the headlines... we will bring you more reaction after... the former billionaire crypto boss sam bankman—fried has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for one of the biggest financial crimes in us history. one of europe's biggest water companies thames water is in crisis after share holders refuse to inject extra money. more than 200 workers arejoining the picket extra money. more than 200 workers are joining the picket lines for two days of strike action at an amazon site in the uk in birmingham. more on all of those stories because business news is next. i know you are searching with all that we have been seeing in the last hour or so. the big story in new york, and...

we start in new york, where, as we've been reporting, sam bankman—fried — the former cryptocurrency tycoon convicted of stealing billions of dollars from customers — has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his crimes. our cyber correspondent, joe tidy, was the last person to interview the 32—year old founder of the collapsed crypto exchange ftx before his arrest in december 2022. and he takes a look back at the rise and fall of the man behind one of the biggest financial crimes in us history. one interesting thing that's been happening pretty recently is that the bitmex bitcoin perpetual futures ran up a lot in price. this was sam bankman—fried in his element — at his desk, talking crypto and making incredible profits. his hair and shabby look were all part of the appeal and brand. sbf, as he was known by legions of fans online, portrayed himself as a maths genius who wasn't interested in personal wealth. it was all about developing the cryptocurrency industry and giving to charities.

this is big. but ftx, his cryptocurrency exchange that sold bitcoin and other virtual currencies for normal money, like pounds and dollars, grew to be the centrepiece of a sprawling business worth $32 billion. so, when it all came crashing down in december 2022, more than a million customers were left out of pocket. in a high—profile trial in new york in november, he was convicted of seven counts, including fraud and money laundering. sam bankman—fried perpetrated one of the biggest financial frauds in american history, a multi—billion dollar scheme designed to make him the king of crypto. but here's the thing — the cryptocurrency industry might be new. the players like sam bankman—fried might be new. but this kind of fraud, this kind of corruption, is as old as time, and we have no patience for it. the court case saw his former staff and even his girlfriend testify against him. his chief crime was that he

illegally used customer deposits from ftx to fund his other business. prosecutors are asking the judge to sentence him to 50 years in prison, but his defence team want around five years. they argue that most of the billions of dollars bankman—fried lost have now been recovered, but critics say he shows no remorse. in an interview in his luxury apartment complex in the bahamas just before he was arrested, he admitted to making mistakes but claimed it wasn't deliberate. were you incompetent or were you fraudulent? i didn't knowingly commit fraud. i don't think i committed fraud. i didn't want any of this to happen. i was certainly not nearly as competent as i thought i was. but a convicted criminal he now is. and it's up to a judge to decide how long he'll be behind bars for one of the biggest financial crimes in us history. joe tidy, bbc news. let's cross over to our north america business correspondent michelle fleury in new york with the latest.

this is the news we have all been waiting for. what was the reaction to the sentence, 25 years? this waiting for. what was the reaction to the sentence, 25 years?- waiting for. what was the reaction to the sentence, 25 years? this is a meteoric rise _ to the sentence, 25 years? this is a meteoric rise and _ to the sentence, 25 years? this is a meteoric rise and fall _ to the sentence, 25 years? this is a meteoric rise and fall is _ to the sentence, 25 years? this is a meteoric rise and fall is that - to the sentence, 25 years? this is a meteoric rise and fall is that we - meteoric rise and fall is that we are witnessing here of this crypto one—of—a—kind sam bankman—fried. as we havejust one—of—a—kind sam bankman—fried. as we have just heard that federal prosecutors have been asking for 40-50 prosecutors have been asking for 40—50 years but lawyers for mr bankman—fried said he should get closer or less than seven years. what we are seeing with this us judge as he settled on 25 and i think i was talking to one white crime expertjust now and they were telling me that this was a sort of balance that the judge was considering. —— white—collar crime. age, the amount of losses but also the deterrent factor, trying to send a message to others not to try and consider committing a crime like this. with all three taken together i think thejudge this. with all three taken together i think the judge felt 25 years it's the right balance. add to that this

$11 billion find that is going to go towards compensating some of the victims, i think that takes into account the loss piece but it also balances the need to try and address the fact that he is only in his 30s, so if he comes out in his 50s and serve the full amount of time, still gives him a chance at a life, but it is not a full—time rest of his life sentence. is not a full-time rest of his life sentence-— sentence. when it comes to white-collar _ sentence. when it comes to white-collar crime, - sentence. when it comes to | white-collar crime, elizabeth sentence. when it comes to - white-collar crime, elizabeth holmes white—collar crime, elizabeth holmes has already had her sentence reduced by two years, hasn't she, i believe, how likely is it that he will serve the full sentence?— how likely is it that he will serve the full sentence? again, talking to leual the full sentence? again, talking to legal exnerts _ the full sentence? again, talking to legal exnerts they _ the full sentence? again, talking to legal experts they say _ the full sentence? again, talking to legal experts they say they - the full sentence? again, talking to | legal experts they say they wouldn't be surprised if he served around plenty of the 25 years he has just been sentenced to. —— plenty of. elizabeth holmes was accused of fraud and convicted, those sums of money were smaller, so that was one of the reasons why you are seeing

the much higher sentence, where she got over ten years, here we are talking about over 20 years, and it goes to that portion of the amount of losses involved. all of these factors, age, losses, and to terence, what thejudge factors, age, losses, and to terence, what the judge took into account. terence, what the “udge took into account. ~ _, , terence, what the “udge took into account. ~ , ., account. when it comes to deterrence, _ account. when it comes to deterrence, the _ account. when it comes to i deterrence, the conversation account. when it comes to - deterrence, the conversation over the need for regulation must be going right now. what are people saying and how can you regulate the crypto industry?— crypto industry? crypto regulation hasn't changed — crypto industry? crypto regulation hasn't changed that _ crypto industry? crypto regulation hasn't changed that much - crypto industry? crypto regulation hasn't changed that much really i hasn't changed that much really since this came to light a couple of years ago. in fact, if the collapse of ftx came after the first crypto brain exploded, then here we are also yet again in another crypto boom. when ftx collapsed bitcoin was worth around $21,000. at its current

price it is $70,000. it hasn't stopped the majority rise in crypto currencies and another boom and yet we don't have more rules yet. the other thing worth pointing out is that sam bankman—fried's nemesis, the ceo of binance also faces his own legal challenges and he'll be so instant in a separate case on april 30. , . ., , ., instant in a separate case on april 30. -- sentenced in a separate case. thank yom — here in the uk, more than 200 workers are taking part in two days of strike action at an amazon site in birmingham. members of the gmb union have been striking at the online retailer's fulfilment centre since wednesday. it will be the latest industrial action over a long—running dispute, with gmb calling for a £15—per—hour — that's around $18 — minimum pay rate — and union rights. in november last year, amazon workers from 30 countries went on strike during black friday, over pay and conditions.

so are these strikes having any effect? eva pascoe is e—commerce director for the retail practice. she says amazon's management is facing a perfect storm. the workers are asking for £15 per hour. that's way above inflation. that's over a 20% increase. and in addition, we had quite a lot of industrial action in uk injanuary. so the unions are getting more aggressive and i think management of amazon have just got caught unprepared, because a lot of management is american and they don't really feel the local atmosphere. so when i compare the warehouses in amazon versus other warehouses, where they have a challenge is that the amazon management seems a bit robotic, they are lacking local understanding while other warehouses tend to be run by local people. so they should have reconsidered that. but, you know, on the other hand, amazon is under a really perfect storm situation, because it's under pressure from two large chinese competitors.

so there was a big entry in the market a couple of years ago of a company called shein and temu, and both have taken about 1.5 billion trading from uk. so that's combined. it hit amazon by about three billion. so out of the 30 billion turnover, they are significantly down. so they have issues with finding balance in satisfying finally, to some tiny creatures that can cause big problems for the travel business. the level of bed bugs in hotels here in the uk has almost tripled in the past two years and is set to get worse again this year, according to research out this week from a pest—monitoring firm. but could artificial intelligence turn the tide in the battle against the critters — providing some literal software de—bugging? well, robert fryers is co—founder and chief executive of spotta — which makes devices that monitor pest levels and provide

early warnings of infestation. he gave us some tips on how to tackle the blood sucking parasites. the key thing with bed is vigilance. if you catch it early, you can get on top of it and you can prevent them from spreading. and that's what we do at spotta. so we make little boxes that look a bit like this. think of it as a smoke detector for bedbugs, basically. they can be put in a room out of the way. they'll detect any bugs in the room, and then that means they can be treated before anyone gets bitten. inside this monitor, there's a very low power vision system that can detect and identify the bedbugs that are attracted inside. and then that sets it off. in exactly the same way as a smoke alarm detects smoke, we're detecting the bedbugs and then that sends an alert so the hotel can take that room out of action before anyone sleeps in it. the data we've seen so far this year, by the 15th of march, we'd already seen more detections this year than we did in the whole of 2023. and we know how big a deal it was in 2023.

but what was really interesting is we've actually seen more in london in the last few months than we have done in paris by 28%. we're seeing a big rebound post—pandemic. so bedbugs have been on a long—term increase for decades now, really since the outlawing of some of the more potent pesticides, which was absolutely the right thing to do. but now that we're not covering beds in ddt any more, since the �*90s, it's been a steadily growing problem. it dropped back during the pandemic when people stopped travelling. they move around, bedbugs spread by hitchhiking on people, travelling in their bags. so when that dropped back. but in the last couple of years, as tourism has really come back and really grown again, we've seen a massive increase since 2021. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

you are liable bbc news. president biden has congratulated senegal�*s new president following his election

over the weekend. joe biden also said his warm wishes to the senegalese people for demonstrating as he put it at the right to vote remains democracy�*s visual liberty. results are expected to be confirmed by the constitutional council in the coming days. here's our west africa correspondence. this man is the new president of senegal. he emerged from the shadows of the popular opposition leader. after he was disqualified from contesting. just a few months ago he was still known to public and he only had nine days to complain. who was he exactly? i am here in the home town of the president—elect. i am here in the home town of the president—elect. iam here here in the home town of the president—elect. i am here to find out more against his story. his victory has been a source of pride and hope for the people of this community and his family. i met up

with his uncle who he was named after. . , , , ., y~ after. he was very quiet, playful with his friends. _ after. he was very quiet, playful with his friends. very _ after. he was very quiet, playful with his friends. very studious l after. he was very quiet, playful- with his friends. very studious when he is doing his homework. and very peaceful. he is from a family of people who his grandfather was the leader in having a school opened here. the high school here is named after him. he was the head of the senegalese veterans for a long time. he was a village chief on top of that. , , , he was a village chief on top of that. ,, ,, he was a village chief on top of that. ,, , ., that. this is his cousin. last year he was imprisoned _ that. this is his cousin. last year he was imprisoned for _ that. this is his cousin. last year he was imprisoned for insulting l he was imprisoned for insulting president macky sall on social media. he eventually benefited from the amnesty law and was released the same week as his cousin. translation:— same week as his cousin. translation: , , ., translation: our big brother, we crew u- in translation: our big brother, we grew up in the _ translation: our big brother, we grew up in the same _ translation: our big brother, we| grew up in the same neighbourhood and he has always been a smiling and

courageous big brother who supported his brothers. you can come in. this is an elementary school where he studied. �* ,, �* is an elementary school where he studied._ the - is an elementary school where he - studied._ the senegalese studied. translation: the senegalese is now tickin: studied. translation: the senegalese is now ticking over _ studied. translation: the senegalese is now ticking over the _ studied. translation: the senegalese is now ticking over the reins. _ studied. translation: the senegalese is now ticking over the reins. one - is now ticking over the reins. one thin he is now ticking over the reins. one thing he grew— is now ticking over the reins. one thing he grew up _ is now ticking over the reins. one thing he grew up knowing was when you are _ thing he grew up knowing was when you are reading you have to be transparency. you have to be able to listen _ transparency. you have to be able to listen to _ transparency. you have to be able to listen to the — transparency. you have to be able to listen to the people and you have to understand — listen to the people and you have to understand you don't know everything he had _ understand you don't know everything he had have _ understand you don't know everything he had have to be that. because for some _ he had have to be that. because for some reasons, you're the leader of this people — some reasons, you're the leader of this people but you are not any smarter— this people but you are not any smarter or— this people but you are not any smarter or dignified or not anything but another of them. i think the people — but another of them. i think the people will discover. in senegal and outside. _ people will discover. in senegal and outside. he — people will discover. in senegal and outside, he is the man of the situation _ outside, he is the man of the situation-—

outside, he is the man of the situation. ~ , , . ., , situation. well, this is certainly the moment — situation. well, this is certainly the moment of— situation. well, this is certainly the moment of truth _ situation. well, this is certainly the moment of truth for- situation. well, this is certainly the moment of truth for the - situation. well, this is certainly. the moment of truth for the man situation. well, this is certainly - the moment of truth for the man of the moment of truth for the man of the situation. bassirou diomaye faye has promised sweeping reforms. he has promised sweeping reforms. he has also pledged to fight corruption, dealwith has also pledged to fight corruption, deal with unemployment and a high cost of living. expectations are enormous and the senegalese them won't experience then any period of grace which we are waiting for this election of ministers, directors, it is up to the party to show to the senegalese people from the very first hours and approach example. aha, people from the very first hours and approach example.— people from the very first hours and approach example. a likely president of one of most _ approach example. a likely president of one of most stable _ approach example. a likely president of one of most stable countries - approach example. a likely president of one of most stable countries in - of one of most stable countries in africa has a huge mountain to climb. all attention is now on the man who represents hope for the future of this nation. breaking news concerning the middle east situation in gaza and it is an update from the icj. you will remember they were looking at whether there was a case of genocide

in terms of what is going on in gaza. that case brought by south africa. an update on the minutes. let me take you to it because judges at the court have unanimously ordered israel to take all necessary action to ensure basic food supplies reach the past and in population in gaza. the international court of justice at the hague says the israeli government must ensure that its military does not violate the international convention on genocide, including by preventing the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance. the judge said, famine was taking hold in gaza and of course this ruling follows a request lodged by south africa which accuses israel of state led genocide. israel has vehemently denied its military campaigns aimed at hamas is illegal and has blamed the un for causing delays in the delivery of aid. an update there from the icj with new instructions

to israel and they have given israel a month in terms of a response that they need to send to the court in terms of addressing all those measures. that news just coming in from the international court of justice at the hague. in italy a scheme in the region of calabria which removes children from mafia families is being expanded to italy's main organised crime stronghold, sicily and naples, the children are placed with foster families to prevent them following their parents into a life of crime. let's talk to sofia bettiza. this is really fascinating, this whole scheme, tell me a bit more about how taxi works personable. the scheme, tell me a bit more about how taxi works personable.— taxi works personable. the idea is to take children _ taxi works personable. the idea is to take children away _ taxi works personable. the idea is to take children away from - taxi works personable. the idea is to take children away from their i to take children away from their families. really from the mob culture that they were born into before they become criminals. the

way it works is that the eight iron authorities need to prove to the court that a child is physically or mentally endangered. at that point the police and social services will swoop in and announce —— unannounced and take the child away and the families will have no say in a matter at. in families will have no say in a matter at— families will have no say in a matter at. , ., , , ., matter at. in terms of why they are doinu matter at. in terms of why they are doing this. — matter at. in terms of why they are doing this. give _ matter at. in terms of why they are doing this, give me _ matter at. in terms of why they are doing this, give me an _ matter at. in terms of why they are doing this, give me an idea - matter at. in terms of why they are doing this, give me an idea of- matter at. in terms of why they are doing this, give me an idea of the l doing this, give me an idea of the scale of the problem they think they have. ., , scale of the problem they think they have. . ,~ . , . have. criminality amongst children in ital is have. criminality amongst children in italy is a — have. criminality amongst children in italy is a big _ have. criminality amongst children in italy is a big problem. _ have. criminality amongst children in italy is a big problem. the - have. criminality amongst children j in italy is a big problem. the mafia is all about blood ties and family loyalty and power is often passed down from father to son stop for example we have accounts of children as young as eight who are being taught how to use a gun, built in dealing crack, and even accounts of children having to kill their own mothers to defend their families honour. , , ., ., mothers to defend their families honour. , ., ., ., honour. just a word about the expansion _ honour. just a word about the expansion to _

honour. just a word about the expansion to those _ honour. just a word about the expansion to those areas - honour. just a word about the expansion to those areas i - honour. just a word about the . expansion to those areas i talked about. i suppose that is an indication that in previous places perhaps it has worked. that indication that in previous places perhaps it has worked.— indication that in previous places perhaps it has worked. that is what the authorities _ perhaps it has worked. that is what the authorities think. _ perhaps it has worked. that is what the authorities think. they - perhaps it has worked. that is what the authorities think. they point. perhaps it has worked. that is what the authorities think. they point to | the authorities think. they point to the authorities think. they point to the fact that since the scheme was launched 150 children have been placed with foster families in secret locations all over italy and have been learning about life outside the mafia so i think this scheme is working and what mafia prosecutors are hoping that with this expansion more children will have a chance at a better life. it is a really interesting story. thanks for giving us more details on that. i will briefly take you back to the scenes in new york and the light picture there from the courthouse, a while since we have had that sentencing but we wait to get more reaction after that crypto boss was sentenced to 25 years in prison, so as soon as there is movement and reaction we will return here to new york on bbc news.

let's turn to a story that perhaps affects all of us. it seems hoarding old tech, like mobile phones and cables, has become a habit for many of us. the united nations says levels of electronic waste are rising five times faster than recycling programmes can deal with, and the un is urging all of us to clean out our cupboards. let's speak tojo cooke, director of hoarding disorders uk. wilkin to the programme. just give me a sense between first of all why this is on the increase so much. it this is on the increase so much. ht is on the increase because i think we have a real appetite for new technology, so when we acquire a new laptop or phone, we don't want to get rid of what we already have got because we are not sure if we might want to refer back to what is on it. there may be sentimental bits stop

just in case, might want to refer back to that e—mail, the hoarding of photos as well. i think linked in with that is also not knowing what to do with old technology. there is a realfear of our to do with old technology. there is a real fear of our personal details being out in the public domain, a real misunderstanding or lack of knowledge in terms of how do i remove data from my firm, how do i remove data from my firm, how do i remove data from my firm, how do i remove data from my laptop? so i think there is a lot more that could be done in terms of understanding that technology can be recycled, it could be repurposed. we can get certificates of destruction and then our old technology can be upgraded and repurposed and given to people that can't necessarily afford new technology. that can't necessarily afford new technology-— that can't necessarily afford new technology. the top ten products include remote _ technology. the top ten products include remote controls, - technology. the top ten products include remote controls, you - technology. the top ten products i include remote controls, you would expect that, mobile phones that you have been talking about, hairdryers

as well. i introduced you as director of hoarding disorder to uk. give me an idea of the psychology. why do we do this? i suspect everyone has that draw pile. like this and cables and all sorts of things like that, why do we do it? it is so complicated. i think there is the just it is so complicated. i think there is thejust in it is so complicated. i think there is the just in case, the instrumental, i might need it one day, what define it go a bit? it is like do we really need that cable, from that fax machines that we haven't used for ages? i think, i haven't used for ages? i think, i have worked with many people and engineers are classic in terms of, i want to hold onto that, that old technology, because it is a way of understanding how technology has advanced throughout the years. it is almost like we are hoarding the development of technology is, from old vacuum cleaners, to what they can do now, to old cameras which

what they can do now, to music centres, the old—fashioned walkman's and now what we are using now, so there is a real thirst and curiosity people have about keeping old technology, for many people. i am ruil of technology, for many people. i am guilty of this- _ technology, for many people. i am guilty of this- my _ technology, for many people. i am guilty of this. my producer sent me a picture of one of his drawers. it was absolute chaos. i won't go into the detail of that. or show you the picture. it will embarrass him. are you guilty of it as well? i am picture. it will embarrass him. are you guilty of it as well?— you guilty of it as well? i am not. sometimes _ you guilty of it as well? i am not. sometimes i _ you guilty of it as well? i am not. sometimes i don't _ you guilty of it as well? i am not. sometimes i don't know- you guilty of it as well? i am not. sometimes i don't know what - you guilty of it as well? i am not. sometimes i don't know what to l you guilty of it as well? i am not. i sometimes i don't know what to do with it. ithink sometimes i don't know what to do with it. i think we all have cameras in our draw from 20 years ago when the film was produced from holiday, it is like, iwill the film was produced from holiday, it is like, i will get round to doing it one day, but we always wonder when that one day will come. i think we keep cables, and i am not quite sure what it is poor so i would better hang onto it. but my father had hoarding behaviours, a

whole bag of leads and plugs, said no, you are not touching it, so literally that bag sat in his office until the day he died. he wasn't going to give it up. anything with the plug on it has to stay. i going to give it up. anything with the plug on it has to stay.- the plug on it has to stay. i know many people _ the plug on it has to stay. i know many people like _ the plug on it has to stay. i know many people like that. _ the plug on it has to stay. i know many people like that. we - the plug on it has to stay. i know many people like that. we have l the plug on it has to stay. i know. many people like that. we have to leave it there but thanks for your time. before we take a break i want to take you back to the live pictures in new york because in the last couple of hours we have had the sentence laid down of sam bankman—fried, the former billionaire crypto bus who was convicted of fraud, money—laundering last year, he has been sentenced to 25 years in jail, last year, he has been sentenced to 25 years injail, today last year, he has been sentenced to 25 years in jail, today we last year, he has been sentenced to 25 years injail, today we have already been hearing some reaction from some of those people caught up in all of this. we will bring you more and a microphone so they're ready for any reaction outside of the courthouse. when we are back in a moment or two we also have an exclusive special report on the uk's most widespread miscarriage of

justice, you will remember the post office candle. we have a special bbc report coming up in a moment or two. first let's round up the weather details with elizabeth. hello there, good afternoon. it won't be completely dry this weekend. there's always a chance of some further showers, longer spells of rain, but a lot of dry weather around. today though, blustery showers pushing northwards, longer spells of rain at times, and coastal gales. towards the south coast of england and across the channel islands, there could be some gusts of around 60 to 65 miles an hour. a deep area of low pressure descending, the showers and the rain spiralling around it. we're seeing some particularly heavy downpours of rain across eastern areas of northern ireland. but here the rain should largely clear as we head through the rest of the afternoon, some showers arriving, perhaps again by the time we get to the end of the day. this rain will be pushing into central, eventually northern areas of scotland. otherwise, these thundery showers just pushing northward, squally gusts of wind in association with those showers, perhaps some hail at times. temperatures for most in double figures, but cooler across northern ireland and also eastern scotland, with quite a brisk easterly blowing here. now, as we head through this evening and overnight, a lot of showers around.

watch out for some icy stretches as the skies clear across northern ireland. and there could be some longer spells of rain perhaps edging into north—western scotland as well. some clearer spells, too, across the midlands, into north wales and perhaps for northern england into tomorrow morning. now, tomorrow, a much simpler day of weather in that most of us will be seeing sunshine and showers. that rain will clear away from north—west scotland, the western isles as we head through the afternoon. and temperatures will be just that a little bit higher. just watch out for some thunder, some hail in some of those showers. it's still going to be quite blustery as well, with a brisk south—westerly wind blowing across england and wales. but the winds will lighten as we head through the easter weekend, as that low pressure pushes a little further westwards. and we'll be between low pressure systems. but there could possibly be some rain grazing the south—east of england, east anglia, as we head through saturday. certainly a bit more cloud here, but some sunshine elsewhere.

the focus for any showers will tend to be in the north and the west. temperatures climbing, so widely in double figures, 12 to 15 celsius. the air will feel milder and the winds will be lighter. and it's the same again, really, as we head into easter sunday. so we're likely to see some showers perhaps across south—west england, up through western wales, northern ireland and maybe into northern england. but many parts of scotland could stay largely dry. dry, too, across east anglia and central southern england. bye— bye.

live from london. this is bbc news.

the bbc discovers a report that shows the post office spent £100 million of public money fighting postmasters in court despite knowing their defence was untrue. we have an exclusive investigation. judges order israel to take all necessary action to make sure aid reaches the palestinian population in gaza. the former billionaire crypto boss — sam bankman freed — who was convicted for one of the biggest financial crimes in us history — is about to be sentenced. and a special message from the king marking maundy thursday. we need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need.