phil commercial shipping continues to be targeted in the west considers what to do it to end the attacks. we have been tracking and oil takers seized _ attacks. we have been tracking and oil takers seized in _ attacks. we have been tracking and oil takers seized in iran _ attacks. we have been tracking and oil takers seized in iran an - oil takers seized in iran an international seas in the gulf. up upfor up for sale, the script from the famous episode of friends which was rescued from a rubbish bin in london. hello, i m matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out lawyers for the south african government have outlined their case to the un's top court, alleging that israel's military offensive in gaza amounts to genocide.

they told the international court ofjustice in the hague, that the three months of bombardment violated the genocide convention of 191i8. south africa also alleges, that israel had a genocidal intent against palestinians in gaza, nurtured at the highest level of state. israel has dismissed the case as atrocious and baseless. its lawyers will begin their response on friday. south africa is calling for an immediate halt to the israeli military operation. in court, lawyers outlined the case against israel. the material confirms the rights and issues and their violation. that israel has committed and is committing acts capable of being characterised as genocidal. you have heard from ms hassim about direct extermination of thousands of people and children of the palestinian population in gaza since the 7th of october last year. and south africa and the world

together stand witness to the forced evacuation of over 85% of the population of gaza from their homes. and the herding of them into ever smaller areas without adequate shelter or medical care, to be attacked, killed, harmed. so the rights are immediately and urgently in need of protection because of the ongoing denial by israel of the conditions necessary for life. it is difficult, with respect, to think of a clearer or more pertinently urgent case. our correspondent at the hague — anna holligan has been the threshold for the crime of genocide. looking at what south african lawyers need to establish. for three months the world has looked on in horror

at the scenes from gaza, the huge numbers of palestinian civilians killed orforced to move, the shear level of destruction. south africa says this is evidence of genocide. israel says that's an outrageous accusation. according to a i9li8 convention, genocide is a crime committed with the intent to destroy a 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. 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've seen the number of people that israel has killed, but notjust killed and wounded, but they've destroyed the infrastructure and made it so that life in gaza

is no longer possible. then there's the question of israel's intent. look at what israeli politicians have been saying since october 7th. but can any of this can be said to be proof of genocide? remember, this is not just about war crimes. genocide is notoriously difficult to prove. you have to have evidence of a plan or a pattern of behaviour 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 7th, that it had no choice but to act. they're still motivated, israel would argue presumably on the basis of its military campaign, so even if they have gone beyond what the law permits them to do in a military campaign, it is still driven by the logic of the military campaign and not

by a genocidal logic. it will take the court years to reach a final verdict but if it thinks the south african case has some merit, it could issue a temporary remedy known as a provisional measure, designed to curb israel's military campaign. israel could, of course, ignore the court ruling but such calls from the un's top legal body could add to the pressure mounting on israel to act differently in gaza. paul adams, bbc news. announcing provisional measures and therefore they might go. it is announcing provisional measures and therefore they might go.— therefore they might go. it is not somethin: therefore they might go. it is not something we — therefore they might go. it is not something we will _ therefore they might go. it is not something we will see _ therefore they might go. it is not something we will see but - therefore they might go. it is not something we will see but i - therefore they might go. it is not i

something we will see but i expect the courts to act very quickly on this request for provisional measures and in order from the court within two or three weeks. i also think south africa has done enough and more than enough to satisfy the basic tests for provisional measures to be indicated. this is a much lower standard that they left meet the case continues. but with the court actually does if he decides to indicate provisional measures is a bit more of a?, the court doesn't not to accept or reject with south africa's proposed and the provisions that it deems most appropriate for the situation step way to give us a rough idea, we do not know the exact amount that we do not want to get ahead of ourselves but. the military operations and a bit sceptical that the court will go that far but it will address this in some way

insensible formulation and make sure that military operations going forward abide by obligations under international law other measures will ensure that israel does not impede some effective delivery of humanitarian aid into gaza. this court, humanitarian aid into gaza. this court. has _ humanitarian aid into gaza. this court. has no — humanitarian aid into gaza. this court, has no real— humanitarian aid into gaza. this court, has no real power of enforcement, desert? many other settinus enforcement, desert? many other settings have _ enforcement, desert? many other settings have to _ enforcement, desert? many other settings have to rely _ enforcement, desert? many other settings have to rely on _ enforcement, desert? many other settings have to rely on the - enforcement, desert? many other settings have to rely on the other| settings have to rely on the other actors to enforce this decision and in some measure, this is to be understood as part of the broader political process. this is something that other states can draw upon and attempting to persuade israel to change its conduct and even if israel comes out and disavows whatever the icj ends up saying, it might be a behind the scenes, israel

does moderator change some of its behaviour in some way in response to the courts direction. former uk labour leaderjeremy corbyn, who now sits as an independent mp, known for his suport of the palestinian cause, joined a south african delegation at the international court ofjustice today. we asked him — if the court won't agree on provisional measures, what's next. it will make known to be very bad and very sad in my view. but it would also indicate that we need much stronger international law. are we to be a planet where we just go to war and destroy each other? is not the only war going on at the time or are we going to be a planet that strengthens international military and law, international conventions on human rights refugees, environmentand, of course, genocide. this planet has seen genocides against thejewish people before the second world war, during the second world war,

cambodia, rwanda, rick went to watch these go on and on? the? cambodia, rwanda, rick went to watch these go on and on?— these go on and on? they say this case doesn't _ these go on and on? they say this case doesn't help _ these go on and on? they say this case doesn't help with _ these go on and on? they say this case doesn't help with the - these go on and on? they say this case doesn't help with the piece, l they said doesn't help with peace, nothing the british government is doing is helping with peace and there continue to supply weapons and diplomatic support. this is a preference of africa that itself is suffered so grievously under apartheid it is said the world that they have the moral courage to do it, stand up. genocide is going on. stop it. israel has responded to today's events — with a statement from the foreign ministry.

the fighting has continued in gaza — with israel launching fresh strikes on the southern part of the territory. this was khan younis, where palestinians ran to find shelter as a strike hit near nasser hospital earlier today. israel has said, it is continuing to find tunnels and weapons, and has killed dozens of militants. its military released this video, which it says, shows a tunnel beneath khan younis, which — it claims — hamas used to hold some of the hostages taken in the deadly raid into southern israel on the 7th of october. the hamas run health ministry says, more than 60 people have been killed in and around khan younis. it says the total number of palestinians killed since october the 7th now stands at 23,169.

i just want to show you these pictures from southern israel. the families of israeli hostages, taken by hamas, have been shouting the names of their missing loved ones at the site of the nova festival, which was attacked on october 7th, near the border fence with gaza. "bring them home now, today" from this location — not far from khan younis — the families' voices were magnified on loudspeakers in the hope that hostages would be able to hear them from within tunnels or buildings in gaza. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news.

petrol prices have fallen to the lowest level since october 2021, new figures show. the aa said the average price, for a litre of the fuel, fell below £1.40 for the first time since october 2021. the uk government is planning the biggest expansion of its nuclear power industry in 70 years. a new nuclear plant would quadruple supplies by 2050, which the government claims would lower bills and improve energy security. nuclear power currently provides around 15% of the uk's electricity but many of the country's aging reactors are due to be decommissioned over the next decade. researchers at oxford university say the death—rate among pregnant women and new mothers rose, during the pandemic, to its highest level in nearly two decades. blood clots in the veins, was the most common cause of death, with heart disease and poor mental health also common. the department of health says "last year, nhs england published a three—year plan to make maternity and neonatal care safer".

you're live with bbc news an inquiry into the post office horizon it scandal has today heard evidence from one of the investigators who helped to prosecute post—masters and mistresses. stephen bradshaw became part of the investigations team in 2000 — when the issues with the it programme were first becoming apparent. he told the inquiry that he became aware of media reports about the problems by 2010 — but said he was �*not technically minded'. here he is being asked if he would have still prosecuted it's a big day forjanet skinner, a former sub—postmistress wrongly convicted and jailed for theft in 2007 but later cleared. it has impacted everything, this has

controlled my life since 2006. i was employed by the post office in 1994, so they've had the best part of 30 years of my life. i swear by almighty god... and it is this man she is here to see, stephen bradshaw, whose investigation but janet behind bars, himself being interrogated. you were at the post office in a significant role - during the group litigation, during the court of- appeal proceedings. throughout this inquiry i and you didn't think back and perhaps regret having submitted a witness statement such as this - in criminal proceedings? with hindsight, it's regrettable that statement went through as though it is my words which is not correct. but it hasn't caused you any moment of reflection? - of course because you look at it and go, it's wrong. stephen bradshaw is part of the post office investigation team whose work led to the convictions of more than 700 sub—postmasters. remember at the heart of it is one of very simple aim, to get to the truth about what happened and why the post office pursued

hundreds of innocent people over two decades, leading to convictions for crimes they didn't commit. i haven't got that money! the itv drama has prompted renewed public outrage over the scandal but it began in 1999 when fujitsu's faulty computer system was installed. this is one of the greatest miscarriages ofjustice in our nations history. it was only this week, almost a quarter of a century later, but the government promised all the convictions since then would be overturned. as the inquiry resumed, the victims hope it will give them the truth about what happened to them and why but they won't get those answers until it concludes early next year. ben boulos, bbc news. let's hear more now from stephen bradshaw — who was questioned about whether the prosecutions with which he was involved should have gone ahead —

once there were suggestions the it system was not working. they were prosecuted for the giro deposit slips not going in. and if you were sure that the underlying problem was a bug, error or defect in the horizon system that caused that discrepancy, would you still have prosecuted them for covering that up? that is not my decision. that decision would be made by the criminal law team. did you not think that was something worth investigating? not in this inquiry, this inquiry was solely about the non—receipt, the non—credit of people's money being paid into their account which ultimately caused the charity to have difficulty with their cash flow problems. that is the inquiry that i looked at. did you not think about looking into the reasons, looking into the reasons for that discrepancy? the discrepancy was quite simple, they did not... ..when the customer came in to deposit money, they did not deposit the money.

that was the inquiry. whatever happened before, as i say, to use the word mitigation, they haven't brought up saying this happened, they were covering up losses, but no substantiation with it. the inquiry was solely about non—credit of people's money. you were aware that an important part of their case in the criminal proceedings was that the underlying discrepancy was caused by bugs, errors or defects in horizon. not in this case, this case was solely that they did not credit somebody�*s deposit. if you as an individual, me as a business or somebody else as a treasurer, they'd made the complaint, saying i am paying money to the post office and it's not in my account. that is what was looked into on this occasion. the post office has paid fujitsu over £95m to extend the troubled horizon it system for two years after a plan to move to amazon had to be abandoned.

a serving postmaster told the bbc the software is still unreliable, and causes money to disappear. costs and delays are still dogging the horizon project more than two decades after the contracts were first signed. with more on this is our business reporter ben king in terms of public money in public contracts, just bring this up to date at how much is being paid to them over recent years.— them over recent years. fu'itsu is them over recent years. fu'itsu is the japanese fl them over recent years. fu'itsu is the japanese contractor h them over recent years. fujitsu is the japanese contractorjust - them over recent years. fujitsu is the japanese contractorjust beenj the japanese contractorjust been working on the horizon system since 1996 with a called it the largest it project outside of the military in europe. since the postmasters one their case against the government in 2019, it is carried on business and 101 contracts over 2 billion and the providerfor

101 contracts over 2 billion and the provider for services 101 contracts over 2 billion and the providerfor services to 101 contracts over 2 billion and the provider for services to the mod and home office and providing flood warning systems and environment agencies and this is a system which was very much a key part of the provision of the government services which we have come to know and expect in this country. seen expect in this country. an introduction, _ expect in this country. an introduction, what one postmasters told the bbc that there are still problems even now with this system. many will find it extraordinary that this system which is at the root of a miscarriage ofjustice which is caused so much misery across her screens are still being used is still causing mistakes and the differences that court case is that those mistakes resulting in prosecutions are more likely to be resolved in favour of the sub postmasters. nonetheless, this is a system that the post office has found it very difficult to get rid of. a plan to get rid of it in 2014,

working with ibm that ultimately failed in the contract was due to expire in 2023 but a planned migrated to the computer system run by amazon failed and i had to be abandoned that as well if this figure of £95 million behind me was the amount of money the post office had to pay fujitsu to keep this complicated orfashion had to pay fujitsu to keep this complicated or fashion system had to pay fujitsu to keep this complicated orfashion system up had to pay fujitsu to keep this complicated or fashion system up and running until they can get their new system working. the post offices there working as hard as they can to get out of horizon and a replacement system called new branch which is there working on with the pilot systems running at the moment and hoping to put that in later this year and that was meant to happen last year and it would not be a surprise this was due to see another delay in its been a very difficult project to get out of. for viewers in the uk, in half an hour, i'll bejoined

by three of the postmasters who were caught up in the post office it scandal — to hear how it affected their lives, and what they think of what's been happening this week. iranian state media has confirmed, that tehran is behind the seizure of an oil tanker in the gulf of oman. a british agency — uk maritime trade operations — says the vessel was boarded, by five armed men, and has been re—routed towards an iranian port. we can see on the eighth, and turkey, we have been able to track the ship to hear in the gulf of oman and its location and picked up by satellite here is well. the uk

marine traffic organisations as it was seized here of the coast of oman and thursday morning and 50 nautical miles off the coast international waters. they said the ship was boarded by four or five unauthorised individuals wearing military style black uniforms and the company that manages this system the ship was loaded with 145,000 tonnes of crude oil into the transit the canal on to turkey. the marine traffics says it was headed towards iran territorial waters and all communications were lost but why has been seized? it could be that it was caught in a global to protect between iran and the united states and previously called the sewers and this is an image of that same ship in 2022 said to be the green one on the right here and last year, it was seized

for transporting iranian oil as part of sanctions against the islamic republic. iran then seized a tanker for the us oil giant in retaliation and the seizure comes after a series of attacks by iranian backed rebels in yemen and the red sea and this is a separate incident in hundreds of miles away, with shipping companies already on edge, about the safety of other worlds busy shipping routes. it's one of the most memorable moments from the tv sitcom �*friends', and probably one of the most awkward — when ross accidently says rachel's name at his wedding. i, ross... take thee, emily... take thee, rachel... it's arguably one of the most famous scenes from the sitcom, friends, and was the finale of season four. ross's wedding to british fiance emily was spread across two episodes and gripped millions because of his on off

relationship with rachel. messing up his vow was. two friend's scripts. many of the scenes were filmed in london and now scripts for those episodes have been discovered 25 years later and are being auctioned tomorrow. the auction house has these scripts with a guide price of between £600 and £800, but who knows where the hammer will fall. one of my friends was selling something else and she said at the end of the conversation, i've got a couple of friends scripts, do you think they'll sell? i said, yes, bring them in, i love friends. she worked in the studios, she found them in a bin, picked them up, took them home and they've been in her drawer

for 25 years and the great thing about these scripts is that the cast and crew were told to destroy them so the ending would not be leaked and they are here and we've salvaged them so i don't know how many are available but we have some and it's exciting. stay with us here on bbc news coming up here injust a moment or two on bbc news. hello there. it's another cold day today, mostly dry, mind you, thanks to high pressure but we will see, i think, more cloud around what we have had the last few days. probably the best of sunshine reserve the western areas. the area of high pressure bringing in this cloud to northern and eastern areas which will drift further south and will turn quite grey and gloomy through the middle and south—east england and east anglia.

probably the best of sunshine south—west england, south wales. some glimmers for northern ireland and north—west england and probably the best sunshine across scotland throughout the afternoon. temperatures range from around five to seven or eight degrees. now we hold on to the cloud across england and wales during the overnight period. so where we have cloud, they are not quite as cold as where we see clearer skies. skies will be clearest across scotland and northern ireland where we could see some dense fog patches developing. and they will be freezing fog patches as it's going to be quite a sharp frost in northern scotland, temperatures down to minus 7—8 celsius. less cold where we have the cloud. it means friday will be rather grey again for large parts of england and wales. could see some breaks

appearing so will have some sunshine here and there. but the best of sunshine in scotland and northern ireland after that very cold start. temperatures only rising to about two or three degrees here but six to eight celsius for england and wales. in most places dry once again. changes as we head into the weekend, that high pressure retreats westwards, starts to allow a northerly airflow to developed with arctic air sinking southwards behind these weather fronts bringing increasing chance of snow showers through northern scotland on sunday. on saturday, variable amounts of cloud, some sunshine here and there. again, it's going to be mostly dry just a few showers of rain pushing into northern scotland. the breeze picking up here as well. temperatures six to eight degrees. changes on sunday as that weather front sinks southwards to bring showery rain for central areas. it would tend to fizzle out as it pushes into england and wales. behind it the air turns much colder, strong northerly winds and frequent snow showers developing. even down to the lower levels and accumalating in places. so low single digits here, six or seven in the sun. we hold on to snow showers and strong cold northerly winds for northern areas into the start of next week. we just need to keep an eye on this feature moving up from the south as there is an abundance of cold air

across southern areas. there is just the chance we could see a risk of snow across the south which could be disruptive. so stay tuned to the forecast as the details continue to change.

this is bbc news, the headlines. lawyers for the south african government have told the united nations' highest court that israel is committing genocide in gaza and wants to destroy the territory. israel has rejected the accusations as "baseless".

a former post office investigator has been giving evidence to the post office public inquiry in the uk. stephen bradshaw was involved in the criminal investigation of nine sub—postmasters. the iranian navy says it is behind the seizure of an oil tanker in the gulf of oman. armed masked men boarded the st nikolas. state media say, it follows a court order authorising the move. more on all of that here in a moment first let's head to the bbc sport center. hello from the bbc sport centre. ireland head coach andy farrell will lead the british and irish lions when they tour australia in 2025. farrell is named as head coach of the lions for the first time having served as assistant to warren gatland when they triumphed in australia in 2013 and again in new zealand four years later. farrell has just signed a new contract to be in

charge of ireland until the next world cup in 2027...