stop the war of �*extermination�* against the palestinian people. there's generous — and then there's generous — the austrian heiress who wants to give away much of her fortune. hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones, welcome to the daily global, where we'll bring you the top stories from around the world. here in the uk, a scandal involving the post office has dominated the headlines for the past week — thanks to a tv drama. the prime minister has promised new legislation, to make sure that hundreds of. post office branch managers convicted in one of the biggest miscarriages ofjustice the uk has ever seen are swiftly exonerated and compensated. more than 700 sub—postmasters were wrongly given criminal convictions for fraud and false accounting, over a period of around

16 years, after a faulty it system made it look like money was missing. some went to prison and many lives and livelihoods were ruined. our political editor chris mason has more on the day's developments. four nights of drama on the telly after two decades of injustice. and, just one week later... we come to questions for the prime minister. the most high profile moment of the week at westminster. the start of prime minister's question time. and rishi sunak said... mr speaker this is one of the greatest miscarriages ofjustice in our nation's history. today i can announce that we will introduce new primary legislation, to make sure that those convicted as a as a result of the horizon scannedle are swiftly exonerated and compensated. this is the story of westminster transfixed like never before,

about a scandal over 20 years in the making. it is a huge injustice, people lost their lives, their liberty, and their livelihood, and they have been waiting far too long for the truth forjustice and for compensation. yes, compensation. yes, justice. itv�*s drama last week is what has preevoked what you have seen in the commons. have you been in there before? watching westminster�*s drama today the director of the series. tell me about this last week, look at what you have done. it is astonishing we thought we would hopefully raise awareness and get the story out there and the story of the victims to a wired audience but no—one ever thought we would get this sort of reaction and response and to be here today to see them announce, the overturning of the criminal

convictions is mind—blowing. back inside parliament, the beginnings of the detail and scrutiny for the government. too many victims want nothing to do with the british justice system, nothing do with the post office, nothing do with government. they have had enough. we need to keep on the momentum the itv series, absolutely engenders, in press, here, everywhere, i think we also still need to listen to the victims. in terms of those who had their convictions. overturned, who have died. will they eggs states be able to access compensation. - yes the government says their family also get the money. ministers acknowledge it has big consequence, including the prospect some people who are actually guilty are no paid more than £500,000. but they believe it is the right call.

we have been faced with the demme will imagine, accept the problem of people carrying conviction an or accept an unknown number of people who have stolen will be exonerated or perhaps even compensated. constitutionally, politically, practically, financially, this is a big moment. for the victim, the prospect after so, so long, justice, repayment, clarity. chris mason, bbc news. westminster. 983 subpostmasters were found guilty of false accounting, theft and fraud over a period of 15 years. only 95 of those convictions have so far been overturned by the courts. 0ur correspondent coletta smith has spent the day with some of the former subpostmasters as they waited for the prime minister's announcement.

there are flashing images in her report. thrust together again, nine subpostmasters whose lives echo each other, but have all lived a very personal trauma, sharing their real life stories with the nation. it wrecked my life, my family's life. i was totally a recluse. the barrister said to me, - "if you plead not guilty, you're probably going to go to prison. i first met janet nearly three years ago in her garden in hull. do you know, i haven't cried about this for years. she'd served time in prison and still had a criminal conviction hanging over her. so nervous. because i know my life is in the hands of three judges. her conviction was quashed in 2021, and as she's waited longer forjustice, her voice has grown stronger, directly challenging the minister this morning. you are the post office minister. is the government going to take back control over the post office?

well, janet, i was talking about your case yesterday with david davis, sir david davis, who i think has been working on your behalf. you weren't holding back when it comes... all they keep saying is that, you know, "now that we're aware of what been going on..." they've known for years and years and have done nothing. you've not had a government ear like that before, have you? no, no. i think we're finally getting listened to, but there's a long way to go. with pressure mounting, we watched as the prime minister took the floor in parliament this lunchtime. it was broadly positive. we wait to hear details on it. but introducing legislation, especially, is what we've been calling for to exonerate people. you can potentially get an interim payment of £75,000. how does that feel? well, we borrowed money over many years. it would give us pension security.

we're old and decrepit enough. you know, i lost my pension at 55 because we had to put it into the post office. hopefully the the wave of support that we all have behind us now and the public understanding of the scandal is forcing the government to actually do something about it. heading home, vut reuniting online tomorrow as the public inquiry kicks off again. but for tim and his partner, they've a different excitement on the way. with a new baby due this summer, there's fresh hope for the future. coletta smith, bbc news, in salford. live now to harjinder butoy, former postmaster who was jailed wrongfully for stealing over 200 thousand pounds and was one of 39 former postmasters who had their convictions quashed in april 2021. thank you roach for coming of the

programme. iwonder thank you roach for coming of the programme. i wonder listening to the prime minister what you made of the announcements today? it is prime minister what you made of the announcements today?— announcements today? it is a bit too late. it is certainly _ announcements today? it is a bit too late. it is certainly late, _ announcements today? it is a bit too late. it is certainly late, it _ announcements today? it is a bit too late. it is certainly late, it took - late. it is certainly late, it took this tv drama _ late. it is certainly late, it took this tv drama to _ late. it is certainly late, it took this tv drama to actually - late. it is certainly late, it took this tv drama to actually bring | late. it is certainly late, it took i this tv drama to actually bring it back into the consciousness, i presume you watched it, what do you make of it? ., ., , presume you watched it, what do you make of it?— make of it? thought it was fantastic and it is nice — make of it? thought it was fantastic and it is nice for _ make of it? thought it was fantastic and it is nice for the _ make of it? thought it was fantastic and it is nice for the british - and it is nice for the british public to actually see what was actually happening to us. tell me exactly what _ actually happening to us. tell me exactly what happened _ actually happening to us. tell me exactly what happened to - actually happening to us. tell me exactly what happened to you? . actually happening to us. tell me exactly what happened to you? i | actually happening to us. tell me i exactly what happened to you? i got accused of stealing _ exactly what happened to you? i grrt accused of stealing £208,000 in 2007 and i was found guilty and imprisoned for three years and three months, we lost everything. did imprisoned for three years and three months, we lost everything.- months, we lost everything. did go to rison? months, we lost everything. did go to prison? yes _ months, we lost everything. did go to prison? yes i _ months, we lost everything. did go to prison? yes i spent _ months, we lost everything. did go to prison? yes i spent 18— months, we lost everything. did go to prison? yes i spent 18 months i months, we lost everything. did go to prison? yes i spent 18 months in “ail. can to prison? yes i spent 18 months in jail- can you _ to prison? yes i spent 18 months in jail. can you describe _ to prison? yes i spent 18 months in jail. can you describe how - to prison? yes i spent 18 months in jail. can you describe how difficult. jail. can you describe how difficult that was? it _

jail. can you describe how difficult that was? it is _ jail. can you describe how difficult that was? it is hard _ jail. can you describe how difficult that was? it is hard to _ jail. can you describe how difficult that was? it is hard to explain, i jail. can you describe how difficult that was? it is hard to explain, it| that was? it is hard to explain, it was not nice- _ that was? it is hard to explain, it was not nice. every _ that was? it is hard to explain, it was not nice. every day - that was? it is hard to explain, it was not nice. every day was - that was? it is hard to explain, it was not nice. every day was hard when you know you haven't done anything. when you know you haven't done an hina. ., . , anything. you are sitting there every single — anything. you are sitting there every single day _ anything. you are sitting there every single day knowing - anything. you are sitting there every single day knowing that l anything. you are sitting there i every single day knowing that you are innocent but not being to do anything. when you come out what is life been like since then? has anything. when you come out what is life been like since then?— life been like since then? has been ve hard, life been like since then? has been very hard. to _ life been like since then? has been very hard, to catch _ life been like since then? has been very hard, to catch up _ life been like since then? has been very hard, to catch up with - life been like since then? has been very hard, to catch up with things, | very hard, to catch up with things, get back to normal. i do think life will ever be normal again. what will ever be normal again. what about work? — will ever be normal again. what about work? i _ will ever be normal again. what about work? i was _ will ever be normal again. what about work? i was looking i will ever be normal again. what about work? i was looking for i will ever be normal again. what i about work? i was looking for work when i about work? i was looking for work when i came _ about work? i was looking for work when i came out _ about work? i was looking for work when i came out of— about work? i was looking for work when i came out ofjail. _ about work? i was looking for work when i came out ofjail. it - about work? i was looking for work when i came out ofjail. it is - about work? i was looking for work when i came out ofjail. it is not i when i came out ofjail. it is not very easy at the moment with work. i spent a lot of years trying to clear my name, thinking about it, investigating it, i didn't realise that 18 years have gone by. it is absolutely _ that 18 years have gone by. it is absolutely extraordinary. what would you like to see happen now with for example the post office or the people behind the it? i

example the post office or the people behind the it?- example the post office or the people behind the it? i blame the ost was people behind the it? i blame the post was because _ people behind the it? i blame the post was because i _ people behind the it? i blame the post was because i think - people behind the it? i blame the post was because i think they i people behind the it? i blame the| post was because i think they know that they no more than they are leading on. there should be prosecutions, they destroyed my life, didn't head sending me to jail, took my money off me and made me go bankrupt. i think it is time that someone from the post office at the same thing done. it that someone from the post office at the same thing done.— the same thing done. it has clearly been so traumatic _ the same thing done. it has clearly been so traumatic for _ the same thing done. it has clearly been so traumatic for you, - been so traumatic for you, financially ruinous, and i presume friends and people who knew you have they finally now been able to accept that you were not guilty. this was not your fault, would you feel like people are still clinging on to something that isn't true? there are a lot of people _ something that isn't true? there are a lot of people who _ something that isn't true? there are a lot of people who are _ something that isn't true? there are a lot of people who are on _ something that isn't true? there are a lot of people who are on my - something that isn't true? there are a lot of people who are on my side l a lot of people who are on my side and knew that i was not guilty, especially family and friends. the people that didn't believe me they can see it for themselves now. if

they don't believe me still that is “p they don't believe me still that is up to them but i know that i haven't done anything wrong. what up to them but i know that i haven't done anything wrong.— done anything wrong. what about compensation _ done anything wrong. what about compensation for _ done anything wrong. what about compensation for you _ done anything wrong. what aboutj compensation for you personally? compensation is just coming compensation for you personally? compensation isjust coming on compensation for you personally? compensation is just coming on as dribs and drabs, it is a long process and there is a lot of negotiation with them. if sunak said is going to be paying compensation out swift but i don't think he knows what his lawyers are doing. what out swift but i don't think he knows what his lawyers are doing. what you once ou what his lawyers are doing. what you once you have _ what his lawyers are doing. what you once you have no? _ what his lawyers are doing. what you once you have no? and _ what his lawyers are doing. what you once you have no? and somebody i once you have no? and somebody charued once you have no? and somebody charged and _ once you have no? and somebody charged and sent _ once you have no? and somebody charged and sent to _ once you have no? and somebody charged and sent to jail _ once you have no? and somebody charged and sent to jail in - once you have no? and somebody charged and sent to jail in the i once you have no? and somebodyj charged and sent to jail in the way i was. it is time they got some money out of her. it i was. it is time they got some money out of her.— i was. it is time they got some money out of her. it is a painful sto , money out of her. it is a painful story. thank— money out of her. it is a painful story. thank you _ money out of her. it is a painful story, thank you very _ money out of her. it is a painful story, thank you very much i money out of her. it is a painful story, thank you very much forl story, thank you very much for sharing it with us. thank you. equador president has ordered 22 armed groups to be neutralised. state of emergency since monday.

schools have been temporarily closed. notorious gangster escaped from prison. quick warning...let�*s look at the moment gunmen got into a tv studio while it was live on air. this was a moment gunmen got into a tv studio live on air. this was a moment gunmen got into a tv studio live on air. this was tuesday night, police did get there. 13 men arrested. let's look at equador. crucially look at the border here. peru has sent armed re—inforcements to the border in case violence spreads.

earlier i spoke to local journalist carolina loza leon who is the city of manta in ecuador. there has been suspension on public offices so everybody is going to work from home, same with universities and school. this represents a problem for people who have connectivity issues in many parts of the country. many people are afraid to go out, there's been a series of detentions overnight. we have a curfew from 11 p m2 5am. everybody is waiting for a swift response. the drug gang leader who had the prison break is on the hunt is still on. people are waiting for a response from the government and we are still starting to see some differences in politicians on how this has to be handled so there is a lot of uncertainty and staying at

home. , , ., , , ., lot of uncertainty and staying at home. , , . , , ., ., home. give us a sense of how unexpected — home. give us a sense of how unexpected or _ home. give us a sense of how unexpected or not _ home. give us a sense of how unexpected or not this - home. give us a sense of how i unexpected or not this dramatic rise in recent violence is? i unexpected or not this dramatic rise in recent violence is?— in recent violence is? i was on the coast, in recent violence is? i was on the coast. many _ in recent violence is? i was on the coast, many people _ in recent violence is? i was on the coast, many people were - in recent violence is? i was on the coast, many people were coming | in recent violence is? i was on the i coast, many people were coming back from holidays, he was at his beach home this weekend. he had programmes like giving gifts to kids, you would see more loving military presence but nothing like this before. nobody suspected this. we had seen violence when there were transfers from drug gang members, key gang members, from when present to another but nothing is coordinated and as this level. people were in a complete state of panic and terror and nobody had suspected this happening, even the authorities, the president was

having his usual activities but in his beach home only weekend. pm? his beach home only weekend. why does this leave _ his beach home only weekend. why does this leave the president right now? , , ~ , , ., now? this is the key test for him. he promised _ now? this is the key test for him. he promised that _ now? this is the key test for him. he promised that he _ now? this is the key test for him. he promised that he would - now? this is the key test for him. he promised that he would quelll now? this is the key test for him. i he promised that he would quell the violence. it is one of the main premises. because he was a newcomer many people trusted him because of that, they expected a fresh face to deal with this violence but now we have other former political presidential candidates criticising him or offering him support. there is a lot of support from the international community. he recently held a conference with all the embassies present in the country and they are mentioning that he has full support. other politicians from the opposition as well. everybody�*s question is how is he going to deal with it and how fast are we going to see a way out of the violence? thank to carabiner— see a way out of the violence? thank to carabiner there. _ thank to carabiner there. around the world and across the uk.

this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the london to birmingham hs to railway could cost as much as £66 million alone. that is almost twice as much of the original estimate. hsz as much of the original estimate. hs2 executive chair said the reason was budgets being too low and poor delivery and inflation. pirates of a british tourist who died after a helicopter crash in the grand canyon are to receive a £79 million payout. 31—year—old jonathan was on five britons including his new wife who died after the aircraft crashed and burst into flames in 2018. a lawsuit brought by his parents and he could have survived had the helicopter been fitted with systems to help prevent the fire. the actor stephen fry has called to an end of real fur in the bearskin caps worn by guards.

he is backing a animal welfare campaign. you're live with bbc news. middle eastamerica's top diplomat, antony blinken — still on his diplomatic trip. he's met palestinian leaders in the west bank. here he is meeting with the head of the palestinian authority, mahmoud abbas in ramallah. according to palestinian media, president abbas told mr blinken israel needs to immediately stop the war of �*extermination' against the palestinian peoplethe state department says, mr blinken stressed that a route towards a palestinian state must be part of the solution to let's look at gaza now. israeli air strikes have intensified on southern and central gaza — despite israel saying, it will shift to a more targeted campaign. the military says it's hit a further 150 targets and killed dozens of militants in the last 2a hours.

the hamas—run health ministry said another 147 people were killed and more than 2113 were wounded in gaza in that time. next to israel's border with lebanon. these recent pictures released by the israeli military show, what they say, are strikes on hezbollah targets in various locations. i spoke to our political analyst, i asked about the significance of antony blinken is meeting. it is a la. antony blinken is meeting. it is a la: of the antony blinken is meeting. it is a lag of the trip _ antony blinken is meeting. it is a lag of the trip you _ antony blinken is meeting. it is a lag of the trip you had _ antony blinken is meeting. it is a lag of the trip you had to - antony blinken is meeting. it is a lag of the trip you had to make, i antony blinken is meeting. it is a i lag of the trip you had to make, he could not appear as shunning of the palestinian authority but really had nothing to offer. he couldn't even bring the israelis to release palestinian money that they are withholding in order to ensure that the palestinian authorities does not collapse because at the moment the israelis are basically choking this

authority... they don't have many money to pay salaries or any bills because of this hijacking of the money. he could not even deliver on that so there was not really much to say and that is why the visit lasted less than an hour, there was no joint press statement, no joint press conference, nothing like that. he got out of there soon as you can. what would you like to have seen? again the issue of money would have been welcome at least by the palestinian authority. this is not a popular visit. there were protests on the street because in the eyes of the palestinians this american administration is paid party to the war, it is a partner with israel and supplying it with weapons and political protection so there was very low expectations. the fact that the us continues to oppose a ceasefire makes it difficult for palestinians to expect anything

positive but even with the very low expectations biden can deliver on the money but he couldn't deliver on lowering the intensity of the israeli bombardment as you have recorded there were more than 140 civilian casualties recorded including three journalists by the way. he couldn't really get israelis to comment on having palestinians displaced from the north to return to gaza city and— gather. there wasn't much he could give to the palestinians by way of even making appearances that they are making an effort to meet palestinian aspirations or to in expectations. the state department has... the messaging has been one of the main focuses of the trip has been to prevent any potential spreading of the conflict across the region, do think that is a realistic possibility or not? if

think that is a realistic possibility or not? think that is a realistic ossibili or not? ., ~ possibility or not? if we take... how things _ possibility or not? if we take... how things have _ possibility or not? if we take... how things have been - possibility or not? if we take... how things have been going i possibility or not? if we take. .. | how things have been going and possibility or not? if we take. .. i how things have been going and the fact that israelis are mocking the blinken visit, it is difficult to see that he really convinced the israelis that they shouldn't halt the bear to the north. this is not... they don't want to see a war breaking out with lebanon or his brother. i know that one of the reports coming to dc are saying there are serious concerns about that, i think that point was made clear. the internal dynamics are also at play here. the israeli president is using his coalition, appeasing his own party members who want to see him attack lebanon and may be other areas as well as we are hearing statements left and right and also maintaining us support which he can count on specially

during an election year.- which he can count on specially during an election year. thank you for that. britain has given its clearest warning yet to the houthi rebels to stop attacking shipping or risk military retaliation. earlier today, uk defence secretary spoke about the operation overnight — saying he has no doubt whatsoever that iran is heavily behind the attacks — and that action will follow if the attacks do not cease. naval officer greg young gave me his assessment of the attacks. they sent to ballistic vessels and two cruise missiles. that is a significant escalation. but i think

more importantly is the fact that we are willing to shoot these down. i think there is a french ship and a danish ship there now. the hms diamond 30 referred to... the cost to shipping would be catastrophic. 10% of all trade goes to the red sea and just even to go, there is a huge cast, they have to take that risk or go other routes and going other routes could create the same kind of chaos that we had during chaos t covid web... i think the efforts that the 12 nations that have joined together to do this is certainly worth the cost.- have joined together to do this is certainly worth the cost. when we hadn't grant _ certainly worth the cost. when we hadn't grant straps _

certainly worth the cost. when we hadn't grant straps there - certainly worth the cost. when we hadn't grant straps there saying . hadn't grant straps there saying they would be consequences, we heard blinken when he was asked about this saying they would be consequences, what does this actually mean? i think the response thus far has been very reserved. there has not been a retaliation by the 12 nations, the us or britain against specific houthi targets. three were destroyed by a naval destroyer and helicopters but so far i consider the response to be very reserved and your defence minister said that they were contemplating all sorts of options and i can only imagine going after the ports where the ships come from or going after the missile complexes but i know there is a real fear and president biden has said that again.

thank you to greg young these professor of political science. that is just about it from me. i will be back with headlines and a couple of minutes. you can get me if you are on social media. i am you can get me if you are on social media. iam lewis you can get me if you are on social media. i am lewis vaughan jones and this is bbc news. hello there. it's been another very cold day wherever you are, whether you've had sunshine or whether you've had clouds and it looks pretty similar for the next few days, could see a bit more cloud around. generally, it will stay dry thanks to high pressure. and there will be some sunshine around, particularly towards southern and western areas. this area of high pressure has been feeding in quite a bit of cloud

to eastern scotland, also eastern parts of england, the odd patch of drizzle at times too. the breeze is still a feature along north sea coast, but not as strong across southern areas as we head through this evening and overnight. where we have the clear skies it's going to be a cold one. central northern western scotland, southern england could be down to —3 to —5 celsius here, but a little less cold where we have the cloud. so tomorrow then we start off with some cloud across some eastern areas. again, eastern england seeing most of that cloud, it could run a little bit further southwards into south east england into the afternoon. so the best of the sunshine towards this southwest corner, maybe northern ireland and plenty of sunshine across scotland after a cold start there with some early mist and fog. temperatures maybe up a degree, eight degrees, but it certainly won't feel like that. then as we move through thursday nights, we see plenty of cloud feeding into england and wales, clearer spells across scotland, northern ireland. so it's here where we'll see the lowest. the temperatures could be down to minus seven celsius. and there's also a threat of some dense fog patches developing as the winds will be lighter here, but less cold further south

where we have the cloud. area of high pressure shifts a little bit a bit further westwards. it does allow a lot of cloud around for central, southern and eastern parts of the country. certainly rather cloudy for england. wales could be quite gloomy all day in places best the sunshine scotland, maybe northern ireland, far north of england later in the day, maybe parts of wales too. but cold here after the very cold start, a little less cold further south and east because of more cloud cover. then as we head into the weekend, although southern areas will see quite a bit of sunshine, we'll start to open the floodgate to an arctic northerly and that will start to feed in plenty of snow showers to the northern half of scotland. accumulations really mounting up by the end of the weekend here, but it'll be largely dry, i think, cold with some sunshine across most central and southern parts of the country. we hold onto the cold weather into next week as well. further snow showers in the north and there's just the chance of some more widespread snow developing across central and southern areas around the middle part of the week. so stay tuned to the forecast

of uncertainty on this.

this is bbc news, the headlines. rishi sunak announces a new law — to compensate and clear the names — of hundreds of postmasters wrongly accused of theft. soldiers on the streets in ecuador as the country's president declares war on armed

gangs running out of control. and identity crisis — taiwan's approaching presidential election poses questions about the island's past and future. we start in the middle east and the issue of hostages. we start in the middle east and the issue of hostages. an israeli delegation is in egypt for a new round of talks on a possible prisoner exchange. any deal would see israeli hostages held by hamas swapped for palestinians prisoners currently in jail in israel. around 250 hostages were taken by hamas — into gaza — after the october seventh attacks. about half the hostages were released during a week—long ceasefire in november. jonathan dekel—chen's son has been held hostage by hamas since their attack on 7th october. he told us about his experience. it's not wise or ride the emotional

roller coaster of talks and