rishi sunak faces criticism after giving a knighthood to the largest conservative party's largest donor. an investigation begins in south africa after a bus plunges into a ravine killing 45 people. secret papers reveal that the post office knew its court defence was false but continued fighting the cases against the sub—posmasters. and beyonce is back with herfirst ever country album. hello. we start this hour in the middle east. syria has blamed israel for air strikes on the northern city of aleppo which have killed at least 42 people and

wounded many others. they include syrian soldiers and some fighters from the lebanese group hezbollah. in gaza israel has said it's looking at ways to increase humanitarian aid being sent to the gaza strip and has denied that it places any limits on the amount getting in. on thursday the un's top court ordered israel to take all necessary and effective action to ensure basic food supplies reached the palestinian population. let's speak to our middle east correspondent, yolande knell, who's injerusalem. if we could start off with that strike on aleppo what more do we know about it? we strike on aleppo what more do we know about it?— strike on aleppo what more do we know about it? we are hearing from the s rians know about it? we are hearing from the syrians very _ know about it? we are hearing from the syrians very clearly _ know about it? we are hearing from the syrians very clearly that - the syrians very clearly that they blame israel from for the strikes. when i spoke to the israeli military and asked them for any comment they said that they don't comment on reports in the foreign media. that can be a stock reaction when it comes to cases in syria of this

kind. it is areas in the countryside around aleppo that were hit we understand. the uk—based syrian observatory for human rights says these were near to rocket depots belonging to hezbollah, the powerful lebanese armed groups that does have sites inside syria. we are hearing from the syrian observatory for human rights and other sources that they were his brother members among those killed. syrian state media had a missionary said that it was sillett syrian military personnel and civilians that were killed in the strikes. a large number of people killed when we compare to similar action that we have heard reports of in recent months and years. reports of in recent months and ears. . ., ., reports of in recent months and ears. _, ., , ., years. the un court ordered israel to un-hinder_ years. the un court ordered israel to un-hinder aid _ years. the un court ordered israel to un-hinder aid into _ years. the un court ordered israel to un-hinder aid into gaza - years. the un court ordered israel to un-hinder aid into gaza has - years. the un court ordered israel to un-hinder aid into gaza has it . to un—hinder aid into gaza has it been any reaction to that?

to un-hinder aid into gaza has it been any reaction to that? there has, been any reaction to that? there has. israel _ been any reaction to that? there has, israel has _ been any reaction to that? there has, israel has been _ been any reaction to that? there has, israel has been given - been any reaction to that? there has, israel has been given a - been any reaction to that? there i has, israel has been given a month to give details of how it is complying with this new provisional order, but we have the israeli foreign ministry spokesman saying that israel wishes no harm to the civilian population in gaza and that it is already taking steps to ensure the continuous flow of aid into the gaza strip, working with the un and other humanitarian partners to bring in aid by air, sea and land. he accused hamas of trying to steal aid and also said that hamas was the party that was responsible for the situation in gaza and had started the war. it is quite specific, some of the detail in this new provisional measures. it is food, water, shelters, medicines, hygiene

and sanitation kits that should be allowed into gaza. there is a demand for israel to open more border crossings and for longer hours. the aid agencies are saying they can't get enough into northern gaza. the un has get enough into northern gaza. tue: un has been get enough into northern gaza. tte: un has been consistently warning about a man—made famine breaking out in northern gaza. the icj says catastrophic living conditions have deteriorated further since its over their provisional methods were announced. it said that people were no longer facing the risk of famine but that famine is now setting in. we have seen pictures of we have seen friday prayers al aqsa — but we also have easter celebrations. that's correct. quite soon out there

will be processions by the christians through the old city, the stations of the cross. remembering the biblical events around the crucifixion ofjesus. at the same time, you have palestinian muslims going into the old city for friday prayers. friday prayers during ramadan, the islamic holy month, it is a special time. this is also a tense time and what we have seen in terms of numbers of palestinians, particularly in the occupied west bank being able to go along to those processions as they normally would, they have been very much limited by they have been very much limited by the ongoing situation and by restrictions that are put in place. thank you very much next, a development in what's been described as one of the most of very much the most widespread miscarriages ofjustice in british history. sub—postmasters who ran local post

offices were prosecuted for theft — even though a computer system was known to be faulty. now secret papers have evealed the post office knew that the computer system could be tampered with — but still fought sub—postmasters in court. aruna iyengar has more. it's the latest twist in the ongoing post office drama. between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of subpostmasters and subpost mistresses were wrongly prosecuted because of faults with horizon, an it system created by fujitsu and used for tallying up the books. the postmasters took their cases to court in 2019, and won. they became known as the 555 group. but now, 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. if they knew about this, and they clearly did because if you read the report, it said they used part of it selectively in their case against the 555. if they knew about it, surely they've put themselves in a very difficult position in terms of their legal obligation to release all information to the court. 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 subpostmasters 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, you know, the 555 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. one of the conservative party's largest donors has been awarded a knighthood after being recommended by rishi sunak. labour said the decision to give an honour to the billionaire, mohammed 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. it is unusual to get on is at this time of year. it is unusual to get on is at this time of year-— it is unusual to get on is at this time of year. yes it is surprisingly often aet time of year. yes it is surprisingly often get them — time of year. yes it is surprisingly often get them at _ time of year. yes it is surprisingly often get them at new— time of year. yes it is surprisingly often get them at new year - time of year. yes it is surprisingly often get them at new year and l time of year. yes it is surprisingly i often get them at new year and the king's birth there has been comment about the timing because it is in recess so mps aren't in westminster. it has raised a few eyebrows, it has come out on the easter bank holiday weekend, critics are saying it will get less coverage. fewer people will notice it because they are enjoying the easter weekend and eating their chocolate. so controversy after rishi sunak awarded one of the conservative party's largest donors with a knighthood. most of the attention in terms of the names on this list has focused on this conservative party donor. last year he donated £5 million to

the party, he is a senior treasurer at the conservative party. there has been criticism from labour about this. downing street sources are pointing to his extensive experience in terms of charity work and public work. there are also four conservative mps on the list. a former sports minister, philip davies and his wife esther mcveigh is a cabinet minister. there are some interesting names from the tech and creative industries. christopher nolan and his wife emma thomas who are known for their work on oppenheimer. they were also given gongs in this list. tt oppenheimer. they were also given gongs in this list.— gongs in this list. it has opened up more general _ gongs in this list. it has opened up more general election _ gongs in this list. it has opened up| more general election speculation, the fact that we have got this honours list now, some suggesting it could mean a summer election. there

has been some _ could mean a summer election. there has been some speculation _ could mean a summer election. ttee has been some speculation around that. in the labour criticism, they said that this was the kind of actions of someone who knew that they were on their way out, feeding into that speculation. michael gove was on a podcast yesterday and he said he doesn't think the election will be until november although he said he didn't have any insider knowledge. there is so much rumour and speculation about when the general election is going to be. the latest it can be as by january 2025. thank you very much. to south africa next. emergency workers have been working through the night to recover the remains of 45 people who were killed in a bus crash. the bus was travelling from botswana to the limpopo province. the department for transport says the vehicle plunged off a bridge into a ravine after colliding with the crash barrier, and burst into flames when it hit the ground. an eight—year—old child was the sole survivor and has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

let's speak to our correspondent shingai nyoka who is in harare for us. what more do we know about what happened? we know that the emergency workers are at the scene and have retrieved about a dozen bodies, nine of those have since be identified, but the transport minister was talking to the media earlier and said that the process of 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, what they are saying is that the driver lost control of the vehicle. it was an alternative route so it wasn't a busy route and so there was no oncoming traffic. this happened at

about 11am on thursday morning and so the suggestion that they are looking at is that this was a driver error. those investigations are still going on. error. those investigations are still going on— error. those investigations are still going on-_ error. those investigations are still going on. error. those investigations are still auoin on. ~ ., still going on. when you look at the ictures it still going on. when you look at the pictures it is — still going on. when you look at the pictures it is amazing _ still going on. when you look at the pictures it is amazing that - still going on. when you look at the pictures it is amazing that the - pictures it is amazing that the eight—year—old survive. do we know more about them and their condition? she has serious injuries we understand but is in a stable condition at a nearby hospital. the story that we are hearing, why she survived, is that she was thrown out of the vehicle as it tipped over into that ravine. the process of identifying the people that have died is still going on, but i think it is complicated by the fact that many of them were not from south africa, they were travelling from botswana and so there are diplomatic negotiations and discussions that are happening and the south african government has said that it will

help in their repatriation of those bodies. . ~' , ., , help in their repatriation of those bodies. ., ,, , ., , . around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you're live with bbc news. relatives of the wall streetjournal reporter, evan gershkovich, are marking the anniversary of his detention in russia. mr 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 he is being used as a bargaining chip by moscow. my colleague sumi somaskanda has been speaking to evan's co worker at the wall streetjournal, paul beckett — and his sister danielle. she asked danielle how evan was doing. 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 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 thatjust 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. let's get some of the day's other news now. analysis shared with the bbc has shown how fire is being used as a weapon in sudan's civil war, with more than a hundred villages burnt since the conflict began last year. fighting between the sudanese army and the paramilitary group rsf has forced millions from their homes. tens of thousands of people have died. two years of talks aimed at reaching a global deal on how to prevent future pandemics have so far failed to reach consensus. countries at the world health assembly in geneva largely agree on what should be done, but disagree over how binding any commitments should be.

the us government has authorised an initial $60 million to help the state of maryland clear the debris of the bridge that was brought down by a giant container ship on tuesday. the biggest crane on the east coast is being sent to baltimore to join the emergency effort. officials say the first priority, is to find four workers who are missing, presumed dead. we need to focus on recovery because it is important to bring a sense of closure to these families. second we need to open traffic because the american economy depends on it. the third we need to take care of all the people who have been affected by this crisis, and that means the families, the workers, the businesses, the first responders,

that means everybody. in the military i was taught something and one of the things we were taught is that you always take care of your people. we are going to make sure that in this moment we take care of our people. and fourth, we need to rebuild the francis scott key bridge. the earths rotation is naturally affected by a number of different factors such as the friction of oath and tides and the pull of the moan but this is the first time that a man—made element has affected the way the pallet spins. our climate health advocate and delegate to the

united nations climate change conference. tt united nations climate change conference.— united nations climate change conference. ., , conference. it was an interesting study because — conference. it was an interesting study because it _ conference. it was an interesting study because it looked - conference. it was an interesting study because it looked at - study because it looked at coordinating universal time which is the primary reference time from the world and coordinating universal time relates to a earths rotation. the study was trying to elucidate the fact that due to climate change and the melting of ice, we are changing the rate of earths rotation and that in turn can impact how coordinating universal time is adjusted. it is an interesting study about what i like to do when i think about what i like to do when i think about studies around climate change is ponder how does it impact everyday peoples lives. what is keeping this study is it mentions the in melting of ice in greenland and antarctica. what does that have to do with our lives? as we see the rise of sea levels, that is really important for communities that live near coastlines. there is so much economic loss that is predicted to

be tied to changes in coastlines and rising sea levels and so it is really important when we think about the study is to relate it back to the study is to relate it back to the people and then we can relate that to the climate action that we need. now beyonce is top global social media trend right now. it's after she released herfirst ever country album. if you've listened to the radio on tiktok recently you will probably have come across one of the tracks — texas hold em. country music is booming right now — especially here in the uk which is now one of the biggest markets for the genre outside the united states. felicity baker reports. all: we're chapel hart and make sure l that you stay tuned in to bbc news. l if you haven't heard of chapel hart yet, you soon will. # oh,jolene...# it's an energy here with the fans here that is... a match. uk fans hit so different, like, y'all are a different breed - and we absolutely love it.

# you can have himjolene...# they are one of many up—and—coming artists who are drawn to the uk's rapidly growing country scene. # ba—da—na—da—ba, ba—oh!# beyonce's move into country is being hailed as a game changer for a genre that is now taking on the mainstream. but does it meet fan expectations? not ever so keen on what she's done. but you know what, everyone's welcome in this genre. i love it because she's she's a country girl. she's from texas. so who can do it better than beyonce? i mean, she's popular. it'll get more people into country music. i so i guess why not? i feel like we're next level. i think artists like beyonce, post malone, lana del rey doing things and country music is helping us get that exposure.

this will be the biggest year for country in the uk, with more artists playing here than ever before. including grammy—award—winning duo brothers osborne, who first came to the uk nearly a decade ago. the whole purpose of us coming over here and playing our music is to connect with people and show them kind of maybe the cliched things that they think about country music isn't true. the thing about the uk that makes us want to come over here are the fans. they listen like the sober crowd and they react like a drunk crowd. it's like the perfect combination that you want in an audience. with other artists following beyonce's move into country later this year, audiences over here are only expected to get bigger. felicity baker, bbc news.

and in the next hour we will be talking to a beyonce superfan to get his take on her new country album. finally this half hour i want to show you some stunning pictures of mother nature in action in iceland. a volcano continues to erupt there but as you can see it has been caught spewing lava at the same time as the famous northern lights display. so you have the red hot lava spewing from the ground at the same time as the green glow of the natural light display in the sky. the time—lapse video was shot in southwestern iceland.. where the volcano has erupted several times since december. some amazing pictures of two natural phenomena coming together. stay with us here on bbc news.

hello. given what we've had recently, the weather this easter weekend is actually all right for this stage in march. 0k, plenty of showers around today. some of those in the heavy side. but the weekend, saturday, sunday, fewer showers around, the north looking dry on monday, too, but we will see more persistent rain return across some southern areas. here we go, though, detail through the next few days there. at the moment, showers developing quite widely, england, wales, northern ireland and returning to southern scotland after the departure of this morning's rain. northern half of scotland, though, fewer showers, lightest winds here, and wherever you are, temperatures up a little bit on yesterday, 10 to 1a degrees, around bang on average for where we should be for this stage in the year. now, as we go through this evening and overnight, we will see some showers continue in scotland and into the west. but many of you will be dry, lengthier clear skies. and it's going to be chilly tonight, even though temperatures lifting by day, the nights still quite cool. we could see a touch of frost in one or two spots to start your saturday morning. but for saturday, the area of low pressure which is the focus

for showers actually drifting a bit further westwards. so, we will see fewer showers, lighter winds, but have to watch for this weather front. moving northwards out of france and belgium, could bring a cloudy day to east anglia in the far southeast and even some rain at times in coastal districts. showers heaviest out towards the west through saturday. so the far south—west of england, south—west wales, northern ireland a rumble of thunder can't be ruled out. for much of scotland, england and wales, isolated showers which means more of you will spend the bulk, if not all day, dry and feeling pleasant enough in the sunshine with light winds. chilly night will follow. and of course, as we go through into sunday morning, easter sunday morning, the clocks will have gone forward and hour. so the evenings will be lighter, the mornings a little bit darker to begin with. not a bad start, though. a lot of dry weather around. there will be some showers in the west to begin with and more will develop through the day. heavy and thundery towards the southwest. but, actually, many of you again will spend the bulk, if not all, the day dry and temperatures 1a, 15 degrees in western scotland, through parts of central england, too.

now as we go through into monday, this is where low pressure develops again towards the south. exact details may change a little bit, so keep across the forecast, but it does look like across southern counties of england, south wales, potential for some longer spells of rain again. away from that, cloud and a cool breeze down some north sea coasts. but to the north and west, the best of your easter monday sunshine. whatever you have planned, enjoy. take care.

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. and beyonce is back with herfirst ever country album. let's get more on that promise by israel to increase humanitarian aid being sent to the gaza strip. on thursday, the un's top court ordered israel to take all necessary and effective action to ensure basic food supplies reached the palestinian population. israel has denied that its military campaign — israel has denied that its military campaign is illegal and has blamed the un _ campaign is illegal and has blamed the un for causing delays in delivery— the un for causing delays in delivery of aid. let's speak now to hiba tibi, who is west bank and gaza country

director at care international. thank you forjoining us.