live from london. this is bbc news. scotland's first minister calls an emergency cabinet meeting amid speculation about the future of the snp's power—sharing deal with the scottish greens. it's a big day at the post office inquiry — a former executive described as knowing more about a faulty it system than anyone else is giving evidence. top us diplomat antony blinken is in china — he says washington and beijing should manage their differences responsibly. and venice becomes the first city in the world to charge day trippers for entry in an effort to tackle over tourism. hello. we start this hour with a big

political development in scotland. first minister, humza yousaf has called an emergency meeting of his cabinet for later today. the bbc understands the power—sharing deal between the snp and the scottish green party is over. this follows criticism of the scottish government decision to scrap its 2030 climate target and the way it responded to a review of gender services. the way it responded to a review of genderservices. is the way it responded to a review of gender services.— gender services. is the coalition over? these _ gender services. is the coalition over? these are _ gender services. is the coalition over? these are pictures - gender services. is the coalition over? these are pictures of- gender services. is the coalition over? these are pictures of the| over? these are pictures of the co-leaders _ over? these are pictures of the co-leaders patrick _ over? these are pictures of the co-leaders patrick harvie - over? these are pictures of the co-leaders patrick harvie and l over? these are pictures of the - co-leaders patrick harvie and lorna co—leaders patrick harvie and lorna slater leaving bute house in edinburgh ahead of that cabinet meeting. they made no comment when askedif meeting. they made no comment when asked if there power—sharing deal with the snp is over but to reiterate, bbc scotland editorjames cook has been told it's over. the bbc understands the snp would form a minority government if its agreement

with the greens ends. this follows criticism of the scottish government decision to scrap its 2030 climate target and the way it responded to a review of gender services. let's speak to paul hutcheon, political editor of the daily record who is in the scottish parliament. the bbc understands this power—sharing deal is over, is that your understanding? the power-sharing deal is over, is that your understanding?— power-sharing deal is over, is that your understanding? the bute house aareement your understanding? the bute house agreement is — your understanding? the bute house agreement is dead _ your understanding? the bute house agreement is dead i _ your understanding? the bute house agreement is dead i understand - your understanding? the bute house agreement is dead i understand in i agreement is dead i understand in the two greenjunior agreement is dead i understand in the two green junior ministers patrick harvie and lorna slater were in bute house this morning where they were told by humza yousaf it was over, they will no longer be in government and it looks likely the snp will govern as a minority government with 63 votes which is two short of the majority. it government with 63 votes which is two short of the majority. two short of the ma'ority. it seems the ti -|n~ two short of the ma'ority. it seems the tipping point — two short of the majority. it seems the tipping point was _ two short of the majority. it seems the tipping point was last - two short of the majority. it seems the tipping point was last week - two short of the majority. it seems| the tipping point was last week and the tipping point was last week and the government decision to scrap the

climate target for 2030. yes. the government decision to scrap the climate target for 2030.— climate target for 2030. yes. what ha--ened climate target for 2030. yes. what happened was _ climate target for 2030. yes. what happened was that _ climate target for 2030. yes. what happened was that after _ climate target for 2030. yes. what happened was that after those - happened was that after those climate targets were axed the green party decided they would have a special vote of their members on the agreement which would take place next month. that seems to have angered people in the snp because they think this will drag on for about a month now, taking all the attention away from the snp, becoming a complete sideshow. it looks like humza yousaf�*s advisors have said to him, you need to be on the front foot and pull the plug on the front foot and pull the plug on the agreement. haifa the front foot and pull the plug on the agreement.— the front foot and pull the plug on the agreement. how difficult would that make it _ the agreement. how difficult would that make it for _ the agreement. how difficult would that make it for humza _ the agreement. how difficult would that make it for humza yousaf - the agreement. how difficult would that make it for humza yousaf to l that make it for humza yousaf to govern? that make it for humza yousaf to covern? ~ ., , ., , ., , govern? minority governments always ose govern? minority governments always pose challenges _ govern? minority governments always pose challenges but _ govern? minority governments always pose challenges but alex _ govern? minority governments always pose challenges but alex salmond - govern? minority governments always | pose challenges but alex salmond was first minister and run a minority government, so did nicola sturgeon. the difference with humza yousaf is the scottish parliament right now is

febrile, there's not much bridge building between parties, there's not much cross—party co—operation. for him to get 65 votes on things like budgets, it's going to be very difficult because there are people there who want to bring him down. although humza yousaf has had a tough start to his career as first minister i think things are going to get tougher. he minister i think things are going to get tougher-— minister i think things are going to net tou:her. .,, �* , ., get tougher. he hasn't been on the “ob that get tougher. he hasn't been on the job that long- _ get tougher. he hasn't been on the job that long. he _ get tougher. he hasn't been on the job that long. he just _ get tougher. he hasn't been on the job that long. he just had - get tougher. he hasn't been on the job that long. he just had his - get tougher. he hasn't been on the job that long. he just had his first i job that long. he 'ust had his first anniversary — job that long. he 'ust had his first anniversary a — job that long. he just had his first anniversary a few _ job that long. he just had his first anniversary a few weeks - job that long. he just had his first anniversary a few weeks back- job that long. he just had his first anniversary a few weeks back and j job that long. he just had his first i anniversary a few weeks back and to be honest he's had a rough time. most of it not caused by him. things have been overshadowed by the police investigation into snp finances were nicola sturgeon was first minister but his time in charge has been marked by an inability to get any momentum at all as first minister. he probably sees getting rid clean break but time will tell if that is a success or not.—

break but time will tell if that is a success or not. we've also had the issue as the — a success or not. we've also had the issue as the rest _ a success or not. we've also had the issue as the rest of _ a success or not. we've also had the issue as the rest of the _ a success or not. we've also had the issue as the rest of the country - issue as the rest of the country prescribing puberty blockers. yes. issue as the rest of the country prescribing puberty blockers. yes, i think it's one _ prescribing puberty blockers. yes, i think it's one issue, _ prescribing puberty blockers. yes, i think it's one issue, i _ prescribing puberty blockers. yes, i think it's one issue, i don't - prescribing puberty blockers. yes, i think it's one issue, i don't think. think it's one issue, i don't think i look at that is something that has triggered the demise of the bute house agreement that there is no doubt there were tensions on the matter. the greens are sceptical of the cass report, they said that on the cass report, they said that on the record and the snp on the other hand have accepted cass. it's another area where there have been minor disagreements between both parties, not exactly fostering harmonious relations.- parties, not exactly fostering harmonious relations. thank you. a reminder of— harmonious relations. thank you. a reminder of breaking _ harmonious relations. thank you. a reminder of breaking news - harmonious relations. thank you. a reminder of breaking news in - harmonious relations. thank you. a reminder of breaking news in the i reminder of breaking news in the last few minutes, the bbc understands the power—sharing deal between the snp and the scottish greens in scotland is over. we will have more reaction in the next hour

on bbc news and of course you can get more on the bbc news website. next the latest on the post office scandal — what's been called one of the biggest miscarriages ofjustice in british legal history. it's a big day at the inquiry into why more than 900 sub—postmasters were prosecuted because of a faulty it system. a former post office executive, described as knowing more about the horizon systen than anyone else, is giving evidence. angela van den bogerd was the company's most important witness in the legal action taken by sub—postmaster alan bates — and was heavily criticised by the judge in that case for misleading the court in her evidence. our business correspondent, emma simpson, has the details. angela is our head of network services. she was paula vennells' right hand woman — one of the big characters in the drama at the centre of so many ruined lives. we're all so sorry for your loss. bogerd was personally involved in many cases.

desperate — he was really desperate. and overseeing complaints from sub—postmasters. she was also involved in the mediation scheme, supposed to help them. angela van den bogerd, head of partnerships. here she is sitting next to ceo paula vennells before mps when they were told the post office had found no evidence of any miscarriages ofjustice. what we've wanted to do and been very committed to doing is doing a thorough investigation on each of the issues raised by each of the applications. we've not dragged our feet. but this was all part of the alleged cover up. i've managed to find some letters. later that year, parmod kalia got a letter from angela. he was wrongly convicted of stealing from his post office in 2001 and sent to prison. he wrote in after seeing a bbc panorama, asking the post office to look again at his case. horizon does not have functionality that allows post office or fujitsu to edit or delete the transactions recorded by branches.

well... that wasn't correct. we know it's not correct. she finishes by saying, "if you think you've been wrongly convicted, get a solicitor." when i saw that, i literally did collapse on the floor, knowing there's no way i can get a solicitor and sue them in court. what has the post office done to you, parmod? they've broken me, broken me. 22—odd years. lost. never going to get that time back with the family — with work or anything. how important is it for you to see her answer questions now? i need to know, has she finally understood and accepted where she was wrong and maybe put her hands up and say, "yeah, sorry. " that would mean a lot to us. it's a big moment for the inquiry, too. she's a person whose finger

was in lots of pies. she made a lot of big decisions. so she's got a lot to answer for. angela van den bogerd has already said she would cooperate fully and willingly with the inquiry. you'll be hard pushed to find an empty seat in this room today. emma simpson, bbc news. let's speak to our correspondent azadeh moshiri, who's at the inquiry for us. in saying it's a big day, what are we expecting intensive angela van den bogerd's evidence? it is we expecting intensive angela van den bogerd's evidence?— den bogerd's evidence? it is a big da and den bogerd's evidence? it is a big day and it's _ den bogerd's evidence? it is a big day and it's one _ den bogerd's evidence? it is a big day and it's one of _ den bogerd's evidence? it is a big day and it's one of many - day and it's one of many sub—postmasters including the ones behind me have been waiting for and part of the reason for that angela van den bogerd oversaw many of their complaints and oversaw some of the problems with the horizon it schedule. she was also heavily involved in the mediation scheme that failed between the post office

and sub—postmasters. there's so much attention around the former chief executive paula vennells. when she gave evidence to mps about issues to do with the mediation scheme as well asissues do with the mediation scheme as well as issues to do with the post offices disclosure to sub—postmasters and investigators, she said it's the first she had heard of some of the issues and in her words, angela has been involved in this daily for the last two years. on top of all of that, when alan bates took on the post office in court and won, thejudge alan bates took on the post office in court and won, the judge accused angela van den bogerd of having misled the court. this is only day one of her giving evidence, there will be plenty of questions for her and the sub—postmasters will want to know if they will see any accountability today. you can follow all of the inquiry

live on bbc iplayer and on the bbc news website. to china next. america's top diplomat — secretary of state, antony blinken, has said washington and beijing should manage their differences responsibly on the second day of his visit to the country. mr blinken spoke in shanghai of the need for direct engagement, saying china and the us must resolve their differences together. ahead of tough talks with senior officials on issues such as russia and taiwan, mr blinken began his visit to shanghai eating steamed buns at a restaurant, and watching a basketball game. although tensions have eased between the two nations since last year, disagreements on issues such as trade and security remain. let's speak to our china correspondent stephen mcdonell who's in beijing for us. it seems as though antony blinken is trying to put the relationship on a steadier fitting.— trying to put the relationship on a steadier fitting. yes, knowing that the tou . h steadier fitting. yes, knowing that the tough talks — steadier fitting. yes, knowing that

the tough talks were _ steadier fitting. yes, knowing that the tough talks were cunning - steadier fitting. yes, knowing that the tough talks were cunning and l steadier fitting. yes, knowing that i the tough talks were cunning and we are now entering the serious talks part in beijing, he first engaged in the basketball diplomacy stage meeting business people and students in shanghai. that's all to build goodwill and both sides were happy because they know there are the significant differences they have to deal with. significant differences they have to dealwith. many significant differences they have to deal with. many of them, the banning of tiktok, us funding for taiwan's military and us funding israel, and on the flip side china's support for russia in its war in ukraine. imagine having all of those discussions, and that's before you even get any talks about free trade and access to high—tech equipment, microchips and the like which are all very sensitive matters and the rest of the world is watching on hyping these superpowers can get it together in order to give the global

economy a bit of a kick along. {hind economy a bit of a kick along. china admits the relations _ economy a bit of a kick along. china admits the relations between the nations are really crucial, they are the two biggest economies. yes. nations are really crucial, they are the two biggest economies. yes, and that's why when _ the two biggest economies. yes, and that's why when antony _ the two biggest economies. yes, and that's why when antony blinken - the two biggest economies. yes, and that's why when antony blinken met| that's why when antony blinken met the shanghai party chief they both said they owe it to the world to try at some level at least get on. that doesn't mean they will be taking a backward step on the serious issues but both sides hope you can set some guardrails and draw some lines, and thereby understand each other�*s limits and get on with cooperating in areas where they can cooperate. climate change, combating the global trade in narcotics, there are many areas where they feel they can cooperate with one another and with things like trade you can work out

where each of the stands and at least set up some sort of certainty rather than the years in the freezer which we had where there were no meetings like this, no high—level discussions at all. meetings like this, no high-level discussions at all.— around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

labour says it expects to renationalise most passenger rail services within five years, if it is elected. rail services in the uk have come in forfrequent criticism in recent years, due to rising fares, cancellations and strikes all affecting passenger satisfaction. louise haigh is giving her speech at the moment. i louise haigh is giving her speech at the moment-— the moment. i wouldn't rule out grant shapps — the moment. i wouldn't rule out grant shapps or _ the moment. i wouldn't rule out grant shapps or perhaps - the moment. i wouldn't rule out grant shapps or perhaps one - the moment. i wouldn't rule out grant shapps or perhaps one of| the moment. i wouldn't rule out i grant shapps or perhaps one of his aliases endorsing us by teatime. when keir asked me to take on this

role and to plan for how we would fix the railways i set myself a question. not how do i achieve an ideological outcome but how do i place passengers back at the heart of how our railways are run. that is my mission. it's the delivery of that mission, a railway network that is relentlessly focused on the passenger interest that underpins the policies on launching today. they amount to the biggest reform of our railways for a generation. labour will sweep away the broken model and bring private operators into public ownership as their contracts expire. we would establish great british railways, a single entity to control passenger interests. i'm afraid i was overruled on calling it rail britannia. i will act as a passenger in chief, setting the strategy and

objectives for great british railways and holding into account on behalf of passengers everywhere. unlike current ministers, i will trust the experts. experts who don't just come from the rail sector because we all know it can sometimes because we all know it can sometimes be a bit inward —looking, but external experts in providing exceptional customer service. we will deliver simplified fares and ticketing, a best fair guarantee across the network as train line has across the network as train line has a ready manage to achieve, and we will roll out the kinds of innovations, digital season tickets and automatic delay repays so they are available to all. we will create are available to all. we will create a tough new passenger watchdogs that will hold great british railways to account on behalf of the passenger based on performance and on the quality of the service they provide. we believe that customer experience matters and it matters to growing our railways. i know what some are going to say. same old labour, always calling for public ownership.

but the truth of the matter is that neither the passenger nor the taxpayer can afford for things to continue like this. throwing good money after bad at a system that simply isn't delivering. and as part of our new approach, we will reset industrial relations on the railways, which have hit a new low under this government, who have continuously and deliberately provoked these disputes. labour will take a consciously different approach. we will see our workforce is an asset rather than a liability, we will work with them and where there are disagreements we'll get around the table and work them out. shadow transport secretary louise haigh launching labour's plan for the railways. it says it expects to renationalise most passenger rail services within five years. she described it as the biggest overhaul in a generation. let's get some reaction to that.

let's speak to andy bagnall, chief executive of rail partners who represent private operators. train companies agree there needs to be change on the railway and we support some of the proposals from louise haigh like the creation of great british railways, need for fares reform, these are things the industry have been calling for for several years since the keith williams review was first launched. but nationalisation is the centrepiece of labour's proposals todayis centrepiece of labour's proposals today is a political rather than a practical solution and one that will increase costs over time. there is already a better solution, an alternative plan proven to work, and we are seeing that adopted in every european country but also in british cities, london being a good example and also liverpool. that's an approach that tries to get the best

of both worlds. so, any public body like great british railways to act as a guiding mind tojoin up the railways and make sure they are delivering what passengers want but at the same time exploiting the commercial expertise of private train companies, who have a track record of growing the railway and exploiting expertise to deliver for customers. ~ , exploiting expertise to deliver for customers-— exploiting expertise to deliver for customers. , , �* ., ,, ., customers. why isn't it working at the moment? _ customers. why isn't it working at the moment? we've _ customers. why isn't it working at the moment? we've seen - customers. why isn't it working at the moment? we've seen an - customers. why isn't it working at - the moment? we've seen an increase in fares, the reliability of services very poor, certainly in some parts of the country particularly the north, where trains just don't turn up and you expect them to and passengers are having trouble. why isn't it working now? in order to change things for the better, we absolutely have to understand the causes of some of the current challenges we are facing. it's worth making the point that the railway through the pandemic was effectively brought into public ownership already in the sense that network rail comedy tracks, the

tunnels, bridges, that's obviously been publicly run for many years. but the pandemic swept aside the private that of the industry, the franchising contract and what we've seen as those replaced with management contracts which have a high level of micromanagement by the department for transport in day—to—day operations for train operators. 0urargument day—to—day operations for train operators. 0ur argument is not more government involvement but less government. we need to allow the train operators more commercial freedom to really look outwards and deliver for passengers. freedom to really look outwards and deliverfor passengers. if freedom to really look outwards and deliver for passengers. if you look at the train operators that recovered fastest from the pandemic, they are the open access operators, they are the open access operators, they are the ones with complete commercial freedom, they are the ones with complete commercialfreedom, no subsidy, commercial freedom, no subsidy, completely commercialfreedom, no subsidy, completely independent of the government and they have delivered for passengers. they have high satisfaction levels and have done that faster. public oversight and control but then allowing the train

operators to regrade the system commercially is the right answer. labour is saying that the government set the rates, pay the subsidy but don't control the money coming in. all of the cost and revenue risk of the system currently sits with government. in some ways that's part of the problem. train operators are paid half a penny in the pound, it's a fixed fee for managing the railway and then they can earn more in return for hitting targets around performance, cleanliness and customer satisfaction. in terms of commercial freedom, customer satisfaction. in terms of commercialfreedom, we have to customer satisfaction. in terms of commercial freedom, we have to focus on what the customer is doing and try and deliverfor them on what the customer is doing and try and deliver for them and train operators�* freedom to do that is constrained. the right answer if you want to regrade the railway and in the end the current level of subsidy has shot up as a result of the pandemic, we have to restore

financial stability if we are going to deliver continued investment and what customers want and the best way to do that obviously is by harnessing train operators to regrade the railway which they proved they can do before. thank ou. next to the latest on the israel—gaza war. israeli officials have confirmed they are moving ahead with plans for a military assault on the city of rafah in southern gaza. the bbc has seen tents ready to house refugees. this is a satellite picture of the site to the west of khan younis. this picture was taken on april the 7th and there are no tents. take a look at the second picture two weeks later, it�*s the same site but this time you can see those rows of tents. israel says it hopes to launch an assault on the several how hamas battalions. allies have warned israel not to carry out

a full—scale attack. more than a million displaced people are taking shelter in rafah as part of its invasion is relished playing to evacuate civilians out of the city. in another development, hamas published a video appearing to show an israeli—american hostage, 24—year—old hersh goldberg—polin, in captivity. the bbc has not independently verified the video or when it was taken. the short, undated video showed the 23—year—old missing a lower arm. he was shown saying he had sustained serious injuries during the october 7th attack. his parents have responded to the video pleading for negotiating parties to reach a deal. my name is rachel and this isjohn, and we are the parents of hersh goldberg—polin, an american—israeli civilian who was kidnapped into gaza 201 days ago. seeing a video of hersh today is overwhelming. we are relieved to see him alive, but we are also concerned about his health and well—being,

as well as that of all the other hostages and all of those suffering in this region, and we are here today with a plea to all of the leaders of the parties who have been negotiating to date. that includes qatar, egypt, the united states, hamas and israel. be brave, lean in, seize this moment and get a deal done to reunite all of us with our loved ones and end the suffering in this region. and hersh, if you can hear this, we heard your voice today for the first time in 201 days. and if you can hear us, i am telling you, we are telling you, we love you. stay strong. survive. a reminder of our breaking news, the scotland coalition government has collapsed and we will have more on that. stay with us on bbc news.

hello. showers today across the northern half of the country. some of those wintry on higher ground across scotland and northern england. courtesy of this weather front which is continuing to move south as we go through the course of the rest of the day. it�*s going to bring all this cloud with it and some of these showers will be sharp. it should dry up across northern ireland, northern england and southern scotland with some sunshine. the showers persisting across the north—east and still some of those wintry in nature. lighter winds but still feeling cold with highs up to 13 degrees. this evening and overnight we lose the showers from the south—east but they persist across the channel islands and the south—west as well as north—east of the country where they are still

wintry on higher ground. the blue representing temperatures of freezing or below. we are looking at quite a widespread frost from the midlands northwards. into friday, low—pressure close by, hardly a breath of wind. tomorrow we are going to start off on a cold and frosty night but a lot of sunshine around. scattered showers developing, the heaviest of which moving across southern counties. still a chilly field to the day. as we move from friday into saturday, we move from friday into saturday, we have this area of low pressure not too far away. this one pushing northwards. not much of a breeze around. isobar is still well spaced out. here is ourfirst around. isobar is still well spaced out. here is our first weather front. pushing northwards and eastwards and turning lighter and more patchy. brighter skies for scotland and northern ireland with some showers, but still on higher

ground some of those could be wintry. then for sunday, the next area of low pressure is coming our way and it will be introducing all of this rain across england and wales. the position of this could still change. this is what we can at the moment. 0ut towards the west, drier and brighter with a few showers around.

humza yousaf cool ministers to an unscheduled cabinet meeting at bute house this morning. this comes as the scottish government decided to scrap its 2030 climate target and also a review of its gender services. scottish green party co—leader is patrick harvie and lorna slater left bute house in edinburgh earlier this morning ahead of the cabinet meeting and make no comment when asked if their power—sharing deal with the snp was over. let�*s speak to our scotland correspondent. what�*s happening? irate

correspondent. what's happening? - are here at bute