we are live to iowa with the latest. israel will face accusations at the un's top court that it has committed acts that are "genocidal in character" in gaza. almost all of the key nhs targets in the uk have been missed for seven years or more across every part of the country, the bbc finds. and later in business: it could be a game changer for cryptocurrency. we'll look at the us's landmark decision to allow bitcoin to become part of mainstream investing funds. low and a very warm welcome to the programme. i'm sally bundock. —— hello.

a public inquiry into the scandal at the post office, which led to hundreds of workers being wrongly convicted of fraud and false accounting, will resume later. the inquiry into the post office horizon it system is entering its third year, and returns after a christmas break, aiming to get to the bottom of what caused the faulty software to make it look as if money had gone missing. the uk government has announced a plan to overturn hundreds of convictions, with some sub—postmasters, who were genuinely guilty, also likely to be liable for compensation. the scandal is back in the spotlight after a tv drama aired over christmas. ben boulos has the latest. i haven't got that money. and i don't know where it's gone. joe hamilton, the don�*t know where it's gone. joe hamilton, the sub— don't know where it's gone. joe hamilton, the sub— postmistress provided in the recent itb drama has played a key drama in the fight forjustice. drama has played a key drama in the fight for justice. she told bbc breakfast her story back in march 2020. collect 14 times i had to plead guilty. you just wanted to scream. had been

told... ijust could not explain it. the whole thing was crazy. two days later, a powerful committee of mps promised they would investigate. , we will be launching an enquiry next week to try to launching an enquiry next week to try to get launching an enquiry next week to try to get some launching an enquiry next week to try to get some answers launching an enquiry next week to try to get some answers and to try to get some answers and to try to get some justice for people like these, but hundreds of others in the same position. that was four years ago. to remember how you felt when the announcement after the end of this enquiry was was made? , so excited. at least somebody is finally taking it series. that mp's enquiry led to the bigger public enquiry that resumes today. a statutory public enquiry like this wine is a big deal. it has the full backing of the law to make witnesses attend and face questioning, evenif attend and face questioning, even if they don't want to. they cannot punish anyone but it can point the finger where it can point the finger where it thinks people and organisations have failed or acted badly. and ultimately, it

is about getting to the truth of what really happened and who was involved. and that matters, as one wronglyjailed branch manner told us on yesterday's bbc breakfast vettel. nell mcgill going to the enquiry are you? i mcgill going to the enquiry are ou? . , , �* you? i am, yes. i'm watching one of my — you? i am, yes. i'm watching one of my investigators - you? i am, yes. i'm watching one of my investigators who | one of my investigators who helped — one of my investigators who helped send me to prison. but to hear— helped send me to prison. but to hear them give evidence? i have — to hear them give evidence? i have had _ to hear them give evidence? i have had to write down dash i don't — have had to write down dash i don't recall, i don't remember. i'm going — don't recall, i don't remember. i'm going to calculate how many times_ i'm going to calculate how many times he — i'm going to calculate how many times he says that. but how is important _ times he says that. but how is important to see the post office's_ important to see the post office's own investigators bequest and appear before the enquiry? — bequest and appear before the enquiry? , ifound it very cathartic _ enquiry? , ifound it very cathartic. i enjoy them watching them squirm a bit and i think— watching them squirm a bit and i think it — watching them squirm a bit and i think it is _ watching them squirm a bit and i think it is good for you to see — i think it is good for you to see them _ i think it is good for you to see them put on the rackjust like we — see them put on the rackjust like we were put on the rack in the crown_ like we were put on the rack in the crown or. i know how it felt — the crown or. i know how it felt when _ the crown or. i know how it felt when he was around he at

the house _ felt when he was around he at the house accusing me. the prime minister _ the house accusing me. the prime minister has - the house accusing me. tie: prime minister has now announced a new law that will overturn all remaining convictions at the 555 postmasters who took the post office to the high court in 2019 and won will get an upfront payment of £75,000. , they have lost everything, houses, livelihoods, shops, businesses. and to think that £75,000 is actually enough. to an average member of the public, they would think that is a lot of money. but when you look at what people have lost, it is absolutely nothing. i think they missed a zero of the end, personally. ben boulos reporting there. more on this about 30 minutes in our business coverage. looking at the it giant fujitsu which supplied and designed the horizon software. two of the republican

candidates for the presidency have been trading insults at the cnn debate in iowa. ron desantis and nikki haley are hoping to eat into frontrunner donald trump's big lead in the polls. they both criticised trump's record, and questioned multiple times why he wasn't at the debate — but dodged a question about his character. the former president once again opted not to participate in the debate and instead appeared at a fox news town hall event — although that didn't stop him criticising haley and desantis. on monday, republican members in iowa will be the first in the us to vote for their preferred presidential candidate, with donald trump still leading the pack. let's speak to our reporter bernd debusmann, who is in iowa at that cnn debate. do tell us more about how it all went. what was the tone of the debate like? it

all went. what was the tone of the debate like?— the debate like? it was very fiery and — the debate like? it was very fiery and very _ the debate like? it was very fiery and very combative - the debate like? it was very l fiery and very combative from the very outset of the debate both candidates came out trading barbs and insults within seconds of his opening statement ron desantis provide to nikki haley as mealymouthed. she referred to ron desantis repeatedly as a liar. she revealed a website today ron desantis .com. very aggressive and i think it is a sign that even though they were behind donald trump in the poll, the outcome today really didn't matter to them. they really want the momentum of a good debate going into the caucasus next week and for the caucuses to have dash create a good momentum going into the new hampshire primary further on. but in terms of the reaction so far. what are people saying about this? in the last ten minutes or so i have been speaking to a lot of campaign staff from both the desantis and haley campaigns and they are both kind of claiming

victory. the haley campaign in particular is very clear that they saw tonight as a win. building momentum in iowa, going into new hampshire where she has much stronger support and then here in much conservative iowa. from a certain point they will both be looking at as a win but it is very clear and clear to everyone here that they are still well behind donald trump in the polls. this is a race to second place.— in the polls. this is a race to second place. let's talk about donald trump. _ second place. let's talk about donald trump. we _ second place. let's talk aboutj donald trump. we mentioned second place. let's talk about. donald trump. we mentioned he was not present at that particular debate that you were at. however he was on the screen, wasn't he? he at. however he was on the screen, wasn't he?- at. however he was on the screen, wasn't he? he did have counter programme _ screen, wasn't he? he did have counter programme giving - screen, wasn't he? he did have| counter programme giving three miles away from where i am now but although he wasn't here at the event mickey went over many of the same talking points we have heard from him at the before, he tookjabs at both candidates. in particular he said he took credit as he has a place for mr desantis's rise in

politics and even as i was sitting here my e—mail this was just full of e—mails from the trump campaign criticising both candidates here for things that have been set online a different policy position. it is very clear his campaign was watching and it is very clear he still takes this as a serious competition, despite a very commanding lead in the polls going into next week. it polls going into next week. it is very fascinating. thank you for now. the international court ofjustice is holding the first hearing later of a case presented by south africa, in which israel is accused of committing a genocide against palestinians in gaza. israel has forcefully rejected the accusation, claiming it's acting in self defence. 0ur diplomatic correspondent, paul adams, explains the arguments presented by both sides, and looks at the legal threshold for the crime of genocide.

for three months, the world has looked on in horror at the scenes from gaza, the huge numbers of palestinian civilians killed or forced to move, the sheer level of destruction. south africa says this is evidence of genocide. israel says that is an outrageous accusation. according to a 1948 convention, genocide is a crime committed with the intent to destroy our national, ethnic, racial or religious group in whole or in part. that, south africa says, is what israel is doing in gaza. just look at the statistics dash israel has killed more than 23,000 palestinians. more than 300,000 housing units have been damaged or destroyed. and around 85% of the population has been displaced. , there is no place in gaza that is safe. we have seen the number of people that israel has killed. but notjust

killed and wounded, but they have destroyed the infrastructure and made it so that life in gaza is no longer possible. then there is a question of israel's intense. look at what israeli politicians have been saying since october the seventh. israel's president dash it is an entire nation out there that is responsible. its hard—line ministerfor national is responsible. its hard—line minister for national security dash they are or terrace and should be destroyed. and the deputy speaker parker. we have all wanted goal, erasing the gaza strip from the face of the earth. in any of this be said to be proof of genocide? remember this is notjust about war crimes dash genocide is notoriously difficult to prove. you have to have evidence of a plan or pattern of behaviour that cannot be explained in any other way. that cannot be explained in any otherway. israel will that cannot be explained in any other way. israel will argue that it was acting in self—defence, following the dreadful hamas attacks of october the seventh. that it had no choice but to act. , we

are still motivated israel, presumably on the basis of its military campaign. even if they have gone beyond what the law commits them to do in a military campaign, it is still driven by the logic of the military campaign and not a genocidal logic. —— permits but if it thinks the case has some merit, it could provide a provisional measure designed to curb israel's military campaign. israel could of course ignore the court ruling but such calls from the un top legal body could add to the pressure mounting on israel to act differently in gaza. 0ur diplomatic correspondent, paul adams with that report. elsewhere, the un security council has demanded an immediate end to attacks on ships in the red sea by iran—backed houthi rebels in yemen. it's passed a resolution endorsing the right

of un member states to defend their shipping vessels from attack, giving a green light to a us—led multi—national naval task force to repel attacks. the houthis say they'll continue until israel allows humanitarian supplies into the gaza strip. meanwhile, the us secretary of state, antony blinken, is continuing his visit to the region. after meeting with the head of the palestinian authority, mahmoud abbas, he said the white house supports "tangible steps" towards the creation of a palestinian state, but it must exist alongside israel. with me now is said shahata from bbc arabic. let's start with the un security council to begin with. they demanded an immediate end to attacks on ships in the red sea. will that make any difference? i sea. will that make any difference?— sea. will that make any difference? ~ ., , , difference? i think not because the houthi _

difference? i think not because the houthi militants _ difference? i think not because the houthi militants launched l the houthi militants launched 26 attacks sends what is happening in gaza and they claim to stop fighting in gaza and israel withdrew and more aid. the american interpretation shutdown 21 drones and missiles only in one—day, which is a huge ones. it shows the complications, complexity of that. the solution came to put pressure on manning on the houthi on iran because american blinken foreign minister said iran should stop supporting the houthi and the attack should be stopped and whoever supports the attack should be stopped. because this truth is food up 12% of because this truth is food up i2% of global trade and there is fear of increasing prices of food, medicine and petroleum

products because it goes from there. because as the route goes around through africa and goes around through africa and goes around through africa and goes a lot more. all that would put pressure on the houthi but they don't care because they said the attack or attacking american ship because it supports israel. so, they don't care and the americans and british hinted that they might make a military action but not yet because even the defence secretary chaps, british secretary chaps, british secretary of defence, said it is kind of like watch this space. but he did not say exactly what could be done as a reaction to the houthi. secretary of state antony blinken is next up is a chip, is that right?— is that right? yes, antony bfinken is that right? yes, antony blinken who _ is that right? yes, antony blinken who was - is that right? yes, antony blinken who was on - is that right? yes, antony blinken who was on a - is that right? yes, antony| blinken who was on a tour through dot bahrain, qatar,

saudi arabia, greece, turkey, westbank and meeting the egyptian president. mentioned in his visits the importance of containing the conflict, not to be out of gaza, because there is fear of haskalah, and fear of the houthi attacks, vera ran back intervening and also like yesterday in kurdistan they shot down a drone targeted to a military airport used by the global alliance against what is called isis, the islamic state group. so all about, you know, put pressure on israel because all the countries agreed on ceasefire, all the arab countries, palestinians and all of them. only israel does not like ceasefire. american supporting them. ling, said to state solution but all about

based on a kind of truce to help negotiation for the two state solution.— help negotiation for the two state solution. another very important — state solution. another very important day _ state solution. another very important day ahead. - around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. rape complainants should be told that pre—recording evidence could harm their chances of securing a conviction at trial, according to new research. special measures allow people to be interviewed and cross—examined before the trial and away from the defendant. but a new study by university college london found 20% fewer rape convictions in such cases. fast—fashion firm boohoo put "made in the uk" labels on potentially thousands of clothes that were actually made in south asia. bbc panorama found plain t—shirts and hoodies had their original labels removed at boohoo's flagship factory in leicester last year. boohoo said the incorrect labels were down to a misinterpretation of the labelling rules.

experts say analysing the entire genetic code of cancer patients can help deliver treatments that work better. in the biggest study of its kind, involving 13,000 cancer patients in england, combining clinical data and dna evidence meant care could be tailored. you're live with bbc news. here in the uk, the bbc has found almost all key nhs targets have been missed for seven years or more. the analysis of the public healthcare system focused on three key hospital targets — a&e, cancer care, and waiting times for planned procedures. it found that neither northern ireland nor wales have ever met the four—hour a&e goal. 0ur health correspondent, sophie hutchinson, reports. for yea rs for years now right across the uk nhs performance has been

deteriorating. failing to meet key targets aimed at saving lives and instead putting patients at risk. 0ne lives and instead putting patients at risk. one such target is for cancer treatment to begin. it's meant to be a maximum of 62 days, roughly two months. but ian burns waited forfour months. but ian burns waited for four months and by the time he started chemotherapy, his stage i cancer had become stage. he told me the way for treatment was easily the worst time in his life. i’d treatment was easily the worst time in his life.— time in his life. i'd wake up every morning _ time in his life. i'd wake up every morning wondering l time in his life. i'd wake up every morning wondering if time in his life. i'd wake up. every morning wondering if i had a future, wondering that every day the cancer would be advancing within me. strangely enough when it got to about 3.5 months, i almost thought this is too late and nothing will happen to you now, was the case and scans showed it had spread. bbc analysis from the vast majority of key nhs targets had been missed for seven years on the and it looked at maximum wait for the treatments to begin last year in england in

2015 for general hospital treatments. last hit in scotland in 2014. and before our a&e weight which has never been hit in northern ireland and wales. i been hit in northern ireland and wales-_ and wales. i describe the tar: ets and wales. i describe the targets as _ and wales. i describe the targets as a _ and wales. i describe the targets as a key - and wales. i describe the i targets as a key barometer and wales. i describe the - targets as a key barometer of how— targets as a key barometer of how the — targets as a key barometer of how the nhs is performing. these — how the nhs is performing. these markers that for the best part of— these markers that for the best part of 20 — these markers that for the best part of 20 years have been used to measure whether it is doing welt _ to measure whether it is doing well. we're talking how long you weit— well. we're talking how long you wait find out you have cancer _ you wait find out you have cancer or— you wait find out you have cancer or you wait for life trading _ cancer or you wait for life trading operations and the fact that they have been failed up and down the country for so long — and down the country for so long should be a wake—up call. combined, _ long should be a wake—up call. combined, the targets have been missed for more than 100 years across all four nations. governments in england, wales, scotland and northern ireland said they are investing in staff and equipment to reduce the weights. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. let's bring you up—to—date with what's happening in ecuador. ecuador�*s armed forces say they have arrested more than 300 suspected gang members since the president declared

a state of emergency, triggering a wave of deadly violence. soldiers are on the streets in several cities after unprecedented violence. masked gunmen stormed a public tv studio during a live broadcast in the city of guayaquil and bombs were detonated across ecuador on tuesday. president daniel noboa introduced the 60—day emergency powers earlier this week after a series of riots in ecuador�*s prisons, during which a notorious drug lord escaped from his cell. with me is our latin america regional reporter, mimi swaby. she is talking us through what's happening. what's the latest? in _ what's happening. what's the latest? in addition _ what's happening. what's the latest? in addition to - what's happening. what's the latest? in addition to the - latest? in addition to the hundreds of suspected gang members being arrested, the military commander has confirmed that 40 hostages have been rescued and weapons and explosives ceased. but there are still more than a hundred security guards, administration staff and police officers held

hostage by the criminal organisations. president noboa said he is taking a really hard line against these groups and said hostagetaking is the ugly part of war. that's exactly what he is calling the situation in ecuador, a state of war. he says these members of war. he says these members of groups will be treated as hostages and security forces have identified 22 armed groups as terrorist organisations, so the be treated as terrorists and the military will neutralise them. 0bviously and the military will neutralise them. obviously the gangs have not taken the news well and they retaliated aggressively across the country with car explosions and attacks in schools, universities and other public buildings. we know there are at least ten people who have died since the state of emergency has been announced on monday by the president. t on monday by the president. ( reports about what's happening and you can't believe it unfolding, it is almost like a

hollywood film. people are terrified understandably. talk about what triggered the crisis. ., , about what triggered the crisis. . , , ., ., crisis. the latest eruption of violence. — crisis. the latest eruption of violence, nothing _ crisis. the latest eruption of violence, nothing ecuador. crisis. the latest eruption of. violence, nothing ecuador has ever seen before, is from the escape of a notorious gang leader court from a maximum security cell in guayaquil but it's a much deeper issue coming down to the world's insatiable appetite for cocaine. europe has made the ports of ecuador and extremely valuable asset for any drug trafficking group in america and this means that different cartels are fighting over the control of these cocaine roots, foreign and local cartels. local cartels have been bolstered by foreign ones with money, weapons and confidence. in the past and in recent years the headquarters of the local gangs used to be in prisons. but we're seeing the violence which used to be contained hidden away in some respects, now it distilling on

the streets of ecuador and terrorising whole country. tqm. terrorising whole country. 0k, we will talk — terrorising whole country. 0k, we will talk again _ terrorising whole country. 0k, we will talk again soon, i'm sure. thank you. china has unveiled a new vision for an economic and cultural future unified with taiwan, just days before people on the self—governing island head to the polls to pick a new president. it's beijing's latest attempt to influence voters in taiwan, which it claims is chinese territory and vows to retake by force if necessary. taiwan's separation from china is seen in beijing as an aberration — a "left over" from china's civilwar. underxijinping's leadership, beijing has taken an ever sharper and often more aggressive tone towards taiwan, but china is also trying to entice more taiwanese visitors to its shores. 0ur china correspondent, laura bicker, has this report from the province closest to taiwan.

bracing themselves against the briskjanuary wins. these brisk january wins. these chinese briskjanuary wins. these chinese tourists pier towards taiwan. in reality, a/c fold clouds that view. undeterred, they make the most of their visit. this is as close as they can get to taiwan. they are banned from travelling to the self governed island which beijing claims as its territory and has vowed to take one day. translation: mr; and has vowed to take one day. translation:— and has vowed to take one day. translation: my biggest wish is i ho -e the translation: my biggest wish is i hope the island _ translation: my biggest wish is i hope the island of _ translation: my biggest wish is i hope the island of taiwan - i hope the island of taiwan becomes return to the motherland soon. even if taiwan is taken back, i hope there will be peace negotiations. in this way there is no harm inflicted. if there is more, casualties will be huge. we want peace. casualties will be huge. we want peace-— casualties will be huge. we want eace. �* ., , ., want peace. but worries about the war barely _ want peace. but worries about the war barely register- want peace. but worries about the war barely register with i the war barely register with these seafood workers. even though they live here on the taiwan strait. they have bigger

concerns. translation: i taiwan strait. they have bigger concerns. translation: i don't care whether — concerns. translation: i don't care whether it's _ concerns. translation: i don't care whether it's unified - concerns. translation: i don't care whether it's unified are - care whether it's unified are not — care whether it's unified are not its— care whether it's unified are not. it's up to officials. we just— not. it's up to officials. we just were _ not. it's up to officials. we just were enough to eat and a better— just were enough to eat and a better life. we don't care about _ better life. we don't care about other things. laura bicker reporting there. and they had to the polls in taiwan this weekend. i'll be back with a top business stories and more on the post office go to add the other top business news for example in the us inflation figures are out today. what will they share about the welds because economy? see you in a moment. hello there. on wednesday, we were all in the same area of high pressure. but despite that, the amount of cloud we saw from place to place varied a lot. the cloud was at its thickest across eastern scotland and north—east england, where we saw drizzle move in from this sheet of cloud from the north sea. but there was some sunshine. western scotland did ok, and for east anglia

and southern england also there was quite a bit of sunshine around on wednesday, and what a difference the sunshine made to how the weather looked. for example, here in cornwall, barely a cloud in the sky. now, we're going to have the same kind of weather picture with us for thursday, with the cloud varying a lot from place to place. still got a bit of drizzle falling from it, mind you, east scotland around these eastern coastal counties of england, otherwise dry start to thursday, still some frost slowly melting away for southern england and western scotland initially. but it is across these colder parts of the country where we will have the best of the early morning sunshine. and the cloud across the north sea, i think it's going to thin through the day, so i would expect any drizzle to die away, the afternoon looking dry for all of us. cloud will tend to encroach across the midlands east anglia into parts of south—east england, leaving the best of the sunshine probably across central southern england, south west england, southern wales and probably western scotland. again, not doing too badly for some sunny spells. you might see a bit of sunshine as well in northern ireland. on into friday's forecast,

that cloud comes further south again. so east anglia, southern england, a lot cloudier this time, probably more in the way of breaks generally across scotland, northern ireland and probably north—west parts of both england and wales. temperatures give or take around about six degrees, so it is still on the cold side for the time of year. and the weekend has more of the same, really. high pressure stilljust about clinging on. so some cold and frosty mornings, largely dry weather picture with some of you seeing some sunshine, others staying a little on the cloudy side, but it will remain on the cold side. now, beyond that, next week, we get northerly winds diving southwards. they will bring some snow to scotland, i'm sure about that. we could see a weather system move into the cold air, which could bring some snowfall on its northern edge as well across parts of england and wales. but there's still a little bit more uncertainty about that. however, there is plenty of potential to see some disruptive weather with cold, icy and maybe snowy conditions next week.

live from london, this is bbc news. a watershed for crypto. us regulators finally approve bitcoin investment funds trading on public markets— helping to legitimise the controversial industry. the end result i think will be more people owning crypto than they do today.

also coming up, called to account: it giant fujitsu under scrutiny over the faulty software behind the uk's post office scandal plus, 7 million dead, and a $2 trillion hit to the world economy. four years on from the start of the covid pandemic, we look at the ongoing impact. and, planting the seeds of a high—tech future. how artificial intelligence could transform the lives of indian farmers, and the billion or more who rely on their crops. hello if you have just hello if you havejustjoined us. i'm sally bundock. looking at the top business stories. we start with the cryptocurrency industry. it was given a major boost on wednesday when us financial regulators finally cleared 11 bitcoin investment funds

to start trading on stock exchanges. the approval of the bitcoin exchange traded funds,