the government in the uk was involved in plans by the post office to sack accountants who found bugs in its it system, according to documents obtained by the bbc. and celebrations have been taking place in india to mark the country's annual republic day. hello and welcome to the programme. i'm frankie mccamley. we start in the us state of alabama, which has carried out the first known execution of a death row inmate by suffocation with nitrogen gas. 58—year—old kenneth smith, a convicted murderer, was put to death after the supreme court again denied a last minute appeal. the method had never been tried before and smith's lawyers had argued that it amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. he was one of two men convicted of murdering a preacher�*s wife

in a contract killing in 1988. here's our north america correspondent david willis. after more than three decades on death row at this prison in alabama, kenneth smith's last—minute appeals to the us supreme court were denied and he was finally put to death. at 7.53 central time tonight, the state of alabama started carrying out the execution of kenneth eugene smith by nitrogen hypoxia at the william c holman correctional facility in atmore. in a statement, alabama's governor, kay ivey, said the execution had been lawfully carried out using nitrogen hypoxia. but witnesses described an unnerving scene as kenneth smith's life came to an end. among those witnesses were family members and his spiritual adviser. what we saw was minutes of someone struggling for their life. we saw this mask tied to the gurney and him ripping his head forward

over and over and over again. and we also saw correction officials in the room who were visibly surprised at how bad this thing went. kenneth smith was convicted for his part in a murder—for—hire plot to kill elizabeth sennett, an alabama preacher�*s wife. nothing that happened here today is going to bring mom back. nothing. it's kind of a bittersweet day. we're not going to bejumping around, whooping and hollering hooray and all that. that's not us. but we're glad this day is over. local officials maintained in advance that the use of nitrogen gas had been vetted and was safe. death penalty opponents maintained the procedure could cause convulsions or brain damage

and was therefore tantamount to torture. kenneth smith had dodged death once before after prison officials failed to insert an intravenous drip into his veins. as he lay on the gurney tonight, he said humanity had taken a step backwards with his execution. david willis, bbc news, washington. could israel be forced into agreeing a gaza ceasefire in the coming hours? the un's highest court will deliver its initial ruling later on a genocide case against israel. if the judges believe there is a case to answer, they could demand that israel halts its military operations in gaza and allows in more un humanitarian aid. israel has challenged the genocide accusation at the court in the hague — but, whatever the ruling, there is no guarantee that israel would necessarily abide by its findings. live now to our correspondent anna holligan in the hague outside

the international court ofjustice. talk us through what is happening today — and what today's decision could mean. this is all about provisional measures. south africa has asked the judges to issue a series of provisional measures, these are kind of like a restraining order to prevent the situation from getting worse and to protect palestinians. while churches here at the international court ofjustice inside the peace palace consider the wider accusation of genocide, the merits of the fundamental case here. so at this stage the judges have a relatively low evidentiary bar to meet. they had to be convinced by south africa's evidence that there is a plausible risk of violations to the genocide convention which both israel and south africa are bound

by, and they had to be convinced of a real and by, and they had to be convinced of a realand imminent by, and they had to be convinced of a real and imminent threat to irreparable harm being caused to the palestinian population in gaza in order to issue all, some or their own provisional measures. israel has vehemently — own provisional measures. israel has vehemently defended _ own provisional measures. israel has vehemently defended itself - own provisional measures. israel has vehemently defended itself in - own provisional measures. israel has vehemently defended itself in the . vehemently defended itself in the court. what is the country's defence?— court. what is the country's defence? , . ., ,, ., defence? israel has indeed appeared here in court — defence? israel has indeed appeared here in court to _ defence? israel has indeed appeared here in court to defend _ defence? israel has indeed appeared here in court to defend itself - here in court to defend itself during the oral hearing is two weeks ago. this decision has come first, it has been dealt with by the icj as a matter of urgency. it is well�*s defence is it has consistently operated within international law in self defence, that it is defending the threat posed by hamas, not palestinian civilians. and that the south african arguments in court a distortion of the truth. it is important to bear in mind, you probably know that this court's

rulings are binding but it does not have powers of enforcement so it turns to the state because the court does not have police or peacekeepers, it is up to the states to comply and we have already had indications from israel that any order in south africa's favour would be ignored, and then it is up to the states to cooperate or not. it would potentially increase pressure on israel to bring about a ceasefire but also on israel's international allies to step up pressure behind the scenes to find some sort of resolution here and also try to find a way to assure adequate amounts of humanitarian aid, medical, food, water supplies, are able to access the strip. so among the range of measures requested by south africa an immediate ceasefire, an immediate halt to israel's operations in gaza, fact—finding missions to enter gaza

and also for israel to report back to the court within a week on how it is implementing those measures if there are grounds to issue provisional measures requested by south africa than israel has asked for the whole case to be thrown out, saying there is no course of genocide to answer.- saying there is no course of genocide to answer. saying there is no course of aenocide to answer. �* ., ., ., genocide to answer. anna holligan in the he , genocide to answer. anna holligan in the hey. thank— genocide to answer. anna holligan in the hey, thank you _ genocide to answer. anna holligan in the hey, thank you for _ genocide to answer. anna holligan in the hey, thank you for that _ genocide to answer. anna holligan in the hey, thank you for that update i the hey, thank you for that update and as we get the verdict we will bring it to you live on bbc news. let's cross over alanna o'malley, associate professor in international history at leiden university in the netherlands. thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news, we appreciate your time. a range of i —— a range of outcomes that could come, just talk us through the possibilities. this that could come, just talk us through the possibilities. this is a hi . hl through the possibilities. this is a highly important _ through the possibilities. this is a highly important case _ through the possibilities. this is a highly important case with - through the possibilities. this is a highly important case with a - through the possibilities. this is a | highly important case with a range of outcomes we might expect when the outcome is issued at around one

o'clock in the netherlands. we might expect the court might order a limited ceasefire of some kind in direct response to the evidence south africa presented of the extent and scale of the humanitarian atrocities occurring in the gaza strip. we might expect the court will call for israel to grant greater and smoother access for the supply of humanitarian aid to ease the suffering of the people of gaza and we might expect that the court could in fact ask the israeli forces to limit their military incursions, to limit their military incursions, to even agree to greater access for un aid workers and the monitoring of the situation on the ground, and as mentioned in your report, that was something south africa specifically asked for, the issuing of reports within a week of the judgment of the scale of the situation in gaza so that the international aid community

at the very least it is not other states can address the humanitarian crises, and there are multiple humanitarian crises occurring at this time. we humanitarian crises occurring at this time. ~ ., humanitarian crises occurring at this time. ~ . ~ ., ., ., this time. we heard anna holligan sa that this time. we heard anna holligan say that the _ this time. we heard anna holligan say that the international - this time. we heard anna holligan say that the international court - this time. we heard anna holligan say that the international court of| say that the international court of justice's decision does not have enforcement powers, so how likely do you think it is that israel will listen to this? and we have the mounting political pressure on benjamin netanyahu too. there are two wa s benjamin netanyahu too. there are two ways to — benjamin netanyahu too. there are two ways to think— benjamin netanyahu too. there are two ways to think about _ benjamin netanyahu too. there are two ways to think about the - two ways to think about the enforcement aspect, the first is that there is an enforcement mechanism under article 94 of the un charter meaning the decisions of the courts can go back to the un security council and a stronger resolution can be agreed to bring about enforcement of that decision by the court, so that is the first important mechanism. the second is a little bit less tangible but perhaps more effective, that is about public opinion. this has played out in very

real—time and in very quick time in terms of the court's schedule and there are huge amounts of public pressure being put on israel and israel's allies to change calls for moderation, for attention to the humanitarian suffering, and for a cessation of this campaign. this is the most effective outcome we can think about in terms of the public pressure that may be created. we have a few more seconds before you 90, have a few more seconds before you go, i think lots people will be asking the question why south africa? ~ . , asking the question why south africa? ~ ., , i. asking the question why south africa? ~ ., , .,~ ,, africa? what is your take? i think it is a great _ africa? what is your take? i think it is a great question. _ africa? what is your take? i think it is a great question. south - africa? what is your take? i think| it is a great question. south africa is so well placed to bring this case given they are a country which has suffered through an apartheid regime, they understand what it is when the international community did not act to end the atrocities committed by the regime and they act on behalf of other global states,

especially african states, who have suffered from it not being enforced when genocide was occurring in that continent so these are reasons why south africa brought this case, making it incredibly interesting also politically because this is another moment of the confrontation of the global south against israel and its supporters, which are largely western countries like the uk, the usa and germany. professor alanna o'malley. _ uk, the usa and germany. professor alanna o'malley, really _ uk, the usa and germany. professor alanna o'malley, really good - uk, the usa and germany. professor alanna o'malley, really good to - uk, the usa and germany. professor alanna o'malley, really good to get l alanna o'malley, really good to get your opinions on bbc news. talks on a potential second gaza hostage deal could be on the cards. it's emerged that high—level talks are due to take place in the coming days, and that president biden is sending the director of the cia to help broker a deal. william burns is scheduled to meet his israeli counterpart, as well as egyptian and qatari officials. the negotiations are being seen as a sign of diplomatic progress. they feature all the key players who secured the last release deal in november, which led to a week—long

pause in the fighting. our middle east correspondent yolande knell is injeruselem. yolande, just talk us through the elements of any deal we could see here. it elements of any deal we could see here. , , ., ,., , ., here. it seems from the reports that have been leaking _ here. it seems from the reports that have been leaking out _ here. it seems from the reports that have been leaking out that - here. it seems from the reports that have been leaking out that hamas i have been leaking out that hamas delegation centre is talking to both qatari and egyptian mediators in recent days with lots of us too have come a bit closer towards something that the mediators can now work with. certainly we have heard on the israeli side that there are these reports that israel would be prepared to accept a ceasefire of up to two months in exchange for its remaining 100 plus hostages being released. then we had a senior palestinian official telling us, because he was very well briefed on what was going on with the talks,

that a proposed deal had been put to hamas by egyptian mediators who really talked about releasing the remaining hostages in batches and an exchange that would be palestinian prisoners released from israeli jails, there would have cause to be the ceasefire and an increase in age going into gaza. although there is a bridge to be overcome here between the two sides, the gap is narrowing somewhat and it seems the mediators believe that because they have got to this point, it is worth having these more high—level meetings. taste these more high-level meetings. we have these more high—level meetings. we have just been talking about the political pressure growing on benjamin netanyahu, where does he stand on this? it is benjamin netanyahu, where does he stand on this?— stand on this? it is interesting because in _ stand on this? it is interesting because in the _ stand on this? it is interesting because in the past _ stand on this? it is interesting because in the past week - stand on this? it is interesting because in the past week we | stand on this? it is interesting - because in the past week we have seen him going around once again talking about the need for absolute victory, saying israel will accept nothing less, whereas the indications are some compromises could be accepted by israel. of

course it does realise there is a lot of global pressure with a very high number of civilians who have been killed in gaza with the hamas run health ministry saying more than 25,000 people overall have been killed in israel's military offensive in the last three months, but on the domestic side it is almost every we a protest by the families of the israeli hostages. these protests seem increasingly desperate and lots of people have lots of public support in as well which puts pressure on mr netanyahu and his government.— and his government. yolande knell, aood to and his government. yolande knell, good to get — and his government. yolande knell, good to get your _ and his government. yolande knell, good to get your thoughts. - around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a group representing businesses in the north of england has called for the council tax system to be overhauled for the first time in more than 30 years. the northern powerhouse partnership has written to the chancellor, calling on him to carry out a revaluation of every home in england to make the tax fairer. the government says it has no

plans for such a review. a newborn baby found in east london has been discharged from hospital and is in foster care. the baby, who was named elsa by authorities, was discovered by a dog walker last thursday in newham in sub—zero temperatures. elsa's parents have not come forward and there is still no information about her identity. nhs consultants in england have narrowly rejected an offer to resolve their long—running pay dispute. their union, the british medical association, said it would now give the government a chance to improve its offer. ministers say they're "carefully considering" the options. you're live with bbc news. uk foreign secretary david cameron is in turkey for talks as he continues his tour of the middle east. he's already met regional leaders in israel and qatar, where he called for a permanent and sustainable ceasefire in gaza.

on his third visit to the region injust over two months, he's also urged the israeli government to speed up aid deliveries to gaza by opening up crossing points and accelerating truck inspections. let's get more on this from our senior international correspondent 0rla guerin, who's in istanbul. turkey and the uk are on a very different pages when it comes to the war in the middle east. how significant would you say this visit by david cameron is? mo, david cameron will be here putting the british position and trying to engage the turkish leader, but they are rennais very different space as far as the conflict is concerned, diametrically opposed, really. the british government view is that in a future two state solution, were that to happen, hamas

can play no part. turkey says the opposite, hamas cannot be excluded. president erdogan said it would be unrealistic to try to exclude hamas. let's not forget the public statements he has made since the october seven attacks. he has said 0ctober seven attacks. he has said hamas is not a n 0ctober seven attacks. he has said hamas is nota n —— 0ctober seven attacks. he has said hamas is not a n —— not 0ctober seven attacks. he has said hamas is nota n —— nota 0ctober seven attacks. he has said hamas is not a n —— not a terrorist group but a liberation movement, he has accused israel of carrying out a genocide and massacre in gaza so he is on a very different page to the uk government. turkey has a long—standing relationship with hamas, it has influence and good relations with her turn, so i expect david cameron is trying to see whether there is a way to use turkey�*s influence in some form that they are coming at this different viewpoints. the us is in qatarfor hostage and ceasefire negotiations — what could mr cameron hope to achieve in addition to this?

i think he is looking to the longer term. when he was and is well and when he met the palestinian leader he emphasised he wanted an immediate humanitarian pause to get aid in and hostages out, but beyond that he wanted to see a sustainable pathway towards a palestinian state, towards a long—term political solution. it is the position of britain and turkey that there should be a future palestinian state, and i think the foreign secretary is trying to find a way to build support and look at practical measures for how that could be put in place. but we have to say that the viewer of israel and the public statements of the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu could not be more different. he has made it plain repeatedly in the past few weeks that as far as he is concerned there is no chance of a future palestinian state. interestingly it is notjust the statement coming from him. one recent opinion poll in israel

suggests the majority of israelis feel the same, they do not support the creation of a palestinian state. 0rla guerin in istanbulfor us. let's get some of the day's other news now. protests are being held across australia, calling for the country's national holiday to be changed. australia day — the 26th of january — marks the arrival of european colonists in 1788. demonstrators want the date to be changed as a sign of respect for indigenous australians. thousands of people gathered in sydney and melbourne — many holding aboriginal flags. parts of spain have been hit by unusually high temperatures for january. valencia has seen temperatures of 30 degrees, which is usual injune but not during the winter months. the heatwave is also affecting parts of south—east france. the highest constitutional authority in france has rejected significant parts of a controversial new immigration law. the constitutional council ruled that almost a third of articles in the bill had to be removed.

among them are the restriction of access to social benefits and the right to family reunification as well as the setting of immigration quotas by parliament. bbc news has obtained documents showing the government was complicit in a decision by the post office to sack the forensic accountants who had found bugs in its it system. a sub—committee of the post office board took the decision in april 2014. yet the post office kept the government's involvement in it secret ? and continued to claim the accountants had vindicated its horizon computer system. andy verity has this exclusive report. the post office hired independent forensic accountants second sight to investigate complaints that its horizon computer system generated false evidence of cash shortfalls used to prosecute subpostmasters. oh, my god. it...it�*s just doubled right

in front of my eyes. they found evidence of computer bugs doing just that in 76 branches and told the post office in july 2013. but instead of coming clean, the post office kept insisting in public their system was robust, while in private, it agreed a plan to take second sight off the case. this envelope contains documents that post office bosses didn't want you, the public, to see — minutes of a subcommittee of a post office board that were kept from subpostmasters as they fought their way through the courts. they were eventually released a few years later with heavy redactions. look at those blacked—out passages. i've got hold of the unredacted version and they show exactly what was going on and who knew about it. spoiler alert — the government knew all about it. the minutes show post office chair alice perkins, chief executive paula vennells and a government representative, richard callard, discuss second sight�*s independent role investigating subpostmasters�* complaints for a mediation scheme.

behind the redactions, it shows that in april 2014, they agreed a plan to continue to investigate cases but to bring it within the control of the post office, cutting out second sight�*s independent role. and they reveal that post office bosses didn't plan to pay anything like the compensation subpostmasters were claiming — in fact, only around £1 million for all cases. yet in public, the post office continued to claim second sight�*s review as vindication, saying it found no systemic issues with horizon. in the meantime, you'll need to make good the loss. i haven't got that money! when in fact, as told in a tv drama this month, false evidence had been used to prosecute people like jo hamilton. i mean, what's it all about? do we live in a democracy or don't we? you know, and they've done some terrible things to people. why they didn't just tell the truth and sort it out then, i do not know. to mps who've campaigned for subpostmasters it again proves what they've long suspected.

this was a government organisation being overseen by government representatives, and it's the government that has to take responsibility for everything that went wrong. it's a distinctly corrupt, murky story that goes right the way into government and it's deeply worrying. we contacted alice perkins and paula vennells, but didn't receive a response. richard callard and the government declined to comment while the inquiry was ongoing. the post office also declined to comment. andy verity, bbc news. celebrations have been taking place in india to mark the country's annual republic day. the guest of honour at a parade in the capital delhi was the french president emmanuel macron, who's on a state visit aimed at boosting france's strategic ties with the world's fifth—largest economy. the bbc�*s south asia correspondent samira hussain was there.

republic day is an opportunity for india to demonstrate its military might. and that's why you're seeing contingents from the army, the navy and even the air force participating in this military parade. it's going to make its way through the streets of delhi on a nine kilometre long route that will end at the historic red fort. and it's notjust about military strength, it's also about celebrating india's ethnic and cultural diversity. and it's why you have representation from each state in the country in this parade. but this is also a moment to remember that this is when india adopted its own constitution. so for the thousands of people that have gathered on the street corners in delhi or are watching on television, it's also an opportunity to be able to celebrate their country. samira hussain. nowa painting by

the austrian artist gustav klimt believed lost for the last hundred years has been found in vienna. "portrait of fraulein lieser" once belonged to a wealthyjewish family and was last seen in public in 1925. the painting is now being put up for auction — $54 million. with estimates putting its value at more than $54 million. it has been a stormy week for many but the weekend looks drier and less windy. there will still be gales around, as we will see today, across the north and west of scotland,

particularly the highlands and islands. breezy for most but the winds gradually easing down, as are the number of showers, because of the number of showers, because of the ridge of high pressure building in from the south. tightly packed i suppose, windy weather 30 north, thatis suppose, windy weather 30 north, that is where the showers will continue. i suppose there will be more winteriness over the tops of the scottish mountains and some quite lively showers too, but few of —— fewer of them, and temperatures are falling back so it is fresher and cooler but still blustery. these are the wind gusts, 30 and 40 mph in the north. those wind gusts will start to ease further south. this evening and overnight, further shower pans into the north and west, particularly scotland and parts of northern ireland. later winds allow temperatures to fall close to freezing so much colder further

south and east, not quite as chilly in the north and west. we will pull in the north and west. we will pull in more of a southerly wind through the afternoon, so mild as that weather front approaches from the atlantic. the weather fronts close to the north—west highlands and islands and the north—west of northern ireland will bring more cloud. elsewhere, temperatures up on today, nine and ten for the majority, because we are putting that southerly breeze which will probably bring in more cloud for the majority on sunday. the rain may arrive earlier across parts of scotland and northern ireland —— the wind may arrive earlier. as we go into next week the chances are we could see some low pressure is slipping a little further south. more uncertainty that far ahead but staying mild and still quite a good deal of dry weather in the forecast.

as ever, more on the website.

this is bbc news, the headlines... the us state of alabama has put convicted murderer kenneth smith to death with nitrogen gas, in the first known execution of its kind. the international court ofjustice is to announce its decision in the next few hours,

in a case brought by south africa claiming israel is committing genocide in gaza. the government in the uk was involved in plans by the post office to sack accountants who found bugs in its it system, according to documents obtained by the bbc. and one of the world's largest wildlife surveys, the big garden birdwatch, is back for another year — with volunteers across the uk tracking their local birds. here in the uk, the attorney general is considering whetherjudges should review the sentence of a man who killed three people in nottingham last year. valdo calocane fatally stabbed grace 0'malley—kumar, barnaby webber and ian coates — and tried to kill three others by running them over. he was given an indefinite hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility — but the victims�* families felt justice was not done, as nickjohnson reports.