which killed at least 36 people. an investigation is launched in south africa after a bus plunges into a ravine, killing 45 people. secret papers reveal that the post office knew its court defence was false but continued fighting the cases against the sub—postmasters. and, beyonce is fully back, with her first ever country album titled act two: cowboy carter. hello, i'm lukwesa burak. welcome to bbc news. we start with breaking news from syria where the syrian government has blamed israel for deadly airstrikes near the city of aleppo. at least 36 people, including syrian soldiers and some hezbollah fighters, have been killed.

syrian officials said aleppo had also come under fire from drones launched by what it called terrorist groups. a british—based monitoring group said the strikes targeted weapons stores near aleppo international airport used by the lebanese group, hezbollah. israel does not usually comment on any attacks against syria. on thursday, syria's defence ministry said an israeli air strike injured two people near damascus. we'll bring you more details when we get them. meanwhile, judges at the international court ofjustice in the hague have ordered israel to take all necessary action to ensure that basic food supplies reach the palestinian population of gaza without delay. they said famine was taking hold in the territory. the new measures were requested

by south africa, which has accused israel of genocide in gaza. israel has vehemently denied that its military campaign is illegal, and has blamed the un for causing delays in the delivery of aid. our diplomatic correspondent, james landale, has more details on the icj's order to israel. this is an important court — it's the primaryjudicial body of the united nations. it's been around since the united nations was set up after world war ii. and it's there primarily to adjudicate on disputes between states. and that's what's happened here. there's a dispute between south africa and israel. south africa claims that israel is committing genocide, which it disputes and denies. but as part of that legal process, the court makes provisional rulings and statements of those stages. that's what we've got today. and essentially it's saying that, yes, there is now famine

setting in in gaza. israel is not allowing enough aid into it and should start doing that very, very quickly. but as you say, the problem with the court is that it has no way of enforcing its rulings, so they have no power to force israel to do anything. but i think what this is, is another ratcheting up of the international system and the international order, putting yet more pressure on israel to shift its position, especially on the issue of humanitarian aid. in south africa, 45 people have died in a bus crash, in the northeast of the country. the bus was travelling from botswana to the limpopo province. the department of transport says the vehicle plunged off a bridge into a ravine, after colliding with the crash barrier, and burst into flames when it hit the ground. an eight—year—old child was the sole survivor and has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

heidi giokos, a journalist based injohannesburg, gave us more details about the crash. it's unclear as to how the bus lost control, but what we know is that the bus was travelling from botswana to an area in limpopo known as moria. it's a easter church gathering that happens every single year and people from all over come through to this particular gathering. now, it seems as though, from what we saw on scene, is that the bus might have lost control. it hit the barrier and then it seems as though it crashed, hang onto the barrier and then crashed into the ravine. i think what's so tragic and horrific, having been on the scene, was the fact that paramedics told us that the bus caught fire and people inside the bus were trapped. they could not get out. and they were asking and begging and crying and pleading to be helped out of the bus, but unfortunately, it was too difficult for paramedics

and officials to try and save anyone out of that bus. we know that that drop from the top of the bridge where it seems as though the bus had the impact onto the barriers and then crashed, is a 50 metre drop. so it's at a very high height. and this is obviously the impact that we are seeing when the bus hit the barrier, crashed and then hits into that ravine over there. and this is obviously what sparked this fire that happened. the us government has authorised an initial $60 million to help the state of maryland clear the debris of a bridge that was brought down by a giant container ship on tuesday. the biggest crane on the east coast is being sent to baltimore to join the emergency effort. officials say the first priority is to find four workers who are missing presumed dead. maryland state governor wes moore outlined what's next.

first, we need to continue to focus on recovery. because it is our obligation to bring a sense of closure to these families. second, we need to clear the channel and open vessel traffic to the port because the health of the maryland economy and the national economy depends on it. third, we need to take care of all the people who have been affected by this crisis and that means the families, that means the workers, that means the businesses, that means the first responders. that means everybody. and in the military, one of the things we were taught is you always take care of your people. we're going to make sure in this moment we take care of our people. and fourth, we need to rebuild

the francis scott key bridge. a senior mp has called for a police investigation, after secret papers revealed how the post office knew that the computer system horizon could be tampered with but still fought sub—postmasters in court. the draft report, called bramble, was commissioned by the post office in 2016, and carried out by the consultants deloitte. but the information in the report was not given to the court in 2019. labour mp kevanjones, who sits on the horizon compensation advisory board, called it "an abusive use of public cash against innocent people". aruna iyengar has more. it is the latest twist in the ongoing post office drummer. between 1999 and 200015005 of some poster masters and

mistresses were wrongly prosecuted because of faults with the rising, and mistresses were wrongly prosecuted because of false with horizon, an it system created by fujitsu and use for tallying up the books. the postmasters took their cases to court in 2019 and won. they became known as the 555 group but now their secret 2017 draft report uncovered by the bbc shows the post office build £100 million fighting some masters in court when it knew its defence was untrue. commissioned by the post office, the bramble report says fujitsu employees had the ability to amend or delete transactions entered by branch staff. this is it would not flag up to a postmaster if a change had been made and those changes could cause a shortfall. it also set a malicious actor could potentially change data that there is no evidence of this happen. labour mp kevinjones

happen. labour mp kevin jones sits happen. labour mp kevinjones sits on the horizon compensatory board. if sits on the horizon compensatory board. if they knew about _ compensatory board. if they knew about this, _ compensatory board. if they knew about this, and - compensatory board. if they knew about this, and they i knew about this, and they clearly did, because they use part of it selectively into their case against the 555�*s, if they knew about it, they surely put themselves in a legal position to release all information to the cold. the ost information to the cold. the post office _ information to the cold. the post office is _ information to the cold. the post office is that _ information to the cold. the post office is that it - information to the cold. the post office is that it is - post office is that it is deeply sorry for the impact the scandal has had on people and it has told the bbc the public enquiry will next look at the issues raised. fujitsu says a group regards the matter with the utmost seriousness and offers its deepest apologies to the sub postmasters and their families. jana skinner, a former sub— postmistress lost a job and was sent to prison in 2007, based on information from the horizon system. the? 2007, based on information from the horizon system.— the horizon system. they could have prevented _ the horizon system. they could have prevented that _

the horizon system. they could have prevented that court - the horizon system. they could | have prevented that court case. 555 of us went to that court case and they could have prevented that and they could have saved a lot of time, money and tears. have saved a lot of time, money and team-— and tears. for many, delivery ofjustice _ and tears. for many, delivery ofjustice is — and tears. for many, delivery ofjustice is taking _ and tears. for many, delivery ofjustice is taking far - and tears. for many, delivery ofjustice is taking far too - ofjustice is taking far too long. a new study suggests that climate change is affecting the speed of the earth's rotation and could impact how we keep time. accelerating melt from greenland and antarctica is adding extra water to the world's seas, redistributing mass. the earth's rotation is naturally affected by a number of different factors, such as the friction of ocean tides and the pull of the moon, but this is the first time that a man—made element has affected the way the planet spins. let's speak to henna hundal, a climate health advocate, and delegate to the united nations climate change conferences. welcome to the programme,

lovely to have you with us. how worried should we be about this? ., ~ , ., worried should we be about this? ., ~ i. ., worried should we be about this? ., ~ ., ., this? thank you for having me. i think there _ this? thank you for having me. i think there was _ this? thank you for having me. i think there was an _ i think there was an interesting study because it looked at universal time which is a primary reference time for the world and it relates to the rotation of the earth and what the study was trying to elucidate is due to climate change, at the melting ice in greenland and antarctica, we are sort of changing the earth's rotation and that can impact how co—ordinating universal time is adjusted. it is sort of an interesting study but when i think about studies around climate change, i tried to ponder how it impacts every day people's life and what is clear from this study is it mentioned the melting of ice in greenland and antarctica. as we are seeing, the rate of rise of sea levels, that is important for communities that live near

coastlines. so much economic loss predicted to be tied to changes in coastlines and rising sea levels and so i think it is really important when we think about these studies to relate it back to the people and in turn relate it back to the climate action we need to make.— it back to the climate action we need to make. the melting of the ice from _ we need to make. the melting of the ice from greenland _ we need to make. the melting of the ice from greenland and - the ice from greenland and antarctica is causing the planet to be less spherical and more flattened as well?- more flattened as well? yes, and that plays _ more flattened as well? yes, and that plays into _ more flattened as well? yes, and that plays into changes l more flattened as well? yes, | and that plays into changes in the rate of rotation of the earth which impacts how you universal time. earth which impacts how you universaltime. because earth which impacts how you universal time. because of climate change impact in that regard, we will see different changes to the time so a phenomenon called negative week second. it is really interesting but i think really

emphasising the rising sea levels and why that is so important is key here. h0 levels and why that is so important is key here. no leap seconds will _ important is key here. no leap seconds will be _ important is key here. no leap seconds will be abolished - important is key here. no leap| seconds will be abolished which will be grateful many people in 2025 but when it comes to the longer term impacts, 2025 but when it comes to the longerterm impacts, is 2025 but when it comes to the longer term impacts, is there anyway this can be reversed or are we done for? i anyway this can be reversed or are we done for?— are we done for? i think it really of _ are we done for? i think it really of relates _ are we done for? i think it really of relates back - are we done for? i think it really of relates back to i really of relates back to ambitions and are we heading towards emission targets. the goal of 1.5 degrees is what many people have heard, we need to limit temperature increase to limit temperature increase to no more than 1.5 celsius above preindustrial levels and thatis above preindustrial levels and that is a goal that 195 parties agreed to enter the 2015 paris agreement and a landmark report came out this week talking about last year, 2023, was quite frankly a horrible year.

we saw record heat waves, tropical cyclones increasing in intensity. we are way off from the mark we need to be in terms of emissions and this needs to be a global effort. hundred 95 parties including the european union agreed to this. it parties including the european union agreed to this.- union agreed to this. it has been fascinating, _ union agreed to this. it has been fascinating, henna i union agreed to this. it has - been fascinating, henna hundal. thank you for speaking to us on bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

it was one of last summer's big blockbuster movies and it swept the board during the awards season, but up until now, people injapan haven't been able to see the film oppenheimer — but that has changed as it opened in cinemas today. the film tells the story of the scientist, j robert oppenheimer. he created the first nuclear bomb, which was later used againstjapan during world war ii, killing more than 200,000 people. it was seen as too controversial and sensitive a topic for

the people ofjapan. our tokyo correspondent shaimaa khalil reports from hiroshima. no location, no place is in really more relevant to the oppenheimer story than here in hiroshima. the first atomic bomb fell nearly directly above the building behind me, known as the hiroshima peace memorial or the a—bomb dome and for years it has been meticulously preserved to be in the state it was enduring that bombing and overhear is the river, where thousands of people whose skin was burning at the time jumped in for refuge. 80 years on, the legacy of oppenheimer is felt very deeply here in hiroshima and four months people injapan could not see the film not because it was just sensitive but very controversial and it may be one of this year's most celebrated motion people but

for the people here in hiroshima, it has felt much much more deeply. the screening of oppenheimer has been quite controversial and not because of the sensitive subject alone but also because the initial releasing of it worldwide coincided with the film, barbie, and there was this cross promotion where people would dress for barbie and for oppenheimer and see the films back to back and the people here injapan, they thought this was insensitive because of the horrors that they suffered but also i spoke to a survivor who watched the film in a private preview and he said one of the things that stopped him when he was watching the film was that the horrors that was suffered here injapan were not really depicted in the film. translation: i really depicted in the film. translation:— really depicted in the film. translation: ., ., translation: i thought that the devastation of _ translation: i thought that the devastation of hiroshima - translation: i thought that the devastation of hiroshima would l devastation of hiroshima would appear somewhere in the storyline of the film but it

did not. there were only seemed in the united states. i wanted them to show until what happened in i wish they had shown the bad ruins of hiroshima. the museum here has displays of other children's heads were bad, how they close about and i want people in the us in particular to see this. do you think it is important for people injapan to watch this movie? translation: i for people in japan to watch this movie? translation: i hope that the peeple — this movie? translation: i hope that the people of _ this movie? translation: i hope that the people of japan, - that the people of japan, including other survivors of hiroshima and nagasaki, will see the film and have a conversation about it. i hope this film will be seen and discussed at length. i have a small and narrow viewpoint but i think it would be great if people all overjapan could see it and talk about what happened. my biggest worry right now is that the us, russia or china might test a nuclear device without us knowing. i think there are smaller and better performing nuclear weapons and they could be the next oppenheimer in the

shadows right now. ifelt be the next oppenheimer in the shadows right now. i felt that way when i first saw that film. hiroshima survivor toshiyuki mimaki ending that report from shaimaa khalil. grab your stetson. beyonce has released her newest album today and her first ever country album titled act ii: cowboy carter. across her previous albums, she has already sold over 200 million records, whilst racking up 22 top 10 singles on the billboard charts, including nine number one hit singles, and she has also accumulated great critical acclaim, having last year achieved the record for individual grammy awards, at 32. let's speak to chris willman, senior music writer at variety. actually, let's just see this report. make sure you stay tuned into bbc news. if make sure you stay tuned into bbc newe—

make sure you stay tuned into bbc news. , ., ., ., ., bbc news. if you have not heard of cha el bbc news. if you have not heard of chapel heart _ bbc news. if you have not heard of chapel heart yet, _ bbc news. if you have not heard of chapel heart yet, you - bbc news. if you have not heard of chapel heart yet, you soon . of chapel heart yet, you soon will. it of chapel heart yet, you soon will. , ., , will. it is an energy here with the fancier _ will. it is an energy here with the fancier which _ will. it is an energy here with the fancier which is _ will. it is an energy here with i the fancier which is unmatched. uk fans. it is so different. and we absolutely love it. # you can have him, joline. that one of many — you can have him, joline. that one of many up—and—coming artists drawn to the uk's rapidly growing country scene. beyonce's move into country has been hailed as a game changer. for a strong right now taking on the mainstream but doesn't meet fan expectation? everyone is welcome _ meet fan expectation? everyone is welcome in _ meet fan expectation? everyone is welcome in this _ meet fan expectation? everyone is welcome in this genre. - meet fan expectation? everyone is welcome in this genre. i - is welcome in this genre. i love it. she is a country girl from — love it. she is a country girl from texas so he can do it better_ from texas so he can do it better than beyonce.-

better than beyonce. this population _ better than beyonce. this population will _ better than beyonce. this population will get - better than beyonce. this population will get more people into country— population will get more people into country music _ population will get more people into country music so _ population will get more people into country music so i - population will get more people into country music so i guess. into country music so i guess why— into country music so i guess why not _ into country music so i guess why not i— into country music so i guess why not-— why not. i think artists like beyonce. _ why not. i think artists like beyonce, lana _ why not. i think artists like beyonce, lana delray, - why not. i think artists like i beyonce, lana delray, doing things on country music is getting exposure.- things on country music is getting exposure. this will be the biggest — getting exposure. this will be the biggest doubtful - getting exposure. this will be the biggest doubtful country | the biggest doubtful country in the biggest doubtful country in the uk with more artists playing here than ever before. including grammy award—winning duo brothers osborne who came to the uk for the first time nearly a decade ago. the whole --urose nearly a decade ago. the whole purpose to _ nearly a decade ago. the whole purpose to come _ nearly a decade ago. the whole purpose to come here - nearly a decade ago. the whole purpose to come here is - nearly a decade ago. the whole purpose to come here is to - purpose to come here is to connect with people and show them how maybe the cliche things i think about country music is not true.— things i think about country music is not true. the fans, they listen _ music is not true. the fans, they listen like _ music is not true. the fans, they listen like a _ music is not true. the fans, they listen like a sober- music is not true. the fans, i they listen like a sober crowd and react _ they listen like a sober crowd and react like a drunk crowd. it and react like a drunk crowd. it is — and react like a drunk crowd. it is a — and react like a drunk crowd. it is a perfect combination that— it is a perfect combination that you _ it is a perfect combination that you want.— that you want. with other artists following - that you want. with otherl artists following beyonce's move into country later this

year, audiences overhear around expected to get bigger. felicity baker, bbc news. let's speak to chris willman, senior music writer at variety. lovely and welcome to the programme. the signs were all there, they were stetson is popping up everywhere, at the grammys, the oscars, on the front page of vogue magazine and i think ryan gosling or one as well. much anticipated, this album, did it deliver? you have had a listen. _ album, did it deliver? you have had a listen. the _ album, did it deliver? you have had a listen. the album - album, did it deliver? you have had a listen. the album just - had a listen. the album just came out an hour and 20 minutes ago here in the us at least and it is an hour and 18 minutes long so people are appreciating it for the first time, unless they heard the leg, and it is a lot to take in. it is very sprawling, 27 track lung and it is like a 27 course meal. i would say it really delivers. not all of it sounds as country

is texas hold and did so people are expecting a whole album along those lines, people may be surprised. it goes in strange directions although it is acoustically based. i love and i think most of the fans will love it. do and i think most of the fans will love it.— and i think most of the fans will love it. do you think this is a case _ will love it. do you think this is a case of _ will love it. do you think this is a case of a _ will love it. do you think this is a case of a challenge - will love it. do you think this is a case of a challenge for. is a case of a challenge for beyonce to have a go at the genre orjust cashing in on the growing popularity of country music? , ., , growing popularity of country music? , , , ., , music? this has been five years in the works _ music? this has been five years in the works for— music? this has been five years in the works for her. _ music? this has been five years in the works for her. she - music? this has been five years in the works for her. she has i in the works for her. she has alluded in one of the few statements she has made about the album, the idea it was prompted on an award in which she performed with the dixie chicks in 2015 and listening to it it sounds like it was five years in the making. so much that not so much in a number of songs butjust incredible arrangements and very intricate so i do not think this was a rushed job to capitalise on

this sudden popularity of country even in the last two or three years, she has been writing this for and sugar up in texas, she went to see people like charlie pride and things like that so it has long been a simmering and not a cash but by any means.— but by any means. there has been much _ but by any means. there has been much talk _ but by any means. there has been much talk around - but by any means. there has been much talk around this | been much talk around this album and in the past when it comes to movies about black cowboys. now we're talking about black musicians in country music. is there anything to be said for that? yes, she is shining a light on some of that. there's a couple of interludes in which linda martel appears and she was the first black female country star. she did not quite rise to the level of stardom, but she did have a hit song in 1970, and then she had some of the new young black artists, some of which were unfamiliar even to me and i know that genre

pretty well. people like willie jones, people that are going to get a huge piece out of this because i have features on her album and of course she has skits with dolly parton and willie nelson and miley cyrus, post malone, who was another guy going country. he is about to do full countries that an lana delray has a country coming out.— lana delray has a country cominu out. ~ . ., ., coming out. we have run out of time, i coming out. we have run out of time. i am _ coming out. we have run out of time. i am so — coming out. we have run out of time, i am so sorry. _ coming out. we have run out of time, i am so sorry. you - time, i am so sorry. you mentioned queen bee but queen of country remains dolly parton for me. thank you much indeed. stay with us here on bbc news and if you happen to listen to the album, let me know what you think. more coming up shortly including all of business news.

hello there. well, with british summertime just around the corner, thursday was a stark reminder ofjust how fickle british weather can be. yes, we had some snow, some of it settling for a time in northern ireland on thursday. it was a wild day, wet and windy for many as well. and in fact in wiltshire we had over a0 millimetres of rain in a 24—hour period. now it's all due to low pressure that's anchored itself to the southwest and that low is still going to be with us during the day on friday. the showers, hopefully few and further between, in comparison to thursday's weather. and we'll start off on a relatively quiet note for good friday with a few scattered showers around, but they'll become more widespread as we go through the day, drifting their way steadily north into the afternoon. so some of the showers could still be quite potent from time to time. the winds quite blustery, but with a little more sunshine, a little more warmth, 9 to 1a degrees celsius our overall high. move out of good friday into the start of the weekend and it looks likely that saturday and sunday will continue to be

a little bit quieter. the low just shifts further away, the isobars open up, the winds will fall light. we'll need to keep an eye on this frontal system, which could bring some rain towards kent, and perhaps suffolk, first thing on saturday morning and maybe a little more cloud. but generally, it will be a quieter day, with more sunshine coming through, showers more isolated. there will be some moving through scotland and maybe a longer spell of rain across the channel isles and down through south west england by the end of the afternoon. but temperatures in the sunshine, 15 degrees — a pleasant day for many on saturday. easter sunday continues with that quieter story, perhaps more frequent showers out to the west on sunday. but on the whole, there will be some drier weather from time to time, with some sunshine, and again, some warmth, with temperatures around 13—15 degrees quite widely. so as we move into monday, though, easter monday, we could see a change to something a little bit more unsettled once again, with low pressure never too far away. and we will see some spells of wetter weather,

particularly across central and southern england. so looking further ahead from monday onwards, that unsettled theme is set to continue. longer spells of rain never too far away. take care.

live from london, this is bbc news. investors turn off the taps.

the uk's biggest water company may now have to be nationalised after shareholders refuse to give it more money. the boss tells the bbc it's going to mean a steep rise in customers' bills. that is the price that customers have to pay for the investment in our infrastructure that is needed and the investment that is required to cope with things like climate change and population growth. also coming up, the rush begins. uk airports brace for two million holidaymakers over the easter weekend, with millions more hitting the roads or heading for ferry ports. but will storm nelson add to the chaos? plus, 25 years injail for the former king of crypto. has the downfall of sam bankman—fried done permanent harm to the digital currency dream?