where the judges are preparing to give an interim ruling on the case. 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. in the uk, king charles has been admitted to hospital for prostate surgery, according to buckingham palace. hello, i'm frankie mccamley. we start this hour with breaking news: one of liverpool fc�*s most succesful managersjurgen klopp has announced his decision to stand down at end of season. klopp took charge of liverpool in 2015 and has won six trophies, including the premier league title and the champions league. let's get more on this with our

sport reporter gavin ramjaun. just first of all, do we know why he is stepping down? big just first of all, do we know why he is stepping down?— just first of all, do we know why he is stepping down? big breaking news, as we aet it is stepping down? big breaking news, as we get it here _ is stepping down? big breaking news, as we get it here as _ is stepping down? big breaking news, as we get it here as well, _ is stepping down? big breaking news, as we get it here as well, jurgen - as we get it here as well, jurgen klopp to leave at the end of the season. we think it is because he is quite tired and running out of energy, that is a statement he has given to the liverpool website. a huge story from the premier league, he has been in charge at liverpool since 2015, eight and a half years in charge at the club. he led to the first league title them in 30 years in 20192020. he has been one of the most successful of the club, led them to the carabao cup final this week, they are currently league leaders. this is huge news for all supporters, or affiliated with liverpool football club. that's is synonymous with liverpool, so much as with the identity of the club. —— klopp. we are breaking this at the

moment. after guiding the reds to another final this moment. after guiding the reds to anotherfinal this week, moment. after guiding the reds to another final this week, the 56—year—old is going to continue to oversee the teen�*s training and the remaining fixtures for the rest of the season. it's been a long reign, eight and a half years at liverpool. six major trophies under his guidance. so huge news in that respect. he said on the website that it is a shock for a lot of people, he can't explain it completely, he loves everything about the city, the supporters, the team, the staff that he still takes a decision that it shows he is convinced it is one he has to take. it is clearly a very heavy hearted decision he has to make here. running out of energy, he cites as the main reason. it appears that this is a time is going to be

direct at the end the season, announcing it right now. news, we are reacting to it right now. huge news for everyone affiliated to liverpool and klopp himself. my mac i know it is early stages, but have we had any reaction? this i know it is early stages, but have we had any reaction?— i know it is early stages, but have we had any reaction? this is going to be huge — we had any reaction? this is going to be huge in _ we had any reaction? this is going to be huge in the _ we had any reaction? this is going to be huge in the body— we had any reaction? this is going to be huge in the body football? i to be huge in the body football? absolutely so. they are going to be players, managers and clubs reacting to this. one of the most affiliated names to the premier league, not just with a limp orbit to the league itself. a global name, household name. every time he is in a press conference, you see what he is like, he is extremely personable to the media and the players. a big personality, a big presence, he is very distinctive of course, as well. associated with liverpool for so long and it is one of those brands, if you like, for the club, as well as the premier league. i think you will see a lot outpouring today face

how —— the how much he has done for liverpool. he has been successful there, brought them back the title of so long. we will see over the course of the day, lots of people will have lots to say on this. it will have lots to say on this. it will be a huge thing for people to be thinking about and commenting on, for sure. ~ ,,., , ., be thinking about and commenting on, for sure. ~ , . , be thinking about and commenting on, for sure. ~ , ., , , for sure. absolutely. i am sure they don't have — for sure. absolutely. i am sure they don't have plenty — for sure. absolutely. i am sure they don't have plenty to _ for sure. absolutely. i am sure they don't have plenty to say _ for sure. absolutely. i am sure they don't have plenty to say on - for sure. absolutely. i am sure they don't have plenty to say on this. - don't have plenty to say on this. thank you for that update and do head to our bbc news website or download the app and you can see the very latest on that and as that reaction comes through, we will be bringing it to you live here on bbc news. in this hour we are expecting to hear whether the un's top court will issue emergency measures ordering israel to halt its military operations in gaza. the hearing at the international court ofjustice in the hague is part of a case brought by south africa accusing israel of committing genocide against palestinians. if the judges believe there is a case to answer, they could demand a pause

to israel's military operations in gaza. israel has challenged the genocide accusation. with me is our diplomatic correspondent paul adams. just talk us through what we are expecting in the next hour. what will be going on behind the scenes? this is not a judgment on the fundamental case of genocide brought by south africa on the half of the palestinians. that decision by the court could take years, likely to take years. but in the meantime, as he said in your introduction, if the judges feel that there is a plausible case for israel to answer, in other words that what we have seen over the past four months in gaza raises enough questions about israel's intent, which is really important, and its methods, then they could agree to a whole series, nine separate measures, they are called provisional measures, that the south africans have asked for.

and top of that list is a ceasefire. so even though this is not the judges definitive word on what israel is going on gaza constitutes genocide, it could have significant impact, diplomatically, at a very key moment for israel, which clearly at the moment shows no desire to stop its military campaign in gaza. my stop its military campaign in gaza. my mac and we have been talking about this throughout the morning. following on from this decision, saying if the courts decide that to an extent, israel is in the wrong, how much teeth to the judges have, how much teeth to the judges have, how likely is it that israel will listen to this? in how likely is it that israel will listen to this?— how likely is it that israel will listen to this? in essence, they have no teeth. _ listen to this? in essence, they have no teeth. yes, _ listen to this? in essence, they have no teeth. yes, the - listen to this? in essence, they i have no teeth. yes, the decisions listen to this? in essence, they - have no teeth. yes, the decisions of the court abiding, the majority decisions. 17judges involved in making these, the decision today. the judges could throw out the whole

case as the israelis have asked them to on the basis that the procedure wasn't correct, there was quite some technical discussion when this is all discussed two weeks ago, about whether or not south africa had gone, had made efforts to revolve its dispute with israel. so the court can decide to do that or they could go to the other end, which is to endorse all of the nine measures called for by the south africans. i think most people think that probably what they will do is endorse some of them but perhaps not all of them. there is worth bearing in mind there is political context in mind there is political context in this, there are discussions going on about another teen month ceasefire. the israelis have indicated several times that they are trying to do more to get more humanitarian aid into gaza, which is in also another one the south africans —— another thing the south africans —— another thing the south africans asking for. whatever they

decide in whatever orders they decide in whatever orders they decide today, israel can sibley say, we are not going to obey any of this, there is no enforcement mechanism. what i think it would do its to add to the pressure, the mounting pressure on israel, to bring about a ceasefire, to do more to alleviate that desperately my deterrent situation in gaza. it would also add pressured israel's friends, specifically the us, to do more to bring this conflict to the end. so it is not a show stopper as far as israelis are concerned but it could have significant diplomatic and potentially commercial consequences as well because it could lead to things like discussions and countries about boycotts and sanctions and all that sort of thing. so the israelis are clearly taking this seriously. they sent a very high—powered delegation to state their case a couple of weeks ago and they will be waiting clearly, as is everyone, to hear what the justices decide today. we what the 'ustices decide today. we a tl what the justices decide today. we aptly well. paul adams, thank you

very much. we will bring you that decision. we are expecting it within the hour on bbc news. let's get more on this. 0ur reporter daniel de simone injohannesburg. why the south africans? why are they bringing this case?— bringing this case? there is a very lona bringing this case? there is a very long history _ bringing this case? there is a very long history that _ bringing this case? there is a very long history that goes _ bringing this case? there is a very long history that goes back - bringing this case? there is a very l long history that goes back between the south african government, and palestinian groups. although the government here has been in power for almost 30 years, it had a much longer history before that as an anti—apartheid liberation movement and the many years, it had a paramilitary wing. it was a banned group. in those years, it forged close links with revolutionary groups around the world, including palestinian groups, so when it came to power, it has retained this close link with policy groups. it views them as long—term allies who are

with them, with the anti—apartheid movement long before many of the great western powers were. so nelson mandela has been widely quoted over the last couple of weeks as having said that our freedom is not complete without freedom of the palestinians. when the war broke out, on the 7th of october, the south african president has made it a key part of his foreign policy to raise the issue the palestinian cause internationally, he has raised it with various governments, he referred israel to the international criminal court and now in december, they reformed it —— was added to the international court ofjustice. the two countries have very poor relations at the moment. south africa withdrew its diplomats from tel aviv. israel then responded by

withdrawing its ambassador from pretoria and then national assembly here in south africa actually voted in december to spend all the dramatic relations with israel but the government here —— suspend all diplomatic relations. they have been speaking about, they are confident of their case, but regardless of the decision today, they feel that they wanted to bring this case to the international attention, they wanted to put it on the agenda of the international court ofjustice and international court of justice and bring international court ofjustice and bring the wilds attention to what is happening in gaza. bring the wild's attention to what is happening in gaza.— bring the wild's attention to what is happening in gaza. thank you for that update- _ king charles has arrived at a hospital in london for a planned treatment for an enlarged prostate. 0ur royal correspondent charlotte gallagher told us more. this morning, king charles left his london residence, which is clarence house, just a few steps really away from buckingham palace, and then was driven to the london clinic, which, as you said, is where the princess of wales is also being treated. we had thought he would go

to another hospital where he's been treated before, but perhaps the palace decided to have two royals under the same roof because the police, the security was already in place, made more sense. so he's been treated at the london clinic. queen camilla was by his side as he went inside. we also know that the king did visit the princess of wales. she's recovering at the moment from abdominal surgery. he visited her on her ward before he went in for his own treatment. he's got an enlarged prostate. it's benign, it's non—cancerous. he's gone in today for what the palace are calling a "corrective procedure". that's the type of the procedure that's carried out right across the world. millions of men every day will undergo this type of procedure. there's very few risks associated with it and the recovery time isn't too bad either. it's unlikely that he's going to be up and about doing public visits next week, but he will be able to get on with his job as king. there's no constitutional issue, no—one will have to stand in for him, essentially. he's expected perhaps to stay

tonight, maybe another night, but it should be a fairly straightforward procedure for the king. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the uk has halted trade talks with canada, with discussions breaking down due to a disagreement over beef and cheese. the two nations have been negotiating for the last two years after britain left the eu, with trade continuing under the same deal originally brokered when the uk was a member of the bloc. the previous agreement had allowed the uk to continue to sell cars and cheese in the north american nation without canada charging 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. ministers say they're "carefully considering" the options. you're live with bbc news. to the us now and the 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. 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. 0ur 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. live now tojeremy laurence, spokesperson for the un high commissionerfor human rights. before the execution, your orginisation said this execution "could amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". from what you've heard from witnesses, does this meet that description? certainly, what we are hearing from

the report, it does sound like he was put through a great amount of distress and yes, it could amount to torture. beyond that, i think it is important that our message beyond the untested aspect of this case is the untested aspect of this case is the fact that the use of the death penalty in general, which we have vocally called for it to be abolished for quite a time. your own fiuures sa abolished for quite a time. your own figures say at _ abolished for quite a time. your own figures say at least _ abolished for quite a time. your own figures say at least 54 _ abolished for quite a time. your own figures say at least 54 people - abolished for quite a time. your own figures say at least 54 people have l figures say at least 54 people have reportedly been put to death in the country so far this year. why the focus on this death sentence? in fact, we spoke outjust this week focus on this death sentence? in fact, we spoke out just this week on fact, we spoke outjust this week on the executions taking place in iran, including the two iranian men on tuesday morning. 0ur issue is the death penalty globally. there is a

growing momentum for the abolition of the death penalty. you would like to think it would be the us, saudi arabia, iran or china, that they scrap this form of punishment once and for all. it has absolutely no place in the world we live in today. the victims�* —— the victim�*s family say that he paid his debts. what you say that he paid his debts. what you say to the families of victims who say to the families of victims who say they simply want justice and thatis say they simply want justice and that is right? are response to that is that is unacceptable. the death penalty is against the right to life, most fundamental of human rights. from our experience, we know that it doesn�*t serve necessarily as a deterrent to crime and there is always a huge risk that you execute

someone by mistake. without proper evidence. . , someone by mistake. without proper evidence. ., , , ., evidence. really interesting to get our evidence. really interesting to get your thoughts- _ evidence. really interesting to get your thoughts. thank _ evidence. really interesting to get your thoughts. thank you - evidence. really interesting to get your thoughts. thank you for - evidence. really interesting to get your thoughts. thank you for your | your thoughts. thank you for your time here on bbc news. thousands of people in georgia have found out that they were stolen from their parents at birth and sold for adoption. it is believed the black market in baby trafficking operated for decades from the late 1970s up to the mid—2000s. some of the victims are now taking their cases to the georgian courts, hoping to get access to their birth documents so they can trace their biological families. fay nurse has been investigating. sobbing. this is the first time twins amy and ano are meeting their birth mother. the sisters only learned of each other�*s existence two years ago, separated and illegally

adopted at birth. their mother was told they had died shortly after they were born. translation: from today, my life has great meaning. | it is a great happiness that i have found my children. how the twins found each other is nothing short of miraculous. it was after amy posted a tiktok and ano saw it. translation: when | saw her, | i thought i was looking at myself. exact same person, same face, exact same voice. they are not the only example of children separated from parents in georgia. the twins found their mum through a facebook group with more than 230,000 members, all hunting for the truth. it was set up by tamuna museridze, a georgian journalist who is also looking for her family. i am helping parents to find their children who were stolen and sold by the georgian doctors. tamuna has exposed a dark chapter in georgia�*s history, a black market adoption scandal, tens of thousands of babies trafficked and spanning decades.

i get messages every day with new leads. they are from all over georgia, and even people based abroad. after the country slipped into economic despair following independence from the soviet union, corruption thrived. tamuna started working with human rights lawyer lia mukhashavria to try to bring justice to the families. translation: adoption was not properly regulated by the state, | so people tried to solve this issue on their own. lia believes that a sophisticated network of criminals, working alongside corrupt doctors, profited from a culture of secrecy and shame surrounding adoption. translation: one thing i can say i with certainty is that this illegal l adoption was systemic and it operated and existed all over the country. and that is why this is so tragic.

lia and tamuna�*s work means that some cases could end up in court, but tamuna still hasn�*t found her own family. i have reunited hundreds of families and i cannot find my biological parents. but i will. i�*m sure i will. i will find them. georgia�*s government says it�*s investigating, but so far no arrests have been made. you can watch the full documentary, betrayal at birth: georgia�*s stolen children on the bbc world service youtube channel. one of liverpool fc�*s most succesful managersjurgen klopp has announced his decision to stand down at end of season. klopp took charge of liverpool in 2015 and has won six trophies, including the premier league title

and the champions league. live now to liverpool and john gibbons — creator of content for the anfield wrap — a podcast all about liverpool fc. are you suprised by klopp�*s decision? very, yes. surprise is an understatement. i think everyone is shocked here in liverpool. we have just come here to do some filming for something else, got the news that he is going in the summer. we knew he wouldn�*t be here forever but we thought we had a few more years of him yet so yeah, it is a huge shock and a worrying time for liverpool supporters. {iii shock and a worrying time for liverpool supporters. of course, than for other _ liverpool supporters. of course, than for other top _ liverpool supporters. of course, than for other top the _ liverpool supporters. of course, than for other top the league - liverpool supporters. of course, than for other top the league at| liverpool supporters. of course, i than for other top the league at the moment. why do you thinkjurgen klopp was so successful —— liverpool? i klopp was so successful -- liverpool?— klopp was so successful -- liverpool? klopp was so successful -- liverool? ~ ., ,, , , ., liverpool? i think he makes everyone feel ten feet — liverpool? i think he makes everyone feel ten feet tall, _ liverpool? i think he makes everyone feel ten feet tall, players, _

feel ten feet tall, players, supporters, all of us. when he speaks to you, we have been lucky enough to speak to him a few times, you feel incredible. but even money talks you through the tv screens or radio or whatever it is, you feel like you want to give him everything and i think you are that the players and i think you are that the players and from the minute he walked into the football club, we made —— he made us believe that anything was possible and it was a club that wasn�*t necessarily down it�*s like but be feeling that it�*s best years behind it and he came in and changed everything, told everyone to walk taller, dream biggerand we everything, told everyone to walk taller, dream bigger and we did it. we did it all together and that is how it felt and sometimes there are just these inspirational leaders. he has got a great tactical brain but the one thing he does is make people believe that they are capable of doing even more than they think sometimes, and also that feeling of togetherness. it

sometimes, and also that feeling of togetherness-— togetherness. it really does feel like the lovers _ togetherness. it really does feel like the lovers two _ togetherness. it really does feel like the lovers two ways. - togetherness. it really does feel like the lovers two ways. just i like the lovers two ways. just reading the quotes from mr klopp. i love everything about this club, i love everything about this club, i love the city, i love our supporters. he does say he is running out of energy.- supporters. he does say he is running out of energy. yeah, and he has a ut running out of energy. yeah, and he has a put everything _ running out of energy. yeah, and he has a put everything in _ running out of energy. yeah, and he has a put everything in and - running out of energy. yeah, and he has a put everything in and out - running out of energy. yeah, and he has a put everything in and out a - has a put everything in and out a thing. when you are a manager in the style ofjurgen klopp, it is all about passion and dcm on the sidelines, kicking every ball, disputing every referee, he is giving everything. you can imagine what he is like every day and in the training ground, he is exactly the same. it is a team that plays with intensity that has been built in his image. that must take it out of the after a while. and it�*s not to deny any —— a 90 minute game, it�*s all about the media and the press, all the changes, the stuff going on in egypt that he has to worry about at the moment. it is a huge club being

a manager of any football club, never mind a worldwide club like liverpool. he is a leader of so many people, so many people look up to you for leadership and guidance. and i can see why it has taken a lot out of him maybe he does feel like he needs a break, obviously does feel like he needs a break. idea needs a break, obviously does feel like he needs a break.— needs a break, obviously does feel like he needs a break. idea he may take over? — like he needs a break. idea he may take over? one _ like he needs a break. idea he may take over? one name? _ like he needs a break. idea he may take over? one name? savvy- like he needs a break. idea he may. take over? one name? savvy alonzo like he needs a break. idea he may- take over? one name? savvy alonzo is a bit of the talk _ take over? one name? savvy alonzo is a bit of the talk here, _ take over? one name? savvy alonzo is a bit of the talk here, but _ take over? one name? savvy alonzo is a bit of the talk here, but i _ take over? one name? savvy alonzo is a bit of the talk here, but i don't - a bit of the talk here, but i don�*t know. a bit of the talk here, but i don't know. . ~ a bit of the talk here, but i don't know. ., ,, , ., ., a bit of the talk here, but i don't know. ., ~' i., ., �* �* a bit of the talk here, but i don't know. ., ,, ., �* �* , a bit of the talk here, but i don't know. ., ,, ., “ , know. thank you for bbc news. do sta with know. thank you for bbc news. do stay with us- _ 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.

recession? what recession? the us economy is growing much more strongly than expected, but will the stock market

continue its bull run? and what�*s the beef? the uk walks out of trade talks with canada following a dispute over cheese and meat. welcome to world business report. i�*m aaron hazlehurst. we start in the us, where the world�*s biggest economy has shrugged off predictions of a recession. it�*s continuing to grow at a healthy pace, despite the relentless rise in interest rates. official figures out on thursday showed us gdp growing at an annual rate of 3.3% in the last three months of 2023 — much stronger than expected. that�*s raised hopes that the us federal reserve might have achieved a soft landing, getting inflation under control by raising borrowing costs without crashing the economy.