a very short statement from the family of oj simpson that reads, "on april 10th, our father orenthaljames simpson "succumbed to his battle with cancer." from an impoverished childhood, he had gone on to become one of the greatest american football players in history. but he will forever be remembered for his nine—month televised trial for the double murder that transfixed america. it absolutely was - the trial of the century. it also, very interestingly, - really set us up for what is now called reality television here in america. - the american football player oj simpson, who was acquitted of a double murder in one of the most high—profile trials of the last century, has died. also on the programme: warnings iran could carry out a "significant attack" on israel.

we look at what that could mean in the region. plus, remarkable artwork from 2,000 years ago uncovered in pompeii, the ancient roman city. and later, we have ai decoded, our weekly look at what's making news in the world of artificial intelligence. we are going to start with this news in the last few hours, the death of 0j in the last few hours, the death of oj simpson. he was one of the most divisive figures in modern america — football star, turned movie star, turned murder suspect in what became known as the trial of the century. his family said he died of cancer on wednesday, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. he was 76. oj simpson's trialfor the murder of his ex—wife nicole brown simpson and her friend was televised and followed around the world. millions were transfixed. and when he was sensationally acquitted, many black americans celebrated seeing him as the victim

of a bigoted police force while many white americans were appalled by his exoneration. he was later found liable for nicole's killing in a civil case. our los angeles correspondent emma vardy reports. watched by millions, oj simpson famously led police on a car chase through los angeles after becoming the main suspect in the murder of his ex—wife and her friend. 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. orenthaljames simpson, not guilty of the crime of murder... the trial ended in a not—guilty

verdict, which divided the country racially, seen in some communities as 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 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. tom zenner is host of the podcast one degree of scandalous, which looks at major trials and scandals, including the oj simpson trial. his co—host kato kaelin was actually the house mate of oj simpson at the time of the murder and testified at the trial. tom, thank you very much for coming on the programme. tom, we cannot quite hear you, but hopefully we will be able to with a push of a button. this give us your reaction to the news. i’m button. this give us your reaction to the new-— to the news. i'm good. i was surprised- — to the news. i'm good. i was surprised. actually _ to the news. i'm good. i was surprised. actually i - to the news. i'm good. i was surprised. actually i was - to the news. i'm good. i was - surprised. actually i was shocked. i

knew that oj had cancer, but i kinda filed it away, because there were not regular updates on it, i was not expecting this. so i woke up this morning and my phone has been going kind of crazy all day, and it's all anybody wants to talk about. it's taken over the media, it's taken over the consciousness of the world, just like he did 30 years ago, so i was shocked. i was surprised, because oj, he was so embedded into the psyche of pop—culture, for a long time, for a lot of good reasons and for the past 30 years for a lot of horrible reasons, but when some thing like this, it catch you off—guard. i was not ready for it. and now we are in middle of it. and we are going to shoot a podcast episode with kato today, to get somebody down the reaction to it will be interesting stop and remind us of kato's involvement. kato lived in the house. his printable and technical. he was friends with her, very close with her and was with her prior to moving

with oj —— he was friends with nicole. when she moved back in with oj, oj offered and if the bungalow in his back yard and that's how kato lived there, so actually was friends with nicole. he was in a queens with oj with living there, but this was a dear friend with living there, but this was a dearfriend of with living there, but this was a dear friend of kato's that died, nicole brown simpson, so his reaction, i am nicole brown simpson, so his reaction, iam interested. this nicole brown simpson, so his reaction, i am interested. this was something, she was very, very close to him, her entire family, so then kato became the star of the trial because he has this incredible personality that just. .. because he has this incredible personality thatjust... when you have 100 million people around the world watching the trial and it was the biggest story we've ever really experienced, the begin of reality tv, max lee was a big star. he became infamous, famous, however you want to describe him. he was world known. he was probably one of the ten most recognisable people in the world because he was on the trial and he was entertaining stop he was

just being himself and his wholesomeness and his honesty and integrity, all these great qualities that kato have, were on display and i think he really gravitated to him, but he has been in the public eye for less 30 is because of this and handled it really well. find for less 30 is because of this and handled it really well.— for less 30 is because of this and handled it really well. and you too have connections _ handled it really well. and you too have connections to _ handled it really well. and you too have connections to oj _ handled it really well. and you too have connections to oj -- the - handled it really well. and you too have connections to oj -- the last| have connections to oj —— the last 30 years. have connections to oj -- the last 30 ears. �* , , �* , have connections to oj -- the last 30 ears. h , �*, ., 30 years. it's funny. it's not really funny. _ 30 years. it's funny. it's not really funny, it's _ 30 years. it's funny. it's not really funny, it's dark, - comedy, the connections i have with oj. | comedy, the connections i have with oj. i played football, oj played football in college, and when i was in college, i broke oj's record, i broke it late in the 80s, it was a big new story, it was on usa today and a lot of big headlines around the country. oj reached out to me at that point. he saw the story, congratulated me, and then i worked for nbc sports for many years, i covered the bulls very closely when they won the last three titles, if you watch the last dance, max, i was

with the bulls are —— i was with the bulls all the time. i knew ajay __ oj —— oj little -- oj little bit. —— oj little bit. when he was arrested, when he went to prison in 2007, i was in vegas that weekend, with friends, a good tv host, in america, we were celebrating his 40th birthday party at the palms. oj was following us around the whole weekend. he tried to sit with us at our dinner, he then tried to come into our party that night, and actually got into the party. he was walking around with a camera crew, he had hired a camera crew because he had hired a camera crew because he was trained to pitch and sell a reality show on himself, so he was around us, awkwardly, that whole weekend in the next days when he got arrested, and so, and then i do the podcast with kato kaelin and marcia clark, who was the lead prosecutor for la county during the trial, she had a show on abc, a primetime

drama, and it was basically based on the oj simpson, but it was fictional, and i played a tv reporter in that series for the by having these bizarre connections with oj and just like everybody else, here in america, i got swept up else, here in america, i got swept up in it because i work in the media, it was mesmerising and recovered it every single day, during the bronco chase and everything, so it is a crazy day. it is weather surreal in america. tom, thank ou is weather surreal in america. tom, thank you for— is weather surreal in america. tom, thank you for talking _ is weather surreal in america. tom, thank you for talking us _ is weather surreal in america. tom, thank you for talking us through - thank you for talking us through that, that is tom zenner there. going to focus now on that trial we just were referring to. joining me is trial attorney and cornell law school professor randy zelin. thank you very much for coming on the programme. thank you very much for coming on the programme-— thank you very much for coming on the programme. thank you for having me. what the programme. thank you for having me- what are — the programme. thank you for having me. what are your _ the programme. thank you for having me. what are your thoughts - the programme. thank you for having me. what are your thoughts today? l the programme. thank you for having j me. what are your thoughts today? it is an odd day- — me. what are your thoughts today? it is an odd day. from _ me. what are your thoughts today? it is an odd day. from a _ me. what are your thoughts today? it is an odd day. from a legal _ is an odd day. from a legal standpoint, there are few trials in american history that are as

polarising. we talk about things being black and white — that trial was black versus white. it was black—and—white. i will never forget the split screen showing the reaction of the african—american population to the verdict as opposed to the white population, their reaction to the verdict. that trial brought race to the forefront in the united states courtroom. it showed us what happens when a trial gets out of control, because the judge is unable to control the courtroom was study showed us how resources, how money can make all the difference in the world. the defence ran circles around the prosecutors. there was a level of a playing field, where normally it is the government with the unlimited resources, it taught us the importance of not asking a question you don't know the answer to, which is, don't put gloves on if

you don't know whether or not they will fit. it took an american hero down, brought that american hero back up for the moment but when that verdict was announced, but his life was never the same in our lives were never the same. that is a trail that goes down in history books. that was 'ust an goes down in history books. that was just an extraordinary _ goes down in history books. that was just an extraordinary summary - goes down in history books. that was just an extraordinary summary of- goes down in history books. that was just an extraordinary summary of so l just an extraordinary summary of so many of the points people will remember. what do you think has been elastic impact, the legacy of that? the legacy, again, without legal and practical, legal, as professor dershowitz, who was involved in the trial tells us, it taught us as trial tells us, it taught us as trial attorneys, as defence attorneys, sometimes you try the state, you try the government, the case is not about your client, it's about the government, and the government was put on trial was of the fact that the government try to hide the ball by putting on an

avowed racist and pretending that that racist did not have an axe to grind, defected there may well —— the fact that there may well have been evidence planted and have the temerity to try that case anyway, taking that an african american journey would actually uphold it against an african—american defendant, as opposed to siding with that african—american defendant, the advent of dna evidence and seeing again the resources the defence had and having someone like barry scheck, who made fools out of the prosecutors on the dna evidence. legally, that case really rocked our world. as a practical matter, again, it was black versus white. i’m it was black versus white. i'm afraid we _ it was black versus white. i'm afraid we have _ it was black versus white. i'm afraid we have to _ it was black versus white. i'm afraid we have to leave it there, but really appreciate your analysis and your thoughts today, really thought—provoking. thank you very much. that's randy zelin there.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

let's turn now to the middle east and the growing fears of reprisals from iran for the killing of senior iranian commanders in the syrian capital damascus. iran's supreme leader has vowed that israel will be punished for the attack, which he said was a strike on iran itself. bbc verify has found evidence the iranian authorities have given notice to pilots to avoid the tehran area as rocket launches could be taking place between the 10th and the 12th of april. it's also possible an attack on israel could come via iran's proxy hezbollah which has forces in lebanon. president biden has pledged "ironclad" support for israel over iran even as he criticises policy in gaza.

firas maksad is a senior fellow at the middle east institute, a non—partisan think—tank. thank you very much for coming on the programme. my thank you very much for coming on the programme-— thank you very much for coming on the programme._ how| thank you very much for coming on i the programme._ how do the programme. my pleasure. how do ou assess the programme. my pleasure. how do you assess the — the programme. my pleasure. how do you assess the threat _ the programme. my pleasure. how do you assess the threat of _ the programme. my pleasure. how do you assess the threat of an _ the programme. my pleasure. how do you assess the threat of an iranian - you assess the threat of an iranian strike on israel?— strike on israel? everybody is . uessinu strike on israel? everybody is guessing and _ strike on israel? everybody is guessing and everybody's - strike on israel? everybody is guessing and everybody's try| strike on israel? everybody is l guessing and everybody's try to grapple with whatever intelligence is available. i think what we can assess from open source is that there will be a response also that response, though, however, will remain measured. i think both divided in ministration but also very clearly the iranians since october seven attack on israel have wanted to avoid an all—out desolation in the region, a direct war between israel on the one hand and iran on the other —— the biden administration. whateverform and iran on the other —— the biden administration. whatever form this attack takes place, whether it is a cruise missile and killer drone attack or whether it is ballistic missile attack directly from iran, orfrom missile attack directly from iran, or from syria, missile attack directly from iran, orfrom syria, or even using some of the proxies, you mentioned hezbollah

in lebanon, some of the iraqi militias affiliate with iran, my senseis militias affiliate with iran, my sense is this will remain the minted and will be performative in nature where the regime wants to be seen as having saved face and extracted a price stop --ic. -- i c. medium-term, you don't think are as likely? — -- i c. medium-term, you don't think are as likely? i— -- i c. medium-term, you don't think are as likely? i think _ -- i c. medium-term, you don't think are as likely? i think there _ -- i c. medium-term, you don't think are as likely? i think there will- -- i c. medium-term, you don't think are as likely? i think there will be - are as likely? i think there will be an escalation _ are as likely? i think there will be an escalation for _ are as likely? i think there will be an escalation for the _ are as likely? i think there will be an escalation for the wild - are as likely? i think there will be an escalation for the wild card is l an escalation for the wild card is is really prime minister bibi netanyahu, who ordered this strike that flattened the consulate in damascus, killed several senior generals there. it is clear that the administration, during an election year here in washington in the us, does not want to see a broader regional conflict. it is very much pushing for de—escalation. in the iranians much prefer an indirect warfare with israel using the various proxies it has in the region rather than provoking something that would have israel give bibi that

yahoo the pretext to attack iran directly, but what bibi will do, what prime minister netanyahu will do in response to this coming iranian escalation, that is more of a wild card —— bibi netanyahu. firas a wild card -- bibi netanyahu. firas maksad, a wild card -- bibi netanyahu. firas maksad. thank— a wild card -- bibi netanyahu. firas maksad, thank you _ a wild card -- bibi netanyahu. firas maksad, thank you for _ a wild card —— bibi netanyahu. firas maksad, thank you for coming on the programme. we are going to turn to gaza. israel says it's constructing a new direct land crossing into northern gaza, which will handle up to 50 aid trucks per day. idf spokesman daniel hagari said lessons were being implemented on how to better protect humanitarian agencies following what he called the "tragic" killing of seven aid workers in a misjudged israeli strike. us presidentjoe biden has been increasing pressure on the israeli government to do more to get aid to the people of gaza. melanie ward joins me now, ceo of medical aid for palestinians. thank you very much for coming on the programme. thank you very much for coming on the programme-— thank you very much for coming on . the programme._ what's the programme. good evening. what's our the programme. good evening. what's your assessment _ the programme. good evening. what's

your assessment of _ the programme. good evening. what's your assessment of the _ the programme. good evening. what's your assessment of the impact - the programme. good evening. what's your assessment of the impact of - your assessment of the impact of these latest moves by israel, to try and increase the flow of aid? i will believe it when _ and increase the flow of aid? i will believe it when i _ and increase the flow of aid? i will believe it when i see _ and increase the flow of aid? i will believe it when i see it. _ and increase the flow of aid? in ii. believe it when i see it. much has been said about what's happening. a few days ago they said they were going to open erez crossing, now we're hearing actually is something different. and what actually matters is the impact that any changes might have on the ground. of course the situation in the north of gaza, where there are around 400,000 palestinians, including some of my own staff, is utterly dire. people are effing in famine conditions, much of the north of gaza is destroyed, their only two from me function in hospitals, and of course the biggest hospital in the whole of gaza, shifa hospital, has now been put completely out of action, so we need massive amounts of aid into the north of gaza and this has to flow freely. but we also need safe and unfettered access for aid workers. that's essential if we are going to be able to provide proper support to

the north of gaza. can be able to provide proper support to the north of gaza.— the north of gaza. can i 'ust briefl the north of gaza. can i 'ust briefly ask i the north of gaza. can i 'ust briefly ask you, i the north of gaza. can i 'ust briefly ask you, on i the north of gaza. can ijust briefly ask you, on that, - the north of gaza. can ijust i briefly ask you, on that, what impact did that is really strike have on the operation of your workers and others trying to move around —— that israeli strike was what was done to the world central kitchen staff of course was absolutely horrific. but it's in port to note that so far, there has been more than 200 aid workers killed in the last six months of israel's war on gaza. and most of those have been palestinian, there was an israeli air strike on our own medical aid first —— medical aid for palestinians compound and nothing was done on that for some israel continues to act with impunity, attacking aid workers. more than 100 ambulances destroyed and as long as these kind of things go on with impunity, they will continue to happen, so we at medical aid for palestinians have continued to operate in gaza, ijust

returned from gaza myself yesterday, and saw the horrific and terrifying situation there for myself, we are continue to operate. it is very difficult and very dangerous and unfortunately we fear it is likely to get much worse with a likely invasion of rafah as well. ok. invasion of rafah as well. ok, melanie ward, _ invasion of rafah as well. ok, melanie ward, thank- invasion of rafah as well. 0k, melanie ward, thank you very much for coming on the programme, thank you. we are going to head to italy now. artworks have been uncovered in a new excavation at pompeii, the ancient roman city which was buried when mount vesuvius erupted in ad79. archaeologists have uncovered a house with floor—to—ceiling frescoes of mythical greek figures, including helen of troy, depicted on the walls of a banqueting hall. the bbc has been given exclusive access to the site. our science editor rebecca morelle has this report. so this is the black room. it's the salon in here. hidden from the world

for 2,000 years, a new part of pompeii comes to light. this is the most beautiful one i've ever seen. small, intricate paintings of greek mythical scenes stand out against the stark backdrop. this is a banqueting room where the wealthy owner once entertained important guests. there is an almost complete white mosaic floor. why were the walls black? this room probably was used after sunset. the smoke from the lamps would deposit on the walls, so you would like to have them black so you wouldn't see this immediately. and then you have the light, the shimmering light of the lamps. and the paintings almost coming to life. it's just one part of the house that's been found, buried when mount vesuvius erupted in 79 ad. this internal courtyard gives you an idea ofjust how far down the team has had to dig. this whole area was covered in these pumice stones that rained down on the town for 18 hours

during the eruption. and up at the top here there is this very dense brown layer. well, that's evidence of the pyroclastic flow, this fast—moving avalanche of gas and volcanic material that engulfed the town of pompeii, killing anyone who was left behind. the excavation, the biggest in a generation, has been followed for a bbc documentary series. a second room with rare full—height frescoes appears from beneath the volcanic debris. whoever lived here had high status. but it's notjust the house. a number of buildings have emerged from the dig. this is a big excavation, so here's a plan of its layout. this area here in red is the grand residence, with these large, opulent rooms. and only part of it has been unearthed. in front of it is a commercial complex. there is a laundry over here in green, and next to that,

a wholesale bakery. and archaeologists here think this whole thing could have been owned by the same person. in the bakery, there are clues as to who this person might have been. we are standing next to probably our greatest clue of all. it's a red painted inscription on the wall. and we know who arv is, and we know him to be aulus rustius verus. and we know he's a politician. and maybe he's funding the bakery, this is his enterprise, but he's not going to be living here. this is far too a sort of impoverished little place for a grand politician. so we then, hopefully, maybe have the idea that he was living in this big, grand house behind us. the excavation is far from finished, and new discoveries are emerging here every day. rebecca morelle, bbc news, pompeii. and for viewers in the uk, you can see pompeii: the new dig on monday 15 april at 9pm on bbc two

and also on the bbc iplayer. just want to mark your part for something we are keeping across, happening right now in london of the 20th addition of the bafta games awards. we have music awards, film awards, and there is computer game awards, and there is computer game awards, and there is computer game awards, and just to let you know, gaming here in the uk, pretty big business, sales topped £4.7 billion last year, more than double that of the music industry. so these are significant awards, and one of the favourites has won their first award. take a look at these pictures. this game hasjust won award. take a look at these pictures. this game has just won us narrative, the first award of the night for one of the games don't make big games, at the big awards coming up. we're keeping and i on them to see who wins what. so far, we will be keeping

across that. spider—man two, legend of zelda, the big games we are keeping an eye out in that big business industry as well. of course our main story this hour is the death of oj simpson. we have these live pictures of the gated community where he lived. this is las vegas and this is where he died of cancer aged 76. a message on social media posted by his family saying he was surrounded by children and grandchildren, we will have plenty more reaction to that a little later in the programme. stay with us here. i am back injust a couple of minutes. i am lewis vaughanjones. this is bbc news.

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, the jet stream pattern changes completely and we'll 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, 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.

hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. hello from the bbc sport centre. play is well under way at augusta in golf�*s first major of the year. adverse weather and thunderstorms in georgia had earlier delayed the start of the masters. here's how things are looking with the first of those to go out. new zealand's ryan fox has the early lead. playing the tournament forjust the second time. he birdied the first three holes. then came an eagle three at the 8th.

bryson dechambeau also was three under after three,