this is bbc news, the headlines. in an interview with the bbc the leader of sudan's paramilitary are sf denies firing the first shot and lays out his conditions for negotiations. pope francis is carrying out one of his most politically sensitive trips urging europe not to fall prey for populism. and our vigilante cow protection groups in india targeting muslim groups? stay tuned to find out more. welcome back, i'm yalda hakim. the chairman of the bbc richard sharp has announced he is resigning after admitting that he breached the british government's code for public appointments. the

report found that mr sharp failed to properly disclose his involvement in facilitating a loan of almost $1 million for the uk's former prime minister borisjohnson. this morning mr sharp released this statement. have a listen. missed to store's view is that while i did breach the government's code for government appointments he states very clearly that a breach does not necessarily invalidate an appointment. indeed, i have always maintained breach was inadvertent and not material which the facts he lays out substantially at —— mr heppinstall. the secretary of state consulted with the bbc board who support that view. nevertheless, i have decided that it is right to prioritise the interests of the bbc. i feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the corporation's good work where i had to remain in post until the end of my term. i

have therefore this morning resigned as the bbc chair to the secretary of state and to the board.— state and to the board. that's richard sharp. _ state and to the board. that's richard sharp. to _ state and to the board. that's richard sharp. to get - state and to the board. that's richard sharp. to get a - state and to the board. that'si richard sharp. to get a better state and to the board. that's - richard sharp. to get a better sense of what the role of the chairman is and why the bbc chairman is appointed by the prime minister, our analysis editor ros atkins explains. richard sharp's resignation raises questions for the bbc, for the government and about how power works in britain. thejob at government and about how power works in britain. the job at the centre of the story is an easy chair, the chair leads the bbc board which has to ensure the bbc delivers its commitments to the country and is tasked with upholding and protecting the independence of the bbc. appointing a bbc chair isn't for the bbc to do, it is a government decision. ultimately, a prime minister's decision. in 2021 it was borisjohnson who appointed richard sharp. but now mr sharp has resigned after breaching the rules of the appointment process. first he failed to declare that he had told boris johnson that he wanted the job

before he applied for it. the next issue also concerns mrjohnson. let's bring in a canadian millionaire called sam blyth. he wanted to offer the former prime ministerfinancial wanted to offer the former prime minister financial help with a loan guarantee. he asked his friend richard sharp if he could make a connection. to do that richard sharp spoke to the cabinet secretary, head of the civil service, simon case. mr sharp for that was sufficient disclosure. today's report found that it wasn't and as we have been hearing richard sharp say see now regrets not mentioning that conversation, and that oversight brought risks for the bbc because while the bbc didn't appoint richard sharp, director—generaltim davie has been vocal on impartiality. the story risked undermining that message and in the end it is worth emphasising that all of this has happened because of a failure to mention one conversation, not because the bbc chair is a long—time acquaintance of the prime minister who appointed him, not because the

bbc chair was a donor to the party, not because each bbc chair is chosen by the government of the day. for better or for worse this is all within the system. but there are renewed questions about whether it should be. that is our analysis editor ros atkins. earlier i spoke to our uk cut political correspondent rob watson and asked him why it matters for the bbc who is running it. fine for the bbc who is running it. one can't overstate — for the bbc who is running it. one can't overstate just _ for the bbc who is running it. (he: can't overstate just the for the bbc who is running it. (he: can't overstate just the role for the bbc who is running it. iez can't overstate just the role that britain plays in the sort of national life of the uk culturally, in terms of news, it is often used as a political football in this country. so it is hugely important here. and of course the reason why this matters is the allegation that has come, never mind the particular details of the case that you just went through, but somehow the problem for the bbc is that its critics would say, how could you really be impartial when you have a

chairman who has this close ties to the conservative party? that is entirely separate to this entire issue that has led to his resignation. that is the charge. the bbc as you know would say this is completely unfair in the sense that the chairman of the bbc is not like an editor in chief, richard sharp doesn't tell you or me what to say, he doesn't determine the running orders of our programmes, and i think the bbc would also make the case, no doubt mr sharp would, that evenif case, no doubt mr sharp would, that even if you have had past political contacts and other chairmen have had past political like us, the non—executives, the sort of senior figures, are also supposed to leave any political beliefs and don that cloak of impartiality, if i could put it, when they get in. it is sort ofthe put it, when they get in. it is sort of the values _ put it, when they get in. it is sort of the values and _ put it, when they get in. it is sort of the values and ethos _ put it, when they get in. it is sort of the values and ethos and - put it, when they get in. it is sort of the values and ethos and what | put it, when they get in. it is sort - of the values and ethos and what the organisation prides itself on, that it leaves all of that at the door and we walk in and we are impartial,

essentially, in terms of everything we represent. essentially, in terms of everything we represent-_ essentially, in terms of everything we represent-— essentially, in terms of everything we represent. yes, that's the whole idea, the we represent. yes, that's the whole idea. the bbc's _ we represent. yes, that's the whole idea, the bbc's number— we represent. yes, that's the whole idea, the bbc's number one - idea, the bbc's number one selling point, both here in the uk and globally, we don't take sides, that is what is meant by impartiality, that we say things which are sometimes unpleasant to powerful people, and governments, that we simply don't care. the concern which has been shared by some senior figures, most of it privately, is that even if nothing is particularly gone wrong in this case involving mr sharp, it is the issue of perception, that as some colleagues would say, itjust doesn't look good that people would think i'm in a minute, is the head of the bbc are conservative? kind of restating that mr sharp would strongly dispute that, and the bbc would say that was entirely unfair that he is not editor in chief and whatever happens those of us at the bbc doing the

sort of day to dayjobs get on with our impartialjob, a little bit of a plea for what we do there! it is exactly that — plea for what we do there! it is exactly that what _ plea for what we do there! it is exactly that what you just said, it is perception. that leads me to the question of how much damage all of this has done to the organisation. it is notjust about this has done to the organisation. it is not just about this this has done to the organisation. it is notjust about this incident. it is notjust about this incident. i mentioned the gary lineker row as well, that was almost like the final straw with this whole saga. it is difficult to _ straw with this whole saga. it is difficult to measure _ straw with this whole saga. it 3 difficult to measure these things but i suppose if you had to turn to something there was a survey of trust done by a polling organisation in this country by yougov injanuary and the bad news for the bbc is that trust in the bbc has gone down since the last time it was measured. but on the other hand the good news is that we are still far more trusted than any other news organisation in this country and the trust in the

bbc stands up pretty well around the world. so absolutely no cause for complacency. but clearly issues like mr sharp and others, you mentioned gary lineker, do present a challenge, there is something else that transcends all of this, and that transcends all of this, and thatis that transcends all of this, and that is that we live, notjust in this country but obviously around the world, in an increasingly polarised world where people have very strong feelings, partly motivated by social media. so in many ways the bbc's impartiality, if you have very strong views about stuff we don't look impartial, right? if you have a strong feeling about donald trump, about brexit, about donald trump, about brexit, about russia, about ukraine, then the impartiality of the beast bbc looks partial so these are all sorts of challenges. i’m looks partial so these are all sorts of challenges— of challenges. i'm being told to move on but — of challenges. i'm being told to move on but i _ of challenges. i'm being told to move on but i want _ of challenges. i'm being told to move on but i want to - of challenges. i'm being told to move on but i want to squeeze | of challenges. i'm being told to i move on but i want to squeeze in this question because it does raise all of those questions about democracy and legacy media, and its

role in this ever—changing landscape. —— impartiality of the bbc. seeing as we are pressed for time i'm going to refer to one of the survey done by the reuters institute here in oxford which suggests here in the uk and around the world there is a market, people do want news which is impartial and which is balanced and fair. that was rob watson. the pope has begun a three—day official visit to hungary are seen as one of the more politically sensitive trips of his career. here he is meeting with hungary's prime minister viktor orban. in his first major speech in budapest pope francis warned of the dangers of nationalism and called for a more welcoming attitude to refugees. that is in stark contrast to the hungarian prime minister viktor orban who is often criticised immigration to europe. live to budapest and we can speak to edward habsburg, the ambassador of hungary

to and has been following his visit. thank you forjoining us. you have been with the pope, i've been following your twitter account, tell us about some of the highlights. it was very exciting. you could feel palpably that the pope really likes the hungarians, you could tell by the hungarians, you could tell by the way he greeted us and to buy the things he said and he got a very warm welcome here and he gave an incredible speech to a packed house full of hungarian politicians with viktor orban, and our president. . the first one in three long days he will spend with the first one in three long days he will spend with us in budapest. what it is say to viktor orban? i can only tell you what he said when he spoke to the political

representatives of the country. he said he had a very nice vision of europe of nations coming together again, who spoke about hungary's family politics and how much he praised that, our helpful christians and ukrainian refugees, and he spoke about hungary in a beautiful way, and at the end of the speech he said... ., .,, and at the end of the speech he said... ., ., ., said... there are those, ambassador, who believe — said... there are those, ambassador, who believe this _ said... there are those, ambassador, who believe this is _ said... there are those, ambassador, who believe this is a _ said... there are those, ambassador, who believe this is a gift _ said. .. there are those, ambassador, who believe this is a gift for— who believe this is a gift for viktor orban. given his anti—immigration policies, he also been at times viewed as being pro—putin, that this trip by the pope is very much a gift for viktor orban. i pope is very much a gift for viktor orban. ., ., , ., orban. i feel that the pope wanted to come to — orban. i feel that the pope wanted to come to hungary _ orban. i feel that the pope wanted to come to hungary a _ orban. i feel that the pope wanted to come to hungary a long - orban. i feel that the pope wanted to come to hungary a long time i orban. i feel that the pope wanted | to come to hungary a long time and orban. i feel that the pope wanted i to come to hungary a long time and i feel he didn't want to make viktor orban a gift, he wanted to meet the hungarians. but i have to say on

some topics the holy see and hungary are very close to each other on some topics and that doesn't exclude other topics one has slightly different views on details for instance migration policy. there has been a lot of— instance migration policy. there has been a lot of criticism _ instance migration policy. there has been a lot of criticism of _ instance migration policy. there has been a lot of criticism of viktor - been a lot of criticism of viktor orban�*s policies towards refugees, the pope went to see some refugees today from syria and afghanistan. europe wide there has been criticism in terms of how hungary has dealt with refugees. you spoke about the ukrainians but i'm talking about syrians and various other groups, and you've been at the centre of this because you were appointed in the holy see in 2015 which was when the migration crisis began and which is when hungary closed its doors to those refugees arriving. yes. is when hungary closed its doors to those refugees arriving.— those refugees arriving. yes, 'ust before i was �* those refugees arriving. yes, 'ust before i was nominated �* those refugees arriving. yes, just i before i was nominated ambassador and went to rome i was present in budapest and helped with the

refugees and migrants coming to hungary so i had a very close view of the topic. hungary is very clear in its position. we accept refugees, like for instance, the 1.1 million refugees from ukraine that fled across the border from the war. these are legitimate refugees. hungary has a problem with illegal migrants, and in 2015 about 10,000 illegal migrants cross the border. there were many fleeing the syrian war, for example.— war, for example. absolutely true and every refugee _ war, for example. absolutely true and every refugee has _ war, for example. absolutely true and every refugee has a _ war, for example. absolutely true and every refugee has a right - war, for example. absolutely true and every refugee has a right to i and every refugee has a right to asylum but in that case there was an open border, and also the outer border of the schengen area. and while the european countries criticised us for closing our border, at the same time they told us to protect the outer border of the schengen area because whoever gets into the schengen area without a passport can move everywhere. so hungary makes a distinction. mould

hungary makes a distinction. would ou assa , hungary makes a distinction. would you assay, fundamentally, - hungary makes a distinction. would you assay, fundamentally, in - hungary makes a distinction. would you assay, fundamentally, in terms| you assay, fundamentally, in terms of values the pope of�*s values differ from viktor orban's? i of values the pope of's values differ from viktor orban's? i think the poe differ from viktor orban's? i think the pope is— differ from viktor orban's? i think the pope is a _ differ from viktor orban's? i think the pope is a man _ differ from viktor orban's? i think the pope is a man with _ differ from viktor orban's? i think the pope is a man with many - differ from viktor orban's? i think i the pope is a man with many shades and fine distinction and his very close to viktor orban's ideas on many points, you'd be surprised how many, and in others he is slightly different. the clearest sign of that was at the end of his speech, the entire room stood up and cheered and erupted in cheers for the pope said so it can't have been a very strong criticism of hungarian politics. ambassador eduard habsburg, thank you forjoining us on the programme. thank you very much.— thank you very much. around the world and across _ thank you very much. around the world and across the _ thank you very much. around the world and across the uk, - thank you very much. around the world and across the uk, this - thank you very much. around the world and across the uk, this is l thank you very much. around the i world and across the uk, this is bbc news. chris has been a farm in brecon since he was a teenager. his been a

victim of rural crime several times over the years, losing tens of thousands of pounds in valuables. from a land rover two slates off a farmyard building. if from a land rover two slates off a farmyard building.— farmyard building. if you do get an hint farmyard building. if you do get anything stolen _ farmyard building. if you do get anything stolen you _ farmyard building. if you do get anything stolen you can - farmyard building. if you do get| anything stolen you can probably write off the next week or two, you just can't concentrate on anything, anyone turns up on the yard, any strangers, you are wary, so itjust puts you on the back foot all the time. and then you get over it and all of a sudden it will crop up again and you are constantly on your guard all the time. the again and you are constantly on your guard all the time.— guard all the time. the welsh government _ guard all the time. the welsh government are _ guard all the time. the welsh government are collaborating i guard all the time. the welsh - government are collaborating with wales's four police forces to crack down on rural crimes, including theft. it's part of a new strategy which was launched at the royal welsh showground. farmers and people living in the countryside like chris have welcomed the strategy and say it will hopefully prevent crime but also give them peace of mind. you're watching bbc news. we return to sudan now where doctors say at

least 7a people have been killed during two days of fighting in the darfur region in the west of the country. despite agreeing to a ceasefire by three days their army under rival paramilitary group, the rapid paramilitary forces there has been fighting and there are reports they have torched parts of the city. the area was already home to tens of the thousands of people but had been displaced by conflict. early i spoke to the former governor of central doubtful about the fighting. the tra . ed in doubtful about the fighting. tie: tragedy in darfur, the doubtful about the fighting. ti2 tragedy in darfur, the conflict here looks more like ethnic conflict and political conflict. this has been very clear in

the city, international organisations, government offices and markets were looted and our biggest concern is that across darfur for is the protection of civilians, this represents the biggest challenge in darfur and other parts of sudan as well, but therefore there are already grievances, some arab groups, and again the arab groups from the previous conflict.— again the arab groups from the previous conflict. governor, you 'ust previous conflict. governor, you just spoke _ previous conflict. governor, you just spoke about _ previous conflict. governor, you just spoke about some - previous conflict. governor, you just spoke about some of- previous conflict. governor, you just spoke about some of the i previous conflict. governor, you - just spoke about some of the looting and fighting that's taking place. i just want show our viewers this footage that came in of a fighter of the rsf and you can see this

footage, that's a police vehicle thatis footage, that's a police vehicle that is burning. this is after the police headquarters was raided. the head of the police department there was also killed. so these militia groups, governor, they seem to be taking advantage of this power vacuum that has been created as a result of the fighting.— result of the fighting. yes, definitely. _ result of the fighting. yes, definitely. the _ result of the fighting. yes, definitely. the one - result of the fighting. yes, definitely. the one that. result of the fighting. yes, | definitely. the one that was result of the fighting. i2: definitely. the one that was killed, the deputy police director in west darfur and the vacuum of the government, the sense of no government, the sense of no government in darfur in west darfur specifically creates this chaotic situation whereby looting of government premises, government offices and un agencies' premises as

well as markets and banks, it happened because of this vacuum. the irony and the tragedy is that civilian safety remains the biggest challenge. some centres were burned, idp centres were also burned and there is no one to protect them, so there is no one to protect them, so there is no sense of government. that was the former governor of darfur. a british paralympian and surgeon who is being recruited as the european space agency's first para astronaut is being given a taste of what life will be like in order orbit. john mcfall who lost a leg in an accident as a teenager is taking part in a ground—breaking project. rebecca morelle reports. john mcfall is an astronaut candidate with a difference. amazing! he candidate with a difference. amazinu! , ., ., , candidate with a difference. amazin! , . . , amazing! he is an amputee. he lost his let in amazing! he is an amputee. he lost his leg in a — amazing! he is an amputee. he lost his leg in a motorcycle _ amazing! he is an amputee. he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident - his leg in a motorcycle accident when he was a teenager.

esa had announced that they were looking for astronauts with a physical disability. i looked at the personal specification and i kind of went, yeah, i've got that, yeah, i like doing that, i've got this degree, yep. oh, yeah, that sounds good. i was like, this sounds really interesting. john's getting his first taste of space on a parabolic flight where you experience periods of weightlessness. the flight works by the plane climbing extremely steeply. it takes a team of three to control the manoeuvre. the plane then arcs to begin its descent. here we go. i joined john for his and my first flight. 0h! 0h, help! iam spinning! i am spinning! i want to come down. it's like the ground is moving away from you. it's really hard to actually control where you're going. as you can see, it's hard to master. this is the closest that we can get to experience of what being an astronaut is like.

john, how are you finding it? look at this! i mean, where do you get this? how did this happen? 0h! the flight is a chance to see howjohn�*s prosthesis responds to weightlessness. in normal gravity, if you look here, the knee bends under normal gravity. but when you go into zero g, you'll probably see, i'm floating around with the leg straight because that gravity isn't there. each parabola is a learning opportunity. it is! and this is what the project is all about. working out what needs to be adapted for a person with a disability to live and work in space. john's not guaranteed a mission, but this flight has whet his appetite. still happy with signing up to be an astronaut? absolutely, absolutely, yeah. you haven't made a terrible mistake? not at all! i can't wait. so, forjohn mcfall, watch this space. rebecca morelle, bbc news. you're watching bbc news. in india a

spate of killings has reignited the debate about whether laws designed to protect cows, an animal held sacred by the country wasn't hindu majority, are being used to target muslims. vigilante cow protection groups often linked to right—wing hindu factions say they are helping the police to enforce laws banning the police to enforce laws banning the slaughter of cattle. but they have been blamed for a number of recent deaths, as our correspondent leila nathoo reports from india. these roads hold many stories. by night, pradeep and his men scan them for trucks that could be carrying cows or beef. tonight none are on his radar. but he shows us where just days ago they found a container packed with cattle. how did you come to know the truck would be travelling on this road?

he had his informants, he says, so they stopped the truck and called they stopped the truck and called the police. here in haryana the slaughter of cows is illegal and bands of hindu men patrol the highways to stop any of the animals they hold so sacred being led to their deaths. translation: taste they hold so sacred being led to their deaths. translation: we get an i their deaths. translation: we get an: but their deaths. translation: we get angry but we — their deaths. translation: we get angry but we also — their deaths. translation: we get angry but we also felt _ their deaths. translation: we get angry but we also felt happy - their deaths. translation: we get angry but we also felt happy that . their deaths. translation: we geti angry but we also felt happy that we saved them from getting slaughtered. it is a great feeling that we did something good. across the state another cow protector has long been boasting about his work online. posting videos of chases and encounters like these. but he is now suspect in the recent murder of two men. junaid and naseer, who is burnt

remains were found in this car wreckage. they set off from this village in rajasthan. now quietly grieving for two of its own. junaid's wife is wrestling with what happened. translation: their bodies were brou:ht happened. translation: their bodies were brought in — happened. translation: their bodies were brought in a _ happened. translation: their bodies were brought in a bag. _ happened. translation: their bodies were brought in a bag. it— happened. translation: their bodies were brought in a bag. it was— happened. translation: their bodies were brought in a bag. it was ashes, i were brought in a bag. it was ashes, there was nothing else, just a handful of ashes and a few bones. the killings have captured attention across india, jogging memories of a previous wave of violence linked to cow vigilantes. indian muslims here feel they are being targeted by the groups who are linked to right—wing hindu factions, and we found evidence of another possible victim. he died after being involved in a car crash. it was captured on cctv. moments later, a group was filmed pulling a cow from the car. a video

of him alive and being questioned was streamed live on the facebook account of the notorious vigilante that night. this man had been travelling at the same kind claims they were chased by a cow protection group who beat them up so badly that he died from his injuries. translation: it he died from his in'uries. tuna/momh he died from his in'uries. translation: �* ., translation: it wasn't an accident, he was killed- _ translation: it wasn't an accident, he was killed. there _ translation: it wasn't an accident, he was killed. there was _ translation: it wasn't an accident, he was killed. there was not - translation: it wasn't an accident, he was killed. there was not a - he was killed. there was not a single injury from the crash. he denies involvement in any of the deaths and police say they are not investigating the case.— investigating the case. there is a s - rawlin: investigating the case. there is a sprawling cow — investigating the case. there is a sprawling cow protection - investigating the case. there is a | sprawling cow protection network investigating the case. there is a i sprawling cow protection network in this part of northern india. at the shelter for rescued cows, we this part of northern india. at the shelterfor rescued cows, we meet seniorfigures in the movement. what do you say to people who say that you are taking the law into your own hands, and actually this matter

should be one for police? translation: iii should be one for police? translation: ., ., ., , , , should be one for police? translation: ., ., ., ,, , ., translation: if someone harasses a woman should — translation: if someone harasses a woman should we _ translation: if someone harasses a woman should we wait _ translation: if someone harasses a woman should we wait for _ translation: if someone harasses a woman should we wait for the - translation: if someone harasses a woman should we wait for the police? our enemy is the cow smuggler, not just any muslim. our enemy is the cow smuggler, not just any muslim-— just any muslim. families seeking 'ustice. just any muslim. families seeking justice. while _ just any muslim. families seeking justice. while india's _ just any muslim. families seeking justice. while india's cow- justice. while india's cow protection squads are under scrutiny. leila nathoo, bbc news, haryana. that's it from us. now here is the weather with darren. hello there. we have seen much drier weather today and when the sun has come out it is felt a bit warmer as well. typical mixed fare for the bank holiday weekend for this time of the year. it may well feel warm in the sunshine and for many temperatures are going to be a bit higher but there is the chance of some heavy showers as well. there is one or two showers as well. there is one or two showers kicking around at the moment, not very many come in for the most part dry overnight, some breaks in the cloud could lead to short lived mist and fog patches, the cloud thickens in scotland, a chance of a bit of rain here, then

in the areas that are colder but for other parts of the uk we start off for— seven celsius saturday morning. could be quite cloudy for much of mainland scotland, north—east england and a chance of some rain and cooler here. other parts of the uk will cease sunshine at times but we may well generate a few more showers, some of them heavy and thundery, typically across northern ireland, running across wales into the west midlands. east midlands, east anglia, south—east of england seeing may be the best of the weather, warm spells of sunshine, temperatures may be reaching 20 degrees. a lot warmer than it will be under that cloud in scotland and the north—east of england. and the warmer air never really fully reaches scotland over the bank holiday weekend. colder air certainly towards the north of the country but it will be warmer elsewhere. but there is more cloud around on sunday, and more showers from the word go for northern and western areas, and again those could turn heavier, potentially thundery too. but again through much of the midlands, lincolnshire and across east anglia and the south—east, it should stay dry with sunny spells, temperatures up to 17 or 18 celsius

and we could make double figures in scotland despite the showers here. there will be quite a few showers around on sunday, they will push their way into eastern parts of england after dark. high pressures tries to build in and settle things down for monday. not completely, though. the heaviest showers this time towards east anglia and the south—east for a while. following on from that the odd white shower as possible but many places will be dry with some sunshine at times. there is a northerly breeze in northern scotland, so again it is cooler here, but otherwise pleasant enough in the sunshine with typical temperatures around 16 or 17 degrees. so over the bank holiday weekend, some warmth around but some heavy showers, looks a bit drier on monday, and into next week we have some drier weather with some sunshine, but it may be a little bit cooler as well.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. this new pay offer would not have happened without the strike action taken by ambulance and health workers across the nhs. none of the unions on this table want to take strike action. none of us want to disrupt education or parents working lives. our four unions want nothing more than to be able - to sit down and negotiate. from where i sit, and from what members tell me, this is a government that wants education on that cheap. welcome to the programme — the age of discontent.