following warnings of famine in gaza, the un's top court has ordered israel to enable the unhindered flow of aid into the territory. rishi sunak faces criticism after giving a knighthood to a donor who gave the conservative party £5 million. it's one year since the wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich was detained in russia on charges of spying. we'll hear from his sister. and beyonce is back with herfirst ever country album. hello, i'm annita mcveigh, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. we begin in the middle east, where israel is reported to have

carried out air strikes in syria. observers say the strikes happened in aleppo and may have targeted a depot storing rockets — run by the militant group hezbollah. the reports suggest that at least 42 people were killed, including six members of hezbollah and 36 members of the syrian army. israel hasn't commented on the claims, but there've been sporadic clashes between the israeli military and hezbollah on israel's northern borders since the outbreak of the war in gaza. if israel did carry out these air strikes, it may have been linked to that confrontation. there have also been air strikes in gaza overnight — palestinian officials say at least 12 people were killed when a building was hit in the southern city of rafah. and the hamas—run health ministry says several other people were killed or injured in other air strikes across the palestinian territory. they say several of the victims were children. fighting on the ground has also continued in gaza.

the israeli military has released footage of what it says are attacks on hamas military structures. there are reports that armoured vehicles are massing around a hospital in khan younis, although no raid has yet been staged, and israel also claims it has apprehended dozens of what it describes as terrorists. inside gaza, shortages of basic supplies have led the international court ofjustice to warn that famine is now setting in. the court ruled that, "israel should take all necessary "and effective measures to ensure, without delay, "the unhindered provision "of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance." israel has previously said that aid operations are being hampered by hamas fighters. let's speak to our middle east correspondent, yolande knell, who's injerusalem. hello to you. i want to begin with those air strikes in syria. are you hearing any more detail about what

happened there? i hearing any more detail about what happened there?— happened there? i mean, as far as the israeli military _ happened there? i mean, as far as the israeli military is _ happened there? i mean, as far as the israeli military is concerned, . the israeli military is concerned, when i have approached them they say they don't comment on reports circulating in the foreign media. this is really sticking to a regular position that we have from the israeli air force when it comes air strikes, particularly in neighbouring syria, but we know over the past decade that when israel has carried out hundreds of strikes inside syria since the start of the civil war there and that in these past six months since the war in gaza began, that there has also been reportedly an increase in action, israeli military action, across the border in neighbouring syria. now, this is a worrying development, what has happened. it appears to be the biggest number of people that have been killed in such a strike, certainly in many months, and there will be fierce now that this could lead to retaliation and that there could be a further regional

spill—overfrom this could be a further regional spill—over from this war. in the past we know that israel has said it has drawn a red line, but it has acted against hezbollah, the powerful lebanese armed group inside syria or acted when it thinks weapons are being transferred to that iran backed group. so we don't know any details of exactly what happened here beyond the uk—based syrian observatory for human rights saying that it appears that this area just outside of aleppo in the countryside, that is where you have rocket depots belonging to hezbollah, it says, but yes, we are not getting more information given to us from this side. let’s not getting more information given to us from this side.— to us from this side. let's look at the situation _ to us from this side. let's look at the situation in _ to us from this side. let's look at the situation in gaza _ to us from this side. let's look at the situation in gaza itself- to us from this side. let's look at the situation in gaza itself now. | the situation in gaza itself now. warnings of imminent famine have been growing, now the international court ofjustice adding its voice to the calls for israel to do more to get humanitarian aid in. obviously there is blame and count from the various groups hear about who is responsible for that age not getting

through in sufficient quantity. —— there is blame and counterclaim for this. what has the response being from israel about this?— from israel about this? first, lookin: from israel about this? first, looking at — from israel about this? first, looking at aid _ from israel about this? first, looking at aid that _ from israel about this? first, looking at aid that has - from israel about this? first, looking at aid that has gone l from israel about this? first, | looking at aid that has gone to northern gaza in the past few hours, we have heard from israeli officials that there were nine lorries that were allowed into the north of gaza last night threw this border crossing, land crossing that israel just recently opened up, those lorries carrying supplies given by the world food programme and also we are hearing from reporters on the ground that they have been further air drops along the coast, particularly in the north of the gaza strip this morning. but really the complaint is this is just a fraction of what is needed. it is in the north of gaza in particular that the north of gaza in particular that the un has been warning that there could be a man—made famine. now, israel has given its response to the international court ofjustice and international court of justice and what international court ofjustice and what they have said, these new provisional measures, saying that

people are no longer facing the risk of famine, but that farming in setting and in gaza. israel has said once again it does not limit the amounts of aid that goes in. the suggestion is always that the un and other aid agencies need to do more to distribute that aid inside gaza. israel has said to the foreign ministry spokesperson, it doesn't wish any harm to the civilian population, it is working to enable and facilitate the flow in age, it says, also blames hamas for much of what is going on, says it has been trying to commandeer, hoard and steal aid and that it is responsible for the situation on the ground and. in this war back in october. gk. in this war back in october. 0k, yolande knell, _ in this war back in october. ok, yolande knell, thank _ in this war back in october. ok, yolande knell, thank you very much for that update from jerusalem. we stay with the story. live now to rafah, where we can speak with soraya ali, global media manager for save the children, covering the middle east, north africa, and eastern europe. thank you very much forjoining me. before we talk about the logistics of actually getting aid around in gaza, ijust want of actually getting aid around in

gaza, i just want to get an update on the situation, the humanitarian situation there. obviously last time we spoke you were detailing how dire the conditions are. what are you and your colleagues seeing on the ground at the moment? the your colleagues seeing on the ground at the moment?— your colleagues seeing on the ground at the moment? the situation remains horrific and it — at the moment? the situation remains horrific and it is _ at the moment? the situation remains horrific and it is getting _ at the moment? the situation remains horrific and it is getting worse - horrific and it is getting worse every single day. being here now for almost a week, i have spoken to so many families who tell me horrific stories, you know, one woman said her husband is blind, they have six children and they had to walk from the north to the south, they have lost countless family members, other young children who are unaccompanied, they don't have any parents with them as far as we can see and we are in a situation now where12—year—olds are looking after four—year—olds. there are so many stories, horrific stories, but on such a mass scale. it is unfathomable. and still be bombs continue to drop. we hear air strikes at night and we know that children are lacking food, water and

the most basic supplies, so we need a ceasefire, first and foremost. ok. a ceasefire, first and foremost. ok, es, that a ceasefire, first and foremost. ok, yes. that brings _ a ceasefire, first and foremost. ok, yes, that brings me _ a ceasefire, first and foremost. ok, yes, that brings me onto logistics, the practicalities of actually getting more aid in and getting that aid distributed around gaza. you talk about a ceasefire. what are the other key impediments, then, to you actually being able to work properly and other aid agencies being able to work properly and get that aid delivered? i5 work properly and get that aid delivered?— delivered? is still extremely difficult. the _ delivered? is still extremely difficult. the little _ delivered? is still extremely difficult. the little aid - delivered? is still extremely difficult. the little aid that l delivered? is still extremely . difficult. the little aid that does manage to get through the border crossings right now, we know limited amounts are getting through, the trucks have to be checked and unloaded, there is only a limited number of truck drivers that are vetted and once we actually get in we are talking about a place where there are is such limited resources, fuel, first and foremost, there is so little fuel right now in gaza, we are not able to drive around freely, there is a limited number of vehicles, limited power, the generators here connectivity and

communications, the logistical problemsjust keep on communications, the logistical problems just keep on growing and on top of all of that we know that air strikes and bombs are dropping in khan younis, in rafah, where we are currently, and the only way to solve those problems is a definitive ceasefire. �* . those problems is a definitive ceasefire-— those problems is a definitive ceasefire. �* ., ., _ those problems is a definitive ceasefire. ., ., _ ., ceasefire. and that obviously has to be uuite ceasefire. and that obviously has to be quite clearly. — ceasefire. and that obviously has to be quite clearly, if _ ceasefire. and that obviously has to be quite clearly, if it _ ceasefire. and that obviously has to be quite clearly, if it is _ ceasefire. and that obviously has to be quite clearly, if it is a _ be quite clearly, if it is a ceasefire, we are talking about both sides, you are being clear that it is both sides in this, hamas and israel need to abide by a ceasefire in order to get that aid to the noncombatants, the civilian noncombata nts, the civilian population? noncombatants, the civilian population?— noncombatants, the civilian --oulation? , ., ~ population? exactly, and i think the civilian population _ population? exactly, and i think the civilian population are _ population? exactly, and i think the civilian population are really - population? exactly, and i think the civilian population are really the - civilian population are really the ones that are suffering here. just being in rafah, it is extremely overcrowded. this is a tiny, tiny area where once upon a time 275,000 people lived and now 1.5 million people lived and now 1.5 million people are crammed here in an informal shelter that i went to the other day, a woman showed me around her tent, a mother, and there were

about 30 people living in that tent, hundreds more sharing a toilet. they were children everywhere emphasis without a doubt a war on children. they are the ones that are suffering we need all parties to stop bombing, to open up the crossings and let us get aid in quickly and safely so we can start distributing food and water because, as you know, children are already dying of malnutrition and dehydration.— are already dying of malnutrition and deh dration. ., ,, , ., , . and dehydration. thank you very much for our and dehydration. thank you very much for your time — and dehydration. thank you very much for your time today, _ and dehydration. thank you very much for your time today, soraya _ and dehydration. thank you very much for your time today, soraya ali, - for your time today, soraya ali, global media managerfor for your time today, soraya ali, global media manager for save the children, thank you. here in the uk... one of the conservative party's largest donors has been awarded a knighthood after being recommended by prime minister, rishi sunak. labour said the decision to give an honour to the billionaire, mohamed mansour, showed the prime minister didn't expect to be in office for much longer. let's get more with our political correspondent, shelley phelps. this let's begin by talking about timings. we don't normally see on is

being hounded out of his particular point in the year, do we? so why now? ., , , , ., , ., ., now? hello, yes, it is a bit of a surrise now? hello, yes, it is a bit of a surprise to _ now? hello, yes, it is a bit of a surprise to get _ now? hello, yes, it is a bit of a surprise to get this _ now? hello, yes, it is a bit of a surprise to get this around - now? hello, yes, it is a bit of a i surprise to get this around easter because typically these awards are made in the new year and they're not making's official birthday injune. now, there has been a few eyebrows raised over this because it has come out on the easter weekend, so a cynic might say perhaps it has come out at a quieter news time, but also when lots of members of the public are going to be enjoying their bank holiday weekend, eating the chocolate and spending the weekend with their family. tell chocolate and spending the weekend with their family.— with their family. tell us more, then, with their family. tell us more, then. about — with their family. tell us more, then, about mohamed - with their family. tell us more, | then, about mohamed mansour. with their family. tell us more, - then, about mohamed mansour. as we have said, he is one of the conservative party's biggest donors. what else do we know about him? and is giving a on honour to image and likeness could be problematic for the party? likeness could be problematic for the -a ? . likeness could be problematic for thea ? ., likeness could be problematic for the-a ? ., , likeness could be problematic for thea ? . the party? mohamed mansour is a businessman. _ the party? mohamed mansour is a businessman, like _ the party? mohamed mansour is a businessman, like you _ the party? mohamed mansour is a businessman, like you said, - the party? mohamed mansour is a businessman, like you said, a - the party? mohamed mansour is a i businessman, like you said, a major donorfor the businessman, like you said, a major donor for the conservative party, businessman, like you said, a major donorfor the conservative party, he gave them £5 million last year and is also a senior treasurer at the

party. you are just mentioning labour's criticism of this, they accused the prime minister was showing blatant disregard for the office that he holds and the liberal democrats are saying that this appointment in the case of mr mohamed mansour, they say this shows rishi sunak is out of touch. reform uk are saying this is an example of what they describe as toxic cronyism. but number ten sources insisting that mr mohamed mansour�*s appointment and this award is about his extensive public and charity service, including some of which he has done with the prince's foundation.— has done with the prince's foundation. �* , ., , , foundation. and tell us who else is on this honours _ foundation. and tell us who else is on this honours list? _ foundation. and tell us who else is on this honours list? yes, - foundation. and tell us who else is on this honours list? yes, you - foundation. and tell us who else is| on this honours list? yes, you have also not on this honours list? yes, you have also got four— on this honours list? yes, you have also got four conservative - on this honours list? yes, you have also got four conservative mps, - also got four conservative mps, including people like tracey crouch, conservative mp, who is standing down at the next election, she is a former sports minister, she has done a lot of work around football governance and as well campaigning on breast cancer. we also have philip davies, who is another conservative mp, marriage to esther mcvey, a cabinet minister and he used to present a show with his wife

on gb news. then we also have a democratic unionist party mp on the list as well. it is interesting because as well as the politics, we also have some figures from the creative and tech industries, so for example christopher nolan, who obviously oscar—winning director of the oppenheimerfilm. obviously oscar-winning director of the oppenheimer film.— the oppenheimer film. shelley phels, the oppenheimer film. shelley phelps, thank _ the oppenheimer film. shelley phelps, thank you _ the oppenheimer film. shelley phelps, thank you very - the oppenheimer film. shelley phelps, thank you very much. | clear up efforts are under way in baltimore, around the bridge which collapsed after it was hit by a ship earlier this week. the national transportation safety board has released this footage of its staff on board the container ship, the dali. you can see it is still lodged in the collapsed remains of the bridge. we can bring you some live pictures from baltimore now, i believe, which arejust coming up. fundraising efforts are underway for the families of the six people who were working on the bridge when it collapsed. two bodies have been recovered and the other four men are presumed dead.

but these are the life images from baltimore now, as that operation to fully examine the ship basically continues and then the operation to get it removed, away from the bridge and of course the surveying of the damage to the bridge and working out how to clear the debris and the rather huge task of rebuilding this bridge eventually. the police service of northern ireland has said a 61—year—old man has been charged in relation to sexual offences. a 57—year—old woman has also been charged with aiding and abetting additional offences. both are due to appear before newry magistrates' court on the 24th april. police say the offences are non—recent and that all charges will be reviewed by the public prosecution service. emergency workers in south africa have been searching through the night to recover the remains of 45 people who were killed in a bus crash.

the bus was travelling from botswana to limpopo province. the department for transport says the vehicle plunged off a bridge into a ravine after hitting the crash barrier, and burst into flames when it hit the ground. an eight—year—old child was the only survivor and has been taken to hospital with serious injuries. our correspondent, shingai nyoka, sent this update. emergency workers are at the scene. so far, they have retrieved about a dozen bodies. nine of those have since been identified. but the transport minister was talking to south african media earlier on and said that the process ofjust recovering those people has been hampered by accessibility to the site. the bus crashed into a ravine, which was about 50 metres below the bridge itself. what they are saying is that the driver lost control of that vehicle, but that it was an alternative route and so it wasn't a busy road.

there was no oncoming traffic or vehicle. and this happened at about 11am on thursday morning. and so, the suggestion that they are looking at is that perhaps this was a driver error, but those investigations are still going on. the process of identifying the people that have died is still going on, but i think it's complicated by the fact that many of them were not from south africa, they were travelling from botswana. and so, there is diplomatic negotiations and discussions that are happening, to take place. the south african government, however, has said that it will help in the repatriation of those bodies. shingai nyoka reporting. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

this relatives of the wall streetjournal reporter are marking

the anniversary of his detention in russia. evan gershkovich is the first american to be charged with spying by the russian authorities since the end of the cold war. the us government and the wall streetjournal have dismissed the charge — they say mr gershkovich is being used as a bargaining chip by moscow. we've been speaking to evan's sister, danielle. it's really hard for him, but we're so proud of him. he's very resilient and he is working really hard to stay strong. he worries about us. we try to make sure that he knows that we're doing well. and he even recently sent women in his life some bouquets for international women's day — march 8th — which was really nice. paul, i want to ask you, his detention was extended for a fifth time this week. what can you tell us about that? it's a pattern we've seen since the start of this. every two or three months, the russians produce him

in court and ask for more time to investigate. we haven't seen any evidence through that whole process. now it's been extended for another three months, which means we don't know when there will be a trial. so really it's pretty foggy when you look forward and that just increases the urgency of bringing him home and increases the urgency of the us and russian governments and any other other government that can be helpful figuring out a way to get him back. and paul, last time we spoke, we discussed also the prospect of a possible swap for evan. where do those discussions stand right now? well, we saw in early december the state department said that they had made an offer for evan and for paul whelan, who's been there for five years, and the russians rejected it. since then, we saw president putin mention evan twice, once in his annual press conference and then at the end of his interview with tucker carlson. so we know there are conversations going on. obviously, it's appropriate

that those happen quietly and in secret, and we're not privy to them, but we're confident that they're happening and we just hope that they bear fruit soon. danielle, can i ask you about that as well, what the communication has been like with the white house as this process has been ongoing? well, we have heard several times the white house has made statements that they're serious about getting evan home, which is wonderful to hear. but we know that this is a conversation that's happening between governments. but we're very grateful to have contact from speha team. and we were able to meet and speak with president biden, and he personally promised our family that he's going to get evan home. that was evan gershkovich's sister,

danielle, speaking to mark the first anniversary of his detention in russia. here in the uk, a senior mp has called for a police investigation after secret papers — seen by the bbc — showed the post office continued to fight compensation claims brought by sub—postmasters, despite knowing its defence was false. labour's kevanjones sits on the horizon compensation advisory board, an independent group of mps and academics which oversees compensation related to the it scandal. he's called the post office's actions "an abusive use of public "cash against innocent people" and said there would be no justice until someone was brought before the courts. our reporter, aruna iyengar, has more. it's the latest twist in the ongoing post office drama. between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of sub—postmasters and sub—postmistresses were wrongly prosecuted because of faults with horizon — an it system created by fujitsu and used for tallying up the books. cheering. the postmasters began legal

action brought in 2016. they became known as the 555 group. the post office agreed to pay them £58 million in compensation and costs. but now, this secret 2017 draft report uncovered by the bbc shows the post office spent £100 million fighting sub—masters in court when it knew its defence was untrue. commissioned by the post office, the bramble report by deloitte said... "fujitsu employees had the ability to amend or delete transactions entered by branch staff. "the system wouldn't flag up to a postmaster "if a change had been made. "and those changes could cause a shortfall in branch accounts." it also said a malicious actor could potentially change data — though there's no evidence this happened. labour mp kevanjones sits on the horizon compensation advisory board. he's called on the police to investigate.

i do now think the police need to start looking at this. more will obviously come out at the public inquiry, but there's enough out there now, i think, to start looking. the post office has said it's deeply sorry for the impact the scandal has had on people, and has told the bbc the public inquiry�*s next phase would look at the issues raised. fujitsu said the group regards the matter with the utmost seriousness, and offers its deepest apologies to the sub—postmasters and their families. janet skinner, a former sub—postmistress from hull, lost herjob and was sent to prison in 2007 based on information from the horizon system. they could have prevented that court case. do you know? the 555 of us that went to that court case — they could have prevented that and they could have saved a lot of time, money and tears. for many, delivery ofjustice is taking far too long. aruna iyengar, bbc news.

analysis shared with the bbc has shown how fire is being used as a weapon in sudan's civil war, with more than 100 villages burned since the conflict began last year. fighting between the sudanese army and the paramilitary group rss has. millions on their homes and tens of thousands of people have died. —— the paramilitary group the rs and f. police in south africa have arrested a man for drunk driving after his car collided with that of former presidentjacob zuber —— max jacob zuma. no one was injured in the incident on thursday evening. in the uk, a teenager has been charged with attempted murder after a stabbing on attempted murder after a stabbing on a train in south london. 19—year—old rakeem thomas has also been charged with possession of an offensive weapon. the person injured is in a

stable condition in hospital. newer earthlike planets could soon be discovered, thanks to a technological breakthrough by scientists here in the uk. this assist at heriot watt university in edinburgh and at cambridge university have developed a new kind of astro cone, a laser system which allows astronomers to observe tiny changes in the colour of starlight. we are told this could reveal hidden planets beyond our solar system. do stay with us here on bbc news, as we bring you more on all of the main stories of the day, the situation in the middle east among those. do stay with us. i will be back with you and just a moment.

hello, good afternoon. a gradual improvement weather—wise for the next couple of days. here is the forecast for the bank holiday weekend, today sunshine and showers and light winds yesterday. they could be some more rain in the south on friday and sunday, lots more... in the north. showers feeding income already some lightning strikes across pembrokeshire, some heavy downpours and hail and thunder and some showers, but generally fewer thunder than we saw yesterday with more new way of sunshine, still breezed into wales, but not as gusty as yesterday. could be a bit drier for scotland, for most it will feel warm as well. overnight tonight still quite chilly by night, we will see the sky is largely clear, showers fading away, scattering out towards the west. a touch of ice and frost into tomorrow morning with lows into mid to single figures. also a bit of patchy mist and fog,

but still breezy for part of the night, but lighterwinds but still breezy for part of the night, but lighter winds tomorrow morning but that is because a gear the area of low pressure is pulling away to the rest. lighter winds and feeling warm in the sunshine tomorrow, but another area of low pressure giving patchy rain across east anglia an anglia for a while, a lot of dry weather on saturday, plenty of sunshine, the focus for any showers out towards the north and the west and it will feel warmer again, 11—15. don't forget, the clock spring forward by an hour on saturday night into sunday, so darker mornings just for a while and of course light evenings on the way. easter sunday isn't looking too bad either, again we could see showers out towards western spots as we head through the morning, largely fading away into the afternoon, a lot of dry weather around with some sunshine, but cloudier and cooler towards north sea facing posts with more of an easterly wind developing, but with highs of 11—14. in the

south through sunday night and into bank holiday monday, we will see areas of rain perhaps into england and wales, but still a lot of uncertainty with the forecast, so do keep an eye on it, but it could be drierfurther north, temperature drier further north, temperature —wise drierfurther north, temperature —wise cooler again towards north sea facing posts, so a bit milder towards the west. that's it for now, goodbye.

this is bbc news. the headlines:

the syrian government blames israel for deadly airstrikes near the city of aleppo which killed at least 42 people. delays and long queues reported as the easter getaway begins. one of the big blockbuster movies of last summer, oppenheimer, is released for the first time injapan. beyonce is back, with herfirst ever country album. relatives of evan kercher birch are marking the first anniversary of his detainment in russia. he is the first american to be charged by russia for spying since the end of the second world war.