been executed with murderer has been executed with nitrogen gas in alabama, the first time capital punishment has been used in the us. in the uk, king charles has been admitted to hospital for prostate surgery, according to buckingham palace. 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. hello, i'm frankie mccamley. welcome to the programme. 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.

south africa's foreign minister, naledi mandisa pandor, said the government was hopeful the court ruling would have an impact. we have always approached this case and a positive spirit, but our core purpose was really that this is vital to highlight the plight of the innocentin vital to highlight the plight of the innocent in palestine and to also alert the international community to the greater harm that is being done to the people of palestine, to the public institutions and to the greater order in that area and to also draw attention to the lack of justice and freedom over many, many decades, much of which has been acknowledged by the world. so today, i think, the palestinian issue is front and centre of the world, and

thatis front and centre of the world, and that is a very important achievement through this case brought by south africa. our news correspondent anna holligan is in the hague, and she told us more about the case. 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 judges 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 have to be convinced by south africa's agruments that there is a plausible risk of violations to the genocide convention, which both israel and south africa are bound by, and they also have 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 in this case. israel has vehemently defended itself in the court. what is the country's defence? israel has indeed appeared here in court to defend itself during the oral hearings two weeks ago. this decision has come fast, it has been dealt with by the icj as a matter of urgency. israel's defence is it has consistently operated within international law, in self defence, that it is targeting hamas fighters, the threat posed by hamas, not palestinian civilians, and that the south african arguments presented in court are 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 then 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 kind of resolution here and also try to find a way to ensure 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, granting humanitarian access, allow 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 indeed the judges decide there are grounds to issue

provisional measures requested by south africa. israel has asked for the whole case to be thrown out, saying there is no case of genocide to answer here. that was anna holligan in the hague. here are some live pictures just outside the international court of justice. we have seen a number of cars arriving for what will be a busy day there, we expect the decision in roughly two hours and we will bring you that decision on bbc news, so stay with us for that. i'm joined now by sir geoffrey nice kc, a human rights barrister who was the lead prosecutor of former yugoslavian president slobodan milosevic. thank you forjoining us on bbc

news, sir geoffrey nice. we appreciate your time. how strong do you think south africa puts �*s case is? you think south africa puts 's case is? . , ., , ., , is? that is for the “udges finally to decide. h is? that is for the “udges finally to decide. they _ is? that is for the judges finally to decide. they had _ is? that is for the judges finally to decide. they had evidence i is? that is for the judges finally l to decide. they had evidence that many would find quite strong in respect of both actions and things said by israeli leaders to establish to the very low level required at this stage, to establish genocidal intent. genocidal intent is the critical feature of any and every alleged genocidal crime. however, evenif alleged genocidal crime. however, even if they have that evidence, they have to get past one other procedural hurdle raised by israel, saying they were too late and notifying israel of their application. i think it is unlikely that that hurdle will not be passed

by south africa, i don't think the court would be keen to see a whole process like this thwarted by a procedural step. we process like this thwarted by a procedural step.— process like this thwarted by a procedural step. we have been heanna procedural step. we have been hearin: a procedural step. we have been hearing a number— procedural step. we have been hearing a number of— procedural step. we have been hearing a number of different l hearing a number of different outcomes could come from the building today, but what could a ruling against israel mean? how likely do you think it is that the country will listen to the ruling? i think the issue raised in the case are of great importance, both from the point of view of its rail but also all other countries who have ratified —— ratified or acceded to the convention. israel has not honoured or obeyed orders of this court before in respect of the wall, for example, it has built across its land. at the moment, israel must recognise that much public opinion

favours palestinians, and this most troubled land. if it were to receive an order and not obey it, it would have to recognise that public opinion would go further against it and that might make the position of america and the advice it gives stronger, it might make it harder for material to be provided to israel to be provided. things like the huge trucks used to demolish parts of gaza. israel has a lot to be concerned about before it rejects and declines to honour or be any order that the court may give. do you want me to deal with the other side of the importance?— you want me to deal with the other side of the importance? please, we have a little — side of the importance? please, we have a little more _ side of the importance? please, we have a little more time _ side of the importance? please, we have a little more time with - side of the importance? please, we have a little more time with you. i have a little more time with you. the other side is if this application succeeds by south africa, people will ask why all the

other countries that are parties to the convention, like the uk and america, have not brought this to court before. and on the back of that they might ask why such countries have stayed silent ever since the genocide convention was passed in the early 19505, stayed silent had not done what they should have done, which is what south africa has done, in the 70 years in between. so a positive ruling for south africa, it will have great significance for israel, they might say unlawful —— it might save unlawful deaths of palestinians are might focus all governments around the world who should have done more whenever genocide is detected. human ri . hts whenever genocide is detected. human rights barrister — whenever genocide is detected. human rights barrister sir _ whenever genocide is detected. human rights barrister sir geoffrey _ whenever genocide is detected. human rights barrister sir geoffrey nice - rights barrister sir geoffrey nice kc joining rights barrister sir geoffrey nice kcjoining us on bbc news. thank you for your time, kcjoining us on bbc news. thank you foryourtime, really kcjoining us on bbc news. thank you for your time, really good to get your thoughts. we will follow the

story closely as we get that ruling in around two hours, so stay with her son bbc news. —— so stay with us on bbc news. to the us now, where the state of alabama 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. while there is vocal condemnation of smith's execution from some quarters, a consistent majority of americans support the death penalty — as do many politicians.

our north america correspondent, tom bateman, spoke to one lawmaker in alabama. i don't know about degrading, i don't know about inhumane. i think we are improving. but this one was suffocation. yeah, i know. and i don't remember exactly how the victim died, but i think it may be even better than what the process was that he did to the victim. i don't know that, and i don't know that it's a good way to die. is that what it's about for you, though? that sounds like retribution. no, i don't think so. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the uk have halted trade talks with canada with discussions breaking down over disagreements over beef and cheese. the two countries have been negotiation for two years. the

previous agreement has allowed the uk to continue to sell cars and cheese in the north american nation without canada charging input tax. —— import tax. 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. you are live with bbc news. buckingham palace has said prince charles —— king charles was admitted to hospital this morning for

scheduled treatment. he is being treated at the london clinic by the princess of wales is recovering from abdominal surgery. with more on this, let's go live to our correspondent charlotte gallagher in the newsroom. this morning king charles left his london residence, clarence house, just say few steps away really from buckingham palace, and was driven to the london clinic which, as you said, is where the princess of wales is also being treated. we thought he would go to another hospital where he has been treated before but perhaps the palace decided to have two royals under the same roof because the police and security was already in place, it makes more sense. queen camilla was by his side and we also know the king visited the princess of wales who is recovering from abdominal surgery, he visited her on her ward before he went for his own treatment. he has an enlarged prostate, it is benign, noncancerous, he has gone on for what the palaces describing as a

corrective procedure, millions of men across the world to undergo this procedure every day with low risks associated with it. the recovery is quick, it is unlikely he will be doing public visits next week but he can get on with his job as king, there is no constitutional issue, nobody will have to stay in. —— nobody will have to stay in. —— nobody will have to stay in. —— nobody will have to stand in for him. he might stay in perhaps another night, but nobody will have to step in for him. 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. just looking at these negotiations at the moment, what are the sticking points? at the moment, what are the sticking oints? , ., ., , points? first of all, the reports circulating. _ points? first of all, the reports circulating, our— points? first of all, the reports circulating, our own _ points? first of all, the reports circulating, our own souls -- l circulating, our own souls —— sources have told us that what is being proposed is anotherfaced ceasefire deal that would see patches of the remaining 100 plus israeli hostages still held in gaza being released in exchange for a ceasefire and also in exchange for palestinian prisoners being released from israeli jails, also foreign increasing age going into gaza. that is similar to what we saw back in november. the main sticking point is that hamas has been insisting what must happen now is a full ceasefire, a to what it sees as israel's

aggression on gaza and a complete withdrawal of israeli troops. the report circulating that israel has said it is prepared to offer a two month ceasefire but it seems the mediators think they have something they can work with. we mediators think they have something they can work with.— they can work with. we are also talkin: they can work with. we are also talking on _ they can work with. we are also talking on the _ they can work with. we are also talking on the programme - they can work with. we are also| talking on the programme about they can work with. we are also - talking on the programme about the international court ofjustice, we expect a decision shortly, in a few hours, on initialfindings on whether israel is committing genocide. there is huge political pressure mounting on benjamin netanyahu. what is the latest we have heard from him? he netanyahu. what is the latest we have heard from him?— netanyahu. what is the latest we have heard from him? he has been talkin: in have heard from him? he has been talking in the _ have heard from him? he has been talking in the past _ have heard from him? he has been talking in the past week _ have heard from him? he has been talking in the past week about - have heard from him? he has been talking in the past week about the l talking in the past week about the need to have absolute victory and gaza, trying to give the impression that the international court of justice orders are not something that will make israel change course. there has been a rejection of israel

of any idea that it could be committing genocide in gaza, it says the war was triggered by an attack on october seven carried out by hamas on israel, but it is a just war. but it's very consistently the message. among the israeli public i think there is a lot of shock that this has gone so far at the international court ofjustice. but on the palestinian side they are really looking for some kind of ruling that will lead to a potential breakthrough. ruling that will lead to a potential breakthrough-— ruling that will lead to a potential breakthrough. there is desperation for an end to _ breakthrough. there is desperation for an end to this _ breakthrough. there is desperation for an end to this war. _ breakthrough. there is desperation for an end to this war. the - breakthrough. there is desperation for an end to this war. the war- breakthrough. there is desperation for an end to this war. the war of. for an end to this war. the war of course very much ongoing, what is the latest on the ground offensive? earlier in the week we heard that a number of israeli soldiers lost their lives.— number of israeli soldiers lost their lives. ~ , ., their lives. the week began with 24 israeli soldiers _ their lives. the week began with 24 israeli soldiers being _ their lives. the week began with 24 israeli soldiers being killed, - israeli soldiers being killed, israel's deadliest day since the start of its ground offensive in gaza. what we have seen in the last few days is very intense fighting

concentrated around khan younis in the south where israeli ground forces have pushed into the centre, they have been pushing to the west. the fighting has been very intense and two of the main hospitals where there are still medics and patients and thousands of disgraced people —— displaced people. the israeli military insists that hamas is using sites including, it says, these hospitals, to launch attacks. it says they are just targets but it has not, it says, asked for the hospitals to be evacuated. it says it is giving people in that area safe passage to add —— to head to the south. thousands of people are taking to their feet, if they have vehicles they are using them to make the journey to the south, the egyptology, the journey to the south, the egyptology, which is now extremely crowded. you have about 1.9 million

people squeezed into just 20% of gaza, according to reports from ngos. ., ., , ngos. yolande knell with the very latest from _ ngos. yolande knell with the very latest from jerusalem, _ ngos. yolande knell with the very latest from jerusalem, and - ngos. yolande knell with the very latest from jerusalem, and i'm - ngos. yolande knell with the very. latest from jerusalem, and i'm sure we will speak to her throughout the day. 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. lets get more on this from our senior international correspondent orla guerin — in istanbul. she sent this report. david cameron will be here putting the british position and trying to engage the turkish leader, but they are in a very different space as far as the conflict is concerned, diametrically opposed, really. the british government's 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. in fact, president erdogan has said it would be unrealistic to try to exclude hamas. let's not forget the public statements he has made since the october 7th attacks. he has said hamas is 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. that said, turkey has a long—standing relationship with hamas, it has influence with hamas and good relations with qatar, so i suspect david cameron is trying to see whether there is a way to use turkey's influence in some form, but they are coming at this different viewpoints. the us is in qatarfor hostage and ceasefire negotiations — what do we think does mr cameron hope to achieve in addition to this?

i think he is looking to the longer term. when he was in israel 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 indeed 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 view 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. 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. i'm frankie mccamley, you're watching bbc news. hello there. it's been a stormy week for many, but the weekend is looking drier and less windy. there will still be gales around, as we'll see today across the north and west of scotland, particularly the highlands and the islands. but for most of us, yes, it's breezy still, but the wind is gradually easing down, as are the number of showers.

and that's because the ridge of high pressure is building in from the south, and it will hang around into the weekend. the tightly packed isobars, the windier weather further north, and that's where the majority of the showers will continue on and off today. and it's colder air, it's a fresher breeze today. so that means more winteriness over the tops of the scottish mountains. and we'll see some quite lively showers here, too. but fewer for northern ireland and england and wales. and after a mild start in the south and the east with the rain this morning, temperatures will actually fall back. so it's a fresher day, a cooler day and it's still blustery. these are the wind gusts as we go through the rest of the afternoon, you can still see 30, 40 miles an hour in the north. they will start to ease off, those wind gusts, though, further south. then, as we go through the evening and overnight, we've got further shower bands coming into the north and the west, particularly scotland, parts of northern ireland, but further south and east the lighter winds allowing temperatures to fall close to freezing. so a much colder night for the south and east. not quite as chilly, actually, further north and west. but as we go into the weekend, we're gradually going to start

to pull in more of a southerly wind. so it will become milder, particularly as that weather front approaches from the atlantic, pulling in that stronger southerly wind. but for saturday, yes, an early frost, potentially patchy mist or fog in the south. our weather fronts, though, close to the north—west highlands of scotland and the islands and also brushing close by to the northwest of northern ireland will bring in more cloud now. elsewhere, temperatures will be a little bit up on those of today. in fact, the majority nines and tens because we're starting to pull in that southerly breeze, which will probably bring a bit more cloud in for the majority on sunday. and this rain may arrive a little earlier across northwestern parts of both scotland and northern ireland. but temperatures are up again, 11 to 13 degrees celsius, as you can see. then, as we go into next week, the chances are that we could see some of these low pressures just slipping a little bit further southwards. so more uncertainty that far ahead. but staying on the mild side and still quite a good deal of dry weather in the forecast, as you can see. as ever, there's more on the website.

this is bbc news. the headlines... the international court ofjustice is to announce its decision in the next couple of hours in a case brought by south africa claiming israel is committing genocide in gaza. convicted murderer kenneth smith has been executed with nitrogen gas in alabama —

the first time the method of capital punishment has been used in the us. 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. buckingham palace says king charles has been admitted to hospital for prostate surgery — we'll bring you more on that later. let's continue with that story in regards to the post office here in the uk — 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.