israel warns it's prepared after iran vows punishment for the killing of its commanders in syria. russian missiles and drones destroy a large electricity plant near kyiv and hit power facilities in several other regions of ukraine. former post office boss david smith apologises for celebrating the conviction of a pregnant sub—postmistress, seema misra, who was eventually jailed. and we have an exclusive look at stunning new discoveries in the ancient italian city of pompeii. hello, i m geeta guru—murthy, welcome to verified live. we start in the middle east — and the growing fears of reprisals from iran for the killing of senior iranian commanders in the syrian capital damascus.

iran's supreme leader has vowed that israel will be punished for the attack, which he said was a strike on iran itself. bbc verify has found evidence the iranian authorities have given notice to pilots to avoid the tehran area — as rocket launches could be taking place between the 10th and 12th of april. it's s also possible an attack on israel could come via iran's proxy — hezbollah — which has forces in lebanon. the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has warned his country is ready for what he calls �*scenarios other than gaza'. president biden has pledged "iron—clad" support for israel over iran. so far iran has played no direct role in the conflict but the country does have a network of allies across the region called the �*axis of resistance�*, which it says is united in its opposition to israel and the us. the uk prime minister rishi sunak has commented on iran�*s threats. here�*s what he�*s said. the threats from iran

are unacceptable and we, like the americans, fully support israel�*s right to defend itself against that. we�*ve already highlighted iran as a significant risk to regional security, and we�*ve always said that we�*ll support israel�*s ability to defend itself. and we�*ve taken action ourselves to make sure that we can protect the uk against threats that emanate from iran. despite president biden�*s strong stance of support for israel when it comes to iran, the us—israel relationship is currently experiencing its most serious strain in decades. president biden has said he believes that israel�*s prime minister benjamin netanyahu is making a "mistake" in his handling of gaza — and that gaza should have "total access to all food and medicine" for the next six to eight weeks. israel has promised to build a new aid crossing into northern gaza and says it�*s implementing lessons learned from last week�*s mistaken killing of seven aid workers.

let�*s speak to abd alwahab hamad, the gaza office manager of the ngo juhoud for community and rural development. what for community and rural development. is the situe humanitarian what is the situation like? tie: humanitarian situation is dire, combined with a blockade in gaza, and we have a severe restriction on the movement of personnel of humanitarian organisations enforced by the occupation forces, and we have a limited number of access points and constant threats of attacks on aid convoys. this makes it impossible and dangerous for us to undertake relief and to move on and transport supplies as well, particularly in the north. also the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian corridors has created a

situation where families are unable to gain access to... situation where families are unable to gain access to. . ._ to gain access to... have we lost our to gain access to... have we lost your mind? _ to gain access to... have we lost your mind? are _ to gain access to... have we lost your mind? are you _ to gain access to. .. have we lost your mind? are you still- to gain access to... have we lost your mind? are you still there? l to gain access to... have we lost - your mind? are you still there? yes, i can hear yom _ your mind? are you still there? yes, i can hear you. we _ your mind? are you still there? yes, i can hear you. we lost _ your mind? are you still there? yes, i can hear you. we lost you - i can hear you. we lost you momentarily. _ i can hear you. we lost you momentarily. the - i can hear you. we lost you momentarily. the israelis i i can hear you. we lost you i momentarily. the israelis say i can hear you. we lost you - momentarily. the israelis say they are trying to get access routes into the north, via the north, have you seen anything of that and how much would that help? i seen anything of that and how much would that help?— would that help? i heard that israel aareed would that help? i heard that israel a . reed to would that help? i heard that israel agreed to allow— would that help? i heard that israel agreed to allow aid _ would that help? i heard that israel agreed to allow aid to _ would that help? i heard that israel agreed to allow aid to get - would that help? i heard that israel agreed to allow aid to get through i agreed to allow aid to get through the crossing which is the only connection to the northern part of gaza, but famine there is imminent and it is troubling to have witnessed the negotiations over humanitarian guarantees and increased for aid the potential release of hostages. we need to put

an end to the suffering in gaza. this is happening right now in the north, people are starving to death, and everyone speaks about increased access to aid but what we really need is a flow of aid, a consistent flow of aid to all areas of the gaza strip. flow of aid to all areas of the gaza stri -. ~ ., flow of aid to all areas of the gaza stri . _ . ., , flow of aid to all areas of the gaza stri -. ~ . , , . , flow of aid to all areas of the gaza stri_. ., , ,. ,., strip. we are seeing pictures of some of the _ strip. we are seeing pictures of some of the airdrops. _ strip. we are seeing pictures of some of the airdrops. how- strip. we are seeing pictures of| some of the airdrops. how much strip. we are seeing pictures of - some of the airdrops. how much are they helping? pair some of the airdrops. how much are they helping?— they helping? air dropping food is 'ust they helping? air dropping food is just inhumane. _ they helping? air dropping food is just inhumane. we _ they helping? air dropping food is just inhumane. we have _ they helping? air dropping food is just inhumane. we have the - they helping? air dropping food is just inhumane. we have the landl just inhumane. we have the land route which is very safe and the airdrop lacks coordination. it also requires to sort out the food and have the distribution because the

distribution of food in the north is very risky and many people have been killed from both airdropped food, and today, a unicef vehicle was hit by live ammunition, and this vehicle was trying to get into the north of gaza. there is also restrictions on the movement of goods and humanitarian actors on the ground which makes it incredibly difficult to undertake relief. bier? which makes it incredibly difficult to undertake relief.— to undertake relief. very briefly, how frightened _ to undertake relief. very briefly, how frightened are _ to undertake relief. very briefly, how frightened are people - to undertake relief. very briefly, how frightened are people in - to undertake relief. very briefly, i how frightened are people in rafah of a move from the israelis on the area itself and our people looking at other places they can move to? —— are. at other places they can move to? -- are. , ., at other places they can move to? -- are, , ., ,., at other places they can move to? -- are. , ., , ., are. there is no safe place in gaza and the displaced _ are. there is no safe place in gaza and the displaced individuals - are. there is no safe place in gaza and the displaced individuals have j

and the displaced individuals have been under unrelenting displacement and loss for the last six months and 1.5 million people have been trapped in rafah, it has a small strip of the egyptian border, with 1.5 million palestinians, it is a place smaller than he so airport, very limited access to water and hygiene. a medicalfacilities. and also very limited access to food and safe drinking water, only 5% comes from the central pipe, the rest coming from tanks. the situation here is perilous. the conflict until now has reshaped the physical landscape of gaza. even if those individuals want to go back home, let�*s say to the centre of gaza, now we are hearing a ground invasion in the middle of gaza and other areas as well. there

is no safe place. there is no ability to evacuate this many people. it is a huge number. thank ou ve people. it is a huge number. thank you very much _ people. it is a huge number. thank you very much indeed _ people. it is a huge number. thank you very much indeed for _ people. it is a huge number. thank you very much indeed forjoining i people. it is a huge number. thank you very much indeed forjoining us. joining me now is sir richard dalton, british ambassador to iran between 2002 and 2006. we are following the potential warnings from israel and the us of an iranian attack that could happen at any time, although nobody can be sure of the timing or the location. what is your reaction to what we are hearing at the moment? shifter what is your reaction to what we are hearing at the moment?— what is your reaction to what we are hearing at the moment? after a long eriod of hearing at the moment? after a long period of tension _ hearing at the moment? after a long period of tension between _ hearing at the moment? after a long period of tension between the - hearing at the moment? after a long period of tension between the forces| period of tension between the forces allied with iran, notably hezbollah and lebanon, tensions have finally

broken into the open with israel�*s on moreli attack on diplomatic premises in damascus —— illegal attack. we are closer than ever to a regional war and ioc president biden�*s remarks as an adjunct of the diplomatic and military measures undertaken and promised to try and make sure that the inevitable iranian retaliation is within bounds and does not lead through the familiar tit—for—tat process to that war, perhaps involving hezbollah and mainland iran which in turn could bring in the persian gulf countries, that everybody has been hoping to avoid hitherto.—

that everybody has been hoping to avoid hitherto. having watched iran for a lona avoid hitherto. having watched iran for a longtime. _ avoid hitherto. having watched iran for a long time, what _ avoid hitherto. having watched iran for a long time, what would - avoid hitherto. having watched iran for a long time, what would you - for a long time, what would you expect? for a long time, what would you exect? , ., ,., ., for a long time, what would you exect? , ., ., ., ., . ~ ., expect? they are bound to attack an israeli target — expect? they are bound to attack an israeli target and _ expect? they are bound to attack an israeli target and it _ expect? they are bound to attack an israeli target and it would _ expect? they are bound to attack an israeli target and it would be - israeli target and it would be unwise of them to attack a us target although that cannot be 100% ruled out. it would also be unwise of them to attack from iranian territory rather than from one of the outposts that they have with forces allied to them in countries either engaged in civil war or other forms of turmoil, closer to israel. but we hearfrom the iranian spokesperson there is no hurry and it could happen in a day or in a week and it could happen later. whatever the leaders of iran have decided will take some planning is, so although there must be some intelligence indications which lead president biden to have said that he is expecting an attack it is by no means certain that it will be in the

next couple of days. we have been hearing about the sum of the gulf allies being used as diplomatic rates —— diplomatic routes to iran, but it is in no body was much interest for this to escalate? no, it isn�*t. at the moment the us is all talk and it does not apparently want an invasion of rafah and it once a flood of aid into gaza and it wants different israeli military tactics but israel is not listening and they are not paying any attention. the us has got to put its money and its actions where its mouth is and take some serious action to achieve its diplomatic games rather than just shouting from the sidelines. games rather than 'ust shouting from the sidelines.— games rather than 'ust shouting from the shtethee— the sidelines. there will be some tushback the sidelines. there will be some pushback against _ the sidelines. there will be some pushback against that, _ the sidelines. there will be some pushback against that, no - the sidelines. there will be some pushback against that, no doubt, the sidelines. there will be some - pushback against that, no doubt, but we have got to leave it there for now. thanks forjoining us.

russia has launched a series of raids on ukraine�*s energy system, firing more than 80 missiles and drones across the country. almost a third made it through ukraine s air defences. this is some of the latest video that�*s come into the newsroom — showing a major coal power plant near kyiv after it was hit by russian air and drone attacks. in the north east, kharkiv s power plants — which suffered major damage in late march ? have been hit again. 0ur eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford is in kharkiv. here in kharkiv there was just another air raid. and those are happening almost every day now. we heard the sound of explosions and that�*s when metro stations like this one become a shelter for people. people head underground to hide from those missiles because it just takes a few seconds before they reach this city from russia, which is around about a0 kilometres away. now, we don�*t know what was targeted

this time, but we do know over overnight here in ukraine, there was a massive attack by russia on the energy infrastructure right across the country, from west to here in the northeast and here in kharkiv, s300 missiles were fired. they destroyed a power substation, electricity substation, and they damaged yet another power plant here. and the city is struggling. you know, the metro is up and running, but there are long gaps between trains. people are facing blackouts in the electricity supply to their houses, shops, businesses. industrial production, of course, are all affected. the city is going on, though, you know, life is kind of normal. out and about on the streets between the air raids. it�*s a hugely sunny day here, lots of people around and about. but across ukraine, these attacks are becoming very serious. the energy infrastructure is under sustained and deliberate attack by russia. and just overnight in kiev, kiev region, an entire power plant was destroyed. i spoke to the boss there. he said 100% of their electricity generation has now been wiped out. they need parts, spare parts from western allies.

but what they really need here in ukraine, he said, is air defence protection, because without that, he said, we can do the impossible, we can rebuild. but if we can�*t protect these energy power plants, these power plants, then russia will attack again and ukraine will be left without power. let�*s speak to 0lena pareniuk, senior researcher, institute for safety problems of nuclear power plants of national academy of sciences of ukraine. it is very alarming to see a tax on nuclear facilities. it is very alarming to see a tax on nuclearfacilities. how much risk is there of this actually really escalating into something that could have massive implications? it is extremely _ have massive implications? it is extremely risky _ have massive implications? it is extremely risky but _ have massive implications? it 3 extremely risky but the risk did not start yesterday with the drone attacks that happened on sunday, it had been risky for more than two years already, and zaporizhzhia has

been occupied and it is an outrageous situation because it shows the vulnerability of the global security situation. i5 shows the vulnerability of the global security situation. is there an hint global security situation. is there anything that _ global security situation. is there anything that any _ global security situation. is there anything that any authority - global security situation. is there anything that any authority can . global security situation. is there i anything that any authority can do, and i spoke a few days ago to rafael gracie, they are supposed to be some sort of baseline understanding agreements to prevent these kind of risks? , , ., , risks? yes, there should be some kind of understanding _ risks? yes, there should be some kind of understanding but - kind of understanding but unfortunately, to the gut the —— conduct negotiations, you need someone to conduct wood, and ukraine follows the international laws and russia does nothing to follow and

respect the rules —— you need someone to conduct wood. that is the major problem because all of the international agreements, they are based on being able to follow the rules but russia declines it. can ou sell rules but russia declines it. can you spell out — rules but russia declines it. can you spell out what the potential results would be if there was a really big hit to any of the nuclear plants? really big hit to any of the nuclear tlants? . ., , really big hit to any of the nuclear tlants? w , ., ., .,, plants? luckily, zaporizhzhia has six units and _ plants? luckily, zaporizhzhia has six units and it _ plants? luckily, zaporizhzhia has six units and it makes _ plants? luckily, zaporizhzhia has six units and it makes us - plants? luckily, zaporizhzhia has six units and it makes us the - six units and it makes us the biggest in ukraine, and they are not operational since september 2022, which brings down the risk of the global nuclear explosion, i would say. yet zaporizhzhia has units that are full of nuclear rods and they have the storage of the spent fuel and in case of a major hit into the storage or into the reactor

building, it can lead to the contamination of the river and the black sea and maybe even the mediterranean after that, because as we know radiation has no borders. which of course we would like to have avoided.— which of course we would like to have avoided. . ., ., , have avoided. thanks for “oining us. you are watching h have avoided. thanks for “oining us. you are watching bbc _ have avoided. thanks forjoining us. you are watching bbc news. - around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

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, former managing director david smith was questioned about the trial of seema misra — a sub—postmistress wronglyjailed while pregnant for stealing —

despite evidence suggesting the post office knew of software faults in it�*s it system. take a listen. in the aftermath of the report, this trial of seema misra was being actively used by post office as part of your campaign to claim that horizon was robust, wasn�*t it? i campaign to claim that horizon was robust, wasn't it?— robust, wasn't it? i don't believe so, no. robust, wasn't it? i don't believe so. no- you _ robust, wasn't it? i don't believe so, no. you were _ robust, wasn't it? i don't believe so, no. you were deliberately i so, no. you were deliberately closint so, no. you were deliberately closing your _ so, no. you were deliberately closing your eyes _ so, no. you were deliberately closing your eyes to - so, no. you were deliberately| closing your eyes to problems so, no. you were deliberately - closing your eyes to problems with the integrity of horizon data, weren�*t you? the integrity of horizon data, weren't you?— the integrity of horizon data, weren�*t you? ha. you were weren't you? no. you were encouraging _ weren't you? no. you were encouraging your staff to pursue a trial is another method of shoring up trial is another method of shoring up a problem system which you knew had serious questions over it? absolutely not. as i said before,

the seema misra case started long before _ the seema misra case started long before i_ the seema misra case started long before ijoined the business. you before i “oined the business. you were before ijoined the business. you were watching — before ijoined the business. you were watching it _ before ijoined the business. ym. were watching it closely? before ijoined the business. you were watching it closely? we - before ijoined the business. you l were watching it closely? we were watchint were watching it closely? we were watching it. _ were watching it closely? we were watching it. yes- _ were watching it closely? we were watching it, yes. you _ were watching it closely? we were watching it, yes. you were - watching it, yes. you were encouraging _ watching it, yes. you were encouraging your- watching it, yes. you were encouraging your staff - watching it, yes. you were encouraging your staff to l watching it, yes. you were - encouraging your staff to pursue that trial as a test of horizon? hat that trial as a test of horizon? not as a test of _ that trial as a test of horizon? not as a test of horizon, but to pursue it if it _ as a test of horizon, but to pursue it if it was — as a test of horizon, but to pursue it if it was appropriate to do so, like all— it if it was appropriate to do so, like all other cases. let�*s cross to our correspondent at the hearings — azadeh moshiri. the details of the case of seema misra really have been extraordinary. it misra really have been extraordinary.- misra really have been extraordinary. it is worth remembering _ extraordinary. it is worth remembering because i extraordinary. it is worth remembering because it| extraordinary. it is worth i remembering because it is extraordinary. it is worth - remembering because it is such an example of why this is seen as the biggest miscarriage ofjustice in uk history. seema misra in 2010 it was eight weeks pregnant when she was sent to jail and she was sentenced to 15 months�* time in prison and that was on the day of her son�*s tenth birthday. she said to the bbc

previously that had she not been pregnant at the time, because of the ordeal she would have killed herself and her husband said he was beaten up and her husband said he was beaten up twice after she ended up on the front page of the local paper, branded a faith. and it was not until 2021 that her conviction was quashed so that is why there has been so much attention around david smith�*s e—mail greeting the result, the post office winning the conviction, with the words, well done, please send my thanks to the team. and brilliant news. he has since apologised and said he wants to have the apology on record for seema misra and herfamily and that in hindsight the e—mail was poorly thought through. this is something that he has been getting a lot of attention around and he qualified what he meant in the e—mail and he said what he was really saying brilliant news and sending his

thanks for was for the fact that we horizon system had been proven to be robust during the trial, and of course now we know there have been hundreds of wrongful convictions because of the faulty software system. because of the faulty software s stem. ., because of the faulty software s stem. . ., ., , if you want to follow more of the hearing you can scan the qr code and watch that, it is on your screen at the moment. the excavation of a previously undiscovered part of pompeii has revealed a sumptuous villa with floor to ceiling frescoes and stunning mosaic floors beneath the volcanic debris. archeologists believe a rich influential man who may have run for public office lived there. they think he may also have been the owner of a bakery next door where slaves were probably kept in what was virtually a prison. let�*s speak to dr virginia campbell, doctor associate lecturer at the open university — and specialist on vesuvian cities. thanks forjoining us. why is this

discovery is so amazing, is a very different from what is already there? , ., ., ~ , ., different from what is already there? ., ~ , ., there? yes and no. any of us who work in the _ there? yes and no. any of us who work in the list _ there? yes and no. any of us who work in the list sites _ there? yes and no. any of us who work in the list sites at _ there? yes and no. any of us who work in the list sites at all - there? yes and no. any of us who work in the list sites at all or- work in the list sites at all or have visited and are familiar with them are always excited when we have new things that come to light in one of the reasons is the stunning colours and details that we see which we do not get from the things that were excavated a hundred years ago. one of the other things is the property is very different in the way that it has its layout in terms of the working bit of the bakery and even the laundry at the front and the other thing is we have never seen a rome that is painted in the way that this particular dining room is, with the entire black walls with these paintings on them, and the

very nature of the style of painting we see, in the last years of pompeii, looks almost like a gallery wall with lots of different specific images that are framed in these panels and this is a rome that is entirely devoid of panels and that makes it really different.- makes it really different. looking at the colours, _ makes it really different. looking at the colours, are _ makes it really different. looking at the colours, are they - makes it really different. looking at the colours, are they more - makes it really different. looking. at the colours, are they more vivid than in other parts of the site? yes i know. than in other parts of the site? yes i know- the — than in other parts of the site? yes i know. the all _ than in other parts of the site? jazz i know. the all black is than in other parts of the site? 123 i know. the all black is unusual and we have some other rooms which are entirely black but they usually have a lot more painting on them in comparison to the individual seems that we would see from the trojan wars cycle. so there is a lot less colour if you will but at the same time it is incredibly vivid, and just the details that we are seeing on things like the clothing and the

jewellery that helen of troy is wearing is something that is not typical necessarily of everything that we get and there is an incredible level of detail, the painter was quite skilled and probably quite expensive to hire. the layout of the house, you can feel quite contemporary? it the layout of the house, you can feel quite contemporary?- the layout of the house, you can feel quite contemporary? it can. i alwa s feel quite contemporary? it can. i always say _ feel quite contemporary? it can. i always say to _ feel quite contemporary? it can. i always say to my _ feel quite contemporary? it can. i always say to my students, - feel quite contemporary? it can. i| always say to my students, human nature has not changed much in 2000 years, including our desire to decorate and have a nice looking house and a layout that is easy—to—use and spacious and all of those things, and while we have different standards, you can see this is a special room that would have been used for special occasions. have been used for special occasions-— have been used for special occasions. . ., ., , occasions. thanks for “oining us. another excuse h occasions. thanks for “oining us. another excuse to _ occasions. thanks forjoining us. another excuse to visit - occasions. thanks forjoining us. another excuse to visit pompeii. occasions. thanks forjoining us. l another excuse to visit pompeii. if you have not been, it is absolutely amazing. stay with us here on bbc news.

hello, there. the weather we�*ve got over the next couple of days is really quite unusual for april. if we take a look at this anomaly chart, the redder the colours, the more unusual the heat is, and as you can see, we�*re towards the top end of this scale. how warm is it going to get? well, some places could see temperatures around 21 degrees celsius. for example, around greater london. temperatures for quite a few areas will be around six or seven degrees celsius above average for the time of year. and the reason we�*ve got this mild flow of air is down to the jet stream pattern, which is bringing mild and quite humid air up from near the azores. now, it might be mild, but it�*s not necessarily sunny. the best of the sunshine today has been across the midlands, northwards across northern england into scotland. however, it stays pretty cloudy for southern and western wales, southern parts of england with occasional spots of drizzle around, particularly towards coastal areas. and for northern ireland,

some thicker cloud is on the way. outbreaks of rain here to end the day. the rain probably turning quite heavy. but whether you�*ve got cloud or the sunshine doesn�*t really make that much of a difference for the temperatures. it�*s very mild nationwide. now, overnight tonight, that rain in northern ireland moves northwards to reach the far north of england and across parts of scotland for a time as well. temperatures stay mild, 11, 12 degrees celsius. there will likely be some mist and fog patches around towards the end of the night. and so for some, it�*s going to be quite a grey start to the day on friday, perhaps a bit more rain for a time in northern ireland moving back towards scotland, this time across most southern regions of england and wales, you�*ve probably got a better chance of the clouds thinning and breaking to give us some sunshine. and those temperatures still well above average for the time of year. 18 in aberdeen, we�*re up to 20 or 21 across parts of eastern england. saturday is something of a transition day. again, there�*ll be some mist and fog patches around. we keep the mild air across southern and eastern parts of england, but to the north west of the uk we�*re getting some heavier outbreaks of rain moving in and the weather

will be turning significantly cooler along with that rain for northern ireland and for scotland as well. and that�*s just the first day of the change because as we head through sunday and into next week, we�*ve got a ridge of high pressure to the west of the uk that�*s going to send down a northwesterly flow of air across the country. that will reduce temperatures probably even a bit below average in places and will bring us a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers.

this is bbc news. the headlines... israel warns it�*s prepared after iran vows punishment for the killing of its commanders in syria. russian missiles and drones destroy a large electricity plant near kyiv and hit power facilities in several other regions of ukraine. waiting lists for routine hospital treatment in england have fallen for the fifth consecutive month, latest figures show. but the targets are still missed. also coming up — it�*s time to roll out the red carpet — sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here�*s chetan. hello from the bbc sport centre. because of adverse weather, thunderstorms at augusta national, the start of golf�*s first major of the year was delayed but play is just getting under way at the masters. jon rahm is hoping to defend his title,

having won his first green jacket last year.