killing its commanders — president biden says us support for israel is "iron—clad". a vietnamese property tycoon could face the death penalty after being accused of swindling billions of dollars from the saigon commercial bank. here, the post office inquiry into the it scandal continues. two former managers will give evidence on the decisions which lead to the wrongful conviction of hundreds of sub—postmasters. and coming up — we have an exclusive look at a stunning new discovery in the ancient city of pompeiii, buried in ash almost 2000 years ago. hello, welcome to the programme. we start this hour with the latest

developments in the middle east. president biden has promised israel "iron—clad" united states support amid fears that iran could launch reprisals for an attack that killed senior iranian commanders in damascus. the president warned iran is threatening to launch a "significant attack" after israel struck the iranian consulate in syria ten days ago. mr biden was speaking hours after the iranian supreme leader again said israel would be punished for the strike on its consulate. meanwhile, the hamas political leader says there'll be no change in the group's demands for a permanent ceasefire in gaza, despite the killing of three of his sons in an israeli airstrike. israeli media is reporting that the prime minister benjamin netanyahu had not been briefed in advance of the attack. this video is believed to show ismail haniyeh receiving the news in qatar, where he lives in exile. israel has confirmed the strike, describing his sons as "hamas military operatives". he's been actively involved in negotiations to broker a ceasefire with israel — demanding a permanent end to the fighting.

we'll assess the implications of the killing of his sons in a moment. first, here's president biden on the threat posed by iran in the region. we also want to address the iranian threat, to launch a significant... they're threatening to launch a significant attack on israel. as i told prime minister netanyahu, our commitment to israel's security against these threats from iran and its proxies is ironclad. we say it again, ironclad. we're going to do all we can to protect israel's security. let's speak to our middle east correspondent, hugo bachega, injerusalem. we heard there from president biden, of course there is real concern about what action iran might take and how that might impact the region more broadly. it is and how that might impact the region more broadly-— more broadly. it is very interesting but over the _ more broadly. it is very interesting but over the last _ more broadly. it is very interesting but over the last few _ more broadly. it is very interesting but over the last few days - more broadly. it is very interesting but over the last few days the - but over the last few days the americans have been saying they believed these iranian response is a

matter of when not if. we don't know what the iranians are planning to do. iran obviously has this alliance of factions across the region, the so—called axis of resistance that includes a hezbollah for example, lebanon, which has been attacking israel almost a daily basis but i think the pair here is that iran may be planning to launch an attack from its own territory, for example with missiles and drones. the israelis have been saying if there is any kind of attack from iran itself that they are going to retaliate. i think they are going to retaliate. i think the authorities here have been saying that they would give a significant response. 0bviously saying that they would give a significant response. obviously the peer is that this could lead to a major escalation, a possible regional conflict that would have catastrophic consequences. having said that there has been strong language from all sides, threats of response and revenge and of retaliation. this is all part of the game. but i think president biden in

his comments, perhaps he had two goals, to the israelis he was saying that despite the differences we have over what is happening in gaza i'm seeing the level of frustration from the americans with the israelis, benjamin netanyahu, he is saying these two countries remain strong allies. to the iranians he was saying that, if you attack israel we are going to respond. perhaps he is trying to change whatever iran is planning to do. we trying to change whatever iran is planning to tie-— planning to do. we were talking about that _ planning to do. we were talking about that attack _ planning to do. we were talking about that attack which - planning to do. we were talking about that attack which killed i about that attack which killed ismail hannah yet, the political leader of hamas pulls my three sons. hamas are maintaining they want a permanent ceasefire as those talks continue. what more do we know about where they stand at the moment in terms of those possible ceasefire talks? , ., terms of those possible ceasefire talks? , . ., , .,

talks? ismail haniyeh reacted to the attack and said _ talks? ismail haniyeh reacted to the attack and said that _ talks? ismail haniyeh reacted to the attack and said that this _ talks? ismail haniyeh reacted to the attack and said that this was - attack and said that this was delusional to think that this would change the position of hamas in the ceasefire talks. the big island here is that we are still waiting to hear from hamas after that proposal that was put forward by mediators in cairo, proposalfora was put forward by mediators in cairo, proposalfor a six—week ceasefire in gaza. at the heart of this proposal is the idea that hamas would release a0 hostages who are now being held in gaza, in return for 900 palestinians were being held in israeli jails, but i think there are still some obstacles in these negotiations, it seems hamas has told negotiators that it doesn't have a0 hostages that fit the criteria that have been set up in these proposals but had been put forward by negotiators. so we are still waiting to hear what thomas mike has to say. figs still waiting to hear what thomas mike has to say.— still waiting to hear what thomas mike has to say. as always, good to talk to yon — mike has to say. as always, good to talk to yon -- _ mike has to say. as always, good to talk to you. -- what _ mike has to say. as always, good to talk to you. -- what thomas - mike has to say. as always, good to talk to you. -- what thomas mike i mike has to say. as always, good to l talk to you. -- what thomas mike has talk to you. —— what thomas mike has to say. let's speak to professor simon mabon, professor of international politics at lancaster university.

welcome to bbc news. we have seen there that president biden is vowing ironclad support for israel. what would that mean in your view? it is re would that mean in your view? it is pretty robust _ would that mean in your view? it 3 pretty robust rhetoric i think. it is interesting listening to your correspondent, the sense that biden is talking about an ironclad commitment and a robust response, is to try and deter iran but also to ensure israeli calculations and strategic decision—makers that they are not going to be alone in this. it is about maintaining a firm commitment to israel's territorial integrity vis—a—vis a possible iranian strike, but also at the same time to deter that iranians strike. biden is talking to two different audiences here i think. iran

biden is talking to two different audiences here i think.- biden is talking to two different audiences here i think. iran did say that it would _ audiences here i think. iran did say that it would be _ audiences here i think. iran did say that it would be some _ audiences here i think. iran did say that it would be some response - that it would be some response following the attack on that consulate about ten days ago. what do you think that possible response could be the form of? the response could be the form of? the response could take a — could be the form of? the response could take a lot _ could be the form of? the response could take a lot of— could be the form of? the response could take a lot of different - could be the form of? the response could take a lot of different forms i could take a lot of different forms ranging from a direct strike from iran's territorial borders, from within it, a missile strike as your correspondent was suggesting, to a cyber attack, correspondent was suggesting, to a cyberattack, iran correspondent was suggesting, to a cyber attack, iran has been trying to do that type of thing in the past, to working with its allies across the region, be it hezbollah, who these, but iran is in a bit of a bind here because it doesn't want to further inflame the situation. it knows that if it retaliates in a particularly fierce and strong ways, it risks inciting wider escalation and iran has been cautious about that, trying to avoid that, but at the same time it can't be seen to be

weak which is why we are seeing strong rhetoric, the sort we have seenin strong rhetoric, the sort we have seen in 2020 when qasem suleimani was killed, when the supreme leader proclaimed they would be serious and severe retaliation for his death and in the grand scheme of it it was relatively minor through one of these allies in iraq. just picking u . these allies in iraq. just picking u- on these allies in iraq. just picking up on possible _ these allies in iraq. just picking up on possible responses, - these allies in iraq. just picking up on possible responses, an i these allies in iraq. just picking - up on possible responses, an iranian official warned previously that israel's embassies around the world were no longer cycles well. again this is all part _ were no longer cycles well. again this is all part of _ were no longer cycles well. again this is all part of a _ were no longer cycles well. again this is all part of a wider - were no longer cycles well. again this is all part of a wider game, i this is all part of a wider game, all relatively performative in the sense that iran has to be seen to be doing something on a reciprocal manner. it has to speak to its own constituencies, to its own allies across the region. it can't be seen to be seemingly tacitly accepting what has happened without reprisals. we know that in the past hezbollah, one of the ramp is mckee allies, has targeted israel's embassies around

the world, so there are two things going on here, a performative game, a rhetorical game that is quite disconcerting, but practical dimensions are four more pragmatic, with few actually wanting this to exploit and get out of control. thank you so much. it's been described as the most spectacular trial ever held in vietnam — after one of the greatest bank frauds the world has ever seen. the south east asian nation is awaiting a verdict in a huge corruption case. property tycoon truong my lan and 85 others are on trial, accusing of swindling several billion dollars from the saigon commercial bank. ms lan could face the death penalty. she's denied the charges and blamed subordinates. 0ur south east asia correspondent jonathan head has more details from bangkok. i've looked back and this is probably the biggest bank fraud ever recorded anywhere in the world

if these numbers that have been given by the prosecution are correct. now, they've been investigating the bank for a year and a half. they've got a dossier of six tonnes of documents to submit. and the prosecution have overloaded the media with enormous details about how this fraud was carried out. an intricate network of shell companies and proxies that truong my lan used essentially to control the bank — and it was a very big bank, one of the biggest banks in the country — and then getting her own managers in. she bribed central bank officials as well to make sure that she was never stopped. and simply awarded herself and her shell companies $aa billion in loans. and the prosecutors say their assessment is that $27 billion of those are unrecoverable, lost money. nothing is being said about how much it's going to cost the state bank to save saigon commercial bank, this bank that she controlled. but it's thought that it will put

a severe strain on vietnam's finances just to bail this bank out. it's absolutely staggering. and it's being made very much a kind of show trial, i think, as an example, because we are in the middle, actually eight years into a long anti—corruption campaign that has been launched by the communist leadership in vietnam. we will bring you that verdict as we take you across a story throughout the day. to south korea next. the liberal opposition party has won a landslide majority in the country's general election — which was widely seen as a referendum on the country's president yoon. the result is a blow to the leader — and many of his senior officials offered to resign, including his prime minister. even though mr yoon has been unpopular, few observers expected him to suffer such a punishing defeat. here in the uk — a man is appearing before magistrates later today charged with the murder of kulsuma akter, who was stabbed

in bradford city centre while pushing her baby in a pram on saturday. habibur masim, who's 25 and from burnley, is also charged with possession of a bladed article. let's speak to our correspondent yunnus mulla who is in bradford. just bring us up—to—date on what more we know about this story. shifter more we know about this story. after reviewin: more we know about this story. after reviewing evidence _ more we know about this story. he reviewing evidence from west yorkshire police and crown prosecution service here said that habibur masim could be charged with murder and possession of a bladed article. he was arrested after a four day countrywide manhunt and a number of police appeals. kulsuma akter was seriously injured here in bradford in the north of england. she was out pushing her pram with a baby. that baby was unharmed during this incident where she died as a

result of her stab injuries in hospital. as part of this investigation west yorkshire police arrested a 23—year—old man on suspicion of assisting an offender. he has now been released on police bail. but they have arrested four other people on suspicion of the same charge but also a number of drugs offences. i have spoken to kulsuma akter�*s family. they describe her as polite, humble, someone who made people laugh and they are clearly devastated by what has happened. west yorkshire police has happened. west yorkshire police has referred itself to the independent 0ffice has referred itself to the independent office of police conduct and that is because the force had prior contact with kulsuma akter. habibur masim, 25, from burnley, will appear before bradford magistrates' court later this morning. magistrates' court later this morninu. . ~ magistrates' court later this morninu. ., ~ magistrates' court later this morninu. . ~ ., magistrates' court later this morninu. . ~' ., ., , magistrates' court later this morninu. . ., ., , ., morning. thank you for the latest on that sto . around the world and across the uk.

this is bbc news.

now to what's been described as one of the worst miscarriages ofjustice in british legal history, the post office scandal. an inquiry is examining how the faulty it system, known as horizon, led to hundreds of people who ran post offices being wrongly convicted of theft and fraud. today we'll hear from two former senior managers of the post office about decisions which led to so many being wrongly prosecuted. they include david smith, whojoined as managing director in 2010, when problems with the it system were first coming to light. earlier in the week, one of the scandal�*s victims — alan bates — told the inquiry that the post office had lied about errors in it's accounting systems. let's cross to our correspondent at

the hearings, azadeh moshiri, now. what have we heard so far? yesterday we heard from — what have we heard so far? yesterday we heard from lord _ what have we heard so far? yesterday we heard from lord james _ what have we heard so far? yesterday we heard from lord james arbuthnot, | we heard from lord james arbuthnot, someone who is a tory peer but was a conservative mp and has been campaigning alongside these victims for about 15 years. he had criticism not only for the post office and paula vennells but also for successive governments. he said they could have done more victims. in terms of the post office he call them defensive, he called them secretive, accuse them of blocking information getting to investigators. he criticised paula vennells as well. in factory over the course of the inquiry yesterday was accused making a pulse statement to a government minister in 2012. she wrote a letter about court cases against sub—postmasters and at the time she wrote that in each incidents, every incidence, the court has found in our favour. the inquiry counseljason beer said that

is just not true, when it came to successive governments lord arbuthnot said they had taken an arm's—length approach to the ownership of the post office, what they told him, and he said that wasn't quite good enough, he said there is also the problem was essentially no, not me, and compared it to owning a dangerous dog, saying that if you are owning a dangerous dog, if that dog behaves badly campsite you have got an arm's—length relationship with it, and we also heard from sir anthony hooper remediated, chaired the mediation scheme between this sub—postmasters, and the post office, he said it was, the scandal office, he said it was, the scandal was the greatest miscarriage of justice he had ever witnessed. an emotional testimony at the end. he said that throughout he had appeared that people would die before they had their convictions quashed. brute had their convictions quashed. we are hearing from david smith today, who was briefly managing director of the post office. some of the

evidence that is being submitted to the inquiry, it is quite revealing, his time as managing director i was reading coincided with the prosecution of simon mr wright who was wrongly jailed prosecution of simon mr wright who was wronglyjailed when she was pregnant. and the evidence says he greeted her conviction as brilliant news. i am sure today will be hearing more about that and other things he said. that hearing more about that and other things he said.— things he said. that is what the evidence has _ things he said. that is what the evidence has shown _ things he said. that is what the evidence has shown so - things he said. that is what the evidence has shown so far- things he said. that is what the evidence has shown so far she l things he said. that is what the i evidence has shown so far she was eight weeks pregnant when she was sentenced to 15 months in jail, eight weeks pregnant when she was sentenced to 15 months injail, she got that sentence on her son's tenth birthday and that conviction was later quashed. also the year you mentioned, 2010 when he was managing directorfor mentioned, 2010 when he was managing director for about mentioned, 2010 when he was managing directorfor about seven mentioned, 2010 when he was managing director for about seven months, thatis director for about seven months, that is significant because the post office commissioned the report into the horizon it system which previously an inquiry was suggesting to be a whitewash, the author of that report denied that at the time. thank you. as a dime machinery will

be at the inquiry throughout the day for us here on bbc news. china is accused of flooding britain with counterfiet stamps. there are calls for royal mail to investigate after customers — who received letters with the fake stamps on them — were then given a fine. a senior conservative mp has told the bbc he's certain the counterfeits are coming from china. ben boulos has been investigating. have a look at this. can you tell the difference between these two stamps? in this case, the one on the left was fake, the one on the right is, the one on the right isn't a fake, it is genuine, but even a senior boss of royal met admitted it is difficult to spot effect. fargo did stamps were introduced in 2022 to cut down on the sale of expert recently people around the uk have been getting caught out and being charged £5 to collect their post because the stamp on the envelope isn't actually valid. there are no claims that china is behind the

counterfeits, with reports people are unknowingly buying defects from chinese firms through various online marketplaces. the senior tory mp iain duncan smith has told breakfast this morning he believes that china is behind it and one national security think tank added, we don't know the extent to which the chinese government is involved but we do know that chinese firms are, and questioned why the chinese communist party would be allowing it to happen. speaking to bbc watchdog last night royal mail's david gold said the chance of getting a counterfeit stamp is still low. people should understand that the overwhelming majority of stamps on sale are legitimate. in fact since we introduced bar code stamps which means that every stamp is unique, we have got a number of counterfeit stamps coming through the network by 90%. and that means the number of stamps that we are spotting account for less than 0.1% of the total

stance going to the network. essen for less than 0.1% of the total stance going to the network. even so watchdo: stance going to the network. even so watchdog spoke _ stance going to the network. even so watchdog spoke to _ stance going to the network. even so watchdog spoke to people _ stance going to the network. even so watchdog spoke to people who - stance going to the network. even so | watchdog spoke to people who ended up watchdog spoke to people who ended up with counterfeit stamps, despite buying them at the post office counter in their local convenience shops. there are things to look out for which could show that a stamp is fake. if you look carefully strange preparations around the edge, a shine to the surface, or the colour looking slightly off. next to pompeii — the southern italian city famously buried in an eruption from mount vesuvius almost 2000 years ago. stunning artworks have been uncovered in a new excavation of a previously undiscovered part of the ancient site. let's speak to our science editor rebecca morelle, who's in pompeii. good morning post i have a bit of a treat for you here. i am standing in

the black rim. it is a new room that has only been revealed this morning after lying hidden for 2000 years. it is absolutely extraordinary. to give us a little look around i am joined by doctor sophie haywood, an archaeologist at pompeii. it is a wonderful room, and big. 51am archaeologist at pompeii. it is a wonderful room, and big. such a rivileue wonderful room, and big. such a privilege to _ wonderful room, and big. such a privilege to be — wonderful room, and big. such a privilege to be standing - wonderful room, and big. such a privilege to be standing in - wonderful room, and big. such a privilege to be standing in it - wonderful room, and big. such a privilege to be standing in it and| privilege to be standing in it and feeling — privilege to be standing in it and feeling that sense of space because the walls _ feeling that sense of space because the walls are towering above us. you -et the walls are towering above us. you get a _ the walls are towering above us. you get a really _ the walls are towering above us. you get a really lovely impression of how this — get a really lovely impression of how this room would have built. the artworks how this room would have built. artworks here how this room would have built. tie: artworks here are how this room would have built. tue: artworks here are absolutely beautiful, so you have these big, high, black walls and then these quite small intricate paintings. here we have apollo with his lawyer and he _ here we have apollo with his lawyer and he is _ here we have apollo with his lawyer and he is consulting with his priestess— and he is consulting with his priestess cassandra and they seem quite _ priestess cassandra and they seem quite small in the world but we have to imagine _ quite small in the world but we have to imagine this is a winter dining room _ to imagine this is a winter dining room so — to imagine this is a winter dining room so the light would have been very low, _ room so the light would have been very low, room lit by oil lamps. i think— very low, room lit by oil lamps. i think the — very low, room lit by oil lamps. i think the flickering of the oil lamps —

think the flickering of the oil lamps would have animated these as if they— lamps would have animated these as if they are _ lamps would have animated these as if they are dancing a little bit. they— if they are dancing a little bit. they would be much more visible than we are _ they would be much more visible than we are seeing them now. sort they would be much more visible than we are seeing them now.— we are seeing them now. sort of shimmering- _ we are seeing them now. sort of shimmering. the _ we are seeing them now. sort of shimmering. the oil _ we are seeing them now. sort of shimmering. the oil lamps - we are seeing them now. sort of shimmering. the oil lamps are i we are seeing them now. sort of shimmering. the oil lamps are aj shimmering. the oil lamps are a reason why this room is painted black because there is so much colour here in pompeii but there is a good reason. the colour here in pompeii but there is a good reason-— colour here in pompeii but there is a good reason. the romans think of everything- — a good reason. the romans think of everything- the)! — a good reason. the romans think of everything. they now _ a good reason. the romans think of everything. they now suit _ a good reason. the romans think of everything. they now suit comes - a good reason. the romans think of everything. they now suit comes off these _ everything. they now suit comes off these oil— everything. they now suit comes off these oil lamps and because they are burning _ these oil lamps and because they are burning so _ these oil lamps and because they are burning so many in winter they paint their wails— burning so many in winter they paint their walls black in order to catch their walls black in order to catch the suit— their walls black in order to catch the suit so— their walls black in order to catch the suit so you don't see a. pre—empted it. in contrast to these beautiful black holes you have this floor here. this gorgeous white mosaic floor. you have lots of patent flaws here in prepaid but this is plain. tt patent flaws here in prepaid but this is plain-— this is plain. it is but there is a aood this is plain. it is but there is a good functional _ this is plain. it is but there is a good functional reason, - this is plain. it is but there is a good functional reason, any i this is plain. it is but there is a i good functional reason, any light there _ good functional reason, any light there is— good functional reason, any light there is will reflect off it and this mosaic for is all white, i think— this mosaic for is all white, i think 3— this mosaic for is all white, i think 3 million tessera, but it will black— think 3 million tessera, but it will black reflect up the light so it has a good _ black reflect up the light so it has a good functional use. |

black reflect up the light so it has a good functional use.— black reflect up the light so it has a good functional use. i would 'ust head over here �* a good functional use. i would 'ust head over here and i a good functional use. i would 'ust head over here and see i a good functional use. i would just head over here and see another i head over here and see another artwork. this is so pretty but i think my favourite thing is the dog, the expression. he think my favourite thing is the dog, the expression.— the expression. he looks a bit u-rum the expression. he looks a bit grumpy but — the expression. he looks a bit grumpy but i _ the expression. he looks a bit grumpy but i love _ the expression. he looks a bit grumpy but i love the - the expression. he looks a bit grumpy but i love the fact - the expression. he looks a bit| grumpy but i love the fact that the expression. he looks a bit - grumpy but i love the fact that he has kind — grumpy but i love the fact that he has kind of— grumpy but i love the fact that he has kind of broke in through the fourth _ has kind of broke in through the fourth wall and he is staring out at you _ fourth wall and he is staring out at you you _ fourth wall and he is staring out at you. you captures your gaze. i think for us _ you. you captures your gaze. i think for us as— you. you captures your gaze. i think for us as well— you. you captures your gaze. i think for us as well it draws us into the painting — for us as well it draws us into the painting and gives us a really good connection— painting and gives us a really good connection with the artwork. paint a icture of connection with the artwork. paint a picture of what _ connection with the artwork. paint a picture of what would _ connection with the artwork. paint a picture of what would have - connection with the artwork. paint a picture of what would have been - picture of what would have been happening in this room 2000 years ago. what would it have been used for? �* ., , , ., , ago. what would it have been used for? �* ., , , ., ago. what would it have been used for? �* ., ,, .,, ago. what would it have been used for? ,, , for? around this size has to be used for? around this size has to be used for entertaining. _ for? around this size has to be used for entertaining. this _ for? around this size has to be used for entertaining. this is _ for? around this size has to be used for entertaining. this is a _ for? around this size has to be used for entertaining. this is a wealthy i for entertaining. this is a wealthy house. _ for entertaining. this is a wealthy house, people who need to bring clients _ house, people who need to bring clients into impress them and they will be _ clients into impress them and they will be impressed. they might be dining _ will be impressed. they might be dining here relying on couches. then there _ dining here relying on couches. then there is— dining here relying on couches. then there is a _ dining here relying on couches. then there is a stream of slaves that are hidden _ there is a stream of slaves that are hidden from us until the very last minute, — hidden from us until the very last minute, a — hidden from us until the very last minute, a corridor behind this wall. they— minute, a corridor behind this wall. they come — minute, a corridor behind this wall. they come round with platters of food and — they come round with platters of food and you have to imagine there

is a boisterous conversation, probably— is a boisterous conversation, probably political debate, much as we do _ probably political debate, much as we do now. but there is a lot of entertaining going on here. almost like a -a entertaining going on here. almost like a party room- _ entertaining going on here. almost like a party room. it— entertaining going on here. almost like a party room. it is— entertaining going on here. almost like a party room. it is an - like a party room. it is an absolutely extraordinary room. it is so beautiful and the starkness of the decoration here isjust fantastic. you have to think you are the first people to be setting eyes on this, apart from the archaeologist evangelist, 2000 years. this is a place absolutely present in time, it is incredible. it really is. thank you. those tiles look incredible at the whole thing does. and for viewers in the uk, you can see pompeii: the new dig on monday 15th april at 9pm on bbc two and also on the bbc iplayer. stay with us here on bbc news. hello again. it's been a fairly cloudy start

to the day, but the cloud breaking up for most of us away from the english channel and irish sea coasts, where we'll hang onto some murky conditions through the day. but for most, it's going to feel warm, and we're looking at spells of hazy sunshine. but if you have an allergy to tree pollen, particularly birch, maybe a bit of plane as well as some ash, these are the pollen levels today, moderate to high across most of the country. now, we've had a weather front which has pushed southwards through the morning, but what it's going to do is start to retreat northward. so it's going to bring some patchy rain back through the south—west and also wales. but for most of us it's dry. it's going to be sunny, albeit hazy at times. one of two showers, western scotland, northern ireland, north—west england, the pennines. but temperatures today potentially up to 20 degrees — somewhere in eastern england is most likely for that. so as we head through the evening and overnight, our weatherfront pushing northwards will bring some heavy rain across northern ireland and central southern scotland, where of course the ground is already saturated.

it's going to be a mild night, temperatures eight to about 12 degrees quite widely. so it's a mild start to the day for friday. and on friday, what you'll find is it will be a fairly cloudy start across england and wales. most of that cloud breaking up and it will develop into a warm day. but around the coasts once again we'll hang onto murky conditions, whereas for northern ireland and scotland it's going to be cloudy for you with rain at times and gales developing across the northern and the western isles. temperatures 11 in the north to potentially 21 in the south. and as we head into saturday, once again, we'll start off on a cloudy note across england and wales. that will break up. we'll see some sunshine, but some heavier rain moving in across scotland and also northern ireland. a blustery day, too, with temperatures still on the high side, 20 in london, but starting to cool down in the north. and you can see that illustrated here as we go into the weekend and the early part of next week, as the yellows and ambers are pushed away by the blues,

indicating that the temperatures are on the slide. so the outlook from sunday to thursday remains changeable. it will be windy at times. there will be some rain at times, some showers, wintry in the mountains in scotland. but there'll be some sunshine too.

this is bbc news, the headlines... as iran vows to punish israel for an air strike killing its commanders, president biden says us support for israel is "ironclad". a vietnamese property tycoon could face the death penalty after being accused of defrauding billions of dollars from saigon commercial bank. here in the uk, the post office inquiry continues. two former managers will give evidence on the decisions which led to the wrongful conviction of hundreds of sub—postmasters. and coming up, we have an exclusive look at a stunning new discovery in the ancient city of pompeii. the polish parliament is today starting a debate on liberalising the country 5 abortion laws, which are some of the strictest in the european union. abortion is only allowed when the pregnancy endangers the mothers health, or when it is a result of rape or incest.

let's speak to our correspondent adam easton, who's in warsaw.