comes after two days of deliberations by the jury. the former us president could face up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each count. here's what he said outside the court right after the verdict. this was a disgrace. this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt. it is a rigged trial, a disgrace. they wouldn't give us a venue change. we were at 5% or 6% in this district, in this area. this was a rigged, disgraceful trial. the real verdict is going to be november the 5th by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here. we didn't do a thing wrong. i'm a very innocent man and it's ok, i'm fighting for our country, i'm fighting for our constitution. our whole country is being rigged right now, this is being done by the biden administration in order to hurt a political opponent. i think it is a disgrace and we will keep fighting, we will fight to the end and we will win, because our country has gone to hell. we don't have the same country any more, we have a divided mess. we are a nation in serious decline. millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now from prisons and from mental institutions, terrorists, and they are taking over our country. we have a country that is in big trouble. but this was a rigged decision right from day one, with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case, never. and we will fight for our constitution. this is long from over, thank you very much. alvin bragg, the manhattan district attorney overseeing the criminal case against donald trump, spoke earlier on thursday. the 12 everydayjurors vowed to make a decision based on the evidence and the law, and the evidence and the law alone. their deliberations led them to a unanimous conclusion beyond reasonable doubt, that the defendant donald trump is guilty of 3a counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election. i did myjob. 0urjob is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favour. that's exactly what we did here. what i feel is gratitude to work alongside phenomenal public servants who do that each and every day. in matters that you all write about it and lots of matters that you don't. i did myjob, we did ourjob. many voices out there, the only voice matters is the voice of the jury, and the jury has spoken. cameras were not allowed but bbc reporters were. i spoke to our digital reporter madeline halpert. thank you for being here after a very long day for you. it seemed at one point as if the jury seemed at one point as if the jury was ready to wrap up for the day, it seemed like everyone was packing their bags and there was a moment where thejury said actually, and there was a moment where the jury said actually, we have reached a verdict. did it feel like that the coach and was taken a bit of guard? absolutely. as a court reporters we were sitting in court all day, a long time, doing much of nothing, just in a separate room while the jury deliberated. we were waiting for something to happen, then at 4:15, thejudge for something to happen, then at 4:15, the judge calls us back into court and tells us he's going to excuse the jurors for the day, so we all thought, no verdict for the day. in fact, you could see donald trump was in a really good mood, we hadn't seen him in such a good mood before, joking with his lawyer, he looks really relaxed, and the judge then left to go an excuse to jurors but he didn't come back for a really long time so we started to wonder, and then he came back into the court and he let us know that actually, the jurors were very close to a verdict, they have reached a verdict, they have reached a verdict but they needed 30 minutes to fill out the verdict sheet, and then from then on the atmosphere totally changed, it was very tense, you could see donald trump's facial expression go to the very dejected, subdued expression, his lips were purged and he was no longerjoking with his lawyer. no longer “oking with his la er. . ,. , lawyer. can you describe the moment _ lawyer. can you describe the moment for— lawyer. can you describe the moment for us, _ lawyer. can you describe the moment for us, when - lawyer. can you describe the moment for us, when the i lawyer. can you describe the l moment for us, when the jury read out its verdict count by count? it read out its verdict count by count? . , . , read out its verdict count by count? . , ., ., . count? it was a very dramatic verdict, count? it was a very dramatic verdict. you _ count? it was a very dramatic verdict, you really— count? it was a very dramatic verdict, you really feel- count? it was a very dramatic verdict, you really feel the i verdict, you really feel the tension in the courtroom. all the reporters were ready to type superfast, and it was read out loud to us by the clerk. it was read one count at a time. the first count is guilty, we hear that for 34 counts. can one, guilty, count to, guilty. we were all sitting her —— like sitting holding our breath for each count. very dramatic moment, you really feel that tension. the historic nature of it all. you can imagine that donald trump was probably quite tense as well. but we didn't get a lot from his facial expression, he was very subdued, sitting back in his chair with his lips pursed, not really looking at anybody in particular. of course, then after the jury handed particular. of course, then after thejury handed in particular. of course, then after the jury handed in their verdict, eachjuror needed after the jury handed in their verdict, each juror needed to confirm that the verdict was accurate, so you had to go one by one to the jurors, is this the verdict? and trump and turned toward him and he looked at each one of them as they gave their answer, and we don't often see him looking at the jurors so it was quite something to see all of them confirm that they had in fact found him guilty of this crime that he has really denied any involvement in.— that he has really denied any involvement in. and these were lona da s involvement in. and these were long days for — involvement in. and these were long days for the _ involvement in. and these were long days for the jurors, - involvement in. and these were long days for the jurors, lots i long days for thejurors, lots of testimony, 22 witnesses, how did they handle it? when are watching thejury, where did they handle it? when are watching the jury, where they intend to —— attentive the whole way through? intend to -- attentive the whole way through?- intend to -- attentive the whole way through? they seemed really professional— whole way through? they seemed really professional from _ whole way through? they seemed really professional from an - really professional from an outside perspective. they were in court every day, there were never late, i have spoken to legal experts who said it is really rare to get a jury that is always on time, they were taking notes, it was a really long trial and we heard it so many hours of testimony, some of it rather explicit testimony from the adult film star stormy daniels, whose hush money payment is really the heart of this trial, and the jurors the entire time at a straight face, they seem to engage, they took notes, they didn't give anything away so we were not really sure what the verdict was going to be. but a lot of professionalism from the jurors and we heard judge merchan at the end thanking them for their professionalism. find the end thanking them for their professionalism.— professionalism. and a big decision to _ professionalism. and a big decision to have _ professionalism. and a big decision to have handed i professionalism. and a big i decision to have handed down today. thank you for all of your coverage and for taking us inside the courtroom.— your coverage and for taking us inside the courtroom. thank you for having _ inside the courtroom. thank you for having me. _ joining me live is trial attorney and legal analyst kelly hyman. great to have you back on bbc news. first of all, what stood out to you about today as mac verdict? it out to you about today as mac verdict? , ., , ., . verdict? it is a historic day. we have — verdict? it is a historic day. we have to _ verdict? it is a historic day. we have to remember, - verdict? it is a historic day. j we have to remember, this verdict? it is a historic day. i we have to remember, this is the first time in us history where a former president of the united states has been charged and convicted of felony crimes. and the fact that the jury really took their time, very methodically, asking for evidence back, asking for certain things that they really thought about and understood that this was going to be a momentous decision on their part. momentous decision on their art. ~ , ., momentous decision on their art. , , , part. were you surprised? in the end it — part. were you surprised? in the end it was _ part. were you surprised? in the end it was only _ part. were you surprised? in the end it was only a - part. were you surprised? in the end it was only a couple | part. were you surprised? in i the end it was only a couple of days that they took in terms of deliberations, was that about the amount of time you thought they would spend? i the amount of time you thought they would spend?— they would spend? i thought it was auoin they would spend? i thought it was going to — they would spend? i thought it was going to go _ they would spend? i thought it was going to go until— they would spend? i thought it was going to go until friday, . was going to go until friday, but i believed it was going to be convicted on all 34 accounts.— be convicted on all 34 accounts. , ., ~ , accounts. so 'ust walk us through. — accounts. so just walk us through, briefly, - accounts. so just walk us through, briefly, the - accounts. so just walk us through, briefly, the 34. through, briefly, the 34 accounts, what is the legal significance of the actual verdict handed down? they could be jail time, there could be fines, could be a mix? people alwa s fines, could be a mix? people always ask. — fines, could be a mix? people always ask, what _ fines, could be a mix? people always ask, what is _ fines, could be a mix? people always ask, what is next? - fines, could be a mix? people always ask, what is next? we | always ask, what is next? we know the judge has set the sentencing forjuly the 11th, and that's when at that time the judge will sentence donald trump, and at that point, he will be a convicted felon. he is not a convicted felon until then. but in the meantime, before that happens, the defence counsel and trump the's team will most likely file a motion to satisfy the verdict and that could potentially delay the sentencing. find and that could potentially delay the sentencing. and to be clear, delay the sentencing. and to be clear. that _ delay the sentencing. and to be clear, that kind _ delay the sentencing. and to be clear, that kind of— delay the sentencing. and to be clear, that kind of motion - delay the sentencing. and to be clear, that kind of motion is - clear, that kind of motion is different from an appeal? correct. that motion would potentially happen before the fact of the sentencing. in between that. most likely the sentencing time, if that happens, will get delayed, pushed back. 0nce happens, will get delayed, pushed back. once the sentencing happens and he is convicted, he becomes a convicted, he becomes a convicted felon and the judge issues the punishment that we talked about, whetherjail talked about, whether jail time, talked about, whetherjail time, which is probably unlikely, the fact he has some kind of probation, then at that point his attorneys can file an appeal. point his attorneys can file an a- eal. ~ ., , point his attorneys can file an aueal. ~ . , ., , point his attorneys can file an anneal. . ., , ., , ., appeal. we have seen many of those sorts — appeal. we have seen many of those sorts of— appeal. we have seen many of those sorts of tactics - appeal. we have seen many of those sorts of tactics to - appeal. we have seen many of those sorts of tactics to push l those sorts of tactics to push back a timeline being very successful in other criminal cases facing donald trump. let's talk about the sentencing. a lot of this more nearly all of it comes down to the discretion of the judge. what do you expect to happen if indeed we see the sentencing taking place onjuly the 11th? going back tojune, both sides have to give the court a memo, basically a sentencing memo, laying out what they think. from the defence, no sentencing and then for the state, depending on what they feel is appropriate, whether it is jail time or some kind of ablation and ultimately thejudge time or some kind of ablation and ultimately the judge will consider that. and ultimately the judge will considerthat. —— and ultimately the judge will consider that. —— some kind of probation. in the meantime, donald trump has to go to the probation office, he has to sit for an interview where they discuss it with him and the also issue a report, they will ask about hisjob also issue a report, they will ask about his job prospects. also issue a report, they will ask about hisjob prospects. we all know what his job prospects are! and talk to him about that. in the main issue of court as well. ultimately it will be to the discretion of the judge but most likely, will be to the discretion of thejudge but most likely, due to his age, 77, this is a first—time offender, most likely i do not see anyjail time. likely i do not see any “ail time. ., �* , likely i do not see any “ail time. . �*, . , , time. that's really interesting and that is — time. that's really interesting and that is the _ time. that's really interesting and that is the kind _ time. that's really interesting and that is the kind of - and that is the kind of timeline that we can expect. kelly, always great to have your thoughts, thank you so much. ., your thoughts, thank you so much. . ., ., much. thanks for having me, treat to much. thanks for having me, great to see _ much. thanks for having me, great to see you. _ much. thanks for having me, great to see you. that - much. thanks for having me, great to see you. that was i much. thanks for having me, | great to see you. that was the le . al great to see you. that was the legal side _ great to see you. that was the legal side of — great to see you. that was the legal side of things _ great to see you. that was the legal side of things and - legal side of things and obviously there is political fallout as well. joining me live is axios senior contributor margaret talev, and washington post columnist dana milbank. great to have you both here. everyone talking about the historical significance, we can't call him a convicted felon just yet,, to sentencing, but margaret, can you walk through your thoughts, really donald trump once again entering the history books in a way that many people may not have expected?— have expected? yes, he has a real knack _ have expected? yes, he has a real knack of _ have expected? yes, he has a real knack of making - have expected? yes, he has a real knack of making history l real knack of making history but he has outdone himself with this jury verdict earlier today. one thing to watch is that for many months it was the polling suggested among american voters that voters would be much less likely to want to support a nominee or candidate for president if they had been criminally convicted. i think we are bound to find out whether that conventional wisdom is right or not. and with her many voters. we have certainly seen early signs that it will only further motivate the republican base, we have seen everyone from mikejohnson to lindsey graham, to the rank and file of much of the republican party coming out today and panning the jury verdict and echoing the former president's words about it being a disgrace. we saw larry hogan, the former republican governor of maryland, which is a democratic state, who is running for the senate now, trying to beat the odds and win the senate seat, we saw him come out and say no matter what the verdict is, people should respect it and the law and the jury, and the trump campaign immediately panned him and said, your campaign is over. so battle lines are being drawn. but if this race in november is as close as early polling suggests, if it really is within the margin of error percentage point or two, even if it only moves a marginal amount of americans, that could make a difference. so the political stakes are huge. huge stakes, really. _ political stakes are huge. huge stakes, really. dana _ political stakes are huge. huge stakes, really. dana milbank, i stakes, really. dana milbank, how will this ruling by this jury how will this ruling by this jury today, convicted on all counts, change the nature of what has already come as margaret said, very tight campaign? it margaret said, very tight campaign?— margaret said, very tight campaign? margaret said, very tight cam-cain? ,, campaign? it is anybody's guess because we've _ campaign? it is anybody's guess because we've never _ campaign? it is anybody's guess because we've never had - campaign? it is anybody's guess because we've never had a - because we've never had a convicted felon at the top of the ticket running for president for a major part in the united states before. so really— the united states before. so really can't predict. the more recent— really can't predict. the more recent polling, more recent than — recent polling, more recent than one _ recent polling, more recent than one —— than what market was _ than one —— than what market was talking about, suggests that— was talking about, suggests that first of all people haven't been paying much attention to the trial and probably are not going to change _ probably are not going to change their votes very much. things— change their votes very much. things are _ change their votes very much. things are very polarised here. it suggests people are unlikely to change their vote on the basis — to change their vote on the basis of— to change their vote on the basis of this trial. but look, if you — basis of this trial. but look, if you had _ basis of this trial. but look, if you had the choice between running — if you had the choice between running for president has a convicted felon or not running as a _ convicted felon or not running as a convicted felon, you are probably— as a convicted felon, you are probably far not to be a convicted felon. so it will take _ convicted felon. so it will take some time for us to really find out — take some time for us to really find out what's going to happen politically with this. but already, the trial has had a real— already, the trial has had a real impact, because for five weeks. — real impact, because for five weeks, donald trump has been sitting — weeks, donald trump has been sitting in— weeks, donald trump has been sitting in that courtroom, his campaign _ sitting in that courtroom, his campaign has been singularly focused — campaign has been singularly focused on this trial, while the — focused on this trial, while the biden campaign, while travelling in the polls, has been — travelling in the polls, has been out there setting up its infrastructure in the battleground states. —— while trailing — battleground states. —— while trailing in _ battleground states. —— while trailing in the polls. ithink the — trailing in the polls. ithink the destruction that this has caused _ the destruction that this has caused for the trump campaign has been — caused for the trump campaign has been the most damaging thing — has been the most damaging thing so _ has been the most damaging thing so far, that's the only thing — thing so far, that's the only thing we _ thing so far, that's the only thing we can conclusively say. margaret, what do you think the biden campaign in the biden administration will do here? we saw a few minutes after the verdict was announced a press release sent out by the biden—harris campaign with a reaction, called the vote in november, will this become a big political issue on the democratic side? ., , democratic side? certainly when we lather democratic side? certainly when we gather fundraising _ democratic side? certainly when we gather fundraising calls - we gather fundraising calls from both gentlemen and you are going to get the efforts —— the messaging around it but we haven't seen president biden come out himself, the statement came from a spokesperson from the campaign. what we have seen an early signs from other democratic leaders such as chuck schumer in the senate, is to use say things like that jury to use say things like that jury has spoken or the verdict speaks for itself. i think there is going to be a desire to tread carefully at first and calibrate it, because again, the sensitivities that donald trump has been trying to suggest thatjoe biden has had a hand in this or it is political, as ifjoe biden had anything to do with what the prosecutor of manhattan was doing! buy that argument resonates certainly with the republican base and perhaps with some centrist voters. so they are going to try to calibrate what is the best way to follow it but i think we are absolutely going to see on the republican side a messaging around the idea that it is a disgrace or the justice system is corrupt, etc, and the democratic base side, an argument that this proves that trump is unfit for office. one question is, how will president biden deal with this quiz were are still testing the water it feels like. are still testing the water it feels like-— are still testing the water it feels like. . . ~ ., ., ., feels like. what kind of era of presidential _ feels like. what kind of era of presidential campaigning - feels like. what kind of era of presidential campaigning in l presidential campaigning in presidential campaigning in presidential politics do you think we are entering here? we saw some of the scuffles outside the courthouse among trump supporters and trump critics, and of course this is all coming a few years after january the 6th. what might we see going forward in these next months in orbit is already a very contentious campaign? the onl thin very contentious campaign? the only thing we — very contentious campaign? the only thing we can be sure as is -- are the _ only thing we can be sure as is —— are the only thing we can be sure _ —— are the only thing we can be sure of— —— are the only thing we can be sure of is— —— are the only thing we can be sure of is that we have no idea what's — sure of is that we have no idea what's coming next. we will have — what's coming next. we will have a — what's coming next. we will have a debate in a few weeks, that— have a debate in a few weeks, that has— have a debate in a few weeks, that has never happened before the fall— that has never happened before the fall election season before. what we've seen so far is is _ before. what we've seen so far is is always— before. what we've seen so far is is always to expect the unexpected, is going to be something that we are not even, we don't — something that we are not even, we don't know enough about to talk about now. other things are going to enter into this race — are going to enter into this race but _ are going to enter into this race. but you can be sure that biden— race. but you can be sure that biden will— race. but you can be sure that biden will find a way to slip in at — biden will find a way to slip in at the _ biden will find a way to slip in at the debate and other moments that yes, his opponent is a convicted felon, that is certainly— is a convicted felon, that is certainly going to be part of the baggage, it's good to remind _ the baggage, it's good to remind people why they were upset — remind people why they were upset with trump in the first place. — upset with trump in the first place. it— upset with trump in the first place, it will remind them about— place, it will remind them about january the 6th. —— it's going — about january the 6th. —— it's going to _ about january the 6th. —— it's going to remind. we don't know overall— going to remind. we don't know overall what the net impact will be, _ overall what the net impact will be, but there are certainly going to be a serious amount— certainly going to be a serious amount of impact.— amount of impact. margaret, very briefly. _ amount of impact. margaret, very briefly, there _ amount of impact. margaret, very briefly, there are - amount of impact. margaret, l very briefly, there are dangers of the temperature heating up a bit, who do you think might be able to, are there figures in either party to turn down the temperature a bit?— either party to turn down the temperature a bit? well, really aood temperature a bit? well, really good question _ temperature a bit? well, really good question because - temperature a bit? well, really good question because the - good question because the moment is so incredibly polarised in this country, people get their news from different places, the messaging from different places, their understanding of reality from completely different places, and when the parties are trying to turn out voters, they're trying to turn out their bases, they can become some persuadable voters, great, but in the last couple of election cycles we have seen the courtship of the base and they moved to extremes.— courtship of the base and they moved to extremes. that's where we are at- — moved to extremes. that's where we are at- it _ moved to extremes. that's where we are at. it is _ moved to extremes. that's where we are at. it is uncharted - we are at. it is uncharted territory in many ways. thank you both for helping us to chat it a bit! —— chart it. the biden administration has quietly given ukraine permission to strike inside russia solely near the area of kharkiv using us—provided weapons. 0ne us official told bbc news that his team had been directed to ensure ukraine was able to use us weapons for "counter—fire purposes" to "hit back at russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them". if confirmed, it would represent a significant change in policy — partially lifting a ban on ukraine using us arms in strikes on russian territory. the stated goal, according to us media reporting, is to help ukraine to better defend its second—largest city. the news comes amid disagreements between western allies over kyiv using western weapons against targets in russia — as nato foreign ministers are gathering in prague. during the first day of the summit, nato secretary generaljens stoltenberg called for a rethink on kyiv using western arms outside borders. i believe the time has come to consider some of these restrictions to enable the ukrainians to really defend themselves. we need to remember this is a war of aggression launched by choice by moscow against ukraine. russia invaded another country, invaded ukraine and ukraine has, according to international law, the right to defend themselves. it's enshrined in the un charter, and the right to self—defence includes also striking unitary targets, legitimate military targets, outside ukraine. there are fresh scenes of destruction across the gaza strip after israel says it bombed 50 targets in the past day. footage from jabalia in northern gaza shows concrete slabs collapsed on top of each other, and littered on the ground. and in the southern city of rafah, there were plumes of smoke after more deadly israeli raids. palestinian medics said 12 civilians were killed thursday in one air strike, as they tried to recover a body in the middle of rafah. paramedics say two of their colleagues were killed in rafah on wednesday, in an israeli strike on an ambulance. gaza's health ministry says the death toll has risen to 36,224 since since october 7th, the day when hamas attacked israel and killed at least 1,139 people. the idf said thursday that one of its soldiers was killed in northern gaza, bringing its combat losses since october to 292. the idf also said thursday that it has killed about 300 palestinian gunmen in rafah since it began its latest operation there on may 6th. israel confirmed reports from wednesday that it now controls the border corridor between egypt and rafah. it says soldiers found tunnels used by hamas for smuggling weapons and moving fighters underground. aid agencies say the amount of aid getting into gaza has dropped "drastically" in recent weeks. the kerem shalom crossing is the only entry point into southern gaza that remains open, after israel seized the rafah crossing with egypt. earlier thursday, the israeli defence forces tookjournalists to kerem shalom crossing, claiming enough supplies are getting into gaza. 0ur middle east correspondent hugo bachega was there — and filed this report upon his return tojerusalem. as the israeli military pushes ahead with its offensive in the city of rafah, gaza's humanitarian crisis only gets worse. the un, which has one of famine, is the amount aid entering gaza has dropped by two thirds this month since the beginning of this rafah offensive. israel is under mounting international pressure and says it is doing everything it can to help. on thursday the israeli military took journalists to the kerem shalom crossing, which is the crossing between southern israel and southern gaza. israel says enough supplies are getting in and says that the problem is about the distribution of aid inside gaza. aid agencies say it has become too risky for teams could to collect the aid on the gas inside of the border because this is now an active comfort zone. —— on the gaza side. they also say they have not received protection from the israeli military and the dispute the fact that enough humanitarian aid is entering gaza. there are also questions about what exactly is entering the territory. the israeli authorities say that on average, 350 lorries are entering gaza every single day, but aid groups say the vast majority of these lorries are private commercial lorries and not humanitarian aid. they say that palestinians remain in desperate need in gaza and that many may not survive to see help finally arriving. plenty more in our top story available on our website. you can find our live page with plenty of coverage at historic criminal trial manhattan, donald trump becoming the first president to be convicted of a crime. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. the weather for half—term has certainly brought its challenges this week. in fact, across the east coast, it's been rather grey, and take a look at thursday afternoon — and cromer pier, as you can see, it was raining quite heavily and with the breeze coming in off the north sea, it felt quite chilly as well. slightly different story further north and west in the western isles — this is the isle of lewis. we had just over nine hours of sunshine. that's because high pressure is starting to drift in off the atlantic and it will quiet the story down considerably as we move through the weekend. but this little nuisance weather front still bringing in quite a lot of cloud off the north sea on friday. and anywhere from east yorkshire down through east anglia and south—east england will continue to see some outbreaks of showery rain for a time. so into the afternoon, the showers gradually decreasing, but certainly more cloud here, only 15 or 16 degrees. further west, with the cloud well broken, the winds a little lighter, we should see temperatures peaking at 20 celsius. a dry afternoon for northern england, northern ireland and much of scotland. sheltered western areas of scotland perhaps seeing the best of the sunshine, and once again the best of the warmth as well. now, as we move through friday evening and into the early hours of saturday, we'll still continue to see a little cloud across east anglia and that kent coast. but with clearer skies, temperatures are likely to fall away here. one or two spots, we could see temperatures in rural parts down to around 4 or 5 degrees. so potentially a chilly start to saturday, but it will be a dry one and there will be a lot of sunshine pretty much from the word go. again, that nagging northerly breeze continuing to drive in a few isolated showers and some nuisance cloud. and there might be a little more cloud just into the far north—west of scotland. but sandwiched in between the two, a lot of sunshine, a drier story, and temperatures will start to respond. further west, we should see highs of around 20, 21 degrees, 70 fahrenheit. now, as we move into sunday and into next week, this high pressure stays with us for a time, but there's a risk of some weak weather fronts toppling across the high, which mightjust interrupt the sun from time to time. but all in all, the theme into next week looks likely to stay quite quiet, largely dry, and for many, a degree or so warmer than we've seen of late. take care. soldiers sing. behind the barbed wire of korea's demilitarised zone sits a tiny village... this village represents the hope of one day reunifying the korean peninsula. ..nestled in the heart of what's otherwise a no—man's land. here, a community of south koreans live in the shadow of their enemy, north korea. as young people shun a life of semi—captivity, its numbers are dwindling, along with the hope korea will ever be reunified. 0urjourney into the demilitarised zone begins at dawn. we pass checkpoint after checkpoint accompanied by commander chris mercado.