this is bbc news. the headlines... a vietnamese property tycoon has been sentenced to death after one of the biggest fraud trials in history. two former post office managers will give evidence to an inquiry, on the decisions which led to the wrongful conviction of hundreds of people who run post offices in the uk. fake stamps circulating in the uk originate from china, a senior minister of parliament has told the bbc. and coming up, we have an exclusive look at stunning new discoveries in the ancient city of pompeii. (pres) now to what's been described as one of the worst miscarriages ofjustice in british legal history — the post office scandal. 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. you say that you are responding to a question on compliance issues. in paragraph 2a, you say is the crown post office limited dealt with public money and had a responsibility to protect the public purse. you expand on that. towards the bottom, four lines up, you say, i cannot recall thinking that any risk or compliance issues arose from post office limited undertaking this role, but with the benefit of hindsight and in light of the wrongful prosecution is, i can see

the parent risk in the prosecution is taking place house and not by an independent law enforcement authority. that can come down. thank you. what do you consider those inherent risks to be. i think the parties —— the passage of time _ i think the parties —— the passage of time has — i think the parties —— the passage of time has shown that conducting the case, — of time has shown that conducting the case, gathering the data, acting as the _ the case, gathering the data, acting as the prosecution, can lead you to as the prosecution, can lead you to a position— as the prosecution, can lead you to a position where you might not think as independently as you should do about— as independently as you should do about the — as independently as you should do about the quality of the information, having disclosed everything, have you presented the case in _ everything, have you presented the case in a _ everything, have you presented the case in a balanced way? and i think those _ case in a balanced way? and i think those kinds — case in a balanced way? and i think those kinds of risks are clearly there — those kinds of risks are clearly there i— those kinds of risks are clearly there. i think the other danger is that potentially, the balance of

probability might be stretched too far in_ probability might be stretched too far in terms of whether to take the case through a legal process or not. can i_ case through a legal process or not. can i ask_ case through a legal process or not. can task you — case through a legal process or not. can i ask you to expand on what you mean by that? i can i ask you to expand on what you mean by that?— mean by that? i think you should onl take mean by that? i think you should only take a _ mean by that? i think you should only take a case _ mean by that? i think you should only take a case on _ mean by that? i think you should only take a case on where - mean by that? i think you should only take a case on where you i mean by that? i think you should i only take a case on where you think that, _ only take a case on where you think that, in— only take a case on where you think that, in lehmans terms, you are certain— that, in lehmans terms, you are certain of— that, in lehmans terms, you are certain of the facts, you are certairr— certain of the facts, you are certain of— certain of the facts, you are certain of what the cases, you are certairr— certain of what the cases, you are certain that — certain of what the cases, you are certain that someone is guilty. it is possible — certain that someone is guilty. it is possible i'm not sure that i've thought— is possible i'm not sure that i've thought this, but it's possible that that 100% picture might change. you might— that 100% picture might change. you might take _ that 100% picture might change. you might take a 90% picture or an 80% picture _ might take a 90% picture or an 80% picture i_ might take a 90% picture or an 80% picture. i never saw that, but that's— picture. i never saw that, but that's the— picture. i never saw that, but that's the risk that i was thinking about— that's the risk that i was thinking about when i wrote that comment. why did it require — about when i wrote that comment. twig did it require hindsight to about when i wrote that comment. "i1: did it require hindsight to identify those risks? i did it require hindsight to identify those risks?— those risks? i think at the time i was not focused _ those risks? i think at the time i was not focused on _ those risks? i think at the time i was not focused on the - those risks? i think at the time i was not focused on the level- those risks? i think at the time i was not focused on the level of. was not focused on the level of control— was not focused on the level of control of— was not focused on the level of control of the level of risks associated with what we can now see. that's _ associated with what we can now see. that's the _ associated with what we can now see. that's the issue. why do you think that was? iiii that's the issue. why do you think that was? ., . ,,

that's the issue. why do you think that was? ., ,., . ,, ., ::' :: that was? if we go back to 2010, if ou see that was? if we go back to 2010, if you see my — that was? if we go back to 2010, if you see my statement, the - that was? if we go back to 2010, if you see my statement, the focus l that was? if we go back to 2010, if| you see my statement, the focus of the business was actually almost entirety— the business was actually almost entirely on the separation of the post office from royal mail group, a new party— post office from royal mail group, a new party coming in from government, the need _ new party coming in from government, the need to— new party coming in from government, the need to refinance the business, which _ the need to refinance the business, which was _ the need to refinance the business, which was fundamental to its long—term existence, because it was coming _ long—term existence, because it was coming to— long—term existence, because it was coming to the end of funding packets with government. more latterly, the bank of— with government. more latterly, the bank of ireland, sort of final markings _ bank of ireland, sort of final markings of the banking crisis from 2008~ _ markings of the banking crisis from 2008~ and — markings of the banking crisis from 2008. and those elements, sad to say, were — 2008. and those elements, sad to say, were actually where the board was fundamentally focused through most of— was fundamentally focused through most of the time that i was with the post office — most of the time that i was with the post office. the most of the time that i was with the ost office. ., . most of the time that i was with the ost office. . . ., post office. the fact he did not identify those _ post office. the fact he did not identify those risks _ post office. the fact he did not identify those risks at - post office. the fact he did not identify those risks at the - post office. the fact he did notl identify those risks at the time, what you think about that now? itirei’ith what you think about that now? with hindsi . ht, what you think about that now? with hindsiuht, it what you think about that now? with

hindsight. it is _ what you think about that now? with hindsight, it is obviously very sad because — hindsight, it is obviously very sad because had we identified those risks, _ because had we identified those risks, we — because had we identified those risks, we would have been able to put risks, we would have been able to but in _ risks, we would have been able to but in place — risks, we would have been able to put in place better control mechanisms and inspection mechanisms of governance, and we didn't. to what of governance, and we didn't. what accept of governance, and we didn't. trr what accept —— to what extent do you accept the responsibility fanatics identifying that risk? by; accept the responsibility fanatics identifying that risk? fissi accept the responsibility fanatics identifying that risk?— identifying that risk? as i said, the structures _ identifying that risk? as i said, the structures were _ identifying that risk? as i said, the structures were there - identifying that risk? as i said, i the structures were there before i came: _ the structures were there before i came, there were certainly not changed — came, there were certainly not changed while i was there, and along with the _ changed while i was there, and along with the rest of the executive team, we didn't— with the rest of the executive team, we didn't review the risk registers or flag _ we didn't review the risk registers or flag this — we didn't review the risk registers or flag this was a potential new risk to— or flag this was a potential new risk to think about. ultimately, i manage — risk to think about. ultimately, i manage that process. do risk to think about. ultimately, i manage that process.— risk to think about. ultimately, i manage that process. do you have any insiaht manage that process. do you have any insi . ht as manage that process. do you have any insight as to — manage that process. do you have any insight as to why _ manage that process. do you have any insight as to why anyone _ manage that process. do you have any insight as to why anyone else - manage that process. do you have any insight as to why anyone else in - manage that process. do you have any insight as to why anyone else in the i insight as to why anyone else in the team did not identify those risks or present them to you? rio. team did not identify those risks or present them to you?— present them to you? no. it's like all risks in — present them to you? no. it's like all risks in the _ present them to you? no. it's like all risks in the risk register. -

present them to you? no. it's like all risks in the risk register. if - all risks in the risk register. if you _ all risks in the risk register. if you asked _ all risks in the risk register. if you asked me was covid—19 on that risk register, no it wasn't. you become — risk register, no it wasn't. you become aware of things, don't you, and then— become aware of things, don't you, and then you react to them. and this is one _ and then you react to them. and this is one of— and then you react to them. and this is one of those that we did not pick up is one of those that we did not pick up at _ is one of those that we did not pick up at the _ is one of those that we did not pick up at the time and should have done. i 'ust up at the time and should have done. ijust want— up at the time and should have done. ijust want to — up at the time and should have done. ijust want to be clear about what they should — ijust want to be clear about what they should have _ ijust want to be clear about what they should have done _ ijust want to be clear about what they should have done means - i just want to be clear about what . they should have done means in that context _ they should have done means in that context it _ they should have done means in that context it is — they should have done means in that context it is a — they should have done means in that context. it is a fee _ they should have done means in that context. it is a fee that _ they should have done means in that context. it is a fee that has - context. it is a fee that has surfaced _ context. it is a fee that has surfaced in— context. it is a fee that has surfaced in various - context. it is a fee that has surfaced in various forms . context. it is a fee that has - surfaced in various forms throughout the inquiry, — surfaced in various forms throughout the inquiry, and _ surfaced in various forms throughout the inquiry, and to— surfaced in various forms throughout the inquiry, and to put— surfaced in various forms throughout the inquiry, and to put it _ surfaced in various forms throughout the inquiry, and to put it in - surfaced in various forms throughout the inquiry, and to put it in this- the inquiry, and to put it in this way, _ the inquiry, and to put it in this way, the — the inquiry, and to put it in this way, the debate _ the inquiry, and to put it in this way, the debate between - the inquiry, and to put it in this. way, the debate between foresight and hindsight _ way, the debate between foresight and hindsight. my— way, the debate between foresight and hindsight. my understanding . way, the debate between foresight| and hindsight. my understanding of your evidence — and hindsight. my understanding of your evidence as— and hindsight. my understanding of your evidence as this, _ and hindsight. my understanding of your evidence as this, and - and hindsight. my understanding of your evidence as this, and please l your evidence as this, and please correct _ your evidence as this, and please correct me — your evidence as this, and please correct me if— your evidence as this, and please correct me if i'm _ your evidence as this, and please correct me if i'm wrong. - your evidence as this, and please correct me if i'm wrong. all- your evidence as this, and pleasel correct me if i'm wrong. all of the risks— correct me if i'm wrong. all of the risks which— correct me if i'm wrong. all of the risks which you _ correct me if i'm wrong. all of the risks which you have _ correct me if i'm wrong. all of the risks which you have a _ correct me if i'm wrong. all of the risks which you have a looser- correct me if i'm wrong. all of the i risks which you have a looser dated in relation — risks which you have a looser dated in relation to — risks which you have a looser dated in relation to paragraph _ risks which you have a looser dated in relation to paragraph 24 - risks which you have a looser dated in relation to paragraph 24 were . in relation to paragraph 24 were foreseeable _ in relation to paragraph 24 were foreseeable risks— in relation to paragraph 24 were foreseeable risks at _ in relation to paragraph 24 were foreseeable risks at the - in relation to paragraph 24 were foreseeable risks at the time. . foreseeable risks at the time. however. _ foreseeable risks at the time. however, because _ foreseeable risks at the time. however, because there - foreseeable risks at the time. however, because there were foreseeable risks at the time. - however, because there were other, as you _ however, because there were other, as you saw— however, because there were other, as you saw it. — however, because there were other, as you saw it. and— however, because there were other, as you saw it, and i'm _ however, because there were other, as you saw it, and i'm not _ as you saw it, and i'm not

challenging _ as you saw it, and i'm not challenging you _ as you saw it, and i'm not challenging you on - as you saw it, and i'm not challenging you on this i as you saw it, and i'm not challenging you on this at| as you saw it, and i'm not i challenging you on this at the moment, _ challenging you on this at the moment, more _ challenging you on this at the moment, more important- challenging you on this at the i moment, more important things to consider— moment, more important things to consider in — moment, more important things to consider in the _ moment, more important things to consider in the business, _ moment, more important things to consider in the business, they- moment, more important things to consider in the business, they tooki consider in the business, they took up consider in the business, they took up your— consider in the business, they took up your thought _ consider in the business, they took up your thought processes, - consider in the business, they took up your thought processes, ratherl up your thought processes, rather than the _ up your thought processes, rather than the foreseeable _ up your thought processes, rather than the foreseeable risks - up your thought processes, rather than the foreseeable risks which l than the foreseeable risks which you've _ than the foreseeable risks which you've identified. _ than the foreseeable risks which you've identified. is— than the foreseeable risks which you've identified. is that - than the foreseeable risks which you've identified. is that fair? i you've identified. is that fair? yes, _ you've identified. is that fair? yes. i— you've identified. is that fair? yes. ithink— you've identified. is that fair? yes, i think so. _ you've identified. is that fair? yes, i think so.— you've identified. is that fair? yes, i think so. yes, fine. thank ou, yes, i think so. yes, fine. thank you. sir- — yes, i think so. yes, fine. thank you. sir- i— yes, i think so. yes, fine. thank you. sir- ijust— yes, i think so. yes, fine. thank you, sir. ijust want _ yes, i think so. yes, fine. thank you, sir. i just want to _ yes, i think so. yes, fine. thank you, sir. ijust want to come i yes, i think so. yes, fine. thank. you, sir. ijust want to come before we move onto a different topic to the monthly legal reports. you refer to these earlier and said it would include list of legal cases. was it a list of all cases that post office limited were involved with in terms of prosecutions? i limited were involved with in terms of prosecutions?— of prosecutions? i can't be certain of prosecutions? i can't be certain ofthe of prosecutions? i can't be certain of the detail— of prosecutions? i can't be certain of the detail here _ of prosecutions? i can't be certain of the detail here because - of prosecutions? i can't be certain of the detail here because it i of prosecutions? i can't be certain of the detail here because it was i of prosecutions? i can't be certain | of the detail here because it was a lon- of the detail here because it was a long time — of the detail here because it was a long time ago, but i do recall that, as with _ long time ago, but i do recall that, as with all— long time ago, but i do recall that, as with all the other departments, they were — as with all the other departments, they were written out their performance overview of what was happening, and inside the legal one would _ happening, and inside the legal one would have been a summary of i think each of— would have been a summary of i think each of the _ would have been a summary of i think each of the legal cases they were

acting _ each of the legal cases they were acting on— each of the legal cases they were acting on that point of time. the status— acting on that point of time. the status of— acting on that point of time. the status of that and if we needed to talk about— status of that and if we needed to talk about them because they were flagged _ talk about them because they were flagged as something that needs to be resolved or an issue here, then they would — be resolved or an issue here, then they would have been discussed at meetings — they would have been discussed at meetints. ., ., meetings. you said if we needed to talk about them _ meetings. you said if we needed to talk about them because _ meetings. you said if we needed to talk about them because they i meetings. you said if we needed to talk about them because they were i talk about them because they were flagged. can you recall a time when you did talk about them?— you did talk about them? i'm not certain but _ you did talk about them? i'm not certain but i _ you did talk about them? i'm not certain but i would _ you did talk about them? i'm not certain but i would imagine i you did talk about them? i'm not certain but i would imagine they| certain but i would imagine they will would have talked about one of the cases. — will would have talked about one of the cases, but i'm not certain. weti— the cases, but i'm not certain. we'll come _ the cases, but i'm not certain. we'll come to that in due course. you focus back on when you arrived. i want to look at your knowledge of the it system. it's probably a helpful at this point to cover some terminology. the it system that was in place between or used between 2000 and 2012 i was refers to as

legacy horizon following the group litigation use of words. and the version of horizon being brought in when you became managing director, i'm going to refer to that as horizon online. ok. in your statement, you say that you are not aware of any bugs, errors or defects in horizon the it system when you joined. i assume that refers to legacy horizon. it joined. i assume that refers to legacy horizon.— joined. i assume that refers to legacy horizon. it actually refer to all of it because _ legacy horizon. it actually refer to all of it because when _ legacy horizon. it actually refer to all of it because when i _ legacy horizon. it actually refer to all of it because when ijoined i i all of it because when ijoined i didn't— all of it because when ijoined i didn't know anything about horizon other— didn't know anything about horizon other than— didn't know anything about horizon other than it was the system that was used — other than it was the system that was used to operate the business. did you _ was used to operate the business. did you think that there horizon it system would have been completely free of bugs, errors and defects? br; free of bugs, errors and defects? by the horizon system, do you mean tegacy— the horizon system, do you mean tegacy or~~~ — the horizon system, do you mean legacy or... firstly legacy horizon.

firstly, _ legacy or... firstly legacy horizon. firstly, in— legacy or... firstly legacy horizon. firstly, in terms of the legacy system, — firstly, in terms of the legacy system, it— firstly, in terms of the legacy system, it would have been in use for many— system, it would have been in use for many years. i did not envisage there _ for many years. i did not envisage there will— for many years. i did not envisage there will be material problems with it at that _ there will be material problems with it at that point. in terms of the online — it at that point. in terms of the online system, i was aware that we would _ online system, i was aware that we would be _ online system, i was aware that we would be going through pilot very quickly— would be going through pilot very quickly into my ten year, as no doubt — quickly into my ten year, as no doubt we — quickly into my ten year, as no doubt we will discuss in a minute. i was aware — doubt we will discuss in a minute. i was aware that there were problems with freezing accounts, and it didn't— with freezing accounts, and it didn't strike me as particularly unusual— didn't strike me as particularly unusual with the new system coming in for— unusual with the new system coming in for there _ unusual with the new system coming in for there to be a bug of some sort _ in for there to be a bug of some sort that— in for there to be a bug of some sort that needed to be resolved. when _ sort that needed to be resolved. when you — sort that needed to be resolved. when you spoke about legacy horizon... when you spoke about legacy horizon- - -_ when you spoke about legacy horizon... . ., ., , horizon... lets leave that inquiry for now. horizon. .. lets leave that inquiry for new if— horizon... lets leave that inquiry for now. if you _ horizon... lets leave that inquiry for now. if you want _ horizon... lets leave that inquiry for now. if you want to _ horizon... lets leave that inquiry for now. if you want to stay i horizon... lets leave that inquiry i for now. if you want to stay across it, you can scan this qr code, if you are in the uk. you can see it on their screen there. if you scan that on your phone, it will take you straight to a live stream we are

running on the bbc in the uk. if you would like to follow it from around the world, we also have regular updates on the bbc news website. it has updates on events happening in central london on the post office inquiry. 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. our 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 ok? 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. on 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. 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, which is also warning that some schools could be forced to merge, or close down. 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're looking at how the scheme can be expanded. 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. now it's a big day in the games industry —

the bafta gaming awards take place later today in london. gaming is big business here in the uk — sales topped more than £4.7 billion last year — more than double that of the music industry. this marks the twentieth year of the gaming baftas. 2023 was widely considered to be one of the best years ever in the industry. our reporter laura cress looked ahead to the awards this evening. gaming has been in the mainstream for a long, long time now, especially in the uk. the uk is the largest video game sector in europe. i think it's great that bafta recognises the value of the gaming industry and has been doing so for 20 years now. you talked about how it is such big business in the uk. a £4.7 billion industry, which makes double that of the music industry in terms of sales. that's 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 it has been a difficult year for the gaming industry so it's great we have something to celebrate as well. and who will win the big prizes this year? well, i think, if you wanted to bet, i would say probably baldur�*s gate 3. that has done well recently in other awards ceremonies. that's a good one. it's a role—playing game based on dungeons and dragons. but you never know with bafta, they like to put a couple of surprises in there. possibly dave the diver, a diving game. and also a sushi restaurant management game. you never know who will win at the baftas. also some interesting 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 that category. that's right.

like you said, there are some fantastic categories. it's interesting how when bafta started out the game awards it used to be just 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 3 again nominated. the legend of zelda as well. assassin's creed and alan wake 2. 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, there's narrative as well. there is lots to celebrate and look forward to. we will have full coverage of the gaming baftas later in we will have full coverage of the gaming baftas later in the we will have full coverage of the gaming baftas later in the day we will have full coverage of the gaming baftas later in the day on bbc news. the legendary singer tony bennett died last july at the age of 96.

now, around 700 items from his career are going up for auction. (00v)they include personal belongs, his original for auction. they include personal belongs, his original artwork and bits of memorabilia like microphones from the singer, who's best—known for songs like i left my heart in san francisco. among the items — a letter from martin luther king, which is expected to fetch up to 30 thousand dollars. 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. now it's time for a look at 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 or two showers, western scotland, northern ireland, north—west england, the pennines. 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.

live from london. this is bbc news.

several loud explosions having reported in ukraine. a vietnamese property tycoon has been sentenced to death, after one of the biggest corruption trials in history. as iran vows to punish israel for an air strike killing its commanders — president biden says us support for israel is "iron—clad". two former post office managers are giving evidence to an inquiry, on the decisions which led to the wrongful conviction of hundreds of people who run post offices in the uk. and coming up — we have an exclusive look at stunning new discoveries in the ancient city of pompeii. hello. welcome to the programme.