as iran vows to punish israel for an air strike killing its commanders — president biden says us support for israel is "iron—clad". russian missiles and drones hit ukraine's energy supply, damaging substations in five regions, and causing power cuts for 200,000 people. a vietnamese property tycoon has been sentenced to death, after one of the biggest corruption trials in history. two former post office managers are giving evidence to an inquiry, on the decisions which led to the wrongful conviction of hundreds of people who run post offices in the uk. we have an exclusive look at stunning new discoveries in the ancient city of pompeii. coming up — we'll analyse the groups backing iran as the war in gaza rages on. that's your questions answered in half an hour.

hello, i'm samantha simmonds. welcome to bbc news now, 3 hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. america's military commander for the middle east is reported to be heading to israel to discuss intelligence that iran could launch an imminent retaliatory strike against the country. president biden has promised israel "iron—clad" us support amid fears of iranian reprisals for the killing of senior iranian commanders in damascus. the president warned that tehran is threatening to launch a "significant attack" after the iranian consulate was hit in syria 10 days ago. mr biden was speaking hours after the iranian supreme leader again said israel would be punished for the strike on its consulate. meanwhile, the hamas political leader says there'll be no change in the group's demands for a permanent ceasefire in gaza, despite the killing of three of his sons in an israeli air strike. here's president biden on the threat posed by iran in the region. we also want to address the iranian threat, to launch a significant...

they're threatening to launch a significant attack on israel. as i told prime minister netanyahu, our commitment to israel's security against these threats from iran and its proxies is ironclad. we say it again, ironclad. we're going to do all we can to protect israel's security. with real concern about what action iran might take and how that could affect the wider region — here's our middle east correspondent hugo bachega with the latest. interesting that over the last few days the americans have been saying that they believe that these iranian responses are a matter of when, not if. now, we don't know what the iranians are planning to do. iran obviously has this alliance of factions across the region, the so—called axis of resistance. it includes hezbollah, for example, in lebanon, which has been attacking israel almost on a daily basis. but i think the fear here is that

iran may be planning to launch an attack from its own territory, for example, with missiles and drones. but the israelis have been saying that if there is any kind of attack from iran itself, that they are going to retaliate. i think the authorities here have been saying that they would give a significant response. so obviously the fear is that this could lead to a major escalation, a possible a regional conflict that would have, you know, catastrophic consequences. having said that, i mean, there has been strong language from all sides, you know, threats of response, of revenge, of retaliation. this is all part of the game. but i think, you know, president biden in his comments, perhaps he had to goes to the israelis. he was saying that, look, despite the differences that we have over what's happening in gaza and we've seen the level of frustration from the americans, with the israelis, with the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. he's saying that these two countries remain, you know, strong allies. and to the iranians, he was saying, well, look, if you attack israel, we're going to respond.

so perhaps he's trying to, you know, change, you know, whatever iran is planning to do. missile strikes have rocked the gaza strip today. with smoke rising from central gaza. this is the view from rafah. the israeli military has eported operations in central gaza overnight — it says — "to eliminate terrorist operatives". let's speak to mustafa barghouti, general secretary of the palestinian national initiative. welcome, thank you for being with us. i want to start with the comments from present biden with what happens in israel affects you in the west bank, what's your response to what could be an escalation between iran and israel and possibly involve the us? i think president bidencomments - and possibly involve the us? i think president bidencomments are - and possibly involve the us? i ii�*u “ia; president bidencomments are strange. he didn't say anything when israel

attacked the iranian consulate. israel initiated this confrontation. now i think netanyahu is driving president biden behind him —— dag —— dragging president biden. netanyahu wants this war to continue for ever. he wants to expand this war in a dangerous approach to all peoples of the region. he conducted three provocative acts. he attacked the iranian consulate, he attacked and killed seven aid workers and just recently he initiated an attack to kill three of the leader of hamas's son. he wants a reaction, he wants hamas not to accept his offer and to continue the war. he wants to

continue the war. he wants to continue provoking because he is protecting his political career. he knows the moment this war ends he will lose his position as political leader and he might go to jail. this is his goal and unfortunately, president biden and the united states, instead of pressuring netanyahu, are following his footsteps. netanyahu, are following his footsteps-— netanyahu, are following his footstes. ~ ., ., ., ., footsteps. would you agree that iran is not a neutral— footsteps. would you agree that iran is not a neutral party? _ footsteps. would you agree that iran is not a neutral party? it _ footsteps. would you agree that iran is not a neutral party? it has - is not a neutral party? it has several proxies in the region, it support and funds hezbollah and the other rebels in the region. this support and funds hezbollah and the other rebels in the region.— other rebels in the region. this is not a new— other rebels in the region. this is not a new situation, _ other rebels in the region. this is not a new situation, but - other rebels in the region. this is not a new situation, but the - not a new situation, but the question is, how can we stop everything? how can the fights with the yemen or lebanon and other party stop? the yemen or lebanon and other party sto - ? ~ . , the yemen or lebanon and other party stat). ., ,,., the yemen or lebanon and other party sto? . , .,, the yemen or lebanon and other party stat). ., , ., , the yemen or lebanon and other party stop? what is your answer then? it is very simple. _ stop? what is your answer then? it is very simple, stop _ stop? what is your answer then? it is very simple, stop the _ stop? what is your answer then? it is very simple, stop the war- stop? what is your answer then? it is very simple, stop the war in - is very simple, stop the war in gaza, stop palace indian genocide.

—— palestinian genocide. gaza, stop palace indian genocide. -- palestinian genocide.— -- palestinian genocide. israel would deny — -- palestinian genocide. israel would deny that _ -- palestinian genocide. israel would deny that genocide - -- palestinian genocide. israel would deny that genocide is i -- palestinian genocide. israel- would deny that genocide is taking blake and that it is defending its right to exist. there are two sides to this, there are hamas who hold more than 200 hostages and israel's determination to wipe out hamas. flan determination to wipe out hamas. can i resond? determination to wipe out hamas. can i re5pond? yes — determination to wipe out hamas. can i respond? yes of _ determination to wipe out hamas. can i respond? yes of course. _ determination to wipe out hamas. can i respond? yes of course. when - determination to wipe out hamas. can i respond? yes of course. when it - i respond? yes of course. when it comes to the _ i respond? yes of course. when it comes to the negotiations - i respond? yes of course. when it comes to the negotiations to - i respond? yes of course. when it i comes to the negotiations to release hostages and for a ceasefire, where is there room for negotiation? there are 9000 palestinian _ is there room for negotiation? there are 9000 palestinian hostages - is there room for negotiation? m., are 9000 palestinian hostages that israel is keeping in horrible conditions in its prisons. all israeli prisoners can come back safe if israel agrees to an immediate ceasefire and to release palestinian prisoners and if this was stopped.

maybe israel doesn't consider it a genocide but the world community does. the international court of justice said that there is a plausible genocide. they are investigating the matter. what we know clearly is that three war crimes are committed at the same time, genocide, ethnic cleansing and the collective punishment of palestinians. 700,000 palestinians are now starving in the north of gaza. israel is preventing aid from reaching these areas. i am so astonished and surprised that a country like the united states of america cannot stop israel. if they wanted, they could stop israel and if they don't, the united states of america, like the british government and others who are providing israel with military aid will be accused of participating in the act of genocide. participating in the act of genocide-— participating in the act of uenocide. ., ~ ., ., , genocide. thank you for “oining us. thank you. — genocide. thank you for “oining us. thankyou. mt genocide. thank you for “oining us.

thank you. in the h genocide. thank you for “oining us. thank you. in the past _ genocide. thank you forjoining us. thank you. in the past few - genocide. thank you forjoining us. j thank you. in the past few minutes it has been reported that benjamin netanyahu said we are in the middle of war in gaza but we are also preparing for scenarios in other arenas. he is i imagine responding to the threat they feel is coming from iran. we will have your questions answered coming up in the next 15 minutes or so where we will be discussing possible scenarios. in the past few minutes, uk prime minister rishi sunak has commented on the prospect of iranian retaliation against israel. let's hear what he had to say; the threats from iran are unacceptable and like the americans, we fully support israel's right to defend itself. we have highlighted iran as a significant risk to regional security and we have always said that we will support israel's ability to defend itself and we have taken action to make sure we can protect the uk threats that emanate from iran. a, ., , .,

from iran. more words from the israeli prime _ from iran. more words from the israeli prime minister— from iran. more words from the israeli prime minister who - from iran. more words from the israeli prime minister who has i from iran. more words from the i israeli prime minister who has said that, we are preparing to meet the security needs of its rail both in defence and attack. whoever hurts us, we hurt them. now to ukraine, where president zelensky has renewed his call for more air defence supplies, after russia targeted the country's energy system and critical infrastructure with more than 80 missiles and drones. five regions across ukraine were hit, leading to power cuts for more than 200,000 people. this was kyiv overnight, where air raid sirens sounded and residents headed underground for safety in metro stations. almost a third of the strikes made it through ukraine's air defences. in the north east, kharkiv�*s power plants — which suffered major damage in late march — have been hit again. the mayor there describes the situation as " very difficult' — announcing yet more blackouts for households and businesses. elsewhere, the ukrainian military says four civilians were killed in the southern city of mykolayiv.

ukraine's parliament has approved an army mobilisation bill to boost troop numbers in the fight against russia. 283 deputies of the aso—member parliament voted for the bill, which toughens punishments for draft dodgers. the law is also designed to boost army recruitment but has caused some anger in a nation exhausted by more than two years of war. it comes a day after a clause, allowing long—serving soldiers to return home from the front was scrapped. let's speak to sviatoslav yurash, an ukrainian mp and army reservist. welcome to you, thank you for being with us. you voted in favour of this new york, how will it work, how will it boost army recruitment? it is clarification _ it boost army recruitment? it is clarification of _ it boost army recruitment? it is clarification of the _ it boost army recruitment? it 3 clarification of the law where the age from when army soldiers can be drafted and they can join. as well as allowing various measures to

allow people who are beyond the aid of army service to serve if they wish to, not to mention the conversation and the measures to understand and provide means for women tojoin the understand and provide means for women to join the army if they wish to. fix, women to 'oin the army if they wish to. �* . . , ., women to 'oin the army if they wish to. , ., women to 'oin the army if they wish to. a clause to allow soldiers to sent to. a clause to allow soldiers to spent long _ to. a clause to allow soldiers to spent long periods _ to. a clause to allow soldiers to spent long periods fighting - to. a clause to allow soldiers to spent long periods fighting to l spent long periods fighting to return from the front line, that was scrapped. it has caused outrage among some houthi those fighting is exhausted, why scrap that? ilouieiiii it exhausted, why scrap that? well it is very clear. _ exhausted, why scrap that? well it is very clear, the _ exhausted, why scrap that? well it is very clear, the fact _ exhausted, why scrap that? well it is very clear, the fact that - exhausted, why scrap that? well it is very clear, the fact that russia l is very clear, the fact that russia has not changed its gold in the slightest. —— changed its goals. if we wish to remain as an independent, sovereign people, we need to battle on. that is why the nation is in

this fight together and that's why we need to mobilise all the resources we have two when this fight. i5 resources we have two when this fi . ht. , ., resources we have two when this fiht. , . , ., resources we have two when this fiuht. ,. , ., , ., fight. is a question is, of the soldiers who _ fight. is a question is, of the soldiers who have _ fight. is a question is, of the soldiers who have been - fight. is a question is, of the l soldiers who have been invited fight. is a question is, of the - soldiers who have been invited for two years, how effective can they be? �* , . ., ., , two years, how effective can they be? ,. . be? after this parliamentary session week i will be? after this parliamentary session week i will be _ be? after this parliamentary session week i will be returning _ be? after this parliamentary session week i will be returning to _ be? after this parliamentary session week i will be returning to my - be? after this parliamentary session week i will be returning to my unit i week i will be returning to my unit which is around one of the front lines on the east and i am surrounded by the people who have made it their life mission to defend their country. these people are in it to win it because they know their life should be different. in this challenge which we haven't chosen, it has been imposed imposed on us. as well as measures for people to do

by mobilise —— demobilise. as well as measures for people to do by mobilise -- demobilise.— by mobilise -- demobilise. russia tarueted by mobilise -- demobilise. russia targeted critical _ by mobilise -- demobilise. russia targeted critical infrastructure - targeted critical infrastructure overnight with more than 80 missiles and drones, five regions were hit leading to power cuts for more than 200,000 people, what kind of impact does this have? thei;c 200,000 people, what kind of impact does this have?— does this have? they are certainly an example _ does this have? they are certainly an example of _ does this have? they are certainly an example of how— does this have? they are certainly an example of how russia - does this have? they are certainly an example of how russia is - an example of how russia is targeting civil infrastructure, these power plants are providing means for people to light their homes, but water systems to function or maintenance systems, all the points about livelihood as it should be. the reality is russia is showing ukrainians that they will not have peace, no matter until they submit. and we certainly shall not.-

and we certainly shall not. thank ou for and we certainly shall not. thank you forjoining — and we certainly shall not. thank you forjoining us. _ now to vietnam, where a court has sentenced a wealthy property developer to death for defrauding a bank of billions of dollars — in one of the biggest corruption cases ever. 67—year—old tru—ong mee lan was found guilty of embezzlement, bribing state officials and violating bank lending regulations, after she used her hidden ownership of the saigon commercial bank to channel $41; billion of loans to her own companies. let's speak to our south east asia correspondent, jonathan head, who's in bangkok. tell us more about this case. it is re tell us more about this case. it is pretty spectacular. _ tell us more about this case. it is pretty spectacular. i _ tell us more about this case. it 3 pretty spectacular. i don't think i can find a case of fraud anywhere else in the world with these amounts of money. in a country like vietnam, thatis of money. in a country like vietnam, that is a big chunk of the economy that is a big chunk of the economy that she managed to siphon off. it is unusual in that the communist authorities released a lot of details about the case against her and how she carried it out. they have encouraged their media to

report it, which is not typical here. the media is tightly controlled. they have made an example of her. she has got tremendous coverage. she has now got the death penalty, possibly as a warning to others involved in fraud. it is the latest chapter in a long—running anti—corruption campaign. i don't think anyone can remember hr like it. there were 85 other defendants with her authorities are hoping they can channel public anger about corruption to her and make an example of her and show them that they are doing something about it. that's why this case is such a high—profile case. she was the only one of the 86 defendants who denied the charges to the very end. she can now appeal against the death sentence and may get leniency if she

follows the court's injunction. the court has asked her to find and get back a lot of my that is missing, around 27 bingeing dollars. —— 20 $7 billion. around 27 bingeing dollars. -- 20 $7 billion. ., ~' , around 27 bingeing dollars. -- 20 $7 billion. ., ~ , , ., ,, , billion. how likely is that sn dense -- death sentence? _ billion. how likely is that sn dense -- death sentence? there - billion. how likely is that sn dense -- death sentence? there is - billion. how likely is that sn dense -- death sentence? there is a - billion. how likely is that sn dense -- death sentence? there is a lot. billion. how likely is that sn dense l -- death sentence? there is a lot of anuer -- death sentence? there is a lot of anger about — -- death sentence? there is a lot of anger about corruption. _ -- death sentence? there is a lot of anger about corruption. the - anger about corruption. the governing party has a lot of power at regarding land and decision—making. as the economy has grown so fast, corruption has ripped through the economy. the communist party chief has stated that corruption and anger about it is an existential threat to the communist party's hold on power. that's why he says it's so important to fight it. the public supports it and is pleased she had the death penalty

but expects asking can you rein in corruption and still keep up this impressive economic growth which has been admired around the world and brought the united states to their door as a trading partner. some say corruption is an inevitable part of this breakneck growth. if the authorities stamp down on it too hard they may suffocate the economy.

now to what's been described as one of the worst miscarriages ofjustice in british legal history: the post office scandal — an inquiry is examining how the faulty it system, known as horizon, led to hundreds of people who ran post offices being wrongly convicted of theft and fraud. today it's hearing from two former senior managers of the post office about decisions which led to so many being wrongly prosecuted. they include david smith, whojoined

as managing director in 2010, when problems with the it system were first coming to light. earlier in the week, one of the scandal�*s victims — alan bates — told the inquiry that the post office had lied about errors in its accounting systems. let's cross to our correspondent at the hearings — azadeh moshiri — now. bring us up—to—date with what's been happening. david smith, who was managing directorfor several happening. david smith, who was managing director for several months accepted responsibility. legal experts said the post office was essentially acting as investigator, prosecutor and victim when it came to these convictions. hundreds of convictions which have already been quashed. he accepted that there were inherent risks with these prosecutions taking place and i want to read to you what he said. i am

sorry to say at the time i didn't reflect in a way that i should have done and with hindsight it is obviously very sad. there are also reports that when the sub—postmistress who was eight weeks pregnant when she was sent to jail received a conviction and her sentence, david smith we did that with the words, brilliant news. he hasn't been asked about that yet. we have his full witness statement now that was released today and he writes that within relations and that he was talking about the horizon system said to be robust by an expert and expert evidence in the trial. even if this had been recommendation, i would trial. even if this had been recommendation, iwould never think —— correct conviction, i would never think it was good that someone went to prison and i would not want my e—mail to be read as such. minot e-mail to be read as such. what can we exect e-mail to be read as such. what can

we expect in the _ e-mail to be read as such. what can we expect in the coming _ e-mail to be read as such. what can we expect in the coming hours - we expect in the coming hours and days? indie we expect in the coming hours and da s? ~ ., , . ., , we expect in the coming hours and das? ., ,. days? we do expect him to be asked about a report _ days? we do expect him to be asked about a report that _ days? we do expect him to be asked about a report that was _ days? we do expect him to be asked | about a report that was commissioned by the post office during his time which was called one—sided in a previous hearing. the chair of this inquiry has suggested that it was a whitewash, something the report also had denied at the time. in the coming weeks, this phase is lasting 15 weeks, and we will continue to hear from 15 weeks, and we will continue to hearfrom people 15 weeks, and we will continue to hear from people who were at the highest levels of power at the post office, including the former chief 0ffice, including the former chief executive, who will be appearing in may. the key here is for this inquiry to establish, not only how the biggest miscarriage ofjustice in uk history could have taken place, but what these executives knew and when they knew it. thank ou ve knew and when they knew it. thank you very much- _

uk prime minister rishi sunak says the latest nhs waiting list figures — down for the fifth month in a row — prove his plans for the health service are working. at the end of februaryjust over seven—and—a—half million treatments were waiting to be carried out — about a quarter of a million fewer than the record high last september. mr sunak says without strike action, the nhs would be in an even better place but labour's shadow health secretary wes streeting says waiting lists are still longer than when he became prime minister. the prime minister spoke a short while ago. when i became prime minister, i said that cutting waiting lists was one of my five priorities, and whilst we haven't made as much progress as i would have liked, today's figures show that we are making headway towards that goal. over the last five months, a reduction of over 200,000 of the overall waiting list, which is positive, and if it wasn't for industrial action, an extra 430,000 patients would have been treated. so while there is of course a lot more work to do, the plan is working. and more broadly, we have seen the first year over year reduction

in a&e and ambulance waiting times. we have record numbers of staff way working in the nhs and a long—term workforce plan, and we are sitting here in a new community diagnostic centre that is coming, just demonstrating that we are doing everything we can to get patients the care they need when they need it. shadow transport secretary louise haigh said the government had a long way to go to make sure patients are being the prime minister has failed in his promise to the country to cut waiting lists. they are higher than they were when he became prime minister. the nhs is in the grips of worst crisis in its history. people are waiting hours for an ambulance. we can't go on like this. that's why it's crucial that at the general election we see a change with labour. we have a plan to deliver more appointments and closing tax loopholes and clamping down on tax avoidance because we prioritise doctors not tax dodgers.

the worst flooding in almost 100 years has hit russia and kazakstan, forcing the evacuation of more than 100,000 people. the flooding — in the urals and western siberia — has been caused by unseasonably warm temperatures, which has melted snow. in the russian city of 0renburg — home to half a million people — the water has risen to dangerous levels. thousands of people have left the city. plenty more on that on the bbc news website including president biden's foul of iden conrad —— ironclad support for israel. the israeli prime minister said we are in the middle of war in gaza but we are preparing for scenarios in other areas.

hello again. it's been a fairly cloudy start to the day, but the cloud breaking up for most of us away from the english channel and irish sea coasts, where we'll hang onto some murky conditions through the day. but for most, it's going to feel warm, and we're looking at spells of hazy sunshine. but if you have an allergy to tree pollen, particularly birch, maybe a bit of plane as well as some ash, these are the pollen levels today, moderate to high across most of the country. now, we've had a weather front which has pushed southwards through the morning, but what it's going to do is start to retreat northward. so it's going to bring some patchy rain back through the south—west and also wales. but for most of us it's dry. it's going to be sunny, albeit hazy at times. one or two showers, western scotland, northern ireland, north—west england, the pennines. but temperatures today potentially up to 20 degrees — somewhere in eastern england is most likely for that. so as we head through the evening and overnight, our weatherfront pushing northwards will bring some heavy rain across northern ireland and central southern scotland, where of course the ground is already saturated.

it's going to be a mild night, temperatures eight to about 12 degrees quite widely. so it's a mild start to the day for friday. and on friday, what you'll find is it will be a fairly cloudy start across england and wales. most of that cloud breaking up and it will develop into a warm day. but around the coasts once again we'll hang onto murky conditions, whereas for northern ireland and scotland it's going to be cloudy for you with rain at times and gales developing across the northern and the western isles. temperatures 11 in the north to potentially 21 in the south. and as we head into saturday, once again, we'll start off on a cloudy note across england and wales. that will break up. we'll see some sunshine, but some heavier rain moving in across scotland and also northern ireland. a blustery day, too, with temperatures still on the high side, 20 in london, but starting to cool down in the north. and you can see that illustrated here as we go into the weekend and the early part of next week,

as the yellows and ambers are pushed away by the blues, indicating that the temperatures are on the slide. so the outlook from sunday to thursday remains changeable. it will be windy at times. there will be some rain at times, some showers, wintry in the mountains in scotland. but there'll be some sunshine too.

this is bbc news, the headlines.

as iran vows to punish israel for an air strike killing its commanders, president biden says us support for israel is "iron—clad". we'll be analysing the threats and possible outcomes as the war in gaza rages on. that's your questions answered. also coming up: it's time to roll out the red carpet. the bafta gaming awards take place tonight in london. now it's time for your questions answered. let's take a closer look at what we know about iran's alliances, and the so—called axis of resistance. groups backed by iran have been waging attacks on israeli and us targets since the war began on october 7th following the hamas attacks on israel. the heavily armed lebanese group hezbollah has been mounting near daily attacks on israeli targets at the

lebanese—israeli border.