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 s 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. first of all, tell us what's happening today is.- first of all, tell us what's ha enin: toda is. . happening today is. the parliament is about to start _ happening today is. the parliament is about to start a _ happening today is. the parliament is about to start a debate _ happening today is. the parliament is about to start a debate in - happening today is. the parliament is about to start a debate in the - is about to start a debate in the coming minutes. a debate that has been described by the government's family and labour minister as unusually important. and one that polish women have been waiting for for 30 years, because this debate is about whether or not the state allows polish women to have abortion on demand up to 12 weeks, and longer in certain other circumstances, for the first time since 1993. as you mentioned, poland has one of the strictest regulations viz of the european union. in the previous

right—wing law and justice government, they presided over heightened restrictions, making it even tighter in 2020, when there was a court ruling which practically outlawed legal abortions in all cases, 98% of cases. so this is something that opinion polls suggest, orsome something that opinion polls suggest, or some at least suggest various growing support for greater access to abortion for women, but the politicians up to now have been reluctant to heed those voices. you mentioned politicians, but am i right in saying this was part of the central campaign of prime minister donald tusk?— donald tusk? yes, prime minister donald tusk? yes, prime minister donald tusk's _ donald tusk? yes, prime minister donald tusk's civic _ donald tusk? yes, prime minister donald tusk's civic coalition, - donald tusk's civic coalition, basically said they would offer abortion on demand up to 12 weeks. donald tusk presides over a coalition government ranging from

left—wing groups to agrarian conservatives, and the left wing are also proposing a bill for abortion on demand for up to 12 weeks. but there is disagreement in the coalition because the agrarian conservatives don't want to have abortion on demand, they want to put theissue abortion on demand, they want to put the issue to a referendum, and not for parliament to decide the issue. but according to at least one survey published in the national press today, the more people in poland support parliament resolving the issue rather than a referendum put to the people. having said all that, this is the early stages, and liberalising abortion in poland will not be easy because you have these differences of opinion in the governing coalition and also the right—wing opposition that will oppose it. and ultimately you have the president of the country, a churchgoing catholic, andrzej duda, who has the power to veto any legislative changes approved by

parliament, and he has indicated he would do so. so it is very unknown as to how this legislative process will actually pan out in the coming days and months.— will actually pan out in the coming days and months. fascinating stuff, adam easton _ days and months. fascinating stuff, adam easton in _ days and months. fascinating stuff, adam easton in warsaw, _ days and months. fascinating stuff, adam easton in warsaw, thank- days and months. fascinating stuff, i adam easton in warsaw, thank you. abortion is a big issue around the world at the moment, including in the us, in a presidential year. the un's nuclear watchdog will hold an emergency meeting in vienna today to discuss a series of drone attacks on the russian—occupied zaporizhzia nuclear power plant in ukraine. the iaea — which has a small team at the plant—— said drones hit a reactor building three times on sunday, endangering nuclear safety. the kremlin claims the strikes were carried out by ukraine. kyiv has denied responsibility, and blames moscow. let's cross over to our correspondent in vienna, bethany bell. what more can you tell us? this is an emergency _ what more can you tell us? this is an emergency meeting _

what more can you tell us? this is an emergency meeting called - what more can you tell us? this is an emergency meeting called by i what more can you tell us? this is i an emergency meeting called by both russia and ukraine to discuss these attacks, these drone strikes on zaporizhzhia. it is unlikely that there will be clarity at this meeting as to who was responsible for those drone strikes. it's interesting that the iaea has blamed neither russia nor ukraine, but its head, rafael grossi, has said that whoever was behind these attacks was playing with fire. he said it was extremely dangerous and reckless to have any kind of military activity close to or on a nuclear plant. this is an appeal he has made repeatedly over the last couple of years, saying there must be no fighting around zaporizhzhia. what saying there must be no fighting around zaporizhzhia.— saying there must be no fighting around zaporizhzhia. what do you think will happen _ around zaporizhzhia. what do you think will happen after _ around zaporizhzhia. what do you think will happen after the - around zaporizhzhia. what do you i think will happen after the meeting? we know that the sides are very

polarised. we have had russia blaming ukraine for these attacks, saying this was dangerous. we have had ukraine saying it was russia who were staging these attacks and ukraine has called on russia to leave zaporizhzhia which is now occupied by the russians and return it to ukrainian control once again. the iaea has passed four resolutions condemning russian activity around zaporizhzhia over the past two years. the last one was last month, where they appealed to russia to leave zaporizhzhia. but this is a complicated diplomatic process. as i said, both russia and ukraine are on the board, so a stormy meeting of words, but not quite clear yet whether one can ascribe blame to either side. whether one can ascribe blame to either side-—

either side. bethany bell, thank ou. we either side. bethany bell, thank you- we are _ either side. bethany bell, thank you. we are getting _ either side. bethany bell, thank you. we are getting reports - either side. bethany bell, thank| you. we are getting reports from reuters that russian overnight strikes completely destroyed a thermal power plant outside the ukrainian capital of kyiv, that's from the interfax news agency quoting a senior company official. there are a number of challenges facing nhs dental care in england, with some people turning to extreme measures to look after their teeth. in newcastle, a number of charities have come together to find a temporary solution to the problem — a mobile dental bus, which treats adults and children for free. 0ur reporter anna collinson has been to see it in action. you're doing great. getting into a dentist is hard. i like looking after my teeth. this is what comes of it — having to have two teeth taken out. just wish i had a dentist. a lot of the children there had more than four decayed teeth in their mouth. all of them do need treatment and should have been seen a long time before this to prevent any

of that happening. this bus is a temporary answer to a growing dental emergency, led by the charity dentaid, and supported by an army of volunteer dental staff and students. there's a lot of fear. we're trying desperately to break down those stigmas. and because it's in a mobile unit, we're taking the vehicle to them. the five—day service is based at newcastle foodbank. our clients see dental treatment and, to a degree, medical treatment as a complete luxury. they are fighting daily to feed and clothe their children, trying to survive in this current cost of living crisis. we have those appointments filled in two hours. we could have filled that dental bus ten times over. really anxious about it, really bad. michelle has just eight teeth left. many need to be removed. you haven't been to the dentist for 30 years.

this is yourfirst... long time. really long, long time. i've got this fear. ijust don't know what it is. and is it giving you pain? but bringing dentists to a place she trusts has helped break that cycle. open for me. she also brought her son, gary, who is deaf. just move your head this way. straightaway he's able to get a temporary cover on a rotten tooth. you 0k? the plan is that you're both going to have treatment at a dental hospital. but that is going to take months, isn't it? rather that than we wouldn't have done it at all. we'd have just been in limbo. one in three children live in poverty in the north—east of england... d, e, decayed. 0n the lower left, e decayed, d decayed. ..which means poorer overall health. it's really harrowing to see the amount of kids that come through where there are just sheer amounts of decay. it's really hard when you're taking out 10, 12, 15 teeth on one child, some of whom are as young

as two or three. i still get really upset when you think, what a shame that this is a preventable problem. put some fluoride varnish on your teeth and make them nice and strong. there's a big drive to reach the young. you're doing amazing. so any child can come for a free check—up. these are amazing. five—year—old river has toothache. there it is. can you point to the sore tooth for me? she's missed six days of school. we've got one abscess. dr taylor finds she needs to go on the bus for further treatment, which we'll see shortly. i'll be as gentle as i can. we've seen many in pain, like mockey... every night i can't sleep and i can't eat properly. ..who didn't have an appointment. i always ask about the dentist. they say it's full, it's full, it's full, it's full, you know? every time when i want to see the dentist, they say it's full. luckily, the team can fit in an extraction. while a cracked tooth

is removed for sheila, who's not had an nhs dentist for two years. today has meant the world to us, having this done. a bit of time pain—free, a nice night's sleep — what does that mean? it'll mean everything. 0h, river, it's raining. it's now river's turn to board the bus. her infected tooth needs removing. it's out, done. that is a big tooth. that was hard to watch, let alone do it. it's the right thing for her to have that tooth taken out. there was an abscess with it, it was infected, she's been up for the last four or five nights, and medication, calpol, is not even touching it. this project has brought short—term respite to this dental desert. but the government says it plans to bring in mobile dental vans. just hours later, river

is home and happy. how are you feeling at the end of today, river, would you say? ten out of ten. i'm a big girl. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

hopes of cheaper borrowing costs in the us have been dashed by a bigger than expected rise in inflation. america's consumer price index for march showed price rises are actually accelerating instead of coming down. the price of goods and services was up 3.5% year—on—year in march — faster than the 3.2% rise seen in february. erin delmore has more from new york. when we saw hotter than expected

inflation reports in the past they were explained away as being seasonal or a one off. but now we have seen three straight consumer price index reports that have come in hotter than expected. and after steep falls from its record high in mid-2022 steep falls from its record high in mid—2022 the rate of inflation has remained stuck for the past three months. energy was a main driver of the increase, and housing costs, which make up a big weighting of the cpi. the fed is trying to bring inflation back down to its 2% target and to do so without spurring an economic downturn. wednesday's inflation readout poured cold water on expectation of a rate cut in june. such a cut would bring down borrowing costs for customers and businesses and be welcome news for president biden as he runs for re—election. he weighed in during a press conference with japan's prime minister. ., .., . ., press conference with japan's prime minister. ., . ., minister. how concerned are you about the fight _ minister. how concerned are you about the fight against _ minister. how concerned are you about the fight against inflation l about the fight against inflation stalling — about the fight against inflation stalling and _ about the fight against inflation stalling and do _ about the fight against inflation stalling and do you _ about the fight against inflation stalling and do you stand - about the fight against inflation stalling and do you stand by - about the fight against inflation. stalling and do you stand by your production— stalling and do you stand by your production for— stalling and do you stand by your production for a _ stalling and do you stand by your production for a rate _ stalling and do you stand by your production for a rate cut? - stalling and do you stand by your production for a rate cut? i- stalling and do you stand by your production for a rate cut? i stand

b m production for a rate cut? i stand by my prediction _ production for a rate cut? i stand by my prediction that _ production for a rate cut? i stand by my prediction that before - production for a rate cut? i stand by my prediction that before the | by my prediction that before the year is _ by my prediction that before the year is out — by my prediction that before the year is out we will see a rate cut. this— year is out we will see a rate cut. this may— year is out we will see a rate cut. this may delay it a month or so. we are not— this may delay it a month or so. we are not sure. — this may delay it a month or so. we are not sure, we don't know what the fed will— are not sure, we don't know what the fed will do _ are not sure, we don't know what the fed will do for certain. but look, we have — fed will do for certain. but look, we have dramatically reduced inflation _ we have dramatically reduced inflation down from 9% down to close to 3%~ _ inflation down from 996 down to close to 396. ,, inflation down from 996 down to close t03%. ,, , inflation down from 996 down to close t0396. ,, , .,.,., to 396. still, thursday's data on the consumer price _ to 396. still, thursday's data on the consumer price index _ to 396. still, thursday's data on the consumer price index could - to 396. still, thursday's data on the consumer price index could offer i consumer price index could offer more clues on inflation's pass ahead. it's time once again for the big names of the gaming industry to gather for the bafta games awards, which will be held in london later. comedian phil wang will host the 20th anniversary of the awards. 2023 was widely considered to be one of the best years ever in gaming — but who will walk away with a coveted golden mask? let's speak to our news reporter, laura cress, who will be on the red carpet. i was quite surprised that these gaming awards have been going two decades. they have only recently gained more prominence, haven't they? gained more prominence, haven't the ? . v �* gained more prominence, haven't the ? ., �*, �* ., gained more prominence, haven't the? �* ., they? that's right. but gaming has been in the — they? that's right. but gaming has been in the mainstream _ they? that's right. but gaming has been in the mainstream for - they? that's right. but gaming has been in the mainstream for a - they? that's right. but gaming has been in the mainstream for a long | been in the mainstream for a long time now, especially in the uk. the

uk is the largest video game sector in europe. i think it's great that after recognises the value of the gaming industry and has been doing so for 20 years now. you gaming industry and has been doing so for 20 years now.— so for 20 years now. you talked about how _ so for 20 years now. you talked about how it — so for 20 years now. you talked about how it is _ so for 20 years now. you talked about how it is such _ so for 20 years now. you talked about how it is such big - so for 20 years now. you talked | about how it is such big business so for 20 years now. you talked . about how it is such big business in the uk. £4] billion about how it is such big business in the uk. £4.7 billion industry, which makes double that of the music industry in terms of sales. that's ri . ht. it's industry in terms of sales. that's right. it's funny, _ industry in terms of sales. that's right. it's funny, we _ industry in terms of sales. that's right. it's funny, we always - industry in terms of sales. that's right. it's funny, we always thinkj right. it's funny, we always think about music being such a great british export, but we should be saying that about gaming. if you think about it, one of the biggest gaming franchises ever, grand theft auto, that started in the uk. i think it's brilliant we have these awards ceremonies because of it has been a difficult year for the gaming industry so it's great we have something to celebrate as well. find something to celebrate as well. and who will win — something to celebrate as well. and who will win the big prizes this year? who will win the big prizes this ear? ~ .. who will win the big prizes this ear? ~ ~ , ., ., year? well, i think, if you wanted to bet, i would _ year? well, i think, if you wanted to bet, i would say—

year? well, i think, if you wanted to bet, i would say probably - to bet, i would say probably baldur�*s gate three. that has done well recently in other awards ceremonies. it's a role—playing game based on dungeons and dragons. but you never know with bafta, they like to put a bubble of surprises in there. possibly dave the diver, a diving game. and also a sushi restaurant management game. you never know who will win out the baftas. �* , ., never know who will win out the baftas. �* ,., ,., , baftas. also some interesting categories — baftas. also some interesting categories that _ baftas. also some interesting categories that are _ baftas. also some interesting categories that are not - baftas. also some interesting categories that are not just i baftas. also some interesting - categories that are notjust about categories that are not just about the best game but also a category for the best compositions. it's a great industry in terms of thinking about video game music. tell us more about video game music. tell us more about that category.— about that category. that's right. like ou about that category. that's right. like you said. — about that category. that's right. like you said, there _ about that category. that's right. like you said, there are - about that category. that's right. like you said, there are some - like you said, there are some fantastic categories. it's interesting how when bafta started out the game awards it used to be best playstation game, best xbox game, but now we have awards that are celebrating best music, which is rightly so. music is fantastic in

games, there are fantastic scores, we have baldur�*s gate three. the legend of zelda as well. assassin's creed and alan wake two. some fantastic scores that take you to a certain place of emotion. there are other categories like performers, celebrating all the actors in the games, narrative as well. there is lots to celebrate and look forward to. ., ., , , lots to celebrate and look forward to. ., ., ,, ., ~ lots to celebrate and look forward to. ., ., ,, ., ., lots to celebrate and look forward to. ., ., ,, .,�* ., �* to. laura cress, thank you, and i'm sure we will— to. laura cress, thank you, and i'm sure we will see _ to. laura cress, thank you, and i'm sure we will see you _ to. laura cress, thank you, and i'm sure we will see you on _ to. laura cress, thank you, and i'm sure we will see you on the - to. laura cress, thank you, and i'm sure we will see you on the red - sure we will see you on the red carpet in a few hours from now. the legendary singer tony bennett died lastjuly at the age of 96. now 700 items from his career are going up for auction. they include personal belongings, his original artwork and bits of memorabilia like microphones from the singer known for hits like i left my heart in san francisco. amongst the items, a letter from martin luther king expected to reach $20,000 to $30,000. i wanted to show some objects that were important to him,

some watches that were given to him that are engraved, one from sinatra, one from lady gaga. i also wanted to give some of the strictly kind of music—based stuff. there are some microphones that he carried around that he always recorded with, they're here. but i also wanted to show and kind of highlight the fact that he was an extraordinary visual artist. he always carried around a sketchbook, some oil paints with him, and so there's a lot of hand—done sketches, many of them documenting sights that you would see of new york city. finally this half hour zendaya hit the red carpet here in london last night. it was for the uk premiere of her new movie challengers — a tense drama set in the world of professional tennis. the actress, who co—stars in the film withjosh 0'connor and mike faist, also produced it — something she says she relished. it's not necessarily a new hat, i've done it before, but i think every time that you do it you learn something new about yourself. you get to learn from your peers and grow and hopefully i think it allows for you to have a seat

at the table to protect yourself and yourfellow actors and community members. but, yeah, i'm definitely proud of it. zen day at the premiere in london last night. schools in england could lose more than £1 billion in funding by the end of the decade because of falling pupil numbers. that's according to the think tank the education policy institute who are also warning that some could be forced to merge orface closure. 0ur reporter simonjones has the details. protests in brighton over plans to shut two primary schools in the area. the local authority is blaming falling pupil numbers and funding issues for a decision it says it is taking with a heavy heart. according to the education policy institute, whose stated aim is to raise standards in classrooms, many other councils will be faced with similar tough

choices of closures, cuts or mergers in the coming years. the department for education estimates that the number of pupils in state funded schools is going to fall by around 800,000 by 2032. and one of the big challenges for schools facing this is that their funding is given out on a per—pupil basis. so when they have falls in student numbers, their overall pot of money goes down, but their costs don't really fall in the same way. so you can imagine it costs a very similar amount to teach a class full of 30 pupils as it does 25 pupils, but their funding they get for those 25 pupils is going to be potentially significantly less. the education policy institute use projections of pupil numbers and the think tank's own school funding model to analyse the potential impact on classrooms. it looked at a scenario in which all schools in england receive a 0.5% real—terms increase in funding per pupil per year. despite that, it predicts overall funding for primary and secondary state schools will fall

to £41.6 billion by 2030 due to demographic changes. it says that would be down from a peak of £42.7 billion in the next academic year. we estimate that we need at least another £3.2 billion going forward to invest properly in schools. so if we lose a billion, you can see the gaps getting even further apart. so this is about innovation, this is about looking at investment in our young people, which, after all, is an investment in the country's future. the department for education describes the think tank's figures as speculative, saying cash for future years is yet to be determined. it says it is increasing overall school funding, including additional money for teachers�* pay and pensions, to more than £60 billion next year, which it describes as the highest level ever in real terms per pupil. it adds that it is up to local authorities to balance the supply and demand of school places in line with changing demographics. simon jones, bbc news.

a farmer from lincolnshire whose land has been flooded for months says he was shocked to learn that he isn't eligible for any compensation. applications opened this week for farmers to apply for money from the government's flood recovery fund. ministers say they are looking at how the scheme can be expanded. 0ur reporter paul murphy has more. so this shed is literally as it was on the day i left the farm on the 3rd ofjanuary... he is known as britain's most flooded farmer but it seems henry ward isn't flooded to the government's requirements. he has been told that most of his farm, to the east of lincoln, which is still surrounded by water, is in the wrong location for a support payment. i felt physically sick when i found out that we are not going to be eligible for this money here. we are literally the most famous flooded farm in the country, we have made global headlines yet i have been told i'm not eligible. when i found that out yesterday,

i literally felt sick, cross, angry, let down and ijust felt i had just been forgotten about. since october and the downpours of storm babet, this is what henry's farm has looked like. it flooded when the bank collapsed on a nearby river but that river is not designated as a major watercourse so this area doesn't qualify for grants of up to £25,000 from the government. does it surprise you they've not been more conscious that you are a special case, a unique case? i literally can't believe it. i stood on the bridge near the tyrwhitt arms pub with the chairman of the environment agency, the minister for flooding, nfu president, looking at 2000 acres of land with two metres of water on it. it didn't even cross my mind that i wouldn't be eligible for this money.

the ongoing issue here is crop loss, you have lost your winter crop, you're not going to get a spring crop, implications on cattle value. absolutely. here is robbie moore meeting henry back injanuary, keen to show he was understanding of what was going on. this is why henry ward is so baffled by today's government funding snub. ifeel like i'm living in some sort of nightmare. 25,000's peanuts anyway and just to be told that i am not eligible, i just never dreamt this would be here. you can see the water level that the floodwater came to in this straw shed. henry ward is entitled to a small payment for a parcel of land elsewhere that was flooded but his main farm remains out of action and his calls for government help continue to go unheeded. paul murphy, bbc news. just before we leave you this hour,

some breaking news that is coming to us from vietnam. a vietnamese property tycoon has been sentenced to death for defrauding a bank of billions of dollars. the 67—year—old was found guilty of embezzlement, bribing state officials and violating bank lending conditions. it's been described as one of the greatest bank fraud is the world has ever seen. we'll have more than that in the next hour. now the weather with carol kirkwood. 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.

well may live from well may london.

this is bbc news. have patronise a property tycoon has been sentenced to death as one of the biggest frauds in his pupils up there was a mere cycling around commanders. president biden says support for israel is anchored. two former post office managers will give evidence to anchor an inquiry on the decisions which led to the wrongful conviction of hundreds of people who ran. it is in the uk. and coming up we have an exclusive look at stunning new discoveries in the ancient city of pompeii. hello, welcome to this hour. in the past two minutes are in vietnam has sentenced a wealthy property developer to death for defrauding a bank of billions of dollars. the 67—year—old was found guilty of

embezzlement, bribing state