our latest headlines — the american footballer turned at peter who was controversially cleared of murder has died of cancer of the age of 76 —— turned actor. he will forever be associated with this notorious car chase. millions of americans watched it on live television. it ended when he surrendered to the police. also in the programme, perform or po box apologises for celebrating conviction of a pregnant sub—postmistress, who was eventually jailed. israel is on high alert after iran vowed it to take vengeance for the killing of its commanders at a consulate in syria. and also coming up on ukraine asks the west for more defences after a wave of drone attacks hit civilian infrastructure,

leaving many people without power. hello, welcome to the world today, an hour of international news. he was one of the most divisive figures in modern america. oj simpson has died at the age of 76. he was a football star and turned into a movie star, and then a murder suspect. it became known as the trial of the century. our los angeles correspondent emma vardy has been looking back at his life. watched by millions, oj simpson famously led police on a car chase through los angeles. on a car chase through los angeles after becoming the main suspect in the murder of his ex—wife and herfriend. from an impoverished childhood,

he had gone on to become one of the greatest american football players in history, and a hollywood actor. but he will be forever remembered for his nine—month televised trial for the double murder that transfixed america. accused of killing his former wife in a jealous rage, at one point, oj simpson was shown struggling to try on a pair of gloves found at the crime scene. if it doesn't fit, you must acquit. rn thought james simpson, not guilty of the crime of murder... orenthaljames simpson, not guilty of the crime of murder... the trial ended in a not—guilty verdict, which divided the community, seen in some communities is a case of the white police force trying to frame the star. the journalist who first interviewed him after his acquittal said his life story continued to intrigue audiences long after oj to intrigue audiences long after oj simpson disappeared from public life. it is a bit surreal. i mean, we all can go at any moment, but to think about, as you read, who oj simpson was, this star running back, arguably at his time, the greatest running back

of all time in the nfl, then to become a pitchman and a movie star, and then, you know, the tragedy that befell the goldman family. but later, he did go to jail, having been charged with armed robbery after a confrontation in las vegas with two sports memorabilia dealers. he was released in 2017 after nine years behind bars. his family wrote on social media that he died of cancer on wednesday surrounded by his children and grandchildren. oj simpson will be remembered for his rags—to—riches story and tragic fall from grace, which left the unresolved question in popular culture ever since over whether justice was ever truly served. emma vardy, bbc news, los angeles. i'v e i've been smoking to our —— speaking to will vernon.

he was a college football star and he went on to play for the buffalo bills. he received numerous awards and he was indicted into the pro football hall of fame in 1985. he then started a career as a hollywood celebrity. he was in films and services. he's best known for that mark murder trial. when he was accused of killing his ex—wife nicole brown and herfriend ron goldman. after he was charged, we had a car checked —— the iconic low speed car chase. that was one of the most, believe or not, well well—publicized events in american history. 95 million americans want that. driving in a white ford

bronco. he had some sort of car chase, and then burger �*s house. even president clinton was apparently watching the fee —— back to his house. i think the reason it was so well observed was firstly because this was celebrity, sporting sadar, a hollywood star. the detail of the killing was particular group and. ., �* , ~ of the killing was particular group and. . �* , ~ ., nick hamilton is a reporter and host at nitecast media and sirius xm broadcasting company.

thanks very much for being with us. i think i'm right in saying that you met oj simpson. tell us about him. once again, thank you for having me. i came across oj in las vegas years ago. really down to earth guy, really cool guy. he was kind of a guy who you would watch a game with, that type of life. he wasn't the, like some celebrities are, kind of standoffish and arrogant at times, but he was really down to earth. people still give him respect, give him love, because he's thejuice. did you admire him? he was an american amazing american football star and made american amazing american football starand made in american amazing american football star and made in hollywood as well. when you look at is career, going from a heisman trophy winner and going onto the buffalo and arguably acquiring a record and earning a

record over 2000 yards and just 1a games. it has never been broken to this day. moving onto the san francisco 49ers in achieving success a pitchman. obviously doing commercials. the most for payment has to be the commercial running through the airport. i think when you look at oj and what he's been able to do entering into hollywood as a black athlete at that time, something that wasn't really happening for a lot of black athletes, like we see right now. i think he definitely set a precedent. he was a very talented man in so many ways. but he was also... many people will say he was also a double murder. ~ , ., , ., murder. well, people have their oinions murder. well, people have their opinions and _ murder. well, people have their opinions and they _ murder. well, people have their opinions and they have - murder. well, people have their opinions and they have a - murder. well, people have their opinions and they have a right . murder. well, people have their| opinions and they have a right to their opinions. but according to the court of law, he was acquitted of both murders. some people think he

did, some people think he didn't. we don't know. none of us know because unfortunately, none of us were there at the time of the gruesome attack. i think people are left their own devices and thoughts, and it's unfortunate because oj was much more than the trial of the century, what he was able to accomplish and what he was able to accomplish and what he did for other people, especially the brown family, who later turned on him as a result for that murder. it's interesting to see how people will remember oj. he was also appearing on a weekly podcast where he gave his football knowledge during the season. none of us knew he even had cancer or that he was battling cancer, which is really unfortunate, and i think today is a day where you can kind of leave the trial of to the side and just remember him for the athlete and the entertainment that he was. but remember him for the athlete and the entertainment that he was.— entertainment that he was. but 'ust briefl , entertainment that he was. but 'ust briefly. you — entertainment that he was. but 'ust briefly. you said fl

entertainment that he was. but 'ust briefly, you said he i entertainment that he was. but 'ust briefly, you said he was i entertainment that he was. butjust briefly, you said he was acquitted . briefly, you said he was acquitted of that trial, but then of course, the goldman and brown families pursued a wrongful death lawsuit. but his trial did divide america in many ways. it but his trial did divide america in many ways-_ many ways. it absolutely did, it also showed — many ways. it absolutely did, it also showed the _ many ways. it absolutely did, it also showed the racism - many ways. it absolutely did, it also showed the racism and - many ways. it absolutely did, it - also showed the racism and bigotry that goes through the american justice system when it comes to black people and people of colours, but vertically black people in the mid—90 —— people of colour. as many people have said, wrongfully convicted of certain crimes because of the evidence, and it shows that in this particular trial. whether you think he was guilty or innocent, again, according to the court of law, he was found not guilty. it showed a lot of flaws in our american justice system which again continued to divide this country into two america's. hick

continued to divide this country into two america's. nick hamilton, thank ou into two america's. nick hamilton, thank you very _ into two america's. nick hamilton, thank you very much _ into two america's. nick hamilton, thank you very much indeed. - into two america's. nick hamilton, thank you very much indeed. nightj thank you very much indeed. night cast media and serious xm. thank you for your memories. here in the united kingdom... at the post office inquiry the former managing director, david smith, has apologised for an email he sent, saying a pregnant sub—postmistress's prison sentence was "brilliant news. " seema misra, was jailed for 15—months in november 2010 — the conviction was quashed 11 years later in 2021. mr smith said he was told the horizon it system was our business editor simonjack reports. david smith only ran the post office from april to october in 2010, but he was in charge when seema misra was convicted of false accounting and sent to prison based on records from the post office's horizon computer system. at the time, this is the e—mail he sent to post office lawyers. today, he had this to say. looking at it through their eyes

rather than through mine, you can see that it may have caused substantial... ..upset, and i really do apologise for that. seema was a mother and pregnant when jailed. she didn't accept today's apology. they need to apologise to my ten—year—old. you know, they took his mum away on his birthday. i was eight weeks pregnant. so, you know, they need to apologise to my younger son. it's terrible. i haven't accepted the apologies. you had to go to jail. should other people responsible for the scandal have to go to jail? post office, royal mail, each and every single person responsible for the scandal, you need to put them behind the bars. i was sent to prison without any facts and evidence. now there is a whole list of people with lots of evidence. what are we waiting for? david smith insists his brilliant news e—mail was because it was evidence that horizon was not the problem, but lawyers for the postmasters say it was evidence that there was a circular and cynical logic

that court convictions prove that horizon could be trusted even when they knew it could not. |you were deliberately closing your| eyes to problems with the integrity of horizon data, weren't you? no. and you were encouraging your staff to pursue a trial as another method of shoring up a problem system which you knew had serious question marks over it. what do you say to the misra family? mr smith, what do you say to the misra family? - david smith exited the stage today. up tomorrow, adam crozier, former chairman of the royal mail, which owned the post office at the time of the scandal. simonjack, bbc news, at the post office inquiry. israel is on high alert amid fears that its arch enemy — iran — could mount an imminent attack. it would be in retaliation for the recent killing of senior iranian commanders in syria. us presidentjoe biden says american support for israel is what he called iron—clad.

the head of us forces in the region is in israel to discuss the iranian threat. mr biden warned that iran is threatening to launch a "significant attack" after the iranian consulate in damascus was hit ten days ago. it comes after iran's supreme leader said israel will be punished for the attack on its consulate, which he said was like an attack on iran itself. meanwhile, the political leader of hamas says there'll be no change in its demands for a permanent ceasefire in gaza, despite the killing of three of his sons in an israeli air strike. this is what the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu had to say. translation: netan ahu had to sa . ~ ., . ., times. translation: we are in challenging times. we translation: we are in challenging times- we are _ translation: we are in challenging times. we are in _ translation: we are in challenging times. we are in the _ translation: we are in challenging times. we are in the middle - translation: we are in challenging times. we are in the middle of- translation: we are in challenging times. we are in the middle of the i times. we are in the middle of the war in gaza, which continues in full force. at the same time, we continue our nonstop efforts to return our hostages. but we are also preparing for scenarios of challenges from other arenas. we established a

simple principle — whoever hurts us, we hurt him. we are preparing to meet the security needs of the state of israel both in defence and attack. that's the israeli prime minister. earlier, i got this update from james landale. i think there's properly an element of anxiety — i think there's properly an element of anxiety. remember, they have listened _ of anxiety. remember, they have listened and heard the threats of an attack _ listened and heard the threats of an attack by _ listened and heard the threats of an attack by iran before, but they know that their _ attack by iran before, but they know that their country has in the last couple _ that their country has in the last couple weeks attacked iranian targets — couple weeks attacked iranian targets pretty firmly, as you said in the _ targets pretty firmly, as you said in the introduction there. destroying the iranian consulate in damascus, — destroying the iranian consulate in damascus, killing a number of senior generals _ damascus, killing a number of senior generals. there is an expectation that iran — generals. there is an expectation that iran will feel it has to make some _ that iran will feel it has to make some response that. but precisely what and — some response that. but precisely what and how it is very much a matter— what and how it is very much a

matter for— what and how it is very much a matter for discussion. but is being taken _ matter for discussion. but is being taken seriously enough or not just benjamin — taken seriously enough or not just benjamin netanyahu as you just heard, — benjamin netanyahu as you just heard, but also the us and its allies— heard, but also the us and its allies to — heard, but also the us and its allies to send as many signals as possible — allies to send as many signals as possible to tehran to try to deter the scale — possible to tehran to try to deter the scale and the severity of that response — the scale and the severity of that response. so, the president of the united _ response. so, the president of the united states saying that us support is ironclad, there's a us general who's_ is ironclad, there's a us general who's been_ is ironclad, there's a us general who's been sent here to israel to have _ who's been sent here to israel to have tatks — who's been sent here to israel to have talks about the reigning threat, — have talks about the reigning threat, we think. private channels to iran _ threat, we think. private channels to iran saying restraint, restraint, restraint — to iran saying restraint, restraint, restraint. whether that achieves its name _ restraint. whether that achieves its name remains to be seen, but that is the messaging. name remains to be seen, but that is the messaging-— the messaging. james landale with the messaging. james landale with the latest. the messaging. james landale with the latest- so _ the messaging. james landale with the latest. so to _ the messaging. james landale with the latest. so to come. _ more on the death of oj simpson,

the sports star who's murder trial gripped millions around the world. and we'll have more on the situation in ukraine, where power plants continue to come under russian attack. around the world and across the uk. this is the world today on bbc news.

the metropolitan police said... caroline flack was facing prosecution for assaulting her boyfriend when she took her own life. the police a new witness evidence may be available. her mother repeatedly criticise how police handled the case. caroline flack was one of the uk's most popular and successful television presenters... let's talk love... ..appearing on shows like love island...

caroline... ..and winning strictly come dancing. but in late 2019, she was accused of assaulting her boyfriend. months later, she took her own life. she was a0. caroline flack�*s mother christine has always believed her daughter should not have been charged. it just seems wrong. i don't know whether they're covering something. there were reports and now it doesn't seem enough to have charged her or whether it was just being done on the spur of the moment. the crown prosecution service had recommended that caroline was cautioned. but scotland yard appealed that, and it's those events that will be reinvestigated. the met police say the new inquiries relate to the actions of officers in appealing an initial decision by the crown prosecution service not to charge miss flack and because new witness evidence caroline's family believe she was treated differently because she was famous —

an accusation the met have denied. today, christine flack has said she still has unanswered questions and says she won't stop until she gets the truth. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. russia has attacked critical infrastructure in ukraine, leaving more than 200,000 people with power cuts. urging the west not to turn a blind eye to russia's continuing attacks. sirens this was kyiv overnight. residents headed underground for safety in metro stations. almost a third of the strikes made it through ukraine's air defences. near kyiv, russian attacks hit a major coal

power plants. here are some verified pictures with smoke and fire spreading around it. when comes in the northeast, kharkiv�*s power plants have again been hit. here's the latest from our eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford. she spoke to me a short time ago from kharkiv. �* ., spoke to me a short time ago from kharkiv. . ., ., ., . ,, . kharkiv. another attack which hit another substation _ kharkiv. another attack which hit another substation and _ kharkiv. another attack which hit| another substation and damaging another substation and damaging another power plant, so you can see that this is a deliberate and sustained and systematic attack. that major power plant again, completely destroyed. i spoke to the boss of the company who ran that power station, who said everything was gone — the transformers, general leaders, the turbines —— generators. they are saying they simply don't have the capacity to defend

everything in the country. sarah rainsford there. _ let's cross to dr alexander rodnyansky, an assistant professor of economics at the university of cambridge, and an economic adviser to ukraine's president zelensky. thank you for being with us. let's talk about this attack, because of course, we normally talk about the front line and the battles between the two armies. but this is very much a civilian infrastructure, which leaves people, for example, without power or electricity. that is all part of the war as well. that's exactly right and that's nothing new, unfortunately. we've been able to observe it throughout the last two years. the russians have tried to degrade our energy infrastructure all the time. it's just now become more evident. this has been widely said by everyone,

including our president. every representative is calling for more weapons and air defence, so we essentially get tired of repeating it, i know it's conspicuous to everyone a involved and part of russia's warfare to crush the will of ukrainian people. share russia's warfare to crush the will of ukrainian people.— russia's warfare to crush the will of ukrainian people. are you worried that the west _ of ukrainian people. are you worried that the west is _ of ukrainian people. are you worried that the west is sort _ of ukrainian people. are you worried that the west is sort of _ of ukrainian people. are you worried that the west is sort of beginning . that the west is sort of beginning to turn its back on ukraine? i would be reluctant — to turn its back on ukraine? i would be reluctant to _ to turn its back on ukraine? i would be reluctant to phrase _ to turn its back on ukraine? i would be reluctant to phrase it _ to turn its back on ukraine? i would be reluctant to phrase it like - be reluctant to phrase it like that, but clearly, we're lacking support. we're lacking the weapons we need to defend ourselves, we're constantly subject to attacks from the air, as you can see. there's little to explain, to be honest. we need more urgent support and we need to make sure that we can do whatever is at our disposal to crush russia to help us defeat russia, whether it's militarily or economically. we've

seen small defeats and setbacks when it comes to sanctions both personal and... that's yet another front line. it needs more improvement. and line. it needs more improvement. and ou're not line. it needs more improvement. and you're not getting the support you want from the united states in particular, and that could get worse if donald trump wins the election for the white house in november because he's already said he doesn't want to keep supplying ukraine with money and weapons. how worried are you about that. 17 money and weapons. how worried are you about that-— you about that. ? i'm worried about any development _ you about that. ? i'm worried about any development on _ you about that. ? i'm worried about any development on the _ you about that. ? i'm worried about any development on the political i any development on the political battlefield. we don't know what will happen if donald trump becomes president. we are taking serious any statements out there, but it remains to be seen. he was already president and we've had quite a relation back them. hopefully the support will not linger and there'll be more action towards helping ukraine if you should become president. we'll see. we were talking about the civilian impact from these attacks that we

see so often on infrastructure. people have to run down to the air raid shelters, the metro stations. what would you say is the morale of people, ordinary civilians in ukraine, but also the troops on the front line who have been there for so long, so many months, fighting the russians? it’s so long, so many months, fighting the russians?— the russians? it's no secret that ou the russians? it's no secret that you consider— the russians? it's no secret that you consider when _ the russians? it's no secret that you consider when you - the russians? it's no secret that you consider when you are - the russians? it's no secret that i you consider when you are fighting the russians? it's no secret that - you consider when you are fighting a fully fledged war that certainly there are elements of that. if you ask social default... ask social you there are elements of that. if you ask social you see the overwhelming majority in any pull that the ukrainian population is overwhelmingly behind defending our country, behind making sure we come out on top. nobody wants to give up, nobody wants to essentially leave anything to the russians, and we're still set and targeting towards liberating our country. hopefully

we'll be successful. we were hoping it was set in sooner. so far, there's not enough support and is obviously certain. just there's not enough support and is obviously certain.— obviously certain. just very briefl , obviously certain. just very briefly. do _ obviously certain. just very briefly, do you _ obviously certain. just very briefly, do you still - obviously certain. just very briefly, do you still think. obviously certain. just very l briefly, do you still think this obviously certain. just very - briefly, do you still think this is a war that ukraine can win? certainly. it will take obviously a lot for us to make sure that we can win, and it will obviously necessitate us overcoming these difficulties that we're currently facing. but it can be done and remember, russia is not some stable system. we've seen it can basically collapse or face the risk of a collapse or face the risk of a collapse at any moment. but we can't be hoping for that.— be hoping for that. alexander rodnyansky, _ be hoping for that. alexander rodnyansky, adviser - be hoping for that. alexander rodnyansky, adviser to - be hoping for that. alexander rodnyansky, adviser to the l be hoping for that. alexander - rodnyansky, adviser to the president of ukraine, thank you very much indeed. you stay with us. hello there.

the weather today has been very mild indeed. for april, temperatures reached 20 degrees celsius in parts of norfolk. meanwhile, in northern ireland, the 17 degrees were recorded here made it northern ireland's warmest day of the year so far. we did have south—westerly winds dragging in the mild air, but they also brought a lot of cloud to wales and southwest england. whereas the best of the sunshine, really, was across the midlands, northern england and into parts of scotland. we've got a similar set of weather wise really into friday. the jet stream continues to drag up some very mild air from near the azores, moves it along into parts of the uk, and that's going to again boost the temperatures on friday into the high teens to low 20s. aberdeen seeing temperatures seven degrees celsius above average. now, before we get there, overnight tonight, we're looking at a few patches of rain coming and going across northern ireland, scotland and northern england. there'll be a few mist and fog patches around as well. the south—westerly winds continue to bring that mild air across the uk. so a mild night, temperatures staying up into double figures in most places.

tomorrow, mild start to the mist and fog patches slowly lifting and clearing, but the chance of seeing sunshine and more sunshine across england and wales. whereas the thicker cloud will be in parts of scotland, northern ireland and the far north of england, where we'll have a few patches of rain from time to time. 18 in aberdeen, top temperatures across eastern england likely to hit around 21 degrees celsius, which is going to get close to the highest temperature ever recorded so far this year in the whole of the uk. all change, though, as we head into the weekend, we'll start to see some rain and cooler weather work into northern ireland, scotland and northern england, holding on to something a little bit warmer again for parts of wales, the midlands, east anglia and southern counties of england. but the change will come. as we head into sunday and next week, thejet stream pattern changes completely and we'll start to get these north start to get these northwesterly winds dragging in much cooler weather conditions. and so, for the second half of the weekend, we're looking at lots of showers for scotland and northern ireland. some of those will have some hail mixed in, one or two showers for the northwest of both england and wales, still largely dry across east anglia and southeast england,

but temperatures back close to average, whereas further north, the temperatures if anything could be a degree or so below average. what follows then, into monday is more general outbreaks of rain and quite a cool windy day. sunshine and showers tuesday and wednesday, and then high pressure bringing drier weather towards the end of the week.

this is the world today from bbc news, the headlines former american football star turned murder suspect, oj simpson, has died at the age of 76. his family said simpson "succumbed to his battle with cancer". he'll always be associated with this notorious car chase. millions of americans watched it on live tv, it ended when he surrendered to police. the bill in your. the billionaire property tycoon sentenced to death in vietnam, after one of the world's biggest corruption trials. and — we have an exclusive look at stunning new discoveries in the ancient italian city of pompeii. the american football star oj simpson, who was cleared of murdering his ex—wife in a trial that caused a global

sensation , has died. he was 76 and had cancer.