year—old man who has been charged by police has now surrendered to police. that is in kansas city. that is in kansas city. let's get some of the day's other news here in the uk. new rules agreed by energy firms which limit the forced installation of pre—payment metres have been criticised by campaigners. fitting was stopped after it was revealed that agents were breaking into the homes of vulnerable people. the watchdog 0fgem has set up new rules by which people over 85 in england, wales and scotland will be protected, but campaigners are concerned that they are voluntary and don't go far enough. new figures show that the number of people looking for work has risen as job vacancies fall. in the three months to february, the unemployment rate was 3.8%, up from

3.7 the previous quarter. the figures from the office of national statistics also show that pay continues to rise, especially in the private sector, but not fast enough to keep up with price rises. now to the us, where prosecutors have arrested two men in new york for allegedly operating a chinese secret police station in manhattan's chinatown neighbourhood. 61—year—old lujianwang, pictured on the right, and 59—year—old chenjinping, pictured on the left, are both new york city residents, and face charges of conspiring to act as agents for china and obstruction ofjustice. earlier i spoke to a centre fellow for the study of international studies on stanford university. she focuses on chinese policy. firstly, i asked doctor arianna maestro whether she was aware of these

chinese police stations operating. have a listen.— have a listen. there was a report that came _ have a listen. there was a report that came out — have a listen. there was a report that came out about _ have a listen. there was a report that came out about a _ have a listen. there was a report that came out about a year- have a listen. there was a report that came out about a year ago l have a listen. there was a report i that came out about a year ago that said there were a hundred of these stations operating around the world and over 200 chinese citizens have been persuaded to turn back to the mainland thanks to the topics that have been used. so this is not the first instance we have heard in something like this but that is the most specific one here in the united states. of course, they say there's mainly for administration reviewing driver's licence, things like that. but there is a lot of evidence that suggests that there are actually engaging in surveillance of chinese citizens, dissidents from the communist party, in the countries where they have the stations. and then harassing those individuals to convince them to come back. do we know the number _ convince them to come back. do we know the number of _ convince them to come back. do we know the number of people - convince them to come back. do we know the number of people who - convince them to come back. do we i know the number of people who have either been forced or encouraged to return quest mark 50 either been forced or encouraged to return quest marl— return quest mark so by some reporting. _ return quest mark so by some reporting, there _ return quest mark so by some reporting, there is _ return quest mark so by some reporting, there is upwards i return quest mark so by some reporting, there is upwards of return quest mark so by some - reporting, there is upwards of about 200,000 that to date have been course to attract. share 200,000 that to date have been course to attract.—

200,000 that to date have been course to attract. are we basically “ust sort course to attract. are we basically just sort of _ course to attract. are we basically just sort of scratching _ course to attract. are we basically just sort of scratching the - course to attract. are we basically just sort of scratching the tip - course to attract. are we basically just sort of scratching the tip of i just sort of scratching the tip of the iceberg your?— just sort of scratching the tip of the iceberg your? china uses often different means _ the iceberg your? china uses often different means for _ the iceberg your? china uses often different means for projecting - the iceberg your? china uses often| different means for projecting their power. in countries like united states. so we often don't recognise what they are doing, and when we do we often underestimate its effectiveness and at scale. it's not only these overseas police stations but china, for example, has been actively training the police forces of over 140 countries. while we track the joint exercises they might do with other natures, since that is a metric that the united state uses for influence, we aren't tracking these type of investigations are as closely since the united states does not engage in them.— not engage in them. joining us now is lower hearth. _ not engage in them. joining us now is lower hearth. laura, _ not engage in them. joining us now is lower hearth. laura, really- not engage in them. joining us now is lower hearth. laura, really good| is lower hearth. laura, really good to see you. again, we have spoken about this when you and your team broke the story months ago about the extent of chinese police stations and their operations across europe. yes, and thank you for having me back— yes, and thank you for having me hack on —

yes, and thank you for having me hack on we _ yes, and thank you for having me back on. we were obviously very happy, _ back on. we were obviously very happy, in — back on. we were obviously very happy, in a — back on. we were obviously very happy, in a way, to see these charges being brought forward in the us. seeing how some authorities at least in _ us. seeing how some authorities at least in some countries are recognising what is going on. i think— recognising what is going on. i think the — recognising what is going on. i think the other guest said it very clearly — think the other guest said it very clearly. this is only the tip of the iceberg — clearly. this is only the tip of the iceberg. these police stations are only the _ iceberg. these police stations are only the tip of the iceberg, but also _ only the tip of the iceberg, but also a — only the tip of the iceberg, but also a very— only the tip of the iceberg, but also a very brazen violation of territorial _ also a very brazen violation of territorial sovereignty. and i think a very— territorial sovereignty. and i think a very interesting starting point for a _ a very interesting starting point for a lot— a very interesting starting point for a lot of those countries that haven't — for a lot of those countries that haven't begun to investigate or to try and _ haven't begun to investigate or to try and counter the really impressive efforts of transnational repression that are coming from the people's _ repression that are coming from the people's republic of china. and if you allow— people's republic of china. and if you allow me, i can't help but say that i was— you allow me, i can't help but say that i was listening about this climate — that i was listening about this climate of political terror that is being _ climate of political terror that is being installed not only in russia but also — being installed not only in russia but also around the world. i think we are _ but also around the world. i think

we are releasing the same thing coming — we are releasing the same thing coming from the people's republic of china _ coming from the people's republic of china and _ coming from the people's republic of china. and so it is incredible to hear— china. and so it is incredible to hear those _ china. and so it is incredible to hear those parallels and it is actually— hear those parallels and it is actually very scary to know that so far when _ actually very scary to know that so far when it — actually very scary to know that so far when it comes to the overseas police _ far when it comes to the overseas police service stations, the us is the only— police service stations, the us is the only country that has actually brought _ the only country that has actually brought charges.— brought charges. which is what i wanted to come _ brought charges. which is what i wanted to come to, _ brought charges. which is what i wanted to come to, laura. - brought charges. which is what i wanted to come to, laura. we . brought charges. which is what i i wanted to come to, laura. we are seeing the us take action. and you have been on this programme talking about other countries who know and are aware of these police stations. but are you saying that there is sort of a lack of action on their part? sort of a lack of action on their art? a , , ., , sort of a lack of action on their art? a , ., , sort of a lack of action on their art? �* , ., , ., part? absolutely. so only looking at the olice part? absolutely. so only looking at the police stations, _ part? absolutely. so only looking at the police stations, we _ part? absolutely. so only looking at the police stations, we uncovered . the police stations, we uncovered 100 police service stations set up by public security bureaus in china, and close cooperation with the department. in addition, other people have mapped and flagged other kind of chinese service centres that have been set up, again by organisations linked to the united department over the years. so we are talking about massive operations. we are seeking increasingly some

countries, such as us but also canada, moving forward with credible investigations, talking about this very clearly in their messaging that this is illegal. at the same time, when it comes to europe, with the rare exception of some countries, thinking about the netherlands and germany, that seem to be taking it very seriously, i think were not seen the kind of response that one would hope. seen the kind of response that one would hope-— seen the kind of response that one would hoe. ., .,, ., ., ., ., would hope. that was laura harth and oriana skylar mastro _ would hope. that was laura harth and oriana skylar mastro speaking - would hope. that was laura harth and oriana skylar mastro speaking to - would hope. that was laura harth and oriana skylar mastro speaking to me | 0riana skylar mastro speaking to me earlier. we've got lots more coming up, including an update on the situation in sudan. hello. so far this month, the weather's been drier, sunny and warmer than average in scotland. and certainly for tuesday, there was loads more sunshine. look at this stunning weather watch picture from the argyll and bute area. for the second day in the run, highland scotland had the day's highest temperature,

up to 21 degrees. why is it so warm here at the moment? well, it's down to the scottish mountains. you see, it's quite windy for most parts of the uk, but those mountains high enough to block the winds. and so with lighter winds here, more of the sun's energy is used to boost temperatures, whereas in those places where it's quite windy, some of that sun's heat get mixed through a larger depth of the atmosphere. so, it never gets quite so warm. 0vernight tonight, we do have cloudy skies for england and wales, developing with an odd shower in the southwest, the clearer skies in scotland, that's where we'll see the lowest temperatures heading into wednesday. now, on the face of it, this high pressure stays in charge for at least the next couple of days. still, with the winds coming in from an easterly direction, however, there will be more in the way of cloud for england and wales on wednesday. an odd shower for the south west, the best of the sunshine in the morning in scotland and northern ireland. but increasingly, we should see sunshine developing elsewhere as we go through the afternoon. it will continue to feel quite chilly with the onshore winds across the east coast of scotland and northern ireland, the highest temperature in the west and again in the highlands.

temperatures should reach the high teens, if not the low 20s. now we have some slightly cooler air working in on thursday. again, it's going to be a largely dry day, but in the sunshine, i suppose, it will still feel ok if you're out of the wind. it is across the north sea coast where you'll continue to feel a certain chill due to those brisk and gusty onshore winds. beyond that, we start to see a change in the weather patterns through friday and the weekend. as pressure starts to fall, this area of low pressure will then develop, bringing outbreaks of rain. increasingly, that rain travels northwards into the weekend. so on friday, still sunny skies for scotland and for northern ireland. little overall change in the weather pattern here. but for england and wales, a much cloudier day with outbreaks of rain developing and with less sunshine. still those brisk winds and the rain, it looks like it's going to be quite a chilly day, just nine degrees in birmingham and ten for cardiff, but similar kind of weather and temperatures for northern ireland and scotland on into the weekend. rain does move northwards into scotland and northern ireland and then into next week,

quite cold for april. average temperatures 15 in london, it willjust be ten early next week.

live from london. this is bbc news a moscow court rejects an appeal by the american journalist — evan gershkovich — against his detention on spying charges. after at least 180 are killed in four days of fighting in sudan — a 24 hour ceasefire is meant to have begun ,

but will the rival militias respect the truce?